Do you think Putin is blackmailing Trump?
No, but I do wonder if some Russian bank holds some notes made by Trump enterprises, notes secured by mortgages on Trump enterprise properties, and Trump and/or Trump family properties, and those notes are demand notes. And I wonder if individual Russian investors own equity interests, large ones, in Trump enterprises, and those equity interests allow for takeovers if performance fails or if bills, like interest on notes, are not paid on time. And of course, in either case, the bank and the investors would be, how to say this, influenced by Putin desires. If so, the Trump fortune might a lot less secure than might be thought. So the Putin threat would not be the classic blackmail one, of “"do what I want or I will expose your awful secret”, but would be “"do what I want or I can have you ruined financially.” These are questions, mind you, not statements of fact, but I do wonder just who the Trump enterprises creditors are, and who the equity investors in Trump enterprises are.
Do you think Trump colluded with Russia directly?
The answer is most likely yes, there was collusion on the deepest level. He is going to extreme lengths to cover up / obstruct the investigation into it. If there was nothing to hide, nobody would behave with such insane paranoia. Trump businesses have been in trouble for quite some time, hopping from one loan on the next. Trump companies have been unable to get loans from US lenders at reasonable rates for 10 year due to repeated bankruptcies so the only source of funding is off-shore.Aside from this, there are WAY too many ties to Russian businessmen, businesses, meetings. This last meeting with Don Jr is extremely damning. Just too many things that tie Trump to Russia for all this to be a coincidence.There is also what Trump said about Hillary’s emails during the campaign - asking Russian hackers to find the e-mails. Of all the things he could have said he says this. Why would someone in their right mind even consider such an option - asking a foreign power (jokingly or not) to hack / illegally obtain information from another US presidential candidate.The only explanation that ties all this together is that Trump and Russia had a common agenda which they collaborated on. This would not have become so visible and evolved into the current crisis if Trump could have just kept his mouth shut. He is stupid and he cant keep his mouth shut, hes a bragger even at his own demise.With regards to this being fake - its not. Too many things happened and too many connections. If it was just one or two, ok, could be a setup, but there are hundreds that go back years.The only logical explanation is the simplest one - there was collusion with Russia to influence the elections and I think Trump is getting extremely nervous. He should be. Being impeached or disgraced for treason, even if he pardons himself, would be the end of the Trump empire. It would be the end of him and his family.
Is Putin actually a coward?
When the wall came down in Germany, Putin was second in command, and left in charge, of the KGB Residence in Dresden. A mob thousands strong was surging through the streets looking for Soviet symbols. It took over and wrecked an East German headquarters next door to the Residence, trashing it and emptying all the files. Putin asked for guards from the nearest army post but was told it had to be authorized from Moscow. Moscow wasn’t answering the phone.Then it gathered outside the walls and gate of the Residence where Putin and a few agents and staff were burning documents. Putin walked out of the Residence, a palatial marble palace, and approached the gates.He said “This is an official building of the Soviet Union. It is defended. I have given orders to shoot if anyone crosses this wall or this gate.” There were half a dozen men behind the windows. Putin drew his revolver. “I have 12 shots. I will use eleven on you and one on myself if it is necessary to defend this building. It is my duty and I will do it.”The crowd wasn’t armed with anything lethal (but you couldn’t know that in advance). Putin turned his back and walked slowly to the steps, big marble steps, slowly up them, and entered the house.The mob dispersed.Vladimir Putin saved KGB offices from East German looters