Democrats constantly accuse Republicans who question election integrity of promulgating “The Big Lie.” However, Democrats also have consistently denied election results. In addition, it was recently revealed that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken led a clandestine operation in which former intelligence officials (all Democrats) attempted to influence our last presidential election. Their misguided intent was clearly made to influence voters by deliberately spreading misleading and false information, in other words — “The Big Lie.”
In October 2020, the New York Post published a report detailing how Hunter Biden used the position and influence of his father for personal gain with the knowledge of President Biden. The article outlined several emails that were found on a laptop belonging to Hunter Biden that he had abandoned in a Delaware computer shop. The contents of the emails cast doubt on President Biden’s previous vociferous denials of not speaking to his son about his international business dealings.
Within five days of the article, on Oct. 19, 2020, 51 former intelligence officials released a public statement attempting to discredit the contents of the New York Post’s reporting about Hunter Biden, stating that the story “has all the classic earmarks of a Russian disinformation operation.”
News publications immediately ran with the statement, with the left leaning Politico publishing a story with the conclusive headline, “Hunter Biden story is Russian disinformation dozens of former officials say.” During the final presidential debate on Oct. 22, then-Vice President Biden rebutted President Trump’s criticism of the Biden family business dealings falsely claiming that the laptop was a Russian “plant.”
Had this revelation been known to the American people during the final debate it very well could have changed the outcome of the election. The Federal Bureau of Investigation had the laptop in its possession since 2019 and should have been well aware of its contents. In addition, the computer repair shop owner who turned over the laptop to the FBI was not so subtly cautioned by special agents to remain silent.
In addition, the mirage of “Russian collusion” was disproved by the Muller Investigation, which held the country hostage for years at the expense of millions of taxpayers’ dollars. It was the Clinton campaign who was responsible for creating the false Steele Dossier implicating the Republican candidate for the presidency.
These actions are an affront to our democracy. Former and current government officials and candidates who are responsible for this unethical if not illegal behavior — should be held to a higher standard of behavior that they have clearly violated regardless of their political party.
Unfortunately, political power can be intoxicating and also addictive encouraging questionable if not illegal means. In retrospect, it now appears that the moniker of “Big Lie” perhaps is better suited to describe the Democratic vice the Republican Party. We shall see what lies (no pun intended) ahead as the country moves towards 2024. In the words of Joe Biden more malarkey to follow.
(43) comments
This is laughable. This junk comes from the House Judiciary Committee chaired by Jim Jordan. Someone is getting desperate.
Don't forget that Jim Jordan is being sued by the Manhattan District attorney, Bragg, for trying to interfere in the case he brought against Trump. Jordan tried to subpoena Bragg in a state matter which the Federal Government can't. Then there is the Ohio locker room incident he is accused of turning a blind eye to. Here is more on Jim Jordan. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/02/jim-jordan-first-day-unfit-judiciary-committee.html
Ros, I am surprised that the GOP wants to open the can of works regarding presidential relatives and associates taking advantage of their connections. Do you really want to discuss Ivanka and her Chinese-granted patents, or Old Post Office Trump hotel where foreign nationals showered money into the Trump camp, or Steve Bannon bilking true believer patsies for money to build the wall, or Jared Kushner’s multiple trips to Saudi Arabia and the $2 billion in Saudi funds he was gifted with after his White House sojourn (where he had to have presidential dispensation in order to view top secret documents)?
Especially in light of the investigation results released yesterday by Rep. Comer (R) and the House Oversight Committee. Here are some excerpts (if you would like to read the entire article I will gladly forward that to you):
After four months of investigation, House Republicans who promised to use their new majority to unearth evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden acknowledged on Wednesday that they had yet to uncover incriminating material about him, despite their frequent insinuations that he and his family have been involved in criminal conduct and corruption.
But on Wednesday, the Republicans conceded that they had yet to find evidence of a specific corrupt action Mr. Biden took in office in connection with any of the business deals his son entered into. Instead, their presentation underscored how little headway top G.O.P. lawmakers have made in finding clear evidence of questionable transactions they can tie to Mr. Biden, their chief political rival.
Regarding the flap about Hunter’s laptop and the ”coverup”, it hardly rivals the truly dangerous “Big Lie”, that the Republican Party has perpetrated on the American public. Coming in the wake of the Russian disinformation campaigns waged both in the 2016 election as well as the sad Brexit affair, there is no wonder that intelligence officials were skeptical. After Cambridge Analytica wielded influence on the unsuspecting and gullible British and American publics, they were right to be suspicious. If you are skeptical about this impact, do some research. Regarding Mueller’s investigation, please explain why Trump obstructed justice by attempting to influence the proceedings, why his campaign had so many contacts with Russia agents, and why his erstwhile campaign manager (later to do prison time) passed internal polling data to his Russian contact.
Why give credence to another blatantly partisan investigation that Republicans like so much? Remember Whitewater, and the Benghazi dry holes? We were promised solutions to inflation, fentanyl and the border problems as a reason to elect them in the midterms, instead they chase semi-serous issues down a rabbit hole. It is as if the Republican Party was incapable of governing and stuck in the default mode of pursuing hot button issues that produce much smoke and little flame. Why must you apologize for these people?
Spot on Steve!
I clumsily forgot to credit the New York Times for the excerpts I quoted in my reply above. Here are the particulars:
House Republican Report Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing by President Biden
After four months of investigation, House Republicans who promised to use their new majority to unearth evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden acknowledged on Wednesday that they had yet to uncover incriminating material about him, despite their frequent insinuations that he and his family have been involved in criminal conduct and corruption.
But on Wednesday, the Republicans conceded that they had yet to find evidence of a specific corrupt action Mr. Biden took in office in connection with any of the business deals his son entered into. Instead, their presentation underscored how little headway top G.O.P. lawmakers have made in finding clear evidence of questionable transactions they can tie to Mr. Biden, their chief political rival.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/10/us/politics/hunter-biden-house-republicans-report.html?searchResultPosition=2
Steve-Get ready to see the dialogue switched to fentanyl, southern border migrants, gun control, etc.
Steve, thank – I respect your integrity and intelligence and your willingness to use your real name vice a handle which I believe is vital to establishing a rapport and having an honest debate. With the widespread use Artificial Intelligence who knows whether you are responding to a real person or a BOT as I frequently encounter on LinkedIn and other social media platforms.
RE your comment, I understand your position but disagree. RE “Regarding the flap about Hunter’s laptop and the ”coverup”, it hardly rivals the truly dangerous “Big Lie”, that the Republican Party has perpetrated on the American public.” A lie is a lie and those than spin them regardless of Political Party all should be held accountable period. No one is above the law.
RE “But on Wednesday, the Republicans conceded that they had yet to find evidence of a specific corrupt action Mr. Biden took in office in connection with any of the business deals his son entered into. Instead, their presentation underscored how little headway top G.O.P. lawmakers have made in finding clear evidence of questionable transactions they can tie to Mr. Biden, their chief political rival.” Let’s see how this plays out. How do you explain the numerous wire transfers from foreign nations like the CCP to members of the Biden family while he was VP ? Sure looks like influence peddling to me …
As a former Democrat I am at a loss for your and others blind allegiance to Joe Biden who the majority of your party considers him ineffective and a poor leader and do not want him to run. I believe the future of the Party is embodied in leaders like RFK Jr. Heck I might even consider voting on him !
Ros, I find the inability to accept the election as a showstopper for any serious conversation. If the GOP is able to delude themselves about this what else will they gullibly swallow? Unfortunately there is plenty of issues where they depart from reality and they are issues that pertain to our well-being as a nation and as a planet. Among them are climate change, women's rights, sexual rights, economic issues, border problems, censoring and intimidating educators, and not least the damage done by claiming election fraud. The GOP has much to answer for. Biden has made strides in addressing a number of issues, and you do not seem to be able to acknowledge this.
Some are reluctant to use their real voice out of fear for retribution.
Steve, at times I believe you dwell in an alternate universe. Rather than address all the issues you have raised let’s look at a single example -- the current mess at the border caused by Mr. Biden. This is beyond a "political" issue but a national security and moral issue. Yes we are all immigrants but like my first generation Filipino and Taiwanese in-laws they waited patiently in line, did not ask for government assistance, and per the melting pot became contributing members in a diverse community.
For those that think that what is taking place is compassionate and part of the American way i would urge you to look at the second and third order effects of child labor, prostitution, and the moral dishonesty for those who waited patiently in line for their turn.
A country without borders is not a country but simply a land mass where the rule of law does apply and the middle class as we know it will soon cease to exist. I used to believe this was not by design, but it is hard not to think otherwise.
The head of U.S. Border Patrol has just sent out a memo authorizing the release of illegal migrants into the U.S. without court dates if agents face overcrowding as the Biden administration scrambles to deal with a historic surge in migration at the border ahead of the end of Title 42.
The memo says that migrants can allowed into the country on parole — a process typically reserved for "urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit" — if CBP faces overcrowding. The memo calls the practice "parole with conditions" as migrants are required to make an appointment with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or request a Notice to Appear by mail.
And you think Biden “has made strides” here ? I fail to follow your logic Sir.
Prior Administration's including Trump's also released migrants into the US without court dates when they were faced with overcrowding. Those pesky little facts you don't have command of.
The GOP-led House on Thursday passed a significant and wide-ranging border security and asylum reform package, just as the U.S. braces for a new migrant surge with the looming end of Title 42.
The Secure the Border Act was a months-long effort to deliver on promises made during the 2022 midterm campaigns on both securing the besieged southern border and making fixes to the immigration and asylum process, which Republicans believe is being exploited.
The bill marks another major win for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and includes measures to restart border wall construction and increase in the number of Border Patrol agents.
It would also that would enshrine the Trump-era Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), change laws related to unaccompanied children and restrict the use by the federal government of humanitarian parole.
The House has hoped to pass the bill over the winter, but Republicans had struggled to find consensus.
It comes just hours before the Title 42 public health order is due to expire, which has seen migrants surging to the border in the hope of being released into the U.S. once the order ends.
Surely this comments section will stop Donald Trump😂😂
That would be so disappointing for you.
I don’t care which side wins, I just want all the boys to have fun.
Some have fun attending pro Trump rallies.
Josh, nice to see you back in the mix Sir !
Just gotta remind all my indivisibles I’m still around.
Earlier I mentioned that the immigration problem has festered and now grown to crisis proportions due to inactivity and avoidance. There are multiple issues. One has roots in the fact that American economic and military forces have been involved in Central America for quite some time. The larger issue is the one I mentioned in a previous post on your commentary. There was a plan close to being adopted back in the Bush Jr days, but the Tea Party could not be brought to cooperate or compromise, so that fell by the wayside. Under Obama deportations rose and the undocumented population fell. Obama brought hope to those young people whose parents were undocumented but who had assimilated, a reasonable and fair policy.
Then we had Trump’s policies of that all undocumented migrants being subject to removal. This shotgun approach resulted in children being caged and a huge backlog of people waiting to enter.
Biden has returned to prioritizing threats, and channeling law enforcement resources in a more effective manner. The swarm of people seeking admittance has grown larger than previously due to circumstances in Central America.
What can be done? Add more immigration judges, track those who are here, try to deal with the causes forcing people to leave their homes, and above all formulate a coherent plan. Congress needs to put creating a solution above scoring political points. We know that the U.S. is in need of workers, regardless of what is said, there are jobs that immigrants do that Americans won’t.
As far as being in an alternate universe, I would question your priorities. Regardless of the Republican rhetoric we face an overwhelming challenge with the looming environmental catastrophe. There is ample evidence both scientific and anecdotal to illustrate this. The looming debt crisis requires compromise not hubris. The fentanyl crisis is part of a larger dilemma facing America. Something in our character makes us basically unhappy and looking for something that society does not provide. Perhaps it is a sense of community or anxiety about our future, but we have seen that something needs to happen to stem the desire to escape which seems to be at the root of the problem. Our capitalist system is predatory and is a pressure on society not to fall behind. People need to feel that they have a stake in society and a future where they have something to look forward to. Why are some Americans so fearful that the first response to an unusual situation is to shoot? Why do we feel that more guns make us safer, when the opposite truth is apparent? Our medical system spends more than other countries with worse results, and good luck if you have no or inadequate insurance and face a major illness. We have medical bankruptcies where people face ruin just to stay alive. The life expectancy of the white male is falling. We have worse maternal outcomes than many industrialized countries. We have a presidential candidate who is an acknowledged sex abuser, took advantage of running a charity, and is facing multiple charges. We have people in Congress who believe without proof in a rigged election and who experienced an attack on a Constitutional function who are in denial about that attack. They have no concern for the democratic principles they are sworn to uphold, and skirt the rule of law when it serves their ideology.
I’m not sure what universe you inhabit, but to me we face graver problems than some people so in need of a better life that they will face jungles and deserts just to improve their lot. Denial of issues to serve Republican talking points is worse than stupid, it is criminal.
I do find it somewhat perplexing that of all the comments posted no one has challenged the central focus of the Op-Ed to wit "Former and current Government officials and candidates who are responsible for this unethical if not illegal behavior - should be held to a higher standard of behavior which they have clearly violated regardless of their political party".but rather they have attempted to deflect and focus on issues that are not the subject of the Commenary. Perhaps there is a message there ...
Kimberley Strassel at The Wall Street Journal reports that, not only were 51 former US intelligence officials involved in signing the disinformation letter to lie to the American public about the Hunter Biden laptop story, but that the CIA itself was involved. From Ms. Strassel’s piece:
“Even new habits are hard to break, and that’s the case with a federal intelligence apparatus that can’t keep its fingers out of elections. It seems President-elect Biden on Nov. 4, 2020, owed thanks not only to a cabal of former intelligence officials, but to the Central Intelligence Agency.”
“That’s the big takeaway of this week’s interim report from House committees detailing the origins of the October 2020 disinformation letter about Hunter Biden’s laptop. An earlier release revealed that Joe Biden’s campaign helped engineer a statement from 51 former U.S. spies that claimed the laptop had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.” That letter provided Democrats, journalists and social-media companies the excuse to dismiss and censor evidence of Hunter’s influence peddling, removing an obstacle from his father’s path to victory.”
“Now we find out that, according to a written statement supplied to the committee, an active CIA official joined the effort to solicit more signers to the letter. The campaign to elect Joe Biden extended into Langley.”
“Such reckless disregard for rules raises the legitimate question of what other ways the CIA may have been tilting the political scales in 2020. Predictably, the agency is ignoring a request by the committees for documents related to the board’s clearance of the letter and any interactions it had with former employees (like Mr. Cariens) about the letter. There’s no excuse for such stonewalling, especially given the board itself has declared the whole issue nonclassified.”
“But it’s par for the course. Federal intel and law enforcement agencies ever more brazenly interfere in politics (with leaks, probes, tip-offs to politicians), then retreat behind claims of secrecy when queried.”
Ros, as I said previously there is much smoke but little fire to the laptop story so far. If there is a real offense, something will be done. The trump-controlled Justice Department could have certainly made it public if there was something to publicize. I find it hard, with all the journalists competing for a big story that someone decided against publishing this if there was something to tell. Where was the Republican outrage when Comey sprang the Hillary issue just before the election which amounted to nothing but a gift to Trump?
I believe the real issue here is that the Republican Party has nothing new to add to the conversation, so they keep things like this alive, to fire the base and divert attention from their massively corrupted politics. The immigration bill you touted is just a rehash of policies that were inadequate previously. To feed the extremist base they must find outrages to point to, and not finding one, make some up. It is far past time for the GOP to look inside and see what they have become. A party based on deception that worsens the national mood and feeds the division while ignoring the desires of the majority is not contributing to the overall good and can only cling to power by devious means.
I am a life long republican. Have voted for republican presidents and so on for well over 45 years. But I am so close to ending this little habit of mine. While much of the democratic party also turns my stomach I am at my wit's end with the likes of Trump and his supporters. Too dumb or blind to see what this man really is. Our party is throwing decisions out there that so hurts the disenfranchised meaning the kids, elderly and everyone in between. Our health care is horrible but of course this can blamed on both parties. But seeing republicans such as Marjorie Greene and Santos out there and their followers I shake my head at what Ronald Reagan may think. It is very possible I will not be able to vote for a democrat come the next elections but I also will not vote for a republican. Republican party. Open your eyes before it is too late.
It seems that I've missed a lot of the "fun" surrounding this version of Poplar's poppycock! Ros, my friend, where do I even start? Let's start at the beginning by saying that the Big Lie promulgated by Republicans needs no quotation marks. It's out there, and the leader liar for the MAGA Republicans (notice how I differentiate) reiterated it this week on his informercial on CNN.
Nothing has been "revealed" by anyone but Jim Jordan, and there isn't a shred of evidence of any wrongdoing by Joe Biden. The laptop has a myriad chain of custody issues, and the jury is still out on just how much is authentic. But let me say this as the Democratic Party Chair of ShenCo. If Hunter Biden has broken the law, he should suffer the consequences of doing so. That’s it. We’re not in a cult and pledge no fealty to a single person or his progeny. The same goes for the President, even though there isn’t a scintilla of evidence to back any claims, so it’s not even worthy of being called specious.
Surely, the Trump Administration would have gleefully gone public if they had any evidence on Hunter’s laptop, but even the corrupted Bill Barr wouldn’t go that far. We do know from testimony in the various criminal accusations/prosecutions against Trump that DOJ did intervene in the prosecution of Trump in NYC, for the very charges that were eventually filed. Mind you, charges for the exact same crime they joyfully prosecuted, convicted, and imprisoned Michael Cohen for. The same exact transactions.
I am compelled to correct another falsehood uttered in your RC. The Steele Dossier was initially funded by a Republican media entity called “The Free Beacon.” They hired GPS Fusion because they knew what an absolute disaster his election would be for America. They were fearful he would ruin the GOP brand and boy did they hit the nail on the head! Only after Trump was assured of the nomination, did they stop funding it and Hillary’s campaign did.
The Mueller investigation found over 200 meetings between the Trump campaign and other GOP officials and everyone involved lied about every single one of them. And although it didn’t prove a conspiracy, we have Trump on video asking the Russians to interfere when he asked them to find Clinton’s emails. We have the meeting at Trump Tower, 37 indictments, the request by Mueller that Congress should investigate Trumps actions for Obstruction of Justice and the famous quote from Trump when he first heard that Mueller was appointed: “Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I’m f**ked.”
One of the prime differences between our two parties is that we take out our trash, as they say. Ask Cuomo, Edwards, Franken, Conyers, etc. Compare that to the Republicans (not all) who will support Santos of NY, and their continued pathetic defense of the Trump. He’s a convicted sexual assaulter, charity thief and higher education scammer, among a host of other legal, moral and ethical failures. And he’s now under indictment for financial felonies, plus some very serious investigations which may lead to his further indictments on a host of charges from election tampering to seditious conspiracy. He’s a disgrace, and he’s your party leader. We’re thrilled, to be honest. It makes for a crystal clear choice in upcoming elections.
Hi Brad, hey thank you for your input however by definition "poppycock " is nonsence and i take personal exception to that statement, I respect both you and your opinions and will not lower myself to such name calling.
Re "taking out the trash" let s look at the current POTUS:
1) The president pretends to be Catholic but clearly does not live by Catholic tenets - he supports abortion up until the moment of birth
2) Biden's open border is a human catastrophe of horrific proportions. The day he was inaugurated, he opened our southern border to all comers, encouraging migrants from all over the world to sacrifice everything to make their way to the U.S. Thousands of them die on the journey. The women and children are raped and trafficked.
3) He is a multiple plagiarist https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/07/23/joe_bidens_plagiarism_problem_143788.html#!
4) If not a racist has no problem associating wth them -- Strom Thurmond was his mentor
5) He has a proven track record of not speaking the truth https://nypost.com/2021/11/22/bidens-obsessive-lies-small-and-large-are-big-trouble-for-america/
Bottom line -- time will tell and the verdict is still out on your parties leader
Have a good wekend and enjoy this beautuful day. Best, Ros
I'm sorry you're offended by the word "poppycock," it simply means "nonsense." I tend to be alliterative, that's all. Nobody called you a name, although our mutual friend DB referred to me as a demagogue the other day. I laughed, because all I could think of was Huey Long in some white linen suit with a wide brimmed hat.
1) the President is a practicing Catholic. He also understands that it's none of his business when anybody else does with regard to their own personal health care. Even the Bible doesn't say that abortion is murder. In fact, it differentiates between a fetus and an actual child. Being pro-choice doesn't mean you're pro-abortion and next time I see you, I'll explain it to you because that's my personal position. And nobody is proposing abortion at the moment of birth, no one anywhere.
2) Biden is following the current immigration laws of the United states. No more no less. Title 42 closed because the covid emergency is over and title 8 has been reinstalled as the law of the land. He sent an Immigration Bill to Congress the very first day he was in office, and just yesterday they passed their own version which is sure to fail in the Senate, because the MAGA House refuses to consider any other positions but their own. Your claim of him opening our borders is patently false, unsubstantiated and there is no empirical evidence of it. It's simply false.
3) I've heard he did so with one of his papers/articles. I'm not here to make excuses for him but I won't let falsehoods go unchallenged.
4) from CNN: In his Senate farewell address in 2009, Biden said he became friends with Stennis, Thurmond and Mississippi's James Eastland despite opposing their views on civil rights.
"I never thought I'd develop deep personal relationships with men whose position played an extremely large part in my desire to come to the Senate in the first place to change what they believed in -- Eastland, Stennis, Thurmond. All these men became my friends," Biden said.
5) According to a tabloid? I'm not sure I'd be hanging on to the words of the New York Post too hard.
And yes the bottom line is he's had the most effective first two years of presidency in the history of the office and we are a better nation for it.
Likewise, I'll be hanging out at Mayfest tomorrow! Adios for now
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/america-s-state-media-the-blackout-on-biden-corruption-is-truly-pulitzer-level-stuff/ar-AA1b8TO1?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=0e3f676098e942af8a74c5bb83c39e88&ei=24#:~:text=T,he%20pleaded.
"This week, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) tried to do the impossible. After he and his colleagues presented a labyrinth of LLC shell companies and accounts used to funnel as much as $10 million to Biden family members, Donalds tried to induce the press to show some interest in the massive corruption scandal. “For those in the press, this easy pickings & Pulitzer-level stuff right here,”
The response was virtually immediate. Despite showing nine Biden family members allegedly receiving funds from corrupt figures in Romania, China and other countries, The New Republic quickly ran a story headlined “Republicans Finally Admit They Have No Incriminating Evidence on Joe Biden.”
For many of us, it was otherworldly. A decade ago, when then-Vice President Joe Biden was denouncing corruption in Romania and Ukraine and promising action by the United States, massive payments were flowing to his son Hunter Biden and a variety of family members, including Biden grandchildren.
Putting aside that this is only the fourth month of an investigation, the media’s demand of a direct payment to President Biden is laughably absurd. The payments were going to his family, but he was the object of the influence peddling.
The House has shown millions of dollars going to at least nine Bidens like dividends from a family business. As a long-time critic of influence peddling among both Republicans and Democrats, I have never seen the equal of the Bidens.
The whole purpose of influence peddling is to use family members as shields for corrupt officials. Instead of making a direct payment to a politician, which could be seen as a bribe, you can give millions to his or her spouse or children.
Moreover, these emails include references to Joe Biden getting a 10 percent cut of one Chinese deal. It also shows Biden associates warning not to use Joe Biden’s name but to employ code names like “the Big Guy.” At the same time, the president and the first lady are referenced as benefiting from offices and receiving payments from Hunter. Indeed, Hunter complains that his father is taking half of everything that he is raking in.
None of that matters. The New York Times ran a piece headlined, “House Republican Report Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing by President Biden.” That is putting aside evidence against all the family members around Joe Biden. It also ignored that other evidence clearly shows Biden lied about this family not receiving Chinese funds or that he never had any knowledge of his son’s business dealings. "
Sad, very sad ....
Someone needs a refresher course on “influence pedaling”. Here is what was said after Trumps first year. https://www.citizen.org/news/trumps-first-year-influence-peddling-demolishing-safeguards-and-self-dealing/
• Trump maintained a stake in hundreds of businesses as of his May 2017 financial disclosure form and created at least 49 new businesses since announcing his candidacy for president (all but two of which were created prior to his inauguration for president).
• Trump has not even attempted to fulfill four of the five promises he outlined in his campaign blueprint to “drain the swamp” and limit the influence of lobbyists.
• Trump stocked his transition team with lobbyists. Within weeks of his election, Public Citizen counted 14 lobbyists on his transition team and several times as many people with business interests in the administration’s policies.
• At least 133 past or present registered lobbyists had been appointed to the administration by mid-June 2017, including 36 who had lobbied recently on issues of direct relevance to their new government posts.
• By mid-2017, 44 people who had worked on the Trump campaign or transition or had other close ties to Trump or Vice President Mike Pence had become registered lobbyists. They were associated with billings and in-house lobbying expenditures of nearly $42 million in the first half of 2017.
• Nearly 70 percent of Trump’s subcabinet appointees were previously employed by corporations or their representatives.
• Between Election Day and August 2017 Trump had held at least 385 meetings with corporate executives.
• Regulations that the Trump administration has bragged about blocking would have done such things as addressing hazards that led to fatal coal mine explosions and industrial explosions from combustible dust, and afforded equal rights to same-sex couples in Medicare participating facilities.
• Many have noted Trump’s unprecedented behavior in merging the business of the government with his personal businesses. We recently reported that 64 trade groups, businesses, candidates, foreign governments and political groups have been spending money at Trump’s properties since his inauguration.
• Despite Trump’s repeated promises that his tax overhaul proposal would not benefit himself, his proposal’s estate tax repeal, alone, would have saved the Trump family somewhere between $593 million and $1.4 billion. The tax overhaul bill ended up doubling the estate tax exemption, but not repealing the tax.
This was after the first year. It got worse in years 2-4.
Here is more on Trump's legacy of corruption. Scholars call his administration the most corrupt in our history. There were at least 3,700 conflicts of interest according to the article.
Sad, very sad.....
https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-reports/president-trump-legacy-corruption-3700-conflicts-interest/
So now something below is being posted from RedState.com which has a reputation for posting false information and is so far right it makes FOX look left leaning. See Wikipedia.
https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2023/05/13/white-house-now-backpedaling-and-scrambling-after-comers-interim-report-shows-big-biden-lie-n745210?utm_source=rsafternoonbriefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl&bcid=c028e854f7bceb9180e40e56ebcd8c4e
White House Now Backpedaling and Scrambling After Comer's Interim Report Shows Big Biden Lie
Let’s recall what Joe Biden said about his son and that money from China, for example, during a debate with Trump before the 2020 election.
Joe Biden: "My son (Hunter) has not made money… in terms of this thing about… whattaya talking about… China."
This was an absolute proven lie. pic.twitter.com/aTTHTpZsTu
— Gain of Fauci (@DschlopesIsBack) May 10, 2023
That, of course, is a proven lie. Now they’ve even had to back off that lie and are saying essentially “Well, you can’t prove the influence” when Biden had claimed there was no money to begin with. When you’re backpedaling and scrambling, guys, it’s not a great look. And this report is an interim report to show the bank records. It’s the beginning of their investigation, not the end.
We should also not be concerned that he took his son on Air Force 2 to China where Hunter met with a business associate and introduced Joe to him too. We should not be concerned about how Hunter talked about his relationship with the man he called the “spy chief of China.”
We should not be concerned about what Tony Bobulinski said about the 10 percent for the “big guy” who he identified as Joe Biden. Bobulinski made clear that Joe Biden was not only aware of but involved in the CEFC deal, the deal with the China-connected company. We’re just supposed to believe that millions are flying into the pockets of the Biden family for no particular reason and no particular result. No worries and nothing to be concerned about.
It’s the interim report, guys, and they’ve only looked at some of the records. If the White House is already backpedaling and scrambling, what will they do with what comes next? If there’s no problem with the China money, then why was Joe lying about it? He can’t really answer that question.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/explosive-new-evidence-biden-family-breathtaking-corruption
The explosive new evidence of Biden family's breathtaking corruption
The alleged actions of Joe Biden may rise to the level of an impeachable offense
"Documents show that over $10 million in foreign money flowed like a river into more than 20 shell companies and LLCs created for the Bidens’ financial benefit, said Comer. Much of it was then surreptitiously shuffled around various accounts before it landed in the hands of nine members of the president’s family. Those companies have no apparent business purpose other than to serve as a receptacle for hiding cash derived from suspected influence peddling schemes overseas.
The incriminating evidence comes from thousands of subpoenaed banking records, wire transfers, and electronic transactions contained in more than 170 suspicious activity reports (SARs) that were flagged by banks and sent to the criminal division at the Treasury Department. The Biden administration refused to cough up those records until the Committee recently forced its hand. There are still more documents to be examined, suggesting that the Biden profiteering could far exceed the millions of dollars already tracked.
It has always been a misconception that these shady deals never occurred while Joe Biden was in office. The committee discovered that a stunning number of wire transfers happened when Biden served as vice president. It is no coincidence that the money sources came from the very countries over which the VP exerted control over foreign policy decisions. What was being bought? More to the point, what were the Bidens' selling? Access, as well as promises of future influence that would benefit America’s adversaries?
A partial answer may reside in a specific document Comer is seeking from the FBI. A "credible" whistleblower informed the committee that the unclassified record depicts a "criminal scheme" involving then-Vice President Biden and a foreign national in "the exchange of money for policy decisions."
Biden’s repeated claims of innocence and his efforts at misdirection are belied by the known facts. He maintains that he knew nothing about his son’s nefarious activities. Yet, visitor logs prove that Hunter’s partners and clients visited his father at the White House more than 80 times when he was vice president.
Biden also insists that his family never took money from China. But the committee’s newly revealed records show that roughly $6 million was banked by the Bidens from just one of the copious deals with Beijing operatives who had close ties to the Chinese Communist Party and its intelligence apparatus. Citing the president’s soft China policies, Comer has drawn a nexus to Biden’s questionable handling of COVID, TikTok, the spy balloon, theft of intellectual property and China’s manipulation of U.S. currency. Perhaps this explains his utter indifference and no meaningful action to protect vital American interests.
The explosive new evidence seems to confirm what has long been suspected — Joe Biden and his family aggressively exploited his public office to confer benefits and favors on foreign entities or governments in exchange for money. If this was done to the detriment of our own interests as a nation — as it surely seems so — these schemes could well constitute a variety of crimes that include bribery, fraud and felony violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The use of multiple accounts to conceal cash activities would qualify as money laundering.
Beyond the crimes identified under federal statutes, the actions of Joe Biden may rise to the level of an impeachable offense. The U.S. Constitution specifically states that a president can be removed for treason and bribery. Both would apply if the accusations against him are true and supported by credible evidence."
So now FOX is your go to. Tell us about that Dominion lawsuit? You need to quit while you are behind.
#TrueStory
There is no proof, only innuendo. Certainly Trump's Department of Justice would have prosecuted Joe Biden if they had any proof, but of course they didn't. But they did interfere with the prosecution of Trump in New York for the crimes that he's now been indicted for and Trump and his team of malcontents did try and bribe Ukraine into false testimony against the Bidens and failed miserably. And if anybody should have been removed for treason and bribery it would have been Donald J Trump for his actions in Ukraine and his actions on January 6th. I am hopeful that he will be held accountable for January 6th, in spite of the fact that the Republican Senators refused to follow their oath of office by declining to convict him for the bribery effort in Ukraine and his attempted overthrow of our government.
Ros you go to great lengths to indict the Biden family. Perhaps you would be better served to look within your own party as well. There is a long history of corruption in both the trump family and the GOP.
I am always amazed that any criticism of the current Administration is never addressed directly by Democrats but rather the tactic is to instinctively deflect to DJT rather than address the criticism head on.
President Biden’s pole numbers within his own party continue to plumet only to be outdone by his VP – there should be a message there. I personally believe JFK Jr. is a more viable candidate for the Democratic Party and represents the interests of the party base better than the incumbent.
RE the Biden family receiving vast amounts of money from the CCP and other nations hostile to the U.S. these wire transfers were brought to the attention of the FBI through suspicious activity reports and documented by bona fide bank records – there is no hearsay or inuendo. Only time will tell.
For the sake of the nation, I hope The President is exonerated, but as the old adage goes where there is smoke there is fire ….
Ros, I replied to all your comments specifically, and now that the "whistleblower" for Comer's committee has miraculously "disappeared," there seems to be no basis for this political investigation to go on any longer. In fact, the committee can't find a single shred of evidence of any wrongdoing by Joe Biden and has announced so publicly. There's nothing for him to be exonerated from, in spite of your wishful thinking. I do get a chuckle out of the claim that no one will address your comments specifically, because several of us have. But most assuredly, anytime I post an RC in the NVD, all I get is whataboutism. No one has ever disproved a single thing I've written and I take great pride in that fact. JFK Jr. is a pathetic anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist who has no business seeking our nomination, but he will be allowed to, he'll get crushed in our open marketplace of ideas and policies. I'll bet you want him to be our nominee!!
Hi Brad, hey thanks for your feedback -- it is always a pleasure to dialogue with you. A little positive "friction" is a good thing -- after all it would be a boring world if we all thought the same.
RE the transfer of funds to Biden family bank accounts which started while Mr. Biden was in office as our VP what plausible explanation do you have for wire transfers which were flagged by commerical banks to the FBI and the FBI documented them as "suspicious activity"
I have yet to hear a rationale explantion form the White House RE the transfer of millions of dollars to Biden family members via LLCs to include grand children excluding Hunter's child "Navy."
Please explain whgat would justify the movement of these major sums of money. i would REALLY like to hear your thoughts Best, Ros
GM Ros! SAR's are required for any transactions over $10,000 by federal law, including an FBI flag. When I ran the Moose Lodge in Strasburg, I had over 50 of them reported under my name, because of our incredible success in generating revenues. It became of a bit of a joke between me and the bankers I dealt with, because it had never happened before in 50+ years. I'm still waiting to see the hard evidence because the "Whistleblower" has all of a sudden disappeared and nobody can account for or document any of these transactions, can they? But I'll say it once again, if Hunter Biden is guilty of a crime, let the Department of Justice continue to investigate and/or prosecute and then let the chips fall where they may. We don't care, because he didn't work for the government. The real problem is people who work for the government and utilize their family name to make their money, like Jared and Ivanka did, don't you think?
Brad! Ros is a closet Trump supporter. A careful reading of his posts above and the many others he has posted leaves no doubt.
Like RFK, Jr., Tim Scott is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stale Presidential race.
I wouldn’t underestimate the impact of either of them.
Refreshing.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
We will consider two submissions per writer per month. Letters: 250 or fewer words. Commentaries: Under 500 words. You may submit a photo with a Commentary if you like. Email submissions to news@nvdaily.com.