Below is my column on the Menendez indictment and the curious “Mattress Defense” put forward by the senator. For most people, it seems like a defense that is unlikely to win over a jury, but that may not be the purpose. Menendez may be trying to replicate his “win” six years ago by securing not an acquittal but a hung jury.
Here is the column:
In his defense of bribery allegations, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) argues he’s just your tio loco, who doesn’t trust banks and prefers a Serta Perfect to Morgan Stanley to hold his money.
Call it the “mattress defense.”
Wads of cash and gold bars were found in the Menendez home.
But the senator insisted that he was just being an “old-fashioned” Cuban who feared that the government could confiscate his property at any moment.
It’s a curious defense.
He is claiming that he has been squirreling away money for years as a hedge against an authoritarian crackdown — of which his Democratic Party is in control, and he is one of its most senior senators.
So he’s worried President Biden is going to grab his gold bars?
It is hardly a roaring endorsement of our system.
Menendez declared: “For 30 years, I have withdrawn thousands of dollars in cash from my personal savings account, which I have kept for emergencies, and because of the history of my family facing confiscation in Cuba. Now this may seem old-fashioned, but these were monies drawn from my personal savings account.”
Menendez was born in the United States to Cuban immigrants who fled the island in 1953.
What is striking is that Menendez locked in this defense within a week of the indictment.
There is no walking back, since this press conference can be admitted as evidence at trial.
It is an explanation that is highly unlikely to convince a jury as a whole.
There is evidence, from fingerprints to DNA, connecting the senator and his wife, Nadine, to money handed over by co-conspirators.
There are also damning emails and messages.
In one such message in March 2020, Nadine allegedly told an Egyptian official, “Anytime you need anything you have my number and we will make everything happen.”
That is what is so telling about Menendez’s press conference.
It is a defense that seems crafted not for acquittal but a hung jury.
Six years ago, he was saved by a hung jury in a prior bribery trial.
This could be a pitch for the same result.
He just needs to connect with one juror to survive to grift another day.
It may be working. In the chatter that followed in New Jersey, some quickly affirmed that this was a “Cuban thing.”
One voter in Union City told CBS News, “The part about the money I do understand because as a Cuban we are used to putting … we don’t trust the government. We came from a very dark place in Cuba under a terrible regime.”
Of course, no one knows the “dark places” as much as Bob Menendez.
Meanwhile, the suggestion of a resignation is unlikely to appeal to Menendez.
Why give up the leverage of a seat in a closely divided Senate?
With various Democrats calling for his resignation, Menendez is hardly being subtle about the threat he could pose.
He could run as a third-party candidate and potentially lose a seat that the Democrats have long treated as a guaranteed win.
In the meantime, he continues to draw a large salary and can use Senate business to argue for delays and accommodations in the court proceedings.
In his press conference, Menendez promised to stay his course “despite the naysayers and everyone who has underestimated me.”
It is certainly never good to underestimate Bob Menendez when it comes to the “dark places” of American politics.
Joe Biden bragged about his ability to destroy the NordStream pipeline (see video below). Then the pipeline was destroyed, creating an environmental catastrophe. Now the Chinese government wants an investigation into who did it. It is rare that I agree with the Chinese government, but ngl in this case I do.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/china-calls-for-an-impartial-investigation-into-the-nord-stream-explosions
Presumably you’ve seen this article by Seymour Hersh regarding the one-year anniversary of the Nordstream nonsense:
A YEAR OF LYING ABOUT NORD STREAM
https://seymourhersh.substack.com/p/a-year-of-lying-about-nord-stream
I had not seen it, but I will read it, thanks for the link.
If you are not familiar with Hersh’s original Nord Stream article revealing how the piplines were destroyed, that information is probably worth hunting up as well. Hersh still has amazing contacts and a way of getting information that others can’t get.
So the article says the deterrent value had become nil at the time Biden ordered the sabotage. He did it to keep Germany and Western Europe generally out of Putin’s orbit and maintain American primacy in Western Europe.
It was also a strategic move toward waging WWIII. That’s how insane these people are. They actually want another world war, knowing this time it’ll be nuclear. God help us all.
That’s a good synopsis of the article, for those who don’t have the time or inclination to read it. The intent was to keep Europe from getting or becoming dependent on cheap oil from Russia. So in a way, it was a US attack on Europe’s economy. If that realization ever sinks in in Europe, it will be big trouble.
I hope it does sink in. Attacking cheap energy is all the rage nowadays with the globalist crowd. They have their ideological (cultish) reasons, as well as their geopolitical-power reasons. But it makes others, especially the poor, poorer, hungrier, and colder. IOW it is, in a sense, a crime against humanity, just like the masking of children, the experimental vaccines, the open border, and the lawlessness intentionally inflicted by Soros soft-on-crime DA’s.
As soon as China is adjudicated to have sole and full responsibility for releasing “China Flu, 2019,” either deliberately or accidentally, and completes the $100 trillion recompense of all nations.
China hardly had “sole and full responsibility for releasing” COVID, which was used by the democrat party to influence the 2020 election by creating the excuse for fraudulent mail-in voting. The democrat party conspired with China to release COVID.
Funded by George Soros
Did you ever notice that every significant new “mutation” that came out, came from some backa$$wards, low population area? Mathematically the least likely place for a new mutation to evolve…
You’re deluded.
Hey, at least he spelled it right this time, and didnt give me possession of “deluded”.
YNOT=bug face the lawn boy after 2pm
Beahahahaha
It is a fact, proven by Chinese laboratory scientists et al. and by reverse engineering, that “China Flu, 2019” emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan, China, which has apparently been shut down by the communist Chinese government.
China has sole and full responsibility for releasing “China Flu, 2019,” as China was also responsible for the release and transmission of the Spanish Flu in 1918 (Spain was the only source for news of the flu, which was sourced in China and spread by Chinese workers traveling through Canada to Europe, thus the name), “Guizhou Flu, 1957” in Southern China, and “Hong Kong Flu, 1969.”
Is any dem ever going to face the consequences of their actions ever again? Is it any wonder their kids are so insufferable given this? i no longer know what to say other than we do not live in an equal republic any longer, and that quite literally all we have left is to vote, so please vote differently. Hate Republicans all you like, and I myself am not a dyed in the wool conservative – but you can’t vote for dems anymore. Every ounce of them has been captured. See the latest TED talk cancellations for evidence. James Carville and Bill Maher can kvetch all they want – will they vote differently? Unlikely. That is very likely true of our god Professor as well. 😐 This is about getting a regime out of power (i.e. the dem party) not particular candidates. That does not automatically mean ‘republican’, either. Just not dem.
The Deep Deep State “Swamp” indicted Menendez instead of Trump to direct attention away from the massive Biden corruption scandal and his impending impeachment.
The DDSS could not justify, and was apprehensive about being embarrassed by, yet another indictment of Real President Donald J. Trump.
Meanwhile, Moochhell is taking Acting Presidential 101.
She is learning how to wave her hand in a parade because she sure as —- has no organizational, executive, or operations acumen or expertise.
Moochhell would make a great democrat (i.e. communist), however, because, rumor has it, she is a well-qualified expert on spending like a drunken sailor.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Michelle Obama travel expense update: Your tax dollars at work”
“Just a quick update, as you organize to file your income taxes, on the Obama family’s lavish travel expenses that your money is underwriting. Financing might be a better word. Barack and Michelle Obama have traveled more than any other first couple — doing Spain, Africa, China, South America, among other distant spots. Often they’re accompanied by friends and Michelle Obama’s Mom, Marian Robinson, who’s been living in the White House at taxpayer expense since her son-in-law’s inauguration. And in some cases, Mrs. Robinson’s friends tag along. By one accounting, as of last July the Obamas had spent more than $44.4 million in taxpayer money on travel for 31 international trips lasting 119 days. For comparison, at the same point in his presidency Ronald Reagan had made 14 trips lasting 73 days. You may recall Michele Obama’s controversial trip with friends to Spain’s luxury Costa del Sol in 2010 at a time when the U.S. unemployment rate was 9.5% on the way to 9.8%. And President Obama’s $1 trillion economic stimulus package had yet to kick in. Of course, it’s still yet to kick in. According to numbers gathered by Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates government corruption, that trip cost Americans at least $468,000. Turns out, by Obama administration standards that was a bargain tour. Mrs. Obama’s latest foreign junket this month was to Japan and Cambodia, allegedly to promote an Agency for International Development program to encourage education for girls. On a one-day, side-trip to visit two shrines in Kyoto, including one honoring a god of rice, Michelle Obama’s party incurred almost $79,000 in expenses just for rental cars, Judicial Watch reports. That’s a lot of tuition for girls! Or boys. When the Obamas visited Northern Ireland in 2013, Michelle Obama took her daughters on a two-day, side-trip to Dublin. That side-trip alone cost U.S. taxpayers a quarter-million dollars, including a $3,300-a-night hotel suite of the sort Mrs. Obama prefers. The Obamas’ Ireland trip set us back just under $8 million. Dublin rental cars alone for the first lady cost $114,000. In 2014 when Mrs. Obama, her mother and daughters toured China, she stayed in Beijing’s Westin Hotel in a suite costing you $8,400 per night. Previously, that price was deemed too expensive for Vice President Joe Biden to use. However, JB does OK. On a European jaunt two years ago Biden and his unusually large entourage had a hotel bill in London of $460,000 for one night. The next night in Paris, the vice presidential party — and we do mean party — ran up one-night hotel charges of $585,000.50. Now, that’s a lot of mini-bar items and in-room movies. Oh, and both those government hotel contracts were done on a no-bid basis, eliminating messy competition and cost-cutting. Can we afford these last 666 days?”
– Investors Business Daily, 03/25/2015
_________________________________________
If America had a constitutional judicial branch, the only spending would be for debt, defense and general (all, or the whole) Welfare, and the wholly unconstitutional welfare state, including all of its agencies, departments, laws and programs, would have been immediately struck down at its inception, nay, its conception, under the clear meaning and intent of Article 1, Section 8.
Fair enough. If Menendez withdrew all of this money from his bank accounts over years, he’ll be able to produce the bank paper trail to prove it. Something tells me that won’t be the case, though.
Below someone wrote about the judgment against President Trump by the New York AG! [I respond]:
New York AG’s suit against the Trump Organization over valuations is laughable and very dangerous for any corporation or individual if allowed to stand. It opens up government tyranny into private matters between lenders and borrowers. The base foundation is absurd in that it questions not only the borrower but the required due diligence of the lender to investigate the veracity of the borrower and make a determination of the borrowers’ capabilities. The supposition that a bank or lender was defrauded or diluted by the Trump organization demonstrates that the prosecutor has never dealt with valuations or appraisals. To allude that a lender/bank/brokerage/REIT or anyone would lend funds without due process speaks volumes of the ignorance or the deranged temperament of not only the Attorney General of New York but the Judge who ruled in favor of the AG’s suit. As an example, if allowed to stand, how could a venture capital fund be able to function, most VC loans or investments are based on some nebulous future outcome and based on a pro forma (calculation or future financial potential). Ending; to even think or proffer that any lender would use blind folds while making a loan(s) of the magnitude which the suit was brought, needs the motives questioned. THIS CASE SHOULD CONCERN EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN THE FINANCIAL ARENA, you may be next in line.
George W,
Thank you for that interesting and insightful comment.
Head and shoulders above the regular “Orange man, bad!” comments we see here on the good professor’s blog.
The Orange man, like Kornpop, is a bad, bad dude .. . but one would think the lending institutions would be the ones filing suit over erroneous valuations, instead of NY AG.
The revolution will not be televised, but the impeachment inquiry will be. 10.00 a.m. .. perhaps Turley can explain why the government will shut down, no funding, if extreme House Republicans continue staging this political stunt hearing?
“The White House remains confident that Biden did nothing wrong, and that there is no evidence to suggest otherwise. While White House spokesperson Ian Sams criticized the timing of the hearing as it takes place just two days before the government could shut down if no funding deal is reached.
“Extreme House Republicans are already telegraphing their plans to try to distract from their own chaotic inability to govern and the impacts of it on the country,” Sams said in a statement.
“Staging a political stunt hearing in the waning days before they may shut down the government reveals their true priorities: to them, baseless personal attacks on President Biden are more important than preventing a government shutdown and the pain it would inflict on American families.”‘
Is Ian Sams boss on Capitol Hill this week, helping to reach a solution??
I didn’t think so.
Now Congress isn’t “governing”, but when there is a legislative “accomplishment”, Joe Biden is quick to tae the credit.
LMAO at people who buy into the nonsense.
Thanks UpState:
One point which I didn’t include, most banks dealing with large loan agreements have to present the loan to committee for review and approval [the amount depends on Banks threshold]. There are certain guides to the amount that an individual loan officer can write without committee approval. Committees monitor the lending, compliance, regulations and credit function both of the bank and the applicant. In addition, I have never worked with a bank that didn’t require some form of back door for risk, whether it is a lien, insurance, personal indemnity or other assets just to name few. This alone make me question the motive of the lawsuit.
George W,
Again, thank you for your insight and expertise in the situation.
It is people like you, and others with real world experience whom’s comments I look forward to. It is what separates good comments from the “whataboutism” and “Orange Man, bad!”
You may want to buy a new mouse for your computer. It seems the mouse scroll button you claim to use, and encourage others to use, so as to “scroll” past trolls isnt work. You (and Tom) have engaged the trolls ad nauseam today, yesterday, day prior, day prior to day prior, and so forth
🐁
And in an almost perfect impression of the left wing tards here, Estovir displays stunning lack of self awareness and irony by suggesting someone use their scroll button when they don’t like what someone is posting.
Bwahahahahahahaha.
It is highly unlikely that any of the banks the Trump organization dealt with relied upon the valuations presented by that organization. That would be like buyng a horse based on its appearance.
More like buying a horse based on a description of its appearance.
All true, as to the loan committee
Also know that Annual bank audits be the State, or Feds, depending on the Charter.
Bank auditors pull the collateral, on loans to make sure the Banks are not negligently placing depositors deposits at risk.
There is no crime there in no injured party.
Can you provide a cite?
The primary valuation of a commercial real estate property would be based on the cash flow projections not the owners wealth.
Since the banks were not questioned by trumps lawyers as to why they approved the loans and what valuation methods they used, can’t see how a summary judgement can stand
And no property owners tells the assessor what the property is worth, so how could he fraudulently under value it for taxes
How long did it take for our leftist commentators to change the subject from Menendez to Trump? The Cuba hide the money case will fall apart when the prosecution introduces the large amounts of money that Menendez has in his bank accounts. But, but, but Trump is a very tired and dishonest argument that is employed by those who can not make an argument in defense of Menendez. They do the same thing whenever Professor Turley discusses money laundering by the Biden Clan. Small people small arguments.
“But, but, but Trump is a very tired and dishonest argument that is employed by those who can not make an argument in defense of Menendez.”
LOL. Democrats are calling on him to resign, not trying to defend him.
OT,
Tennessee lawmakers consider rejecting federal education funding
https://justthenews.com/government/state-houses/tennessee-lawmakers-consider-rejecting-federal-education-funding
Interesting development.
Depends.
They conduct the audit, see where they can cut useless programs or redundant programs, do things better without strings attached, they may not have to raise taxes very much.
If I lived in TN, resident, I would like to see what the come up with. I also would not mind seeing them put a proposal forward for the people to vote on if they want to reject federal dollars and support a tax hike if it meant better education.
My children are out on their own, but I do not mind paying for school taxes. Unfortunately for what we are paying I think we should have schools rating higher then the national average, but it is what we have.
Senator Menendez gas got nothing on Donnie tRump. tRump will seen be out $250M. taRump is a loser.
troll alert
YNOT troll alert
Dear Prof Turley,
If Menendez is the perfect Serta sleeper, Biden is the King size whopper in the presidential suite @ Trump Plaza.
Look forward to your hyper-partisan ‘conservative’ Fox news-like testimony during the impeachment inquiry tomorrow. .. don’t want to scare nobody, leave your MAGA hat at home.
*breaking: the Russians are willing to give back eastern Ukraine (- just like I told the fools -) as soon as they cart Biden off to the assisted living facility he so desperately needs.
Today is just another day in the DC Swamp, this critter or that Cretan ate some of the fruit hanging from the money tree. Dependent on the variety of the money tree it could be sweet or poisonous, also it depends on which side of the tree the fruit is picked. The varieties come in Green Leave, Diamond Cut, Oily Brown, Gold Dust, or the dreaded Poisonous Carrot which grow in the marches of the DC Swamp. Generation after generation of fruit pickers have eaten from the money tree, some with success, and others not so much, but still the money tree has prospered and tempted new pickers. Then there are those grubbing for pennies which may have fallen from the money tree to feed their larder. Digging deep within the marshy soil without a worry of the dangers lurking about, fearing not, it’s just a few cents they’re after anyway which no one will miss. The pickers and grubbers seen so prim and proper and never have soiled hands but look into the eyes to find any semblance of morality or ethics you will see none, just deceit and greed.
President Warren G. Harding 29th president:
“America’s present need is not heroics, but healing, not nostrums but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration.” Speech at Boston May 1920.
The post above from
George W
still haven’t adjusted to new format.
Mattress or refrigerator defense? Perhaps something more overt akin to redistributive change. #NoJudgment #NoLabels
And what’s with his opposition to Obama’s Iran-ISIS Affair (overridden counter-claims) , disastrous withdrawal in a time of peace and the ensuing second Iraq war, and the world ethnic Spring series in progress?
Confederates…democrats
Slavery…democrats
Jim crow…democrats
Woodrow wilson…racist democrat
FDR…racist democrat
Lyndon johnson…racist democrat
Robert byrd….racist democrat
Joe biden…segregationist and racist democrat
Filibuster 1957 and 1964 civil rights acts…democrats
Interned japanese americans…democrats
Superpredators crime bill…democrats
Margaret Sanger…apartheid genocidal democrat
Created the unconstitutional 4th branch of govt…democrats
Redistribution of wealth…democrats
One party rule pack the SC…democrats
One party rule abolish the filibuster…democrats
One party rule add 2 more states…democrats
One party rule abolish electoral ccllege…democrats
Intimidate SC justices…democrats
Call for intimidating officials…democrats
But here is a perfect example of how the American Marxists of today have used their new versions of racism and segregation to alter the narrative…
Joe Biden signed an anti-lynching law in 2020, and the Democrats took a victory lap and patted themselves on the back. For what? Being 100 years late? Democrats in the Senate blocked it for 27 years. When the Senate finally passed the anti-lynching bill in 1935, FDR refused to sign it.
Ask a black voter today who signed the bill making MLK a holiday.
Ask a black voter today who signed the superpredator crime bill.
Ask a black voter today who said we have predators on our streets…beyond the pale.
Ask a black voter today who coined the term super-predator.
Ask a black voter who signed the legislation undoing the damage done by the Clinton/Biden crime bill. Dont tell them it was 6 years ago.
Go look at CNN’s fact check of Trump accusing biden of calling people superpredators. They say he didnt support the theory. Their support for that claim was biden saying that “most youth in the juvenile system are not super-predators”. In what moron’s mind is that not an acknowledgement that super predators exist???
Democrats for a long time have strongly supported the following amendments, Acts, and holidays: 13th, 14th, 15th, and 19th amendments, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act, and the MLK and Juneteenth holidays. Hopefully they all have widespread support on this blog as well.
And how long have Obama, Clinton, and Biden supported gay marriage?
The semantic basis of the words matrimony and marriage is motherhood.
Homosexuals have no possibility of causing or producing motherhood.
Homosexuals have no logical or rational relationship to motherhood or marriage.
Homosexuals have no possibility of marrying.
Homosexuals are free to enter into or be a party to a contract.
The Democrats did not support the 1964 civil rights act. Republicans had to drag the kicking and screaming Dems into the 20th century George Wallace was not a Republican
Lying about history does not change history
Oh, but they have for a “long time”!!!
Read the hacked DNC emails again and see what dems really think. The only requirement for being a democrat voter these days is not recognizing when someone is blowing smoke up your skirt.
The Constitution and Bill of Rights is appropriate and sufficient for actual Americans, excluding all present and erstwhile illegal aliens who could not be admitted to become citizens.
One party rule pack the SC…democrats
One party rule abolish the filibuster…democrats
One party rule add 2 more states…democrats
One party rule abolish electoral ccllege…democrats
This is all you need to know about them today. F— 165 million Americans.
Look at all that support…look at all the results: Baltimore, Philly, Detroit, St.L, Memphis, LA, etc…
A bunch of whites and fractional-whites patting themselves on the back for all the progress, and anti-white/asian racism. LOL.
Meanwhile, 1st, 2nd, schools, families, drug addicts, homeless, criminality. Congrats on the strong support from the dems – keeping blacks on the plantation since there were plantations…
Blacks are determined to live up to the stereotypes. Listen to the cackling of one black woman (?) who shows more enthusiasm for stealing and looting than what blacks demonstrate in looking for a career
#Blacks are a problem race
“THE BEST ADVICE I WOULD GIVE TO WHITE PEOPLE IS TO GET THE HELL AWAY FROM BLACK PEOPLE.”
“JUST GET THE F— AWAY.”
“WHEREVER YOU HAVE TO GO, JUST GET AWAY BECAUSE THERE’S NOT FIXING THIS.”
____________________________________________________________________________________________
SCOTT ADAMS: As you know, I’ve been identifying as Black for a while – years now – because I like – you know, I like to be on the winning team.
TSIOULCAS: He went on to call Black people, quote, “a hate group” and added…
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
ADAMS: The best advice I would give to white people is to get the hell away from Black people. Just get the f*** away. Wherever you have to go, just get away because there’s no fixing this. You just have to escape, so that’s what I did. I went to a neighborhood where, you know, I have a very low Black population.
– NPR (National Parasite/Welfare Radio)
___________________________________________
It is impossible to mix water and oil; emulsifiers are required, such as those required to perpetuate the massive, burgeoning, unsustainable and unconstitutional American welfare state.
Secession is not prohibited by the Constitution to the States, is reserved to the States, and is fully constitutional for the States. Everything Lincoln did, subsequent to his initial unconstitutional act of denying the constitutional right of secession, was similarly unconstitutional, including, but not limited to, Lincoln’s dereliction of duty, negligence and failure to enforce extant immigration law on January 1, 1863, and the forced and improper ratification of, not one, but three nearly impossible-to-ratify constitutional amendments under the duress of brutal, post-war military occupation and oppression, and in an absurdly brief period of time. America and its Constitution are not communist; the anti-American, communistic “Reconstruction Amendments” were derived directly from a prescription issued by none other than Lincoln’s ideological mentor or “fellow traveler,” Karl Marx, because, in fact, Lincoln favored the fundamental, anti-capitalist, pro-labor principles of communism and was wittingly or unwittingly surrounded by communists who had been driven out of Europe under the threat of prosecution.
To wit,
“These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert, to fleece the people.”
– Abraham Lincoln, from his first speech as an Illinois state legislator, 1837
________________________________________________________________________________
“Everyone now is more or less a Socialist.”
– Charles Dana, managing editor of the New York Tribune, and Lincoln’s assistant secretary of war, 1848
__________________________________________________________________________________
“The goal of Socialism is Communism.”
– Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
________________________
“They consider…that it fell to the lot of Abraham Lincoln…to lead his country through…the RECONSTRUCTION of a social world.” [B]
– Letter From Karl Marx to Abraham Lincoln, 1865
On the opposing side, dum dum.
Secession is not prohibited by the Constitution to the States, is reserved to the States, and is fully constitutional for the States. Everything Lincoln did, subsequent to his initial unconstitutional act of denying the constitutional right of secession, was similarly unconstitutional, including, but not limited to, Lincoln’s dereliction of duty, negligence and failure to enforce extant immigration law on January 1, 1863, and the forced and improper ratification of, not one, but three nearly impossible-to-ratify constitutional amendments under the duress of brutal, post-war military occupation and oppression, and in an absurdly brief period of time. America and its Constitution are not communist; the anti-American, communistic “Reconstruction Amendments” were derived directly from a prescription issued by none other than Lincoln’s ideological mentor or “fellow traveler,” Karl Marx, because, in fact, Lincoln favored the fundamental, anti-capitalist, pro-labor principles of communism and was wittingly or unwittingly surrounded by communists who had been driven out of Europe under the threat of prosecution.
To wit,
“These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert, to fleece the people.”
– Abraham Lincoln, from his first speech as an Illinois state legislator, 1837
________________________________________________________________________________
“Everyone now is more or less a Socialist.”
– Charles Dana, managing editor of the New York Tribune, and Lincoln’s assistant secretary of war, 1848
__________________________________________________________________________________
“The goal of Socialism is Communism.”
– Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
________________________
“They consider…that it fell to the lot of Abraham Lincoln…to lead his country through…the RECONSTRUCTION of a social world.” [B]
– Letter From Karl Marx to Abraham Lincoln, 1865
“where were the republicans in all of this?”
In all of what? The question answers itself. Look at the list. They were on the right side of history on all of those issues.
Jonathan: While you are off getting your 15 minutes of fame as an “expert” witness testifying before Jim Comer’s Biden impeachment inquiry, permit me to fill in for you to cover some really breaking news.
NY Judge Arthur Engoron just granted summary judgement for AG Letitia James in her fraud case against the Trump organization. Engoron found that the evidence presented by James was overwhelming and held the Trump Organization liable as a matter of law. Engoron found DJT committed business fraud and canceled all the TO business certificates in NY. He gave DJT 10 days to handle the dissolution of the TO. Engoron also sanctioned DJT’s attorneys–$75 K each for making frivolous claims repeatedly rejected by the court.
The damages portion of the case starts on Monday. James claims DJT illegally systematically over valued his properties to the tune of $3.6 billion. She is demanding $250 million in damages. This will be a bench trial before Engoron. Not a good sign for DJT. The Q is whether DJT will try to set up shop somewhere else? Say New Jersey? But where will he get loans for a new startup? Trump is now toxic and no bank will touch him. Maybe Saudi Arabia? If Crown Prince bin Salman would give Jared Kushner $2 billion to start a business why not DJT?
This is the second lawsuit this month DJT has lost through summary judgment. Earlier in the month Judge Kaplan ruled DJT liable in the coming trial by virtue of the fact he was found guilty of sexual assault in the first case and that judgment will apply to the second trial which will only deal with the amount of damages. And the actual and punitive damages could be huge. In the first trial DJT has to pay $5 million. In the second verdict he could be liable in the tens of millions! Couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy!
Re: Saudi Arabia, take a gander at footnote 10 on p. 21 and the main text it refers to: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23991885-452564_2022_people_of_the_state_of_v_people_of_the_state_of_decision___order_on_1531
Anonymous: I did take a gander at footnote 10 in Judge Engoron’s ruling. DJT has been in the pockets of the Saudi’s for years. They bought him a yacht. They bought his overpriced condos. They invested in his golf tournaments. They gave his son-in-law $2 billion when the Saudi investment advisors told the Crown Prince it was a bad investment. So what is going to happen when DJT can no longer do business in NY? DJT already tried to transfer all the assets of the various business entities to Delaware. That didn’t work. And even if DJT is able to set up shop in New Jersey or Florida, he won’t be able to get a bank to loan him a dime? That means all roads lead to the Saudi’s. But if DJT is convicted in any of the criminal cases how will the Saudis treat him then? Will they want to continue to invest their money in a convicted felon? what’s your take?
DOUBLE YAWN
I think the Saudis will manipulate the price of oil in an attempt to help Trump get reelected, regardless of his criminal cases, because they’d prefer another Trump presidency to 4 more years of Biden. He sells them more arms, he helps them sports-wash their human rights violations, he ignores State Dept recommendations, helps them out with the UN Security Council, … I think it’s less about the money for them than the other issues. But if he loses the 2024 election, then he can’t help them much (other than with the continued LIV sports-washing), so they’d likely cut their losses at that point. That’s my conjecture.
TRIPLE YAWN
You might talk to a doctor about your narcolepsy.
I did. He said it’s your fault, and Dennis.
Sandmann: You need to take a nap. It’s past your bedtime. Come back fresh and be prepared to discuss the issues!
“be prepared to discuss the issues!”
Since when do you discuss issues. All you do is run away from discussion whenever facts are brought in. Don’t you ever get tired of showing the yellow stripe down your back and your tail between your legs?
Meyer
Its not between his legs anymore. He bought some of that new swimwear from Target.
“Sandmann: You need….”
YAWN
Look at this gnome…he thinks footnote 10 is “the issues”.
The Saudis along with other countries have been long abused by the US and the use of the dollar as the global reserve currency and the petrodollar. They are looking at the long term game which is way past Trump. Biden’s failed foreign policy has brought about the demise of the US/West lead uni-polar world and is giving way to a very not US/West lead multi-polar world. De-dollarization is accelerating at a pace I did not think we would see in our lifetimes. The Biden admin has displayed to the whole world the weakness of their admin and everyone from our enemies, to our friendemies, to even our allies see it. They are setting up a parallel banking system and even considering their own currency backed by either gold, a basket of hard commodities or a mix of both. Another Trump admin will not stop that. The Biden admin has set things in motion that least something really dumb like WWIII, which I would not put past the Biden admin, there is no way to stop or change. The die is cast.
Invest in PMs and chickens.
Dennis – you ask: “So what is going to happen when DJT can no longer do business in NY?” The answer is that NYC and New York State will continue their decline, but at a faster pace. NYC needs Donald Trump far more than Donald Trump needs NYC. A city burdened by crime, filth, poverty, government incompetence, and political and judicial corruption, cannot survive without entrepeneurs willing to risk their fortunes by investing in new business enterprises, creating employment for middle class people. Only foolish ideologues can fail to recognize the long-term harm caused to their own cities and states by using the legal system to destroy successful businessmen.
If only you realized how completely wrong you are on facts
They weren’t Trump’ golf tournaments, they were the Saudi owned golf tour, and held a tournament at one of Trumps courses, along with another dozen or so courses not owned by trump
They didn’t give Jared anything, as it is still their money
The saudis haven’t invested any money with trump
Property valuations are determined by the local assessor, not the property owner
The ruling willl be overturned since James unilaterally determined there was a victim, even though no victim ever made any claims of wrong doing
YAWN
Yeah, we know, Trump stans don’t care whether he’s been found liable for fraud, or found liable for sexaul assault, or any of his other illegal acts.
“permit me to fill in for you to cover some really breaking news.”
A goofball is going to fill the professor in. Let’s not all laugh at the same time.
Biden joined UAW workers on the picket line.
Trump engineered a news cycle about his support for labor, then addressed a non-union auto parts shop.
“Biden joined UAW workers on the picket line.”
Would that be the same Biden whose Green Nihilists are destroying the UAW’s industry?
Oh look, Sam is asking another loaded question. I guess your days teaching about fallacies prepared you well for invoking them yourself.
Biden
joinedbooed by UAW workers on the picket line.Fixed that for ya.
He wasn’t booed.
Yep, he was. Were you there?? They just didn’t show it on the Marxist News Network
Americans enjoy the freedom to engage in free enterprise or to accept or reject employment.
The American thesis is freedom and self-reliance.
Owners hold dominion exclusively over their private property.
Strikers must be removed for trespass.
Replacement workers may be hired by the private property/free enterprise owner.
Unions have no ability to bargain; they are criminal organizations that inflict property damage and bodily injury in order to illegally force free enterprises to hire and provide absurd levels of compensation.
Unions are illicit and unconstitutional entities and must be fully abrogated.
A UPS delivery boy makes $170K+.
What???
There is insufficient competition in the parcel delivery industry.
Unions must stop existing on and be disabused of their violence and criminal activities.
Start a business, work a job, or quit and vacate the premises—these are the options for free Americans.
“Sam is asking another loaded question.”
It’s called a “rhetorical question.” But nice try.
Surprised BlackRock let their stooge do that.
But with Biden on strike, the nation is better off.
Troll Alert
Outing yourself again Tom the Troll.
I guess to be counted as labor you must pay the Union Bosses
Biden crushed the Railroad strikers. CRUSHED THEM IN FAVOR OF BIG BIZ OLIGARCHS.
Most workers are not unionized. It is quite possible to support workers without supporting unions. Indeed, it is possible to argue that the UAW has harmed the long-term cause of workers by driving marginal car producers (like American Motors) out-of-business and engaging in long strikes in the 1960’s that opened the door to the American market to foreign competition.
Target to close more stores across US, citing theft and safety concerns for employees, customers
https://justthenews.com/nation/economy/target-close-more-stores-across-us-citing-theft-and-safety-concerns-employees
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12564663/Shocking-moment-brazen-masked-kids-LOOT-Footlocker-Lululemon-Apple-stores-Philadelphia-descends-anarchy-footage-showing-cops-brawling-thieves-punching-one-face.html
Do you think one of Biden’s 84,000 IRS Auditors would be interested if this income was reported on his tax returns ? As a retired CPA, this would easy to prove. My bet is that this will not come up because the fix is in.
Whether Menendez gets his hung jury or not, Hudson County, New Jersey where I was born many years ago is STILL the nation’s most corrupt county —and Senator Menendez has strong support (allegedly) in Hudson County. The Cuban argument?……if he gets a Cuban with his kind of history on the jury, maybe that’ll work for him.
I want to hear some lib on this, or any other forum, defend Joe Biden without saying the name Trump. Tell us what a good job Joe Biden is doing. Is it the border? Inflation? Energy policy? Crime (see PA last night), foreign affairs (note a war in Europe), supply chain? This foolish incompetent president has managed to even lose the Panda Bears!!! After FIFTY YEARS and NINE presidents the CCP has decided that they will no longer allow us to keep their Panda Bears in America. EVERYTHING THAT BODEN TOUCHES FAILS, EVEN PANDA BEARS.
You know, if you just Google Biden’s accomplishments as President, the results will answer your question. Are you too lazy?
I did.
Nothing came back in the results.
Liar.
Examples of the results:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/therecord/
npr.org/2023/01/01/1143149435/despite-infighting-its-been-a-surprisingly-productive-2-years-for-democrats
newsweek.com/joe-biden-trump-two-years-president-1775220
upworthy.com/joe-biden-s-23-greatest-achievements-as-president-of-the-united-states-so-far
vox.com/politics/23697855/joe-biden-popularity-legislative-record
LMAO Vox, the white house, npr…..bwahahahahahahaha
The Trump cult living in their own reality has it’s advantages. They don’t want to know and could care less, they choose to be willfully ignorant.
Americans don’t need to google, lame brain, they can look out the window, and at their own bills and bank accounts. Look at Sandmann’s list. THAT’S what matters to Americans, not some nebulous list of legislative “accomplishments” that were railroaded thru, most with ZERO bipartisan support and under “reconciliation”.
To be willfully ignorant is to ignore the reality of Bidenflation, Bidenomics, an unsecure Southern border, high crime, another Forever war that just might get us into WWIII and possible nuclear exchange, the demise of a US/West lead uni-polar world into a multi-polar one, 7% interest mortgage rates.
Those are written by partisans at partisan rags.
Learn how to think critically.
Your opinion about that doesn’t change the fact that UpstateFarmer was lying.
I was not lying.
It was called sarcasm.
I thought it to be obvious, but you are clearly not smart enough to pick up on that.
I googled….here’s what came up
$6T dollars printed
Record high inflation
Interest rates way up
Gas prices way up
Ukraine war
Botched Afghan withdrawal
$20M bird watching bridge in Arizona
13 stumbles, 3 trip and falls, 4 handshakes with no one, and one bike crash
Oh….and he watched a bridge collapse and talked StromThurmond into voting for the 1964 CRA
Don’t forget real mean household income down and poverty rate up two years running.
It’s funny that EVERYTHING Anonymous listed as “accomplishments” resulted in the list that Sandmann posted.
LMAO Bwahahahahahahahaha
First one…inflation…down because INTEREST RATES UP
Even Biden said the IRA didn’t do sh!t for reducing inflation.
$240k home costs $249k MORE now than it did 2 years ago.
No, you idiot, I mean 249k more, because of the rise in mortgage interest rates. Try to keep up.
“Interest rates control inflation.”
Gee, ya think???
When inflation needs to be controlled artificially, because we printed $6T and dumped it into the economy, it hurts millions of Americans. A double whammy for those looking to buy or sell a home or even a vehicle.
We had low inflation, low interest, low gas prices, low poverty, low unemployment AND high labor participation pre pandemic. Those things were not a goddam accident. FULL STOP.
Apologize all you want, won’t change the facts.
You goobers are always the same, I will give you that. When its good, its because of the last guy. When its bad, its becase of the last guy.
Sure, its just our imagination that the economy SUCKED under Obama.
Thanks for setting the record straight.
Bwahahahahahahahaha
I just read your last post again and I am laughing even harder.
“The economy wasn’t “stable” under Trump” Bwahahahahahaha
Its like talking to a tomato.
stable=stagnant
booming=unstable
Got it. Thanks Webster. Done with you for today troll.
Unless you pay cash for your homes. Hard to imagine on a grass cuters income…
WTF dude. Go use an online mortgage calculator yourself. I’m not doing it for you. I financed my last homne at 2.99%. Compare that to the current 7.19%. Come back and tell us the results.
This is why you have ZERO credibility here.
Tom,
There have been more than a few articles about how people cannot afford to sell their homes as they cannot afford a 7% interest rate compared to the low 3% ones they are in now.
Unless they are paying cash, but how likely is that for the average American when suffering under Bidenflation.
Gas prices…”People are ok with it.”
No, they are not OK with it. Thats the “new normal” horse manure your ilk likes to peddle.
Why don’t you take a “gander” at what it costs a small service company, with a fleet of 20 vehicles, averaging 60k miles/year each, when gas goes from $2.20 to $3.80 a gallon.
And you’re the type to complain about $200 a year raise in taxes….
“Lol! You don’t know squat.”
Oooh, good one third grader.
I know that number. Why don’t you do the math and get back to us?
What number?
The loss in income for the small businees owner I described above. Try to keep up.
“Gas prices…”People are ok with it.” No, they are not OK with it. Thats the “new normal”
Shall I say that I am satisfied with high gas prices, and wish to thank the Democrats because there aren’t so many cars on the road, making it easier for me? Let the poor suffer.
I won’t say that because I am not a Democrat. The Bug and others are. They hate people in low socio-economic groups.
Crime – “It’s been declining, but it’s still higher”
smash and grab $94B last year, already over $120B this year.
Just a blatant lie.
prove me wrong or you’re a pinhead and a liar
3rd grader
LOL when its the other way around. LMAO
“Post the stats or your a liar.”
Third grade comment from 3rd grade speller. It’s “you’re”
Major retail CEOs warn of ‘dire’ shoplifting epidemic after $112b in losses causing chains to take drastic measures
https://www.the-sun.com/news/9187740/retail-ceos-warn-of-shoplifting-epidemic-after-losses/
It was a 5 second search.
And then there is this,
Target to close more stores across US, citing theft and safety concerns for employees, customers
Note where the stores are closing: “Stores will be closed in Harlem neighborhood of New York City, Portland, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay area. ”
https://justthenews.com/nation/economy/target-close-more-stores-across-us-citing-theft-and-safety-concerns-employees
“The border? The border is an issue, but it’s always been an issue even before Biden”
“We want to SURGE people to the border”—Joe Biden
3 words—Remain In Mexico
Anything else yyou had to say beyond that…horse manure.
A gaffe??? when dod he say it???
“We need them to pick the crops”—Pelosi
Yea, so I guess its not broken??? Make up your mind.
You would know that’s not true if you worked or applied for jobs.
Trump had wages going up for the bottom, with joeblo household income has decreased another 2.3% in this partial year. That occurs when the supply of workers is bloated so they get paid less.
Well, lets see. There were 11 million unfilled jobs 2 years ago. 7 million have entered the country. There are now 12 million unfilled jobs. Hmmmmm…
And I have no problem with letting millions in. Vetted, processed, green card, work permitted migrants who show respect for our laws and come in thru a port of entry. This horsesh!t going on now…no thanks.
The Inflation Reduction act had nothing to do with inflation coming down. Even Biden himself regrets calling it that.
The Inflation Reduction act was nothing more than his “green new deal” by a different name which heavily subsidized wind and solar to the point coal and natural gas can not compete. As a result coal and natural gas plants are closing but the gap left is not being met by wind and solar. For that matter it is expected to increase electricity prices and rolling brown or even black outs as the grid is not equipped for wind and solar nor do they have the transmission lines for them.
Inflation is cumulative. It may be lower than it was, but it is on top of the previous highs. Bidenflation is costing the average American $7k a year. For those in the lower economic class it is even worse.
Gas prices were lower when Biden raided the SPR before the mid terms. The SPR is still at dangerous low levels. There is only a 20 day of domestic supply currently held. Some idiot tried to claim Biden was waiting for oil prices to come down before buying and refilling the SPR. Guess what has not happened as OPEC+ have cut and will keep the cuts till the end of the year.
Gas prices have gone back up in recent months. Everyone is feeling it. No, people are not okay with it.
Biden’s attempt to get the Saudis to increase production was a epic fail in terms of foreign policy. Then they cut production, was a big FU to Biden.
Biden’s foreign policy in regards to the Ukraine/Russian war is another epic fail. We are witnessing the fall of the US/West lead uni-polar world for a multi-polar world. BRICS soon to be BRICS 11 are setting up an alternative banking system that will undermine the US dollar reserve currency status. In 2001 the USD was held at 73% of reserve currency. By 2021 it was at 55%. In 2022 if fell an massive 19% to 47%. Guess what happened in 2022. If that trend continues, it is expected to be at 30% by 2024. What happens when all those USD no longer needed in international trade comes back to the US? More inflation, possible hyper-inflation.
Biden has opened the southern border like no other president has.
Biden day 1 cancels KXL pipeline, January 1st halts new oil gas leases, Feb 19 rejoins paris climate , March 7 limits oil gas lands 30%, Jan 1 bans drilling ANWR, January 30 new gas regs, July NEPA regs, September new costs carbon exhange, Novenmber 15 shuts chaco drilling, March 12 no lease sales, crush oil and gas in Russia with war and sanctions, destroy pipeline to Germany. BIDEN IS GOUGING US FROM DAY ONE.
Destroy the oil and gas industry, attack it even in Russia, then whine when demand outstrips supply, and attack the oil and gas industry, AGAIN, claiming they are gougers. Always blame someone else for your own stupid crimes against humans. Democrat policy 101.
Inflation is lower than the highest it was when there were supply chain and labor shortages after the pandemic.
And back on the rise the last 3 months
Interest rates are more then double than they have been for decades. Shutting down home and auto sales.
TRUMP had a good economy. TRUMP had the poor making extra bank and the middle class wages rising for the first time in 5 decades.
blundering joblo the tripping mobster has done the exact opposite
“So, you want them back to the higher level or what? The rate is still low. It doesn’t mean it’s worse than it was which is what we all want. No?”
Hard to argue with tomato logic like that.
Its not LOW. Low is 1 to 1.5 percent. 2 is marginal. 3 is HIGH. 8 is what happens when MORONS are in charge. Getting it back to 3 requires PAIN. 1 to 1.5….not gonna happen under THIS regime.
Inflation is cumulative. That so-called low rate is on top of the previous highs. People are still feeling the pain at the pump, at the grocery store.
Americans living paycheck to paycheck went up from 59% last year to 61% this year. And that number includes people making six figures.
People are skipping meals to make ends meet. People are having to take second or even third jobs to make ends meet. People are having to resort to using credit cards to make ends meet.
Trial is set for October 30th in the case of Abigail Shry, who’s accused of threatening DC federal judge Tanya Chutkan, who’s assigned to Trump’s 2020 election conspiracy case.
The feds allege that Shry left Chutkan the message, “If Trump doesn’t get elected in 2024, we are coming to kill you.”
Trump’s response on gag the other day claimed there was no evidence that his threats result in unlawful activity. Of course, he ignored examples like this. Trump’s fans also ignore it.
Troll
Now explain the Bernie supporter that actually did shoot Steve Scalise.
Bernie didn’t incite him, unlike Trump.
Right, and Shumer didn’t incite Nicholas Roske
Let us know when she shoots up a softball game, clown.
PS: Chutkan needn’t worry as Trump is going to win – get your pussy hat dusted-off
What Menendez forgot to mention the completely reasonable appearance of vast number of gold bars. These likewise are attributable to his Cuban heritage, clear back to the 16th century, when the Spanish plate fleet would sail from Havana. Menendez just wanted to be prepared in case of pirate attack, or perhaps Sir Francis Drake pillaging Toms River. Perfectly logical.
Confederates…democrats
Slavery…democrats
Jim crow…democrats
Woodrow wilson…racist democrat
FDR…racist democrat
Lyndon johnson…racist democrat
Robert byrd….racist democrat
Joe biden…segregationist and racist democrat
Filibuster 1957 and 1964 civil rights acts…democrats
Interned japanese americans…democrats
Superpredators crime bill…democrats
Margaret Sanger…apartheid genocidal democrat
Created the unconstitutional 4th branch of govt…democrats
Redistribution of wealth…democrats
One party rule pack the SC…democrats
One party rule abolish the filibuster…democrats
One party rule add 2 more states…democrats
One party rule abolish electoral ccllege…democrats
Intimidate SC justices…democrats
Call for intimidating officials…democrats
But here is a perfect example of how the American Marxists of today have used their new versions of racism and segregation to alter the narrative…
Joe Biden signed an anti-lynching law in 2020, and the Democrats took a victory lap and patted themselves on the back. For what? Being 100 years late? Democrats in the Senate blocked it for 27 years. When the Senate finally passed the anti-lynching bill in 1935, FDR refused to sign it.
Ask a black voter today who signed the bill making MLK a holiday.
Ask a black voter today who signed the superpredator crime bill.
Ask a black voter today who said we have predators on our streets…beyond the pale.
Ask a black voter today who coined the term super-predator.
Ask a black voter who signed the legislation undoing the damage done by the Clinton/Biden crime bill. Dont tell them it was 6 years ago.
Go look at CNN’s fact check of Trump accusing biden of calling people superpredators. They say he didnt support the theory. Their support for that claim was biden saying that “most youth in the juvenile system are not super-predators”. In what moron’s mind is that not an acknowledgement that super predators exist???
I’d be curious as how the “cash to stash” and cash to purchase gold bonds got into his savings account. Very ((Marranoesque)) to my way of thinking.