Clearing brush takes time. You know, of course, that this has been blown completely out of proportion. There was no "conspiracy". There was water cooler talk via email. Now, THAT is unprofessional, but, as I've said before, there is no smoking gun, and I've asked before for someone to provide it (but it isn't there). What is there is bad headlines and conspiracy theories. We, the sheep, have been doing Putin's work for him.

A well reasoned argument is like a diamond: impervious to corruption and crystal clear - and infinitely rarer.

Here, as elsewhere, people are outraged at what feels like a rigged game -- an economy that won't respond, a democracy that won't listen, and a financial sector that holds all the cards. - Robert Reich