The Mueller investigation keeps revealing, first with Manafort and now with Cohen and I think ultimately with Trump, that there is a ton of un-prosecuted white collar crime in America.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) April 13, 2018
Now, I’m not saying it’s all Republicans (she said, sanctimoniously), but there does seem to be something about that group’s cultural norms which encourages rule-breaking. Perhaps it is a failure of their upbringing, or they might be genetically inclined towards criminality…
Breaking: RNC deputy finance chair resigns after reports of $1.6 million payment to Playboy Playmate https://t.co/zVSFdhf9NG
— Cristiano Lima (@viaCristiano) April 13, 2018
Lots going on in this scoop. Big RNC fundraiser Elliott Broidy kept an ex-Playboy model on a paid sexual-services retainer. She got pregnant. Trump lawyer Michael Cohen negotiated a $1.6m hush-money payout. She had an abortion. https://t.co/fLC8Scky9t
— Daniel Nasaw (@danielnasaw) April 13, 2018
has Kevin Williamson called for Elliott Broidy to be executed yet?
— Zeddy (@Zeddary) April 13, 2018
Why did @StormyDaniels get only a tenth of this for her NDA? https://t.co/onyH32JqMH
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) April 13, 2018
(My guess: Donald Trump has only a tenth, or less, of Briody’s wealth!)
And Broidy is reportedly under investigation by Mueller for his ties to unregistered United Arab Emirates fixer (and convicted pedophile) George Nader. Swell bunch. https://t.co/jvXVbBhEDg
— Zeddy (@Zeddary) April 13, 2018
It’s like RNC finance committee is a street gang where you have to sleep with a playmate & pay hush money to join https://t.co/9Rf7boYmZO
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) April 13, 2018
someone or someones have a lot of compromising, blackmailable info on the RNC. https://t.co/YSzB137uPO
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) April 13, 2018
Did anyone work on the campaign, then at the RNC, then on the inaugural committee, and have years of working w & laundering money for Russian & Ukrainian intel & oligarchs?
Oh yeah, Rick Gates https://t.co/XFtXO26xCK
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) April 13, 2018
RICK GATES! There’s a name we’d almost forgotten, in the news torrent…
To recap: RNC finance chair Steve Wynn resigned after sexual harassment allegations. RNC deputy finance chair Elliott Broidy paid a $1.6M settlement to a Playboy model he impregnated. RNC deputy finance chair Michael Cohen had his offices raided by the FBI. Paging @GOPChairwoman.
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) April 13, 2018
Also, as a follow-up — seeing how you pressured Democrats to give back the money Weinstein donated, when are you going to demand your own party give back the money Wynn, Cohen and Broidy raked in? https://t.co/naJ1d44qCU
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) April 13, 2018
Given the Broidy news, good story to break right now: America First Action Super PAC is refusing to return a hefty contribution from Steve Wynn: https://t.co/eUG86t1W2i
— Kate Brannen (@K8brannen) April 13, 2018
What’s that proverb from (what they claim is) their sacred text? He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent…
lamh36
lamh36
The Dangerman
Hey, maybe Trump WILL be the reason the swamp gets drained, at least a little bit; wasn’t the way he planned, of course, but I’m a results oriented kinda guy.
News is fast and furious tonight. I shoulda stocked up on popcorn.
Elizabelle
A reader commenter on a NYTimes thread suggested Team Mueller stay together and prosecute other white collar crime; not a bad idea. The rich have had a different system for years, and can afford legal talent to evade or greatly reduce their exposure.
That has to stop.
FlyingToaster
@lamh36: I’d be shocked if he dared. At this point, I’m betting a a nuke in Syria.
The Dangerman
@lamh36:
I wonder how many Deputy AG’s Trump will have to send packing to get the one that fires Mueller? Those will be helluva job interviews for those interested in the job. One qual only; fire the SC.
The Dangerman
@FlyingToaster:
While a nuke ain’t gonna happen (at least not Syria), there is about to be one amazing Wag The Dog.
Now, Iran and a nuke? Now we can talk.
The Dangerman
ETA: Everyone at the salad bar at Applebee’s?
ETA: Hold it. I clicked edit. DIdn’t I? I’m one beer in to the Friday so I don’t recall.
Baud
So many different translations at your link. Who knows what god really believes?
patrick ii
I think Michael Avenatti should have his own show on MSNBC. He has been on at least one show every night for the last two weeks. And its been must see TV.
Marcopolo
Lisa Green, Esq. on Chris Hayes: Cohen appears to be a central player in an NDA Industrial Complex. Ha ha.
TenguPhule
@Elizabelle:
All registered Republicans on the rich list should be given a choice.
Total asset forfeiture. Or Tumbrels.
TenguPhule
@Baud:
Baud Knows.
Cheryl Rofer
Baud
@TenguPhule: Oh, good campaign slogan.
Rommie
@FlyingToaster: It’s still hyperbole that Trump would ever go President Ren, but it wouldn’t be a shock either.
TenguPhule
@FlyingToaster:
Too much risk of being effective action.
Cruise missiles against Yemen. Because “hey why not” has been the Trump motto towards international affairs.
TenguPhule
@Cheryl Rofer: I can see this day can only go downhill from here.
Dave
@The Dangerman: When I’m feeling doe-eyed and Pollyanish that’s my take. HEC wins in 2016 we have another devastating 2018 midterm because let’s face it GOP along with the media would turn what tea she drinks into a massive scandal. 2020 is lost even more crazy redistricting locks in GOP congressional control. Trump winning may actually be the carastrophic event that changes things assuming of course that catastrophic event doesn’t kill us all or totally tear the country apart. Of course there is also Supreme Court, thanks a lot Mitch, and all the damage done in the meantime but like I said if I’m being all doe eyed and hopeful this may actually work out. The heighten the contradiction idiots may have been accidentally right this one, and only one, time
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
@TenguPhule:
BoBaud Knows Politicsdmsilev
@Cheryl Rofer: Oh boy. That cannot cannot cannot be good.
germy
@Cheryl Rofer:
Maybe he’ll fire Rosenstein during the statement. You know how his mind wanders.
Elizabelle
@Cheryl Rofer: An actual statement? Not just a tweet? How presidential.
Marcopolo
Breaking: Word on Twitter is a strike decision has been made on Syria. Trump to make statement in next 30 mins.
germy
@Dave:
But so much collateral damage.
Roger Moore
Reports coming on Twitter that something big is going on WRT Syria. I guess an immediate distraction was necessary.
Baud
@germy: I hope he doesn’t bomb Rosenstein.
JGabriel
@The Dangerman:
This IS the salad bar at Applebee’s.
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
Cheryl Rofer
lamh36
germy
Washington Post:
Elizabelle
@Dave: I am looking for that silver lining too. Some people have to live how bad it can get. Sad!
This has to destroy a lot of the media industrial complex too. They are Republican enablers and feed off ugliness and controversy. How juvenile they are.
Davey C
Not entirely sure why, but I feel very nervous about everything that’s happening right now.
Baud
@Cheryl Rofer: Seems odd to divert attention on a weekend, though.
Marcopolo
@Marcopolo: See Cheryl beat us all to the punch.
Adam L Silverman
I’m back from dinner, anything going on?
Chet Murthy
@Dave:
The fackin’ Lenin-corpse-felchers will never, ever let us forget it, if this transpires.
Elizabelle
@Baud: Yeah. And he hasn’t fled down to Florida yet. The sacrifices that man makes.
Dave
@germy: Yep so damned much. And that’s why it’s my shiny happy take where I pretend everything will work out.
Marcopolo
@Baud: Who knows, if it’s sending missles maybe Rosenstein will be attached to one? It’s Trump anything’s possible.
germy
@Adam L Silverman: Besides the Migratory Bird Treaty Act?
Baud
@Dave:
The problem isn’t the theory. The problem is that its never a better alternative than avoiding the problem in the first place.
Elizabelle
@Cheryl Rofer: They look like high end realtors.
It’s tragic, the power that the worst among us have. Kakistocracy on a couch.
TenguPhule
@Adam L Silverman:
World War III, apparently.
JWR
@Cheryl Rofer:
Buckle up, world.
Baud
@Adam L Silverman: War!
lamh36
NotMax
re: the headline
The GOP, Party of White
CollarPower Criminalsdmsilev
@Davey C:
“President Donald Trump” is probably why.
Waldo
So Rosenstein gets the ax, then Mueller. Then what? A Trump loyalist takes over the investigation and declares Trump the least crooked prez ever. The “deep state” leaks more damning evidence. Twitler whines about it. Rinse and repeat until 2020?
TenguPhule
Oh Gods, not another McCarthy era.
MomSense
@Davey C:
Yes, this is a precarious time.
dmsilev
Trump is going to find out that Wag The Dog doesn’t work well on breeds with docked tails.
jl
” Mueller investigation keeps revealing…. there is a ton of un-prosecuted white collar crime in America. ”
MY didn’t know that already? Do tell.
My own sensible bothsidesdoit balanced moderate political self started crumbling during the Bush I administration, when I had a hard time distinguishing between what the GOP was doing and corporate white collar crime.
I still mistrust the political and money establishments of both Dems and GOP, but realize that the GOP is miles worse in pretty much every way. And damn, I saw a tweet from Chuck D recently saying the same thing. Hey, call me a crazy radical, I guess.
MisterForkbeard
@The Dangerman: I bet the plan is “declare Rosenstein is fired and dare everyone to treat him like he still works there.”
Basically, fuck the details, we’re just going to fire him by fiat and threaten everyone into pretending it’s normal and okay.
Tilda Swintons Bald Cap
@Waldo: Yes.
piratedan
@Adam L Silverman: nah… not really, just imminent missile strikes in the middle east and another likely firing of a high ranking DOJ official in the aftermath that all of the fucking dots are about connected leaving little doubt to our worst fears about the election of 2016 and who orchestrated and funded the operation and the aims of those who perpetrated it.
Our media dares not call it for the treason that it is or point the accusatory finger on those who benefited.
so in short, its Friday night… I might go see a movie.
T S
@Adam L Silverman: Nothing 25 gin and tonics can’t help a person forget about.
The Dangerman
@Waldo:
2024. Trump would be more than happy to win the same way (i.e., Russia).
JGabriel
@Elizabelle:
Maybe Earhardt. The other two look distinctly low-rent to me, though.
Roger Moore
@TenguPhule:
I would assume we’ll just expropriate their estates, so what’s the point of giving them the choice?
trollhattan
@Cheryl Rofer:
“Useful” doing some heavy lifting there.
T S
@The Dangerman: On a purely physical level, I’m not sure he can make it. Trump-ISM though, might….
debbie
@Davey C:
Nah. Putin has had plenty of time to get his stuff out of the missles’ way.
NotMax
Firing porn gets old real fast.
jl
And yes, I too am very concerned about the NDA hush money gender pay gap. Shameful.
rikyrah
I went back to where Bertrand said that Cohen was there to meet hackers.
The look on Hayes ‘face.
BWA HA HA HA ??
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
There’s a tweet for everything
Adam L Silverman
@germy: That’ll be challenged in court on Monday.
Cheryl Rofer
@Adam L Silverman: I am looking for a live stream of Trump’s statement, but no luck so far.
Marcopolo
Anyone think the attack is underway already?
trollhattan
@Baud:
“What is it good for?”*
*a.k.a. working title of War and Peace.
OGLiberal
Son of a bitch is pre-empting Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D!
Cheryl Rofer
Marcopolo
@Marcopolo: And bingo!
lamh36
Ya’ll will have to tell me what Chumps says exactly…I have manage to not hear the man speak unless I have been forced…and I plan to continue to never hearing it if I don’t have to.
Cheryl Rofer
JWR
So far, just confirmation that an attack is imminent, or already underway.
MisterForkbeard
@rikyrah: In what way? Be sure I’m not sure if that’s better or worse for Trump if Cohen was meeting hackers or other officials.
Also, what does hush money for hackers mean in this case? Paying them to keep quiet about Trump’s own problems? Keeping quiet about their part in the campaign?
TenguPhule
@Roger Moore:
Religious Irony.
Mandalay
@Marcopolo:
It is definitely already underway.
Rosenstein’s coffee mug and the photo of his wife have just been put in a cardboard box by security. They’re about to pry open the drawers of his desk.
trollhattan
@David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch:
So classic they should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Cheryl Rofer
Adam L Silverman
@Cheryl Rofer: I just put it up in a new thread. We’ve got you covered!
lamh36
Chet Murthy
@Cheryl Rofer: Fuck. I had -so- hoped that our allies would tell him where to get off. Ugh.
TenguPhule
@Cheryl Rofer:
Attacks will begin after Trump finishes then.
Adam L Silverman
@TenguPhule: I’ll be off to work then!
Cheryl Rofer
Cheryl Rofer
Elizabelle
He has some nice pee-yellow roses over his left shoulder.
And he looks calm. Guess there’s still time to go off script, though.
trollhattan
@Cheryl Rofer:
Thanks Maggie. France in charge of flinging stinky cheese.
Elizabelle
http://www.washingtonpost.com has a feed.
TenguPhule
@Adam L Silverman: Always look at that silver lining.
trollhattan
@Cheryl Rofer:
“Very terrible” far less strident than how he described Comey.
efgoldman
@Cheryl Rofer:
And?
Omnes Omnibus
@trollhattan: Limburger is from a region now divided between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Oh, and Monroe, Wisconsin.
different-church-lady
These must be the “party of family values” values I keep hearing so much about.
BroD
Yeah, ok, you dropped some bombs on Syria. Now, about the collusion with Russia….
mainmata
@The Dangerman: Also, remember that under the rules, a special counsel can appeal his dismissal to the courts which, for sure, would overturn a dismissal because there’s no except obstruction of justice.
Ruckus
@different-church-lady:
Not exactly a party that I’d want to attend. Or a family that I’d want to stay a part of.
randy khan
@Dave:
I don’t think they were talking about the contradictions between sane, honest people in government and raving lunatic criminals, though.
And that’s not just snark. A lot of the really terrible substantive action in this Administration is well beneath the radar for most of the population, and what the “heighten the contradictions” crowd never understood is that even the people who are being massively harmed by a Republican-controlled government do not necessarily make the connection. In addition, as a general principle, losing an election pushes a party closer to the perceived center, not further out. (This particular era appears to be an exception, but it’s not the way you’d bet.) It’s unfortunate, to say the least, but it’s still true.
Quaker in a Basement
Whose $1.6 mil? Broider’s own money?
That’s not very Republican.
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
@Anne Laurie:
Yup. If minorities had did this, the usual suspects in the media would be screaming about “personal responsibility”. If white liberals had did this, the usual suspects in the media would be screaming about the 60s and permissiveness and school prayer.
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
@Quaker in a Basement: Yeah, they usual get a government bailout.