No politician has ever been convicted of a campaign violation over non-reporting of a non-disclosure agreement. The only person charged (John Edwards) was acquitted after the Federal Elections Commission declared that non-disclosure agreements are not considered a campaign expenditures and that (in fact) campaign money cannot be used to pay for them.
We know for a fact that over 17 million dollars has been paid out of a taxpayer funded congressional slush fund to quiet and settle sexual harassment allegations. Not a dollar of that 17 million has ever been reported as a campaign contribution, and not one of those members of Congress has been charged with a campaign finance crime for non-disclosure. Our federal law enforcement has all of those names, and many are still within the statutes of limitations to be charged.
But they won't be charged. Because it's not a crime.
There is no such thing as a "new" crime that we can just define on the fly. Our law enforcement does not have the ability to charge someone with a criminal action that has otherwise been deemed perfectly legal for likely dozens, if not hundreds, of other people under the same law.
If your assertion is that Trump should be charged for what has otherwise been considered perfectly legal for everyone else. Then you, my friend, are suffering from classic Trump derangement syndrome. You also hate America and everything it stands for.
36 comments:
A public service announcement.
The four characteristics that define Trumpism are distillations of much more complicated phenomena but provide a brief explanation of its surprising appeal. Whatever the outcome of GOP primaries, the success of Trumpism demands more serious thinking about its origins and future.
1. Celebrity
Whether movie stars running for office or candidates appearing on late-night talk shows, celebrity has long played a role in American presidential politics.
But, celebrity has empowered Trumpism in two unique ways. First, unlike other politicians that seek to frame or reframe their image through positive media coverage during a campaign, Trump's celebrity persona as a CEO and tough decision-maker was already cemented and well-suited to his desired political image. With this tremendous advantage over his rivals, and despite his many blunders on the campaign trail, this image has endured even under withering criticism that would destroy any other candidate.
Second, the celebrity character of Trumpism appeals to citizens that would otherwise be disengaged from politics, with Trump serving as a placeholder for their unsatisfied wants and dreams. The ability to translate the cultural capital of celebrity into political capital seems also to mean that one-time spectators can be similarly transformed into motivated voters.
2. Nativism
Trumpism is also defined by nativism. This movement reaches back to the mid-19th century Know-Nothing agitation and short-lived American Party that combined anti-immigrant sentiment with conspiracy theories about foreigners.
Following in the same tradition, Trumpism first emerged as part of the birther movement. While already debunked in the mainstream, Trump's 2011 public and calculated demand that the President release his full birth certificate, kept him in the media spotlight for well over a year and greatly helped him to develop an initial base of support. Notably, in the late summer of last year, Public Policy Polling released a national survey that showed 61 percent of Trump supporters still identify as birthers.
Under the triumphalist banner "Make America Great Again," this same conspiratorial fear of foreigners explains the broad approval for Trump's impractical pledges to build a wall along the Mexican border and deport all illegal immigrants as well as his unworkable plan to ban all Muslim immigration.
3. The Outsider
Normally, anti-establishment politicians must convince political supporters that they stand in opposition to the entrenched power structure. Ronald Reagan did this very well during his first campaign for Governor of California in 1967. "I am not a politician," he was fond of saying. "I am an ordinary citizen with a deep-seated belief that much of what troubles us has been brought about by politicians; and it's high time that more ordinary citizens brought the fresh air of common-sense thinking to bear on these problems."
But, Trumpism finds strength from the unusual position of the insider-outsider. Trump, the archetypal billionaire insider, often brags that he has turned down millions of dollars from lobbyists and calls his opponents "puppets" of big donors like the Koch Brothers.
Even though he has never run for office, he is too rich and knows the establishment too well to have to curry favour from elites, including the leaders of the Republican Party.
4. Populism
Trumpism appeals to a large group of anti-intellectual, conspiracy minded and alienated malcontents, the same type of voter that backed third party Presidential candidates Ross Perot and George Wallace as well as Senator Joseph McCarthy. It embodies a particular kind of American populism composed of a mish-mash of overt patriotism, economic nationalism, along with a vague commitment to the middle class and an aggressive but indefinite foreign policy.
Like all populism, Trumpism relies on the rhetoric of resentment but is thin on specifics. To the thorny issue of race and police brutality, Trump responds to the chant "Black Lives Matter" by saying "All Lives Matter"; an easy applause line on the campaign trail. Unrestrained by any ideological limitations, Trump is also able to defend some form of universal healthcare "Because the insurance companies are making a fortune because they have control of the politicians."
Attacks by the mainstream media, his political opponents, and even bona-fide conservatives only serve the narrative that Trumpism threatens the established power structure, further framing Trump as the saviour of the disenfranchised.
These four characteristics of Trumpism make it a unique political phenomenon that has surprising appeal across the political spectrum that also extends beyond Trump himself. Much to the consternation of Republican elites, it also stands well outside of conservative political ideology. The remaining question of whether it has enough appeal to win the GOP nomination and go on to the White House will be answered soon.
Tabachnick is a professor of Political Science at Nipissing University, who has published books and articles in the areas of global politics and political philosophy.
You exhibit every symptom.
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Trump’s job performance. Forty-nine percent (49%) disapprove.
The latest figures include 36% who Strongly Approve of the way Trump is performing and 39% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -3. (see trends).
Yeah, go for impeachment for a legal private matter.
Tabachnick is a professor of Political Science at Nipissing University, who has published books and articles in the areas of global politics and political philosophy.
BY DAVID EDWARD TABACHNICK, PH.D. — 01/05/16 03:00 PM EST
so the alky thinks it's compelling to post a copy/paste of a 3 year old opinion from a canadian who supposedly teaches at a school we've never heard of.
good job alky.
we can always count on you to come along and re-define the depths of irrelevance.
and btw, the article was SO well received on the hill it generated all of 25 comments.
heh.
Rasmussen
🤯🤯🤯🤯
RCP Average11/24 - 12/10 43.5 51.8 -8.3
Gallup 12/3 - 12/9 40 56. -16
Rasmussen 12/6 - 12/10 49 Tie
Economist 12/2 - 12/4 46 52 -6
NPR/PBS/Marist 11/28 - 12/4 43 49 -6
Reuters 11/28 - 12/4 41 52 -11
IBD/TIPP 11/26 - 12/2 39 16
Harvard-Harris 11/25 - 11/26 46 -8
Selzer 11/24 - 11/27 44 47 -3
Rasmussen
yup. rasmussen.
too bad you don't possess the intellectual horsepower to articulate an opinion.
"rasmussen right wing bias! squawk!"
lather, rinse, repeat.
He is going to shut down the government over the border.
Mexico isn't going to pay for his wall.
Another lie from the campaign promise.
Once again, Lil Scotty trying to sell a false equivalency with
We know for a fact that over 17 million dollars has been paid out of a taxpayer funded congressional slush fund to quiet and settle sexual harassment allegation
Too bad harassment has nothing to do with paying off hookers with campaign funds....again great try Lil one.....you got shit for brains....!!!!
I look at Rassmussun is an outlier.
Your opinion is based upon your personal racist beliefs. Beaners Olinsky etc.
Have you seen his birth name yet again?
Roger Amick said...
I look at Rassmussun is an outlier.
genius,
if rasmussen was a genuine outlier RCP would not include it in their average.
for someone who prides themselves on being such a political scholar, you need every basic facet explained to you like you're a fucking 5 year old.
like i've said before -
there's stupid, and then there's alky-stupid.
Another lie from the campaign promise.
But Grassely thinks he's doing a fantastic job.....just like rectum breath....both are becoming out liars!!!!! LOLOLOL
Your opinion is based upon your personal racist beliefs. Beaners Olinsky etc.
yeah, that's it. only racists like me and RCP accept rasmussen as legitimate.
if rasmussen was a genuine outlier RCP would not include it in their average.
Funny...RCP does not have them in their current gaggle of approval polls.....
President Trump spanked madam Pelosi and small hands chuck.
Roger Amick said...
He is going to shut down the government over the border.
and it'll be called the schumer shutdown... again.
meanwhile...
“If the Democrats do not give us the votes to secure our Country, the Military will build the remaining sections of the Wall. They know how important it is!” Trump said.
https://apnews.com/9518d24c6bbe41238b8c82f092393284
bingo. take it out of the defense budget since it IS a matter of national security.
fuck the democrats. time to steamroll them.
Lol @ Nancy Pelosi and little Chuck.
They want transparency, just not in public.
Funny...RCP does not have them in their current gaggle of approval polls....
according to the alky, they're in there d0pie.
Blogger Roger Amick said...
RCP Average11/24 - 12/10 43.5 51.8 -8.3
Gallup 12/3 - 12/9 40 56. -16
Rasmussen 12/6 - 12/10 49 Tie
Economist 12/2 - 12/4 46 52 -6
NPR/PBS/Marist 11/28 - 12/4 43 49 -6
Reuters 11/28 - 12/4 41 52 -11
IBD/TIPP 11/26 - 12/2 39 16
Harvard-Harris 11/25 - 11/26 46 -8
Selzer 11/24 - 11/27 44 47 -3
December 11, 2018 at 11:29 AM
KD said...
Lol @ Nancy Pelosi and little Chuck.
They want transparency, just not in public.
trump just fucking destroyed them live and in real time.
HA!
“I will be the one to shut it down,” Trump said. “I will take the mantle of shutting it down ... I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck.”
“I don’t think we should have a debate in front of the press on this,” Pelosi said after several minutes of arguing with Trump in the Oval Office.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-pelosi-schumer-border-wall_us_5c0fefc2e4b00e17a5337320
actually you senile old hag, we need more public debates like this.
So Denny...
You are okay with a non-disclosure agreement when it involves the victim of sexual harassment. But you take issue with a non-disclosure agreement when it involves consensual sex?
The reality is that if any one of those members of Congress were exposed as having paid off employees to keep quiet about allegations of sexual harassment... their careers would almost certainly be over.
People finding out that Donald Trump was sleeping with a playboy bunny, or a porn star? Nobody blinks twice and he is still elected President.
BREAKING: Trump says he would be "proud" to shut down the government over the border wall in a chaotic televised meeting with Democratic leaders.
Lil asshole scotty making shit up again...
You are okay with a non-disclosure agreement when it involves the victim of sexual harassment
You said it not me asshole....The reality is you will defend trump and his actions no matter what...truth has no bearing on your adoration of the fuck in chief....Sad you have such issues with understanding simple themes.....harrasment is a crime, as is buying a hooker with campaign funds to hide it from the public... ....so sad you can't figure that out
I watched it live racist rodent bastard.
Only 29 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the Russia investigation, down from 33 percent last month, while the percentage disapproving has risen to 57 percent.
50 percent say special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s probe is very or somewhat likely to implicate Trump personally in wrongdoing, vs. 43 percent who say it won’t.
A plurality of 44 percent say Trump did something unethical by concealing his effort to build a Trump Tower in Moscow while campaigning for president, while another 26 percent say he did something unwise, and an abysmal 23 percent say he did nothing wrong. That last one, by the way, is Trump’s position.
59 percent say Russian interference in the election is a serious matter that should be investigated, vs. only 35 percent who say it’s about discrediting Trump’s presidency — i.e., that it’s what Trump calls a “witch hunt.”
54 percent say the things Trump has said about the investigation are completely or mostly false, vs. only 36 percent who say they’re true.
Sorry for your lack of will power, Rog...
We all feel for you!
I guess perhaps at your age, it's just too late to gather your strength?
Wrongdoing, huh?
In other words, even the pollsters have given up on special legal counsel finding something illegal?
You know... finding legal stuff (rather than political stuff) like they were tasked to do?
Blogger Roger Amick said...
BREAKING:
it's not breaking if i posted it before you did alky.
imbecile.
Roger Amick said...
I watched it live racist rodent bastard.
it interrupted "the price is right", eh alky?
care to share an expert political analysis derived from your several decades of the study of american history and political pontifications?
what was your one key takeaway, rog?
lemme guess...
orange man bad.
all that polling data is awesome, alky.
care to interpret it for us?
no copy pasting!!!
give it to us straight... in alky.
Wrongdoing, huh?
they also have him on "unethical" and "unwise."
but to me it's the "serious matter" that should have trump shitting his drawers.
Un-copyed and paste opinion. Pelosi and Schumer just got their ass handed to them.
Ace at the Ace of Spades blog always has a great take:
Trump: Let's Debate the Wall in Public, Now
Pelosi and Schumer: No Let's Hide the Debate and Stage-Manage It
Leftwing Media and Cucks: This is Terrible, Why Won't Trump Agree to Stage-Manage the Democratic Process?
The leftwing media and their cuck cocktail party plus ones are beside themselves over this.
Doesn't Trump know that Democracy is supposed to be stage-managed? How can you have a successful Failure Theater production without a script?
DOESN'T TRUMP KNOW WHAT HE'S DONE?!
THE PLEBIANS AND DEPLORABLES GOT TO SEE ACTUAL DISSENT. THIS MAY CAUSE THEM TO NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR LEADERSHIP STRUCTURES!!!!!
You can't know how ebola is really transmitted because that might cause a lack of confidence in the NIH.
You can't know how the FISA was obtained because that might cause a lack of confidence in the IC and FBI.
The people need to be Made Confident in their betters or else the whole system falls apart!!!!
Guys -- our Betters really cannot bear too much direct scrutiny. If the Deplorables and the Garbage People see the low quality of the alleged Betters we might have a Yellow Jackets situation on our hands.
All hands -- GET THIS UNDER CONTROL.
http://ace.mu.nu/archives/378621.php
"Pelosi and Schumer just got their ass handed to them."🤣
It was Classic Trump Ambush in plain sight.
Roger you stupid, stupid ass hat. You listen to what live?. It sure the duck was not The Naco-President.
HE actually said.
""I'll be the one to shut it down. I will take the mantle. And I will shut it down for border security," Trump told House and Senate Democratic leaders as Vice President Pence .
You said you hear him "live" say. Go back to cut n paste low IQ scum.
"Roger AmickDecember 11, 2018 at 12:51 PM
BREAKING: Trump says he would be "proud" to shut down the government over the border wall in a chaotic televised meeting with Democratic leaders."
Pink Elephants Alky.
You broke the news ((and got it wrong))
51 minutes after RRB post ((correctly)) about the exact issue.
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