It’s Tuesday.
It’s July 2nd.
On Thursday the Country will celebrate Independence Day.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is scheduled to testify on July 17th, fifteen days from now, but who’s counting?
For Tuesday the President tweeted 7 times so far.
People are fleeing New York like never before. If they own a business, they are twice as likely to flee. And if they are a victim of harassment by the A.G. of the state, like what they are doing to our great NRA, which I think will move quickly to Texas, where they are loved…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2019
…Texas will defend them & indemnify them against political harassment by New York State and Governor Cuomo. So many people are leaving New York for Texas and Florida that it is totally under siege. First New York taxes you too high, then they sue you, just to complete the job
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2019
Mark Levin has written a big number one bestselling book called, conspicuously and accurately, “Unfreedom of the Press.” It is a great book that tells it like it is, fake news and all. Keep this book number one!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2019
For the second day in a row, President Trump has attacked New York State, there still doesn’t seem a reason behind the tweets.
It is very hard and expensive to live in New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo uses his Attorney General as a bludgeoning tool for his own purposes. They sue on everything, always in search of a crime. I even got sued on a Foundation which took Zero rent & expenses & gave away…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2019
….more money than it had. Going on for years, originally brought by Crooked Hillary’s Campaign Chair, A.G. Eric Schneiderman, until forced to resign for abuse against women. They never even looked at the disgusting Clinton Foundation. Now Cuomo’s A.G. is harassing all of my….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2019
….New York businesses in search of anything at all they can find to make me look as bad as possible. So, on top of ridiculously high taxes, my children and companies are spending a fortune on lawyers. No wonder people and businesses are fleeing New York in record numbers!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2019
That’s right, The Trump Foundation gave away 100% plus, with Zero rent or expenses charged, and has been being sued by Cuomo and New York State for years – another part of the political Witch Hunt. Just in case anyone is interested – Clinton Foundation never even looked at!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2019
Attorney General of New York Letitia “Tish” James, responded to the Presidential tweets from Monday.
As the elected AG of NY, I have a sworn duty to protect & uphold state law. My office will follow the facts of any case, wherever they lead.
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) July 1, 2019
Make no mistake: No one is above the law, not even the President.
P.S. My name is Letitia James. (You can call me Tish.) https://t.co/GXkZ2QVWqE
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo weighed-in on Monday, while speaking to reporters on a conference call, NBC News reported that although Cuomo hadn’t seen the tweets, he was not surprised in the least by President Trump’s absurd tweets.
Nothing that man can say can surprise me. He says the most absurd things. [President Trump’s] Strength is not fact or truth
Cuomo via NBC News.
Hillary Clinton also responded.
Nope.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 1, 2019
The @ClintonFdn has—among many other things—provided 13k doses of naloxone to fight ODs and helped deliver supplies to Puerto Rico in the face of your inaction.
Your foundation, in the NY AG’s words, engaged in “a shocking pattern of illegality.” https://t.co/oGES4xO3qd
“Our NRA”
NBC News notes, that while it is true that people are leaving New York according to Census data, it’s impossible to gauge the number of departing businesses given that some 10,000 new businesses start and close in New York, every year.
Opinion
While I was researching these tweets specifically the NRA, I discovered a treasure trove of information, that I can’t possible dive through for this article.
Here is a time-line (ish) of what I discovered so far.
April 17th, 2019, The Trace, in partnership with The New Yorker published an article titled “Secrecy, Self-Dealing, and Greed at the NRA.”
The article details, the relationship between the NRA and NRATV, and the PR firm of Ackerman McQueen, based out of Oklahoma.
The PR firm has for decades worked with the NRA, so much so, that as the article notes, it’s impossible to see where the firm ends and the NRA begins, for example then-President of the NRA Oliver North, was paid, roughly $1 million dollars through Ackerman-McQueen, and not the NRA.
Shortly after The Trace article was published, The Wall Street Journal reported on April 26th, about the dispute between longtime CEO and Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and North.
The gist of the article both accused the other of wrong-doing to the board of the NRA. Both claim the other of finance crimes sending letters to the board demanding action.
The Next day on April 27th, North resigned, the Wall Street Journal reported, “The probe is looking into alleged financial misconduct of the kind that Mr. North has raised in the internal battles. A spokeswoman for Attorney General Letitia James confirmed the probe and said subpoenas have been issued, but had no further comment.”
It was The Trace article that prompted Everytown for Gun Saftey to file the compliant against the NRA, questioning the groups tax-exempt status as CNN noted on April 29th.
At the time John Feinblatt the President of Everytown said “In light of the recent, credible allegations of excessive invoicing and personal enrichment by insiders, it’s encouraging that the New York Attorney General is looking into the NRA, and we renew our call for other state and federal authorities to do the same.”
On June 25th, the NRA and Ackerman-McQueen “severed its relationship” and shut down live production at NRATV, The New York Times reported. Longtime second-in-command and lobbyist for the NRA Christopher Cox resigned during what the Times calls, “cleaning house,” that happened quickly over Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
As I noted, there is more information than I could possibly hope to share in one article.
I’m unclear why the plug for Mark Levin’s book is included in the thread attacking New York.
As most people are aware, according to the Polls, I won EVERY debate, including the three with Crooked Hillary Clinton, despite the fact that in the first debate, they modulated the sound on me, and got caught. This crew looks somewhat easier than Crooked, but you never know?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2019
The polls — scientific polls — had Trump losing every one of the three debates with Clinton. He only won in the junk web polls anyone could go and click, the kind Gabbard and Yang won this week. (There was a problem with his mic in the first debate.) pic.twitter.com/ghggMaBaLt
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) July 2, 2019
The Economy is the BEST IT HAS EVER BEEN! Even much of the Fake News is giving me credit for that!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2019
I’m old enough to remember when the President wasn’t credited with the economy…either good or bad…though it stands more to reason that the “Government” as a whole would in fact be responsible for the bad, given generally speaking when there is a downturn, you can typically find some new government something that makes it harder for the free market, not easier.
Tariffs = tax on consumers.
Big 4th of July in D.C. “Salute to America.” The Pentagon & our great Military Leaders are thrilled to be doing this & showing to the American people, among other things, the strongest and most advanced Military anywhere in the World. Incredible Flyovers & biggest ever Fireworks!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2019
I’m sure they aren’t thrilled, but that’s just me. Note that this tweet will be covered in an afternoon article.
Robert Mueller is being asked to testify yet again. He said he could only stick to the Report, & that is what he would and must do. After so much testimony & total transparency, this Witch Hunt must now end. No more Do Overs. No Collusion, No Obstruction. The Great Hoax is dead!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2019
Special Counsel Robert Mueller did not, ever once, testify, he was the lead investigator, having him testify before Congress about his investigation, is how it’s suppose to work.
