Donald Trump presidency discussion thread V

Walter Bishop · 22-05-2019 10:58am

As mentioned previously, kudos to Ben Carson for demolishing the myth that you need to be intelligent to be a brain surgeon.

pixelburp · 22-05-2019 2:21pm

The WaPo has obtained a secret memo from the IRS which says "[Trump's] tax returns must be given to Congress unless the president takes the rare step of asserting executive privilege"

But according to the IRS memo, which has not been previously reported, the disclosure of tax returns to the committee “is mandatory, requiring the Secretary to disclose returns, and return information, requested by the tax-writing Chairs.”

The 10-page document says the law “does not allow the Secretary to exercise discretion in disclosing the information provided the statutory conditions are met” and directly rejects the reason Mnuchin has cited for withholding the information.

Full article:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/confidential-draft-irs-memo-says-tax-returns-must-be-given-to-congress-unless-president-invokes-executive-privilege/2019/05/21/8ed41834-7b1c-11e9-8bb7-0fc796cf2ec0_story.html?utm_term=.e5a35784a540

Of course, this won't matter a jot because Republicans are embedded in the Sunk Cost hole they've dug for themselves. If this drags on, it may yet coincide with the 2020 elections, which would make for some potentially damaging information...

everlast75 · 22-05-2019 2:28pm

Deal struck between the DOJ and Schiff. Docs will be handed over to the Intelligence Committee. Schiff has warned however that the subpoena remains in effect should there be any further obfuscation

Penn · 22-05-2019 4:58pm

Trump just held an impromptu press conference outside the White House in response to the Democrats impeachment calls and Pelosi's comments about how he's engaging in a cover-up, basically calling himself the most transparent president in history, how the Mueller report cleared him, it's all a hoax etc.

And he did it in front of this sign...
https://twitter.com/steveholland1/status/1131221427162689537

Didn't seem to mention the number of guilty pleas and convictions on it. Maybe it was on the back of it.

Quin_Dub · 22-05-2019 5:46pm

Penn wrote: »

Trump just held an impromptu press conference outside the White House in response to the Democrats impeachment calls and Pelosi's comments about how he's engaging in a cover-up, basically calling himself the most transparent president in history, how the Mueller report cleared him, it's all a hoax etc.

And he did it in front of this sign...
https://twitter.com/steveholland1/status/1131221427162689537

Didn't seem to mention the number of guilty pleas and convictions on it. Maybe it was on the back of it.

So , we're supposed to believe that he had every intention of having a meaningful meeting about Infrastructure but because of comments made by Pelosi 5 minutes before it started he cancelled and just happened to have that spanky poster knocking around to put in the Rose garden for his "impromptu" press conference??

Stallingrad · 22-05-2019 7:42pm

Oh God that is tragic, mayor Quimby all over. Pity the intern that has to lash that poster together. Typically he didn't have the guts or mental acuity to face down Peloso and Chuck, he'll do that later via the safety of Twitter.

Itssoeasy · 22-05-2019 7:56pm

Stallingrad wrote: »

Oh God that is tragic, mayor Quimby all over. Pity the intern that has to lash that poster together. Typically he didn't have the guts or mental acuity to face down Peloso and Chuck, he'll do that later via the safety of Twitter.

let's not sully the name of Diamond Joe Quimby by comparing him to Trump.

TomOnBoard · 22-05-2019 8:22pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

let's not sully the name of Diamond Joe Quimby by comparing him to Trump.

That's Mayor Joseph Fitzgerald O'Malley Fitzpatrick O'Donnell The Edge Quimby to you Sirrah!!

And for the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, Diamond Joe hails from a long line of politicians whose Brahmin roots were cultivated by such notables as the Kennedys (mostly Teddy, and earlier by John & Robert F). True Democrats one and all! And role models par excellence for propriety in the #MeToo age....

everlast75 · 22-05-2019 9:09pm

https://twitter.com/ScottMStedman/status/1131286264961835008?s=19

No wonder Trump was so wound up today

relax carry on · 22-05-2019 10:07pm

Penn wrote: »

Trump just held an impromptu press conference outside the White House in response to the Democrats impeachment calls and Pelosi's comments about how he's engaging in a cover-up, basically calling himself the most transparent president in history, how the Mueller report cleared him, it's all a hoax etc.

And he did it in front of this sign...
https://twitter.com/steveholland1/status/1131221427162689537

Didn't seem to mention the number of guilty pleas and convictions on it. Maybe it was on the back of it.

How pathetic can you get. Has any other POTUS come even remotely close to being as unsuitable for the job as Trump is?

Itssoeasy · 22-05-2019 10:42pm

relax carry on wrote: »

How pathetic can you get. Has any other POTUS come even remotely close to being as unsuitable for the job as Trump is?

Probably not. Nixon is getting a great reassessment of his presidency though. He wasn't perfect by any means but it's clear he had a policies on important issues whereas Trump just doesn't.

Itssoeasy · 22-05-2019 10:45pm

everlast75 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/ScottMStedman/status/1131286264961835008?s=19

No wonder Trump was so wound up today

If the stories are true about the management of Deutse bank being told about issues regarding Trump and Kushner and money moving between them and Russian people then handing over documents to congress may be the Least of the upper managements problems.

everlast75 · 22-05-2019 10:48pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

If the stories are true about the management of Deutse bank being told about issues regarding Trump and Kushner and money moving between them and Russian people then handing over documents to congress may be the Least of the upper managements problems.

Plus that Bill was signed into effect today in NYC.

https://twitter.com/jessemckinley/status/1131248655200116736?s=19

manual_man · 22-05-2019 11:03pm

More political theatre by The Democrats. The decision will get shot down on appeal.

On the off chance that it does not, then the door has basically been opened to a Police State, invited by people who can't see beyond their own hatred for DT.

aloyisious · 22-05-2019 11:07pm

This is getting more like Watergate, denial and refusal by the President and his AG.In 1972 Deep throat told the WaPo reporters to stop what they were doing, look at the important thing and follow the money trail which started with CREEP [no joke] the Nixon equivalent to Don's election campaign. Which reminds me, is anyone looking into the gathering of monies to fund Don's intended re-election campaign?

Itssoeasy · 22-05-2019 11:10pm

aloyisious wrote: »

This is getting more like Watergate, denial and refusal by the President and his AG.In 1972 Deep throat told the WaPo reporters to stop what they were doing, look at the important thing and follow the money trail which started with CREEP [no joke] the Nixon equivalent to Don's election campaign. Which reminds me, is anyone looking into the gathering of monies to fund Don's intended re-election campaign?

Didn't creep stand for the campaign for reelection of the president ?

Itssoeasy · 22-05-2019 11:12pm

manual_man wrote: »

More political theatre by The Democrats. The decision will get shot down on appeal.

On the off chance that it does not, then the door has basically been opened to a Police State, invited by people who can't see beyond their own hatred for DT.

How is it political theatre ? It's a legally issued subpoena from the US congress. Both parties have and will continue to use subpoenas if necessary. So the judiciary is making it a police state then is it ?

listermint · 22-05-2019 11:22pm

manual_man wrote: »

More political theatre by The Democrats. The decision will get shot down on appeal.

On the off chance that it does not, then the door has basically been opened to a Police State, invited by people who can't see beyond their own hatred for DT.

Police state.

You clearly don't know the meaning of the word

It's general people lapping it up in social democracies where they've enjoyed next to free education and free healthcare that spout the most stupid nonsense.

Oh look

Here's one.

mcmoustache · 22-05-2019 11:24pm

manual_man wrote: »

More political theatre by The Democrats. The decision will get shot down on appeal.

On the off chance that it does not, then the door has basically been opened to a Police State, invited by people who can't see beyond their own hatred for DT.

You should put down the Q-pipe. It didn't help Roseanne and it won't help you either.

TomOnBoard · 22-05-2019 11:28pm

manual_man wrote: »

More political theatre by The Democrats. The decision will get shot down on appeal..

Sorry, but I'm confused... What is "the decision" that will get "shot down" on appeal?

aloyisious · 22-05-2019 11:34pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Didn't creep stand for the campaign for reelection of the president ?

Yes. One has to say it was possibly the best bit of political satire that century, given it came from within the campaign. The money/funding is an important trail in the 1st Trump campaign to see who [besides himself] benefitted financially by getting him into the job.

Ta: TomOnBoard for the correction on the own goal and Dem seizure of the opportunity.

Itssoeasy · 22-05-2019 11:35pm

aloyisious wrote: »

Yes

I've read too much us political history clearly.

PropJoe10 · 22-05-2019 11:36pm

manual_man wrote: »

More political theatre by The Democrats. The decision will get shot down on appeal.

On the off chance that it does not, then the door has basically been opened to a Police State, invited by people who can't see beyond their own hatred for DT.

Trump has brought all of this on himself with his public idiocy, lies, dodgy dealings and general incompetence. If the decision is upheld (which it should be) then if anything it'll finally establish beyond any doubt that even the President is not above the law, even though Trump obviously thinks he is. He's behaving like a spoilt child and I hope the Dems nail him to the wall.

TomOnBoard · 22-05-2019 11:38pm

relax carry on wrote: »

Has any other POTUS come even remotely close to being as unsuitable for the job as Trump is?

No.

relax carry on wrote: »

How pathetic can you get.

Well, that's a completely different question. When the leaders of the House and Senate are coming into the White House, in order to meet the President to discuss the Infrastructure project, aaaaand they chose on the way INTO the meeting to state "We believe that the President of the United States is engaged in a cover-up", then why would the President sit and meet with them?

That was simply grandstanding on Schumer/Pelosi's part. They had absolutely NO intention of having a meaningful meeting. They poked the hornet's nest and the hornet obliged,by pissing off, thereby yet again handing the Dems a PR win.

That is certainly nooo way (by either party to the discussion) to deal with an Infrastructure Problem that is claiming human lives by the day.

Edit: I was totally incorrect in my characterisation of Schumer/Pelosi making statements about Presidenria! cover-up on the way in to the WH meeting on Infrastrucrure. As I now understand it, Pelosi used the term 'cover-up' with her own Democratic members earlier in the day, which is perfectly acceptable behaviour. Trump's c!early orchestrated hissy fit, including signs he made earlier, is the demeaning piece of the day's dramatics.

TomOnBoard · 22-05-2019 11:44pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Didn't creep stand for the campaign for reelection of the president ?

The Committee to Re-Elect the President was actually designated as the CRP. The Democrats, seizing on an obvious mis-step on the part of the GOP in its choice of acronym, propagated CREEP some time after..

One of the great Home Team own goals that was converted into a solid Away Win in US Politics....

TomOnBoard · 23-05-2019 12:01am

everlast75 wrote: »

He is hemorrhaging votes in the rust belt.

I get the Farmers' (in places like Kansas) being royally pissed off with Trump for having had much of the weight of agricultural tarriffs placed on their shoulders, but I must be missing out on general polls that suggest Trump is haemorrhagging votes in the Rust Belt.

OK, I also get that some ppl may be much less in love with a 2020 Trump than they might have been in 2016. However, into what does that diminution in love translate? A vote for some entirely as yet unknown candidate to surface at some point in 14 months or so from the Democrat Primary process that is currently dealing with 22 or 23 possibles? Sure, how can anybody reasonably argue that Trump is haemorraging votes to a shadow?

I'm sorry but I don't buy that argument!

I still think he needs to be "Gooooone Girl!", but let's all be real here"!

FreudianSlippers · 23-05-2019 9:19am

manual_man wrote: »

More political theatre by The Democrats. The decision will get shot down on appeal.

On the off chance that it does not, then the door has basically been opened to a Police State, invited by people who can't see beyond their own hatred for DT.

I'm sorry but this is ridiculous.

Firstly, Congress, as a co-equal branch of government, has the authority to issue subpoenas - that does not make it a "Police State" - it makes it a democracy.

Secondly, what Trump's team will be actually looking for is a stay on the order pending appeal; this has been rejected already (twice) as Trump is unlikely to win his appeal (his legal team have been basically laughed out of every Court because their argument is Executive Privilege outweighs Congressional powers - which it doesn't and in any event EP doesn't apply to these documents). There is no legal rationale for an appeals court to grant a stay. Trump could get the Supreme Court to step in here, but that would be grounds for impeachment in itself as he would unduly use Executive power to obstruct justice by using the Supreme Court to obstruct justice and break the hell out of separation of powers.

Quin_Dub · 23-05-2019 9:29am

manual_man wrote: »

More political theatre by The Democrats. The decision will get shot down on appeal.

On the off chance that it does not, then the door has basically been opened to a Police State, invited by people who can't see beyond their own hatred for DT.

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

I'm sorry but this is ridiculous.

Firstly, Congress, as a co-equal branch of government, has the authority to issue subpoenas - that does not make it a "Police State" - it makes it a democracy.

Secondly, what Trump's team will be actually looking for is a stay on the order pending appeal; this has been rejected already (twice) as Trump is unlikely to win his appeal (his legal team have been basically laughed out of every Court because their argument is Executive Privilege outweighs Congressional powers - which it doesn't and in any event EP doesn't apply to these documents). There is no legal rationale for an appeals court to grant a stay. Trump could get the Supreme Court to step in here, but that would be grounds for impeachment in itself as he would unduly use Executive power to obstruct justice by using the Supreme Court to obstruct justice and break the hell out of separation of powers.

And it's too late now anyway , Banks have already begun to release the paperwork to the congressional committees.

WASHINGTON — A key congressional committee has already gained access to President Donald Trump’s dealings with two major financial institutions, two sources familiar with the House probe tell NBC News, as a court ruling Wednesday promised to open the door for even more records to be handed over.

Wells Fargo and TD Bank are the two of nine institutions that have so far complied with subpoenas issued by the House Financial Services Committee demanding information about their dealings with the Trump Organization, according to the sources. The disclosures by these two banks haven’t been previously reported. Both TD Bank and Wells Fargo declined to comment for this story.

Wells Fargo provided the committee with a few thousand documents and TD Bank handed the committee a handful of documents, according to a source who has seen them. The committee, led by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., is especially interested in the president’s business relationship with Russia and other foreign entities.

Igotadose · 23-05-2019 10:07am

And, Trump the pacifist (/sarcasm) has become the first president to pardon murderers. Note that others have commuted sentences, if no one died in the crimes for which the perpetrators were convicted. Not Trump. So, even if US Military tribunals actually find soldiers guilty of war crimes, if POTUS45 thinks his campaign can benefit from it, he'll pardon them. He knows more than Military Tribunals, based on his lengthy career in the military I guess.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/23/politics/war-crimes-pardons-trump/index.html

eire4 · 23-05-2019 4:00pm

Igotadose wrote: »

And, Trump the pacifist (/sarcasm) has become the first president to pardon murderers. Note that others have commuted sentences, if no one died in the crimes for which the perpetrators were convicted. Not Trump. So, even if US Military tribunals actually find soldiers guilty of war crimes, if POTUS45 thinks his campaign can benefit from it, he'll pardon them. He knows more than Military Tribunals, based on his lengthy career in the military I guess.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/23/politics/war-crimes-pardons-trump/index.html

The Americans are infatuated with their military. They constantly describe their soldiers as hero's regardless and arrogantly go on about themselves as the leaders of the "free World" etc. Their military devours an enormous amount of their economic resources and lets face it their record of nasty deeds all around the world is a very long one sadly but thats a reality most Americans either ignore refuse to accept or are ignorant of and which of course would not fit in with their glorification of the military.

Donald Trump presidency discussion thread V

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