US Politics

[Tracker]

5 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

The guy I'm leery about is Barron Trump lurking in the background, the next generation of Trump buffoonery.

My guess is that kid doesn't have a chance considering the genetics.

I think genetics have nothing to do with it. That sort of attitude that Donnie has is created by a wildly dysfunctional upbringing and role-modeling, and it will likely be a lifetime struggle for Barron anyways.

[HardCoreBlue]

6 minutes ago, JCon said:

His last line of defense will be to call for more violence. And, the MAGAts will do so, again. 

His followers are ready to go. Just waiting for the final word from him. Graham was the first to sound the alarm to get them ready. I wonder if Feinstein gave him a hug after that comment. 

Just now, Tracker said:

I think genetics have nothing to do with it. That sort of attitude that Donnie has is created by a wildly dysfunctional upbringing and role-modeling, and it will likely be a lifetime struggle for Barron anyways.

I agree with the environmental/parental influence for sure, but I think you are underestimating what role genetics will have here. That Trump bloodline aint right. 

 

[Tracker]

Just now, HardCoreBlue said:

His followers are ready to go. Just waiting for the final word from him. Graham was the first to sound the alarm to get them ready. I wonder if Feinstein gave him a hug after that comment. 

Trump followers are essentially bullies and if/when the big fish start parading to jail without Trump in power to pardon them, they will, for the most part, wilt and retreat into whining and bitching with the occasional flareup.

3 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

His followers are ready to go. Just waiting for the final word from him. Graham was the first to sound the alarm to get them ready. I wonder if Feinstein gave him a hug after that comment. 

I agree with the environmental/parental influence for sure, but I think you are underestimating what role genetics will have here. That Trump bloodline aint right. 

 

Its sort of a behavioural infection from one generation to the succeeding one. 

[Tracker]

NEW RAID DETAILS: EMPTY ‘CLASSIFIED’ FOLDERS!

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI agents who searched former President Donald Trump’s Florida home last month found top secret records in an office and storage room, along with empty folders with classified banners on them and more than 10,000 government records without any classification markings at all, according to a more detailed inventory of the seized material made public on Friday.

The inventory disclosed by the Justice Department reveals in general terms the contents of 33 boxes and containers taken from an office and a storage room at Mar-a-Lago during the Aug. 8 search. Though the inventory does not describe the content of the documents, it shows the extent to which classified information — including material at the top-secret level — was stashed in boxes at the home and commingled among newspapers, magazines, clothing and other personal items.
It also makes clear for the first time the volume of unclassified government documents maintained at the home even though such records were to have been turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration, which had tried unsuccessfully for months to secure their return.

The Justice Department has said there was no secure space at Mar-a-Lago for sensitive government secrets, and has opened a criminal investigation focused on their retention there and on what it says were efforts in the last several months to obstruct that probe. It is also investigating potential violations of a separate statute that criminalizes the mutilation or concealment of government records, classified or not.

Lawyers for Trump did not immediately return an email seeking comment Friday.

The inventory was released as the Justice Department undertakes a criminal investigation, as intelligence agencies assess any potential damage caused by the apparent mishandling of the classified information and as a judge weighs whether to appoint a special master — essentially an outside legal expert — to review the records.
The inventory shows that 43 empty folders with classified banners were taken from a box or container at the office, along with an additional 28 empty folders labeled as “Return to Staff Secretary” or military aide. Empty folders of that nature were also found in a storage closet.

It is not clear from the inventory list why any of the folders were empty or what might have happened to any of the documents inside.

https://www.huffpost.com

[blue_gold_84]

https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-6bd103a8e418166b17a34d77e8d9102d?

Quote

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI agents who searched former President Donald Trump’s Florida home last month found top secret records in an office and storage room, along with empty folders with classified banners on them and more than 10,000 government records without any classification markings at all, according to a more detailed inventory of the seized material made public on Friday.

The inventory disclosed by the Justice Department reveals in general terms the contents of 33 boxes and containers taken from an office and a storage room at Mar-a-Lago during the Aug. 8 search. Though the inventory does not describe the content of the documents, it shows the extent to which classified information — including material at the top-secret level — was stashed in boxes at the home and commingled among newspapers, magazines, clothing and other personal items.

It also makes clear for the first time the volume of unclassified government documents maintained at the home even though such records were to have been turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration, which had tried unsuccessfully for months to secure their return.

The Justice Department has said there was no secure space at Mar-a-Lago for sensitive government secrets, and has opened a criminal investigation focused on their retention there and on what it says were efforts in the last several months to obstruct that probe. It is also investigating potential violations of a separate statute that criminalizes the mutilation or concealment of government records, classified or not.

 

Lawyers for Trump did not immediately return an email seeking comment Friday.

The inventory was released as the Justice Department undertakes a criminal investigation, as intelligence agencies assess any potential damage caused by the apparent mishandling of the classified information and as a judge weighs whether to appoint a special master — essentially an outside legal expert — to review the records.

The inventory shows that 43 empty folders with classified banners were taken from a box or container at the office, along with an additional 28 empty folders labeled as “Return to Staff Secretary” or military aide. Empty folders of that nature were also found in a storage closet.

Imagine thinking that bloated orange pustule ever cared about anyone but himself.

[FrostyWinnipeg]

Wisconsin man charged with election fraud and identity theft after he acknowledged that he fraudulently requested absentee ballots in what he says was an effort to expose vulnerabilities in the state’s election system. https://nbcnews.to/3Rz1EXo

[Goldkobra]

28 minutes ago, FrostyWinnipeg said:

Wisconsin man charged with election fraud and identity theft after he acknowledged that he fraudulently requested absentee ballots in what he says was an effort to expose vulnerabilities in the state’s election system. https://nbcnews.to/3Rz1EXo

F****d around,  found out.

[TrueBlue4ever]

29 minutes ago, FrostyWinnipeg said:

Wisconsin man charged with election fraud and identity theft after he acknowledged that he fraudulently requested absentee ballots in what he says was an effort to expose vulnerabilities in the state’s election system. https://nbcnews.to/3Rz1EXo

So I guess the fact he was caught shows that there aren’t vulnerabilities in the system, no?

[Tracker]

Why the 'empty folders' found at Mar-a-Lago are 'unfathomably dangerous': former federal prosecutor
   
Immediately after a federal judge released the Dept. of Justice’s detailed list of items the FBI seized from Mar-a-Lago experts agreed among the most concerning details was that there were a large number of empty folders marked “Classified.”

NCRM reported the DOJ’s inventory list included over 13,000 items, including over 100 documents marked with various classification headers.
Also listed were “43 Empty Folders with ‘CLASSIFIED’ Banners,” and “28 Empty Folders Labeled ‘Return to Staff Secretary/Military Aide.’”

Glenn Kirschner, a former federal prosecutor of 30 years, tweeted out his surprise and concern.  “OMG!” exclaimed Kirschner, who is also an MSNBC/NBC News legal analyst. “Court just released an inventory of evidence of crime seized at Mar-a-Lago. Dozens of EMPTY folders labeled ‘Classified’ or ‘Return to Military Aide.’ Trump didn’t pack up EMPTY folders to take with him to FLA. Things just went from bad to worse to unfathomably dangerous.”

Others also expressed concern over the empty folders.

Andrew Weissmann, a former General Counsel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who has also worked as chief of the criminal fraud section of DOJ observed: “It’s the empty classified folders that are of most concern.”

“Where are the contents? Trump has not addressed that at all in all his bluster and obfuscation. What were you doing with these?” asked Weissmann, who also worked for Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Former Dept. of Defense Special Counsel Ryan Goodman wrote: “This is going to get a lot of attention too: 43 Empty Folders with “CLASSIFIED” Banners”

“Empty,” he emphasized. “Must be fairly alarming to U.S. intelligence community conducting the damage assessment. Now think about how Trump’s legal team is trying to keep this info from the FBI/ODNI.

National security attorney Brad Moss wrote, “Very first question the FBI would ask the person who had in their home office 43 empty folders with classified banners is ‘where did the documents from those folders go????'”

And later he added: “Why. Are. There. Empty. Folders?"

[bustamente]

So what exactly did Trump do with the contents of the empty folders, are they already in the hands of enemies of the United States.

[JCon]

5 minutes ago, bustamente said:

So what exactly did Trump do with the contents of the empty folders, are they already in the hands of enemies of the United States.

GOP are enemies of the US now. 

[bustamente]

It's time to look at the pardon powers of the POTUS.

[JCon]

30 minutes ago, bustamente said:

It's time to look at the pardon powers of the POTUS.

Banana Republic. 

[HardCoreBlue]

1 hour ago, JCon said:

GOP are enemies of the US now. 

I’d also add prove this statement otherwise without using yea but.

[Mark F]

Some people might wonder how this failure was possible, and how can it be prevented from happening again.

and why was trump treated with such deference.

he did this, but others allowed it. 

give a known criminal months to comply with handing in the very most important security class info?

and what in the hell has this Garland been doing? too busy prosecuting lowest of the low.

 

total system failure. right in public.

can these bozos do anything right?

Edited September 2, 2022 by Mark F

[Tracker]

15 hours ago, bustamente said:

It's time to look at the pardon powers of the POTUS.

I am surprised that the framers of the American constitution who spent a lot of time designing it, did not specifically bar any president from pardoning anyone who aided or abetted him in illegal acts. That is one of a helluva big hole.

[TrueBlue4ever]

1 hour ago, Tracker said:

I am surprised that the framers of the American constitution who spent a lot of time designing it, did not specifically bar any president from pardoning anyone who aided or abetted him in illegal acts. That is one of a helluva big hole.

Remember that the Constitution was framed around the Revolutionary War, where Americans were fighting against the British founding government of America at the time. So anyone fighting for the President would be branded a traitor against the British rulers. So of course pardon powers would protect those doing something "illegal" for the Americans. Also to forgive those who fought for the South in there Civil war in an effort to heal the nation. And as Nixon said, when the President does it, it's not illegal". Now I'm sure they did contemplate that a President would do some illegal stuff, like ordering the murder of enemies or even civilians in drone strikes against hostiles, that don't quite fit the definition or "act of war", and would want to protect those carrying out the orders. But they likely never envisioned that a President would use the power of the office solely for personal monetary gain 250 years later. Which has been Trump's whole life goal - how THAT fact escaped all those who voted for him is the truly baffling part, and is and indictment of the American educational system. 

[Goldkobra]

51 minutes ago, TrueBlue4ever said:

Remember that the Constitution was framed around the Revolutionary War, where Americans were fighting against the British founding government of America at the time. So anyone fighting for the President would be branded a traitor against the British rulers. So of course pardon powers would protect those doing something "illegal" for the Americans. Also to forgive those who fought for the South in there Civil war in an effort to heal the nation. And as Nixon said, when the President does it, it's not illegal". Now I'm sure they did contemplate that a President would do some illegal stuff, like ordering the murder of enemies or even civilians in drone strikes against hostiles, that don't quite fit the definition or "act of war", and would want to protect those carrying out the orders. But they likely never envisioned that a President would use the power of the office solely for personal monetary gain 250 years later. Which has been Trump's whole life goal - how THAT fact escaped all those who voted for him is the truly baffling part, and is and indictment of the American educational system. 

IMO, the most damaging thing he's done is screaming fake news about everything.  You can't present evidence to his followers anymore.  They just say everything is fake. There are no facts anymore.  Everything is an opinion.  It's maddening when one of his cult followers is a family member. 

[Tracker]

48 minutes ago, Goldkobra said:

IMO, the most damaging thing he's done is screaming fake news about everything.  You can't present evidence to his followers anymore.  They just say everything is fake. There are no facts anymore.  Everything is an opinion.  It's maddening when one of his cult followers is a family member. 

A LOT of families, even here in Canada, are still hanging onto the fantasy that Trump is innocent of everything and will be both vindicated and re-installed as president. Did you know that apparently Trump could be re-elected president even after being convicted of espionage and in jail? There seems to be no law or convention that prevents that.

Edited September 3, 2022 by Tracker

[17to85]

At this point I think everyone knows he is guilty as ****, the thought from his supporters is either "don't care" or trying to hand wave it away with what aboutism. I mean hunter Biden is still a free man....

[Tracker]

'Completely open': Michael Cohen sheds light on the location where top-secret documents were stored at Mar-a-Lago
   
Michael Cohen, an ex-lawyer for former President Donald Trump, recently shed more light on the location of the highly sensitive documents found at Mar-a-Lago.

During a recent appearance on CNN, Cohen explained why it was so reckless for the documents to be stored where they were. Speaking to CNN anchor Poppy Harlow, Cohen said, “That place is completely open. It’s directly above the catering hall."
Cohen explained how the location of the documents may have made them relatively accessible to just about anyone visiting the property.

“So it’s not just guests, it’s not just members; it’s anybody that’s there, hypothetically, for a wedding or a christening, a bar mitzvah — any event that they have. And all that separated these individuals from top-secret, classified documents were 10 stairs and one little Master Lock key,” he explained.

As a former lawyer for Trump, Cohen also expressed his concerns about the former president slamming his own legal team amid his woes with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) when his Mar-a-Lago estate was searched on August 8.

Prior to the search, one of Trump's attorneys in June signed documents confirming all necessary documents had been returned.

“There’s a plethora of lawyers that have all gone down or are going down or need to lawyer-up simply because they did Donald Trump’s bidding,” said Cohen.

Cohen's interview came shortly after a flurry of Trump rants shared via Truth Social. Over the last couple of weeks, the former president has become increasingly agitated amid the ongoing investigations and criticism surrounding the probes.

Currently, Trump is facing three highly publicized investigations: the DOJ investigation into the mishandling of top-secret government documents, the Fulton County, Ga., investigation into election tampering, and the New York Attorney General's investigative probe into the Trump Organization.

https://www.alternet.org/2022/09/michael-cohen/

[HardCoreBlue]

18 minutes ago, Tracker said:

'Completely open': Michael Cohen sheds light on the location where top-secret documents were stored at Mar-a-Lago
   
Michael Cohen, an ex-lawyer for former President Donald Trump, recently shed more light on the location of the highly sensitive documents found at Mar-a-Lago.

During a recent appearance on CNN, Cohen explained why it was so reckless for the documents to be stored where they were. Speaking to CNN anchor Poppy Harlow, Cohen said, “That place is completely open. It’s directly above the catering hall."
Cohen explained how the location of the documents may have made them relatively accessible to just about anyone visiting the property.

“So it’s not just guests, it’s not just members; it’s anybody that’s there, hypothetically, for a wedding or a christening, a bar mitzvah — any event that they have. And all that separated these individuals from top-secret, classified documents were 10 stairs and one little Master Lock key,” he explained.

As a former lawyer for Trump, Cohen also expressed his concerns about the former president slamming his own legal team amid his woes with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) when his Mar-a-Lago estate was searched on August 8.

Prior to the search, one of Trump's attorneys in June signed documents confirming all necessary documents had been returned.

“There’s a plethora of lawyers that have all gone down or are going down or need to lawyer-up simply because they did Donald Trump’s bidding,” said Cohen.

Cohen's interview came shortly after a flurry of Trump rants shared via Truth Social. Over the last couple of weeks, the former president has become increasingly agitated amid the ongoing investigations and criticism surrounding the probes.

Currently, Trump is facing three highly publicized investigations: the DOJ investigation into the mishandling of top-secret government documents, the Fulton County, Ga., investigation into election tampering, and the New York Attorney General's investigative probe into the Trump Organization.

https://www.alternet.org/2022/09/michael-cohen/

And yet he walks freely amongst us holding rallies, rage posting and, his ultimate favourite, grifting away.

[Mark F]

42 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

And yet he walks freely amongst us holding rallies, rage posting and, his ultimate favourite, grifting away.

they tried very hard to get him to walk away. he did not. he is a very capable, experienced,high level, criminal. He knows how to do this.

might well be getting advice and guidance from Putin. maybe even some russian intelligence. why not?

authorities are probably shyting their pants. they may not really know what he has.

they have never in history been up against someone like trump. hence the platitudes.  They would love to have him fold his tent and walk away.

they would let him. all this "Garland is carefully building a case" is hogwash.

so....what is in those files?

we will never know. same as JFK.

some spicy stuff methinks.

Edited September 4, 2022 by Mark F

[bustamente]

 

[Tracker]

Trump's Appeal Explained:

'He speaks at a very low reading level': Writer explains why Donald Trump appeals to millions
   
Speaking with the Daily Beast's Molly Jong-Fast for her "The New Abnormal" podcast, essayist Evan Puschak -- who founded YouTube channel Nerdwriter1 -- offered up an explanation as to why Donald Trump is able to convince so many of his followers to swallow his lies no matter how outrageous.

On the morning after the former president held yet another rally, this time in Pennsylvania, where he listed off his usual litany of grievances about how he is treated, Puschak explained his analysis of Trump's speech patterns and choice of words that have proven to be remarkably effective with a very specific segment of the American public.
Getting right to the point he explained, "I found a couple of patterns in the way that he organized his sentences to put certain words last, the way that he speaks at a very low reading level so that lots of people can understand.”

Explaining what compelled him to attempt an analysis of Trump's rhetoric and put together a video on it, Puschak told his host, "I was kind of just interested in why this guy was connecting with people. I saw this question that he answered on Jimmy Kimmel, which he didn’t really answer, you know, the way Trump speaks, [but] he gave this two-minute response, not quite an answer, and I just started looking at the language that he was using. I just looked at it and picked it apart piece by piece until I found some patterns and made the video about it.”

Responding to Jong-Fast asking, "Wait, so you think he’s not actually as stupid as he presents?" Puschak disagreed.

"No, I think he is,” he replied.