Politics Thread

[Xville]

I'm going to have to agree to disagree with you there. If Trump was able to absolutely pulverize DeSantis of all people IN FLORIDA of all places, there was no path to dislodging Trump. The membership demanded it (for whatever misguided reason).

I hear what you are saying, but that was a couple of months ago. The plan should have started immediately after the midterms.

[xubrew]

Our problem is we have two candidates who are past their prime, and both parties failed to support good successors.

But, every incumbent since Nixon has run for a second term. Hard to overcome that built in advantage to the current office holder.
And I guess hard to persuade them to step aside for someone else.

Given how the last four years have gone, being the current office holder in this particular situation probably puts Biden at a big DIS-advantage.

And Biden initially said he wouldn't run again. So...hold him to it! Hell, TURN ON HIM!!! Nominate someone else!! ANYONE else!!! Literally anyone else!

[Xville]

Given how the last four years have gone, being the current office holder in this particular situation probably puts Biden at a big DIS-advantage.

And Biden initially said he wouldn't run again. So...hold him to it! Hell, TURN ON HIM!!! Nominate someone else!! ANYONE else!!! Literally anyone else!

Except Kamala

[Masterofreality]

Well, not everyone can make $130K for not having sex. That's pretty special.

Whatever you are talking about, it is not illegal as far as “hush money” payments are concerned. It’s been testified that whatever money was paid was not from a Campaign fund. If paying personal hush money is illegal , 3/4 of Washington should be on trial. Remember Democrat John Edwards? He paid “hush money”. In a campaign. He was exonerated. Just one public example of many.
By the way. Was the Colorado Supreme Court trying to bar a presidential candidate from a ballot on a fake charge “Childish”?
Thank Goodness there is a sensible Supreme Court!
Ohio laws are very clear and just because a consensus was reached before, doesn’t mean the law is invalid.
The Democrats seem to want to use “The Law” an awful lot to nail one certain guy- even when that “law” is not even applicable. Here we have a case where there is absolutely a valid, in place, unchanged statute that has been there for years and now the Dems want to disregard “The Law”?
The height of hypocrisy, but that’s what those of your ilk live by.
Maybe it was a bad idea to try go destroy a sitting President on bullshit. Don’t be surprised when it comes back to bite your ass when a valid law is used against your stupidity and hubris.

[bobbiemcgee]

Sensible scotus? That's a joke. Clearly in Trump's pocket. And cannon should be impeached.

[bobbiemcgee]

Haley gets nice vote in Indiana. Should have run as independent.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

As I told Paul, I really hate to defend anything Trump these days. But sometimes you have to call out what seems to be politically motivated. First and foremost both ran on getting Donald Trump. If Trump just walked away after he lost the 2020 election, do you think these cases would be tried? James’ small chance and highly unlikely on Bragg’s.

Now to your questions/comments. Former Trump employee and prosecution witness testified 3-4 days ago Trump used his own money vs campaign funds. Agree, paying hush money to porn star is about as low as it gets, still not illegal.

Not that you asked, but here are some problems I have with Bragg’s case. Bragg’s predecessor did not want to bring charges nor did the FEC. Actually Bragg didn’t either but bowed to political pressure.

Since statute of limitations expired on misdemeanor charges, they came up with two ambiguous ones to make it a felony charge. Somehow they came up 34 felonies. Why? So they can say Trump was convicted of 34 felonies before the election. Most talking heads on both sides believe felony convictions have no chance in appeals. But too late and mission accomplished.

Sure Trump may have done some bad things in the AG case. But almost 500 million worth? I assume appeals will bring this price tag way down.

James used an obscure and over broad law that has been used only 12 times in 70 years. Of the previous 11, Trump is the only big business that was threatened with a shutdown without a showing of obvious victims and major losses. Not sure if the tax stuff was in judges ruling. I could be wrong though. Didn’t hear it come in James’ presser after the decision.

Thought the county decides property tax assessments on lots of variables and price doesn’t really matter as much. For example, we bought our house from an estate sale at a big discounted price. However, our property taxes were based off the market and not what we paid.

As for your others points, doesn't the insurance companies and banks have a fiduciary responsibility to do their own homework? Mortgage appraisals comes mind. Finally, he hasn’t defaulted on the loans and same banks saying they would loan him money tomorrow. Judge took this into consideration, but stated Trump may not in future. Your knowledge is probably better than mine since you work/ed at PwC but just my thoughts.

Thanks for this, as long as the guy paid out of his own cash to Daniels that case should be over. It should also be over for his political career, but party of Country right?

That said, the last point on the property tax valuations. Jurisdictions greatly differ on how property taxes are valued. My understanding is that in NYC when you own rental properties like apartment buildings, part of the valuation comes from it's income generating ability. Trump's company filings contained errors not just in those to his favor, but also in unit sizing. I believe that case is comparing what he filed with the banks to what he filed with the NY tax authority. I would have to ask my buddy at the AZ Recorders office here, but I would guess the income component is rather common.

Like I said, if I had an apartment complex and did what he did I would be in jail. You sign papers at title companies that you are telling the truth about things. Yes banks and insurance companies have that fiduciary responsibility, but that does not and should never absolve someone like Trump from his.

The Georgia case, that was/is the weakest case of them all (not really since he used his own cash). I am not an attorney, but intent is a requirement for a lot of crimes. How are you going to prove his line "find me the votes" meant to literally conjure them up? It's repugnant he even made that phone call, but repugnant does not equal criminal.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Our problem is we have two candidates who are past their prime, and both parties failed to support good successors.

But, every incumbent since Nixon has run for a second term. Hard to overcome that built in advantage to the current office holder.
And I guess hard to persuade them to step aside for someone else.

Begs the question then, it's safe to assume both parties knew of each of respective candidates weaknesses. Biden is severely old and sickly, Trump is at worst criminal in his business enterprises and at best so shady one would be foolish to work with him.

Perhaps the real power in the USA does not reside in the President's office but elsewhere. Neither party seemed overly concerned with propping up, backing, and running another candidate.

A solution would be Biden dropping Harris and adding DeSantis to his ballot. He would win for sure, it would not even be close. DeSantis, yes when pandering to the extreme is nuts, but he rarely passed anything as Governor of Florida. Anything RFK related is just nuts, the guy still says vaccines cause autism.

[paulxu]

I think a lot of people pay money for sex.
I think a lot of people pay hush money so their sexual activity won't be revealed.

This defendant says he did NOT have sex with Stormy, and yet paid her $130K.
Same with McDougal.
Those girls should go in business...how to get paid for nothing.

[bobbiemcgee]

He was also dumb enough to payoff the doorman.