NYT Bomb: Trump Inherited $413 million - Committed Tax Fraud

[_Some Schmo]

... getting stupid people to like/believe him.

And desperate people.

There is nothing that could make me desperate enough to believe Drumpf. If you're drinking sand at an oasis, the water's likely not there.

[_Chap]

...desperate people. I'm always amazed, when I'm downtown here in Salt Lake City, at how many people go to these MLM conventions here.

I've seen that happen. Someone I know sank a large sum of family money into the old Lloyds of London insurance market, where one got very high returns, but with the downside risk of unlimited liability if the market suffered a Black Swan event (which it did - this was decades back). He lost everything that had, and became dependent on the really rather small salary he earned in an academic post.

His response? Next time we saw him, he lugged out a flip-book, and said 'I'd like to show you my business'.

It was Amway.

[_Maksutov]

The thing that's almost lost in all this talk about tax evasion is the fact that Drumpf is not only not a self-made billionaire, he's a colossal failure as a business man. He'd be on the street if his dad hadn't bailed him out over and over and over. It's little wonder he's a ____ as President. He only has two talents: tax fraud and getting stupid people to like/believe him.

Who in the wide world of Feck trusts a reality TV star? Oh, I forgot. Republicans. They also believed in the reality of Ronald Reagan, John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. Fantasists then and now.

But really, WTF were Democrats thinking to push Hillary? They were that disconnected from the masses. And now they talk about Biden, for Christ's sakes. It's like were frozen in a previous millenium. And she's back on TV. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

And so because we have two out of control parties with irrational bases, we have to burn the mothereffer down and do Civil War 2. Because we would rather spend money on backstabbing each other than helping each other. Because we would rather suck up to foreigners than understand and live peaceably with our fellow American. Because we are all about parties and not about the Constitution or the unique character of a secular nation of nations. No, we have to throw all that away because of somebody's tribal FEELINGS.

[_Some Schmo]

But really, WTF were Democrats thinking to push Hillary? They were that disconnected from the masses. And now they talk about Biden, for Christ's sakes. It's like were frozen in a previous millenium. And she's back on TV. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

And so because we have two out of control parties with irrational bases, we have to burn the mothereffer down and do Civil War 2.

While I'm somewhat sympathetic to what you're saying here, you often have the appearance of someone who thinks the parties are equally bad. That is a major miscalculation.

I get the feeling that the people who fall into the "both parties are full of crap" camp are former Republicans (who were already cynical about Democrats) being so disgusted with their own party, they decided to equate the two. I can't think of any other explanation for it.

[_Maksutov]

But really, WTF were Democrats thinking to push Hillary? They were that disconnected from the masses. And now they talk about Biden, for Christ's sakes. It's like were frozen in a previous millenium. And she's back on TV. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

And so because we have two out of control parties with irrational bases, we have to burn the mothereffer down and do Civil War 2.

While I'm somewhat sympathetic to what you're saying here, you often have the appearance of someone who thinks the parties are equally bad. That is a major miscalculation.

I get the feeling that the people who fall into the "both parties are full of ____" camp are former Republicans (who were already cynical about Democrats) being so disgusted with their own party, they decided to equate the two. I can't think of any other explanation for it.

I am not saying the parties are equally bad right now. But if the Ds had not run Hillary, I don't think we'd have Trump. Liberals think that mockery is action. They watch the late night comics and feel vindicated and superior. That won't help them.

I want both parties, healthy and reasonable and engaged with each other. I want left and right to be part of the natural bilateral symmetry that distinguishes humanity. We need both liberals and conservatives in our country, just like we need urban and rural and male and female and all colors and creeds. We can't declare war on a part of ourselves without risking suicide.

I really don't want parties at all. But it may be that our primate origins are too powerful. If America decides to commit suicide because of runaway tribalism, I'll have to put my chips elsewhere. I resist that with all my being.

I have never considered myself a Republican but I have conservative parts and liberal parts. I'm a capitalist who believes in a strong military and capital punishment. I also believe in equality and science and an economy that is a hybrid of capitalism and socialism. I'm skeptical of socialized medicine and equally skeptical of libertarians. So I just have to disappoint those who would categorize me. Call me incoherent, I'm happy not to fit into an ideological box. I'm interested in the demonstrably real and effective. I spent 33 years in the Deep State and theory and ideology were ranked far behind pragmatism and the Constitution.

[_Some Schmo]

I am not saying the parties are equally bad right now. But if the Ds had not run Hillary, I don't think we'd have Trump. Liberals think that mockery is action. They watch the late night comics and feel vindicated and superior. That won't help them.

I want both parties, healthy and reasonable and engaged with each other. I want left and right to be part of the natural bilateral symmetry that distinguishes humanity. We need both liberals and conservatives in our country, just like we need urban and rural and male and female and all colors and creeds. We can't declare war on a part of ourselves without risking suicide.

I really don't want parties at all. But it may be that our primate origins are too powerful. If America decides to commit suicide because of runaway tribalism, I'll have to put my chips elsewhere. I resist that with all my being.

I have never considered myself a Republican but I have conservative parts and liberal parts. I'm a capitalist who believes in a strong military and capital punishment. I also believe in equality and science and an economy that is a hybrid of capitalism and socialism. I'm skeptical of socialized medicine and equally skeptical of libertarians. So I just have to disappoint those who would categorize me. Call me incoherent, I'm happy not to fit into an ideological box. I'm interested in the demonstrably real and effective. I spent 33 years in the Deep State and theory and ideology were ranked far behind pragmatism and the Constitution.

Fair enough.

Actually, this might be one of my favorite posts from you.

[_EAllusion]

So this was a literal one day story for all intents and purposes. It didn't get a single segment on any Sunday show. It's much more significant than any of the issues regarding Clinton presented as scandals that were covered wall-to-wall for months, simply dominated national coverage, and undeniably had a pull on election outcomes.

It's getting extremely annoying to listen to people convinced that mainstream media is dominated by liberal bias.

[_huckelberry]

I am not saying the parties are equally bad right now. But if the Ds had not run Hillary, I don't think we'd have Trump. Liberals think that mockery is action. They watch the late night comics and feel vindicated and superior. That won't help them.

I want both parties, healthy and reasonable and engaged with each other. I want left and right to be part of the natural bilateral symmetry that distinguishes humanity. We need both liberals and conservatives in our country, just like we need urban and rural and male and female and all colors and creeds. We can't declare war on a part of ourselves without risking suicide.

I really don't want parties at all. But it may be that our primate origins are too powerful. If America decides to commit suicide because of runaway tribalism, I'll have to put my chips elsewhere. I resist that with all my being.

I have never considered myself a Republican but I have conservative parts and liberal parts. I'm a capitalist who believes in a strong military and capital punishment. I also believe in equality and science and an economy that is a hybrid of capitalism and socialism. I'm skeptical of socialized medicine and equally skeptical of libertarians. So I just have to disappoint those who would categorize me. Call me incoherent, I'm happy not to fit into an ideological box. I'm interested in the demonstrably real and effective. I spent 33 years in the Deep State and theory and ideology were ranked far behind pragmatism and the Constitution.

Fair enough.

Actually, this might be one of my favorite posts from you.

I liked hearing this as well, thanks Muksutov

[_Some Schmo]

So this was a literal one day story for all intents and purposes. It didn't get a single segment on any Sunday show. It's much more significant than any of the issues regarding Clinton presented as scandals that were covered wall-to-wall for months, simply dominated national coverage, and undeniably had a pull on election outcomes.

It's getting extremely annoying to listen to people convinced that mainstream media is dominated by liberal bias.

I think part of it is that it surprises few people. Given what we knew on the surface, it had to be something like this.

The most significant thing about the story for me is how it explains the disconnect between his personality and apparent "success." The one thing I always thought I had to admit was his financial success, and that never sat well with me. He has always struck me as a self-important dumbass. I couldn't explain his wealth. Now I don't have to - he never really had it by himself, not without swindling people and an unlimited bankroll from his father.

He's an epic failure except as a con artist. With exceptional insight into what it means to be a moron, he has become an expert at persuading morons.