USA Politics (redux)

[Fëanor]

He tries to ride two horses to secure reelection of Republican senators. The important thing is not to alienate trumpists as well as moderates. Other things doesn't matter in the equation. Remember; reelection with all the money that comes with it, are the most important thing.

The Republican Party for the last 40 years at least is bifurcated party.  On the one hand, financial conservatives, mostly upper-middle class or corporations  wanting lower taxes and less regulation i.e. "the moderates".  On the other hand, social conservatives and, (increasingly), mostly White, mostly lower-middle class, mostly rural people who feel "dispossessed" by secular trends in the economy and society, i.e. the "Trumpists" and alt-Right.

There is really no fundamental commonality between these two groups.  However the first and previously more powerful Republican constituency, the financial conservatives, understand that they have no hope of power without coopting additional support from some other voter elements.  Especially since the Nixon era "southern strategy" Republican strategists have convinced the second group, the social conservatives and discontented lower-middle class that they have mort to offer them than the Democratic Party.  Despite that this is essentially a fraud, they have be successful at least 'till now.

[T. D.]

The Republican Party for the last 40 years at least is bifurcated party.  On the one hand, financial conservatives, mostly upper-middle class or corporations  wanting lower taxes and less regulation i.e. "the moderates".  On the other hand, social conservatives and, (increasingly), mostly White, mostly lower-middle class, mostly rural people who feel "dispossessed" by secular trends in the economy and society, i.e. the "Trumpists" and alt-Right.

There is really no fundamental commonality between these two groups.  However the first and previously more powerful Republican constituency, the financial conservatives, understand that they have no hope of power without coopting additional support from some other voter elements.  Especially since the Nixon era "southern strategy" Republican strategists have convinced the second group, the social conservatives and discontented lower-middle class that they have more to offer them than the Democratic Party. Despite that this is essentially a fraud, they have be successful at least 'till now.

[Emphasis added] LBJ knew and acknowledged that after his civil rights legislation the Democratic Party was going to die in the South.

[T. D.]

Van der Veen is sight-reading his material, following the lines with a pen.

One of his constant things is telling Raskins he doesn't know constituational law and senate rules.

Raskins has taught constitutional law for 25 years and is a senator.

Van der Veen is an ambulance-chasing injury attorney.

Unbelievable.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_van_der_Veen

It's surprising (or maybe not?  ) that Cheeto Mussolini couldn't obtain reputable counsel.
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-02-14/trump-was-not-convicted-but-he-was-repudiated

...The shoddy defense that Trump mounted was a direct consequence of that split: Not a single high-profile Republican lawyer was willing to join the defense team, which on Saturday was down to a single personal-injury lawyer delivering campaign-type screeds that may well have cost Trump two or three Republican votes. 1

That's remarkable. Even Richard Nixon, when he was probably down to one dozen or two dozen Republican defenders in the House and Senate combined, was able to retain competent counsel right up to his resignation and the end of his presidency...

1 Most notably, Trump's lawyer was dismissive and condescending toward Louisiana Republican Bill Cassidy when he asked a question during the Q&A session on Friday. Cassidy, thought to be a swing vote before that, might not have based his eventual "guilty" decision on that attitude ... but it's not hard to believe that a U.S. senator might react negatively to being treated that way.

[Herman]

Unbelievable.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_van_der_Veen

"He represented a man who claimed to have been served a fried rat."

I guess one could say he changed to defending the fried rat now.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I think the analogy would be:

"He's acquitted by his loyalists", but...

..."He's still guilty."

Thank you gents for the explanation.   

PD

[Karl Henning]

Trump Didn't Just Lose Swing Voters—the GOP Did as Well

[T. D.]

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/18/ted-cruz-cancun-texas-winter-storm.html

Social media erupted with multiple photos purportedly showing Sen. Ted Cruz flying to Mexico even as millions of his fellow Texans froze because of historically low temperatures and widespread power outages.
Later images showed someone with the Republican Cruz's last name and first initial standing by for a flight from Cancun back to Houston.
Cruz, an ardent backer of ex-President Donald Trump who had mocked power outages in California weeks ago, on Tuesday tweeted, "I got no defense. A blizzard strikes Texas & our state shuts down. Not good."

[geralmar]

The Republican Party for the last 40 years at least is bifurcated party.  On the one hand, financial conservatives, mostly upper-middle class or corporations  wanting lower taxes and less regulation i.e. "the moderates".  On the other hand, social conservatives and, (increasingly), mostly White, mostly lower-middle class, mostly rural people who feel "dispossessed" by secular trends in the economy and society, i.e. the "Trumpists" and alt-Right.

There is really no fundamental commonality between these two groups.  However the first and previously more powerful Republican constituency, the financial conservatives, understand that they have no hope of power without coopting additional support from some other voter elements.  Especially since the Nixon era "southern strategy" Republican strategists have convinced the second group, the social conservatives and discontented lower-middle class that they have mort to offer them than the Democratic Party.  Despite that this is essentially a fraud, they have be successful at least 'till now.

Nixon's mantra was "Run to the right, govern to the middle".  We've seen how that worked out.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/18/ted-cruz-cancun-texas-winter-storm.html

Social media erupted with multiple photos purportedly showing Sen. Ted Cruz flying to Mexico even as millions of his fellow Texans froze because of historically low temperatures and widespread power outages.
Later images showed someone with the Republican Cruz's last name and first initial standing by for a flight from Cancun back to Houston.
Cruz, an ardent backer of ex-President Donald Trump who had mocked power outages in California weeks ago, on Tuesday tweeted, "I got no defense. A blizzard strikes Texas & our state shuts down. Not good."

Yup, what timing.  I suspect that his wife stayed there and he's hoping to be able to rejoin her soon.  Besides the poor people freezing, I heard a bit of a news story about animal shelters and sanctuaries struggling with some of their charges freezing to death too.    Here's one story:  https://www.kfyrtv.com/2021/02/18/animals-at-primate-sanctuary-freeze-amid-texas-power-outage/

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Some current news on Trump and trying to figure out what is going on for him legally currently:  https://www.bbc.com/news/world/us_and_canada

[T. D.]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-investigation-subpoena-excl/exclusive-new-york-city-tax-agency-subpoenaed-in-trump-criminal-probe-idUSKBN2AK037?il=0

Exclusive: New York City tax agency subpoenaed in Trump criminal probe
By Peter Eisler, Jason Szep

(Reuters) - The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has subpoenaed a New York City property tax agency as part of a criminal investigation into Donald Trump's company, the agency confirmed on Friday, suggesting prosecutors are examining the former president's efforts to reduce his commercial real-estate taxes for possible evidence of fraud.


Along with information already subpoenaed from creditors, the tax agency documents would help investigators determine whether Trump's business inflated the value of his properties to secure favorable terms on loans while deflating those values to lower tax bills for those same properties.

This is a smart move by the DA.
I know something about tax assessment (work part-time in the field), and have always wondered why this angle wasn't discussed in the media. I'd have bet dollars to donuts that Cheeto Mussolini was overstating property values to lenders and banks while "grieving his assessments" (arguing that the very same properties were overassessed) to municipal governments.  Obvious contradiction.

[Karl Henning]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-investigation-subpoena-excl/exclusive-new-york-city-tax-agency-subpoenaed-in-trump-criminal-probe-idUSKBN2AK037?il=0

Exclusive: New York City tax agency subpoenaed in Trump criminal probe
By Peter Eisler, Jason Szep

(Reuters) - The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has subpoenaed a New York City property tax agency as part of a criminal investigation into Donald Trump's company, the agency confirmed on Friday, suggesting prosecutors are examining the former president's efforts to reduce his commercial real-estate taxes for possible evidence of fraud.


Along with information already subpoenaed from creditors, the tax agency documents would help investigators determine whether Trump's business inflated the value of his properties to secure favorable terms on loans while deflating those values to lower tax bills for those same properties.

This is a smart move by the DA.
I know something about tax assessment (work part-time in the field), and have always wondered why this angle wasn't discussed in the media. I'd have bet dollars to donuts that Cheeto Mussolini was overstating property values to lenders and banks while "grieving his assessments" (arguing that the very same properties were overassessed) to municipal governments.  Obvious contradiction.

Sweet! Let his pathetic arse be nailed!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Probably, "marriage of convenience" is more prevalent in the D Party. Possibly the D Party has much broader constituents with diverse interests.
To make it short, the Single member district system with winner take all rule discourages multi party system with third, fourth parties.
Consequently, there are two parties, and the both are broad alliances of unique interest groups.

There is really no fundamental commonality between these two groups.  However the first and previously more powerful Republican constituency, the financial conservatives, understand that they have no hope of power without coopting additional support from some other voter elements.  Especially since the Nixon era "southern strategy" Republican strategists have convinced the second group, the social conservatives and discontented lower-middle class that they have mort to offer them than the Democratic Party.  Despite that this is essentially a fraud, they have be successful at least 'till now.

[Fëanor]

Probably, "marriage of convenience" is more prevalent in the D Party. Possibly the D Party has much broader constituents with diverse interests.
To make it short, the Single member district system with winner take all rule discourages multi party system with third, fourth parties.
Consequently, there are two parties, and the both are broad alliances of unique interest groups.

Well that's a good point.  District "Winner take all", (a.k.a. 'First past the post'), is a factor in the US 2-party system but it isn't the only factor, IMHO.

Canada too "enjoys" a first-past-the-post system yet here we have as many as five parties competing a federal election, (viz. Liberal, Conservative, NDP, Green, and Bloc Quebecois).  That is winner-take-all / first-past-the-post is not the only reason for the US's strict two-party system.

I suggest a major factor is the USA's four-way 'checks and balances' constitutional structure;  (Executive, Congress -- further split HofR / Senate, Judiciary).  It's hard enough to get anything done under this structure with only 2 parties, let alone if there were additional parties into the mix.

[Karl Henning]

Chris & Ted in the sun

[Karl Henning]

Off-camera is a small sign: Please do not aim at the Presidential Medal of Freedom

[Gurn Blanston]

Sweet! Let his pathetic arse be nailed!

The nice thing about that is that it is easy to prove, it's all documents, and they do not lend themselves (pun intended) to interpretation or obfuscation. This will be Al Capone all over again. His failure to know that history even exists will finally catch up with him, I think.

[Karl Henning]

The nice thing about that is that it is easy to prove, it's all documents, and they do not lend themselves (pun intended) to interpretation or obfuscation. This will be Al Capone all over again. His failure to know that history even exists will finally catch up with him, I think.

Indeed. The courts have already repeatedly rebuffed his team's "But, Your Honor, we FEEL that THESE are the facts" rubbish.

[T. D.]

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/22/supreme-court-rejects-trump-effort-to-shield-tax-records-from-ny-prosecutors.html

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a last-ditch bid by former President Donald Trump to keep his financial records, including years of his tax returns, out of the hands of the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus Vance Jr.

The decision, the second time the nation's highest court has refused to block a grand jury subpoena for those confidential records, was announced in an order with no noted dissents.

The news further imperils the ex-president, who is facing investigations in New York and elsewhere.

The legal battle over Trump's financial records, including personal and business documents dating to 2011, comes in connection with an investigation by Vance's office into potential tax violations involving the Trump Organization.

Vance's probe originally appeared to have been focused on hush money payments made on Trump's behalf to two women who have said they had affairs with him. Trump has denied their claims.

But court records and news reports suggest prosecutors are now examining more serious allegations.

A court filing last summer by Vance indicated that the probe could be eyeing possible "insurance and bank fraud by the Trump Organization and its officers." In another filing, a month later, prosecutor suggested they might be investigating Trump for potential tax crimes.

Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, told Congress in 2019 that Trump improperly inflated and deflated the value of his real estate assets for tax and insurance purposes.

Vance's filings appeared to reference Cohen's testimony. One filing by prosecutors cited a  New York Times report Trump engaged in "dubious tax schemes during the 1990s, including instances of outright fraud."

[Karl Henning]

Burn the career fraudster's arse!