On Friday September 29th, 2023 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Milley, spoke in Arlington, Virginia, at his farewell address before retiring. The last paragraph of that speech below
“We the American people, we the American military, must never turn our back on those that came before us. And we will never turn our back on the Constitution. That is our North Star, that is who we are, and that is why we fight.”
Members of Congress who are betraying our constitution are a cancer that must be eradicated!
Let’s back up a minute. Isn’t Trump out on bail under the stipulation that he not try to influence jurors or the outcomes of his trials? Isn’t he under orders to shut the f___ up? Shouldn’t he be in jail right now?
Dori, if it were anyone but Trump, they would be in jail right now. Our judicial system has no idea of how to deal with a toddler who has so much power. They have forgotten that they are supposed to be the adults in the room and should be able to make the toddler follow the necessary rules. Perhaps if Trump were jailed for a couple of days, it would get him to shut up, but he is clearly playing with a different set of rules while the rest of us tell ourselves or at least are told that there must be equality under the law. OK, we know there isn't, but there should be at least an attempt at it.
Any ordinary person being accused by 20+ women of sexual assault and having talked on a recorded conversation about abusing women at will - as Trump was in 2016 - would have been imprisoned. Trump was elected president. I hope our judicial system will now step up and lock him up.
Jean, we do have a problem here because a lot of the power that has been absorbed in the persons of rich silicon Valley, Wall Street, Donald Trump and Kump, other politicians, and the rest of oligarch America has been stolen when We the People were trying to just survive. We found we needed their services to keep in touch. We learned through political action that we are still a pretty racist and misogynistic nation and many of us are happy to know it even if not admitted publicly while blaming their targets for all society's problems (of course 1 finger pointed at the target while 3 are pointed at themselves which they somehow don't notice). We let folks like Trump and the Toddler Caucus in the House blame poor and struggling people for our nation's ills while they force a minimum wage of $7.25 to stay in place. How do we get our power back into the hands of We the People? We need some Supreme Court modifications, but that will not happen on its own because those conservative 6 are OK with undermining our democracy as long as they can keep collecting bribes and other cute perks from those who are among the oligarchs. We are in trouble. Trump is just the symptom, a symptom that has distracted us from what is really going on: taking away women's rights to determine their own reproductive history, people having the right to be safe from gun violence, people who have been intensely discriminated against for centuries not permitted to have that discrimination taken into account in college admission, and on and on. We have let our media pump out lies on behalf of those who care little for this nation, our democracy, and the rights of the people. Maybe we need to spend a lot of time looking for real ways to make a difference in the way things are being done related to our economy, our courts, and the politicians who have proven they have respect for no one and nothing but money and power no matter how they get it.
Jean, thanks so much for the kind comments. I appreciate this thread because there are so many people here who really do want to get facts out and to come up with ideas for changes that could keep our democracy alive and thriving.
"Maybe we need to spend a lot of time looking for real ways to make a difference in the way things are being done related to our economy, our courts, and the politicians who have proven they have respect for no one and nothing but money and power no matter how they get it." Take away the word, "Maybe" from your statement. We must spend time to look for real ways to change the economy by changing the political system. How about Robert Reich, Thom Hartmann, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Wolff, Obama, academic experts in Constitutions, economics, history, etc. come together in an informal exploration on what it would take to initiate a constitutional convention. Leave the billionaires out of it this time. I just read that some countries have and advisory board instead of a voting Senate. Jefferson wrote, "every generation has a right to choose for itself 'the form of government it believes is most promotive of its own happiness."
"How do we get our power back into the hands of We the People?...Maybe we need to spend a lot of time looking for real ways to make a difference..."
We've hit the wall of late stage capitalism and we aren't looking for how to get over it. The power structure isn't going to address that because -- well -- they have the power. Ruth, you are a thinking person. I am, too, and I'm thinking about radical ways to deal with a radical situation -- things we-the-people could do, from getting organized to getting a voice so we can deal with proceeding for the good of the whole.
Such power is granted by excessive wealth and the cabals of those who lust for ever-increasing amounts of it. A progressive wealth tax would go along way toward mitigating most of today's problems. Unfortunately, our system is designed to protect and enhance the wealth of the wealthy above all else -- workers, environment, democracy - you name it. To fully appreciate this, I highly recommend Majorie Kelly's new book: "Wealth Supremacy - How the Extractive Economy and Biased Rules of Capitalism Drive Today's Crises"
Because those judges and prosecutors are holding trump's feet to the fire. We are a Nation UNDER the law, no matter how slowly it moves, the written law must be followed.
How is this following the law if he is allowed to disregard the conditions of his freedom pending trial? He has been allowed to break too many laws and roam free for far too long!! Others have been convicted and are serving time for committing fewer and less serious offenses.
With that I will agree, that is why Jack Smith is now requesting a gag order. But for those very few judges who ordered a gag order at arraignment, I have no idea why they aren't enforcing their own order.
Very true, Lois. He is blatantly, smirkingly, violating the bail requirements Judge Chutkan imposed, even after she issued a rebuke and a second warning. Agent Orange should be in the slam, wearing an XXXL jumpsuit. But no, he continues to threaten and to spew dog whistles to his followers: "Wow! This Glock is a great gun. It even has my face on it. I wanna buy one!"
Slavery, female non-sufferage, and Prohibition were all legal under the law until they weren’t. Keep that in mind when unconditionally endorsing the rule of law.
For the most part, the judicial system has failed us in regards to Trump. It seems to be because of Trump's political persona. With politicians, the judiciary seems confused. To top it off, Trump has put many justices in higher power.
So it is all the more heroic, that those now bringing him to justice are doing what they are doing. Virtually all the rest of our institutions and a big fraction of the judiciary itself are afraid to act. These last people of integrity and bravery should be held in the highest esteem possible.
Lois Foster ; I think Robert Reich is commending those on 'the front lines' of Justice who must adhere to the rule of law. They can't just grab him and put him in Gitmo as so many (including myself) would consider a good move to keep him from his MAGA phone! They, like most law enforcement officials must obey the rules. They risk their lives when dealing with those who are utterly lawless! It seems a thankless job when they are accused of not 'doing their jobs. I have made comments to that effect, too ; out of utter frustration with what they have gotten away with. But four prosecutions and the court cases are moving; and getting results! It is not euphoria as someone on this thread suggested those optimists are indulging in. It is just the encouragement of seeing progress. It is getting done! One step at a time. In a lawful manner.
His followers are a threat to millions of innocents! Our intelligence agencies know how bad it can get for everyone non MAGA. Why are they calling to defund the FBI? because they don't want to be held to account! Why do they threaten prosecutors, witnesses and judges ; Dox jurors? They want to disrupt the process of justice, and get away with their crimes. They want to scare us all into silence or, in the case of 'un wokeness' put us to sleep, and keep us there. So much for the "Freedom caucus"!
Our legal system has "...no idea" of how to deal with Trump? Rubbish. They know very well how to deal with this situation that is encountered by the judiciary every day, but are too cowardly to do it.
Dori ; I agree that is the law, and it seems to be overlooked for tfg. But the very real threat of the armed hordes who blindly follow tfg must be taken into consideration before 'just 'putting him in jail'. plus there is the thorny problem of tfg's Security detail. It is ironic that millions are being spent to protect judges, witnesses and prosecutors, jury members. law enforcement and even the FBI! Most likely the Attorney General too! Civil war is an oxymoron, because there is nothing civil about it! Leadership is not often easy. Maybe being broke or even 'houseless' will quiet him!
We’ll be facing the same situation when he’s put in jail long-term for the crimes he’s committed, so it's either face it now or face it later. Surely the insurrectionists can’t come close to the strength of our US military. The fact that so many of the Jan6 rioters are serving time should scare off a lot of followers.
No. Because America is still a place where there is process.
Yes, this despicable man has blatantly skirted and flouted and ignored laws and has been worshipped for it and emboldened by that worship. But he went too far with his "presidency" and the law IS finally catching up to him. Financial crimes are one thing, but inciting murder and insurrection is something entirely else.
I feel fairly confident that once one court enforces their gag order, the others will as well. The 16th is not that far away. Judge Chutkan has some discretion in how she addresses the problem, including setting a faster trial date. Conviction and incarceration would solve one problem but the insidious cultural poison of hero-worshipping Godfather*-inspired criminals and denigrating the honorable as stupid and feeble remains.
Agreed. But once one court indicted, others followed.
This is a trivial comparison but it's like dancing at a wedding -- once someone has the confidence to get up and get down, others follow. Or maybe a dam breaking...
Dori ; It seems that our military can only be deployed outside our country. We have the National guard, but governors in states have jurisdictions, or control of their deployment? As we have seen , our United States are not as united these days! Some Governors like Vladimir Putin more than our President, and Democracy!
So....TFG shouldn't be jailed for violating parole because he and his spewing are threats? That's totally backward, imo. I think his vicious rantings and suggestions for executions constitute even MORE reason to put him in a cell, with no access to public platforms.
In a sane world run by grown-ups, that would already have happened. As it is, the almighty dollar is more important than anything else, and covering tRump 24/7 translates into ratings, so....
You need quite a few people for an Insurrection such as this to succeed. They failed spectacularly on J6 and they would fail even more spectacularly today.
Remember that many of the J6 defendants, once they were caught, flipped and stated that they did it because of Trump.
Also, Trump has issued quite a few "call to Arms" since then, and his numbers have really dwindled to just a few scores. Not hundreds. That's just a small faction. Now, folks have *opinions*, but this slim but vocal faction has opinions, not hordes.
I was going to write the same thing!! If the judges and prosecutors are doing such a good job of holding Trump accountable, why isn't he in jail for violating the terms of his release while awaiting trial!?
I saw Merrick Garland on 60 Minutes last night emphatically declare that he applies the Rule of Law to everyone, regardless of their station in life. He was overcome with emotion that his family in Europe were murdered by Nazis in part because the Rule of Law was not followed there.
It is so patently untrue that the Rule of Law has been followed with Trump. If it were, Trump would be in jail right now. Why hasn’t Garland been called out to respond to this?
Janice R, I share your question about the fact that trump has not really been "held to account" at all by the DOJ. Quite a few expert Constitutional/criminal-law attorneys have puzzled - and shown some anguish - over the inexplicable delay followed by slowness from the DOJ who effectively did NOTHING about trump and his criminal cohort until the January 6 Committee made it essentially impossible for the DOJ to continue ignoring what trump & crime syndicate did.
I think there must be fear of various kinds involved: fear of what the trump mob/cult/thug-army will do; fear from finding out how many in law enforcement/the military/and DOJ are like-minded with the seditionists; fear of getting it wrong with the result of tromp & co. being exempt from prosecution.
These are scary times in part because of the lawlessness being revealed at so many levels, one of which being the Sheriffs' organization that has interpreted their role as sheriffs across the country to be selective enforcement of laws, that they will enforce those they agree with and won't enforce those they don't. That's anarchy, not law enforcement. There was a sheriff in a county in Michigan that was using his position to remove voting machinery from election locations, with no actual authority or reason to do so. What would any local election official do if the local sheriff showed up to take the machines away based on a concocted reason? So much is going wrong/can go wrong in this country now that seems so wobbly with so many people acting as bullies and liars against those who are fearful and intimidated.
The judge already told him when he was indicted (arraigned?) weeks ago that he had to stop vilifying and threatening the judges, lawyers, potential witnesses, etc. I thought he was already in violation of his bail agreement because he has continued this behavior . Is this not the case? Why does the judge have to wait so long to act on this?
That was never a law. it was an opinion authored by someone who i can't remember, in reaction to something that happened last century. I bet Daniel Solomon knows! or Dr. Reich. Anyway, that misbegotten opinion, supported by Barr gives any president the equivalent power of a king. it's rotten to the core
I'm not Daniel Solomon or Dr. Reich, obviously, but I can read a plethora of sources on the origins of that insidious policy, and you are right: it is not and has never been a law; it is a policy. Here is one source, Reuters, on its origins and applications:
In 1973, in the midst of the Watergate scandal engulfing President Richard Nixon, the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel adopted in an internal memo the position that a sitting president cannot be indicted. Nixon resigned in 1974, with the House of Representatives moving toward impeaching him.
“The spectacle of an indicted president still trying to serve as Chief Executive boggles the imagination,” the memo stated.
The department reaffirmed the policy in a 2000 memo, saying court decisions in the intervening years had not changed its conclusion that a sitting president is “constitutionally immune” from indictment and criminal prosecution. It concluded that criminal charges against a president would “violate the constitutional separation of powers” delineating the authority of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. government.
“The indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would unconstitutionally undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions,” the memo stated.
The 1973 and 2000 memos are binding on Justice Department employees, including Mueller, according to many legal experts. Mueller was appointed in May 2017 by the department’s No. 2 official Rod Rosenstein.
But some lawyers have argued that the nation’s founders could have included a provision in the Constitution shielding the president from prosecution, but did not do so, suggesting an indictment would be permissible. According to this view, immunity for the president violates the fundamental principle that nobody is above the law.
Nixon himself in 1977 offered an opposite view when he told interviewer David Frost, “Well, when the president does it that means that it is not illegal.”
I'm not legally literate, but since when would a policy like that be binding on justice dept. employees. the justice dept doesn't have the right to bestow the right to lawlessness on anyone, especially not a president. Because that is what the policy does - it absolutely insulates someone like drumpf, and if anyone thinks he didn't know that, i've got a bridge to sell you. it doesn't strike me as odd at all that it was a republican admin and justice dept that promulgated that nonsense. what's worrisome to me is that no one has challenged it. and whatever happend to mueller and his findings? shouldn't drumpf be prosecuted for the obstruction that Mueller said he committed? oh well.
The OLC memo you are referring to need to be revisited: It was written at a time when both Nixon and his VP Spiro Agnew were in deep trouble. Had they been removed, as the Law demanded, the Speaker of the House at the time was Carl Bert Albert , a Democrat. That's why the OLC memo was created: To respect the Republican vote that had installed these 2 men.
Precisely! Our legal system is being revealed as something less than providing "equal justice under the law", and you can believe that millions of Americans are noticing...
Why is he receiving the special treatment that he says others are receiving? I’d surely be sitting in jail soon after I had made just one of his innumerable threats. There’s a two tiered justice system for the ‘moneyed’.
Of course! But he thinks he's above the law. Throughout his life, no matter what wrongdoing he commits, he escapes the consequences, so why wouldn't he think that way?
He still violates their orders without any repercussions. Who will be the first to enforce the law on him? No one wants to be that person, apparently. So far no one has been willing to take the step of putting him in prison as would've happened long ago with anyone else.
General Mark Milley had the intestinal fortitude and character to stand up to an unstable politician Donald J. Trump and to not be manipulated by anyone who would violate our United States Constitution and compromise the security of our Nation.
General Miley deserves to be awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the highest honor bestowed on members of the Armed Forces for non-combat service — even though dealing with tfg is practically a full-fledged battle: between truth and falsehood, between good and evil.
General Milley may have averted a hot war with China with his patriotic decision to call his counterpart in China. Who knows what might have happened if he hadn’t done so. We could all be pushing up posies!
understand the world’s nations power structure, I think more is in place to prevent significant damage than General Milley calling out Trump to China. But by breaking military protocol chain of command it took great courage for him to step over that line.
He didn't step over a line, though. The call to China was approved by Administration officials. Making TFG's condemnation all the more ridiculous, if that's possible.
It's as if this is coming down to individuals' courage in the face of an onslaught of venomous, dangerous rhetoric and action from Trump and his supporters. He has tried to intimidate and defame judges and prosecutors into recusing themselves or dropping charges. When dozens of lawfare actions in multiple states failed to effect the stealing of the presidency of the United States, he weaponized the House, and then he tried to shut down the government of the United States. It's come down to the spine of Jack Smith, Judge Tania Chutkan, General Mark Milley, Cassidy Hutchinson, E. Jean Carroll, Judge Lewis Kaplan, Leticia James, Roberta Kaplan--and the few Republicans who stood up to Trump, including Representative Liz Cheney and Senator Mitt Romney. It's the secret service agent who would NOT take Trump to the Capitol so he could hang Mike Pence himself. The rest of us will wait for the general election to take back the House and send Biden back to the White House. In the meantime, it's these individual people who have stood up and refused to stand down to whom we will owe our democracy. BTW: What kind of malignant, Dark Tetrad narcissist do you have when he's willing to shut down the government of the United States to stop the prosecution of the multiple cases of him for fraud, mishandling of classified documents, election tampering and organized crime--and the multiple wrongful death cases brought by the families of the people who DIED on January 6th in a siege of the United States government stoked by Trump and designed by a misogynistic group Trump had told to "stand by." He's Dark Tetrad, which carries the elements of narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and SADISM. He goes. He has to go.
You make an excellent point, Dr. Sinclair, about TFG's efforts to shut down the government to stop the prosecutions against him (although he's too ignorant to realize that the cases would proceed, nevertheless).
Hmmmm.....could there be further charges involved as a result of his ravings? Tough to prove, obviously, but TFG's efforts in that regard at least meet The American Heritage Dictionary's definition of sedition.... Just sayin'.
Yeah. He survived by creating a HUGE piece of PR about himself -- about his wealth (now the subject of a fraud judgment) -- about his golden touch and successfulness (crafted from the lies about his wealth). He lived a glittering life, which fascinates some people. ... And then, and then ... he bullied people. His "art of the deal" is part threat, part lure. He has filed bankruptcy six times. Here's the list:
1. Trump Steaks
2. GoTrump
3. Trump Airlines
4. Trump Vodka
5. Trump Mortgage
6. Trump: The Game
7. Trump Magazine
8. Trump University
9. Trump Ice
10. The New Jersey Generals
11. Tour de Trump
12. Trump Network
13. Trumped!
Trump companies that sought bankruptcy protection:
1. Trump Taj Mahal
2. Trump’s Castle
3. Trump Plaza Casinos
4. Trump Plaza Hotel
5. Trump Hotels and Casinos Resorts
6. Trump Entertainment Resorts
Beware the man who creates his own myth. But his best myth (says the mythologist) is that white supremacists are the "done wrong" party in American culture. It's just what they wanted to hear. They got to go to rallies and rant and rave and laugh at disabled people. They got to violently throw people out who disagreed with them. They got their guns. They got their misogyny (how Enrique Tarrio) got his start. Trump has at talent for bullying and lying and stoking rage--and for telling people what they want to hear. Eat your heart out, Gloria Gaynor!
“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead
Unfortunately, this includes changing it for the worst too. It was roughly six key people with the appropriate amount of evil who helped Hitler rise to power.
Only a handful of people helped propel Trump to the point where he was the chosen candidate.
Fortunately, a few set the path to turn it around in 2020! Not the 81m voters but the ones in positions powerful enough to hold him accountable. That he’s even having a trial is a testimony to the power of a few to change the world for good too. I hang my hope on this & hope it happens quickly now that the balls are rolling.
What part is puzzling you? I'll be glad to clear up any misconceptions -- or apologize if I'm wrong. But I need you to tell specifically what you feel might be factually inaccurate. Would you tell me, please?
Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee, especially Rep. Summer Lee, named a number of names of Congress critters whose districts would lose jobs and how many jobs would be lost if a government shutdown happened. Those members were tffg supporters and election deniers. Those representatives would be prime candidates for removal according to the 14th Amendment. It's one thing to have free speech, but to call for a "national divorce" like Marjorie Taylor Greene did crosses the line.
As I have said MANY times: were this the 1700s or even likely the 1800s, Bunkerboy would have been HANGED on January 7th! That morbidly obese, fugly career criminal is just lucky his image as a "billionaire," despite being DESTITUTE, is still sticking.
He won't be so lucky WHEN he goes to prison though. No amount of gaurds can protect his rotundity from h_rny inmates!
Their influence and actions “eradicated,” using law and our system of jurisprudence, as well as our rights to speak up and speak out. I worry about how some people see the word “eradicated” in a more insidious and even violent manner.
But they must be stopped, for certain, by legal, functional measures.
We need a "scarlet letter" attached to every person who voted for and supported Trump (twice). Republicans are the poster children for "hypocrisy" in the dictionary and the consumate lying politicians. If we don't hold them accountable (see: Trump). . then history repeats itself.
Remember that Al Capone was just as cocky and appeared invincible until the fisc took a hard look at his finance dealings. I suspect that is what will take Trump down too: With enough bad faith, all his other problems will be 'explained' by 'political attacks'. On the other hand, tax returns, balance sheets cannot be excused by 'political attacks'.
Kevin McCarthy finally drew his Red Line! I really believe that he tried to convince the MAGA members of his party that a government shutdown would have devastating consequences for the country and for their personal futures. He of course, had no choice but to have a bipartisan vote in order to pass a continuing resolution of 45 days, knowing that his speakership is on the line. That P.O.S., Matthew Louis Gaetz II, immediately tried to file a motion to vacate!
The one important issue missing from the CR was funding for the Ukrainian military. Former Representative Liz Cheney said recently “Members of the House and Senate who are voting to deny Ukraine assistance on the 85th anniversary of Neville Chamberlain’s 1938 “peace in our time speech”.
Liz went on to say , “Appeasement didn’t work then. It won’t work now.” There is little doubt the removal of this funding shows that Trump and the Putineer Republicans favor a foreign policy that only helps Russia . How disgustingly pathetic is that?
IMHO the pressure is getting to Trump and he should be committed for evaluation whether he is a threat to himself or others. Surely even those who love him have noticed.
Page Six reports that, according to a source, Melania spent the last year renegotiating the terms of her prenuptial agreement and that her new “postnup” is now in place. According to one source, the former FLOTUS wanted a new deal not because there’s a possibility she’ll have to move back into the White House, i.e., her least favorite place on earth, but because she’s worried about how much money will be left over for her and her son after Trump is done paying his various legal bills and damages. “This agreement was necessary because of the current legal battles…[Donald] has suffered.” .https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/09/melania-trump-donald-trump-prenup
Robert didn't mention Oct 9 depo of Trump by Michael Cohen in Trump's $500 MM civil fraud case in Florida. Also doesn't include the Oct. 30 14th Amendment hearing in Colorado. Trump haa an opportunity to defend himself, but to do sp probably has to testify, subjecting himself to pena;lty of perjury.
I don't have access to some other cases, like the Pa case against Trump and Guiliani for civil damages. James Savage, a voting machine warehouse custodian in Delaware County, suffered physical and emotional distress due to “deliberate, malicious, and defamatory statements and insinuations” made by Trump, Giuliani and their associates after they falsely accused him of uploading 50,000 votes for Biden.
The NY civil fraud case can force him to give up control of all his domestic properties, liquidated dameges are at least $250 million, and I think when he figures out that he will have to sell to avoid liqidation of his properties, he'll split.
Let the orange traitor pay all the fines and damages he owes those he has hurt first. If Melania is so worried about how much money would be left, she could sell her jewelry and expensive dresses, or go write a book. She will never know the hardship many Americans experience in their daily lives. (which would be drastically worse if the maga regained power)
Then again, she could always get a job. And if her son wants to go to college, he could apply for a student loan.
It sounds like from her previous years as a model and her jewelry line, she may be worth between $50-55Millions, so she is not exactly a pauper. "Trophy" wives, however have to put up with a lot of indignities, and I'm sure that living with Trump day in and day out is not a picnic. The girl who went to the Southern border with a green jacket stating "I really don't care, do you" is probably as money hungry as her husband. Trophy wives have a way of landing on their feet.
celeste k. Why bash Melania? Would you like to have a man like that for a husband? I'm sure he convinced her that he was 'perfect' , and she found out how cruel he is. As far as I know, she has little personal wealth. If she did she would have been gone ,with her son and her parents, long ago.
Please, if you think she didn't know who he was, you're mistaken. She is as calculating as he is. She knew exactly what he was then, and does now. If she stayed with him out of love, she'd be more worried about his legal problems than negotiating her prenup for more.
I think when Russia decided Trump could be an asset, they first furnished Ivana for him, then later Melania. Their Siberian Candidate has proven to be a very wise investment for Russia.
that is so true. it's like, the investments that lobbyists make in congresspersons' campaigns yield huge returns. the investments that oligarchs make in supreme court justices yield huge returns, both monetary and ideological.
I am very comforted to read your and Jaime Ramirez's comments with this Melania theory because I thought I was the only one who had had this notion about her role and reason for being a prop for trump.
it's right out of the russian playbook for spying/espionage. they're called honey traps.
I truly believe that the Steele dossier was absolutely accurate. Also, that trump and epstein had a hell of a lot of dirt on many rich and famous people, notably politicians. just imagine what they filmed.
She made her bed (pun intended). She got her own clothing line and many other perks, thanks to marriage with TFG. Her staying with him so far was a very calculated choice. She'll bail when the time is right (i.e., diminishing returns), so no sympathy whatsoever.
I'm not reluctant to "bash" her. She was a nude model/"lingerie" model. She appears in photos with trump and Jeffrey Epstein in which they all look either very hot and sweaty or under some kind of influence. It is easy to imagine that that creep introduced the two creeps to each other. She was presented as someone who could speak many languages, yet she could not speak English. At the time she had been living in the U.S. for some 20 years, and still could not speak English. The press was unbelievably kind to her, sympathetic even; all the stories that seemed to use her as surrogate for disdain for trump (did she or did she not brush away his hand; was she or was she not upset by the Stormy Daniels garbage....and for the record, in an interview, she indicated she was not; there's a real marital bond for ya) Many reports said that she did come to this country legally, nor did her parents come legally, but some kind of privilege enabled that. She never ever took on the role, regardless of what anyone thinks of that role, with the customs and traditions, of being First Lady. She behaved like a model, but this time fully clothed and with endless references to what she was wearing. (trump is in a video from their past in which he is "showing her off" to others, saying "did you see my super model....there's my super model" and he might have just as easily been gesturing to a new Ford or BMW!) She fully engaged with all that she signed up for and it is all to easy to speculate that what she signed up for was to construct the ruse that it was a real marriage, that "love" had produced a child, that she was a real American or a real First Lady. It appeared always that she signed up to appear on stages as if she and trump were connected, as if she was an American First Lady, as if she was anything but a "paid escort."
Contrast any of that, but most particularly, with how Michelle Obama was treated by the media (HORRIBLY!!), by Republicans, by the trumpers, et al. And she was actually a First Lady who embraced the role and enhanced it, an active mother and an active American - veterans, vulnerable Americans, children, and so on. She was a genuinely educated and accomplished woman with an actual career behind her. She and her husband actually have a real marriage and a real history together.
Contrast also the ways in which Melania has kept the latest of trump's spawn completely out of the public eye, virtually keeps him a secret. Contrast that with Amy or Chip Carter (the only Carter kids I remember), the Bush daughters, Chelsea Clinton, the Obama daughters; even going way back to the Nixon daughters, and back further. Only that "baron" has been kept a virtual secret from America.
That whole crowd is completely divorced from all of America's traditions and customs, and she and they are repugnant in their crass, craven, cruel, criminal ways.
Need I go on? I think the charade of Melania Trump needs to end. She was a prop and we can all guess that she has been a very, very well-paid prop. And by the way, I do not think she is in the least bit attractive. The comedian who does the Melania parody on Stephen Colbert mimics and mocks her very well.
She left Slovenia, a country that until not so very long ago was part of the former Soviet Union. My own theory based on nothing but amazement and skepticism that she and trump were ever a "couple" or that she was ever the American First Lady is that she was a Putin handler, placed to keep his puppet under the watchful eye of the "super model" and to remind him of all that he owed Putin and what could happen if he strayed from their plans for world domination under fascist oligarchs with fake-gold toilets and a long line of "super models."
To quote the old folk song, "When will we ever learn? When will we ever learn?"
Trump is like a bad cold that just keeps hanging on. A sever rash that drives you crazy with the itching. A headache that turns into a full blown migraine. That queasy feeling that causes you to spend quality time with your head in the toilet. He makes you experience all these wonderful things, when will the fool just up and disappear?
Donald, we certainly do have such appalling reactions to Trump's presence on the scene. He has contributed nothing positive to the American people even though many believe he has. OK, they can't name those contributions, but that does not matter, it's the FEELING that counts. The sad thing for me is just how many people in this nation have the opposite reaction. They are energized by his hatred and insults, found affirmation in his racism and misogyny, are gleeful at his xenophobia and homo/transphobia. They, the Trump cult members have found their deity and are so excited, they can't contain it. That is why they can follow up on Trump's threats because they are doing his will, the will of their god. This is something We the People are going to have to address and for a long time.
Ruth--Exactly. The people who follow this guy unconditionally are as alien as those little "Greene" beings with big black eyes that come down and abduct people. The only difference being the ones that live here speak English.
Well, how will this group screw things up now? They over turned Roe-VS-Wade and set a domino effect in motion that sent Ricters scales screaming in all directions. The court, in all its infinite wisdom, rendered a decision that was religiously based and favored a minority over the needs of the majority. That move undermined the public opinion of this nation's highest court. With that in mind what repressive judgements will be handed down that will further restrict the personal freedoms of the people in our country? Trump is solely responsible for the seating of 3 judges during his failed term as President. These three helped make a decision that upended our society then and it is still causing social chaos today. Looking ahead what can they dirty their hands next? At some point all the legal confusion caused by Trump will, in one form or another, wind up being heard by this court. Will they act as judges or will they hand down decisions that favor the MAGA King. Their future depends on the impartiality of their judgements.
Shelley, yes things are looking grim. It appears Republicans can't be satisfied by doing major harm to women and infants, they want women to totally surrender to male stupidity. It is disgusting and we women need to stand up to it and literally say "no" on every confrontation. We need Janes everywhere who can secretly provide safe abortions and work hard to vote out the witch-hunters whether they be men who are terrified of women or women who get their goodies from hurting other women they see as rivals. There was a lot of that horror show by women in the past. Women have perpetuated so much of the anti-woman BS because they aimed their fear and vitriol on other women instead of on the men who were orchestrating the BS. We need to get decent human beings elected to offices all over this nation and call out the witch-hunters/burners for their ignorance and hatred because let's face it they have nothing positive to offer anyone but themselves and we have already had far far too much of what pleases them.
Gaetz is a MAGA-based Republican who is operating just like all the rest of the mindless fools. Tear down and destroy with no plan in place to keep things going. It took McCarthy 15 tries to find his way into that wobbly ricker that he now occupies. If Gaetz succeeds in ousting the existing speaker "who" will take his place? It took 15 votes to find a speaker when they had one in mind how long will it take when they don't have any idea of who to vote for? The house is basically dead in the water without a speaker. The Republican party is a fractured group of counterproductive officials with no path to the future. The negativity injected into the Republican party by Donald Trump has had a crippling effect on the entire political system. Charlie Daniels sang a little ditty about Trump and his trip South to the Peach State.
Trump gave an interview, if you can call it that, prior to entering the court room in his fraud case in New York. He reminded me of a spoiled rich kid that had just been caught doing something he had ben warned repeatedly not to do. His mind set was that of a child whose feelings had been hurt and he blamed the system for attempting to punish him when that was something nobody ever did. He lashed out at the judge like he did repeatedly when his nanny tried to discipline him when he was a bit younger. The body is deteriorating but the childish mind was still present. Trump is a baby, he appeals to his base in an attempt to gain symphony through monetary considerations. I don't feel sorry for the man but I do feel empathy for the naïve people that give their undying support to a man that cares nothing for the people who blindly support him.
Trump will never run out of money. His family trust from his father will live forever. All the other noxious Trump family members also
get a hefty monthly check from the trust, and that will never end. You can take every penny Trump has, and he will be a millionaire within a year, from his “allowance”.
Actually, Mary Trump has a case at the 2nd Circuit that could break it -- and she filed before the recent revelations.
Although I personally didn't do this kind of work, several of my former associates were in the "constructive trust" business, and fraud is a basis to do it. Once there are judgmemts, Trump will be exposed tp post judgment discovery and all involved will be witnesses.
Wondering, Daniel, what the liability would be on TFG's future trust payments, should judgments against him exceed his current liquidity plus any $$$ he'd get from selling off assets. Could all trust payments to him also be seized for his remaining lifetime?
Mary Trump may or may not have a viable clain that would rearange the equity shares for all concerned, and DJT's portion would be available if he has creditors -- like the State of New York.
Thanks for the explanation and the link, Daniel. I'm sure he has money secretly squirreled away in various places overseas [or buried with Ivana!], but it seemed to me that any funds that are a matter of record in the U.S. might be vulnerable.
Alan, you may be right, but for Trump, being a millionaire is almost as bad as being a pauper. A million won't give him any of the luxuries he feels entitled to. I bet his supporters will come through for him though. From their limited resources, they will give to the rich guy so he can keep on moving. Disgusting!
Alan S: Can you provide any proof of this? If he had all that money, why has he been so afraid of bankrupcy in the past? My understanding is that he got bailed out by the people who lent to him and who would have gone down with him! Please correct me if I am wrong.
Before trump became President the NYT did an extremely long and detailed article. I highly recommend you read it.
Fred Trump amassed 77,000 apartments. At a net of $300/door/month that’s over $21 million per month.
Donald was put on payroll at age 8 for $200,000/year.
Bankruptcy does not hurt trump financially. His paycheck is small ( his tax returns). It’s all unearned income that can’t be touched.
Rockefeller said “Own nothing. Control everything.” I’m sure an LLC owns Donald’s home. He has over 100 LLCs. It’s all a shell game. That much money in trusts is untouchable. Let’s hope Barron is a decent human.
It wouldn't surprise me if DJT made a beeline for Moscow. Putin would be so happy. Putin would have DT on television everyday directing the everTrumpers how to destroy democracy.
In my opinion because he is such a danger to others, he should have his security paid for by the Government removed and forced to pay for his own security. I am sure thousands of his low IQ White Supremacists supporters would protect him for free.
M Tree, I like your idea of having Trump have to cover the cost of protection that, if he had kept quiet, would not have been necessary. Our system makes poor people cover their court costs which can be determined as the court chooses, but the rich guy does not have to pay his. It seems the protection costs ARE court costs., not just the cost of doing business in America
Even if he can't be sued for the cost of security for those who are working to hold him accountable, I can say that I am personally happy to chip my taxes in for it!
Eric Swalwell has (or had, not sure of status now) a lawsuit against him related to January 6th. I have longed for some legal expert to tell us that Americans can sue trump for all of the lost treasure due to his fraud, among other reasons: a class-action suit for citizen taxpayers who are footing the bill for that criminal.
Trump has been sued by Democratic members of Congress and police officers over the Jan. 6 riots.
In one lawsuit, 10 Democrats claim Trump violated a Civil War-era law by seeking to prevent them from certifying the 2020 election results through the Capitol attack. Swalwell has filed his own lawsuit making similar claims.
At least 14 law enforcement officers are suing Trump over the assault, including 12 U.S. Capitol Police officers and two D.C. police officers. The estate of a Capitol Police officer who died after the attack has also sued.
DOJ told a federal appeals court in Washington that it should allow the lawsuits to move forward, rejecting Trump’s argument that he is immune from the claims. A trial judge in Washington last year rejected that argument, finding that Trump was not immune from the claims.
Your words are the purest of fine poetry to these eyes, Daniel Solomon, pure poetry!
trump's m.o. throughout his adult life has been to sue, sue, sue and misuse the judicial system to intimidate and cheat others. There is something very gratifying to know that so many others are suing him for the many and varied harms he has inflicted, and that the suits are proceeding. He has made a mockery of our courts for decades. May the courts at long last mock his frivolous cheapening of justice.
I love the idea but the amount would have to be decided by a court which first has to prove that all the extra security is necessary:
[Someone could allege that their neighbor is unhinged and so they have to get extra security, so the move has possibilities for abuse]... but I like the way you think.
In the various impeachments/ indictments, it seems to me that it should be possible to recoup at least all court costs, including payments to lawyers. [The party that wins the lawsuit should be able to recoup their costs. That is fair.
This would also go a long ways in mitigating SLAPP lawsuits and political frivolous lawsuits, such as the Gableman nonsense in Wisconsin. Political elected people should not be able to draw from our tax dollars to indulge their petty grievances. They could ask their Party to foot the bill.
Celeste, yep, McCarthy is already being seen by some as a "hero." There is no reason for this because McCarthy set up the whole show-down himself with a little help from the "Toddler Caucus." He is no hero but a jerk whose strings are being worked from slightly behind a curtain by Trump and Kump. I think McCarthy mistakes the relief of not totally being blamed for a government shutdown (which he would have been blamed for) and the fantasy that he did something special to stop the shutdown. What he did was his job as Speaker, you know, that job he was so desperate for he sold his soul to the Toddler Caucus. As far as I can see, he gets credit for nothing beyond doing his job.
Paula, I use the "and Kump" to refer to all of the fascist Trumpers and Trumpettes who are working or want to be working to undermine our democracy along with their pathetic leader, Donald Trump.
It is worth remembering that Matt Gaetz and each of the congress people would continue to get paid $174,000 if there was a shutdown. Bad enough they get paid for wasting Congress’s time and for months of doing nothing for Americans.
What’s truly sad is we are paying their salaries!! You are absolutely right that they are not doing anything for the American people. It’s time for a new party to replace the Republican Party because they know Trump is a Fraud yet they continue to be @ his beck and call!
I can't believe that Trump can get away with these threats to the lives of judges and other legal officials. Why is he not in jail for contempt of court? Could any one else get away with this? Again, he faces no consequences for his shocking behavior.
And this is why I feel less optimism. Trump may be losing luster with some. His followers - those who, like the person who died in a shootout with the FBI bc of the Cincinnati threat - will go to great lengths individually or, like Jan 6, collectively, to harm people and country.
Even if many media outlets stopped publicizing the rants, his threats to or about others, they will be seen. The amount of money spent in private or govt security may not be enough.
What are the ways to keep those who will do great physical or psychological harm from doing so? They, who would defend to their own deaths he who would be dictator, are the threat.
Richard, if you went online and threatened those judges, their colleagues and their families today, you’d be in custody before dark. They’re all afraid to enforce the law against this asshat and he knows it. It’s a shame.
I agree, that the republician party seems to finally even if gradually leaving the tRump behind. Trump is not popular within our country and his legal troubles are too many to recover from, even if it gives him more news and TV coverage. My hopes is that the news media would focus more on the current administration and what Biden is doing and has done to improve the lives of American middle class.
Pamela, it would be great if the media just refused to report on Baby Donnie, but that is not going to happen. They get lots of bucks reporting that fool and the media will not want to be left out of the dollar fest. We need better but I just don't see it as things are. We could get better, though if Trump were to be convicted or removed from a whole bunch of state ballots because he is an insurrectionist. I'd like to see those headlines!
The Press should refrain from reporting on Trump. Trump news has people so addicted that if the man even hiccups, it is reported upon. Reporting such events has The People drowning in a sea of red herrings, losing sight of what is truly important for the nation and of their own potential and power as responsible citizens.
A big part of Trump’s successful strategy is to get everyone talking about him. He feeds on the fame brought by infamy. That being said, are we not also falling into that trap?
The question put to us is “Is Trump fever beginning to break?” My answer based on our own focus on Trump is NO! What occurred is that the speaker of the house cut a deal that infuriates the ultra-right and lets the government limp along for another 45 days. But we, like the media are still focused on Trump. So, is our own infatuation with one poor excuse for a man part of what is causing the press to feed on us? How many times has the name or pseudonym for Trump shown up in this one thread? Too many to count.
There are other important issues to discuss. First, Why are so many Americans swayed by him? My answer is this: Trump appeals to unhappy angry people who feel that they have been cheated out of the “American Dream.” And, they are correct. And who has cheated them? Not you and me, not Joe Biden and not the rank and file of the Democratic Party. They have been cheated by a system that is ranked against them and allow the few at the top to accumulate unimaginable wealth leaving little left for the vast majority of Americans struggling to survive economically. Hillary Clinton called his supporters a “Basket of Deplorables.” Some of us are falling into calling them “MAGATS.” Name calling will not solve this crisis nor change the world.
Hillary was wrong by using name calling and so are we. These are people who are confused, fearful and ANGRY. are easy prey for demagogues and Trump has honed this skill to very high and frightful levels. We need a government and an economy that works for all the people and a government that allows our citizens feel and be heard, to have a constructive voice.
Political democracy is failing to govern and capitalism is failing to spread the wealth of the wealthiest country on the planet. We should spend at some of our discussion on creating a better form of democracy and a fairer economy. If we focus primarily on Trump and his impact on the disaffected are we possibly simply boosting his brand?
Agree that name calling is fun but not productive. We all need to deal in facts. Robert Reich noted that corporate money and private large donors have purchased the votes they wanted to funnel money up to them. And they succeeded. Thus, we have inequality embedded in the political system.
Overturning Citizens United would start redirecting influence and money down, as i see it. The rich uber-wealthy and corporate money distributors would fight and pay to keep Citizens United.
The problem is that for so long it was not fashionable to talk about why we are having so many problems and so little attention was paid to glaring existential crises like rising poverty, rising oceans, civil unrest, and grifting as a rampant epidemic. We live in a world where money tends to flow upwards and get stuck rather than circulate. These are indications of failing social systems where the slant is very much in favor of the rich and established elites who don’t feel they have obligations to anyone but themselves and their whims. Americans need to remember who we are as a nation and demand our civil rights be respected and start caring for each other in tangible ways. We have a tremendous mess to clean up now that the party is over. Take the pun. Voting is not a cliche. Wake up and smell the coffee (not Starbucks, thank you). And ask people how they are doing. Then really listen.
After WWII, America started to breathe easy. Government benefits put into play made life so much easier. However, the baby boomers who grew up with that innocence, eventually took the good times for granted, assuming their government would continue to do what's right. Behind our backs, as we slept, the devil entered our Congress and Senate, and sadly we didn't notice. Our only hope now is what I'm seeing in the younger generation, who has seen the damage to their parents and grandparents. Please let them take up the reins, run for offices, and restore our government 'by the people.' So yes, I'm starting to see his luster diminish.
R. Funkhouser, I completely agree with you!! I was a baby boomer and I did grow up in innocence that our country would always be rock solid! I did take all of those freedoms for granted and I am so sorry I did not pay better attention! Our younger generation has what it takes to restore our government 'by the people'. I see it in the actions of the Tennessee Three and others. I put my hope and trust in these young people to right the ship.
Reading a lovely account by Mary Jordan of the Washington Post of President Jimmy Carter's 99th birthday Sunday, I learned there that President Joe Biden had sent President Carter a note. This was the first I had read or heard of this and I thought it was an indicator of Biden's personality that bears attention. It was a courtesy, a kindness, and wasn't done for public acclaim or personal self-aggrandizement. It was an acknowledgement of Jimmy Carter's work and dedication, and it was greatly appreciated by this voter who has found the Democratic "stars" treatment of Jimmy Carter to be reprehensible. The Clintons ignored him, at best, and denigrated him, at worst, while they displayed their affection and association with the Bush family! The Obamas never seemed to give any nod of recognition to Jimmy Carter, and virtually no Democrat of note gave him any respect, even though none of them could hold a candle to him. So, this small matter featured in the WaPo article caused me to give fresh regard to Joe Biden because he, at long last as our top Democratic leader, showed respect and deference to a very, very fine President who was ahead of his time and of whom America was not worthy.
Quoting from Mary Jordan's Washington Post article about President Carter (and First Lady who, unlike the sham first "lady" whom trump referred to as "my super model....did you see my super model," actually was a lady and a smart woman):
"Earlier this month, President Biden personally sent word to Carter that he had moved to protect millions of acres in Alaska and canceled oil drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
“Biden knows how much this means to him,” said his son James Earl “Chip” Carter III, who took the White House call.
Jimmy Carter has described the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act as one of the most important achievements of his presidency and was angry when Donald Trump opened the Arctic refuge to oil drilling. More recently, at the age of 97, Carter filed a lawsuit to block the construction of a road through the Alaska wilderness."
trump draws letters to public attention only if they praise HIM. trump files lawsuits to help HIMSELF and hurt his "enemies."
As a former Georgian, I share your disappointment in the way Carter was treated (often by the Washington Post and some of its brass). If he had been re-elected, we would have avoided so much needless environmental and financial hazard, and I'm glad President Biden reached out to him. I got sick of seeing him physically shunned by his fellow former presidents as was often visible in photographs.
I'm so happy that the former president Carter gets the recognition he deserves !! I think he was short-changed for what he has done and tried to do and that was the start of the downward spiral of democracy with electing a " entertainer " as president !! I am happy that President Biden has been keeping in contact with the former president not because he was a former president but as a friend and for caring about his well-being!! Much respect to both of them !!❤️❤️❤️
I hope then that Carter was also angry when Biden permitted the appalling Willow Project in Alaska’s waters (succeeding all the drilling permits he handed out for more fouling of the Gulf waters).
Not that I want to justify drilling, but the Willow Pipeline was a "sealed deal" before the Biden administration. To balance it, he has prohibited drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Remember how Trump set the time of withdrawal from Afghanistan during his administration and Biden was left "holding the bag?") President Biden sometimes plays one hand against the other. He's a master politician. Thank heaven he's on the right side most of the time. Unlike Trump, he really does know "the art of the deal."
Yes and no. Biden had the power to withhold. I worked on trying to convince him (along with thousands of others!). But he’s from coal and gas country, probably goes way back with the fossil fuel industry.
And also, Biden canceled SOME Alaskan drilling permits, but not all.
Along the same lines, there was a news report last week about Gulf permits. The report said that Biden had allowed fewer permits than had been expected. My thought was, " 'Fewer' isn’t the same as, 'none.' Get back to me when it's, 'zero permits;' then we'll be getting somewhere."
It is very difficult for me to fault the President who put solar panels on the White House and, a science-educated person himself, tried to begin the process of reducing dependence on fossil fuel, only to be completely overturned by subsequent corporatists in office and in bed with Big Oil/Gas/Coal/Money. I think President Carter would be the first to say - and mean it - that he was not perfect and I'm guessing that, like many, he has found it disturbing and disappointing that America has lost so much time, and done fresh harm, by not being more aggressive and progressive in our environmental and energy policies. It is hard to imagine so many things that actually do happen: for example, I cannot fathom how any human being can engage in "mountain-top removal mining" - destroying a mountain range for the supremely evil reason to get at the hardest to get at coal in order to continue heating the planet (or, more to the point, to continue enriching Big Oil/Gas/Coal/Money).
There is so much angst and blame to go around, but Biden is not at the top of that list (he is the first President in a LONG time who may actually care about developing good, safe public transportation e.g. trains - and wouldn't good, safe, clean, efficient PUBLIC transportation be a superb feature of progress?!) and Jimmy Carter would not even be ON that list. (He flew commercial as a post-President; contrast that with trump's private plane made to look like it's Air Force One, as if he is the "real" President.")
Alaska's waters (land, air, glaciers) need humanity's protection, no doubt about it, but so do the Great Lakes, the plains and midwest's aquifers, the Colorado River - and so on and so on. Our governmental policies that allow the kinds of bad decisions you describe, rightly, transcend any one President and it is the policies that need to be changed and need to be CEMENTED into our law, beyond just one term of office at a time.
What a contrast between President Carter and DJT. And Rosalyn was a brilliant First Lady who was comfortable in the role and knew how to make the most of the platform it provided her. Both are exemplary human beings who live by their values rather than the capricious tastes of the present political climate. President Biden is the same class of leader.
I've been thinking very fondly about President Carter lately too. Our last president guided by his moral compass. I don't think anyone would fault him for flying in the 1970s--we didn't know then what we know now. The problem with Biden (for whom I am working to get out the vote) is that his behavior has flown in the face of what we do know now. He has a lifelong relationship with the fossil fuel industry, not surprising given his Pennsylvania roots, and it seems to have blinded him to what is no longer specialist knowledge but known to bankers, city planners, architects, teachers, journalists, farmers, young people of every kind...
Exactly. It’s all about Trump. That is the mentality of a child to feel the world revolves around only you. A mature person thinks of others, the “Common Good” as Professor Reich expouses in his book.
Trump’s mafia attorney who helped him out of messes taught him the way to fight back is counter sue. He was McCarthy’s attorney in the 50’s. That shows his true “caliber”.
It is difficult to deal with a malignant narcissistic sociopath (DJT) who lacks a functioning conscience. Donald Trump must be held accountable for his choices and illegal behavior. The integrity of our nation should not be compromised by an unstable person who is a danger to our nation and its citizens.
I agree. This period in our history has been both a danger and an embarrassment on the world stage for our Nation. By facing
legal consequences and making this a public issue should make people around the world aware of the danger again of following a political leader or any cult leader who places self-promotion and personal profit above the welfare of our citizens and innocent victims (i.e. refugee children kept
in cages!) due to the egotistical exploitation of power by Donald J. Trump.
Jeanne, the message that our nation is still working will only be real if Trump is actually held accountable for his bad anti-American behavior and a jury or two that unanimously sees the truth and finds Trump guilty. Just holding trials knowing that Trumpers and Trumpettes are embedded in our population and would lie under oath if they felt it would help their deity, Baby Donnie will not do the trick. Convincing 12 human beings of just how bad Trump's actions have been is the only way to "break the fever" and let the world know we have a system that works.
The danger is a return to Facism which waa a generational pattern in DJT 's family. Trump Senior (Donald's father) supported the KKK. Read Mary Trump's 2 books. Also read David Enrich's detailed dissertation level book DARK TOWERS...... which was based on 3 years of research and has extensive footnotes to document the facts. The author was the finance editor of the New York Times and had worked previously at high echelons in international banking. The collusion and unlimited unsecured and defaulted extreme loans through the Deutsche Bank was the pattern of deceit since many years prior to the current criminal fraud and lies.
Jeanne, I have read Mary Trump's books and pieces about the Trump financial insanity. Fascism works very well for the "Trump Empire" because forcing others to do one's will is the way they get people to do the appalling thingns they do. I suspect there is blackmail involved and other equally illegal and destructive practices. That is what they do. Trump's dad didn't just suddenly know what to do; he had lots of help from the other fascists around and there were a bunch of them, white men who think they deserve far more than they have and who can be encouraged to believe that THOSE people are keeping them from having even more. It's disgusting, but clearly it draws like-minded people in and our justice system is often not up to the task of curbing the bad behavior because many of our justice system are among the like-minded. People to sit on the courts have to meet no basic requirements for integrity, knowledge, understanding, or anything else, even the oath does not mean much if the judge/justice decides to ignore it, ala Thomas, Alito, and the many conservative judges on the 5th circuit who believe they have the right to warp our Constitution and the SC often goes along. Trump is not too bright, but he does not have to be there are always folks around him who want to swim in his pool of money and another bunch who will permit them to do so all with impunity, well, perhaps until now, though it is hard to know if what is happening now will make any difference.
You have very good insight into the dynamics of the abuse of power, especially among wealthy elite who perpetuate their power by exploiting others and creating a class structure that becomes generational privileges including fraud to enter elite schools including paying a very intelligent person to take your entrance exams or having your intelligent older sister do your school homework for you which was documented in one of Mary Trump's books. Donald's father financed Donald's extravagant lifestyle in his twenties especially in order to give the appearance of Donald being a very successful businessman. An apartment building was sold by the father to cover the son's failures. Males cannot give any appearance of being a failure in the Trump family.
Exactly. It’s all fine and good that Merrick Garland condemns Trump for his utterances, but why doesn’t he use the law to punish him for them? I suspect fear of further enraging his base.
If it is fear that inhibits Merrick Garland or, as Mitt Romney claimed, intimidates "Republicans" (and too many Democrats!), then we should be reminding them of the young men who, in 1941, lined up to enlist to fight against Nazi Germany and Japan at a time when there was every reason to believe that those two countries would defeat the Allies handily, every reason to believe that those young men would never see home or family again. They signed up and they went to fight AGAINST tyrrany!
Much the same could be said of those who joined the Union army (Note: UNION!) in the 1860s and of Civil Rights marchers in the 1960s and activists for women's suffrage in the early 20th century, et al.
ALL involved threats, danger, high likelihood of injury or death, loss of livelihood, separation from family - ALL of those events and more.
When did we all become so afraid of traitors, fraudsters, hucksters, and rank low-life criminals in our own government?! When did our elected officials become such cowards?! That is what trump and his crowd FEED on, what they LOVE, and what empowers them.
Somebody needs to be telling not just trump, gaetz, green and their whole retched ilk that they are un-American, but should be telling the "citizens" who are their life's blood that THEY are un-American. But then I guess that's what ballots and voting booths are for, so let's be sure to use them well!
Being afraid and doing the right thing are mutually exclusive. The question is whether the fear is noted and the best decision is made anyway or if the fear becomes cowardice. Merrick Garland is performing his role as AG of the United States in the most exemplary way without fear or favor and we are so lucky to have him serving in that role in this moment of great turmoil and danger. He is a champion of justice and a steadfast supporter of the Constitution of the United States of America. Mitt Romney played along to get along until he couldn’t anymore.
You know, other than innocent children and people of color dying, none of these politicians have been attacked. It's too hard to get away with anything these days as we certainly have an Orwellian abundance of cameras.
Bobbie McIntyre ; there are many politicians , even in the Republican party, who have been threatened with harm ; even murder of their children. Nancy Pelosi, had her life threatened, and tRump brags and signifies about the attack on her 83 year old (at the time) husband, even a couple of days ago.. The thug busted Paul Pelosi's scull with a hammer. I call that an attack. Many Republicans left politics because they were on tfg's 'hit list'. Adam Kinzinger, his wife and even their infant son, were all threatened with murder. Liz Cheney has had to have protection for herself and her family. Cassidy Hutchinson, a witness who was a member of tfg's White House staff, has protection, and Eric Swalwell, and many others. He purged the Republican party of anyone who was not useful to him, and him only. His puppet Tuberville blocked top military appointments; some 300 of them for a reason. If tfg managed to 'win' the presidency they could install tRump sycophants in all those military top jobs! Gee, I wonder what tfg would do with that!? Military take over!?
I think the same about the Tuberville charade. Abortion be damned, this is (was?) a ploy to set up the next authoritarian government under Trump. I hold my breath at the mechanisms already in place to end our democracy.
And fear of endangering all of us especially judges, DoJ, FBI, others doing their jobs.
In the “it can’t happen here” category, why do we think more Jan 6 Insurrection-like actions - dangerous demonstrations of many v 1 lone MAGA-adherent - won’t occur? The former OOO (Oval Office Occupant) AND the Freedom Caucus, far right adherents with platforms, etc continue to incite violence.
Judge Engoron (spelling?) did! I’ll bet Trump didn’t make a sound when he and his lawyers were called into the judges chambers to get straightened out on the matter. Look it up. The judges words are a joy to read.
Let's not exaggerate the significance of what has transpired. We are EXACTLY where We were at after the band-aide that was applied to the Budget process back last Spring: The Republicans graciously kicked the can down the road to September 30th -- at which point they put the USA through hell with worry about "Will they _finally_ pass a Budget by then?" More than a month of posturing and saber-rattling, threatening a shutdown if they don't get their way.... again. This time what it cost was aid to Ukraine, which may very well collapse under Russian pressure without American support. Now the can has been kicked down the road for another 45 days. What will be required to get yet another extension then?
This Budget process is starting to feel like a Death By A Thousand Cuts.
Reneging on anything already committed would be really negative PR. "Cutting off their allowance" is one thing. Foreclosing on their home during a crisis would be more negative PR than the GOP wants to deal with when the 2024 election is approaching.
We must never feel better about our democracy until we overturn Citizens United with HJR54, the We the People Amendment. Click on movetoamend.org to study up and consider signing on to help out because corporations aren’t people and money isn’t protected free speech!
Bit by bit, the cracks in the Trump façade are starting to widen and spread. And tomorrow, if he opens his mouth at all, #DonaldDuce is likely to push a wedge into them.
It’s so strange that no one in the Republican party can be an actual statesman, point out the mountain of Trump BS, and rise above the forest of mediocre candidates.
The problem is, all the smart Republicans have been primaried out. Double digit intellects are now what the CEO and billionaire donors want because these shortcomings make them easy prey for manipulation.
David French in his column in the NYTimes analyses why the Trump fever will not break. Christian nationalism and the well-funded organizations it has spawned are found to be impervious to rational argument. When facts and rational discourse makes no dent in the belief that Trump is some type of persecuted hero, the only solution is to somehow dilute the power of these groups by voting out their political allies in Congress and state legislatures (although it is clear these types will never accept the outcomes of elections when they don't win). Unfortunately, U.S. oligarchs like the Kochs, the Mercers, even Musk (and many unknown high buck players) see an advantage to funding such groups as they did the Tea Party back in 2010. The federal and state institutions, the courts, and American voters will have to stand against this anti-democratic onslaught as they did on the 1960's when faced with the virulence of the Jim Crow South.
Yes, only now thanks to Citizens United the wealthy oligarchs can legally buy their victories. The defunding of education under Nixon has left us with just the malleable electorate it was designed to create.
A slight correction: the defunding of PUBLIC education as well as the transfer of PUBLIC money to PRIVATE education, all of this being part of the strategy to privatize everything, to control what is taught, and to perpetuate separate AND unequal education.
Now there is the transfer of PUBLIC money to RELIGIOUS PRIVATE education, an absolute un-Constitutional (and immoral) trend!
Not to forget of course, trump's appointment of Betsy Devos an avowed demonstrated enemy of PUBLIC education, someone who never, ever attended any public school, from K through college. She has been a big mover towards "charter schools" which are promoted as a version of a public school and yet, in any real analysis, are not. In some states, including her home state of Michigan, the charter school "movement" has been a big money-maker for investors.
It's all part of the big scam, con-game played by, mostly, Republicans who are, mostly, self-dealing, self-enriching, un-American profiteers. (too many Democrats, too.)
We need reform across the board in government so we can have clean government, free of corruption and corrupt influence.
Didn’t I read recently that the Koch billions were now funding a Stop Trump movement? And speaking of which, an all-day “Stop Trump Summit” is being held October 11th at The Cooper Union in NYC. See The New Republic magazine’s website for details.
tRump is all those things he names others to be. Projection at its most transparent. A deranged manipulator who has brainwashed, intimidated and duped so many if not most of his so called “ followers”. Worse & more dangerous than any other “religious cult” that has preceded him. 😡
Excellent read. Also depressing reality, of which I am well aware. Thank you for sharing. I follow Robert Reich and he has been a champion, promoting the need for legislation to end this inequality. The orange evil one has capitalised by preying on those most affected, feeding them lies, which they believe will get them out of the rut. What a rude awakening expects them. It was a similar disenchantment that put Hitler in power. A rerun would end our democracy. I watched his speech in Iowa and was sick to my stomach. Thank you again, for taking the time!
I think you are all being a little overly optimistic. The stopgap funding bill for the government excludes support for Ukraine. If Putin wins there and consolidates power in Eastern Europe, then Trump is much more likely to win in the United States. We are walking on egg shells still with our democracy. The only thing we can hope for is a gradual whittling away at Trump's financial emporium to the point where his marriage fails, and he loses respect from some of the big donors. Slowly, some of the important people behind him will begin to see him as a loser not because of his treasonous stand against our Constitution and the principle of American democracy, but because he can't get it together to keep a hold of his billions.
Mweiner ; And you think Melania had anything to say about it, what was on the back of her jacket? Why do you think she has been living separately from him? Imagine being his wife or son? What would you do when ketchup is being thrown against the walls? The guy is a bully who has enjoyed way too much power!
I think Maria Constantine’s point is exactly right. People will desert him when he starts coming across as a “loser.” Losing an election wasn’t enough as long as they could all believe it was “stolen,” but there’s no conspiracy theory to account for loss of wealth and “super model” that would be energizing enough.
Respectfully, if those ‘important people’ haven’t walked away by now, they will likely only do so once he’s in an orange jumpsuit! His backers, as deranged as he imo, know their guy and are OK with it because should he succeed in taking the WH again, they benefit the most. Greed begets greed.
They won’t abandon him because he’s a bad man, or crazy. Only because he no longer comes off as the Goose Who Laid the Golden Egg. The hard core are folks who “identify with the aggressor”—that’s why they cheer when Trump denounces “losers.” Losing his wealth and his super model will unmake him.
His wife has a very comfortable lifestyle. Her parents were brought over and given citizenships which raised eyebrows. I think she would be too afraid to leave him.
Dear Mr. Secretary: Your feelings reflect mine, i.e., I agree with you. Thank You for listing these egregiousness acts and words by one our former presidents which is embarrassing forever that history must list him as such. Just exactly what did Hillary Clinton do wrong that could have convinced enough Americans to give him the electoral win? He should have had zilch votes by Americans. Look at the result! The Republican Party from HQ down to the local level did this by going after her over things obviously not of her doing. They never mentioned to 200+ Marines who died in their bunks in Beirut under Reagan; yet made her testify over and over for the deaths of three people whose deaths were risks we take when we have embassies throughout the world. When politicians stoop that low and have no bounds, such is the result. So with blood on their hands we must vote out every Republican, even the ones now who have seen their mistake bear the guilt. Just exactly how could these same people overlook the obvious, odious behavior of this man before he ran for office? We knew who he was. What were the rest thinking? Whatever it was, it was because of the plan by the Republican Party to win at any cost. Vote them out; even the ones who voted with us Saturday. They nailed her to the cross. Now let them carry that cross.
General Mark Alexander Milley
On Friday September 29th, 2023 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Milley, spoke in Arlington, Virginia, at his farewell address before retiring. The last paragraph of that speech below
“We the American people, we the American military, must never turn our back on those that came before us. And we will never turn our back on the Constitution. That is our North Star, that is who we are, and that is why we fight.”
Members of Congress who are betraying our constitution are a cancer that must be eradicated!
Let’s back up a minute. Isn’t Trump out on bail under the stipulation that he not try to influence jurors or the outcomes of his trials? Isn’t he under orders to shut the f___ up? Shouldn’t he be in jail right now?
Dori, if it were anyone but Trump, they would be in jail right now. Our judicial system has no idea of how to deal with a toddler who has so much power. They have forgotten that they are supposed to be the adults in the room and should be able to make the toddler follow the necessary rules. Perhaps if Trump were jailed for a couple of days, it would get him to shut up, but he is clearly playing with a different set of rules while the rest of us tell ourselves or at least are told that there must be equality under the law. OK, we know there isn't, but there should be at least an attempt at it.
Any ordinary person being accused by 20+ women of sexual assault and having talked on a recorded conversation about abusing women at will - as Trump was in 2016 - would have been imprisoned. Trump was elected president. I hope our judicial system will now step up and lock him up.
And somehow put a big 'tape' on his mouth.
“to deal with a toddler with so much power”...... the key as to why we are in harms way. Who gives a toddler “so
much power”?
America , ask ourselves who gives this kind of power to anyone? Take it back... demand that power be not a weapon defined by the well off.
Jean, we do have a problem here because a lot of the power that has been absorbed in the persons of rich silicon Valley, Wall Street, Donald Trump and Kump, other politicians, and the rest of oligarch America has been stolen when We the People were trying to just survive. We found we needed their services to keep in touch. We learned through political action that we are still a pretty racist and misogynistic nation and many of us are happy to know it even if not admitted publicly while blaming their targets for all society's problems (of course 1 finger pointed at the target while 3 are pointed at themselves which they somehow don't notice). We let folks like Trump and the Toddler Caucus in the House blame poor and struggling people for our nation's ills while they force a minimum wage of $7.25 to stay in place. How do we get our power back into the hands of We the People? We need some Supreme Court modifications, but that will not happen on its own because those conservative 6 are OK with undermining our democracy as long as they can keep collecting bribes and other cute perks from those who are among the oligarchs. We are in trouble. Trump is just the symptom, a symptom that has distracted us from what is really going on: taking away women's rights to determine their own reproductive history, people having the right to be safe from gun violence, people who have been intensely discriminated against for centuries not permitted to have that discrimination taken into account in college admission, and on and on. We have let our media pump out lies on behalf of those who care little for this nation, our democracy, and the rights of the people. Maybe we need to spend a lot of time looking for real ways to make a difference in the way things are being done related to our economy, our courts, and the politicians who have proven they have respect for no one and nothing but money and power no matter how they get it.
Thank you Ruth for the details and facts. I always read your comments and I have gained much as a result.
Now the journey to tear apart what is broken and to re-draft a new purpose!
Of course one day “overwhelming “, another day “live to lead” as the Netflix documentary lays out.
Good health and many more responses from you to us!
Jean, thanks so much for the kind comments. I appreciate this thread because there are so many people here who really do want to get facts out and to come up with ideas for changes that could keep our democracy alive and thriving.
"Maybe we need to spend a lot of time looking for real ways to make a difference in the way things are being done related to our economy, our courts, and the politicians who have proven they have respect for no one and nothing but money and power no matter how they get it." Take away the word, "Maybe" from your statement. We must spend time to look for real ways to change the economy by changing the political system. How about Robert Reich, Thom Hartmann, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Wolff, Obama, academic experts in Constitutions, economics, history, etc. come together in an informal exploration on what it would take to initiate a constitutional convention. Leave the billionaires out of it this time. I just read that some countries have and advisory board instead of a voting Senate. Jefferson wrote, "every generation has a right to choose for itself 'the form of government it believes is most promotive of its own happiness."
"How do we get our power back into the hands of We the People?...Maybe we need to spend a lot of time looking for real ways to make a difference..."
We've hit the wall of late stage capitalism and we aren't looking for how to get over it. The power structure isn't going to address that because -- well -- they have the power. Ruth, you are a thinking person. I am, too, and I'm thinking about radical ways to deal with a radical situation -- things we-the-people could do, from getting organized to getting a voice so we can deal with proceeding for the good of the whole.
I'm collecting a few folks. Check out this track of mine to see if you'd like to be thinking together : https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/s/changemaking-now.
Ruth, once more you pretty much said it all. Thanks.
Ms Sheets
Thank you for your post. You always have something to add to the discussion that is worth reading.
Such power is granted by excessive wealth and the cabals of those who lust for ever-increasing amounts of it. A progressive wealth tax would go along way toward mitigating most of today's problems. Unfortunately, our system is designed to protect and enhance the wealth of the wealthy above all else -- workers, environment, democracy - you name it. To fully appreciate this, I highly recommend Majorie Kelly's new book: "Wealth Supremacy - How the Extractive Economy and Biased Rules of Capitalism Drive Today's Crises"
Good response and I totally agree! Thank you Bill for the book name.
I shall continue to learn and to respond helpfully because of so many thinkers responding to our issues!
92 indictments, and still running free. They need to fix that.
Especially considering all that stochastic terrorism & spreading top secret government information to our adversaries.
Also, please lose key once the lock closes.
Make Trump swallow the key.
Great comeback, Anne! Love it!
There’s a reason his eyes are brown.
I know how to deal with said toddler. Give him a time out in a room with bars.
Paulahick, that barred time-out room, sooner rather than later.
Obviously!! Why, then is Robert Reich suggesting the judges and prosecutors are doing such a good job of holding Trump accountable??
Because those judges and prosecutors are holding trump's feet to the fire. We are a Nation UNDER the law, no matter how slowly it moves, the written law must be followed.
How is this following the law if he is allowed to disregard the conditions of his freedom pending trial? He has been allowed to break too many laws and roam free for far too long!! Others have been convicted and are serving time for committing fewer and less serious offenses.
With that I will agree, that is why Jack Smith is now requesting a gag order. But for those very few judges who ordered a gag order at arraignment, I have no idea why they aren't enforcing their own order.
Very true, Lois. He is blatantly, smirkingly, violating the bail requirements Judge Chutkan imposed, even after she issued a rebuke and a second warning. Agent Orange should be in the slam, wearing an XXXL jumpsuit. But no, he continues to threaten and to spew dog whistles to his followers: "Wow! This Glock is a great gun. It even has my face on it. I wanna buy one!"
Slavery, female non-sufferage, and Prohibition were all legal under the law until they weren’t. Keep that in mind when unconditionally endorsing the rule of law.
For the most part, the judicial system has failed us in regards to Trump. It seems to be because of Trump's political persona. With politicians, the judiciary seems confused. To top it off, Trump has put many justices in higher power.
So it is all the more heroic, that those now bringing him to justice are doing what they are doing. Virtually all the rest of our institutions and a big fraction of the judiciary itself are afraid to act. These last people of integrity and bravery should be held in the highest esteem possible.
It's because we keep getting told by the repubs that a repub president can't be held accountable. A Democrat president on the other hand--
Lois Foster ; I think Robert Reich is commending those on 'the front lines' of Justice who must adhere to the rule of law. They can't just grab him and put him in Gitmo as so many (including myself) would consider a good move to keep him from his MAGA phone! They, like most law enforcement officials must obey the rules. They risk their lives when dealing with those who are utterly lawless! It seems a thankless job when they are accused of not 'doing their jobs. I have made comments to that effect, too ; out of utter frustration with what they have gotten away with. But four prosecutions and the court cases are moving; and getting results! It is not euphoria as someone on this thread suggested those optimists are indulging in. It is just the encouragement of seeing progress. It is getting done! One step at a time. In a lawful manner.
He has broken the rules; that is the point!
His followers are a threat to millions of innocents! Our intelligence agencies know how bad it can get for everyone non MAGA. Why are they calling to defund the FBI? because they don't want to be held to account! Why do they threaten prosecutors, witnesses and judges ; Dox jurors? They want to disrupt the process of justice, and get away with their crimes. They want to scare us all into silence or, in the case of 'un wokeness' put us to sleep, and keep us there. So much for the "Freedom caucus"!
MAGAphone: good one!
Our legal system has "...no idea" of how to deal with Trump? Rubbish. They know very well how to deal with this situation that is encountered by the judiciary every day, but are too cowardly to do it.
Yes I would think so. He can’t keep quiet. He is a continuous angry noise machine.
Dori ; I agree that is the law, and it seems to be overlooked for tfg. But the very real threat of the armed hordes who blindly follow tfg must be taken into consideration before 'just 'putting him in jail'. plus there is the thorny problem of tfg's Security detail. It is ironic that millions are being spent to protect judges, witnesses and prosecutors, jury members. law enforcement and even the FBI! Most likely the Attorney General too! Civil war is an oxymoron, because there is nothing civil about it! Leadership is not often easy. Maybe being broke or even 'houseless' will quiet him!
We’ll be facing the same situation when he’s put in jail long-term for the crimes he’s committed, so it's either face it now or face it later. Surely the insurrectionists can’t come close to the strength of our US military. The fact that so many of the Jan6 rioters are serving time should scare off a lot of followers.
No. Because America is still a place where there is process.
Yes, this despicable man has blatantly skirted and flouted and ignored laws and has been worshipped for it and emboldened by that worship. But he went too far with his "presidency" and the law IS finally catching up to him. Financial crimes are one thing, but inciting murder and insurrection is something entirely else.
I feel fairly confident that once one court enforces their gag order, the others will as well. The 16th is not that far away. Judge Chutkan has some discretion in how she addresses the problem, including setting a faster trial date. Conviction and incarceration would solve one problem but the insidious cultural poison of hero-worshipping Godfather*-inspired criminals and denigrating the honorable as stupid and feeble remains.
(*the book and, especially, the films)
"...once one court enforces their gag order..."
But that's just it, mdh. We're still waiting for that first enforcement. Until it happens, TFG continues to flout the law and the courts.
Agreed. But once one court indicted, others followed.
This is a trivial comparison but it's like dancing at a wedding -- once someone has the confidence to get up and get down, others follow. Or maybe a dam breaking...
Dori ; It seems that our military can only be deployed outside our country. We have the National guard, but governors in states have jurisdictions, or control of their deployment? As we have seen , our United States are not as united these days! Some Governors like Vladimir Putin more than our President, and Democracy!
So....TFG shouldn't be jailed for violating parole because he and his spewing are threats? That's totally backward, imo. I think his vicious rantings and suggestions for executions constitute even MORE reason to put him in a cell, with no access to public platforms.
How about the press stop giving him a platform?
In a sane world run by grown-ups, that would already have happened. As it is, the almighty dollar is more important than anything else, and covering tRump 24/7 translates into ratings, so....
You need quite a few people for an Insurrection such as this to succeed. They failed spectacularly on J6 and they would fail even more spectacularly today.
Remember that many of the J6 defendants, once they were caught, flipped and stated that they did it because of Trump.
Also, Trump has issued quite a few "call to Arms" since then, and his numbers have really dwindled to just a few scores. Not hundreds. That's just a small faction. Now, folks have *opinions*, but this slim but vocal faction has opinions, not hordes.
If anything, the corporate mainstream media find excuses for Trump & minimize the great harm he has done to our nation.
exactly
I was going to write the same thing!! If the judges and prosecutors are doing such a good job of holding Trump accountable, why isn't he in jail for violating the terms of his release while awaiting trial!?
I saw Merrick Garland on 60 Minutes last night emphatically declare that he applies the Rule of Law to everyone, regardless of their station in life. He was overcome with emotion that his family in Europe were murdered by Nazis in part because the Rule of Law was not followed there.
It is so patently untrue that the Rule of Law has been followed with Trump. If it were, Trump would be in jail right now. Why hasn’t Garland been called out to respond to this?
Janice R, I share your question about the fact that trump has not really been "held to account" at all by the DOJ. Quite a few expert Constitutional/criminal-law attorneys have puzzled - and shown some anguish - over the inexplicable delay followed by slowness from the DOJ who effectively did NOTHING about trump and his criminal cohort until the January 6 Committee made it essentially impossible for the DOJ to continue ignoring what trump & crime syndicate did.
I think there must be fear of various kinds involved: fear of what the trump mob/cult/thug-army will do; fear from finding out how many in law enforcement/the military/and DOJ are like-minded with the seditionists; fear of getting it wrong with the result of tromp & co. being exempt from prosecution.
These are scary times in part because of the lawlessness being revealed at so many levels, one of which being the Sheriffs' organization that has interpreted their role as sheriffs across the country to be selective enforcement of laws, that they will enforce those they agree with and won't enforce those they don't. That's anarchy, not law enforcement. There was a sheriff in a county in Michigan that was using his position to remove voting machinery from election locations, with no actual authority or reason to do so. What would any local election official do if the local sheriff showed up to take the machines away based on a concocted reason? So much is going wrong/can go wrong in this country now that seems so wobbly with so many people acting as bullies and liars against those who are fearful and intimidated.
The judge already told him when he was indicted (arraigned?) weeks ago that he had to stop vilifying and threatening the judges, lawyers, potential witnesses, etc. I thought he was already in violation of his bail agreement because he has continued this behavior . Is this not the case? Why does the judge have to wait so long to act on this?
The FPOTUS falls under a different set of circumstances than the rest of us. Remember when they said you can’t indict a sitting president.
That was never a law. it was an opinion authored by someone who i can't remember, in reaction to something that happened last century. I bet Daniel Solomon knows! or Dr. Reich. Anyway, that misbegotten opinion, supported by Barr gives any president the equivalent power of a king. it's rotten to the core
I'm not Daniel Solomon or Dr. Reich, obviously, but I can read a plethora of sources on the origins of that insidious policy, and you are right: it is not and has never been a law; it is a policy. Here is one source, Reuters, on its origins and applications:
Reuters.com:
WHAT IS THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT POLICY?
In 1973, in the midst of the Watergate scandal engulfing President Richard Nixon, the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel adopted in an internal memo the position that a sitting president cannot be indicted. Nixon resigned in 1974, with the House of Representatives moving toward impeaching him.
“The spectacle of an indicted president still trying to serve as Chief Executive boggles the imagination,” the memo stated.
The department reaffirmed the policy in a 2000 memo, saying court decisions in the intervening years had not changed its conclusion that a sitting president is “constitutionally immune” from indictment and criminal prosecution. It concluded that criminal charges against a president would “violate the constitutional separation of powers” delineating the authority of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. government.
“The indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would unconstitutionally undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions,” the memo stated.
The 1973 and 2000 memos are binding on Justice Department employees, including Mueller, according to many legal experts. Mueller was appointed in May 2017 by the department’s No. 2 official Rod Rosenstein.
But some lawyers have argued that the nation’s founders could have included a provision in the Constitution shielding the president from prosecution, but did not do so, suggesting an indictment would be permissible. According to this view, immunity for the president violates the fundamental principle that nobody is above the law.
Nixon himself in 1977 offered an opposite view when he told interviewer David Frost, “Well, when the president does it that means that it is not illegal.”
I'm not legally literate, but since when would a policy like that be binding on justice dept. employees. the justice dept doesn't have the right to bestow the right to lawlessness on anyone, especially not a president. Because that is what the policy does - it absolutely insulates someone like drumpf, and if anyone thinks he didn't know that, i've got a bridge to sell you. it doesn't strike me as odd at all that it was a republican admin and justice dept that promulgated that nonsense. what's worrisome to me is that no one has challenged it. and whatever happend to mueller and his findings? shouldn't drumpf be prosecuted for the obstruction that Mueller said he committed? oh well.
AND, that was just a pronouncement by Bill Barr. It was never even law.
Equal representation under the Law say NO.
The OLC memo you are referring to need to be revisited: It was written at a time when both Nixon and his VP Spiro Agnew were in deep trouble. Had they been removed, as the Law demanded, the Speaker of the House at the time was Carl Bert Albert , a Democrat. That's why the OLC memo was created: To respect the Republican vote that had installed these 2 men.
Trump is a former president, not a "sitting" president...
He says the election was rigged and he is still the president ! Well guess what?
If that’s the case then he can’t run again in 2024. Two terms by law! He’s out.
Which matters not a whit to anticonstitutional lawbreaker Benedict Donald aka Mango Mussolini.
Hypothetically speaking
I like it!
A sitting president, a lurking hulk, a looming storm.
Yet watch the repubs try to indict Biden while still president.
They have more theories than evidence, as Rudolf Guiliani has said.
TFG no longer falls under the "sitting President" guideline, anyway. He's a private citizen now, as vulnerable to the rule of law as you and I are.
Supposedly
Precisely! Our legal system is being revealed as something less than providing "equal justice under the law", and you can believe that millions of Americans are noticing...
Yes, for making threats and repeatedly violating the terms set for him by the court(s) Trump absolutely SHOULD BE in jail.
And we’re he any other person he WOULD BE in jail.
The fact that he’s not shows the hollowness of the “all treated equally under the law” claims that the judges and prosecutors keep making.
Why is he receiving the special treatment that he says others are receiving? I’d surely be sitting in jail soon after I had made just one of his innumerable threats. There’s a two tiered justice system for the ‘moneyed’.
Lock the schmuck up!
Yes he should why isn’t he? You and I would be
Yes
Of course! But he thinks he's above the law. Throughout his life, no matter what wrongdoing he commits, he escapes the consequences, so why wouldn't he think that way?
He still violates their orders without any repercussions. Who will be the first to enforce the law on him? No one wants to be that person, apparently. So far no one has been willing to take the step of putting him in prison as would've happened long ago with anyone else.
General Mark Milley had the intestinal fortitude and character to stand up to an unstable politician Donald J. Trump and to not be manipulated by anyone who would violate our United States Constitution and compromise the security of our Nation.
General Miley deserves to be awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the highest honor bestowed on members of the Armed Forces for non-combat service — even though dealing with tfg is practically a full-fledged battle: between truth and falsehood, between good and evil.
General Milley may have averted a hot war with China with his patriotic decision to call his counterpart in China. Who knows what might have happened if he hadn’t done so. We could all be pushing up posies!
Although the way I
understand the world’s nations power structure, I think more is in place to prevent significant damage than General Milley calling out Trump to China. But by breaking military protocol chain of command it took great courage for him to step over that line.
He didn't step over a line, though. The call to China was approved by Administration officials. Making TFG's condemnation all the more ridiculous, if that's possible.
It's as if this is coming down to individuals' courage in the face of an onslaught of venomous, dangerous rhetoric and action from Trump and his supporters. He has tried to intimidate and defame judges and prosecutors into recusing themselves or dropping charges. When dozens of lawfare actions in multiple states failed to effect the stealing of the presidency of the United States, he weaponized the House, and then he tried to shut down the government of the United States. It's come down to the spine of Jack Smith, Judge Tania Chutkan, General Mark Milley, Cassidy Hutchinson, E. Jean Carroll, Judge Lewis Kaplan, Leticia James, Roberta Kaplan--and the few Republicans who stood up to Trump, including Representative Liz Cheney and Senator Mitt Romney. It's the secret service agent who would NOT take Trump to the Capitol so he could hang Mike Pence himself. The rest of us will wait for the general election to take back the House and send Biden back to the White House. In the meantime, it's these individual people who have stood up and refused to stand down to whom we will owe our democracy. BTW: What kind of malignant, Dark Tetrad narcissist do you have when he's willing to shut down the government of the United States to stop the prosecution of the multiple cases of him for fraud, mishandling of classified documents, election tampering and organized crime--and the multiple wrongful death cases brought by the families of the people who DIED on January 6th in a siege of the United States government stoked by Trump and designed by a misogynistic group Trump had told to "stand by." He's Dark Tetrad, which carries the elements of narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and SADISM. He goes. He has to go.
You make an excellent point, Dr. Sinclair, about TFG's efforts to shut down the government to stop the prosecutions against him (although he's too ignorant to realize that the cases would proceed, nevertheless).
Hmmmm.....could there be further charges involved as a result of his ravings? Tough to prove, obviously, but TFG's efforts in that regard at least meet The American Heritage Dictionary's definition of sedition.... Just sayin'.
Brilliant and hopeful and a call to VOTE!!!
And yet he has survived all this time!!
Yeah. He survived by creating a HUGE piece of PR about himself -- about his wealth (now the subject of a fraud judgment) -- about his golden touch and successfulness (crafted from the lies about his wealth). He lived a glittering life, which fascinates some people. ... And then, and then ... he bullied people. His "art of the deal" is part threat, part lure. He has filed bankruptcy six times. Here's the list:
1. Trump Steaks
2. GoTrump
3. Trump Airlines
4. Trump Vodka
5. Trump Mortgage
6. Trump: The Game
7. Trump Magazine
8. Trump University
9. Trump Ice
10. The New Jersey Generals
11. Tour de Trump
12. Trump Network
13. Trumped!
Trump companies that sought bankruptcy protection:
1. Trump Taj Mahal
2. Trump’s Castle
3. Trump Plaza Casinos
4. Trump Plaza Hotel
5. Trump Hotels and Casinos Resorts
6. Trump Entertainment Resorts
Beware the man who creates his own myth. But his best myth (says the mythologist) is that white supremacists are the "done wrong" party in American culture. It's just what they wanted to hear. They got to go to rallies and rant and rave and laugh at disabled people. They got to violently throw people out who disagreed with them. They got their guns. They got their misogyny (how Enrique Tarrio) got his start. Trump has at talent for bullying and lying and stoking rage--and for telling people what they want to hear. Eat your heart out, Gloria Gaynor!
“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead
Unfortunately, this includes changing it for the worst too. It was roughly six key people with the appropriate amount of evil who helped Hitler rise to power.
Only a handful of people helped propel Trump to the point where he was the chosen candidate.
Fortunately, a few set the path to turn it around in 2020! Not the 81m voters but the ones in positions powerful enough to hold him accountable. That he’s even having a trial is a testimony to the power of a few to change the world for good too. I hang my hope on this & hope it happens quickly now that the balls are rolling.
What part is puzzling you? I'll be glad to clear up any misconceptions -- or apologize if I'm wrong. But I need you to tell specifically what you feel might be factually inaccurate. Would you tell me, please?
Please do let me hear from you about what you think is factually accurate.
Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee, especially Rep. Summer Lee, named a number of names of Congress critters whose districts would lose jobs and how many jobs would be lost if a government shutdown happened. Those members were tffg supporters and election deniers. Those representatives would be prime candidates for removal according to the 14th Amendment. It's one thing to have free speech, but to call for a "national divorce" like Marjorie Taylor Greene did crosses the line.
Dozens of Republican Congresspeople should already be "disqualified" due to their opposition on Jan6th to the electoral certification...
“tffg”! Thanks for that!
Yes, we do. Where can we find one?
I’ve mostly heard it used to reference trump. Tfg= the former guy.
I’ve mostly heard it used to reference trump. Tfg= the former guy.
As I have said MANY times: were this the 1700s or even likely the 1800s, Bunkerboy would have been HANGED on January 7th! That morbidly obese, fugly career criminal is just lucky his image as a "billionaire," despite being DESTITUTE, is still sticking.
He won't be so lucky WHEN he goes to prison though. No amount of gaurds can protect his rotundity from h_rny inmates!
Their influence and actions “eradicated,” using law and our system of jurisprudence, as well as our rights to speak up and speak out. I worry about how some people see the word “eradicated” in a more insidious and even violent manner.
But they must be stopped, for certain, by legal, functional measures.
We need a "scarlet letter" attached to every person who voted for and supported Trump (twice). Republicans are the poster children for "hypocrisy" in the dictionary and the consumate lying politicians. If we don't hold them accountable (see: Trump). . then history repeats itself.
That sounds great! Would be nice if he felt the same way about the Military complex and waging war!!
Eradicated permanently, please!
Eradication is permanent. Much like extinction, annihilation, extermination, elimination...
Remember that Al Capone was just as cocky and appeared invincible until the fisc took a hard look at his finance dealings. I suspect that is what will take Trump down too: With enough bad faith, all his other problems will be 'explained' by 'political attacks'. On the other hand, tax returns, balance sheets cannot be excused by 'political attacks'.
Better Late Than Never
Kevin McCarthy finally drew his Red Line! I really believe that he tried to convince the MAGA members of his party that a government shutdown would have devastating consequences for the country and for their personal futures. He of course, had no choice but to have a bipartisan vote in order to pass a continuing resolution of 45 days, knowing that his speakership is on the line. That P.O.S., Matthew Louis Gaetz II, immediately tried to file a motion to vacate!
The one important issue missing from the CR was funding for the Ukrainian military. Former Representative Liz Cheney said recently “Members of the House and Senate who are voting to deny Ukraine assistance on the 85th anniversary of Neville Chamberlain’s 1938 “peace in our time speech”.
Liz went on to say , “Appeasement didn’t work then. It won’t work now.” There is little doubt the removal of this funding shows that Trump and the Putineer Republicans favor a foreign policy that only helps Russia . How disgustingly pathetic is that?
IMHO the pressure is getting to Trump and he should be committed for evaluation whether he is a threat to himself or others. Surely even those who love him have noticed.
Page Six reports that, according to a source, Melania spent the last year renegotiating the terms of her prenuptial agreement and that her new “postnup” is now in place. According to one source, the former FLOTUS wanted a new deal not because there’s a possibility she’ll have to move back into the White House, i.e., her least favorite place on earth, but because she’s worried about how much money will be left over for her and her son after Trump is done paying his various legal bills and damages. “This agreement was necessary because of the current legal battles…[Donald] has suffered.” .https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/09/melania-trump-donald-trump-prenup
Robert didn't mention Oct 9 depo of Trump by Michael Cohen in Trump's $500 MM civil fraud case in Florida. Also doesn't include the Oct. 30 14th Amendment hearing in Colorado. Trump haa an opportunity to defend himself, but to do sp probably has to testify, subjecting himself to pena;lty of perjury.
I don't have access to some other cases, like the Pa case against Trump and Guiliani for civil damages. James Savage, a voting machine warehouse custodian in Delaware County, suffered physical and emotional distress due to “deliberate, malicious, and defamatory statements and insinuations” made by Trump, Giuliani and their associates after they falsely accused him of uploading 50,000 votes for Biden.
The NY civil fraud case can force him to give up control of all his domestic properties, liquidated dameges are at least $250 million, and I think when he figures out that he will have to sell to avoid liqidation of his properties, he'll split.
Let the orange traitor pay all the fines and damages he owes those he has hurt first. If Melania is so worried about how much money would be left, she could sell her jewelry and expensive dresses, or go write a book. She will never know the hardship many Americans experience in their daily lives. (which would be drastically worse if the maga regained power)
Then again, she could always get a job. And if her son wants to go to college, he could apply for a student loan.
Screw her and her postnup.
It sounds like from her previous years as a model and her jewelry line, she may be worth between $50-55Millions, so she is not exactly a pauper. "Trophy" wives, however have to put up with a lot of indignities, and I'm sure that living with Trump day in and day out is not a picnic. The girl who went to the Southern border with a green jacket stating "I really don't care, do you" is probably as money hungry as her husband. Trophy wives have a way of landing on their feet.
Well said, Celeste K.!!
She could auction off her despicable trench coat. The one that said “I really don’t care do U”
The MAGA cult would pay big bucks for it!
celeste k. Why bash Melania? Would you like to have a man like that for a husband? I'm sure he convinced her that he was 'perfect' , and she found out how cruel he is. As far as I know, she has little personal wealth. If she did she would have been gone ,with her son and her parents, long ago.
Her choice.From what I’ve seen they deserve each other.
Please, if you think she didn't know who he was, you're mistaken. She is as calculating as he is. She knew exactly what he was then, and does now. If she stayed with him out of love, she'd be more worried about his legal problems than negotiating her prenup for more.
As I said, she should get a job.
Laurie - I thought Melania worked for Putin? Sleeper agent (pun intended).
I think when Russia decided Trump could be an asset, they first furnished Ivana for him, then later Melania. Their Siberian Candidate has proven to be a very wise investment for Russia.
that is so true. it's like, the investments that lobbyists make in congresspersons' campaigns yield huge returns. the investments that oligarchs make in supreme court justices yield huge returns, both monetary and ideological.
I am very comforted to read your and Jaime Ramirez's comments with this Melania theory because I thought I was the only one who had had this notion about her role and reason for being a prop for trump.
it's right out of the russian playbook for spying/espionage. they're called honey traps.
I truly believe that the Steele dossier was absolutely accurate. Also, that trump and epstein had a hell of a lot of dirt on many rich and famous people, notably politicians. just imagine what they filmed.
Between $50-55 Millions. If that is little personal wealth, I'd like me to have that much.
She made her bed (pun intended). She got her own clothing line and many other perks, thanks to marriage with TFG. Her staying with him so far was a very calculated choice. She'll bail when the time is right (i.e., diminishing returns), so no sympathy whatsoever.
I'm not reluctant to "bash" her. She was a nude model/"lingerie" model. She appears in photos with trump and Jeffrey Epstein in which they all look either very hot and sweaty or under some kind of influence. It is easy to imagine that that creep introduced the two creeps to each other. She was presented as someone who could speak many languages, yet she could not speak English. At the time she had been living in the U.S. for some 20 years, and still could not speak English. The press was unbelievably kind to her, sympathetic even; all the stories that seemed to use her as surrogate for disdain for trump (did she or did she not brush away his hand; was she or was she not upset by the Stormy Daniels garbage....and for the record, in an interview, she indicated she was not; there's a real marital bond for ya) Many reports said that she did come to this country legally, nor did her parents come legally, but some kind of privilege enabled that. She never ever took on the role, regardless of what anyone thinks of that role, with the customs and traditions, of being First Lady. She behaved like a model, but this time fully clothed and with endless references to what she was wearing. (trump is in a video from their past in which he is "showing her off" to others, saying "did you see my super model....there's my super model" and he might have just as easily been gesturing to a new Ford or BMW!) She fully engaged with all that she signed up for and it is all to easy to speculate that what she signed up for was to construct the ruse that it was a real marriage, that "love" had produced a child, that she was a real American or a real First Lady. It appeared always that she signed up to appear on stages as if she and trump were connected, as if she was an American First Lady, as if she was anything but a "paid escort."
Contrast any of that, but most particularly, with how Michelle Obama was treated by the media (HORRIBLY!!), by Republicans, by the trumpers, et al. And she was actually a First Lady who embraced the role and enhanced it, an active mother and an active American - veterans, vulnerable Americans, children, and so on. She was a genuinely educated and accomplished woman with an actual career behind her. She and her husband actually have a real marriage and a real history together.
Contrast also the ways in which Melania has kept the latest of trump's spawn completely out of the public eye, virtually keeps him a secret. Contrast that with Amy or Chip Carter (the only Carter kids I remember), the Bush daughters, Chelsea Clinton, the Obama daughters; even going way back to the Nixon daughters, and back further. Only that "baron" has been kept a virtual secret from America.
That whole crowd is completely divorced from all of America's traditions and customs, and she and they are repugnant in their crass, craven, cruel, criminal ways.
Need I go on? I think the charade of Melania Trump needs to end. She was a prop and we can all guess that she has been a very, very well-paid prop. And by the way, I do not think she is in the least bit attractive. The comedian who does the Melania parody on Stephen Colbert mimics and mocks her very well.
She left Slovenia, a country that until not so very long ago was part of the former Soviet Union. My own theory based on nothing but amazement and skepticism that she and trump were ever a "couple" or that she was ever the American First Lady is that she was a Putin handler, placed to keep his puppet under the watchful eye of the "super model" and to remind him of all that he owed Putin and what could happen if he strayed from their plans for world domination under fascist oligarchs with fake-gold toilets and a long line of "super models."
To quote the old folk song, "When will we ever learn? When will we ever learn?"
Very insightful.
Trump is like a bad cold that just keeps hanging on. A sever rash that drives you crazy with the itching. A headache that turns into a full blown migraine. That queasy feeling that causes you to spend quality time with your head in the toilet. He makes you experience all these wonderful things, when will the fool just up and disappear?
Donald, we certainly do have such appalling reactions to Trump's presence on the scene. He has contributed nothing positive to the American people even though many believe he has. OK, they can't name those contributions, but that does not matter, it's the FEELING that counts. The sad thing for me is just how many people in this nation have the opposite reaction. They are energized by his hatred and insults, found affirmation in his racism and misogyny, are gleeful at his xenophobia and homo/transphobia. They, the Trump cult members have found their deity and are so excited, they can't contain it. That is why they can follow up on Trump's threats because they are doing his will, the will of their god. This is something We the People are going to have to address and for a long time.
Ruth--Exactly. The people who follow this guy unconditionally are as alien as those little "Greene" beings with big black eyes that come down and abduct people. The only difference being the ones that live here speak English.
Ruth--Supreme Court back in session--
Donald Hodgins <silencenotbad@gmail.com>
4:29 PM (0 minutes ago)
to Thomas, carol, Bob, Barbara, Marilyn
Well, how will this group screw things up now? They over turned Roe-VS-Wade and set a domino effect in motion that sent Ricters scales screaming in all directions. The court, in all its infinite wisdom, rendered a decision that was religiously based and favored a minority over the needs of the majority. That move undermined the public opinion of this nation's highest court. With that in mind what repressive judgements will be handed down that will further restrict the personal freedoms of the people in our country? Trump is solely responsible for the seating of 3 judges during his failed term as President. These three helped make a decision that upended our society then and it is still causing social chaos today. Looking ahead what can they dirty their hands next? At some point all the legal confusion caused by Trump will, in one form or another, wind up being heard by this court. Will they act as judges or will they hand down decisions that favor the MAGA King. Their future depends on the impartiality of their judgements.
I call it “the new Middle Ages” and when they start burning the “witches” I am out of here.
Shelley, yes things are looking grim. It appears Republicans can't be satisfied by doing major harm to women and infants, they want women to totally surrender to male stupidity. It is disgusting and we women need to stand up to it and literally say "no" on every confrontation. We need Janes everywhere who can secretly provide safe abortions and work hard to vote out the witch-hunters whether they be men who are terrified of women or women who get their goodies from hurting other women they see as rivals. There was a lot of that horror show by women in the past. Women have perpetuated so much of the anti-woman BS because they aimed their fear and vitriol on other women instead of on the men who were orchestrating the BS. We need to get decent human beings elected to offices all over this nation and call out the witch-hunters/burners for their ignorance and hatred because let's face it they have nothing positive to offer anyone but themselves and we have already had far far too much of what pleases them.
Whose House is it--
Donald Hodgins <silencenotbad@gmail.com>
11:39 AM (0 minutes ago)
Gaetz is a MAGA-based Republican who is operating just like all the rest of the mindless fools. Tear down and destroy with no plan in place to keep things going. It took McCarthy 15 tries to find his way into that wobbly ricker that he now occupies. If Gaetz succeeds in ousting the existing speaker "who" will take his place? It took 15 votes to find a speaker when they had one in mind how long will it take when they don't have any idea of who to vote for? The house is basically dead in the water without a speaker. The Republican party is a fractured group of counterproductive officials with no path to the future. The negativity injected into the Republican party by Donald Trump has had a crippling effect on the entire political system. Charlie Daniels sang a little ditty about Trump and his trip South to the Peach State.
Trump gave an interview, if you can call it that, prior to entering the court room in his fraud case in New York. He reminded me of a spoiled rich kid that had just been caught doing something he had ben warned repeatedly not to do. His mind set was that of a child whose feelings had been hurt and he blamed the system for attempting to punish him when that was something nobody ever did. He lashed out at the judge like he did repeatedly when his nanny tried to discipline him when he was a bit younger. The body is deteriorating but the childish mind was still present. Trump is a baby, he appeals to his base in an attempt to gain symphony through monetary considerations. I don't feel sorry for the man but I do feel empathy for the naïve people that give their undying support to a man that cares nothing for the people who blindly support him.
Trump will never run out of money. His family trust from his father will live forever. All the other noxious Trump family members also
get a hefty monthly check from the trust, and that will never end. You can take every penny Trump has, and he will be a millionaire within a year, from his “allowance”.
Actually, Mary Trump has a case at the 2nd Circuit that could break it -- and she filed before the recent revelations.
Although I personally didn't do this kind of work, several of my former associates were in the "constructive trust" business, and fraud is a basis to do it. Once there are judgmemts, Trump will be exposed tp post judgment discovery and all involved will be witnesses.
BTW most of his income in his financial statements comes from the middle east, Oman in particular, and not the trust. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/07/13/donald-trump-financial-disclosure/
Yes the Middle East. I can think of at least two countries from the Middle East that trip us up.
Wondering, Daniel, what the liability would be on TFG's future trust payments, should judgments against him exceed his current liquidity plus any $$$ he'd get from selling off assets. Could all trust payments to him also be seized for his remaining lifetime?
He's managing the trust. Therefore the trust is in deep trouble. His sister, Maryann, resigned as a fenderal judge when the Judicial Conference began an investigation. https://www.vox.com/2020/8/23/21397856/maryanne-trump-barry-recordings-mary-trump
Mary Trump may or may not have a viable clain that would rearange the equity shares for all concerned, and DJT's portion would be available if he has creditors -- like the State of New York.
Thanks for the explanation and the link, Daniel. I'm sure he has money secretly squirreled away in various places overseas [or buried with Ivana!], but it seemed to me that any funds that are a matter of record in the U.S. might be vulnerable.
Yes but hopefully an extremely uncomfortable, really, really angry committed millionaire felon in a very small cell somewhere !
Alan, you may be right, but for Trump, being a millionaire is almost as bad as being a pauper. A million won't give him any of the luxuries he feels entitled to. I bet his supporters will come through for him though. From their limited resources, they will give to the rich guy so he can keep on moving. Disgusting!
Alan S: Can you provide any proof of this? If he had all that money, why has he been so afraid of bankrupcy in the past? My understanding is that he got bailed out by the people who lent to him and who would have gone down with him! Please correct me if I am wrong.
Before trump became President the NYT did an extremely long and detailed article. I highly recommend you read it.
Fred Trump amassed 77,000 apartments. At a net of $300/door/month that’s over $21 million per month.
Donald was put on payroll at age 8 for $200,000/year.
Bankruptcy does not hurt trump financially. His paycheck is small ( his tax returns). It’s all unearned income that can’t be touched.
Rockefeller said “Own nothing. Control everything.” I’m sure an LLC owns Donald’s home. He has over 100 LLCs. It’s all a shell game. That much money in trusts is untouchable. Let’s hope Barron is a decent human.
Thank you for the info. Very informative. Maybe the government will take a chunk
for all his tax fraud. Can they? The ony decent child he has might be Stephanie.
She also might not be on his wilI. I have no hope for Baron.
He has bad genes on both sides.
A "millionaire" is not rich. Paltry sum these days.
It wouldn't surprise me if DJT made a beeline for Moscow. Putin would be so happy. Putin would have DT on television everyday directing the everTrumpers how to destroy democracy.
Consensus is UAE. Warmer. No extradition. Most of Trump's income is from Oman.
You're right. And whart's the dif besides weather? Very Little
Putin is not that dumb.
IMHO, she is complicite and guilty as should be charged!!
I was just thinking the government should start billing Trump for the extra security necessitated by his unhinged rants.
And the insurrection and all the damage “his people” did.
Why not? He over-billed for the secret service to stay at his resort, and they were tasked to protect him with our tax dollars!
In my opinion because he is such a danger to others, he should have his security paid for by the Government removed and forced to pay for his own security. I am sure thousands of his low IQ White Supremacists supporters would protect him for free.
M Tree, I like your idea of having Trump have to cover the cost of protection that, if he had kept quiet, would not have been necessary. Our system makes poor people cover their court costs which can be determined as the court chooses, but the rich guy does not have to pay his. It seems the protection costs ARE court costs., not just the cost of doing business in America
To say nothing of Trump feeling vulnerable and exposed like he makes his "enemies" feel. That alone would expose the "Emperor Without Clothes."
Even if he can't be sued for the cost of security for those who are working to hold him accountable, I can say that I am personally happy to chip my taxes in for it!
It time for a gag order or simply moving up a case to dampen Trump's statements.
There are several civil damage suits against Trump, brought by individuals for alleged injuries relating to Jan 6.
If it can be proven, states may be able to recover, but hard to prove he is the "proximate" cause. .
Eric Swalwell has (or had, not sure of status now) a lawsuit against him related to January 6th. I have longed for some legal expert to tell us that Americans can sue trump for all of the lost treasure due to his fraud, among other reasons: a class-action suit for citizen taxpayers who are footing the bill for that criminal.
Trump has been sued by Democratic members of Congress and police officers over the Jan. 6 riots.
In one lawsuit, 10 Democrats claim Trump violated a Civil War-era law by seeking to prevent them from certifying the 2020 election results through the Capitol attack. Swalwell has filed his own lawsuit making similar claims.
At least 14 law enforcement officers are suing Trump over the assault, including 12 U.S. Capitol Police officers and two D.C. police officers. The estate of a Capitol Police officer who died after the attack has also sued.
DOJ told a federal appeals court in Washington that it should allow the lawsuits to move forward, rejecting Trump’s argument that he is immune from the claims. A trial judge in Washington last year rejected that argument, finding that Trump was not immune from the claims.
Your words are the purest of fine poetry to these eyes, Daniel Solomon, pure poetry!
trump's m.o. throughout his adult life has been to sue, sue, sue and misuse the judicial system to intimidate and cheat others. There is something very gratifying to know that so many others are suing him for the many and varied harms he has inflicted, and that the suits are proceeding. He has made a mockery of our courts for decades. May the courts at long last mock his frivolous cheapening of justice.
I love the idea but the amount would have to be decided by a court which first has to prove that all the extra security is necessary:
[Someone could allege that their neighbor is unhinged and so they have to get extra security, so the move has possibilities for abuse]... but I like the way you think.
In the various impeachments/ indictments, it seems to me that it should be possible to recoup at least all court costs, including payments to lawyers. [The party that wins the lawsuit should be able to recoup their costs. That is fair.
This would also go a long ways in mitigating SLAPP lawsuits and political frivolous lawsuits, such as the Gableman nonsense in Wisconsin. Political elected people should not be able to draw from our tax dollars to indulge their petty grievances. They could ask their Party to foot the bill.
Kevin McCarthy deserves no credit whatsoever. His only motive is power, and if there was a way to retain it, country be damned, he would take it.
Celeste, yep, McCarthy is already being seen by some as a "hero." There is no reason for this because McCarthy set up the whole show-down himself with a little help from the "Toddler Caucus." He is no hero but a jerk whose strings are being worked from slightly behind a curtain by Trump and Kump. I think McCarthy mistakes the relief of not totally being blamed for a government shutdown (which he would have been blamed for) and the fantasy that he did something special to stop the shutdown. What he did was his job as Speaker, you know, that job he was so desperate for he sold his soul to the Toddler Caucus. As far as I can see, he gets credit for nothing beyond doing his job.
Who is the "Kump" you refer to?
Paula, I use the "and Kump" to refer to all of the fascist Trumpers and Trumpettes who are working or want to be working to undermine our democracy along with their pathetic leader, Donald Trump.
Aha, so basically it's trump and company? Got it!
It is worth remembering that Matt Gaetz and each of the congress people would continue to get paid $174,000 if there was a shutdown. Bad enough they get paid for wasting Congress’s time and for months of doing nothing for Americans.
What’s truly sad is we are paying their salaries!! You are absolutely right that they are not doing anything for the American people. It’s time for a new party to replace the Republican Party because they know Trump is a Fraud yet they continue to be @ his beck and call!
Biden will make sure Ukraine gets whatever it needs.
Keith Olson: It is beyond pathetic and all the way to evil! This, from the ' pro life' and 'freedom' caucus!
I can't believe that Trump can get away with these threats to the lives of judges and other legal officials. Why is he not in jail for contempt of court? Could any one else get away with this? Again, he faces no consequences for his shocking behavior.
And this is why I feel less optimism. Trump may be losing luster with some. His followers - those who, like the person who died in a shootout with the FBI bc of the Cincinnati threat - will go to great lengths individually or, like Jan 6, collectively, to harm people and country.
Even if many media outlets stopped publicizing the rants, his threats to or about others, they will be seen. The amount of money spent in private or govt security may not be enough.
What are the ways to keep those who will do great physical or psychological harm from doing so? They, who would defend to their own deaths he who would be dictator, are the threat.
Richard, if you went online and threatened those judges, their colleagues and their families today, you’d be in custody before dark. They’re all afraid to enforce the law against this asshat and he knows it. It’s a shame.
Maybe we should all bombard the news stations demanding he be jailed for his threats.
I agree, that the republician party seems to finally even if gradually leaving the tRump behind. Trump is not popular within our country and his legal troubles are too many to recover from, even if it gives him more news and TV coverage. My hopes is that the news media would focus more on the current administration and what Biden is doing and has done to improve the lives of American middle class.
Seriously, the US “ Press” should just stop reporting tRump’s “ deranged rants”!
Headline: Trump deranged, rants again.
Anybody else miss Walter Cronkite?
Pamela, it would be great if the media just refused to report on Baby Donnie, but that is not going to happen. They get lots of bucks reporting that fool and the media will not want to be left out of the dollar fest. We need better but I just don't see it as things are. We could get better, though if Trump were to be convicted or removed from a whole bunch of state ballots because he is an insurrectionist. I'd like to see those headlines!
The Press should refrain from reporting on Trump. Trump news has people so addicted that if the man even hiccups, it is reported upon. Reporting such events has The People drowning in a sea of red herrings, losing sight of what is truly important for the nation and of their own potential and power as responsible citizens.
Report his daily losses, MAGAT defections.
I hadn't seen "MAGAT" before. LOL Perfect. Thank you, Daniel.
MAGAt: excellent. Fits to a T.
A big part of Trump’s successful strategy is to get everyone talking about him. He feeds on the fame brought by infamy. That being said, are we not also falling into that trap?
The question put to us is “Is Trump fever beginning to break?” My answer based on our own focus on Trump is NO! What occurred is that the speaker of the house cut a deal that infuriates the ultra-right and lets the government limp along for another 45 days. But we, like the media are still focused on Trump. So, is our own infatuation with one poor excuse for a man part of what is causing the press to feed on us? How many times has the name or pseudonym for Trump shown up in this one thread? Too many to count.
There are other important issues to discuss. First, Why are so many Americans swayed by him? My answer is this: Trump appeals to unhappy angry people who feel that they have been cheated out of the “American Dream.” And, they are correct. And who has cheated them? Not you and me, not Joe Biden and not the rank and file of the Democratic Party. They have been cheated by a system that is ranked against them and allow the few at the top to accumulate unimaginable wealth leaving little left for the vast majority of Americans struggling to survive economically. Hillary Clinton called his supporters a “Basket of Deplorables.” Some of us are falling into calling them “MAGATS.” Name calling will not solve this crisis nor change the world.
Hillary was wrong by using name calling and so are we. These are people who are confused, fearful and ANGRY. are easy prey for demagogues and Trump has honed this skill to very high and frightful levels. We need a government and an economy that works for all the people and a government that allows our citizens feel and be heard, to have a constructive voice.
Political democracy is failing to govern and capitalism is failing to spread the wealth of the wealthiest country on the planet. We should spend at some of our discussion on creating a better form of democracy and a fairer economy. If we focus primarily on Trump and his impact on the disaffected are we possibly simply boosting his brand?
“What do you think?"
Agree that name calling is fun but not productive. We all need to deal in facts. Robert Reich noted that corporate money and private large donors have purchased the votes they wanted to funnel money up to them. And they succeeded. Thus, we have inequality embedded in the political system.
Overturning Citizens United would start redirecting influence and money down, as i see it. The rich uber-wealthy and corporate money distributors would fight and pay to keep Citizens United.
The problem is that for so long it was not fashionable to talk about why we are having so many problems and so little attention was paid to glaring existential crises like rising poverty, rising oceans, civil unrest, and grifting as a rampant epidemic. We live in a world where money tends to flow upwards and get stuck rather than circulate. These are indications of failing social systems where the slant is very much in favor of the rich and established elites who don’t feel they have obligations to anyone but themselves and their whims. Americans need to remember who we are as a nation and demand our civil rights be respected and start caring for each other in tangible ways. We have a tremendous mess to clean up now that the party is over. Take the pun. Voting is not a cliche. Wake up and smell the coffee (not Starbucks, thank you). And ask people how they are doing. Then really listen.
We need to express this to the NEWS MEDIA! More Biden. Less Trump!
YES!!
After WWII, America started to breathe easy. Government benefits put into play made life so much easier. However, the baby boomers who grew up with that innocence, eventually took the good times for granted, assuming their government would continue to do what's right. Behind our backs, as we slept, the devil entered our Congress and Senate, and sadly we didn't notice. Our only hope now is what I'm seeing in the younger generation, who has seen the damage to their parents and grandparents. Please let them take up the reins, run for offices, and restore our government 'by the people.' So yes, I'm starting to see his luster diminish.
R. Funkhouser, I completely agree with you!! I was a baby boomer and I did grow up in innocence that our country would always be rock solid! I did take all of those freedoms for granted and I am so sorry I did not pay better attention! Our younger generation has what it takes to restore our government 'by the people'. I see it in the actions of the Tennessee Three and others. I put my hope and trust in these young people to right the ship.
WE have to HELP them!
Reading a lovely account by Mary Jordan of the Washington Post of President Jimmy Carter's 99th birthday Sunday, I learned there that President Joe Biden had sent President Carter a note. This was the first I had read or heard of this and I thought it was an indicator of Biden's personality that bears attention. It was a courtesy, a kindness, and wasn't done for public acclaim or personal self-aggrandizement. It was an acknowledgement of Jimmy Carter's work and dedication, and it was greatly appreciated by this voter who has found the Democratic "stars" treatment of Jimmy Carter to be reprehensible. The Clintons ignored him, at best, and denigrated him, at worst, while they displayed their affection and association with the Bush family! The Obamas never seemed to give any nod of recognition to Jimmy Carter, and virtually no Democrat of note gave him any respect, even though none of them could hold a candle to him. So, this small matter featured in the WaPo article caused me to give fresh regard to Joe Biden because he, at long last as our top Democratic leader, showed respect and deference to a very, very fine President who was ahead of his time and of whom America was not worthy.
Quoting from Mary Jordan's Washington Post article about President Carter (and First Lady who, unlike the sham first "lady" whom trump referred to as "my super model....did you see my super model," actually was a lady and a smart woman):
"Earlier this month, President Biden personally sent word to Carter that he had moved to protect millions of acres in Alaska and canceled oil drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
“Biden knows how much this means to him,” said his son James Earl “Chip” Carter III, who took the White House call.
Jimmy Carter has described the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act as one of the most important achievements of his presidency and was angry when Donald Trump opened the Arctic refuge to oil drilling. More recently, at the age of 97, Carter filed a lawsuit to block the construction of a road through the Alaska wilderness."
trump draws letters to public attention only if they praise HIM. trump files lawsuits to help HIMSELF and hurt his "enemies."
As a former Georgian, I share your disappointment in the way Carter was treated (often by the Washington Post and some of its brass). If he had been re-elected, we would have avoided so much needless environmental and financial hazard, and I'm glad President Biden reached out to him. I got sick of seeing him physically shunned by his fellow former presidents as was often visible in photographs.
I could not agree more with your perfectly stated observation.
I'm so happy that the former president Carter gets the recognition he deserves !! I think he was short-changed for what he has done and tried to do and that was the start of the downward spiral of democracy with electing a " entertainer " as president !! I am happy that President Biden has been keeping in contact with the former president not because he was a former president but as a friend and for caring about his well-being!! Much respect to both of them !!❤️❤️❤️
I hope then that Carter was also angry when Biden permitted the appalling Willow Project in Alaska’s waters (succeeding all the drilling permits he handed out for more fouling of the Gulf waters).
Not that I want to justify drilling, but the Willow Pipeline was a "sealed deal" before the Biden administration. To balance it, he has prohibited drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Remember how Trump set the time of withdrawal from Afghanistan during his administration and Biden was left "holding the bag?") President Biden sometimes plays one hand against the other. He's a master politician. Thank heaven he's on the right side most of the time. Unlike Trump, he really does know "the art of the deal."
Nope, it wasn’t. Not what he gave the permits for.
Sorry, I was under the impression he had no choice. Isn't is true that the pipeline was ''on the books" before his administration?
Yes and no. Biden had the power to withhold. I worked on trying to convince him (along with thousands of others!). But he’s from coal and gas country, probably goes way back with the fossil fuel industry.
And also, Biden canceled SOME Alaskan drilling permits, but not all.
Along the same lines, there was a news report last week about Gulf permits. The report said that Biden had allowed fewer permits than had been expected. My thought was, " 'Fewer' isn’t the same as, 'none.' Get back to me when it's, 'zero permits;' then we'll be getting somewhere."
TY!
It is very difficult for me to fault the President who put solar panels on the White House and, a science-educated person himself, tried to begin the process of reducing dependence on fossil fuel, only to be completely overturned by subsequent corporatists in office and in bed with Big Oil/Gas/Coal/Money. I think President Carter would be the first to say - and mean it - that he was not perfect and I'm guessing that, like many, he has found it disturbing and disappointing that America has lost so much time, and done fresh harm, by not being more aggressive and progressive in our environmental and energy policies. It is hard to imagine so many things that actually do happen: for example, I cannot fathom how any human being can engage in "mountain-top removal mining" - destroying a mountain range for the supremely evil reason to get at the hardest to get at coal in order to continue heating the planet (or, more to the point, to continue enriching Big Oil/Gas/Coal/Money).
There is so much angst and blame to go around, but Biden is not at the top of that list (he is the first President in a LONG time who may actually care about developing good, safe public transportation e.g. trains - and wouldn't good, safe, clean, efficient PUBLIC transportation be a superb feature of progress?!) and Jimmy Carter would not even be ON that list. (He flew commercial as a post-President; contrast that with trump's private plane made to look like it's Air Force One, as if he is the "real" President.")
Alaska's waters (land, air, glaciers) need humanity's protection, no doubt about it, but so do the Great Lakes, the plains and midwest's aquifers, the Colorado River - and so on and so on. Our governmental policies that allow the kinds of bad decisions you describe, rightly, transcend any one President and it is the policies that need to be changed and need to be CEMENTED into our law, beyond just one term of office at a time.
What a contrast between President Carter and DJT. And Rosalyn was a brilliant First Lady who was comfortable in the role and knew how to make the most of the platform it provided her. Both are exemplary human beings who live by their values rather than the capricious tastes of the present political climate. President Biden is the same class of leader.
I've been thinking very fondly about President Carter lately too. Our last president guided by his moral compass. I don't think anyone would fault him for flying in the 1970s--we didn't know then what we know now. The problem with Biden (for whom I am working to get out the vote) is that his behavior has flown in the face of what we do know now. He has a lifelong relationship with the fossil fuel industry, not surprising given his Pennsylvania roots, and it seems to have blinded him to what is no longer specialist knowledge but known to bankers, city planners, architects, teachers, journalists, farmers, young people of every kind...
Exactly. It’s all about Trump. That is the mentality of a child to feel the world revolves around only you. A mature person thinks of others, the “Common Good” as Professor Reich expouses in his book.
Trump’s mafia attorney who helped him out of messes taught him the way to fight back is counter sue. He was McCarthy’s attorney in the 50’s. That shows his true “caliber”.
Beautifully written and so, so right!
It is difficult to deal with a malignant narcissistic sociopath (DJT) who lacks a functioning conscience. Donald Trump must be held accountable for his choices and illegal behavior. The integrity of our nation should not be compromised by an unstable person who is a danger to our nation and its citizens.
And in fact to the rest of the world too!
I agree. This period in our history has been both a danger and an embarrassment on the world stage for our Nation. By facing
legal consequences and making this a public issue should make people around the world aware of the danger again of following a political leader or any cult leader who places self-promotion and personal profit above the welfare of our citizens and innocent victims (i.e. refugee children kept
in cages!) due to the egotistical exploitation of power by Donald J. Trump.
Jeanne, the message that our nation is still working will only be real if Trump is actually held accountable for his bad anti-American behavior and a jury or two that unanimously sees the truth and finds Trump guilty. Just holding trials knowing that Trumpers and Trumpettes are embedded in our population and would lie under oath if they felt it would help their deity, Baby Donnie will not do the trick. Convincing 12 human beings of just how bad Trump's actions have been is the only way to "break the fever" and let the world know we have a system that works.
The danger is a return to Facism which waa a generational pattern in DJT 's family. Trump Senior (Donald's father) supported the KKK. Read Mary Trump's 2 books. Also read David Enrich's detailed dissertation level book DARK TOWERS...... which was based on 3 years of research and has extensive footnotes to document the facts. The author was the finance editor of the New York Times and had worked previously at high echelons in international banking. The collusion and unlimited unsecured and defaulted extreme loans through the Deutsche Bank was the pattern of deceit since many years prior to the current criminal fraud and lies.
Jeanne, I have read Mary Trump's books and pieces about the Trump financial insanity. Fascism works very well for the "Trump Empire" because forcing others to do one's will is the way they get people to do the appalling thingns they do. I suspect there is blackmail involved and other equally illegal and destructive practices. That is what they do. Trump's dad didn't just suddenly know what to do; he had lots of help from the other fascists around and there were a bunch of them, white men who think they deserve far more than they have and who can be encouraged to believe that THOSE people are keeping them from having even more. It's disgusting, but clearly it draws like-minded people in and our justice system is often not up to the task of curbing the bad behavior because many of our justice system are among the like-minded. People to sit on the courts have to meet no basic requirements for integrity, knowledge, understanding, or anything else, even the oath does not mean much if the judge/justice decides to ignore it, ala Thomas, Alito, and the many conservative judges on the 5th circuit who believe they have the right to warp our Constitution and the SC often goes along. Trump is not too bright, but he does not have to be there are always folks around him who want to swim in his pool of money and another bunch who will permit them to do so all with impunity, well, perhaps until now, though it is hard to know if what is happening now will make any difference.
You have very good insight into the dynamics of the abuse of power, especially among wealthy elite who perpetuate their power by exploiting others and creating a class structure that becomes generational privileges including fraud to enter elite schools including paying a very intelligent person to take your entrance exams or having your intelligent older sister do your school homework for you which was documented in one of Mary Trump's books. Donald's father financed Donald's extravagant lifestyle in his twenties especially in order to give the appearance of Donald being a very successful businessman. An apartment building was sold by the father to cover the son's failures. Males cannot give any appearance of being a failure in the Trump family.
Why hasn't this nut been gagged already?
Exactly. It’s all fine and good that Merrick Garland condemns Trump for his utterances, but why doesn’t he use the law to punish him for them? I suspect fear of further enraging his base.
If it is fear that inhibits Merrick Garland or, as Mitt Romney claimed, intimidates "Republicans" (and too many Democrats!), then we should be reminding them of the young men who, in 1941, lined up to enlist to fight against Nazi Germany and Japan at a time when there was every reason to believe that those two countries would defeat the Allies handily, every reason to believe that those young men would never see home or family again. They signed up and they went to fight AGAINST tyrrany!
Much the same could be said of those who joined the Union army (Note: UNION!) in the 1860s and of Civil Rights marchers in the 1960s and activists for women's suffrage in the early 20th century, et al.
ALL involved threats, danger, high likelihood of injury or death, loss of livelihood, separation from family - ALL of those events and more.
When did we all become so afraid of traitors, fraudsters, hucksters, and rank low-life criminals in our own government?! When did our elected officials become such cowards?! That is what trump and his crowd FEED on, what they LOVE, and what empowers them.
Somebody needs to be telling not just trump, gaetz, green and their whole retched ilk that they are un-American, but should be telling the "citizens" who are their life's blood that THEY are un-American. But then I guess that's what ballots and voting booths are for, so let's be sure to use them well!
Being afraid and doing the right thing are mutually exclusive. The question is whether the fear is noted and the best decision is made anyway or if the fear becomes cowardice. Merrick Garland is performing his role as AG of the United States in the most exemplary way without fear or favor and we are so lucky to have him serving in that role in this moment of great turmoil and danger. He is a champion of justice and a steadfast supporter of the Constitution of the United States of America. Mitt Romney played along to get along until he couldn’t anymore.
You know, other than innocent children and people of color dying, none of these politicians have been attacked. It's too hard to get away with anything these days as we certainly have an Orwellian abundance of cameras.
Bobbie McIntyre ; there are many politicians , even in the Republican party, who have been threatened with harm ; even murder of their children. Nancy Pelosi, had her life threatened, and tRump brags and signifies about the attack on her 83 year old (at the time) husband, even a couple of days ago.. The thug busted Paul Pelosi's scull with a hammer. I call that an attack. Many Republicans left politics because they were on tfg's 'hit list'. Adam Kinzinger, his wife and even their infant son, were all threatened with murder. Liz Cheney has had to have protection for herself and her family. Cassidy Hutchinson, a witness who was a member of tfg's White House staff, has protection, and Eric Swalwell, and many others. He purged the Republican party of anyone who was not useful to him, and him only. His puppet Tuberville blocked top military appointments; some 300 of them for a reason. If tfg managed to 'win' the presidency they could install tRump sycophants in all those military top jobs! Gee, I wonder what tfg would do with that!? Military take over!?
I think the same about the Tuberville charade. Abortion be damned, this is (was?) a ploy to set up the next authoritarian government under Trump. I hold my breath at the mechanisms already in place to end our democracy.
Plus once these people threaten them, they're on a watch list. It's the ones who don't threaten are the ones who worry me.
Yes, they've been threatened but with all the cameras around doesn't seem like anyone is willing, God forbid, and let's hope it's still a deterrent
And fear of endangering all of us especially judges, DoJ, FBI, others doing their jobs.
In the “it can’t happen here” category, why do we think more Jan 6 Insurrection-like actions - dangerous demonstrations of many v 1 lone MAGA-adherent - won’t occur? The former OOO (Oval Office Occupant) AND the Freedom Caucus, far right adherents with platforms, etc continue to incite violence.
You've got it!
Also fear for their and their family's lives
I'd serve Trump a healthy portion of American truth and honesty. For you starve a cold but you feed a fever.
This
Judge Engoron (spelling?) did! I’ll bet Trump didn’t make a sound when he and his lawyers were called into the judges chambers to get straightened out on the matter. Look it up. The judges words are a joy to read.
Let's not exaggerate the significance of what has transpired. We are EXACTLY where We were at after the band-aide that was applied to the Budget process back last Spring: The Republicans graciously kicked the can down the road to September 30th -- at which point they put the USA through hell with worry about "Will they _finally_ pass a Budget by then?" More than a month of posturing and saber-rattling, threatening a shutdown if they don't get their way.... again. This time what it cost was aid to Ukraine, which may very well collapse under Russian pressure without American support. Now the can has been kicked down the road for another 45 days. What will be required to get yet another extension then?
This Budget process is starting to feel like a Death By A Thousand Cuts.
Exactly.
One quibble here, Captain. Additional aid to Ukraine was [temporarily] halted. Anything already allocated will go through as planned.
Reneging on anything already committed would be really negative PR. "Cutting off their allowance" is one thing. Foreclosing on their home during a crisis would be more negative PR than the GOP wants to deal with when the 2024 election is approaching.
We must never feel better about our democracy until we overturn Citizens United with HJR54, the We the People Amendment. Click on movetoamend.org to study up and consider signing on to help out because corporations aren’t people and money isn’t protected free speech!
Bit by bit, the cracks in the Trump façade are starting to widen and spread. And tomorrow, if he opens his mouth at all, #DonaldDuce is likely to push a wedge into them.
It’s so strange that no one in the Republican party can be an actual statesman, point out the mountain of Trump BS, and rise above the forest of mediocre candidates.
The problem is, all the smart Republicans have been primaried out. Double digit intellects are now what the CEO and billionaire donors want because these shortcomings make them easy prey for manipulation.
David French in his column in the NYTimes analyses why the Trump fever will not break. Christian nationalism and the well-funded organizations it has spawned are found to be impervious to rational argument. When facts and rational discourse makes no dent in the belief that Trump is some type of persecuted hero, the only solution is to somehow dilute the power of these groups by voting out their political allies in Congress and state legislatures (although it is clear these types will never accept the outcomes of elections when they don't win). Unfortunately, U.S. oligarchs like the Kochs, the Mercers, even Musk (and many unknown high buck players) see an advantage to funding such groups as they did the Tea Party back in 2010. The federal and state institutions, the courts, and American voters will have to stand against this anti-democratic onslaught as they did on the 1960's when faced with the virulence of the Jim Crow South.
Yes, only now thanks to Citizens United the wealthy oligarchs can legally buy their victories. The defunding of education under Nixon has left us with just the malleable electorate it was designed to create.
A slight correction: the defunding of PUBLIC education as well as the transfer of PUBLIC money to PRIVATE education, all of this being part of the strategy to privatize everything, to control what is taught, and to perpetuate separate AND unequal education.
Now there is the transfer of PUBLIC money to RELIGIOUS PRIVATE education, an absolute un-Constitutional (and immoral) trend!
Not to forget of course, trump's appointment of Betsy Devos an avowed demonstrated enemy of PUBLIC education, someone who never, ever attended any public school, from K through college. She has been a big mover towards "charter schools" which are promoted as a version of a public school and yet, in any real analysis, are not. In some states, including her home state of Michigan, the charter school "movement" has been a big money-maker for investors.
It's all part of the big scam, con-game played by, mostly, Republicans who are, mostly, self-dealing, self-enriching, un-American profiteers. (too many Democrats, too.)
We need reform across the board in government so we can have clean government, free of corruption and corrupt influence.
Didn’t I read recently that the Koch billions were now funding a Stop Trump movement? And speaking of which, an all-day “Stop Trump Summit” is being held October 11th at The Cooper Union in NYC. See The New Republic magazine’s website for details.
agreed
tRump is all those things he names others to be. Projection at its most transparent. A deranged manipulator who has brainwashed, intimidated and duped so many if not most of his so called “ followers”. Worse & more dangerous than any other “religious cult” that has preceded him. 😡
We don’t have a democracy. We have an oligarchy
We are in end stage collapse of democratic capitalism
Inequality and greed by monies elites has brought the majority to a state of rebellion
Democrats as well has republicans have brought us to this sorry state
For forty years, we have been in endless stupid wars and a 45 trillion dollar transfer from the 90% to the one percent according to a Rand study
The military industrial complex has won out, as Eisenhower predicted
Obama and Biden share a lot of the blame
smedley butler, eisenhower both warned us
Which Rand study? When? Where?
Veronica, this TIME article explains the RAND study and contains a link to it.
https://time.com/5888024/50-trillion-income-inequality-america/
Excellent read. Also depressing reality, of which I am well aware. Thank you for sharing. I follow Robert Reich and he has been a champion, promoting the need for legislation to end this inequality. The orange evil one has capitalised by preying on those most affected, feeding them lies, which they believe will get them out of the rut. What a rude awakening expects them. It was a similar disenchantment that put Hitler in power. A rerun would end our democracy. I watched his speech in Iowa and was sick to my stomach. Thank you again, for taking the time!
You're welcome. My pleasure!
I think you are all being a little overly optimistic. The stopgap funding bill for the government excludes support for Ukraine. If Putin wins there and consolidates power in Eastern Europe, then Trump is much more likely to win in the United States. We are walking on egg shells still with our democracy. The only thing we can hope for is a gradual whittling away at Trump's financial emporium to the point where his marriage fails, and he loses respect from some of the big donors. Slowly, some of the important people behind him will begin to see him as a loser not because of his treasonous stand against our Constitution and the principle of American democracy, but because he can't get it together to keep a hold of his billions.
his marriage fails?!? really?!? as She said, I don’t really care, do you?!?
In that "relationship" the word "marriage" should always be in quotation marks. Sham.
They Be Best at sham. And no shame!
Laurie Blair
2 mins ago
Mweiner ; And you think Melania had anything to say about it, what was on the back of her jacket? Why do you think she has been living separately from him? Imagine being his wife or son? What would you do when ketchup is being thrown against the walls? The guy is a bully who has enjoyed way too much power!
Agree about the bullying part, Laurie, but do you honestly think he chose that jacket and made her wear it?
I think Maria Constantine’s point is exactly right. People will desert him when he starts coming across as a “loser.” Losing an election wasn’t enough as long as they could all believe it was “stolen,” but there’s no conspiracy theory to account for loss of wealth and “super model” that would be energizing enough.
It's always a good idea to avoid euphoria over modest wins. We got all bipartisan >this< time. What of next time? There >will< be a next time.
Respectfully, if those ‘important people’ haven’t walked away by now, they will likely only do so once he’s in an orange jumpsuit! His backers, as deranged as he imo, know their guy and are OK with it because should he succeed in taking the WH again, they benefit the most. Greed begets greed.
They won’t abandon him because he’s a bad man, or crazy. Only because he no longer comes off as the Goose Who Laid the Golden Egg. The hard core are folks who “identify with the aggressor”—that’s why they cheer when Trump denounces “losers.” Losing his wealth and his super model will unmake him.
His wife has a very comfortable lifestyle. Her parents were brought over and given citizenships which raised eyebrows. I think she would be too afraid to leave him.
Did you read about her renegotiated prenuptial agreement?
No. He actually permitted that? Maybe it was with a threat of divorce after the Stormy Daniel’s revelation.
It’s apparently recent.
Yep, just reported. There's also an article in Vanity Fair.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/melania-trump-quietly-renegotiated-her-prenup-for-the-third-time-as-former-presidents-latest-legal-troubles-threaten-his-finances-another-problem-for-her-husband-not-for-her/ar-AA1hA3Xi
She is not really “standing behind her man”. She remains in the shadows.
Yeah, but divorce proceedings would make the news! Her new nuptual (sp?) agreement suggests she’s restless…
Dear Mr. Secretary: Your feelings reflect mine, i.e., I agree with you. Thank You for listing these egregiousness acts and words by one our former presidents which is embarrassing forever that history must list him as such. Just exactly what did Hillary Clinton do wrong that could have convinced enough Americans to give him the electoral win? He should have had zilch votes by Americans. Look at the result! The Republican Party from HQ down to the local level did this by going after her over things obviously not of her doing. They never mentioned to 200+ Marines who died in their bunks in Beirut under Reagan; yet made her testify over and over for the deaths of three people whose deaths were risks we take when we have embassies throughout the world. When politicians stoop that low and have no bounds, such is the result. So with blood on their hands we must vote out every Republican, even the ones now who have seen their mistake bear the guilt. Just exactly how could these same people overlook the obvious, odious behavior of this man before he ran for office? We knew who he was. What were the rest thinking? Whatever it was, it was because of the plan by the Republican Party to win at any cost. Vote them out; even the ones who voted with us Saturday. They nailed her to the cross. Now let them carry that cross.
Well said! Thank you!