Trump

[Sara Nilsson]

This is ludicrous bullshit from the least credible man on Earth and I'm erasing it from my brain immediately.

*giggles*

I feel so sorry for the Onion. They must be going.. how do we top THAT?

[legomaster00156]

He went on to also say that election officials were engaged in "cyber-manipulation of the votes". Which raises the question, why even bother sending North Korean ships to Maine full of votes, if a poll worker can change votes from where they sit?

[Haibane]

You don't expect this guy's words to even make sense do you?

Jokes aside this last few weeks have been the lowest trough in American politics since Lincoln was assassinated.

[Mechelle]

Adolf Hitler wins an election!

No, not that one. This is Adolf Hitler Uunona who has easily won a regional election in Oshona in Namibia, which was once a German colony. The current Adolf doesn't share his namesake's politics, but I do wonder what his parents were thinking, especially as German rule in what was German South West Africa (before old Hitler's time) was particularly brutal. He says his parents didn't understand what Hitler stood for. But...

Apologies  in advance for the link from the Daily Mail.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9013447/Politician-named-Adolf-Hitler-wins-election-Namibia.html

[Mechelle]

Sorry, I should have posted my last post in the "What's in the News" section. I wonder if there are any babies born in Namibia called Donald Trump now, though. 

[Andol]

Loeffler and Perdue.  She was notorious for some pharmaceutical stock trades early in the pandemic, and he sticks in my head because of the 'Purdue Chicken' brand.

Pardon me for not knowing much, but what was specific law that will getting her in trouble over the early stock trades, or is this just one of those things that falls under ethics?

[Oniya]

It's basically the same thing that Martha Stewart was convicted of.  As a member of Congress, she was aware of things before the public was (in fact, things that Trump was trying to actively conceal from the public), and used that information to make the trades at the most opportune time.

[Dhi]

The STOCK act.

[Andol]

It's basically the same thing that Martha Stewart was convicted of.  As a member of Congress, she was aware of things before the public was (in fact, things that Trump was trying to actively conceal from the public), and used that information to make the trades at the most opportune time.

Ah... I actually didn't know that something like that was illegal. The more you know I guess, thank you for the information. Because I really thought it was just good business sense of taking advantage when you know something ahead of time.

Which specific thing are we talking about Trump actively trying to conceal... because it seems that he has done a very bad job at it if that was his end goal depending on what it is.

[Callie Del Noire]

*giggles*

I feel so sorry for the Onion. They must be going.. how do we top THAT?

I dunno.. I can see them getting pissed about it too.  Or depressed and doing a bunch of day drinking..

[Oniya]

Ah... I actually didn't know that something like that was illegal. The more you know I guess, thank you for the information. Because I really thought it was just good business sense of taking advantage when you know something ahead of time.

Which specific thing are we talking about Trump actively trying to conceal... because it seems that he has done a very bad job at it if that was his end goal depending on what it is.

Well, he tried to downplay the severity and contagiousness of the virus, the fact that it was airborne, the fact that children are just as (if not more) susceptible to the virus, said that wearing masks actually contributed to transmission - and it goes on. 

Citing filings with Senate ethics officials, The Daily Beast report states that Loeffler sold between $50,001 and $100,000 worth of stock in Resideo Technologies. Shares in the company closed at $11.38 that day; as of March 19, those shares are now worth $5.11. Between then and mid-February, Loeffler and her husband made 29 stock transactions, including purchases worth between $100,000 and $250,000 in Citrix, "a technology company that offers teleworking software."

source

[MelisaArtemis]

I don't think Trump's grasp on reality is at it's most solid at this point.

sorry for the minimalist quote but I read this sentence and thought to myself: ... did it (Trump's grasp on reality) EVER to begin with...?

[Deamonbane]

sorry for the minimalist quote but I read this sentence and thought to myself: ... did it (Trump's grasp on reality) EVER to begin with...?

That's fair lol.

[TheVillain]

Unfortunately it works, as Trump's got basically 2 types of *enthusiastic* supporters. Actual Fascists, and people whose views are completely divorced from empirical reality.

[Andol]

Well, he tried to downplay the severity and contagiousness of the virus, the fact that it was airborne, the fact that children are just as (if not more) susceptible to the virus, said that wearing masks actually contributed to transmission - and it goes on. 
source

Well as I said Oniya I just simply had no idea that those certain money making shenanigans where actually illegal, for the reasons I said in my previous post. The fact that it happened... well yeah I pretty much knew that

Yes... what else is new coming from Washington these days? The man could have done way better and put down harsher measures to stop it coming into the US at the start especially China, given the whole debacle between them and WHO for how COVID was handled last November. As for anything else... it just comes down to... Trump being Trump by saying things and hoping they stick to the wall. 

[legomaster00156]

Insider trading is when a government official, privileged with information that is not otherwise publicly known, trades and bets on outcomes only they can predict. It is illegal because the government official is meant to use their privilege of information for the public interest, not to line their own pockets. Many high-ranking officials, especially politicians, will divest themselves of control of both private businesses and stock portfolios while employed, in order to avoid even the temptation of insider trading.

[Chaeronea]

Does it have to be a government official or would it be anyone who has access to information that's not publicly known who misuses it that is guilty of insider trading?

[Oniya]

As I mentioned, Martha Stewart was convicted of it.  There's an article here that explains it in more detail, but it's basically that the people involved in it are acting in their own interests, rather than the interests of those they owe a duty to.

https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/what-is-insider-trading-and-why-is-it-illegal-31598

[Beguile's Mistress]

Whether you are a celebrity, a private citizen or a political figure using information gather subvertly to buy or sell stocks in order to benefit financially from the information is illegal.  For instance, if your work for XYZ Company and hold shares in that company and learn that they are up for a huge contract that will bump the stock price up you can buy more shares and then sell them later on for a profit.  Or if you find out something will occur to make stock prices drop you can sell your current shares at market value and after the drop buy them back at a lower price in the hope the stock will rise again.  Or just keep the money and not repurchase the stock.

The information you use was not for public consumption but available only to insiders in the company and their financial advisers.

Both Loeffler and Perdue are believed to have used their knowledge of the activities of pharmaceutical companies involved in developing and manufacturing vaccines to fight the pandemic to bolster the net worth of their portfolios.  They are blaming it on their fund managers but their actions are too specific to have it be seen that way.  The investigation believes they used confidential information to buy and sell stocks, information gathered at legislative meetings only a few people were privy to.

[Beguile's Mistress]

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/11/david-perdue-kelly-loeffler-stock/

[Mithlomwen]

And this is the lady who swore she had not previously heard of the Inside Edition interview with Trump.

[Missy]

Donald and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

[Missy]

Also, just in case the reference for that ins't obvious

[WinterPoet]

I just have to say, it's definitely been reassuring to see courts, lawmakers, lawyers, governors, electoral bodies, supreme courts and so forth - all basically laughing their asses off at Trump and his wild tantrums this past month. Trump has found a brick wall and basically just keeps running head first into it again and again, expecting it to crumble, and it stands, staunchly refusing, persistently and consistently.

Having said that, as I've felt since the election and all, everyone will collectively breathe that much easier once the electoral college votes are actually submitted and the entire thing is certified and over and done with. Usually it's a formality, it should still more or less be that, but none the less - JUST to make sure there wasn't any last minute bullshit or what not or a swath of faithless electors, I want that day over and gone and behind us.

[Laughing Hyena]

Agreed. The only way this turns into a win for trump is very faithless electorals. Still with the way the other lawyers governors and lawmakers, I'm feeling confident.