exchemist
Valued Senior Member
The Squire of Gothos.
Trump 2.0
- Thread starter James R
- Start date
At least for Trelane there was some hope of redemption, given sufficient education and guidance by his parents. He was not the finished article.
Roosters for ever
Registered Senior Member
With these mid term elections coming up in USA politics, what is the best scenario decent USA citizens can hope for? Can trump be made ineffectual? Or simply somewhat contained at best.
Roosters for ever
Registered Senior Member
How liklely is that to happen?
TheVat
Valued Senior Member
Going to be very close. Many crosscurrents - GOP is pulling ahead on gerrymandering and tightening mail-in ballot window, but GOP/MAGA brand is hurting from the inflation, war that few approve of, Truth Social dementia rants, immigrant abuses, etc. And there's also now more grassroots money - a plucky challenger in Texas has raised more in small donations than his maga-machine backed opponent. And there are massive GOTV campaigns sweeping gerrymandered areas in the South, which if they work could cut some GOP margins to very slim.
Also, and I'm not seeing this talked about in media, but restrictions on mail-in voting may not be the benefit the GOP thinks it is. A lot of older voters, who skew Republican, have mobility/transportation issues and use mail-in. Also a lot of rural voters in more remote areas, who also skew Republican, depend on mail-in.
Also, and I'm not seeing this talked about in media, but restrictions on mail-in voting may not be the benefit the GOP thinks it is. A lot of older voters, who skew Republican, have mobility/transportation issues and use mail-in. Also a lot of rural voters in more remote areas, who also skew Republican, depend on mail-in.
The meltdown over the "Freedom 250" event is worth noting.
Trump proposed this as a massive bipartisan event to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States. But he failed to mention that it was really to support himself, and when groups found out, they began to cancel. At one point they had about a dozen groups, but are now down to 3. One is Vanilla Ice, a performer who has a personal relationship with Trump, and has performed at Mar-A-Lago before.
Another is Freedom Williams, a singer who recently posted a speech (recorded while he was literally taking a dump in his bathroom) in which he said he'd do whatever people paid him to do - including doing "the motherfucking show in North Korea, pissing on a fucking American flag. Smoking a Cuban cigar. Drinking Venezuelan wine. Playing golf with motherfucking Kim El-Jun. With an Iranian bitch on my lap. While Trump's standing there with his dick in his hand." Americans, he said, "don't give a fuck about 250 years of motherfucking capitalism and death. It's 250 years of straight murder."
Trump may feel differently about his inclusion now. In fact, he called them all "highly paid, Third Rate 'Artists.' "
A reporter delved into this, and tried to find out who went out and found these groups - and apparently lied to them about what the concert was. He discovered the talent agency that Trump used was Universal Attractions Agency, which is led by (and this is true) Jeffery Epstein. No relation.
Trying to figure out whether this was due to a Trump lackey actually thinking to himself "yeah this is a good idea, to get someone named Jeff Epstein to find more talent for Trump" - or whether it is a subtle FU to Trump from another disgruntled supporter.
Now Trump is saying he will cancel all the performers and instead headline a different event himself, since he's more popular than Elvis Presley.
I would love to see Donald Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho Trump headline a rally in which he sings old Elvis Presley songs and does his little dance. He could have Kid Rock and Vanilla Ice backing him, and have random Elon Musk children behind him in a chorus. His supporters will flock to it, balancing their disillusionment and poverty against their desires to not be seen as backing a loser, and to "own the libs."
Trump proposed this as a massive bipartisan event to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States. But he failed to mention that it was really to support himself, and when groups found out, they began to cancel. At one point they had about a dozen groups, but are now down to 3. One is Vanilla Ice, a performer who has a personal relationship with Trump, and has performed at Mar-A-Lago before.
Another is Freedom Williams, a singer who recently posted a speech (recorded while he was literally taking a dump in his bathroom) in which he said he'd do whatever people paid him to do - including doing "the motherfucking show in North Korea, pissing on a fucking American flag. Smoking a Cuban cigar. Drinking Venezuelan wine. Playing golf with motherfucking Kim El-Jun. With an Iranian bitch on my lap. While Trump's standing there with his dick in his hand." Americans, he said, "don't give a fuck about 250 years of motherfucking capitalism and death. It's 250 years of straight murder."
Trump may feel differently about his inclusion now. In fact, he called them all "highly paid, Third Rate 'Artists.' "
A reporter delved into this, and tried to find out who went out and found these groups - and apparently lied to them about what the concert was. He discovered the talent agency that Trump used was Universal Attractions Agency, which is led by (and this is true) Jeffery Epstein. No relation.
Trying to figure out whether this was due to a Trump lackey actually thinking to himself "yeah this is a good idea, to get someone named Jeff Epstein to find more talent for Trump" - or whether it is a subtle FU to Trump from another disgruntled supporter.
Now Trump is saying he will cancel all the performers and instead headline a different event himself, since he's more popular than Elvis Presley.
I would love to see Donald Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho Trump headline a rally in which he sings old Elvis Presley songs and does his little dance. He could have Kid Rock and Vanilla Ice backing him, and have random Elon Musk children behind him in a chorus. His supporters will flock to it, balancing their disillusionment and poverty against their desires to not be seen as backing a loser, and to "own the libs."
Seems that the $1.8bn slush fund has been dropped by the DoJ.
www.bbc.co.uk
So seems like there are lines in the sand that the Republicans, at least at the moment, will not cross. Whether because they believe it wrong or simply that they see that supporting it would harm their re-election chances, who knows. But there's some noise that at least a few oppose it on ethical grounds.
The end of Trump’s 'weaponization' fund is another sign Republicans are fighting back
The $1.8bn fund would have paid people the Trump administration decided were unjustly and politically targeted.
www.bbc.co.uk
So seems like there are lines in the sand that the Republicans, at least at the moment, will not cross. Whether because they believe it wrong or simply that they see that supporting it would harm their re-election chances, who knows. But there's some noise that at least a few oppose it on ethical grounds.
TheVat
Valued Senior Member
Meanwhile, Turnip can rest easy knowing that Bari Weiss is running CBS like a dictatorship, and one that bends the knee to His Orangeness. The latest purge includes Scott Pelley, a longtime 60 Minutes stalwart.
www.theguardian.com
Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim say they’ll ‘stay and fight’ at 60 Minutes
Stahl and Whitaker had been wild cards after new CBS News management fired multiple people in recent weeks
www.theguardian.com
Two things worth noting...
One: the Reflecting Pool, supposedly "fixed" by Trump, has been refilled and is already suffering from algae blooms. The administration mouthpieces are claiming it is "residual algae" from the pipes when filling the pool, but it seems there may be someone hired to just walk up and down it's length cleaning the pool of algae.
Two: every time I read it listen to Trump and his admin, and their antics, the more I pine to rewatch "The West Wing". So I have been. Thank you, DJT!! Yes, it's a fantasy of how we all wish the White House be run and the people employed therein, but, boy, is it a damn fine but of television. The writing, the acting, the wit, just... everything. Certainly worthy of consideration for best TV ever... along with "Band of Brothers".
One: the Reflecting Pool, supposedly "fixed" by Trump, has been refilled and is already suffering from algae blooms. The administration mouthpieces are claiming it is "residual algae" from the pipes when filling the pool, but it seems there may be someone hired to just walk up and down it's length cleaning the pool of algae.
Two: every time I read it listen to Trump and his admin, and their antics, the more I pine to rewatch "The West Wing". So I have been. Thank you, DJT!! Yes, it's a fantasy of how we all wish the White House be run and the people employed therein, but, boy, is it a damn fine but of television. The writing, the acting, the wit, just... everything. Certainly worthy of consideration for best TV ever... along with "Band of Brothers".
TheVat
Valued Senior Member
Pond scum in the White House --> pond scum in the reflecting pool.
Spouse and I watched The WW for the first time a couple years ago, and agreed it was almost political porn, and good stuff. Jed Bartlett has sadly gone missing from American politics. It's impossible for me to see Allison Janney or Bradley Whitford in anything now and not cry, "It's CJ! It's Josh!"
TheVat
Valued Senior Member
Workers begin removing Trump's name from the Kennedy Center, hours after a court-ordered deadline
Workers have begun removing President Donald Trump’s name from the facade of the Kennedy Center, hours after a court-ordered Friday deadline.
apnews.com
As of this morning, all letters are removed. And it's the day before Turnip's birthday. Even better.
An Exercise in Perspective and Fact
It's a striking contrast. The National Review Online writer Noah Rothman suggests—
—and, sure, the professional conspiracy theorist might sound convincing in close company.
Jane Coaston↱, a journalist who covers conservative politics, sees it a little differently:
And one of the examples she provides, "Thomas indicated that he believes that the U.S. government is run by an elite group of individuals who sacrifice and consume infants", is a continuation of Pizzagate, which was a continuation of a longtime conspiracy theory that includes Alex Jones' contribution↗ to a thwarted 2002 attack in Monte Rio, California. And, sure, it leads to Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump, but also Jewish people.
That is to say, she's got a point. A Christianist group with Nazi associations complaining about Jews and elites who eat babies. That's not something Antifa or leftists are generally known for.
It's a striking contrast. The National Review Online writer Noah Rothman suggests—
The White House terror plot reads a lot like the thwarted NY Eve “liberation front” attack on Los Angeles, which would not have been terribly dissimilar from the sophisticated ambush of ICE officials an Antifa-aligned cell pulled off in Alvarado, TX, last year.
If our media aren't connecting the dots at this point, it’s because they do not want to.
If our media aren't connecting the dots at this point, it’s because they do not want to.
—and, sure, the professional conspiracy theorist might sound convincing in close company.
Jane Coaston↱, a journalist who covers conservative politics, sees it a little differently:
Based on the affidavit, these people sound 1.) mentally ill (one co-conspirator was interviewed at a mental health facility) and 2.) not like... leftists.
And one of the examples she provides, "Thomas indicated that he believes that the U.S. government is run by an elite group of individuals who sacrifice and consume infants", is a continuation of Pizzagate, which was a continuation of a longtime conspiracy theory that includes Alex Jones' contribution↗ to a thwarted 2002 attack in Monte Rio, California. And, sure, it leads to Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump, but also Jewish people.
That is to say, she's got a point. A Christianist group with Nazi associations complaining about Jews and elites who eat babies. That's not something Antifa or leftists are generally known for.
A Swamp Story Not About the Reflecting Pool (#WhatTheyVotedFor)
ProPublica↱ explains this one:
It's one thing to not be surprised, but then we might take a moment to think back and recall pathetic mouths pretending to believe Donald Trump would clean the swamp.
Even less pitiable are the idiots who pretended to believe them. This was never about anything but hatred and greed. The thing about competing narratives is that not only can we test claims against facts, we can also test purpose against outcome. A couple years ago↗ I suggested that inasmuch as the majority of Trump voters other reasons to support him, this is, somehow, where those other reasons have led, and these enduring elements of belief and faith were present before Trump, and will remain well after, especially if given comfort. This time later, the only people surprised by what we got for giving comfort are among those who gave comfort.
____________________
Notes:
Faturechi, Robert. "The White House Intervened to Get a $620 Million Deal for a Company Tied to Donald Trump Jr." ProPublica. 28 May 29026. ProPublica.org. 18 June 2026. https://www.propublica.org/article/donald-trump-jr-vulcan-deal-white-house
ProPublica↱ explains this one:
When the Pentagon announced a $620 million loan last year to a small North Carolina startup linked to Donald Trump Jr., defense officials and the company tried to tamp down suspicions of cronyism.
The president's eldest son said through a spokesperson that he wasn't involved. The Pentagon said Trump Jr. played no role in the record-setting deal. And the startup's founder told reporters that his company, Vulcan Elements, received no political favoritism.
But interviews and Defense Department records reviewed by ProPublica show that the request to loan hundreds of millions of dollars to the firm linked to Trump Jr. was made by Peter Navarro, a White House adviser to President Donald Trump and a friend of Trump Jr.'s.
Of the dozens of companies the Pentagon was considering funding at the time, Vulcan's was the only deal initiated by a top aide to the president, said an official at the Pentagon who was not authorized to speak publicly.
After defense officials got the White House request, they asked Pentagon staff to move at an unusually rapid pace, said another person who was involved in the deal at the Pentagon but not authorized to speak about it. The staff worked late nights and with little sleep to get the loan through in a matter of weeks, the source said.
"The call came from the White House: We have to get this done," the person said.
The president's eldest son said through a spokesperson that he wasn't involved. The Pentagon said Trump Jr. played no role in the record-setting deal. And the startup's founder told reporters that his company, Vulcan Elements, received no political favoritism.
But interviews and Defense Department records reviewed by ProPublica show that the request to loan hundreds of millions of dollars to the firm linked to Trump Jr. was made by Peter Navarro, a White House adviser to President Donald Trump and a friend of Trump Jr.'s.
Of the dozens of companies the Pentagon was considering funding at the time, Vulcan's was the only deal initiated by a top aide to the president, said an official at the Pentagon who was not authorized to speak publicly.
After defense officials got the White House request, they asked Pentagon staff to move at an unusually rapid pace, said another person who was involved in the deal at the Pentagon but not authorized to speak about it. The staff worked late nights and with little sleep to get the loan through in a matter of weeks, the source said.
"The call came from the White House: We have to get this done," the person said.
It's one thing to not be surprised, but then we might take a moment to think back and recall pathetic mouths pretending to believe Donald Trump would clean the swamp.
Even less pitiable are the idiots who pretended to believe them. This was never about anything but hatred and greed. The thing about competing narratives is that not only can we test claims against facts, we can also test purpose against outcome. A couple years ago↗ I suggested that inasmuch as the majority of Trump voters other reasons to support him, this is, somehow, where those other reasons have led, and these enduring elements of belief and faith were present before Trump, and will remain well after, especially if given comfort. This time later, the only people surprised by what we got for giving comfort are among those who gave comfort.
____________________
Notes:
Faturechi, Robert. "The White House Intervened to Get a $620 Million Deal for a Company Tied to Donald Trump Jr." ProPublica. 28 May 29026. ProPublica.org. 18 June 2026. https://www.propublica.org/article/donald-trump-jr-vulcan-deal-white-house
So the algae was getting worse. So since sh*t rolls downhill, some staffer got the call and sent some intern to Wal-Mart to get gallon jugs of hydrogen peroxide to pour in, which helped marginally. The edges were clear for a few hours.
Turns out hydrogen peroxide reacts with the paint they used - and it's all peeling up now.
Trump described the paint thusly: "This was highly sophisticated material, industrial strength, that could last for 100 years … The material is thick, strong, flexible, and has a natural, beautiful color, the dark blue of the American Flag!”
Stable genius indeed.
Turns out hydrogen peroxide reacts with the paint they used - and it's all peeling up now.
Trump described the paint thusly: "This was highly sophisticated material, industrial strength, that could last for 100 years … The material is thick, strong, flexible, and has a natural, beautiful color, the dark blue of the American Flag!”
Stable genius indeed.
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That's hilarious.
I'm cracking up.
