The real scandal ISN'T that Trump asked a foreign government to interfere in our election

[renate]

Well, it's one of many sub-scandals here. But I can see how some people would shrug and go "meh. It's politics." Dirty pool is dirty pool, whether you hire Karl Rove or bribe Zelensky, right?

The part of the scandal that, if they heard it often enough, would piss off all but the most deranged Fox viewers (because God knows they hate it when taxpayers' money is spent on, well, anything) is that nearly $400 million of taxpayers' money was leveraged for one man's personal gain. There honestly is no excuse for that: no "politics is dirty," no "it's not illegal if the President does it," no "politics ain't beanbag"... it's stealing. (The GOP's claims that they were just making sure that Ukraine wasn't still corrupt are easily countered by the fact that the certification was given in May.)

More should be made of the fact that taxpayers were funding this politically and selfishly motivated extortion. "Taxpayer-funded" should be part of every single sentence in every single news story about this scandal. Even people who haven't been paying attention will say that is wrong.

It's as if Trump put up $400 million of our taxpayer dollars as a guarantee to get a secured personal loan for himself.

[Rorey]

1. OPM

Other People's Money

The Magats are never going to understand that they've always just been another tool for 45 to enrich himself.

[Eliot Rosewater]

2. These filthy racist scums don't care

[Beantighe]

3. This was discussed

I can't remember who was testifying, but this was briefly discussed during the hearings. Unfortunately, the hardcore Trumpers in my red area would most likely laugh or shrug it off. I think some would even boast that he's a great businessman and would see it a very stable genius kind of thing to do.

[uponit7771]

4. THIS !!!! I'm thinking that wasn't his money to appropriate !!!

[captain queeg]

5. It's never his money

He lives on borrowed money and screwing everyone he comes in contact with

[spanone]

6. Not 'as if' it's exactly what he did.