Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Edge-]

So...Trump's really really not footing the bill, huh?

Why break tradition now? Trump's gotta keep his brand strong, never pay for anything yourself.

[Breccia]

Why break tradition now? Trump's gotta keep his brand strong, never pay for anything yourself.

I...legit don't know what I was thinking. Holy shit, one day without coffee and that's the post I make?

[Edge-]

https://www.businessinsider.com/trum...rse-2021-7?amp

Weisselberg no longer managing the Scotland golf course. Happens when you're under indictment.

[cubby]

https://www.businessinsider.com/trum...rse-2021-7?amp

Weisselberg no longer managing the Scotland golf course. Happens when you're under indictment.

I'm curious if he had to because of Scotland rules or if this is the start of cutting Weisselberg out of all-things-Trump or something else.

[Edge-]

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021...llision-course

Florida is the gravitational center of Donald Trump’s MAGA-ified Republican Party, so it’s not surprising that the Sunshine State’s pugnacious Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, wants to be Trump’s rightful heir. Since his 2018 election, DeSantis has thrilled the GOP base by governing like a mini Trump. He defied public health guidelines during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic last year and kept Florida virtually free of a statewide lockdown. In May he perpetuated Trump’s 2020 election lie and signed a restrictive voting rights bill live on Fox News. And last month he dispatched Florida law enforcement agents to Texas to “secure [the] southern border.” According to one recent conservative poll, DeSantis beat Trump with a 74% approval rating (Trump scored 71%).

But in the wake of the Surfside condo collapse, DeSantis’s claim to the MAGA mantle is facing its biggest test, with DeSantis putting management of the tragedy ahead of Trump’s need for blind loyalty. On June 30, the conservative Washington Examiner reported that DeSantis’s team was furious that Trump intended to hold a MAGA rally in Florida while the search for survivors continued (DeSantis didn’t attend the rally). On July 1, DeSantis appeared alongside President Joe Biden and praised him for the federal government’s response to the tragedy. (The moment recalled the greeting between New Jersey governor Chris Christie and Barack Obama after Hurricane Sandy.)

In recent days I spoke with a half dozen GOP insiders about the recent flare-ups between DeSantis’s and Trump’s camps. The sources agreed that DeSantis and Trump are on an inevitable collision course as the 2024 GOP field takes shape. “There’s going to be a blowup,” a prominent Republican said. “Trump fucking hates DeSantis. He just resents his popularity,” a Trump confidant told me. Asked for comment, Trump spokesperson Liz Harrington said: “Governor DeSantis has shown great respect.”

Part of Trump’s irritation with DeSantis is that Trump famously claims credit for anyone in his orbit who gains attention. “Trump tells people, ‘I made Ron,’” the prominent Republican said. “Trump says that about a lot of people. But in this case it’s actually true.” According to sources, then congressman DeSantis cultivated Trump’s support during the 2018 gubernatorial primary by hanging out at Trump’s Washington, D.C., hotel. “Ron basically ran his primary campaign out of the hotel. He buttonholed Trump supporters and his friends,” the prominent Republican said.

More in the article, but this should be interesting to watch. Trump seems displeased that DeSantis is the younger, more popular, less losing version of himself, and DeSantis doesn't seem keen to let Trump limit his ambitions. I hope this gets messy between the two of them.

[Breccia]

I'm curious if he had to because of Scotland rules or if this is the start of cutting Weisselberg out of all-things-Trump or something else.

It's hard to say. A quick browsing of headlines is a 50/50 split "Trump fired him" and "he stepped down". The paperwork suggests he was terminated but it could have been at his request.

But we've talked about this at length. The only way Weisselberg can realistically fall on the sword, is if Trump fires him. Nobody will buy Weisselberg saying "I did it all without Trump's knowledge and permission" regardless, but they might sell a jury if Trump says "Whaaaaaaaaa? I had no idea! Of course he's fired". Trump does not forgive what he thinks is a breach of loyalty, which stealing millions of dollars would be. If he doesn't at least act like he views Weisselberg as a traitor, no jury will accept it, and quite frankly neither will the prosecutors. Weaselberg has nothing to gain by taking all the credit, since he won't get a plea bargain for doing so but still has to admit it on the stand. He gets the maximum sentence, and he/his family lose everything, with no benefit.

So that leaves only two reasonable options (yes, this is Team Trump, I'm not going to list all the crazy ones)

1) Trump thinks Weaselberg will flip and is prying his name off his businesses one by one, or
2) The Scottish govt is considering an investigation and firing Weaselberg is the only action Trump can take to delay it.

Weisselberg's departure from the Scottish golf club could be a response to pressure from some Scottish lawmakers and Avaaz, a global activist network, to start an "unexplained wealth" inquiry into Trump's Scottish golf operations. A motion to do so was struck down in the courts in February, but Avaaz filed a petition seeking a review of the court's decision.

A UK law called the "unexplained wealth order," or the "McMafia law," allows authorities to examine suspicious finances and any accompanying records in an effort to minimize money laundering and related financial crimes.

The Scottish government could apply this law to an investigation into how the Trump Organization was able to fund the refurbishment of his Scottish golf courses, even though neither of them has turned a profit.

Let's give it a month. If Weaselberg gets fired from anywhere else, it's the former. If not, it's the latter.

[beanman12345]

These brothers do put together good ads.

[Breccia]

Oh, there's more Scottish news.

The Trump golf course in Scotland is not Trump Org. It is a separate company. But, it does owe Trump Org $60 million (it is an interest free loan, also known as "money laundering"), and it has lost money seven straight years. Weaselberg or no Weaselberg, the golf course is in a dire fiscal situation.

[Edge-]

But, it does owe Trump Org $60 million (it is an interest free loan, also known as "money laundering")

Shouldn't Donald Trump know that Donald Trump never pays back his loans?

[Breccia]

Shouldn't Donald Trump know that Donald Trump never pays back his loans?

There are writeoffs if your loan isn't paid back. Trump loans himself money all the time. Most notably, he lent his campaign money at prime plus five percent, so his campaign could pay him back with lots of interest. We talked about it in 2016.

[postman1782]

Oh, there's more Scottish news.

The Trump golf course in Scotland is not Trump Org. It is a separate company. But, it does owe Trump Org $60 million (it is an interest free loan, also known as "money laundering"), and it has lost money seven straight years. Weaselberg or no Weaselberg, the golf course is in a dire fiscal situation.

Was this the one that Trump was trying to get the Air Force people to stay at? Or am I thinking of a different one?

[bladeXcrasher]

Was this the one that Trump was trying to get the Air Force people to stay at? Or am I thinking of a different one?

One of the 2 in question was, yes.

[Breccia]

We all saw this coming.

A key selling point of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was that it would discourage multinational corporations from funneling billions in profits to offshore tax havens, bringing that money back to the U.S. where it could create jobs and boost economic growth. But a recent analysis concludes that the tax overhaul failed to stem the flow of corporate earnings overseas.

The study, by Javier Garcia-Bernardo and Petr Janský of Charles University in Prague and Gabriel Zucman of the University of California, Berkeley, found that the TCJA had little impact on the share of foreign income booked by U.S. companies in tax havens like Bermuda and Ireland. From 2015 to 2020 — the years before and after the law took effect — that share held steady at about 50%.

The tax cut for the rich was a massive handout by Republicans to their friends. Any claims about it paying for itself have long been destroyed. This is yet more evidence that, basically, everything the tax cut for the rich was supposed to do -- other than make people who are rich more rich -- it did not do.

The study is preliminary, but unless the IRS changes data from 2015 to 2020 all of a sudden, the results are going to stand.

Trump lied all the time about everything. This is just a larger than average example.

[Santti]

We all saw this coming.



The tax cut for the rich was a massive handout by Republicans to their friends. Any claims about it paying for itself have long been destroyed. This is yet more evidence that, basically, everything the tax cut for the rich was supposed to do -- other than make people who are rich more rich -- it did not do.

The study is preliminary, but unless the IRS changes data from 2015 to 2020 all of a sudden, the results are going to stand.

Trump lied all the time about everything. This is just a larger than average example.

Pretty sure I remember Trump bragging how he "made us rich(er)" (paraphrasing) to his lackeys when he enacted the tax cuts.

All the talk about the evil taxes, and how they should be made voluntary (lol), or how the rich will move out and take the jobs with them, or whatever, has always been bullshit. It's just rich wanting to be more rich, and that's all there is to it.

It's good to have something to confirm this, but it's going to be disregarded as librul fake newz by the greedy cunts that just can't make do with just 3 yachts, anyway.

[pathora44]

Pretty sure I remember Trump bragging how he "made us rich(er)" (paraphrasing) to his lackeys when he enacted the tax cuts.

All the talk about the evil taxes, and how they should be made voluntary (lol), or how the rich will move out and take the jobs with them, or whatever, has always been bullshit. It's just rich wanting to be more rich, and that's all there is to it.

It's good to have something to confirm this, but it's going to be disregarded as librul fake newz by the greedy cunts that just can't make do with just 3 yachts, anyway.

Nah it will be the idiots who think that any day now they will be the ones owning 2 yachts and have millions upon millions of dollars. So when the day comes no matter how rich they are they don't want some "lazy slob" trying to "steal their hard earned wealth". Even though a lot of these idiots rely on things like welfare, medicare, medicaid, etc..., etc...

[Hadriker]

Didn't know where else to put this but Four Seasons Total Landscaping is hosting a concert. It sold out in 17 minutes.

Featuring Laura Jane Grace from Against Me! and Brendan Kelly from The Lawrence Arms

Would have loved to go to that, I love both of the artists. Not to mention its hilarious.

[gondrin]

Didn't know where else to put this but Four Seasons Total Landscaping is hosting a concert. It sold out in 17 minutes.

Featuring Laura Jane Grace from Against Me! and Brendan Kelly from The Lawrence Arms

Would have loved to go to that, I love both of the artists. Not to mention its hilarious.

I'm kinda disappointed though. This would have been a perfect time to get Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons(although it is just Frankie now) to at least make an appearance. For those that don't know, he sung the theme song to Grease. There is also a broadway play about them called Jersey Boys.

[Benggaul]

Thursday's quickie report:

19,347 new cases. That's with 7 states (including Florida) not reporting, so I'm pretty confident cases have topped 20k now. Texas topped 2k. Missouri once again hit a new high since February. Cases are without a doubt on the rise nationally thanks in large part to the Delta variant and, as always, complacency/pandemic fatigue. Nothing like running the 100 yard dash and then stopping 5 yards from the finish to pose for pictures and mug to the crowd.

261 deaths brings us to 622,213 and again doesn't include data from 7 states, though I expect it's still low.

Related news:

Pfizer's COVID-19 booster shot strongly extends protection but CDC cautions 3rd dose not yet needed--Booster shots have been discussed previously and it looks like they're being worked on should they prove necessary (and they may very well be). If that's the case, we're going to have to continue improving the distribution network getting them to people who don't have very easy/convenient access.

Nevada's COVID positivity rate has more than doubled in past month--Nevada now has the worst positivity rate in the nation, followed by Missouri, Utah and Arkansas.

Stay safe, folks.

[jonnysensible]

imagine you are a cop and you get beaten to death with maga and thin blue line flags

https://twitter.com/MacFarlaneNews/s...56290597556224

[Edge-]

imagine you are a cop and you get beaten to death with maga and thin blue line flags

https://twitter.com/MacFarlaneNews/s...56290597556224

I see a hockey stick, proof it was all Canadians.

- - - Updated - - -

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/0...ld-porn-498937

A former GOP staffer and Republican National Committee aide pleaded guilty Friday to a child pornography charge and is facing 12 years or more in prison under a plea deal with prosecutors.

...

Verastigui admitted to possession of 152 videos and 50 images of child pornography and to receiving and distributing sexual depictions of children.

According to an affidavit filed in the case in February by a Department of Homeland Security investigator, Verastigui sought out images of rape of children during an online chat last year. Prosecutors said Verastigui also fantasized online about killing children while abusing them.

...

Last November, a Trump Commerce Department political appointee, Adam Hageman, was arrested on charges he shared a child pornography video and commented on sexually abusing children. Hageman appears to have been set to enter a guilty plea in April, but court records do not indicate that hearing was ever held.

Q is targeting the wrong god-damned folks.

- - - Updated - - -

https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-vir...plicit-tiktok/

WV State Rep. Joe Jeffries decided to post what is apparently a fairly graphic video giving "advice" on oral sex. Republicans across the state have condemned him and he's been stripped of his Committee vice-chairman position.

Defo the party of "family values". I'm all for sex education, but giving advice on getting head isn't the kind of education most folks associate with "education" in terms of safe sex.

- - - Updated - - -

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...ies-yuma-2017/

The Trump administration began separating migrant families along a remote stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border months earlier than has been previously reported — part of a little known program coming into view only now as the Biden administration examines government data.

In May 2017, Border Patrol agents in Yuma, Ariz., began implementing a program known as the Criminal Consequence Initiative, which allowed for the prosecution of first-time border crossers, including parents who entered the United States with their children and were separated from them.

From July 1 to Dec. 31, 2017, 234 families were separated in Yuma, according to newly released data from the Department of Homeland Security, almost exactly the same number as were separated in a now well known pilot program in El Paso that year. Because the Yuma program began in May, and the existing data on family separations begins only in July, the number of separations there was likely higher than 234, a prospect the Biden administration is now investigating.

Some of the parents separated under the Yuma program still remain apart from their children four years later. Others are missing — lawyers and advocates have been unable to locate them since they were deported alone. The children separated in Yuma in 2017 were as young as 10 months old, according to government data.

The new information shows the difficulty of accounting for aspects of the Trump administration’s immigration policy, an ever-changing series of measures aimed at stopping migrants from crossing the border. Even the impact of family separation — perhaps the most scrutinized U.S. immigration policy of the last half-century — is not fully understood.

The Trump administration was literally kidnapping babies for longer than we ever knew, and we might discover even more kidnappings.

These people belong in jail, preferably in solitary confinement for long stretches of time so that they can appreciate the damage that kidnapping small children and babies from their families has.

- - - Updated - - -

IT'S A BUSY DAY FOR REPUBLICAN PIECES OF SHIT AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politic...watchdog-finds

Two high-ranking Trump political appointees at the Environmental Protection Agency engaged in fraudulent payroll activities — including payments to employees after they were fired and to one of the officials when he was absent from work — that cost the agency more than $130,000, a report by an internal watchdog says.

Former chief of staff Ryan Jackson and former White House liaison Charles Munoz submitted “official timesheets and personnel forms that contained materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements” to mislead EPA personnel and facilitate improper payments over multiple months, according to a report by EPA’s Office of Inspector General.

The two men, who have since left the EPA, arranged for former agency employees to continue collecting nearly $38,000 salaries even after they were fired, the report says.

Separately, Munoz also received an improper raise and submitted “fraudulent timesheets” during periods when he was not at his work station that cost the EPA almost $96,000, the report said.

The March 31 report was released this week. In a statement Friday to The Associated Press, Inspector General Sean O’Donnell said, “Continuing to pay fired political staff, creating fraudulent records and authorizing improper pay increases represent serious waste of taxpayer funds.”

Defrauding the government seems to be a feature of the Republican party, nowadays.