# Hunter Biden Laptop Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 22, 2020, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587 "2020-10-22T11:17:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/425 "2020-10-30T06:22:49Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Fucker Carlson cries mea culpa re: Hunter Biden > > [https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1321973721461071872?s=19](https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1321973721461071872?s=19) If only Geraldo had thought to say something like that when he was standing in the middle of Al Capone’s vault. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/426 "2020-10-30T07:10:20Z")
“Ah, the deep state stole my documents and swapped them out for forgeries that exonerate sleepy Joe!” ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/427 "2020-10-30T07:40:20Z")
This just proves that The Clintons The New World Order 0bama The Zionists Killary The Deep State Sleepy “Killer” Joe got to Tucker! ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/428 "2020-10-30T13:29:00Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Ok, so on a scale from one to 10, Trumps level of corruption is 37, and Biden’s is much lower, but even if the allegations were true where would you put his level of corruption. > > I agree that it is rather unseemly to trade on the influence of a family member and on contacts with those still in power, but it is just the way the system is and it would be nearly impossible to find a politician today who isn’t tainted to some extent by this. The office holder to board member, lobbyist, celebrity speaker is a well worn track. I agree that we should not be satisfied with the current state of affairs and do our best to hold our elected officials to a higher standard, but on the other hand I can’t muster the energy to be shocked and angered when one fails to be an exception to the rule. > > So assuming the allegations were true, where would you think that would put Biden in the ranking of the current set of Senators and Congressmen with 0.0 being least corrupt and 1.0 being most corrupt (I would say it probably would put him at a 0.4). I have purposefully avoided making the Trump v. Biden comparison for two reasons. Because Trump is off the charts corrupt; that’s one. And two, because people can’t seem to simply look at this issue without conflating it into a ‘Yeah, but Trump is teh worst!’. And it’s fucking irritating to have to calm people from knee jerk reactions (as we’ve seen) that any hypothetical contemplation of possible wrong doing by the Bidens is a thought crime. I’m in agreement with your middle paragraph. It’s the way things are, unfortunately, but they won’t change if, heaven forbid, we mention it out loud about the bad guys and the good guys. Assuming the allegations were true. And I’m NOT saying that they are. Calm the fuck down everyone. _Assuming_ they were true, I think Biden would be very much towards the low end. Compared to all the greedy and corrupt fuckers in congress and gov’t right now - and FFS yes,Trump is still off the charts! - Biden would barely rate. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/429 "2020-10-30T13:34:13Z")
They’re not true. Have you not been paying attention? Telling us to calm down when it’s you who is getting excited over this obvious non-story is a bad reading of the room, QS. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/430 "2020-10-30T13:35:26Z")
Was I not clear enough? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/431 "2020-10-30T13:36:09Z")
Your still ‘assuming’ they are true. They are not. So, no, you’re not being clear enough. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/432 "2020-10-30T13:37:16Z")
It’s a hypothetical. …and you know what? Sometimes it’s the room. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/433 "2020-10-30T13:41:33Z")
Dude, Tucker Carlson _last night_ gave up on this shit and here you are with your ‘Assuming it’s true…’ crapola 12 hours later. It’s _not_ the room. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/434 "2020-10-30T13:42:12Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > And it’s fucking irritating to have to calm people from knee jerk reactions (as we’ve seen) that any hypothetical contemplation of possible wrong doing by the Bidens is a thought crime. It’s a bit annoying to have the knee jerk reaction to any disagreement with entertaining an absurd hypothetical to be labeled as a thought crime. But sure. Let’s entertain that all of the allegations that you want to hypothetically take as a given are true. There is still no there there. There was no wrong doing, no illegal or even unethical behavior. The only thing that anyone did wrong was that Hunter put himself in a position where people could make up allegations of wrong doing that would hurt his father politically. “Bad optics”, as you put it much earlier. This is absolutely no different than anyone else in the business world who relies on connections to make and execute business deals. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/435 "2020-10-30T13:44:24Z")
Tucker Carlson is a known fucking liar. I was responding to a post by Buck\_Godot, in which he used the word, “Assuming”. I’m happy to use the word “Pretending”. Or whichever word would make people feel more at ease with the fact that I don’t for one second believe the laptop story or anything related because, as I’ve said, there is no there there. _Bupkis._ ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/436 "2020-10-30T13:51:16Z")
It’s not my hypothetical to the extent that it’s the right wing media that has been running with the Trumped up scenario in which Bidens are guilty of some sort of back room dealing while VeePing. A hypothetical for which there is NO evidence. Which I have also repeatedly said in a bunch of posts now. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/437 "2020-10-30T13:51:41Z")
If no one wants to play, why are you insisting on continuing your game? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/438 "2020-10-30T13:52:37Z")
You know, you’re absolutely right. I’m an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/439 "2020-10-30T13:53:34Z")
You might benefit from the word “stipulating”. In other words, “Even if I grant, for the sake of argument, this thing that _I’m totally not granting_, your point would still suck.” So: stipulating that there was good evidence that Iraq had WMDs, we still shouldn’t have gone to war. Stipulating that teachers only work their assigned hours and no more, they should still be paid more. Stipulating that Joe Biden offered corrupt help to his son, he should still become president. Responding to a stipulation by arguing the merit of the stipulation is missing the point of that construction. The person doing the stipulating _knows_ that what they’re stipulating is false. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/440 "2020-10-30T13:56:48Z")
Well now, except for an explanation of how UPS “lost” and then found Tucker’s damning documents, the Hunter Biden story has largely disappeared from Fox News website. A story which took up lots of space this past week. I wonder if their readers will notice. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/441 "2020-10-30T14:12:25Z")
Trump fans are known for their keen and dispassionate observational skills. Of course they’ll notice. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/442 "2020-10-30T14:26:32Z")
One thing I’m not clear on is how much of this “laptop data” is verifiable as Hunter’s. Is it all made up data or is some of it his real data like email database, browser cache, etc? Even if it’s not his actual laptop, it sounds like at least some of the data actually came from his laptop. If the data includes the source emails to lots of different people, the I would expect at a minimum that Hunter got hacked and someone used that data to mock up a hard drive to look like it was his. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/443 "2020-10-30T14:26:51Z")
Eight and a half minutes well spent … in an effort to inform the subject of which bat-shit crazy theories are worth investing any time into: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7LFkN7QGp2c/maxresdefault.jpg "A Full Frontal Investigation: Trump Can’t Read | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee | TBS") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LFkN7QGp2c) ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587/444 "2020-10-30T14:36:26Z")
Sorry, I did not mean to imply in any way that it was _your_ hypothetical, only that you wanted it to be taken as a given for the purpose of this discussion. I then went on to explain that, as LHOD says, that if we stipulate that everything that we have heard about the laptop and the emails and the documents were true, that that still shows no evidence of wrong doing, no evidence of using a political position for business favors. All it shows, in the worst case scenario, is legitimately using business contacts and networking to further a legitimate business interest. There could be the case made, if everything alleged is true, that Joe was not entirely honest or forthcoming when he said that he did not discuss business deals with his son, but that would be pretty much the entirety of the fallout from this hypothetically smoking gun. As I said, the only thing that is at fault here is that Hunter Biden allowed himself to become a story that could hurt his father politically. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunter-biden-laptop-question/923587.md?page=23)