You don’t think someone could screw up 15 to 20 years ago and be a good person today?
Depends on how old they were 20 years ago and what they did. Though doing something that rises to (true) skeleton level is pretty serious.
A single mistake is one thing. People like Trump, Cohen and Manafort have certainly been rotten clear through since at least high school.
What the hell does this have with either Manafort or Cohen?
I think the conversation went like this:
UV: Too bad these guys got caught. Now other qualified folks will not run for office, because they don’t want their skeletons to fall out of the closet.
Others: If their skeletons are that bad, we don’t want them.
Etc, etc, etc.
IMO, not much to do with either Manafort or Cohen, and I don’t agree with the sentiment.
Further developments - as part of Cohen’s plea, he talks about his campaign finance law violations.
Cohen has now stated that Trump has broken the law. Where do we go from here? As I understand it, the current interpretation is that charges cannot be brought against a sitting president. Is that only for crimes committed in office, or is it for anything? These particular crimes were committed prior to the election. Is the only remedy from this point impeachment?
That’s my understanding, as well. AIUI, it’s not a matter of when the alleged crimes were committed, so much as the prevailing legal theory is that a sitting president can’t be subjected to an indictment.
While he’s president, impeachment seems to be the only remedy (and still seems incredibly unlikely, so long as the GOP controls at least the House). Once he leaves office, he could well then be indicted.
So far in Trump’s presidency, his national security adviser, personal lawyer, campaign chairman, deputy campaign manager, and a foreign policy aide have all admitted to or been convicted of crimes… so far.
Swamp drained 
… and converted into a cesspool…
Thank Allah! These two miscreants being convicted of crimes unrelated to anything to do with Trump FINALLY prove that Trump colluded with Russia to subvert the election! The republic is saved.
20 dead hookers found in the concrete below Trump Tower
So what? They’re American hookers! No collusion! Lock her up!
Well, Manafort’s convictions weren’t directly connected to his work for Trump.
Cohen, on the other hand, pled guilty to making payments to two women (presumably Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels), “in coordination with and at the direction of a candidate for federal office” (unspecified, but clearly Trump), “for the principal purpose of influencing the election.”
No, nothing whatsoever to do with Trump. :rolleyes:
Keep reaching.
Indeed. If only we had some sort of precedent for presidents being impeached because of a tangential crime that investigators discovered while looking into another matter.
What would it take to convince you that Trump et al really are crooks?
Written confessions under oath aren’t enough?
Melanoma should wear a “I’m with the unindicted co-conspirator” tshirt next time they go out.
Can we make the bad men fly now?
Re: Trump’s tweet in the OP.
Good old “What-about-ism”. The get out of jail free card for corrupt politicians.
Trump just tweeted that he has respect for Manafort as a brave man and that Cohen pled guilty to things that weren’t actually crimes. What a beautiful Wednesday morning.
The best people! They won’t be in Government! Sad!
What are you talking about? Cohen pleaded guilty to paying hush money to women on behalf of Trump as part of a violation of campaign finance law. How is that unrelated to Trump?
Also, while you’re explaining that, can you also explain what you meant to convey with the phrase “Thank Allah!”?
Pretty obvious, everyone out to get Trump and his cohorts is a blood-drinking moslem bent on imposing heathen theocracy on the good people of the world. You know, like Barrack HUSSEIN Obama. Besides, these are just white-collar “crimes”. Technicalities. It’s not like anyone was actually harmed.
I want to make him say it.