Sound The TRUMPets! A Thread for Presidential Pondering 2016-2020(?)

[Baron Scarpia]

According to the Washington post, Trump has told aids he wants to look into rejoining the Trans Pacific Partnership (one of the long list of "worst deals ever").

Summary of Trump Strategy:

1) Obama organizes TPP, a Pacific trade pact designed to bolster US influence, contain Chinese influence in the region.

2) Trump opts out of the deal, other participants renegotiate the treaty, go forward with CPATPP, serving to contain Chinese and U.S. influence.

3) Now Trump wants back into trade pact renegotiated without US participation.

The master strategist at work!

[Karl Henning]

According to the Washington post, Trump has told aids he wants to look into rejoining the Trans Pacific Partnership (one of the long list of "worst deals ever").

Summary of Trump Strategy:

1) Obama organizes TPP, a Pacific trade pact designed to bolster US influence, contain Chinese influence in the region.

2) Trump opts out of the deal, other participants renegotiate the treaty, go forward with CPATPP, serving to contain Chinese and U.S. influence.

3) Now Trump wants back into trade pact renegotiated without US participation.

The master strategist at work!

No wonder they call him the King of Debt!

[Karl Henning]

Well, according to zb, they're just greedy floozies, anyway.

I should say that I'm perfectly happy to accept that the doorman's story was just a rumor. What doesn't seem to be in dispute, however, is that AMI, which was essentially operating as an adjunct of the Trump campaign, paid $30,000 to keep the lid on a rumor.

[drogulus]

     There is something Fox News and everyone else has in common. All of "us" think that Trump is too much of a criminal to tell Mueller the truth. What else could it mean that he should never ever sit down and answer questions? It's not only that he is a lyin' liar by unbreakable habit, it's that telling the truth, even if possible, would be fatal. Isn't that right, Judge Napolitano?

[Baron Scarpia]

Well, according to zb, they're just greedy floozies, anyway.

I should say that I'm perfectly happy to accept that the doorman's story was just a rumor. What doesn't seem to be in dispute, however, is that AMI, which was essentially operating as an adjunct of the Trump campaign, paid $30,000 to keep the lid on a rumor.

There is nothing illegal about paying someone to sign a non-disclosure agreement requiring them to shut up. I have no idea why Mueller would be pursuing this sort of stuff unless there is some other malfeasance involved. Even so, if the payoff is effectively campaign funds, or somehow is a technical violation of campaign finance law, that strikes me as really weak. I just hope there is something substantial that he is following. We all know that Trump is a lecherous creep, and we don't need Mueller to investigate that.

[drogulus]

There is nothing illegal about paying someone to sign a non-disclosure agreement requiring them to shut up. I have no idea why Mueller would be pursuing this sort of stuff unless there is some other malfeasance involved. Even so, if the payoff is effectively campaign funds, or somehow is a technical violation of campaign finance law, that strikes me as really weak. I just hope there is something substantial that he is following. We all know that Trump is a lecherous creep, and we don't need Mueller to investigate that.

     I think I get what's going on here. Mueller must investigate the fixer Cohen but takes Rosenstein's direction on what is or is not within his mandate. What's not goes to another prosecutor. What's weak compared to Russia doesn't signify. The point here is not that the campaign stuff is a great haul, it's that 1) it can't be ignored when found and 2) the great haul is going to be what Cohen is forced to admit about all the bigger fixes he's involved in. Prosecutors do use smaller stuff in one office to leverage bigger stuff in another.

[Baron Scarpia]

You may be completely correct. But I'm concerned that all of this pursuit of rumors surrounding Trump's lechery is furthering the narrative that this is a witch hunt, and or Ken Starr, the sequel.

[Baron Scarpia]

the great haul is going to be what Cohen is forced to admit about all the bigger fixes he's involved in. Prosecutors do use smaller stuff in one office to leverage bigger stuff in another.

You think maybe Trump did shoot someone on Fifth avenue, for due diligence before making the claim?

[drogulus]

You may be completely correct. But I'm concerned that all of this pursuit of rumors surrounding Trump's lechery is furthering the narrative that this is a witch hunt, and or Ken Starr, the sequel.

     I see what you mean, but I don't think rumors of lechery are actually what the prosecutor who'll handle the campaign violations will pursue. Trump is and always has been free to be a lecher and pay any associated price, just as you said.

     If I have Mueller pegged right he could not give less of a shit how his investigation looks to observers so hostile to his aims that they will compare the most important investigation in FBI history to something Ken Starr did.

     

You think maybe Trump did shoot someone on Fifth avenue, for due diligence before making the claim?

     I don't know what Mueller knows, but like any observer I follow the path he takes and infer what that must mean. I also watch Trump and when he says "don't look at x, y, z or that crosses a red line" I take the hint and conclude that x, y and z is where the Fifth Avenue bodies are buried. I don't think Trump is smart or disciplined enough to fake world-historical consciousness of guilt to throw investigators off the scent.

[BasilValentine]

There is nothing illegal about paying someone to sign a non-disclosure agreement requiring them to shut up. I have no idea why Mueller would be pursuing this sort of stuff unless there is some other malfeasance involved. Even so, if the payoff is effectively campaign funds, or somehow is a technical violation of campaign finance law, that strikes me as really weak. I just hope there is something substantial that he is following. We all know that Trump is a lecherous creep, and we don't need Mueller to investigate that.

Correct me if I am wrong, but Mueller isn't the one pursuing it. It is the US Attorney for the Southern District of NY, right? Mueller agreed that he didn't need to investigate it. He has more important things to investigate, which is why he referred it to others. Mistakenly conflating different investigations is the job of Fox News and similar actors and I'm sure they'll do a fine job of it. We, on the other, should maintain clarity.

[Baron Scarpia]

Correct me if I am wrong, but Mueller isn't the one pursuing it. It is the US Attorney for the Southern District of NY, right? Mueller agreed the he didn't need to investigate it. He has more important things to investigate, which is why he referred it to others. Mistakenly conflating different investigations is the job of Fox News and similar actors and I'm sure they'll do a fine job of it. We, on the other, should maintain clarity.

It was referred by Mueller, even if he handed it off.

[dhibbard]

ok   I see... anything goes.... this is like 4Chan then

[BasilValentine]

It was referred by Mueller, even if he handed it off.

You know what referred means, right? It does not imply any interest in the case or its pursuit on Mueller's part. It means only that evidence of a serious crime was discovered while pursuing other matters and Mueller had the duty to report this to relevant authorities. The parameters of his job allowed no other action. 

Oh, and the NYT is saying something about Michael Cohen recording conversations? And that maybe the feds have the tapes? 

[drogulus]

 

It was referred by Mueller, even if he handed it off.

    It was referred by Mueller to Rosenstein because that was the right thing to do, Rosenstein gave the investigation to the Southern District of New York because that was the right thing to do. There was no other right thing option, like "we're piling on these Italians, can't we find some Belgian gangsters to pick on?". "Why are we always busting capitalists for financial crimes?". "Where is the special Task Force for Library Fraud?".

     

[Daverz]

"Where is the special Task Force for Library Fraud?".   

Good question, Mr. Drogulus!

[Baron Scarpia]

You know what referred means, right? It does not imply any interest in the case or its pursuit on Mueller's part. It means only that evidence of a serious crime was discovered while pursuing other matters and Mueller had the duty to report this to relevant authorities. The parameters of his job allowed no other action. 

You disagree with Preet Bharara then, the former U.S Attorney from the Southern District of NY, who commented on his podcast that the fact that this was referred to the U.S. attorney mean't that this matter was technically out of the scope of the special prosecutor mandate, but that Mueller would be anxious to make use of any findings in his own investigation. Other things linking to Mueller is that press reports say they were looking for specific information related to payoffs of Trump accusers, and apparently Rod Rosenstein had to sign off on the referral to the U.S. attorney.

I'm not saying it wasn't the right thing to do, but is off the subject of Russian interference and collusion and this can be used by people trying to advance the narrative that goal is to get Trump.

[Karl Henning]

[El Tupé's] lawyer was known for taping conversations, stoking fears the FBI has the recordings

[Karl Henning]

I should not call it news, but really only confirmation of what any sober individual already knew:

Post-ABC poll: Majority of Americans support Mueller's probe of Russia, Trump campaign

Nearly 7 in 10 adults say they support Mueller's focus on possible collusion with Russia. Sixty-four percent say they want the special counsel investigating Trump's business activities.

[BasilValentine]

You disagree with Preet Bharara then, the former U.S Attorney from the Southern District of NY, who commented on his podcast that the fact that this was referred to the U.S. attorney mean't that this matter was technically out of the scope of the special prosecutor mandate, but that Mueller would be anxious to make use of any findings in his own investigation. Other things linking to Mueller is that press reports say they were looking for specific information related to payoffs of Trump accusers, and apparently Rod Rosenstein had to sign off on the referral to the U.S. attorney.

I'm not saying it wasn't the right thing to do, but is off the subject of Russian interference and collusion and this can be used by people trying to advance the narrative that goal is to get Trump.

I wasn't disagreeing with Bharara at all. Of course Mueller will be delighted when the US Attorney uncovers stuff within Mueller's scope and refers it back. I was just arguing the (possibly quibbling) point that one can't reasonably conflate the two investigations because both are more or less compelled to share — but then we aren't dealing with reasonable people, as you rightly point out.

[Karl Henning]

Chanced upon this:

Lock him up! Lock him up!

Trump's foundation is under investigation. Should he step aside?

What if criminal charges are brought? If Trump were elected and then subject to criminal prosecution, he would be subject to impeachment. Trump's claim to be the law-and-order candidate was always ridiculous; now it is a punch line.

Trumpkins had argued, not without justification, that if the FBI had made a recommendation to prosecute Hillary Clinton, it would force her to back out of the race. Surely the same standard should apply in Trump's case. And if the investigation is not complete by Election Day, how can voters elect someone whose tenure could be immediately cut short by criminal proceedings? Trump, of course, is already facing trial in a fraud case alleging that he swindled thousands of dollars from Trump University students. In other words, is Trump a crook?

The Trumpkins have ever been either inattentive, or in denial;  but they cannot say they never had the chance to face the truth.