[The Soup Nazi]

^ Regarding the tax topic (which sounds like last century's news given that nowadays the news cycle is measured in nanoseconds, but this couldn't be more relevant). From Washington Monthly:

Whoever Owns Trump’s Enormous Debts Could Be Running the Country

At long last, the New York Times has Donald Trump’s tax returns. The picture they paint, put shortly, is one of epic financial malfeasance, likely criminal tax avoidance on a massive scale, probable bank fraud, opulent living at taxpayer expense, unethical self-dealing and wild recklessness more becoming a buffoonish French aristocrat or drunken sailor than a prudent businessman. Donald Trump’s approach to business and tax compliance appears to have been the same as his approach to politics: tell outrageous lies, play the government and creditors for fools, steal everything not nailed down today, figure out how to solve tomorrow’s consequences tomorrow, and already be onto the next con before anyone can catch him on the last one.

But despite its potential to land the entire Trump family in penury and jail, what is far more terrifying for the country isn’t what lies in his past of tax avoidance. It’s the time bomb of debt that lies in Trump’s very near future. It’s about the mystery of who owns Trump’s outlandish debts, and the degree of secret power they may be wielding over the country.

The particulars of the Trump grift are sickening in both the details and grand scope. It’s not just an issue of his class: the scale of his tax avoidance far dwarfs that of most others in his income bracket. Despite posturing as a billionaire, Trump paid only $750 in taxes for the years 2016 and 2017. He tried to use the same trick to offload tens of millions in tax burdens by claiming business losses twice in as many decades, except that the second time he actually still retained partial ownership of the underlying business, and has been in a $72 million battle with the IRS for a decade ever since–a battle he should lose by all rights. His daughter Ivanka was hired as a consultant for the same work she was doing in her main job–an obvious and incredibly stupid tax-avoidance grift that could easily land her jail. He (likely illegally) deducted $70,000 in hair care for his TV show. And so on.

Keep in mind, though, that this is just what we know of from his own personal reporting to the IRS. It’s not a forensic accounting document. These financial statements are Trump’s best foot forward to the government, with no knowing what criminal rot lies in the details.

Many rich tax cheats will tell the IRS they are broke while hiding their true wealth elsewhere. But Donald Trump isn’t just a tax cheat pretending to be broke for the feds. He appears to actually be broke. He inherited money from his father, squandered it on failed casino investments, offloaded the losses onto creditors, and then remade himself as a personal brand machine selling the rights to his name. He played a fake billionaire on TV and made significant money from doing that. Remarkably, adopting a fake reality TV show persona for public entertainment value may be the closest thing to honest work Trump has ever done. But rather than being content to invest those proceeds wisely, he went on another foolish real estate spending spree. His properties old and new are losing ridiculous amounts of money–he has lost a shocking $315 million dollars in the last 20 years at his golf courses alone.

One fact stands out far above all the others in its staggering implications: Donald Trump is personally responsible for $421 million worth of loans coming due in the next few years. Not his business. Him. Personally. He has no means of repaying them. He already refinanced his few profitable properties, and sold off most of his stocks to stay afloat. He appears short on liquidity. And we still don’t know to whom he owes the money.

This fact has frightening implications for public policy and national security. Even minor debts are a frequent reason for the government to deny a security clearance, for the obvious reason that indebted and financially desperate public servants make easy marks for bribery, blackmail and potential treason. The potentially destructive power of that sort of hold on a President of the United States is beyond comprehension. It is the stuff of nightmares, bad spy movie plots and otherwise outlandish conspiracy theory. Imagine if a president owed millions to the mob or to those with close ties to a foreign government, and those individuals both controlled the president’s financial future and knew of corrupt criminal activity. The president might act with otherwise strange deference to said mobsters and those connected to them, and bend public policy on their behalf. If they were tied to fossil fuel interests, the president might set the globe on fire rather than cross them. If his creditors were simply a wealthy set of Wall Street tycoons, he might rig all financial policy on their direct behalf.

What we do know is that beginning in the late 2000s, no one would lend to Donald Trump. His history of bankruptcies, combined with whatever horrors were on his personal and organizational financial statements, clearly made every bank run the other direction. Every bank but one, that is: Deutsche Bank. Donald Trump’s history with Deutsche Bank has always merited special scrutiny, but never more than now. The head honchos at Deutsche would have known just how desperate Trump’s financial position was. But they lent to him anyway. Why? It certainly looks even more ominous that Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s son was managing the real estate division at Deutsche that lent to Trump, and that Justice Kennedy unexpectedly retired to ensure Trump could seat his replacement. And it looks triply suspicious that Deutsche Bank has been fined and sanctioned over multiple money laundering scandals, including $20 billion from Russian kleptocrats.

It could all be a coincidence. But it probably isn’t.

Still, even if the darkest fears turn out to be unfounded, some group of individuals still owns Trump’s nearly half-billion dollar debts. They likely also know where many of his financial and legal skeletons are buried. Whoever they are, they have the capacity to be directly dictating to Donald Trump and he would be in no position to say no. That is an untenable place for the country to be in.

The New York Attorney General has even more dirt on the finances of the Trump Organization, and the New York Times will be releasing even more information on Trump’s taxes in the coming days. But even with just what we know now, the country faces an unprecedented policy and national security crisis. The situation is untenable. A man in Trump’s position simply cannot be allowed to continue as president.

Trump has already proven himself temperamentally and morally unfit for the job. But now, whether he wins or loses re-election, no responsible member of Congress should allow him to be re-inaugurated. The Republican Party could easily put Vice President Pence in his place and achieve the same policy goals. Trump must be impeached and removed, because the country faces grave risks every day he remains in power.

Bonus from The Guardian: Trump’s tax avoidance is a national disgrace. Don't let him blame 'the system'

[h8kurdt]

Originally Posted by choc e-Claire

Trump Records Shed New Light on Chinese Business Pursuits - The New York Times

Anyone wanna be a dear and copy the article (paywalled)?

You honestly expect the foot soldiers to read that many words?!

[The Soup Nazi]

Partially following on from what I wrote on the Biden thread a couple of days ago (having the conversation split like that is bullcrap, by the way - although, well, it's only a conversation when dotardist alternative facts don't make an appearance), here's a bit from the latest Zakaria Global Briefing. If, let's say, five years ago somebody had told me I'd be quoting a few conservatives in a positive light, I would have said... pass the angel dust! The emphasis is mine:

Trump’s Enduring Appeal

At The Atlantic, Sarah Longwell of Republicans for the Rule of Law writes that she’s been conducting focus groups with Republicans throughout the Trump era. Looking at suburban women, Longwell writes that some kept supporting the president through much of his term despite disliking him, out of a greater antipathy toward Democrats. But while President Trump’s trampling over norms and institutions proved too abstract to change minds, the pandemic hasn’t, and some suburban women who stuck with Trump have now turned against him. (“The most common response is—seriously—a variation on the term shit show,” Longwell writes, of reactions in the last six months.)

“Nevertheless, the story isn’t a wholly good one for Democrats,” Longwell concludes. “Some meaningful number of voters who are clear-eyed about Trump and his manifest failures—even those who think he is plainly doing a bad job—will stick with the president because they believe Democrats are worse and the media aren’t to be trusted. And these aren’t voters who are glued to Fox News and reading Breitbart News. Often they don’t think about politics at all—and they certainly don’t follow the daily machinations of Washington. They’re typically not on Twitter. Instead they swim in a cultural soup of Trumpism, surrounded by friends, family, and social-media acquaintances who do live more exclusively in a right-wing-media ecosystem. Even if [Joe] Biden pulls off a landslide victory, that ecosystem will remain. And so will the dislike of Democrats and distrust of the mainstream media. Getting rid of Trump won’t end the opposition’s problems.”

[h8kurdt]

Originally Posted by choc e-Claire

Trump Records Shed New Light on Chinese Business Pursuits - The New York Times

Anyone wanna be a dear and copy the article (paywalled)?

Just read this and soup Nazi's post. Shocking thing is that it's not shocking. Yet some people on here maintain that Obama's administration is the most corrupt in history. Even though nothing has stuck on him.

Sad to think the odds of Trump winning the election must surely still be in his favour. The electoral college and gerrymandering is very much on the republicans side and it stinks. 2 more weeks to go.

[Bytor Peltor]

Senate Press Gallery tweet
“By a tally of 51-44 cloture was not invoked on the McConnell amendment #2652 (Republican Coronavirus proposal), in relation to the House message to accompany S.178 (shell).

This was a party line vote.“

Senator James Langford tweet
“It's extremely frustrating that Senate Democrats continue to choose politics over helping the American people. My statement on Democrat's blocking #COVID19 relief again today.“

 

Senator Ted Cruz tweet
“ I am confident Judge Barrett will be confirmed and that by Monday night she will be Justice Barrett.”

 

Somewhere between the Judiciary Committee confirming Judge Barrett tomorrow (Thursday) and the full senate confirming her on Monday (October 26), look for Vomit Pelosi to pull some sort of WAIT-WAIT-WAIT we need to vote on this relief bill......the American people desperately need it!

 

[!@#$%!]

is pork memer meming again?

let me guess...

[h8kurdt]

"To anyone unburdened by the delusion that "balance" is a more important journalistic principle than truth, it was always obvious that Republicans were the reason no coronavirus bill was getting passed. For one thing, House Democrats already passed a robust relief bill in May, which*Senate Republicans have basically ignored while*avoiding any substantive efforts at negotiating a bill that can pass both houses. For another thing, there are*obvious ideological differences between Democrats, where even the party's*"moderate" wing supports increased social spending, and Republicans, whose only real goal is moving as much wealth as possible from the hands of working people to the rich."

You gotta look at your boy McConnell, Bytor. His bill ain't got a penny in stimulus checks in there. Plus right now the reps are more bothered about getting that shit stain Barret in more than anything else. That includes helping the public.

[The Soup Nazi]

Originally Posted by h8kurdt

You gotta look at your boy McConnell

Christian Bale's Golden Globe Awards acceptance speech for his portrayal of Dick Cheney: "I will be cornering the market on charisma-free assholes. What do you think, Mitch McConnell next? That could be good..."

[Bytor Peltor]

Originally Posted by h8kurdt

You gotta look at your boy McConnell, Bytor. His bill ain't got a penny in stimulus checks in there. Plus right now the reps are more bothered about getting that shit stain Barret in more than anything else. That includes helping the public.

You don’t think they care about the public, do you?

McConnell warns White House against making stimulus deal as Pelosi and Mnuchin inch closer

“Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) revealed that he has warned the White House not to strike an agreement with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi before the Nov. 3 election.“

“McConnell told his colleagues that Pelosi (D-Calif.) is not negotiating in good faith with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and that any deal they reach could disrupt the Senate’s plans to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court next week.“

Originally Posted by Bytor Peltor

Somewhere between the Judiciary Committee confirming Judge Barrett tomorrow (Thursday) and the full senate confirming her on Monday (October 26), look for Vomit Pelosi to pull some sort of WAIT-WAIT-WAIT we need to vote on this relief bill......the American people desperately need it!

Low and behold......

Alex Mohajer tweet
“BREAKING: Chuck Schumer has announced that Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee will boycott tomorrow's vote on Amy Coney Barrett, effectively denying Republicans a quorum.

Mitch McConnell will be forced to change Senate rules in order to move forward the nomination.“

[!@#$%!]

pork memer 2: regurgitation

[Bytor Peltor]

Originally Posted by Bytor Peltor

Low and behold......

Alex Mohajer tweet
“BREAKING: Chuck Schumer has announced that Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee will boycott tomorrow's vote on Amy Coney Barrett, effectively denying Republicans a quorum.

Mitch McConnell will be forced to change Senate rules in order to move forward the nomination.“

So much for that......

President Donald Trump tweet
“Judiciary Committee approves Judge Barrett. Moves to full Senate for final vote. Big day for America!“

[!@#$%!]

pork memer, porking it up

[h8kurdt]

Bytor, do you think Barrett is a good move for America?

[The Soup Nazi]

Originally Posted by h8kurdt

Bytor, do you think Barrett is a good move for America?

I say fuckin' A he is!

 

Oh, wait - you meant Amy the Handmaid... No, obviously she's not, but what the flying fuck do you care what the braindead clown thinks? Fuck him.

ETA:

 

Yes, it's obviously a pic doctored for comedic effect - AT LEAST I ACKNOWLEDGE IT.

[Bytor Peltor]

Originally Posted by h8kurdt

Bytor, do you think Barrett is a good move for America?

Great question!

Was Justice Scalia?

You see, Scalia and RBG disagreed on many things and their approach to the law was different, however, Scalia and RBG were fast friends.

Barrett clerked for Scalia and is extremely qualified, but I doubt she and Justice Scalia would agree on everything.

YES - I think Amy Coney Barrett is just as good for America in 2020 as Ruth Bader Ginsburg was when she became Supreme Court Justice in 1993.

[!@#$%!]

pork pork pork pork pork pork
memer

[Bytor Peltor]

Donald Trump was impeached by Democrats to protect Joe Biden!!!

[!@#$%!]

 

[The Soup Nazi]

This is epic...

[h8kurdt]

Well you're gonna have to explain how she can be a good fit for you guys. I mean, you do know her history and views, right?