Matt Gaetz reported to be leaving the House - Page 2

SuburbanTurkey · 31st March 2021, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by JoeMorgue

I do legit wonder how many of the recent Republicans in Congress were operating under the assumptions that:

- Trump really was going to somehow stay in power forever
- Therefore nobody would investigate any wrong doings they had committed and wouldn't care if they found any.

A lot of them are acting like a card player who suddenly looked down at their hands and realized that just noticed that the flush they have been bluffing with and raising the pot on was really 4 spades and a club and they are no longer sure their opponents don't really have the better hand.

I wonder if Gaetz even understood that he might be violating the law by taking a minor across state lines while having a sexual relationship. Is it common knowledge?

Probably not something most 38 year old men have to worry about in their dating choices. Middle aged men don't normally try to pick up dates with high schoolers, or at least understand that doing so is socially stigmatized even if technically legal.

Squeegee Beckenheim · 31st March 2021, 07:18 AM

Originally Posted by Bob001

That might not be why he's leaving:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/30/u...stigation.html

I bet the QAnon crowd are all over this. They're very against politicians being involved with the sex trafficking of minors. So I'm sure everybody who follows Q or self-identifies as a QAnonner is soundly condemning Gaetz as we speak.

Squeegee Beckenheim · 31st March 2021, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by Elagabalus

Perhaps she's just a beard. Matt is still living with his "son" Nestor.

Rep. Matt Gaetz Said He Has A Teenage Son From Cuba Named Nestor

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article...stor-son-cuban

Just because someone is in to girls doesn't mean they're not also in to boys.

Upchurch · 31st March 2021, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by SuburbanTurkey

I wonder if Gaetz even understood that he might be violating the law by taking a minor across state lines while having a sexual relationship. Is it common knowledge?

I dunno. The phrase "across state lines" throws up all sorts of red flags in my head. Add the words "sexual" and "minor" and the number of red flags go up exponentially.

With our infant kids, my wife insisted we carry copies of their birth certificates when traveling out of state. That would suggest the knowledge is not uncommon.

Horatius · 31st March 2021, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by The Don

It makes sense if the evidence is real and that Matt Gaetz is actually guilty.

In that light, presenting the whole thing as a political hit job, and then claiming that the DOJ under Biden is corrupt and is blackmailing him means that at worst any conviction can be handwaved away (and subsequently pardoned by the next GOP President) and at best the jury can be convinced not to convict.

It's not like there would be any negative consequences arising from a claim that he is being wrongfully blackmailed by the DOJ.

Yeah, this just being the desperate flailing of someone who knows he's going down in flames makes sense. But it's just sooo desperate. If I were to lie about something like this, I'd at least try to make the lie plausible. Does he think he can pull off a Big Lie like trump did?

Segnosaur · 31st March 2021, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by SuburbanTurkey

I wonder if Gaetz even understood that he might be violating the law by taking a minor across state lines while having a sexual relationship. Is it common knowledge?

According to Wikipedia, Gaetz went to the College of William & Mary Law School and has a law degree. Even if it is not common knowledge that transporting a minor across state lines is illegal, Gaetz should probably have been aware of the potential legal problems due to his educational background.

angrysoba · 31st March 2021, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by JoeMorgue

I do legit wonder how many of the recent Republicans in Congress were operating under the assumptions that:

- Trump really was going to somehow stay in power forever
- Therefore nobody would investigate any wrong doings they had committed and wouldn't care if they found any.

A lot of them are acting like a card player who suddenly looked down at their hands and realized that just noticed that the flush they have been bluffing with and raising the pot on was really 4 spades and a club and they are no longer sure their opponents don't really have the better hand.

Drunk on power: "hangover?! Nah, I'll be just fine! *bleeeeurghhh* More boooooze!"

Horatius · 31st March 2021, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by Segnosaur

According to Wikipedia, Gaetz went to the College of William & Mary Law School and has a law degree. Even if it is not common knowledge that transporting a minor across state lines is illegal, Gaetz should probably have been aware of the potential legal problems due to his educational background.

Maybe he was out sick that day.

This is why you always ask a buddy for his class notes.

SuburbanTurkey · 31st March 2021, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by Segnosaur

According to Wikipedia, Gaetz went to the College of William & Mary Law School and has a law degree. Even if it is not common knowledge that transporting a minor across state lines is illegal, Gaetz should probably have been aware of the potential legal problems due to his educational background.

Oof, yeah, you'd think a law school grad would be familiar with the Mann Act.

angrysoba · 31st March 2021, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by kookbreaker

A lot of folks noted that on Carlson he referred to the alleged as a “17 year old woman” and not a girl. Seemed like a lot of legitimizing. Even Tucker kinda thought it was weird.

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1...825096196?s=21

Wow! That was weird.

And it came across almost as if there was some undertone of "If I go down, I'm taking you with me, Tucker!"

Tucker thought it was weird because Gaetz was saying, "You know what it's like to be accused of sex crimes that you obviously didn't do, right!" and "You remember that time when I was at dinner with a lady, and you were there right, so you know..."

Both times, Tucker wanted to point out to viewers, "Uhhh, yeah the thing you are referring to was a crazy lady" and "I don't actually remember anything at all about some woman you were with."

Horatius · 31st March 2021, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by SuburbanTurkey

Oof, yeah, you'd think a law school grad would be familiar with the Mann Act.

"If it's the "Man" act, why can't I take a girl?!?"

angrysoba · 31st March 2021, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by SuburbanTurkey

Oof, yeah, you'd think a law school grad would be familiar with the Mann Act.

Gaetz: "But she wasn't a man!" *looks confused*

JoeMorgue · 31st March 2021, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by angrysoba

Gaetz: "But she wasn't a man!" *looks confused*

"Just like the Mounties, we always get our man!"
"Ms. Peacock was a man!?"
*Double Dope Slap*

Elagabalus · 31st March 2021, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim

Just because someone is in to girls doesn't mean they're not also in to boys.

But...he's cheating on Nestor ...

Elagabalus · 31st March 2021, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Horatius

...

Or maybe it's double secret reverse blackmail, where they want people to start asking that so they'll find out what he was up to on their own....which would mean he was guilty.

But again, seriously, who blackmails someone with fake dirt? Particularly a "someone" who could call in the FBI at the drop of a hat. How exactly did they expect this to play out?

There's just all sorts of bizarre in this.

LOL!! Ah ... It's the ole reverse whammy, double whammy, whammy-whammy! It's the second time this week I've fallen for it!

angrysoba · 31st March 2021, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by Elagabalus

But...he's cheating on Nestor ...

Okay, so I looked this up on Wikipedia and it is ... an unusual arrangement, is it not? A straight man in his late 30s who happens to be living with a teenage brother of an ex-girlfriend.

JoeMorgue · 31st March 2021, 08:41 AM

Twitter, Reddit, Imgur, etc are getting flooded with old Gaetz tweets that let's just say haven't aged well.

dann · 31st March 2021, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by SuburbanTurkey

Gaetz investigation seems to have resulted from his friendship with another man charged with sex trafficking.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/po...eyq-story.html

MSNBC on Youtube, March 31, 2021:
The Even Weirder Backstory Behind Bizarre Gaetz Sex Trafficking Investigation Story | Rachel Maddow

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the ISF. The ISF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

rdwight · 31st March 2021, 08:50 AM

Not coming to the defense of Gaetz, who when I first saw him talking in congress reminded me so much of Jonah from Veep it was actually concerning, but..

Why can't people just be ****** politicians anymore? It seems like everyone has to be a literal monster, surviving on the blood of children, laughing manically as old people die, you get the picture.

Even if the description of what he is being accused of doing is accurate, banging a 17 year old in more than one state is not really what people picture when they hear "child sex trafficking".

That also brings up this weird US thing where legal and moral are at such odds over what can be arbitrary things. Yesterday, she was 17, young, frail, easily manipulated.. a child! But today she's 18, a strong confident woman ready to take on the world and become someone I can watch on pornhub without regret or legal ramifications!

SuburbanTurkey · 31st March 2021, 08:53 AM

Condolences, again, to Matthew Gertz:

Quote:

Senior Fellow at
@mmfa
. Views expressed here are my own. Husband of
@alyssarosenberg
. Dad. Definitely not the GOP congressman. mgertz@mediamatters.org

https://twitter.com/MattGertz

Seems he'll be spending time replying "wrong guy" to more hateful comments intended for Gaetz.

https://twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/sta...32174982823941

SuburbanTurkey · 31st March 2021, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by rdwight

Not coming to the defense of Gaetz, who when I first saw him talking in congress reminded me so much of Jonah from Veep it was actually concerning, but..

Why can't people just be ****** politicians anymore? It seems like everyone has to be a literal monster, surviving on the blood of children, laughing manically as old people die, you get the picture.

Even if the description of what he is being accused of doing is accurate, banging a 17 year old in more than one state is not really what people picture when they hear "child sex trafficking".

That also brings up this weird US thing where legal and moral are at such odds over what can be arbitrary things. Yesterday, she was 17, young, frail, easily manipulated.. a child! But today she's 18, a strong confident woman ready to take on the world and become someone I can watch on pornhub without regret or legal ramifications!

To be fair, it would probably still be a minor scandal if 38 year old Gaetz was having a fling with an 18 year old still in high school. Potential legal issues escalate the scandal quite a bit, but it would still be pretty gross and probably damaging to his reputation.

Elagabalus · 31st March 2021, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Horatius

Yeah, this just being the desperate flailing of someone who knows he's going down in flames makes sense. But it's just sooo desperate. If I were to lie about something like this, I'd at least try to make the lie plausible. Does he think he can pull off a Big Lie like trump did?

According to OANN:

Quote:

...During an interview on Tuesday, the Florida representative named former DOJ official David McGee as the man who is trying to extort him and his family...

https://www.oann.com/gop-rep-gaetz-d...onduct-claims/

So the DOJ official has a name! The thick plottens!

Lurch · 31st March 2021, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Horatius

I really want to hear more about this alleged blackmail for $25 million thing. Because in my googling, his net worth seems to be somewhat less than $1 million. Even if they thought he'd pilfer his election funds, that's still less than $2 million on hand.

So how did this alleged cabal of Justice Department insiders not realize that he doesn't have the money to pay? Did they think he'd go begging his rich friends for the difference? Maybe a Go Fund Me? Wouldn't expecting your blackmail victim to go scrounging for 25 times the amount of money he actually has kind of work against the idea of blackmail? "Hey, does anyone know why Gaetz is asking everyone for money all of a sudden? Maybe we should look into that....."

Or maybe it's double secret reverse blackmail, where they want people to start asking that so they'll find out what he was up to on their own....which would mean he was guilty.

But again, seriously, who blackmails someone with fake dirt? Particularly a "someone" who could call in the FBI at the drop of a hat. How exactly did they expect this to play out?

There's just all sorts of bizarre in this.

I understand the rich Gaetz patriarch is the moneybags for the alleged extortion.

Elagabalus · 31st March 2021, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by smartcooky

Cheers.

I saw him on Faux News tonight with Carlson...the No. 1 and No. 2 most punchable faces on US television!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/y4zzs6e6bd...aetz.jpg?raw=1

Gaetz has a massive head compared to his body. Did you see him at CPAC?

Oh, lordy, that suit!

Checkmite · 31st March 2021, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by SuburbanTurkey

I wonder if Gaetz even understood that he might be violating the law by taking a minor across state lines while having a sexual relationship. Is it common knowledge?

Probably not something most 38 year old men have to worry about in their dating choices. Middle aged men don't normally try to pick up dates with high schoolers, or at least understand that doing so is socially stigmatized even if technically legal.

Common knowledge, perhaps not. But Gaetz is a libertarian; in my experience few are more expertly familiar with the precise ages of consent in each state and territory.

tyr_13 · 31st March 2021, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by Horatius

Yeah, this just being the desperate flailing of someone who knows he's going down in flames makes sense. But it's just sooo desperate. If I were to lie about something like this, I'd at least try to make the lie plausible. Does he think he can pull off a Big Lie like trump did?

Has anyone pointed out how this obvious lie doesn't even line up temporally? The investigation started months before he claims to have been extorted.

JoeMorgue · 31st March 2021, 09:29 AM

Wondered how long before the "What's the big deal, she's only 17" thing came about.

Gord_in_Toronto · 31st March 2021, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by dann

MSNBC on Youtube, March 31, 2021:
The Even Weirder Backstory Behind Bizarre Gaetz Sex Trafficking Investigation Story | Rachel Maddow

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the ISF. The ISF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

Rachel says all this as though it was a bad thing. Surely he is only preparing to run against T***P at the next GOP presidential nominating convention? He appears to be much more qualified.

plague311 · 31st March 2021, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by tyr_13

Has anyone pointed out how this obvious lie doesn't even line up temporally? The investigation started months before he claims to have been extorted.

Exactly, it started under Bill Barr and the Trump admin. Which really crushes the whole "this is politically motivated by the dems!" argument.

JoeMorgue · 31st March 2021, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by tyr_13

Has anyone pointed out how this obvious lie doesn't even line up temporally? The investigation started months before he claims to have been extorted.

Oh like that matters. He's a Republicans and Republican at this point are a cult.

"Prove to me 17 year old girls even exist, I think that is fake news" is not beyond what they will stoop to to troll reality itself.

plague311 · 31st March 2021, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by JoeMorgue

Oh like that matters. He's a Republicans and Republican at this point are a cult.

"Prove to me 17 year old girls even exist, I think that is fake news" is not beyond their what they will stoop to to troll reality itself.

Read the Fox News comments if you dare lol. This is all a Dem conspiracy, sir.

Donal · 31st March 2021, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by Elagabalus

Gaetz has a massive head compared to his body. Did you see him at CPAC?

Oh, lordy, that suit!

What is even more remarkable is how $%^&ing empty it is.

JoeMorgue · 31st March 2021, 10:00 AM

He looks like the bad guy from the Mask movie but less realistic and human.

https://comicvine1.cbsistatic.com/up...542-dorian.jpg

Elagabalus · 31st March 2021, 10:03 AM

From the OANN comment section:

Fun Fact:

Matt Gaetz grew up in the house used as the Truman home in the Jim Carrey film, "Truman," the character whose life was a reality TV show. LOL

Donal · 31st March 2021, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Horatius

But that's the part I don't get - how "tough" is it, really? Now he literally doesn't have to do anything at all, other than whine about how the Democrats won't listen to the GOP. He needs no policies, no positions, no fact-finding, or all that other stuff he'd have to pretend to care about if they were actually in charge any more. Instead of "whine and quit", it should be "whine and cash your paycheck."

Unless the new gig pays a lot more, of course. What kind of premium would you need to give up a job where you have literally nothing you have to do?

Ya, but he can't take direct payments from the Koch or Mercer in Congress. Also, his particular niche as "snot-nosed punk who does nothing but throw meat to the base" is getting crowded within the GOP. Particularly because of certain members from Colorado and Georgia. And they have certain assets that he doesn't. And he can't be the older white guy in that role with Gym Jordan and Moron Brooks around for the foreseeable future. So, unless he is willing to demonstrate the proper use of sex toys on the floor of the House, he doesn't really have a way to stand out in Congress.

Media talking head works best for him. He's doing it now instead of his current job. And he wouldn't need to worry about any sort of ethics violations. I imagine White America News and NewsmaKKKs are throwing out fat stacks right now until their sugar daddies cut them off as well.

kookbreaker · 31st March 2021, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Elagabalus

Gaetz has a massive head compared to his body. Did you see him at CPAC?

Oh, lordy, that suit!

The Herb Tarlek collection is making a comeback!

Segnosaur · 31st March 2021, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by rdwight

Why can't people just be ****** politicians anymore? It seems like everyone has to be a literal monster, surviving on the blood of children, laughing manically as old people die, you get the picture.

People might be a little more willing to cut the republicans some slack, if they weren't feeding on the whole 'Q-Anon/Demos are running a child sex ring' conspiracy theory, and weren't trying to portray themselves as the party of morality.

"Listen to what our invisible sky daddy says about abortion, gay rights and sex outside of marriage. And while we take the moral high road, just ignore our congressman having sex with young girls".

Quote:

That also brings up this weird US thing where legal and moral are at such odds over what can be arbitrary things. Yesterday, she was 17, young, frail, easily manipulated.. a child! But today she's 18, a strong confident woman ready to take on the world and become someone I can watch on pornhub without regret or legal ramifications!

Yes, the dividing line between "child" and "adult" is, to some degree arbitrary. But that line still exists in a legal sense. You would figure that someone who had a legal degree would understand that.

It would be great if we could have some sort of "maturity test" that can be applied to various rights and privileges (like voting, drinking, sex) rather than relying on a simple age number, but since that is impractical, we're stuck with the '18 year old' as the delimiter.

JoeMorgue · 31st March 2021, 10:21 AM

"Age is just a number! So you're saying yesterday she was a child, today she's not."

Yes. That's how time works.

Dr. Keith · 31st March 2021, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Donal

Ya, but he can't take direct payments from the Koch or Mercer in Congress. Also, his particular niche as "snot-nosed punk who does nothing but throw meat to the base" is getting crowded within the GOP. Particularly because of certain members from Colorado and Georgia. And they have certain assets that he doesn't. And he can't be the older white guy in that role with Gym Jordan and Moron Brooks around for the foreseeable future. So, unless he is willing to demonstrate the proper use of sex toys on the floor of the House, he doesn't really have a way to stand out in Congress.

Media talking head works best for him. He's doing it now instead of his current job. And he wouldn't need to worry about any sort of ethics violations. I imagine White America News and NewsmaKKKs are throwing out fat stacks right now until their sugar daddies cut them off as well.

It's demeaning of you to refer to an 18 year old woman as a sex toy. Be better.

/s

varwoche · 31st March 2021, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Elagabalus

Gaetz has a massive head compared to his body. Did you see him at CPAC?

Oh, lordy, that suit!

Straight from the uncanny valley.

31st March 2021, 07:12 AM	#41
SuburbanTurkey Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 8,529	Originally Posted by JoeMorgue I do legit wonder how many of the recent Republicans in Congress were operating under the assumptions that: - Trump really was going to somehow stay in power forever - Therefore nobody would investigate any wrong doings they had committed and wouldn't care if they found any. A lot of them are acting like a card player who suddenly looked down at their hands and realized that just noticed that the flush they have been bluffing with and raising the pot on was really 4 spades and a club and they are no longer sure their opponents don't really have the better hand. I wonder if Gaetz even understood that he might be violating the law by taking a minor across state lines while having a sexual relationship. Is it common knowledge? Probably not something most 38 year old men have to worry about in their dating choices. Middle aged men don't normally try to pick up dates with high schoolers, or at least understand that doing so is socially stigmatized even if technically legal.
	__________________ Gobble gobble

31st March 2021, 07:18 AM	#42
Squeegee Beckenheim Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 31,401	Originally Posted by Bob001 That might not be why he's leaving: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/30/u...stigation.html I bet the QAnon crowd are all over this. They're very against politicians being involved with the sex trafficking of minors. So I'm sure everybody who follows Q or self-identifies as a QAnonner is soundly condemning Gaetz as we speak.
	__________________ I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.

31st March 2021, 07:19 AM	#43
Squeegee Beckenheim Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 31,401	Originally Posted by Elagabalus Perhaps she's just a beard. Matt is still living with his "son" Nestor. Rep. Matt Gaetz Said He Has A Teenage Son From Cuba Named Nestor https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article...stor-son-cuban Just because someone is in to girls doesn't mean they're not also in to boys.
	__________________ I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.

31st March 2021, 07:21 AM	#44
Upchurch Papa Funkosophy Join Date: May 2002 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 32,467	Originally Posted by SuburbanTurkey I wonder if Gaetz even understood that he might be violating the law by taking a minor across state lines while having a sexual relationship. Is it common knowledge? I dunno. The phrase "across state lines" throws up all sorts of red flags in my head. Add the words "sexual" and "minor" and the number of red flags go up exponentially. With our infant kids, my wife insisted we carry copies of their birth certificates when traveling out of state. That would suggest the knowledge is not uncommon.
	__________________ "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact." -- Sherlock Holmes. "It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled." -- Mark Twain, maybe.

31st March 2021, 07:27 AM	#45
Horatius NWO Kitty Wrangler Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 29,140	Originally Posted by The Don It makes sense if the evidence is real and that Matt Gaetz is actually guilty. In that light, presenting the whole thing as a political hit job, and then claiming that the DOJ under Biden is corrupt and is blackmailing him means that at worst any conviction can be handwaved away (and subsequently pardoned by the next GOP President) and at best the jury can be convinced not to convict. It's not like there would be any negative consequences arising from a claim that he is being wrongfully blackmailed by the DOJ. Yeah, this just being the desperate flailing of someone who knows he's going down in flames makes sense. But it's just sooo desperate. If I were to lie about something like this, I'd at least try to make the lie plausible. Does he think he can pull off a Big Lie like trump did?
	__________________ Obviously, that means cats are indeed evil and that ownership or display of a feline is an overt declaration of one's affiliation with dark forces. - Cl1mh4224rd

31st March 2021, 07:32 AM	#46
Segnosaur Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada, eh? Posts: 17,343	Originally Posted by SuburbanTurkey I wonder if Gaetz even understood that he might be violating the law by taking a minor across state lines while having a sexual relationship. Is it common knowledge? According to Wikipedia, Gaetz went to the College of William & Mary Law School and has a law degree. Even if it is not common knowledge that transporting a minor across state lines is illegal, Gaetz should probably have been aware of the potential legal problems due to his educational background.
	__________________ Trust me, I know what I'm doing. - Sledgehammer I'm Mary Poppin's Y'all! - Yondu We are Groot - Groot

31st March 2021, 07:47 AM	#47
angrysoba Philosophile Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 29,608	Originally Posted by JoeMorgue I do legit wonder how many of the recent Republicans in Congress were operating under the assumptions that: - Trump really was going to somehow stay in power forever - Therefore nobody would investigate any wrong doings they had committed and wouldn't care if they found any. A lot of them are acting like a card player who suddenly looked down at their hands and realized that just noticed that the flush they have been bluffing with and raising the pot on was really 4 spades and a club and they are no longer sure their opponents don't really have the better hand. Drunk on power: "hangover?! Nah, I'll be just fine! bleeeeurghhh More boooooze!"
	__________________ "The thief and the murderer follow nature just as much as the philanthropist. Cosmic evolution may teach us how the good and the evil tendencies of man may have come about; but, in itself, it is incompetent to furnish any better reason why what we call good is preferable to what we call evil than we had before." "Evolution and Ethics" T.H. Huxley (1893)

31st March 2021, 07:48 AM	#48
Horatius NWO Kitty Wrangler Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 29,140	Originally Posted by Segnosaur According to Wikipedia, Gaetz went to the College of William & Mary Law School and has a law degree. Even if it is not common knowledge that transporting a minor across state lines is illegal, Gaetz should probably have been aware of the potential legal problems due to his educational background. Maybe he was out sick that day. This is why you always ask a buddy for his class notes.
	__________________ Obviously, that means cats are indeed evil and that ownership or display of a feline is an overt declaration of one's affiliation with dark forces. - Cl1mh4224rd

31st March 2021, 07:49 AM	#49
SuburbanTurkey Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 8,529	Originally Posted by Segnosaur According to Wikipedia, Gaetz went to the College of William & Mary Law School and has a law degree. Even if it is not common knowledge that transporting a minor across state lines is illegal, Gaetz should probably have been aware of the potential legal problems due to his educational background. Oof, yeah, you'd think a law school grad would be familiar with the Mann Act.
	__________________ Gobble gobble

31st March 2021, 07:55 AM	#50
angrysoba Philosophile Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 29,608	Originally Posted by kookbreaker A lot of folks noted that on Carlson he referred to the alleged as a “17 year old woman” and not a girl. Seemed like a lot of legitimizing. Even Tucker kinda thought it was weird. https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1...825096196?s=21 Wow! That was weird. And it came across almost as if there was some undertone of "If I go down, I'm taking you with me, Tucker!" Tucker thought it was weird because Gaetz was saying, "You know what it's like to be accused of sex crimes that you obviously didn't do, right!" and "You remember that time when I was at dinner with a lady, and you were there right, so you know..." Both times, Tucker wanted to point out to viewers, "Uhhh, yeah the thing you are referring to was a crazy lady" and "I don't actually remember anything at all about some woman you were with."
	__________________ "The thief and the murderer follow nature just as much as the philanthropist. Cosmic evolution may teach us how the good and the evil tendencies of man may have come about; but, in itself, it is incompetent to furnish any better reason why what we call good is preferable to what we call evil than we had before." "Evolution and Ethics" T.H. Huxley (1893)

31st March 2021, 07:56 AM	#51
Horatius NWO Kitty Wrangler Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 29,140	Originally Posted by SuburbanTurkey Oof, yeah, you'd think a law school grad would be familiar with the Mann Act. "If it's the "Man" act, why can't I take a girl?!?"
	__________________ Obviously, that means cats are indeed evil and that ownership or display of a feline is an overt declaration of one's affiliation with dark forces. - Cl1mh4224rd

31st March 2021, 08:00 AM	#53
JoeMorgue Self Employed Remittance Man Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 31,524	Originally Posted by angrysoba Gaetz: "But she wasn't a man!" looks confused "Just like the Mounties, we always get our man!" "Ms. Peacock was a man!?" Double Dope Slap
	__________________ Yahtzee: "You're doing that thing again where when asked a question you just discuss the philosophy of the question instead of answering the bloody question." Gabriel: "Well yeah, you see..." Yahtzee: "No. When you are asked a Yes or No question the first word out of your mouth needs to be Yes or No. Only after that have you earned the right to elaborate."

31st March 2021, 08:14 AM	#54
Elagabalus Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 7,012	Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim Just because someone is in to girls doesn't mean they're not also in to boys. But...he's cheating on Nestor ...
Elagabalus Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 7,012

31st March 2021, 08:24 AM	#55
Elagabalus Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 7,012	Originally Posted by Horatius ... Or maybe it's double secret reverse blackmail, where they want people to start asking that so they'll find out what he was up to on their own....which would mean he was guilty. But again, seriously, who blackmails someone with fake dirt? Particularly a "someone" who could call in the FBI at the drop of a hat. How exactly did they expect this to play out? There's just all sorts of bizarre in this. LOL!! Ah ... It's the ole reverse whammy, double whammy, whammy-whammy! It's the second time this week I've fallen for it!
Elagabalus Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 7,012

31st March 2021, 08:36 AM	#56
angrysoba Philosophile Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 29,608	Originally Posted by Elagabalus But...he's cheating on Nestor ... Okay, so I looked this up on Wikipedia and it is ... an unusual arrangement, is it not? A straight man in his late 30s who happens to be living with a teenage brother of an ex-girlfriend.
	__________________ "The thief and the murderer follow nature just as much as the philanthropist. Cosmic evolution may teach us how the good and the evil tendencies of man may have come about; but, in itself, it is incompetent to furnish any better reason why what we call good is preferable to what we call evil than we had before." "Evolution and Ethics" T.H. Huxley (1893)

31st March 2021, 08:41 AM	#57
JoeMorgue Self Employed Remittance Man Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 31,524	Twitter, Reddit, Imgur, etc are getting flooded with old Gaetz tweets that let's just say haven't aged well.
	__________________ Yahtzee: "You're doing that thing again where when asked a question you just discuss the philosophy of the question instead of answering the bloody question." Gabriel: "Well yeah, you see..." Yahtzee: "No. When you are asked a Yes or No question the first word out of your mouth needs to be Yes or No. Only after that have you earned the right to elaborate."

31st March 2021, 08:50 AM	#59
rdwight Muse Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 797	Not coming to the defense of Gaetz, who when I first saw him talking in congress reminded me so much of Jonah from Veep it was actually concerning, but.. Why can't people just be ****** politicians anymore? It seems like everyone has to be a literal monster, surviving on the blood of children, laughing manically as old people die, you get the picture. Even if the description of what he is being accused of doing is accurate, banging a 17 year old in more than one state is not really what people picture when they hear "child sex trafficking". That also brings up this weird US thing where legal and moral are at such odds over what can be arbitrary things. Yesterday, she was 17, young, frail, easily manipulated.. a child! But today she's 18, a strong confident woman ready to take on the world and become someone I can watch on pornhub without regret or legal ramifications!
rdwight Muse Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 797

31st March 2021, 08:53 AM	#60
SuburbanTurkey Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 8,529	Condolences, again, to Matthew Gertz: Quote: Senior Fellow at @mmfa . Views expressed here are my own. Husband of @alyssarosenberg . Dad. Definitely not the GOP congressman. mgertz@mediamatters.org https://twitter.com/MattGertz Seems he'll be spending time replying "wrong guy" to more hateful comments intended for Gaetz. https://twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/sta...32174982823941
	__________________ Gobble gobble

31st March 2021, 08:55 AM	#61
SuburbanTurkey Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 8,529	Originally Posted by rdwight Not coming to the defense of Gaetz, who when I first saw him talking in congress reminded me so much of Jonah from Veep it was actually concerning, but.. Why can't people just be ****** politicians anymore? It seems like everyone has to be a literal monster, surviving on the blood of children, laughing manically as old people die, you get the picture. Even if the description of what he is being accused of doing is accurate, banging a 17 year old in more than one state is not really what people picture when they hear "child sex trafficking". That also brings up this weird US thing where legal and moral are at such odds over what can be arbitrary things. Yesterday, she was 17, young, frail, easily manipulated.. a child! But today she's 18, a strong confident woman ready to take on the world and become someone I can watch on pornhub without regret or legal ramifications! To be fair, it would probably still be a minor scandal if 38 year old Gaetz was having a fling with an 18 year old still in high school. Potential legal issues escalate the scandal quite a bit, but it would still be pretty gross and probably damaging to his reputation.
	__________________ Gobble gobble

31st March 2021, 08:56 AM	#62
Elagabalus Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 7,012	Originally Posted by Horatius Yeah, this just being the desperate flailing of someone who knows he's going down in flames makes sense. But it's just sooo desperate. If I were to lie about something like this, I'd at least try to make the lie plausible. Does he think he can pull off a Big Lie like trump did? According to OANN: Quote: ...During an interview on Tuesday, the Florida representative named former DOJ official David McGee as the man who is trying to extort him and his family... https://www.oann.com/gop-rep-gaetz-d...onduct-claims/ So the DOJ official has a name! The thick plottens!
Elagabalus Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 7,012	Last edited by Elagabalus; 31st March 2021 at 08:58 AM.

31st March 2021, 09:00 AM	#63
Lurch Graduate Poster Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Ottawa Posts: 1,666	Originally Posted by Horatius I really want to hear more about this alleged blackmail for $25 million thing. Because in my googling, his net worth seems to be somewhat less than $1 million. Even if they thought he'd pilfer his election funds, that's still less than $2 million on hand. So how did this alleged cabal of Justice Department insiders not realize that he doesn't have the money to pay? Did they think he'd go begging his rich friends for the difference? Maybe a Go Fund Me? Wouldn't expecting your blackmail victim to go scrounging for 25 times the amount of money he actually has kind of work against the idea of blackmail? "Hey, does anyone know why Gaetz is asking everyone for money all of a sudden? Maybe we should look into that....." Or maybe it's double secret reverse blackmail, where they want people to start asking that so they'll find out what he was up to on their own....which would mean he was guilty. But again, seriously, who blackmails someone with fake dirt? Particularly a "someone" who could call in the FBI at the drop of a hat. How exactly did they expect this to play out? There's just all sorts of bizarre in this. I understand the rich Gaetz patriarch is the moneybags for the alleged extortion.

31st March 2021, 09:11 AM	#64
Elagabalus Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 7,012	Originally Posted by smartcooky Cheers. I saw him on Faux News tonight with Carlson...the No. 1 and No. 2 most punchable faces on US television! https://www.dropbox.com/s/y4zzs6e6bd...aetz.jpg?raw=1 Gaetz has a massive head compared to his body. Did you see him at CPAC? Oh, lordy, that suit!
Elagabalus Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 7,012

31st March 2021, 09:24 AM	#65
Checkmite Skepticifimisticalationist Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Gulf Coast Posts: 26,538	Originally Posted by SuburbanTurkey I wonder if Gaetz even understood that he might be violating the law by taking a minor across state lines while having a sexual relationship. Is it common knowledge? Probably not something most 38 year old men have to worry about in their dating choices. Middle aged men don't normally try to pick up dates with high schoolers, or at least understand that doing so is socially stigmatized even if technically legal. Common knowledge, perhaps not. But Gaetz is a libertarian; in my experience few are more expertly familiar with the precise ages of consent in each state and territory.
	__________________ "¿WHAT KIND OF BIRD? ¿A PARANORMAL BIRD?" --- Carlos S., 2002

31st March 2021, 09:28 AM	#66
tyr_13 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 16,460	Originally Posted by Horatius Yeah, this just being the desperate flailing of someone who knows he's going down in flames makes sense. But it's just sooo desperate. If I were to lie about something like this, I'd at least try to make the lie plausible. Does he think he can pull off a Big Lie like trump did? Has anyone pointed out how this obvious lie doesn't even line up temporally? The investigation started months before he claims to have been extorted.
	__________________ Circled nothing is still nothing. "Nothing will stop the U.S. from being a world leader, not even a handful of adults who want their kids to take science lessons from a book that mentions unicorns six times." -UNLoVedRebel Mumpsimus: a stubborn person who insists on making an error in spite of being shown that it is wrong

31st March 2021, 09:29 AM	#67
JoeMorgue Self Employed Remittance Man Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 31,524	Wondered how long before the "What's the big deal, she's only 17" thing came about.
	__________________ Yahtzee: "You're doing that thing again where when asked a question you just discuss the philosophy of the question instead of answering the bloody question." Gabriel: "Well yeah, you see..." Yahtzee: "No. When you are asked a Yes or No question the first word out of your mouth needs to be Yes or No. Only after that have you earned the right to elaborate."

31st March 2021, 09:55 AM	#69
plague311 Great minds think... Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Dakota Posts: 8,801	Originally Posted by tyr_13 Has anyone pointed out how this obvious lie doesn't even line up temporally? The investigation started months before he claims to have been extorted. Exactly, it started under Bill Barr and the Trump admin. Which really crushes the whole "this is politically motivated by the dems!" argument.
	__________________ "Circumcision and death threats go together like milk and cookies." - William Parcher “There are times when the mind is dealt such a blow it hides itself in insanity. While this may not seem beneficial, it is. There are times when reality is nothing but pain, and to escape that pain the mind must leave reality behind.” - Patrick Rothfuss

31st March 2021, 09:57 AM	#70
JoeMorgue Self Employed Remittance Man Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 31,524	Originally Posted by tyr_13 Has anyone pointed out how this obvious lie doesn't even line up temporally? The investigation started months before he claims to have been extorted. Oh like that matters. He's a Republicans and Republican at this point are a cult. "Prove to me 17 year old girls even exist, I think that is fake news" is not beyond what they will stoop to to troll reality itself.
	__________________ Yahtzee: "You're doing that thing again where when asked a question you just discuss the philosophy of the question instead of answering the bloody question." Gabriel: "Well yeah, you see..." Yahtzee: "No. When you are asked a Yes or No question the first word out of your mouth needs to be Yes or No. Only after that have you earned the right to elaborate." Last edited by JoeMorgue; 31st March 2021 at 09:59 AM.

31st March 2021, 09:58 AM	#71
plague311 Great minds think... Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Dakota Posts: 8,801	Originally Posted by JoeMorgue Oh like that matters. He's a Republicans and Republican at this point are a cult. "Prove to me 17 year old girls even exist, I think that is fake news" is not beyond their what they will stoop to to troll reality itself. Read the Fox News comments if you dare lol. This is all a Dem conspiracy, sir.
	__________________ "Circumcision and death threats go together like milk and cookies." - William Parcher “There are times when the mind is dealt such a blow it hides itself in insanity. While this may not seem beneficial, it is. There are times when reality is nothing but pain, and to escape that pain the mind must leave reality behind.” - Patrick Rothfuss

31st March 2021, 09:59 AM	#72
Donal Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4,339	Originally Posted by Elagabalus Gaetz has a massive head compared to his body. Did you see him at CPAC? Oh, lordy, that suit! What is even more remarkable is how $%^&ing empty it is.
Donal Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4,339	__________________ SuburbanNerd A blog for making tech make sense

31st March 2021, 10:00 AM	#73
JoeMorgue Self Employed Remittance Man Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 31,524	He looks like the bad guy from the Mask movie but less realistic and human. https://comicvine1.cbsistatic.com/up...542-dorian.jpg
	__________________ Yahtzee: "You're doing that thing again where when asked a question you just discuss the philosophy of the question instead of answering the bloody question." Gabriel: "Well yeah, you see..." Yahtzee: "No. When you are asked a Yes or No question the first word out of your mouth needs to be Yes or No. Only after that have you earned the right to elaborate." Last edited by JoeMorgue; 31st March 2021 at 10:02 AM.

31st March 2021, 10:03 AM	#74
Elagabalus Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 7,012	From the OANN comment section: Fun Fact: Matt Gaetz grew up in the house used as the Truman home in the Jim Carrey film, "Truman," the character whose life was a reality TV show. LOL
Elagabalus Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 7,012

31st March 2021, 10:16 AM	#75
Donal Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4,339	Originally Posted by Horatius But that's the part I don't get - how "tough" is it, really? Now he literally doesn't have to do anything at all, other than whine about how the Democrats won't listen to the GOP. He needs no policies, no positions, no fact-finding, or all that other stuff he'd have to pretend to care about if they were actually in charge any more. Instead of "whine and quit", it should be "whine and cash your paycheck." Unless the new gig pays a lot more, of course. What kind of premium would you need to give up a job where you have literally nothing you have to do? Ya, but he can't take direct payments from the Koch or Mercer in Congress. Also, his particular niche as "snot-nosed punk who does nothing but throw meat to the base" is getting crowded within the GOP. Particularly because of certain members from Colorado and Georgia. And they have certain assets that he doesn't. And he can't be the older white guy in that role with Gym Jordan and Moron Brooks around for the foreseeable future. So, unless he is willing to demonstrate the proper use of sex toys on the floor of the House, he doesn't really have a way to stand out in Congress. Media talking head works best for him. He's doing it now instead of his current job. And he wouldn't need to worry about any sort of ethics violations. I imagine White America News and NewsmaKKKs are throwing out fat stacks right now until their sugar daddies cut them off as well.
Donal Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4,339	__________________ SuburbanNerd A blog for making tech make sense

31st March 2021, 10:17 AM	#76
kookbreaker Evil Fokker Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 13,248	Originally Posted by Elagabalus Gaetz has a massive head compared to his body. Did you see him at CPAC? Oh, lordy, that suit! The Herb Tarlek collection is making a comeback!
	__________________ www.spectrum-scientifics.com <- My store of science toys, instruments and general fun! Thanks for helping me win Best Toys in Philly Voter in 2011,2012, and 2014! We won' be discussing the disappointment that was 2013.

31st March 2021, 10:19 AM	#77
Segnosaur Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada, eh? Posts: 17,343	Originally Posted by rdwight Why can't people just be ****** politicians anymore? It seems like everyone has to be a literal monster, surviving on the blood of children, laughing manically as old people die, you get the picture. People might be a little more willing to cut the republicans some slack, if they weren't feeding on the whole 'Q-Anon/Demos are running a child sex ring' conspiracy theory, and weren't trying to portray themselves as the party of morality. "Listen to what our invisible sky daddy says about abortion, gay rights and sex outside of marriage. And while we take the moral high road, just ignore our congressman having sex with young girls". Quote: That also brings up this weird US thing where legal and moral are at such odds over what can be arbitrary things. Yesterday, she was 17, young, frail, easily manipulated.. a child! But today she's 18, a strong confident woman ready to take on the world and become someone I can watch on pornhub without regret or legal ramifications! Yes, the dividing line between "child" and "adult" is, to some degree arbitrary. But that line still exists in a legal sense. You would figure that someone who had a legal degree would understand that. It would be great if we could have some sort of "maturity test" that can be applied to various rights and privileges (like voting, drinking, sex) rather than relying on a simple age number, but since that is impractical, we're stuck with the '18 year old' as the delimiter.
	__________________ Trust me, I know what I'm doing. - Sledgehammer I'm Mary Poppin's Y'all! - Yondu We are Groot - Groot

31st March 2021, 10:21 AM	#78
JoeMorgue Self Employed Remittance Man Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 31,524	"Age is just a number! So you're saying yesterday she was a child, today she's not." Yes. That's how time works.
	__________________ Yahtzee: "You're doing that thing again where when asked a question you just discuss the philosophy of the question instead of answering the bloody question." Gabriel: "Well yeah, you see..." Yahtzee: "No. When you are asked a Yes or No question the first word out of your mouth needs to be Yes or No. Only after that have you earned the right to elaborate."