New Yorker magazine exposes Donald Trump's history of buying off women to keep his numerous extramarital affairs secret.

Trump with Karen McDougal

Courtesy of The New Yorker:  

Trump and McDougal began an affair, which McDougal later memorialized in an eight-page, handwritten document provided to The New Yorker by John Crawford, a friend of McDougal’s. When I showed McDougal the document, she expressed surprise that I had obtained it but confirmed that the handwriting was her own.

The interactions that McDougal outlines in the document share striking similarities with the stories of other women who claim to have had sexual relationships with Trump, or who have accused him of propositioning them for sex or sexually harassing them. McDougal describes their affair as entirely consensual. But her account provides a detailed look at how Trump and his allies used clandestine hotel-room meetings, payoffs, and complex legal agreements to keep affairs—sometimes multiple affairs he carried out simultaneously—out of the press. 

On November 4, 2016, four days before the election, the Wall Street Journal reported that American Media, Inc., the publisher of the National Enquirer, had paid a hundred and fifty thousand dollars for exclusive rights to McDougal’s story, which it never ran. Purchasing a story in order to bury it is a practice that many in the tabloid industry call “catch and kill.” This is a favorite tactic of the C.E.O. and chairman of A.M.I., David Pecker, who describes the President as “a personal friend.” As part of the agreement, A.M.I. consented to publish a regular aging-and-fitness column by McDougal. After Trump won the Presidency, however, A.M.I.’s promises largely went unfulfilled, according to McDougal. Last month, the Journal reported that Trump’s personal lawyer had negotiated a separate agreement just before the election with an adult-film actress named Stephanie Clifford, whose screen name is Stormy Daniels, which barred her from discussing her own affair with Trump. Since then, A.M.I. has repeatedly approached McDougal about extending her contract. 

McDougal, in her first on-the-record comments about A.M.I.’s handling of her story, declined to discuss the details of her relationship with Trump, for fear of violating the agreement she reached with the company. She did say, however, that she regretted signing the contract. “It took my rights away,” McDougal told me. “At this point I feel I can’t talk about anything without getting into trouble, because I don’t know what I’m allowed to talk about. I’m afraid to even mention his name.”

The article also says that Trump offered to pay McDougal after the first time they had sex (She refused the money.), that the affair lasted nine months, and during that time he flew her around the country, and even introduced her to his family and friends.

McDougal's account essentially reinforces the story that Stormy Daniels told before Trump's attorney bought her silence, and the others that have been talked about for years.

Donald Trump's actions essentially scream about his innate insecurities, though to be honest we already knew that by the fact that he names every damn thing he touches after himself.

However these numerous sexual encounters also clearly gave the Russians plenty of kompromat to use against Trump, and we know by the fact that he worked so hard to keep them quiet, that it would be very effective in buying his cooperation.

So I ask again, does the president of the United States have a security clearance that allows him to do his job?

And if he does, how in the fuck did he get it?

Carl Bernstein concerning Trump/Russia investigation: "Oh my god, there’s a cover-up going on."

Courtesy of The Independent:  

Famed Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein says that the investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn could end up revealing a “cover-up” of alleged connections between President Donald Trump's team and Russia. 

“I think it's obvious that Gen. Flynn is in up to his neck in terms, not just of possible crimes involving his speeches and whether or not he registered as a foreign agent, which he should have and didn’t,” Mr Bernstein said. 

“There, he is central to what the FBI believes is a cover-up going on among people close to the president of the United States about what happened with the Trump campaign and Russia,” Mr Bernstein, who is now a CNN commentator, said. "The FBI, the congressional investigators are trying to learn what happened. And Flynn is almost like the ball of yarn that begins to unspool and is key to understanding it."

Mr Bernstein said that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, now that he is leading the Justice Department's probe into Russia's role alleged in the election, will eventually see that there is a cover-up as well. "He is going to see, ‘Oh my god, there’s a cover-up going on,’" Bernstein said.

This is not the first time that Carl Bernstein has dropped a bomb about an active coverup within the Trump Administration nor is he now the only one doing so.

It should also be noted that currently 4 in 10 Americans believe that the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians: 

An ABC News/Washington Post poll published Wednesday morning found 56 percent believe Russia tried to meddle in the election, while 39 percent think Trump campaign aides intentionally tried to help them.

With public opinion turning against them so dramatically it makes sense that the Trump folks would be trying to cover up what actually took place during the 2016 election cycle.

However to do so would indicate that they have not paid attention to history, and are unaware of the lessons of Watergate.

FBI Director James Comey swats down another Hillary email conspiracy theory.

Courtesy of Politico:  

The FBI concluded that a computer technician working on Clinton's email was not engaged in an illicit cover-up when he asked on the Reddit website for a tool that could delete a "VIP" email address throughout a large file, FBI Director James Comey said Wednesday. 

Republican lawmakers have suggested that the July 2014 Reddit post from a user believed to be Platte River Networks specialist Paul Combetta showed an effort to hide Clinton's emails from investigators. 

However, at a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, Comey said FBI agents concluded that all the computer aide was trying to do was replace Clinton's email address so it wouldn't be revealed to the public. 

"Our team concluded that what he was trying to do was when they produced emails not have the actual address but have some name or placeholder instead of the actual dot-com address in the 'From:' line," Comey said. 

Comey of course said this in front of a GOP led committee that was fired up after some pro-Trump folks on Reddit thought they had discovered some kind of smoking gun:

In the 2014 Reddit post, user "Stonetear" described "a very interesting situation where I need to strip out a VIP’s (VERY VIP) email address from a bunch of archived email that I have both in a live Exchange mailbox, as well as a PST file."

This inspired the Right Wing conspiracy machine to start cranking out headlines like, "How Reddit Ruined The Hillary Clinton Campaign," Clinton's Email Scandal Is Back In The News Again — Because Of Reddit," and "Reddit Busts Hillary Clinton Email Cover-up."

I actually visit Reddit several times a day, and I watched this whole thing start to take off.

In the beginning there were a few voices of reason essentially pointing out that this in no way pointed to proof of any conspiracy or coverup, however they were quickly shouted down by the Reddit crowd's fascination with conspiracy theories, and of course a sort of overriding dislike for Hillary Clinton.

Anyhow before you knew it folks were talking indictment, dusting off the Bernie Sanders campaign again, and of course talking cover up, cover up, cover up.

At this point I am essentially finished with all things e-mail, private server, or Clinton criminality.

EVERY SINGLE "explosive" new detail about any of these subjects has eventually turned out to be a nothing burger.

I have watched time and time again as the Right Wing has wound themselves up into a mouth frothing frenzy over some supposed "nail in the coffin" factoid only to have an investigation find nothing, or next to nothing worthy of their celebratory chest beating.

Perhaps John Oliver said it best about all of these Hillary Clinton "scandals" last weekend. "It's not good, but it's not as bad as it looks."

When lying about being caught having gay sex in an alley is preferable to the truth. Update!

 Courtesy of The Hill: 

Michigan state Rep. Todd Courser (R) planned to release a fake story claiming that he was caught having sex with a male prostitute in order to cover up his relationship with fellow state Rep. Cindy Gamrat (R), according to audio recordings released by The Detroit News Friday. 

Courser was apparently caught on tape discussing the plan in a series of recordings made by a House aide. 

“Courser secretly removed from Caucus several weeks ago due to male on male paid for sex behind a prominent Lansing nightclub,” an email announcing the fake story would have stated. “He is a bisexual, porn-addicted sexual deviant.” 

Courser said on one recording that the fake story was designed to make any subsequent reports look like “a complete smear campaign” against him. He also commented that the story needed to “make anything else that comes out after that — that isn’t a video — mundane, tame by comparison.” 

“I need to, if possible, inoculate the herd against gutter politics that are coming,” he said.

Okay this one is a little hard to wrap my head around.

So this conservative lawmaker was willing to release a story that he was a porn addicted, male prostitute visiting, closeted homosexual rather than have the true story of his affair with a female lawmaker come to light.

Gee that must make her feel terrific.

Yes I realize that the plan, a poorly thought out one in my opinion, was to reveal that this gay sex story was false in the hopes that it would give Courser the credibility to dismiss the true story as well.

But I still don't see how he thought something like that would work.

That is some crazy conservative thinking right there.

Update: As it turns out these two were also ardent defenders of "traditional marriage":  

“We are living in the last days,” Gamrat wrote on Facebook after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. “Last Friday was a sad day for America. Last Friday was a crushing day for those who believe in traditional marriage and traditional morality. I need your help and your country needs your help now.” 

Gamrat said the ruling was a “trampling of the people” and that “the ramifications of this decision will be devastating, affecting churches, schools, businesses, pastors, government officials, and families.” 

After the ruling, Courser proposed a bill with Gamrat’s support requiring all marriage certificates in the state to be signed by a religious leader, essentially making it impossible for municipal or judicial officials to wed gays. “The contract that has been in place for thousands of years is between a man and his wife on one side and God on the other side,” Courser said. 

As if that weren’t enough, Courser was also working on the “Pastor Protection Act” that would ensure that religious leaders do not have to perform duties that don’t align with their beliefs, like gay marriage.

Yes let's protect traditional marriage from "teh gays" but not from two horny lawmakers desperate to break their vows by getting freaky at the local no tell motel.

Four more school employees indicted in Steubenville rape case.

Courtesy of CNN:  

A grand jury investigating the 2012 rape of a 16-year-old girl in Steubenville, Ohio, has indicted four school employees, including the school superintendent, who faces felony charges, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced Monday. 

Steubenville City Schools Superintendent Michael McVey faces three felony counts: one charge of tampering with evidence and two counts of obstructing justice. He also is charged with making a false statement and obstructing official business, both misdemeanors, DeWine said. 

Also indicted was elementary school principal Lynnett Gorman and wrestling coach Seth Fluharty, both of whom are charged with misdemeanor failure to report child abuse. Volunteer assistant Steubenville football coach Matt Bellardine was charged with four misdemeanors: allowing underage drinking, obstructing official business, making a false statement and contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child. 

This brings to six the number of people the grand jury has indicted after two students were convicted of rape, DeWine said. A school technology director and his daughter were indicted in October. 

In March, Steubenville High School football players Ma'lik Richmond and Trenton Mays were convicted of the rape, which authorities said took place at a party in August 2012. Photos and videos of the incident made their way onto social media and attracted national attention, rocking the small eastern Ohio community. 

Richmond was sentenced to a minimum of one year in a juvenile correctional facility. Mays got two years. 

A grand jury then began investigating whether others should be charged. In October, it indicted William Rhinaman, 53, the director of technology for Steubenville City Schools, on charges of tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice, obstructing official business and perjury. 

His daughter, Hannah Rhinaman, 20, of Mingo Junction, Ohio, was also indicted that month on two counts of receiving stolen property and one count of grand theft, according to a news release from DeWine's office.

This is very good news, in a case that demonstrated just how far a town will go to protect their athletes. Even at the expense of a 16 year old girl's reputation and personal safety.

These school employees were supposed to protect this child, and instead did everything they could to protect her attackers and to prevent justice from being carried out.

For those who are not up to speed on the Steubenville rape case just click here.

The reason for Pope Benedict's sudden abdication explained. Update!

Guiltiest looking Pope ever!

Courtesy of the International Tribunal into Crimes of Church ans State:

Pope Benedict, Joseph Ratzinger, has scheduled a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano for Saturday, February 23 to discuss securing protection and immunity from prosecution from the Italian government, according to Italian media sources. 

Ratzinger's meeting follows upon the apparent receipt by the Vatican of a diplomatic note from an undisclosed European government on February 4, stating its intention to issue an arrest warrant for Ratzinger, who resigned from his pontificate less than a week later. 

In response to the February 23 meeting, the International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State (ITCCS), through its field Secretary, Rev. Kevin Annett, has written to President Napolitano, asking him to refrain from assisting Ratzinger in evading justice. 

The ITCCS letter states, in part, 

"I need not remind you, Mr. President, that under international law and treaties that have been ratified by Italy, you and your government are forbidden from granting such protection to those like Joseph Ratzinger who have aided and abetted criminal actions, such as ordering Bishops and Cardinals in America and elsewhere to protect known child rapists among their clergy. 

"Your obligation to the Vatican through the Lateran Treaty does not negate or nullify the requirements of these higher moral and international laws; nor does it require that you give any protection or immunity to a single individual like Joseph Ratzinger, especially after he has left his papal office."

So let's see if we have this straight. On February 4th the Vatican receives a note saying that there is a warrant being issued for the Pope.

Seven days later, on February 11th, he resigns ostensibly due to "poor health."

And now we understand that he has a meeting scheduled with the Italian President asking him for immunity against prosecution for crimes against children?

You know I am not a mathematician, but I can add. And in this case two plus two equals"the pope's guilty of some crime having to do with pedophilia."

Anybody disagree with that?

Update: There have been a number of people who have suggested that this news is not reliable.  That may be true, though it has been reported in a number of places on the internet.

However the idea of the Pope having a warrant for his arrest is now a non-issue at it appears he has not intention of exposing himself to the possibility of having it served on him.

This from GMA News: 

Pope Benedict's decision to live in the Vatican after he resigns will provide him with security and privacy. It will also offer legal protection from any attempt to prosecute him in connection with sexual abuse cases around the world, Church sources and legal experts say. 

"His continued presence in the Vatican is necessary, otherwise he might be defenseless. He wouldn't have his immunity, his prerogatives, his security, if he is anywhere else," said one Vatican official, speaking on condition of anonymity. 

"It is absolutely necessary" that he stays in the Vatican, said the source, adding that Benedict should have a "dignified existence" in his remaining years.

So take it for what you will. But to my mind the fact that the Pope suddenly resigned, the first time in 600 years, and is now going to stay in the Vatican where he cannot be legally prosecuted, speaks volumes.

Allow me to present the introduction to the new book on Babygate: 'The Wild Ride."

This will be on the book cover. Click the pic to see it in full size.

This was sent to me yesterday to be shared with all of you.

Introduction: 

The vast majority of Americans are utterly unaware that there was, and continues to be, a significant controversy regarding the alleged birth of Sarah Palin's fifth child, Trig, in April 2008. 

Even that sentence, I suspect, will cause half of the people who have picked this book up in a book store or started to read the sample online to put the book back down or click away, shaking their heads. Not again, you think. This is crazier than the Obama birth certificate saga. No thanks. 

I hope you'll give me just a few more paragraphs. 

Still reading? Please consider each one of the following documentable facts before you also put this book down. 

*From the time Sarah Palin announced her pregnancy until Trig Palin was allegedly born was 44 days. 

*Sarah Palin never appeared pregnant prior to her statement that she was nearly seven months along. 

*Sarah Palin appeared in public after announcing her pregnancy showing no signs whatsoever that she was pregnant. 

*Even though Palin has asserted that this entire allegation was fabricated to hurt her after she was selected as John McCain's running mate, she was actually accused publicly of not being pregnant and covering for her daughter in early April 2008, before Trig's alleged birth. 

*Sarah Palin has given details about the diagnosis of Trig Palin's Down Syndrome that do not meet standard diagnostic guidelines. 

*Sarah Palin has stated that after her amniotic sac showed signs of leaking, instead of seeking medical care, she went to a conference and gave a speech, then took two separate commercial airline flights, each approximately four hours long. 

*The community hospital at which Palin has stated she gave birth allows no high-risk obstetric patients to be admitted. 

*Sarah Palin was accused, on the Anchorage Daily News website, of being the child's grandmother within two hours of his birth announcement. 

*Reporters who interviewed her three days after Trig's arrival were openly skeptical of her story. 

*The physician Palin claims to have been at her birth was a personal friend who was not actively practicing obstetrics in April 2008. 

*The physician Palin claims to have been at her birth has refused to state publicly that she was even present at the birth. 

*No physician who has even been asked about the obstetric details of Palin's birth has been willing to say anything other than her story is completely implausible. 

In spite of all of these, (and many additional details, each one of which makes her story more and more unlikely), Sarah Palin has never provided one piece of objective evidence that she actually gave birth to Trig on the day she said did. 

Not one. 

Not a birth certificate. Not a single medical record. Not an unequivocal statement from her doctor. No explanation as to how a 44 year old woman, with multiple high risk factors, was allowed to give birth at a community hospital which does not allow high-risk obstetrics to be practiced there. No explanation as to how multiple photographs exist, from unimpeachable sources like the Anchorage Daily News and the Juneau Empire, that clearly show no discernible signs of pregnancy during the period of time when she should have been six, seven, even eight months pregnant. 

Sarah Palin has been called an outright liar on the Trig Palin story since the day after she was selected as McCain's running mate, yet her primary proof that she did give birth to Trig has been 

*she says that she did 
*she would not lie 
*her daughter was five months pregnant in September of 2008 
* some reporters saw her and she looked pregnant 
*you cannot ask about it because you are not a doctor 
* if you do ask about it, you either are picking on her kids, think Trig should have been aborted, or hate her because she is a Christian (or possibly all three.) 

On August 29, 2008, four and half months after Trig Palin's announced birth in Wasilla Alaska, Sarah Heath Palin walked onto a stage in Dayton, Ohio. 

Behind her, carried by her oldest daughter Bristol, was a child whose Down Syndrome diagnosis gave her instant and unassailable credentials with the Christian Right. She had walked the walk. She had courageously "chosen life" for a baby whom most would have chosen to abort. 

That's not even the real story. The real story is the media's cowardice and collusion, first with the Republican machine during the campaign, in covering the story, and then, in the three years since, in doing their collective best to see that the story never sees the light of day. 

Welcome to the Wild Ride. 

Wow! Did anybody else get goosebumps?

The book is essentially finished, though there is some tidying up yet to be done, and the website should be up in the next week or so. 

This book should piggyback very well off of the courageous work that Joe McGinniss has already accomplished, and will, in my opinion, make an ironclad case, using multiple pictures and Palin's own e-mails, that proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Sarah Palin faked her fifth pregnancy.

Personally I am very excited about information contained in this book, and if the increase in hits that I, and others, have received recently looking into the babygate story are any indication, now is the perfect time for the publication of this book.

What is it that Palin and her fans keeping bellowing? Game On?

Sounds good to me, Game On it is!

Why we will NEVER find the smoking gun in the Sarah Palin e-mail dump.

Nice try Lamestream media, but everybody in the Parnell administration is my bitch!

From MSNBC Open Channel:

12:28 p.m. AT (4:28 p.m. ET): The analysts from Crivella West, which scanned and placed these 24,000 pieces of paper online for msnbc.com's searchable archive, say they've noticed something interesting in the way the state of Alaska withheld information from the Palin emails.

In all their big legal cases, the analysts said, they see discrepancies in the redactions, which is a fancy way of saying the hiding of information. Part of the text may be blanked out in one copy of an email, but the text will be revealed in another copy.

But in this Palin email release, after all the long delays and the insanity/hilarity of releasing emails in 250-pound bundles of bankers boxes, the redactions were entirely clean. If the state lawyers and the governors office hid something in one copy of an email, they hid it in every copy.

The analysts, who work on the biggest tort cases in the country, said they had never seen this level of care taken in blanking out information.

Which proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that there was DEFINITELY much that Palin desperately did not want found in these e-mails, and which also explains why it took so incredibly long before they released them to the public.

However, like I said before, Frank Bailey has many of these e-mails in their unredacted form.

If he truly wants to pay penance for the things that he did while working with Palin, he MUST release those e-mails.  It is both the Christian, and patriotic, thing to do.