From the governor's lips to your ears...

[George K]

(Retired) Law professor Ann Althouse:

https://althouse.blogspot.com/2024/02/i-think-that-this-is-really.html

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"I think that this is really an extraordinary, unusual circumstance that the law-abiding and rule-following New Yorkers who are business people have nothing to worry about, because they’re very different than Donald Trump and his behavior."

Said Governor Kathy Hochul, quoted in "Hochul tells NY businesses not to fear about Trump verdict: 'Nothing to worry about'" (The Hill).

What is the "extraordinary, unusual circumstance"?

Being Donald Trump? If so, she's revealing that she believes the prosecutors went after the man, not the crime, an abhorrent abuse of power.

So, whatever she thinks, she can't mean to be saying that. What else is there?

There's the classic unbelievable assurance that if you don't break the law, you've got nothing to worry about. If you're "law-abiding and rule-following," then you're not in the category with Donald Trump. Trump did something "extraordinary" and "unusual." Or did the prosecution do something "extraordinary" and "unusual"?

It's not reassuring.

ADDED: This post got me reading the Wikipedia article "Give me the man and I will give you the case against him":

The saying is commonly attributed to the Stalinist-era Soviet jurist Andrey Vyshinsky or the Soviet secret police chief Lavrentiy Beria... [There are] older similar sayings in English, such as 18th-century Scottish jurist Lord Braxfield's "Let them bring me prisoners, and I will find them law" and the Russian proverb "If there is a neck, there is a collar" (Была бы шея, а хомут найдётся; or Была бы голова, а петля найдется).... A similar quote has also been attributed to 17th-century French statesman Cardinal Richelieu ("Give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest man, I will find something in them which will hang him"). A related American saying is "A prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich." Polish writer Henryk Pająk summarized the saying in four words: "person exists, [their] crime exists" ("jest czlowiek, jest przestępstwo").

[Jolly]

As I said, we're business friendly.

Y'all come on down!

[Jolly]

Seriously, you'd have to be nuts to be in NYC real estate right now.

Especially if you're not an approved person...

[George K]

Has anyone linked the (Canadian) Kevin O'Leary's comments?

[Jolly]

I don't know how much difference the Trump ruling will make, but it's just icing on the cake. If just 10% decide to move their business elsewhere, that's a lot of money leaving the city.

Hence, the governor's reassurances the other day. As long as we like you, you won't be persecuted.

[Mik]

Her statement laid bare the nature of the prosecution and, I believe, predetermined verdict. NY as an extension of the DNC.

[jon-nyc]

@George-K said in From the governor's lips to your ears...:

Is that a bill of attainder?

No. That means a law singling out a person.

Also the headline is bullshit

“I think that this is really an extraordinary, unusual circumstance that the law-abiding and rule-following New Yorkers who are business people have nothing to worry about, because they’re very different than Donald Trump and his behavior,”

[George K]

The problem with the judgment is that it almost seems to kneecaps Trump from mounting an appeal.

He has to come up with the bond (NY law) to do that in the amount of the judgment. $400 millions ain't "I found it in the couch" type of money, even for Trump.

The only way he can raise that kind of cash is to liquidate assets.

And that...kneecaps his campaign.

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in From the governor's lips to your ears...:

No. That means a law singling out a person.

That's right - I forgot to correct it when I posted that.

According to the governor, it's selective prosecution, amirite?

[Jolly]

@George-K said in From the governor's lips to your ears...:

The problem with the judgment is that it almost seems to kneecaps Trump from mounting an appeal.

He has to come up with the bond (NY law) to do that in the amount of the judgment. $400 millions ain't "I found it in the couch" type of money, even for Trump.

The only way he can raise that kind of cash is to liquidate assets.

And that...kneecaps his campaign.

Which is election interference via lawfare.

[jon-nyc]

@George-K said in From the governor's lips to your ears...:

@jon-nyc said in From the governor's lips to your ears...:

No. That means a law singling out a person.

That's right - I forgot to correct it when I posted that.

According to the governor, it's selective prosecution, amirite?

Selecting on breaking the law. Like I said the headline is bullshit.

[Jolly]

Is it bullshit or just something you don't like?

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in From the governor's lips to your ears...:

Selecting on breaking the law. Like I said the headline is bullshit.

THat's not what the Gov said. She said, "Extraordinary, unusual." As Althouse says, what was extraordinary and unusual about him overestimating the worth of his properties? I've done it when it's to my advantage.

Or are we just arguing price?

Going forward, let's see how many other real estate investors get tagged.

My guess is that it's going to be a small number. A very small number.