45th President of the United States, Donald Trump. (Vol 6)

[Byker28i]

House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings had the committee vote yesterday to subpoena Carl Kline, who was in charge of the security clearance process, and who allegedly approved several high profile clearances at Donald Trump’s instruction, even after White House security experts and the U.S. intel community had flagged those people as security risks against the United States.

Cummings already has the voluntarily cooperation of whistleblower Tricia Newbold

Then we've the House Judiciary Committee voting today to give Chairman Jerry Nadler unilateral power to subpoena anyone and anything he wants, in the name of forcing the Mueller report to become public, so expected are subpoenas to Barr and Mueller

[NRS]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Well argued response. So explain how this is not similar to some of what Trump has been doing?

• Huge business caught up in big corruption scandal of bribery with Gaddafi in Libya.
• Justice minister/attorney general (same role in Canada) wants to do a proper conviction and criminal case.
• However business is based in "state" that is critical to win the national elections.
• If company is convicted they have big issues, including losing government contracts for 10 years etc. Would therefore mean lots of people could lose jobs etc.
• Justice minister/attorney general gets lots of pressure/ threats from Trudeau and others to do an out of court settlement deal that avoids convictions and criminal case. Justice minister/ attorney general says no, go for criminal case.
• Justice minister/ attorney general gets moved from position
• She resigns and goes public
• She is not involved in some of the hearings, as Liberal members of justice committee voted on not needing her there.
• Another minister resigns over how things are being done. Trudeau's best friend and closest aide resigns.
• Former justice minister/ attorney general and the other minister who resigned is booted out of the Liberal Party/ removed from nomination for upcoming election.

How many here even knew about that before this?

[djc206]

NRS said:

Part of it is the bias we have here in Europe. Trump is massively dodgy etc, which is clear. However look at what is happening with Trudeau. Very little coverage of it, yet it seems as if he has been doing some similar stuff to Trump. Yet it's apparently not really important as he is Liberal and much more similar in outlook to us Europeans.

(This is not "whatabouttry" - more an example of our own bias, and so not very different to Trump supporters in some regards).

It’s not bias, it’s the insignificance of Canada.

If Canada was the global superpower this would be all over the news. As it is it’s been in the news just not the top headline because again Canada doesn’t really matter to the rest of the world.

[Escapegoat]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Yes, thanks, I knew. But I can't believe you come you haven't mentioned the debacle at SwedBank? Or whatabout the Goldman Sachs/1MDB corruption? Also irrelevant.

[NRS]

Escapegoat said:

Yes, thanks, I knew. But I can't believe you come you haven't mentioned the debacle at SwedBank? Or whatabout the Goldman Sachs/1MDB corruption? Also irrelevant.

Are those involving the leader of the country getting rid of people who tried to prosecute the companies involved, because it will affect their votes in the next election? As that is what has happened (allegedly) in Canada. If not they would be not so relevant to bring up. And that's why it's a comparison to Trump, as he seems to get rid of people in the justice system to protect himself & others/ avoid losing votes in future as a result.

The point is we all know about Trump and his dodgy deals. We know Trump is messing around with the justice system and getting rid of people who are "against" him. Which is certainly a major issue, and it's absolutely correct to highlight it and try and prosecute those involved. Yet when a liberal country/party has the same thing happening (albeit on 1 case, rather than many like Trump) then there is very little coverage. Ask most people on the street and they'd have no idea about the scandal in Canada. Part will be due to Canada not being as important internationally, but part is (in my view) bias of the European Media which is generally far more centerist/liberal. This is said as someone who is generally a little left/libertarian of centre, so not some raving Trump supporter.

[Byker28i]

Correction, we know a little about trump and some of his dodgy deals. I suspect there's much, much more to come

[Byker28i]

Michael Cohen's lawyer Lanny Davis says that Cohen is "offering more information that he's now discovered" to the Southern District of New York.

Discovered or decided to share?
http://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari/watch/as-mu...

[Byker28i]

Swamp news.

At least 14 major donors to the Trump inaugural committee got ambassador nominations. But many of these nominations are now stalled amid questions about whether the nominee is qualified for a diplomatic post.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/dono...


When President Donald Trump's pick for ambassador to the Bahamas testified before Congress to make the case for his nomination, he incorrectly stated that the island nation was part of the U.S. It is an independent country.

For ambassador to the United Arab Emirates — a job so sensitive in the tense Middle East that every previous president gave it to a career diplomat — Trump picked a wealthy real estate developer with no diplomatic experience.

The ambassador to Morocco? A well-heeled car dealer. The nominee for Iceland? While well-traveled, he had never been to that Nordic country. For Melania Trump's native country of Slovenia? The founder of an evangelical charity who frequently reposted false far-right social media posts on her Facebook page.

None have diplomatic experience, but they share one trait: All were big donors to Trump's presidential inaugural committee, which is now under federal investigation.

[Tallow]

NRS said:

Tallow said:

I agree that being Conservative (with or without a capital C, as they say) doesn't mean that someone is stupid anymore than someone being left wing does. The fringes of either, though, do breed ignorance which is amplified by the echo chamber. Fanciful thinking exists at either end of the spectrum, just with quite different perspectives.

Part of it is the bias we have here in Europe. Trump is massively dodgy etc, which is clear. However look at what is happening with Trudeau. Very little coverage of it, yet it seems as if he has been doing some similar stuff to Trump. Yet it's apparently not really important as he is Liberal and much more similar in outlook to us Europeans.

(This is not "whatabouttry" - more an example of our own bias, and so not very different to Trump supporters in some regards).

I think the problem here is that we don't really have a like with like comparison from which to draw any conclusions. I agree that it would appear that most people are pretty entrenched in their opinions of Trump (which seem to fall into the categories hate, love, or think the whole thing is blown out of proportion by the media).

That said, the sheer scale and volume of anything Trumpian is off the scale compared to Trudeau (and I'm not saying that his current challenges are insignificant). Similarly, as someone else has noted, it's Canada, not the US, so has less global impact. Trudeau is also a career politician as opposed to a bumbling, decrepit imbecile, so possibly is much more competent at handling scandal,

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), there's really nothing to directly compare to Trump so I don't think it's really possible to see how much can be levelled at it being because he is a conservative. My best guess would be there's some contribution, but a small proportion compared to the continual and ongoing corruption, conflicts of interest, nepotism and daily gaffes that utterly eclipse anything that George W Bush ever said.

[Byker28i]

Trump's been busy expelling opposition to him from within the GOP.

Those power struggles have now been resolved in a one-sided fashion. In every state important to the 2020 race, Mr. Trump and his lieutenants are in firm control of the Republican electoral machinery, and they are taking steps to extend and tighten their grip.

It is, in every institutional sense, Mr. Trump’s party.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/us/politics/tru...

[anonymous-user]

Byker28i said:

Swamp news.

At least 14 major donors to the Trump inaugural committee got ambassador nominations. But many of these nominations are now stalled amid questions about whether the nominee is qualified for a diplomatic post.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/dono...


When President Donald Trump's pick for ambassador to the Bahamas testified before Congress to make the case for his nomination, he incorrectly stated that the island nation was part of the U.S. It is an independent country.

For ambassador to the United Arab Emirates — a job so sensitive in the tense Middle East that every previous president gave it to a career diplomat — Trump picked a wealthy real estate developer with no diplomatic experience.

The ambassador to Morocco? A well-heeled car dealer. The nominee for Iceland? While well-traveled, he had never been to that Nordic country. For Melania Trump's native country of Slovenia? The founder of an evangelical charity who frequently reposted false far-right social media posts on her Facebook page.

None have diplomatic experience, but they share one trait: All were big donors to Trump's presidential inaugural committee, which is now under federal investigation.

I recall this is pretty standard Washington kick backery, aka institutionalised corruption, there's even a name for it; 70/30. If there are 'only' 14 Trump donors in there I think that might even be an improvement! Subject to further changes during this presidency obviously.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-amba...

[Byker28i]

fblm said:

I recall this is pretty standard Washington kick backery, aka institutionalised corruption, there's even a name for it; 70/30. If there are 'only' 14 Trump donors in there I think that might even be an improvement! Subject to further changes during this presidency obviously.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-amba...

Excellent - thanks for the link. Looks like it's common practice then.

[anonymous-user]

Byker28i said:

Excellent - thanks for the link. Looks like it's common practice then.

You're welcome. Given that, IMO, ''draining the swamp'', was a major appeal to many Trump voters in theory it should cause considerable embarrassment but, well, er, yeah.

[hidetheelephants]

NRS said:

Well argued response. So explain how this is not similar to some of what Trump has been doing?

• Huge business caught up in big corruption scandal of bribery with Gaddafi in Libya.
• Justice minister/attorney general (same role in Canada) wants to do a proper conviction and criminal case.
• However business is based in "state" that is critical to win the national elections.
• If company is convicted they have big issues, including losing government contracts for 10 years etc. Would therefore mean lots of people could lose jobs etc.
• Justice minister/attorney general gets lots of pressure/ threats from Trudeau and others to do an out of court settlement deal that avoids convictions and criminal case. Justice minister/ attorney general says no, go for criminal case.
• Justice minister/ attorney general gets moved from position
• She resigns and goes public
• She is not involved in some of the hearings, as Liberal members of justice committee voted on not needing her there.
• Another minister resigns over how things are being done. Trudeau's best friend and closest aide resigns.
• Former justice minister/ attorney general and the other minister who resigned is booted out of the Liberal Party/ removed from nomination for upcoming election.

How many here even knew about that before this?

I knew about it because I read the Guardian, it's been quite well covered as several of their commentators have wept salty tears of disappointment over St Justin being revealed as having feet of clay. A dick move by a political invertebrate; even Trump didn't usurp Sessions, he just bhed about him on twitter. Not relevant to this thread but quite worthy of its own thread, the ex-AG seems quite formidable.

[Countdown]

hidetheelephants said:

knew about it because I read the Guardian, it's been quite well covered as several of their commentators have wept salty tears of disappointment over St Justin being revealed as having feet of clay. A dick move by a political invertebrate; even Trump didn't usurp Sessions, he just bhed about him on twitter. Not relevant to this thread but quite worthy of its own thread, the ex-AG seems quite formidable.

Reminds me of the “Buttery Males”” comparisons, made whenever somebody gives an example of Trump’s corruption.

It is true that Trump didn’t usurp Sessions although Sesssions’ resignation letter states he is resigning as per Trump’s wishes. However that ignores the fact that Trump actually appointed Sesssions in the first place thinking that Trump would protect him. Trump also fired Comey, the Director of the FBI. Trump botched non-stop about the investigation and (surprise surprise) the person HE chose to replace Sessions isn’t too keen on revealing the full Mueller report. It’s fairer to compare Trump to Mugabe than any Western leader.

Comparing Trudeau to Trump is like comparing Milk near it’s “use by date” to a fresh turd i.e. slightly distasteful vs revolting.

[Gameface]

"I know a lot about wind," he added.

Hhhmm....

[Byker28i]

I can't see Biden running now afte there's a few women saying they wee uncomfortable with his touching. But how refreshing was his statement. Unlike trump, Kavanaugh, No denial, no abusive verbal attack, just acceptance that the old rules have changed following me too.

"Social norms are changing. I understand that, and I’ve heard what these women are saying. Politics to me has always been about making connections, but I will be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future. That’s my responsibility and I will meet it"

[Byker28i]

Members of Mueller's team have complained to associates that the evidence they gathered on obstruction was alarming and significant.

"It was much more acute than Barr suggested," said one person who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "There was immediate displeasure from the team when they saw how the attorney general had characterized their work instead,"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-secu...


New York times also have the story
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/us/politics/wil...

multiple members of Mueller' team told the New York Times they'd provided their own summaries to the AG, which he then promptly ignored

Edited by Byker28i on Thursday 4th April 07:35

[Byker28i]

The Washington Post is also reporting that the senior White House official whose security clearance was denied last year because of concerns about foreign influence, private business interests and personal conduct is Jared Kushner, “Senior White House Official 1”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/jared-kush...

[Byker28i]

The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee has formally requested that the IRS hand over six years of Trump's personal and business tax returns.
Richard Neal has given the IRS a week, until April 10 to comply with the request.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/us/politics/mue...