I would like to share this optimism and im tempted to agree. Still I wonder if his red line is not “whatever it takes to stay out of jail”. E.G. “blow up the world”. I appreciate the full court press and urge no relaxation or early celebrations.
"the part of the noxious scheme agreeing to release Trump and his family from all liability for audits underway remained in place, despite real concerns about its legality and even potential criminal liability for those who brokered the deal."
Amidst the regurgitation of all the fan-blown sheet pelting our faces daily, we need to keep our eye on this one.
It is still my hope that a storm of civil lawsuits will blight the doddering fascist's last days, and perhaps send him off in an orange jumpsuit. Surely this scheme to protect himself from the IRS is NOT "an official act".
In my opinion, Trump never intended to finish his term. He has flagrantly flaunted the law to line his and his cronie's pockets. He will milk this practice for as long as he can until he's stopped. Then he will simply resign and have Vance or some other flunky 'pardon' him for all crimes. He won't care, he'll be billions richer.
I don’t know if he’ll resign. But I know Trump’s MO is to get as much out of it as he can until there’s nothing left to get, then abandon it and leave someone else to clean up the destruction he leaves behind. That’s how he’s always done things.
Good reminder of who he's always been. He leaves destruction in his wake while he and his family rake in the money. I'm heartened that other countries (e.g., Albania) are pushing back against his family's wanting to enrich themselves on their land. As I understand it, Vietnam is going along with his sons' building of a golf course (or something) in a cemetery and having to remove graves because he's threatening them with higher tariffs. I'd like to see a headline about that!
Thinking Trump is merely a stooge is a mistake. He's played this game his entire career. This 'stooge' has made it to President of the United States. He should not be underestimated. Every time he plays the Ceasefire/Bomb them cycle, there are inside traders who are getting rich at every flip. You can bet he's getting a percentage.
He is crumbling, his presidency is crumbling, our governance systems and our way of life are crumbling. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see him resign. Possibly not officially but he's already in a de facto state of resignation from his duties.
He has already done is such damage to our country, it will take a generation to repair. Hopefully we won't ever encounter another demagogue like him again.
But only if we ensure real accountability is meted out to him, his cronies and his enablers...which includes all those compliant Congress members. Otherwise, the fascists only will come back stronger. Pardons, "to keep the country from ongoing pain", would be the same mistake as leaving the Confederates in charge of governance in the South after the Civil War.
In 2016, I bet a dinner that Trump wouldn't finish the term. My thinking was that there were at least two possible avenues, one that he would be impeached, and the second that he would discover the role required a lot of work. I was right about the impeachments but never imagined the Republicans wouldn't muster the ethical responsibility.
As to the "lot of work" I hadn't expected that he simply wouldn't do it.
And as to now. Cutting a deal with Vance to pardon him after he takes early departure could be a real risk. Giving him a pass as the cost of getting rid of him would be one thing, but it would be wonderful if Vance renigged and Trump finally had to face the music - full bore, so to speak.
Trump never really cared about policy or any real ideology other than his own enrichment and attention. ON those notes, he has been very successful.
Trump and his family will leave Washington many billions of dollars richer than when he started his second term. He might not like the ego bruises here and there, but the massive grift he is pulling off will make up for it.
I wonder how his "tenants" in his FL resort feel about being part of the MaraLago mafia. I'm assuming they are people of means. Are they getting rich off his criminality too so that they are happy to be a part of it? I haven't heard that people are moving out in large numbers. I'd sure be ashamed to be associated with that place.
His masters in the Heritage Foundation probably will make him an offer (to resign) that he can't refuse and replace him with a smarter mouthpiece (Vance).
I don''t think ether Trump or Blanche is walking away from the $1.8 billion fund. They still consider it a settlement of his lawsuit against the IRS and Trump will still be stealing those funds from the taxpayers. The only question is how it will be used.
Not immediately vowing an appeal of the Kennedy Center order was an early clue.
His health may be failing along with his programs. He acts like he’s lost the energy his narcissism usually gives him. I feel some pity for this twisted man
Reports of the death of the slush fund have been greatly exaggerated. Some action may take place next Friday. Isnt that the day trump has to respond in both virginia and florida slush fund cases. I notice judge luttig is the lead signer in the filing from the retired judges. He’s a bulldog.
The scumbag president doesn't deserve any pity Barbara B. Neither his entourage that while he keeps himself busy by building stuff, demolishing, adding his name and image to everything of value and making up stories, keep pushing the fascist maga ideology.
A further Trump humiliation this week is that the candidate he endorsed for the Republican nomination for governor of Iowa lost the primary. Waiting for Trump to admit that. And waiting.....
one is counting on fair elections in November, but Trump and his smarter and just-as-evil confederates are working on many fronts to make sure they don't happen.
The Justice and Accountability Mission matters, Friends. Everyday. All day. The regime needs to understand consequences for their crimes, racism, grift and ineptness.
What makes you think God cares? So far God hasn’t shown much in the way of positive actions. He gave us the world and turned us loose to make of it what we will. And we see what we’re making of it, a pile of crap.
Yes Pam, but the only way to survive is to fight back and whenever we get the first opportunity, to legislate to make sure this nightmare we are going through will never happen again .
And I’m doing just that despite my cynical response. My only synthetic is that God is not involved. But we are, and he left it to us to do it. So onward!
How delightful to see him acting like a child, taking his ball and going home.
His supporters — especially the marginals — can now see that the follow-through of governing is not what he does. “I alone can fix it” — unless he gets bored or a court stops him or the musicians don’t show up for his concert.
Trump’s stuck in a quagmire he chose — in the Mideast, in Washington, in the courts. It ain’t easy for a bully to get his way every time in a free country, is it — sir?
If you were Trump and you knew that the only thing between you and real personal disaster were the November elections and that failure was unthinkable, what would you do? From now through January 2027 will be an extraordinarily dangerous time. Losses are only losses when they are accepted as such and Trump with every fiber of his body and as long as he is breathing will do anything and everything to prevent the loser characterization.
I suspect that he got very bad news at his unscheduled "physical". People who are suddenly facing their own mortality start acting like this, withdrawing from commitments and worrying about their "legacy".
Perhaps. We don't know where he's been for the previous 8 days of non-public appearances. Getting further testing and diagnoses? Some kind of treatment?
I would like to share this optimism and im tempted to agree. Still I wonder if his red line is not “whatever it takes to stay out of jail”. E.G. “blow up the world”. I appreciate the full court press and urge no relaxation or early celebrations.
"the part of the noxious scheme agreeing to release Trump and his family from all liability for audits underway remained in place, despite real concerns about its legality and even potential criminal liability for those who brokered the deal."
Amidst the regurgitation of all the fan-blown sheet pelting our faces daily, we need to keep our eye on this one.
It is still my hope that a storm of civil lawsuits will blight the doddering fascist's last days, and perhaps send him off in an orange jumpsuit. Surely this scheme to protect himself from the IRS is NOT "an official act".
He's a party in all the losers. Yet he castigtes the court. Defames judges.
A court could find him in contempt and order a conservator.
Courts SHOULD find him in contempt. If it was anyone else, or at least not ultra rich, he would have been in jail years ago
In my opinion, Trump never intended to finish his term. He has flagrantly flaunted the law to line his and his cronie's pockets. He will milk this practice for as long as he can until he's stopped. Then he will simply resign and have Vance or some other flunky 'pardon' him for all crimes. He won't care, he'll be billions richer.
I don’t know if he’ll resign. But I know Trump’s MO is to get as much out of it as he can until there’s nothing left to get, then abandon it and leave someone else to clean up the destruction he leaves behind. That’s how he’s always done things.
Good reminder of who he's always been. He leaves destruction in his wake while he and his family rake in the money. I'm heartened that other countries (e.g., Albania) are pushing back against his family's wanting to enrich themselves on their land. As I understand it, Vietnam is going along with his sons' building of a golf course (or something) in a cemetery and having to remove graves because he's threatening them with higher tariffs. I'd like to see a headline about that!
Perhaps it was just about the money. But he also has his pride and self-importance. Looking weak is a horror to him.
Thinking Trump is merely a stooge is a mistake. He's played this game his entire career. This 'stooge' has made it to President of the United States. He should not be underestimated. Every time he plays the Ceasefire/Bomb them cycle, there are inside traders who are getting rich at every flip. You can bet he's getting a percentage.
I didn’t say he was merely a stooge. Of course it’s about the money but it’s also about power and looking strong.
this might happen, and he will say the people didn't appreciate his greatness...in this he will be correct
He is crumbling, his presidency is crumbling, our governance systems and our way of life are crumbling. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see him resign. Possibly not officially but he's already in a de facto state of resignation from his duties.
He has already done is such damage to our country, it will take a generation to repair. Hopefully we won't ever encounter another demagogue like him again.
But only if we ensure real accountability is meted out to him, his cronies and his enablers...which includes all those compliant Congress members. Otherwise, the fascists only will come back stronger. Pardons, "to keep the country from ongoing pain", would be the same mistake as leaving the Confederates in charge of governance in the South after the Civil War.
In 2016, I bet a dinner that Trump wouldn't finish the term. My thinking was that there were at least two possible avenues, one that he would be impeached, and the second that he would discover the role required a lot of work. I was right about the impeachments but never imagined the Republicans wouldn't muster the ethical responsibility.
As to the "lot of work" I hadn't expected that he simply wouldn't do it.
And as to now. Cutting a deal with Vance to pardon him after he takes early departure could be a real risk. Giving him a pass as the cost of getting rid of him would be one thing, but it would be wonderful if Vance renigged and Trump finally had to face the music - full bore, so to speak.
He makes a deal with Vance for a pardon. Then the pardon never comes. Vance's response: "I lied."
That would be great but I don't believe that Vance will be free to do as he chooses. The power of billionaires is greater than that of POTUS.
Trump never really cared about policy or any real ideology other than his own enrichment and attention. ON those notes, he has been very successful.
Trump and his family will leave Washington many billions of dollars richer than when he started his second term. He might not like the ego bruises here and there, but the massive grift he is pulling off will make up for it.
I wonder how his "tenants" in his FL resort feel about being part of the MaraLago mafia. I'm assuming they are people of means. Are they getting rich off his criminality too so that they are happy to be a part of it? I haven't heard that people are moving out in large numbers. I'd sure be ashamed to be associated with that place.
His masters in the Heritage Foundation probably will make him an offer (to resign) that he can't refuse and replace him with a smarter mouthpiece (Vance).
I don''t think ether Trump or Blanche is walking away from the $1.8 billion fund. They still consider it a settlement of his lawsuit against the IRS and Trump will still be stealing those funds from the taxpayers. The only question is how it will be used.
There are quite a few people who agree with you.
The hope is that a judge will look at that settlement, declare it illegal, and force the two of them to walk away from it.
Not immediately vowing an appeal of the Kennedy Center order was an early clue.
His health may be failing along with his programs. He acts like he’s lost the energy his narcissism usually gives him. I feel some pity for this twisted man
Reports of the death of the slush fund have been greatly exaggerated. Some action may take place next Friday. Isnt that the day trump has to respond in both virginia and florida slush fund cases. I notice judge luttig is the lead signer in the filing from the retired judges. He’s a bulldog.
Your pity is misplaced. You should feel anger and sadness at what has been done to us.
The ultimate mansplaining, telling someone how they “should feel.”
The scumbag president doesn't deserve any pity Barbara B. Neither his entourage that while he keeps himself busy by building stuff, demolishing, adding his name and image to everything of value and making up stories, keep pushing the fascist maga ideology.
I love, love, love Luttig.
you are a true nice person Barbara...but don't feel pity for one who gives none
A further Trump humiliation this week is that the candidate he endorsed for the Republican nomination for governor of Iowa lost the primary. Waiting for Trump to admit that. And waiting.....
“ I don’t know him; I’ve never met him, never heard of him…”
Pique of a cranky senior? Don’t insult cranky seniors! It’s the behavior of a child not getting his way.
Looking forward to watching the stampede in oversized clown shoes. Brilliant visual, Jen. And thx for the update on your health. ❤️
Trump belongs in prison. His crimes are too numerous to list. Let's put him there.
I agree but he would need to be prosecuted under a state law where he couldn't be pardoned or use the immunity given by the Fascist Supreme Court.
one is counting on fair elections in November, but Trump and his smarter and just-as-evil confederates are working on many fronts to make sure they don't happen.
Oh, didn’t you hear, it’s the democrats who cheat. Just ask Tina Peters.
It will be interesting to see what comes of that, too, if the malignant brooding thing at the center of it loses his mojo.
The Justice and Accountability Mission matters, Friends. Everyday. All day. The regime needs to understand consequences for their crimes, racism, grift and ineptness.
From your typed words to god’s eyes and ears.
What makes you think God cares? So far God hasn’t shown much in the way of positive actions. He gave us the world and turned us loose to make of it what we will. And we see what we’re making of it, a pile of crap.
There are, though, points of beauty and magic. We need to hold onto those if we're to survive.
Yes Pam, but the only way to survive is to fight back and whenever we get the first opportunity, to legislate to make sure this nightmare we are going through will never happen again .
And I’m doing just that despite my cynical response. My only synthetic is that God is not involved. But we are, and he left it to us to do it. So onward!
How delightful to see him acting like a child, taking his ball and going home.
His supporters — especially the marginals — can now see that the follow-through of governing is not what he does. “I alone can fix it” — unless he gets bored or a court stops him or the musicians don’t show up for his concert.
Trump’s stuck in a quagmire he chose — in the Mideast, in Washington, in the courts. It ain’t easy for a bully to get his way every time in a free country, is it — sir?
Can't happen soon enough.
If you were Trump and you knew that the only thing between you and real personal disaster were the November elections and that failure was unthinkable, what would you do? From now through January 2027 will be an extraordinarily dangerous time. Losses are only losses when they are accepted as such and Trump with every fiber of his body and as long as he is breathing will do anything and everything to prevent the loser characterization.
I suspect that he got very bad news at his unscheduled "physical". People who are suddenly facing their own mortality start acting like this, withdrawing from commitments and worrying about their "legacy".
Perhaps. We don't know where he's been for the previous 8 days of non-public appearances. Getting further testing and diagnoses? Some kind of treatment?
golf course ?