How does Trump justify not releasing his taxes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trump says he was smart not to pay taxes for multiple years and he was certainly smart to not disclose his returns given the media bias against him that would have dissected every portion of his return - and often inaccurately.

The final proof that he did the right thing is that he won the election!

I did not vote for him and am not enamored of him but the guy is shrewd and has an almost feral sense of what he can get away with. His detractors can bad mouth him and rant endlessly about his lack of transparency, etc but in the ultimate analysis it worked for him and that is what matters when it comes to an election.

Yes, it worked for him because his fan base were gullible and stupid. I'll say again... he told Americans "screw you" about his taxes, and half of America bent over, and said, "thank you sir may I have another".

"Make America great again" vs "Breaking the glass ceiling"

No contest that Trump had a better slogan; even worse was her slogan "I am with her"

Can there be a dumber slogan than the one below which emphasizes her and not her support of the people?

The other strange thing about using "I'm With Her" as a campaign slogan is that it's like one of those tee shirts sometimes you see people wearing, where the point is to snidely insult whoever you're with, I guess as a sarcastic inside joke of some kind.

So, just using "I'm With Her" reminded people that either it means the voters who are with her are the dummies, or she's the dummy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think Trump's financial affairs were completely irrelevant to the people who voted for him, but his refusal to release returns was simply not the "deal breaker" that the left would like it to be.

So many of his supporters talked about how he was such a great businessman, even with all of the information pouring in from right and left about how he wasn't. It's almost like they had watched him act like a great businessman on TV for a decade and believed it despite hundreds of real-life examples to the contrary.

He's a bad businessman like he's a bad politician. He kicks ass and takes names at both trades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not one person on here would have changed their vote to Trump if he had released his returns. There was no advantage to him in doing so. Just because it has been a "tradition" doesn't make it a requirement. The left would have been all over his taxes for one reason or another and he would have lost votes as a result. He will never release his taxes - now or in the future. Get used to it.

MAGA.

Then WHY WHY was Trump so damn insistent on Romney releasing his? You *really* can't see how hypocritical he is? Gawd, you are sooo blind!

Because Trump is a smart politician. Romney never should have released. All pols are hypocrites. He made a very shrewd political move and will continue to do so as President. It's a good thing if you support him and a bad thing if you don't.

http://www.npr.org/2016/08/12/489791576/3-reasons-we-care-about-politicians-taxes

First, A Little History

It's a political cliche to say that if you want a friend in Washington get a dog.

And the origin of politicians releasing their tax returns goes back to Richard Nixon — and his cocker spaniel.

Nixon, running as Eisenhower's vice president in 1952, was accused of financial wrongdoing "related to a fund established by political backers to pay for campaign expenses," Joseph J. Thorndike of the Tax History Project wrote in 2012.

Reasons We Care

1. Conflicts of interest: Almost every candidate who runs for public office is fairly wealthy. (Even the candidates who have the government pay their salary, like Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, make far more money than the average American.) Because of that wealth, how they made their money (we'll get to heart in a second) can tell you whether they have potential conflicts of interest — who they made that money from.


2. Do they have heart? Tax returns tell us how much candidates give to charity. The Clintons, as noted above, gave between 8 and 15 percent — or about $15 million total — during that eight-year period. Most of that went through the Clinton Family Foundation, as The Atlantic reported. They also contributed to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, First United Methodist Church and the Humana Challenge golf tournament.


3. Are they like us? Again, these candidates are much wealthier than the average American. Median household income in this country is $53,482, according to the census. The Clintons made $28 million in 2014 (mostly from speeches). They also live in a posh New York suburb, Chappaqua, where they bought their home for $1.7 million in 1999 just before leaving the White House. (In 2016 money, that appreciates to about $2.5 million.) The average home price in the U.S. in June 2016 was $358,000 (median home price was $307,000).

Trump, of course, makes it a point to say he's "really rich," claiming he's worth $9 billion. Trump's net worth is something of a mystery. He says it fluctuates even based on his own "feelings." The Washington Post reported this week on a 2007 deposition that caught Trump in repeated lies and exaggerations when it came to his wealth and earnings. His tax returns would certainly clarify whether he is as rich as he says.

Bank on topic - Trump nor Tillerson will release their taxes because they have stuff to hide.

[Anonymous]

What the heck do the slogans have to do with Trump releasing his tax returns, other than his slogan possibly blinding his supporters to all his faults?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think Trump's financial affairs were completely irrelevant to the people who voted for him, but his refusal to release returns was simply not the "deal breaker" that the left would like it to be.

So many of his supporters talked about how he was such a great businessman, even with all of the information pouring in from right and left about how he wasn't. It's almost like they had watched him act like a great businessman on TV for a decade and believed it despite hundreds of real-life examples to the contrary.

To Trumpsters, Trump could do absolutely no wrong. Remember, he could shoot someone on 5th ave, and Trumpsters would still vote for him. That's how little Trump thinks of his supporters - "they must have such little morals and respect for themselves that they would continue to support me even if I shot someone".

Again, you Trumpsters don't seem to realize how little he respects you, even after he pretty much said those exact same words "most people don't deserve respect". He was talking about most of his base -- the poorly educated, the ones who are still waiting for the manufacturing jobs instead of finding other opportunities.

So, when Trump was quoted on the campaign trail one time as saying "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," was your expectation that Trump would eat a horse?

Surely even someone on the far left couldn't be so stupid as to take such a statement literally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think Trump's financial affairs were completely irrelevant to the people who voted for him, but his refusal to release returns was simply not the "deal breaker" that the left would like it to be.

So many of his supporters talked about how he was such a great businessman, even with all of the information pouring in from right and left about how he wasn't. It's almost like they had watched him act like a great businessman on TV for a decade and believed it despite hundreds of real-life examples to the contrary.

He's a showman. His voter base is full of people who suck up WWE and The Apprentice and who buy his schtick. They don't realize it's just a production for entertainment with no reality behind any of it.

Sorta like Obama then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think Trump's financial affairs were completely irrelevant to the people who voted for him, but his refusal to release returns was simply not the "deal breaker" that the left would like it to be.

So many of his supporters talked about how he was such a great businessman, even with all of the information pouring in from right and left about how he wasn't. It's almost like they had watched him act like a great businessman on TV for a decade and believed it despite hundreds of real-life examples to the contrary.

He's a showman. His voter base is full of people who suck up WWE and The Apprentice and who buy his schtick. They don't realize it's just a production for entertainment with no reality behind any of it.

Sorta like Obama then.

Yes, in opposite-land.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not one person on here would have changed their vote to Trump if he had released his returns. There was no advantage to him in doing so. Just because it has been a "tradition" doesn't make it a requirement. The left would have been all over his taxes for one reason or another and he would have lost votes as a result. He will never release his taxes - now or in the future. Get used to it.

MAGA.

Then WHY WHY was Trump so damn insistent on Romney releasing his? You *really* can't see how hypocritical he is? Gawd, you are sooo blind!

Because Trump is a smart politician. Romney never should have released. All pols are hypocrites. He made a very shrewd political move and will continue to do so as President. It's a good thing if you support him and a bad thing if you don't.

http://www.npr.org/2016/08/12/489791576/3-reasons-we-care-about-politicians-taxes

Or because there is simply no reason to do so. Trump will be President and Tillerson will be SOS (thanks Reid).

First, A Little History

It's a political cliche to say that if you want a friend in Washington get a dog.

And the origin of politicians releasing their tax returns goes back to Richard Nixon — and his cocker spaniel.

Nixon, running as Eisenhower's vice president in 1952, was accused of financial wrongdoing "related to a fund established by political backers to pay for campaign expenses," Joseph J. Thorndike of the Tax History Project wrote in 2012.

Reasons We Care

1. Conflicts of interest: Almost every candidate who runs for public office is fairly wealthy. (Even the candidates who have the government pay their salary, like Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, make far more money than the average American.) Because of that wealth, how they made their money (we'll get to heart in a second) can tell you whether they have potential conflicts of interest — who they made that money from.


2. Do they have heart? Tax returns tell us how much candidates give to charity. The Clintons, as noted above, gave between 8 and 15 percent — or about $15 million total — during that eight-year period. Most of that went through the Clinton Family Foundation, as The Atlantic reported. They also contributed to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, First United Methodist Church and the Humana Challenge golf tournament.


3. Are they like us? Again, these candidates are much wealthier than the average American. Median household income in this country is $53,482, according to the census. The Clintons made $28 million in 2014 (mostly from speeches). They also live in a posh New York suburb, Chappaqua, where they bought their home for $1.7 million in 1999 just before leaving the White House. (In 2016 money, that appreciates to about $2.5 million.) The average home price in the U.S. in June 2016 was $358,000 (median home price was $307,000).

Trump, of course, makes it a point to say he's "really rich," claiming he's worth $9 billion. Trump's net worth is something of a mystery. He says it fluctuates even based on his own "feelings." The Washington Post reported this week on a 2007 deposition that caught Trump in repeated lies and exaggerations when it came to his wealth and earnings. His tax returns would certainly clarify whether he is as rich as he says.

Bank on topic - Trump nor Tillerson will release their taxes because they have stuff to hide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trump says he was smart not to pay taxes for multiple years and he was certainly smart to not disclose his returns given the media bias against him that would have dissected every portion of his return - and often inaccurately.

The final proof that he did the right thing is that he won the election!

I did not vote for him and am not enamored of him but the guy is shrewd and has an almost feral sense of what he can get away with. His detractors can bad mouth him and rant endlessly about his lack of transparency, etc but in the ultimate analysis it worked for him and that is what matters when it comes to an election.

Yes, it worked for him because his fan base were gullible and stupid. I'll say again... he told Americans "screw you" about his taxes, and half of America bent over, and said, "thank you sir may I have another".

"Make America great again" vs "Breaking the glass ceiling"

No contest that Trump had a better slogan; even worse was her slogan "I am with her"

Can there be a dumber slogan than the one below which emphasizes her and not her support of the people?

"Make America Great Again" - Fuck you. America already IS great. We can make it better, but his slogan's implication that America has nosedived like a handcart spiraling into the depths of hell is insulting.

It's a dog whistle. Make America Great Again speaks to those who long for a time when African Americans weren't president, women knew their place, whites were a clear majority in virtually every region - there wasn't as near as much diversity - and identity politics wasn't as prominent. It also speaks to those who think their manufacturing jobs are gone because of illegal immigrants, though, of course, one has nothing to do with the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think Trump's financial affairs were completely irrelevant to the people who voted for him, but his refusal to release returns was simply not the "deal breaker" that the left would like it to be.

So many of his supporters talked about how he was such a great businessman, even with all of the information pouring in from right and left about how he wasn't. It's almost like they had watched him act like a great businessman on TV for a decade and believed it despite hundreds of real-life examples to the contrary.

He's a showman. His voter base is full of people who suck up WWE and The Apprentice and who buy his schtick. They don't realize it's just a production for entertainment with no reality behind any of it.

Sorta like Obama then.

Yes, in opposite-land.

And in Realville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think Trump's financial affairs were completely irrelevant to the people who voted for him, but his refusal to release returns was simply not the "deal breaker" that the left would like it to be.

So many of his supporters talked about how he was such a great businessman, even with all of the information pouring in from right and left about how he wasn't. It's almost like they had watched him act like a great businessman on TV for a decade and believed it despite hundreds of real-life examples to the contrary.

To Trumpsters, Trump could do absolutely no wrong. Remember, he could shoot someone on 5th ave, and Trumpsters would still vote for him. That's how little Trump thinks of his supporters - "they must have such little morals and respect for themselves that they would continue to support me even if I shot someone".

Again, you Trumpsters don't seem to realize how little he respects you, even after he pretty much said those exact same words "most people don't deserve respect". He was talking about most of his base -- the poorly educated, the ones who are still waiting for the manufacturing jobs instead of finding other opportunities.

So, when Trump was quoted on the campaign trail one time as saying "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," was your expectation that Trump would eat a horse?

Surely even someone on the far left couldn't be so stupid as to take such a statement literally.

No - like this


Trump voters didn’t take him literally on Obamacare. Oops?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-voters-didnt-take-him-literally-on-obamacare-oops/2016/12/20/46ef3cae-c6f3-11e6-bf4b-2c064d32a4bf_story.html?utm_term=.0bcfcfc1295c

and this

Why Obamacare enrollees voted for Trump
In Whitley County, Kentucky, the uninsured rate declined 60 percent under Obamacare. So why did 82 percent of voters there support Donald Trump?

http://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2016/12/13/13848794/kentucky-obamacare-trump

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think Trump's financial affairs were completely irrelevant to the people who voted for him, but his refusal to release returns was simply not the "deal breaker" that the left would like it to be.

So many of his supporters talked about how he was such a great businessman, even with all of the information pouring in from right and left about how he wasn't. It's almost like they had watched him act like a great businessman on TV for a decade and believed it despite hundreds of real-life examples to the contrary.

To Trumpsters, Trump could do absolutely no wrong. Remember, he could shoot someone on 5th ave, and Trumpsters would still vote for him. That's how little Trump thinks of his supporters - "they must have such little morals and respect for themselves that they would continue to support me even if I shot someone".

Again, you Trumpsters don't seem to realize how little he respects you, even after he pretty much said those exact same words "most people don't deserve respect". He was talking about most of his base -- the poorly educated, the ones who are still waiting for the manufacturing jobs instead of finding other opportunities.

So, when Trump was quoted on the campaign trail one time as saying "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," was your expectation that Trump would eat a horse?

Surely even someone on the far left couldn't be so stupid as to take such a statement literally.

No - like this


Trump voters didn’t take him literally on Obamacare. Oops?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-voters-didnt-take-him-literally-on-obamacare-oops/2016/12/20/46ef3cae-c6f3-11e6-bf4b-2c064d32a4bf_story.html?utm_term=.0bcfcfc1295c

and this

Why Obamacare enrollees voted for Trump
In Whitley County, Kentucky, the uninsured rate declined 60 percent under Obamacare. So why did 82 percent of voters there support Donald Trump?

http://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2016/12/13/13848794/kentucky-obamacare-trump

k

Yeah, it's kind of like the bible they like to quote. For things like abortions and gay marriage you must live by every single word of it..but everything else, meh that was a long time ago. I see this as no different. Stupid people pick and choose what they want to believe and live by.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think Trump's financial affairs were completely irrelevant to the people who voted for him, but his refusal to release returns was simply not the "deal breaker" that the left would like it to be.

So many of his supporters talked about how he was such a great businessman, even with all of the information pouring in from right and left about how he wasn't. It's almost like they had watched him act like a great businessman on TV for a decade and believed it despite hundreds of real-life examples to the contrary.

To Trumpsters, Trump could do absolutely no wrong. Remember, he could shoot someone on 5th ave, and Trumpsters would still vote for him. That's how little Trump thinks of his supporters - "they must have such little morals and respect for themselves that they would continue to support me even if I shot someone".

Again, you Trumpsters don't seem to realize how little he respects you, even after he pretty much said those exact same words "most people don't deserve respect". He was talking about most of his base -- the poorly educated, the ones who are still waiting for the manufacturing jobs instead of finding other opportunities.

So, when Trump was quoted on the campaign trail one time as saying "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," was your expectation that Trump would eat a horse?

Surely even someone on the far left couldn't be so stupid as to take such a statement literally.

No - like this


Trump voters didn’t take him literally on Obamacare. Oops?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-voters-didnt-take-him-literally-on-obamacare-oops/2016/12/20/46ef3cae-c6f3-11e6-bf4b-2c064d32a4bf_story.html?utm_term=.0bcfcfc1295c

and this

Why Obamacare enrollees voted for Trump
In Whitley County, Kentucky, the uninsured rate declined 60 percent under Obamacare. So why did 82 percent of voters there support Donald Trump?

http://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2016/12/13/13848794/kentucky-obamacare-trump

k

Yeah, it's kind of like the bible they like to quote. For things like abortions and gay marriage you must live by every single word of it..but everything else, meh that was a long time ago. I see this as no different. Stupid people pick and choose what they want to believe and live by.

That Trump, he doesn't mean it when he says grab them by the pu**y or repeal Obamacare, but he means it when he says Make America Great Again!

[Anonymous]

Some of you aren't too bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think Trump's financial affairs were completely irrelevant to the people who voted for him, but his refusal to release returns was simply not the "deal breaker" that the left would like it to be.

So many of his supporters talked about how he was such a great businessman, even with all of the information pouring in from right and left about how he wasn't. It's almost like they had watched him act like a great businessman on TV for a decade and believed it despite hundreds of real-life examples to the contrary.

To Trumpsters, Trump could do absolutely no wrong. Remember, he could shoot someone on 5th ave, and Trumpsters would still vote for him. That's how little Trump thinks of his supporters - "they must have such little morals and respect for themselves that they would continue to support me even if I shot someone".

Again, you Trumpsters don't seem to realize how little he respects you, even after he pretty much said those exact same words "most people don't deserve respect". He was talking about most of his base -- the poorly educated, the ones who are still waiting for the manufacturing jobs instead of finding other opportunities.

So, when Trump was quoted on the campaign trail one time as saying "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," was your expectation that Trump would eat a horse?

Surely even someone on the far left couldn't be so stupid as to take such a statement literally.

So, what you're saying is that the whole meme of Trump saying what's on his mind and telling it like it is was pure bunk?