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innovation-hacking2

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shitposting_dataset1

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[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\"." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though.", ">\n\nWhy do we put up with treason?" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though.", ">\n\nWhy do we put up with treason?", ">\n\nBecause the GOP's majority is paper thin and without Santos they are even less likely to win any controversial votes. The GOP and most of its voters don't care that Santos is a fraud. They are conditioned to blindly follow the party's leaders regardless of the consequences. The only thing that matters is owning the libs." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though.", ">\n\nWhy do we put up with treason?", ">\n\nBecause the GOP's majority is paper thin and without Santos they are even less likely to win any controversial votes. The GOP and most of its voters don't care that Santos is a fraud. They are conditioned to blindly follow the party's leaders regardless of the consequences. The only thing that matters is owning the libs.", ">\n\nNot gonna lie - if nothing else this man lives an interesting life lol" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though.", ">\n\nWhy do we put up with treason?", ">\n\nBecause the GOP's majority is paper thin and without Santos they are even less likely to win any controversial votes. The GOP and most of its voters don't care that Santos is a fraud. They are conditioned to blindly follow the party's leaders regardless of the consequences. The only thing that matters is owning the libs.", ">\n\nNot gonna lie - if nothing else this man lives an interesting life lol", ">\n\nAt what point are we just going to have Santos pull off his mask to reveal it's been Maria Butina this entire time?" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though.", ">\n\nWhy do we put up with treason?", ">\n\nBecause the GOP's majority is paper thin and without Santos they are even less likely to win any controversial votes. The GOP and most of its voters don't care that Santos is a fraud. They are conditioned to blindly follow the party's leaders regardless of the consequences. The only thing that matters is owning the libs.", ">\n\nNot gonna lie - if nothing else this man lives an interesting life lol", ">\n\nAt what point are we just going to have Santos pull off his mask to reveal it's been Maria Butina this entire time?", ">\n\nNo way…." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though.", ">\n\nWhy do we put up with treason?", ">\n\nBecause the GOP's majority is paper thin and without Santos they are even less likely to win any controversial votes. The GOP and most of its voters don't care that Santos is a fraud. They are conditioned to blindly follow the party's leaders regardless of the consequences. The only thing that matters is owning the libs.", ">\n\nNot gonna lie - if nothing else this man lives an interesting life lol", ">\n\nAt what point are we just going to have Santos pull off his mask to reveal it's been Maria Butina this entire time?", ">\n\nNo way….", ">\n\nIt gets better every day" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though.", ">\n\nWhy do we put up with treason?", ">\n\nBecause the GOP's majority is paper thin and without Santos they are even less likely to win any controversial votes. The GOP and most of its voters don't care that Santos is a fraud. They are conditioned to blindly follow the party's leaders regardless of the consequences. The only thing that matters is owning the libs.", ">\n\nNot gonna lie - if nothing else this man lives an interesting life lol", ">\n\nAt what point are we just going to have Santos pull off his mask to reveal it's been Maria Butina this entire time?", ">\n\nNo way….", ">\n\nIt gets better every day", ">\n\nNot surprised" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though.", ">\n\nWhy do we put up with treason?", ">\n\nBecause the GOP's majority is paper thin and without Santos they are even less likely to win any controversial votes. The GOP and most of its voters don't care that Santos is a fraud. They are conditioned to blindly follow the party's leaders regardless of the consequences. The only thing that matters is owning the libs.", ">\n\nNot gonna lie - if nothing else this man lives an interesting life lol", ">\n\nAt what point are we just going to have Santos pull off his mask to reveal it's been Maria Butina this entire time?", ">\n\nNo way….", ">\n\nIt gets better every day", ">\n\nNot surprised", ">\n\nCitizens United r/whatcouldgowrong" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though.", ">\n\nWhy do we put up with treason?", ">\n\nBecause the GOP's majority is paper thin and without Santos they are even less likely to win any controversial votes. The GOP and most of its voters don't care that Santos is a fraud. They are conditioned to blindly follow the party's leaders regardless of the consequences. The only thing that matters is owning the libs.", ">\n\nNot gonna lie - if nothing else this man lives an interesting life lol", ">\n\nAt what point are we just going to have Santos pull off his mask to reveal it's been Maria Butina this entire time?", ">\n\nNo way….", ">\n\nIt gets better every day", ">\n\nNot surprised", ">\n\nCitizens United r/whatcouldgowrong", ">\n\nWho the fuck is this guy?" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though.", ">\n\nWhy do we put up with treason?", ">\n\nBecause the GOP's majority is paper thin and without Santos they are even less likely to win any controversial votes. The GOP and most of its voters don't care that Santos is a fraud. They are conditioned to blindly follow the party's leaders regardless of the consequences. The only thing that matters is owning the libs.", ">\n\nNot gonna lie - if nothing else this man lives an interesting life lol", ">\n\nAt what point are we just going to have Santos pull off his mask to reveal it's been Maria Butina this entire time?", ">\n\nNo way….", ">\n\nIt gets better every day", ">\n\nNot surprised", ">\n\nCitizens United r/whatcouldgowrong", ">\n\nWho the fuck is this guy?", ">\n\nGop equal Russian agents now" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though.", ">\n\nWhy do we put up with treason?", ">\n\nBecause the GOP's majority is paper thin and without Santos they are even less likely to win any controversial votes. The GOP and most of its voters don't care that Santos is a fraud. They are conditioned to blindly follow the party's leaders regardless of the consequences. The only thing that matters is owning the libs.", ">\n\nNot gonna lie - if nothing else this man lives an interesting life lol", ">\n\nAt what point are we just going to have Santos pull off his mask to reveal it's been Maria Butina this entire time?", ">\n\nNo way….", ">\n\nIt gets better every day", ">\n\nNot surprised", ">\n\nCitizens United r/whatcouldgowrong", ">\n\nWho the fuck is this guy?", ">\n\nGop equal Russian agents now", ">\n\nThe United States of America is currently under a new type of “cold war” attack by the Russians and it is extremely pathetic that about half of the American public is fine with it (because the Russians discovered their drug of choice: hate)." ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though.", ">\n\nWhy do we put up with treason?", ">\n\nBecause the GOP's majority is paper thin and without Santos they are even less likely to win any controversial votes. The GOP and most of its voters don't care that Santos is a fraud. They are conditioned to blindly follow the party's leaders regardless of the consequences. The only thing that matters is owning the libs.", ">\n\nNot gonna lie - if nothing else this man lives an interesting life lol", ">\n\nAt what point are we just going to have Santos pull off his mask to reveal it's been Maria Butina this entire time?", ">\n\nNo way….", ">\n\nIt gets better every day", ">\n\nNot surprised", ">\n\nCitizens United r/whatcouldgowrong", ">\n\nWho the fuck is this guy?", ">\n\nGop equal Russian agents now", ">\n\nThe United States of America is currently under a new type of “cold war” attack by the Russians and it is extremely pathetic that about half of the American public is fine with it (because the Russians discovered their drug of choice: hate).", ">\n\nSurprised, but not surprised. You know what I mean?" ]

[ "well, somebody spent a lot of money to get this clown stuffed into the Right's clown car \nif you tried to pitch this guy as a character in a fictional story you'd get laughed out of the room", ">\n\nSantos can't be the only, there has to be more grifters that ran in last year's elections.\nRussian interests don't stop with one candidate...", ">\n\nSarah Huckabee Sanders, the pathological liar ex-press secretary who just got elected gov of Arkansas. I’m convinced her daddy bought her that press secretary job (no way in hell would Donald Trump, who’s obsessed with image & hot 20 yr old pageant girls hire an unattractive, overweight 40 year old to be the face everyone sees when they watch press conferences about the Trump administration). With her daddy as corrupt as he is? You know there was money involved. To win a governors race though? I don’t know. \nI do know she spent the entire year in Florida, not Arkansas, begging people for money because outside of that press secretary stunt? That woman never had a job in her 40 years on this earth. \nBetween her and Santos I just see two scam artists with bad teeth.", ">\n\nMeanwhile, her opponent was a a young black minister who earned an PhD in urban planning from MIT and had previously worked as a physicist. He only got about 35% of the vote.", ">\n\nDamn. That's depressing", ">\n\nAs a born and bred Californian living a state north from Arkansas…. it’s unbelievable how folks think these people are on the side of the righteous. I’ve lived abroad and traveled to 3 other continents but the biggest culture shock of my life was moving to mid-America", ">\n\nBorn in Texas and lived in southern states till I left for the Marine Corps. World travel was a shock, and made me realize how backward my family and the states I had lived in are.", ">\n\nTravel changes perspectives and challenges our own expectations about the world. Glad you got the experience and hope all of it was ultimately positive for you!", ">\n\nit was an eye opener for certain. My brother also went in, but spent his entire tour in N Carolina. Learned nothing in this aspect.", ">\n\nalways interesting how similar experiences can influence people totally differently", ">\n\nIt's amazing just how many republicans can be linked to Russians.", ">\n\nAnd stupid ones and pathological liars at that.", ">\n\nThey do appear to have a type.", ">\n\nMcCarthy was so desperate to be Speaker that he didn't want to look into Santos. Now, we're finding out that Santos is a Russian plant of a sanctioned oligarch who wanted McCarthy to be Speaker. I hope this leads to more revelations of money laundering and other financial crimes. It's time to clean House.", ">\n\nWhy else do you think the Republicans have hobbled the House Ethics Committee's ability to investigate? They know where the rot is, they just don't want anybody else to find out.", ">\n\nI have no confidence in Republicans to do anything about him, but the DOJ is already involved with the case and Santos isn't important enough to shield from prosecution.", ">\n\nForgive me for not having faith that the doj will do anything useful.", ">\n\nWhat in the last 3 decades of inaction are you talking about? Why not?", ">\n\nThis is a gift link with no paywalls, but here's the meat of it:\n\nTaken together, the evidence suggests Santos may have had a business relationship with Intrater as Santos was first entering politics in 2020. It also shows, according to the SEC filing, that Intrater put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Santos’ onetime employer, Harbor City, which was accused by regulators of running a Ponzi scheme. Neither Santos nor Intrater responded to requests for comment. Attorneys who have represented Intrater also did not respond.\n\n\n\nWhile Intrater is a U.S. citizen, his company, the investment firm Columbus Nova, has historically had extensive ties to the business interests of his Russian cousin, billionaire Viktor Vekselberg. As recently as 2018, when Vekselberg was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for his role in the Russian energy industry, his conglomerate was Columbus Nova’s largest client, the company confirmed to The Post that year.\nIntrater’s interactions in 2016 and 2017 with Michael Cohen, who at the time was working as a lawyer for Donald Trump, were probed during special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between Trump and the Kremlin.\nIntrater’s company paid the lawyer and self-described Trump fixer to identify deals for his business, and court records show they exchanged hundreds of texts and phone calls.", ">\n\nLooks bad, smells bad, don't eat it. Nature has ways of signaling danger. The money trail looks like Russian interests gave Santos money to get elected.", ">\n\nBut he legit said it “didn’t come from Russian” on a podcast.\n/s", ">\n\nActually, he said it didn't come from China, Ukraine, or Burisma. So probably Russia.", ">\n\nBurisma?", ">\n\nUkrainian gas company you probably forgot about. They put Hunter Biden on their board, presumably for access to VP Biden. Been a recurring villain in the Fox News Cinematic Universe ever since.", ">\n\nI always laugh at how they harp on Burisma so bad, as if companies paying favors to the family of politicians, in order to gain access and influence with the politician, isn't as old as time. And hell, the Republicans are the ones who perfected that play.", ">\n\nThey unironically foam at the mouth about Burisma and completely ignore the billions of dollars the Saudi's gave Jared Kushner.", ">\n\nThe GOP is a Russian asset.", ">\n\nTreason runs deep with Republicans", ">\n\nRussia has been involved with his entire campaign. This guy is a Russian asset. Nobody gets 700k without expectations.", ">\n\nThere is so much to unpack with this guy.\nHe may not actually be named George Santos. He was going by Anthony Devolder at a conservative rally a few years ago. This raises questions of who he really is.\nHe's probably not a legal US citizen. He appears to have committed fraud in order to qualify for citizenship, and it is also unclear as to whether or not he met the time requirements to qualify to naturalized.\nHe's a known criminal in Brazil. He's on the run from authorities there for check fraud, and potentially other financial crimes.\nHe was broke during his time with the company that later turned out to be a Ponzi scheme and struggled to pay his rent. His landlord said he also trashed the apartment.\nHe somehow loaned 700k to his campaign, despite being essentially broke. He then reported a meteoric rise in net wealth, from basically zero to $10 million in something like 2 years or less.\nHe has lied about almost every aspect of his life. He claimed to be Jewish, but is not. He actually used the term \"Jew-ish,\" meaning that some members of his ancestry were. But he is not actually.\nHis mother apparently died in the towers on 9/11, despite succumbing to cancer apparently in 2016.\nHe claims to be gay, despite being married to a woman for the purposes of qualifying for US citizenship.\nThis guy needs to have his life torn apart and reconstructed by the FBI, and then charged with the litany of crimes he has committed in order to where he is today.\nAnd then he needs to have his citizenship revoked and sent packing back to Brazil where they can have their turn with him.", ">\n\nBoebert is another one with unexplained millions in the bank after struggling to pay property taxes.", ">\n\nHer money is easier to trace back to her husband getting a cushy consulting gig for oil companies, and then mad insider trading once she became a house rep.\nBoebert's pre-election run story is...interesting. She is alleged to have been a B roll talent model who doubled as an escort/sex worker. She is alleged to have been paid for sexual favors by Ted Cruz and another GOP party operative, while being scouted as a potential candidate for office. The allegations go so far as to claim she may have been paid by Cruz to get an abortion.\nIt is also alleged that Cruz paid for the bulk of her 2020 primary chal, and his PAC supported her general election. The funds to reimburse her for her driving expenses while campaigning were almost exactly what it took to pay off the property taxes on her now defunct restaurant.\nThe talent site where she pops up is the same site that the wine drunk moron who appeared in court with Rudy Giuliani in Michigan or Wisconsin also shows up on...I can't remember the details now, but there were several models in that site that ended up in the GOP's orbit. Maybe the spoiler candidate that showed up in Florida that cost the Democrat in Miami-Dade the election? It's an interesting coincidence, if nothing else.", ">\n\nMost of what you are recounting is wildly unsubstantiated.\nBut it's so damn plausible.", ">\n\nThat's why I heavily used the word alleged.\nIt's a whole lot of very strange bits of information, rumors, hearsay, and the like. \nBut man does it paint a compelling picture of a woman who was scouted out for the job of insane right wing politician in order to swell the ranks of the MAGA faithful.", ">\n\n\"People are saying...\"", ">\n\nThis made me think of this quote for some reason:\n“I never said he was,” he continued, “I said there was a rumor in Milwaukee that he was, which was true when I started the rumor in Milwaukee.”", ">\n\nRussians and republicans. Name a more iconic duo.", ">\n\nWasn’t it only like 10 years ago that the Russians were the hated boogeyman enemies of republicans? Crazy\nDid the love affair start before trump or did they follow him (and his handlers)?", ">\n\nIt really is crazy. I wonder if it was money or kompromat. I bet it was a mixture of both.", ">\n\nThe DNC and RNC emails were hacked. The DNC ones were released.", ">\n\nYou don't think that's just because the DNC ones were the only ones with damning evidence of shady dealings, while the RNC ones were just boring campaign strategy discussions of honest legisl... okay, sorry. I just can't finish typing that with a straight face.", ">\n\nHad me going in the first half lol", ">\n\nI get to go back to my Russia files! \nJan. 9, 2017\nVekselberg Meets With Cohen\nIn Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower office, he and Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg discuss a mutual desire to strengthen Russia’s relations with the United States under President Trump. Also in attendance is Vekselberg’s cousin, Andrew Intrater, chief executive of an American investment firm — Columbus Nova — whose biggest client is Vekselberg’s Renova Group. The three men agree to see each other at Trump’s inauguration. A week later, they are together at a dinner celebrating the inauguration.\nJan. 20, 2017\nVekselberg, Veselnitskaya, Akhmetshin and Butina Attend Trump Inauguration Festivities; Cohen Gets Big Contract\nThe FBI is concerned that key Russian elites and others associated with Putin’s government are attending Trump inauguration events. Among them is Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, who attends a Trump inauguration dinner as a guest of Andrew Intrater, chief executive of investment firm Columbus Nova. Intrater is Vekselberg’s cousin, and Vekselberg’s firm — Renova Group — is Columbus Nova’s largest client. Days after the inauguration, Columbus Nova awards Michael Cohen a $1 million consulting contract.", ">\n\nRemember the red scare? Which at times was over the top. Now however we have the \"red I ain't seen nothin\".", ">\n\nThe Red Scare vs. The Red We Don’t Care", ">\n\nGOP just selling America to Russian oligarchs. They can't even be deluding themselves at this point, can they?", ">\n\nThey want to use Russian money to live and campaign off of, and Murdoch's FOX News to confuse their base.\nRepublicans have sold out the US .", ">\n\nIn late November, the Daily Beast reported that Andrew Intrater — a cousin of and money manager for sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg — gave more than $56,000 to political committees supporting Santos, who defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman Nov. 8.\nSome background: \nViktor Vekselberg is a Ukrainian-born oligarch with links to donations to both the Clinton Foundation and the Trump inaugural fund. Vekselberg, who has ties with Putin and has publicly advocated for lifting U.S. Sanctions on Russia, previously served on the board of the sanctioned Russian oil company Rosnef and reportedly holds “signicant interest” in Oleg Deripaska’s company, Rusal. Vekselberg was part of the financial conglomerate Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium alongside fellow oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, and Len Blavatnik. He also owns the diversfied holding company Renova Group. \nAndrew Intrater, the CEO of Columbus Nova, which has been described as “the U.S. investment vehicle for the Renova Group,” donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration fund. Prior to this donation, the Trump campaign had criticized Hillary Clinton after it was revealed that the Clinton Foundation had accepted large donations from Renova Group. Vekselberg has come in contact with several individuals linked to the Trump Campaign. He attended the December 2015 RT anniversary gala alongside both Michael Flynn and Putin. He also attended a 2014 fundraising event for the Moscow Jewish Museum, which was attended by both Jared and Ivanka Trump. Vekselberg also has ties to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross due to a 2014 partnership with Renova Group involving the Bank of Cyprus; Renova Group is currently the largest shareholder in Bank of Cyprus, while Wilbur Ross served on the bank’s Board for several years before becoming Secretary of Commerce.", ">\n\nBoy, does Russia love its useful idiots", ">\n\n\"useful\"", ">\n\nWait until the government defaults on its debt + aid is cut off to Ukraine due to a few fringe votes in the House… they’re very useful.", ">\n\nNow it becomes clear where GOP leaders get their marching orders from. Russian sympathizers, and a steroid-taking troll doll. I'm starting to think QAnon was created by the Kremlin.", ">\n\nIf not created by they definitely threw lots of gas on that stupid fire.", ">\n\nThis is true of a lot of Russian sourced conspiracies. The ones they tried to do on their own and disseminate in the West were shit. This goes all the way back to the Soviet days.\nSocial media made it a lot easier. Find existing nutty stuff online that's potentially disruptive. Then boost it. It's almost too easy. Massive state security liability.", ">\n\nYou have to assume that others had their campaigns funded by Russia. Maybe you can't prove it, but you know these things are happening and it would explain a lot. With all the money that was funneled in through the NRA, and the ability to mask everything through SuperPACs there's no way of knowing how much of Congress has been infiltrated.", ">\n\nWe can prove it in a lot of the cases. There’s just nothing being done. The NRA was a direct pipeline.", ">\n\nWoah… this is a huge revelation considering the proxy war we are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars a day into.\n\nAND the GOP will road block anything from happening again to own the libs (like any other national security threat)", ">\n\nRussia's waged a proxy war with the west via political interference and social media influence operations for a decade now.\nThis is why kicking them out of Ukraine is so crucial, as it will cripple their international capabilities to keep harming us. They've already been attacking our way of life, radicalizing our citizens, and propping up a party intent on literally gutting the nation in the name of a false patriotism.\nIt's ironically the same stuff as the red scare rhetoric, only it turns out to be true about the party that used those scare tactics. (I actually do not think the 2 are related, but the irony is so sharp it could cut through diamonds).", ">\n\nI have yet to see a photo of George Santos without that same shit eating grin. What gives?", ">\n\nHe still can't believe that this actually worked and he's a fucking Congressman now, I guess that is reason for a constant shit eating grin.", ">\n\nI guess anything in America is possible with enough Russian Money.", ">\n\nThere's a LOT of Russian sympathy in the right. When we think of spies and operatives, this is not Russia planting Russian people. It's turning US citizens by leveraging them or catering towards their interests. Well, we have a lot of people who's sole interest in politics is to get rich, and Russia is all too happy to oblige. It may start with campaign funding, but it quickly turns into political favors. Pretty soon you're no longer working for the US. Congratulations, you have now become a foreign agent and spy. This it's a position a lot of Republicans are putting themselves into, or already have. Numerous media entities have also placed themselves into this position.", ">\n\nAbout 20 years ago I heard a program on NPR that played a voice recording that, at that time, was itself about 20 years old. So, the original recording was from the 1960's. If I remember correctly, it was either an interview or a speech by Kruschev. It might have even been his shoe banging speech from the U.N. \nHe said something like this: We will wait, and as we are waiting, we will slowly infiltrate the U.S. We have patience and can wait a long time, but we will be successful. \nI know it's not exactly what he said, but that's the gist of it. That Russia would continue to steadily work to influence, change, harm and possess the U.S., no matter how long it would take. \nAnd we are now at that moment.\nEdit: original recording was from the 60's, not 20 years old at the time I heard it. More like 40. Math isn't my strong suit.", ">\n\n40 years ago was the 80s. \nI’m going to weep into my Blind Melon CD.", ">\n\nOh God, you're right.", ">\n\nHis life is pretty plain", ">\n\nHe likes watching the Russians gather kompromat.", ">\n\nGreat, another Trump.", ">\n\nI will keep beating this drum:\nThere is something here. This dude was in poverty and then magically had $300k to lend himself? Changes his name?\nHe was plucked by dark money to do some dirty work. They were just careless with his backstory. They won’t be as careless next time.\nOur current form of government is about two election cycles from being over. There is a much larger story we are missing. This goes far beyond power and greed. You don’t need politicians like this to perpetuate power and greed. This is a coup from within. But why? \nWhat are we missing?", ">\n\nHow is this guy not at least a foreign asset, at most a full blown spy?", ">\n\nThe entirety of the GOP appears to be compromised Russian assets.", ">\n\nI wonder how compromised our government actually is. We genuinely have a fifth column in this country representing Russian interests. Russian propaganda networks literally show clips of Tucker Carlson to justify their actions.", ">\n\nNational. Security. Risk. That's exactly what he is. He needs to be removed ASAP.", ">\n\nIs Santos a Russian agent?", ">\n\nMore likely an asset.\nThe Russians have been funding the republican party for years and are now deeply embedded.", ">\n\nAnd there it is!", ">\n\n“After a through investigation of these claims, our new and improved Ethics committee did indeed discover h the R next to his name and concluded that he did nothing wrong.” - Kevin McCarthy, very soon.", ">\n\nHow much of this nonsense must the people endure until this sad lying person is removed from office. C’mon", ">\n\n718 days.\nBecause there's no fucking way they get the 2/3rds needed to kick him out. GOP needs that vote.", ">\n\nYup. Republicans do NOT self harm no matter what..they are more then willing to hold their nose and pull the lever as long as it keeps them in power", ">\n\nAnd there you go.", ">\n\nWhere there’s smoke, I mean a shit load of smoke, there might be, just might be ………wait for it……..a fire? Or a piece of human garbage who needs to be removed from office?", ">\n\nDon't be alarmed. I'm sure he cozied up to Russia to give them a stern warning.\nThat's why my senator flew to Russia on July 4 so you know he meant business.", ">\n\nWeird how there is no alarm in our government with how easily a foreign power is able to get a pawn elected within the same major political party.", ">\n\nIt’s fucking sad. So eager to fuck over your perceived enemies that your willing to burn the whole house down to spite them and “win”.\nAnd too stupid/narrowly focused on grievance to see it or change.", ">\n\nEvery headline about this guy should just read \"George Santos: It keeps getting worse\"", ">\n\nNo proof of collusion!!! /s", ">\n\nThank you Justice Roberts once again for Citizens United the worst fucking thing ever!", ">\n\nIs this better or worse than Rand Paul hand delivering a letter to putin on Independence Day?\nThe whole GOP are russian assets, they want to be oligarchs in the corporate-state petrochemical enterprise like putin is.", ">\n\nRussia is waging an incredibly successful war to destroy America from within and noone is doing anything to stop it", ">\n\nRepublicans are owned by Russia. Period. They are elected foreign agents working to sabotage the United States. And they are not hiding it, and nobody can do anything.", ">\n\nOf course there’s a Russian connection. This shit is getting old.", ">\n\nThe Republican Party is still endorsing con-men. sigh..", ">\n\nI wish news articles would stop using the name George Santos, as we aren't even sure if that's who this person is. Which when you think about it is fucking ludicrous.", ">\n\nHoly fucking shit, this is the kind of guy TREASON laws need to be applied to.", ">\n\nWhat Russia proved with Trump and doubled down on Santos with is with the right amount of money they can get whoever they fucking want elected into office in this country, and because our system is so broken, we can't do a single thing about it. We're absolutely fucked, folks.", ">\n\nYou know normally at a job they suspend you until the investigation of a crime is complete, and you either get fired with no pay for that time or you come back with pay for the time gone", ">\n\nWhy can't we openly talk about the GOPs Russia problem? How is this not a bigger deal?", ">\n\nStill can’t believe this guy tried to play it off like he said he was “Jew-ish” 😂", ">\n\nNormally I would say that might a coincidence but with the rest of this guy's life idk. Honestly I'm a little worried this guy might just be a legit spy", ">\n\nTurns out Santos is really a Melissa McCarthy character in her new Russian spy comedy. \nPlaying live on news networks nightly.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like Santos is a red herring. He’s just such a blatantly obvious Russian plant. If we came across communications tomorrow that showed his only purpose is to distract from bigger and more powerful Russian assets I would not be surprised at all.", ">\n\nThis guy had the stink of Russia all over him when you saw McCarthy protecting him.", ">\n\nI suspect George Santos is really three kids wearing a suit.", ">\n\nNobody checked!? The county GOP is up in arms with outrage - they just went along and took his word before? Or thought it didn’t matter? Either way - what incredible leadership!", ">\n\nBut yeah, the GOP isn’t riddled with Russian assets. Nothing to see here folks, move along.", ">\n\nThis guy is clearly a massive queef, but how can there be this much dirt on one person?", ">\n\nLock him up", ">\n\nThe GOP is owned by Putin.", ">\n\nHey, look! *More* Russia connections! \nWhy is the GOP up to their ears in Russians?", ">\n\nThese people are literally traitors by definition, how much more are we willing to take?", ">\n\nWell now we know the source of the dark money. That's useful.", ">\n\nThe Deep State in action.", ">\n\nRepublicans are Russian assets", ">\n\nBeen waiting for the Russian link. No wonder republicans wanted him on the intel committee", ">\n\nThis guy has Russian plant written all over him. \nThe Russians always see Americans as ridiculously gullible, all you have to do is lie spend money and you can subvert any level of America. \nThey practice this to extremes with people so over the top that if you wrote them into a movie no one would believe it. Yavanovich, Manafort, this clown.\nIts insane that it still fucking works. Every single time.", ">\n\nRusspublicans!!", ">\n\nDude is a standard Republican.", ">\n\nI think the question really needs to be asked now...\nIs he even gay?", ">\n\nExcellent. I look forward to nothing to continue to happen to hold anyone accountable.", ">\n\nThe entire Republican party is rife with Russian assets.", ">\n\nWhenever I read this level of republican hijinx I think of Al Franken.", ">\n\nWhy?", ">\n\nI don't believe he would have lost his job had he been a republican. Pure speculation of course.", ">\n\nI think we’re to the level of absurdity where republicans wouldn’t like him because he was merely handsy and not rapey.", ">\n\nThere seems to be more and more coming out on this guy. I think we have a poster child for the republican party.", ">\n\nWhat a strange coincidence.. it seems like a lot of republicans have personal and financial ties to Russia.", ">\n\nThis entire Santos saga is a testament to how awful our news media is in reporting on the history of Republican candidates. \nJust like with candidate Trump, who had decades worth of corruption and crooked business dealings they could have reoorted on. Tons of lawsuits, accusations left and right. There was a clear history of corruption that took almost no digging to find. And yet the mainstream news media chose not to. Same with this Santos character.", ">\n\nGeorge Santos is a conventionally unattractive, overweight, deeply insecure gay man who has turned to lying to give his life value because he doesn’t get it from the people he desires it from. Ultimately, he absolutely loathes who he is deep down.", ">\n\nHe lead a crazy life and had delusional ambitions. Sounds like if someone made him an offer he wouldn't refuse.", ">\n\nhow delusional is he if he got elected to congress? i mean, he appears to be failing upward constantly", ">\n\nThe Distinguished Gentleman 2: Going All In", ">\n\nThis guy is going to be fine, unless he votes democrat.", ">\n\nNewsflash: Santos to announce later today that he is, in fact, the Second Coming.\nGood Grief. Open the doors to the psychiatric hospitals! Free them because therein lies the new world leaders!\nThe freakin' guy is mentally ill, and so very, very dumb that he's too stupid to even cover his tracks with all the lies he tells.\nCrazy as a road lizard, dumb as a rock. Truly Republican Presidential Material.", ">\n\n“Don't hurt the face! I'm an actor.\"\n\"It's just a role. \"George Santos\", see, it's not real.\"", ">\n\nAnd republicans will applaud him for it and make him chair of the ethics committee probably.", ">\n\nRepublicans will never get rid of him then. He's truly one of them.", ">\n\nHe’s an operative for political chaos", ">\n\nAt what point can we shame and direct our ire to his stupid ass voters that put him into power 😩😩", ">\n\nNow. It is entirely the voters of NY3 that are to blame for this. Santos’ bullshit was out in the local press, his opponent tried to make this a thing at the debates but was ignored. The voters of NY3 either couldn’t be bothered or didn’t bother to look into him. Yes, it’s true that major media sources declined to pick up the story, but they are Infotainment Technicians and they simply ran the numbers and determined they would make more money off the story AFTER the election than before, so here we are. At the end of the day, it’s entirely the voters of NY3 fault. THEY are to BLAME. 100%.", ">\n\nIt always leads back to the Russians, doesn't it?", ">\n\nImagine being responsible for voting in this clown\nIt’s time we publically shame the people who vote for politicians like Santos/Boebert and ostracize them from society. They are the people fucking over this country, without them we wouldn’t have these clowns in office.", ">\n\nHe’s been installed as a chaos agent. Now that Speaker Marjorie Taylor Greene has to act as normal as possible to continue playing the game, he will be the new distraction for all their anti-democracy legislation and actions.", ">\n\nLove this pic. \n“Mom one day cameras will follow me EVERYWHERE”.", ">\n\ndamn.. this just keeps getting better", ">\n\nKnew he was an operative", ">\n\nRussia connection… who could have thought.. /s\nThe set is complete.", ">\n\nWho the fuck knows who this guy is and what masters he actually serves. The only thing we know for sure is that his entire candidacy was fraudulent and he absolutely cannot serve in public office.", ">\n\nOf course.", ">\n\nHe is clearly a foreign asset and should be removed from the House for national security purposes, then investigated to the nth degree.", ">\n\nIs Santos going to get window cancer?", ">\n\nJfc", ">\n\nHey Republicans, this is your shadow government crap you keep thinking democrats are. Right here.", ">\n\nFucking Domestic terrorist shithead. \nHe should be removed", ">\n\nThis. Fucking. Guy.", ">\n\nAverage Republican these days.", ">\n\nRepublican = russian. No wonder the national party is insisting on keeping him.", ">\n\nOk. These people need to be fucking vetted and investigated to hold office.", ">\n\nThat explains where his money comes from", ">\n\nSo that’s how he suddenly got all this money and support. He’s a Russian plant to fuck with our politics… and republicans are there to eat it up like a cat licking up it’s own vomit.", ">\n\nI’m starting to feel like I am one of the few people that doesn’t have some kind of ties to Russian oil men.", ">\n\nWait, what!? Another republican linked to Russian money? Can we just finally admit that the US doesn’t exist anymore because clearly we’re owned by Russia.", ">\n\nThis should say: George Santos linked to Russian oligarch. Drop the cousin nonsense.", ">\n\nwhy is it always the GOP with ties to Russian oligarchs? why is it always them?", ">\n\nA Republican with tenuous ties to Russia?!? \n[surprised pikachu face]", ">\n\nInstead of revealing new damning information about this sociopath every day, why isn't he getting removed from office?", ">\n\nI posted somewhere that he was probably a Russian asset.\nAs a joke.\nSuppose they got all the others, so they figured they didn’t have to worry about anyone noticing. Getting sloppy after so much success.\nHow many of them went to Moscow on 4 July?", ">\n\nIt’s a colossal security f*ck up that this man is allowed to walk the halls of Congress.", ">\n\nThis is exactly what I meant when I said it was odd they let someone so obviously compromised, take office. He's literally a wanted criminal, with Russian ties, and the gop, staying completely on brand, was like \"this is our guy\". It's fucking insane.", ">\n\n.....and it all comes back to Russia and the republican party", ">\n\nSigh. I always hope the worst isn't true, but, come on. That's a coincidence worthy of investigating further.\nAt least he picked a better company name than \"Fraud Guarantee\".", ">\n\nRepublicans are way too gullible—my gawd…", ">\n\nI was wondering how long it would for someone to link him somehow to \"Russia\" and to an Oligarch , no less.", ">\n\nI’m beginning to wonder why none of this deep investigative journalism wasn’t done when a Democrat could have benefited from it.", ">\n\nThere appear to be several Russian-financed nut jobs in our Congress. If only we had a committee to investigate ethical problems and a separate department to also investigate and then prosecute.\nI realize much of this info is anecdotal but there is too much of it to ignore, given that Russian interference to help the GOP has already been proven.", ">\n\nDo we even know for sure this jackasses' name is really 'George Santos'?", ">\n\nSo now surely Republicans will toss him out, right? Nah. They probably like him even more now. Fucking fascists", ">\n\nI get Jared from Subway vibes from Santos.", ">\n\nSomething tells me a lot of republicans are linked to Russian oligarchs. They certainly don’t have to be qualified or honorable.", ">\n\nChances Santos “commits suicide” in the not so distant future?", ">\n\nJust dump this guy already. He shouldn't be in congress. What a shame.", ">\n\nThey replaced Tulsi with “George” or “Anthony”.", ">\n\nYet another example of laundered Russian campaign contributions by the GOP.", ">\n\nIf you follow the Ukraine/Russia (totally not a) War. You will see a lot of similar talking points and excuses/hypocrisy as the GOP. Russian money is deep in American politics and you have to pretend very hard to argue against that fact. \nNot shocked, probably don’t have to look too hard to find more links. The GOP has no intention to look though.", ">\n\nWhy do we put up with treason?", ">\n\nBecause the GOP's majority is paper thin and without Santos they are even less likely to win any controversial votes. The GOP and most of its voters don't care that Santos is a fraud. They are conditioned to blindly follow the party's leaders regardless of the consequences. The only thing that matters is owning the libs.", ">\n\nNot gonna lie - if nothing else this man lives an interesting life lol", ">\n\nAt what point are we just going to have Santos pull off his mask to reveal it's been Maria Butina this entire time?", ">\n\nNo way….", ">\n\nIt gets better every day", ">\n\nNot surprised", ">\n\nCitizens United r/whatcouldgowrong", ">\n\nWho the fuck is this guy?", ">\n\nGop equal Russian agents now", ">\n\nThe United States of America is currently under a new type of “cold war” attack by the Russians and it is extremely pathetic that about half of the American public is fine with it (because the Russians discovered their drug of choice: hate).", ">\n\nSurprised, but not surprised. You know what I mean?", ">\n\nHe's a caricature of a real human." ]

[]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer)." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"", ">\n\nSome comment that Turkey could leave NATO. Turkey can’t leave NATO because If they do, they can’t bully Greece any more." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"", ">\n\nSome comment that Turkey could leave NATO. Turkey can’t leave NATO because If they do, they can’t bully Greece any more.", ">\n\nWorse than that - if Turkey leaves NATO, NATO loses control of the Bosporus, the only way in or out of the Black Sea for ships larger than river barges from the Rhine-Main-Danube. \nRussia hasn’t reinforced its Black Sea fleet as Turkey has cut off access to the Bosporus for them. Simply put, they’re too strategically important for NATO to risk losing." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"", ">\n\nSome comment that Turkey could leave NATO. Turkey can’t leave NATO because If they do, they can’t bully Greece any more.", ">\n\nWorse than that - if Turkey leaves NATO, NATO loses control of the Bosporus, the only way in or out of the Black Sea for ships larger than river barges from the Rhine-Main-Danube. \nRussia hasn’t reinforced its Black Sea fleet as Turkey has cut off access to the Bosporus for them. Simply put, they’re too strategically important for NATO to risk losing.", ">\n\nYes, this is it - Turkey sits on strategically important land, and therefore they will be in NATO.\nAnd so they must be appeased, to a certain extent." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"", ">\n\nSome comment that Turkey could leave NATO. Turkey can’t leave NATO because If they do, they can’t bully Greece any more.", ">\n\nWorse than that - if Turkey leaves NATO, NATO loses control of the Bosporus, the only way in or out of the Black Sea for ships larger than river barges from the Rhine-Main-Danube. \nRussia hasn’t reinforced its Black Sea fleet as Turkey has cut off access to the Bosporus for them. Simply put, they’re too strategically important for NATO to risk losing.", ">\n\nYes, this is it - Turkey sits on strategically important land, and therefore they will be in NATO.\nAnd so they must be appeased, to a certain extent.", ">\n\nYeah. If NATO had to pick between Sweden/Finland and Turkey, they would pick Turkey 100%. Not only is Turkey infinitely more important strategically than Finland or Sweden, but also they know that neither Finland nor Sweden are going to fall out of their sphere of influence even if they aren't in NATO. Meanwhile if Turkey left NATO, they wpuld definitely just fall off their friend list entirely and in worst case scenario maybe even end up siding with Russia at some point in the future." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"", ">\n\nSome comment that Turkey could leave NATO. Turkey can’t leave NATO because If they do, they can’t bully Greece any more.", ">\n\nWorse than that - if Turkey leaves NATO, NATO loses control of the Bosporus, the only way in or out of the Black Sea for ships larger than river barges from the Rhine-Main-Danube. \nRussia hasn’t reinforced its Black Sea fleet as Turkey has cut off access to the Bosporus for them. Simply put, they’re too strategically important for NATO to risk losing.", ">\n\nYes, this is it - Turkey sits on strategically important land, and therefore they will be in NATO.\nAnd so they must be appeased, to a certain extent.", ">\n\nYeah. If NATO had to pick between Sweden/Finland and Turkey, they would pick Turkey 100%. Not only is Turkey infinitely more important strategically than Finland or Sweden, but also they know that neither Finland nor Sweden are going to fall out of their sphere of influence even if they aren't in NATO. Meanwhile if Turkey left NATO, they wpuld definitely just fall off their friend list entirely and in worst case scenario maybe even end up siding with Russia at some point in the future.", ">\n\nIt's about time someone twisted Erdogan's arm for abusing their position in the alliance." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"", ">\n\nSome comment that Turkey could leave NATO. Turkey can’t leave NATO because If they do, they can’t bully Greece any more.", ">\n\nWorse than that - if Turkey leaves NATO, NATO loses control of the Bosporus, the only way in or out of the Black Sea for ships larger than river barges from the Rhine-Main-Danube. \nRussia hasn’t reinforced its Black Sea fleet as Turkey has cut off access to the Bosporus for them. Simply put, they’re too strategically important for NATO to risk losing.", ">\n\nYes, this is it - Turkey sits on strategically important land, and therefore they will be in NATO.\nAnd so they must be appeased, to a certain extent.", ">\n\nYeah. If NATO had to pick between Sweden/Finland and Turkey, they would pick Turkey 100%. Not only is Turkey infinitely more important strategically than Finland or Sweden, but also they know that neither Finland nor Sweden are going to fall out of their sphere of influence even if they aren't in NATO. Meanwhile if Turkey left NATO, they wpuld definitely just fall off their friend list entirely and in worst case scenario maybe even end up siding with Russia at some point in the future.", ">\n\nIt's about time someone twisted Erdogan's arm for abusing their position in the alliance.", ">\n\n\"Let us be part of F35 program again, or we won't approve.\" -Erogdan\n\"Uhh, how about no F16s?\" -US" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"", ">\n\nSome comment that Turkey could leave NATO. Turkey can’t leave NATO because If they do, they can’t bully Greece any more.", ">\n\nWorse than that - if Turkey leaves NATO, NATO loses control of the Bosporus, the only way in or out of the Black Sea for ships larger than river barges from the Rhine-Main-Danube. \nRussia hasn’t reinforced its Black Sea fleet as Turkey has cut off access to the Bosporus for them. Simply put, they’re too strategically important for NATO to risk losing.", ">\n\nYes, this is it - Turkey sits on strategically important land, and therefore they will be in NATO.\nAnd so they must be appeased, to a certain extent.", ">\n\nYeah. If NATO had to pick between Sweden/Finland and Turkey, they would pick Turkey 100%. Not only is Turkey infinitely more important strategically than Finland or Sweden, but also they know that neither Finland nor Sweden are going to fall out of their sphere of influence even if they aren't in NATO. Meanwhile if Turkey left NATO, they wpuld definitely just fall off their friend list entirely and in worst case scenario maybe even end up siding with Russia at some point in the future.", ">\n\nIt's about time someone twisted Erdogan's arm for abusing their position in the alliance.", ">\n\n\"Let us be part of F35 program again, or we won't approve.\" -Erogdan\n\"Uhh, how about no F16s?\" -US", ">\n\nThis is the only logical step. Turkey is too important to NATO strategically and Erdogan knows this. \nSweden and Finland said it best: \"We have bent over backwards meeting Turkey's demands and they just keep moving the goal posts.\"\nNow if Turkey wants to play jet ball, they need to check their bullshit." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"", ">\n\nSome comment that Turkey could leave NATO. Turkey can’t leave NATO because If they do, they can’t bully Greece any more.", ">\n\nWorse than that - if Turkey leaves NATO, NATO loses control of the Bosporus, the only way in or out of the Black Sea for ships larger than river barges from the Rhine-Main-Danube. \nRussia hasn’t reinforced its Black Sea fleet as Turkey has cut off access to the Bosporus for them. Simply put, they’re too strategically important for NATO to risk losing.", ">\n\nYes, this is it - Turkey sits on strategically important land, and therefore they will be in NATO.\nAnd so they must be appeased, to a certain extent.", ">\n\nYeah. If NATO had to pick between Sweden/Finland and Turkey, they would pick Turkey 100%. Not only is Turkey infinitely more important strategically than Finland or Sweden, but also they know that neither Finland nor Sweden are going to fall out of their sphere of influence even if they aren't in NATO. Meanwhile if Turkey left NATO, they wpuld definitely just fall off their friend list entirely and in worst case scenario maybe even end up siding with Russia at some point in the future.", ">\n\nIt's about time someone twisted Erdogan's arm for abusing their position in the alliance.", ">\n\n\"Let us be part of F35 program again, or we won't approve.\" -Erogdan\n\"Uhh, how about no F16s?\" -US", ">\n\nThis is the only logical step. Turkey is too important to NATO strategically and Erdogan knows this. \nSweden and Finland said it best: \"We have bent over backwards meeting Turkey's demands and they just keep moving the goal posts.\"\nNow if Turkey wants to play jet ball, they need to check their bullshit.", ">\n\nThat's not really what happened. Turkey made demands from the start that were outrageous and that Sweden/Finland would never meet (rightly)." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"", ">\n\nSome comment that Turkey could leave NATO. Turkey can’t leave NATO because If they do, they can’t bully Greece any more.", ">\n\nWorse than that - if Turkey leaves NATO, NATO loses control of the Bosporus, the only way in or out of the Black Sea for ships larger than river barges from the Rhine-Main-Danube. \nRussia hasn’t reinforced its Black Sea fleet as Turkey has cut off access to the Bosporus for them. Simply put, they’re too strategically important for NATO to risk losing.", ">\n\nYes, this is it - Turkey sits on strategically important land, and therefore they will be in NATO.\nAnd so they must be appeased, to a certain extent.", ">\n\nYeah. If NATO had to pick between Sweden/Finland and Turkey, they would pick Turkey 100%. Not only is Turkey infinitely more important strategically than Finland or Sweden, but also they know that neither Finland nor Sweden are going to fall out of their sphere of influence even if they aren't in NATO. Meanwhile if Turkey left NATO, they wpuld definitely just fall off their friend list entirely and in worst case scenario maybe even end up siding with Russia at some point in the future.", ">\n\nIt's about time someone twisted Erdogan's arm for abusing their position in the alliance.", ">\n\n\"Let us be part of F35 program again, or we won't approve.\" -Erogdan\n\"Uhh, how about no F16s?\" -US", ">\n\nThis is the only logical step. Turkey is too important to NATO strategically and Erdogan knows this. \nSweden and Finland said it best: \"We have bent over backwards meeting Turkey's demands and they just keep moving the goal posts.\"\nNow if Turkey wants to play jet ball, they need to check their bullshit.", ">\n\nThat's not really what happened. Turkey made demands from the start that were outrageous and that Sweden/Finland would never meet (rightly).", ">\n\nSort of, their demands haven't to my knowledge been given as a point by point list - it's always been couched in general 'concerns'.\nThe deal which Sweden and Finland struck have been adhered to, the problem is that which was agreed to is being spun and interpreted by Turkey in a way that's never going to fly. \nFor example, Sweden agreed to process their extradition requests through the legal system and the next day Turkish spokespeople comes out with a list of people they claim will now be extradited, including political refugees like journalists who are protected from such extraditions by law." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"", ">\n\nSome comment that Turkey could leave NATO. Turkey can’t leave NATO because If they do, they can’t bully Greece any more.", ">\n\nWorse than that - if Turkey leaves NATO, NATO loses control of the Bosporus, the only way in or out of the Black Sea for ships larger than river barges from the Rhine-Main-Danube. \nRussia hasn’t reinforced its Black Sea fleet as Turkey has cut off access to the Bosporus for them. Simply put, they’re too strategically important for NATO to risk losing.", ">\n\nYes, this is it - Turkey sits on strategically important land, and therefore they will be in NATO.\nAnd so they must be appeased, to a certain extent.", ">\n\nYeah. If NATO had to pick between Sweden/Finland and Turkey, they would pick Turkey 100%. Not only is Turkey infinitely more important strategically than Finland or Sweden, but also they know that neither Finland nor Sweden are going to fall out of their sphere of influence even if they aren't in NATO. Meanwhile if Turkey left NATO, they wpuld definitely just fall off their friend list entirely and in worst case scenario maybe even end up siding with Russia at some point in the future.", ">\n\nIt's about time someone twisted Erdogan's arm for abusing their position in the alliance.", ">\n\n\"Let us be part of F35 program again, or we won't approve.\" -Erogdan\n\"Uhh, how about no F16s?\" -US", ">\n\nThis is the only logical step. Turkey is too important to NATO strategically and Erdogan knows this. \nSweden and Finland said it best: \"We have bent over backwards meeting Turkey's demands and they just keep moving the goal posts.\"\nNow if Turkey wants to play jet ball, they need to check their bullshit.", ">\n\nThat's not really what happened. Turkey made demands from the start that were outrageous and that Sweden/Finland would never meet (rightly).", ">\n\nSort of, their demands haven't to my knowledge been given as a point by point list - it's always been couched in general 'concerns'.\nThe deal which Sweden and Finland struck have been adhered to, the problem is that which was agreed to is being spun and interpreted by Turkey in a way that's never going to fly. \nFor example, Sweden agreed to process their extradition requests through the legal system and the next day Turkish spokespeople comes out with a list of people they claim will now be extradited, including political refugees like journalists who are protected from such extraditions by law.", ">\n\nAgain again I think thank fuk the Joe is in charge in the states instead or the orange muppet" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"", ">\n\nSome comment that Turkey could leave NATO. Turkey can’t leave NATO because If they do, they can’t bully Greece any more.", ">\n\nWorse than that - if Turkey leaves NATO, NATO loses control of the Bosporus, the only way in or out of the Black Sea for ships larger than river barges from the Rhine-Main-Danube. \nRussia hasn’t reinforced its Black Sea fleet as Turkey has cut off access to the Bosporus for them. Simply put, they’re too strategically important for NATO to risk losing.", ">\n\nYes, this is it - Turkey sits on strategically important land, and therefore they will be in NATO.\nAnd so they must be appeased, to a certain extent.", ">\n\nYeah. If NATO had to pick between Sweden/Finland and Turkey, they would pick Turkey 100%. Not only is Turkey infinitely more important strategically than Finland or Sweden, but also they know that neither Finland nor Sweden are going to fall out of their sphere of influence even if they aren't in NATO. Meanwhile if Turkey left NATO, they wpuld definitely just fall off their friend list entirely and in worst case scenario maybe even end up siding with Russia at some point in the future.", ">\n\nIt's about time someone twisted Erdogan's arm for abusing their position in the alliance.", ">\n\n\"Let us be part of F35 program again, or we won't approve.\" -Erogdan\n\"Uhh, how about no F16s?\" -US", ">\n\nThis is the only logical step. Turkey is too important to NATO strategically and Erdogan knows this. \nSweden and Finland said it best: \"We have bent over backwards meeting Turkey's demands and they just keep moving the goal posts.\"\nNow if Turkey wants to play jet ball, they need to check their bullshit.", ">\n\nThat's not really what happened. Turkey made demands from the start that were outrageous and that Sweden/Finland would never meet (rightly).", ">\n\nSort of, their demands haven't to my knowledge been given as a point by point list - it's always been couched in general 'concerns'.\nThe deal which Sweden and Finland struck have been adhered to, the problem is that which was agreed to is being spun and interpreted by Turkey in a way that's never going to fly. \nFor example, Sweden agreed to process their extradition requests through the legal system and the next day Turkish spokespeople comes out with a list of people they claim will now be extradited, including political refugees like journalists who are protected from such extraditions by law.", ">\n\nAgain again I think thank fuk the Joe is in charge in the states instead or the orange muppet", ">\n\nyeah, can you imagine how bad the situation in europe and nato would be if that puppet was still in the big chair? \nHow the heck did people ever vote for cheeto mussolini?" ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"", ">\n\nSome comment that Turkey could leave NATO. Turkey can’t leave NATO because If they do, they can’t bully Greece any more.", ">\n\nWorse than that - if Turkey leaves NATO, NATO loses control of the Bosporus, the only way in or out of the Black Sea for ships larger than river barges from the Rhine-Main-Danube. \nRussia hasn’t reinforced its Black Sea fleet as Turkey has cut off access to the Bosporus for them. Simply put, they’re too strategically important for NATO to risk losing.", ">\n\nYes, this is it - Turkey sits on strategically important land, and therefore they will be in NATO.\nAnd so they must be appeased, to a certain extent.", ">\n\nYeah. If NATO had to pick between Sweden/Finland and Turkey, they would pick Turkey 100%. Not only is Turkey infinitely more important strategically than Finland or Sweden, but also they know that neither Finland nor Sweden are going to fall out of their sphere of influence even if they aren't in NATO. Meanwhile if Turkey left NATO, they wpuld definitely just fall off their friend list entirely and in worst case scenario maybe even end up siding with Russia at some point in the future.", ">\n\nIt's about time someone twisted Erdogan's arm for abusing their position in the alliance.", ">\n\n\"Let us be part of F35 program again, or we won't approve.\" -Erogdan\n\"Uhh, how about no F16s?\" -US", ">\n\nThis is the only logical step. Turkey is too important to NATO strategically and Erdogan knows this. \nSweden and Finland said it best: \"We have bent over backwards meeting Turkey's demands and they just keep moving the goal posts.\"\nNow if Turkey wants to play jet ball, they need to check their bullshit.", ">\n\nThat's not really what happened. Turkey made demands from the start that were outrageous and that Sweden/Finland would never meet (rightly).", ">\n\nSort of, their demands haven't to my knowledge been given as a point by point list - it's always been couched in general 'concerns'.\nThe deal which Sweden and Finland struck have been adhered to, the problem is that which was agreed to is being spun and interpreted by Turkey in a way that's never going to fly. \nFor example, Sweden agreed to process their extradition requests through the legal system and the next day Turkish spokespeople comes out with a list of people they claim will now be extradited, including political refugees like journalists who are protected from such extraditions by law.", ">\n\nAgain again I think thank fuk the Joe is in charge in the states instead or the orange muppet", ">\n\nyeah, can you imagine how bad the situation in europe and nato would be if that puppet was still in the big chair? \nHow the heck did people ever vote for cheeto mussolini?", ">\n\nI approve." ]

[ "This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 88%. (I'm a bot)\n\n\nWashington is using the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets as bait to force Ankara to ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership applications, Bloomberg writes.\nFollowing last week's protest, Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador, opened an investigation and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by the speaker of the Swedish parliament.\nThe U.S. has warned Turkey that Congress may not approve the plane sale if Ankara does not ratify Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids, a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.\n\n\nExtended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: Sweden^#1 NATO^#2 Turkey^#3 Erdogan^#4 Finland^#5", ">\n\nTurkey should not be allowed to compromise NATO security. The US should do more than just hold up weapons sales.", ">\n\nThe US will likely do more, but only if it's necessary.", ">\n\nThe reality is Sweden and Finland already have security assurances from the US and other NATO countries, so in more ways than not they're already in NATO. The US and the rest of NATO have all the time in the world to pressure Turkey to give its vote, there's no real urgency to do it fast.\nEdit: Yes, I get it, Ukraine had security assurances too, Trump didn't uphold previous agreements, blah blah. They're in the European Union which has its own mutual defense agreement and even though it's not in the EU, Norway would absolutely not tolerate Russia invading Sweden or Finland.", ">\n\nTreaties ratified in the USA are binding on us as Federal law. That I includes NATO. Russia’s nightmare is knowing we WILL react if they hit these places. \nGet them in NATO. It cripples Russia.", ">\n\n\nIt cripples Russia\n\nMajor thing to point out - it will only cripple them if they decide to attack.\nSo as long as they don't act like bitchass punks, they're fine.", ">\n\nBasically, it \"cripples\" their ability to be a thuggish hegemon in the region. But if they just trade normally and do diplomacy like everyone else, theyd probably be flourishing, if not for all the attendant corruption.", ">\n\nAKA: Don't act like a cunt, and you won't get fucked.", ">\n\nDon't start nothin', won't BE nothin'.", ">\n\nTalk shit, get hit", ">\n\nWhat are the odds that Turkey's reluctance is just political posturing from Erdogan ahead of the 2023 general election coming up in June? Not at all familiar with Turkey's political landscape, but it does seem like a plausible explanation for Turkey's stance so far.", ">\n\nNot quite, Sweden's entry into NATO is protested by most of the political spectrum within Turkey. ( I have seen almost zero opposition to Finland ) \nErdoğan is being criticized for failing to extort enough suspects from Sweden.\nAs for opposition parties, they are disdained by worsening European relations. I remember the head of the main opposition party saying \"This issue should have been resolved behind closed doors.\"", ">\n\nWhy is Sweden, who's bordered by NATO countries already, protested and not Finland, who borders Russia?", ">\n\nTheir issues are not on behalf of Russia, but the support of kurds in the region", ">\n\nIf there is one single thing the middle east can agree on it's their disdain for the kurds and their desire for independence.", ">\n\nI'm not middle eastern, but I'm guessing because there's many of them spanning three or four countries. If they had their country, it would take HUGE chunks from places like Turkey and Iran, which I'm sure they're not keen on.", ">\n\nThis is indeed the case. Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran all have Kurdish populations. It's such a problem RN because due to instability in Syria among other things, they've gained a lot of autonomy/ground there. Turkey and Iraq are particularly worried as they border the kurdish populations that are in Syria and are afraid it's going to spill over/support their own separatist movements. \nWouldn't be surprised if Erdogan went full steam ahead with his safe zone plan in northern Syria. War gets the home support for his reelection going.", ">\n\nNo no, lets see what will Erdogan do if the answer to his antics is just.. silence. Not like we (finland and sweden) are in a hurry. I mean we thought we might be, but it seems that Russia is going to dissolve all on its own, so.. have at it, Turkey", ">\n\nYeah this whole situation got a lot less tense when it became obvious that Russia was going to struggle in Ukraine. I can’t imagine you guys are particularly worried at this stage.", ">\n\nRussia attacking Finland would be flat out insanity. The Finns have been prepping for almost 80 years. It was clear it would be a bloodbath even before the state of Russia's military was exposed.", ">\n\nUnfortunately Finnish defence strategy is not based on deflecting the Russian invasion. It is based on making it very costly and stupid move.\nPutin has shown that he does not care about casualties nor do many russians. Finland can't really win a war where Russia would be willing to have over 300k casualties.\nIn my opinion, even with the state of Russian military exposed, Russia could realistically wage a war that Finland would not be able to deflect.", ">\n\nFinland on its own, probably not. Finland supplied by NATO countries, as seen in Ukraine, can probably last a long time. Finnish terrain is much harder to fight in than Ukraine's, it would be way worse for Russia than they are currently experiencing.", ">\n\nFinland could be embargoed though.\nIn case of war, I still think it would be likely that Sweden would join the war out of the danger of having Russia as its neighbour. Their best deterrent against Russia is Finland in between.\nFinnish landscape is heavy forests, lakes and swamps so I agree on that. It would be harder than Ukraine and Finland would be heavily defended and supplied by Nato members (also EU has defence pact) but in the end, Russia has shown that it doesn't really care about pointless wars.", ">\n\nFinlands strategy is to just fuck their shit up and complete victory is more of an afterthought.\nWe have such thick forests the only way to get through is with small roads and dealing with them we have motti tactics. Bridges and tunnels are made so they can be easily destroyed and bunkers for nearly all, because we know Russia doesn't play fair.\nCompared to Ukraine the geography is switched from large fields of farm land (easy for large invasion in good weather.) To finlands small roads in bum fuck nowhere with lakes and swamps\nOh and the government mandates that vital medicine and other products must have extra for minimum of 3 months if supplies are cut.", ">\n\nAs we should. We’ve been far too patient with them as it is.", ">\n\nRemember when Erdogan came to D.C. and had his thugs beat the shit out of a crowd of protesters and nobody did shit about it?\nFuck Turkey", ">\n\nWell specifically fuck Erdogan.", ">\n\nHe was elected into office by the people, he didn't appear out of nowhere.", ">\n\nI can stand by his initial election. His systematic elimination of checks and balances since then is unforgivable imo, but that’s overwhelmingly on him.", ">\n\nActually you shouldnt, the guy was banned from politics for live because he said \"mosques are our source of obedient warriors\" or something alike.", ">\n\nWhat you’re saying fits with my narrative just fine. My (less than expert/academic) understanding is that there was real popular backlash against the secularization of Turkish society. The people genuinely loved politicians who showed backbone standing up for their religious beliefs. That is an entirely legitimate reason to vote for a candidate in a democracy.", ">\n\n\"we want democracy and freedom to vote in who we want!\"\n\"You guys voted in who??!!\"", ">\n\nBut that's not exactly true of Turkey. Modern Turkey was set up as a secular and modern state first and a democratic state second, or more accurately, \"eventually\".\nAttaturk was both liberal and a secularist but he lead a dictatorship and was rather harsh on religious sentiment. His goal was to eventually transition to a democracy but with checks and the main check was on religion. \nThat model was imported from France (laicite) and even kept the same name (laiklik/laicism) because France had the same issues with the catholic church having enormous influence and making democratic elections meaningless when it exerted it uncontrolled. \nMy point is that the mission statement of Turkey in its founding wasn't that it would be a great democracy where all voices are heard but that it would be a modern, secular and national state where voices opposed to that would fade or be faded away.", ">\n\nThat is super interesting, thanks for sharing. Do that have separation of church and state in their constitution?\nPS sketchy username given the context lol", ">\n\nErdogan is a massive asshat that needs some perspective. Hopefully this will suffice.", ">\n\nIt won’t.", ">\n\nWhy wouldn't it? People like him understands the use of power.", ">\n\nI’ve read that Erdogan’s responded to inflation with a rigid adherence to Islamic economics. He probably has advisors who understand cause and effect, but he’s responding ideologically.", ">\n\nWhen an extortionist gets extorted. Beautiful! [insert michael fassbender steve job \"perfection\"meme]", ">\n\nIt is a shame that the U.S. has to use anything at all.\nShame on Erdogan. Shame on Orban.", ">\n\nGood thing about a significantly weakened Russia that's mostly reduced to fighting with literal antiques, or even a disintegrated Russia that, say, loses the Caucus, is that these eastern European strongmen make much less sense as buffers. They become expendible to the EU and NATO, or, their states being depressurized gives democracy a chance to flourish. I suspect we'll see this with Belarus first post-war.", ">\n\nThat's an interesting, hopeful take on the situation!\nRegarding Belarus, how do you mean? Do you think Lukashenko will try to be more democratic? Will the people rise up against him because there's no more support from Russia left? Something else?", ">\n\nLukashenko may not have Russia to come step in for the next uprising against him.", ">\n\nI don't get this title. The US isn't \"forcing\" Turkey. Continuing the sale of F-16 fighter jets was one of Erdogan's goals with blocking the ratifications.\nAnother goal is to get free rein in Northern Syria to kill the YPG, which the US will most likely grant. A final goal would be the resumed participation of Turkey in the F-35 program - that one would be a huge win for Turkey if granted. Given that Finland and Sweden are unlikely to give in to Turkish demands, I wonder if Turkey will push harder for the F35 program especially given the recent news that Greece is getting them.", ">\n\nJust isn’t possible while S-400’s are present in Turkey. The U.S. literally doesn’t want the jet scanned by that RADAR.", ">\n\nTurkey gives s400s to Ukraine. Us gives f35 and patriots to turkey, in exchange for ratifying Sweden and Finland into NATO. Bingo bango.", ">\n\nThat won't happen either, because Turkey wants technology transfer also for the AA system (patriot or otherwise), which USA is unwilling to share. Only Russia was willing to share the technology for S-400.", ">\n\nTurkey didn't get full technology transfer as they wanted from Russia.", ">\n\nWhich makes their decision even more baffling than before. They knew that purchasing a Russian AA system would jeopardize their position in the F-35 program, so getting less than what they wanted and losing their place in that program just doesn't make sense long term.\nUnless they got something else also (like the promise for nuclear weapons knowledge transfer).", ">\n\nAllegedly Russia cut Turkey a real good deal for the S-400s to wheedle their way in.", ">\n\nA really good deal would have to compensate for the jobs lost in Turkish defence industry (Turkey was manufacturing the wings for F-35s), and give something extra too.\nI'm getting more and more convinced they got a deal for nuclear weapons technology transfer, on top of the second nuclear station that Rosatom will build in Turkey.", ">\n\nThere we go. In theory the Western nations should be able to apply enough diplomatic pressure to get it done. If someone like Erdogan decides to go all in and ignore it, though, NATO has a big problem.", ">\n\nI am of the perception that if Erdogan throws his toys out the pram and blocking Sweden and Finland, then NATO will simply do like the EU does with Hungary and basically work around them.\nSure, neither will be real members, but they will just be included and covered so much that there really wont be much difference.... save perhaps that no soldiers from Finland and Sweden will be visiting Turkey and vice versa... and Erdogan may have to wait even longer for those new jets.", ">\n\n\nsaid \"why are we supporting Ukraine so much when they are not in Nato?\".\n\nKind of scary that people have forgotten WW2 already. You can't appease a dictator - appeasement means you have a bigger fight later.", ">\n\nHahaha, what a way to name a situation in which Erdogan gets the best deal with US from ratifying Sweden and Finland NATO entries.\nThis reminds me of a Soviet joke:\n\"A Foot Race In Moscow Between World Leaders” read the headline.“Today in Timiryazevsky Park world leaders participated in a 100 meter foot race. Our Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, finished a very respectable second place. The poor American President, John F. Kennedy finished a miserable next-to-last.\"", ">\n\nSome comment that Turkey could leave NATO. Turkey can’t leave NATO because If they do, they can’t bully Greece any more.", ">\n\nWorse than that - if Turkey leaves NATO, NATO loses control of the Bosporus, the only way in or out of the Black Sea for ships larger than river barges from the Rhine-Main-Danube. \nRussia hasn’t reinforced its Black Sea fleet as Turkey has cut off access to the Bosporus for them. Simply put, they’re too strategically important for NATO to risk losing.", ">\n\nYes, this is it - Turkey sits on strategically important land, and therefore they will be in NATO.\nAnd so they must be appeased, to a certain extent.", ">\n\nYeah. If NATO had to pick between Sweden/Finland and Turkey, they would pick Turkey 100%. Not only is Turkey infinitely more important strategically than Finland or Sweden, but also they know that neither Finland nor Sweden are going to fall out of their sphere of influence even if they aren't in NATO. Meanwhile if Turkey left NATO, they wpuld definitely just fall off their friend list entirely and in worst case scenario maybe even end up siding with Russia at some point in the future.", ">\n\nIt's about time someone twisted Erdogan's arm for abusing their position in the alliance.", ">\n\n\"Let us be part of F35 program again, or we won't approve.\" -Erogdan\n\"Uhh, how about no F16s?\" -US", ">\n\nThis is the only logical step. Turkey is too important to NATO strategically and Erdogan knows this. \nSweden and Finland said it best: \"We have bent over backwards meeting Turkey's demands and they just keep moving the goal posts.\"\nNow if Turkey wants to play jet ball, they need to check their bullshit.", ">\n\nThat's not really what happened. Turkey made demands from the start that were outrageous and that Sweden/Finland would never meet (rightly).", ">\n\nSort of, their demands haven't to my knowledge been given as a point by point list - it's always been couched in general 'concerns'.\nThe deal which Sweden and Finland struck have been adhered to, the problem is that which was agreed to is being spun and interpreted by Turkey in a way that's never going to fly. \nFor example, Sweden agreed to process their extradition requests through the legal system and the next day Turkish spokespeople comes out with a list of people they claim will now be extradited, including political refugees like journalists who are protected from such extraditions by law.", ">\n\nAgain again I think thank fuk the Joe is in charge in the states instead or the orange muppet", ">\n\nyeah, can you imagine how bad the situation in europe and nato would be if that puppet was still in the big chair? \nHow the heck did people ever vote for cheeto mussolini?", ">\n\nI approve.", ">\n\nYou and everyone who is not an imbecile" ]