# Trump characterized as 'a turned foreign asset' **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 12, 2017, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951 "2017-01-12T11:11:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/41 "2017-01-14T17:59:30Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > It is generally acknowledged that a person will betray their country for one of the following reasons: > > Money > Ideology > Compromise > Ego > > Any and all of these apply to Trump. The Russians would be fools not to notice. As would US counter-intelligence. We’re in for interesting times. May you live in _conflict of **interest** _ times. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/42 "2017-01-14T18:26:26Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > When I said “exciting” in the OP, I meant it was worrying and possibly explosive, if CIA are now regarding the new President as a foreign nation’s asset, or even if people in DC in general think that’s what CIA think. > > OK? OK. For what it is worth, far more people on this message board think that Trump is doing the bidding of the SVR than I’ve heard people in DC say the same. I don’t know who this Chris Hayes is but in general, I don’t think cable talk show hosts are likely to know what people at the CIA are saying to each other. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/43 "2017-01-14T18:36:03Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I wonder if investigative journalist Ronen Bergman works for the Chinese, or the Russians? While Haaretz is decidedly left-wing and often insufferably self-righteous - which is the main reason I cancelled my subscription years ago - it pains me to admit that they have a history of solid investigative work and strong journalistic standards. Bergman, who I’ve read many times, is a respected, honored journalist. He may be wrong here, or mislead, but he’s acting in good faith. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/44 "2017-01-14T19:01:15Z")
Calling him a “_turned_” foreign asset may be exaggerated, but he’s certainly a foreign asset of the Russians. America’s enemies are overjoyed by this election. Already events like the appointment of Rex Tillerson make clear America will have a new foreign policy like never before. A foreign policy where the enrichment of select plutocrats will take precedent over any humanitarian instincts. The man with the small hands and small brain probably thought first of enhancing his hotel empire, but you can bet Putin will find ways to bestow much greater rewards on Trump in an effort to turn him into Russia’s puppet. Trump will have a Cabinet of yes-men. With only a dysfunctional Congress and corrupted Supreme Court to provide checks and balances, there is grave danger. Those laughing at the Trump Administration may well have great cause for weeping and mourning as this tragedy plays out. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/45 "2017-01-14T19:20:08Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Calling him a “_turned_” foreign asset may be exaggerated, but he’s certainly a foreign asset of the Russians. America’s enemies are overjoyed by this election. Already events like the appointment of Rex Tillerson make clear America will have a new foreign policy like never before. A foreign policy where the enrichment of select plutocrats will take precedent over any humanitarian instincts. The man with the small hands and small brain probably thought first of enhancing his hotel empire, but you can bet Putin will find ways to bestow much greater rewards on Trump in an effort to turn him into Russia’s puppet. > > Trump will have a Cabinet of yes-men. With only a dysfunctional Congress and corrupted Supreme Court to provide checks and balances, there is grave danger. Those laughing at the Trump Administration may well have great cause for weeping and mourning as this tragedy plays out. I’ve had this sickening feeling that this is how the Great Russian Empire begins. I hope I’m laughably wrong. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/46 "2017-01-15T17:53:45Z")
[Explosive memos suggest that Trump-Russia tit-for-tat was at the heart of the GOP’s dramatic shift on Ukraine](http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-gop-policy-ukraine-wikileaks-dnc-2017-1) Shit is getting real now. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/47 "2017-01-15T18:20:01Z")
That change to the GOP’s platform seemed like an obvious smoking gun to me at the time. When you combine that with Trump’s positive statements regarding Putin and Russia, and his association with Manafort, these documents, if genuine and accurate, are the icing on the cake. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/48 "2017-01-15T18:24:15Z")
Part that got me was there didn’t seem to be any “fingerprints”, it was there, and then it was gone. Poof! ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/49 "2017-01-15T18:28:29Z")
Oh wait… I take it all back. [Rt.com](http://Rt.com) says that the dossier is a complete fraud and they use Trump’s tweets to prove it. I guess they showed us! [https://www.rt.com/usa/373708-trump-us-russian-dossier-fake/](https://www.rt.com/usa/373708-trump-us-russian-dossier-fake/) ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/50 "2017-01-15T18:51:17Z")
Hey, if Russia Today is good enough for Trumps National Security Advisor, it should be good enough for you! ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/51 "2017-01-15T19:13:51Z")
Another amazing coincidence that the only change that Trump wanted to make to the GOP platform happened to be pro-Russia. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/52 "2017-01-15T19:41:28Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Another amazing coincidence that the only change that Trump wanted to make to the GOP platform happened to be pro-Russia. Yes. And it’s odd that they let him get his way; after all, it’s far from a trivial matter–and Helping Out Russia isn’t exactly a time-honored Republican position. Were the GOP decision-makers _that_ eager to please Trump? Or does Putin have stuff on them, too? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/53 "2017-01-15T20:06:45Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > … > > Were the GOP decision-makers _that_ eager to please Trump? Or does Putin have stuff on them, too? This has been my concern. I’ve also wondered about Comey. The email nonsense just seemed so completely unprofessional. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/54 "2017-01-15T23:27:20Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > This has been my concern. I’ve also wondered about Comey. The email nonsense just seemed so completely unprofessional. Yes. Is anyone in power asking these questions? If leaders of the intelligence services have been compromised, would anyone working for them be able to pursue the possibility of their having been compromised? Not to go down the rabbit hole, but: we’ve learned a lot in recent months that we would never have considered, before, to have been possible. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/55 "2017-01-16T07:03:49Z")
If the President cannot perform his duties, that is for the VP and Cabinet to decide, not the CIA. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/56 "2017-01-16T07:15:47Z")
As I understand it, “asset” is a very broad term in intel-speak. An asset is a useful information source and or an individual who is easily manipulated. I recall that, in the '90s, Osama bin Laden was described by the CIA as an asset. An asset is very different from an operative or collaborator. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/57 "2017-01-16T18:15:23Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > …if genuine and accurate (post shortened) What do you mean “IF”? Are you suggesting that you have doubts about the lack of verified facts? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/58 "2017-01-16T18:23:40Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > What do you mean “IF”? Are you suggesting that you have doubts about the lack of verified facts? Just because the documents haven’t been verified doesn’t mean they’re proven false. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/59 "2017-01-16T18:26:51Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > While Haaretz is decidedly left-wing and often insufferably self-righteous - which is the main reason I cancelled my subscription years ago - it pains me to admit that they have a history of solid investigative work and strong journalistic standards. Bergman, who I’ve read many times, is a respected, honored journalist. He may be wrong here, or mislead, but he’s acting in good faith. You cancelled your subscription. You cancelled your subscription and claim they have a history of solid investigative work and strong journalistic standards. So you cancelled your subscription??? I’m sure that many liberal Democrats respect and have honored Bergman. I’m sure many liberal Democrats feel the same way about Chris Hayes. The question is, is Chris Hayes talking out of his politically biased ass when he suggested that an unnamed source believes Trump is a turned foreign asset? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951/60 "2017-01-16T18:32:10Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Just because the documents haven’t been verified doesn’t mean they’re proven false. Doesn’t mean they aren’t another fake news story, either. Given MSNBC’s history of fawning over Hillary, and their embarrassment at not being able give Hillary the Whitehouse, I have doubt’s about Chris Hayes’s journalistic integrity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-characterized-as-a-turned-foreign-asset/776951.md?page=4)