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  #271  
Old 12-17-2023, 12:04 PM
Chicks Chicks is offline
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Originally Posted by Rajoo View Post
Here we have an ex-president who blatantly stole national secrets, shared them indiscriminately and he is trying to skate that, while the opposition goes digging for non existent dirt on Biden, our current president. How does this make sense in a rational world, but would a rational world choose Jesus Freak Johnson as their Speaker of the House, and he was a compromise candidate???
It doesn't make any sense at all, except in the rotted minds of fools like our boy Whell. Such a sad bunch.
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  #272  
Old 12-17-2023, 12:26 PM
RickeyM RickeyM is offline
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Originally Posted by Chicks View Post
It doesn't make any sense at all, except in the rotted minds of fools like our boy Whell. Such a sad bunch.
The tRumplican party and their media partners are doing their absolute damndest to divert/deflect attention from what's got inmate No. P01135809 hemmed up and folks like whell happily go along for the ride.
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  #273  
Old 12-18-2023, 06:37 AM
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whell whell is offline
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Originally Posted by finnbow View Post
Once again, you're getting out over your skis. From the article:

James and Sara Biden’s ties to Scruggs also later brought them to the periphery of a sweeping federal investigation, one that eventually led to the trial lawyer’s epic downfall in 2008 over a bribery scheme...

Neither James Biden nor his brother was charged or accused of wrongdoing in the case, which led to prison for Scruggs and several of his associates, including James Biden’s would-be partners.


You seem to be naively unaware of how lobbying works in DC and how people use whatever connections they have, family or otherwise (or their own past Congressional service) to wield influence on K S...
You seem to be naively unaware of how much most Americans HATE this how lobbying works. Rather, your post seems to justify it. It's even more gross when you consider how these are the folks who write our labyrinthian tax laws to advantage their contributors and themselves. How many of these congress-critters come to DC with average means but leave with riches beyond the dreams of avarice, and how much of that income is probably to evade taxation.

You also seem to be unable to parse the difference between influence and influence peddling.
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  #274  
Old 12-18-2023, 07:04 AM
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finnbow finnbow is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whell View Post
You seem to be naively unaware of how much most Americans HATE this how lobbying works. Rather, your post seems to justify it. It's even more gross when you consider how these are the folks who write our labyrinthian tax laws to advantage their contributors and themselves. How many of these congress-critters come to DC with average means but leave with riches beyond the dreams of avarice, and how much of that income is probably to evade taxation.

You also seem to be unable to parse the difference between influence and influence peddling.
Just as you don't understand the difference between bias and deliberate lies, you also don't understand the difference between lobbying and bribery. Whether you like it or not, lobbying (i.e., petitioning the government for redress of grievances) is constitutionally protected. Bribery is not. You sure do have some strong opinions about shit you simply don't understand. You're in a hole but can't stop yourself from digging.

BTW, there is significantly more evidence of the Trump clan and Clarence Thomas actually taking real bribes than there is for Joe Biden (actually, there's zero evidence of Biden accepting bribes). Why zero interest from you in real examples of bribery and corruption?
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Last edited by finnbow; 12-18-2023 at 07:53 AM.
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  #275  
Old 12-18-2023, 08:34 AM
RickeyM RickeyM is offline
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Why zero interest from you in real examples of bribery and corruption?
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  #276  
Old 12-18-2023, 10:59 AM
Mark B Mark B is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whell View Post
You seem to be naively unaware of how much most Americans HATE this how lobbying works. Rather, your post seems to justify it. It's even more gross when you consider how these are the folks who write our labyrinthian tax laws to advantage their contributors and themselves. How many of these congress-critters come to DC with average means but leave with riches beyond the dreams of avarice, and how much of that income is probably to evade taxation.

You also seem to be unable to parse the difference between influence and influence peddling.
The vast majority of the labyrinthian federal tax code was added to help the rich avoid paying taxes.
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  #277  
Old 12-18-2023, 05:34 PM
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whell whell is offline
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Originally Posted by finnbow View Post
Just as you don't understand the difference between bias and deliberate lies, you also don't understand the difference between lobbying and bribery. Whether you like it or not, lobbying (i.e., petitioning the government for redress of grievances) is constitutionally protected. Bribery is not. You sure do have some strong opinions about shit you simply don't understand. You're in a hole but can't stop yourself from digging.
And finally, either reading for comprehension isn't your strong suit, or you're purposefully twisting my words to "win" an argument. Which is it?

First, I admit to a level of bias, so I understand exactly what that is. Deliberate lies are what you must resort to when you're trying to win an argument.

Lobbying is phone calls, emails, visits to a politician's office, and maybe a well-timed contribution to a politician's favorite PAC (usually their own) in an attempt to get the politician to vote a certain way, or propose or advocate for certain legislation. It's ugly, particularly when money starts changing hands, but in our current system, it is legal provided such contributions are disclosed and reported.

Bribery is when a constituent, say a lawyer looking to get a politician to vote a certain way, pays that politician - either directly or through a trusted third party - money that goes to the politician with the expectation of a quid pro quo. It is not reported as a campaign donation. It's likely not reported as income and if it is, the source of that income is likely not accurately identified on a tax return. This is likely not a legal transaction, and thus starts to look much more like a bribe than a lobbying activity.

See the difference? It's not that hard. If you need concrete examples, see the prosecution's case against Senator Menendez for additional information about how such an arrangement might work.

Now, does this look like something that was described in the article I posted when an attorney gave money to Joe Biden's brother, with the expectation that some or all of it would end up in Joe's pocket? Was there an expectation of a quid pro quo? If you answered yes to bother questions, then you win!

Quote:
Originally Posted by finnbow View Post
BTW, there is significantly more evidence of the Trump clan and Clarence Thomas actually taking real bribes than there is for Joe Biden (actually, there's zero evidence of Biden accepting bribes). Why zero interest from you in real examples of bribery and corruption?
Thank you for your opinion on this, Attorney Finnster. Your arguments, thin as they may be, are noted for the record.

Since you claim that Clarence Thomas was accepting bribes, can you point me to a reliable source that details his acceptance of the bribe, who offered it, specifically what it was, and specifically what the quid pro quo was?
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  #278  
Old 12-18-2023, 05:40 PM
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Rajoo Rajoo is offline
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Originally Posted by whell View Post
Since you claim that Clarence Thomas was accepting bribes, can you point me to a reliable source that details his acceptance of the bribe, who offered it, specifically what it was, and specifically what the quid pro quo was?
And what planet do you live in dumbo?
So with Biden, allegations are proof to you but with Thomas who has been on the take years, you need hard proof.
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  #279  
Old 12-18-2023, 06:14 PM
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whell whell is offline
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Originally Posted by Rajoo View Post
And what planet do you live in dumbo?
So with Biden, allegations are proof to you but with Thomas who has been on the take years, you need hard proof.
Do you understand the usage of the words "proof" and "evidence"? They're used interchangeably by politicians who should know better, but let's do better here.

So far, there's no "proof" that Biden was corrupt. There's quite a bit of evidence that some odd things were going on. But evidence is not proof.

Was there an appearance of impropriety that, at the same time Hunter was on the board of Burisma, his dad was flying to Ukraine ostensibly to meet with the Ukrainian government about how the United States could help provide technical expertise for expanding domestic production of natural gas? Sure there was, although I'm not sure that many folks here would agree with that.

Similarly, with Thomas, there's no proof that he was involved with bribery unless Finn can provide some direct evidence of it. Was Thomas' behavior ethically lacking? Yes, I think so.

There, does that clarify? Or do you want to throw more shit on the wall to see if it sticks?
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  #280  
Old 12-18-2023, 06:41 PM
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Rajoo Rajoo is offline
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Originally Posted by whell View Post
Do you understand the usage of the words "proof" and "evidence"? They're used interchangeably by politicians who should know better, but let's do better here.

So far, there's no "proof" that Biden was corrupt. There's quite a bit of evidence that some odd things were going on. But evidence is not proof.

Was there an appearance of impropriety that, at the same time Hunter was on the board of Burisma, his dad was flying to Ukraine ostensibly to meet with the Ukrainian government about how the United States could help provide technical expertise for expanding domestic production of natural gas? Sure there was, although I'm not sure that many folks here would agree with that.

Similarly, with Thomas, there's no proof that he was involved with bribery unless Finn can provide some direct evidence of it. Was Thomas' behavior ethically lacking? Yes, I think so.

There, does that clarify? Or do you want to throw more shit on the wall to see if it sticks?
Seems like too much time on your hands.
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