Good points, paddedhat. Currently these are unverified (and perhaps unverifiable) sources of information coming through Wikileaks via Russia. Hardly an unbiased source when it comes to US politics.
Serious question my wife raised: In the last ~3 months, has wikileaks released any 'secret' information on DJT or the upper levels of the GOP? If not, why not?
I tend to go with the thought that what you have is two dictators (one real, one harboring a well documented obsession with admiration for, and wanting to be one) who are engaged in a real bromance. I find it quite telling that during the debates, Hillary could deftly bait the Donald, on almost ANY subject, and he would respond like a dog on a steak that just fell off the grille. Yet, he simply refused to snap any time she tried to link him with Putin, or Russia. In the final round, I was slackjawed when he tried to deny Russia's involvement with the leaks that HE encouraged, then still repeatedly babbled, "you don't know" as he talked over her, while she was reminding him of what he was told in intelligence briefings. That being that seventeen American Agencies confirm that Russia was the source.
The bottom line is that Putin hates the US democracy, and wishes to destabilize us. If he can promote Trump and his army of low information "deplorables" as a force for continually degrading the institution, long after the election, he wins. Just as it is a tragic error to, as a candidate, play into to the hands of ISIS by shit talking about bans, and registries, it's just as damaging to talk trash about non-existent election rigging, and promoting the Russian lead document dumps. Putin couldn't ask for a more cooperative partner when it comes to a presidential candidate.
On a related note, that really grinds me. There is one huge issue with Mr. Trump that IMHO hasn't gotten the attention it deserves. As a lifelong tradesman and construction company owner is the greater NYC metro market, like many, I was aware of a dangerous game played by the old school Mafia, and other wanabees, who thought they were just as bad assed. It's the technique of contracting work, waiting until completion, then declaring that the work is inferior, and you have no intention of ever paying for it. Early in my career, as a business owner, I narrowly escaped this situation. I had met with the owner of a very large project, who really "just knew I was they guy he needed" Fortunately, some type of "spidey sense" told me that a lot of due diligence was required before I invested roughly 75% of my annual revenue on a project with a guy I didn't know, or trust. ( this guy was a classic "wise guy" who looked, talked and acted like he was playing a part in a Mafia movie) Other small local contractors, who took various sub-contracts on the job, ended up losing everything after the owner told then that their work sucked, and they better find a lawyer if they ever hoped to get paid. Unfortunately, by the 1990s, Mr Trump had made quite a reputation for doing this to countless small, family owned businesses, many who were driven into ruin, as his lawyer told them, "Mr Trump has decided to not pay you the remainder of your contract. You might recover your funds in court, but I will assure you that it will be at least seven years from now, any you will probably be lucky to cover your legal fees" All of this is well documented, and well know in the industry.
This brings me to my question. If you are a Trump supporter, HOW THE FUCK can you justify voting for a man who would ask you, your neighbor, or your brother, to sign a contract to do work for him, put everything on the line to do the work in a manner that they can take pride in, they have their business destroyed, and be left in financial ruin, just because Mr. Trump knew he had the power to steal your money, and get away with it? This was not some rouge operation inside the Trump organization. This is the man himself. The guy who has a chance of becoming the next leader of the free world, and had a well documented history of flat out stealing for hard working small business people, driving them into bankruptcy and ruining their futures, just because he could. WTF are you thinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!