"mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin)
04/10/2018 at 13:41 • Filed to: None
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"mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin)
04/10/2018 at 13:41 • Filed to: None | 1
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Cohen raids.
What a clusterfuck. I’m not going to cheerlead for Trump here, because at the onset with the layers of approvals necessary to break through attorney client privileged communication ESPECIALLY as it concerns the personal attorney for the President of the United States there certainly must be some kind of smoke there.
That being said, I’m going to wait this one out to get some additional information, as more and more trickles out. Initial reports have the raids related to: 1) the Daniels payoff; 2) a quashed story by the National Enquirer; 3) a few taxi medallions in Cohen’s portfolio.
Now, each of these three items would appear to be enough to investigate the attorney; however, AT THIS TIME there’s still nothing that implicates Trump directly based on publicly available information. There may be there, there. But I’m not going to speculate as to what based on the current information. I’ll sit that one out and keep watching the headlines for more information.
Where this probably has the biggest impact is that the breaking of confidentiality for this matter means anything found as it relates to foreign business dealings (ie, within the scope of Mueller’s investigation) can and will be shared with Mueller.
Based on current information, it does appear to be some kind of end-around to break confidentiality to pin the tail on the donkey, so I’m slightly skeptical. But at the same time, this is unprecedented.
In conclusion, I don’t know what to make of it. My mind is full of WTF. It could be nothing, it could be everything. It’s an interesting development nonetheless...
average user
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/10/2018 at 14:19 |
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A lot of people failed to read past the headlines here. True Cohen is raided, but Rod signed off on it and it was conducted by the US attorney of Southern NY district, NOT Mueller. Mueller might have provided the direction and information to look for but his office did not conduct the raid. Mostly probably because he can insulate himself in case he gets fired by 45, so if he does get fired, other US attorneys would have info about the case and carry on. I also suspect if Rod sign off on it there must be something there.
loki03xlh
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/10/2018 at 14:23 |
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I hope Bobby 3 Sticks will subpoena Trump and televise it. The country needs to see our Stable Genius crack under pressure live.
Party_in_the_USA
> loki03xlh
04/10/2018 at 14:32 |
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He has been so already for years
fintail
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/10/2018 at 14:32 |
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That image really sums up this regime. Well done. Vladdy is smirking right now. “Stupid Watergate” seems to remain apt.
Go Stormy! Go Mueller! And let’s hope 45 can remain for a couple more years, as I’d still rather see him than Pence.
Tekamul
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/10/2018 at 14:46 |
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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Which is exactly why he should have kept his mouth shut yesterday. Right now this is (mostly) about Cohen violating campaign finance laws. Until something is pointing at Trump, he should probably try to keep quiet about it. Instead, he’s just pouring water on a grease fire, spreading it everywhere.
If it’s an end-around, it’s a legal one, and no one should be routing for the president to get off on a technicality. Lay bare the facts, and seek resolution.
SVTyler
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/10/2018 at 16:12 |
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This is arguably the biggest story in the whole Trump-Russia thing since Comey was fired, do you have any idea what kind of overwhelming, damning evidence you would have to present to a federal
judge to get him to sign a warrant to raid not just an attorney’s office (the DoJ has many extra procedures you have to jump
through to get approval at the highest levels of the Department) but the President’s personal
attorney’s office? It was also a no-knock raid so that means they presented enough evidence to convince the judge there was a high probability there was incriminating evidence in the office Cohen and Co. would destroy if given prior notice.
AT THIS TIME there’s still nothing that implicates Trump directly based on publicly available information
That means absolutely nothing, you think the Special Counsel is going to live-update us on the most important investigation in US history? We’re lucky enough to find out major bombshells months later. Despite Republicans’ smearjob, Mueller and his team are the most professional group of investigators ever assembled and they won’t release their findings until they’re absolutely sure they’ve done everything by the book and turned over every rock. Until then all we can do is wait, but Christ if it isn’t looking like good for ol’ Donnie.
nermal
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
04/10/2018 at 20:41 |
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We’ve been here before....
That said, this is very concerning. It could mean that the corruption of the anti-Trumpers runs deeper than expected, and they are overstepping to try to find any dirt that they can. Alternatively, it could mean that Mueller has already found some Bad Shit.
Personally, IDGAF about the payoff to Stormy. The question is, does it violate campaign finance rules? If it does, what are the penalties that should be levied to who?
Also, we need to remember that Trump had extensive international properties and business dealings prior to taking office. Nothing wrong with that, as long as everything was done properly.
I like Trump and think he’s good for the country. He’s actually taking action on a lot of things that he campaigned on, in addition to avoiding “kicking the can” on issues like his predecessors. More of the country is in a better position now than they were a year and a half ago.
At this point, the best case scenario is that the Mueller investigation turns out to be a witch hunt and waste of taxpayer money.
aquila121
> nermal
04/11/2018 at 19:43 |
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May I take a stab at a few of the points you brought up?
One, the “corruption of the anti-Trumpers”: First, we can agree
that Mueller’s investigation has resulted in guilty pleas from several
individuals connected to Trump’s campaign. Based on this, I find it very hard
to believe that Mueller is chasing ghosts as far as wrongdoing that’s taken
place—if nothing criminal had transpired, I think most people would expect the
targets of the investigation wouldn’t admit guilt (this isn’t like minority
individuals who are unable to afford lawyers to fight bogus charges, and taking
a plea as a result). Since Mueller is investigating the campaign of a sitting
president, I also fully expect that Mueller is taking no shortcuts or employing
questionable tactics to move forward against the targets of his investigation;
I do not see this as a sloppy case he’s building based on nothing of value or
dubious evidence. If his conclusions are to be believed in today’s political
climate, the evidence and the overall case must be airtight in order for it to
be accepted as valid. I’m certainly one who is vocally against Trump, and I
will eat my own face if someone like Mueller has to
overstep
to
find dirt on Trump. TL;DR, I think he’s found plenty to keep going, and it’s
not fake news.
Secondly, I wholeheartedly agree that a major issue that must be
kept in mind is as you described, “Does the payoff to Stormy Daniels violate
campaign finance laws?” Was Trump aware of it, is another aspect to consider,
as well. Some reports now say that some correspondence between Cohen and Stormy
Daniels’ lawyer regarding the 130k payoff came from Cohen’s email account with
the Trump organization. Not a smoking gun, but possibly a bit suspect. I’m
also very curious if Cohen was at any point re-imbursed, and from where. So
far, nothing solid saying so, but can you imagine a scenario where your lawyer
would front $130,000 (without your knowledge) to quiet a woman alleging an
affair and
not
expect to be paid back for it?
I’d say that said payoff had a substantial impact on the election,
since it worried
someone
enough that they paid up to keep it
under wraps. As far as penalties, who knows.
Yes, Trump has extensive business dealings, properties, etc. and
it’s a tangled web to try to sort out all the possible conflicts of interest
now that he’s in office. Considering that he’s refused to divest into a blind
trust—and last I checked, has rather overtly said that his children will run
his businesses in his stead, while they themselves are involved in White House
matters, foreign meetings, and policy, I’m highly suspicious of constant
corruption. To Trump, I’d continue to say the following: Release your fucking
taxes. That’s the best way to make sure that he’s on the up-and-up. And he’s
said on numerous occasions that Obama’s administration needed to be more
transparent. The hypocrisy is not instilling confidence.
Respectfully, this is where you and I truly diverge: I fucking
hate Trump and think he’s terrible for our nation. Admittedly, I’m very
left-leaning, but I’ll specifically take issue with “More of the
country is in a better place than they were a year and a half ago.” So, I
could highlight Trump’s ban of transgender people serving in the
military—that’s not so great for them in that group’s quest for equality and
societal acceptance. Hate crimes seem to be on the rise in the U.S. since
Trump’s campaign and taking of office.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/post-election-spike-hate-crimes-persists-2017
So, life’s probably not better if you’re the target of
xenophobia, bigotry towards LQBTQ groups, anti-Musim hatred, god forbid if
you’re undocumented or a previous recipient of protections from DACA... and the
“great negotiator” (as he describes himself) was unable to sit still for more
than a few hours to allow Congress to hash out any progress on DACA, remember,
so that’s still in serious jeopardy for those that have benefited from it.
And since Trump attacks NFL players for peacefully protesting police brutality,
and says that there were “good people on both sides” at Charlottesville, if you
are part of a racial minority, I‘d wager that you’re NOT celebrating
those words from our president. The KKK and Neo-Nazis fucking love him, though!
https://www.vox.com/2017/8/12/16138358/charlottesville-protests-david-duke-kkk
But all of those blue-collar voters in rural areas that came out
in force for 45, they’re behind what Trump’s doing; Fix trade, stop
outsourcing our jobs, they cry! Well, those people at the Carrier plant in
Indiana are probably feeling pretty stung now that hundreds of those jobs he
promised to save still got shipped elsewhere and they got left out in the cold.
And all the farmers and others who rely on international trade, they’re
probably going to feel the hurt in the midst of Trump’s escalating trade war
with China.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/05/business/trump-trade-war-china.html
But Trump said ‘Trade wars are easy to win,’ and ‘When
you’re $500 billion down, you can’t lose!’
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-43262278
https://www.vox.com/2018/4/4/17197266/trump-500-billion-down-tweet
Hm. So those who rely on agriculture might not be better off, either.
The stock market’s as a whole’s not exactly wild about that stuff, either.
And then there’s the looming specter of possible war with North
Korea. My bad, possible
nuclear
war with North Korea. Or war
with Syria. Or Iran, considering that Trump’s new national security
adviser has a hard-on for wars, you know, like the Iraq war that went so
well (and definitely didn’t balloon the national debt and contribute to the
rise of ISIS, *wink*).
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/23/opinion/john-bolton-trump-national-security-adviser.html
https://www.vox.com/world/2018/3/22/17153338/john-bolton-national-security-adviser-trump-hr-mcmaster
Aw, fuck.
Trump’s at least following through on his promise to do
everything he can to get that wall built... But Mexico’s not stupid enough
to pay for it. So, I’m not wild about spending billions upon billions on a
logistical nightmare of construction that has been downgraded to a fence in
some areas. And considering Trump’s track record of not paying contractors, he
doesn’t give a shit where the money comes from—he’s not paying for dick. The
American taxpayers are going to pay through the nose for him to have something
to chant about on the campaign trail.
Now, let’s look at Trump’s cabinet secretaries and their
wonderful influence. Betsy DeVos, someone woefully inexperienced to run our
nation’s public education system, has diminished protections for students from
predatory lenders of student loans, refused to promise to enforce
anti-discrimination laws, and given the finger to victims of campus rape
or sexual assault. She’s actively for taking federal money away from
public schools and
thinks that doing so will help them to improve
.
Of course, the recent interview she gave shows just how well her influence for
charter schools has been in her home state:
Good God. At this point, I’m going to say that everyone who is
currently enrolled in the public school system is not definitively better off
under this Trump nominee. I’m leaning the other way.
Scott Pruitt’s up to his neck in corruption scandals, and he’s
still listed as someone who has vehemently sued the EPA, despite being at the
head of that agency. He’s rolled back a number of environmental protections and
standards, and has stifled research.
https://thinkprogress.org/epa-eliminates-key-research-office-074f12d18393/
And Trump’s only major legislative accomplishment of
his tax plan is a handout to the rich and corporations, not the working and
middle-class.
https://www.vox.com/2017/12/20/16790040/gop-tax-bill-winners
Also, Trump’s recited the right’s wonderful plan of “repeal and
replace” the ACA/Obamacare, but it’s painfully obvious Trump doesn’t even
remotely understand how insurance or health care work. You can say the current
system has problems, sure, but have a fucking plan to improve
things before you throw one-fifth of our national economy into turmoil.
Honestly, I could go on, but I’m exhausted. We’re the laughing
stock of the world on a good day, and a couple steps from falling into a hole
of authoritarianism if Congress doesn’t start getting on their role as a
check-and-balance to Trump doing whatever he wants.
Oh, and Flint still doesn’t have clean water, but Trump wants to
blow millions on a celebratory military parade for himself. Fuck that guy. And
he said he’d be working so much, he wouldn’t have time to play golf.
Are we tired of all this “winning” yet?
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aquila121
> nermal
04/11/2018 at 19:59 |
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Puerto Rico’s probably not better off, either, by the way. And Trump’s on the record giving himself an “10 out of 10" grade on the administration’s handling of aid, there. Thousands are still without power months after the disaster. Homes and infrastructure have been destroyed and need to be rebuilt. And I’m confident that Trump’s only memory of that devastation will be that he ‘personally helped bigly’ by throwing paper towels to a crowd of destitute people.
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nermal
> aquila121
04/12/2018 at 11:19 |
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Regarding Mueller, he’s been appointed to determine if there was Russian meddling in the election. At this point, he’s found other potential wrongdoings on people that he investigated (Manafort & friends, Cohen), but no evidence of Russian meddling.
We’re still TBD on Cohen based on if his actions actually violated any laws, as stated earlier.
Regarding dealings with the rest of the world, NK is open to peace talks, and China is open to negotiating trade and intellectual property deals - Both huge wins for the US. ISIS is pretty much eliminated, but Syria and potential Russian conflict still looms. Once those are resolved, another will pop up - that’s how things work.
Domestically, you point out layoffs at Carrier but conveniently neglect hiring in other areas, as well as commitments to move and expand manufacturing in the US by other companies.... In the big picture, job availability is better now than it has ever been, incomes for average citizens are up, and it’s improving. That doesn’t mean that everybody is immune from layoffs.
Deregulation is an ongoing theme within the current administration - TBD on how that works for education, and healthcare, both can’t really get much worse. Banking deregulation is coming, TBD on how that works as well. I’m not a fan of Pruitt or his policies though.
I don’t see the US as the laughing stock of the world. Look at the current Syria conflict for proof - Everybody is watching to see what the US does, and will follow accordingly. My point still stands, we’re off now than we were pre-Trump. That doesn’t mean that the US is a problem free utopia, just that it has improved.
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aquila121
> nermal
04/12/2018 at 19:16 |
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As far as the scope of Mueller’s investigation, he was appointed to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election (and the intelligence community seems in agreement that the Russians did attempt to exert influence—the scope of its effectiveness, I don’t think it’s possible to know), but also to investigate possible obstruction of justice relating to James Comey’s firing. Trump’s all but admitted to such things in interviews and on Twitter already, so I see it as warranted that Mueller investigate that avenue to its conclusion, as well.
Please keep in mind the Republicans have a horse in this race (Trump heading the executive branch) regarding collusion just as much as those detracting the left see it as a coup from the Democrats. Let’s let the conclusions be drawn with evidence, and not partisan politics. I don’t want to add fuel to the fire of tribalism, but I keep asking, “Who benefits?” as well as “Why do all of these people connected to the Trump campaign have ties to Russian relationships/business dealings they’ve gone to such lengths to hide?” (If one of your rebuttals would includementioning connections between Hillary and the Russians, please remember that she is not in power—and, had she won, I’d be equally wary of such influence from a foreign power. I’d want the same amount of transparency and good conduct from any cabinet member, lobbyist, or representative in our government.)
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/12/politics/house-republicans-russia-conclusions/index.html
I’m very hesitant to start celebrating preemptively about either North Korea or trade relations with China. Trump has proven unstable in his interactions with nations we have previously stayed on good terms with (Mexico, Canada), and his Tweeting about “little rocket man Kim Jon Un” doesn’t strike me as a great start—I hope to be proven wrong, of course. If Trump settles down, acts like an adult, and the result is deescalation regarding threats of force, nuclear or otherwise, I will happily cede that is a win for the world over. Trump would’ve crucified Obama for merely meeting the leader of North Korea to talk, but that hatred of Obama has been the groundwork of Trump’s political campaign. Trump lacks experience in diplomacy and foreign policy, and has continually touted that he’s the smartest person in the room even when surrounded by career generals and policymakers. He changes his mind at a moment’s notice, and seems happiest when he goes off-script, no matter the issue or repercussions. It also doesn’t help that his administration has yet to fill key diplomatic roles for the Korean peninsula.
I approach the current trade animosities with China with similar skepticism. China has a massive amount of sway in global manufacturing; also, we owe them a staggering amount of money. (Thanks ever-inflating national debt! And now that the GOP tax cuts have been passed, suddenly the politicians are trying to push a “balanced budget amendment.” Where the fuck were you guys with raging erections for being “fiscal conservatives” as the budget office said the deficit would climb to one trillion dollars over the next ten years or so under this god-awful tax plan?) Admittedly, I don’t really understand word one about international trade. But given Trump’s past actions, I’m confident that he knows as little as I do—and has shown a stark unwillingness to listen to the expertise and advice of those around him.
Unemployment is down, and that’s great. I can’t take that from the current administration. However, income inequality is worsening. The U.S. minimum wage has stagnated for decades as CEO salaries and bonuses have catapulted upward. The recent tax plan essentially gives a small amount to the middle and lower-class for a couple of years, while deductions for the ultra-rich are meant to be permanent. Assistance programs and Social Security are almost certain to be on the chopping block once the politicians start clamoring about fixing the giant deficit. 82% of new wealth from economic growth (globally) is going to the richest percentage—not a trend that strikes me as a way to grow upward mobility, help those in poverty, or the common person to improve their quality of life.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/03/news/economy/wealth-gap-america/index.html
Automation in manufacturing is going to increase, so any aid to domestic manufacturing could very well be somewhat short-term. We need a working population that is well-prepared for sectors that have growth potential—things like renewable energy, where China is kicking our ass. Admittedly, their air quality seems to currently be garbage, so their population is all about shifting to solar and other alternatives to anything spewing massive amounts of carbon and the like. I can’t pretend to know how to start to fix the economy, but I am certain there’s so much that needs to change.
Banking deregulation terrifies, me though. Because greed exists, without it, I see another crash similar to the 2008 financial crisis as all but inevitable. The sub-prime loan environment has shifted from mortgages to auto loans, Wall Street’s always ready to go for a short-term cash grab, and as I said, greed exists. Wells-Fargo’s recent scandal shows that you can always trust big banks to screw over their customers in the name of rising stock prices, unless rules are in place to protect consumers and hold people responsible for criminal deeds.
And as far as the international community looking to the U.S. regarding Syria—we have the largest, most expensive military in the world. One that is currently led by a man with a serious temperament problem, and a Congress that seems very unwilling to step in and keep the Cheeto-in-Chief in check. If a fight breaks out in a bar, and the bouncer is a ‘roided-up, drunken bodybuilder, I fully expect that most of the other patrons will wait to see what he does before they step in.
Lastly, Trump has this week called the raid on Cohen’s offices ‘an attack on our country.’ This is a man who is so self-absorbed that he sees a legal action (following due process of the judicial system, executed by Republican attorneys and judges, some of which he appointed ) which may be damaging to him personally as an attack on America as a whole. This asshole hopes that the criminal/fraud exception for attorney-client-privilege will just be conveniently ignored. I stand by my claim of Trump making us a laughingstock, because this investigation is very much warranted.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/10/opinion/trump-michael-cohen-raid.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur