What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[The Minsky Moment]

So apparently Rudy admits that Trump paid back Cohen the $130k in hush money.  Despite Trump's denial of same just a few weeks ago.

Dude was prosecutor for the SDNY once upon a time...I wonder if the guy's gone senile.

He hasn't practiced law since the 1980s . . .

[The Minsky Moment]

-I still question whether this is a campaign finance violation.  Surely there's also extensive personal benefit to Trump in silencing Daniels - so that Melania doesn't find out.

If there is benefit to the campaign, it's a violation.  Doesn't matter if there are also personal benefits.

-even if it is a campaign finance violation, how big a deal is it really?  It's not the type of thing people go to jail for I wouldn't think.

John Edwards was indicted on something similar - he managed to stay out of jail on a mistrial.  So no jail but also not so reassuring.  Unless the rule is that only Democratic Presidential candidates get indicted.

[Jacob]

So apparently Rudy admits that Trump paid back Cohen the $130k in hush money.  Despite Trump's denial of same just a few weeks ago.

Dude was prosecutor for the SDNY once upon a time...I wonder if the guy's gone senile.

Apparently this is just the new version of Trump's story.  Trump has already confirmed making the payments on Twitter (although he denies having an affair - why give hush money to someone who is spreading lies?)

It STILL surprises me this attracts so much attention.  Surely the fact Trump sleeps with a porn star 10 years ago doesn't surprise anyone.  But two thoughts:

-I still question whether this is a campaign finance violation.  Surely there's also extensive personal benefit to Trump in silencing Daniels - so that Melania doesn't find out.

-even if it is a campaign finance violation, how big a deal is it really?  It's not the type of thing people go to jail for I wouldn't think.

For someone who claims to disapprove of Trump you sure carry a lot of water for him. "How big a deal is it really?" To Trump partisans it's nothing - there's no moral or legal transgression that can't be excused.

[The Minsky Moment]

Heard on NPR that the Georgia Peach is retiring at the end of the month.

All Rudy, all the time!

Looks like Trump hired someone new this week.  Someone with actual experience.

But then sends out Rudy nonetheless.  One step forward, two steps back.

[Barrister]

For someone who claims to disapprove of Trump you sure carry a lot of water for him. "How big a deal is it really?" To Trump partisans it's nothing - there's no moral or legal transgression that can't be excused.

I call balls and strikes as I see them.  I try not to fall victim to "Trump Derangement Syndrome".

I've told you again and again that my main objection to Trump is that the man is obviously, grossly, not qualified to run the Presidency.  He doesn't read, the Presidential briefing is apparently reduced to a couple of flash cards, he's easily influenced by flattery, that he so easily trades in obvious racism... I could go on.

The fact that he's the kind of man who would sleep with a porn star then buy her silence says lots about his moral character.  The fact he would so readily lie about authorizing the payments just re-inforced what we know about the man - that he simply can not be trusted on even the smallest of details.

But the fact that the payment to Stormy Daniels wasn't recorded as a campaign expense?  Pretty big meh if you ask me.

[Razgovory]

Heard on NPR that the Georgia Peach is retiring at the end of the month.

All Rudy, all the time!

Looks like Trump hired someone new this week.  Someone with actual experience.

But then sends out Rudy nonetheless.  One step forward, two steps back.

Now Trump is saying that Rudy doesn't know what he's talking about, which is probably true, though more generally than Trump intents.

[Admiral Yi]

If there is benefit to the campaign, it's a violation.  Doesn't matter if there are also personal benefits.

So if he gets a spray tan he has to pay for it with campaign money?  It seems impossibly broad.

[Barrister]

Heard on NPR that the Georgia Peach is retiring at the end of the month.

All Rudy, all the time!

Looks like Trump hired someone new this week.  Someone with actual experience.

But then sends out Rudy nonetheless.  One step forward, two steps back.

Now Trump is saying that Rudy doesn't know what he's talking about, which is probably true, though more generally than Trump intents.

Trump not only says Guiliani doesn't know what he's talking about, he both confirmed via tweets that he paid Daniels the hush money, and that he wasn't lying when he told reporters months ago that he knew nothing about payments made to Daniels.

Also - while GUiliani's statement was apparently authorized by Trump, members of his own PR team didn't know anything about it.

What a maroon.

[The Brain]

As long as he keeps bringing about world peace who cares.

[Admiral Yi]

It will be interesting to see how long Rudy lasts.

[The Brain]

It will be interesting to see how long Rudy lasts.

OK DG.

[Admiral Yi]

For someone who claims to disapprove of Trump you sure carry a lot of water for him. "How big a deal is it really?" To Trump partisans it's nothing - there's no moral or legal transgression that can't be excused.

This is such a deliciously partisan post.

It also tracks pretty closely with the thinking of Trump's base: those terrible people in the media and universities are for this, so it must be a terrible thing.

[Razgovory]

If there is benefit to the campaign, it's a violation.  Doesn't matter if there are also personal benefits.

So if he gets a spray tan he has to pay for it with campaign money?  It seems impossibly broad.

There is a reason why campaigns have treasurers.  Big campaigns have a lot of accountants and lawyers.  The probably won't ding if for "Hey Mike, I need 50 bucks for a spray tan before this debate".  However, "Hey Mike, I need you to pay 130,000 dollars to shut up a sex worker I bonked.  Let's funnel it trough your law firm", will probably get some scrutiny.

[Valmy]

But the fact that the payment to Stormy Daniels wasn't recorded as a campaign expense?  Pretty big meh if you ask me.

Is it illegal? Corrupt? I mean we already have him paying blackmail and hush money. Unless there is something illegal there I don't see how it makes it better or worse.

But hey maybe it is. Campaign finance is crazy complicated. But you seem to know it is a 'meh'? I have no clue.

[Admiral Yi]

There is a reason why campaigns have treasurers.  Big campaigns have a lot of accountants and lawyers.  The probably won't ding if for "Hey Mike, I need 50 bucks for a spray tan before this debate".  However, "Hey Mike, I need you to pay 130,000 dollars to shut up a sex worker I bonked.  Let's funnel it trough your law firm", will probably get some scrutiny.

You seem to have it sort of backwards Raz.  The issue is whether he used unreported private money for a campaign purpose, not whether he used campaign money for a private purpose.