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The Trap That Ensnared Denny Hastert Could Be Set For Any of Us
Townhall.com ^ | June 10, 2015 | Bob Barr

Posted on 06/10/2015 10:04:58 AM PDT by Kaslin

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To: JimRed
It could just as easily be a young teen girl being used to set up a heterosexual man who is thinking with the wrong head.

I understand the larger point here, that they are abusing law to prosecute Hastert. I am just having difficulty mustering up outrage over this abuse of the law.

Yes, I know we need to oppose abuse of the law for it's own sake, but with Hastert I see the technicalities of the law letting him get away with something for which he should have been punished. This is one of those cases where two wrongs might not make a right, but it makes it even.

I'm thinking that with all the other abuses of the law created by this Idiot/Liar Administration, this is not the most crucial one to worry about.

41 posted on 06/10/2015 11:50:49 AM PDT by DiogenesLamp
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To: Kaslin

Is there some kind of secret house rule where a condition of becoming the leader you must be subject to bribery?


42 posted on 06/10/2015 11:56:02 AM PDT by Raycpa
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To: kjam22

“... the question is why did Bush appoint him?” Um, the Bush family are part of the globalist oligarchy. George Bush works for the globalist team.


43 posted on 06/10/2015 12:03:38 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Is it really all relative, Mister Einstein?)
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To: MRadtke
Regardless of whatever Hastert may have done, how come I haven't heard anything about charges pressed against the blackmailer?

I have not heard that there was a blackmailer. It may very well be that Hastert approached someone he abused and offered to pay them this much money in order to keep his abuse quiet. It may be the opposite of blackmail, a sort of before the fact "hush money."

44 posted on 06/10/2015 12:05:49 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp
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To: Kaslin

Bob Barr is a fruitcake. It is to Georgia’s everlasting shame that they elected this man to Congress.


45 posted on 06/10/2015 12:07:30 PM PDT by Dr. Thorne (The night is far spent, the day is at hand.- Romans 13:12)
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To: NorthstarMom
Yep. When Rush keeps repeating that he’s being prosecuted simply for “taking his own money out of his own bank account and giving it to someone” I get a bit annoyed. Had he not molested a boy, there wouldn’t be any need to pay a blackmailer.

As I mentioned in my previous message, whomever he is paying may not be a blackmailer at all. (i.e. someone who threatens to expose someone unless they get paid.)

It may very well be that Hastert himself went to them and offered to pay so much if they would keep the whole thing quiet.

What i'm saying here is that there is possibly no "mens rea" on the part of the person receiving the money. That they never threatened Hastert with exposure and that it was *HIS* idea to start paying them restitution, or whatever.

46 posted on 06/10/2015 12:09:53 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp
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To: Kaslin

Blame the rat, not the cheese.


47 posted on 06/10/2015 12:12:21 PM PDT by Bluewater2015 (There are no coincidences)
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To: Kaslin

“Hastert’s reputation already is ruined simply because he wanted private transactions to remain private; and because he elected not to incriminate himself when answering questions put to him by FBI agents.”

Wrong. You don’t lye to FBI agents.

You hire a lawyer to do that for you!


48 posted on 06/10/2015 12:16:47 PM PDT by saleman (?)
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To: Kaslin
Like getting busted with too much marijuana when 19 years old, hiring a expensive lawyer, doing your time and having the record expunged costs lots.

Then you are denied a concealed carry 30+ years later and you find out the state you were busted in 15 years after your record was expunged, voted to reactivate your felon status along with murderers and rapists. This has been 42 years since the bust. So now you have to hire another lawyer in that state to once again expunge your record as agreed to in the sentencing by the judge 42 years ago. While doing that, you are still a felon and cannot be in possession of any firearms, bullets, paraphernalia or a concealed carry that was issued to you from a previous state, the same State that made you a felon again.

All the fun of being an American citizen with a bunch of total amateur, bozo's in charge.

And last week the city posted a "notice to abate nuisance" sign on my rental property. Bamboo is what they called "noxious vegetation", because trespassers were hiding in it and taking drugs. So the city cannot control their bums so I have to cut down my bamboo? Oh and if I want to protest this and fight for my bamboo to stay, $109 to get an appointment to express my displeasure. The bamboo is gone and now everyone is complaining about the trash and heroin needles left behind.

49 posted on 06/10/2015 12:23:45 PM PDT by thirst4truth
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To: Kaslin

It’s worse than that.

Many, many people have done things in their past that are immoral, unsavory, illegal, or disgusting. We are sinners. Christianity is filled with stories about people who were deserving of punishment and banishment, yet they were changed by when they accepted the saving grace of Jesus in their lives, including people such as Saul of Tarsus and St. Augustine.

Those of us raised in that kind of culture internalized forgiveness and redemption as virtues.

I don’t know much about Mr. Hastert’s private life, but what I’ve read indicates that whatever happened took place 40 years ago. Now I know that there’s a number of freepers here who seem to have lived flawless lives of impeccable morality and perfect decisions, but that’s not how it is for some of us. Forty years ago, when I was nineteen years old, I was happily participating in the debris of the cultural chaos of the times, and absolutely breaking a number of laws, as well as social mores, mostly concerning sex and drugs. I regret those moments looking backwards, and I’ve accepted my imperfections and Christ as my savior.

What the statists are telling us is that nothing is forgotten, nothing is forgiven, and if there is something there to use to smear and ruin someone’s life, they will use it, no matter how long ago it took place or whatever has happened since that moment. This was the same reason for the destruction of Sarah Palin - it was a message to anyone else that any small imperfection (or large but hidden transgression) will be revealed, and your reputation and life will be ruined. People like myself are therefore warned not to speak up or stand up.

It’s kind of an Americanization of typical totalitarian show trial. No need to kill anyone. If you want to influence public policy, and you have done something in your past that can be used against you, it will be done. Few of us want to experience that, so the opposition chooses not to speak up. It’s a brilliant strategy, in an evil way.

Hastert is a warning, and well chosen, as most people will immediately focus on the criminal nature of the sexual interaction rather than the government overreach. The guy’s story is, metaphorically, a head on a stick at the outskirts of town to warn opposition.

God help us.


50 posted on 06/10/2015 12:43:39 PM PDT by redpoll
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To: Dr. Thorne
Bob Barr is a fruitcake.

He wasn't always a fruitcake. Only after spending time in cogress. Besides, compared to Cynthia McKinney, who is also from Georgia, and was there at the same time, Barr really shines.

51 posted on 06/10/2015 12:45:42 PM PDT by The Sons of Liberty (0bama may not be THE antiCHRIST, but he's definitely ANTI - CHRIST!)
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To: altsehastiin
"The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws....."

I was going to get that quote, thanks.
Exactly what is happening today.

52 posted on 06/10/2015 1:09:53 PM PDT by Vinnie
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To: Kaslin

I think the charges are ridiculous. Not condoning his behavior in any way.
However I’m real curious how he made 3.5 mil to pay the guy/guys off, plus his own living expenses. Selling influence no doubt.
Also would like to hear whether the IRS/FBI was pursuing the blackmailer for tax evasion and blackmail.


53 posted on 06/10/2015 1:21:08 PM PDT by Vinnie
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To: Kaslin; GOPsterinMA; NFHale; BillyBoy; fieldmarshaldj

I don’t care about Hastert’s alleged skirting of IRS reporting requirements or whatever but I’ll shed no tears for the fag if they throw the book at him.

I’m glad this twat Bob Barr is no longer in Congress.


54 posted on 06/10/2015 2:10:44 PM PDT by Impy (They pull a knife, you pull a gun. That's the CHICAGO WAY, and that's how you beat the rats!)
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To: Raycpa
>> Is there some kind of secret house rule where a condition of becoming the leader you must be subject to bribery? <<

It is like a gang initiation or becoming a made man in the mob. You have to commit some high crime so the other crooks trust you.
55 posted on 06/10/2015 4:08:11 PM PDT by Kid Shelleen (Beat your plowshares into swords. Let the weak say I am strong)
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To: kjam22

GWB may have wanted his own Souter and “found” Roberts.


56 posted on 06/10/2015 6:09:43 PM PDT by Theodore R. (Liberals keep winning; so the American people must now be all-liberal all the time.)
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To: Kaslin

Hastert was yet another beltway politico. Being prosecuted under unjust laws that he himseLf helped to pass or preserve.

Cry me a river.


57 posted on 06/10/2015 7:07:53 PM PDT by RKBA Democrat ( The ballot is a suggestion box for slaves and fools.)
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To: redpoll

That’s a little extreme, isn’t it? This is not like getting littering or maybe getting involved in a drunken brawl in your misspent youth will disqualify you from winning office. Heck,W Bush was busted for driving drunk, Zer0 wrote that he smoked dope, and they both made it to the Presidency.

Hastert didn’t kill anyone but he did something that even the scum in jail will target a man for: he was a filthy pedophile. Preying on boys entrusted to his care.

Frankly, I don’t want murderers, pedophiles, cannibals and other extreme scum holding any kind of office. It’s gonna take a lot more than “Forgive me! I was saved by Jesus!” to get me to forget what they did, or turn over the keys of power (even dogcatcher) to them. At best, I want them thrown UNDER the jail where they belong. You know that murderous sicko Ted Bundy claimed to have found Jesus? Would you have forgiven him and let him out of death row?


58 posted on 06/10/2015 8:21:19 PM PDT by VictoryGal (Never give up, never surrender! REMEMBER NEDA)
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To: Kaslin
Re: “Hastert’s reputation already is ruined simply because he wanted private transactions to remain private...”

Hastert could have refused to say anything at all to the Feds.

If he had done that, the charge of lying to Federal investigators would disappear.

Hastert could also have written checks to his blackmailer and paid gift taxes on those checks.

If Hastert had done that, the Feds would have no case against him at all.

59 posted on 06/10/2015 10:57:14 PM PDT by zeestephen
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To: Vince Ferrer

Re: “Just wait until they get rid of physical cash and go all electronic.”

I’ve already done that on my own.

I carry five one dollar bills, one blank check, and a credit card. I leave the debit card at home so no one can force me to make an ATM withdrawal.

I spend maybe ten bucks cash each year on Lottery tickets. Maybe ten more bucks on parking valets each year. A few more bucks on out of town toll roads. I’ve written two checks in the last five years - one to renew my passport, one to renew my drivers license.

Everything else? All my monthly bills are charged to my credit card. And, when I shop, I just swipe the card.

I can’t imagine ever going back to cash.


60 posted on 06/10/2015 11:23:28 PM PDT by zeestephen
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