Loading [MathJax]/extensions/TeX/AMSsymbols.js
Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/09/27/us/donald-trump-taxes.html

  Quote

 

Donald J. Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes the year he won the presidency. In his first year in the White House, he paid another $750.

He had paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years — largely because he reported losing much more money than he made.

 

...

 

public filings offer a distorted picture of his financial state, since they simply report revenue, not profit. In 2018, for example, Mr. Trump announced in his disclosure that he had made at least $434.9 million. The tax records deliver a very different portrait of his bottom line: $47.4 million in losses.

Expand  

 

 

 

Posted

Only 4 years late...

No wonder everyone in his family ( including little kids ) is on the Government payroll; the 'poor' guy hasn't made any money in the last dozen years.
Americans should take up a collection or start a GoFund for him :P .

Posted

It will be interesting to see what Trump owes in State taxes and how the disclosures potentially leave Trump vulnerable to fraud charges. Trump has a history of lying about his assets to secure loans and investors. While it is unlikely Florida would go after Trump for tax evasion New York absolutely will and many of the interested parties (Banks, Contractors, Investors, etc) are spread across a couple other localities which would be likely to go after Trump as well like DC, NJ, and NV.

Michael Cohen who worked as Trump's personal lawyer recently said the following about Trump's taxes: "biggest fear is that if his tax return is released, that there’s a whole slew of organizations of accountants and forensic accountants that will rip through it and he will end up with a massive tax bill, fraud penalties, fines and possibly even tax fraud.” HERE

A federal pardon would not save Trump from State charges. If Trump broke the law in NY, NJ, or etc and those states go after Trump there is nothing the DOJ, Congress, or White House can do to interfere.

Posted
  On 9/27/2020 at 10:52 PM, MigL said:

No wonder everyone in his family ( including little kids ) is on the Government payroll; the 'poor' guy hasn't made any money in the last dozen years.

Expand  

He actually called them “consultants” so he could shovel money their way and write it off. 

His cult will just cheer him for outsmarting the system tho. Be damned that they’re the ones he’s been ripping off. 

Posted

Seems like the accessory to have in our small red rural town is a giant "Trump 2020: No more bullshit" flag. I can't help but think "You know he's the incumbent, right?" I suspect it's too late for this to move the needle, unfortunately. 

Posted (edited)
  On 9/28/2020 at 4:54 AM, iNow said:

I’ll drink to that... Cult 45

Expand  

I was actually drinking with a cognitive science professor friend of mine tonight who explained it like this: "They can't articulate it but what they mean by "bullshit"  is the democratic process - having to explain and argue your position to ideological opponent. The "bullshit" is a lack of authoritarianism. If they can simply dictate a worldview - "shut up snowflake this is how it is" into law and policy the Trump base has achieved its goals. 

While I think the choice between sexually harassing, mentally declining grandpas is unpalatable, especially given the field of dynamic and inspiring presidential contenders, I do think  it is coming down to a choice between authoritarian populism and democracy, and I am genuinely scared at the proportion of US citizens who want an authoritarian leader, and don't understand what the actual implications of that are. 

Edited by Arete
Posted
  On 9/28/2020 at 5:23 AM, Arete said:

it is coming down to a choice between authoritarian populism and democracy,

Expand  

Even more simply, the biggest political wedge these days (whether it be on covid and mask wearing, healthcare for others, programs to feed kids in poverty, addressing climate change, etc.) is not left versus right or authoritarian versus democratic, but is instead "what's best for ME" versus "what's best for US." It's the selfish versus the community focused...

All that said, this rapid march to authoritarianism and fascism is disturbing. It's being amplified by state actors and platform algorithms, and the Jews of 1930s Germany have been replaced by "the left" and the "the libs" as monolithic scapegoats in modern day discourse. 

Now... as for his taxes (or lack thereof)...

Posted
  On 9/28/2020 at 5:23 AM, Arete said:

I do think  it is coming down to a choice between authoritarian populism and democracy, and I am genuinely scared at the proportion of US citizens who want an authoritarian leader, and don't understand what the actual implications of that are. 

Expand  

A decade or so ago I was discussing with Russian friends the growing dictatorial tendencies of Putin. They observed that "Most Russians are not ready for a true democracy. We still need a strong man who will tell us what to think." I just didn't expect this to become true in America, but I fear it has and I now expect (regardless of current polls) that Trump will be re-elected.

Posted

In a society that limits a proper education to the elite, it's much easier to engender fear; what better smokescreen to hide behind in plain sight?

No one cares what taxes he pays, it makes no difference; the deck is stacked and the winner is just a matter of time...

 

Posted

I have read an observation that what Trump reported to the IRS (losing money) may be markedly different than what he reported to banks (business is great, lots of assets) in order to get loans. If so, he could be in big trouble for fraud.

Posted (edited)
  On 9/28/2020 at 2:43 PM, swansont said:

I have read an observation that what Trump reported to the IRS (losing money) may be markedly different than what he reported to banks (business is great, lots of assets) in order to get loans. If so, he could be in big trouble for fraud.

Expand  

I think this is probably how he'll get caught out.... singing different tunes to different people and those people getting together to compare notes.

Edited by StringJunky
Posted (edited)
  On 9/28/2020 at 2:53 PM, StringJunky said:

I think this is probably how he'll get caught out.... singing different tunes to different people and those people getting together to compare notes.

Expand  

No-one expects the Spanish inquisition's... 😣

Edited by dimreepr
Posted
  On 9/28/2020 at 2:53 PM, StringJunky said:

I think this is probably how he'll get caught out.... singing different tunes to different people and those people getting together to compare notes.

Expand  

It's possible there are state-level sealed indictments, and folks are waiting until the moment he isn't president anymore, so they can arrest him.

Posted
  On 9/28/2020 at 2:43 PM, swansont said:

I have read an observation that what Trump reported to the IRS (losing money) may be markedly different than what he reported to banks (business is great, lots of assets) in order to get loans. If so, he could be in big trouble for fraud.

Expand  

On a related note, the fact that he is several hundred millions in debt coming due, which would be a security risk if it was anyone else. 

Posted
  On 9/28/2020 at 1:14 PM, iNow said:

Even more simply, the biggest political wedge these days (whether it be on covid and mask wearing, healthcare for others, programs to feed kids in poverty, addressing climate change, etc.) is not left versus right or authoritarian versus democratic, but is instead "what's best for ME" versus "what's best for US." It's the selfish versus the community focused...

Expand  

Except what's best for us is usually what's best for me.
I do best when others around me are doing OK.

The USA choice is "what's best for everyone?" or "what's best for a tiny elite?"

Posted
  On 9/28/2020 at 4:01 PM, CharonY said:

On a related note, the fact that he is several hundred millions in debt coming due, which would be a security risk if it was anyone else. 

Expand  

Or just that it's a huge security risk, full stop.

Posted (edited)
  On 9/28/2020 at 4:01 PM, CharonY said:

On a related note, the fact that he is several hundred millions in debt coming due, which would be a security risk if it was anyone else. 

Expand  

Pelosi's brought that up.

  Quote

The top-ranked Democrat in Washington has called President Donald Trump's alleged tax avoidance a question of "national security".

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, questioned whether Mr Trump owed money to foreign interests, following a disclosure of his financial records by the New York Times.

Among the revelations is that Mr Trump paid $750 (£580) in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017.

Mr Trump called the report "fake news".

Speaking on NBC, Ms Pelosi said the report showed that "this president appears to have over $400m in debt".

"To whom? Different countries? What is the leverage they have?" she asked, adding: "So for me, this is a national security question."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54332956

Expand  

Is this a leak by IRS personnel, do you think?

Edited by StringJunky

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.