Russian Hacking

Well, it's been a busy day in the media.  It began on the front page of my Kansas City Star, my usual starting place for the days news.  The topic of the day is the Russian hacking during the recent election.  

The CIA has apparently come to more definitive conclusions regarding the hacking of both political party's computer records.  The way I understand it, is that while the Russians did hack the GOP as well, only the records and emails of the Democrats were released through Wikileaks. Any hacking at all should alarm every citizen of our country.  Free and fair elections are one of our bedrock foundations for this country.  Congress has taken up this matter with 4 Senators, John McCain (R-AZ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Jack Reed (D-RI)calling for an inquiry into this matter.  This is what makes America great: While we may have differences of opinion on politics, when threatened by foreign aggressors, we rally together.  Well done Senators.  We all deserve complete answers as to what happened in order to safeguard our national security.

One of the troubling aspects of this has been the reaction from the Trump camp.  Mr. Trump dismissed the findings of our own intelligence agencies by saying something like "These were the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction".  How can we be accepting of a president who disparages his own citizens and government?  Shouldn't the commander in chief be the first to insist on an investigation whenever there is any foreign aggression?  

One of Mr Trump's tweets said "Can you imagine if the election results were the opposite and WE tried to play the Russian/CIA card.  It would be called conspiracy theory!"  Mr. Trump, I have news for you, the election is over.  It's no longer "WE" and "THEM", it's US.   This country needs you to grow up and act like a leader for ALL citizens. Take a lesson from the Senators who are putting politics aside for the good of our country. Also, citizens like myself do not regard a foreign country meddling in our elections as "playing the Russian/CIA card".  We regard it as a threat to our national security.  Good grief.  

According to other articles I'm reading Mr. Trump is only receiving intelligence briefings about once a week.  Apparently is he not only smarter than the generals about ISIS but he is smarter than the entire intelligence community of the United States.  Even if there are no changes to a particular situation from one day to the next, isn't that in and of itself important to know?  Mr. Trump, your seeming lack of attention does not help your citizens feel safe.

After the article I discussed in yesterday's post, I wonder if the Trump team will start to ask for individual information on our brave citizens in the intelligence community like they are asking about in the EPA. Is it going to be a daily question on who get's called out and chastised by the President after he takes office? 

All of this is happening while Mr. Trump is nominating a "friend" of Putin's, Rex Tillerson, an executive for ExxonMobile for Secretary of State.  I can't even go down this road tonight. This topic has exhausted me.