Comrade Trump

[Uncle Ted]

What JL said.

But think about it this way. You and I share a common goal, the destruction of the republican party as we know it. If it takes a porn star scandal, I say run with it!

Yes... and if it takes down the democratic party in the process it will be worth it!

[myboynoah]

I haven't given this a lot of thought, but it seems to me there area couple of significant things involved in the FBI raid on Cohen's offices. First, they were executing a search warrant that had been issued by a NY court and requested by the FBI and the SDNY prosecutor's office. IOW, the offenses being looked at are likely not part of the Mueller focus, but likely include crimes outside of the Mueller focus. Second, they convinced a judge to allow them to search and raid an attorney's privileged client files. This requires a higher showing than a standard warrant. I cant recall they exact standard, but it is a significant showing required to permit law enforcement to invade a client's privilege with his attorney. They convinced a judge that is was very likely they had Cohen for some crime, probably something that didn't have much do to (if anything at all) with Mueller's investigation. They also convinced him it was necessary to conduct a raid pursuant to warrant as opposed to simply execute a subpoena, which is how this would normally go.

The upshot is that this is really very bad for Trump. It could mean they are going to get Cohen for crimes that involve Trump's business dealings outside of Russia. Or it could mean that they are able to squeeze Cohen very hard and get him to turn on Trump for things that ARE related to Mueller as part of a deal. While Trump/Cohen might have been dumb enough to leave stuff around in the files the FBI seized, I think it is unlikely. But it is very likely that Cohen knows things that are bad for Trump. and if he does, he will likely be turned pretty easily.

The problem with an outsider like Trump coming into national government like this is that they tend not to be truly prepared for the level of scrutiny that their life will endure. And Trump strikes me as the sort of guy who has done sleazy things his entire life and gotten away with it. If anyone is going to know the deets about those sleazy things, it is Cohen, and now Mueller has likely put Cohen's jewels in a vise. No wonder Trump reacted like a wild man.

Sorry if this has all been discussed, im not following that closely,.

I think it's worth saying again if already said.

I hope he squeezes hard on that vice. Cohen seems like a real sleazeball. Time he gets his due.

[Northwestcoug]

Yes... and if it takes down the democratic party in the process it will be worth it!

Well then quit being such a Trumpologist and let's burn it all down!

[old_gregg]

Yes... and if it takes down the democratic party in the process it will be worth it!

this is such a bizarre take

[Commando]

I think it's worth saying again if already said.

I hope he squeezes hard on that vice. Cohen seems like a real sleazeball. Time he gets his due.

Funny how so far it's specifically the people who called for Hillary to go to jail who are getting indicted/investigated.

[Uncle Ted]

this is such a bizarre take

What? Can't a guy dream?

[PaloAltoCougar]

I don't get it... If it is uncovered that Drumpf was involved paying hush-money to a porn star then Drumpf lied. Did he lie under oath? I don't believe so. Did he actually have sex with the porn star? Maybe or maybe not. But why does it even matter? It is not like he had sex as president with a young, unattractive intern in the oval office then lied about it under oath. Where is the offense in this that is going to remove Drumpf from office? It seems you dims want to bark up every tree when Mueller was tasked with investigating russian collusion.

Don't buy the Trumpanitty spin that this is only about collusion. The Rosenstein letter tasking Mueller doesn't even contain the word "collusion." Rather, Mueller's assignment relates to "the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election...." Mueller's specific assignment includes, but is clearly not limited to, "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the [Trump] campaign...." Even if there was absolutely no collusion between Drumpf personally and the Russkies, it's pretty clear there are a lot of connections and smoking guns related to Russian links. But by trying to get the public to think only in terms of Trump-Russia collusion, he'll undoubtedly claim victory if he's left untouched while his comrades are sent off to jail.

[Pelado]

Don't buy the Trumpanitty spin that this is only about collusion. The Rosenstein letter tasking Mueller doesn't even contain the word "collusion." Rather, Mueller's assignment relates to "the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election...." Mueller's specific assignment includes, but is clearly not limited to, "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the [Trump] campaign...." Even if there was absolutely no collusion between Drumpf personally and the Russkies, it's pretty clear there are a lot of connections and smoking guns related to Russian links. But by trying to get the public to think only in terms of Trump-Russia collusion, he'll undoubtedly claim victory if he's left untouched while his comrades are sent off to jail no matter what happens.

fify

[Uncle Ted]

Don't buy the Trumpanitty spin that this is only about collusion. The Rosenstein letter tasking Mueller doesn't even contain the word "collusion." Rather, Mueller's assignment relates to "the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election...." Mueller's specific assignment includes, but is clearly not limited to, "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the [Trump] campaign...." Even if there was absolutely no collusion between Drumpf personally and the Russkies, it's pretty clear there are a lot of connections and smoking guns related to Russian links. But by trying to get the public to think only in terms of Trump-Russia collusion, he'll undoubtedly claim victory if he's left untouched while his comrades are sent off to jail.

Here is the russkie "smoking gun"!!!... Drumpf's charity was given a $150,000 donation in 2015 from Victor Pinchuk, the russian/ukrainina steel king. Oh wait, they can't use this... he gave $13 million to the Clinton foundation while Hillary was Sec of State.

[falafel]

Here is the russkie "smoking gun"!!!... Drumpf's charity was given a $150,000 donation in 2015 from Victor Pinchuk, the russian/ukrainina steel king. Oh wait, they can't use this... he gave $13 million to the Clinton foundation while Hillary was Sec of State.

Why can't they use it.

[Uncle Ted]

Why can't they use it.

It might stir up public interest in the clinton foundation investigation which the media doesn't like to talk about. We can't have that.

[falafel]

It might stir up public interest in the clinton foundation investigation which the media doesn't like to talk about. We can't have that.

Its okay the media isn't conducting the Mueller investigation.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Its okay the media isn't conducting the Mueller investigation.

Sure, but they control everything. #whataboutclinton

[PaloAltoCougar]

Here is the russkie "smoking gun"!!!... Drumpf's charity was given a $150,000 donation in 2015 from Victor Pinchuk, the russian/ukrainina steel king. Oh wait, they can't use this... he gave $13 million to the Clinton foundation while Hillary was Sec of State.

Although the Clinton Foundation has donated funds to causes in amounts and nature far more charitable than has the risible Trump Foundation (although paying off law enforcement officials to go easy, and buying portraits of oneself to display in one's hotels might be considered charitable), I'm happy to stipulate that the Clintons are corrupt. What does this have to do with Trump and the current investigation? I want to believe you're not, but you really come off as a Hannity fan boy. Sad!

[Uncle Ted]

Although the Clinton Foundation has donated funds to causes in amounts and nature far more charitable than has the risible Trump Foundation (although paying off law enforcement officials to go easy, and buying portraits of oneself to display in one's hotels might be considered charitable), I'm happy to stipulate that the Clintons are corrupt. What does this have to do with Trump and the current investigation? I want to believe you're not, but you really come off as a Hannity fan boy. Sad!

Oh, come on PAC... You can do better than this.

Trump's foundation looks like it is small beans... only $979,246 in assets at the end of 2016.
Clinton's foundation is bigly compared to that... over $350 million in assets and that it is just in 2015.

Comparing the amounts each foundation donates would be dumb. Drumpf does need to work on his foundation... what an embarrassment. Maybe he could get some tips from Hillary on how to get some "pay to play" action going to his charity.

Also, I guess it depends on which current investigation you are talking about.

When are y'all going to realize that both the republican and democratic parties are full of snakes. No matter what you dig up on Drumpf you can always find a dim that has done something similar that is far worse. It's only the libertarian types you can trust (think Rand Paul).