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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI'm sorry but (Daniels interview)
I'm not sure I understand the point?
SoCalMusicLover
(3,194 posts)PJMcK
(21,988 posts)rainin
(3,010 posts)Binkie The Clown
(7,911 posts)And possibly wake up some of the sleeping "citizens" who don't pay attention.
emulatorloo
(44,057 posts)PJMcK
(21,988 posts)If it was paid, it would be a campaign finance violation. This would open up Trump's finances to scrutiny. Remember, he was personally financing much of his campaign.
Skittles
(153,110 posts)ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)Skittles
(153,110 posts)ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)There are others within The Don's orbit with whom we are on a first name basis: Kellyanne, Ivanka, Jared, etc. This kind of familiarity in the context of the administration suggests spectacle. Also, why are we not discussing Summer Zervos and Jessica Drake? Do the other women not count as much?
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)I like the threads on how will Trump distract from the Stormy Daniels thing in the earnestness of their unintended irony.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)Again, spectacle counts, substance does not.
Now I'm going to get in trouble for saying that because "Stormy was physically threatened, so she's risking her life to make this interview happen!"
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Anyone who attracts the media spotlight on any side of any controversy attracts threats from the invariable percentage of loons on the internet. I doubt most of them are motivated by any particular ideology, but just get a kick out of it.
shanny
(6,709 posts)that a preznit open to paying hush money is open to blackmail.
It is not about the affair per se, it is about tRump's vulnerabilities (which are legion) and what he is willing to do to protect his flabby orange ass.
tblue37
(65,215 posts)But I don't see tRump's lackeys at the FEC or DOJ doing much about that.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Eliot Rosewater
(31,106 posts)about "family values, morals"
Somehow everybody conveniently forgets about that when it is a republican
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grantcart
(53,061 posts)The logical conclusion is that the Russians don't have to have an actual tape but make him think that they can manufacture one.
former9thward
(31,925 posts)So if the settlement was "blackmail" or anything close Stormy is opening herself to being charged. Which she isn't because a settlement was not blackmail. People may remember we went through similar charges in the 1990s with another president who also made non-disclosure settlements. Legal settlements are not blackmail then or now.
Kingofalldems
(38,419 posts)Post said correctly that Trump is open to blackmail by the Russians.
former9thward
(31,925 posts)So far no evidence of that has appeared.
shanny
(6,709 posts)And yes, anyone is open to blackmail by the Russians if they have something. If they don't have something it is not an issue is it?
But this preznit has shown that a) there are potentially many somethings; and b) it seems he is willing to buy himself out of trouble if necessary. Furthermore, money is not the only currency that can be used to make a pay off.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)If he is willing to pay Stormy for her discretion then it logically follows that IF he were blackmailed, by the Russians for example, he would likely fold.
Even more to the point he isn't generally sensitive to rumors of affairs but appears to be particularly sensitive to when the affairs occurred:
https://politicalwire.com/2018/03/25/why-does-trump-care-about-allegations-of-affairs/
But in that final month on the trail, there was something else weighing on Trumps mind, even more than the assault allegations. According to three top campaign officials, speaking to the Daily Beast on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, Trump began pressing senior staffers about the specific dates that the women were alleging that the assaults, affairs, or harassment took place.
If the date fell within the time period of the early stage of his marriage to Melania Trumpand the birth of their son BarronTrump would suddenly care more about the story and quiz campaign aides more closely about it. Officials concluded that Trumps true concern was not so much being accused of sexual harassment as it was, in the words of one aide, about pissing off Melania.'
The value of Stormy Daniels (apologizing for not having her correct name) isn't what she says about their affair but what it shows about a very specific weakness that the Russians could exploit, and I am sure that they know it. The irony is that Trump could be blackmailed with something that is not even true (like the PP tape) if he believes that they have the power to concoct it.
Trump obviously has no concern about US history but it appears that he is terrified of growing old without Melania. If Putin is "the most powerful man in the world" then it appears that Melania Trump is the most powerful woman in the world.
In any case the value of SD is that she has showed that Trump has a glaring personal weakness. She apparently has a CD. Nixon had his tapes and Trump has his sex tapes.
former9thward
(31,925 posts)A person of his wealth can always have beautiful companions no matter what their age if that is what they want. I know people like to say he is broke, etc. but that is just without any evidence at all.
Eliot Rosewater
(31,106 posts)Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)Last edited Sun Mar 25, 2018, 08:19 AM - Edit history (1)
This will make it plain that so-called "republican family values" are an overflowing crock of adulterous shit. The repubes love and support thier Dirty Donny* who is their republican family values role model & flag bearer. Decent people, on the other hand, recognize the stink of lies, cheating, and treason.
* aka republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief
Squinch
(50,901 posts)I don't buy the "blackmailable" argument. By that criteria, most US presidents were blackmailable over affairs. and this doesn't distinguish the current republican president.
It is the hypocrisy of who voted for him, and what they voted for. We need to neutralize anyone who is going to ever again say that the republicans are the party of family values. Among other things.
Also, we might thrown in the campaign violations to the mix.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)be. As is the RNC and their hacked emails.
The RNC is right now, being blackmailed. Thats what matters to me.
former9thward
(31,925 posts)but Trump never ran on "family values". Everyone knew who he was. He did not pop up out of nowhere. He has been a major part of the New York celebrity scene since at least the 1980s. And everyone knows none of them are choirboys (or girls). That is why the Access Hollywood tape had no effect on him.
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)I mean, there is only so much rank, reeking hypocrisy a person can handle. With their wholehearted embrace of Dirty Donny*, republican pharisees are WAY over the limit, and far down into the depths of degeneracy.
* aka Comrade Casino, republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief
Old Vet
(2,001 posts)no_hypocrisy
(46,010 posts)One more nail in the coffin.
PJMcK
(21,988 posts)If the hush money constitutes an illegal campaign contribution, then Ms. Daniels' story might be of interest to Robert Mueller's investigation. Otherwise, this story is a sideshow to the far more important investigations being conducted by the Special Councel's office.
Mr. Mueller has far more important issues to charge Trump and his associates with. Trump's sex life is only interesting if it cause Trump more unease.
Unless there's something more she has...
Demsrule86
(68,455 posts)Come on...it is the president (gag) and a porn star.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Does there need to be another reason.
Vinca
(50,236 posts)Also, there's a chance he sent someone to threaten this woman while he was in office. At this point it may be a porn star who saves the country. Go, Stormy, go.
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)spanone
(135,781 posts)this is how don rolls
Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)...her claim that Trump sent his goons to her and that they threatened her in some manner, which is why she agreed to the NDA.
Yes, by her own admission, she's going to reap some reward in the form of publicity, and possibly financial gain as well.
The bigger story here is that she's seen how every other Trump accuser has been handled, and she wants no part of that.
I think we are going to see Karen McDougal fade away. In Trump's view, she's still showing "weakness." Anderson Cooper asked if she loved him, she said "yes." He asked her if Trump loved her, she said "yes." She said "I just want to tell my story" and I'm not convinced that the public at large cares to hear it. She's most likely viewed as "someone who should have known better." And when she talks about it in the present day, she's showing hurt and sadness, which Trump feeds on. Daniels isn't doing that. She's not sad. She's going for the jugular because Trump screwed with her.
HopeAgain
(4,407 posts)have to keep justifying their support for this man. Porn stars, Playmates and the rest erode their supposed high ground a little more each time. Look at the kids yesterday... They are willing to call bullshit when they see it. Lets keep exposing the bullshit.
dameatball
(7,392 posts)PJMcK
(21,988 posts)Although I love this story-- porn actress takes down the skank!-- I can't watch the interview since I'll be at a musical this evening.
However, as soon as I get home, I'll be on DU to see what happened!
dameatball
(7,392 posts)If I had something else planned, as you do, I certainly wouldn't be watching it. I am sure there will plenty of coverage and commentary all over the place afterward.
rickford66
(5,521 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)enough excuse for me.
PJMcK
(21,988 posts)dalton99a
(81,386 posts)Maeve
(42,269 posts)She has been threatened with legal and physical attacks, but she is going ahead. (I was going to say, she persisted, but...leave that for a higher-minded situation) She is not going to be silenced and that may give others the courage to come out of the shadows as well.
Yeah, she's not the most admirable person on the stage, but she has guts, gotta give her that.
dameatball
(7,392 posts)dalton99a
(81,386 posts)she won't be silenced? She was silenced just fine when it counted - before the election - BECAUSE SHE IS A GRIFTER. Stop acting like she is some kind of hero - she loves MONEY AND ATTENTION - this is all about STORMY - there's nothing ADMIRABLE about her. She is disgusting.
Maeve
(42,269 posts)She didn't expect him to win, so she took money when she thought the getting was good--who'd care about her story after he lost? And yeah, it's about her. But if, along the way, it damages him? Well, go girl! A lot of women won't stand up to him (ahem, like current and former wives...) because they would rather have the money without further hassle.
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,708 posts)-It has been suggested a Trump associate physically threatened her.
-Paying for her silence can be seen as a campaign contribution.
Generic Brad
(14,272 posts)But when a person they deem lowly, like a porn star, demonstrates power over Trump it exposes him as weak and ineffective. If he is weaker than a porn actress, perceptions of him as a strong leader erode.
This interview only confirms what liberals expected of him. But to his hard core supporters it has the potential to be earth shattering. If he is proven to be ineffective and weak in some way, the myth of his power becomes harder to maintain.
Kirk Lover
(3,608 posts)no no. The prezident can be blackmailed by it looks like just about anyone....so that's not really good. He is openly lying about the affair and covering it up. There is proof of the lie obviously. There is claims that she is going to say she was threatened...going back many years and that this is a pattern that the 'prezident' has engaged in.
So what's the point? Really? The point is it ain't good and if it ain't good ....AIR IT.
lame54
(35,259 posts)jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Solomon had concubines out the wazoo, David messed around. They actually see this as a common trait of great Biblical leaders.
People on DU seriously misunderstand how evangelicals rationalize.
Eliot Rosewater
(31,106 posts)MineralMan
(146,248 posts)Nothing is off limits, it seems.
still_one
(92,060 posts)Adrahil
(13,340 posts)I am all for undermining his credibility.
He keeps denying it ever happened. If Clifford has the proof, then he is exposed as a liar AGAIN.
Will this alone make the difference? No. No one thing will. But if he is slowly and constantly exposed as a liar and fraud, it will suppress the enthusiasm of his supporters, and will fire up the resistance. The GOP MUST be crushed in November, and if he is still in office in 2020, he needs to be handed a completely humiliating defeat.
cilla4progress
(24,714 posts)Neither does Cooper!!
A-Schwarzenegger
(15,596 posts)The interview is an early/middle round in a heavyweight fight.
Might be a dud, might be the fight of the century.
These are two characters from America's Shadow.
Two creatures of the American Dream Fulfilled.
Tawdry? Scandalous? Sounds like a lot of our nation's history.
Stormy is twice as smart as trump, and her lawyer is twice
as smart as all of Trump's lawyers put together.
Could be very little, could be nothing, could be
the buxom straw that broken the lummox's back.