There's a distinction from being a political operative willing to carry out illegal acts for others for political purposes to engaging in personal tax and money fraud to the tune of millions of dollars for your own benefit. It looks like Manafort's criminality evolved significantly after he lost his"golden goose", Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, and the lavish lifestyle that came with it. I don't think it's fair to assume he was always as crooked and dirty as he was at the end. It's not easy to put yourself into the position to be that dirty. If it were, everyone would lie about their worth and get million dollar loans.Something I've been thinking about with regards to Paul Manafort. He's been a consultant/involved with Ford, Reagan, Bush 1, and Dole.
Is it fair to assume he's been a criminal from the beginning? I think yes.
There's a distinction from being a political operative willing to carry out illegal acts for others for political purposes to engaging in personal tax and money fraud to the tune of millions of dollars for your own benefit. It looks like Manafort's criminality evolved significantly after he lost his"golden goose", Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, and the lavish lifestyle that came with it. I don't think it's fair to assume he was always as crooked and dirty as he was at the end. It's not easy to put yourself into the position to be that dirty. If it were, everyone would lie about their worth and get million dollar loans.
Trump's level of corruption, and the corruption of the kind of people attracted to him, are far beyond the norms. There may be many like Manafort and Cohen I don't think they are in government. Most of the people who run government are not rich and don't steal so brazenly. Those that do, usually get caught.
Wow. The way your mind works is interesting.A guy who who has worked with 5 campaigns just got guilty verdicts on 8 counts...
and somehow thats due to Trump?
Nah...
Wow. The way your mind works is interesting.
Manafort wasn't wearing $25,000 suits when he worked for Reagan. It's more likely that Manafort became a bolder criminal after spending so much time with the Russians.
Ken Starr turned over every leaf in the Clinton world and found nothing he could hang on them. Why is that?
The way my mind works is "all these assholes are corrupt".
Not everyone in govt is corrupt and some corruption is a lot worse than others. Manafort's corruption comes from his own greed.
The way your mind works is "All the Republican assholes are corrupt".
I thought your running line was that I thought all Republican assholes were racists.
The Clintons got millions of dollars from the Russians - you know that group who you think is the biggest threat to our democracy in the world.
I'm willing to say the Clintons were corrupt. I think our own corruption is a bigger threat than the Russians.
Sloppy logic on all 3.
It also seems like you believe that since govt is so corrupt, less govt results in a less corrupt world, which is naive,imo.
No, the one time we catch one of these bastards they do not get to use "but everyone does it". If they want to argue that they are just stupid enough to get caught thats fine by me. Lets see how that works out. Trumps Presidency Deathwatch is now on Day 2. His refusal to do the right thing and resign should factor into sentencing. Lock his ass up in the Federal Max Security with the Boston Bomber.
A guy who who has worked with 5 campaigns just got guilty verdicts on 8 counts...
and somehow thats due to Trump?
Nah...
McCain dead. RIP
easy to be cynical in this day and age but a truly heroic man
And why did he agree to work for nothing when he was obviously in financial straits?? When his desire to jump on the Trump train was clearly at shot at getting himself out of his pinch?I think the pertinent questions to ask are why was Manafort seeking work with Trump, specifically, and why Trump chose to hire him. Even if Trump is himself totally innocent of Manafort’s dirt, hiring him still demonstrates some pretty poor judgement at best.
I hope all this attention to McCain's heroic life and career makes Trump feel miserable. Each new story about McCain just re-enforces what a petty douchebag Trump was for unfairly attacking his military service. Whether a particular piece mentions that or not, it's still there in the viewer's mind.https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/amp22830014/trump-flag-colored-wrong/
Go home Trump, your drunk