Why can't I get excited over campaign finance offences?

[sweetroxie]

IDK, in the scheme of things these days campaign finance "crimes" seem like very weak tea to me. I know they're wrong, but just very unsatisfying if that's what tRump is held accountable for. Talk me up.

[manor321]

1. Not exciting

I can't really talk that up since it isn't very exciting. I'd say the more exciting part about the Stormy Daniels case in California is the extent to which Avenatti can force Cohen and Trump to participate in that trial.

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. No one was excited about getting Al Capone on tax evasion either

They were excited about getting Al Capone.

Not to mention that floods of dark money are destroying our Democracy. Follow the money - a lot of it goes to questionable/illegal campaign donations/finances.

[emulatorloo]

3. Feelz over realz

Your “lack of excitement” is irrelevant. It is a violation of the law, and it is corruption. John Edwards came close to going to prison for a similar pay-off.

[sweetroxie]

4. I don't think it's irrelevant. Here's why

I think Rudy is pushing it because it's a very mild crime. He's using it as a lightening rod to divert energy from other crimes.

And I think that Rumps base will be more up in arms if this is all it comes down to. Then they will create a big, big ruckus that their savior has been so punished for something so weak.

[emulatorloo]

8. tRumps base will be happy to pretend bank fraud and money laundering are weak as well

They really aren’t that relevant when it comes to the courtroom though.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. You are right... except Jonathan Turley just helped

Tie it to more for me. He said that some of monies paid out in 2018... And implied that all the unaccounted for Cohen money could have been used for other purposes..which I took as money to keep people to shut up about Russian investigation or to pay hackers...which is totally more than a campaign finance violation.

This explains to me why trump was so bent on keeping Stormy deal quiet...it uncovers Cohen network of fixing.

[panader0]

6. What about Citizens United?

Campaign finance laws were changed for the worse with that fiasco.
There's way too much money in campaigns and the sources can be from
some dark players.
It's a very important issue in my opinion.

[hatrack]

7. Because blatant buying and selling of politicians doesn't "excite" you?

Next time you can't get to sleep, just think of the somewhat less blatant buying and selling of politicians, i.e. "campaign contributions" and "PACs". Should work like a charm!

[sweetroxie]

9. All I'm saying is that in the scheme of things that Rump is guilty of

campaign finance is relatively weak. I'm not saying that the buying and selling of our government and politicians isn't a bad thing. I actually think it is THE bad thing going on. Citizens United was/is horrible and pollutes our entire government. But compared to treason it is very weak tea. And Rump would certainly choose it as his crime over any of the alternatives. Just a slap on the wrist and a fine. Whoopee! And The People will think that this whole year of investigation was a waste of taxpayer's money.

[Leith]

10. It's Not Weak, It's Boring

Financial crimes don't get on the news much because they're dull dull dull. What's exciting about numbers on a spreadsheet and following them to other tables? Even when they do make the news, people tune out for that exact reason.

However, it is the most solid and obvious way to discern chicanery. There is a lot of hard evidence in ledgers. Accounting practices are set up to be precise because money has to be tracked every step of the way. Luckily, that makes financial crimes the most likely to be prosecuted successfully.

Sex crimes may be more interesting, but they can be difficult to prove partly because of the nature of the evidence, societal taboos, one's interpretation, and changing testimony over time.

[sweetroxie]

11. I just need to see him and his "associates" perp walked off

in an orange suit and stripped of his worldly goods and slammed in the klinker for years and years. I guess I won't be satisfied with "mere" campaign finance violations and fine. I'm out for blood.

[KelleyKramer]

12. Yeah, the president paying off porn stars is so boring