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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Campaign Updates

Campaign Updates

by @heymistermix.com|  July 9, 20209:26 am| 114 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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Biden just unveiled a $700 billion “Made in All of America” plan. It’s all good, and #6 should be #1 with a bullet:

6. SUPPLY AMERICA. Bring Back Critical Supply Chains to America so we aren’t dependent on China or any other country for the production of critical goods in a crisis.

Democratic Senate candidates in possible pick-up states are killing it on second quarter fundraising which is great news since now is the time that campaigns can really use the money. Also, this is a great piece about Republican consultants shitting themselves over their candidates’ prospects in the Fall.

And, unlike other elections, the Biden campaign is wisely working on ways for Sanders supporters to shape policy via 6 Biden-Sanders Unity Task Forces. Here’s AOC’s take on the Climate Task Force, which she co-chaired with John Kerry:

Today the 6 Biden-Sanders Unity Task Forces are unveiling final language.

The Climate Task Force accomplished a great deal. It was an honor to serve as co-chair w/ Sec. @JohnKerry.

Among the notable gains: we shaved *15 years* off Biden’s previous target for 100% clean energy. https://t.co/pnLj7uufeg

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 8, 2020

Of course, like in any collaborative effort, there are areas of negotiation and compromise.

But I do believe that the Climate Task Force effort meaningfully & substantively improved Biden’s positions.

I encourage you to engage the document critically and offer feedback or Qs.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 8, 2020

What’s going on in your neck of the woods?

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Previous Post: « Thursday Morning Open Thread: Repub Rogues’ Gallery
Next Post: Optimizing the ACA Exchanges for the unemployed »

Reader Interactions

114Comments

  1. 1.

    Baud

    July 9, 2020 at 9:30 am

    It’s nice when we’re all beating to the same drum.

  2. 2.

    Omnes Omnibus

    July 9, 2020 at 9:31 am

    @Baud: Phrasing!

  3. 3.

    Mike in DC

    July 9, 2020 at 9:36 am

    I really want to see the whole policy platform now. The foreign policy plank(e.g., Russia and China policy) is of particular interest to me.

  4. 4.

    Joe Falco

    July 9, 2020 at 9:38 am

    @Mike in DC: At this point, stating a Biden administration would support America’s allies would be a step up from current policy.

  5. 5.

    Ken

    July 9, 2020 at 9:46 am

    At least the Republican platform is clear on the incompetence and criminality of the President, and of how badly his actions have damaged the United States.

  6. 6.

    Omnes Omnibus

    July 9, 2020 at 9:51 am

    @Joe Falco: “The United States will expend every good faith effort to abide by its international commitments.  The United States will also seek to rejoin the international organizations and agreements from which it withdrew during the Trump interregnum.  In the meantime, the United States will abide by the rulings and rules of those agreements and agencies.  Oh, and sorry.”

  7. 7.

    Salty Sam

    July 9, 2020 at 9:51 am

    For all the slagging that AOC gets, even here at times, her tweets above were perfect refutation of the charges of not working with party leadership and not being a serious rep.  Looking fwd to seeing more from her in the Biden administration.

    Also too, good to see Biden nurturing young talent, something Dem leadership has not always done well.

  8. 8.

    Chyron HR

    July 9, 2020 at 9:53 am

    And, unlike other elections, the Biden campaign is wisely working on ways for Sanders supporters to shape policy

    Gee, if only we had been “wise enough” to literally let Bernie’s disciples write the entire party platform in 2016, they might not voted for Jill Stein out of sheer spite.

  9. 9.

    Baud

    July 9, 2020 at 9:56 am

    @Chyron HR:

    Yeah, it’s typical bullshit.

    ETA: Sorry, that’s the wrong link.  Will look for the right one and update.

    ETA2: A better link.

    ETA3:  Removed first link.

  10. 10.

    raven

    July 9, 2020 at 9:58 am

    Supreme decision coming up.

  11. 11.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    July 9, 2020 at 10:03 am

    @Chyron HR: Remember in ’16 when Bernie strong-armed Cornel “Inauguration Tickets” West on to the platform committee and he became such an effective surrogate? Or when HRC gave up on TPP so Bernie and his cultists stopped acting like assholes?

    I wish there were some way to ask all the kidz frantically waving the TPP signs for the MSNBC cameras in Philadelphia what those letters stood for. I’d bet a large amount of money no more than 10% could answer.

  12. 12.

    Formerly disgruntled in Oregon

    July 9, 2020 at 10:03 am

    @Ken: LOL

  13. 13.

    laura

    July 9, 2020 at 10:05 am

    @raven: I’ve got my highlighter and red pen ready to do some hate-hate-reading as soon as that decision drops. Please FSM, let RBG or Sotomayor write that decision!

  14. 14.

    laura

    July 9, 2020 at 10:05 am

    @raven: I’ve got my highlighter and red pen ready to do some hate-reading as soon as that decision drops. Please FSM, let RBG or Sotomayor write that decision!

  15. 15.

    Baud

    July 9, 2020 at 10:06 am

    The liberals got Gorsuch for a big win for the Creek Nation.

  16. 16.

    Formerly disgruntled in Oregon

    July 9, 2020 at 10:07 am

    Few are daring to get their hopes up about this decision…

  17. 17.

    TS (the original)

    July 9, 2020 at 10:07 am

    @Baud:

    He has been a big surprise in a few decisions.  Must be upsetting some on the right.

  18. 18.

    Baud

    July 9, 2020 at 10:08 am

    @TS (the original): Gorsuch was always viewed as somewhat pro-Indian.  Despite a few good votes, he’s been quite radical in other opinions.

  19. 19.

    TS (the original)

    July 9, 2020 at 10:10 am

    @Baud:  agreed

  20. 20.

    Baud

    July 9, 2020 at 10:11 am

    Supreme Court site is freezing up.  Vance wins.

    Thomas and Alito only dissenters.

  21. 21.

    raven

    July 9, 2020 at 10:12 am

    No absolute immunity!!!

  22. 22.

    japa21

    July 9, 2020 at 10:13 am

    NY gets the documents. 7-2

     

    ETA Being sent back to trial court.

  23. 23.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 9, 2020 at 10:13 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: Beating off the same drum?

  24. 24.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 9, 2020 at 10:16 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Toilet Paper Parade?

  25. 25.

    Gin & Tonic

    July 9, 2020 at 10:18 am

    @mrmoshpotato: Baud knows how to bait Omnes. He’s a master at it, frankly.

  26. 26.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 9, 2020 at 10:19 am

    @Gin & Tonic: I’ve never seen it put that way before.  Bravo!

  27. 27.

    dmsilev

    July 9, 2020 at 10:19 am

    A fun read:

    What 9 GOP Campaign Consultants Really Think About Republicans’ Chances in November

    Shooting rubber bullet grenades at protesting priests. Catastrophically botching the pandemic response, resulting in a public health and economic calamity. Tweeting “white power” memes. Ranting in front of empty arenas about how he navigated a “slippery ramp.” Being MIA while his Russian benefactors put out a hit on American soldiers in Afghanistan.

    The last 3 months have been a political dumpster fire for President Trump, and the flames have engulfed Republicans up and down the ballot. But while pockets of Republican resistance have roasted Dear Leader, elected officials in D.C. and their svengalis in the consultant class have remained steadfast.

    These swamp creatures were never the biggest Trumpers in the first place — his initial campaign team was an assortment of d-listers and golf course grunts rather than traditional GOP ad men. So why, as Trump’s numbers plummet, are these establishment RINOs continuing to debase themselves to protect someone who is politically faltering and couldn’t care less about them?

    […]

    As one put it: “There are two options, you can be on this hell ship or you can be in the water drowning.” So I give you the view from the U.S.S Hellship, first the political state of play, and then the psychological.

  28. 28.

    CaseyL

    July 9, 2020 at 10:20 am

    Looks like SCOTUS ruled to release Trump’s taxes.  I’m seeing reports that the vote was 7-2, but he does have to release his taxes to SDNY.  Not sure about Congress.

  29. 29.

    Gin & Tonic

    July 9, 2020 at 10:21 am

    @mrmoshpotato: Just trying to maintain the high literary standards we’ve grown accustomed to around here.

  30. 30.

    Baud

    July 9, 2020 at 10:21 am

    Punt on Mazers. Roberts again.

    ETA:  Opinions cuts back on application of executive privilege to everything under the sun.

  31. 31.

    chopper

    July 9, 2020 at 10:21 am

    7-2 for SDNY. still waiting on the other one.

  32. 32.

    Baud

    July 9, 2020 at 10:23 am

    @chopper: It’s out.  It’s a punt.  Sending it back down.

    Although it’s good in that it cuts back on Trump’s claims of absolute protection from Congressional subpoenas.

  33. 33.

    Elizabelle

    July 9, 2020 at 10:25 am

    Fingers crossed the Supremes stand up for congressional oversight. Happy, and not surprised, about the Mazar outcome.  Shame that it took so damn long.

    Good morning, jackals.

  34. 34.

    japa21

    July 9, 2020 at 10:26 am

    Inconclusive and both being sent back. Chicken shits.

  35. 35.

    chopper

    July 9, 2020 at 10:26 am

    @Baud:

    that’s what i was afraid would happen. the win at SDNY is a remand as well, so that’s going to be a while.

  36. 36.

    Subsole

    July 9, 2020 at 10:26 am

     

    @mrmoshpotato:

    I think y’all are trying to say “beating to the same beat.”

  37. 37.

    Baud

    July 9, 2020 at 10:28 am

    @chopper:

    We probably won’t see any documents before the election, which was practically guaranteed with the Supreme Court took this case.

    The best outcome from all this is that it puts the nail in the coffin for Trump’s (and conservatives’) absolute immunity from oversight gambit.  Long term, that’s good.

  38. 38.

    Patricia Kayden

    July 9, 2020 at 10:28 am

    But I don’t expect that we will see his tax returns in the near future.

    This just in – #SCOTUS says that President Trump is certainly not above the law. In a 7-2 vote, the justices ruled that the president may no longer keep his financial records a secret. https://t.co/m8QsyDkQZT— Mike Muse (@iammikemuse) July 9, 2020

  39. 39.

    TS (the original)

    July 9, 2020 at 10:29 am

    @japa21:

    Good definition.  trump will be unemployed  well before this is sorted.

    And Hillary Clinton sat for 9 hours answering questions from congress. Chicken shit well describes trump also.

  40. 40.

    Elizabelle

    July 9, 2020 at 10:29 am

    Pack the Supreme Court.  I truly think Biden should.  This one will not protect us against Trump, and its membership has been manipulated.

    Make John Roberts rue the day he ever signed on to Citizens United and all his other horrible decisions.

    Pack that Court.  Change the Supremes’ terms from “life” to a more reasonable length, and stagger their replacements.

  41. 41.

    japa21

    July 9, 2020 at 10:30 am

    @Patricia Kayden: That isn’t really what they said, just that he has to use same arguments as anyone else would.

    The second decision was against oversight. Congress needs to show that they need the taxes for legislative reasons.

  42. 42.

    Patricia Kayden

    July 9, 2020 at 10:31 am

    @Baud: Thomas and Alito are hardcore partisans to their very core.  They will never issue any decision which does not push the Conservative agenda.

  43. 43.

    CaseyL

    July 9, 2020 at 10:32 am

    By another 7-2, SCOTUS rules that Congress does NOT get Trump’s tax returns.

    So we have to put our faith in the SDNY, the one where Barr just pushed out the acting US Attorney but failed to get a Trump crony put there in his place.

  44. 44.

    Formerly disgruntled in Oregon

    July 9, 2020 at 10:32 am

    I haven’t been following this closely.

    What are the implications of the “punt”? When does Congress get to see Trump’s taxes? (ETA: Sounds like never?)

    What are the implications of the 7-2 decision on handing taxes to NY prosecutors? When does Trump go to jail?

     

    Thx bunches, love Formerly

  45. 45.

    Baud

    July 9, 2020 at 10:33 am

    @japa21:

    The second decision was against oversight. Congress needs to show that they need the taxes for legislative reasons.

    That has always been the law.  No one argued otherwise in this case.

  46. 46.

    CaseyL

    July 9, 2020 at 10:33 am

    @japa21: “For legislative reasons” is bullshit.  Congress also has a Constitutional duty to investigate wrongdoing by the President.

  47. 47.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    July 9, 2020 at 10:34 am

    I think they were prepared for the punt(s)

    Joe Biden @JoeBiden  8m
    As I was saying.

    Joe Biden JoeBiden

    · Oct 16, 2019
    @realDonaldTrump, you want to talk about corruption? I’ve released 21 years of my tax returns — release yours or shut up.

  48. 48.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 9, 2020 at 10:34 am

    @CaseyL:

    but he does have to release his taxes to SDNY 

    Neither Dump nor Dense can pardon his traitorous, orange, Soviet shitpile mobster conman ass out of state charges.

    Lemme hear it for states’ rights, you Confederate Trump trash!

  49. 49.

    Alison Rose

    July 9, 2020 at 10:35 am

    At the first quick scroll-by, kinda thought that last tweet said “otter feedback” and I was like…yes, I would like otter feedback about climate change, I’m sure they have a lot to say.

  50. 50.

    Baud

    July 9, 2020 at 10:35 am

    @CaseyL: That’s a legislative reason (I don’t think the House tried to justify these documents as needed for an impeachment inquiry, which would be another valid reason).

  51. 51.

    Baud

    July 9, 2020 at 10:36 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    I would prefer he shut up.

  52. 52.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 9, 2020 at 10:37 am

    @Subsole: Synchronized beating, not off by a beat.

  53. 53.

    Jeffro

    July 9, 2020 at 10:38 am

    @Elizabelle:

    Pack the Supreme Court.  I truly think Biden should.  This one will not protect us against Trump, and its membership has been manipulated.  Make John Roberts rue the day he ever signed on to Citizens United and all his other horrible decisions.  Pack that Court.  Change the Supremes’ terms from “life” to a more reasonable length, and stagger their replacements.

    Totally agree on packing (ie, adding two justices – one for Garland, one for Kavanaugh) and Dems being unapologetic about it, too.

    There was an article I saw that suggested SCOTUS judges could be rotated off to other federal courts, 1 of them every 2 years or something like that.  Whatever works!

    Oh, and let’s double the federal judiciary while we’re at it, too.

  54. 54.

    Jeffro

    July 9, 2020 at 10:39 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: love the ‘or shut up’ part

    STRENGTH, we haz it!

  55. 55.

    Patricia Kayden

    July 9, 2020 at 10:40 am

    Supreme Court blocks House Democrats from accessing Trump’s financial records, for now https://t.co/zooE6ch9QR— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 9, 2020

  56. 56.

    Elizabelle

    July 9, 2020 at 10:42 am

    @Patricia Kayden:   Well that is goddamned disgusting.

    No oversight of a treasonous president.  And for documents that have been released as a matter of course by every other presidential nominee.  Thanks, Supremes.

    For shame.

  57. 57.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    July 9, 2020 at 10:43 am

    IANAL but having spent the last four minutes in a twitter legal seminar: the punts (remands? will that be on the test?) will almost certainly protect trump through Election Day, but the NY case is a longer term threat that he will probably have to deal with when he loses Barr’s ability to fuck with the DoJ and use it to file nuisance suits?

  58. 58.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    July 9, 2020 at 10:44 am

    @Formerly disgruntled in Oregon:

    After his arraignment sometime around March. And a guy in his wealth class is a definite flight risk, so no bail.

  59. 59.

    Jinchi

    July 9, 2020 at 10:44 am

    @Ken: At least the Republican platform is clear on the incompetence and criminality of the President

    Didn’t they just run the platform from 2016 through the photocopy machine?

  60. 60.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 9, 2020 at 10:47 am

    @Alison Rose:

    It’s hot out there today—be sure to keep cool like Kiana & Yaku! ?❄️ At Shedd, guests may see the otters on an ice pile—a popular form of enrichment that they enjoy chewing on and laying on to cool down. pic.twitter.com/oMFs8BXw6o— Shedd Aquarium (@shedd_aquarium) July 7, 2020

    And this is apparently real –

    The sound of @shedd_aquarium penguin feet is the joy you didn't know you needed. ?? pic.twitter.com/M5JJMFZXmK— Field Museum (@FieldMuseum) July 8, 2020

  61. 61.

    Subsole

    July 9, 2020 at 10:48 am

    @mrmoshpotato: Galley style! Stroke! Stroke!

    Whipping optional.

  62. 62.

    Patricia Kayden

    July 9, 2020 at 10:49 am

    @Elizabelle: Yeah, it’s a strange decision. I’d love to hear the rationale from the liberal justices on that decision. Congress needs to have the power of oversight or our democracy is doomed.

  63. 63.

    Baud

    July 9, 2020 at 10:50 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    To be honest, it’s hard to imagine there’s anything in his tax returns that will hurt Trump more than he already has been hurt by killing over 130,000+ Americans.  And there’s a risk that the returns aren’t juicy, which would give Trump a talking point.

  64. 64.

    Subsole

    July 9, 2020 at 10:50 am

    @Jeffro:  If we go that road, I say make it 15. Just something absolutely crushing, where further escalation serves them no good.

    I am officially at the heads-on-sticks stage of negotiation.

  65. 65.

    Hoodie

    July 9, 2020 at 10:51 am

    @CaseyL: They didn’t bring up those grounds in these subpeonas.  The setup for this appeal was not ideal because they were specifically targeting Trump.  Might have been better if they had simply done a broader subpeona of Deutsche Bank records as part of general investigation of money laundering and the role it might have, for example, in the luxury real estate business.  That would be a legit congressional inquiry for banking regulation purposes.  Whatever turned up there would tarnish Trump because of his longstanding association with DB.

  66. 66.

    low-tech cyclist

    July 9, 2020 at 10:52 am

    @Elizabelle: 

    Pack the Supreme Court. I truly think Biden should. This one will not protect us against Trump, and its membership has been manipulated.

    I’m with you here. That can be done with legislation, BUT it – along with everything already on their agenda – would require the Dems to kill the filibuster. So if we win the Senate, we start calling our Senators on November 4 about the filibuster.

    Change the Supremes’ terms from “life” to a more reasonable length, and stagger their replacements.

    This would require a Constitutional amendment, although I’ve heard suggestions that one could define their ‘term’ legislatively to include X years on SCOTUS, then lifetime minus X years on a lower court.

    Of course, SCOTUS would have the final word on the Constitutionality of such a measure.

  67. 67.

    Ramiah Ariya

    July 9, 2020 at 10:53 am

    My belief going by AOC’s comments back in February about the Delhi riots in India is that she will shape up to be a major neo-con curious element of the new administration (she called the riots “ethnic cleansing”, using the sort of hyperbole that you would expect among the neo-cons). I think she will push sanctions on India because of the “ethnic cleansing” or better still take to calling for the “Indian regime”‘s toppling, because all her Twitter feed is saying so.

  68. 68.

    Don K

    July 9, 2020 at 10:53 am

    @Jeffro:

    I’m thinking more like four additional – one each for Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, Roberts, and Alito (since the latter two were appointed by the transparently-illegitimate Dubya).

  69. 69.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 9, 2020 at 10:53 am

    @Subsole: Bail!  Bail!

  70. 70.

    Billcoop4

    July 9, 2020 at 10:53 am

    @CaseyL:

    By another 7-2, SCOTUS rules that Congress does NOT get Trump’s tax returns.

    So we have to put our faith in the SDNY, the one where Barr just pushed out the acting US Attorney but failed to get a Trump crony put there in his place.

    No.  This is the Manhattan District Attorney — a state level official.  Barr’s fuckery is irrelevant.

     

    BC

  71. 71.

    Elizabelle

    July 9, 2020 at 10:54 am

    I think I will stay off the internets today.

    Except for penguins.

    Enjoying “Hidden” on Amazon Prime.  Recommended by someone here.  First season of police procedural set in Wales, with subtitles because 1/3 of the dialogue is in Welsh. Which is a wholly incomprehensible language, to me.

    Although they swear in English.  You’ll hear a string of Welsh with the f-word embedded throughout.

  72. 72.

    Elizabelle

    July 9, 2020 at 10:56 am

    @low-tech cyclist:   Yeah.  Your suggestions for fine-tuning are good ones.

  73. 73.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 9, 2020 at 10:57 am

    @Elizabelle: See me at 60.  BEWARE – large murder bird in the background, but they’re very, very dead.

  74. 74.

    MJS

    July 9, 2020 at 10:58 am

    Not great decisions, but still something for the Biden campaign and others to work with. Romney damaged himself considerably when he initially refused to release his tax returns, and let Harry Reid and others speculate that it was because he paid zero taxes. “I’m not showing you my financial records because whether I have to or not is still being decided by the courts” isn’t a great position for Trump to be in. The ads speculating what may be in the records should write themselves.

    Of course, we can also hope that there’s a Daniel Ellsberg wannabe out there somewhere.

  75. 75.

    Subsole

    July 9, 2020 at 11:02 am

    @Don K:

    13 would have a nice symmetry, one per district.

    But I still say if we do it, we need to do it heavy enough that Republican counterpacking looks absurd or more importantly dilutes the sitting justices’ power to the point they resist it themselves. I think 15 is a good sweet spot number, from that angle.

  76. 76.

    CaseyL

    July 9, 2020 at 11:02 am

    @Billcoop4: Ooh, even better.

    What I’m hearing is that even the NY case won’t result in Trump’s tax returns being released before the election, as NY has to go to a grand jury first?  Is that correct?

    And – again, if I’m reading this correctly – the Congressional case was remanded back to a court that has already said Congress *does* have the authority to demand the tax returns. So, what’s up with that?

  77. 77.

    mad citizen

    July 9, 2020 at 11:03 am

    What Joe Biden said–put up or shut up.  Regardless of the SCOTUS decision, we should all remind ourselves the question is why the guy won’t give them up voluntarily?  Until he does, one has to assume he is a criminal.

     

    But yes, if Congress doesn’t have oversight on this, we are fucked.

  78. 78.

    TS (the original)

    July 9, 2020 at 11:04 am

    CDC director says no revised school guidelines despite Trump’s push

    Seems some people may have decided the pandemic is more important than keeping trump happy.

  79. 79.

    Omnes Omnibus

    July 9, 2020 at 11:04 am

    @Patricia Kayden: It isn’t really a strange decision.  The Court does this frequently.  Broad hypothetical follows:  a lower court decides that an agency cannot do something under any circumstances.  This decision gets appealed.  it gets to the Supremes.  They say, “No, the agency can do so in certain circumstances.”  Now, they look at the the record from the trial court.*  Because the trial court said never, they didn’t delve into the specifics.  As a result, the Supremes can’t say whether or not the agency’s action was okay.  Therefore, the case is sent back to the trial court to decide that question.

    *Appellate courts are limited to the factual determinations made by the trial court and only decide matters of law.

  80. 80.

    Patricia Kayden

    July 9, 2020 at 11:06 am

    #BREAKING: @DeutscheBank says they will comply with Vance's grand jury subpoena. –@business— Hunter Cullen (@HunterJCullen) July 9, 2020

  81. 81.

    Subsole

    July 9, 2020 at 11:07 am

     

     

    @mrmoshpotato:  No, I mean grab a bucket and BAIL. Not bail out!!

    Crap.

  82. 82.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 9, 2020 at 11:09 am

    @Subsole: Sorry, Moose and Squirrel reference.

  83. 83.

    Jay

    July 9, 2020 at 11:12 am

    So they changed their name because racism to the name of a Black woman – and now they are suing the Black woman.When performative allyship, capitalism and white supremacy come together. https://t.co/NQl1jnZJTS— blackness "defund police" everdeen ? (@traceyecorder) July 9, 2020

  84. 84.

    jonas

    July 9, 2020 at 11:13 am

    @Baud: And there’s a risk that the returns aren’t juicy, which would give Trump a talking point.

    If they were banal, he probably would have turned them over a long time ago. Remember, he never does anything — anything — without calculating how it makes him look. My guess is that it reveals that his mighty real estate empire is 1. not worth as much as he says, and 2. is barely held together by a complex and rapidly fraying tissue of high-interest debt, sketchy shell companies in China and Russia, and other financial chicanery that probably is used by a lot of other high net-worth people, but will show that what he calls his wealth is really just being able to tread water in the swamp.

  85. 85.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    July 9, 2020 at 11:15 am

    @Baud:

    And there’s a risk that the returns aren’t juicy, which would give Trump a talking point.

    True, I always try to remind myself that it’s not like they contain itemizations labeled “Income from Russian bribes and money-laundering…”

    OTOH: as far as the Manhattan case goes: Isn’t it almost a given that the trump companies have been playing fast and loose with real estate valuations for the better part of (probably) 75 years? I was clicking around Wiki yesterday to get a handle on who was who among the elder trump siblings, and it looks like they are still partners in at least some properties they inherited from Fred– which is what they all got together to bilk Mary and her brother out of, just about 20 years ago. I’m guessing those are the unglamorous rental properties that actually generate income, then there’s the “trump organization” that is the collection of shell companies, golf courses and hotels run by The Beast and the Large Adult Children. I’m guessing there’s a lot of bank and tax fraud that won’t stand up to a harsh light.

  86. 86.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 9, 2020 at 11:15 am

    @jonas: Don’t you know they’re being eternally audited?

  87. 87.

    Patricia Kayden

    July 9, 2020 at 11:17 am

    So why am I happy about this. I said it would Not be his taxes that removes him from office. No, as I said, It will be Treason and Covid-19.It is AFTER he is removed that the Trial will begin and Then the taxes will be used against him. Remember, this was about the Banks.— Badd Company (@BaddCompani) July 9, 2020

  88. 88.

    rikyrah

    July 9, 2020 at 11:17 am

    @mrmoshpotato:

     

    i love these kinds of videos

  89. 89.

    Hoodie

    July 9, 2020 at 11:20 am

    @Patricia Kayden:  That’s a win.  DB probably wants to comply in the hope that they can limit the damage to Trump.  They’re hanging out there on a bunch of money laundering stuff, and my son tells me they have a shit reputation in the financial community.  They may be thinking Trump is a lost cause.

    These decisions are about the best that could be expected with this Court.  The liberals signed on to the majority opinions because they get at least a half a loaf, mainly that Trump cannot be confident that his re-election is a get out of jail free card.  Who knows, he might be thinking it would be good idea to quit and go play golf with his shiny new pardon from President Pence.   If the Manhattan DA has evidence of tax evasion and fraud, federal charges wouldn’t be far behind in the Biden admin.

  90. 90.

    Jay

    July 9, 2020 at 11:23 am

    First up is McGirt v. Oklahoma! "For MCA purposes, land reserved for the Creek Nation since the 19th century remains 'Indian country.'" https://t.co/ng2kZIRHZF— Matt Ford (@fordm) July 9, 2020

  91. 91.

    Subsole

    July 9, 2020 at 11:23 am

    @mrmoshpotato: Oh thank heavens. I was afraid we were about ro start the chorus line…

    Believe it or nay, that is one cartoon I have seen only once or twice.

  92. 92.

    Gin & Tonic

    July 9, 2020 at 11:24 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Fred Trump made his fortune building reasonably-priced housing for middle-class white people in the outer boroughs. He didn’t bother with gold-plated shit or casinos or any of that crap. That housing stock generates income, always has, always will. He knew what makes money.

  93. 93.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 9, 2020 at 11:24 am

    @rikyrah: Take some time to browse their Twitter pages.  Both the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum have kept us entertained.

    Adler Planetarium, not so much, no planets running past dinosaurs.

  94. 94.

    MisterForkbeard

    July 9, 2020 at 11:24 am

    @Elizabelle:

    Although they swear in English.  You’ll hear a string of Welsh with the f-word embedded throughout.

    My filipino friends do this as well. Lots of tagalog with some proper nouns in spanish… and then f-bombs :)

  95. 95.

    jonas

    July 9, 2020 at 11:25 am

    @mrmoshpotato: Did anyone actually ever confirm whether that was even true? I know it was always the canard he used for why he couldn’t release the returns, but is it even true? Until proven otherwise, I assume it’s a lie as well.

  96. 96.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    July 9, 2020 at 11:27 am

    @Hoodie:

    Who knows, he might be thinking it would be good idea to quit and go play golf with his shiny new pardon from President Pence.

    The Hoarse Whisperer and a few others are arguing that this is incentive for him to flounce out of the White House in a huff. I still can’t see it, but he is about seventeen different kinds of crazy, so who knows?

    (I’m now picturing him looming over Pence, waiting to sign his resignation letter until Pence signs the post-dated general pardon and Pence’s little three-legged-hamster-on-a-broken-wheel brain tries to figure out if he can get caught for something by signing.)

  97. 97.

    Mai naem mobile

    July 9, 2020 at 11:29 am

    @Ramiah Ariya: I doubt it. NY’s “Little India” is in her district. She is not going to risk losing votes by appearing anti-Indian.

  98. 98.

    Brachiator

    July 9, 2020 at 11:31 am

    @Baud:

    And there’s a risk that the returns aren’t juicy, which would give Trump a talking point.

    I agree that there may not be much here that is really exciting. I would expect to see massive net operating losses going back years and years and indications that his net worth ain’t all that grand.

    Real estate valuations may be exaggerated.

  99. 99.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    July 9, 2020 at 11:32 am

    @Gin & Tonic: one of the stories Mary Trump tells is the NYT reporters who wrote that exposé driving her around and showing her all the buildings and properties Fred owned (and that the four survivors still own? that’s the part I’m not clear on), including the one she grew up in. She had no idea how many there were. They told her Fred was worth about $30M when he died in ’99, wiki says $250M (FWIW) and NYT estimates the actual value closer to a billion.

    Also, there were some hints, I think from Rachel Maddow’s out loud reading, that Mary’s lawyer was complicit in getting her to accept the low valuation and settlement.

  100. 100.

    mrmoshpotato

    July 9, 2020 at 11:33 am

    @jonas: I don’t know.  I remember some talking heads calling bullshit on it though.

  101. 101.

    Hoodie

    July 9, 2020 at 11:34 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: It’s a pretty simple deal.  The stuff Vance is investigating has federal counterparts (bank fraud, wire fraud, tax evasion).  He gets his pardon so AG Harris or Schiff won’t be able to drag him into federal court.  Trump has enough legal resources to fight Vance, so Vance agrees to a plea deal (back taxes, penalties) that lets Trump save face.  He’ll be broke but not in an orange jumpsuit and can continue to scam the rubes with TrumpTV.

  102. 102.

    Jay

    July 9, 2020 at 11:35 am

    Yesterday 3 trans Vox writers spoke against the Harper's list, and all of us have now been directly targeted (and harassed as a result) by one of the writers on it. Just us, no other critics of the list. I want to be very clear about who benefits & who doesn't from this "debate." https://t.co/WNqAMjwCqx— Aja Romano (@ajaromano) July 8, 2020

  103. 103.

    Jay

    July 9, 2020 at 11:38 am

    A growing number of Houston residents are dying at home. That suggests coronavirus deaths in Houston may be higher than reported. https://t.co/c9niiHlmDY via @charlesornstein / @Mike_Hixenbaugh pic.twitter.com/P6SRFE2NIg— Bobby Blanchard (@bobbycblanchard) July 8, 2020

  104. 104.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    July 9, 2020 at 11:40 am

    @Hoodie:

    Trump has enough legal resources to fight Vance, so Vance agrees to a plea deal (back taxes, penalties) that lets Trump save face.

    interesting

  105. 105.

    jonas

    July 9, 2020 at 11:45 am

    @Brachiator:Real estate valuations may be exaggerated.

    I’ve seen this reported on in various places: the Trump Org wildly overvalues their assets when seeking funding or credit, and then turns around and tells local assessors and the IRS that they’re worth practically nothing and they need a tax break. Now, I assume that any major financial institution is not so dumb as to take the owner’s own assessment at face value when giving them a loan, so it could be there’s some fishy stuff going on in there, particularly where Deutsche Bank is concerned.

  106. 106.

    Alison Rose

    July 9, 2020 at 11:56 am

    @mrmoshpotato: Adorbs. Ridic levels of adorbs.

    Being a Californian, I’m of course partial to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which has an array of live cams, and the sea otter one is just the absolute best. Especially at feeding time!

  107. 107.

    Brachiator

    July 9, 2020 at 11:59 am

    @jonas: 

    Now, I assume that any major financial institution is not so dumb as to take the owner’s own assessment at face value when giving them a loan

    Pretty much standard operating procedure during the financial crisis to do dumb stuff like this.

  108. 108.

    David Evans

    July 9, 2020 at 12:10 pm

    @Elizabelle: Ah, but they spell it “ffyc”

  109. 109.

    cain

    July 9, 2020 at 12:16 pm

    @Ramiah Ariya:

    Modi is not going to be able to maintain control for long – already his party is having issues keeping seats. His little culture war works will gin up the opposition – ideologues have blind spots – and the folks in the south will definitely not appreciate his efforts.

  110. 110.

    laura

    July 9, 2020 at 12:22 pm

    I long for the day we get confirmation that trump, his family and their organization are broke ass jokes.

  111. 111.

    Kelly

    July 9, 2020 at 12:25 pm

    I’m thinking a “why is Trump hiding his taxes” ad to the song “Skip a Rope”. Might strike a chord with those of us old enough to have heard it on the radio.

    Cheat on your taxes, don’t be a fool,
    Now what was that they said about a Golden Rule?
    Never mind the rules, just play to win,
    And hate your neighbor for the shade of his skin.

  112. 112.

    Brachiator

    July 9, 2020 at 12:27 pm

    @Ramiah Ariya:

    I think she will push sanctions on India because of the “ethnic cleansing” or better still take to calling for the “Indian regime”‘s toppling, because all her Twitter feed is saying so.

    I doubt that anyone in Congress will be calling for regime change.

    There might be some discussion about sanctions.

  113. 113.

    polyorchnid octopunch

    July 9, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    @Ramiah Ariya: On the gripping hand, calling them “ethnic cleansing” has the advantage of being true.

  114. 114.

    Another Scott

    July 9, 2020 at 8:57 pm

    @Baud: Yup.

    As others noted, “The babies being stolen from mothers, children in cages, letting Puerto Rico drown, trying to take health care from tens of millions, the self-dealing, illegally trying to build a wall forbidden by Congress, sucking up to Putin and Xi and Kim, the incompetence of the pandemic response that has killed 135,000 Americans (so far), doing nothing about Putin’s bounties on Americans in Afghanistan.  All that was fine.  But cheating on his taxes?! – That’s going TOO FAR!!”

    Says nobody, ever.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

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