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

[SimonNZ]

Here's the Law That Requires Mnuchin to Turn Over Trump's Taxes, or Lose His Office and Go to Prison
The law is clear, and it leaves no wiggle room. The consequences for breaking it include removal from public office and up to five years in prison.


and in other "laws are for little people" news:

Trump told CBP head he'd pardon him if he were sent to jail for violating immigration law

[SimonNZ]

Rolling Stone:

Is This the Dumbest Moment in Congressional History?
A Kentucky congressman's impossibly daft line of questioning left John Kerry flabbergasted

"Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) may have studied robotics at MIT, but he is now responsible for one of the most asinine moments in congressional history.
At a House committee hearing Tuesday on "The Need for Leadership to Combat Climate Change and Protect National Security," the Kentucky Republican thought he could pwn former secretary of state John Kerry. Kerry is an expert on climate change who helped broker the Paris climate accord and recently criticized president Trump for proposing to set up a task force that seeks to counter the scientific consensus on climate change. Massie calls advocates of climate action "alarmists" and believes that the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is "plant food."

The transcript of the literally unbelievable exchange follows:

Massie: Sec. Kerry, I want to read part of your statement back to you: "Instead of convening a kangaroo court, the president might want to talk with the educated adults he once trusted his top national security positions." It sounds like you're questioning the credentials of the president's advisers, currently. But I think we should question your credentials today. Isn't it true you have a science degree from Yale?
Kerry: Bachelor of arts degree.
Massie: Is it a political science degree?
Kerry: Yes, political science.
Massie: So how do you get a bachelor of arts, in a science?
Kerry: Well it's a liberal arts education and degree. It's a bachelor...
Massie: OK. So it's not really science. So I think it's somewhat appropriate that someone with a pseudo-science degree is here pushing pseudo-science in front of our committee today.
Kerry: Are you serious?! I mean this is really a serious happening here?
Massie: You know what? It is serious. You're calling the president's Cabinet a "kangaroo court." Is that serious?
Kerry: I'm not calling his Cabinet a kangaroo court, I'm calling this committee that he's putting together a kangaroo committee.
Massie: Are you saying it doesn't have educated adults now?
Kerry: I don't know who it has yet because it's secret.
Massie: Well you said it in your testimony.
Kerry: Why would he have to have a secret analysis of climate change?
Massie: Let's get back to the science of it.
Kerry: But it's not science, you're not quoting science!
Massie: Well, You're the science expert. You have the political science degree.

[JBS]

Rolling Stone:

Is This the Dumbest Moment in Congressional History?
A Kentucky congressman's impossibly daft line of questioning left John Kerry flabbergasted

"Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) may have studied robotics at MIT, but he is now responsible for one of the most asinine moments in congressional history.
At a House committee hearing Tuesday on "The Need for Leadership to Combat Climate Change and Protect National Security," the Kentucky Republican thought he could pwn former secretary of state John Kerry. Kerry is an expert on climate change who helped broker the Paris climate accord and recently criticized president Trump for proposing to set up a task force that seeks to counter the scientific consensus on climate change. Massie calls advocates of climate action "alarmists" and believes that the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is "plant food."

The transcript of the literally unbelievable exchange follows:

Massie: Sec. Kerry, I want to read part of your statement back to you: "Instead of convening a kangaroo court, the president might want to talk with the educated adults he once trusted his top national security positions." It sounds like you're questioning the credentials of the president's advisers, currently. But I think we should question your credentials today. Isn't it true you have a science degree from Yale?
Kerry: Bachelor of arts degree.
Massie: Is it a political science degree?
Kerry: Yes, political science.
Massie: So how do you get a bachelor of arts, in a science?
Kerry: Well it's a liberal arts education and degree. It's a bachelor...
Massie: OK. So it's not really science. So I think it's somewhat appropriate that someone with a pseudo-science degree is here pushing pseudo-science in front of our committee today.
Kerry: Are you serious?! I mean this is really a serious happening here?
Massie: You know what? It is serious. You're calling the president's Cabinet a "kangaroo court." Is that serious?
Kerry: I'm not calling his Cabinet a kangaroo court, I'm calling this committee that he's putting together a kangaroo committee.
Massie: Are you saying it doesn't have educated adults now?
Kerry: I don't know who it has yet because it's secret.
Massie: Well you said it in your testimony.
Kerry: Why would he have to have a secret analysis of climate change?
Massie: Let's get back to the science of it.
Kerry: But it's not science, you're not quoting science!
Massie: Well, You're the science expert. You have the political science degree.

Raises the question of hiw much did Massie's parents pay MIT to admit him...
He could have taken the route used by my mates and I in college. Poli Sci was (in reputation, and often in reality) the major taken by pre-law students who were too dumb or too lazy (at my school, the latter) to go for "real" majors in history, English, or business (which included accounting and economics)...and razzed accordingly.

[SimonNZ]

Raises the question of hiw much did Massie's parents pay MIT to admit him...

Wrt the college admissions scandals: did Trump get in on his grades or with charitable contributions from dad?  I'm surprised I've not yet seen anyone make the connection in articles about Felicity Huffman et al.

[JBS]

Wrt the college admissions scandals: did Trump get in on his grades or with charitable contributions from dad?

I think even Trumpniki acknowledge that Fred Trump  had more than a little influence in Donald's admission to Wharton.

However, from an American perspective that is not scandalous. (I have no idea of how things work in New Zealand or anywhere else.) Having a parent as an alumnus (Bush f.i.) or a parent who openly gives a large donation to the school has a long history in the US.  It's always been assumed that some students in every school get in via connections or money, and it's acceptable (more or less) when those students don't pretend they got in because of individual merit, and don't diminish the chances of other students to be admitted. And more than a few non-affluent people got a head start in their career because Ricky Rich needed help writing his English papers, and was happy to befriend anyone who would help him. No one pretended that Ricky Rich was there for any reason other than Daddy Rich's money.

What is scandalous about the current story is that these students were admitted by gaming the system or otherwise falsely claiming merit, not money, was why they were admitted, and moreover admitted in place of others who did not have the money needed to game the system.

[SimonNZ]

Yeah, we have no doubt plenty of what you describe in the middle paragraph.

The distinction seems to be that its okay to bribe the chancellor, but not okay to bribe the coach. Both seem to me to be gaming the system, but one is subverting the hierarchy and class system..

[JBS]

Yeah, we have no doubt plenty of what you describe in the middle paragraph.

The distinction seems to be that its okay to bribe the chancellor, but not okay to bribe the coach. Both seem to me to be gaming the system, but one is subverting the hierarchy and class system..

It's more a case of using the system (Trump, the Bushes) vs gaming the system (Huffmann).  If you have money, use it...but be honest that you are using it.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Hey Poco, hadn't seen you in a while and was starting to worry. I was hoping you'd chime in on the Shakespeare thread.

I may yet!

[Todd]

The law is unambiguous.

Can you please cite the specific statute(s), and ideally the specific sections of said statute(s), you refer to in this instance?

Now for some actual facts (as opposed to the GMG variety): Trump Says He Is Considering Releasing Migrants in 'Sanctuary Cities'

Outstanding!  I suppose I should be worried since Portland is a so-called sanctuary city, but I'm not.  I live in the 'burbs, and the local police make it a point to push undesirables back to Portland.   One helpful officer blatantly and happily stated as much in a recent seminar.  Go Donald!

[drogulus]

     Trump pardons all living things for breaking the second law of thermodynamics, decries 'scientific witchhunt'.

Can you please cite the specific statute(s), and ideally the specific sections of said statute(s), you refer to in this instance?

26 U.S. Code § 6103. Confidentiality and disclosure of returns and return information

(f) Disclosure to Committees of Congress

(1) Committee on Ways and Means, Committee on Finance, and Joint Committee on Taxation

Upon written request from the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the chairman of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, or the chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Secretary shall furnish such committee with any return or return information specified in such request, except that any return or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer shall be furnished to such committee only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure.

[Todd]

     Trump pardons all living things for breaking the second law of thermodynamics, decries 'scientific witchhunt'.

26 U.S. Code § 6103. Confidentiality
(1) Committee on Ways and Means, Committee on Finance, and Joint Committee on Taxation
and disclosure of returns and return information

(f) Disclosure to Committees of Congress

Upon written request from the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the chairman of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, or the chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Secretary shall furnish such committee with any return or return information specified in such request, except that any return or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer shall be furnished to such committee only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure.

Good boy.  Now, can you please explain how Executive Privilege may be exercised in this situation?

[BasilValentine]

Good boy.  Now, can you please explain how Executive Privilege may be exercised in this situation?

It can't. Trump's personal tax issues have nothing to do with his official functions in the executive branch. Did you buy the bit about the perpetual audit too?

[Todd]

It can't. Trump's personal tax issues have nothing to do with his official functions in the executive branch.

The problem with your assertion is that you have demonstrated repeatedly that you are fundamentally ignorant of the law. 

Did you buy the bit about the perpetual audit too?

Of course not.  But then, I've known all along that his tax returns are irrelevant.  Only fools think otherwise. 

[BasilValentine]

The problem with your assertion is that you have demonstrated repeatedly that you are fundamentally ignorant of the law.

And you've failed to demonstrate this in real time.   

Of course not.  But then, I've known all along that his tax returns are irrelevant.  Only fools think otherwise.

Irrelevant to what? Only fools fail to include a direct object in a statement about relevance.

[Todd]

And you've failed to demonstrate this in real time.   

Ah, I see.

Irrelevant to what? Only fools fail to include a direct object in a statement about relevance.

Irrelevant to everything.  There is much blabbering about it - eg, your posts - but it is as relevant and real as the whole Russia thing.  The tax return topic is good for Dem pols and certain segments of the press to mislead the gullible.

[SimonNZ]

House panel chairman gives IRS April 23 deadline on Trump taxes

"U.S. congressional Democrats on Saturday headed for a showdown with the Internal Revenue Service over President Donald Trump's tax returns, setting a new hard deadline of April 23 for the federal tax agency to hand the documents over to lawmakers.

In an April 13 letter that appeared to move Democrats closer to a federal court battle against the Trump administration, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal warned the IRS that failure to comply with his request for six years of Trump's individual and business returns by April 23 would be interpreted as a denial.

The Trump administration has already missed an initial April 10 deadline for obtaining the tax records, which Neal first set when he made his request on April 3. Democrats based their request on the panel's jurisdiction over IRS enforcement of the tax laws against U.S. presidents.

[...]

"Please know that, if you fail to comply, your failure will be interpreted as a denial of my request," Neal wrote.
Democrats have long acknowledged that the request, if denied, would mean a federal court battle. Legal experts say lawmakers could vote to hold administration officials in contempt of Congress, which would provide a basis for the House to ask a federal judge to order the Treasury Department to comply.

Congress would likely win such a court fight, but it could take months or even years to unfold, experts say. Neal's request for the returns of a sitting president is unprecedented, and legal experts say its success or failure may depend on a court ruling about the committee's legislative purpose for seeking the documents.

Neal said in his letter that the request is needed to further "legislative proposals and oversight related to our Federal tax laws, including but not limited to, the extent to which the IRS audits and enforces the Federal tax laws against a President."

[SimonNZ]

Outstanding!  I suppose I should be worried since Portland is a so-called sanctuary city, but I'm not.  I live in the 'burbs, and the local police make it a point to push undesirables back to Portland.   One helpful officer blatantly and happily stated as much in a recent seminar.  Go Donald!

When you sober up do you regret having said stuff like this out loud?

[SimonNZ]

Roger Stone Wants Confidential Copy of Mueller Report

"Trump associate Roger Stone's criminal defense team asked a federal judge for a confidential copy of the Robert Mueller report as part of his criminal trial discovery late Friday night, according to the Associated Press. Stone has plead not guilty to charges that he lied to Congress, engaged in witness tampering and obstructed a congressional investigation into collusion between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Stone's lawyers say that their client "must be allowed to review the report in its entirety because it contains the government's evidence and conclusions on matters essential to Stone's defense," according to the Associated Press. "To be clear, Stone is not requesting the report be disclosed to the world–only to his counsel so that it may aid in preparing his defense.""

[Todd]

When you sober up do you regret having said stuff like this out loud?

I'm not surprised you think this is a sharp comment. 

[SimonNZ]

That wasn't an attempt at wit - I was asking you a serious question.