Trump Corruption / Republican Hypocrisy / Public apathy

Is the IRS audit that prevented Trump from releasing tax returns way back in 2015/16 still ongoing?

Initial Promises: In 2014 and 2015, Trump stated "absolutely" and that he would "love" to release his returns if he ran for office.
The Audit Excuse: Starting in February 2016, he claimed he could not release them because they were under "routine audit". However, the IRS confirmed there is no legal rule preventing a taxpayer from releasing their own returns while under audit.
Delayed Deadlines: At various points, he claimed they would be released "at the appropriate time" or after he left office.

Are we living in a new age of government corruption? I think so. Why won’t the Republicans in congress do something about it? Where’s the outrage? Originally Posted by txdot-guy

No, we're not living in a new age of government corruption. Corruption in government goes back 1000s of years with monarchs, emperors, or religion being put in power and it's not going to stop anytime soon with heads of state. The better question to ask is why won't Congress do something about it instead of saying why won't Republicans do something about it. 1/2 doesn't represent the "corrupt" whole. Besides Congress is too busy lining their own pockets with gold, silver, and 10000% stock market gains because they know where the cash is going to even care about Trump. There is very little to no outrage at government corruption because the news isn't being reported correctly to the people or the people simply don't care because they've subscribed to one side of the political aisle being Democrat or Republican and they view politics like it's some kind of sport.

When the Clintons went to Washington they had numerous scandals follow them to the WH. Why do you think dude was handpicked for the job? It's because they knew they had someone who could be controlled with vices. Trump didn't have numerous scandals follow him to the WH other than maybe a failed business.

Are we living in a new age of government corruption? I think so. Why won’t the Republicans in congress do something about it? Where’s the outrage?
Originally Posted by txdot-guy

Wasn't that sort of thing what DOGE was about?

No, we're not living in a new age of government corruption. Corruption in government goes back 1000s of years with monarchs, emperors, or religion being put in power and it's not going to stop anytime soon with heads of state. The better question to ask is why won't Congress do something about it instead of saying why won't Republicans do something about it. 1/2 doesn't represent the "corrupt" whole. Besides Congress is too busy lining their own pockets with gold, silver, and 10000% stock market gains because they know where the cash is going to even care about Trump. There is very little to no outrage at government corruption because the news isn't being reported correctly to the people or the people simply don't care because they've subscribed to one side of the political aisle being Democrat or Republican and they view politics like it's some kind of sport.

When the Clintons went to Washington they had numerous scandals follow them to the WH. Why do you think dude was handpicked for the job? It's because they knew they had someone who could be controlled with vices. Trump didn't have numerous scandals follow him to the WH other than maybe a failed business. Originally Posted by CPT Savajo

Maybe this illustrates your point of news not reporting correctly and people not caring, but Trump had objectively many more scandals than Clinton that go back to at least 1973 when he and his father were caught refusing to rent to black people. He almost had to go to trial during his 2016 election for a fraud case regarding Trump University defrauding thousands of consumers, but the judge allowed jury selection to begin after the November election. This was even after Trump complained that because the judge was "Mexican", he was given unfair rulings. Trump ended up settling the case for $25 million dollars.

Trump had at least 8 business failures and 6 bankruptcies. Do you remember the United State Football League (USFL) from the mid-1980s? Trump's actions as an owner of the New Jersey Generals played a significant role in the league's demise.

Then you have allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault, but Clinton had those, too. Clinton never bragged about going into beauty pageant dressing rooms while women changed, though. Trump did on Howard Stearn. Keep in mind that Trump owned the Teen USA pageant and girls claimed that he walked in on them changing. There is audio from 2005 that backs this up.

As far as being controlled, Trumps seems easily manipulated by praise and gifts, although I'd say it's more likely that he's manipulated by praise, but bought by grifts, I mean gifts.

Government is a human run enterprise. Humans can be selfish cunts. I.E. government can be corrupted. That’s true for most human organizations. What makes the Trump administration different is the size, scope and brazenness involved.

If we want government to run better we need a leader that won’t pardon those convicted of bribery and other corruption.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-par...4c434e5c75e406
Trump pardons ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich 5 years after commuting his sentence

https://www.mediaite.com/politics/tr...ribery-scheme/
Trump Blasts ‘Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ’ While Pardoning Sheriff Convicted in Bribery Scheme


Or fires the inspector generals who might have opposed his blatant corruption.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-f...al-60-minutes/
Watchdogs fired by Trump raise alarms over future of independent government oversight


Or ignores the law when he doesn’t like it.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com.../120549698.cms
Why does Trump feel he can ignore the law without consequences? Originally Posted by txdot-guy

The Trump administration isn't any different. Trump is actually playing a role that you and many others don't understand. The Bushes, Clinton, Obama, Trump and Biden all had a role in the breaking down of this Country. It happens slowly and methodically. So, what we are all witnessing isn't just Trump on his own. So get your mind off of Trump and focus on the big picture.

Wasn't that sort of thing what DOGE was about? Originally Posted by ICU 812

DOGE is definitely going down in history. Republicans in Congress had nothing to do with DOGE---it was completely a Trump/Musk vehicle. It started with a promise of cutting $2 trillion from the budget and ended with a goal of cutting $150-160 billion, which I think you'll find didn't happen. I think it'll end up costing the government money in the long run because of the damage it caused. How much fraud can be derived from the personal information that was obtained/stolen of US citizens?

In a sense, it's an example of more corruption. Musk is the winner as DOGE cut regulators that were in the process of investigating or suing his companies. That only cost him $250 to $300 billion in contributions to the 2024 election cycle. There's no telling how much influence X had on the election.

The Trump administration isn't any different. Trump is actually playing a role that you and many others don't understand. The Bushes, Clinton, Obama, Trump and Biden all had a role in the breaking down of this Country. It happens slowly and methodically. So, what we are all witnessing isn't just Trump on his own. So get your mind off of Trump and focus on the big picture. Originally Posted by Levianon17

What role is Trump playing? I would truly like to understand.

How has the country broken down? I see an unhealthy wealth divide, but I don't see that being caused by Clinton, Obama, or Biden. Although, ironically, the stock market has historically performed better under Democrats. I see a problem with healthcare, but I've only seen Republicans fight against any potential improvements. Have you seen when people will say they don't want Obamacare, but don't want the Affordable Care Act touched? Have you seen the compilations of Trump saying he will be releasing a healthcare plan in two weeks? He began saying he had a healthcare plan that would replace the ACA in 2015.

What do you see?

Maybe this illustrates your point of news not reporting correctly and people not caring, but Trump had objectively many more scandals than Clinton that go back to at least 1973 when he and his father were caught refusing to rent to black people. He almost had to go to trial during his 2016 election for a fraud case regarding Trump University defrauding thousands of consumers, but the judge allowed jury selection to begin after the November election. This was even after Trump complained that because the judge was "Mexican", he was given unfair rulings. Trump ended up settling the case for $25 million dollars.

Trump had at least 8 business failures and 6 bankruptcies. Do you remember the United State Football League (USFL) from the mid-1980s? Trump's actions as an owner of the New Jersey Generals played a significant role in the league's demise.

Then you have allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault, but Clinton had those, too. Clinton never bragged about going into beauty pageant dressing rooms while women changed, though. Trump did on Howard Stearn. Keep in mind that Trump owned the Teen USA pageant and girls claimed that he walked in on them changing. There is audio from 2005 that backs this up.

As far as being controlled, Trumps seems easily manipulated by praise and gifts, although I'd say it's more likely that he's manipulated by praise, but bought by grifts, I mean gifts. Originally Posted by Turner2099

You do have some points but Trump was never a politician before becoming President. Clinton was a politician and there are far more skeletons in his closet before he became President and afterwards, chillingly so. The thing that both Trump and Clinton have in common and share is that they both serve the same interests as President.

You do have some points but Trump was never a politician before becoming President. Clinton was a politician and there are far more skeletons in his closet before he became President and afterwards, chillingly so. The thing that both Trump and Clinton have in common and share is that they both serve the same interests as President. Originally Posted by CPT Savajo

Clinton has more 'skeletons in the closet' than Trump from before his Presidency?

Just a sample...
From 1973 and until he was elected president in 2016, Donald Trump and his businesses were involved in over 4,000 legal cases in United States federal and state courts.
- $25 million settlement for students who claim they were defrauded by Trump University
- In 1991, one of Trump's casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was found guilty of circumventing state regulations about casino financing when Donald Trump's father bought $3.5 million in chips that he had no plans to gamble.
- Donald J. Trump was forced to pay more than $2 million in court-ordered damages to eight different charities for illegally misusing charitable funds at the Trump Foundation for political purposes.
- At least bankruptcies, a practice Trump likened to a 'business practice'...investors and small business owners lost over $1.5 billion, while Trump continued to collect millions in salaries, bonuses, and other payments from these companies

You do have some points but Trump was never a politician before becoming President. Clinton was a politician and there are far more skeletons in his closet before he became President and afterwards, chillingly so. The thing that both Trump and Clinton have in common and share is that they both serve the same interests as President. Originally Posted by CPT Savajo

I never thought about it before, but can you imagine the skeletons in Trump's closet? All the stuff I listed (and there's plenty more) was out in the open before Trump was elected.

I don't know what interests Clinton served if it wasn't the country's, but from what I understand, he did well for our country. For example, Clinton balanced the federal budget and produced surpluses during the final years of his administration, specifically from fiscal years 1998 to 2001. This marked the first time the budget was balanced since 1969, transforming a projected $357 billion deficit into a surplus of roughly $70 billion in 1998.

Trump seems to serve Trump. From a crypto rug-pull just before his inauguration to a $10 billion lawsuit against his own executive branch filed the other day, it seems that everything he does benefits him in some way. The largest part of his net worth is made up of Truth Social and crypto. Do you use Truth Social? I don't. I would argue that Trump holds the platform up by himself. When he is gone it has no purpose. His crypto was infused by a $2 billion dollar investment from the UAE which was pretty much a quid pro quo for sensitive AI chips. That's in the opposite of our country's interests. Crypto is volatile. I honestly don't know if World Liberty Financial can succeed without Trump as President with his connections and influence.

Take away Truth Social and World Liberty Financial and compare the remainder of his net worth today to 2015. I would be surprised if it's higher. The S&P is up 300% since 2015. Trump would probably have been better off just investing in index funds. Some business acumen. Trump needs his grift.

I never thought about it before, but can you imagine the skeletons in Trump's closet? All the stuff I listed (and there's plenty more) was out in the open before Trump was elected.

I don't know what interests Clinton served if it wasn't the country's, but from what I understand, he did well for our country. For example, Clinton balanced the federal budget and produced surpluses during the final years of his administration, specifically from fiscal years 1998 to 2001. This marked the first time the budget was balanced since 1969, transforming a projected $357 billion deficit into a surplus of roughly $70 billion in 1998.

Trump seems to serve Trump. From a crypto rug-pull just before his inauguration to a $10 billion lawsuit against his own executive branch filed the other day, it seems that everything he does benefits him in some way. The largest part of his net worth is made up of Truth Social and crypto. Do you use Truth Social? I don't. I would argue that Trump holds the platform up by himself. When he is gone it has no purpose. His crypto was infused by a $2 billion dollar investment from the UAE which was pretty much a quid pro quo for sensitive AI chips. That's in the opposite of our country's interests. Crypto is volatile. I honestly don't know if World Liberty Financial can succeed without Trump as President with his connections and influence.

Take away Truth Social and World Liberty Financial and compare the remainder of his net worth today to 2015. I would be surprised if it's higher. The S&P is up 300% since 2015. Trump would probably have been better off just investing in index funds. Some business acumen. Trump needs his grift. Originally Posted by Turner2099

Trump and Clinton serve the ruling elite. They serve the half percent (0.5%) of the 1% and it shows.

Trump and Clinton serve the ruling elite. They serve the half percent (0.5%) of the 1% and it shows. Originally Posted by CPT Savajo

I want to be more optimistic than that, but I will admit that the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court makes me cynical.

Wasn't that sort of thing what DOGE was about? Originally Posted by ICU 812

NO

What role is Trump playing? I would truly like to understand.

How has the country broken down? I see an unhealthy wealth divide, but I don't see that being caused by Clinton, Obama, or Biden. Although, ironically, the stock market has historically performed better under Democrats. I see a problem with healthcare, but I've only seen Republicans fight against any potential improvements. Have you seen when people will say they don't want Obamacare, but don't want the Affordable Care Act touched? Have you seen the compilations of Trump saying he will be releasing a healthcare plan in two weeks? He began saying he had a healthcare plan that would replace the ACA in 2015.

What do you see? Originally Posted by Turner2099

To further break down the country. The end game is WW3, then the New World Order. It's all about establishing a one world government. George H. Bush talked about during his administration. He made it sound like wonderful opportunity.

Then you have allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault, but Clinton had those, too. Clinton never bragged about going into beauty pageant dressing rooms while women changed, though. Trump did on Howard Stearn. Keep in mind that Trump owned the Teen USA pageant and girls claimed that he walked in on them changing. There is audio from 2005 that backs this up.

As far as being controlled, Trumps seems easily manipulated by praise and gifts, although I'd say it's more likely that he's manipulated by praise, but bought by grifts, I mean gifts. Originally Posted by Turner2099

Clinton is by far the grifter if you've been paying attention over the years whereas Trump is a businessmen. Clinton's entire grift was government and his weakness was corruption, sex, and Staff Edit - Biomed1 so it seems. I don't know every bad thing he did before he became President but he was involved in the White Water scandal, there was the thing with the Rose Law Firm, Mena Arkansas drug smuggling operation, and I've heard testimony from police on video that Clinton had to get rushed to the ER twice when he was governor because of cocaine overdose.

He raped Juanita Broaddrick, has had many allegations of sexual harrassment in which he had to settle out of court to the tune of $850K via Paula Jones, he sold out America with NAFTA and sent industry out of country ruining the job market, and I would have to say the most damning thing about Clinton is the vaunted Clinton Death List and his ties to Jeffrey Epstein that Ajax can't remove. Now the lying mainstream media tries to protect his image but we all know Clinton went many times to Epstein Island. I believe Congress has held the Clintons in Contempt of Congress with Clintons ties to the pedophile Jeffrey Epstein? They're in hot water but I don't believe anything will happen.

Overall Bill Clinton is a LIAR. The man lied to the entire country when he deliberately lied about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. He should not be trusted.