Michael Cohen will testify to House Oversight Feb 7 about his work for Trump

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Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
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Even if Cohen's testimony reveals Trump's criminal acts, it won't change anything. Trump's base is pretty violent and if he is removed from office, it will get ugly.

I don't think Americans want that.

Let him get defeated in 2020 soundly, and then the GOP rebuilds.

We don't negotiate with terrorists, foreign or domestic.
 
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GettyRoad

Golden Member
Mar 5, 2016
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We don't negotiate with terrorists, foreign or domestic.

Yea, some of those Trump voters are middle class people. Majority of them, middle class. Are you saying that some of those police officers, iron workers, firefighters, teachers are "terrorists" or the GOP powerbrokers?
 

interchange

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,031
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Is there anything that would really change the mind of core true believers? I suspect not.

The number of those people however is not nearly sufficient to win him re-election just as over-reliance on them proved disastrous in the midterms.

Powerful is the belief that one's own failure to meet the ideal image they hold of themselves is due to a hidden conspiracy of powerful individuals whose goal is to obtain their own success at the expense of your own. When you attach your identity with someone who both represents that belief and holds true power in confronting the oppressors, it is quite difficult to break that association independent of how much of the actual oppression is imaginary.

I suggest the way to succeed lies less in trying to attack the validity of this association and more in providing an alternative (and healthier) representation to associate to which doesn't require them being in a devalued position after. Think about it. Were slow or brandon or texashiker, etc., to suddenly repent and accept their flaws, would Democrats here welcome them into the fold of the enlightened? Or would they suspect them of being disingenuous and try to rub in their faces accountability for prior misdeeds? Who volunteers for that oppression unless it is to stave off a worse alternative? See: Michael Cohen.
 

UNCjigga

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
25,715
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I didn't actually think it possible but the GOP is turning Cohen into a likable character. That is the level of their incompetence.

I actually think they're doing their job with some level of competence. Assuming their job is to protect the President at all costs.

1. Establish that Cohen has no credibility. Check.

2. Dispute that Cohen has owned up to all his crimes. Check (Meadows' referral for FARA violations)

3. Establish that Cohen’s actions were all for his benefit and not to protect the President...Not there yet, but they’re trying.

As long as the GOP avoids really cheap shots and keeps his family out of it, they’ll “win” with conservatives.
 

Commodus

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 2004
9,215
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Yea, some of those Trump voters are middle class people. Majority of them, middle class. Are you saying that some of those police officers, iron workers, firefighters, teachers are "terrorists" or the GOP powerbrokers?

If they get ugly as you said they might, then yes they would be. Evil isn't usually perpetrated by cartoon villains (although Trump certainly comes close); it's perpetrated by ordinary-seeming people who come to warped conclusions.
 

HomerJS

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
39,943
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Yea, some of those Trump voters are middle class people. Majority of them, middle class. Are you saying that some of those police officers, iron workers, firefighters, teachers are "terrorists" or the GOP powerbrokers?
That Coast Guard guy is. Oh wait a minute he is white so I guess that doesn't count?
 
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interchange

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
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The most committed ones won't be swayed by anything, of course. Nixon still had like 20-odd percent approval when he resigned, for example. The public hearing were still decisive in my opinion in doing Nixon in.

Nixon used denial and represented himself as the masochist trying to stave off awareness of his misdeeds but ultimately unable to run away from the overwhelming guilt that ultimately leads to self-destruction.

Trump represents himself as the narcissistic child who seeks to defy his parents in their faces and get away with it, using primitive denial to withdraw only immediate attention to his crimes in order to put focus on the corrupt power his parents hold over him.

Big difference in those who identify with each.
 

cytg111

Lifer
Mar 17, 2008
26,851
16,114
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I think maybe the GOP forgot that Cohen is... was... a lawyer and a fixer... A fixer for the biggest conman on earth... They thought they were gonna throw words at him and make em stick?
 

SMOGZINN

Lifer
Jun 17, 2005
14,359
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Not being able to criminally prosecute a president also has the insane side effect of meaning that if you committed crimes to WIN the presidency once you have it you can't be prosecuted for them unless they can muster a super majority in the Senate.

The crazy thing about this scenario is that even if they manage to collect a supermajority the President could just start killing the ones that are willing to vote against him, or take their families hostage, and there is nothing you could do about it because he is above the law. The entire idea that the President of the United States can't be prosecuted for crimes is ludicrous. It turns him into a virtual king.

Even if Cohen's testimony reveals Trump's criminal acts, it won't change anything. Trump's base is pretty violent and if he is removed from office, it will get ugly.

I don't think Americans want that.

I think America needs it. If we can't hold our politicians accountable for crimes that is revealed we will lose all confidence in our system, and then a civil war is inevitable. A war that could be literally apocalyptic.
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,686
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Yea, some of those Trump voters are middle class people. Majority of them, middle class. Are you saying that some of those police officers, iron workers, firefighters, teachers are "terrorists" or the GOP powerbrokers?

It was you who offered that we better do what Trumpsters want or they'll get violent. I pointed out that we won't respond favorably to what really are threats of terrorism.
 

VRAMdemon

Diamond Member
Aug 16, 2012
8,099
10,802
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Love how the GOP is making the case that Trumps 10-year personal attorney is a snake with no morals. They are all avoiding mentioning that he was National Deputy Chair of the RNC for some reason.

Lol...Cohen says Trump directed his companies to misreporting his assets so his ranking on the Forbes 400 would increase every year and to get a loan

Lol...Jim Jordan now going on again about how Cohen can't be trusted because he worked for Trump... I'm responsible for your silliness because I did the same thing for ten years."
 
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VRAMdemon

Diamond Member
Aug 16, 2012
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Massie is really leaning on this "Cohen can't be trusted because he agreed to break the law for Trump" angle.

I don't think this is the winning argument they think it is.
 

GettyRoad

Golden Member
Mar 5, 2016
1,171
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It was you who offered that we better do what Trumpsters want or they'll get violent. I pointed out that we won't respond favorably to what really are threats of terrorism.

I didn't say that. I am saying we have to wait for the information to come out---for more information to come out.
 

VRAMdemon

Diamond Member
Aug 16, 2012
8,099
10,802
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Trump not having a good track record for hiring lawyers

Rudy Giuliani: Anyone who believes 'pathetic' Cohen testimony is a 'fool'

"It's pathetic. This is a lawyer who tapped (sic) his own client when he claimed he was being loyal. If you believe him you are a fool," Giuliani, an attorney for President Trump, told The Washington Post.

This was Trump's lawyer for years. Trump believed him. Therefore....Trump is a fool!..Lol!
 
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UNCjigga

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
25,715
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We will find out. I am unsure but suspect a Trump supporter watching this will come away from it having the idea that the conspiracy against them has been reaffirmed.

This is true. Nothing said today will change any minds about whether or not to support this President. They will see this whole thing as a farce, a stunt.
 

VRAMdemon

Diamond Member
Aug 16, 2012
8,099
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The Man, The Myth, The Doofus :

"Michael Cohen was one of many lawyers who represented me (unfortunately). He had other clients also. He was just disbarred by the State Supreme Court for lying & fraud. He did bad things unrelated to Trump. He is lying in order to reduce his prison time. Using Crooked’s lawyer!"

Michael who?
 
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