2016 Likely Candidates for POTUS?

[albrecht]

I don't believe you can be indicted for imaginary crimes.  Maybe in your delusional world a person can.

Donald Trump to announce on June 16.

Politics1.com @Politics1com
P2016: After 3 fake runs (88, 00, 12), billionaire Donald Trump (R) is really going to formally run for President. Announcement on June 16.

Speaking of real (alleged) crimes though:
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert Indicted On Federal Charges
http://www.buzzfeed.com/johnstanton/former-house-speaker-dennis-hastert-indicted-on-federal-char?bftw&utm_term=4ldqpgc#.qhYvdzy12

As usual, most of the responses in the comment section are moronic.

Billary has a litany of crimes, scandals, or suspected crimes but I doubt any of the new ones will stick. When you have such a long, sordid history Bill could probably bang one of his Epstein 'lolitas' on stage and Hillary could personally shoot a US ambassador in the head on the White House lawn and then sign a deal to give Russians uranium, after cashing the oligarch's check, and the media and her other supporters wouldn't bat an eye.

I want to know more details on the Hastert indictment. It appears to be a Billary, Nixon, etc type of thing (the lying and financing AFTER the incident gets you in the most trouble.) Personally, I think the "structuring" law is ridiculous and abused by government. So I would throw that one out immediately, or nullify it if I were on the jury. As for the pay-offs? I would investigate the nature of the incident (was it criminal) and also if it was a blackmail situation, in which case both Hastert and the payee could be in trouble. Settlements, legal and otherwise, are fairly common in life and in politics. Bimbos are paid off, insurance companies settle with personal injury claims, people play alimony, employees negotiate severance packages, accident victims get $ instead of going to court or involving insurance, etc. It would be the person who receives the payment to file income taxes on the pay-off, settlement, or blackmail proceeds. Unless Hastert was expensing or trying to write-off the payments I don't see what the big deal is? The lying is the only thing I see that he did wrong, at least as far as the article details go. (And if whatever incident he was paying to cover-up was criminal and within statute of limitations of prosecution.)

[albrecht]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/johnstanton/former-us-speaker-of-the-house-dennis-hastert-indicted#.tbykVmYg1E
On the Hastert Affair.
Back to the campaign, more weirdness. Can you imagine politicians in our past having campaigns such as these? Bizarre.
https://twitter.com/johnpodesta/status/604314462368059394/photo/1

[Mind Flayer Monk]

Putin is a paper tiger and China is a tiger with an Achilles heel the size of New Mexico.

The rest of the world has already seen the benefits of signing a security agreement with China's military (Iraq). The Chinese pretty much exposed themselves with that one. They buy oil from the Iraqi government and they buy oil from ISIS, too.

[VtaGeezer]

On the Hastert Affair.

Appears he was grabbing where/what he shouldn't have when he was a HS wresting coach.  These things are almost never a single occurrence. Statute of limitations was up decades ago.  The real issue here is the fucked-up Federal law requiring banks to report $10K+ withdrawals and making it a felony if you don't want to tell the Feds what its for; even if its legal.  I wonder which side Hastert was on when that gem was passed.

[albrecht]

Appears he was grabbing where/what he shouldn't have when he was a HS wresting coach.  These things are almost never a single occurrence. Statute of limitations was up decades ago.  The real issue here is the fucked-up Federal law requiring banks to report $10K+ withdrawals and making it a felony if you don't want to tell the Feds what its for; even if its legal.  I wonder which side Hastert was on when that gem was passed.

They have to report deposits and transactions if $10K also, I think originally passed in 1970 Bank Secrecy Act, so Hastert wasn't in Congress. A ridiculous law that has been expanded, especially with Patriot Act etc, along with other onerous provisions, "Know Your Customer" and then this latest FATCA crap. Now it is also illegal to try to "structure" (aka "smurf") to get around the $10K limit reporting law, even if your transactions/purposes are legal. There have been honest people, especially small businesses, charged under the "structuring" thing.  And, of course, the government usually freezes your account when you try to fight the charges, because obviously you are innocent until proven guilty unless the IRS wants you. Or a police department wants some cash you are carrying to buy some new cars.

[onan]

They have to report deposits and transactions if $10K also, I think originally passed in 1970 Bank Secrecy Act, so Hastert wasn't in Congress. A ridiculous law that has been expanded, especially with Patriot Act etc, along with other onerous provisions, "Know Your Customer" and then this latest FATCA crap. Now it is also illegal to try to "structure" (aka "smurf") to get around the $10K limit reporting law, even if your transactions/purposes are legal. There have been honest people, especially small businesses, charged under the "structuring" thing.  And, of course, the government usually freezes your account when you try to fight the charges, because obviously you are innocent until proven guilty unless the IRS wants you. Or a police department wants some cash you are carrying to buy some new cars.

I have been pulling 10k to 20k withdrawals for the better part of a year. Never once asked for any reason past "can I help you with an investment account?"

[136 or 142]

Billary has a litany of crimes, scandals, or suspected crimes but I doubt any of the new ones will stick. When you have such a long, sordid history Bill could probably bang one of his Epstein 'lolitas' on stage and Hillary could personally shoot a US ambassador in the head on the White House lawn and then sign a deal to give Russians uranium, after cashing the oligarch's check, and the media and her other supporters wouldn't bat an eye.

Of course they do.  That's why Ken Starr put them in jail.  Oh wait, all he found was a stain on a dress.

[VtaGeezer]

They have to report deposits and transactions if $10K also, I think originally passed in 1970 Bank Secrecy Act, so Hastert wasn't in Congress.

I believe the reporting laws were part of the drug money laundering laws passed under Reagan, and Hastert was first elected on his coat tails in '80, so he would have voted on the legislation. I can guess how he voted.

[VtaGeezer]

I have been pulling 10k to 20k withdrawals for the better part of a year. Never once asked for any reason past "can I help you with an investment account?"

Seems to me the Feds' "Person A" in this business ratted ol' Denny out, else how would the Feds have found him since the feds say they were looking for crime related to his office.  Unless Hastert 'fessed up.

[albrecht]

I believe the reporting laws were part of the drug money laundering laws passed under Reagan, and Hastert was first elected on his coat tails in '80, so he would have voted on the legislation. I can guess how he voted.

Partly, in passed in 1970 But banks were hesitant to report lest they violate their client's privacy
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-84/pdf/STATUTE-84-Pg1114.pdf
Then eliminated the privacy concern, strengthened it, an applied to people as well as banks and not just for bank transactions in the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, interestingly up to that time it was legal to launder money, I guess. Then we got the "Know Your Customer" and FinCEN and their reporting requirements, then stuff under the Patriot Act and now FATCA, etc.
I think a lot of this is like the IRS. With so many pages, changing codes, regulations, interpretations, and laws- if they want to get you on something they can. And a lot easier, often, than proving beyond a reasonable doubt that you have commit a real crime, funded terrorism, etc they can get your for the paperwork and reporting violations. And it opens the door for warrants, pleas on other charges, etc in addition to revenue generation.

[albrecht]

I have been pulling 10k to 20k withdrawals for the better part of a year. Never once asked for any reason past "can I help you with an investment account?"

The bank files the report electronically in most cases and doesn't inform you.
http://www.ffiec.gov/bsa_aml_infobase/pages_manual/OLM_017.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency_transaction_report
"When a transaction involving more than $10,000 in cash is processed, most banks have a system that automatically creates a CTR electronically. Tax and other information about the customer is usually pre-filled by the bank software. CTRs since 1996 include an optional checkbox at the top if the bank employee believes the transaction to be suspicious or fraudulent, commonly called a SAR, or Suspicious Activity Report. A customer is not directly told about the $10,000 threshold unless they initiate the inquiry. A customer may decline to continue the transaction upon being informed about the CTR, but this would require the bank employee to file a SAR. Once a customer presents or asks to withdraw more than $10,000 in currency, the decision to continue the transaction must continue as originally requested and may not be reduced to avoid the filing of a CTR. For instance, if a customer reneges on their initial request to deposit or withdraw more than $10,000 in cash, and instead requests the same transaction for $9,999, the bank employee should deny such a request and continue the transaction as originally requested by filing a CTR. This sort of attempt is known as structuring, and is punishable by federal law against both the customer and the bank employee. Those who habitually run transactions just under the $10,000 threshold will likely subject themselves to scrutiny and/or the filing of a SAR."


"Banks are not permitted to warn or advise customers unless the customer asks, but sometimes bank tellers will informally warn customers"
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/26/us/law-lets-irs-seize-accounts-on-suspicion-no-crime-required.html?_r=0

[Eddie Coyle]

   The Hastert coverage on Mediaite links to Rense(of course, couching it with a "this conspiracy theorist" caveat) and Wayne Madsen laying this story out in October, 2006. I remember murmurs of Hastert being a closet case, but that's a time honored smear that crosses party lines, nationalities, etc. Maybe that corpulent pederast looks forward to jail time. He'll be making Richard Speck videos in no time.

[albrecht]

   The Hastert coverage on Mediaite links to Rense(of course, couching it with a "this conspiracy theorist" caveat) and Wayne Madsen laying this story out in October, 2006. I remember murmurs of Hastert being a closet case, but that's a time honored smear that crosses party lines, nationalities, etc. Maybe that corpulent pederast looks forward to jail time. He'll be making Richard Speck videos in no time.

I will be waiting, along with my taxi-driver Chemtrail expert who was on C2C this week, to hear what Alex has to say about it....I think they've had some issues with Rense early on (Alex's wife maybe Rense has some issues with the Tribe,) and haven't heard Madsen on with him in a while also. Though haven't heard our local boy gone good/nut in a while since the local Sunday show been taken off and the pirate station turned Christian radio. Personally, I think there is a conspiracy amongst the conspiracy crowd! "They" must be behind all these "gatekeepers" and the in-fighting and high-jinx!

[Eddie Coyle]

I will be waiting, along with my taxi-driver Chemtrail expert who was on C2C this week, to hear what Alex has to say about it....I think they've had some issues with Rense early on (Alex's wife maybe Rense has some issues with the Tribe,) and haven't heard Madsen on with him in a while also. Though haven't heard our local boy gone good/nut in a while since the local Sunday show been taken off and the pirate station turned Christian radio. Personally, I think there is a conspiracy amongst the conspiracy crowd! "They" must be behind all these "gatekeepers" and the in-fighting and high-jinx!

    Perhaps Rense's Tribe issues occurred due to a hair salon mishap many years ago. Walking around with that thing on his head could awaken anyone's inner Schicklgruber.

    Alex Jones looks like a high school wrasslin' coach. There are more homosexuals in the wrestling/boxer instructor field than florists and interior decorators combined. It's the old "they'll never suspect me! I'm tough. AAARGH!" Sorry, chief, you're a 57 year old confirmed bachelor who works with teen boys all day, you're still suspect even with that right cross.

   

       

   

[albrecht]

    Perhaps Rense's Tribe issues occurred due to a hair salon mishap many years ago. Walking around with that thing on his head could awaken anyone's inner Schicklgruber.

    Alex Jones looks like a high school wrasslin' coach. There are more homosexuals in the wrestling/boxer instructor field than florists and interior decorators combined. It's the old "they'll never suspect me! I'm tough. AAARGH!" Sorry, chief, you're a 57 year old confirmed bachelor who works with teen boys all day, you're still suspect even with that right cross.     

   

Sadly you're right.
O'Malley, former governor of MD and the hellhole of Baltimore, is in. Billary might be worried.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DEM_2016_OMALLEY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-05-30-08-53-45

[Heather Wade]

        Alex Jones looks like a high school wrasslin' coach.   

That's what it is. 

[albrecht]

Lindsey Graham, in. Why, I do not know. There have been rumors about him for some time, though he was not a wrestling coach or member of a bathroom in Chicago, so who knows if true.

At this point it might be easier for the public for any Republican NOT running for the Presidency should announce that.

[GeorgieForPresident2216]

Lindsey Graham, in. Why, I do not know. There have been rumors about him for some time, though he was not a wrestling coach or member of a bathroom in Chicago, so who knows if true.

At this point it might be easier for the public for any Republican NOT running for the Presidency should announce that.

I still can't decide if Lindsey Graham is a man or a woman.

[Up All Night]

Lindsey Graham, in. Why, I do not know.

Lindsey's Campaign can be summed up with this one Video: Iraq - No Phobia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K23ahv0geJk

[albrecht]

Lindsey's Campaign can be summed up with this one Video: Iraq - No Phobia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K23ahv0geJk

Good band. I watched a bit of the press interview with Lindsey Grahman and his sister . Sort of weird, I don't think I've seen an initial campaign for presidency to include in the interview someone's sister. Who knows but I guess some focus group or adviser said, "look you aren't married but we gotta have some female next to you for appearances sake."

[nextgen.fm]

Well looks like Rand really stirred up some shit

[albrecht]

Well looks like Rand really stirred up some shit

That is what the Pauls do. Not to be a conspiracy theorist but I'm sort of worried that "something" might happen and it will be blamed on Rand, the honest citizens, the EFF, whistleblowers, etc who don't like spying on every American. I'm not talking 'false flag' crap but just some purposeful, or inadvertent, government ignorance. We see the TSA audit fails miserably to catch people (their focus appear to be petty theft, groping, using equipment for prurient interests, racial payback, socializing with each other, etc.) We have a completely open border with a near narco-state, we are importing record numbers of Muslims without background checks, and we have politicians (and others) who are trying to stir up internal racial animosity and riots. Wouldn't be too hard for some government agency, or person- on purpose or by ineptitude- for something to happen here to cause everyone to want to give up all our civil rights.

[nextgen.fm]

That is what the Pauls do. Not to be a conspiracy theorist but I'm sort of worried that "something" might happen and it will be blamed on Rand, the honest citizens, the EFF, whistleblowers, etc who don't like spying on every American. I'm not talking 'false flag' crap but just some purposeful, or inadvertent, government ignorance. We see the TSA audit fails miserably to catch people (their focus appear to be petty theft, groping, using equipment for prurient interests, racial payback, socializing with each other, etc.) We have a completely open border with a near narco-state, we are importing record numbers of Muslims without background checks, and we have politicians (and others) who are trying to stir up internal racial animosity and riots. Wouldn't be too hard for some government agency, or person- on purpose or by ineptitude- for something to happen here to cause everyone to want to give up all our civil rights.

you're not alone in thinking that

this week could be...let's just say...news filled

[Eddie Coyle]

I still can't decide if Lindsey Graham is a man or a woman.

   A future Vanity Fair cover from Lindsey wouldn't be surprising.

[21st Century Man]

The Republican race is going to go to the convention.  Too many cooks in the kitchen.  Then it will be announced at the convention that Jeb Bush will be the candidate.  After that, there should be riots but there won't be.  Then we will be stuck with Jeb or Hillary as President.  This country is becoming pathetic.

[FightTheFuture]

The Republican race is going to go to the convention.  Too many cooks in the kitchen.  Then it will be announced at the convention that Jeb Bush will be the candidate.  After that, there should be riots but there won't be.  Then we will be stuck with Jeb or Hillary as President.  This country is becoming pathetic.

I have more faith in my fellow man. That shit can only happen in the Twilight Zone or Joseph Heller`s brain.  Joe ain`t around anymore and neither is the Twilight Zone, so the way I reckon; we`re safe for now.

[Up All Night]

I watched a bit of the press interview with Lindsey Grahman and his sister . Sort of weird, I don't think I've seen an initial campaign for presidency to include in the interview someone's sister. Who knows but I guess some focus group or adviser said, "look you aren't married but we gotta have some female next to you for appearances sake."

I did not realize, until now, that Lindsey was unmarried. That's not sexy...

[GeorgieForPresident2216]

Someone who is unmarried and with no children could never be president. 

The CIA, NSA, or whomever could never allow anyone to be president unless they could hold the lives of their loved ones hostage against the president going public with government secrets.

[136 or 142]

Bobby Jindal has announced that he'll announce his decision on whether he's running or not on June 24.
Chris Christie has announced he'll announce sometime after Mid June.

This will leave just Jeb Bush as a candidate who has formed an exploratory committee to not announce that he'll make an official announcement.  Apparently some legal experts are coming down hard on his failure to formally commit to the race.  Another Bush who downplays election ethics, what a surprise.

The only others who might yet still get in who haven't even formed an exploratory committee are Bob Ehrlich and Jim Gilmore.  Unusual for fringe candidates to not get in the race before the more serious candidates (or as serious as Republicans get these days), but apparently both are still actively campaigning, especially Gimore.

I think we can forget about Pete King running at this point.

[VtaGeezer]

The Republican circus train keeps growing because all one needs is 10% to be in the top tier of the polls.  These guys can barely be differentiated, so the other second-raters with a pulse and a rightwinger sugar daddy see they too can capture a sliver of the primary vote, and with 20 candidates, a sliver becomes a political WMD. Having 2-3% to throw behind someone else has never before been so valuable in influence peddling.