President-elect Joe Biden has a pony problem. During the primary, Joe Biden bizarrely responded to a woman who asked why voters should believe that he could win a national election by saying “You’re a lying dog-faced pony soldier.” That encounter came to mind when Biden this week mocked Fox reporter Peter Doocy, who violated the virtual news blackout on the Hunter Biden story. by asking about the scandal. Biden immediately walked off stage and then stopped and said “Yes, yes, yes. God love you, man — you’re a one-horse pony, I tell you.”
Like many kids this Christmas, many voters are still angling for a pony. Biden has spent months mocking the Hunter Biden story – and anyone asking about it. When CBS News reporter Bo Erickson asked Biden about his son’s scandal, Bo Erickson drew a similar rebuke from Biden. He simply asked ‘Mr. Biden, what is your response to the New York Post story about your son, sir?’ Biden’s response was again a personal attack: “I know you’d ask it. I have no response, it’s another smear campaign, right up your alley, those are the questions you always ask.” Biden also blew up at a question that referred by the scandal by a NBC reporter and at a Fox reporter who asked about his son.
It is just not working. The media openly worked to bury the Hunter Biden scandal before the election, but the ponies keep finding their way back. The problem is when you one reporter like Doocy who refuses to be corralled and insists on an answer to a serious question.
The question yesterday was a good one. Doocy yelled out “Mr. President-elect, do you still think that the stories from the fall about your son Hunter were Russian disinformation and a smear campaign like you said?” Biden’s response of “yes, yes, yes” seemed to continue a discredited claim (indeed, “disinformation”) put out by figures like House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff who assured the pubic that the allegations against “this whole smear on Joe Biden comes from the Kremlin.” Some 50 former intelligence officials, including Obama’s CIA directors John Brennan and Leon Panetta, also insisted the laptop story was likely the work of Russian intelligence. Cable hosts and journalists laughed at the laptop story as fake news to justify the blackout on coverage before the election.
Then the pony showed up again. After the election, it was confirmed (as some of us discussed in columns before the election) that Hunter Biden is under federal investigation. The laptop appears to be genuine. The emails appear to be genuine. And Doocy continued to ask the obvious questions.
Biden is still hoping that he can continue to mock and the media will continue to do the rest. One reporter yesterday did raise the scandal but only to ask if Biden discussed it with Attorney General candidates (the campaign already said that Biden was going to allow the Justice Department to reach its own conclusions). There are other obvious questions, including whether a key business associate of the Bidens, Anthony Bobulinski, is lying. Either Tony Bobulinski or Joe Biden is lying. Bobulinski is repeatedly praised by Hunter Biden in the emails and identified as the person in control of transactions for “the family.” He has directly contradicted Joe Biden’s denial of any knowledge or involvement in his son’s dubious dealings.
There is a reason why Biden may not want to answer that question. If he calls Bobulinski a liar, Biden would be hit with a defamation lawsuit within days. He would then be forced to go under oath in a defamation. Such depositions present their own dangers. Just ask Bill Clinton. So it is not a pesky pony but a sworn deposition that Biden may be trying to avoid.
The same problem exists on other questions. For example, not only were Joe and Jill Biden included as “office mates” with controversial Chinese investor (and associate of Hunter) Gongwen Dong, but emails also refer to unsecured loans going to the Biden family and shares going to “the big guy.” The “big guy” appears to be Joe Biden. Moreover, Biden spent the election denying that his son did nothing wrong and made no money from China. The question is when Biden learned of the federal investigation and whether he was aware of the dealings over multimillion dollar unsecured loans (as well as alleged gifts like a valuable diamond to his son). Answering those questions falsely could trigger congressional investigation and then more ponies would show up.
That is the problem with a bunker press strategy of denial and isolation. Like water, truth has a way of coming out. Clearly many in the media will continue to be in the bag for Biden. However, horses tend to gather where the water is found. First, there was one pony (Doocy). Then another showed up (Erickson). Before you know it, you have a herd and a threat of a stampede. Then it could be too late.
In mocking comment to Doocy, Biden was clearly trying to say a “one-trick pony.” That trick however was once called “journalism” back in the day when reporters doggedly demanded answers, particularly on questions like influence peddling. So many of us still hoping for ponies – and even some answers – for Christmas.
This column also appeared on Fox.com.
Professor Turley, you may want to review some of these posters. When criminal pedophiles are commenting on politics, free speech absolutists may want to rethink things.
Shocking that a president would disrespect the press and make fun of the norms of the office!!
Maybe it’s time to take a page from your friend Barr, Professor? Let the Delaware investigation go where it will. You know…, don’t turn yourself into a ‘Benghazzi’ gossip columnist? It’s hard to do, I know. Especially when your talking points come down from on high and all.
Elvis Bug
Unless DOJ dropps the investigation in the next few weeks, and that would require lots of explaining. there pretty much MUST be a special prosecutor.
You can not expect DOJ to investigate the presidents son or family. This is pretty much the classic reason for a Special counsel.
John say, why would the DOJ need to explain dropping a case against hunter Biden? The DOJ itself spent an enormous amount of time and money making that exact same argument for Flynn.
According to Turley and a lot of Trump supporters here, if the DOJ decides to drop a case it can do so without the need to explain itself. Why suddenly does the DOJ need to explain itself after multiple articles saying they don’t have to. You are essentially saying Sullivan was right. How ironic.
Plus there is no need for a special counsel. There has been no crime or any charge of impropriety at all. Just allegations and the notion of an investigation.
“John say, why would the DOJ need to explain dropping a case against hunter Biden? ”
Because if it does not millions of people will lose confidence in government.
You do not seem to grasp that government does not exist without the consent of the governed.
While we like to beleive that is accomplished by elections – that is not true, though elections are important.
Go look at the collapse of the Soviet union. The former citizens of the USSR decided on their won without elections that their government no longer was legitimate – and that was the end of it.
Dropping the case against Hunter Biden without explanation will not topple the government – but it will substantially weaken an already weak government.
“The DOJ itself spent an enormous amount of time and money making that exact same argument for Flynn.”
Not at all clear what you are saying”
“According to Turley and a lot of Trump supporters here, if the DOJ decides to drop a case it can do so without the need to explain itself.”
False DOJ/Barr explained that clearly. The legitimate investigation of Flynn ended on Jan 5, 2017. When all predicates for that investigation had been found false. There was no legitimate investigation at the time Strzok questioned Flynn, therefore there could be no violation of 18 USC 1001. There is no broad stature barring lying to the government – otherwise Comey and Strzok would be guilty of it when they lied to Flynn to get him to consent to an interview. You do not seem to grasp the fact that Flynn was also a government agent at the time. Worse still he was likely about to start an investigation of XFH as soon as he learned about it, and at that point the tables would be completely turned.
“Why suddenly does the DOJ need to explain itself after multiple articles saying they don’t have to. ”
I have not heard anyone Claim DOJ did not need to explain dropping the Flynn case.
They did explain. They explained in great detail in their motion dropping the case.
“You are essentially saying Sullivan was right. How ironic.”
Not at all. Sullivan was completely wrong. DOJ offered the basis for dropping the case. That basis rested on a few facts and the law.
As long as DOJ was correct about those facts and the law – and they inarguably were. Both DOJ and Sullivan were barred from proceding.
You seem to think that all of this is infinitely subjective. It is not.
I personally do not see a case against Hunter Biden for anything but Tax evasion.
But you and others have argued that Paul Manafort committed a crime – what is it that Manafort did that Hunter Biden did not do more egregiously ?
“Plus there is no need for a special counsel.”
Of course there is. The purpose of an SC is to conduct an investigation where there is a conflict of interests with the WH and/or DOJ.
There can not possibly be a greater conflict than investigating the presidents son.
“There has been no crime or any charge of impropriety at all. Just allegations and the notion of an investigation.”
At the time of Mueller’s appointment there was not crime of charges.
All the way through to Mueller’s final report – there was no crime or charges that involved a conflict of interest with DOJ or the WH.
There is far more than allegations regarding Hinter Biden.
There is an enormous about of evidence.
While the information from the laptop is pretty damning, there are independently aquired bank records, correspondence with the state department from FOIA requests. affadavits and depositions. Public statements.
This is all called evidence.
There is far more evidence of pretty much the exact same conduct with respect to Hunter Biden as Paul Manafort.
Both accepted money in return for their ability to influence those in government.
Both sought to avoid paying taxes on that money. Manafort appears to have made more of an effort to do so legally – manaforts funds were not taxable until he brought them into the US – Biden did that immediately.
I argued here repeatedly that Manaforts efforts to influence government was legal if scurilous. That is also true of Hunter Biden.
But the courts found the conduct I asserted was legal to be a crime with Manafort – then it is a crime for Hunter Biden to do the same.
But the actual serious crime was committed by Vice President Joe Biden – not Hunter.
Burisma paid to have the investigation ended favorably. Hinter Biden could not do that. That was accomplished by Joe Biden as Vice President. That is the important crime, and clearly that requires a special counsel.
There is ZERO doubt that VP Biden had the Ukrainian prosecutor investigating Burisma sacked.
He has bragged about that publicly.
There is ZERO doubt that Burisma paid Hunter Biden to accomplish that.
There is far more than enough for a special Counsel.
God love this Democrat transparency and the enabling MSM
JT: “So it is not a pesky pony but a sworn deposition that Biden may be trying to avoid.”
And trying to avoid the glaringly obvious: That he has been compromised by a communist dictatorship.
Again , this is Professor Turley’s blog. If you wish to reply to the subject matter HE puts forth please feel free to do so. Those of us who access this blog do so because of Mr. Turley. If you wish to address other topics you have many other options, Twitter Facebook etc. Or start your own blog where like minded individuals can give you the echo chamber you seem to desire so much. In absence of that PLEASE stay on topic. Obviously your discourse is welcome. That is part of the exercise. Please STICK TO THE POINT. And it would help if EVERY counterpoint was not ” Well what about Trump”? Hopefully that will be taken out of your quiver after Jan. 20. But I doubt it.
Paul, the troll scat usually consists of “Orange man bad” or “Turley man bad.” Those are the only subjects some of them know.
Diogenes, one might ask, “Why is that man’s face so orange?”
How many executives in their 70’s wear yellow hair and orange make-up?? Historians will wonder why Trump’s bizarre appearance was so widely accepted.
I don’t know why he doesn’t just pony up and answer these questions, after all nothing is going to happen anyway. Poor old Bobulinsky will probably be the only one who takes a fall.
Oh jeez, Turley is just pandering to his readers here. Note that Trump himself has handled his own scandals the exact same way and Turley never focused on it. Funny isn’t it?
The first thing that stands out is that he’s calling it a scandal when in fact it isn’t. It’s nothing different than the investigations on Trump’s own tax issues. You don’t see Turley calling it a scandal do you? Of course not.
Of further interest, Turley is running the risk of being sued for defamation like Fox News and news Max if he keeps peddling unproven allegations by leaving the impression that some crime is afoot. Notice that it’s still not proven the laptop is actually hunter Biden’s or the emails are actually his. After all this time it’s still an allegation. Furthermore AG Barr, Turley’s dear friend stated no special prosecutor is needed for the hunter Biden “scandal”. Why Turley didn’t mention his well respected friend’s professional view?
This whole Hunter Biden “scandal” has all the hallmarks of another Hillary Clinton “scandal” where in the end nothing is proven and no charges are ever put forth. Joe Biden has reason to be dismissive about this “scandal”. It’s just another long running smear campaign.
Guess what Svelaz? Ponies do not interest me but boys do. When will Biden condemn the hateful messaging against man-boy love? LGBTQIA-eieio folks deserve an answer. I do hope Santa brings me a bag full of boys. Ponies? Thats for the right wing bubble Trumpters!
https://www.nambla.org/matters.html
Only with your help can NAMBLA continue its work. See if you agree why NAMBLA matters:
For 30 years, NAMBLA has been the primary voice testifying to the benevolent aspects of man/boy love.
NAMBLA has been, and continues to be, a beacon of moral support for all individuals who feel a natural love for boys.
Through our web site and publications, NAMBLA provides a public forum for a diverse range of viewpoints supporting sexual liberation and youth liberation.
NAMBLA is the only organization that specifically supports incarcerated individuals who identify as boy lovers or who otherwise agree with our aims.
NAMBLA has celebrated the dignity inherent in the natural love of boys.
NAMBLA has been a bulwark against the lies and pejoratives of a venal abuse industry and opportunistic politicians and law enforcement officials. Exposing these lies is important not only for man/boy lovers but for all people who value democracy, since its foundation is a well-informed electorate.
NAMBLA has consistently protested ill advised wars that needlessly maim and kill young people and devastate families here and abroad. Even before it started, NAMBLA warned against the Iraq invasion. Our warning was on our Web site long before many of the politicians, who belatedly recognized their immense error, echoed our concerns.
NAMBLA has spoken out strongly against the shoddy and disrespectful treatment afforded youth in our society and the resulting high rates of child and youth poverty, neglect and alienation.
NAMBLA has consistently highlighted injustices and harm in age of consent laws. Instead of protecting young people, these laws have done the very opposite.
Seth, it seems the Catholic Church supports your cause. Maybe you should donate to them so they can advocate for it. After all they have been big fans of man/boy love for hundreds of years.
What does this post have to do with Turley’s pony post outlining the landmines Joe Biden seems, increasingly, in danger of stepping on?
Svelez, Here’s a nice safe liberal site that will answer some of the questions you just asked. A bit more than just taxes. They have been investigating Hunter since 2018.
Hunter Biden: Federal criminal investigation focuses on his business dealings in China – CNNPolitics
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/09/politics/hunter-biden-tax-investigtation/index.html
Gabby, it’s a tax investigation. Whether a crime has been committed has not been determined. Just like Trump. Trump has been under criminal investigation longer than Hunter Biden.
If you are truly concerned why aren’t you demanding trump answer for his own criminal investigation?
Sevalez, you are delusional!
Unfortunately, I think we all know that as soon as Biden takes office, his new AG will shut the faucets and rid Hunter of any ongoing investigation. Instead they will treat the matter as a “Russian” hoax, and dismiss it.
Why even talk about this as a serious matter, when we all know what the result will be. And, the media will hail this is a victory for justice in America.
If That happens Biden’s toast.
The portending Biden presidency will be dogged and infested with all of the things that the media and pundits accused Trump of being, only this time it will really be true; this impending presidency will be the most corrupt, depotic, most compromised and blackmailable, and most morally & mentally defective presidency in the past 80 years.
Nah, Trump’s presidency was the most corrupt, depotic, most compromised and blackmailable, and most morally & mentally defective presidency in the past 80 years. You just have blinders on.
how the hell do the “powers that be fin,Joe Biden, mentally fit for any office”!!!
they want leaders who are subject to billionaire undue influence. joe biden is perfectly qualified for that.
Saloth Sar
SS, you’re a Trump fan, so maybe you shouldn’t be squawking endlessly about billionaire undue influence.
The “Epimenides paradox” is alive an well within the pending administration and its head master, the 50 or so former Spooks, and of course the main stream (I know nothing) media.
All Cretans are liars. But even a clock wound wrongly is right twice a day. –Saloth sar
I’ve mentioned this to Allan repeatedly, but just a heads up, when insulting someone’s intelligence it’s really, really important to spell the operative terms correctly.
Elvis Bug
It’s funny how the DOJ and the mass media manipulated by billionaires, plays these games,.
they would not let Trump benefit from the Hunter story, kept really quit for like what almost 2 years?
but now that he’s on the outs, they’re gonna raise the profile to put pressure on biden
see how that works? the POTUS is a figurehead. Joe’s in the hotseat soon, and billionaires gonna squeeze him until their gal Kammy is up to bat
i mean the Senator for Delaware, Credit card Joe, was for decades a favorite of the billies, but with Kam they got a lady from close to home, seeing as how Silicon Valley is the new center of power, no longer Delaware and NYC
any predictions on how long before Joe retires?
Sal Sar
May I quote You else where as “anonymous” ? well said, I think.
As Biden further declines mentally, we will witness more deflection, projection and anger.
You spelled Trump wrong!
Is Trump’s mental decline the reason that we’re seeing deflection, projection and anger from Trump?
We see stories claiming these things.
What I see from Trump is what I have seen for years.
Lots of people like you claiming he is more unhinged everyday – when the only people more unhinged everyday are you, the left democrats.
Trump has just pardoned murderers, thieves, traitors and war criminals and you are still ranting on about Hunter Biden. Even Barr has stopped doing that. Professor, you need to check yourself.
“murderers, thieves, traitors and war criminals?” What trash you bring to the conversations…
I’m sure Mr. Homes has never heard a bullets ping, when the bullet missed it’s target, it does make you pucker, or lived through the FOG of war. When sitting in tranquility it’s easy to cast blame at others and claim righteousness.
The Big Guy is what Biden has on the license plate of his Corvette.
So much is happening and JT is obsessed with Hunter. Hunter may be a sleaze and perhaps he will be charged with some crime. But why repeat your distain for the Biden’s almost daily. We get it!
The Professor is not obsessed with the Biden family drama. He is just providing commentary on newsworthy events that the mainstream media refuses to cover.
You must be an idiot or mentally defective. Hunter praised his then-business partner Anthony Bobulinkski, who said on video that he met with Joe Re. Hunter’s business dealings with the CCP/Chi Comm. Party. If Tony Bobulinkski lied Joe would say that, but because Bobulinkski spoke the truth, Joe can not say Tony lied, because Tony would sue Joe the next day, and Joe would have to testify under oath in a deposition.
Joe lied because Joe is the Chief of the Biden International Krime Syndikat. There are likely mobile phone records and Secret Service personnel who shall confirm the truth Re. Joe’s meetings with Tony Bobulinkski, a retired US military member from a family with a long military history.
If you know of another reason Joe will not say into the camera that Tony lied, post it. But you and no other DNC boot and alimentary canal licking skum bag has any proper defense of Joe because no such thing exists. Your lack of a reason proves my statement.
Now do what you do best: “whataboutism,” AKA accusing Trump of whatever. I pretty much hate Trump’s guts and am not a Trump defender.
Why isn;t the Biden story as big a deal as the collusion delusion that we suffered through for 4 years.
It has the same elements – on sterioids. We have actual links between the vice presidents family and foreign operatives and mots of money changing hands. We even have allegations of election interferance and coverup.
The big difference is that the Biden story has more actual evidence.
The collusion delusion actually was Russian disinformation.
Dems lie to us; they lie to each other, the real question is: “Do they lie to themselves?”.
Dems may ignore the Hunter Biden story, but we know that they are lying dog-faced pony soldiers.
Now watch the lefties respond with: “But Trump…”.
Again, if the rest of the media would simply do their jobs, we wouldn’t keep having these problems. (We could have avoided eight years of Barack Obama!)
we are not the mass media bosses. billlionaires who own their operations are, and the reporters do what they are told
understand that, and it all makes sense
Saloth sar
Again, if the rest of the media would simply do their job, we wouldn’t be having these problems.
Such Do about nada.