Morning Conspiracy Reading - It Would Be Irresponsible Not To Speculate*

The New York Times has a must- read report on the shady Russo- Ukrainian connections of Paul Manafort, "campaign" manager for neo- fascist Putin poodle Donald "Rump" Trump:

... Mr. Manafort’s presence remains elsewhere here in the capital, where government investigators examining secret records have found his name, as well as companies he sought business with, as they try to untangle a corrupt network they say was used to loot Ukrainian assets and influence elections during the administration of Mr. Manafort’s main client, former President Viktor F. Yanukovych. 

Handwritten ledgers show $12.7 million in undisclosed cash payments designated for Mr. Manafort from Mr. Yanukovych’s pro-Russian political party from 2007 to 2012, according to Ukraine’s newly formed National Anti-Corruption Bureau. Investigators assert that the disbursements were part of an illegal off-the-books system whose recipients also included election officials.

Crooked!  Like boss, like hack.

Meanwhile, look who's kicking Manafort in the nuts:

Secret Ledger in Ukraine Lists Cash for Donald Trump’s Campaign Chief https://t.co/7bh7iIHHaY

— Corey Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) August 15, 2016

For those of you just joining us, that would be CNN's Trump Man and former "campaign" manager/ bouncer Corey Lewandowski.  Revenge! Disarray! Sad!

Finally, look who's vacationing with Vladimir Putin's girlfriend:



Connecting dots... connecting dots...

But of course Manafort had nothing to do with shifting the GOP's stance on Ukraine....

— Franklin Foer (@FranklinFoer) August 15, 2016

*h/t Peggy "Three Sheets to the Wind" Noonan, via TBogg.