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I think this theory makes sense. There are a wide avenue of opportunities available to Joe Biden to really rake in the cash if he wanted to that don't involve trusting his drug addicted son to pally around with shady characters. The lack of motive seems strong to me. I'm guessing the fact that he hasn't been as mercenary as the Obamas and Clintons might have something to do with waiting until after he's done being president to cash in.
I concede that Joe Biden was at least contemplated as being part of the CEFC deal that fell through, that much seems clear to me. Whether that was just bloviating big talk from Hunter, I don't know but it seems plausible as you explain. I'm not aware of any other evidence that Joe Biden actually profited from anything that Hunter cooked up, but I suppose that's possible if the regular practice is under the table kickbacks as is alleged in the CEFC deal. The amount of Hunter's private information that they've had access to makes me think the "big guy" email is the worst thing they could find (though to be fair there's repeated allusions about making sure not to discuss details in writing), and overall I don't really find the story all that compelling, especially when compared to what the baseline nepotistic corruption might be (say, for example, the kids of another president).
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I don't think Joe was actively taking bribes. I wonder - since Hunter is such a mess, as everyone agrees, and that Joe has indulged/supported him for years, was this Hunter's way of maybe trying to pay back Dad for all the money he's sponged off him? Being Hunter, he can't be legit even if he tries, but he sets aside a percentage of his slush money to repay Joe (and try to show Dad that he's finally stopped being a fuckup)?
Of course, being Hunter, he manages to make it sound like Joe is taking a cut of the bribe money.
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I agree, the attempts to tie Joe Biden to individual payments from corrupt actors probably ignore the structure of how these things work, they work off a model of Joe Biden that isn't sophisticated enough. Joe doesn't function by stealing money and spending it, Joe functions by existing at the center of a network of favors and family. Joe never pays for anything, someone else is always picking up the tab. Even in Delaware ((Unsourced personal rumors incoming)) he was notorious for failing to pay his contractors and telling them "If you ever need anything call me, my office can help you out of a jam." With the implication that if you ever try to sue me, it probably won't go well for you. If Joe and Jill fell on hard times, they wouldn't sweat it, Hunter or somebody else entirely would help them out, they have no need to accumulate personal wealth. Especially at 80, when most men are working for their kids/legacies anyway.
The only honest reason to look for some direct transfer to Biden is to hope he screwed up at least once and you can nail him to the wall, but that is unlikely to be the case.
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