The Dangerous Case Of Donald Trump

[Z Buck McFate]

The Independent (no paywall) : Trump legal teams in turmoil as lawyers fear being asked to undermine integrity of US elections

NYT(with paywall) : Growing Discomfort at Law Firms Representing Trump in Election Lawsuits

Like many big law firms, Jones Day, whose roots go back to Cleveland in the late 1800s, has prided itself on representing controversial clients.

There was Big Tobacco. There was the Bin Laden family. There was even the hated owner of the Cleveland Browns football team as he moved the franchise to Baltimore.

Now Jones Day is the most prominent firm representing President Trump and the Republican Party as they prepare to wage a legal war challenging the results of the election. The work is intensifying concerns inside the firm about the propriety and wisdom of working for Mr. Trump, according to lawyers at the firm.

[...]

Some senior lawyers at Jones Day, one of the country’s largest law firms, are worried that it is advancing arguments that lack evidence and may be helping Mr. Trump and his allies undermine the integrity of American elections, according to interviews with nine partners and associates, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect their jobs.

At another large firm, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, based in Columbus, Ohio, lawyers have held internal meetings to voice similar concerns about their firm’s election-related work for Mr. Trump and the Republican Party, according to people at the firm. At least one lawyer quit in protest.

Already, the two firms have filed at least four lawsuits challenging aspects of the election in Pennsylvania. The cases are pending.
​

 

[Indigo Rodent]

I don't think he's actually trying to undermine the elections. I think he's scamming his followers out of money:
Donations under $8K to Trump ‘election defense’ instead go to president, RNC | Reuters

 

[Totenkindly]

I don't think he's actually trying to undermine the elections. I think he's scamming his followers out of money:
Donations under $8K to Trump ‘election defense’ instead go to president, RNC | Reuters

I don't think it needs to be one or the other, his actions have always been kind of "throwing everything at the wall and see what sticks." Has there ever been a focused plan? No, it's like "run a bunch of things out and see what falls into place, then go from there." This could also be part of people with different agendas trying to run their own pet end run in his administration.

It's still understandable why people are concerned with all the last-minute personnel changes in the Pentagon, for example. Is there a point to them? Normally an out-going regime has no need to shift personnel since they will be replaced with the incoming administration.

It's also understood someone's trying to grift what they can grift off people providing money for a legal defense, to pay off campaign debt.

 

[Z Buck McFate]

I don't think he's actually trying to undermine the elections. I think he's scamming his followers out of money:
Donations under $8K to Trump ‘election defense’ instead go to president, RNC | Reuters

I agree with Tokenkindly about it probably being a "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" kind of thing, but ultimately even if he is only doing all of it to enrich himself - it is producing a consequence of undermining lack of faith in elections en masse anyway, eta: whilst also kicking up a shit ton of partisan rage /eta, which is still incredibly dangerous.

 

[Stigmata]

I don't think he's actually trying to undermine the elections. I think he's scamming his followers out of money:
Donations under $8K to Trump ‘election defense’ instead go to president, RNC | Reuters

I honestly hope that's all that's going on and some old the pentagon moves and election disputing is just posturing while he uses this as one last con before he goes out the door. That would still be contemptible and blatantly corrupt, but given everything else that's transpired, I'll take ending in the Donald Trump USA goosebumps book versus an attempted coup. Is this Trump university all over again?

 

[Z Buck McFate]

Axios: The Electoral College play

How it works: If a lawsuit successfully stops certification of results in a state, legislators there could step into the void and pick a pro-Trump slate of electors.

The lawyer, who requested anonymity to speak about the scenario, said Trump's team now appears to be trying to throw enough dirt at the process for counting late ballots to argue that accurate results can't be ascertained.

The next step could be to try to get federal or state courts to enjoin secretaries of state from certifying results.

Any move to provide an alternative slate of electors could force the first real test of the Electoral Count Act of 1887 and could land before the Supreme Court.

Among the key swing states, Arizona and Georgia have GOP governors and legislatures. Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have Democratic governors but GOP legislatures.

"This is a horrible idea, one that should be morally repugnant to every American," elections law expert Edward B. Foley wrote recently in The Washington Post.

"For a state legislature to reclaim this power after voters have already cast their own ballots would be an even more egregious intrusion into the democratic process."

But, but, but: Even if the GOP was able to get injunctions, it would be an arduous legal process before legislatures could take the matter into their own hands.

"How many compliant judges are going to throw themselves on the ground in front of that train?" the lawyer said. "And how many legislatures are going to go along with it?" Instead, he said, Trump may try to "scare the living bejeezus out of everyone to gain leverage and then cut a deal for him and his family."
​

 

[Jaguar]

Governor To Follow Law Of Certifying Electoral Votes Of Pennsylvania Popular Vote Winner
The vote is certified by the state and the governor appoints the electors.

November 10, 2020 at 2:35 pm
HARRISBURG (KDKA) — For months, there has been talk swirling that if Joe Biden wins Pennsylvania, Republicans in the state legislature could bypass the popular vote and appoint electors who are favorable to President Trump. The electors award Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes. On Friday, State Senate majority leader Jake Corman said Republicans will honor the wishes of the voters. “Our role is to monitor the process, our role is to provide oversight and call out questions where they might need asked, but certainly want to stay with the tradition of the popular vote winner getting the electors,” Senator Corman said.

Corman says the vote is certified by the state and the governor appoints the electors.

He says the legislature will follow the law.

 

[FemMecha]

A while ago there was the discussion about Melania's jacket, and I found another video of her finally describing her real motivation. This is an important point to understand that Trump and his cronies have a lot more control over their branding and identity than is supposed. The outsider fighting against a liberal media that won't give him a break is a brilliant branding and propaganda strategy. No matter what he says or does, you just blame "the media" for painting it badly and he has created a "get out of jail free" card in his game of Monopoly.

She described her motivation at 8:20

Ex-adviser releases secret Melania Trump audio recordings - YouTube

Stephanie: "So what prompted you to buy that jacket?"
Melania: "I'm driving liberals crazy - that's for sure. And that, you know, that's - and they deserve it. You understand?"

She was trolling. She knew exactly what that jacket communicated and knew that liberals would get very upset. She got precisely the outcome she desired. There was no miscommunication, there was no innocent self-centered focus on her wardrobe. These people know exactly what they are doing and getting results they want.

If you wanted to run for president and didn't have the credentials, but a tremendous, fantastic background in the media as a public figure, celebrity, and living within the highest social circles connected to media, what would be your "branding"? To be the lone outsider fighting against the overwhelming media that hates you so, 'oh the poor man how he suffers', 'they just twist anything he says, what a saint', is actually brilliant. Of course that works. It did work according to plan. There is no authenticity or innocent mistakes or genuine communication happening.

 

[Totenkindly]

A while ago there was the discussion about Melania's jacket, and I found another video of her finally describing her real motivation. This is an important point to understand that Trump and his cronies have a lot more control over their branding and identity than is supposed. The outsider fighting against a liberal media that won't give him a break is a brilliant branding and propaganda strategy. No matter what he says or does, you just blame "the media" for painting it badly and he has created a "get out of jail free" card in his game of Monopoly.

She described her motivation at 8:20

Ex-adviser releases secret Melania Trump audio recordings - YouTube

Stephanie: "So what prompted you to buy that jacket?"
Melania: "I'm driving liberals crazy - that's for sure. And that, you know, that's - and they deserve it. You understand?"

She was trolling. She knew exactly what that jacket communicated and knew that liberals would get very upset. She got precisely the outcome she desired. There was no miscommunication, there was no innocent self-centered focus on her wardrobe. These people know exactly what they are doing and getting results they want.

If you wanted to run for president and didn't have the credentials, but a tremendous, fantastic background in the media as a public figure, celebrity, and living within the highest social circles connected to media, what would be your "branding"? To be the lone outsider fighting against the overwhelming media that hates you so, 'oh the poor man how he suffers', 'they just twist anything he says, what a saint', is actually brilliant. Of course that works. It did work according to plan. There is no authenticity or innocent mistakes or genuine communication happening.

They will probably thrive with the far right for years after this and get their cushy meal train, but honestly I hope she is otherwise forgotten by the mainstream, having never amounted to anything in the first place. (Her only blips have been "Be Best" while supporting the biggest media bully out there, and tearing up the rose garden, and having some wonky xmas decorations. Talk about setting new standards for the first-spouse position...) There are far more interesting and contributing members of society we could be reading about.

 

[FemMecha]

They will probably thrive with the far right for years after this and get their cushy meal train, but honestly I hope she is otherwise forgotten by the mainstream, having never amounted to anything in the first place. (Her only blips have been "Be Best" while supporting the biggest media bully out there, and tearing up the rose garden, and having some wonky xmas decorations. Talk about setting new standards for the first-spouse position...) There are far more interesting and contributing members of society we could be reading about.

I deleted my last quote because I referenced informally people I know IRL, so it was a privacy deletion. Earlier in that video she makes it sound like children were being separated from parents exactly the same during the Obama administration, but the youtube info below includes this information:

"The policy Melania Trump was referring to was different from that of her husband, President Donald Trump. Under former President Barack Obama, children were separated from parents only when authorities had concerns for their well-being or could not confirm that the adult was in fact their legal guardian, but not as a blanket policy as was done under Trump -- until a judge forced the administration to stop."

She knows that as well. The fact that she is twisting words and dismissing the issue means that she actually does not care that much. Stephanie gives her credit in the interview for having genuine maternal concern for the children, and maybe she does, but what is it worth if she dismisses it, says she doesn't have time to help because she has to put up Christmas decorations (which she likely hires out btw), and thinks it is enough if they have a bed. Trump was having homeland security release children back to Mexico without their parents, supposedly for COVID-19 precautions which is feeding the child sex-trafficking industry. In her position, to troll that much in that instance goes beyond a point I can personally give her credit for any genuine caring.

 

[ceecee]

They will probably thrive with the far right for years after this and get their cushy meal train, but honestly I hope she is otherwise forgotten by the mainstream, having never amounted to anything in the first place. (Her only blips have been "Be Best" while supporting the biggest media bully out there, and tearing up the rose garden, and having some wonky xmas decorations. Talk about setting new standards for the first-spouse position...) There are far more interesting and contributing members of society we could be reading about.

I truly have no idea why anyone cares about her. She is a piece of shit human just like he is - although she definitely hates the MAGA rubes as much as, if not more than he does.

 

[Jaguar]

Stephanie: "So what prompted you to buy that jacket?"
Melania: "I'm driving liberals crazy - that's for sure. And that, you know, that's - and they deserve it. You understand?"

 

[FemMecha]

^That was actually funny, although I consider 'slut' a compliment for someone willing to make a nation think that as a person in a position of power you don't give a fuck about children who are in a very bad situation. If you are going to troll something, why not take pictures using a bunch of straws or something. To troll over an issue this serious is deplorable and a woman who has sex with lots of people, who is a "slut", is morally far superior to someone willing to troll for jokes over the suffering of children.

 

[The Cat]

 

[FemMecha]

This is very good information. I watched through the entire clip. I didn't know the media was pushing that narrative, but I actually don't watch news. Personally, I haven't been concerned that Trump could control the military, but I am concerned how much he might engage the domestic militias to commit domestic terrorism. I heard that his advisors are talking up the idea of him running for president in 2024, which could minimize his use of violence to keep face. If he is backed into a final corner, then I worry about him encouraging the domestic terrorism to focus on his targets which could be individuals or geographic regions. I don't see an entire overwhelming invasion, but that some people could get hurt. I would say that democratic leaders, especially Biden and Harris, need full security details, along with entertainers who publicly make fun of him. Regular citizens could encounter violence with neighbors after getting fired up politically in fights. I also feel concerned about demonstrations at this time because that setting could also invite terrorism, some of which could even be motivated without direct communication from Trump, but through generalized support, acting in tandem.

I turned off my social media accounts where I have my actual name until things quiet down. While I don't believe Trump can forcibly maintain control, I am worried about people getting hurt, and so my motto I wish to share with everyone is "full cupboards and empty streets" for the next couple of months.

 

[ceecee]

This is very good information. I watched through the entire clip. I didn't know the media was pushing that narrative, but I actually don't watch news. Personally, I haven't been concerned that Trump could control the military, but I am concerned how much he might engage the domestic militias to commit domestic terrorism. I heard that his advisors are talking up the idea of him running for president in 2024, which could minimize his use of violence to keep face. If he is backed into a final corner, then I worry about him encouraging the domestic terrorism to focus on his targets which could be individuals or geographic regions. I don't see an entire overwhelming invasion, but that some people could get hurt. I would say that democratic leaders, especially Biden and Harris, need full security details, along with entertainers who publicly make fun of him. Regular citizens could encounter violence with neighbors after getting fired up politically in fights. I also feel concerned about demonstrations at this time because that setting could also invite terrorism, some of which could even be motivated without direct communication from Trump, but through generalized support, acting in tandem.

I turned off my social media accounts where I have my actual name until things quiet down. While I don't believe Trump can forcibly maintain control, I am worried about people getting hurt, and so my motto I wish to share with everyone is "full cupboards and empty streets" for the next couple of months.

I urge people to watch Beau's videos. He's a journalist, he knows what the media says and does but I would call him a conservative too. The difference between a conservative like Beau and MAGA is that Beau understands that human and civil rights are not political and if you have the means at hand, you have a responsibility to act. MAGA conservatives definitely don't grasp any of this because they are far too obsessed with self, the veneer of independence and are oblivious to anything outside their bubble.

The Million MAGA March is today. But I couldn't be less concerned about these dipshits.

 

[The Cat]

 

[FemMecha]

Interesting interview with Trump's niece Mary. She is a clinical psychologist and you may know wrote a book about Trump, "Too Much and Never Enough". She is making predictions about his behavior until Inauguration Day. She knows what's going on.

 

[The Cat]

 

[Jaguar]

How many more people can he kill before leaving office.