The Emoluments Clause from past to present

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   Eastwardposted 3 years ago

   The Emoluments Clause has been the subject of much debate (and legal action) considering how Trump's significant business interests may overlap with his duties as President. The House did not include violations of the Emoluments Clause in the Articles of Impeachment, but lawsuits continue to this day regarding Trump's D.C. hotel.  Discerning whether or not Trump is in violation is a complex matter that has legal experts at odds. Given that the question of violation still lingers, what are your thoughts on the strength and usefulness of the Emoluments Clause as it stands?
   
   There are countless articles on this subject, but here are a few to get you started that contain their own rabbit-hole of links:
   
   What is the Emoluments Clause
   https://www.britannica.com/story/what-i … nts-clause
   
   What To Know About the History of Emoluments and Impeachment
   https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/173102
   
   Trump: Not first wealthy president, but unique conflicts of interest
   https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/ … f-interest
   
   A brief history of the Emoluments Clause:
   https://juliesilverbrook.com/2016/11/15 … ts-clause/
   
   D.C. attorney general sues Trump’s inaugural committee over Trump hotel booking:
   https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/ … gural.html

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      Randy Godwinposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      It will be very interesting to see what Trump's taxes will show. Just another brick in the wall....

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         Eastwardposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         It certainly will, Randy. I hope we get to see them soon (or at least that Congress does). I wasn't sure where things were at with the tax return case, so I looked it up https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/2 … ase-108480
         
         It seems it's tied to the larger issue of whether or not Congress can sue the White House.

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            Randy Godwinposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            There's no doubt the new king will endeavor to stop their release to the public, EW. Tyrants always try to limit knowledge to their peasants.
            
            I did't hate him before, but now I'm beginning to abhor his enablers instead.

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               wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

               I predict 4 more years of impeachment attempts.  Unless, of course, the Democrats are kicked out of the House and that body can go back to what it's supposed to do - run the country - rather than spend its time and our money trying to get rid of their political rival. 
               
               But whether they do or not, I'm pretty sure they will continue to harass the President over anything they can get a corrupt judge to sign off on.  Really quite pathetic, and I begin to abhor those that support this kind of partisan, politically motivated action.

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               Eastwardposted 3 years agoin reply to this

               Agreed. If there was anything that would paint him in an at all favorable light in his taxes, they'd already be released. Keeping the knowledge from the "peasants" is likely important for maintaining his voter base.

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                  wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  You sound like Randy:  "If I don't have a real, provable, answer I'll make one up: one that fits snugly within my prejudices and biases and can be used to feed and grow those them."

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                     Eastwardposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                     Being condescending without providing any input on how Trump's blatant lying to all of us and saying he will release his taxes (among countless other things) hardly seems to put you on the high ground here, Wilderness. I guess this is our queue to ask for the logic that we seem to be missing on why another Trump lie is really in our best interest. So, care to fill us in?
                     
                     And for good measure:
                     https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politi … -1.3061868
                     
                     https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/ … 7836227723
                     
                     https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions … story.html
                     
                     https://nowthisnews.com/videos/politics … a-supercut
                     
                     https://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/ … rns-218160

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                        wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        Tell me; why do you want to see his taxes?  The IRS has already gone over them with a fine tooth comb for illegal actions - why do YOU wish to see them?
                        
                        Is it to gather financial information to harm his businesses?
                        Is it for insider trading?
                        Is it simple curiosity?
                        Is it to rage about how little taxes the law makes him pay?
                        Is it for political purpose, to spin legal actions into something bad?
                        Without the supporting documents, not part of the tax forms sent in, you can't even tell if his deductions were legal - what do you hope to gain?
                        
                        But in any case it was YOU who stated: "Agreed. If there was anything that would paint him in an at all favorable light in his taxes, they'd already be released".  Is there any way to read this but "I don't know what his tax forms say so will assume (there's that word we heard so much of in the trial) that he has criminally abused the tax code"?

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                           Randy Godwinposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                           So what has he got to hide, Dan? Can you assure us he's not in Putin's or MSB's pocket, and would it make any difference to you if he were?
                           
                           Didn't he say he'd be glad to release his returns, Dan? Did you really believe him? PT was correct!

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                              wildernessposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                              Is there a reason you didn't answer the question, instead going off (again) of the track if you don't know, make it all up?
                              
                              (Don't recall a check box on the 1040 for "Are you in Putin's pocket".  Is this something new?)

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                                 Randy Godwinposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                                 I want to see them because he said he'd release them, and I suspect he's indeed in debt to a foreign power. There, now answer my query as to why you don't care if he's  compromised.
                                 
                                 And why he's striving so hard keep them hidden, is another question. Of course, you believe most of what he says without any proof of it being true, but you don't like when we do the same with logic. Nothing to hide...turn them over.
                                 
                                 But just like Congressional oversight, he blocks everything criminally involving himself and cronies. Classy guy!

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                           Eastwardposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                           I'll keep the answer simple. The reason I want to see Trump's tax returns is to hold him to his own standard. Trump is the one that said he would release them. He didn't. He lied and used his lawyers to fight their release. So, I'd say that's begging for some speculation.

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                        Randy Godwinposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                        We're simply "Trump" haters so we aren't worth explaining the kings actions to, .EW. Ask Dan!

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                           Eastwardposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                           I've been reading up on lèse-majesté and how it applies to life in the Kingdom of Thailand. I didn't anticipate needing to analyze how it would apply to the Kingdom of 'Murica.

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                              Randy Godwinposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                              I'll bet they're parallels with King Donald, EW. Did he have concubines like Trump?

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                                 Eastwardposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                                 This article will give you a good indication, Randy. For starters, "Days before his official coronation back in May, King Vajiralongkorn revealed that he had married his fourth wife, Suthida Tidjai, 41, and that she would be queen".
                                 
                                 https://www.thecut.com/2019/10/thai-king-concubine.html

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                                    Randy Godwinposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                                    As Mel Brooks said inThe History of the World Part II "It's good to be King."
                                    
                                    But in this case, Graham and McConnell are vying for the position of Piss Boy.

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                                       Eastwardposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                                       I imagine being king does have its benefits. And there are those golden shower rumors about our wanna-be. Haha.

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                                          Randy Godwinposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                                          Could it be more apt for our Commander in Chief?  There's simply no end to the jokes connecting to the Liar-In-Chief. I'm positive there will be more before the country comes to its senses.

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                                             Eastwardposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                                             Definitely referring to 45 on that one. He does provide near limitless opportunity for jokes and I receive them from all around the world.
                                             
                                             I'll have to give the Liar-in-Chief a golden shower pass though since it does seem he wanted Comey to investigate to prove it as false https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/12/politics … index.html
                                             
                                             Still keeping my fingers crossed that tomorrow is the day we begin to see an America that "comes to its senses". Here's looking at you, Iowa.

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                                                Randy Godwinposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                                                Ditto, EW!

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   GA Andersonposted 3 years ago

   Well, I see the intended emoluments discussion didn't get off the ground. Damn! And after all that reading too. ;-)
   
   GA

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      Eastwardposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      It's the thought that counts, right?

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         GA Andersonposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         No. Actions matter.
         
         GA

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            Eastwardposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Could you please forward that statement to 2020?

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