Trump hush money trial

[noodleoo]

Quote from CNN. This is totally cracking me up picturing them seriously questioning Cohen while Trump has to sit there and watch/listen. Minor in the world of consequences he deserves, but I appreciate it nonetheless.

”Trump attorney Todd Blanche is going through some of the insults Michael Cohen has said against Trump. Blanche asks if Cohen, speaking on his podcast, called Trump a "boorish cartoon misogynist."

"Sounds like something I would say," Cohen says.

Blanche then asks if Cohen has called Trump a "Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain."

"That also sounds like something that I said," Cohen says.”

[basilosaurus]

May 14, 2024 12:53:29 GMT -5 DotAndBuzz said:

May 14, 2024 10:19:12 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

I guess.  It all seems so miserable to me.  #doesnotcompute

Because it was transactional from the start, and it would be way harder, and more work/drama for her to leave. She gets everything she wants right now at no further cost to her. She has more than enough resources/power to leave if she wanted to. I mean, she literally wore it on her shirt "I really don't care, do you?" 

I think a lot of women want to put words in her mouth, or *hope* she wants to leave him, (I used to be one of them) because we can't fathom staying with such a vile person, but I don't think she does. She's just as awful as he is. She got what she wanted, and truly *does not care* what he does, because she got hers. Leaving now would rock the boat when she obviously sees no incentive to do so.

Right. She has a child she presumably wanted. She got citizenship for herself and family. All the money in the world. He's never home at their many homes. She probably encourages him to use sex workers to avoid him even more. What could she possibly gain by leaving? The media would be obsessed with it and hound her. 

In theory, I don't have a problem with transactional relationships as long as it's mutually beneficial for the couple and not some I got me a hot wife and her daddy got a payoff of money, land, cows, whatever. But, I truly think this is a bridge too far for my morals. 

[livinitup]

May 15, 2024 0:33:58 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

May 14, 2024 12:53:29 GMT -5 DotAndBuzz said:

Because it was transactional from the start, and it would be way harder, and more work/drama for her to leave. She gets everything she wants right now at no further cost to her. She has more than enough resources/power to leave if she wanted to. I mean, she literally wore it on her shirt "I really don't care, do you?" 

I think a lot of women want to put words in her mouth, or *hope* she wants to leave him, (I used to be one of them) because we can't fathom staying with such a vile person, but I don't think she does. She's just as awful as he is. She got what she wanted, and truly *does not care* what he does, because she got hers. Leaving now would rock the boat when she obviously sees no incentive to do so.

Right. She has a child she presumably wanted. She got citizenship for herself and family. All the money in the world. He's never home at their many homes. She probably encourages him to use sex workers to avoid him even more. What could she possibly gain by leaving? The media would be obsessed with it and hound her. 

In theory, I don't have a problem with transactional relationships as long as it's mutually beneficial for the couple and not some I got me a hot wife and her daddy got a payoff of money, land, cows, whatever. But, I truly think this is a bridge too far for my morals. 

Recently, what got me was a video put out by Trump’s media people of clips of him & Melania. I guess it was a reaction to Melania’s absence from the NYC trial. Set to a romantic tune, it showed them together in public appearances. I saw the stitch which remarked on how awkward they were together (they were, over & over, it was awful) and followed the link to the original video with comments. As I scrolled through the comments, I was shocked by the gushing support of how “in love”’they looked and so many “oohs & ahhs”. Smack in the middle of the comments was one that plainly asked, “Is this satire”?. Is it, indeed.

The comment section was not my people.

Like anything else, I guess you see what you want to see. It’s just so obvious that Melania LOOKED LIKE a detached hostage. Knowing that the staff tasked with producing it did their best with what they had made it even more obvious that they looked terrible together, “cringe” in every way. And then I thought that these same commenters say about Michelle Obama …

As a culture, we absolutely commodify a candidate’s relationship with their wife. “Cashing in” might be okay for Melania on a personal level - sure, she got hers. But there is real real damage for the rest of us, too.

[icedcoffee]

I just realized Michael Cohen went to Cooley Law school. Isn't that where Dr. Megan Heimer who spreads misinformation and lies went to Law school? Full circle! I wonder how those lunatics are doing.

[basilosaurus]

May 15, 2024 11:31:35 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

I just realized Michael Cohen went to Cooley Law school. Isn't that where Dr. Megan Heimer who spreads misinformation and lies went to Law school? Full circle! I wonder how those lunatics are doing.

Did he?! Hilarious. There was a small outpost near, like an office building, where I lived during the less than 2 years in LA county. It's maybe accredited now (I think it wasn't in the past which in CA is still ok for bar), but it definitely does not have an unblemished reputation. I think a Khardashian went there, too.

[Scout'sHonor]

May 14, 2024 9:53:14 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

May 14, 2024 9:11:45 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

I’m really hoping Barron is a rebellious 18 year old who goes rogue and tells all about the family. I was so disappointed when I heard he was going to be a delegate at the Republican Convention, but hopeful when Melania declined on his behalf because of previous commitments. He probably didn’t even know about it before it was announced. I doubt it will happen because he’s young, probably brainwashed, wouldn’t want to lose access to their money or get his mom in trouble (I’m sure there’s a $$$ contract in place for her silence - she’s barely even playing along with the charade anymore). The R convention would be a perfect time for him to go live or make a tik tok about how he didn’t have plans but he’s not voting for his dad or any R’s and spill all the tea.

As an aside, I was shocked at how tall Barron is. Like a whole head above TFG and Melania.

[basilosaurus]

Barron is just like some of the Duggars. Or Tiffany. They may slightly rebel, but in the end, they go with the money. I cannot say I'd do too differently. Good on Mary! Tiffany had all 3 wives at her wedding which is astonishing.

[mcsangel2]

May 15, 2024 11:53:44 GMT -5 Scout'sHonor said:

May 14, 2024 9:53:14 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

I’m really hoping Barron is a rebellious 18 year old who goes rogue and tells all about the family. I was so disappointed when I heard he was going to be a delegate at the Republican Convention, but hopeful when Melania declined on his behalf because of previous commitments. He probably didn’t even know about it before it was announced. I doubt it will happen because he’s young, probably brainwashed, wouldn’t want to lose access to their money or get his mom in trouble (I’m sure there’s a $$$ contract in place for her silence - she’s barely even playing along with the charade anymore). The R convention would be a perfect time for him to go live or make a tik tok about how he didn’t have plans but he’s not voting for his dad or any R’s and spill all the tea.

As an aside, I was shocked at how tall Barron is. Like a whole head above TFG and Melania.

He's 6'7"! And I bet he's not finished growing yet, either.

[livinitup]

I can’t wait for Trump to not go to Barron’s graduation.

It will be epic.

But I’m bracing to be disappointed by some BS loophole where Trump goes for exactly 4 minutes. And then begs for money at some fundraiser in another state. He’s definitely not waiting around for hours at a ceremony and a party where he is not the center of attention and praise.

[sonrisa]

May 16, 2024 0:10:38 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I can’t wait for Trump to not go to Barron’s graduation.

It will be epic.

But I’m bracing to be disappointed by some BS loophole where Trump goes for exactly 4 minutes. And then begs for money at some fundraiser in another state. He’s definitely not waiting around for hours at a ceremony and a party where he is not the center of attention and praise.

My bingo square: he shows for 10 minutes as the "keynote speaker" which he turns into a mini campaign rally.

[icedcoffee]

I need the jury to find him guilty. NEED.

[spindle92]

May 16, 2024 0:10:38 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I can’t wait for Trump to not go to Barron’s graduation.

It will be epic.

But I’m bracing to be disappointed by some BS loophole where Trump goes for exactly 4 minutes. And then begs for money at some fundraiser in another state. He’s definitely not waiting around for hours at a ceremony and a party where he is not the center of attention and praise.

Does it make me an awful person to hope his plane goes down?

[pixy0stix]

May 16, 2024 9:23:11 GMT -5 spindle92 said:

May 16, 2024 0:10:38 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I can’t wait for Trump to not go to Barron’s graduation.

It will be epic.

But I’m bracing to be disappointed by some BS loophole where Trump goes for exactly 4 minutes. And then begs for money at some fundraiser in another state. He’s definitely not waiting around for hours at a ceremony and a party where he is not the center of attention and praise.

Does it make me an awful person to hope his plane goes down?

No. I've been hoping for his timely death for a while.

[penguingrrl]

May 16, 2024 9:23:11 GMT -5 spindle92 said:

May 16, 2024 0:10:38 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I can’t wait for Trump to not go to Barron’s graduation.

It will be epic.

But I’m bracing to be disappointed by some BS loophole where Trump goes for exactly 4 minutes. And then begs for money at some fundraiser in another state. He’s definitely not waiting around for hours at a ceremony and a party where he is not the center of attention and praise.

Does it make me an awful person to hope his plane goes down?

I've been hoping for something to take him out since 2016, so not a bad person at all....

[ellipses84]

Chris Hayes on MSNBC pointed out the irony that the politicians showing up to court are basically trying to be the next Michael Cohen. I guess they can see in person the sleeping in court and how he’ll throw you under the bus (or in jail) to save his own diapered ass.

[ellipses84]

Mitt Romney thinks Biden should have pardoned Orange Foolius since he’s criticizing the integrity of our courts. I completely disagree. Letting him get away with all these crimes makes a mockery of our justice system (which is very flawed and unfair anyway). I think the trials have lost him votes and kept him off the campaign trail which offsets any votes he may have gained because of his “persecution”. I’m angry about the other trials being delayed. Dems would be furious with Biden for a pardon, and we need strong Dem voter turnout, which matters more than theorizing about what R voters may or may not do.

www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna152420

[lpcats]

May 16, 2024 9:23:11 GMT -5 spindle92 said:

May 16, 2024 0:10:38 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I can’t wait for Trump to not go to Barron’s graduation.

It will be epic.

But I’m bracing to be disappointed by some BS loophole where Trump goes for exactly 4 minutes. And then begs for money at some fundraiser in another state. He’s definitely not waiting around for hours at a ceremony and a party where he is not the center of attention and praise.

Does it make me an awful person to hope his plane goes down?

Yes, it does.  He needs to spend some time in jail first.

[suzyp]

May 16, 2024 10:34:17 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

Mitt Romney thinks Biden should have pardoned Orange Foolius since he’s criticizing the integrity of our courts. I completely disagree. Letting him get away with all these crimes makes a mockery of our justice system (which is very flawed and unfair anyway). I think the trials have lost him votes and kept him off the campaign trail which offsets any votes he may have gained because of his “persecution”. I’m angry about the other trials being delayed. Dems would be furious with Biden for a pardon, and we need strong Dem voter turnout, which matters more than theorizing about what R voters may or may not do.

www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna152420

There is also a theory that Ford's pardon of Nixon created some of this mess becuase he was never held accountable for his actions and it set a bad precedent.

And well, Biden cannot pardon Trump for the charges related to the current trial anyway.

[Pom]

Fuck Mitt too. Criminals shouldn’t do criming if they can’t face the consequences. How will the orange diapered terrorist learn.

[ellipses84]

May 16, 2024 13:03:26 GMT -5 suzyp said:

May 16, 2024 10:34:17 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

Mitt Romney thinks Biden should have pardoned Orange Foolius since he’s criticizing the integrity of our courts. I completely disagree. Letting him get away with all these crimes makes a mockery of our justice system (which is very flawed and unfair anyway). I think the trials have lost him votes and kept him off the campaign trail which offsets any votes he may have gained because of his “persecution”. I’m angry about the other trials being delayed. Dems would be furious with Biden for a pardon, and we need strong Dem voter turnout, which matters more than theorizing about what R voters may or may not do.

www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna152420

There is also a theory that Ford's pardon of Nixon created some of this mess becuase he was never held accountable for his actions and it set a bad precedent.

And well, Biden cannot pardon Trump for the charges related to the current trial anyway.

I think about it often, how at least Nixon’s reputation was tarnished and he was shamed by the American people for decades. If only Congress had passed more accountability laws over the decades since then instead of relying on tradition. Cheeto has done way worse with much less consequences. Meanwhile the Obamas wore a tan suit and a sleeveless dress and it was considered controversy 🙄

[neverfstop]

this is disgusting.... Since Trumps' gag order, a parade of Republicans has showed up at court, including Speaker Johnson & many others in Congress
www.axios.com/2024/05/16/house-republicans-trump-trial-gaetz

Why it matters: Gaetz was one of nearly a dozen House Republicans who made up the conference's largest turnout yet at the trial, Axios' Andrew Solender and Juliegrace Brufke report.

Between the lines: Gaetz's phrasing harkened back to Trump's "stand back and stand by" in a 2020 debate.

🧮 State of play: The Republican lawmakers' focus on showing loyalty at the trial appears to have actively interfered with congressional business.

Several of the Republican spectators sit on the House Oversight Committee, which delayed a planned markup today.
One House Republican told Axios their colleagues "genuinely think this is a farce" but acknowledged they also "want to curry favor with Trump."
A second GOP member referred to the trial as "The Apprentice 2024."

[basilosaurus]

May 16, 2024 9:30:19 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

May 16, 2024 9:23:11 GMT -5 spindle92 said:

Does it make me an awful person to hope his plane goes down?

No. I've been hoping for his timely death for a while.

Timely would have been sometime in early 2015

[pixy0stix]

Trump is using the day off for Barron's graduation to campaign.

apnews.com/article/election-2024-trump-minnesota-4f7ebfe7a2e1949d38a7c9894616a985

Trump will campaign in Minnesota after attending his son Barron's graduation

[icedcoffee]

May 17, 2024 8:14:59 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Trump is using the day off for Barron's graduation to campaign.

apnews.com/article/election-2024-trump-minnesota-4f7ebfe7a2e1949d38a7c9894616a985

Trump will campaign in Minnesota after attending his son Barron's graduation

I mean...most families go out for a meal and ice cream after graduation, but ok.  

[pixy0stix]

May 17, 2024 8:16:44 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

May 17, 2024 8:14:59 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Trump is using the day off for Barron's graduation to campaign.

apnews.com/article/election-2024-trump-minnesota-4f7ebfe7a2e1949d38a7c9894616a985

Trump will campaign in Minnesota after attending his son Barron's graduation

I mean...most families go out for a meal and ice cream after graduation, but ok.  

Right? Or have a party for family and friends (which seems up Trump's alley). I just don't see how the Rs and conservative Christian's keep pushing him as a family man.

[sonrisa]

May 17, 2024 9:19:19 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

May 17, 2024 8:16:44 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

I mean...most families go out for a meal and ice cream after graduation, but ok.  

Right? Or have a party for family and friends (which seems up Trump's alley). I just don't see how the Rs and conservative Christian's keep pushing him as a family man.

he’s a man. He has a family. He thinks that family exists purely to serve him and revolve around his whims under his complete control. Sounds like their idea of a family man.

[pixy0stix]

Cohen is to finish today, then it's Trump's lawyers turn. I wonder what fuckery we're going to see from them.

[pixy0stix]

Cohen testified today that he stole money from the Trump Org because he was shorted $100k from his year end bonus.

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/05/20/trump-hush-money-trial-live-updates-michael-cohen/#link-NBSCEIY3P5B6XN2OHHQ33RG7FI

[ellipses84]

Cohen is so messy! On one hand his credibility as a witness is not great, but on the other hand he’s said a lot of really damaging believable things. It makes me sick how much money he has made and is still making off the grift (way more than I thought he would have). I guess we know why all those politicians keep showing up to the courtroom.

[pixy0stix]

Judge Merchan threw everyone out of the courtroom so he could scold a defense witness on propriety - www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/05/20/trump-hush-money-trial-live-updates-michael-cohen/#link-QS6KW5WYXVBHVBYLUGJLHMNNFM