   | | Political discussion involving past and present political events, candidates and elections. Please read Msg #1 before posting. |
Msg #72939
2 replies | Possible Tax Fraud? | By MikeC/TX on 10/16/19 4:27pm
ProPublica, an independent, nonprofit investigative journalism organization, just published a story that suggests Trump may have committed tax fraud on at least two of his properties.
Here is how they described how they obtained the documents they used in the investigation:
"ProPublica obtained the property tax documents using New York’s Freedom of Information Law. The documents were public because Trump appealed his property tax bill for the buildings every year for nine years in a row, the extent of the available records. We compared the tax records with loan records that became public when Trump’s lender, Ladder Capital, sold the debt on his properties as part of mortgage-backed securities.
ProPublica reviewed records for four properties: 40 Wall Street, the Trump International Hotel and Tower, 1290 Avenue of the Americas and Trump Tower. Discrepancies involving two of them — 40 Wall Street and the Trump International Hotel and Tower — stood out."
The discrepancies resulted in a lower value on the properties for tax purposes and a higher value on the properties for the lenders. This is exactly what Michael Cohen testified that Trump did on a regular basis - adjust the value so that it was lower for taxes and higher for lenders.
One of these tax filings was in 2017, after the inauguration. If it turns out to be fraudulent, that's another impeachable offense.
The full story is available here:
http://tinyurl.com/y4gbgo9l
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| Msg #72937
1 replies | Who'da thunk we'd finally see the day? | By HisHughness on 10/14/19 3:50pm
Headline:
"BIDEN SAYS HE WON'T PARDON TRUMP IF ELECTED"
Long about now, The Donald must be feeling hot breath on the back of his neck. And there aren't too many buses left to throw people under.
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| Msg #72931
2 replies | This just keeps getting better and better | By MikeC/TX on 10/10/19 6:13pm
The two men Rudy enlisted to help him supposedly root out corruption by the Bidens in Ukraine have been arrested for...
corruption.
Specifically, funneling foreign money into US election campaigns. The indictment mentions Congressperson-1, believed to be former TX Rep. Pete Sessions, who wrote a letter urging the recall of the US Ambassador to Ukraine even though he wasn't on the Foreign Affairs Committee or had anything to do with Foreign Affairs, shortly before or after receiving a campaign contribution from the organization these men controlled. House GOP Leader McCarthy also got money from this company, as did FL Gov. Rick DeSantis. To his credit, DeSantis is returning the money. No word yet on whether McCarthy will do the same thing.
The two were arrested at Dulles Airport last night as they waited to board a flight out of the country - with one-way tickets. They were supposed to give depositions to Congress today. Before heading to the airport, they had lunch with Rudy at the Trump Hotel. After news of the arrests broke, Trump immediately said he didn't know these men, even though there are multiple photos of him and Don Jr with them and they had dinner with him at the White House in May of last year. He suggested that maybe they were Rudy's clients and that reporters should ask Rudy.
This is EXACTLY what he did with Michael Cohen and the question of the hush payments: "I don't know anything about it, you'll have to ask Michael". That thumping sound you heard was Rudy being thrown under the bus.
Rudy has since gone radio-silent. This does not look good for him... -
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| Msg #72925
9 replies | This is insane... | By MikeC/TX on 10/7/19 6:54pm
The Trump administration convinced the Kurds - our friends and allies - to not only abandon their defensive positions in Syria and pull back and destroy them, with a promise that we would continue to defend them.
And then last night, with no input from the generals who knew the situation on the ground, Trump unilaterally decided that American troops in the area had to be withdrawn - leaving our allies with no defensive positions because WE told them to destroy them, and now subject to slaughter by Turkish troops who were about to invade the area.
WHY?? Two words - Trump Towers. There are two of them in Turkey. What pressure was put on Trump by Erdogan to do this? This guy consistently puts his own concerns above those of the nation and our allies. Even Trump's biggest defenders in Congress are outraged by this betrayal of an ally. When do we say "enough"? Will it take the slaughter of Kurds by the Turks for us to realize what the heck is going on with this presidency? The Kurds were our strongest ally in our fight with ISIS - Trump wants to abandon them, and boy, are they pissed. He may have created our next enemy in that region.
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| Msg #72918
4 replies | The President of the United States . . . | By HisHughness on 10/4/19 10:58am
. . . has now solicited the assistance of Ukraine, Russia, China, Australia, Italy, and perhaps Britain to interfere in U.S. elections. Republican senators, representatives, governors, and legislators have all kept silent while their titular leader has blatantly and brazenly tried to undermine the very basis of our democracy -- free and fair elections.
The words flung at Sen. Joseph McCarty by Joseph N. Welch more than half a century ago resonate today, with respect to those craven GOP officeholders, every bit today as much as they did then:
"At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"
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| Msg #72914
0 replies | Yet another example... | By bagger on 10/4/19 8:15am
of Democratic hypocrisy!
Summer of 2018 - Maxine Waters - "If you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them, and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere."
And, now she goes on MSNBC and complains that she can't go to the grocery store without added security!
In the first place, I seriously doubt that Auntie Maxine actually shops for her own groceries, and in the second place, is ANYONE shedding a tear for her?
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| Msg #72912
2 replies | OK, now he's starting to lose it | By MikeC/TX on 10/2/19 6:52pm
Did anyone see either of the Trump press events today with the President of Finland?
Trump was in full-blown rage mode, attacking the Democrats and throwing out lie after lie after lie.
He said that the Democrats haven't done anything and are just obstructing. The truth is that the House has passed a number of bills that Moscow Mirch refuses to allow the Senate to consider, so where's the obstruction?
He said that Pelosi, after reading the "transcript" of his call with the Ukranian President, said that the call was "perfect" and there was no reason to impeach him. She never said that.
He said that FL Sen. Rick Scott also proclaimed the call as "perfect". Scott never said any such thing.
He attacked the Washington Post about a book written by two of their reporters that claimed he wanted a moat with snakes and alligators on the southern border. The book was written by two NY Times reporters, and the Times stands by their story.
He said that Adam Schiff helped the whistle-blower write the complaint - that's not true. What Schiff's office did was tell the whistle-blower to get counsel and file a complaint with the IG. According to a bipartisan statement by the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee -*BIPARTISAN* - that's the standard procedure when a whistle-blower approaches a member of Congress.
He said that Adam Schiff made up a false account of what he said on the call and presented it to Congress as if it was real. Not true; Schiff prefaced his remarks by saying this was the "essence" of what Trump said - clearly not suggesting a direct quote.
He said Schiff should be investigated for treason. Treason is specifically defined in the Constitution in Article III, Section 3: “Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them aid and comfort.” It does NOT include disagreeing with the President.
He said the "transcript" was an exact copy of what was said on the call - "every word, every comma". The document released clearly said at the bottom of page one that it was not a verbatim transcript. Sen. Angus King had a staff member read the "transcript" aloud - it took about 10 minutes. The call was 30 minutes long, and there were no translators involved because President Zelensky is fluent in English. What was said during the other 20 minutes that we haven't seen?
Trump is starting to act like a cornered animal, lashing out at anyone who comes close to him. This is not going away and will only get worse.
And for those who think this is a coup attempt - if Trump is impeached and removed from office, Pence becomes President. No coup, no change of power. The government would still be the same as it was with a Republican in the office, just as the Constitution says this should work.
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| Msg #72898
18 replies | Has anyone other than me . . . | By HisHughness on 9/27/19 9:19pm
. . . noticed the deafening silence from the Trumpeteers regarding the latest revelations about their superhero? Not even a single "Yes, but Benghazi . . ."
I have had, for some time, a $10 bet with one of those unfortunate self-afflicted individuals whose brain goes into neutral -- or reverse -- everytime the Trump stench invades a room. The bet is that Agent Orange won't be around for the 2020 election. Things are looking good.
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| Msg #72896
1 replies | Maybe, just maybe | By bagger on 9/27/19 9:35am
The commies should start posting FACTS instead of opinions.
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| Msg #72888
7 replies | For all of you Trumpeteers . . . | By HisHughness on 9/24/19 12:27pm
, , , and anyone who is still considering voting for him: If you can still vote for him, much less oppose his impeachment, after reading this, then you are putting something else -- God knows what -- before the good of your country.
Still don't know how to post a link, but here's the URL.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/22/opinion/trump-ukraine-whistle-blower.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage&te=1&nl=david-leonhardt&emc=edit_ty_20190923?campaign_id=39&instance_id=12580&segment_id=17255&user_id=21c6e56c885ef3a28845c96435809209®i_id=46690953
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| | Msg #72884
2 replies | The fear that drives the GOP | By HisHughness on 9/21/19 12:17pm
A piece today in the on-line NYTimes is a spot-on analysis of contemporary tactics by the Republican Party. In essence, it contends that the GOP is facing essentially a threat to its very existence, and consequently has resorted to the last-gasp measures of authoritarians -- voter disenfranchisement, court manipulation, outright dishonesty -- to try to cement its power. The piece is titled "Why Republicans Play Dirty." It was written by two Harvard political scientists, Steven Somebody and Daniel Somebody. I commend it; it's an excellent exposition of the fear that motivates Republicans today, and that drives Trumpeteers even more. I'm sorry, but I still don't know how to post a link.
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| Msg #72883
0 replies | Latest from Uncle Joe | By bagger on 9/20/19 10:07am
OK, libs you tell me.
Is this a lie, over exaggeration or he just doesn't have a grip on reality?
Uncle Joe just promised jobs to 772 Million women in the US.
Just one small problem Joey, the total US population is around 330 million.
Maybe, just like other Dem's, he is counting on illegal's and the cemetery vote.
And, he is the front leader to defeat Trump!
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| | Msg #72873
6 replies | Manhattan DA issues grand jury subpoena | By MikeC/TX on 9/16/19 5:19pm
for 8 years of Trump's tax returns. The subpoena was issued to the firm that prepares his taxes, and they have indicated that they will comply. Since it's a grand jury, the information would not be made public unless it is used as evidence in a trial. The grand jury is looking into the payments to Stormy Daniels, among other things.
Since this is NY and not SDNY, Barr's DOJ cannot intervene and anything that arises from it is not pardonable. NY would have no problem with indicting a sitting President.
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| | Msg #72868
1 replies | This is just so wrong | By bagger on 9/13/19 8:46am
But, it's where the socialist pigs are leading us.
This is a cut and paste from a friend, and I have his permission
SOME STATES (Maryland, Michigan and Arizona) ARE INEXPLICABLY ALLOWING MUSLIM STUDENTS TO PRAY DURING SCHOOL HOURS!!!
IF THAT'S OKAY, THEN WE MUST DEMAND THAT OUR FLAGS BE RETURNED TO OUR CLASSROOMS AND ALLOW OTHERS TO PRAY AS WELL! IT'S PAST TIME FOR THE CHRISTIANS TO BOLDLY SPEAK UP AND DEMAND THEIR RIGHTS.
When we get 100,000,000, that's one hundred million, willing Christians to BOND together, voice their concerns and vote, we can take back America with God's help.
Become one of the proud One hundred million Then let's get 200 million. It can be done just by sending this email to your friends.
Do the math. It only takes a single willing heart and a fed-up SOUL. God Bless America and Shine your light on Her!
In 1952 President Truman established one day a year as a "National Day of Prayer.
In 1988 President Reagan designated the first Thursday in May of each year as The National Day of Prayer.
In June 2007, then Presidential Candidate Barack Obama blatantly declared that the USA "Was no longer a Christian nation!
In May 2009 President Obama dismissed our 21st annual National Day of Prayer ceremony at the White House under the ruse of "not wanting to offend anyone"
Sept. 25, 2009, a Muslim Prayer Day was held on the West front of the U.S. Capitol Building, the site where U.S. Presidents have been inaugurated since 1981 There were over 50,000 Muslims in D.C. that day President Obama dismissed our National Day of Prayer and now it's okay for an event at our capitol for Islamists? I for one was offended. But wait, it didn’t stop!!!
February 17-19, 2015, a Muslim prayer was recited at the start of the second day of the White House summit on “Countering Violent Extremism,” but, oddly, no other religious text was presented during the portion of the event that was open to the press. Imam Sheikh Sa’ad Musse Roble, president of the World Peace Organization in Minneapolis, MN, recited a “verse from the Quran” following remarks by Obama administration officials and Democrat members of Congress.
Former President Obama boldly encouraged schools to teach the Quran for extra credit, while at the same time, we’re forbidden even talk about the Bible, God, pray, or salute the American Flag.
The direction this country was headed should strike fear in the heart of every Christian.
How refreshing and beautiful our wonderful First Lady Melania Trump was in Melbourne, Florida on February 18, 2017. Instead of the normal “pumping up” of the crowd, Melania chose to initiate the rally with the Lord’s Prayer. It sounded more like the start of a football game after the National Anthem rather than what we would expect to hear after a prayer.
Make a “joyful noise unto the LORD thy GOD!” The “sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity” of Madeline Murray O’Hair and ACLU efforts in 1962, "School Prayer was removed from the U.S. Public education system by slowly and insidiously corrupting the meaning of the First Amendment through a number of court cases over several court cases should be confronted and reversed.
Send this to ten thinking folk, or even one hundred and ten, and send it to the person who sent it to you! To let them know that, indeed, it was sent out to many more.
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| | Msg #72845
12 replies | The Big Lie | By MikeC/TX on 9/6/19 5:21pm
"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic, and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its power to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State." - Josef Goebbels
Mexico will pay for the Wall. The Wall is currently under construction. China is paying for the tariffs.
These are just three of the Big Lies that Trump has told you over and over again, and when challenged with the facts, he calls the challenge "fake news", with no evidence.
The reality:
1. Mexico is not paying for the Wall - we are, and our military families more so now that Trump has canceled military projects such as new schools on military bases and even training, and has diverted that money to build his Wall. He regularly calls Dem candidates weak on Vets and the military - without evidence - and then does something like this.
2. Not a single mile of new wall has been built on the border. Existing barriers are being repaired and replaced, because that's what Congress appropriated money for. Trump declared a bogus "national emergency" so he could divert money from the DOD budget for what amounts to an attempt to fill a political campaign promise.
3. China is not paying a dime in tariffs. Billions of dollars are not flowing into the Treasury from China - the importers are paying those tariffs, and that cost is passed on to the consumer - us - in the form of higher prices for the imported goods.
POTUS lies on a regular basis, and constantly repeats those lies until the more gullible among us start believing them to be true. He creates his own reality and invites us into it. And the dumber ones happily put on their MAGA hats and go through that door.
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| Msg #72843
1 replies | OMG | By bagger on 9/6/19 3:50pm
There are reports of looting in the Bahamas. It's all Trumps fault! Impeach now.
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