We need this guy!
Just for the record...
Digital World Acquisition Corp., the special-purpose acquisition company which is merging with Trump’s Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. to take it public, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday.
Multiple risk factors associated with doing business with Trump are highlighted in the filing because, it says, the company’s success depends largely on his reputation and popularity. Of Trump’s lengthy history of bankruptcies, it states:
"Entities associated with President Trump have filed for bankruptcy protection. The Trump Taj Mahal, which was built and owned by President Trump, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1991. The Trump Plaza, the Trump Castle, and the Plaza Hotel, all owned by President Trump at the time, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1992. THCR, which was founded by President Trump in 1995, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004. Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc., the new name given to Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts after its 2004 bankruptcy, declared bankruptcy in 2009. While all of the foregoing were in different businesses than TMTG, there can be no guarantee that TMTG’s performance will exceed the performance of those entities."
Of failed license agreements with Trump, it notes:
"Trump Shuttle, Inc., launched by President Trump in 1989, defaulted on its loans in 1990 and ceased to exist by 1992. Trump University, founded by President Trump in 2005, ceased operations in 2011 amid lawsuits and investigations regarding the company’s business practices. Trump Vodka, a brand of vodka produced by Drinks Americas under license from the Trump Organization, was introduced in 2005 and discontinued in 2011. Trump Mortgage, LLC, a financial services company founded by President Trump in 2006, ceased operations in 2007. GoTrump.com, a travel site founded by President Trump in 2006, ceased operations in 2007. Trump Steaks, a brand of steak and other meats founded by President Trump in 2007, discontinued sales two months after its launch. While all these businesses were in different industries than TMTG, there can be no guarantee that TMTG’s performance will exceed the performance of these entities."
In both cases, the statement warns there are “no assurances” that the new company will not go the same way as Trump’s past scuttled ventures. The filing also details the “numerous lawsuits and other matters that could damage his reputation, cause him to be distracted from the business or could force him to resign from TMTG’s board of directors.” “The foregoing does not purport to be an exhaustive list,” the document warned.
Read the full filing here.
Multiple risk factors associated with doing business with Trump are highlighted in the filing because, it says, the company’s success depends largely on his reputation and popularity. Of Trump’s lengthy history of bankruptcies, it states:
"Entities associated with President Trump have filed for bankruptcy protection. The Trump Taj Mahal, which was built and owned by President Trump, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1991. The Trump Plaza, the Trump Castle, and the Plaza Hotel, all owned by President Trump at the time, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1992. THCR, which was founded by President Trump in 1995, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004. Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc., the new name given to Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts after its 2004 bankruptcy, declared bankruptcy in 2009. While all of the foregoing were in different businesses than TMTG, there can be no guarantee that TMTG’s performance will exceed the performance of those entities."
Of failed license agreements with Trump, it notes:
"Trump Shuttle, Inc., launched by President Trump in 1989, defaulted on its loans in 1990 and ceased to exist by 1992. Trump University, founded by President Trump in 2005, ceased operations in 2011 amid lawsuits and investigations regarding the company’s business practices. Trump Vodka, a brand of vodka produced by Drinks Americas under license from the Trump Organization, was introduced in 2005 and discontinued in 2011. Trump Mortgage, LLC, a financial services company founded by President Trump in 2006, ceased operations in 2007. GoTrump.com, a travel site founded by President Trump in 2006, ceased operations in 2007. Trump Steaks, a brand of steak and other meats founded by President Trump in 2007, discontinued sales two months after its launch. While all these businesses were in different industries than TMTG, there can be no guarantee that TMTG’s performance will exceed the performance of these entities."
In both cases, the statement warns there are “no assurances” that the new company will not go the same way as Trump’s past scuttled ventures. The filing also details the “numerous lawsuits and other matters that could damage his reputation, cause him to be distracted from the business or could force him to resign from TMTG’s board of directors.” “The foregoing does not purport to be an exhaustive list,” the document warned.
Read the full filing here.
Trump's casino business in Atlantic City was a 'protracted failure'
Jeremy Berke Jun 11, 2016
Trump's casinos posted losses year after year. He narrowly avoided "financial ruin," by taking his debt-riddled companies public, and shifting his losses onto stockholders.
Trump's past shows just how far he will go to get his way.
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Donald Trump was a nightmare landlord in the 1980s
by Jose Pagliery @Jose_Pagliery March 28, 2016
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Donald Trump was a nightmare landlord in the 1980s
by Jose Pagliery @Jose_Pagliery March 28, 2016
In 1981, Trump bought a 14-story building on prime real estate facing New York City's Central Park. His plan was to tear down the building and replace it with luxury condos. But first he needed a small band of rent-stabilized tenants out of there.
To succeed, Trump played rough, according to lawsuits filed by the tenants. Renters said he cut heat and hot water, and he imposed tough building rules. Trump even proposed sheltering homeless people in the building.
It went on for five years as Trump fought tenants, real estate lawyers, New York state regulators and city officials.
To succeed, Trump played rough, according to lawsuits filed by the tenants. Renters said he cut heat and hot water, and he imposed tough building rules. Trump even proposed sheltering homeless people in the building.
It went on for five years as Trump fought tenants, real estate lawyers, New York state regulators and city officials.
36 Reasons Trump Is Not Fit to Be President
JP Kobel Aug 7, 2019
Trump has a 2 part brain...
the left side has nothing right,
the right side has nothing left.
JP Kobel Aug 7, 2019
Trump has a 2 part brain...
the left side has nothing right,
the right side has nothing left.
Donald Trump Says He'll Reconsider Raised-Arm Loyalty Pledge That's Been Compared to Nazi Salute By Tierney McAfee Updated March 08, 2016
‘Trump Youth’ Group Draws on Nazi-Associations, White Supremacist Tropes
Josefin Dolsten August 16, 2016
Donald Trump’s speech to Boy Scouts was indeed ominous
Readers' Letters Fri., July 28, 2017
Josefin Dolsten August 16, 2016
Donald Trump’s speech to Boy Scouts was indeed ominous
Readers' Letters Fri., July 28, 2017
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943), is a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment protects students from being forced to salute the American flag or say the Pledge of Allegiance in public school.
"If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us...
"The very purpose of a Bill of Rights was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy, to place them beyond the reach of majorities and officials and to establish them as legal principles to be applied by the courts. One's right to life, liberty, and property, to free speech, a free press, freedom of worship and assembly, and other fundamental rights may not be submitted to vote; they depend on the outcome of no elections." -Justice Robert H. Jackson
"The very purpose of a Bill of Rights was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy, to place them beyond the reach of majorities and officials and to establish them as legal principles to be applied by the courts. One's right to life, liberty, and property, to free speech, a free press, freedom of worship and assembly, and other fundamental rights may not be submitted to vote; they depend on the outcome of no elections." -Justice Robert H. Jackson
Dictators and tyrants are rulers who control a country with absolute authority and are not restricted by a constitution or by laws. Dictators work in a governmental system in which the citizens do not possess the right to choose their own leaders. This system is called a Dictatorship.
These are democratically elected dictators...
Benito Mussolini Italy 1922--1943 He introduced strict censorship and altered the methods of election so that in 1925–1926 he was able to assume dictatorial powers and dissolve all other political parties.
Ahmet Bej Zogu Albania 1925–1939 Originally elected Prime Minister then President. Crowned himself King of the Albanians (as Zog I) 1928-1939. Described as a dictator.
Jorge Ubico Guatemala 1931–1944 President of Guatemala. Elected, but suppressed opposition and "assumed dictatorial powers".
Adolf Hitler Dictator of Germany (1933-1945) Originally took office through the German electoral system but quickly threw out the constitution and ruled through force.
Fidel Castro Prime Minister of Cuba 1959-1976; President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers from 1976. Castro was elected President after 1976, but within a one-party Communist state. Upon his death, his brother Raul became ruler of Cuba.
François Duvalier President of Haiti. Elected in 1957, but banned opposition; declared himself President for Life in 1964. Upon his death, his son became ruler of Haiti.
Kenneth Kaunda Zambia 1964–1991 President of the Republic of Zambia 1964-1991. Elected 1964, banned all political parties in Zambia, viewed himself as "WAMUYAYA" (eternal President). Accused of torturing political opponents.
Forbes Burnham Guyana 1966–1985 Prime Minister 1966 - 1980; President 1980 - 1985. Elected, but became dictatorial.
Artur da Costa e Silva President of Brazil 1967-1969. Elected in 1966, but centralised power; closed the Congress; banned opposition; suspended free press. Decreed Institutional Act No. 5, described as "the most unconstitutional, anti-democratic, arbitrary, and repressive decree in Brazil's history."
Omar Bongo Gabon 1967–2009 As vice president, he acceded to the presidency following the death of President Léon M'ba. In 1968, Bongo decreed a one-party state under his Gabonese Democratic Party and was thrice elected unopposed in the 1970s and 1980s. He became very wealthy during the country's oil boom.
Francisco Macías Nguema President of Equatorial Guinea 1968-1979. Elected in 1968 but declared himself President for Life in 1972. Over a third of population fled his regime. Banned fishing and sanctioned the deaths of most of his pre-independence political rivals.
Juan María Bordaberry President of Uruguay 1972 - 1976. Elected, but installed a military government, dissolved Congress, suspended civil liberties and banned unions.
Robert Mugabe Zimbabwe 1980–2017 Gained power through election, and repeatedly re-elected, but criticized for steps used to maintain power. From 1999 on, used police and militant groups like the War Veterans Association and Border Gezi Youth to enforce ZANU-PF policies and to prevent opponents from voting; called "king" by his aides. Arrested and tortured opponents and human rights activists; gave amnesty to murderers of his political opponents in 2000; ignores court rulings.
Michael Sata Zambia 2011–2014 Elected President of Zambia. Sata shut down the opposition and maintains relationships with Robert Mugabe.
lsmaïl Omar Guelleh Djibouti 1999-Present Has been elected with large majorities in 4 elections that have been found to have numerous inconsistencies. Also reported to have jailed numerous opposition candidates.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Turkey 2014–present Prime Minister of Turkey 2003-2014; President of Turkey since 2014. His crackdowns on protests, restrictions on the media, banning of public websites, purging of prosecutors looking to investigate him, and general curbing of civil liberties follow the path of a typical autocrat. He changed the constitution to enhance his autocratic powers and enshrine authoritarianism into law.
Donald Trump, Democratic Dictator by Jacob G. Hornberger August 26, 2019
"Some people think that the United States is safe from dictatorship because the country is a democracy. It’s only in totalitarian countries, they hold, that people are subject to dictatorship. Nothing could be further from the truth... Case in point: President Donald Trump. He is the democratically elected president of the United States. He also wields and exercises dictatorial power over the American people."
"Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot and Kim Il not only were cruel, but also convinced many people that they were doing the best for their countries. They destroyed whole economies and societies. Still, many adored them." -Paz, Caracas, Venezuela
Many, many dictators first came to power through what appeared to be legitimate victories in open elections. They did not run on a platform that said, "If elected, I will become a dictator," but once elected, they first worked within the rules to change those rules and turn themselves into dictators. 13 Jun 2019 Neil H. Buchanan
verdict.justia.com/2019/06/13/elected-dictators-the-limits-of-what-government-officials-can-do-with-their-power
Donald Trump is behaving like 1930s fascist dictator, explains Yale historian
'We think of Hitler and Stalin as super villains. But they’re not, they could only come to power with some form of consent,' says Professor Timothy Snyder. Peter Walker @petejohn_walker 27 March 2017
Yes, Trump Is a Fascist — Here’s the Checklist
War Is Boring Oct 11, 2016 · by MATTHEW GAULT
To monitor Muslims in America Tump insisted that “we’re going to have to do certain things that were frankly unthinkable a year ago” Yahoo’s Hunter Walker asked Trump whether this level of tracking might require registering Muslims in a database or giving them a form of special identification that noted their religion. He wouldn’t rule it out. Who will be the next people to frighten Donald Trump? Will they have to wear a badge, too? newrepublic.com/minutes/124205/yes-donald-trump-fascist
Noah Berlatsky asked Jason Stanley if the current American government is fascist. "I would never say it in an interview," he says. "It would be too dangerous." In other words, by the time the people in power have instituted fascism, it's too late to call it that. "Fascist politics," Stanley writes in his new book, "replaces reasoned debate with fear and anger. When it is successful, its audience is left with a destabilized sense of loss, and a well of mistrust and anger against those who it has been told are responsible for that loss." www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-fascist-learning-about-how-fascism-works-can-help-prevent-ncna905886
The New Wave Of Elected Dictatorships Around The World
Melik Kaylan Forbes Contributor Jul 31, 2014
How Dictators Come to Power in a Democracy By Jim Powell Forbes.com February 5, 2013.
Dictatorships are often unexpected. They have arisen among prosperous, educated and cultured people who seemed safe from a dictatorship — in Europe, Asia and South America.
These are democratically elected dictators...
Benito Mussolini Italy 1922--1943 He introduced strict censorship and altered the methods of election so that in 1925–1926 he was able to assume dictatorial powers and dissolve all other political parties.
Ahmet Bej Zogu Albania 1925–1939 Originally elected Prime Minister then President. Crowned himself King of the Albanians (as Zog I) 1928-1939. Described as a dictator.
Jorge Ubico Guatemala 1931–1944 President of Guatemala. Elected, but suppressed opposition and "assumed dictatorial powers".
Adolf Hitler Dictator of Germany (1933-1945) Originally took office through the German electoral system but quickly threw out the constitution and ruled through force.
Fidel Castro Prime Minister of Cuba 1959-1976; President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers from 1976. Castro was elected President after 1976, but within a one-party Communist state. Upon his death, his brother Raul became ruler of Cuba.
François Duvalier President of Haiti. Elected in 1957, but banned opposition; declared himself President for Life in 1964. Upon his death, his son became ruler of Haiti.
Kenneth Kaunda Zambia 1964–1991 President of the Republic of Zambia 1964-1991. Elected 1964, banned all political parties in Zambia, viewed himself as "WAMUYAYA" (eternal President). Accused of torturing political opponents.
Forbes Burnham Guyana 1966–1985 Prime Minister 1966 - 1980; President 1980 - 1985. Elected, but became dictatorial.
Artur da Costa e Silva President of Brazil 1967-1969. Elected in 1966, but centralised power; closed the Congress; banned opposition; suspended free press. Decreed Institutional Act No. 5, described as "the most unconstitutional, anti-democratic, arbitrary, and repressive decree in Brazil's history."
Omar Bongo Gabon 1967–2009 As vice president, he acceded to the presidency following the death of President Léon M'ba. In 1968, Bongo decreed a one-party state under his Gabonese Democratic Party and was thrice elected unopposed in the 1970s and 1980s. He became very wealthy during the country's oil boom.
Francisco Macías Nguema President of Equatorial Guinea 1968-1979. Elected in 1968 but declared himself President for Life in 1972. Over a third of population fled his regime. Banned fishing and sanctioned the deaths of most of his pre-independence political rivals.
Juan María Bordaberry President of Uruguay 1972 - 1976. Elected, but installed a military government, dissolved Congress, suspended civil liberties and banned unions.
Robert Mugabe Zimbabwe 1980–2017 Gained power through election, and repeatedly re-elected, but criticized for steps used to maintain power. From 1999 on, used police and militant groups like the War Veterans Association and Border Gezi Youth to enforce ZANU-PF policies and to prevent opponents from voting; called "king" by his aides. Arrested and tortured opponents and human rights activists; gave amnesty to murderers of his political opponents in 2000; ignores court rulings.
Michael Sata Zambia 2011–2014 Elected President of Zambia. Sata shut down the opposition and maintains relationships with Robert Mugabe.
lsmaïl Omar Guelleh Djibouti 1999-Present Has been elected with large majorities in 4 elections that have been found to have numerous inconsistencies. Also reported to have jailed numerous opposition candidates.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Turkey 2014–present Prime Minister of Turkey 2003-2014; President of Turkey since 2014. His crackdowns on protests, restrictions on the media, banning of public websites, purging of prosecutors looking to investigate him, and general curbing of civil liberties follow the path of a typical autocrat. He changed the constitution to enhance his autocratic powers and enshrine authoritarianism into law.
Donald Trump, Democratic Dictator by Jacob G. Hornberger August 26, 2019
"Some people think that the United States is safe from dictatorship because the country is a democracy. It’s only in totalitarian countries, they hold, that people are subject to dictatorship. Nothing could be further from the truth... Case in point: President Donald Trump. He is the democratically elected president of the United States. He also wields and exercises dictatorial power over the American people."
"Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot and Kim Il not only were cruel, but also convinced many people that they were doing the best for their countries. They destroyed whole economies and societies. Still, many adored them." -Paz, Caracas, Venezuela
Many, many dictators first came to power through what appeared to be legitimate victories in open elections. They did not run on a platform that said, "If elected, I will become a dictator," but once elected, they first worked within the rules to change those rules and turn themselves into dictators. 13 Jun 2019 Neil H. Buchanan
verdict.justia.com/2019/06/13/elected-dictators-the-limits-of-what-government-officials-can-do-with-their-power
Donald Trump is behaving like 1930s fascist dictator, explains Yale historian
'We think of Hitler and Stalin as super villains. But they’re not, they could only come to power with some form of consent,' says Professor Timothy Snyder. Peter Walker @petejohn_walker 27 March 2017
Yes, Trump Is a Fascist — Here’s the Checklist
War Is Boring Oct 11, 2016 · by MATTHEW GAULT
To monitor Muslims in America Tump insisted that “we’re going to have to do certain things that were frankly unthinkable a year ago” Yahoo’s Hunter Walker asked Trump whether this level of tracking might require registering Muslims in a database or giving them a form of special identification that noted their religion. He wouldn’t rule it out. Who will be the next people to frighten Donald Trump? Will they have to wear a badge, too? newrepublic.com/minutes/124205/yes-donald-trump-fascist
Noah Berlatsky asked Jason Stanley if the current American government is fascist. "I would never say it in an interview," he says. "It would be too dangerous." In other words, by the time the people in power have instituted fascism, it's too late to call it that. "Fascist politics," Stanley writes in his new book, "replaces reasoned debate with fear and anger. When it is successful, its audience is left with a destabilized sense of loss, and a well of mistrust and anger against those who it has been told are responsible for that loss." www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-fascist-learning-about-how-fascism-works-can-help-prevent-ncna905886
The New Wave Of Elected Dictatorships Around The World
Melik Kaylan Forbes Contributor Jul 31, 2014
How Dictators Come to Power in a Democracy By Jim Powell Forbes.com February 5, 2013.
Dictatorships are often unexpected. They have arisen among prosperous, educated and cultured people who seemed safe from a dictatorship — in Europe, Asia and South America.
Trump says 'with me, there's no lying' --
and makes 14 false claims about impeachment and Ukraine
By Daniel Dale, CNN, Thu January 23, 2020
and makes 14 false claims about impeachment and Ukraine
By Daniel Dale, CNN, Thu January 23, 2020
Trump announces a blitz of pardons and commutations
Trump took a flurry of legal actions Tuesday, including pardons for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, ex-New York police commissioner Bernie Kerik, financier Michael Milken and former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr. And they came days before the scheduled sentencing of Roger Stone in federal court in D.C., amid wide speculation that the president might pardon his former longtime adviser.
Is it any surprise that a Democrat Trump likes has been convicted for 18 counts of corruption including bribes and extortion? (#singing - Rod Blago is... my kind of guy!)
Okay, I get it... if you've actually been convicted of a crime you should go free. If you have not you should get locked up e.g. Clinton, Obama, Comey, Biden, et al. That's our new reality in the emporer's bizzaro world. Is he really wearing a suit btw?
Is it any surprise that a Democrat Trump likes has been convicted for 18 counts of corruption including bribes and extortion? (#singing - Rod Blago is... my kind of guy!)
Okay, I get it... if you've actually been convicted of a crime you should go free. If you have not you should get locked up e.g. Clinton, Obama, Comey, Biden, et al. That's our new reality in the emporer's bizzaro world. Is he really wearing a suit btw?
Trump hotels charge Secret Service up to $650/night while protecting him
Secret Service personnel traveling with President Trump to his private luxury properties in Palm Beach, Fla., and Bedminster, N.J., pay rates as high at $650 per night for lodging, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.
The Post investigation tallied the amount of taxpayer dollars spent in Trump’s properties and found that the Secret Service spent $159,000 at Trump’s D.C. hotel in his first year alone. In the president’s out-of-state properties, the Trump company is recorded as charging as much as $17,000 per month for rent. The newspaper noted that after a thorough search of rentals in the area for comparable homes, the average cost for rent was $3,400.
The Post investigation tallied the amount of taxpayer dollars spent in Trump’s properties and found that the Secret Service spent $159,000 at Trump’s D.C. hotel in his first year alone. In the president’s out-of-state properties, the Trump company is recorded as charging as much as $17,000 per month for rent. The newspaper noted that after a thorough search of rentals in the area for comparable homes, the average cost for rent was $3,400.
Who is paying for Trump to stay at his own properties?
- Victoria Napora
"Not only do YOU the tax payer pay for all the costs of his many, many trips to his resorts, YOU also enrich trumps bank accounts BIGLY! He profits from all charges to his SS detail for accommodations, meals, golf cart rentals and any other ‘incidentals’ the resort can tack on to the bill to the treasury. AND when he hosts a dignitary or has any sort of meeting at the resorts, ANOTHER bill to the treasury for using the resorts for ‘government activities’. So far, all that is known is the SS has paid (Feb 17, 2018) around $75,000 for golf cart rentals. The treasury won’t advise how much has been paid out to trump properties for all the other charges."
"Not only do YOU the tax payer pay for all the costs of his many, many trips to his resorts, YOU also enrich trumps bank accounts BIGLY! He profits from all charges to his SS detail for accommodations, meals, golf cart rentals and any other ‘incidentals’ the resort can tack on to the bill to the treasury. AND when he hosts a dignitary or has any sort of meeting at the resorts, ANOTHER bill to the treasury for using the resorts for ‘government activities’. So far, all that is known is the SS has paid (Feb 17, 2018) around $75,000 for golf cart rentals. The treasury won’t advise how much has been paid out to trump properties for all the other charges."
Trump Has Shifted $1.3 Million Of Campaign-Donor Money Into His Business!
Mar 20, 2019, Dan Alexander Individual Contributor forbes.com
Donald Trump has charged his own reelection campaign $1.3 million for rent, food, lodging and other expenses since taking office, according to a Forbes analysis of the latest campaign filings. And although outsiders have contributed more than $50 million to the campaign, the billionaire president hasn’t handed over any of his own cash. The net effect: $1.3 million of donor money has turned into $1.3 million of Trump money. Click here for the whole story. REALLY... check it out!
Donald Trump has charged his own reelection campaign $1.3 million for rent, food, lodging and other expenses since taking office, according to a Forbes analysis of the latest campaign filings. And although outsiders have contributed more than $50 million to the campaign, the billionaire president hasn’t handed over any of his own cash. The net effect: $1.3 million of donor money has turned into $1.3 million of Trump money. Click here for the whole story. REALLY... check it out!
Trump: President or Mob Boss?
Published in El Espectador (Colombia) on 5 March 2019 by Raphael Orduz [link to original]
Translated from Spanish by Patricia Simoni. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer. Posted on March 6, 2019.
On Feb. 27, lawyer Michael Cohen, the man who for 10 years did the dirty work of protecting Donald Trump, appeared before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
If the protagonists’ names were omitted, you might imagine you were watching an informer testify against the head of a criminal organization — a mob boss. Of course, in such organizations, the law of silence must prevail; therefore, Cohen’s testimony was extraordinary.
And this was surprising: Not one Republican representative objected to the accusations, as though they were actually common knowledge and true. Instead, the Republicans acted as though the lawyer was not even qualified to be a traitor.
Some of the pearls tossed by Cohen:
Translated from Spanish by Patricia Simoni. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer. Posted on March 6, 2019.
On Feb. 27, lawyer Michael Cohen, the man who for 10 years did the dirty work of protecting Donald Trump, appeared before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
If the protagonists’ names were omitted, you might imagine you were watching an informer testify against the head of a criminal organization — a mob boss. Of course, in such organizations, the law of silence must prevail; therefore, Cohen’s testimony was extraordinary.
And this was surprising: Not one Republican representative objected to the accusations, as though they were actually common knowledge and true. Instead, the Republicans acted as though the lawyer was not even qualified to be a traitor.
Some of the pearls tossed by Cohen:
- For starters, Cohen’s definition of Trump: a liar, racist and a cheat;
- Trump, according to Cohen, knew about the plot with WikiLeaks to divulge Democratic National Committee emails, aimed at discrediting candidate Hillary Clinton;
- Cohen attached a copy of a check that Trump made out to him as partial payment for silencing Stormy Daniels, a porn actress and film producer, about her relationship with the magnate years before, thus violating campaign finance rules, and as payment for covering the web of lies to the president’s wife, Melania;
- He presented the financial statements (2011-2013) remitted by the Trump Organization to Deutsche Bank, figures that were conveniently inflated or reduced, depending on whether the object was to obtain a loan or reduce taxes;
- He said that, contrary to the official story that Trump had suspended his business dealings with Russia during the campaign, Trump was aware at all times that those dealings continued during 2016. Given the possibility of Trump campaign collusion with Russia to influence election results in November 2016, business dealings with Russia have been one of the lines of investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who will soon present his findings to the Department of Justice;
- Cohen recalled that on many occasions over the years, he lied for Trump, including to Congress. In business dealings, intimidation of the other party was a mandatory part of the menu. (One recalls the mafia boss in “The Godfather”: “I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.”) The reason Cohen gave for this conduct was that he was ambitious.
Trump’s mob mentality: Comey’s description of Trump is actually quite apt
By Michael D'Antonio NEW YORK DAILY NEWS | Apr 15, 2018
READ ALL ABOUT IT
CLICK HERE
Trump Conflicts and Scandals
Updated: March 14, 2019, 2:00 PM EDT bloomberg.com
Donald Trump promised to drain the Washington swamp. Instead, he has surrounded himself with family members, appointees and advisers who’ve been accused of conflicts of interest, misuse of public funds, influence peddling, self-enrichment, working for foreign governments, failure to disclose information and violating ethics rules. Some are under investigation or facing lawsuits. Others have resigned, been convicted or pleaded guilty. Scandals plague all administrations, but the Trump Team's allegations just keep on coming.
Trump business ethics pledges left plenty room for profiting
By BERNARD CONDON and TAMI ABDOLLAH January 22, 2018
Trump details how he’s profiting off the presidency
Tara Culp-Ressler Jun 17, 2017, 1:44 pm
Trump’s effort to profit off the presidency gets underway in earnest
Mar-a-Lago dues are doubling, and Trump-branded hotels look to expand across the country. Aaron Rupar Jan 25, 2017
Trump paid $12.5 million to his own businesses during race
by Drew Griffin, Marshall Cohen and Scott Zamost @CNNMoney December 16, 2016
By BERNARD CONDON and TAMI ABDOLLAH January 22, 2018
Trump details how he’s profiting off the presidency
Tara Culp-Ressler Jun 17, 2017, 1:44 pm
Trump’s effort to profit off the presidency gets underway in earnest
Mar-a-Lago dues are doubling, and Trump-branded hotels look to expand across the country. Aaron Rupar Jan 25, 2017
Trump paid $12.5 million to his own businesses during race
by Drew Griffin, Marshall Cohen and Scott Zamost @CNNMoney December 16, 2016
Trump is breaking one of his big ethics pledges
A year into his presidency, no payments have been made.
An Associated Press report on Monday showed that despite President Trump’s pledge to donate all profits his hotels received from foreign governments, his business has not yet made a single payment to the U.S. Treasury.
Trump's campaign paid his businesses $8.2 million
The GOP presidential candidate draws on his own companies to an unprecedented degree.
By KENNETH P. VOGEL and ISAAC ARNSDORF 09/22/2016 05:13 AM EDT
Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has paid his family's businesses more than $8.2 million, according to a POLITICO analysis of campaign finance filings, which reveals an integrated business and political operation without precedent in national politics.
The GOP presidential nominee’s campaign has paid his various businesses for services including rent for his campaign offices ($1.3 million), food and facilities for events and meetings ($544,000) and payroll for Trump corporate staffers ($333,000) who helped with everything from his traveling security to his wife’s convention speech.
Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has paid his family's businesses more than $8.2 million, according to a POLITICO analysis of campaign finance filings, which reveals an integrated business and political operation without precedent in national politics.
The GOP presidential nominee’s campaign has paid his various businesses for services including rent for his campaign offices ($1.3 million), food and facilities for events and meetings ($544,000) and payroll for Trump corporate staffers ($333,000) who helped with everything from his traveling security to his wife’s convention speech.
Trump received $1.6 million from Secret Service
The agency pays to travel with all presidential nominees, but in Trump’s case, that money went to one of his companies.
By ISAAC ARNSDORF and KENNETH P. VOGEL 09/22/2016 07:11 PM EDT
Donald Trump's campaign isn't alone in patronizing his own businesses: taxpayers are indirectly doing so, too. Federal Election Commission records show that the U.S. Secret Service has paid the Trump campaign about $1.6 million to cover the cost of flying its agents with the candidate on a plane owned and operated by one of his companies.
It’s standard practice for the agency to reimburse presidential campaigns for the cost of traveling with the candidates. In fact, the Secret Service has reimbursed the Clinton campaign, too.
The difference with Trump is that one of his companies, TAG Air, Inc., owns the plane, so the government is effectively paying him. The Clinton campaign, by contrast, mostly has been chartering planes from a private company called Executive Fliteways in which the Clintons do not have any ownership interest.
“The taxpayers are actually reimbursing Trump for the travel of the Secret Service agents," said Brett Kappel, a campaign finance lawyer at the law firm Akerman LLP. "It's just another example of how the Trump campaign has taken an unprecedentedly large amount of its money and spent it at Trump-owned facilities."
Donald Trump's campaign isn't alone in patronizing his own businesses: taxpayers are indirectly doing so, too. Federal Election Commission records show that the U.S. Secret Service has paid the Trump campaign about $1.6 million to cover the cost of flying its agents with the candidate on a plane owned and operated by one of his companies.
It’s standard practice for the agency to reimburse presidential campaigns for the cost of traveling with the candidates. In fact, the Secret Service has reimbursed the Clinton campaign, too.
The difference with Trump is that one of his companies, TAG Air, Inc., owns the plane, so the government is effectively paying him. The Clinton campaign, by contrast, mostly has been chartering planes from a private company called Executive Fliteways in which the Clintons do not have any ownership interest.
“The taxpayers are actually reimbursing Trump for the travel of the Secret Service agents," said Brett Kappel, a campaign finance lawyer at the law firm Akerman LLP. "It's just another example of how the Trump campaign has taken an unprecedentedly large amount of its money and spent it at Trump-owned facilities."
Inside Trump’s Most Valuable Tower: Felons, Dictators and Girl Scouts
By Zeke Faux and Max Abelson June 22, 2016
"A hedge-fund manager on the 28th floor who pretended to be dead when investors asked for their money reported to prison in January. A few weeks later, an investment adviser on the 17th floor was accused of running a Ponzi-like scheme. Thirteen floors up, a lawyer pleaded guilty this month to stealing millions of dollars from clients. It was all happening at 40 Wall St., across from the New York Stock Exchange, behind golden capital letters proclaiming that this is THE TRUMP BUILDING."
By Zeke Faux and Max Abelson June 22, 2016
"A hedge-fund manager on the 28th floor who pretended to be dead when investors asked for their money reported to prison in January. A few weeks later, an investment adviser on the 17th floor was accused of running a Ponzi-like scheme. Thirteen floors up, a lawyer pleaded guilty this month to stealing millions of dollars from clients. It was all happening at 40 Wall St., across from the New York Stock Exchange, behind golden capital letters proclaiming that this is THE TRUMP BUILDING."
Just so you know... Truth in Media
RT America is a U.S.-based pay television and internet-based[1] news channel which is part of the RT network, a global multilingual television news network based in Moscow, Russia, and funded by the Russian government.[2][3]
The channel is registered as a "foreign agent" with the United States Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). A 2017 report by the United States Intelligence Community characterized RT as "The Kremlin's principal international propaganda outlet" and said that RT America had been set up as an autonomous nonprofit organization to avoid FARA's registration requirement.[4][5] The impact of RT America on the US public has been questioned.[6]
So Dirty Donny is a "stable genious"... it does look like he's good with horses.
Nov. 10, 2015: Trump reiterates that he and Putin "were stable-mates"
"I got to know him very well because we were both on '60 Minutes,' we were stable-mates, and we did very well that night," Trump said, despite the fact that he and Putin had been interviewed in separate countries at different times for the same news program.
Feb. 17, 2016: Trump says he'd be "crazy" to disavow Putin's praise
"I have no relationship with him other than he called me a genius. He said Donald trump is a genius and he is going to be the leader of the party and he's going to be the leader of the world or something."
"I got to know him very well because we were both on '60 Minutes,' we were stable-mates, and we did very well that night," Trump said, despite the fact that he and Putin had been interviewed in separate countries at different times for the same news program.
Feb. 17, 2016: Trump says he'd be "crazy" to disavow Putin's praise
"I have no relationship with him other than he called me a genius. He said Donald trump is a genius and he is going to be the leader of the party and he's going to be the leader of the world or something."
President outdoes himself in new press conference as he praised Vladimir Putin and told reporters that he, Trump, was the “Chosen One” – all within hours of referring to himself as the “King of Israel"
-Tom McCarthy Wed 21 Aug 2019
Excerpt from 'The Trump Prophecy' - Religion News Service
"Like Cyrus, Trump seems for all the world not to care about the actual religious beliefs he is supporting. What he wants is free rein to do as he likes — with the support of those whose local authority he is propping up. He has offered them access to the halls of power — though not to the real power itself. And they have bought what he is selling, and declared him, quite literally, to be a messiah figure.
"It may all seem a bit ridiculous, of course. But there is an important historical lesson here. For though Cyrus restored Israel to self-governance, there would never be another Israelite king. The ceding of power to Cyrus marked the end of Israel’s native form of government. Proclaiming Trump to be a modern-day Cyrus is, implicitly and perhaps even unconsciously, to suggest that our own native form of government may have come to its untimely end."
"It may all seem a bit ridiculous, of course. But there is an important historical lesson here. For though Cyrus restored Israel to self-governance, there would never be another Israelite king. The ceding of power to Cyrus marked the end of Israel’s native form of government. Proclaiming Trump to be a modern-day Cyrus is, implicitly and perhaps even unconsciously, to suggest that our own native form of government may have come to its untimely end."
Rick Perry tells Trump: 'You really are the chosen one' - The Guardian Mon 25 Nov 2019
Rick Perry thinks, at this moment and this time, "Donald Trump was sent by God to do great things”. The notion that Trump is a ruler of less-than-perfect Christian values sent to benefit the godly – a second King Cyrus, perhaps – is common on the religious right. His own religious commitment seems questionable in the extreme but the thrice-married, porn star- and Playmate-paying, pussy-grabbing, customer-defrauding, disability-mocking, race-baiting, Nazi-sympathising, oft-bankrupt, impeachment-threatened president counts evangelical Christians as a key bloc of support.
Minister David Lewicki revealed that he served as the president’s pastor at Marble Collegiate Church in New York City for several years in the 2000s, and never one time did the now-president show up at church. Not even once. The president did not come to Bible study or services during the half a decade that Lewicki was part of the congregation’s leadership. Additionally, Lewicki admitted he was not aware of any financial contributions from Trump. Many Christian faiths believe the Bible calls for tithing.
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Unfortunately for democracy in the western world, Trump has quite likely accomplished that goal whether he ever becomes "President for Life" or not. Many political experts argue that possibility and it seems likely to me, win or lose. The chasm he has created will remain for quite some time even after he's gone.
As blatant and obvious as he is, how do people so staunchly support him? What is wrong with these comic book henchmen? Congressional hearings are supposed to be impartial, bi-partisan fact finding sessions. The Republicans have taken it upon themselves to be Donald Trumps' personal defense team and portray Democrats as crooked prosecutors. Fox (is that Fakes or Faux?) News personnel are acting like evangelical preachers and Trump is their "Jesus" being persecuted by the Romans. If it weren't so disturbing it would be funnier than Saturday morning cartoons; But, there are considerable numbers of people in this country who believe this rampant bullshit as "gospel". The absurdity of Fox (Fakes) News calling Democrats "the party of hate" while their viewers want a list of "never Trumpers" so they "know how much rope to buy"!
Meanwhile, representing people like Donald Trump, William Barr and Mike Pompeo (the 3 stooges) as "men of honor and integrity" despite their "alternative facts" and "the truth is not real" mentality might possibly be ripped right from the pages of a "Bizzaro World" episode of "Superman". This situation really epitomizes the opinion of Gwenda Blair as stated below.
Excerpt from "The 5 People Who Could Have Stopped Trump"
- POLITICO Magazine
"If the [Atlantic City gambling] commissioners had cracked down totally on Trump, it would have accentuated how often before they had given him a pass. To all of a sudden cut him down would have forced questions about the manner in which for years they so reliably had built him up.
“He sniffed that weakness, that they were not going to really, you know, enforce anything,” fellow Trump biographer Gwenda Blair said. “They were not going to take away his license. They couldn’t. It sounds awfully simple-minded, but that’s it. He figures it out so that for people to go against him it’s going to make them look bad: It’s going to make them look bad that they ever approved his casinos, it’s going to make the bankers look bad that they ever gave him his loans, it’s going to make the Republican Party look bad that it ever got behind him.”
“He sniffed that weakness, that they were not going to really, you know, enforce anything,” fellow Trump biographer Gwenda Blair said. “They were not going to take away his license. They couldn’t. It sounds awfully simple-minded, but that’s it. He figures it out so that for people to go against him it’s going to make them look bad: It’s going to make them look bad that they ever approved his casinos, it’s going to make the bankers look bad that they ever gave him his loans, it’s going to make the Republican Party look bad that it ever got behind him.”
House of Trump, House of Putin: The Untold Story of Donald Trump and the Russian Mafia
“It started out as a simple money-laundering operation at Trump Tower in 1984, when a Russian mobster
came to Trump Tower with $6 million in cash and bought five condos.” - Craig Unger (Author)
came to Trump Tower with $6 million in cash and bought five condos.” - Craig Unger (Author)
Chip Felkel, a South Carolina-based Republican strategist:
“Everybody seems to get stained by this guy, and they all get thrown aside when they aren’t useful."
Aspiring President of the United States or wannabe mob boss?
Roger Stone, a political consultant who served as an advisor for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign... put together a group called Stop the Steal and threatened "days of rage" if Republican Party leaders tried to deny the nomination to Trump at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Stone also threatened to disclose to the public the hotel room numbers of delegates who opposed Trump.
Trump said that if he were deprived of the nomination because of falling just short of the 1,237 delegates required, there could be "problems like you've never seen before. I think bad things would happen" and "I think you'd have riots".
Trump said that if he were deprived of the nomination because of falling just short of the 1,237 delegates required, there could be "problems like you've never seen before. I think bad things would happen" and "I think you'd have riots".
Rewriting the rules for the military...
“This all started with the president. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for his actions, and I don’t think you can lose sight of that,” said [Raymond] Mabus, who held the top Navy post in the Obama administration. “He undermined good order and discipline. He dishonored the SEALs... This is just one more example showing that if you deal with this president, it’s not going to end well.”
“It’s typical Trump,” agreed a former senior Defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity... “This is the Trump circus. Everything he touches turns into this convoluted process of politics that we’re seeing today over at the Pentagon.”
“It’s typical Trump,” agreed a former senior Defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity... “This is the Trump circus. Everything he touches turns into this convoluted process of politics that we’re seeing today over at the Pentagon.”
Next stop: spider hole?
Frustrated by the whistleblower complaint and a parade of administration officials testifying on Capitol Hill, Trump is as wary as ever of the staffers around him and distrustful of the traditional White House infrastructure. Working from his private quarters gives him space away from what he perceives as prying eyes and guards against his omnipresent fear of leaks to the media.
What is it Dirty Donny doesn't want the world to see?