“There should be no doubt that Russia perceives that its past efforts have been successful and views the 2018 midterm US elections as a potential target for Russian influence operations.  Frankly, the United States is under attack.

 Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence

Whether on the subject of Russian interference with our 2016 elections or any of a dozen other critical matters, it is unclear if the president is simply ignorant, a liar or living in some alternative-fact universe.  In his latest juvenile tweet storm, he recycled frustrations when taking aim at the usual suspects; the FBI, the Democrat Party, and “crooked” Hillary … as well as new scapegoats of his vindictiveness, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Oprah Winfrey.

As Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation increasingly validates what the U.S. Intelligence Community and nearly all Americans, including most members of Trump’s inner circle, know  to be true, Russian tried and did interfere on many levels during our 2016 elections … “@realDonaldTrump” again struck out at his predecessor claiming Obama failed to act when it became known the Russians were attempting to interfere with our 2016 elections … curious as POTUS still refuses to admit that the Russians actually interfered!

Over the weekend, he tweeted, “Obama was President up to, and beyond, the 2016 Election.  So why didn’t he do something about Russian meddling?” and “I have been much tougher on Russia than Obama, just look at the facts.”

The Facts, a great starting place!

President Obama …

  • Raised the subject directly with Putin and didn’t back down when the Russian president denied any interference;
  • Issued sanctions against Russia for the meddling after U.S. intelligence officials said they had found evidence Russia had hacked U.S. groups and leaked emails in an effort to influence the 2016 vote;
  • Expelled 35 Russian diplomats from the U.S.; and
  • Ordered two Russian compounds closed.

Meanwhile, President Trump …

  • Even as his intelligence chiefs unanimously told a Senate panel Russia meddled in 2016 and is planning to do so again in 2018, sources familiar with the President’s thinking say he remains unconvinced and isn’t buying Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election.
  •  In the wake of a sanctions bill, passed by a veto-proof margin in Congress and he signed on August 7, 2017 (his signing statements notwithstanding as the Constitution only permits the president to sign, veto or pocket-veto bills, not pick-and-chose sections he likes or agrees with), it is clear he is derelict in the performance of his constitutional duties pursuant to Article II Section 3 which requires the president; “shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed;” by not implementing the sanction terms of that legislation.
  • After speaking briefly with Putin during a visit to the APEC Summit Putin told him that the Russians did not interfere win the 2016 US election, a statement he publicly accepted as fact.
  • In a statement regarding Russian interference during an interview with Time magazine last December he equivocated; “It could be Russia. And it could be China.  And it could be some guy in his home in New Jersey. I believe that it could have been Russia and it could have been any one of many other people. Sources or even individuals.”

With each passing week, it becomes more and more evident that  “@realDonaldTrump” is out-of-touch with history and reality, is at war with anyone who has the audacity to disagree with him, has become a poster-child for juvenile tantrums and  represents a clear and present danger to our democracy and the institutions of our government which have preserved our liberties for the past 229 years!