Big news this afternoon, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal:
Special Counsel Robert Mueller has impaneled a grand jury in Washington to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 elections, a sign that his inquiry is growing in intensity and entering a new phase, according to people familiar with the matter.
The full WSJ story is behind a paywall, so here’s more from CNN:
The move would signal a new step in the investigation, which Trump has lambasted as a “witch hunt.” Trump has denied any collusion between his team and the Russians. US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia attempted to sway the presidential contest in Trump’s favor.
As CNN also reports today, Robert Mueller’s investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia is expanding to include questions of financial ties between Trump and Russia:
Federal investigators exploring whether Donald Trump’s campaign colluded with Russian spies have seized on Trump and his associates’ financial ties to Russia as one of the most fertile avenues for moving their probe forward, according to people familiar with the investigation.
The web of financial ties could offer a more concrete path toward potential prosecution than the broader and murkier questions of collusion in the 2016 campaign, these sources said…
…The increased financial focus hasn’t gone unnoticed by Trump, who warned Mueller, via an interview with The New York Times, that his financial dealings were a red line that investigators shouldn’t cross. But the order establishing the special counsel makes clearMueller is authorized to investigate any matters that “arose or may arise directly from the investigation.”
We’re probably nowhere close to a conclusion to this investigation, but this is not good news for the White House.
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As the worm turns…….
It won't be long now . . .
. . . another bottle of Propecia and TOTUS will be ready to start firing Mueller, Sessions, Bannon, Miller, . . .
Once the grand jury subpoenas his tax records and that of Lewandowski, et al it won't be long before the GOP 25th amendment Trump's ass out of office, and let him face criminal charges, thus saving the nation from another impeachment circus.
You think Pence will go along with that, Davie? He has to be a part of any 25th amendment push.
I guess a fanatical theocrat is marginally better as President than a certifiably crazy stupid criminal.
Anyone else think that he’s already signed undated pardons for his family members and himself?
Obviously, I'm wildly speculating, but the GOP is tearing itself apart, with Trump stoking the flames. They will be happy to see him go. And since Trump is an interloper with no history as a Republican with only a few months in office, why would they go out on a limb and protect or even pardon him?
Trump might pardon others (including family, which would only increase the cry for justice), but that also makes them witnesses for the prosecution of Trump.
To be honest, as long as Trump and the GOP continue to flail and achieve as little as possible, I'm ok with him sticking around instead of having a Theocracy instituted by Mr. Potato Head Pence. Then we start cleaning up the mess in 2018 and 2020 (just like after G.W.Bush).
THIS IS TOTALLY NOT IMPORTANT !!! Need to talk more about Benghazi, right Andrew? Right PP?
And her emails. Don't forget that
Whitewater,goddammit. We need to talk about whitewater!
Recipies…how 'bout some recipies? 😄
If that's what you want, Duke.
Notaskinnycook’s Banana Bread
I’ve been making this since I was a kid. I actually won a bake-off with it when I was 11 or 12.
1/2 c. brown sugar
½ c. white sugar
¼ c. butter
2 eggs
½ t. maple flavoring
½ t. vanilla extract
2 c. flour
¼ t. salt
1 t. baking soda
½ c. buttermilk or sour milk (see note)
3 bananas that have seen better days
¾ c. nuts
Stir salt and soda into flour. Set aside. in a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and mix again to combine. Mix. Add flavorings. Mix.
Add creamed mixture to dry mixture alternating with the buttermilk.
Cream bananas in the same bowl used for wet ingredients and add to batter. Fold in nuts. Bake in loaf pans at 350′ for 30 minutes or ‘til bread springs back when lightly pressed.
*If you have no buttermilk, measure 1 cup of cow’s milk, remove one tablespoon and add one tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Stir and set in warm place until milk begins to separate, or as my grandmother called it, to “clabber”. Then add to mixture.
I thought we saved recipes for pointless discussions with trolls. But that does look like a good one, cook!
I use yogurt instead of the buttermilk, and add blueberries.
Duke started it, M.J. Buttermilk’s a little hard to come by in this part of the country, so I usually use the sour milk alternative, as described. This is an old family recipe. Really-my maternal great-grandmother's.
I'll try the maple syrup on the next batch of banana muffins I bring in to work. Teachers are always hungry.
I collected many wonderful recipes when Ralphie was still with us on this blog. We'd all get tired of insulting the trolls and there was no real discussion or debate possible. Ralphie just put up recipes.
If you look at from the other point of view than this is good news for Trump because it will finally put to rest any lingering suspicions that his campaign in any way colluded with the Russians to subvert free and fair elections in the United States. Kind of like the jury returning not guilty verdicts in the Malheur Wildlife occupation, Trump and his entire campaign staff and close associates will be fully exonerated and he will be fully vindicated in calling it a witch hunt. Those seeking retribution should temper their blood lust with the cold calculation that if Trump is innocent of any wrong doing than it will be a glorious day for him when the grand jury has completed their work.
I don't see Trump coming out of this "exonerated". I'm sure Putin is baffled at our American judicial process. He'd have had Mueller assassinated long since. They're not even particularly shy about it anymore, even disregarding the old rules and attacking within the US borders.
I hope Mueller has bodyguards.
#TrumpsterFire is at risk from Putin's wrath, too. He's not delivering as the "boss" demanded.