# Sam Stone believes Trump's tweets **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 10, 2020, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633 "2020-10-10T13:47:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 41
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2021, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/803 "2021-04-16T15:47:11Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > This is the kind of thing that Sam has tried to minimize over and over again by calling them process crimes. “Mueller found no crimes related to collusion, only process crimes,” and the like. > > Process crimes are crimes, and these particular process crimes were lying to the FBI to cover up collusion. Collusion that indisputably took place. Sam also tried to claim that the convictions for lying under oath showed that there were no crimes related to Russia, despite the fact that six of the seven Trump associates convicted were specifically lying about their meetings with Russia (Roger Stone lied about other things). ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/804 "2021-04-16T15:53:35Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > In the Politics and Elections forum, poster **Sherrerd** had a nice summation that is good for any right wingers who apparently find the whole thing too complicated He was quoting the WaPo article. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/805 "2021-04-16T16:09:06Z")
He was quoting WaPo quoting him quoting WaPo. We’re good. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2021, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/806 "2021-04-16T16:47:46Z")
It’s quotes all the way down… ---
**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:** [April 16, 2021, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/807 "2021-04-16T17:53:54Z")
I’m sure Sam will be along shortly to admit he was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/808 "2021-04-17T17:58:19Z")
I read Andrew Weissman’s book “Where Law Ends”. There was a tidbit in the book that I found absolutely hysterical. It has to do with why Manafort’s plea agreement fell apart. The investigators, after a few false starts, thought he was being basically honest about his dealings with Russians. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was a deposit into one of Manafort’s bank accounts, about 500K worth of income. Manafort lied about where it came from. He got busted and lied again. They just couldn’t get an honest answer out of him. The income had nothing to do with Russia, it was connected to a pro-Trump PAC founded by a Manafort crony. The 500K was determined to be some sort of bogus consulting fee, a kickback from the PAC Manafort’s crony started. In effect, Manafort was stealing money that had been donated to help Trump. The investigators knew this but Manafort would never confirm it. It’s all about the grift. Always. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2021, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/809 "2021-04-17T18:01:01Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > In effect, Manafort was stealing money that had been donated to help Trump. The investigators knew this but Manafort would never confirm it. I wonder if trump would have pardoned him if he knew that he was stealing from him. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/810 "2021-04-21T20:19:41Z")
“[250 National Guard troops and hundreds of police officers … had mobilized and prepared for potential protests in the District [in response to Chauvin being found not guilty]](https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/washington-dc-reacts-derek-chauvin-trial-verdict-george-floyd/65-4636420a-f664-4ee4-8716-e6c2bbfa361e)”. What happened to the “[standing army](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-grievance-is-not-a-governing-agenda/937288/133)”? 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/811 "2021-05-20T03:10:16Z")
Sam on the Arizona fraudit… > [@The Arizona recount--reactions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arizona-recount-reactions/942378/23): > > Answering the OP, IF the recount concludes with ‘significant irregularities’ that look credible, it won’t put Trump back in office, or even invalidate the Arizona election. Tragic gullibility? Straight up chicken fucking? You decide. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/812 "2021-05-20T03:41:19Z")
From that same thread I found this particular comment laughable: > [@The Arizona recount--reactions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-arizona-recount-reactions/942378/23): > > I have no opinion on the quality of the audit or the likelihood of finding anything, as I haven’t really paid it much attention. After being obsessed with defending the GOP and their policies, our Canadian friend wants us to believe he hasn’t been paying attention to the AZ fraudit? What a load of caribou shit. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/813 "2021-05-20T16:24:52Z")
I almost included that one as well. “I don’t know anything about this topic. Here’s my opinion on it anyway.” Shut. The. Fuck. Up. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/814 "2021-05-20T20:16:16Z")
He’s always WRONG about everything. He sure thinks he’s super smart though. How does someone become so totally tedious? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/815 "2021-05-20T22:03:41Z")
He’s the Frank Burns of the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/816 "2021-05-20T22:21:15Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > He’s always WRONG about everything. He sure thinks he’s super smart though. How does someone become so totally tedious? Sam’s politics have always been anchored by tribalism, and the ground has shifted underneath his feet. 90%++ of Republicans are pro-Trump, while never-Trump conservatives are electorally irrelevant. Their leaders and the base was never committed to alleged conservative principles c. 1980-2015: they just pretended to be. So conservatives who took libertarian leaning ideology seriously were caught naked when the tide went out. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/817 "2021-05-20T23:08:10Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > 90%++ of Republicans are pro-Trump Not any more, it seems (though the poll addresses the matter indirectly). > **[Republicans support the GOP more than Trump for the first time in 2 years, a...](https://www.businessinsider.com/republicans-support-gop-more-than-trump-poll-2021-4)** > > Trump's support among Republican voters has been remarkably strong for years, but a new poll suggests it could be waning. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/818 "2021-05-21T02:48:10Z")
It’s a great idea to keep tabs on Trump’s grip on the GOP base (and to check my work), but the question wording in that NBC poll is… strange. [The raw data is on page 19 of this .pdf](https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/20690434/210098-nbc-news-april-poll-4-25-21-release.pdf). > Q: Do you consider yourself to be more of a supporter of Donald Trump or more of a supporter of the Republican Party? That’s a reasonable question to ask about a sitting President, but it has a distinctly cultish feel when asked about a former President. Comparing 4/21 to a time period shortly before an election might merely reflect a neurotypical inclination to move on. The poll also gives a favorability rating (are your views of Trump positive or negative?) but unfortunately that’s not broken down by party affiliation. * * * Over at Gallup they break down Trump’s approval rating by party affiliation. I was surprised to see a decline among Republicans at the end. Here’s some of the data: ```auto Donald Trump Job Approval by Party Identification |Republicans| | --- | --- | --- | --- | |2021|| |2021 Jan 4-15|82| |2020|| |2020 Dec 1-17|87 |2020 Nov 5-19|90 |2020 Oct 16-27|95 |2020 Sep 30-Oct 15|94 |2020 Sep 14-28|94| |2020 Aug 31-Sep 13|92| |2020 Jul 30-Aug 12|90| ``` Those last 2 figures - 87% and 82% - were unusually low and I’m less inclined to explain them away. That said, 80%++ is still pretty high. I believe it would be difficult to argue that the spell has been broken. I’ll note that GOP answers NBC’s question differed little between 1/21/21 and 4/21/21, so maybe we are around the zone we were at Biden’s inaugural. Or not, given weird question. > **[Presidential Approval Ratings -- Donald Trump](https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx)** > > Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/819 "2021-05-21T04:03:49Z")
(post withdrawn by author, will be automatically deleted in 24 hours unless flagged) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/820 "2021-05-21T14:18:27Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > …automatically deleted in 24 hours unless flagged What happened to the 876,000-hour flag window? ☹ ---
**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:** [May 21, 2021, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/821 "2021-05-21T14:22:05Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > > [@squeegee](#): > > > > …automatically deleted in 24 hours unless flagged > > What happened to the 876,000-hour flag window? - > > ☹ Special case. It’s only available every 99.9239 years. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-stone-believes-trumps-tweets/922633/823 "2021-05-21T22:05:40Z")
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