Trump says won't divest from his business while president

[MongGrel]

That's a scenario I can see happening with Trump. The US military and/or PMCs essentially doing guard duty on the tax payers dime. And we thought dying to get a dictators oil to market was stupid, wait until it's a hotel and golf course.

It's been done in the name of Bananas in the past, even before oil.

Banana Wars

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_Wars

Perhaps the single most active military officer in the Banana Wars was U.S. Marine Corps Major General, Smedley Butler, who saw action in Honduras in 1903, served in Nicaragua enforcing American policy from 1909–1912, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his role in Veracruz in 1914, and a second Medal of Honor for bravery in Haiti in 1915. In 1935, he denounced the role he had played, describing himself as "a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers ... a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism"

In 1933, he became involved in a controversy known as the Business Plot, when he told a congressional committee that a group of wealthy industrialists were planning a military coup to overthrow Franklin D. Roosevelt, with Butler selected to lead a march of veterans to become dictator, similar to other Fascist regimes at that time. The individuals involved all denied the existence of a plot and the media ridiculed the allegations. A final report by a special House of Representatives Committee confirmed some of Butler's testimony.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Plot

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House...tee_on_Un-American_Activities_.281934-1937.29

 

[Jhhnn]

And nobody could figure out Trumpsters' claims of Obama "victimizing" Deutche bank-

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/12/trump-deutsche-bank-conflict-loans

Now watch the DoJ go soft on 'em...

But Hillary, she's the one beholden to the big banks!

 

[FelixDeCat]

Donald Trump has what it takes to make America great again and he proved it during the press conference. Why are some liberals panicking over this?

 

[brycejones]

Donald Trump has what it takes to make America great again and he proved it during the press conference. Why are some liberals panicking over this?

No panic, just amazement that you could watch that shit show and think he proved anything positive about his ability to lead the country. Have you actually looked at his answers about health care? They aren't remotely coherent.

 

[Jhhnn]

Donald Trump has what it takes to make America great again and he proved it during the press conference. Why are some liberals panicking over this?

Trump has what it takes to dupe the rubes.

 

[Double Trouble]

This situation is an interesting one and I don't know what the right answer is. A blind trust sounds great but doesn't make sense when the business is so visible and to some degree depends on having the name "Trump" on properties. How can you possibly have a "blind" trust in that situation? Completely divesting (just selling everything) would mean a major hit to Trump as you can't just sell such a business on short notice.

IMO having his sons run the business doesn't do anything to ease the conflict of interest concerns, but I don't know what a reasonable solution is either. This is uncharted water.

 

[compuwiz1]

The situation is unprecedented. It appears he's trying to deal with it, but we've never had a billionaire with 500+ entities, as POTUS before. The blind trust thing is just impossible, as not possible to escape from news, name on buildings, etc. It would be unreasonable to hold a fire sale and liquidate all his assets. Most reasonable people understand that dilemma. Maybe he didn't expect to win and since he has, the reality has set in. Frankly, I'd have no idea what to do, if I were in his shoes. His legal counsel seems to be navigating it as best they can. He's obviously as concerned about it, as we are.

 

[Thebobo]

I would like to say I'm surprised by the Dems sudden interest in conflicts of interest when the biggest I've seen has been staring y'all in the face for years now: A giant tax-free bank acct that anybody can come by and drop millions into with no oversight - it's called the Clinton Foundation.

Fern

I'm surprised I'd thought you wouldn't be playing the game of tit-for-tat. Big difference here is she released her tax returns.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Please, the damn things are in the middle of big cities with his freaking name plastered all over them. WTH is blind about that?

Well if you put on a blindfold you wont' see them as you pass by in a taxi...right?

 

[Brainonska511]

Completely divesting (just selling everything) would mean a major hit to Trump as you can't just sell such a business on short notice.

I guess, but it's not like running for president is mandatory. If he didn't want to divest, perhaps he shouldn't have run.

 

[PokerGuy]

I guess, but it's not like running for president is mandatory. If he didn't want to divest, perhaps he shouldn't have run.

There is no legal requirement for him to do it. In fact, the president is not subject to conflict of interest restrictions at all, so he can just say "screw all of you I'm not changing anything". The fact that he's attempting to take steps to reduce possible conflict of interest is good, but he doesn't have to.

 

[Brainonska511]

There is no legal requirement for him to do it. In fact, the president is not subject to conflict of interest restrictions at all, so he can just say "screw all of you I'm not changing anything". The fact that he's attempting to take steps to reduce possible conflict of interest is good, but he doesn't have to.

Stop dancing on the head of a pin and making excuses for his huge conflicts of interest. Just because their is no legal requirement doesn't mean an ethical problem doesn't exist.

 

[fskimospy]

There is no legal requirement for him to do it. In fact, the president is not subject to conflict of interest restrictions at all, so he can just say "screw all of you I'm not changing anything". The fact that he's attempting to take steps to reduce possible conflict of interest is good, but he doesn't have to.

Nobody cares that there is no legal requirement. Everyone knows that he is hugely compromised in his ability to do the most important job in the country by his financial interests. THAT is the problem, and he has done almost nothing to alleviate it.

 

[Thebobo]

Well he has a big heart.

lololololololololololol

 

[PokerGuy]

Stop dancing on the head of a pin and making excuses for his huge conflicts of interest. Just because their is no legal requirement doesn't mean an ethical problem doesn't exist.

The point is, he doesn't have to do anything. He's going to take some steps to make the conflict less, but that's up to him.

Nobody cares that there is no legal requirement. Everyone knows that he is hugely compromised in his ability to do the most important job in the country by his financial interests. THAT is the problem, and he has done almost nothing to alleviate it.

"Everyone knows"? No. You believe that to be the case. Sane people don't.

 

[Paratus]

Donald Trump has what it takes to make America great again and he proved it during the press conference. Why are some liberals panicking over this?

I guess I missed that. It seemed to mostly be about:

 

[Brainonska511]

The point is, he doesn't have to do anything. He's going to take some steps to make the conflict less, but that's up to him.

Well, I hope you never complain about anyone else's conflicts of interest ever again. But I'm sure your attitude will change the moment a (D) is behind someone's name.

 

[fskimospy]

The point is, he doesn't have to do anything. He's going to take some steps to make the conflict less, but that's up to him.

As I already said, who cares what he is legally required to do? The steps he's taking aren't even remotely sufficient.

As for what people can do legally if I were the Democrats I would simply use this to impeach him later on if they get control of Congress.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

The remarks yesterday by Walter Shaub, who heads the Office of Government Ethics, summarize the situation nicely. Trump's plan essentially does nothing to cure the ethical quagmire created by his election. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20170111_oge_shaub_remarks.pdf No doubt the OGE can look forward to being added to the Trump enemies list.

 

[PokerGuy]

The remarks yesterday by Walter Shaub, who heads the Office of Government Ethics, summarize the situation nicely. Trump's plan essentially does nothing to cure the ethical quagmire created by his election. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20170111_oge_shaub_remarks.pdf No doubt the OGE can look forward to being added to the Trump enemies list.

A good example of Shaub stomping his feet like a child throwing a tantrum, he can head to the trash bin along with the rest of the appointments from the past few years on Jan 20th.

Well, I hope you never complain about anyone else's conflicts of interest ever again. But I'm sure your attitude will change the moment a (D) is behind someone's name.

I didn't say conflict of interest isn't a potential problem -- it can be. We just need to be clear that there's no requirement that he do anything, so whatever steps he takes have to be viewed in that light.

As I already said, who cares what he is legally required to do? The steps he's taking aren't even remotely sufficient.

Who cares what he is legally required to do? That's pretty much the only thing that actually matters. Everything else is just opinion or perspective. The law is the only common ground on what you actually have to do vs what someone might think you should do.

As for what people can do legally if I were the Democrats I would simply use this to impeach him later on if they get control of Congress.

lol, impeach him over not doing something that he legally has no obligation to do. Yeah, sounds pretty reasonable. Aren't you one of the people stomping their feet over the gop vowing not to work with obummer from the get go? .... and now you want them to impeach the president over nothing because you don't like him? Good stuff, you're setting new high bars for hypocrisy every day, congrats!

 

[nageov3t]

it's troubling as an American, but as a Democrat this feels like giving him enough rope to hang himself with.

let's see what the public reaction is when a Trump building gets bombed and he sends in ground forces.

 

[Pens1566]

Time to just admit that he can't divest fully because he's too leveraged and would end up losing his shirt (made in China).

 

[fskimospy]

A good example of Shaub stomping his feet like a child throwing a tantrum, he can head to the trash bin along with the rest of the appointments from the past few years on Jan 20th.

I didn't say conflict of interest isn't a potential problem -- it can be. We just need to be clear that there's no requirement that he do anything, so whatever steps he takes have to be viewed in that light.

No they don't, they need to be viewed in the light of what's good for the country or not. That's the only thing that really matters.

Who cares what he is legally required to do? That's pretty much the only thing that actually matters. Everything else is just opinion or perspective. The law is the only common ground on what you actually have to do vs what someone might think you should do.

lol, impeach him over not doing something that he legally has no obligation to do. Yeah, sounds pretty reasonable. Aren't you one of the people stomping their feet over the gop vowing not to work with obummer from the get go? .... and now you want them to impeach the president over nothing because you don't like him? Good stuff, you're setting new high bars for hypocrisy every day, congrats!

You might consider the president taking official actions for his own financial benefit to be nothing but I sure don't. I guess I'm just crazy for even the slightest check on massive corruption. Impeachment IS the law, and Congress decides if taking those actions is acceptable or not. For the sake of basic good governance they should make it clear to him that it's not okay. That's how you make it something that Trump 'has' to do. In actuality that's the only thing that matters.

It's also amusing that you're trying to call anyone here a hypocrite. Do you really need me to go dredge up some of your more comically hypocritical statements? I mean I still remember when you complained that I thought I was an 'expert on everything' and then declared you knew more about Catholicism than the Pope. lol.

 

[jackstar7]

I love all the "drain the swamp" assholes saying Trump's massive conflicts of interest are no problem for them.

That kind of lack of self-awareness explains Trump's election to a T.


Team sports, you guys. Winning is all that matters, not what comes after.

 

[soundforbjt]

I love all the "drain the swamp" assholes saying Trump's massive conflicts of interest are no problem for them.

That kind of lack of self-awareness explains Trump's election to a T.


Team sports, you guys. Winning is all that matters, not what comes after.

I love the ones who say they didn't vote for Trump, yet run to his defense in every thread. They just want to have plausible deniability should he be a disaster.