Treason, the Rosenbergs and Trump

I was thinking about the Rosenbergs, Julius and Ethel, executed here in 1950 for handing over to the Soviets some, probably banal secrets the Soviets already knew, to build a nuclear bomb.  The US, at that time, was the only nation which possessed a nuclear bomb and, as witnessed by the horrific destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was willing to use it.  Julius Rosenberg's rationale for working with the Soviet Union then, some have said, was to prevent a nuclear holocaust that more than one nation having the bomb would obviate. Whether they did that for which they were executed or not is the subject of continuous controversy but it is clear, at least to me, that Julius did commit treason. Whether Ethel did or not is still subject to debate.  This opinion, however, is not about a debate as to the guilt or innocence of the Rosenbergs but it is to compare their acts for which they were executed to the acts of a president of the United States, Trump, and his many minions suspected of conspiracy with one of our most adversarial nations, Russia, to hack into Democratic computers and emails to defeat Hillary Clinton and elect Trump in the 2016 presidential election.  The Russians were successful beyond their wildest imaginations and Trump I believe contributed to their success.

MSNBC's Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow and Larry O'Donnell's creative analysis of a largely redacted sentencing memo by Robert Mueller on former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn they had just received about Flynn's actions allegedly colluding with Russia including the breach of the FCPA (the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) by not admitting to his paid connection to the foreign nation of Turkey and its president Erdogan was brilliant.  Because Flynn has cooperated with Special Counsel Mueller (including 19 hours of testimony) so quickly, fully and truthfully the sentencing recommendation of Mueller was near zero imprisonment time in hopes that others, perhaps many, of the Trump administration would agree to do the same.

The scope and the depth of Mueller's investigation into Trump's alleged conspiracy with one of this nation's most adversarial powers, Russia, and its President Putin is mammoth.  Many in Trump's orbit, including Trump himself, could be pulled into the center of gravity of the investigation which is already two years old but is far from over.  In my opinion, it makes what the Rosenbergs were accused of and executed for look like child's play.  The Russians struck at the heart of our democracy itself and, at least for the 2016 election, killed it. 

Trump allegedly has done one of the most evil, treacherous, mendacious and, indeed treasonous actions by betraying this nation he says he loves for 40 pieces of Trump Tower gold and used Flynn's motive to defeat Islam as his phony rationale. The Russians truly must be laughing themselves silly.  This is the biggest compromat the Russians have successfully ever gotten -- a useful idiot US President Trump allegedly acting on their behalf in order for the Manchurian candidate Trump to make billions. If the Rosenbergs were executed for treason for their crimes then the allegedly treasonous Trump should be impeached, successfully tried by a Republican majority senate and convicted for his.  The American electorate should be screaming for nothing less!!