Trumps presser was remarkable. It means were heading into truly uncharted territory.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

At his presser today, Donald Trump confirmed the very worst fears of ethics experts, announcing a new arrangement for his business holdings that is designed to garner nice headlines but is unlikely to do much to reduce the possibility of conflicts of interest and, possibly, full blown corruption.

Trump did nothing to address the central ethical problem he faces: He will not divest himself of his holdings, only transferring control of them to his two sons. The Post sums up the arrangement:


Trump will shift his assets into a trust managed by his sons and give up management of his private company….

The announcement included a pledge from a Trump lawyer that the company would make “no new foreign deals whatsoever” during Trump’s presidency, and that any new domestic deals would undergo vigorous review, including approval by an independent ethics adviser.

But Trump’s commitment will not resolve what federal officials and ethics advisors say is his most key conflict: His continuing ownership of his business, the Trump Organization. That will ensure Trump will still have a vested financial interest in a global private company when he takes office next week.

Sheri Dillon, a tax advisor at Morgan Lewis, said Trump has sought to completely isolate himself from the business and “will only know of a deal if he sees it in the paper or on TV.” But he will not sell the business or his stake, adding, “President-elect Trump should not be expected to destroy the company he built.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/01/11/trumps-presser-was-remarkable-it-means-were-heading-into-truly-uncharted-territory/?tid=pm_opinions_pop&utm_term=.bf8cf6e9c78f

[DK504]

1. Cronyism

"... is unlikely to do much to reduce the possibility of conflicts of interest and, possibly, full blown corruption. "

He wants Ivana's husband to come and play in the White House. And yet another conflict of interest. Nearly all Cabinet wanna be's all have hugggeee conflicts of interest, have yet to hear a peep from the media. Hmmmm.

[marybourg]

2. It was also remarkable for

his attack on the MSM and for its absolute lack of programmatic substance and continued campaign mode dissing of rivals and praising himself.

[2naSalit]

3. It's not good...nt

[Johonny]

4. His press conference was more like a campaign rally. It means he won't stop campaigning

He likes it. He hates the actual job of president. Eventually though Obama won't be president and someone will be doing the job...or not.

[Initech]

5. Like the USS Enterprise on its' 5 year mission.

We're exploring dangerous and uncharted new worlds, and who knows what we're going to find?

[Arkansas Granny]

6. PBS NewsHour had a very good interview about this last night.

They had Norman Eisan, Former Special Counsel to President Obama and Richard Painter, Former Associate Counsel to President George W. Bush were in agreement that what DT's attorney talked about at the news conference would still be in violation of the Constitution.

Transcript here:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/trumps-plan-company-enough-avoid-conflicts-interest/