Trump not doing enough to thwart Russian 2020 meddling, experts say

[Rogue Valley]

Trump not doing enough to thwart Russian 2020 meddling, experts say

Despite fears of cyber attacks, adequate funding and White House focus to counter any new election interference are lagging.

5/27/19
Intelligence warnings are growing that Russia will probably meddle in the 2020 elections, but Donald Trump and a powerful Senate ally are downplaying these concerns and not doing enough to thwart interfering, say Russia and cyber experts and key congressional Democrats. Despite fears that Moscow may seek to influence the 2020 elections by launching cyber attacks, social media disinformation, covert agent operations and other “active measures” as it did in the 2016 election, adequate funding and White House focus to counter any new Russian meddling are lagging, experts and officials say. Election security concerns that critics say require more resources and attention include: a paper ballot system to replace or backup electronic voting machines vulnerable to hacking; more resources and attention for cybersecurity programs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); a requirement that campaigns report to the FBI any contacts with foreign nationals; and a strong public commitment from the president to an interference-free election. Federal efforts to beef up election security, critics say, have been undercut by Trump’s apparent willingness to accept Russian president Vladimir Putin’s word that the country did not interfere in 2016, and Trump’s slighting of intelligence community conclusions about Russian meddling. said Steven Hall, a retired chief of the CIA’s Russian operations.

Senior leaders at key agencies “take this [threat] very seriously” and worry about what Moscow is planning for 2020, Hall added. But Trump’s apparent trust in Putin’s word “translates into less focus and energy on the topic”. The “overwhelming” majority of DHS resources, he added, are “consumed by President Trump’s focus on immigration”, which endangers their mission in 2020 to protect elections from cyber threats. And DHS leadership has been “hollowed out” under Trump, as top posts are held by acting instead of permanent officials. Similarly, critics were shocked when Trump indicated that in a phone call with Putin – after the special counsel Robert Mueller’s report concluded Kremlin interference in 2016 was “sweeping and systematic” – the two leaders had discussed the “Russia hoax”. Trump also reportedly failed to warn Putin not to meddle in the 2020 elections. This month, Senators Ron Wyden and Mark Warner introduced separate bills to address key gaps in election security. But McConnell’s track record in handling other election security measures makes passage of the two bills seem unlikely. “It’s astounding that the Republican-controlled Senate is stonewalling bills that would decrease our vulnerability to foreign election interference,” said Mike Carpenter, a former NSC official. “The question is, why won’t Mitch McConnell move any of these bills to the floor for a vote? We’re as vulnerable in the coming election cycle as we’ve ever been yet no action is being taken.”

Former DHS Director Kirstjen Nielsen was warned by Trump Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney not to mention Russian election meddling in Trumps presence. It seems this reality upsets Mr. Trump. The Russians just finished massively meddling in Ukraine's presidential election. Why are Trump and the Senate GOP not taking Russian election meddling in 2020 seriously? The only answer that makes sense is that they view the Putin regime as a political ally.

Related: Trump and Putin talked about the Mueller report — but not Russian meddling in 2020

 

[KevinKohler]

He's just trying to be more like his idol, Obama, lol.

 

[EnigmaO01]

He's just trying to be more like his idol, Obama, lol.

What a stupid ignorant response. Anyone that has kept up with both admins knows the Obama admin did not kiss up to Putin like Trump's. In fact it didn't kiss up at all.

The truth is if Trump admits the Russians meddled in the election, he will have to admit he may not have won if it wasn't for their help. It was close enough that it may have made a difference.

His ego can't handle that. Therefore **** the country. His ego is more important.

 

[Helix]

Trump not doing enough to thwart Russian 2020 meddling, experts say

why would he? they're helping him.

 

[joko104]

Trump not doing enough to thwart Russian 2020 meddling, experts say

Despite fears of cyber attacks, adequate funding and White House focus to counter any new election interference are lagging.

Former DHS Director Kirstjen Nielsen was warned by Trump Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney not to mention Russian election meddling in Trumps presence. It seems this reality upsets Mr. Trump. The Russians just finished massively meddling in Ukraine's presidential election. Why are Trump and the Senate GOP not taking Russian election meddling in 2020 seriously? The only answer that makes sense is that they view the Putin regime as a political ally.

Related: Trump and Putin talked about the Mueller report — but not Russian meddling in 2020

Obviously VOX's complaint is that President Trump did not order the FBI and DOJ to do nothing like President Obama's people did.

 

[Cardinal]

why would he? they're helping him.

That's really all it comes down to, here. Republicans know full well that 2016 is going to look like a dry run, and in light of Trump's poor approval he's going to need all the help from Russian hacking he can get.

 

[veritas1]

I see the excuses for the coming defeat are already being organized. It's equal parts predictable and sad, especially in light of the fact that Russian interference goes back to 2013. Why didn't Obama do anything about it? One wonders.

 

[KevinKohler]

What a stupid ignorant response. Anyone that has kept up with both admins knows the Obama admin did not kiss up to Putin like Trump's. In fact it didn't kiss up at all.

The truth is if Trump admits the Russians meddled in the election, he will have to admit he may not have won if it wasn't for their help. It was close enough that it may have made a difference.

His ego can't handle that. Therefore **** the country. His ego is more important.

Thread title was Trump not doing enough to thwart Russian election meddling.

Is it your opinion Obama did enough to thwart Russian election meddling?

 

[joko104]

I see the excuses for the coming defeat are already being organized. It's equal parts predictable and sad, especially in light of the fact that Russian interference goes back to 2013. Why didn't Obama do anything about it? One wonders.

It is humorous, isn't it? Democrats on the forum are already starting thread after thread again sneering and jeering that polls show Trump is going to be obliterated by a landslide - while at the same time lining up the ever growing excuses for losing. It certainly couldn't be their candidate and stance on issues if they lose the presidency again. :lol:

 

[independentusa]

Obviously VOX's complaint is that President Trump did not order the FBI and DOJ to do nothing like President Obama's people did.

Actually Obama wanted to warn the public but was nixed by McConnell. I guess you do not get any information except on Fox News which would never say anything that could be considered negative about anyone connected to the GOP.

 

[iguanaman]

Obviously VOX's complaint is that President Trump did not order the FBI and DOJ to do nothing like President Obama's people did.

LOL Which is it? Either Obama did nothing or he overstepped and spied on Trump too much. You can't have it both ways

 

[bongsaway]

If you are even halfway open minded and follow what's going on it's obvious why the president isn't doing all that much to keep russia and any other entity from the attacks through the internet on social media that are coming, in abundance. Fake news, rigged videos, chicken little screaming the sky is falling. Anything to sow confusion as to who is lying and who is telling the truth. As much as the right condemns any media outlet that does not say every day that trump is the greatest president ever, when reputable news outlets are all reporting the same thing, I tend to believe them and I have the internet to look into it further if I wish.

The right will be on the attack until the election is over. They will try to demonize and smear any candidate who has a D next to their name and remember, no low is too low for today's GOP. Win at any cost, even calling a past VP a low IQ individual to another head of state. What is it with trump and dictators?

 

[DarkWizard12]

Wasn't obama the one that said it was impossible to hack our elections because we are so decentralized, with many states, even communities, having different ways of voting, that it would be impractical to hack it?

Why, then, should we do anything about it now, short making sure that the only people who vote are actual citizens?

 

[DarkWizard12]

LOL Which is it? Either Obama did nothing or he overstepped and spied on Trump too much. You can't have it both ways

You can. Because Obama didn't do anything about Russia, he was only concerned with monitoring the trump campaign to help his political ally, Clinton.

 

[BitterPill]

I see the excuses for the coming defeat are already being organized. It's equal parts predictable and sad, especially in light of the fact that Russian interference goes back to 2013. Why didn't Obama do anything about it? One wonders.

Plus we need as much meddling as possible.

MAGA

 

[DarkWizard12]

Trump not doing enough to thwart Russian 2020 meddling, experts say

Despite fears of cyber attacks, adequate funding and White House focus to counter any new election interference are lagging.

Former DHS Director Kirstjen Nielsen was warned by Trump Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney not to mention Russian election meddling in Trumps presence. It seems this reality upsets Mr. Trump. The Russians just finished massively meddling in Ukraine's presidential election. Why are Trump and the Senate GOP not taking Russian election meddling in 2020 seriously? The only answer that makes sense is that they view the Putin regime as a political ally.

Related: Trump and Putin talked about the Mueller report — but not Russian meddling in 2020

How, precisely, did Russia meddle in the Ukrainian elections? Send in a bunch of russians to vote? Sounds like Ukraine needs voter ID to keep that from happening.

 

[Trump]

Actually Obama wanted to warn the public but was nixed by McConnell. I guess you do not get any information except on Fox News which would never say anything that could be considered negative about anyone connected to the GOP.

I knew it....McConnell was Obama boss.:lol:

 

[BitterPill]

He's just trying to be more like his idol, Obama, lol.

Trump idolizing Øbama is disgusting.

You should be ashamed.

 

[rocket88]

LOL Which is it? Either Obama did nothing or he overstepped and spied on Trump too much. You can't have it both ways

Why didn't Obama stop something that absolutely positively didn't happen!

 

[joko104]

Actually Obama wanted to warn the public but was nixed by McConnell. I guess you do not get any information except on Fox News which would never say anything that could be considered negative about anyone connected to the GOP.

McConnell ordered President Obama to keep his mouth shut? Yeah, exactly no one believes that because it is totally absurd.

 

[PIPEWRENCH]

He's just trying to be more like his idol, Obama, lol.

I forgot it was on Obama's watch when Putin got his revenge against Hillary for interfering in his elections. Heh maybe the republicans can blame the next president if Trump loses. The republicans can start the next witch hunt. We can waste a few more years on stupidity instead of securing our borders or balancing the budget.

 

[PIPEWRENCH]

why would he? they're helping him.

You mean like when Obama did nothing about Comey grandstanding just days before the election. You want to know who rigged the election. Comey.

"You don't hold press conferences to announce that someone should not be charged with a crime and then proceed to dump all over that person and to publicly discuss the evidence against them," he said. "That's kind of one of the 10 commandments for being a federal law enforcement officer. And another commandment would be — you don't publicly announce that you're conducting a criminal investigation against someone. And you especially don't do it if that person is a candidate, 11 days before an election. That's true whether it's a presidential election or an election for dog catcher."

Trump did what Obama should have done and got rid of that loser.

 

[Idiometer]

I see the excuses for the coming defeat are already being organized. It's equal parts predictable and sad, especially in light of the fact that Russian interference goes back to 2013. Why didn't Obama do anything about it? One wonders.

Obama did do things. There were intelligence people working on it. Trump defunded any efforts to thwart Russian cyber interference. Why do you think that, in spite of the overwhelming surety by our top intelligence professionals that Russia interferred, Trump has done nothing towards preventing a repeat?

:thinking

 

[jimbo]

What a stupid ignorant response. Anyone that has kept up with both admins knows the Obama admin did not kiss up to Putin like Trump's. In fact it didn't kiss up at all.

The truth is if Trump admits the Russians meddled in the election, he will have to admit he may not have won if it wasn't for their help. It was close enough that it may have made a difference.

His ego can't handle that. Therefore **** the country. His ego is more important.

That was before the election. After the election Obama would have more slack.

 

[jimbo]

Thread title was Trump not doing enough to thwart Russian election meddling.

Is it your opinion Obama did enough to thwart Russian election meddling?

Apparently Obama knew of the meddling well before the election and did nothing.