Treasonous or not, it is flat out stupid to ask the Russians to intervene in this and pretty much sums up how stupid this whole election cycle has been.

well it's not treasonous to find out about someone's yoga schedule.

But do you SERIOUSLY believe that's all of what was in those emails, ND?

Yeah, because all 30,000 emails are definitely about her yoga schedule and I guarantee you there is nothing even remotely political or work-related that ever flows into her personal, family-matters-only email even though THAT'S LITERALLY WAHT THIS WHOLE SCANDAL IS ABOUT

Honestly, Trump supporters, y'all need a pretty serious check up.

@TrPrado: That is what they said those emails were about. That's why they weren't handed over to the FBI and were deleted. Sorry, but Clinton supporters can't have it both ways.

The problem is that Trump definitely didn't believe it at the time he wanted Russia to look through it.

"Hell, I get a lot of emails for school, my business, and life in general and I've never come close to 30,000, and to read every word of each one? Yeah right."

Then MAYBE she shouldn't have deleted them and claimed they were all personal.

"Yeah, because all 30,000 emails are definitely about her yoga schedule and I guarantee you there is nothing even remotely political or work-related that ever flows into her personal, family-matters-only email even though THAT'S LITERALLY WAHT THIS WHOLE SCANDAL IS ABOUT"

If they're not personal but rather work-related, then Shillary should be in jail. And even then, Trump can't be blamed because he simply believed in the FBI.

Tell me, do you consider Edward Snowden to be treasonous? Because he did far more than Trump, yet many consider him a hero. Helping to expose crime should not be a crime.

"If they're not personal but rather work-related, then Shillary should be in jail."
I did say BOTH are criminals ;)

"Helping to expose crime should not be a crime."
Asking a nation with which our country has a rocky relationship to look for/through a set of emails which many, including himself, believe to contain vital and classified national security information, therein calling for espionage from that country, most definitely sounds like a crime to me.

Because he's inciting espionage. Inciting a crime is equivalent to committing one.

Don't have to be a Clinton supporter to think ill of Trump for it.

"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court."

Trump did not declare war on the US nor did he provide "aid or comfort" to the Russians (and the Russians aren't enemies). The constitution made sure to confine the definition of treason as much as possible to protect American rights.

Hey guys... since when are REPUBLICANS the ones who aren't f***ing up with technology? talk about a plot twist


Also, the Democrats being caught out on this email scandal is idiocy on their part, and they're trying to deflect it onto Trump's comments

Trump is being immature, and asking Russia EVEN JOKINGLY for espionage, is in such bad political taste.

Thus:
I hate the parties more than ever. So little was done after 2008 to the major banks. started by deregulation by republicans, ended with democrats bailing them out. Get a 3rd party candidate in and maybe, JUST MAYBE, the parties will start to realize the voters they need to tap in to, are the moderates, and to get back power they'll start to move central, not to extremes.


Or am I being ever idealistic? (probably that)

Suggesting Russians use espionage to acquire information of national security isn't giving aid to them?

@leon1122

asking a foreign government to spy on a major political party, after you've been entrusted with the republican nomination. Trump has the republicans behind him, and thus as a leader of the political party is advising the foreign intrusion on another political entity.

perhaps not treason, but certainly there's a term for the little sh*t that he is

"Suggesting Russians use espionage to acquire information of national security isn't giving aid to them?"

Asking them to do something is not giving aid for them to do it. I think that should be obvious, even to you.

He would be an accessory to espionage :)

And under US law, he'd be charged as a principal.

Okay, so basically to sum up the whole legal argument:
Trump encouraged Russia to hack into a server to acquire information potentially involving classified information vital to national security.
Acquiring information without in such a fashion without the consent of the party which owns the information it is espionage.
Because this information likely includes classified US government inco, it falls under the Espionage Act of 1917.
Because Trump encouraged it, he definitively abetted the crime, which makes him an accessory before the fact.
Under American law, he can be punished as a principal, which means he can be charged as though he himself committed the crime.
Which basically means he can charged as committing espionage against the United States for Russia if Russia follows through with it.

"An accessory is a person who assists in the commission of a crime, but who does not actually participate in the commission of the crime as a joint principal."

Trump did not "assist" the Russians in any way.

He pointed out an option to them which they may not have considered yet. He may have given them the idea if the Russians do it now.

Blah blah blah. It is a dick move, and one which he will not be held accountable for.

What does it matter where Hillary stored her frakking emails anyway? This whole story is boring. Trump surprises no-one by mouthing off to the Russians. But should he win he's not going to try and take Hillary down, right? There is such a thing as a sore winner. (Unlike Sanders, who had the DNC against him... Could he take them to court?)

"He pointed out an option to them which they may not have considered yet. He may have given them the idea if the Russians do it now."

Again, that's still not assisting them, and Russia is not officially an enemy either.

Giving ideas and inspiring is not assisting?

Well then I need to give back a whole lot of thank you's from people who were inspired by me to do things differently, claiming they couldn't have done it without me.

Sharing your brain is by far the best and most fundamental way of helping known to me. Every improvement starts with an idea. Once someone has the right idea, he or she can usually take care of everything else themselves.

The only way Trump could possibly help Russian intelligence was by giving them an idea. Russian intelligence can get everything else just fine.

And Russia will not be an enemy if Trump gets into power?

Interesting, i wonder how that will go down.

It is absolutely a big deal that Trump endorsed espionage against US officials.

"Giving ideas and inspiring is not assisting?"

Absolutely not. If I suggest, jokingly, that someone should become a murderer, I will not go to jail.

"And Russia will not be an enemy if Trump gets into power?

Interesting, i wonder how that will go down."

No, Russia will not and should not be considered an enemy of the United States.

Leon, what's your take on our relationship with Saudi Arabia?