Streets of Philadelphia

[Richard Smith]

In the midst of endless war and the leader of China meeting with Putin, the Biden White House staged a press briefing today featuring the cast of the show "Ted Lasso."  When a reporter from Africa tried to ask a relevant question and direct the briefing back to planet Earth, he was chastised.  He apparently has never been allowed to ask a single question.  What a clown show.  Putin and Xi must be laughing their backsides off in Moscow.  They can't believe how far the US has fallen under Ukraine Joe.  Weakness and incompetence at every turn.

[Martin Weidmann]

In the midst of endless war and the leader of China meeting with Putin, the Biden White House staged a press briefing today featuring the cast of the show "Ted Lasso."  When a reporter from Africa tried to ask a relevant question and direct the briefing back to planet Earth, he was chastised.  He apparently has never been allowed to ask a single question.  What a clown show.  Putin and Xi must be laughing their backsides off in Moscow.  They can't believe how far the US has fallen under Ukraine Joe.  Weakness and incompetence at every turn.

When you worship Putin and Xi as much as you do, why are you still living in a country you clearly hate?

[Richard Smith]

When you worship Putin and Xi as much as you do, why are you still living in a country you clearly hate?

Maybe I can move to "Europe."  It is actually Ukraine Joe and his clown show that are destroying the US.  He is staging a promo for a TV show while China and Russia are becoming allies.  Old Joe has actually done something even Karl Marx couldn't do.  He has brought China and Russia together in an alliance against the US.  And over a place that most Americans have never even heard of and couldn't find on a map.  Many of whom in the disputed region are of ethnic Russians who would no doubt prefer to be part of Russia instead of dying in an endless war.  But the wars must go on and on.  Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Ukraine.  Almost continuous war over the last 60 years.  The politicians and their paymasters are getting rich.   

[Richard Smith]

Cohen's former attorney testified yesterday that Cohen lied about the payments as part of a deal to avoid jail.  The Stasi-like prosecutors in NY threatened to imprison Cohen and members of his family unless he gave them information on Trump.  And so he did.  Still no crime even if all the allegations are true.  Trump broke no law in using his own money to pay someone to not speak about a consensual affair.  He was actually the victim of blackmail.  It is not "falsifying" business records to characterize such payment as a legal expense.  His attorney was involved in the deal.  It was a legal expense. 

[Martin Weidmann]

Cohen's former attorney testified yesterday that Cohen lied about the payments as part of a deal to avoid jail.  The Stasi-like prosecutors in NY threatened to imprison Cohen and members of his family unless he gave them information on Trump.  And so he did.  Still no crime even if all the allegations are true.  Trump broke no law in using his own money to pay someone to not speak about a consensual affair.  He was actually the victim of blackmail.  It is not "falsifying" business records to characterize such payment as a legal expense.  His attorney was involved in the deal.  It was a legal expense.

Cohen's former attorney testified yesterday that Cohen lied about the payments as part of a deal to avoid jail.

You mean the guy who has been buddies with Trump for years and played his part in screwing Cohen under the pretence of wanting to help him? That guy?

He was actually the victim of blackmail.

Really? So, Trump has something to hide? How else could he have been blackmailed?

It is not "falsifying" business records to characterize such payment as a legal expense.  His attorney was involved in the deal.  It was a legal expense.

Thank you for this display of total ignorance. Paying a pornstar isn't a "legal expense".

[Richard Smith]

Really? So, Trump has something to hide? How else could he have been blackmailed?

LOL.  Such ignorance of the law.  Blackmail is blackmail whether the underlying claim is true or not.  It's called a shakedown.  Someone makes an allegation (whether true or false) and demands payment to keep quiet.  Many celebrities settle claims that are not true to avoid the bad press.  Regardless, the bogus investigation appears to be imploding.  Trump's presidential chances have been bolstered by this leftist overreach more than he could ever have hoped.  Leave it to the incompetent radical left to keep Trump's hopes alive.  He is now well ahead of DeSantis in the polls.

[Martin Weidmann]

LOL.  Such ignorance of the law.  Blackmail is blackmail whether the underlying claim is true or not.  It's called a shakedown.  Someone makes an allegation (whether true or false) and demands payment to keep quiet.  Many celebrities settle claims that are not true to avoid the bad press.  Regardless, the bogus investigation appears to be imploding.  Trump's presidential chances have been bolstered by this leftist overreach more than he could ever have hoped.  Leave it to the incompetent radical left to keep Trump's hopes alive.  He is now well ahead of DeSantis in the polls.

Blackmail is blackmail whether the underlying claim is true or not.  It's called a shakedown.

Got much experience with these kinds of things, do you? I know what the law says, but that wasn't my point.

Are you really saying that Trump had nothing to hide but paid anyway? Not one, but at least two women? This is a guy who doesn't even pay his lawyers and suppliers, yet for something that's not true he just throws truckloads of money out the window to hush something up that isn't true to begin with? Are you really that far gone that you actually believe this BS?

Someone makes an allegation (whether true or false) and demands payment to keep quiet.

If an allegation simply isn't true and the subject of the blackmail has not done what is alleged, why pay?
What would be the incentive, if there is no validity to a claim, to pay anyway and risk the blackmailer later returning for more when you can also discredit him and his story by going on the offensive, going public, pressing criminal charges as well as sue that person in civil court for massive damages?

Many celebrities settle claims that are not true to avoid the bad press.

Seems like a profitable and low risk way to make money; make untrue allegations and get paid. Made much money that way, have you?

Btw, how do you know that many celebrities make such payments, when the purpose of the payment is to keep the thing quiet and out of the media?

Regardless, the bogus investigation appears to be imploding.

Really? Says who? Fox "news" perhaps?

Trump's presidential chances have been bolstered by this leftist overreach more than he could ever have hoped.

Keep dreaming.... If Trump ever gets back in the White House the country is lost for sure and more and more people are beginning to understand that.

[Richard Smith]

The ship is sinking fast now.  And there are no lifeboats for this disaster.  Every day it gets worse and worse.  Meanwhile Trump is surging.

Fortune headline:

"President Biden’s approval rating has sunk near record lows as Americans worry about bank failures and inflation"