Do you think Republicans who obsess about Hunter Biden are similar to Democrats who obsess about Donald Trump, Jr?

[Anonymous]

I don't think Republicans and Democrats are opposite. I think they are quite similar. The way they obsess with the sons of the president is evidence.

Yes, I think you are correct.

No, that is dumb. Big difference.

[nightdrot]

Well, the difference at this point is that Hunter Biden's actions may have compromised his father. This making what Hunter Biden has done of more immediate relevance. By contrast, the main accusation against Donald Trump Jr. appears to have been refuted and the connection between what he was alleged to have done to his father appears to have been tenuous.

In the former case, further, there appears to be very solid evidence - based on data taken from Hunter Biden's laptop - that President Biden lied, outright, about being aware of his son's dealings. This also suggesting a direct link that was, at best, only intuited in the case of President Trump and his son.

Finally, there appears to be - at least prima facie - some case for suggesting that Hunter Biden's interactions with China are influencing his father's present policies. This including President Biden's refusal to pressure China on the Fentanyl and Covid "lab leak" issues. Even more conspicuously and alarmingly, the sale of US surplus oil to China.

These are serious policy questions that, at least at first glance, do not appear to have any logical connection to present American national interests. Throw in that, until this Administration, Members of Congress were routinely given access to Treasury inquiries on individuals whose financial actions were in question and being investigated. Yet when Mr. Biden was sworn into office, this policy was stopped cold. (Note, in this connection, that Mr. Trump allowed this policy to continue while he was President.)

This makes the suggestion that the alleged "obsession" with Hunter Biden is not entirely groundless and certainly worthy of investigation. This is not to say that Mr. Trump Jr.'s actions were necessarily above reproach - though to date there has not been any conclusive evidence sufficient to merit charges being filed against Mr. Trump Jr. (The only charges pending currently against Mr. Trump Jr. are in Utah where he may have illegally killed a bear. No joke.)

Still, put it all together and there is a case to be made that the actions of Hunter Biden have national security implications that give merit to an investigation into his actions. Not so much because of him, per se, but because there is at least evidence that his father may have covered up knowledge of his son's actions and that is having immediate policy and national security implications. That, by itself, merits investigation.

[NYCQuestions1976]

Hunter Biden's actions may very well warrant an investigation, but I actually don't want it to happen. At least not anytime soon, anyway. See my posted opinion as to my reasons.

[nightdrot]

@NYCQuestions1976 Well, as far as what you wrote, goes, do keep in mind that it is the responsibility of Congress to conduct oversight of the Executive branch. If your rule is going to be that Congress should not conduct such oversight, you will be leaving the door open to enormous abuses of power.

The real argument against the January 6th investigation is that the select committee that was assembled to investigate it was so obviously biased. In a normal such hearing, the minority leader is allowed to choose who will represent the minority side on the committee. Yet in this case, the Speaker forbade it and chose two Republicans who were known for their hostility to Mr. Trump. (One of whom, by the way, is NOT running for re-election, the other of whom is expected to be defeated in a primary election challenge.)

Throw in that the committee has not allowed cross examination of witnesses, and what you have is really farce. It is a show trial and - indeed - the Democrat majority organized it with a Hollywood producer.

That does not mean that January 6th would not have warranted at least looking into. However, by this point, the issue has been rendered moot.

By contrast, in the Hunter Biden case, there are serious national security implications in the here and now. Not least, is the President compromised?

To be sure, if the GOP in the majority organizes an investigation in the same mode as the Democrats did for January 6th, it will be a waste of time. Still, based on the evidence, it is not likely the GOP will do so and, in any case, having been the victim of a show trial, they are not produce one themselves.

[NYCQuestions1976]

I agree with your analysis and reasoning, and I'm not suggesting that Congress should be stripped of their investigative powers. However the current hearings are a hearsay soap opera... all while the country has many major actual issues that need to be addressed. If things were going smoothly, my opinion might be different.

As for a possible investigation into the Bidens, I'm not suggesting there isn't evidence to support an investigation (as we know, Hunter had/has a habit of saving EVERYTHING), but if it begins to happen before the current major issues are addressed by the new (probably) Republican House and Senate after the midterm elections, it would basically be no different to what's going on right now. It would be like changing a flat tire on a car with engine issues, and replacing it with another flat tire.

[nightdrot]

@NYCQuestions1976 The problem with that argument is that the "current major" issues never fully go away. First, because not every problem has a solution, some problems are just difficulties that must be managed as best they can be. Besides, imperfect creatures are not apt to create perfect resolutions.

Secondly, as Disraeli said, "Finality is not in the vocabulary of politics." It is not in the nature of the beast that complex political-social-cultural questions are finally settled.

Sometimes the urgent overtakes the necessary. Sometimes not. However, the bottom line that Congress can address both - particularly when there is a national consensus. At the moment, no such consensus exists, which makes a resolution of many of the issues - crime, for example, elusive if not problematic, certainly in the short term.

Bottom line, if you wait till the most "urgent" issues are addressed - assuming you can even get agreement on what "urgent" is - then Congress will end up de facto abandoning its' investigative and oversight roles. That would not be good, suffice to say.

Besides, don't mistake the headlines for what the Hill is really like. For example, amidst all the furor over January 6th, Congress still was able to pass a gun control bill. Not sure what you think of gun control but my point is merely that, contrary to what the headlines suggest, Congress can and does within certain limits walk and chew gum at the same time.

[NYCQuestions1976]

I don't believe that we differ very much on philosophy; just the timing and implementation of that philosophy. As for the new gun control law, unless it directly addresses the problem of people with dangerous mental health issues without criminal records being able to get "legal" guns, it's just more pandering.

[nightdrot]

@NYCQuestions1976 Well, it provides incentives to states to enact "red flag laws." That is a start, some of the other provisions include limiting the age of purchasing certain types of guns to age 21 and over.

My point was not so much to argue its merits as to illustrate that Congress can, as I said, "walk and chew gum" at the same time. However, its capacity to do so and the limits on what it can do is defined by the degree of national consensus - and there is not much of that right now.

"Pandering" it may be - but the public tends to like that better, for starters. Beyond that, the degree of pandering, if such it can be called, will be defined by the general societal consensus and the willingness of the public to tolerate compromise.

As to our philosophies, I think that there is much we likely agree on. Further, I find you to be a cogent thinker of moderate tone. My argument with you in this case has perhaps more to do with the fact that I am a former Congressional staffer - and I still work in politics - so I have a more intricate understanding of how the process works.

Adding, again, that the process will work only the degree to which the public wants it to - ultimately. The public talks a ferocious game against politicians and government. However, that public has the following profile:

1 in 6 who work, work for government.
1 in 7 is a Social Security recipient - and that will only increase as the population ages and the workforce correspondingly shrinks.
1/3 of all families, this year, will receive some form of transfer payment.
The top 10% of income earners pay 70% of the Federal income tax - the majority pay no taxes at all, even as they cry bitterly about high taxes.

My point being that the problem with getting things done in Congress has less to do with Congress conducting oversight hearings, as it should. Rather, with a public that wants contradictory things.

[NYCQuestions1976]

Well I appreciate the compliment, but have you seen my content on this site? 🤔😂

[nightdrot]

@NYCQuestions1976 Well, only a few, but for any sins you'll get a pass since it is a sliding scale. (That was a joke.)

[NYCQuestions1976]

It better be a big slide.

[MCheetah]

Possibly. Except I NEVER heard anyone, left or right, talk about Hunter Biden or Donald Trump Jr. I hear the batsh*t insane left constantly b*tch and whine about Donald Trump, a guy who's been banned off the internet and White House for almost two years now, CONSTANTLY bringing up his name, non-stop, almost as if they want him to become president again, but lack the intelligence to realize everyone hates them and them hating Trump makes people side with Trump.

I don't even think the right talks all that much about Biden. They talk about how piss-poor America is doing right now and how horribly the Biden Administration is doing not even two years into their term. But besides the "Let's Go Brandon" stuff, the right doesn't talk about Biden that much. And even if they do, Biden is the CURRENT president of the United States, which makes it more justified. Trump isn't even on Twitter anymore, nor is he in the news, which makes the far-left lunatics STILL obsessed over him that much more pathetic.

I do agree with you though that the left and right are similar in many, MANY ways, even if the right is far more respectable and tolerant, overall. Bring up COVID to the left and watch them start REE'ing. Bring about abortion to the right and watch them start REE'ing. Bring up education reform and improving the broken public education school system in America and dead silence from both sides.

[Anonymous]

I think, if people have a problem with a politician, they should go after that politician. Let’s just take Trump as an example: If you don’t like Trump, go after him, for his issues. Do not go after his family for his issues. Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t go after his family members for their own faults and disagreeable actions, but that is separate.


The kids bear their own faults, but they do not carry the faults of their parent.

[StevieNix]

A group hacked into Hunter's iCloud account and posted some of the pics and videos. I forgot the name of the website, but you can go there and watch the videos.

Comparing those two sons is like comparing apples to oranges.

[MCheetah]

Nah. I'd say it's more like Brussel sprouts and cocaine. Brussel sprouts are only unpopular.

[StevieNix]

@MCheetah

The site is "4Chan"
But they don't have a search engine, so I don't know how people are seeing the videos.

But I've heard two talk show hosts that they have seen some of the videos. In one video, Hunter and Hooker are weighing something on a scale. They are arguing about the weight.

Radio talk show host posted one of the videos on TikTok and said: "It looks like he's weighing crushed walnuts. (crack) (The host is Joe Pags. He's awesome.)

The Chinese government told Joe that his account was very close to being suspended. The reasons for the suspension are:

1. There was tobacco in the video. (Hunter was smoking)
2. There was alcohol in the video. (Hunter was drinking beer)
3. There were drugs in the video. lol

Joe Pags just said it looked like crushed walnuts. lol Why does China think that Hunter was doing crack with his prostitute friend?

It's blatantly obvious that Joe Biden is just a puppet of China. And China takes care of their puppets, until they no longer need them.

[NYCQuestions1976]

It's slightly different, because Hunter Biden had a nasty habit of recording and saving his bad actions and bad decisions, and conversations with his father. However, if Republicans win big in the 2022 midterm elections this November and start an investigation into Hunter and Joe Biden, I'm going to be just as annoyed as I am with Democrats and their stupid January 6th hearings. These investigations are wasting MY tax dollars! Right now we have inflation, the economy is a mess, the stock market is down, high gas prices, unemployment, supply chain issues, and empty grocery stores. The last thing we need is more taxpayer funded investigations, committees, and hearings.

[goaded]

https://youtu.be/x4B9FEEpY9Q

[NYCQuestions1976]

@goaded
https://youtu.be/rAlTOfl9F2w

[Anonymous]

What’s the difference?

Hunter is his bagman and proxy and became rich through his daddy’s political influence and name.

The other guy was born rich, the son of a rich man, who was the son of some rich man.

Besides, Hunter is a goddamn junkie and was dishonorably discharged from the military for failing a drug test.

But yeah, he should be on the board of directors for an energy company. In Ukraine. Making more money in a month than most of us make in a year.

Nothing weird going on there. 🤷‍♂️

[exitseven]

If Don Jr. was a crackhead who took millions from foreign countries despite having absolutely no value except access to the President of the United States there would have been an investigation a long time ago. Especially since here is a laptop full of evidence in FBI custody and first hand witnesses.

[goaded]

Didn't Ivanka Trump get a multi-million copyright deal from China while working in the White House?

[exitseven]

@goaded Yes, it was a legitimate business deal. She had her own line of clothing. I am not sure how much money was involved. I seem to remember that it did not last very long.

[Stoner710]

Kinda Don Jr didn’t commit actual crimes like hunter, if hunter actually went to trail and the evidence with work that by a bear in impartial jury who wasn’t into political he would be in jail until death

[goaded]

No, Jr. was only involved in a crime as a hunter.
https://www.alternet.org/2022/05/donald-trump-jr/

[Stoner710]

@goaded well then he should be going to jail for 2 years and given a 5,000-10,000$ fine

That still relatively minor compared to what hunter Biden has done hunter would be going to prison for life Don Jr 2 years (that’s the actual consequences for poaching)

[goaded]

There's no difference between a president and a president's son?

There's no difference between personal corruption (allegedly) and trying to violently overturn an election to stay in office?

OK. Whatever.

[goaded]

My apologies, I misread the question, I didn't realise it was about Jr. Who's obsessed with Jr. on the left? There're comments and facts when he comes up, but he's not used as a get out of jail free card for Democrats.

[In_Trance]

Same shit

[DCooper]

lol

[Dargil]

Not even nearly. You lefties are afraid of Trump for good reason. He will crush you.
All this frantic nonsense will accomplish nothing.

[globetrotter22]

Comparing Donald Trump Jr. to Hunter Biden is like comparing coffee to cocaine. Pun intended.

[Anonymous]

Well you know when repubs are desperate, that is when they talk about Hunter Biden. They have nothing else at this point.

[joeldalton]

tell me you don't understand reality without telling me you don't understand reality.

[bean2k21]

You do understand that Democrats are the modern Nazi party, yeah?

[goaded]

Nope. Trump knowing sent an armed mob of supporters to the Capitol to illegally interfere in the election to steal the presidency for Trump.

[Friendlybro79]

I think you bring a good observation to the table.

[Sabretooth]

one is a successful criminal bent on destroying all he sees. the other is relatively nobody.