Thank you, Robert Hubbell, for keeping outrage fresh. Barr is a slimy customer, Gov. Noem makes Sarah Palin seem innocuous by comparison, and tax fraud is one of the most despicable roots of income inequality. Every day is a new assault on our credulousness, and we need your help to see it clearly.
Yes keep on keeping outrage front & center. Although, the constant need for repetition dulls the brain. Really hoping our Democracy thrives & we all move forward. Thanks for your work!
Barr's attempt to rehabilitate himself is like an officer in the SS who surrendered to the Allies after they crossed the Rhine in 1945, and then tried to say that he never thought Hitler was right, and pointed out that he opposed the us of gas against enemy troops (but not in death camps).
I would go further than you do, to suggest that using the South Dakota National Guard on the southern border has to be flat-out illegal; I don't know what section of the US Code it violates, but there must be at least one. And allowing a private donor to pay for it must be a crime--perhaps bribery. You are absolutely right that the Guard should be ordered to remain on its base.
As for indicting Weisselberg for untaxed fringe benefits, I can't see that as shocking. Admittedly, it's been several decades since I handled defense of a few tax prosecutions, but the crime is clear, if proved.
I researched the issue of the National Guard. When activated for "state purposes,: the governor is the Commander in Chief of the guard forces. The question is whether sending troops to Texas is a state purposes. States frequently send National Guard to other states for mutual aid, so that alone is not disqualifying. I think the fact that she is sending troops to an international border is the problem.
A further thought about Trump's plaint that investigating anything associated with him is political skulduggery (although, of course, that is a word beyond his vocabulary): A prominent political figure, especially one who is or has been president, should be held to a higher standard, not a lower one. We need to remind the voters of Caesar's wife.
To those who are swayed by the idea that it's partisan to go after Trump and his minions for tax evasion, just review the prosecution of Al Capone. You go after a mobster any way you can!
... and about Barr. His first and most egregious act was lying about the Mueller Report. The repercussions are still rolling out. It started the steepest parts of the declines we have experienced. He should be prosecuted for that and thrown in prison. Still. No forgiveness. This is ridiculous that anyone would overlook this heinous act on Barr's part. Aren't you glad to see I'm still capable of outrage, Robert?
I am so tired of the suggestion that every attempt at holding Trump accountable has to be tempered by the fear of appearing political. Bringing Trump to Justice is not about right or left. It’s about right or wrong.
I totally agree with you here, Robert. Where is the notion of equality and equal justice? We're back to the Animal Farm approach with these people who think the tax manipulation and evasion on fringe benefits is no big deal? Really? With the money thus saved by the Trump organization, many poor people in NY could have been lifted from poverty or at least have free access to after school programs and mental health treatments. "The fact that the undeclared income relates to fringe benefits as opposed to underreporting payroll taxes or tips to waiters and waitresses is a meaningless distinction from an enforcement perspective."
I am right there with you, Robert, when it comes to Barr. There is no rehabilitating him. He is smart enough to know exactly the kind of damage he did and has done to this country, though he may have thought he was acting in accordance with some perverted form of patriotism. The fact that he even became AG is an indictment of the process by which the Senate confirms nominees--we knew where he would stand when the time came and his garbage answers to his questioners should have made any right-thinking Senator vote him down right then and there.
As to Barr, one of the most helpful signs of his troubles is the ethics complaint signed by ex-presidents of the DC Bar and other prominent lawyers. I have had difficulty getting a copy of what has been filed and the status of the complaint. If you have resources that can get some insight into where things stand that would be most helpful. Interviews by Barr suggesting he had nothing to do with Trump's support of baseless allegations in Court suits months after leaving office cannot undue the encouragement he gave initially to these suits.
By the way WaPo's editorial lineup is very unbalanced and I gave up my digital subscription after having it for well over a year.
I just read that the unpaid taxes by Weissleberg are in the range of $900,000. That's a lot of taxes, in my accounting. I am hoping that the pressure of 15 criminal charges may sway him to tell more about where the other crimes are buried.
Thank you, Robert Hubbell, for keeping outrage fresh. Barr is a slimy customer, Gov. Noem makes Sarah Palin seem innocuous by comparison, and tax fraud is one of the most despicable roots of income inequality. Every day is a new assault on our credulousness, and we need your help to see it clearly.
Yes keep on keeping outrage front & center. Although, the constant need for repetition dulls the brain. Really hoping our Democracy thrives & we all move forward. Thanks for your work!
Barr's attempt to rehabilitate himself is like an officer in the SS who surrendered to the Allies after they crossed the Rhine in 1945, and then tried to say that he never thought Hitler was right, and pointed out that he opposed the us of gas against enemy troops (but not in death camps).
I would go further than you do, to suggest that using the South Dakota National Guard on the southern border has to be flat-out illegal; I don't know what section of the US Code it violates, but there must be at least one. And allowing a private donor to pay for it must be a crime--perhaps bribery. You are absolutely right that the Guard should be ordered to remain on its base.
As for indicting Weisselberg for untaxed fringe benefits, I can't see that as shocking. Admittedly, it's been several decades since I handled defense of a few tax prosecutions, but the crime is clear, if proved.
I researched the issue of the National Guard. When activated for "state purposes,: the governor is the Commander in Chief of the guard forces. The question is whether sending troops to Texas is a state purposes. States frequently send National Guard to other states for mutual aid, so that alone is not disqualifying. I think the fact that she is sending troops to an international border is the problem.
A further thought about Trump's plaint that investigating anything associated with him is political skulduggery (although, of course, that is a word beyond his vocabulary): A prominent political figure, especially one who is or has been president, should be held to a higher standard, not a lower one. We need to remind the voters of Caesar's wife.
To those who are swayed by the idea that it's partisan to go after Trump and his minions for tax evasion, just review the prosecution of Al Capone. You go after a mobster any way you can!
... and about Barr. His first and most egregious act was lying about the Mueller Report. The repercussions are still rolling out. It started the steepest parts of the declines we have experienced. He should be prosecuted for that and thrown in prison. Still. No forgiveness. This is ridiculous that anyone would overlook this heinous act on Barr's part. Aren't you glad to see I'm still capable of outrage, Robert?
I am so tired of the suggestion that every attempt at holding Trump accountable has to be tempered by the fear of appearing political. Bringing Trump to Justice is not about right or left. It’s about right or wrong.
I totally agree with you here, Robert. Where is the notion of equality and equal justice? We're back to the Animal Farm approach with these people who think the tax manipulation and evasion on fringe benefits is no big deal? Really? With the money thus saved by the Trump organization, many poor people in NY could have been lifted from poverty or at least have free access to after school programs and mental health treatments. "The fact that the undeclared income relates to fringe benefits as opposed to underreporting payroll taxes or tips to waiters and waitresses is a meaningless distinction from an enforcement perspective."
I am right there with you, Robert, when it comes to Barr. There is no rehabilitating him. He is smart enough to know exactly the kind of damage he did and has done to this country, though he may have thought he was acting in accordance with some perverted form of patriotism. The fact that he even became AG is an indictment of the process by which the Senate confirms nominees--we knew where he would stand when the time came and his garbage answers to his questioners should have made any right-thinking Senator vote him down right then and there.
As to Barr, one of the most helpful signs of his troubles is the ethics complaint signed by ex-presidents of the DC Bar and other prominent lawyers. I have had difficulty getting a copy of what has been filed and the status of the complaint. If you have resources that can get some insight into where things stand that would be most helpful. Interviews by Barr suggesting he had nothing to do with Trump's support of baseless allegations in Court suits months after leaving office cannot undue the encouragement he gave initially to these suits.
By the way WaPo's editorial lineup is very unbalanced and I gave up my digital subscription after having it for well over a year.
I just read that the unpaid taxes by Weissleberg are in the range of $900,000. That's a lot of taxes, in my accounting. I am hoping that the pressure of 15 criminal charges may sway him to tell more about where the other crimes are buried.