"JD Vance announced the suspension of $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments to California as part of his new role as "fraud czar" for the Trump Regime.
Meanwhile, Trump has pardoned multiple convicted fraudsters, including several who gave money to his campaign and Super PAC." --Robert Reich
19 comments:
So do you favor going after fraudsters or just trump supported fraudsters. Vance will probably go the route of the previous administration border czar and we know how that went.
Remember when the forerunners to MAGA were mad at Obama for the term Czar because it showed we were becoming communists?
I wonder why those same people aren't upset now...
Could it be their natural and normal hypocrisy? Just asking.
There goes skud, answering questions only they can hear or read. Apparently, according to their own opinion, those of us on the left only go after GOP fraudsters, not the homegrown Democratic fraudsters. Stupid is as stupid does as skud proves day in and day out.
I've been following the issue of Trump's penchant for pardoning those who committed the same crimes as himself and once Trump pardons the criminal any restitution due the victims is gone. Crime? What crime? And the victims are victimized again with no avenue of justice as the case was already tried and sentenced. I just.... I'm breathing deeply as I can feel the hopelessness and frustration of those who lost everything.
Also on the table is the 13 million Vance withheld from California. Found on Digby's Hullabaloo, J.D. Vance had this to say:
“There are California taxpayers and American taxpayers who are being defrauded because California isn’t taking its program seriously, but also you have people who have been prescribed medications that they don’t even need. They’ve had drugs put into their bodies that they don’t need because fraudsters have actually encouraged false prescriptions and false administration of medications,” Vance said at the White House."
So Vance, not a doctor, decided to what, just make everyone go cold turkey?
Why not have a plan wherein every patient's medications are reviewed for efficacy, symptom overlap, side effect echoes? I mean there are protocols in place to do such things but no, Vance says tough it out.
Trump and his cabinet sure do like killing folks. USAid, Minneapolis, ICE Detention centers, and now nursing homes. Guess skud misses that part as they continue to carry water for the current fascist regime.
I assume skud, a small business owner if I remember correctly, will continue to carry water for the very people working hard against skud's very own self interests. skud is not alone. Like so very many Americsns skud still believes the Reagan era mantra A rising tide lifts all boats.
Of course the truth is the rising tide refers to the tide that lifts the boats of the already wealthy oligarchs who in turn allow just enough to trickle down to the middle class to keep them swallowing the propaganda they've been fed for years.
Truth? Here it is, Americans, except for the very wealthy oligarchs of business, are but wage slaves serving the ones with ALL the wealth and power. And right now that includes the revolting president of the USA and a couple handfuls of like minded billionaires who are working to become trillionaires at our expense.
Elect a business man, end up with a mobster.
Who did he pay to write 'The Art OF The Deal' ?
Skud keeps using the fictional title "border czar", having no idea what he's talking about. There was no "border czar" under Biden. Not that Skud cares.
Skud has no idea his own brain is corrupted by lies and delusions.
Grey... As I stated elsewhere, Skud is alone in his ability to read posts and comments from myself and Shaw and then interpret and quote us with words we've never said. He has also done so with you and Possum.
What I don't understand is why he is the only person to read our words and get such unique takeaways. You seem to understand and comprehend correctly what we write. Same with Possum, Les, Dave D, -FJ and others.
Only Skud among our regulars, has the superpower necessary to look at a post or comment and see something that is not written, or even quote us incorrectly.
I don't know why that is.
In May of 2024 Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The prosecution proved he fraudulently recorded reimbursements to his former attorney, Michael Cohen, as "legal expenses".
Since there was evidence he lied on his taxes and what he attested to the IRS was not true, he was convicted.
In 2022, his company, the Trump Organization, was criminally convicted of 17 tax crimes, including tax fraud and falsifying business records.
In 2018 the Trump Foundation was legally dissolved following a major civil lawsuit that exposed widespread misuse of funds, self-dealing, breach of fiduciary duties and fraud.
As part of his court settlement, Trump signed a legal statement admitting he had personally misused foundation funds to settle business debts, advance his political campaign, and make unauthorized personal purchases.
All of the things to which he admitted in his signed statement, were fraudulent.
As lovers of government and appropriate government action, us mostly left leaning progressives abhor misuse of government funds and taxpayer monies fraudulently. And that's true whether there's a Dem in office or someone from MAGA or the GOP.
I think I can speak for the majority here and say that when fraud is uncovered, those responsible need to be arrested, tried and if found guilty, serve time. I don't think we believe those people should be pardoned, excused, or avoid serving their time based on political views, presidential pardons or any other views.
If convicted, they should serve their time.
If there is evidence to support a charge of fraud either inside or outside of government or in a private business, those convicted need to serve time. No matter which side of the political aisle they serve.
-Sen Bob Menendez of D of NJ... in jail. Convicted of fraud.
-Former Dem Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan... in jail. Convicted of fraud
-Former Orange County Democratic Party Chair Melehat Rafiei of California... in jail. Convicted of fraud.
-Dem Congressional Aide Gerard Moore of Illinois... in jail. Conviced of fraud.
-Fmr Dem Gov of Illinois Rod Blagojevich... in jail. Convicted of fraud. Oops, he's not in jail, another felony fraudster, POTUS Trump, pardoned Blagojevich.
But Blagojevich is just one in a long line of fellow fraudsters pardoned by Trump. That list includes...
-Paul Manafort, the former head of the Trump Campaign who stole millions.
-Former GOP Texas Congressman Steve Stockman, who stole money from a non profit for personal use.
-Former GOP NY Congressman Chris Collins, the first Congressman to endorse Trump in 2016, guilty of securities fraud. And my personal favorite...
-Michele Fiore of Nevada, a former Trump supporting GOP state legislator in my state, Nevada, convicted after she raised over 70K for a non profit that serves the families of police officers killed in the line of duty, only to steal it for personal use and home furnishings.
Neither Presidents Joe Biden or Barack Obama pardoned or commuted the sentences of any prominent Democratic campaign managers, national campaign directors, national party leaders or former members of Congress convicted of fraud.
Which is how it should be.
Speaking of fraud... this from the news today.
The Justice Department is preparing to seek the dismissal within days of a pending bribery and fraud case against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, potentially ending its efforts to prosecute one of Asia’s richest men following a concerted defense campaign led by one of President Donald Trump‘s personal attorneys.
No, they pre-pardoned family members and loyal apparatchiks
Joe... yes, Biden pre pardoned his son Hunter. And DJT pardoned his father in law for, wouldn't you know it, fraud. And the pre pardon to end all pre pardons came from Gerald Ford clearing Pres Nixon.
And you can bet, DJT, or his successor Vance will be issuing lots of pre pardons himself to la familia.
JC is a liar. Obama never pardoned or pre-pardoned family members and loyal apparatchiks.
Barack Obama did not pardon or commute the sentences of any family members during his presidency. Throughout his two terms in office, his grants of executive clemency were exclusively awarded to individuals who applied through the official Department of Justice Pardon Attorney process.
Hunter was a target the fascists were salivating to punish as severely as possible. (Because his laptop failed to show Joe was involved in his schemes.)
As for Joe's hero, his pardons include his thugs for terrorizing Congress, beating cops bloody, and attempting to overturn a fair election their mob boss LOST. (Remember Trump had his cronies PAY for hotels and transportation FOR his THUGS beforehand.)
Meanwhile from the MOST corrupt and most CRIMINAL president in history:
To settle his suit with the IRS, Trump reportedly wants to create a $1.7 BILLION slush fund of taxpayer dollars that he can dole out to any of his loyalists who claim the Biden administration targeted them.
Like his idol, JC/-FJ has no conscience.
And Dave, that $1.7 billion settlement is unreviewable by even SCOTUS because if both sides agree to a settlement, courts are powerless to intervene as there are not complaining aggrieved parties.
Great system right?
A president can sue his own government, then his own government can settle with a president for any amount, and the president can just walk with taxpayer money in his pocket.
And they complain about Hunter...
David, If I disagree with you then I say things that are not true. Where is your outrage against all corrupt politicians. Tax the rich don't control spending. Don't make a case for fraud and corruption if it is directed against your party. How does one politician go from a few thousand dollars to thirty million and back to a few thousand because of an accounting error. How does a president trade a chip company just before they are allowed to sell to china. If obama coined czar it must be OK unless I use it.
Corruption in politics goes across party lines but your party only sees one side. Granted the republican party is almost as corrupt as your party but IMO you see to be fine with corruption if it your party taking leading the way.
Skud has ZERO evidence to support his LIE and BULLSHIT accusation!
"Granted the republican party is almost as corrupt as your party but IMO you see to be fine with corruption if it your party taking leading the way."
From the guy who refuses to recognize the massive and blatant crimes and corruption by the Criminal President and his mob.
"If obama coined czar it must be OK unless I use it."
Shall we ask Skud when Biden, or Obama, appointed Harris as "Border Czar"?
Skud is trying to gaslight us into believing OBAMA appointed Harris as "border czar"? JFC! He's deliberately obtuse and is clueless as to how dishonest he truly is.
THERE WAS NO "BORDER CZAR" under OBAMA or under BIDEN!!!!
Why do I even bother? Skud is a brick wall of willful IGNORANCE, petty grievances, deflections, false accusations, and absolutely verifiable LIES.
One. More. Time.
THERE WAS NO "BORDER CZAR" under OBAMA or under BIDEN!!!!
On April 15, 2009, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the appointment of Alan Bersin as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative for Border Affairs.
From March 2010 to 2011, Alan Bersin served as Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Starting in January 2012 and through 2017, Bersin served as Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, and as DHS Chief Diplomatic Officer.
Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
"Border Czar" is a media made title. No such position exists.
Did you see that, Skud?
Of course you didn't. Willful blindness is essential to willful IGNORANCE.
"If obama coined czar it must be OK unless I use it."
AI:
The first and most prominent "czar" during this era was William J. Bennett, appointed by President George H.W. Bush to serve as the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). This position officially became known as the nation's "Drug Czar" in the media.
Skud still can't cite any Democrat as corrupt as Trump and his henchmen.
Skud... I have plenty of outrage at corrupt politicians. I just don't believe they are all corrupt. Now, if you want to say specific Dems are corrupt, that's fine, just bring some examples of how what they did is actually corrupt or breaking the law.
Seriously... Is John Thune corrupt? Warnock? Was ben Sasse? Others like them? Wrong sometimes, maybe often. But corrupt? I doubt it.
Skud, you assert a lot of stuff, without any evidence. That's what I, and others, criticize you for. We've literally begged you to bring links, evidence and/or examples, but you don't. And please, don't land on the "but you say my evidence is untrue" dodge.
Just bring real evidence, that's in the public arena. Not some You Tube BS, or a report from a Gateway Pundit level "journalist".
Look Skud, I'm critical of you because you misquote me, impute words into my comments that are not there, say I believe stuff I've never said or written and more.
But I keep coming back, apologizing when I make a mistake, correcting the record, giving examples of when Dems are wrong or corrupt, etc. I keep asking you to consider arguing like an adult, with facts, evidence, examples, etc. I keep asking you to get my words straight. And Shaw does the same.
And yet, you cannot, or will not. I don't get it.
But no worries dude. It'll happen again, you'll make an unsupported statement, and we'll circle back to this same place.
Just like we always do.
Let's see if Skud can show us where Hunter Biden or any Biden's "corruption" and abuse of the office of the president matches this:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-sons-land-massive-military-133521624.html
"Trump’s Sons Land Massive Pentagon Deal as They Flaunt Corruption"
Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling
Fri, May 1, 2026
The president’s elder sons are making money hand over fist off of their father’s office.
At least two companies tied to Don Jr. and Eric Trump have won large government contracts, setting the stage for the Trump family to make a sizable chunk of change from their involvement in the federal government.
Powerus, a drone manufacturer led by former U.S. Army Special Operations veterans, was founded last year. Trump’s two sons became tied to the company’s board after it merged with a golf club in March, a decision that took the company public via a reverse merger. The brothers’ investment firm, American Venture, has backed the combined entity, and their boutique investment bank, Dominari Securities, was also involved in the transaction.
This past week, the U.S. Air Force agreed to buy an undisclosed number of drones from Powerus as America’s war with Iran hits the 60-day mark. The company’s co-founder, Brett Velicovich, claimed the decision had nothing to do with its investors’ obvious ties to the White House.
“They’re not going to pick a system because of who’s on an investor list,” Velicovich told Bloomberg. “They’re picking because they need it now.”
There are at least 187 drone manufacturers based in the United States, according to a November report from Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology.
But that isn’t the Trump family’s only financial coup this week: A shell company backed by Don Jr. and Eric agreed to merge with a major tungsten mine in Kazakhstan that just last year secured $1.6 billion in U.S. government support.
The two brothers bought into a construction company, Skyline Builders, last August, through a special-purpose vehicle arranged by Dominari Securities, sources told the Financial Times.
Weeks later, in September, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told Donald Trump that he intended to award a major tungsten project to U.S. investment group Cove Kaz Capital, an entity backed by the U.S. government, to compete against Chinese and Russian mining companies. That story emerged in the press on October 21.
By October 28, Eric and Don Jr. had added almost $24 million to their Skyline investment. On October 31, Skyline paid $20 million for a 20 percent stake in Kaz Resources, a subsidiary of Cove Capital, an investment company that controls Cove Caz.
Cove Capital’s deal with the National Mining Company of Kazakhstan became public on November 6, with an announcement that they would jointly develop “the largest known undeveloped tungsten resource in the world.”
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