Trump aides ask of Russian meddling: Does it matter?

[smotherb]

On 12/19/2016 at 0:56 PM, CharlieK said:

Is Obama trying to protect his legacy? He is singularly responsible for the weakening of American power on the world stage. But hey lets blame it on the Russians, Not my fault!

 

 

 What is the source of American power on the world stage?

[Morch]

In a sense, it doesn't matter - because whether the hacking effected the election results or not, it succeeded in further eroding faith and trust in a variety of concepts, ideas and institutions. Even if there was no hacking by the Russian, some official at a Moscow office will mark the whole episode as a result. Carrying out such an operation is one thing, leading the other side to react to an imaginary operation is even better.

 

There's no way the US can "get back" at Russia, and under current political conditions, not even clear that damage control can be applied. How can this be addressed? By casting doubts on the POTUS legitimacy? By enacting quasi-censorship on news outlets? By legislation targeting future exposures of information? By exposing all the information available (including sensitive details) to the general public? That Moscow official is looking at a promotion, I guess.

 

[iReason]

On December 19, 2016 at 9:20 AM, atyclb said:

just like the public had no right to know about "the watergate papers"

 

The Watergate Papers? 

What are you on about?

http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/web/woodstein/about/

http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/web/woodstein/

 

The Woodward and Bernstein reference material for all the publications regarding Watergate?

 

Everyone had the right to know and in case you missed it, it was in all the papers. 

 

Several books and movies as well...

[Ulysses G.]

On 12/18/2016 at 6:20 PM, atyclb said:

 

 

just like the public had no right to know about "the watergate papers"

 

government  officials are public figures and the public pays their salaries.

 

are you saying the people paying taxes and their salaries shouldnt know if there is corruption and criminal activity being committed? 

 

He did not mean it literally. In context, it was pretty obvious sarcasm.

[Boon Mee]

The so-called 'meddling' obviously doesn't matter as the great Silent Majority across flyover land have spoken.