The Real timschochet

Thanks for bringing me up. I do not believe that most Palestinians want peace. I believe they want a Palestinian state . I believe if they could they would wipe out the state of Israel. But I also think there is a part of the Israeli people, a minority, who would like a greater state of Israel on both sides of the Jordan River with the Palestinian people either forcibly removed or wiped out. I believe that Netanyahu is part of this minority. And I believe there is a small minority of Palestinians, and a larger majority of Israelis, who want peace and a 2 state solution with Palestinians and Israelis living side by side: if not exactly ever at peace, at least in a situation similar to India and Pakistan since 1949. And I think we (the USA) should encourage this element and oppose anyone who is against it, including both HAMAS and Netanyahu. If that makes me naive then so be it.

Jon, isn’t this in itself a refutation of your argument? If no law had been broken here then why does Trump’s team need to insist that he never directed Cohen to pay her? Why not simply argue that it’s irrelevant because no law was ever broken?

I am. It’s a bit of a sleazy case and IMO the other 3 indictments are far more serious. Nonetheless what Trump did here does seem to rise to the level of a felony and I think it’s a worthy prosecution. FTR I felt the same way when Bill Clinton lied to a grand jury, under oath, about his relationship with Lewinsky. I believe he should have been prosecuted.

Granted, I am listening to MSNBC’s coverage and of course they have an axe to grind but they have legal experts on who seem to very much disagree with you on this.

Thats my understanding.

OK. I get you believe this. Many conservatives I know believe it. I disagree with you. And I think it’s actually the opposite: if not for politics this trial would have happened years ago.

I don’t know anything about what you’re referring to. But if Hillary or anyone else broke laws equivalent to what Trump did, then punish them too. I’ve got no problem with that. Your argument seems to be that Trump should be allowed to get away with stuff because other people before him got away with it. THAT I have a problem with.

He falsified business records in order to cover up t paying her off. According to the state of New York that is a felony.

Stormy’s testimony is gross and salacious but it’s extremely important because Trump did not want it to come out right before the election, after the Access Hollywood tape. That’s why she was paid off. That’s why it was illegal because he interfered with the election. Thats why it’s a felony. The prosecution has made a pretty clear case here.

But see you’re making that up. The difference is that this grossness (Trump) was testified to. Biden may well be a creepy guy but it’s all based on speculation. With Trump we know.

I touched on this in the election thread I started yesterday. I don’t know if it would be decisive overall but it would certainly flip Georgia if it holds true.

Trump (to Stormy): “You remind me of my daughter.” So effing creepy.

Is it possible they could split their vote? Vote for abortion initiatives and pro-choice candidates down ballot, but vote for Trump out of economic concerns? I could see this happening as well.

I’m not attacking your sources. I don’t agree with your interpretation of them. I linked the story from Ha’aretz, the Israeli newspaper which gets into the depth of what the Netanyahu government is thinking. The sources you quoted are basically only repeating what that government is saying. From the beginning of this crisis you and others have accepted Netanyahu’s statements as gospel and have been unwilling to criticize the Israeli government for anything. But we’re talking about a corrupt government that precipitated this whole situation by aiding Hamas, and who have now committed war crimes against the Palestinian people.

Biden has a black problem. They’re not voting for Trump but they may not show up in the numbers that they did in 2020. In 2020 Biden won Georgia by a few thousand votes because Stacy Abrams basically pullled a miracle and got every black person in the entire state to vote. I don’t think she can pull that off again.

Can we also agree that Trump’s choice of VP, whoever that turns out to be, will neither help nor hurt his chances? People make too much of this, IMO. The only time it really mattered was Sarah Palin probably hurt McCain a little but he wasn’t going to win anyhow.

Ultimately both guys will show up for a debate. But there will be a lot of talk about not showing up between now and then. What it really comes down to is that neither guy can afford the risk of being seen as the one who refused to debate.

I agree with this. Now it doesn’t necessarily mean that Trump will win because there will be new voters who are going to vote primarily on the abortion issue- how many we don’t know. But I agree that what you wrote is true for most voters.

I didn’t use to be. Unfortunately I lost my brother to cancer a few years back, shortly before I lost both my parents.

I don’t think you’re representative of the sort of person whose mind might be changed by a conviction. But even so as I wrote I’m skeptical that a significant number of minds will be changed. It’s seems to me that opinions about Trump’s character are already locked in to the electorate,

Hah! Good point.

Trump theory of winning: Trump will win a majority of the key battleground states. Close to 50% of Latinos will vote for Trump. Disaffected blacks will stay at home (as will Arab Americans in Michigan, and students.) Most Americans will vote their pocketbooks wanting an end to inflation. Trump will flip Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin and maybe Pennsylvania. Biden theory of winning: The closer we get to the election the more people will realize it’s a binary choice and the election will become a referendum on Donald Trump. Voters will remember everything they dislike about Trump. Blacks and young people will return to the fold, and that will allow Biden to win the swing states.

Thats not what I’m reading. The U.S. has been heavily involved the whole time as has Israel. Apparently Netanyahu has been throwing in new demands the whole time hoping that Hamas would reject them. Bibi cares more about saving his corrupt government than he does about achieving peace or saving the hostages. In that he’s similar to Trump. But let’s hope cooler minds prevail.

Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire deal brokered by the USA, Egypt and Qatar. Netanyahu is trying to sabotage it: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-05-05/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-hoped-hamas-would-reject-israels-offer-when-it-didnt-he-turned-to-sabotage/0000018f-4817-d414-a5bf-fb37db290000 The source for this story is one of the leading newspapers in Israel.

They’ve been indoctrinated to hate Jews since 1950 at least. But even so it’s a lot more complicated situation. Many Palestinians work in Israel. Many Jews have businesses in the West Bank and in Gaza. Many Jews and Palestinians are in business together, intermarry, have friends and family together. NONE of this is as simple as you’re making out (or conversely as these protestors are making out.)