Category Republican Party A Clear and Present Danger

Apr 6 2023

Why Trump’s Indictment is an Absurd Abuse of Power


Armstrong Economics Blog/Rule of Law Re-Posted Apr 6, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Bragg has seriously exposed the core of real immoral prosecution practices that really have to stop. Let’s say you made one phone call and defrauded someone out of $100,000. You will be charged with (1) count of wire fraud. However, let’s say you had to call the person 34 times to get the same $100,000. The prosecutor will then charge you with 34 counts of wire fraud. Now let’s say the penalty is 5 years in prison. So if you called 34 times for the same amount of money,  the judge could then sentence you to 170 years claiming it is his “discretion” to run them all consecutively.

Bragg charged Trump with 34 criminal counts connected to the payment of $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016 as part of a nondisclosure agreement that was intended to keep Daniels from exposing their 2006 affair. Those charges are all various counts of filing false business records in the first degree, which could carry a sentence of up to four years in prison per count. That’s a crime that is normally a misdemeanor that can ONLY be upgraded to a felony if the alleged fraud is meant to cover up another crime.

This is where the ABUSE of power becomes self-evident. The other crime, in this case, is a federal campaign finance violation for which Trump has NOT been charged and Bragg would have no jurisdiction to charge. The indictment claims that Trump allegedly committed the underlying fraud as part of an effort to boost his chances of winning the 2016 presidential election.

So, to put this in plain layman’s terms, he is effectively charging you for something like buying a bullet in NYC, that you used in Paris in some attempt to kill someone but you are not being charged with that because you cannot be in the United States.

It is an ABUSE of power to take a single incident and turn it into multiple crimes all because of multiple emails and phone calls. This is standard abuse that all prosecutors engage in to try to force people to plea for a reduced sentence or risk going to jail for life. The legal system in the United States is in NO WAY fair, equitable, or even constitutional. Our legal system is so corrupt, we make a Banana Republic look like the leader of freedom and liberty in the world.

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This was our Forecast back for the 2016 election. Out of 4 models, 3 of the computer models forecast that Trump would win and one was tied. Our computer had also forecast that BREXIT would win against all odds. Trump would have won and just as the Democrats swear the 2020 elections were NOT rigged, then neither was 2016.

Apr 6 2023

Politicians & Scandals – Always


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics Re-Posted Apr 6, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

QUESTION: I recall there was some scandal between a bank that failed and Senator Dodd of the Dodd-Frank bill that revised banking. Do you have anything on that?

Thank you for being the only reliable sources these days

RK

ANSWER: You must be referring to the 2008 Countrywide Financial Scandal. There was a political loan scandal in 2008-2009 that involved U.S. politicians who allegedly received favorable mortgage rates. In June 2008 Conde Nast Portfolio reported that numerous Washington, DC politicians over recent years had received mortgage financing at noncompetitive rates at Countrywide Financial because the corporation placed the officeholders in a program called “FOA’s”–“Friends of Angelo“, Countrywide’s Chief Executive Angelo Mozilo.

The politicians who obtained such favorable financing included the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, Christopher Dodd (D-CT), and the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Kent Conrad (D-ND). Countrywide’s political action committee had also made large donations to Dodd’s campaign.

Apr 6 2023

Alan Dershowitz Delivers a Solid Review About the Ridiculous Nature of the Trump Indictment, and the Remaining Cases as Constructed


Posted originally on the CTH on April 5, 2023 | Sundance

Often when legal professor Alan Dershowitz appears on media segments he is short on time to give context to his review.  However, in this lengthy interview by Steve Bannon {Direct Rumble Link Here} Mr. Dershowitz has the time to walk through the cases against President Trump and deconstruct the foundation of them.

It’s a good overview for the average person to understand.  WATCH:

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Apr 6 2023

Mexican President Lopez-Obrador Joins Hungarian Prime Minister Orban in Slamming President Trump’s Arrest


Posted originally on the CTH on April 5, 2023 | Sundance 

You know, it’s funny.  If you viewed the world through the prism of western corporate media, aside from North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un, the other world leader to draw the strongest criticism from President Trump was Mexican President Lopez-Obrador.  Yet, both Chairman Kim and President AMLO are two of Trump’s strongest defenders against the leftist regime of Joe Biden.

Secondly, I have to give heaps of credit to President Lopez-Obrador for his comments about the Biden administration’s targeting of President Trump.  If there was one leader who was closest in proximity to feel genuine retaliation from the American targeting operation, it would be AMLO.   Yet for two years this guy has faced-down the Biden administration, undressed Biden verbally and publicly while refusing to acquiesce to the #1 priority of the current U.S. regime around energy policy.

I will admit, with all of my former reservations about the soft-socialist tendencies of AMLO, he has been a far better steward for the interests of the ordinary Mexican people than I ever suspected he would be.  On the economics of the issues critical for Mexico in the long term, Lopez-Obrador has been solid as a rock.

WASHINGTON DC – Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador on Wednesday slammed the history-making charges against former President Trump, but as U.S. politics is consumed by the indictment, most world leaders have been largely silent on the issue.

[…] López Obrador spoke Wednesday, doubling down on comments he made last month before charges against Trump were announced and saying the case is political.

“Supposedly legal issues should not be used for electoral, political purposes,” López Obrador said. “That’s why I don’t agree with what they are doing to ex-President Trump.” “It should be the people who decide,” he added.

López Obrador has been joined by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in publicly speaking out about the charges.

“Keep on fighting, Mr. President! We are with you,” tweeted Orban, a Trump ally whose authoritarian rule has been celebrated by many in the U.S. far right. (read more)

When the reckoning comes, and believe me the reckoning will come, Viktor Orban and Lopez-Obrador will be standing on the right side of history.

My favorite picture of AMLO in the United States:

Apr 6 2023

McConnell DeceptiCon Foot Soldier Roy Blunt Takes Role with DC Lobbying Group


Posted originally on the CTH on April 5, 2023 | Sundance

A case study in the DeceptiCon politics that we discuss amid these pages surfaced today.

WASHINGTON DC – Former Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) on Wednesday joined Husch Blackwell Strategies, a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm with close ties to the veteran GOP senator.

Blunt will lead a newly launched strategic advisory practice at the firm, which is run by Gregg Hartley, Blunt’s former chief of staff in the House, and Andy Blunt, his son. Blunt will also reunite with Stacy McBride, his chief of staff in the Senate who joined the firm last month.

Blunt recently retired from Congress after 26 years in office. He held several prominent roles, chairing the Senate Rules Committee and Senate Republican Policy Committee and serving as the No. 2 Republican in the House. He was a trusted adviser to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Blunt is the third senator from the 117th Congress to announce a new gig. Former Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) joined lobbying and law firm DLA Piper in a similar advisory role. Former Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) joined the American Enterprise Institute as a public policy fellow.

The Missouri Republican, who served on the Senate Intelligence Committee, will maintain his security clearance and continue to advise the intelligence community separate from his role at the firm. He’ll also stay on as the recently elected president of the State Historical Society of Missouri. (read more)

Apr 5 2023

Japan Secures Oil Deal with Russia


Armstrong Economics Blog/World Trade Re-Posted Apr 5, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Japan is an energy-dependent nation that relies on imports to function. Despite being a G7 member, Japan has remained largely silent on the Russia-Ukraine war and is the only member to deny Zelensky’s pleas for weapons. The prime minister was the last in the alliance to visit Ukraine amid the war. The G7 nations set a $60 per barrel price cap on Russian crude but granted Japan a pass.

Japan has purchased nearly 748,000 barrels of Russian oil for $70 a piece in the first two months of the year alone. All of the MSM headlines read: “JAPAN BREAKS ALLIANCE WITH WESTERN ALLIES,” as if there were an alternative. Even conservative outlets are saying that Japan has broken ties with the West. Japan is unwilling to deliberately allow its nation to crumble from an energy shortage, unlike the “Build Back Better” nations.

Oil prices surged on Monday after OPEC+ announced plans to limit production, which will lead to a rise in global prices. Energy costs affect the cost of everything from the supply chain to food. Yet, the countries that have the ability to drill, such as the US and Canada, are refusing to do so despite energy prices significantly contributing to overall inflation and economic instability.

The West chastised India and China for purchasing Russian oil. They don’t want to lose their Japanese ally and are attempting to give them a “free pass,” but only until September. What happens then? Will Japan be forced to break its alliance with the G7? The West was hoping that longstanding tensions between China and Japan would push them into this proxy war, but the Japanese government is not willing to implode its economy. Let us also remember that Japan was forced to close numerous nuclear power plants after the earthquake hit in 2011. They are completely reliant on imports. It seems that only nations willing to surrender their economies in the name of abandoning fossil fuels, with no alternative, are ousted from the West’s good graces.

Apr 5 2023

The Blacklash against Indicting Trump Maybe Greater Than Anyone Thinks


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics Re-Posted Apr 4, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

COMMENT #1: Mr. Armstrong,
As I watched the media coverage of Trump’s arraignment, not guilty plea, and release of the indictment with the charges I’ve concluded as you have been arguing that we have crossed the rubicon. The 34 counts of the indictment to my legally untrained mind read as the criminalization of standard politics. What political campaign doesn’t include hiring people to look out for potentially negative press and seeking to limit the candidate’s exposure? By this indictment’s standard, pretty much every political campaign is a criminal enterprise. This is insane. I’ve generally been more libertarian-leaning in my politics and didn’t vote for Trump and even I can see this is a joke. I’ll be voting for him if we get an election in 2024. Unfortunately for the rest of us it isn’t funny and essentially seals the fate of the nation going into 2027-28 as you’ve indicated. Thanks for keeping us informed during these tumultuous times.
All the best from East Texas,
Greg

COMMENT #2: Good evening Mr. Martin,

As I’m watching this Trump shitshow on live french tv I’m wondering…

It seems that he got out to free, waiting for the trial that won’t take place before the next election.
Can he still run for presidency?
If yes, the fact that he is not in jail, does this mean that the deep state has no choice but to go to war as soon as possible ?

By the way, the French minister of defense announced today that the limit age to be on the reserve army is now 70 years old… that alone is telling a lot !

Despite all this news, the cac40 and Dax are almost at their ath. It is a mystery for I was expecting the capital to go to the US already…

I wish you and your team the best! Keep up the amazing work for this is the only light at the end of the tunnel, and it is not a fret train this time 😉

Regards,

Adem

REPLY: I can’t even count all the emails coming one. Many are from those who never voted for Trump and all say that they would now vote for him in 2024. I myself must admit that I had thought Trump had gone past the “Best by Date” but instead of this hurting Trump, it seems to be boosting his support. When I look at the computer and even just the chart patterns, we can easily see that the Democrats are in a major decline and they have not even reached the Downtrend Line where as the Republicans have broken through.

Even the Arrays showed an important Directional Change in 2023. This indictment of Trump is outrageous and it will backfire on the Democrats according to the computer – NOT my personal opinion.

Apr 5 2023

The Trump Indictment Is Even More Silly Than Anyone Imagined….


Posted originally on the CTH on April 4, 2023 | Sundance 

Some, generally those who recognize a historic context within the moment of its manifest, will say that President Donald Trump carries an anointing – a protection that keeps harm from his purpose.

Others, mainly those who pontificate punditry while exclaiming, “the beginning of the end” and “the walls are closing in”, will likely gnash their horrible teeth and declare the bad man Trump is coated in Teflon. Albeit with a slowly lessening voice, while becoming even smaller than they were.

The indictment of Donald J. Trump IS HERE and the “statement of facts” IS HERE.  The situation, as it is represented within the text, is even more laughable than we could have imagined.  It is no wonder why the FEC, DOJ and Mueller Teams took a pass on the allegations.  The entire legal construct collapses on its face.

In the statement of facts, District Attorney Alvin Bragg says Donald Trump intended to, “influence the 2016 presidential election by identifying and purchasing negative information about him to suppress its publication and benefit the Defendant’s electoral prospects. In order to execute the unlawful scheme, the participants violated election laws and made and caused false entries in the business records of various entities in New York“… However, you will note one key element missing, the statute he supposedly violated.

What is this federal election law Bragg speaks of?

Every single one of the 34 stacked counts are contingent upon some federal violation of election law that the FEC and DOJ refused to pursue.  Yet, nothing is cited.

The courts have already determined that campaign funds can be used to avoid potentially embarrassing personal information (John Edwards case).  Using personal funds, or campaign funds to avoid potentially embarrassing information, is not a campaign finance violation.

But wait, it gets better…. or worse, if you dislike Trump.

Every single one of the 34 instances when business records were “falsified” to conceal payments to Trump legal counsel, Michael Cohen, happened between February 2017 and October 2017.   Guess what President Trump was NOT doing within the Trump organization in 2017, running it!

When Donald J. Trump won the November 2016 presidential election, he subsequently divested from the Trump organization, handing over control to Eric Trump and the company officers and directors.

Throughout 2017, presumably when these false business records (they are not) were created, President Donald J. Trump was not directing any accounting, disbursements or business record keeping within the organization.

(Via CNN) – The text of the 19-page letter reads: “I, Donald J. Trump, hereby resign from each and every office and position I hold” in more than 400 entities listed on the following pages.

The letter is signed by Trump and dated January 19, the day before he was sworn in.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters Monday that Trump’s two adult sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, are “fully in charge of the company.”

At a press conference January 11, Trump pledged to transfer his business holdings to a trust run by the sons. He refused to sell his ownership stake, a step that many ethics lawyers say is critical to avoid conflicts of interest. (read more)

Apr 5 2023

RSBN Livestream From New York City


Posted originally on the CTH on April 4, 2023 | Sundance 

RSBN broadcast team LIVE from New York City as President Donald J. Trump is expected to surrender himself to New York prosecutors after being indicted by a grand jury last week. Protests against and rallies in support of Trump are expected and RSBN will bring you wall-to-wall coverage of the entire day’s events. {Direct Rumble Link}

RSBN Livestream From New York City

There is also a Reuters Link below

Apr 4 2023

Masks Now Embedded in Japanese Culture


Armstrong Economics Blog/Disease Re-Posted Apr 4, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Comment: You know, mask wearing in japan was officially ended 5 weeks ago. And there has been no change of practice whatsoever. Mask wearing continues at close to 100pct.

Especially among young people mask wearing seems to be here to stay, possibly forever. Somewhere a psychologist will write a book about this phenomenon. Never in my life could I have imagine that the great nation of japan would adopt this practice like people wearing shoes. People driving in their cars on their own are wearing masks for god Sake. Mask wearing is now the primary method of signaling that the wearer is careful, thoughtful and considerate of others.

Reply: The pandemic will go down as the greatest mass social experiment in history. Face masks have become an everyday essential item for most Japanese. Implementing the face mask mandate was seamless in Japan as masks for allergies and disease were already commonplace. Mask sales rose during flu outbreaks years before COVID, especially in high-density cities. Some people wore masks as a fashion accessory or to limit approachability in social interactions. A 2011 poll from News Post Seven found that 30% of those who wore masks did not cite health concerns.

It took three years, but the Japanese government no longer mandates masks. Yet, it has become embedded in the culture. The Japanese culture values respecting one’s community. The government has never admitted that masks did not prevent the spread of COVID in a meaningful way. Instead, politicians continue to wear masks at public appearances, and the prime minister is encouraging people to continue wearing masks around vulnerable individuals. “We are not forcing anyone to wear it or take it off,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters after the mandate ended. “I think there will be more occasions when I will take my mask off.” It is now seen as a respectful gesture for one’s neighbor.

Research institute Laibo conducted a study in February to determine why people are choosing to stay masked. Only 5.5% of 561 respondents said they would not wear a mask. Over half (50.2%) said that wearing a mask simply became a habit, while most (53.4%) said they are still afraid of catching the coronavirus. About 27.8% of respondents said they will wear their masks “unconditionally.”

Masks may have become a cultural norm in Japan. Everyone should have the ability to act on their own free will, but I suspect many feel the need to conform. The studies citing the ineffectiveness of mask usage have been swept under the rug. As the original commenter stated, masks now signal that the wearer is considerate of others. If only the government would come out and let the people know it is safe for both them and their neighbors to breathe in the air.