... tax returns.

Donald Trump never released his tax returns for the years leading up to him entering office. Democrats tried to make an issue of this, but since there isn't any *law* that forces transparency we have people like Pelosi doing the soft corruption of stock deals and we know all about it, but we know much less about Trump and others.

I still want to see those tax returns because I think they may be connected to another set of famous files not exposed.

Remember when pressuring Trump to release his tax returns was the biggest scandal that many of us thought would make him unfit for office?

There was a lesson in how that played out. The people asked him to follow some of the same rules that apply to all of us and he told us "No. I am exceptional." And I think this impressed some people, because to them the voices prattling on about "show us your tax returns" were elitist snobs on MSNBC.

But, this was the start of a pattern of breaking boundaries. Violations.

And it helped him grow popular with some people because to them it was the self-important news hosts liberal politicians who were being put in their place. "He told the elites no! And they couldn't stop him!"

But, it still meant that none of us got to see those tax returns. None of us know his conflicts of interest. But it's just taxes, right? They all cheat anyway, don't they?

With the Epstein files Trump gave some of his base the experience we've all been having for a long time. He told them "No."

And then he went on to coddle Maxwell, basically saying "You don't get to know this about me. You have no power over me."

And it's not just taxes this time that's being hidden. It's the identities of many powerful people. Because he's always been on the side of the powerful (as long as they were on his side.)

When asked about who he might pardon our president is remarkably transactional. The first thing he wonders about out loud in interviews on the subject is simply "Is that person loyal to me? What have they done for me?"

Trump supporters hear "Is that person loyal to US?" The rule of law be dammed. He sat there considering if Diddy should get a pardon and never said anything about if he was guilty or if the trial was fair. The only question: "Is he one of the good ones?"

When asked about who he might pardon our president is remarkably transactional. The first thing he wonders about out loud in interviews on the subject is simply "Is that person loyal to me? What have they done for me?"

Trump supporters hear "Is that person loyal to US?" The rule of law be dammed. He sat there considering if Diddy should get a pardon and never said anything about if he was guilty or if the trial was fair. The only question: "Is he one of the good ones?"

@futurebird

All leaders think this way. Trump is more honest about it and that offends people who want to preserve their unfounded ideas that imperial leaders are good people.

@richpuchalsky

"All leaders think this way."

All? Always?

@futurebird

All leaders think this way. Trump is more honest about it and that offends people who want to preserve their unfounded ideas that imperial leaders are good people.

@richpuchalsky @futurebird Dear god I am beyond sick of both-sides BS when it comes to our current president. Holier-than-thou nonsense.

This is the EXACT same argument that MAGA supporters use. “All the other politicians do the same stuff, but Trump is the only one honest about it!”

Just wanted to make you aware that you are literally parroting the MAGA talking point.

@futurebird

All leaders of an imperial state do, yes. They just don't tell people about it.

@mls14 @richpuchalsky

I don't view "openness about corruption" as positive. But we can agree that this is part of what is going on, right?

I hear Trump talking about pardons like a mob boss "what has he done for me lately?" is the only thing he cares about and I'm disgusted.

I'm disgusted that it is happening, that it is out in the open and that a segment of people seem to have no higher expectations.

@futurebird @richpuchalsky

All leaders of this particular imperial state are *not* equal. Grift, pay-back, corruption are 100-fold worse under Trump than any recent point in history. Folks who “admire”Trump for “being honest” are simply admitting that they too are transactional and supremacist; they think they will come out on top once the need to follow those pesky and inconvenient rules are stripped away.

... tax returns.

Donald Trump never released his tax returns for the years leading up to him entering office. Democrats tried to make an issue of this, but since there isn't any *law* that forces transparency we have people like Pelosi doing the soft corruption of stock deals and we know all about it, but we know much less about Trump and others.

I still want to see those tax returns because I think they may be connected to another set of famous files not exposed.

@futurebird

Yes, he talks like a mob boss. As an anarchist, I oppose all US leaders. The people who defend mob bosses who talk more politely while doing the same things caused the same cynicism that they now decry.

@futurebird I’ve always thought most people missed the point about the tax returns. Some thought he could be embarrassed by the revelation that he pays so little.

In fact, the full tax returns — including those for the many interlocking entities in his shifting web of shell companies — would enable journalists and other sleuths to trace decades of immense tax fraud that the IRS has been unable or unwilling to unravel.

@DavidM_yeg

Blue MAGA in the US tells itself these fairy stories after they voted for and supported genocide. If the only choices are between the guy who supports genocide and says some kind of mealy mouthed deflection about it and the guy who supports genocide who is honest about it so that everyone can agree to hate them, the second guy is less damaging.

@futurebird

@richpuchalsky @DavidM_yeg

Is everyone who voted for Harris "Blue MAGA" ?

I'm sincerely torn on this. I can't bring myself to be angry at people who didn't vote for Harris over Gaza. I don't even think they were "under-informed" ... they just didn't care about other issues where the difference is much greater as much as I do.

(If they voted for Trump I think it's incredibly simple minded)

@richpuchalsky @DavidM_yeg

Is everyone who voted for Harris "Blue MAGA" ?

I'm sincerely torn on this. I can't bring myself to be angry at people who didn't vote for Harris over Gaza. I don't even think they were "under-informed" ... they just didn't care about other issues where the difference is much greater as much as I do.

(If they voted for Trump I think it's incredibly simple minded)