Perhaps this Man Should Not Be President of the United States

 

Okay, folks, all kidding aside, this Trump thing has gone too far.

Tim Mak is a good reporter. I was once on a press junket with him, and I saw someone who took a great deal of care to get the facts right. This piece — ostensibly about rumors that Donald Trump raped his ex-wife, Ivana — contains what I trust to be an accurate quote from Michael Cohen, special counsel at The Trump Organization:

Cohen acknowledged Monday that he has not read the entire deposition but said he had read the two relevant pages of it, including the rape accusation.

“It’s not the word that you’re trying to make it into,” Cohen told The Daily Beast, saying Ivana Trump was talking about how “she felt raped emotionally … She was not referring to it [as] a criminal matter, and not in its literal sense, though there’s many literal senses to the word.”

Cohen added that there is no such thing, legally, as a man raping his wife. “You cannot rape your spouse,” he said. “There’s very clear case law.” …

Trump’s lawyer then changed tactics, lobbing insults and threatening a lawsuit if a story was published.

“I will make sure that you and I meet one day while we’re in the courthouse. And I will take you for every penny you still don’t have. And I will come after your Daily Beast and everybody else that you possibly know,” Cohen said. “So I’m warning you, tread very [redacted by Ricochet’s editors] lightly, because what I’m going to do to you is going to be [redacted by Ricochet’s editors] disgusting. You understand me?”

“You write a story that has Mr. Trump’s name in it, with the word ‘rape,’ and I’m going to mess your life up … for as long as you’re on this frickin’ planet … you’re going to have judgments against you, so much money, you’ll never know how to get out from underneath it,” he added. …

[Trump’s attorney] said that “there is nothing reasonable about you wanting to write a story about somebody’s usage of the word ‘rape,’ when she’s talking [about how] she didn’t feel emotionally satisfied.”

“Though there’s many literal senses to the word, if you distort it, and you put Mr. Trump’s name there onto it, rest assured, you will suffer the consequences. So you do whatever you want. You want to ruin your life at the age of 20? You do that, and I’ll be happy to serve it right up to you,” he added.

The joke has gone too far. We’ve heard enough from Donald Trump.

Published in Elections, Politics

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  1. Manfred Arcane Inactive
    Manfred Arcane
    @ManfredArcane

    Claire Berlinski, Ed.: Thanks for letting me vote. We now have a society in which men who murder each other over an insult face the death penalty, in many states. I think the idea that murder in response to an insult is uncivilized is, in fact, an advance.

    It…is…not…murder, woman.  It is a duel.  Voluntary.  Comprehende?

    • #61
  2. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera

    Manfred Arcane:

    Leigh:

    Titus Techera:

    Leigh:

    I’m sorry to say, I do not believe it speaks for itself & I undertook to speak for it without asking you–my comment is right before this answer here. If you disapprove, let me know & I will remove it.

    No need to ask. Say what you want. I would disagree, in that I don’t think the intent was to suggest murder.

    But I don’t think dueling did much to help either Hamilton or Burr — and Burr probably was guilty of murder.

    This is so idiotic. A duel is voluntary, right? Right? Murder, huh? I see. And you now are deciding how Hamilton and Burr should have conducted their lives, are you? Wow, yes we should just let women run things because they see things so clearly. Let the wussification of America proceed…

    You’ve moved from insulting a man’s character–character assassination, in your phrase–to calling his brief, tentative speech idiotic. He has said nothing against you to warrant any such behavior, if it’s possible to warrant it. This, of course, is not hypocrisy–because your kind of man is only supposed to be able to kill people with a gun if they disagree, not to argue anything. But in worlds not so fantastic & brutal, you do have to show some self-control & courtesy. As an advertisment for manly honor, you’re only showing that it would mean humiliating everyone with whom you might disagree. Congrats & for shame-

    • #62
  3. Al Kennedy Inactive
    Al Kennedy
    @AlKennedy

    Claire, are we at the end of discussing anything substantial on this thread?

    • #63
  4. Whiskey Sam Inactive
    Whiskey Sam
    @WhiskeySam

    It’s the summer of 2015.  The entire Presidential race is a sideshow that no one except the politically obsessed cares about until next year.  Sound and fury signifying nothing.  I’m amazed people are this worked up over an idiot with a possum on his head a full year before any of it matters.  He won’t be the nominee.  He won’t be a threat to anybody in 2016.

    • #64
  5. user_656019 Coolidge
    user_656019
    @RayKujawa

    It’s difficult for me to believe your last sentence was made without tongue firmly planted in cheek.

    Why pull the plug on Trump stories now? This seems to just be getting good. I’d rather continue to watch and see where this leads. He seems to be bringing out the worst in some people.

    Edit: Correction – a lot of people.

    • #65
  6. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera

    Whiskey Sam:It’s the summer of 2015. The entire Presidential race is a sideshow that no one except the politically obsessed cares about until next year. Sound and fury signifying nothing. I’m amazed people are this worked up over an idiot with a possum on his head a full year before any of it matters. He won’t be the nominee. He won’t be a threat to anybody in 2016.

    Remember a Mr. Perot-

    • #66
  7. Guruforhire Inactive
    Guruforhire
    @Guruforhire

    Guruforhire:I like moderate left more than I like the moderate right. The moderate right is every bit as tedious, malicious, hateful, and stupid as the radical left with none of their virtues.

    And….. Proof of thesis:

    https://www.commentarymagazine.com/2015/07/27/donald-trump-polls-despair/

    This doesn’t get better until professional republicans get potty trained.

    • #67
  8. 10 cents Member
    10 cents
    @

    Ivana is endorsing Donald Trump. How will Claire take this? ;-)

    http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ivana-trump-rejects-rape-allegations-article-1.2306290

    • #68
  9. Julia PA Inactive
    Julia PA
    @JulesPA

    Claire Berlinski, Ed.:

    [Cohen said] “I will make sure that you and I meet one day while we’re in the courthouse. And I will take you for every penny you still don’t have. And I will come after your Daily Beast and everybody else that you possibly know,” Cohen said. “So I’m warning you, tread very [redacted by Ricochet’s editors] lightly, because what I’m going to do to you is going to be [redacted by Ricochet’s editors] disgusting. You understand me?”

    I’m not sure I understand the context of this statement, but I am equally frightened that Trump has a campaign associate who will talk like this, publicly.

    • #69
  10. Leigh Inactive
    Leigh
    @Leigh

    10 cents:Ivana is endorsing Donald Trump. How will Claire take this? ;-)

    http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ivana-trump-rejects-rape-allegations-article-1.2306290

    Dime, she’s objecting to the lawyer’s response, not buying the allegations.

    • #70
  11. Manfred Arcane Inactive
    Manfred Arcane
    @ManfredArcane

    Claire Berlinski, Ed.: The rule of law is usually considered an achievement.

    Whose law?  If the law society becomes so feminized that men cannot defend their honor, it is bad law and a bad society.

    Let there be no misunderstanding here, I am blaming you and all womenkind for this state of affairs.  You have no idea how men think about this matter.  None, nada.  You can’t defend yourself, physically, so you eschew violence.  Fine.  But we can, and we put a very high value on defending our honor.  If you look at the entirety of history, you will know that this has always been true.  Men want to defend their honor above life, consistently.  Get it?  Seriously, get it?  Burr and Hamilton, get it?  Andrew Jackson with bullets in his chest from defending the honor of his wife, get it?

    If you women want to deal with these matters with earnest conversation, a gaggle of lawyers and conflict resolution and anger management specialists sitting around a table and talking it out, holding hands and hugging each other afterwards, Fine.

    Please don’t prescribe for men that which makes you comfortable, because we are not like you.  If you don’t respect this admonition, then you can forget about the prospects for this country, because it was founded, and can only be maintained, by Men.  M..E..N.

    • #71
  12. user_656019 Coolidge
    user_656019
    @RayKujawa

    Whiskey Sam:It’s the summer of 2015. The entire Presidential race is a sideshow that no one except the politically obsessed cares about until next year. Sound and fury signifying nothing. I’m amazed people are this worked up over an idiot with a possum on his head a full year before any of it matters. He won’t be the nominee. He won’t be a threat to anybody in 2016.

    Trump is like the cow catcher in the long train of Republican presidential wannabes. The Democrats and even a few Republicans are throwing cows and whatever they can in the train’s path trying to derail the train. If they can knock off the cow catcher, the rest of the train will soon derail. They only need to get Trump to back off and quit and   the rest will be properly intimidated. But our train is strong. Trump should inspire the rest of the field. The main stream media is losing its mojo.

    • #72
  13. user_512412 Inactive
    user_512412
    @RichardFinlay

    Codevilla, referring to the professional political class, says in the article Pseudo linked:  They fear the rise of an un-intimidated leader more graceful and precise than Trump, someone whose vision is fuller but who is even more passionate…

    If Codevilla is correct that such a person would be even more dangerous to the ruling class, why doesn’t Cruz get more traction than Trump?

    • #73
  14. Claire Berlinski, Ed. Member
    Claire Berlinski, Ed.
    @Claire

    Manfred Arcane: You can’t defend yourself, physically

    You might be quite surprised.

    • #74
  15. 10 cents Member
    10 cents
    @

    Leigh:

    10 cents:Ivana is endorsing Donald Trump. How will Claire take this? ;-)

    http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ivana-trump-rejects-rape-allegations-article-1.2306290

    Dime, she’s objecting to the lawyer’s response, not buying the allegations.

    So change the title to Trump’s lawyer should not be president.

    • #75
  16. Leigh Inactive
    Leigh
    @Leigh

    I will just note here that we outlawed dueling in this country before women got the vote.

    • #76
  17. Al Kennedy Inactive
    Al Kennedy
    @AlKennedy

    Claire Berlinski, Ed.:

    Manfred Arcane: You can’t defend yourself, physically

    You might be quite surprised.

    Manfred, Claire is a martial arts expert.  Most men would last about 15 seconds against her.

    • #77
  18. Leigh Inactive
    Leigh
    @Leigh

    10 cents: Dime, she’s objecting to the lawyer’s response, not buying the allegations. So change the title to Trump’s lawyer should not be president.

    That would work, if his lawyer became his ex-lawyer.

    • #78
  19. Manfred Arcane Inactive
    Manfred Arcane
    @ManfredArcane

    Al Kennedy:

    Claire Berlinski, Ed.:

    Manfred Arcane: You can’t defend yourself, physically

    You might be quite surprised.

    Manfred, Claire is a martial arts expert. Most men would last about 15 seconds against her.

    Speak for yourself, buddy.  Next thing you will tell me is that all those women actors who kick major you-know-what in films these days are authentic, right.

    PS. We need another thread to discuss the prevailing trend just mentioned.  Why is it that theater goers want to see such fanciful stuff – women who couldn’t punch their way out of a paper bag in real life playing parts where they regularly dominate male opponents effortlessly?  What is going on here?  Go look at, “The Quiet Man” and compare with today’s fare in movies and explain to me what is in the collective psyche today that finds this…gratifying.

    • #79
  20. Ricochet Coolidge
    Ricochet
    @Manny

    Guruforhire

    Manny:What that story proves is the man is completely self centered and thinks he has special rights because of his wealth. Look at Rick Perry’s speech about Trump. He pointed out that Trump claims never to have had sought God’s forgiveness. Here’s the direct quote from Perry’s speech:

    But most telling to me is not Mr. Trump’s bombast, his refusal to show any remorse for his comments about Senator McCain, but his admission that there is not a single time in his life that he sought the forgiveness of God

    A man too arrogant, too self-absorbed, to seek God’s forgiveness is precisely the type of leader John Adams prayed would never occupy the White House.

    When I saw the Ivana Trump rape story this morning, that quote was the first thing I remembered. He is so self centered he doesn’t even realize what sin is. If he couldn’t ask for God’s forgiveness for that night’s behavior, then not only is he a deplorable human being, he is not fit to lead. He is a cancer on conservatism.

    You actually believe things said during a divorce proceeding?

    It does give one pause, but it sounds credible to me.  What is it that Conservatives go to defend this idiot?

    • #80
  21. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera

    Manny:

    :What that story proves is the man is completely self centered and thinks he has special rights because of his wealth. Look at Rick Perry’s speech about Trump. He pointed out that Trump claims never to have had sought God’s forgiveness. Here’s the direct quote from :

    But most telling to me is not Mr. Trump’s bombast, his refusal to show any remorse for his comments about Senator McCain, but his admission that there is not a single time in his life that he sought the forgiveness of God

    A man too arrogant, too self-absorbed, to seek God’s forgiveness is precisely the type of leader John Adams prayed would never occupy the White House.

    When I saw the Ivana Trump rape story this morning, that quote was the first thing I remembered. He is so self centered he doesn’t even realize what sin is. If he couldn’t ask for God’s forgiveness for that night’s behavior, then not only is he a deplorable human being, he is not fit to lead. He is a cancer on conservatism.

    You actually believe things said during a divorce proceeding?

    It does give one pause, but it sounds credible to me. What is it that Conservatives go to defend this idiot?

    It’s the ugliest thing I’ve seen about conservatives in a long time. I suppose fear & anger bring out the ugliness in most of us, but supporting a petty evil would-be gangster?

    • #81
  22. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera

    Richard Finlay:Codevilla, referring to the professional political class, says in the article Pseudo linked: They fear the rise of an un-intimidated leader more graceful and precise than Trump, someone whose vision is fuller but who is even more passionate…

    If Codevilla is correct that such a person would be even more dangerous to the ruling class, why doesn’t Cruz get more traction than Trump?

    Because he’s not the genuine article.

    • #82
  23. Zafar Member
    Zafar
    @Zafar

    You guys can do better. You deserve better.

    • #83
  24. Trink Coolidge
    Trink
    @Trink

    I just want to wake up.

    • #84
  25. Guruforhire Inactive
    Guruforhire
    @Guruforhire

    Manny:

    :What that story proves is the man is completely self centered and thinks he has special rights because of his wealth. Look at Rick Perry’s speech about Trump. He pointed out that Trump claims never to have had sought God’s forgiveness. Here’s the direct quote from :

    But most telling to me is not Mr. Trump’s bombast, his refusal to show any remorse for his comments about Senator McCain, but his admission that there is not a single time in his life that he sought the forgiveness of God

    A man too arrogant, too self-absorbed, to seek God’s forgiveness is precisely the type of leader John Adams prayed would never occupy the White House.

    When I saw the Ivana Trump rape story this morning, that quote was the first thing I remembered. He is so self centered he doesn’t even realize what sin is. If he couldn’t ask for God’s forgiveness for that night’s behavior, then not only is he a deplorable human being, he is not fit to lead. He is a cancer on conservatism.

    You actually believe things said during a divorce proceeding?

    It does give one pause, but it sounds credible to me. What is it that Conservatives go to defend this idiot?

    I am not defending him, as much pointing out the ugly lengths people are going to for no other reason than to be ugly.

    • #85
  26. FloppyDisk90 Member
    FloppyDisk90
    @FloppyDisk90

    Has this thread actually devolved to an argument on who can win a karate fight between Claire and Manfred?

    @Manfred:  your hairy chest beating is impressing exactly no one.

    • #86
  27. Charlotte Member
    Charlotte
    @Charlotte

    Manfred Arcane

    Whose law? If the law society becomes so feminized that men cannot defend their honor, it is bad law and a bad society.

    Let there be no misunderstanding here, I am blaming you and all womenkind for this state of affairs. You have no idea how men think about this matter. None, nada. You can’t defend yourself, physically, so you eschew violence. Fine. But we can, and we put a very high value on defending our honor. If you look at the entirety of history, you will know that this has always been true. Men want to defend their honor above life, consistently. Get it? Seriously, get it? Burr and Hamilton, get it? Andrew Jackson with bullets in his chest from defending the honor of his wife, get it?

    If you women want to deal with these matters with earnest conversation, a gaggle of lawyers and conflict resolution and anger management specialists sitting around a table and talking it out, holding hands and hugging each other afterwards, Fine.

    Please don’t prescribe for men that which makes you comfortable, because we are not like you. If you don’t respect this admonition, then you can forget about the prospects for this country, because it was founded, and can only be maintained, by Men. M..E..N.

    Who are the three people who Liked this comment?!

    Sheesh.

    (Sorry, Manfred, didn’t mean to go all chick on you.)

    (Seriously. Who invited this guy?)

    • #87
  28. Whiskey Sam Inactive
    Whiskey Sam
    @WhiskeySam

    FloppyDisk90:Has this thread actually devolved to an argument on who can win a karate fight between Claire and Manfred?

    @Manfred: your hairy chest beating is impressing exactly no one.

    I hope so because it would take this thread to 11.  If we’re going to hyperbolically hyperventilate about clown candidates a year in advance, why not go all in with the crazy?

    • #88
  29. Manfred Arcane Inactive
    Manfred Arcane
    @ManfredArcane

    FloppyDisk90:Has this thread actually devolved to an argument on who can win a karate fight between Claire and Manfred?

    @Manfred: your hairy chest beating is impressing exactly no one.

    Boy, you sure have the right stuff to take on the Democrats.  I feel so much better knowing you are going to lead the charge…

    • #89
  30. Whiskey Sam Inactive
    Whiskey Sam
    @WhiskeySam

    Charlotte:

    Manfred Arcane

    Whose law? If the law society becomes so feminized that men cannot defend their honor, it is bad law and a bad society.

    Let there be no misunderstanding here, I am blaming you and all womenkind for this state of affairs. You have no idea how men think about this matter. None, nada. You can’t defend yourself, physically, so you eschew violence. Fine. But we can, and we put a very high value on defending our honor. If you look at the entirety of history, you will know that this has always been true. Men want to defend their honor above life, consistently. Get it? Seriously, get it? Burr and Hamilton, get it? Andrew Jackson with bullets in his chest from defending the honor of his wife, get it?

    If you women want to deal with these matters with earnest conversation, a gaggle of lawyers and conflict resolution and anger management specialists sitting around a table and talking it out, holding hands and hugging each other afterwards, Fine.

    Please don’t prescribe for men that which makes you comfortable, because we are not like you. If you don’t respect this admonition, then you can forget about the prospects for this country, because it was founded, and can only be maintained, by Men. M..E..N.

    Who are the three people who Liked this comment?!

    Sheesh.

    (Sorry, Manfred, didn’t mean to go all chick on you.)

    (Seriously. Who invited this guy?)

    So you’re saying this wouldn’t be the time to drop in my quip about women demanding suffrage and the rest of us have been suffering ever since?

    • #90
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