It was as recent as August that actress and activist Alyssa Milano was blaming the result of a special election in Ohio on Russian meddling:
You know what sucks?
Because of our unwillingness to pass policy that protects our election integrity, I immediately think the Green Party votes tonight are Russian meddling.
Why else would anyone cast a protest vote in Ohio when there’s so much at stake?#OH12
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) August 8, 2018
The Nation has noticed that Democrats have dropped Russia completely in the run-up to the midterm elections, and writer Aaron Maté thinks that’s a good thing:
On one level, it is unsurprising that the election has been focused on issues that impact voters’ lives, rather than the byzantine bureaucratic drama that has consumed Washington and elite media since Trump’s election. But after months of fearmongering about a sweeping Russian interference effort and a compromised, complicit president, perhaps we are also seeing the penny start to drop: Russiagate, for all its hype, has not gone as advertised.
Take the supposed Russian threat to the midterms. For months, intelligence officials and prominent media outlets have bombarded us with warnings about “a pervasive messaging campaign by Russia to try to weaken and divide the United States” (Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats), a threat so dire that we might as well dub the vote the “The Moscow Midterms” (FiveThirtyEight) and acknowledge that “we’re defenseless against Russian sabotage in the midterm elections,” (Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin). The New York Times informed readers in July that Coats had likened “the persistent danger of Russian cyberattacks today…to the warnings the United States had of stepped-up terror threats ahead of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.” “The warning lights are blinking red again,” he said.
“The Moscow Midterms” — that’s a good one.
The Intercept’s Glenn Greenwald has thoughts:
The accusation that Vladimir Putin controls the U.S. through blackmail leverage over Trump is an extremely grave and serious one. That's why it's so stunning to see its almost-complete disappearance by Democrats from the midterm election debate. https://t.co/AC0ulJLRHS
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) October 31, 2018
You were complaining about Democrats talking about too much Russia earlier. Now you're complaining they aren't talking about it enough? I don't get it.
— Brad Reed (@bwreed) October 31, 2018
I'm not complaining about them not talking about it. I'm suggesting that their decision not to is noteworthy and revealing given the gravity of their accusations.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) October 31, 2018
I have a feeling it will come back after the election depending on what happens to Roger Stone.
But as a political matter, it was always a loser with most voters. They mostly don't care.
— Brad Reed (@bwreed) October 31, 2018
I personally think American voters would care quite a bit if a foreign adversary were controlling their country through blackmail leverage over the President, provided that they were convinced it's true.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) October 31, 2018
Guys … do you not follow Alyssa Milano’s Twitter feed or what? The Russians have already stolen a House seat, and don’t forget Sen. Bill Nelson in August revealing that the Russians had penetrated Florida’s voter system … maybe. But probably not.
It’s as if they were never serious. https://t.co/uSTJKLSPRk
— Instapundit.com (@instapundit) October 31, 2018
They are on to the new narrative….Trump is to blame for the violence in politics. Clearly a block to blunt the “Jobs not mobs” meme that was catching on and hurting their electoral chances. They’d played the Russia story for all it was worth and it wasn’t working anymore.
— AquaStar (@AquaStar4) October 31, 2018
It's as if they know it's not trending well.
Oh, and that it's bullshit.
— Line Doggie✝️⚔️? (@DoggieLine) October 31, 2018
Perhaps because no one honestly believes that nonsense.
Not even Adam Schiff.— Brian Cairns (@briantcairns) October 31, 2018
And Rachel Maddow, though we'll never know given how much material benefits she gets from it.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) October 31, 2018
It’s almost as if none of them — politicians, pundits, cable news hosts, think tank heads — actually believe what they’ve been bombarding the country with for the past 2 years
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) October 31, 2018
If people were actually convinced that Trump was conspiring with or blackmailed by Russia, this would be the #1 topic in the midterm campaigns no matter if there were new developments. People aren't, because all of it boils down to a single meeting and some Facebook ads.
— Faithful Elector (@intheglare) October 31, 2018
On the nose
— temjrpgh (@temjrpgh) October 31, 2018
When is the Russia hysteria coming back? Maybe if Mueller ever finishes his investigation?
Related:
Never mind: Sen. Bill Nelson walks back claim that Russians had hacked Florida election systems (video) https://t.co/yfZMckiWwb
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 16, 2018
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