Trump Blind Trust

[PtldPlatypus]

I take it you didn't read any of the previous reporting over the last several months about the Trump Foundation self-dealing? There's plenty of details available.

barfo

Hmm...apparently I also have difficulty reading to the bottom of an article. For some reason I thought I had completed the one to which you linked, but realize now that I only got the top 1/4 of it or so. Looking further, there's a lot more detail than I realize. I apologize for my earlier response.

I do especially like the tale of the sports bar at the Trump golf course "doing the charity a favor by 'storing' its art free of charge." I hope the spokesman who came up with that ridiculous little gem got canned.

 

[riverman]

Even George Bush used a blind trust when he waived at Stevie Wonder at the White House....

 

[barfo]

Hmm...apparently I also have difficulty reading to the bottom of an article. For some reason I thought I had completed the one to which you linked, but realize now that I only got the top 1/4 of it or so. Looking further, there's a lot more detail than I realize. I apologize for my earlier response.

I do especially like the tale of the sports bar at the Trump golf course "doing the charity a favor by 'storing' its art free of charge." I hope the spokesman who came up with that ridiculous little gem got canned.

No worries. It's a fun little story. I think it pales in comparison to what's to come.

barfo

 

[Sedatedfork]

I am more concerned about what Trump will do when he finds out he can tell black helicopters what to do, and how he uses the “nuclear football” as a negotiating tool.

That is my worst fear as well, the foreign policy issues and possible wars and military conflicts that could ensue. I think this first issue of how he will set up his businesses and his cabinet are fairly interesting (regardless of whether you like Trump or not, and I clearly do not as a political leader). However, as political theater goes, I think this blind trust stuff is pretty interesting.

 

[blue32]

Wait...a non-profit organization self-reporting tax-generating transactions to the IRS equals corruption?

You read from a strange dictionary.

The article you linked didn't really indicate that. It indicated that the Post couldn't confirm if the forms that were posted have been sent to the IRS, that they don't know if the associated penalties have been paid, or any details on the self-dealing.

But sure, let's take the marking of a checkbox on an IRS form with absolutely no correlating information and call it corruption. That seems perfectly reasonable.

Bingo. This is what I was talking about. They self reported a problem they found and people label it as corruption in an effort to say "See! See!" Trump is just as bad.

Far from the truth.

The only thing that self reported the Clinton corruption was a hacked email server and they still are denying that they are real. PFfft...

 

[barfo]

Bingo. This is what I was talking about. They self reported a problem they found

No, they self-reported multiple problems after the press discovered and reported on them.

and people label it as corruption in an effort to say "See! See!" Trump is just as bad.

Not 'just as bad'. Just plain 'bad'. The election is over. It's all about your boy Trump now.

barfo

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Who the fuck cares about Clinton still? She's a carcass.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Former Bush ethics lawyer: Trump is ‘going to be in violation of the Constitution on Day 1’

But at least he doesn't have a PRIVATE EMAIL SERVER, amirite?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[blue32]

Former Bush ethics lawyer: Trump is ‘going to be in violation of the Constitution on Day 1’

But at least he doesn't have a PRIVATE EMAIL SERVER, amirite?

So what Present, emolument, office, title, is or has Trump accepted from any king, prince or foreign state?

Also.... your point is moot if "congress consents".

 

[Denny Crane]

I don't think Teresa Heinz-Kerry would have divested of anything had John Kerry been elected.

And I'm sure nobody would have raised a stink, except republicans.

The Kennedys never divested of anything, either.

 

[barfo]

I don't think Teresa Heinz-Kerry would have divested of anything had John Kerry been elected.

And I'm sure nobody would have raised a stink, except republicans.

Uhm, Theresa didn't run Heinz. She just had a lot of money. You don't have to divest yourself of wealth. That's not the requirement (er, the requirement for ethical people, anyway).

barfo

 

[Spud147]

Don Jr. says to "trust" him, they won't ever talk to daddy about it while he's in office. Good thing our president elect is getting his son-in-law top secret clearance so they have things to discuss at the dinner table.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I don't think Teresa Heinz-Kerry would have divested of anything had John Kerry been elected.

And I'm sure nobody would have raised a stink, except republicans.

The Kennedys never divested of anything, either.

Suddenly school lunches would've been NOTHING but beans!

 

[Sedatedfork]

So what Present, emolument, office, title, is or has Trump accepted from any king, prince or foreign state?

Also.... your point is moot if "congress consents".

If a foreign government gives him a tax break for his next international project... http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/us/politics/donald-trump-conflict-of-interest.html

 

[blue32]

If a foreign government gives him a tax break for his next international project... http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/us/politics/donald-trump-conflict-of-interest.html

If. And congress can still consent on it.

So really what's the issue at this moment?

 

[Sedatedfork]

If. And congress can still consent on it.

So really what's the issue at this moment?

The same issue in my original post. He will have an aura of corruption surrounding his presidency if he doesn't get a blind trust. He is supposed to be draining the swamp. But it might turn out he really is Shrek.

 

[Denny Crane]

Uhm, Theresa didn't run Heinz. She just had a lot of money. You don't have to divest yourself of wealth. That's not the requirement (er, the requirement for ethical people, anyway).

barfo

What does "running" Heinz (or not) have to do with the possibility Kerry would cut some deal that helps the company? Or any of the other stocks she particularly held?

 

[barfo]

What does "running" Heinz (or not) have to do with the possibility Kerry would cut some deal that helps the company? Or any of the other stocks she particularly held?

Because you can put stock in a blind trust, which is presumably what would have happened.

barfo

 

[Denny Crane]

Because you can put stock in a blind trust, which is presumably what would have happened.

barfo

You presume too much.

He never talked about doing so.

 

[Sedatedfork]

You presume too much.

He never talked about doing so.

Was he ever asked about it? Trump was. And he basically said "I will have my kids run it"

 

[barfo]

You presume too much.

He never talked about doing so.

He also didn't get elected, so this entire discussion is presuming too much.

You can presume that Kerry would have sold the White House to the Trump Organization to convert to a hotel, if you'd like.

barfo

 

[MarAzul]

Can someone direct me to the place in the Constitution that dictates the President divest himself of all holdings?
Perhaps it is an amendment? I don't believe it was ever established by president.

Or are the libs just working up a tizzy?

 

[blue32]

The same issue in my original post. He will have an aura of corruption surrounding his presidency if he doesn't get a blind trust. He is supposed to be draining the swamp. But it might turn out he really is Shrek.

Congress consent does not equal "corruption".

 

[MarAzul]

Suddenly school lunches would've been NOTHING but beans!

Was he ever asked about it? Trump was. And he basically said "I will have my kids run it"

He also didn't get elected, so this entire discussion is presuming too much.

You can presume that Kerry would have sold the White House to the Trump Organization to convert to a hotel, if you'd like.

barfo

Can someone direct me to the place in the Constitution that dictates the President divest himself of all holdings?
Perhaps it is an amendment? I don't believe it was ever established by president.

Or are the libs just working up a tizzy?

One more time?

 

[Denny Crane]

He also didn't get elected, so this entire discussion is presuming too much.

You can presume that Kerry would have sold the White House to the Trump Organization to convert to a hotel, if you'd like.

barfo

It was an issue at the time.

Again, your kind didn't get your panties in a wad over it.

 

[Denny Crane]

Was he ever asked about it? Trump was. And he basically said "I will have my kids run it"

The Democrats were more concerned with defending Heinz for outsourcing jobs overseas.

https://pjmedia.com/blog/john-kerry-no-blind-trusts-tax-avoidance-and-conflicts-of-interest/

John Kerry: No Blind Trusts, Tax Avoidance, and Conflicts of Interest

But with a net worth over $230 million, Kerry and his wife -- whose $1B net worth dwarfs her husband’s -- over the years have avoided millions of dollars in taxes through a complex web of inherited trust funds. Last year alone they earned about $4.8 million for which they paid no taxes.

Moreover, the Kerrys haven’t placed any investments into a blind trust, as recommended for avoiding conflicts of interest. They also have numerous stock investments in companies standing to benefit from Kerry’s voting for bailouts and ObamaCare.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP), the 12-member super committee, charged with cutting the national debt $1.5T, “by and large, are far wealthier than the average American.”

Leading the pack, financially speaking, is Senator Kerry, whose net worth is estimated to be $239M (averaging the latest available estimated minimum and maximum values from CRP). This is about 2,500 times the average American’s net worth of $96,000.

 

[barfo]

It was an issue at the time.

Again, your kind didn't get your panties in a wad over it.

Again, he didn't get elected.

barfo

 

[barfo]

One more time?

I think everyone agrees that conflict of interest rules don't apply to the president - he is free to use the power of the office for his own financial benefit to the maximum of his abilities.

Happy now?

barfo