2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumI'm done with Chris Matthews of MSNBC.
Today he returns from vacation and what's first out of the box? A story about Bill Clinton who earned $17.6M over five years working as an Honorary Chancellor of a for-profit university. Tweety didn't mention the name of the university or cite any complaints associated with the university. He did raise the question, "What is Bill Clinton doing these days, selling his name to institutions? He then speculated about how many hours would he have had to work to earn $17M over five years, at what rate per hour. My question to Tweety would be, "How much do you get paid to come up with the bullshit that you speculate about under the guise of 'reporting'.
According to the Washington Post reporter, Rosalind Helderman, who was on the show discussing the story, said that Bill Clinton's name gives legitimacy to the university. She also stated that she had interviewed the university and they stated that Bill Clinton had worked for the money, and it was not just given to him. Also, students who attended the university said that having the former president affiliated with the university enhanced its credibility.
When asked by Tweety how she heard about this, she said she read it in the Clinton's Tax Returns and Hillary Clinton's Financial Disclosure Documents (FDD) that she is required to file. She said all the information was right there in her Tax Returns and FDDs. Mind you, none of this is illegal. It's what former presidents have been doing as part of their post-presidential activities, for as far back as I can remember. I recall that when the Reagans, left office, their "friends" gave them a $2.5M house in Bel Air, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Their friends also raised the money to build the Reagan Presidential Library, probably the nicest and most expensive presidential library ever built, and the Reagans didn't have to go around with their hat in their hand asking for donations either. Then Ronnie went on his own Speaking tour and one of his first visits was a $2M speech during an 8 day visit to Japan. Also GWB makes a quiet fortune giving speeches as well, but this obviously doesn't bother Tweety, only whatever the Clinton's do.
Also, didn't Trump just double or triple the amount of rent that he is charging his campaign to rent campaign space in Trump Towers. A campaign headquarters that is void of any semblance of a presidential campaign headquarters. Also, his FEC filings show that many of the businesses he paid for campaign related services out of campaign donations, belong to Trump or his children.
If I were the next presidential candidate, I wouldn't turn over any documents that I'm not required by law, or the office that I'm seeking to release. It had been rumored last month, that Trump has amassed a lot of debt to foreigners (specifically China and Russia) that he hasn't disclosed and in some cases may not be required to disclose. Trump's required financial disclosure statement filings indicate is outstanding debt in the amount of $315M but it could be as much as $2B.
Mr. Trump has said that if he were elected president, his children would be likely to run his company. Many presidents, to avoid any appearance of a conflict, have placed their holdings in blind trusts, which typically involves selling the original asset, and replacing it with different assets unknown to the seller.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/21/us/politics/donald-trump-debt.html
LenaBaby61
(6,974 posts)You're just NOW done with Matthews?
But I hear you!!!
politicaljunkie41910
(3,335 posts)Peregrine Took
(7,414 posts)We watch him off and on but only to laugh at him.
thumbs up
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)Clinton Staffer at his last cocktail party,and now he is pissed. What a sorry ass loser.
northoftheborder
(7,572 posts)talks and interrupts constantly.
doc03
(35,340 posts)I can never predict how he will come down on any issue. The only MSNBC commentator I have any confidence in is Rachel.
book_worm
(15,951 posts)the next day Tweety does a tour-de-force job on the GOP. You never know what you're going to get with Matthews.
wisteria
(19,581 posts)Jim Dandy
(358 posts)One of many reasons I don't watch cable "news."
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)I don't watch ANY Cable News programs any more. Not a one of them is worth the waste of time.
MFM008
(19,814 posts)Saying no matter what the maggot does he will have to stand and watch Clinton become president on election night.