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The New Coffee Room

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  3. The Grassley Report

The Grassley Report

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  • 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.

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    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
    • C Copper
      23 Sept 2020, 22:50

      @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.

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      George K
      wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 22:55 last edited by
      #25

      @Copper said in The Grassley Report:

      I don't remember us paying or being paid hundreds of millions, or even $3.5 million

      You guys had the wrong fathers.

      "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
      • C Copper
        23 Sept 2020, 14:43

        @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

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        taiwan_girl
        wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 23:13 last edited by
        #26

        @Copper 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.

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

        The vice-president is a different story

        But okay for the president?

        Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are the two top officials in the Trump organization. Do you not think that when they do business in foreign countries now, this does not matter that their father is President of the US?

        (Before anybody say anything, i do not think that the Trump Organization should have shut down just because President Trump became President. And I also know that the Trump organization had business in many countries before President Trump became president.

        I actually dont know much about Vice President Biden son and his business.

        I think it is pretty obvious that connections "open doors" that would not be open instead, regardless if it is Vice President Biden son, President Trump children, the son/daughter of a famous musician/movie actor, etc.)

        1 Reply Last reply
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          Copper
          wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 23:14 last edited by
          #27

          How many countries have given them $3.5 million for nothing?

          T 1 Reply Last reply 23 Sept 2020, 23:20
          • C Copper
            23 Sept 2020, 23:14

            How many countries have given them $3.5 million for nothing?

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            taiwan_girl
            wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 23:20 last edited by
            #28

            @Copper said in The Grassley Report:

            How many countries have given them $3.5 million for nothing?

            It is not for nothing. They are expecting some sort of influence.

            Maybe their company (Company X) wants to do a project in Country A. They are competing against Company Y. Company Y comes in cheaper, but the project rules are are changed such that only Company X can win.

            Why would they do that? Because the person high up in teh company is the son of the Vice President or President. I think it is nave to think it is not going on.

            C 1 Reply Last reply 24 Sept 2020, 01:58
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              Mik
              wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 23:24 last edited by Mik
              #29

              TG, do you think that if the Trump boys were out selling influence internationally that would not have been screamed from the rafters already? It's really not believable and you have no evidence, just unfounded assumption.

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

              T R 2 Replies Last reply 24 Sept 2020, 01:33
              • C Copper
                23 Sept 2020, 22:50

                @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.

                X Online
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                xenon
                wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 23:27 last edited by xenon
                #30

                @Copper said in The Grassley Report:

                @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.

                Say you're a portfolio manager looking for foreign energy companies to invest in - Perhaps Russian/Ukranian ones.

                All else being equal - one had a board full of Ukranian natives and the other having some well known ex-pats on it. Which one would you choose?

                Mabye Hunter was corrupt. I have no idea. But getting paid $1M a month to be a board member of a foreign company is by no means a criminal indictment.

                Famous board members get paid craploads for essentially not delivering anything all the time.

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                  Mik
                  wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 23:32 last edited by
                  #31

                  Hunter Biden is not famous for anything but his father. That dog won't hunt.

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

                  X 1 Reply Last reply 23 Sept 2020, 23:40
                  • M Mik
                    23 Sept 2020, 23:32

                    Hunter Biden is not famous for anything but his father. That dog won't hunt.

                    X Online
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                    xenon
                    wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 23:40 last edited by xenon
                    #32

                    @Mik said in The Grassley Report:

                    Hunter Biden is not famous for anything but his father. That dog won't hunt.

                    So you're basically saying that there's no value of having someone on your board who is the son of the VPOTUS, went to elite schools himself and is obviously politically connected (even though no one would really know how connected).

                    You're saying there's no value to bringing a person on your Board like that if you're trying to get foreign investors? (Or other types of foreign deals)

                    C 1 Reply Last reply 24 Sept 2020, 01:54
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                      Mik
                      wrote on 23 Sept 2020, 23:45 last edited by
                      #33

                      Sure. It's called selling access, which is the whole point of the discussion.

                      “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
                      • M Mik
                        23 Sept 2020, 23:24

                        TG, do you think that if the Trump boys were out selling influence internationally that would not have been screamed from the rafters already? It's really not believable and you have no evidence, just unfounded assumption.

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                        taiwan_girl
                        wrote on 24 Sept 2020, 01:33 last edited by
                        #34

                        @Mik said in The Grassley Report:

                        TG, do you think that if the Trump boys were out selling influence internationally that would not have been screamed from the rafters already? It's really not believable and you have no evidence, just unfounded assumption.

                        I agree with you MIkaloh. They are not out there selling it, but would you agree that because of who they are, they are already one or two steps in front of other companies?

                        I am sure that Vice President Biden son did not say - "Psst, hire me (or my company) and I will say good things about you to my father" But, it is (to me) it is pretty obvious that there is some exception on the part of the customer.

                        I am sure that President Trump sons did not say - "Psst, chose our company, and we will say good things about you to my father".

                        I think I have mentioned previously, but I have been involved (in a minor way) on some large infrastructure projects and have spent many hours looking at and reviewing bid documents. Most government departments are required to be "transparent" in their selection process.

                        But, it is not that difficult to set the language in a bid document so that the advantage goes to one company or organization. So, if someone later comes back and says - "Why did you choose Vice President Biden company or President Trump company?", they can point to their spreadsheet and show that it was all "above the water".

                        But in reality, it would have been very difficult for Biden/Trump company to lose. Certain standards had to be met, and oh my gosh, the Biden/Trump company was the only one that could meet it.

                        All is I am saying is that it is nave to think that personal connections does not influence the final decision. Can I prove that? No. And I am sure that if I had docuemtation for Biden/Trump companies and their bidding on various projects, I would not find anything. That does not mean it is not there. And maybe it is all perfectly legal.

                        Just look at the forum thread that @George-K started about Supreme Court clerks. Somewhat similar. Law companies are not hiring these people because they are so so much better than other lawyers. Part of teh reason is that they have "connections".

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                          Larry
                          wrote on 24 Sept 2020, 01:38 last edited by
                          #35

                          I really worry about some of you.

                          1 Reply Last reply
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                            Horace
                            wrote on 24 Sept 2020, 01:38 last edited by
                            #36

                            It's similar to buying a lottery ticket. There's a chance it'll be valuable and you pay for that chance, while understanding it may be worthless.

                            The unethical part comes in for the cases it's actually valuable. But when one buys the ticket, one assumes that the influence one purchases will be laundered and untraceable. It is up to the other players to insure that. If they want to stay in the game, they do that job well.

                            Education is extremely important.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            • X xenon
                              23 Sept 2020, 23:40

                              @Mik said in The Grassley Report:

                              Hunter Biden is not famous for anything but his father. That dog won't hunt.

                              So you're basically saying that there's no value of having someone on your board who is the son of the VPOTUS, went to elite schools himself and is obviously politically connected (even though no one would really know how connected).

                              You're saying there's no value to bringing a person on your Board like that if you're trying to get foreign investors? (Or other types of foreign deals)

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                              C Offline
                              Copper
                              wrote on 24 Sept 2020, 01:54 last edited by
                              #37

                              @xenon said in The Grassley Report:

                              @Mik said in The Grassley Report:

                              Hunter Biden is not famous for anything but his father. That dog won't hunt.

                              So you're basically saying that there's no value of having someone on your board who is the son of the VPOTUS, went to elite schools himself and is obviously politically connected (even though no one would really know how connected).

                              You're saying there's no value to bringing a person on your Board like that if you're trying to get foreign investors? (Or other types of foreign deals)

                              You are talking about an imaginary person

                              Go look up the facts about Mr. Biden

                              X 1 Reply Last reply 24 Sept 2020, 01:56
                              • C Copper
                                24 Sept 2020, 01:54

                                @xenon said in The Grassley Report:

                                @Mik said in The Grassley Report:

                                Hunter Biden is not famous for anything but his father. That dog won't hunt.

                                So you're basically saying that there's no value of having someone on your board who is the son of the VPOTUS, went to elite schools himself and is obviously politically connected (even though no one would really know how connected).

                                You're saying there's no value to bringing a person on your Board like that if you're trying to get foreign investors? (Or other types of foreign deals)

                                You are talking about an imaginary person

                                Go look up the facts about Mr. Biden

                                X Online
                                X Online
                                xenon
                                wrote on 24 Sept 2020, 01:56 last edited by
                                #38

                                @Copper said in The Grassley Report:

                                @xenon said in The Grassley Report:

                                @Mik said in The Grassley Report:

                                Hunter Biden is not famous for anything but his father. That dog won't hunt.

                                So you're basically saying that there's no value of having someone on your board who is the son of the VPOTUS, went to elite schools himself and is obviously politically connected (even though no one would really know how connected).

                                You're saying there's no value to bringing a person on your Board like that if you're trying to get foreign investors? (Or other types of foreign deals)

                                You are talking about an imaginary person

                                Go look up the facts about Mr. Biden

                                I dunno what you’re talking about. He’s Biden’s son and went to Yale Law school. That’s all I said

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • X Online
                                  X Online
                                  xenon
                                  wrote on 24 Sept 2020, 01:57 last edited by xenon
                                  #39

                                  So - what was the crime uncovered after the investigation? I just don’t follow the thread. Was it that he got paid a lot of money?

                                  C 1 Reply Last reply 24 Sept 2020, 02:01
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                                    Larry
                                    wrote on 24 Sept 2020, 01:57 last edited by
                                    #40

                                    Jesus.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    • T taiwan_girl
                                      23 Sept 2020, 23:20

                                      @Copper said in The Grassley Report:

                                      How many countries have given them $3.5 million for nothing?

                                      It is not for nothing. They are expecting some sort of influence.

                                      Maybe their company (Company X) wants to do a project in Country A. They are competing against Company Y. Company Y comes in cheaper, but the project rules are are changed such that only Company X can win.

                                      Why would they do that? Because the person high up in teh company is the son of the Vice President or President. I think it is nave to think it is not going on.

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                                      C Offline
                                      Copper
                                      wrote on 24 Sept 2020, 01:58 last edited by
                                      #41

                                      @taiwan_girl said in The Grassley Report:

                                      @Copper said in The Grassley Report:

                                      How many countries have given them $3.5 million for nothing?

                                      It is not for nothing. They are expecting some sort of influence.

                                      Maybe their company (Company X) wants to do a project in Country A. They are competing against Company Y. Company Y comes in cheaper, but the project rules are are changed such that only Company X can win.

                                      Why would they do that? Because the person high up in teh company is the son of the Vice President or President. I think it is nave to think it is not going on.

                                      The same as x

                                      You are imagining what might happen

                                      The events surrounding Mr. Biden happened

                                      Mr. Trump and his family have been hounded by the entire news industry for 4 years. If it was even remotely possible to find the imaginary story you are talking about, they probably would have found it.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • X xenon
                                        24 Sept 2020, 01:57

                                        So - what was the crime uncovered after the investigation? I just don’t follow the thread. Was it that he got paid a lot of money?

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                                        C Offline
                                        Copper
                                        wrote on 24 Sept 2020, 02:01 last edited by
                                        #42

                                        @xenon said in The Grassley Report:

                                        So - what was the crime uncovered after the investigation? I just don’t follow the thread. Was it that he got paid a lot of money?

                                        We get that you are a big expert about high-priced foreign consultants. That's swell.

                                        But that has nothing to do with the story on Mr. Biden.

                                        You don't even have to look it up. George already did that for you - just scroll to the top of this thread and see the document with details about the corruption.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        • X Online
                                          X Online
                                          xenon
                                          wrote on 24 Sept 2020, 02:09 last edited by
                                          #43

                                          I read it. It amounts to Hunter got paid by prominent Russians and Chinese while his dad was VP.

                                          There could absolutely be shady things that happen under those circumstances. I don’t see any spelled out.

                                          L 2 Replies Last reply 24 Sept 2020, 02:47
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