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The New Coffee Room

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  3. The Grassley Report

The Grassley Report

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  • T Online
    T Online
    taiwan_girl
    wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 14:23 last edited by
    #5

    Just to play the “devil advocate”, do you think Trump organization (Or many other companies) did not partner with Some “shady” people when doing business in countries where a few select people control the strings?

    J 1 Reply Last reply 23 Sept 2020, 14:29
    • T taiwan_girl
      23 Sept 2020, 14:23

      Just to play the “devil advocate”, do you think Trump organization (Or many other companies) did not partner with Some “shady” people when doing business in countries where a few select people control the strings?

      J Offline
      J Offline
      Jolly
      wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 14:29 last edited by
      #6

      @taiwan_girl said in The Grassley Report:

      Just to play the “devil advocate”, do you think Trump organization (Or many other companies) did not partner with Some “shady” people when doing business in countries where a few select people control the strings?

      After the media has raked through everything Trump with a fine tooth comb, what do you think?

      “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

      Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

      T 1 Reply Last reply 23 Sept 2020, 14:37
      • J Jolly
        23 Sept 2020, 14:29

        @taiwan_girl said in The Grassley Report:

        Just to play the “devil advocate”, do you think Trump organization (Or many other companies) did not partner with Some “shady” people when doing business in countries where a few select people control the strings?

        After the media has raked through everything Trump with a fine tooth comb, what do you think?

        T Online
        T Online
        taiwan_girl
        wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 14:37 last edited by
        #7

        @Jolly Yes. Having experience in third world countries, if you are doing business in certain Countries, almost guaranteed you will be partnering with less desirable people

        Or you won’t be in that country.

        J C 2 Replies Last reply 23 Sept 2020, 14:40
        • T taiwan_girl
          23 Sept 2020, 14:37

          @Jolly Yes. Having experience in third world countries, if you are doing business in certain Countries, almost guaranteed you will be partnering with less desirable people

          Or you won’t be in that country.

          J Offline
          J Offline
          Jolly
          wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 14:40 last edited by
          #8

          @taiwan_girl said in The Grassley Report:

          @Jolly Yes. Having experience in third world countries, if you are doing business in certain Countries, almost guaranteed you will be partnering with less desirable people

          Or you won’t be in that country.

          The media has been there. Why haven't you seen anything?

          “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

          Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

          T 1 Reply Last reply 23 Sept 2020, 14:43
          • J Jolly
            23 Sept 2020, 14:40

            @taiwan_girl said in The Grassley Report:

            @Jolly Yes. Having experience in third world countries, if you are doing business in certain Countries, almost guaranteed you will be partnering with less desirable people

            Or you won’t be in that country.

            The media has been there. Why haven't you seen anything?

            T Online
            T Online
            taiwan_girl
            wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 14:43 last edited by
            #9

            @Jolly said in The Grassley Report:

            @taiwan_girl said in The Grassley Report:

            @Jolly Yes. Having experience in third world countries, if you are doing business in certain Countries, almost guaranteed you will be partnering with less desirable people

            Or you won’t be in that country.

            The media has been there. Why haven't you seen anything?

            That I don’t know. Maybe the media did not have the same resources as the US senate?

            J 1 Reply Last reply 23 Sept 2020, 14:48
            • T taiwan_girl
              23 Sept 2020, 14:37

              @Jolly Yes. Having experience in third world countries, if you are doing business in certain Countries, almost guaranteed you will be partnering with less desirable people

              Or you won’t be in that country.

              C Offline
              C Offline
              Copper
              wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 14:43 last edited by
              #10

              @taiwan_girl said in The Grassley Report:

              @Jolly Yes. Having experience in third world countries, if you are doing business in certain Countries, almost guaranteed you will be partnering with less desirable people

              Or you won’t be in that country.

              It's one thing to get involved with that as a private businessman

              The vice-president is a different story

              T 1 Reply Last reply 23 Sept 2020, 23:13
              • T taiwan_girl
                23 Sept 2020, 14:43

                @Jolly said in The Grassley Report:

                @taiwan_girl said in The Grassley Report:

                @Jolly Yes. Having experience in third world countries, if you are doing business in certain Countries, almost guaranteed you will be partnering with less desirable people

                Or you won’t be in that country.

                The media has been there. Why haven't you seen anything?

                That I don’t know. Maybe the media did not have the same resources as the US senate?

                J Offline
                J Offline
                Jolly
                wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 14:48 last edited by
                #11

                @taiwan_girl said in The Grassley Report:

                @Jolly said in The Grassley Report:

                @taiwan_girl said in The Grassley Report:

                @Jolly Yes. Having experience in third world countries, if you are doing business in certain Countries, almost guaranteed you will be partnering with less desirable people

                Or you won’t be in that country.

                The media has been there. Why haven't you seen anything?

                That I don’t know. Maybe the media did not have the same resources as the US senate?

                I suspect, besides the power to subpeona, the media has more resources and a lower standard of proof.

                “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                1 Reply Last reply
                • G Offline
                  G Offline
                  George K
                  wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 17:45 last edited by George K
                  #12

                  In a series of tweets, Kimberly Strassel summarizes:

                  https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1308815375841112064.html

                  1. The Johnson-Grassley report raises the many and disturbing conflicts of interests surrounding Hunter's biz dealings while Joe was veep. But it also makes clear that the Democratic nominee is not being straight with the public.

                  2. Joe Biden last year: "I have never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings." That's pretty definitive, right? Yet according to testimony from former Obama official Amos Hochstein, he briefed Joe on his concerns about Hunter/Burisma in October 2015... AND

                  3. "Shortly after his conversation with Vice President Biden, Hunter Biden contacted Hochstein and
                    asked to meet. According to Hochstein, Hunter became aware of Hochstein’s West Wing conversation with the Vice President, who had mentioned it to Hunter." (Page 17 of report)

                  4. So, Joe Biden was specifically briefed on the U.S. govs concerns about Hunter/Burisma, and he specifically brought up those concerns to his son. How does that comport with "I have never spoken"?? If Joe isn't asked about this at the debate, it will be journalistic malpractice.

                  5. The report similarly shows that despite former Sec of State John Kerry saying he had no knowledge of any of this, that in fact he too was briefed on Hunter. Seems a lot of people in Obama administration knew this was a problem, but nobody acted.

                  6. This is all relevant given Biden's claim he is the more ethical choice in this election. Voters might legitimately ask if the wink-nod approach to Hunter's wheeling-dealing will be business as usual in a Biden administration.

                  "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                  The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • L Offline
                    L Offline
                    Loki
                    wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 20:27 last edited by
                    #13

                    File under Scranton vs. Park Avenue

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • G Offline
                      G Offline
                      George K
                      wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 20:58 last edited by
                      #14

                      Oh, look...

                      Screen Shot 2020-09-23 at 3.58.06 PM.png

                      "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                      The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      • X Offline
                        X Offline
                        xenon
                        wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 21:10 last edited by
                        #15

                        I haven't been following this closely. What did Hunter do wrong (outside of earning money from a Ukrainian/Russian business)?

                        $1M a month for an advisor sounds ridiculous to the lay person - as someone in the professional services industry, I can tell you the amount of money doesn't make me blink.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        • G Offline
                          G Offline
                          George K
                          wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 21:14 last edited by
                          #16

                          "Vice President Mike Pence's son was given $3.5 million by the wife of the mayor of Moscow."

                          How does that sit with you?
                          Does that make you blink?
                          Would you ask any questions about what qualifies Pence's son for this?

                          "Vice President Mike Pence's son was awarded multiple contracts with companies based in China."

                          How does that sit with you?
                          Does that make you blink?
                          Would you ask any questions about what qualifies Pence's son for this?

                          "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                          The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                          R 1 Reply Last reply 23 Sept 2020, 22:29
                          • H Offline
                            H Offline
                            Horace
                            wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 21:16 last edited by Horace
                            #17

                            @xenon , can you explain a case in point(s) for the sorts of advisers who earn 1m per month? I mean with Hunter, it is clear the money is for the promise of high profile political influence. What would the money be for in your experience?

                            Education is extremely important.

                            X 1 Reply Last reply 23 Sept 2020, 22:08
                            • C Offline
                              C Offline
                              Copper
                              wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 21:17 last edited by
                              #18

                              Sure, a million a month is chump change.

                              But a million a month for nothing is the stuff that blinks are made of.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • H Horace
                                23 Sept 2020, 21:16

                                @xenon , can you explain a case in point(s) for the sorts of advisers who earn 1m per month? I mean with Hunter, it is clear the money is for the promise of high profile political influence. What would the money be for in your experience?

                                X Offline
                                X Offline
                                xenon
                                wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 22:08 last edited by xenon
                                #19

                                @Horace said in The Grassley Report:

                                @xenon , can you explain a case in point(s) for the sorts of advisers who earn 1m per month? I mean with Hunter, it is clear the money is for the promise of high profile political influence. What would the money be for in your experience?

                                In management consulting - a couple of fresh outta school analysts, a couple of newish MBAs + a manager that's been doing it for 3+ with a fractional allocation of a partner is in that neighborhood.

                                Almost every single corporation in America buys teams (usually multiple) like that. Elite lawyers are in the same range.

                                My understanding with these foreign firms is that they want to show recognizable American advisors to lend an air of respectability and professionalism to their operations. Again - that feels about as valuable (or in the same ballpark) as getting important legal or business advice.

                                Paying hundreds of millions of dollars a year for advisors (of all different types) is the norm for Fortune 100 companies.

                                C 1 Reply Last reply 23 Sept 2020, 22:50
                                • H Offline
                                  H Offline
                                  Horace
                                  wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 22:16 last edited by
                                  #20

                                  Well, I've watched the company I work for throw money at high tech consultancy firms to develop products that we don't have the horses in the building to develop. The qualifier that it is for a team puts a different spin on it.

                                  Education is extremely important.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  • H Offline
                                    H Offline
                                    Horace
                                    wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 22:21 last edited by
                                    #21

                                    It's been interesting to watch the ability level of the consultancy teams we throw money at, for the lack of the ability in the building. Generally the consultancy firm has one or two legit smart folk and a bunch of rando mediocrities. The building, i.e. my company, is about the same but a way higher denominator of mediocrities.

                                    Education is extremely important.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    • M Offline
                                      M Offline
                                      Mik
                                      wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 22:26 last edited by
                                      #22

                                      It's interesting that in 2009 Hunter said he was leaving lobbying to prevent reputational conflicts with his father as VP. Then a few years later he ends up making money in the country his father is working closely with.

                                      Must be his management expertise.

                                      “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • G George K
                                        23 Sept 2020, 21:14

                                        "Vice President Mike Pence's son was given $3.5 million by the wife of the mayor of Moscow."

                                        How does that sit with you?
                                        Does that make you blink?
                                        Would you ask any questions about what qualifies Pence's son for this?

                                        "Vice President Mike Pence's son was awarded multiple contracts with companies based in China."

                                        How does that sit with you?
                                        Does that make you blink?
                                        Would you ask any questions about what qualifies Pence's son for this?

                                        R Offline
                                        R Offline
                                        Rainman
                                        wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 22:29 last edited by
                                        #23

                                        @George-K said in The Grassley Report:

                                        "Vice President Mike Pence's son was given $3.5 million by the wife of the mayor of Moscow."

                                        How does that sit with you?
                                        Does that make you blink?
                                        Would you ask any questions about what qualifies Pence's son for this?

                                        "Vice President Mike Pence's son was awarded multiple contracts with companies based in China."

                                        How does that sit with you?
                                        Does that make you blink?
                                        Would you ask any questions about what qualifies Pence's son for this?

                                        So, if Pence's son got millions, and Hunter Biden got 10s of millions, who is more corrupt?
                                        That's like the old joke of "if I pay you a million, would you sleep with me" and the punch line, "so we know you're not moral, it's all in negotiating a price." Or, something like that.

                                        How about Pence step down because he is so moral, and Trump could pick a black female VP?

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        • X xenon
                                          23 Sept 2020, 22:08

                                          @Horace said in The Grassley Report:

                                          @xenon , can you explain a case in point(s) for the sorts of advisers who earn 1m per month? I mean with Hunter, it is clear the money is for the promise of high profile political influence. What would the money be for in your experience?

                                          In management consulting - a couple of fresh outta school analysts, a couple of newish MBAs + a manager that's been doing it for 3+ with a fractional allocation of a partner is in that neighborhood.

                                          Almost every single corporation in America buys teams (usually multiple) like that. Elite lawyers are in the same range.

                                          My understanding with these foreign firms is that they want to show recognizable American advisors to lend an air of respectability and professionalism to their operations. Again - that feels about as valuable (or in the same ballpark) as getting important legal or business advice.

                                          Paying hundreds of millions of dollars a year for advisors (of all different types) is the norm for Fortune 100 companies.

                                          C Offline
                                          C Offline
                                          Copper
                                          wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 22:50 last edited by
                                          #24

                                          @xenon said in The Grassley Report:

                                          @Horace said in The Grassley Report:

                                          Paying hundreds of millions of dollars a year for advisors (of all different types) is the norm for Fortune 100 companies.

                                          I worked with several Fortune 100 companies. I worked for a Fortune 1 company for a number of years.

                                          I remember being and hiring consultants.

                                          I don't remember us paying or being paid hundreds of millions, or even $3.5 million, for nothing. Usually there was something expected in return for the money.

                                          G X 2 Replies Last reply 23 Sept 2020, 22:55
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