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Are greed and corruption defeatable?
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Bill Clinton: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.” DNA proved that he lied to everyone in the country (and that he was a sleaze bag in his treatment of Lewinsky). His friendship with Epstein wasn't a surprise to me, and Epstein's "suicide" was very convenient, considering his contacts with powerful people.Hillary at Benghazi hearing: "Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided that they’d they go kill some Americans? What difference at this point does it make?" In other words, don't focus on the past and what I did. The past doesn't matter. But the fact is that an hour after blaming the attack on a video, she emailed her daughter: "Two of our officers were killed in Benghazi by an Al Queda-like [sic] group." She knew the truth about the attack, and she lied to the public. I watched all 8 hours of the hearing, and she's a genius at deflecting and denying. Watch it sometime and see who she really is. I lost all respect for her after watching it.
Those who support the Clintons are as blind to their sleaziness and lies as they are to Biden's corruption and incompetence.
It sounds like not exceptionally virtuous people come to be heads of state in leading democracies...
This will sound crazy, but I believe that Trump seriously wanted to do what was best for our country. I'm not saying he was virtuous in his personal life.
Scout wrote: "This will sound crazy, but I believe that Trump seriously wanted to do what was best for our country. I'm not saying he was virtuous in his personal life."I don't think Trump cares much for others or the country. In my distant evaluation he's of narcissistic personality and cares primarily about himself. Having said that, I think he offers a lot of crude, sometimes repulsive, logic, where others offer phony platitudes, hiding behind values they don't believe in. For example, Trump offered banning Muslims emigrants from a bunch of hostile countries. Some could yell - "discrimination", but it was designed to address fundamentalists pouring into the country. Influx of unknown thousands of people through Mex border - it's a real problem, which needs to be addressed. And more.
Some people are tired of hearing their politicians proposing things they have little intentions to abide by, and prefer unrefined, yet sometimes more truthful approach of Don. What more - Don seemed to have come to at least try to do something, while most others - come to "celebrate" and sit on a chair.
Scout wrote: "This will sound crazy, but I believe that Trump seriously wanted to do what was best for our country. I'm not saying he was virtuous in his personal life.""that Trump seriously wanted to do what was best for
I prefer not to get into the issue of political candidates beyond my personal opinion that politics was never meant to be a lifelong career that drew large salaries, well funded benefits and comfortable pensions at the expense of the private sector that is struggling to provide those same things for themselves and their families. But to greed and corruption - corruption can take many forms other than the acquisition of money, but with greed, there is the subjective consideration of when making money, which is a goal of every hardworking person, becomes greed. I think that greed is when the acquisition of wealth overrides all family, social and moral considerations, and when those considerations are negatively impacted by the process of acquisition.
Interestingly, there is a small volume called "The Art of Money Getting" by PT Barnum that lays out the rules for financial success, and many of the rules are founded in conduct, hard work, economy and philanthropy.
J. wrote: "I prefer not to get into the issue of political candidates beyond my personal opinion that politics was never meant to be a lifelong career that drew large salaries, well funded benefits and comfor..."J.,
You and I have often found ourselves in the position of having to agree to disagree. However, I believe your statements within this post are accurate and correct. It would be great if those in political and business leadership positions would read it and reconsider their behavior. Unfortunately, I believe there is absolutely no chance of that happening.
Thank you for sharing your perspective. Well thought out and well presented.
J.'s comments are dependably well thought out and logical. I wanted to reply to his recommendation that we read P. T. Barnum's book by asking the question, "Wasn't he the guy who said there's a sucker born every minute?" But after some research I found that he wasn't the one who said it.
Why am I under impression that there is some confusion btw different J's? :)
Well, I was. There's a J. Rubino also posting as J., and I thought it was you. Thanks for pointing that out Nik.
To J & J - It seems Goodreads decides how to "name" you. I am on a couple groups with other Barbaras and our posts are often confused, attributed to one another.As someone who is in favor of term limits, I also think politics wasn't ever supposed to be a "career" just a term of temporary service.
Florida has completed an audit of Disney's Reedy Creek Improvement District.DeSantis appointees accuse Disney district predecessors of cronyism; Disney calls them revisionist
https://www.wjtv.com/entertainment-ne...
The single most damning evidence turned up by the audit seems to show that the Walt Disney Company (a publicly traded corporation) sold tax free municipal bonds to pay for company assets. That is a felony. If proven in court, Disney executives would be facing prison.
https://thatparkplace.com/legal-exper...
J. wrote: "Florida has completed an audit of Disney's Reedy Creek Improvement District.DeSantis appointees accuse Disney district predecessors of cronyism; Disney calls them revisionist
https://www.wjtv.com..."
Florida courts are going to be busy then
Author Cait Corrain loses book deal after creating fake profiles for bad reviews on Goodreadshttps://www.usatoday.com/story/entert...
Bad drivers, bad liars, prima facie brazen thugs
I tried to watch J.'s video, but there was a 4 minute ad to get through. And probably another one following. I'm not doing that. YouTube is pressuring people to subscribe to their premium service to escape these ads. Pressure me and I get stubborn. So I unfortunately didn't see the link, J.
Cop Who Crashed SUV Into Gay Bar And Arrested Owner Ran Red Light Before Says Lawyerhttps://www.carscoops.com/?p=2896436
Southern Baptist leaders release a previously secret list of accused sexual abusershttps://www.npr.org/2022/05/27/110173...
205 pages of names...
Not 205 names; 205 PAGES OF NAMES!
700 entries in 20 years is not a small number
How about the number of children who have come over our border and disappeared? No one is keeping track of their locations. Thank Biden's policies for that.
DOJ Will Not Pursue Campaign Finance Charge Against Sam Bankman-Friedhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/siladity...
Looks like the Bahamas is the place to run when you're dirtbag running from the U.S. government. Why the heck are they aiding him?
New Epstein Documents Unsealed: Bill Clinton ‘Threatened’ Vanity Fair Over Sex Trafficking Coverage, Email Allegeshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniop...
J. wrote: "What it's all about:https://youtu.be/ebdDiUmH5JI?si=qUrn_..."
There is a lot of stuff that remains technically legal, but many of us think it shouldn't, but the foxes are guarding the hen house
Connecticut pastor was dealing meth in exchange for watching sex, police sayhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
It's not a surprise to me that Bill didn't want to be seen as Epstein's buddy and tried to cover it up. This is the guy who said under oath that he didn't have sexual relations with a young intern, "that woman, Monica Lewinsky," before being proved a liar with DNA. Does anyone believe that Epstein committed suicide when he had a get-out-of-jail-free card if he named all the famous people he had the goods on?
Missing key witness cripples Diddy prosecution as trial hits roadblocks before it begins: experthttps://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...
What do y'all think, paid off or dead?
Not looking good. The accused always wish witnesses disappear. Can not know what happened in this case
How do you like 400 mil "flying palace" from a foreign nation? https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5...
J. wrote: "Missing key witness cripples Diddy prosecution as trial hits roadblocks before it begins: experthttps://www.foxnews.com/entertainment......"
I do not think anything is going to save Diddy.
I'd say it may depend on who's on those tapes of the "freak offs."
The Committee noted several instances of criminal conduct that Santos is not even presently being prosecuted for. Those allegations make up the substance of their criminal referral to DOJ. Santos has already been indicted on 21 fraud and campaign finance felonies in New York. The report also made several key findings, including that:
1. Santos turned his campaign into an organized fraud operation to enrich himself.
2. Santos stole money from his campaign and pocketed donor money.
3. Reported fictitious loans to his campaign account to make it appear to prospective donors that he was a more viable candidate.
4. Then used his connections to influential donors to create new fraudulent business opportunities for himself.
5. Continued the facade of a serious candidate to deceive donors by creating a fictitious background.
The Committee said they interviewed dozens of witnesses during their investigation and reviewed over 170,000 pages of documents.
The Committee also noted that they made several attempts to get Santos to make corrections on his financial disclosures and campaign finance reports, which he largely ignored. They also said that he refused to cooperate, lied to the Committee, and attempted to shift blame to his treasurer. He also refused to submit to an interview under oath to give his side of the story.
He has decided not to stand for re-election.... That's okay then. Takes his money and walks off to a career talking c__p on Fox. Sorry opinion again.
On the other hand he may end up in prison shouting fake news and the world is against me and it's all Biden's fault look at Hunter.... or is that someone else I'm getting confused with
The Committee made the following factual findings after their investigation:
1. Santos told the following lies about his background during his campaign: He was a successful businessman, grandson of Holocaust survivors, graduated from Baruch College, had an MBA from NYU, worked for Citi Group and Goldman Sachs, owned multiple properties, was the beneficiary of a trust worth millions, and that his mother died as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attack.
2. While Santos attempted to blame false financial disclosures on a Treasurer "gone rogue," the Treasurer admitted that she conspired with Santos to make the false reports, that he was aware of each instance of fraud, and directed her to make false filings. The Treasurer has already pled guilty to criminal charges in federal court.
3. He falsely claimed on campaign finance reports that he loaned his campaign a total of nearly $800,000 to deceive future potential donors.
4. Santos then made "loan repayments" to himself from his campaign account totaling $31,200 when he never actually made any loans.
5. In 2022, Santos received payments in three installments totaling $800,000 from an unnamed individual to himself and two businesses he owned. He then made loans to his campaign using these funds totaling $715,000. This was the subject of one of the criminal referrals to DOJ since it appears this may have been done to circumvent campaign finance limits by Santos and this unnamed person.
6. Santos made many illegal transfers of funds from his campaign account to his personal and business accounts. This money included purchases at Ferragamo, $800 cash withdrawal at a casino, cash withdrawals from ATMs, and rent for his apartment.
7. Falsified the names of donors on campaign finance reports. He used real people's names next to fictitious donations to make it appear he had broader support.
8. Spent thousands in campaign funds on travel-related expenses that seemed to be unconnected to his campaign. This included funds spent on trips to Atlantic City, Virtual Skin Spa for Botox, other spas in various locations out of his district, and Las Vegas.
9. Santos set up a company in FL called "Red Strategies," but represented to campaign staff that it was a 3rd party political consulting firm that he had nothing to do with. $110,000 was then paid to Red Strategies for "consulting" out of Santos's campaign account. When confronted about it by a staffer he denied he had any connection to Red Strategies even though he owned it. Santos then transferred over $200,000 from Red State into his personal bank accounts.
10. Santos set up a similar consulting business that he called RedStone. Campaign funds and funds from three wealthy donors were transferred into the RedStone account based on a false representation that it was to used for campaign purposes.
11. Santos used the funds transferred into his personal account from RedStone to make purchases on Only Fans, Sephora, Hermes, and pay down credit cards and other debts. Santos received $176,298 directly from RedStone, despite claiming to others that he had no ownership stake in it.
12. While holding himself out at the beginning of the campaign as a wealthy and successful businessman, he was in debt, had a terrible credit score, had several maxed-out credit cards, and moved large amounts of cash in and out of accounts with no apparent justifications or legitimate sources. His only income initially appeared to be $55,000 salary in 2019 from Linkbridge Investors. However, records indicated even that was false and he only made $27,555 from Linkbridge.
13. In his financial disclosure statement after winning his election, he falsely listed the following assets: an apartment in Rio de Janeiro worth over $500,000, a checking account with over $100,000, a savings account with over $1,000,000, and ownership of Devolder Org worth over $1,000,000. None of these things were true.
14. Santos falsely claimed during his campaign that he owned 13 rental properties in Florida when telling a story of how much he suffered financially from the pandemic. He never owned any property in Florida.
15. He told his campaign staff he owned a Maserati when he owned a Kia Sportage.
You can read the full 56 page report at https://punchbowl.news/wp-content/upl...
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