Russia

[Guisslapp]

Very good explanation and analysis of the witch hunt by Alan Dershowitz last night on Tucker Carlson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_HYRFYrnxs I've been saying all along that this was extortion by Avonatti and he should be prosecuted.

Unfortunately Dershowitz is making up unknown facts to agree with Tucker. What we know is (1) Trump and Cohen paid her off, and (2) Avenatti and Stormy sued them to get out of the deal.

What we don’t know is who approached who about the NDA.In the case of the playboy model, we know that was a “catch and kill”. This one could likewise have been instigated by Trump/Cohen and may not have been blackmail. The fact that Stormy was suing to get out of it isn’t very consistent with an extortion theory.

[DawgyNWindow]

Uh. You realize those 4 changes aren’t what are being protested - those are the concessions Macron has proposed to appease the protestors.

Well, the reports were that the protest was initiated about the fuel tax...or so I think I remember. That fuel tax was to address "global warming" or whatever they are calling it these days.

Looks a lot like Venezuela there to me. We will soon enough look like that as well because we have a runaway welfare state, open borders and a government that spends (and taxes) too much.

[Guisslapp]

Well, the reports were that the protest was initiated about the fuel tax...or so I think I remember. That fuel tax was to address "global warming" or whatever they are calling it these days.

Looks a lot like Venezuela there to me. We will soon enough look like that as well because we have a runaway welfare state, open borders and a government that spends (and taxes) too much.

Fuel tax was part of it. But it was more or less the ignition to the whole thing after all the other pro-market reforms that Macron passed - tax cuts for corporations and wealthy with revenue to be raised through fuel taxes, public pension plan rollbacks, loosening of firing and hiring regulations. Maybe you haven’t been keeping up with what is going on in France. Macron is trying to modernize their economy with pro-market reforms. The fuel tax was meant to help offset the other tax cuts and pay for some other job training while encouraging alternative energy.

The prevailing view in France is that Macron only cares about the rich. If this rebellion were happening in the US you would call if Antifa and say it was evidence of the violent left.

[DawgyNWindow]

Fuel tax was part of it. But it was more or less the ignition to the whole thing after all the other pro-market reforms that Macron passed - tax cuts for corporations and wealthy with revenue to be raised through fuel taxes, public pension plan rollbacks, loosening of firing and hiring regulations. Maybe you haven’t been keeping up with what is going on in France. Macron is trying to modernize their economy with pro-market reforms. The fuel tax was meant to help offset the other tax cuts and pay for some other job training while encouraging alternative energy.

The prevailing view in France is that Macron only cares about the rich. If this rebellion were happening in the US you would call if Antifa and say it was evidence of the violent left.

Tribal, pompous AND presumptuous. Please, tell me what your strawman says next!

Oh, and it WOULD likely be Antifa and the violent left (our socialists...unless you are aruguing they are our free market folks) rioting in the streets. This is what happens in an entitlement environment where people think they are entitled to other people's money. Eventually it's settled in the streets by violence when the ones supporting everyone push back. If the Antifa types win, you wind up with Venezuela.

[Guisslapp]

I am just giving you more context, which you seem to have missed in your right wing bubble. The difference between Macron and Republicans, is that a Republican would pass irresponsible tax cuts with no plan to cover the shortage. Macron was willing to do the unpopular in order to be responsible. It is the opposite of Trump populism, but Macron is a representative of the conservative ideal - balanced budget, pro markets, reduced regulation.

Btw, early returns look good for Macron even though he is unpopular.

“Resurgent French growth led the European Union to outperform the U.S. in 2017. Government debt as a share of economic output is falling, while it rises in the U.S. The International Monetary Fund forecasts per real capita growth in France at nearly twice the U.S. rate in 2023.“

[DawgyNWindow]

I am just giving you more context, which you seem to have missed in your right wing bubble. The difference between Macron and Republicans, is that a Republican would pass irresponsible tax cuts with no plan to cover the shortage. Macron was willing to do the unpopular in order to be responsible. It is the opposite of Trump populism, but Macron is a representative of the conservative ideal - balanced budget, pro markets, reduced regulation.

Btw, early returns look good for Macron even though he is unpopular.

“Resurgent French growth led the European Union to outperform the U.S. in 2017. Government debt as a share of economic output is falling, while it rises in the U.S. The International Monetary Fund forecasts per real capita growth in France at nearly twice the U.S. rate in 2023.“

Well, I am glad your guy is doing well. Maybe France is a good place for you to be since things seem to be going the way you think they should.

Once again, you start your criticism with "republicans", proving you are nothing but a tribal lemming. There has been plenty of irresponsible spending to go around.

What he was trying to do with this tax was discourage private vehicle use because of the global warming stupidity. What he didn't count on was that everyone didn't live around inefficient public transportation, and this tax would cause significant hardship on some living in rural areas. That said, probably 99% of the morons in the yellow vests believe they have a great deal of control over the climate of the planet (they have been brainwashed to think so), but they think that SOMEONE ELSE should pay for it. Sound familiar? It should.

Right wing bubble....such a tool! Europe seems to be crumbling.

[Guisslapp]

I would love the chance to support a Republican that would pass responsible tax cuts.

[TYLERTECHSAS]

You realize the people in Paris are protesting the rollback of socialism, right?

Nah...more like a liberal union revolt. Good for them as socialist hasn't worked well anywhere in the world. Just one step from marxism and communism if Macron hadn't blinked. And remember only the government has the guns, not the protestors.

"At the core of the address - were four simple changes: a rise in the minimum wage; the removal of tax and social charges on overtime; encouragement to employers to give workers a tax-free bonus; and an end to a surcharge on most pensions. Plus concessions already given - an end to the fuel tax rise and "mobility" grants for people who drive to work - and the yellow vests suddenly appear as one of the most successful protest movements of modern times."

Uh. You realize those 4 changes aren’t what are being protested - those are the concessions Macron has proposed to appease the protestors.

Yes and liberal socialist Macron is now enabling the revolting poorer masses over his increased and added BS carbon tax on gasoline (a liberal socialist policy) to curb global warming. Liberals and Socialist will never run a country, government or people groups well....ever! Socialism by definition and practice is doomed to fail always! Period!

[Guisslapp]

Yes and liberal socialist Macron is now enabling the revolting poorer masses over his increased and added BS carbon tax on gasoline (a liberal socialist policy) to curb global warming. Liberals and Socialist will never run a country, government or people groups well....ever! Socialism by definition and practice is doomed to fail always! Period!

He will have to come up with a more progressive tax to makeup for the cuts he made to top brackets and corporations.

[TYLERTECHSAS]

You realize the people in Paris are protesting the rollback of socialism, right?

Nah...more like a liberal union revolt. Good for them as socialist hasn't worked well anywhere in the world. Just one step from marxism and communism if Macron hadn't blinked. And remember only the government has the guns, not the protestors.

"At the core of the address - were four simple changes: a rise in the minimum wage; the removal of tax and social charges on overtime; encouragement to employers to give workers a tax-free bonus; and an end to a surcharge on most pensions. Plus concessions already given - an end to the fuel tax rise and "mobility" grants for people who drive to work - and the yellow vests suddenly appear as one of the most successful protest movements of modern times."

Yes and liberal socialist Macron is now enabling the revolting poorer masses over his increased and added BS carbon tax on gasoline (a liberal socialist policy) to curb global warming. Liberals and Socialist will never run a country, government or people groups well....ever! Socialism by definition and practice is doomed to fail always! Period!

He will have to come up with a more progressive tax to makeup for the cuts he made to top brackets and corporations.

And he gave certain groups "bonuses" to STHU is that right?
Funny thing is they are still protesting and France also had a terrible islamic terrorist attack today after caving.
Enable them and they will run you over! It's so typical of "touchy feely" liberals and socialist.

[DONW]

Unfortunately Dershowitz is making up unknown facts to agree with Tucker. What we know is (1) Trump and Cohen paid her off, and (2) Avenatti and Stormy sued them to get out of the deal.

What we don’t know is who approached who about the NDA.In the case of the playboy model, we know that was a “catch and kill”. This one could likewise have been instigated by Trump/Cohen and may not have been blackmail. The fact that Stormy was suing to get out of it isn’t very consistent with an extortion theory.

You're killing me!!! This is almost as funny as you thinking Christine Ford was telling the truth. So, now you're saying the money Trump gave the pornstar and the creepy porn lawyer was charity. You might need to help them pay the $300,000 that the judge said today that they owe Trump.

[Guisslapp]

You're killing me!!! This is almost as funny as you thinking Christine Ford was telling the truth. So, now you're saying the money Trump gave the pornstar and the creepy porn lawyer was charity. You might need to help them pay the $300,000 that the judge said today that they owe Trump.

No. It was consideration for the NDA that Trump wanted. It isn’t extortion without a threat. Dershowitz just presumed there was a threat in the hypothetical that Tucker proposed. There is no reason to believe that happened - particularly given the fact that Stormy sued to get out of the deal.

And such a scenario would be consistent with Trump’s (and his cohorts) past practice with burying these kind of stories. Remember McDougal was trying to publish her story of the affair but the Enquirer bought the publishing rights in what is known as a “catch and kill”.

What generally happens in these cases is that once a journalist becomes aware of a story, they ask the other party for comment to verify the account. At that time, Trump would know the story is coming out and might try to do an NDA with the person so that they pull their story back and with no other corroboration the journalist is very unlikely to publish it. That scenario very well could have happened with Stormy and that would not be extortion.

[Guisslapp]

Even Trump said that “Ford” is credible.

[dawg80]

Even Trump said that “Ford” is credible.

Well, we'll see. I broke one of my cardinal rules and bought a Ford. My wife liked a Ford Expedition EL we rented last year, from Enterprise, when we took our grandkids to Disney, and we needed a big vehicle. So, when she saw a deal...a brand new one at a very good price, I bought it for her. So far....about 10 months now, we've had no problems with it. But.....

We'll see if Ford is credible or not.

[TYLERTECHSAS]

He will have to come up with a more progressive tax to makeup for the cuts he made to top brackets and corporations.

"progressive". What a joke!