Yes, the thing left out is often more important than the thing included. I wouldn't expect the prosecutor to lay out all the information provided to his team. Beyond that it seems that authoritarians have a hard time understanding that private individuals and public officials are subject to different legal systems. That the private individual is presumed to be good and that the public official is subject to duties and obligations and restrictions on his/her personal interests. Indeed, the reason we pay public officials is in recognition that they have ceded their personal interests. While it seems that somebody recognized that and tried to get around the obligation to surrender personal interest by taking on unpaid advisors, both during the election process and in the White House (certainly Manafort knew the score), this is a case where ignorance is no excuse. Of course, since neither Nixon nor Reagan were penalized for consorting as private individuals with foreign governments, some people might conclude their meddling in foreign relations were not criminal acts. But, Nixon got removed for something else before his perfidy in regards to Vietnam was fully revealed and the Reagan machinations in regard to the Iranian hostages weren't fully clarified until after Reagan had sunk into senility. That GWB was not held to account for the misuse of three hundred million to plan the invasion of Iraq was the result of Pelosi "taking impeachment off the table." This time around, investigators were prepared and Dodd/Frank facilitated the collection of data. Dodd/Frank is also why all efforts to repeal the ACA fail.
I like various teas. Ginger Root Tea is nice and zippy, and so good for you. Or try Rooibos Tea; it's red tea, so very pleasing to the eye, and makes a wonderful iced tea, no sweetener needed.
"Trump is stomping his way across Asia like some repulsive, orange, avatar of the Ignorant American trope, so exaggerated that he exists almost beyond the realm of satire. No reasonable person could have expected him to display anything even close to tact or cosmopolitanism during the trip, but even for a boor such as him, things are going poorly."
"The comments provide just more proof of the toxic trifecta of ignorance, arrogance, and braggadocio that course through the heart of the modern American President. Somehow a man who lacks fundamental knowledge about the globe felt he was qualified to become the leader of the free world."
Russia Puts the Squeeze on Don Jr.[Click] This analysis states pretty much what I thought on reading the story this morning. It’s a nice little complement to the account of Russian trolls helping DT to win the Presidency, then casting doubt on his election afterwards.
A little speculation to start off the day:
ReplyDeleteThe Conspicuous Gap In Mueller’s Case Against Trump Adviser Papadopoulos [Click]
--Alan
Yes, the thing left out is often more important than the thing included. I wouldn't expect the prosecutor to lay out all the information provided to his team. Beyond that it seems that authoritarians have a hard time understanding that private individuals and public officials are subject to different legal systems. That the private individual is presumed to be good and that the public official is subject to duties and obligations and restrictions on his/her personal interests. Indeed, the reason we pay public officials is in recognition that they have ceded their personal interests. While it seems that somebody recognized that and tried to get around the obligation to surrender personal interest by taking on unpaid advisors, both during the election process and in the White House (certainly Manafort knew the score), this is a case where ignorance is no excuse.
ReplyDeleteOf course, since neither Nixon nor Reagan were penalized for consorting as private individuals with foreign governments, some people might conclude their meddling in foreign relations were not criminal acts. But, Nixon got removed for something else before his perfidy in regards to Vietnam was fully revealed and the Reagan machinations in regard to the Iranian hostages weren't fully clarified until after Reagan had sunk into senility.
That GWB was not held to account for the misuse of three hundred million to plan the invasion of Iraq was the result of Pelosi "taking impeachment off the table."
This time around, investigators were prepared and Dodd/Frank facilitated the collection of data. Dodd/Frank is also why all efforts to repeal the ACA fail.
I am considering a coffee substitute; can anyone here recommend one over another?
ReplyDelete--Alan
I couldn't. But my dad always used Postum. So good luck with that.
DeleteNope, never learned to like coffee so I don't drink it. Just Diet Soda (or as Son #2 calls it, Chemical Spill) and decaff tea.
DeleteAlan, have you tried decaf coffee?
DeleteI like various teas. Ginger Root Tea is nice and zippy, and so good for you. Or try Rooibos Tea;
it's red tea, so very pleasing to the eye, and makes a wonderful iced tea, no sweetener needed.
If the caffeine is the point, I would definitely suggest decaf coffee. But Alan didn't tell us why he wants a coffee substitute.
Deletehttp://verifiedpolitics.com/trump-just-admitted-japanese-officials-didnt-know-basic-geography/
ReplyDeleteFrom the article:
"Trump is stomping his way across Asia like some repulsive, orange, avatar of the Ignorant American trope, so exaggerated that he exists almost beyond the realm of satire. No reasonable person could have expected him to display anything even close to tact or cosmopolitanism during the trip, but even for a boor such as him, things are going poorly."
More from the article:
Delete"The comments provide just more proof of the toxic trifecta of ignorance, arrogance, and braggadocio that course through the heart of the modern American President. Somehow a man who lacks fundamental knowledge about the globe felt he was qualified to become the leader of the free world."
Malignant Narcissistic Hubris
Deletehttps://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/6/16610412/trump-autocrat-justice-fbi-illiberal
ReplyDeleteRussia Puts the Squeeze on Don Jr.[Click] This analysis states pretty much what I thought on reading the story this morning. It’s a nice little complement to the account of Russian trolls helping DT to win the Presidency, then casting doubt on his election afterwards.
ReplyDelete-Alan
Yes, but he's an exaggeration, not an anomaly. His way was prepared by innumerable others. Would Cruz be better? His wife is apparently smarter.
ReplyDeleteNow they're touting Joe Biden for 2020. He's only a few months younger than Bernie, but they say Bernie is "too old"? Give me a freaking break!
ReplyDeleteNot sure who "they" are. But as someone feeling my own age, I would require convincing if either Bernie or Joe were to run in 2020.
Delete