Why Trump self leaking the 2005 Returns is the most likely explanation

[grantcart]

1) Shows a significant income (which Trump's ego demands) and avoids huge loss write off that we know other years show and relatively large tax actually paid.

2) Doesn't have any smoking gun information, doesn't have any schedules, predates his large Russian investment years.

The most logical conclusions we can make is that who ever leaked this didn't just get it and has a lot more information including the full return. If true then why are they leaking it now? Why are they leaking only this little bit?

The most logical answer is in Trump's own actions. He will continue to try to hijack the conversation in order to divert attention from substantive issues. Maddow refuses to be lured by tweets so he lures her with minimal tax returns.

What are we not talking about because of this?

1) CBO report on Republican health care plan
2) Sessions perjury follow up
3) Comey confirming (reportedly tomorrow) FBI investigation on Russian interference with our elections
4) Massive change in tax burden for the rich
5) Anbang sweetheart property sales to Kushner
6) Trump allegations that President Obama wiretapped him.

Trump has a clever strategy: Try to win every news cycle, but if you can't win it then flood it with less than significant shiny objects to keep people talking.

The problem for Trump is that we are on to him.

[MFM008]

1. T H I S

[still_one]

2. It also distracts from the ACA repeal fiasco and other attrocious things they

are doing

[elleng]

6. Exactly

[grantcart]

7. CBO report, what CBO report?

[still_one]

8. Ya nailed it grant!!!

[lapfog_1]

27. EPA budget cut 25%

or a recommendation to close a number of federal agencies... CIA? EPA (for sure), DOE (both of them), NASA (why not, we aren't spending money on a mars mission, let Elon do it), etc. etc.

[elleng]

3. 'hijack the conversation in order to divert' is what he does.

[still_one]

9. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Hoyt]

4. But we aren't going to get him with this junk which is on par with Obama's birth certificate.

Should have downplayed it and kept pressure on healthcare for next few days.

[grantcart]

24. curios what she does tomorrow

[Tatiana]

5. This is entirely plausible.

Of course, this broke in the evening, so most of the news day has been spent talking about 1, 3, and 6 as far as I can see.

But this is definitely how DT works. His/Bannon's main strategy is to distract with a shiny object to divert attention away from what's really significant.

If so, I hope lemonade can be made and that someone who does possess any of DT's previous returns leaks them.

[grantcart]

10. Oh thought of another big story we aren't talking about ... The leaked Ryan tape

[uponit7771]

14. +1

[scheming daemons]

11. "The problem for Trump is that we are on to him." But apparently Rachel and Lawrence aren't.

She should've realized this was a case of misdirection from Trump.

[grantcart]

13. Yep kind of surprised me. She won't follow the tweets so he sends her something she will fall for

Trump read her like a book.

Thing is Rachel has a short learning curve. I suspect that she figured it out when she was listening to the expert give fairly weak criticisms.

[KittyWampus]

16. the 2 two hours on MSNBC has been spent on putting pressure on Trump to release his taxes

but you and a bunch of DU'ers insist on having a sad cause you threw a party and didn't get the big huge tremendous REVEAL moment like this is all a weekly reality show.

[bettyellen]

23. It's pretty wild isn't it?

[Dem2]

12. It's. One. F******. Night.

I actually agree that Trump may have leaked this, but BECAUSE there's nothing there, the story has NO LEGS and thus ISN'T a big distraction.

It's. One. Night! IF there was more there, this story would last for many days. Now we will hope for more leaks, but the story ends likely after tomorrow's show.

Can we not overreact?

[grantcart]

17. Yes well the allegation that President Obama was bugging Trump Towers

was only one night but it took the Sessions Perjury issue right off the front burner because it turned out to be 6 nights.

As soon as they get back on track he will use the same tactic over and over again.

Maddow was unique because she was the only one that stopped having a kneejerk reaction to the tweets.

I suspect that half way through the show she was regretting the hype, which they probably started before they had a chance to digest it.

How much you want to bet that next time Maddow stays with the burning stories and waits until she has digested the tax diversion.

[Dem2]

19. Certainly she may downplay future leaks

I'll give you that.

Let's hope this wasn't DJT and there's more to follow.

[womanofthehills]

26. Hello - the story is why we need to see his taxes and Rachel was excellent reporting that

She gave all the reasons we need to see them - the big Trump/Russian connection.

[KittyWampus]

15. It's fucking TAX SEASON. We need to see his taxes. DU'ers need to stop seeing reality

like a 30 minute crime drama that's going to solved in a minute.

It's embarrassing to see so many DU'ers lose their collective shit.

DEMAND TRUMP'S TAX RETURNS.

It's tax season. 74% of Americans want to see his returns.

You think the other stories are going to go away?

[grantcart]

18. The fact that he is releasing one year 12 years ago that actually shows him paying substantial tax

should be a give away.

[nadine_mn]

20. 100% agree that he is responsible

Gives him a chance to trash the evil media, shows no real information, still kinda makes him look rich etc.

Glad David Cay Johnston said this is a habit of tRump

[grantcart]

21. He made his suspicion clear

[highplainsdem]

22. Agree. I suspect this was the single most favorable tax return DJT could have leaked.

And it took Rachel away from the important stories about Trump's corruption and ties to Russia.

[grantcart]

25. Who ever had this particular return didn't just get access to it yesterday

and more than likely has more than just the two sheets.

People are on to you Mr. Trump, but it was a clever try.

[Merlot]

28. Is there any way to verify the numbers are real?

It's pretty easy to take a tax return and fill in any numbers you want. With only two pages and probably leaked by trumpft himself, why is anyone taking the numbers seriously?