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(748 posts)The Constitution specifies how someone is elected President. What would you have had your "they" do, exactly?
SHRED
(28,136 posts)If just the IRS did their job.
MousePlayingDaffodil
(748 posts). . . but as Trump was 35+ years old, a natural born citizen, and a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years, that would have qualified him for the office per Article II.
If you mean that Trump's rise to claim the GOP nomination could have been derailed somewhere along the way, I suppose so. But, again, I'm not sure under what authority the IRS would have acted nor, for that matter, the "what" they were supposed to have acted upon.
Trump is President because he received 270+ electoral votes. Constitutionally, that makes him "legitimate" no matter how much we may dislike it.
Meanwhile, back in those swing states, if people cast a ballot based on their having been persuaded by some bogus Facebook ad generated by the Russians, who's ultimately responsible for that particular failure?
SHRED
(28,136 posts)What's hard to grasp here?
SunSeeker
(51,554 posts)NewDayOranges
(692 posts)As well as several other US Attys and FBI Agents in NY City. Surely some of the people scammed by Trump complained to the BBB, FBI or US Atty's office and apparently nothing was done... For forty years...
TwilightZone
(25,471 posts)is what authority you think the IRS has to stop someone from being inaugurated.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)You think he'd get a nomination with that in his record?
TwilightZone
(25,471 posts)He was busted for racist housing practices decades ago. Not only did that not hurt him, it probably helped him with some of his target audience. They insist he's not a racist in light of incontrovertible proof to the contrary.
He's failed at multiple businesses, yet his base thinks he's the most successful businessman ever. Much of what we're seeing was in plain sight. They didn't care.
His base would look at tax fraud as "sticking it to the man" and it would just play into his government-is-bad, victimhood rhetoric. They already buy that, as evidenced by the reaction when his massive losses were exposed.
Besides, it's incredibly difficult to prosecute white-collar crime in this country thanks to Reagan, et al. The IRS might have very well "done their jobs" but didn't conclude there was enough to prosecute. As we've seen throughout the Mueller investigation, he surrounds himself with lackeys to isolate himself and ensure others take the fall. There's little reason to believe he didn't do the same there.
whathehell
(29,067 posts)may be confusing Donald Trump for his father, Fred, in terms of being "busted for racist housing practices". It occured in the early 70's, when Fred was still in charge.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)whathehell
(29,067 posts)I thought it was Fred only, but I see both were charged.
thewhollytoast
(318 posts)It's not a cover-up. It's merely a comb-over.
My "Trumpling" family here in Ohio still think he's some kind of Robin Hood. This summer is going to be telling. If the Soy bean market does not change for the better they are both finished.
I kept my hands in my pockets, and my mouth shut,
Toast
pangaia
(24,324 posts)InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)BUT no, we're still waiting... for what, I don't know.
Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
NanceGreggs
(27,814 posts)Where have I heard that before? Oh, right - from that towering intellect, world diplomacy expert, and all-around useless idiot Jared Fuckin' Kushner.
Turin_C3PO
(13,991 posts)Its a right wing talking point that it was just dumb people fooled by ads.
JHB
(37,160 posts)All of them. The ones who voted for him, and the ones who didn't vote for him but spent their careers fostering the ones who did.
Kitchari
(2,166 posts)no doubt run very wide and deep, even to those agencies you have named, perhaps
Cheeto is what Wall Street wanted, and they usually get what they want (even if they sometimes later regret it).
Response to SHRED (Original post)
GemDigger This message was self-deleted by its author.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)and trashed OUR intelligence and there were no "notes"? Why not when he broke the law doing the same thing Cohen is in jail for? Why not when it was obvious he was milking his presidency for $$? Why not when he tried to talk his aides/appointees into breaking the law like, what, 11 times?
Why in heaven's name are we giving him space and benefit of the doubt??
I am SO unbelievably disappointed in our lack of immediate fervor. If ANYONE deserves impeachment it is him. If we continue to delay and more time passes between the act and action...we are equally complicit.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)I'm am not sure at all.
In fact I think that's foolishly dangerous.
They vote in Russia also.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Mueller's report yet.? There is zero true argument that impeachment would hurt us. Yet that belief (not sure if is it TRussia/GOP inspired) is pervasive.
I like what Slate wrote about taking Mueller's section on obstruction and submit with evidence as articles of impeachment. don't drag it out. just do it.
Waiting for justice at next election is extremely dangerous. No voting safety has been implemented and Russia still free to influence. And trump can continue to claim that there was nothing there...if there was the Dems would have impeached.
watoos
(7,142 posts)Impeaching Trump will devastate him according to his biographer. The longer we wait the worse it will be.
If we impeach we should get the grand jury information which will have a lot of dirt on the Trump crime family.
We only have been given what Barr released. We don't have the entire Mueller report. Congress doesn't even have the results of the FBI counterintelligence investigation and Barr is about to do his own investigation and tell a great big fucking lie. Barr needs to be held in contempt of Congress at a minimum.
I hate to say this but Speaker Pelosi has in the back of her mind that she was Speaker in 2010 when Democrats lost a net 64 seats, she is trying desperately to not have a repeat. I'm not blaming her one bit for 2010 but I'm just saying it has to have an effect on her.
Impeaching Trump will rile up Democrats, the Senate failing to convict will rile up Democrats, let's do it.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)motivation for not impeaching is an increased potential for losing the House. Yet don't see the evidence that impeaching could affect that this time and be a cause. Just don't see that many people (the voters we need) rushing to the polls because we impeached. So reckon it must be something else? Yet nothing harmless comes to mind.
deist99
(122 posts)Ive read all of part I and half-way through part II. I dont think there is anything in the unredacted parts in part I that is going to change the summary of part I which stated this investigation could not establish that person from the Trump campaign conspired with the Russians in their election interference activities.
What we needed is for Mueller to establish that they did. Now it is true that you dont need a crime to be guilty of obstruction of justice, but from what Ive read its hard to prove obstruction without a crime. And thats what the republicans senators will hide behind if we impeach.
uponit7771
(90,338 posts)InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)It's a travesty that this sick, deranged lunatic has been allowed to remain in office. I hardly watch TV anymore to avoid even hearing the mere mention of his cursed name.
Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
uponit7771
(90,338 posts)Billy Ray Joe Bob.
(65 posts)Pelosi failed to hold Bush and Cheney accountable
For torture. She said 'impeachment is off the table '. I hold very little hope that Trump will be held accountable by Pelosi. I hope to be proven wrong.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)Sickening.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Hundreds of thousands of people died.
Billy Ray Joe Bob.
(65 posts)War criminals going unpunished is the sign of a nation headed down . But Regan and Bush senior also sold weapons to our enemy's and funded an illegal war in ELSALVADOR. Also never held to account. I'm sad for America and now Trump the ultimate evil.
treestar
(82,383 posts)They still go on about protecting our freedoms. They are poorly informed, probably by choice.
watoos
(7,142 posts)Bush and Cheney accountable.
Billy Ray Joe Bob.
(65 posts)Also a disappointment. The ruling class appears to be exempt from laws.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)war. They were voting to give Bush the authority IF all else failed. IOW, they voted to trust Bush. More a matter of naivety vs. war mongering.
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)To get Saddam to truly FEAR war (due to appearance of a united Front in the USA), so he'd let the inspectors in. Which worked, and we DID get inspectors in. Then Bush f***ed the Dem's that had given him their vote for a whole other purpose ... avoiding war.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)as well as you did! I think it's a bit of a syndrome I hope we lose one day. Never admit you are liberal. Always apologize. Never stand up with extreme certainty. Always parse and be overly cautious with the words you speak.
It reminds me of the way Hillary handled the whole email thing. She had a perfect defense...the system was the same as what was good enough for a former US president who lived in a home protected by Secret Service. And I heard a career IT manager say that it is very wrong to look at the past through the lens of today. Back then, people 100% relied on IT experts to worry about systems and security. Yet instead of explaining this with defiance, she thought apologizing would make it all go away.
thewhollytoast
(318 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)When I hear plaintive complaints about all the "theys" and "thems" who are always at fault for everything, I always suspect nonvoters or people who make really ignorant, horrible voting mistakes but never clue in that they are the "they." I mean, people who can't or, worse, won't differentiate between Democrats and Republicans just don't strike me as among our brighter bulbs.
But here we have a name, Democrat "Max Baucus!" Don't know why you're bashing him specifically, don't need to know, I'm just impressed to see a name. (Except Pelosi's, of course. Even the dumbest trumpster can name our designated Democratic witches.) Anyway, congrats on coming up with a refreshingly specified target.
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)Notice its the same folks who always swarm in to point fingers and name names. And their targets are always prominent Democrats. They use Trump as the initial justification for raising the topic, but their point always is to talk about how reprehensible certain Democrats are. Without fail.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Senator Baucus left in 2014 and became Obama's ambassador to China. BUT, he's still a Democrat.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)the free thinkers are equally annoying. Doubt anyone's sole purpose is to target Dem leaders just because, like you imply.
Free thinkers who don't follow in lock step are constantly criticized when party actions are called out for anything legitimate. It is only natural to direct that to people who are calling shots. My party always right is such a dangerous path to take IMHO.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)can never be free thinkers because they are competent and decent enough to work with others to do what needs to be done.
Never to be mistaken with dysfunctional outliers, aka "free thinkers," who pride themselves that their inability to respect or work with others to achieve is proof of their righteous superiority.
See, we can agree. It's just a matter of interpreting differing terminology.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Since the majority of Dems want Impeachment
thewhollytoast
(318 posts)Do your homework. This guy killed killed heathcare. The Baucus klan switches sides whenever it pleases them.
Montana, like all mountain states, is a fiefdom. He fucked us. He's really a nice guy, once you learn to hate him. Just ask his x-wife.
100 senators for 300+ million people. What could go wrong?
Toast
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)them smear shit as you so Trumpishly put it on today's Democratic candidates. Apparently finding a current name is a dry hole? Only a bunch of "theys" and "thems"?
These smears are only for Democrats, right? Not for MTs proud conservative majorities who have the nerve to expect their representatives to represent Montanas majorities in a democracy?
Btw, if you know any whove been finding it impossible to vote for stinking Democrats, dont let them dare complain about Trump. Because they own him as much as anyone.
thewhollytoast
(318 posts)I lost my familie's home to colon cancer two years ago, after 30 plus years in the workforce. Insinuating that I'm a Trumpling is rich. Where is your next meal coming from? Don't bother telling me. I have an 11 year old still to raise. I just love how so many, so called, Democrats have barely less than idea of who Frank Little or Jeannette Rankin were.
It's time to pull up our pants and do what needs to be done. Will you meet me at the barricade? I'd be proud to stand with you if you show up.
Toast
Turin_C3PO
(13,991 posts)I kept hoping that the deep state actually existed and would work to keep him off the ballot.
lapfog_1
(29,204 posts)is definitive proof that there is no "Deep State". And certainly no Deep State conspiracy against Orange Anus
Initech
(100,075 posts)Go to France. Go to India. Go to Eastern Europe. Go to England and Australia. Go to Brazil, Hungary, Poland. Everywhere you look, countries, cities and counties are flipping toward the ultra far right fascism and dictatorship mantra. It's getting scary. Trump is just part of the equation. It's Hitler's master plan on a global scale. What's their end game?
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Unfortunately, I have to agree with you. This is really getting scary.
Locrian
(4,522 posts)The end result of capitalism is when it hits the boundary of finite resources. At that point - it goes into turbo mode as things become scarce - and the already wealthy compete even more to suck up what remains.
All at the same time climate change hits.
So now you have a grab for the last $$ (illusion) wealth hoarding when actual *people* need to cooperate more. Instead you get nationalism, right wing dictators, war, etc.
I have very little hope that as a species we get our collective shit together to the point where we can actually WORK TOGETHER to address the issue of our survival. Instead of this zero sum game of I win you lose.
Control-Z
(15,682 posts)I guess I just hoped leaders, people in high office, constitutional lawyers, judges, and men and women of great and honorable character would step up, meet together, dig deep and find a way to stop the inauguration of this criminal. The math was impossible. The polls were off. Any layman could see there was something horribly wrong.
I've been waiting and waiting. There is more to know. There are people who know more. I believe there are people who could tell us what happened and how it happened - down to the very details. But we've all been sold a bill of goods. Mueller won't testify in public! That's a huge deal. Think about it. It's huge.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)What else explains this?
triron
(22,003 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Getting together NOW too, to come up with a plan to get rid of MF45.
Pobeka
(4,999 posts)McConnell said "F*ck you", I'll fight you in the public arena (paraphrasing).
It's all about McConnell. He's the one who not only let this happen, he *wanted* it to happen. If HRC had been elected, the FBI and CIA would've uncovered McConnell's connections to Russia. McConnell desparately needed it to be Trump so McConnell himself could avoid investigations.
It's the only thing that makes any sense at this point to me.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)He should have called a press conference despite the repercussions.
He had a duty to the oath of office.
triron
(22,003 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)tip the scales in favor of Dems won out. It's like he was almost too fair. He also was too modest. Never bragged one iota about turning the economy around, implementing ACA, or killing bin laden. This helped millions in NYC metro area sleep better at night!
Pobeka
(4,999 posts)and perhaps D's would've shown out in the numbers like we had in 2018 if they knew what was on the line, instead of complacently thinking we had the whitehouse, like the polls and pundits were saying...
But I definitely think McConnell owns 90% of the blame here, IMHO.
RandiFan1290
(6,232 posts)UniteFightBack
(8,231 posts)SHRED
(28,136 posts)??
watoos
(7,142 posts)that is being blown out of proportion.
triron
(22,003 posts)imagined.
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)Just imagine if our entire government was 100% rethuglicons. We are currently the United States of Supporting Corruption.
ananda
(28,860 posts)I keep thinking that on a subconscious level we are
all complicit in a fascist worldview that is ultimately
going to destroy the planets ability to support large
life forms. Thus, human energy will have had its day...
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)and believes what you said. Someone that unabashedly follows what is true and just.
Stonepounder
(4,033 posts)SHRED
(28,136 posts)We have a weak justice system.
Almost non existent for the well connected corrupt world leaders.
onecaliberal
(32,858 posts)Meowmee
(5,164 posts)For so many reasons. He has been a major criminal for many years since Russia / putin started paying for his life and using him to launder money. He was inciting violence on his campaign which is illegal and he was not legitimately elected to name 3.
Yavin4
(35,438 posts)These corrupted systems are protected, both wittingly and unwittingly, by people who believe that they're doing the right thing. For example, Obama protected the system by going to congressional leadership for their approval about going public with the Russian tampering. Instead, he could have gone public without it.
roamer65
(36,745 posts)The United States is in the terminal stage of empire.
We may save some of it by breaking it up, like the Roman Empire split into east and west.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,001 posts)pnwmom
(108,978 posts)could have proven it's worth -- and it failed, utterly.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)That Donald J. Trump has flagrantly violated tax and banking law for decades. High financial crimes including, but not limited to, money laundering.
If we had a Justice System worth two fucking shits he'd be in prison by now much less pResident.
But I could be wrong.
Cha
(297,220 posts)Aussie105
(5,395 posts)is enshrined in the methodology of holding Democratic elections.
Unfortunately, it turns out some people are easily swayed by malicious rumours, make decisions on shallow logic, or out of spite, or pure hate and a need for revenge.
The Democratic Process of Elections is like a steam train. Destination unknown when it starts out. Hard to stop once it gets moving up to speed.
Unfortunately, this particular train went straight to the Gates of Hell.
The Founding Fathers never installed a reset button, or a 'pause' function in the whole process. The possibility that there could be a Creeping Evil and Insanity in the whole process never occurred to them.
calimary
(81,265 posts)Last edited Mon May 27, 2019, 12:50 PM - Edit history (1)
Toward the end.
Clapper is also critical of Republican congressional leaders for refusing to sign a bipartisan statement condemning Russian meddling in 2016.
"House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said they would not support a bipartisan statement that might hurt their nominee for president," Clapper writes in an excerpt of the book published by NPR. "I was disappointed but not surprised. It seemed they had decided by then that they didn't care who their nominee was, how he got elected or what effects having a foreign power influence our election would have on the nation, as long as they won."
A spokeswoman for Ryan and McConnell denied Clapper's claims, and in a stament to Newsweek said Mr. Clapper has his facts wrong. What was discussed with the White House staff in September was a letter to the states warning against attacks during the election, which was quickly drafted and sent on September 28th."
https://www.newsweek.com/evidence-russia-tipped-election-trump-staggering-says-former-us-intel-chief-940086
WHEN did they send such a letter? And to WHOM? Who received it? Any reaction? Did they say something - ANYTHING? Was there ANY coverage? ANYTHING in the news? I don't remember hearing a single thing about this back then. Is anybody in a position to receive such a letter back then still in that position? Could they confirm this? Produce the letter? If not, what happened to such a letter? Who has it now? And why hasn't this leaked? I'll quote one of Mike Pence's favorite responses: "This is the first I've heard of it." But in my case, it's the truth.
And other questions come up, now, about this purported letter sent to the states about the fucking Russians messing with our election: This letter - who wrote it? Who distributed it? How was it "sent" to the states? Assuming there was such a letter sent to the states, were the recipients told to keep it quiet? Told by whom? And why were they told to keep it quiet - if indeed there was such a letter distributed to the states? Any reasons given for not making this public? What were those reasons? Who gave the order to tell the states to keep this quiet? And why?
JI7
(89,249 posts)sop
(10,177 posts)It's a brutally authoritarian oligarchy, run by white nationalists, racists and christian fundamentalists, with laws that discriminate against immigrants, minorities, gays and women.
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)But its so much easier and more effective to blame Nancy Pelosi (here we go again - its HER fault that Trump won the Electoral College in 2016 because she didnt push to impeach George Bush in 2007?) and President Obama and other Dems than to admit that too many Democrats fell for and then eagerly, although sometimes (and only sometimes) unwittingly promulgated Russian and right wing propaganda about Hillary Clinton, Obama, etc. to help get Trump elected, and now continue smearing them and using them as excuses and smokescreens to hide their own culpability and, in many instances, advance ongoing agendas.
But theyre not going to get away with it this time because theyre not as clever as they think and many of us can see right through the smoke.
ecstatic
(32,704 posts)If there were, this nightmare of a presidency would have NEVER happened.
sop
(10,177 posts)They need Trump to entertain his racist rabble, tweet lies and absurdities, and create distractions and divisions, while they pass tax cuts for themselves, confirm corporate-friendly judges, appoint agency heads to de-regulate and privatize the commons, and generally give themselves free rein to rape, pillage and plunder.
They don't care if Trump is a crazy, neofascist authoritarian. What they fear most is a genuine populist uprising and losing power. And if that requires alliances with repugnant demagogues to retain control, the corporate deep state will gladly make them.
ecstatic
(32,704 posts)his criminal enterprise in. I really hate to beat up on my hometown, but this motherfcker was running an unregistered charity/foundation in plain sight, ffs. I'm glad they're going after him now, but it's too fcking late! The damage is done!
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)the time or resources to untangle them in order to make a case. And, on top of that, I suspect they just thought of him as a petty criminal who wasnt worth the effort.
Even now, with all of the time, resources and expertise being devoted to digging into his financial affairs, professionals are still struggling to sort them all out.
But they will ... and he will eventually realize that running for President was the biggest mistake he made in his life as it will be the down fall of him and his whole family.
Me.
(35,454 posts)why aren't they taking him out? And I'm not talking physically.
uponit7771
(90,338 posts)hughee99
(16,113 posts)office? That sounds a lot like what republicans have been saying, except they call it an "attempted coup".
SHRED
(28,136 posts)I am saying he should have been busted years ago and he'd never be eligible.
At the very least we should have been warned about Russia and his campaign pre-election.
hughee99
(16,113 posts)I'm not sure the FBI, DOJ or IC would have been able to change any of those things. If you're upset with the fact that he wasn't busted years ago, I think your issue would be with the previous administrations.
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)Transparent as can be
hughee99
(16,113 posts)And they should have done something about it, yeah, Im going to stir a little shit. Its the kind of comment that plays into republican hands by suggesting that their job is to make sure cartain people cant become president.
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)I agree with you 100%.
We both know what this is ...
hughee99
(16,113 posts)As well as I used to, but should have been suspect of anyone who appears to be posting their own tweet.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)And Trump walked under that low bar.