One thing we've learned over the past couple of years is that one of Trump's attributes is changing the attention of whatever previous disaster he's committed by committing another new, greater disaster. As such it's difficult to pinpoint exactly why he's so terrible without putting together a very long list, which ultimately is just a very long, albeit horrific list. To many, and more each day, they do grasp the meaning of such a list, but to some it just becomes white noise.
That's why, as big as the Michael Flynn news story was yesterday in his dealings with the judge reading him the riot act (and, man, did a man ever screw himself more than Flynn did when getting a sentencing recommendation of no jail time and then arguing to the judge that as a former general and National Security Adviser, he didn't know it was illegal to lie to the FBI... Exhibit One, kids, for How to Piss Off a Judge), I thought the less-covered story about Trump was perhaps more important. That's because there are few things that speak to the core of All Things Trump more than -- "Trump Charitable Foundation shut downs from New York state charges of massive willful abuse. And agrees with demand that no officers can serve on the board of any other charity. Seven days before Christmas." It's that part during Christmas that makes it all almost Dickensian. I mean consider: this is a horrible story whoever you are. A charitable foundation having to dissolve itself because of rampant illegalities that are so egregious the officers are no longer allowed to join the boards of other charities. But for this to be about the president of the United States -- that's ghastly. Remember, these words of the New York Attorney General are not about a mob boss, but describing the charitable foundation of the U.S president -- saying that the Trump Foundation had "a pattern of persistent illegal conduct, occurring over more than a decade, that includes extensive unlawful political coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and willful self-dealing transactions to benefit Mr. Trump’s personal and business interests, and violations of basic legal obligations for non-profit foundations.” Persistent illegal conduct. Over a decade. Extensive unlawful political coordination with the Trump presidential campaign. Repeated and willful self-dealing to benefit Trump's personal and business interests. And these aren't just charges that the Trump Foundation challenged in court. Or even paid a fine over. But a description of what they actually agreed to!!! And they can't join the boards of any other charities. I heard someone wryly ask, "If this is how the Trump family runs their charity foundation, could it be a relation to how they run their business?" Of course the answer has to be that it can't be likely to imagine it being any different. And that's why what Robert Mueller has found is massive. And why this story is so meaningful. Having to dissolve a family charity foundation during Christmas for persistent illegal conduct is about a good a description of Trump as you can find. That, and "If they would rather die, then they had better do so and decrease the surplus population." Bah, humbug.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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