Politics

[longliveautrydenson]

So is there evidence of this? An accuser? Was she a Chinese spy?

No evidence whatsoever. It’s just a big set up. My sources are saying Dr. Fauci, Chrissy Teigen, Bill Gates, and Mr. Potato Head are all in on it. I’ve also seen reports that Antifa took the form of a 17 year old girl and seduced Gaetz at an album burning for Lil Nas X. Gaetz may have also been under the influence of an RNA vaccine at the time. One of the side effects is that it turns you into a pedophile.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

No evidence whatsoever. It’s just a big set up. My sources are saying Dr. Fauci, Chrissy Teigen, Bill Gates, and Mr. Potato Head are all in on it. I’ve also seen reports that Antifa took the form of a 17 year old girl and seduced Gaetz at an album burning for Lil Nas X. Gaetz may have also been under the influence of an RNA vaccine at the time. One of the side effects is that it turns you into a pedophile.

Q? Is that you??!

 

[Blazers46]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/nytmike/status/1377013816425394180?s=20[/TWEET]

Gaetz, suspiciously, was the only person to vote against a 2017 sex trafficking bill.

Probably Russian disinformation or racism. (I didnt know how to do half italics)

 

[drayer54]

No evidence whatsoever. It’s just a big set up. My sources are saying Dr. Fauci, Chrissy Teigen, Bill Gates, and Mr. Potato Head are all in on it. I’ve also seen reports that Antifa took the form of a 17 year old girl and seduced Gaetz at an album burning for Lil Nas X. Gaetz may have also been under the influence of an RNA vaccine at the time. One of the side effects is that it turns you into a pedophile.

Gaetz says this is an extortion effort directed at his family with an ongoing FBI investigation into the demands. If true, this is wholly irresponsible of the New York Times. I expect more to come out soon, but this explanation appears to be the most accurate so far.

 

[NorthDakota]

I dont like Gaetz. I want that clear. He ain't my guy. Used to live in this district though.

One of my old co-workers grew up with him. She doesn't like him, said he was a sleezy guy. infamous Nestor is her kid's friend. This lady is center-left.

She was a bit skeptical. In her words, "he's a prime target."

I won't be surprised with whatever comes out of this. I cant really lose here. Either we get rid of a guy in the party I dont like, or the media gets punked. Hopefully they get to the bottom of it, but after the Bob Menendez shit, I'm not confident.

 

[Irish#1]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/nytmike/status/1377013816425394180?s=20[/TWEET]

Gaetz, suspiciously, was the only person to vote against a 2017 sex trafficking bill.

I wonder if he was ever on Epstein's private jet?

 

[drayer54]

I dont like Gaetz. I want that clear. He ain't my guy. Used to live in this district though.

One of my old co-workers grew up with him. She doesn't like him, said he was a sleezy guy. infamous Nestor is her kid's friend. This lady is center-left.

She was a bit skeptical. In her words, "he's a prime target."

I won't be surprised with whatever comes out of this. I cant really lose here. Either we get rid of a guy in the party I dont like, or the media gets punked. Hopefully they get to the bottom of it, but after the Bob Menendez shit, I'm not confident.

He named David McGee as the former prosecutor doing the extortion and going after him. He also says the FBI have tapes that will clear him.
"That was one of the weirdest interviews I have ever conducted" said Tucker after the commercial break.

I don’t care for tv Gaetz as he seems more like a brand than someone trying to move the needle for conservatives. It seems like many of the younger Reps are more about messaging than accomplishments.

I’ve heard him offline a few times and actually liked him more in normal settings.

 

[NorthDakota]

Each update in the Gaetz thing gets more bizarre.

Allegedly showing nudes of recent conquests on the house floor. Apparently economy sized box of condoms in his office trash. Paying women via venmo/cash app/apple pay to smash in Florida. The weird interview that even made Tucker go wtf.

Seems entirely plausible that he's telling the truth about being extorted.... while also being guilty of at least some or possibly most/all of the allegations.

Thank God he's in one of the more red districts in the country. Hopefully he's replaced by a better person.

 

[IrishLax]

Each update in the Gaetz thing gets more bizarre.

Allegedly showing nudes of recent conquests on the house floor. Apparently economy sized box of condoms in his office trash. Paying women via venmo/cash app/apple pay to smash in Florida. The weird interview that even made Tucker go wtf.

Seems entirely plausible that he's telling the truth about being extorted.... while also being guilty of at least some or possibly most/all of the allegations.

Thank God he's in one of the more red districts in the country. Hopefully he's replaced by a better person.

He also:
-Weirdly went on record saying he didn't want Epstein re-investigated and prosecuted
-Was the lone vote against a bipartisan federal sex trafficking law
-Has a relationship with a live-in teenager who he calls his "son" but isn't related to him and whose father is still alive
-Is a criminal

So even before these allegations broke, if someone came up to you and said "I'll give you $1000 if you can guess a Congressman engaged in illegal sex stuff" you'd probably pick someone like Gaetz just based on all the other strange shit he's said or been engaged in.

 

[NorthDakota]

He also:
-Weirdly went on record saying he didn't want Epstein re-investigated and prosecuted
-Was the lone vote against a bipartisan federal sex trafficking law
-Has a relationship with a live-in teenager who he calls his "son" but isn't related to him and whose father is still alive
-Is a criminal

So even before these allegations broke, if someone came up to you and said "I'll give you $1000 if you can guess a Congressman engaged in illegal sex stuff" you'd probably pick someone like Gaetz just based on all the other strange shit he's said or been engaged in.

The kid thing is strange. I dont know the full deal there. Could ask my old coworker. She hates the guy but has never said anything negative about him taking the kid into his home. I'll try to be open-minded on that.

But yeah, he's precisely the type of guy you'd expect to be into weird stuff. Floridian, male, lifelong politician, weird guy.

 

[drayer54]

Has the FBI or anyone else in the government validated the extortion claims? Has he had charges pressed against him? The whole thing is weird.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Where did our guy Arahop disappear to? Been a slow week for white supremacy following the shooter in Colorado and the guy at the capitol yesterday in DC.

 

[IrishLax]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/FinancialTimes/status/1379095330449461249?s=20[/TWEET]

This is very smart and it should've been done 20-30 years ago while the United States still had the influence to do it. With fractured alliances, pulling out of the TPP, etc. it's going to be much harder to leverage something like this.

 

[Rogue219]

There's no conspiracy. The guy is just a fucking scumbag.

Majorie Taylor Greene scrubbed all her social media of anything with Gaetz in it. That's how toxic he is. The loon of all loons cleaned up her Twitter timeline so she wouldn't be seen in pics with him or mentioning him.

Ouch.

 

[Wild Bill]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/FinancialTimes/status/1379095330449461249?s=20[/TWEET]

This is very smart and it should've been done 20-30 years ago while the United States still had the influence to do it. With fractured alliances, pulling out of the TPP, etc. it's going to be much harder to leverage something like this.

Interesting concept but seemingly impossible. Countries that serve as tax havens are completely controlled - politically, culturally etc - by these corporations. Even if you penetrated that barrier, you hvae to convince the country that financial suicide is in their best interest. Ireland would be financially set back a hundred years if they weren't able to serve their corporate masters. You could argue that may be a good thing long term but the short term consequences are going to terrify the people dependent on the existing system.

 

[NorthDakota]

There's no conspiracy. The guy is just a fucking scumbag.

Majorie Taylor Greene scrubbed all her social media of anything with Gaetz in it. That's how toxic he is. The loon of all loons cleaned up her Twitter timeline so she wouldn't be seen in pics with him or mentioning him.

Ouch.

Has anyone notable other than Gaetz suggested it is a big conspiracy?

If you are referring to the extortion stuff, the fact that he's a "scumbag" makes it more likely rather than less likely, that there could be extortion.

both things could be true. Both could be false. And each can be true independent of the other.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Interesting concept but seemingly impossible. Countries that serve as tax havens are completely controlled - politically, culturally etc - by these corporations. Even if you penetrated that barrier, you hvae to convince the country that financial suicide is in their best interest. Ireland would be financially set back a hundred years if they weren't able to serve their corporate masters. You could argue that may be a good thing long term but the short term consequences are going to terrify the people dependent on the existing system.

Exactly. If I were Janet Yellen, I would say the same thing. It's an idea that wholly favors the US. Remember, the current system the US has basically mimics a "global minimum" on US based corporations. While to some that may seem uncompetitive, it's actually significantly better than what system was in place prior to the Trump tax cuts. People focus on the reduction in tax rate. That is true. But what they don't mention often is how that completely transformed the US from one of the worst tax logic/structure (residence based) to something much closer to the modern age. So in that regard, the structure of the system if really no considerably different than the rest of the world.

Here is the kicker though (to put it simplistically)......the way the US applies their tax logic on "global minimum" tax to US based corporations limited the benefit of moving to certain low rate countries. There is still a benefit, sure. But the combination of 21% and the global minimum has put the US in a very competitive spot. The only way to not unwind that with increases to, say, 28%, is to ensure that the "global minimum" allows the US to raise taxes without consequences. So in other words....the US is clanking the proverbial tin cup at the feet of other OECD countries asking for help. I would tell Yellen to piss off.

 

[drayer54]

Has anyone notable other than Gaetz suggested it is a big conspiracy?

If you are referring to the extortion stuff, the fact that he's a "scumbag" makes it more likely rather than less likely, that there could be extortion.

both things could be true. Both could be false. And each can be true independent of the other.

The Gaetz thing is weird. It needs time to play out, because the truth probably won’t come out for awhile. In the meantime, we should label all criticism as Russian disinformation and block coverage/ censor the story on all platforms. If he chooses to write a book about paying for sex and snorting Parmesan cheese in 6 months, let the story trickle out.

 

[longliveautrydenson]

The Gaetz thing is weird. It needs time to play out, because the truth probably won’t come out for awhile. In the meantime, we should label all criticism as Russian disinformation and block coverage/ censor the story on all platforms. If he chooses to write a book about paying for sex and snorting Parmesan cheese in 6 months, let the story trickle out.

Just to be clear, you believe that Andrew Cuomo should resign immediately before the investigation into his alleged sexual harassment of adults plays out (see your posts from three weeks ago). Conversely, we should all reserve judgment on the allegations that Matt Gaetz had sex with a child despite the fact that Gaetz’s close associate has already been indicted for sex trafficking, the investigation was launched by Trump’s DOJ, and no one in Trump’s orbit outside of Jim Jordan and MTG has come out to defend Gaetz.

You also think that having sex with children is “weird,” and that Democrats are hypocrites for believing that Hunter Biden was the subject of a Russian disinformation campaign when our own intelligence services determined that Hunter Biden was the subject of a Russian disinformation campaign. Meanwhile, you would have us believe that you are a paragon of ideological consistency despite your lame efforts to run interference for a child predator.

Do I have all that straight?

 

[NorthDakota]

Just to be clear, you believe that Andrew Cuomo should resign immediately before the investigation into his alleged sexual harassment of adults plays out (see your posts from three weeks ago). Conversely, we should all reserve judgment on the allegations that Matt Gaetz had sex with a child despite the fact that Gaetz’s close associate has already been indicted for sex trafficking, the investigation was launched by Trump’s DOJ, and no one in Trump’s orbit outside of Jim Jordan and MTG has come out to defend Gaetz.

You also think that having sex with children is “weird,” and that Democrats are hypocrites for believing that Hunter Biden was the subject of a Russian disinformation campaign when our own intelligence services determined that Hunter Biden was the subject of a Russian disinformation campaign. Meanwhile, you would have us believe that you are a paragon of ideological consistency despite your lame efforts to run interference for a child predator.

Do I have all that straight?

Lol. This is very dramatic. The story is indeed very weird, bizarre, extraordinary.

It reminds me of them wild Grey's Anatomy episode arcs where there is an active shooter, an experimental surgery, and oh, the person on the operating table is Jehovah's Witness so they can't take a blood transfusion.. and all of the things are related. It's a wild story.

If the dude smashed a 17 year old, he should be held accountable and nobody is probably gonna bat an eye. If the dude smashed prostitutes, he should be held accountable.

How is he running interference for a predator?

Cuomo should resign after their reports are complete if there is much substance to the allegations. I don't think his deal and Gaetz's deal are directly on point, but I don't disagree people should have similar expectations. Cuomo's sexual allegations don't seem like they rise to the level where he should be facing jail time, but his efforts to lie about what happened with the elderly might rise to that level. Gaetz.....man.....if any of it is true, he is in a bind.

I have zero sympathy for either of them. Cuomo is an ass and Gaetz is a clown.

 

[Redbar]

Lol. This is very dramatic. The story is indeed very weird, bizarre, extraordinary.

it is also very true. Does that make drayer a drama queen?

 

[longliveautrydenson]

Lol. This is very dramatic. The story is indeed very weird, bizarre, extraordinary.

It reminds me of them wild Grey's Anatomy episode arcs where there is an active shooter, an experimental surgery, and oh, the person on the operating table is Jehovah's Witness so they can't take a blood transfusion.. and all of the things are related. It's a wild story.

If the dude smashed a 17 year old, he should be held accountable and nobody is probably gonna bat an eye. If the dude smashed prostitutes, he should be held accountable.

How is he running interference for a predator?

Cuomo should resign after their reports are complete if there is much substance to the allegations. I don't think his deal and Gaetz's deal are directly on point, but I don't disagree people should have similar expectations. Cuomo's sexual allegations don't seem like they rise to the level where he should be facing jail time, but his efforts to lie about what happened with the elderly might rise to that level. Gaetz.....man.....if any of it is true, he is in a bind.

I have zero sympathy for either of them. Cuomo is an ass and Gaetz is a clown.

Dramatic, eh? That’s rich coming from the people who acted like the world was going to end because Dr. Seuss stopped publishing a few books. But when one of your own is accused of pedophilia, it’s dismissed as a “weird” story and Gaetz—who was a MAGA favorite two weeks ago—is now a “clown.”

Also, did you just use the phrase “smashed a 17 years old?” Gross.

 

[NorthDakota]

Dramatic, eh? That’s rich coming from the people who acted like the world was going to end because Dr. Seuss stopped publishing a few books. But when one of your own is accused of pedophilia, it’s dismissed as a “weird” story and Gaetz—who was a MAGA favorite two weeks ago—is now a “clown.”

Also, did you just use the phrase “smashed a 17 years old?” Gross.

Who dismissed it? Did a single person here dismiss it? Even one? Can you point to a post by anyone?

The DSM-5 apparently(wikipedia) says to be a pedophile you must be attracted to pre-pubescent children. I dont think a 17-year old generally falls into that category. Its still abusive, beyond creepy, and unacceptable, but I'm not going to call someone a pedophile for getting with a 17 year old.

If someone says "Jimbo over there, he's a pedophile." You arent going to assume he got with a 17 year old. You'll assume he was doing God knows what with elementary aged kids.

 

[longliveautrydenson]

Who dismissed it? Did a single person here dismiss it? Even one? Can you point to a post by anyone?

The DSM-5 apparently(wikipedia) says to be a pedophile you must be attracted to pre-pubescent children. I dont think a 17-year old generally falls into that category. Its still abusive, beyond creepy, and unacceptable, but I'm not going to call someone a pedophile for getting with a 17 year old.

If someone says "Jimbo over there, he's a pedophile." You arent going to assume he got with a 17 year old. You'll assume he was doing God knows what with elementary aged kids.

A 36 year old man who has sex with a 17 year old girl is a pedophile. Full stop.

 

[NorthDakota]

A 36 year old man who has sex with a 17 year old girl is a pedophile. Full stop.

Take it up with the folks who put together the DSM.

If a girl is 17 years and 364 days old...he is a pedophile. But if he has sex with her the following day, he's not? Lol.

If you want to say a 36 year old sleeping with a typical post-pubescent 17 year old is morally and in many cases probably legally wrong, I'm 100% with you. But that isn't a pedophile. Manipulative, wrong, creepy, abusive? Yep. Pedophile, no.

 

[JurDocDuLac]

Take it up with the folks who put together the DSM.
If you want to say a 36 year old sleeping with a typical post-pubescent 17 year old is morally and in many cases probably legally wrong, I'm 100% with you. But that isn't a pedophile. Manipulative, wrong, creepy, abusive? Yep. Pedophile, no.

I guess that´s a psychiatry discussion.
Legally, though, perhaps not a pedophile technically, but a convicted sex offender (raping a minor)?
That´s an uncomfortable label too, especially when you have to tell all the neighbors.

If she was 17, it doesn´t matter if she consented (or prostituted herself).
The age of consent in Florida is 18 (the exception is minors 16/17 can consent to intercourse with anyone up to age 24).
It is serious crime for an adult to have sex with someone younger than 18, even if the sex is consensual.

Of course, that´s a State issue, not federal, and he is under federal investigation, not (yet) state investigation.

If you want to be technical, then look at federal trafficking charges.
Federal law requires force, fraud, or coercion to lure victims into commercial sexual exploitation.
Not so sure about those elements here (maybe conspiracy?).

 

[NorthDakota]

I guess that´s a psychiatry discussion.
Legally, though, perhaps not a pedophile technically, but a convicted sex offender (raping a minor)?
That´s an uncomfortable label too, especially when you have to tell all the neighbors.

If she was 17, it doesn´t matter if she consented (or prostituted herself).
The age of consent in Florida is 18 (the exception is minors 16/17 can consent to intercourse with anyone up to age 24).
It is serious crime for an adult to have sex with someone younger than 18, even if the sex is consensual.

Of course, that´s a State issue, not federal, and he is under federal investigation, not (yet) state investigation.

If you want to be technical, then look at federal trafficking charges.
Federal law requires force, fraud, or coercion to lure victims into commercial sexual exploitation.
Not so sure about those elements here (maybe conspiracy?).

I dont think state or federal laws use the term pedophile, but I haven't dug into many.

I wouldnt want to be in his shoes with or without the pedophile label, and like you said, you can still get that sex offender label which would not be fun to have either.

Yeah I'm sure the lawyers will get it all sorted out. My sticking point is labeling people pedophiles when their alleged actions don't seem to meet the scientific or moral standard.

If a guy brings home a girl from a nightclub who he thinks is in her early-mid 20's, only to find out the next day that she is 17, I don't think it would be fair to label the dude a pedophile.

Can't stress enough, none of this is a defense of Gaetz if he did what he allegedly did. Hiring prostitutes is morally and legally wrong. Sleeping with (potentially paying, etc.) a high school jr/sr aged girl is morally and legally wrong.

pedophiles are into kids. Its messed up. i don't understand and have no desire to really understand them. But basic basic reading seems to indicate the cutoff is being into children up to the age of around 13. Michael Jackson type stuff.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

A 36 year old man who has sex with a 17 year old girl is a pedophile. Full stop.

It's creepy, it's immoral, and I wouldn't do it but as Dakota said, a 17 year old girl who's a month away from 18 doesn't get pedophile status. If she is 14, hang him from his ballsack for all I care. Truth will eventually come out on that one.

Were you clutching your pearls and slamming tables when Anthony Weiner was sending nude texts to underage girls? I don't remember.

 

[longliveautrydenson]

It's creepy, it's immoral, and I wouldn't do it but as Dakota said, a 17 year old girl who's a month away from 18 doesn't get pedophile status. If she is 14, hang him from his ballsack for all I care. Truth will eventually come out on that one.

Were you clutching your pearls and slamming tables when Anthony Weiner was sending nude texts to underage girls? I don't remember.

Clutching pearls? Seriously? Gaetz is accused of having sex with a child. Meanwhile Republicans are losing their minds because Lil Nas X put a drop of blood in a shoe.

As to Anthony Weiner, his Wikipedia page reads that he is a “former politician and convicted sex offender.” Good. I look forward to the day when Matt Gaetz’s reads the same.

 

[IrishLax]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1379582226002714630?s=21[/TWEET]