U.S. Politics megathread (merged)

[Sharpie]

Manafort guilty on eight count, mistrial on ten

[Jambo-Jimbo]

Cohen has just implicated Trump in the campaign finance violations, over payments to Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal.

 

Edited August 21, 2018 by Jambo-Jimbo

[Lovecraft]

[JackLadd]

If Dump cheated to win it should void the result. That's aside from the collusion stuff. 

[Maple Leaf]

15 minutes ago, JackLadd said:

If Dump cheated to win it should void the result. That's aside from the collusion stuff. 

 

That won't happen.

[Jambo-Jimbo]

8 minutes ago, JackLadd said:

If Dump cheated to win it should void the result. That's aside from the collusion stuff. 

 

Exactly, all of today's procedings have nothing to do with any Russian collusion, it's about breaking US federal laws.

 

Trump is, as it's has been alleged for many years now, well in certain quarters at least, is as crooked as a dog's hind legs, allegedly of course.

 

[JackLadd]

1 minute ago, Maple Leaf said:

 

That won't happen.

 

2 minutes ago, Jambo-Jimbo said:

 

Exactly, all of today's procedings have nothing to do with any Russian collusion, it's about breaking US federal laws.

 

Trump is, as it's has been alleged for many years now, well in certain quarters at least, is as crooked as a dog's hind legs, allegedly of course.

 

 

 

Mueller no doubt is going to say he colluded and lied about Trump Tower and all the rest.  But today we know he cheated and lied anyway via his confidant and fixer. 

[Sharpie]

Trumps ass is cooked. Manafort guilty, what I learned today was that although ten of the charges resulted in a mistrial  all the evidence led in these charges can be used in the sentencing for the eight proven.  They it seems can be used to show all the bad things this guy has done, and the Judge can consider that in his sentences. Manafort is 69, if he got two years to serve on each charge  he could be in jail until he is 85, thats pretty close to a life sentence, or at least a sentence  to serve for the rest of his life. He can still offer cooperation with a view to getting a lesser prison term, or wait for a Pardon, but the person with the Pardon power may end up as his cellmate.

 

Cohen has put Trump square in an a position of illegal conduct , so there are charges right there, he is also, that is Cohen, still available to blow the whistle officially on the Trump Tower meeting  which certainly involves collusion or conspiracy. Trump may have a major decision to make at some time in the future, does he jump under the bus, or throw his family under the bus. What a mess.

 

And when you look at the campaign funds charges that could come, where did they come from Mr Avenatti and his representation of Stormy Daniels, and the payoff to her. I feel good I said for some time, watch Avenatti he could bring down this whole house of c ards, he may not have got it all, but he got some. What a great day for a Trump hater and a news addict, just love it, I am almost motivated to chase the wife into the bedroom, but look stupid carrying a note to remind me why we are there.

[Maple Leaf]

44 minutes ago, JackLadd said:

 

 

 

Mueller no doubt is going to say he colluded and lied about Trump Tower and all the rest.  But today we know he cheated and lied anyway via his confidant and fixer. 

 

All that is true, but there is no provision in US law to make the election null and void, so it won't happen.

 

Nevertheless, this is a watershed day in the three-ring circus that is the Trump presidency.  Eight convictions against Trump's former campaign manager, and another eight confessions by Trump's personal lawyer. The only thing that is stopping Trump from being charged with a federal crime is that he's the President.  He has broken the law by being involved in illegal acts that affected the election.  The guy is the biggest crook in the White House since Richard Nixon.  Most of us recognised that 18 months ago.

 

But the Department of Justice won't charge a sitting President with anything simply because it's not the done thing!!  And the Attorney General is a Trump appointee weasel and boot licker, so he isn't about to do anything different.

 

Tonight's rally will be revealing.  His three-wise-monkey fans will cheer and laugh and applaud and will swallow his fatuous claims about a witch hunt. 

[Ulysses]

1 hour ago, bobsharp said:

What a great day for a Trump hater and a news addict, just love it, I am almost motivated to chase the wife into the bedroom, but look stupid carrying a note to remind me why we are there.

 

Ah here, Bob, it's the way you tell 'em.  

[Tazio]

The fecker is made of Teflon. 

[J.T.F.Robertson]

CNN are cheesing from ear to ear.

Anyone wonder that if this DOES lead to his downfall that we could have a wee bit of aggro from his believers?

 

[peter_hmfc]

Michel Cohen: GUILTY

Paul Manafort: GUILTY

Michael Flynn: GUILTY

Papadopoulos: GUILTY

Rick Gates: GUILTY

 

Hillary: Not Guilty

 

[Sharpie]

Fox news using the tragic  death of an innocent young girl, killed by an illegal alien to distract from the story about Trump. Hannity on saying how it is all a witch hunt.

 

 

A senator Rick Santorum Republican on with Anderson Cooper using the same strategy, referring to the case of the young murder victim, saying the American people don't care about the Manafort, Cohen news they are more concerned about the murder, aye right, murder not a thing they see a lot of in American media, not like the President being accused by his former lawyer  of directing and counselling him to pay off two women who if their stories of adulterous behaviour came out could have an impact on the election. The payoff made with supposed campaign contributions, to influence an election campaign, a criminal offence under the Elections Finance Act. But no news here happens all the time in Presidential campaigns. When asked about so many crooks being hired by Trump Santorum responded they weren't convicted until after the election, when asked if it did not show bad judgement on the part of the President in his hirings, just some more bluster.

Went to another channel watched Trump giving his speech in West Virginia, funny to see coal miners cheering and clapping for a conservative leaning President, my Labour supporting Union leading miner uncle will be spinning in his grave. 

 

Trump may be the teflon man, but from experience working night shifts in the old Southside of Edinburgh, I can asure everyone shit sticks regardless, especially that of undomesticated cats especially when they are fighting for survival.

[Bridge of Djoum]

2 hours ago, Tazio said:

The fecker is made of Teflon. 

  

[Maple Leaf]

1 hour ago, bobsharp said:

Fox news using the tragic  death of an innocent young girl, killed by an illegal alien to distract from the story about Trump. Hannity on saying how it is all a witch hunt.

 

 

A senator Rick Santorum Republican on with Anderson Cooper using the same strategy, referring to the case of the young murder victim, saying the American people don't care about the Manafort, Cohen news they are more concerned about the murder, aye right, murder not a thing they see a lot of in American media, not like the President being accused by his former lawyer  of directing and counselling him to pay off two women who if their stories of adulterous behaviour came out could have an impact on the election. The payoff made with supposed campaign contributions, to influence an election campaign, a criminal offence under the Elections Finance Act. But no news here happens all the time in Presidential campaigns. When asked about so many crooks being hired by Trump Santorum responded they weren't convicted until after the election, when asked if it did not show bad judgement on the part of the President in his hirings, just some more bluster.

Went to another channel watched Trump giving his speech in West Virginia, funny to see coal miners cheering and clapping for a conservative leaning President, my Labour supporting Union leading miner uncle will be spinning in his grave. 

 

Trump may be the teflon man, but from experience working night shifts in the old Southside of Edinburgh, I can asure everyone shit sticks regardless, especially that of undomesticated cats especially when they are fighting for survival.

 

I watched that interview with Rick Santorum and it was so predictable from the Republicans.

 

"There are three stories today not two," he said.  He downplayed the stories about Manafort and Cohen, and said that the American people are more interested in the murder of that poor young woman by an undocumented immigrant.  Typical Republican deflection, completely ignoring the annual murders of about 17,000 Americans, and focus on one that suits their political agenda, while giving them a chance to talk about something other than the crooked President.

[Thaw]

Legal experts on what the Cohen deal might mean for Trump.

 

https://www.vox.com/2018/8/21/17765566/michael-cohen-plea-deal-trump-mueller

 

I especially liked Asha Rangappa (number 7), who suggests that that any consequent investigation into Trump could place him in a "double bind":

 

"First, since it would be an investigation separate and apart from the Mueller probe, he wouldn’t be able to argue that the Special Counsel exceeded his mandate or crossed a “red line” — after all, any U.S. Attorney’s office is legally authorized (and duty-bound) to investigate any violations of federal law it learns about.

 

"More importantly, such an investigation would be completely insulated from any steps Trump might take to fire Mueller, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, or even Attorney General Jeff Sessions ... So Trump has much more to fear from Cohen than just what he knows about Russia-related matters."

Edited August 22, 2018 by Thaw

[Jambo-Jimbo]

6 hours ago, peter_hmfc said:

Michel Cohen: GUILTY

Paul Manafort: GUILTY

Michael Flynn: GUILTY

Papadopoulos: GUILTY

Rick Gates: GUILTY

 

 

Well if it's all a witch hunt, there's 5 witches that's been caught right there.

 

Trumpy boy you'd better watch out, he's coming to get you.

[Rab87]

Eagerly awaiting todays tweet storm...

 

It'll also be telling if he is silent on twitter today.

 

Interesting day ahead.

[Jambo-Jimbo]

17 minutes ago, Rab87 said:

Eagerly awaiting todays tweet storm...

 

It'll also be telling if he is silent on twitter today.

 

Interesting day ahead.

 

If he does take to twitter it'll be along the old familar lines.

 

No Collusion

Witch Hunt

13 Angry Democrats

Crooked Hillary

Where's the emails

Lock her up

Build that wall

 

And his brainwashed base will lap it all up.

[Cruyff Turn]

The Donalds Ducked.

 

He should resign now for the good of his Country. The Russians have sent them into a tailspin. 

[Rab87]

2 minutes ago, Jambo-Jimbo said:

 

If he does take to twitter it'll be along the old familar lines.

 

No Collusion

Witch Hunt

13 Angry Democrats

Crooked Hillary

Where's the emails

Lock her up

Build that wall

 

And his brainwashed base will lap it all up.

Thing is, the thing that is implicating him now, has nothing to do with Russia.

 

It'll be interesting to see how he tries to spin the Cohen payments.

[Jambo-Jimbo]

25 minutes ago, Rab87 said:

Thing is, the thing that is implicating him now, has nothing to do with Russia.

 

It'll be interesting to see how he tries to spin the Cohen payments.

 

That's the best part about this, for months and months Trump & his drones have been banging on that the whole Russian collusion thing is nothing but a witch hunt, and the whole Mueller investigation is being run by angry Democrats. 

 

It kinda makes it all the sweeter that the Donald has been landed in the brown smelly stuff, not by colluding with the Russians but by his own crooked actions as alleged by his own personal lawyer.

 

There's a kinda poetic justice that it's the Donald that's going to be the downfall of the Donald.

 

[Rab87]

Donny shook. 

[Sharpie]

1 hour ago, Rab87 said:

Thing is, the thing that is implicating him now, has nothing to do with Russia.

 

It'll be interesting to see how he tries to spin the Cohen payments.

 

The fact  is though that it is all to do or at least connected to Russia, those investigations that led to the people who have now been charged were a result of  that information which  came to light because of the Russian involvement. It is credible to believe that all the convicted would be going their merry way if not. The other thing that got things going, particularly the Cohen charges was Avenaati who followed the money while representing Stormy Daniels. Avenaati predicted some time ago that Cohen would flip, and now he and I both believe that Trump will not complete his first term as President, he will resign. He will probably use something like ill health, such as the onset of Dementia. This would probably be well justified anyone who uses Giuliani asa his lead lawyer is obvipusly suffering something that affects the cerebreal process.

Edited August 22, 2018 by bobsharp

[Craig Gordons Gloves]

While yesterdays developments are pleasing to those of us that have a healthy dislike towards the orange president, we've also got to remember that while in ordinary circumstances people with a shred of morality or decency would fall on their sword or at least show contrition we're dealing with someone with not a moral thought in his mind. He'll brazen this out as per usual and while it may have a knock on effect in November, the Republican base will do all that they can to remain in a position of power - because that's what it is all about to almost all politicians, power and the trappings of it.  

 

 

[Rab87]

1 minute ago, Craig Gordons Gloves said:

While yesterdays developments are pleasing to those of us that have a healthy dislike towards the orange president, we've also got to remember that while in ordinary circumstances people with a shred of morality or decency would fall on their sword or at least show contrition we're dealing with someone with not a moral thought in his mind. He'll brazen this out as per usual and while it may have a knock on effect in November, the Republican base will do all that they can to remain in a position of power - because that's what it is all about to almost all politicians, power and the trappings of it.  

 

 

The immense pressure that is building on him, ever so much more since yesterday, will cause him to snap. What will happen when he snaps, I am unsure. I think he will do something so stupid that he will have no choice but to leave office. 

 

This may happen when the Muller case wraps up. He won't be able to handle the pressure. He has very few allies within The White House as it is.

[Scnorthedinburgh]

Wonder if his wife has noticed all this?

Seems strange she just plods along and takes it.

If she bails out, love to see the next tweet.

[Sharpie]

Two Republican congressmen charged with finance offences unrelated to Trump, but both endorsed him early in his campaign.  One of them spent a bunch of campaign money on a trip to Italy, $11000 in Costco and other sundry expenses , as the commetator on TV just said this all came out twenty four hours ago, and nobody was able to fit it in because of the Trump fiasco.

In another story a speech by Lindsey Graham about Impeachment he goes on about how no criminal charges have to be proved, it is all about the honour of the position,  service to the Country and how it all must remain clean, it is an interesting speech, because it was made in 1999, but it is almost like he is speaking totally about the happenings of 2016,17,18. The power of electronic records and videos has never been more powerful than the last few days, and will ultimately bring down a President of the United States, my only other comment is that it cannot be soon enough.

[Jambo-Jimbo]

Cohen's lawyer Lanny Davis has claimed that Michael Cohen has information that will be of interest to the Mueller investigation about Russian collusion.

He also said that Cohen believes that Trump is unfit to be President and is abusing his position and the country.

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/michael-cohen-information-interest-robert-mueller-lawyer/story?id=57328605

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2018 by Jambo-Jimbo

[Cade]

If the Democrats manage to take back control of the House in the November Mid-terms, they can start Impeachment proceedings

 

 

[Scnorthedinburgh]

1 minute ago, Cade said:

If the Democrats manage to take back control of the House in the November Mid-terms, they can start Impeachment proceedings

 

 

But they won't control the Senate so no chance of winning.

They won't impeach as a defeat in the Senate will be seen as a huge victory for Trump and just about guarantee him another term as his supporters will see it as he has been right all along.

He can't step down as then he could be prosecuted, his only hope is to stay in power.

Doomed eventually but not anytime soon.

[Jambo-Jimbo]

1 minute ago, Cade said:

If the Democrats manage to take back control of the House in the November Mid-terms, they can start Impeachment proceedings

 

 

 

If the Democrats do take back control, they won't need to start impeachment proceedings, as Trump will be out on his ear sharpish, once he loses the support of the remaining Republicans in the house.

 

Once he leave office then the Justice Department can go after him on the campaign finance violation crimes, so in the next Presidential race the cry will be 'Lock him up, lock him up', that'll go down well with his base.

[Scnorthedinburgh]

51 minutes ago, Jambo-Jimbo said:

 

If the Democrats do take back control, they won't need to start impeachment proceedings, as Trump will be out on his ear sharpish, once he loses the support of the remaining Republicans in the house.

 

Once he leave office then the Justice Department can go after him on the campaign finance violation crimes, so in the next Presidential race the cry will be 'Lock him up, lock him up', that'll go down well with his base.

There are a few republican Senators now saying this can't be ignored, including Trump supporters.

A lot are from the bible belt, they could wash off the campaign funding issue, but not to cover up what the money was hiding.

If they want back in, in November they have to criticise Trump for atempting to cover 2 affairs.

[Sharpie]

Where I see Trump really having to worry is that if all this stuff has any impact on his "power" and he becomes more dependent on the party having more say about what he does, rather than his free ride at the moment, then his value to Putin becomes less, and his other BFF may just blow the whistle on what he has on him.  The party now just have to wonder if it is worth protecting him just to win as many seats as possible in the November elections, and by their support of this flawed indiuvidual going to have damage inflicted upon them that will be a burden to bear for many many years hence.

[Sharpie]

1 hour ago, Scnorthedinburgh said:

There are a few republican Senators now saying this can't be ignored, including Trump supporters.

A lot are from the bible belt, they could wash off the campaign funding issue, but not to cover up what the money was hiding.

If they want back in, in November they have to criticise Trump for atempting to cover 2 affairs.

 

They have supported a man who is on his third wife, who has had two highly publicised affairs, who was subject of over twenty complaints  by women who accused him of improper touching, who was seen on television boasting about his Hollywood experience whereby he felt it was quite proper to kiss women and grab them by their genital area, the man is a pig, he is a racist, he has not produced as yet his income tax returns knowing as we all suspect that they will show questionable financial information.  His wife the First Lady constantly pulls snide little actions to show that she has no use for him, she went to the Border stating her sorrow for the seperated families, she supported Lebron James who Trump criticised, as well as the CNN reporter who interviewed him both African Americans whom Trump suggested were of low intellect, she is going to Africa on a tour regarding living conditions of children, in a continent her husband described as a shithole. He has put his son his daughter and his son in law in jeopardy of jail time, and possible lifetime of disgrace. He has a younger son who is living with all this, how that poor kid thinks and what his life will be just twists the gut of a person who has had young children and how concious you were about how your actions could impose themselves on them.

I have no patience with liars, I guess in a way I am selfish or was in my efforts to advance myself and depended on my wife and familys  help and equal sacrifices, but we all in some way gained from these sacrifices and my selfishness, but Trumps family are the ones who will have to live with his legacy and lies.

[JackLadd]

Mueller is packing the silver bullet, but the POS will pardon Manafort and anyone else to save his crooked neck beforehand.

[Cade]

"Michael Cohen plead guilty to two counts of campaign finance violations that are not a crime"

 

  

 

Thanks for clearing that up for us, Donald.

[Craig Gordons Gloves]

My favorite Trump response so far has been to tweet that the Obama campaign was also fined for improper finances.

 

Yes Don, they were.  They were fined for the late submission of paperwork for small finance contribution - late by 48 hours i might add.  Not for using campaign finances to pay a porn star to stay quiet about you and she having a wee podger session.

[Bindy Badgy]

3 hours ago, Scnorthedinburgh said:

Wonder if his wife has noticed all this?

Seems strange she just plods along and takes it.

If she bails out, love to see the next tweet.

 

Divorce as soon as he is no longer President.

[Notts1874]

[maroonlegions]

Captain chaos just cant help himself. 

His past tweets on social media are coming back to haunt him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

?

[Boab]

Bye, bye, scrotum !

[Maple Leaf]

It's not just Trump, but the entire Republican party in Congress who are despicable in all of this.

 

Remember when Clinton was accused of using an unsecured server for emails?  They were almost frothing at the mouth with their demands that she be charged, and chants of "Lock her up, lock her up," are still being trotted out to this day.  Over emails, ffs.

 

- Now we have a Republican President who embarrassed his country at Helsinki by agreeing with Putin and rejecting the findings of the US Intelligence community over Russian interference in the 2016 elections. 

- the same Republican President has been implicated, by his own lawyer, in a federal crime.

- the same President who lied to the American people on Air Force One about knowing nothing of any payment to Stormy Daniel

- the same president who lied to the American people about his son's meeting with Russians in the NY Trump Tower.

 

Where is the outcry from those Republicans who thought that unsecured emails were a criminal offence and deserved jail time?  They're turning a blind eye. Wouldn't it be nice if just a handful of them decided that the country was more important than the Republican party!!! 

 

 

 

[The Real Maroonblood]

4 hours ago, Jambo-Jimbo said:

 

If the Democrats do take back control, they won't need to start impeachment proceedings, as Trump will be out on his ear sharpish, once he loses the support of the remaining Republicans in the house.

 

Once he leave office then the Justice Department can go after him on the campaign finance violation crimes, so in the next Presidential race the cry will be 'Lock him up, lock him up', that'll go down well with his base.

Here’s hoping this happens.

[maroonlegions]

[ri Alban]

The people don't care. He could kill Tom Hanks live on TV and the hills have eyes would still vote him back in. 

[Maple Leaf]

5 minutes ago, ri Alban said:

The people don't care. He could kill Tom Hanks live on TV and the hills have eyes would still vote him back in. 

 

You're right to an extent. 

 

Not all the people worship him ... it's about 33% of the electorate, which is a significant number.  Probably another 33% despise him.  So the mid-term elections will be decided by the remaining 33%.  

[ri Alban]

1 hour ago, Maple Leaf said:

 

You're right to an extent. 

 

Not all the people worship him ... it's about 33% of the electorate, which is a significant number.  Probably another 33% despise him.  So the mid-term elections will be decided by the remaining 33%.  

Is he still giving Canada hassle with trade? 

[Jambo-Jimbo]

3 hours ago, Maple Leaf said:

 

You're right to an extent. 

 

Not all the people worship him ... it's about 33% of the electorate, which is a significant number.  Probably another 33% despise him.  So the mid-term elections will be decided by the remaining 33%.  

 

Isn't that mostly true with all the Mid-terms & Presidential elections, that it's the waiverers that ultimately hold the balance of power.