General Discussion

vlyons

(10,252 posts) Mon Jan 14, 2019, 02:49 AM Jan 2019

Why did 8 Republican senators go to Moscow last July 4?

Clearly Republicans go where the money is, which I guess is mob-ruled Russia. What I want to know is: who came up with the brilliant idea and set this trip up?

https://mavenroundtable.io/theintellectualist/news/why-did-8-republican-u-s-senators-spend-july-4th-in-moscow-ZeNcDyijN0iJ2ZK7j_q5Mw/?utm_source=Amplify&utm_medium=Intellectualist&utm_campaign=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR2l8rcAWQtObfxaBxw65C_w_LaMBcEjgtUbpx5prs3LxX9ePu9MID7XvO8

31 replies

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Why did 8 Republican senators go to Moscow last July 4? (Original Post) vlyons Jan 2019 OP

That's a question I want the answer to Pachamama Jan 2019 #1

Probably to stake their claim in the soon to be emerging Russian economy. TheBlackAdder Jan 2019 #28

Putin set the date, just to demonstrate his power over us (nt) Pluvious Jan 2019 #29

It's important to be reminded of that trip. blogslut Jan 2019 #2

"To bring the Republican Party into line on the importance of dialogue with Russia" dalton99a Jan 2019 #3

Russian tv Fuzzpope Jan 2019 #4

Here. Fuzzpope Jan 2019 #5

From the OP's link UpInArms Jan 2019 #13

Their real reason for going was to make sure their names were spelled correctly on the checks. Vinca Jan 2019 #20

and rightfully so anarch Jan 2019 #18

Yep ck4829 Jan 2019 #25

Yes, but whose idea was it? vlyons Jan 2019 #6

Putin. Doodley Jan 2019 #7

Someone should ask some of those senators vlyons Jan 2019 #8

Butina and the NRA? emulatorloo Jan 2019 #26

No doubt the taxpayers Scarsdale Jan 2019 #9

Kay Granger is not a senator dem in texas Jan 2019 #10

They probably thought it would ingratiate them with their overlord. Kablooie Jan 2019 #11

The submissive repube greedheads are kissing the kremlin's ass Achilleaze Jan 2019 #12

Remember the Surrender Summit? shanny Jan 2019 #14

Yes, the republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief was cloyingly submissive Achilleaze Jan 2019 #17

Sen. Rand Paul also went to Moscow in first week of August, hobnobbed with a sanctioned official wishstar Jan 2019 #15

This this this!!! Squinch Jan 2019 #16

Wonder if DOJ looked into any of them as possibility being Russian assets. NightWatcher Jan 2019 #19

I think this will be "leaked" one day SOON! KCDebbie Jan 2019 #21

To get to the other side? tanyev Jan 2019 #22

Thank you for the reminder. GoCubsGo Jan 2019 #23

Good question ck4829 Jan 2019 #24

Did they get ruble dollars? How much? empedocles Jan 2019 #27

Questions that must be answered. nt chimpymustgo Jan 2019 #30

Vlad only pays his funkys in person? Hassler Jan 2019 #31

Pachamama

(16,887 posts)

1. That's a question I want the answer to

Reply to vlyons (Original post)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 02:51 AM

Jan 2019

On 4th of July too...

Like a big fuck you to America

TheBlackAdder

(28,255 posts)

28. Probably to stake their claim in the soon to be emerging Russian economy.

Reply to Pachamama (Reply #1)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 10:20 AM

Jan 2019

.

The United States' economy is seen by the billionaires as being on the decline. Africa, sections of the Middle East and former Soviet states are seen as others. Russia is also seen as an untapped market. China is hard to tap into because it is tightly controlled.

This is one of the reasons Disney, Koch and others are dodging US taxes and shipping their money to Luxembourg and other places. There is significant growth prospects in those emerging economies.

.

Pluvious

(4,347 posts)

29. Putin set the date, just to demonstrate his power over us (nt)

Reply to Pachamama (Reply #1)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 02:14 PM

Jan 2019

blogslut

(38,022 posts)

2. It's important to be reminded of that trip.

Reply to vlyons (Original post)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 03:10 AM

Jan 2019

The piece doesn't really do more than ask the question, sadly. Also Kay Granger is not a senator. She is a congressperson.

dalton99a

(81,707 posts)

3. "To bring the Republican Party into line on the importance of dialogue with Russia"

Reply to vlyons (Original post)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 03:14 AM

Jan 2019

Maxim Suchkov, a foreign policy expert with ties to the foreign ministry, told the RBC newspaper that the delegation’s visit aimed to bring the Republican Party into line on the importance of dialogue with Russia, a policy supported by Mr. Trump.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/10/us/politics/republican-senators-russia.html

Fuzzpope

(602 posts)

4. Russian tv

Reply to vlyons (Original post)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 03:56 AM

Jan 2019

Mocked them without mercy as pandering sycophants, I remember that well enough.

Fuzzpope

(602 posts)

5. Here.

Reply to Fuzzpope (Reply #4)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 04:01 AM

Jan 2019

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/republican-lawmakers-face-russian-mockery-following-moscow-trip

Republican lawmakers face Russian mockery following Moscow trip

Members of the delegation set off on their trip late last week promising to be tough with Russian officials ahead of the president's visit, especially on matters of election interference. But they struck a conciliatory tone once there.

On Russian state television, presenters and guests mocked the U.S. congressional delegation for appearing to put a weak foot forward, noting how the message of tough talk they promised in Washington "changed a bit" by the time they got to Moscow.

UpInArms

(51,295 posts)

13. From the OP's link

Reply to Fuzzpope (Reply #5)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 06:59 AM

Jan 2019

According to those senators — which included Richard Shelby (AL), Steve Daines (MT), John Hoeven (ND), Ron Johnson (WI), John Kennedy (LA), Jerry Moran (KS), John Thune (SD), and Kay Granger (TX) — Russian meddling was atop their list of talking points as they met with their counterparts in the Duma.

Prior to heading out, members of the delegation promised “to be tough with Russian officials ahead of the president’s visit, especially on matters of election interference,” The Washington Post noted at the time.

But they struck a conciliatory tone once there: The point of their visit, Shelby stressed to the Duma leader, was to “strive for a better relationship” with Moscow, not “accuse Russia of this or that or so forth.”

And it seemed not all were in agreement upon their return as to the nature of discussions or in reaching their conclusions:

Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin returned from a trip to Russia earlier this month with some new perspectives on the US sanctions on Moscow after its annexation of Crimea and meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

“We need to take a look at sanctions — are they actually changing Russia’s behavior?” Johnson said on Friday. “And right now, unfortunately, I don’t think they’re particularly working from that standpoint.”

Vinca

(50,333 posts)

20. Their real reason for going was to make sure their names were spelled correctly on the checks.

Reply to UpInArms (Reply #13)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 08:20 AM

Jan 2019

anarch

(6,535 posts)

18. and rightfully so

Reply to Fuzzpope (Reply #4)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 08:02 AM

Jan 2019

ck4829

(35,096 posts)

25. Yep

Reply to Fuzzpope (Reply #4)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 09:40 AM

Jan 2019

vlyons

(10,252 posts)

6. Yes, but whose idea was it?

Reply to vlyons (Original post)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 04:13 AM

Jan 2019

Who was the genius who first thought, "Hey, let's take a bunch of Republican senators to Russia to meet some Russians!"

Doodley

(9,176 posts)

7. Putin.

Reply to vlyons (Reply #6)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 04:16 AM

Jan 2019

vlyons

(10,252 posts)

8. Someone should ask some of those senators

Reply to vlyons (Reply #6)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 04:47 AM

Jan 2019

"Who first approached you about taking a trip to Russia to meet members of the Russian Duma?"

emulatorloo

(44,270 posts)

26. Butina and the NRA?

Reply to vlyons (Reply #6)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 09:46 AM

Jan 2019

Yes, it is a very good question. Kick and Rec

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)

9. No doubt the taxpayers

Reply to vlyons (Original post)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 05:09 AM

Jan 2019

foot that bill. Did the wives/girlfriends go along, or did they have prostitutes supplied at their (bugged) hotel? Maybe they were taped like tRump, and this is why they are afraid to speak up? Any democratic president who pulled even half the stunts the orange arsehole has pulled, would have been impeached long ago.

dem in texas

(2,674 posts)

10. Kay Granger is not a senator

Reply to vlyons (Original post)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 05:11 AM

Jan 2019

She is a Representative from Texas

Kablooie

(18,647 posts)

11. They probably thought it would ingratiate them with their overlord.

Reply to vlyons (Original post)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 06:06 AM

Jan 2019

They know Trump is a Russian agent and wanted to show solidarity.

Achilleaze

(15,543 posts)

12. The submissive repube greedheads are kissing the kremlin's ass

Reply to vlyons (Original post)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 06:58 AM

Jan 2019

and failing to protect and defend America.

shanny

(6,709 posts)

14. Remember the Surrender Summit?

Reply to Achilleaze (Reply #12)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 07:14 AM

Jan 2019

We should hang the label "surrender monkeys" on all these guys.

Achilleaze

(15,543 posts)

17. Yes, the republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief was cloyingly submissive

Reply to shanny (Reply #14)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 07:45 AM

Jan 2019

as he and his republican cronies surrendered. What a disgrace they are.

USA Today: Trump disgraced the U.S. with his 'Surrender Summit' in Helsinki

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/07/19/helsinki-summit-media-reactions/798607002/

wishstar

(5,273 posts)

15. Sen. Rand Paul also went to Moscow in first week of August, hobnobbed with a sanctioned official

Reply to vlyons (Original post)

Mon Jan 14, 2019, 07:15 AM

Jan 2019

These Repubs not only don't care about Russian interference and influence but have actively sought it out. NRA and the Repubs helped by NRA are fully complicit too.