# Let the corruption begin **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 11, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549 "2016-11-11T22:34:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/1 "2016-11-11T22:34:13Z")
He hasn’t even been inaugurated yet, but Trump has started his con, which I’m sure will be exacerbated by members of his cabinet in the future. He says he is going to resuscitate the Keystone pipeline. Okay; problem is, he is an [investor](http://www.dallasnews.com/business/energy/2016/10/26/financial-interest-donald-trump-dakota-access-pipeline-goes-ways) in the company that is building it and received hefty donations from them. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/2 "2016-11-11T22:35:46Z")
I like the “begin” part. Ahhh, the innocence of youth… ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/3 "2016-11-11T22:42:04Z")
I’m being told in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=810138) that there are no laws preventing Mr. Trump from remaining the head of the Trump Organization. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/4 "2016-11-11T23:33:03Z")
He also said that the Keystone project would have to give some of the profits to the government, which, according to him is “how we’re going to make our country rich again.” Problem is, it’s probably [illegal](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/donald-trump-keystone-canada-energy-224204). According to that article: > [@](#): > > Trump’s plan could run into legal trouble as a taking of oil industry property, and would probably violate World Trade Organization agreements and Congress’ exclusive constitutional authority to make decisions on taxes, experts say. It has also ruffled some feathers north of the border, with Globe and Mail columnist Jeff Jones writing that the likely Republican nominee’s “kooky” proposal “sounds uncomfortably like nationalization.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/5 "2016-11-11T23:45:36Z")
“could”, “probably”. Those are known as weasel words. It could be illegal. I don’t know, but people are saying it! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/6 "2016-11-12T00:08:09Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > “could”, “probably”. Those are known as weasel words. > > It could be illegal. I don’t know, but people are saying it! He is a master at skating around on edges of legality, I’ll warrant you. It appears that the idea is wacky enough that the pipeline company has rejected the notion. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/7 "2016-11-12T00:11:20Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > He also said that the\*\* Keystone project would have to give some of the profits to the government\*\*, which, according to him is “how we’re going to make our country rich again.” Problem is, it’s probably [illegal](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/donald-trump-keystone-canada-energy-224204). According to that article: Isn’t that sorta like, maybe a tax? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/8 "2016-11-12T00:12:05Z")
He’s named his children, who are supposed to be running his “blind trust”, to his transition team. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/9 "2016-11-12T00:18:12Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I’m being told in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=810138) that there are no laws preventing Mr. Trump from remaining the head of the Trump Organization. It is called Conflict Of Interest. There are also strict Ethics regulations and laws. “Mere mortals” can be sent to prison for it. But it’s been proven over many years that our new Dear Leader has no ethics at all. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/10 "2016-11-12T00:19:13Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > He’s named his children, who are supposed to be running his “blind trust”, to his transition team. Real blind there. I call bullshit on that arrangement. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/11 "2016-11-12T00:30:21Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Okay; problem is, he is an [investor](http://www.dallasnews.com/business/energy/2016/10/26/financial-interest-donald-trump-dakota-access-pipeline-goes-ways) in the company that is building it and received hefty donations from them. Why do you hate capitalism, comrade? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/12 "2016-11-12T03:07:08Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > Why do you hate capitalism, comrade? Oh, right. I forgot that we will be entering the ‘free market’ mode come January. Plunder at will and then laugh at the little people. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/13 "2016-11-12T03:52:18Z")
Maybe he’ll be the richest man who ever faced a firing squad, come the revolution. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/14 "2016-11-12T04:30:54Z")
You know, I scoffed at the idea of impeachment. He really seems to be working for it though. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/15 "2016-11-12T04:36:07Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Maybe he’ll be the richest man who ever faced a firing squad, come the revolution. He (or his family) can certainly afford the bullets. Even if he insists on solid gold. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/16 "2016-11-12T04:39:12Z")
I predict that his reticence and refusal to put appropriate distance between his company and his new federal job will ultimately be his downfall. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/17 "2016-11-12T04:42:43Z")
Maybe Trump can finally make his first billion! ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/18 "2016-11-12T04:56:21Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > It is called Conflict Of Interest. There are also strict Ethics regulations and laws. “Mere mortals” can be sent to prison for it. But it’s been proven over many years that our new Dear Leader has no ethics at all. Lock him up!!! ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/19 "2016-11-12T04:57:11Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I like the “begin” part. > > Ahhh, the innocence of youth… Holy fuck, this. Were the wikileaks/Podesta emails made out of whole cloth? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2016, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549/20 "2016-11-12T06:02:45Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > It is called Conflict Of Interest. There are also strict Ethics regulations and laws. “Mere mortals” can be sent to prison for it. But it’s been proven over many years that our new Dear Leader has no ethics at all. If you can cite the laws that apply, I’d really love to have you join us in that Elections thread that I linked. So far I’m being told there aren’t any, but it may be that I phrased my question poorly. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-corruption-begin/771549.md?page=2)