I’m old enough to remember the unpleasant days from my childhood when the “Cold War” started, Joseph McCarthy accused practically everyone and their brother of having Moscow “Red” links, and “Russian connections.” Back in those days, it was often the Republicans making the charges against the Democrats that they called “fellow travelers” to alleged Communist influencers.

Well, here we are in the 21st century, nearing the end of the second decade of same, no less. The current administration of the United States Executive Branch, i.e. President Barack Obama was shown during the latter days of his first term assuring the Russians that he could work much more closely with them once he had been re-elected.

And so there was “peace on earth” or so it illusorily seemed.

All that appeared to change in my eyes once Barack Obama who once espoused marriage as between a man and woman then publicly “evolved” his view to one of “marriage equality”, i.e. man marries man, woman marries woman. The winter Olympics were set to be held in southern Russia. The conservative Russian Orthodox community promoted laws passed by the Russian government outlawing “homosexual propaganda.” The United States sent openly “gay” members to Russia to represent the United States government in the Olympic doings. Vladimir Putin said to the USA and to all that “gay” athletes were welcome to come but “please leave our children alone.”

Maybe coincidence, maybe not, but suddenly the “Cold War” was back on and heating up at that. EXCEPT this time the accusers were generally Democrats accusing Republicans and Evangelicals of being “Russian sympathizers.” At an annual Press Association “roast”, Barack Obama cynically stated that conservatives liked Vladimir Putin. Perhaps he was referring to some of Pat Buchanan’s public observations — perhaps something else. After all, I don’t get “classified briefings.”

That the intelligence services of the USA appear at least superficially to this observer to have been to at least some extent “politicized”, I am more than skeptical about the late claims reached by “consensus” (mostly Democrats with dissenting Republicans). That John McCain is angered and perhaps holding a grudge against Donald Trump is understandable. Senator Lindsay Graham is no great surprise either.

Suddenly, Barack Obama demands an investigation to be completed before his rapidly expiring term of office ends. And now today, we read from an on-line news source, “The Hill” in major news presentations from MicroSoft, the following:

At least 10 members of the Electoral College are asking U.S. intelligence officials for more information on ongoing investigations surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s relationship with Russia.The electors, including the daughter of Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Christine Pelosi, wrote an open letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper asking for the information ahead of their Dec. 19 meeting to vote for the next president. “The Electors require to know from the intelligence community whether there are ongoing investigations into ties between Donald Trump, his campaign or associates, and Russian government interference in the election, the scope of those investigations, how far those investigations may have reached, and who was involved in those investigations,” the letter read.

“We further require a briefing on all investigative findings, as these matters directly impact the core factors in our deliberations of whether Mr. Trump is fit to serve as President of the United States.”Nine democrats and one Republican signed the letter.”Separate from Mr. Trump’s own denials of Russian involvement in the election, the confirmed communication between Trump’s aides and those associated with the Russian election interference activity raise serious concerns that must be addressed before we cast our votes,” the letter read.

I, for one, smell a big, fat rat? How about the rest of you?

© 2016 – Constance Cumbey – All Rights Reserved