The Trump Investigation(s) Thread

For discussion of religion and politics

Moderators: LawBeefaroni, $iljanus

Post Reply
User avatar
GreenGoo
Posts: 42349
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 10:46 pm
Location: Ottawa, ON

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by GreenGoo »

YellowKing wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:36 pm You start to see how razor thin Trump's victory actually was.
Sure, but then the American people elected a known cartoonish con-artist. Say what you will about "razor thin" but it's still disconcerting.

If the American people had elected Dracula (who identified himself as a vampire as part of his campaigning) by a "razor thin" margin, there would still be cause for alarm.
User avatar
ImLawBoy
Forum Admin
Posts: 14981
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:49 pm
Location: Chicago, IL
Contact:

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by ImLawBoy »

GreenGoo wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:41 pm
YellowKing wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:36 pm You start to see how razor thin Trump's victory actually was.
Sure, but then the American people elected a known cartoonish con-artist. Say what you will about "razor thin" but it's still disconcerting.

If the American people had elected Dracula (who identified himself as a vampire as part of his campaigning) by a "razor thin" margin, there would still be cause for alarm.
Do you think anyone is arguing otherwise?
That's my purse! I don't know you!
User avatar
LordMortis
Posts: 70233
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:26 pm

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by LordMortis »

YellowKing wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:36 pm Throw in those Jill Stein voters.
Be careful about Stein voters rejecting Trump as a given. Dissonance is a powerful thing.
GreenGoo wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:38 pm I'm mildly surprised there aren't riots at this point.

Things are fine until they're not. I've never had anxiety about mass civil violence in the US until the end of 2016. Now it's omnipresent but fortunately always in the background.
Last edited by LordMortis on Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
GreenGoo
Posts: 42349
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 10:46 pm
Location: Ottawa, ON

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by GreenGoo »

ImLawBoy wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:51 pm
GreenGoo wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:41 pm
YellowKing wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:36 pm You start to see how razor thin Trump's victory actually was.
Sure, but then the American people elected a known cartoonish con-artist. Say what you will about "razor thin" but it's still disconcerting.

If the American people had elected Dracula (who identified himself as a vampire as part of his campaigning) by a "razor thin" margin, there would still be cause for alarm.
Do you think anyone is arguing otherwise?
Kinda, yeah.
User avatar
ImLawBoy
Forum Admin
Posts: 14981
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:49 pm
Location: Chicago, IL
Contact:

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by ImLawBoy »

It's possible to both be optimistic but to still think there is cause for alarm.
That's my purse! I don't know you!
User avatar
YellowKing
Posts: 30207
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 2:02 pm

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by YellowKing »

It's hard to get Americans marching in the streets unless they're getting screwed on a personal level. And the fact is that from a short-term perspective, most people are still A-OK. The economy's good, unemployment is low. We're not in the middle of any wars. Trump is bad, but the badness is from judiciary appointments (yawn), environmental effects (we'll let our kids take care of it), Russian collusion (doesn't impact me personally)....the list goes on.

Americans are used to getting their revenge at the ballot box, and I think that's why you see a general level of calm. The system for removing politicians we don't like, until proven otherwise, is still working as intended. And I think that's why nobody's motivated to upset the apple cart.
User avatar
Daehawk
Posts: 63784
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Daehawk »

As many crazy mad people there are in this country.......how many people are easily brainwashed.....and how many trump core supporters there are......I still worry about midterms never mind 2020.
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
User avatar
GreenGoo
Posts: 42349
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 10:46 pm
Location: Ottawa, ON

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by GreenGoo »

ImLawBoy wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:10 pm It's possible to both be optimistic but to still think there is cause for alarm.
Ok.
User avatar
Carpet_pissr
Posts: 20055
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 5:32 pm
Location: Columbia, SC

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Carpet_pissr »

YellowKing wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:13 pm We're not in the middle of any wars.
Do what now? Afghanistan, Syria....maybe Yemen (not sure how many troops we have there, but it's definitely "hot")
User avatar
YellowKing
Posts: 30207
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 2:02 pm

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by YellowKing »

Carpet_pissr wrote:Do what now? Afghanistan, Syria....maybe Yemen (not sure how many troops we have there, but it's definitely "hot")
Correction. Any wars still in the news. :P
User avatar
Daehawk
Posts: 63784
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Daehawk »

With Trump you can never dismiss a war with China / Russia/ North Korea.

Then again with Trump you cant dismiss a war with Britain / Canada / Australia
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
User avatar
Carpet_pissr
Posts: 20055
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 5:32 pm
Location: Columbia, SC

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Carpet_pissr »

One thing I don’t get is how paying off mistresses “influences an erec...election”?

That seems to be the only tie to Trump, here, correct? That he paid off two women to keep quiet. Something he would have done as candidate Trump, or plain ol’ shitbag citizen Trump.

If that’s the case, I really don’t get all the excitement, because that seems to be some weak ass sauce to me.
User avatar
Grifman
Posts: 21291
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:17 pm

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Grifman »

Carpet_pissr wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:53 pm One thing I don’t get is how paying off mistresses “influences an erec...election”?

That seems to be the only tie to Trump, here, correct? That he paid off two women to keep quiet. Something he would have done as candidate Trump, or plain ol’ shitbag citizen Trump.

If that’s the case, I really don’t get all the excitement, because that seems to be some weak ass sauce to me.
Seriously? I mean I know it’s Trump but most candidates prefer not to have embarrassing news about them come out during an election campaign.
Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions. – G.K. Chesterton
User avatar
Grifman
Posts: 21291
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 7:17 pm

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Grifman »

em2nought wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 1:38 pm
Captain Caveman wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:48 am Mr. Fed writing in the NY Times today. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/opin ... eller.html
Especially if Democrats manage the blue wave of their dreams in the midterms
I guess you folks don't see the multiple #WalkAway videos getting posted daily that I do. :roll: Maybe those are Russian bots? LMAO
I guess you don’t see the large number of Republican leaders who have announced leaving the party? Seriously, you expect us to be worried about publicity seeking video makers? Funny how the polls and party registrations don’t reflect this massive wave :)
Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions. – G.K. Chesterton
User avatar
Kraken
Posts: 43805
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:59 pm
Location: The Hub of the Universe
Contact:

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Kraken »

YellowKing wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:33 pm
Carpet_pissr wrote:Do what now? Afghanistan, Syria....maybe Yemen (not sure how many troops we have there, but it's definitely "hot")
Correction. Any wars still in the news. :P
Begin rant. Afghanistan has been making prominent news for the past week as the war there is not going well at all. The government lost a strategic provincial capital for five days and the Taliban have taken most of the province. Today mortar rounds fell on Kabul while the president gave an outdoor speech. An American soldier died in Iraq two days ago (helicopter crash), so those advisors aren't just sitting around their bases. The public doesn't notice or care beyond the reflexive "thank you for your service."

When I'm the dictator I will decree that taxes must increase in wartime. The public needs to have some skin in the game if we don't want wars to simmer in obscurity for 17 years.

End rant.
User avatar
Daehawk
Posts: 63784
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Daehawk »

Its as if the US Gov doesn't think there is a war in Afghanistan.
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
User avatar
Max Peck
Posts: 13763
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 8:09 pm
Location: Down the Rabbit-Hole

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Max Peck »

Trump voter on Manafort jury says one holdout prevented complete conviction on all counts in high-stakes fraud trial
A juror who participated in the trial of President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, said just one holdout prevented the jury from convicting Manafort on all of the 18 federal charges he faced.

In a Fox News interview on Wednesday, Paula Duncan, a self-described Trump supporter, said the unidentified juror was not convinced that Manafort was guilty of all 18 criminal charges he faced.

"We all tried to convince her to look at the paper trail, we laid it out in front of her again and again," Duncan said during an interview with Fox News host Shannon Bream.

Manafort was ultimately convicted on eight counts on five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud, and one count of failure to report a foreign bank account. The judge declared a mistrial on the remaining 10 counts.

Duncan claimed that the holdout juror is the one who prompted them to send a note to Judge T.S. Ellis asking for an explanation of the term, "reasonable doubt."

"Most of us did not want that question out there ... we felt a little foolish," Duncan said.
"The evidence was overwhelming," Duncan said. "I did not want Paul Manafort to be guilty, but he was, and no one is above the law. So it was our obligation to look through all of the evidence."
"What? What? What?" -- The 14th Doctor

It's not enough to be a good player... you also have to play well. -- Siegbert Tarrasch
User avatar
GreenGoo
Posts: 42349
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 10:46 pm
Location: Ottawa, ON

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by GreenGoo »

Someone give Duncan a hug for me.
User avatar
Isgrimnur
Posts: 82338
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:29 am
Location: Chookity pok
Contact:

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Isgrimnur »

CNN
Trump's latest attempt came in a friendly taped interview with Fox News, which was conducted on Wednesday but aired a day later. Trump sought to put distance between himself and his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who admitted to campaign finance crimes in federal court on Tuesday and implicated the President by saying he'd directed the action.

And he sharply decried those who testify against former confidants to ease legal troubles, bemoaning the longstanding practice.

"It's called flipping and it almost ought to be illegal," Trump said in the interview, adding he's witnessed similar scenarios over his decades in public life. "I know all about flipping, 30, 40 years I have been watching flippers. Everything is wonderful and then they get 10 years in jail and they flip on whoever the next highest one is or as high as you can go."
It's almost as if people are the problem.
User avatar
Remus West
Posts: 33593
Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 5:39 pm
Location: Not in Westland

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Remus West »

Isgrimnur wrote: Thu Aug 23, 2018 10:27 am CNN
Trump's latest attempt came in a friendly taped interview with Fox News, which was conducted on Wednesday but aired a day later. Trump sought to put distance between himself and his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who admitted to campaign finance crimes in federal court on Tuesday and implicated the President by saying he'd directed the action.

And he sharply decried those who testify against former confidants to ease legal troubles, bemoaning the longstanding practice.

"It's called flipping and it almost ought to be illegal," Trump said in the interview, adding he's witnessed similar scenarios over his decades in public life. "I know all about flipping, 30, 40 years I have been watching flippers. Everything is wonderful and then they get 10 years in jail and they flip on whoever the next highest one is or as high as you can go."
I....I.....I have no words. Its like we elected a severely brain damaged Tony Soprano.
“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” - H.L. Mencken
User avatar
GreenGoo
Posts: 42349
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 10:46 pm
Location: Ottawa, ON

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by GreenGoo »

So you're saying you have a lot of experience with flippers, do you?

Good lord this guy is dumber than a bag of hammers.

I hope he doesn't wear a tan suit or bend slightly at the waist briefly. Then we'd have a real scandal on our hands.

If you can't respect the man, at least respect the office? He's DEFILING the office, for God's sake.
User avatar
Carpet_pissr
Posts: 20055
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 5:32 pm
Location: Columbia, SC

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Carpet_pissr »

"almost ought to be illegal" :think:
User avatar
Archinerd
Posts: 6867
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:18 am
Location: Shikaakwa

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Archinerd »

I can't argue with that logic.
User avatar
Jaymann
Posts: 19508
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:13 pm
Location: California

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Jaymann »

Image
Jaymann
]==(:::::::::::::>
Black Lives Matter
User avatar
Archinerd
Posts: 6867
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:18 am
Location: Shikaakwa

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Archinerd »

Forget the Stock market, Trump has access to nuclear missile codes.

Edit: Ooops, I responded in the wrong Trump thread.
Whatever, it still applies.
Last edited by Archinerd on Thu Aug 23, 2018 12:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Holman
Posts: 29019
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:00 pm
Location: Between the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Holman »

The nation's chief law enforcement officer is now committed to "snitches get stitches."
Much prefer my Nazis Nuremberged.
milo
Posts: 596
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 12:20 pm
Location: Irvine, CA, USA

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by milo »

Image
Hey, he's a businessman, pallie. Just doin' what it says in The Book.
--milo
User avatar
hepcat
Posts: 51558
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:02 pm
Location: Chicago, IL Home of the triple homicide!

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by hepcat »

Holy Turncoat, Batman! Trump's National Enquirer pal is apparently leaking info to the feds now! :shock:

Although this may be nothing as he does consider himself a Trump confidante. He may just be trying to point the finger for everything at Cohen instead of his orange God.
He won. Period.
User avatar
Blackhawk
Posts: 43926
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:48 pm
Location: Southwest Indiana

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Blackhawk »

Next up: Melania. A leak that she's 'flipped' would probably be the greatest day of the decade for me.
(˙pǝsɹǝʌǝɹ uǝǝq sɐɥ ʎʇıʌɐɹƃ ʃɐuosɹǝd ʎW)
User avatar
hepcat
Posts: 51558
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:02 pm
Location: Chicago, IL Home of the triple homicide!

Re: The Trump Investigation ThreadT

Post by hepcat »

Threaten to deport the poolboy at Mar-a-Lago and she will.
He won. Period.
GungHo
Posts: 3940
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:15 am
Location: Second star to the right

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by GungHo »

Carpet_pissr wrote: Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:53 pm One thing I don’t get is how paying off mistresses “influences an erec...election”?

That seems to be the only tie to Trump, here, correct? That he paid off two women to keep quiet. Something he would have done as candidate Trump, or plain ol’ shitbag citizen Trump.

If that’s the case, I really don’t get all the excitement, because that seems to be some weak ass sauce to me.
I'll take a stab at this...

I *think * it actually isn't illegal to influence the campaign IF the payment was at or under the legal limit for contributions. Which, again, I *think * is $2700. I mean that's the whole point of donating to a campaign right? Is to influence the outcome. So that part could be legal. But obviously it was more than $2700 and then of course they didn't report the 'donation' either which is also illegal.

Or I could be completely wrong. But I can definitely see how this isn't moving the needle much for trump lovers. Campaign finance laws are byzantine at best and all of us, trump haters and lovers alike are convinced all politicians are corrupt.
Like y'all have said it should be a watershed moment for America but...
OR
cry in a corner that the world has come to a point where you have to pay for imaginary shit.

-Hiccup
User avatar
YellowKing
Posts: 30207
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 2:02 pm

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by YellowKing »

The good news for Trump-haters is that a crime is a crime whether people understand it or not. And this is a significant crime that is much more cut and dry than obstruction or other crimes that are open to interpretation and difficult to prove.

It really puts the GOP Congress in a difficult position. You may be able to weasel out of condemning someone for an ambiguous wrongdoing, but it's much harder to refute black and white breaking campaign finance law. The GOP may find themselves in the position of either holding Trump accountable or openly and brazenly refusing to do their job of overseeing the executive branch.
User avatar
Zaxxon
Forum Moderator
Posts: 28135
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:11 am
Location: Surrounded by Mountains

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Zaxxon »

I mean, Lindsay Graham is today opining on how it'd be fine if Trump fired Sessions. Not exactly promising as far as GOP congresscritters treating this as cut and dry.
User avatar
Daehawk
Posts: 63784
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Daehawk »

Whatever is happening or happens at the very least I hope it makes Trump mad enough to provide us with more entertaining Twitter rants.
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
User avatar
YellowKing
Posts: 30207
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 2:02 pm

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by YellowKing »

Zaxxon wrote:I mean, Lindsay Graham is today opining on how it'd be fine if Trump fired Sessions. Not exactly promising as far as GOP congresscritters treating this as cut and dry.
I think what Senators say publicly and what they say behind closed doors are two different things. I was reading a great article the other day about the Democrats' contingency plans should Trump pull a Saturday Night Massacre to get rid of Mueller. Schumer has been working the aisles hard and there are plenty of GOP Senators on board to keep the investigation going even if Trump should do the unthinkable.
User avatar
Daehawk
Posts: 63784
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Daehawk »

Did Trump ever release his taxes?
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
User avatar
Sepiche
Posts: 8112
Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2005 12:00 pm
Location: Olathe, KS

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Sepiche »

Daehawk wrote: Thu Aug 23, 2018 5:32 pm Did Trump ever release his taxes?
Nope. Yet another reason to give Democrats the House... as soon as they have subpoena power they can get his tax returns and release them.
User avatar
Ralph-Wiggum
Posts: 17449
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:51 am

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Ralph-Wiggum »

Daehawk wrote: Thu Aug 23, 2018 5:32 pm Did Trump ever release his taxes?
They got an extension until October for this year's taxes. The presumption is that they will be released then, but I'm sure Trump et al. will find an excuse to withhold them.

As for Graham, I wouldn't assume he is doing anything differently behind closed doors. He is a full-on Trump sycophant. At this point, it looks like the playbook is to wait until after the November elections, then fire Sessions and appoint someone who will stop the Mueller investigation. The GOP seems to be getting behind that plan (see Grassely's comments today as well).
Black Lives Matter
User avatar
Alefroth
Posts: 8572
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 1:56 pm
Location: Bellingham WA

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Alefroth »

Isgrimnur wrote: Thu Aug 23, 2018 10:27 am CNN
Trump's latest attempt came in a friendly taped interview with Fox News, which was conducted on Wednesday but aired a day later. Trump sought to put distance between himself and his former lawyer Michael Cohen, who admitted to campaign finance crimes in federal court on Tuesday and implicated the President by saying he'd directed the action.

And he sharply decried those who testify against former confidants to ease legal troubles, bemoaning the longstanding practice.

"It's called flipping and it almost ought to be illegal," Trump said in the interview, adding he's witnessed similar scenarios over his decades in public life. "I know all about flipping, 30, 40 years I have been watching flippers. Everything is wonderful and then they get 10 years in jail and they flip on whoever the next highest one is or as high as you can go."
Well he should be happy to learn that it almost is illegal.
User avatar
Skinypupy
Posts: 20399
Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2004 10:12 am
Location: Utah

Re: The Trump Investigation Thread

Post by Skinypupy »

Can this MAGA Manafort juror please just go away already?
She echoed Trump in calling the special counsel probe a “witch hunt.” But she said Manafort was guilty all the same, of crimes pertaining to hiding income earned from his political consulting work overseas and other fraud counts.

Certainly Mr. Manafort got caught breaking the law, but he wouldn’t have gotten caught if they weren’t after President Trump,” Duncan said.
There are not enough :roll: in the world for that statement.
When darkness veils the world, four Warriors of Light shall come.
Post Reply