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talkpoliticsInteresting piece here about this new "Putin has sensitive compromising intel on Trump" debackle:
Everything you need to know about the Russian art of ‘kompromat’
Essentially, it explains what a "kompromat" is (compromising material), and how the Russians have developed it into art during the golden age of the KGB. Unlike their US counterparts, where politicians tend to use damaging information about opponents during election campaigns, aiming to discredit them and torpedo their campaigns, thus winning elections (i.e. the information tends to surface and make a splash in public space)
In Russia things are otherwise. Such information is actually seldom released. Rather, it is used to blackmail important politicians into doing your bidding: you force them to do you favours, and play by your tune for the entire duration of their term. It is an art in a twisted way, because it requires a lot of skill, persistence, and the knowledge to use the information in the appropriate moment in the best way possible.
But the one thing that made me pose and ponder was the point that the interviewee makes towards the end of the interview:
"...We might just have a president who is so scandalous that he is immune to the political consequences of scandal. In terms of our nation’s vulnerability to potential Russian kompromat, that actually might not be a bad thing".
Makes sense, no? Trump has demonstrated time and time again that no matter how damaging you think the information about him might be, it just washes off him as if he is covered in teflon. He just buries one controversy under another, constantly shifting the public attention from one outrageous statement or action to another, never allowing it to stay in one place for too long. Thus, people have become so accustomed to him being surrounded by controversy that they now take it for granted, and don't care at this point. Or any other point, come to think of it.
So even if something impeach-worthy is uncovered about him sometime in the future, the question is, would it even matter? Perhaps the Never-Trump camp in the GOP could be hoping that they could easily get rid of him and throw him under the bus whenever he is no more useful to them, and Putin's alleged possession of Trump-damaging information might be considered helpful in that respect, from their perspective. But would it suffice? I am not so sure any more.
Everything you need to know about the Russian art of ‘kompromat’
Essentially, it explains what a "kompromat" is (compromising material), and how the Russians have developed it into art during the golden age of the KGB. Unlike their US counterparts, where politicians tend to use damaging information about opponents during election campaigns, aiming to discredit them and torpedo their campaigns, thus winning elections (i.e. the information tends to surface and make a splash in public space)
In Russia things are otherwise. Such information is actually seldom released. Rather, it is used to blackmail important politicians into doing your bidding: you force them to do you favours, and play by your tune for the entire duration of their term. It is an art in a twisted way, because it requires a lot of skill, persistence, and the knowledge to use the information in the appropriate moment in the best way possible.
But the one thing that made me pose and ponder was the point that the interviewee makes towards the end of the interview:
"...We might just have a president who is so scandalous that he is immune to the political consequences of scandal. In terms of our nation’s vulnerability to potential Russian kompromat, that actually might not be a bad thing".
Makes sense, no? Trump has demonstrated time and time again that no matter how damaging you think the information about him might be, it just washes off him as if he is covered in teflon. He just buries one controversy under another, constantly shifting the public attention from one outrageous statement or action to another, never allowing it to stay in one place for too long. Thus, people have become so accustomed to him being surrounded by controversy that they now take it for granted, and don't care at this point. Or any other point, come to think of it.
So even if something impeach-worthy is uncovered about him sometime in the future, the question is, would it even matter? Perhaps the Never-Trump camp in the GOP could be hoping that they could easily get rid of him and throw him under the bus whenever he is no more useful to them, and Putin's alleged possession of Trump-damaging information might be considered helpful in that respect, from their perspective. But would it suffice? I am not so sure any more.
(no subject)
Date: 15/1/17 11:51 (UTC)You can't blackmail someone who is not compromised by the material you have on them. However, the Donald's tax returns, and his finances in general, may yet prove to be his undoing.
But when he said he could go out into the street and shoot someone and get away with it he was making a judgement call not too far from the mark.
(no subject)
Date: 15/1/17 12:51 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 15/1/17 13:06 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 15/1/17 15:33 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 15/1/17 20:21 (UTC):(
(no subject)
Date: 15/1/17 15:35 (UTC)