Manafort was forced out due to his toxic connections to the Kremlin. Bloomberg Web Link

"Manafort had all but disappeared from view. He’d resigned from the campaign on Aug. 19, after one too many run-ins with the candidate about his temper and one too many exposés about Manafort’s alleged ties to Russian oligarchs. His replacement, Breitbart News Executive Chairman Steve Bannon, let Trump be Trump."

Guess who is back?

“I thought Paul was permanently damaged by the international stuff,” Anderson says. “I’m not sure any other candidate would have brought him back, other than Trump.”

Drain the swamp? Manafort *is* the swamp.

"He started a lobbying business with Stone, Charlie Black (Reagan’s 1980 political director, who also launched the career of Jesse Helms), and Atwater (whose Willie Horton ad would help close the deal for George H.W. Bush in 1988). Aside from helping Republicans such as Arlen Specter and Phil Gramm get elected, the firm—which was called Black, Manafort, Stone & Atwater (later Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly)—changed the way foreign influence worked in Washington. In 1984, when Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos needed lobbying assistance, Manafort took the contract. In 1986, when Angolan guerrilla leader Jonas Savimbi needed an introduction in Washington, Manafort was there to help. In 1998, when Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha wanted to convince Americans that he was a progressive democrat, Manafort’s firm was there for him, too. “I am not one to knock honest greed,” William Safire wrote at the time, “but never has rainmaking seen such moneymaking.”"

...

"In the ’80s that was nothing to be ashamed of, especially on K Street. When Manafort was exposed later that decade for using his connections to get a $43 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant for a developer client, he testified brazenly before Congress: “The technical term for what we do is ‘lobby.’ For the purposes of today, I will stipulate that, in a narrow sense, some people may term it ‘influence-peddling’.” That quote would dog Manafort for the rest of his career. "

Paul Manafort Is Back
The King of K Street is ready for the new Washington.

November 28, 2016 — 5:00 AM EST

Web Link

His new office is located between the offices of former Senators Evan Bayh (D, Indiana) and Chris Dodd (D, Connecticut). They lunch at Joe's on Wednesdays.

Fascinating. While one can always appreciate an attempt at humor, however feeble, it begs the question: Which dictators are represented by Dodd and Bayh?

Do they rival Putin, Abacha, Marcos, etc?

The law firm that spoke at Trump's press conference yesterday won the award in 2016 for Russian Law Firm of the Year.

Never mind that the farce trust she spoke of is useless for protecting the interests of America, did you really pick this one by yourself Donald? Or did Putin tell you to use this firm?

Did he shower you with advice, Donald?

"Washington (CNN)Morgan Lewis, a law firm representing President-elect Donald Trump, was named the "Russia Law Firm of the Year" last year"

From Snopes:

" this award was not handed out by any Russian governmental or business organization; it was bestowed by Chambers and Partners, a group that reviews law firms around the globe, who described Morgan Lewis as follows in their award description:"

"This active Moscow office of an American firm offers top-level advice in regards to the energy sector and also houses very strong banking and M&A teams."

Here's the link: Web Link

After this week, Putin will rule the hen house. There will be no one left to run an investigation.

Sanctions on Russia evaporate, NATO gets shorted, Russia puts more pressure on the independent states on its periphery and Putin steals more obscene wealth.

Still joking about Manafort, fellas?

Seriously, are you?

Is this the week Manafort hits the fan?

drip, drip, drip

"Boris Epshteyn, a special assistant to the president who oversees Donald Trump's television surrogate operation, is expected to leave his high-profile post..."

drip, drip, drip

Devin Nunes changes his stories yet again.

drip, drip, drip

General Flynn rumored to be turning state's evidence.

drip, drip, drip

Chuck Grassley requests information on the dossier containing allegations of ties between President Donald Trump and Russia... (yup, the one with the video)

drip, drip, drip

Still joking about Joe's?

drip, drip, drip