I would say it's a bribe, for what remains to be seen. Corruption is everywhere in this regime and it needs to be tamped down. But like you write, it probably won't be and that is truly sad and despicable!
In a perfect world the Demopublicans would draft a document accepting the gift on behalf of the American people which would pass easily and the Grifter in Chief would smilingly sign an Executive Order of appreciation for the gift. And DOGE would then cut the funding for refurbishment to make it fit for purpose, maintenance, upkeep, and operation of the White Elephant. Never look a gift horse in the mouth regardless how spavined or lame.
"Here’s one thing that should be painfully clear by now, though. The old regime turns out to have been one under which most statutory restraints on presidential action turned out to be pretty much just suggestions, able to be jettisoned at the president’s say-so, provided Congress didn’t have the spine to impeach him for it."
True to some extent, but there should be less extreme remedies available than impeachment, and I think that a more immediate problem is that this Supreme Court is interpreting what seem to be clearly self-enforcing Constitutional prohibitions as if they were suggestions until Congress passes implementing legislation to give them some teeth. That should have been evident in the way that the Court made impossible-to-meet standing demands with respect to the Emoluments Clauses during Trump I. The President and the Congress should have addressed that gap with appropriate legislation in 2021, as more than one of us suggested at the time in these very pages. And when the Supreme Court refused to treat Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment as self-enforcing, that should have caused an alarm like "a fire bell in the night". Instead it was ignored, and we got Trump II.
If people who believe in the Constitution and liberal democracy ever get control of the government again then correcting those failures, as well as fixing the various "Emergency Acts" that hand over legislative authority to the President until he feels like giving it back -- which no President of either party ever does -- should be at the very top of any reform agenda.
Is this the plane I read about a few years ago where if you walked across the carpet and touched the walls you would get shocked? Or is it the one where the electrical systems have issues?
The False Messiah continues to gleefully urinate on Congress, on our Constitution and wave his member at SCOTUS daring them to stop him from peeing on lawful due process while already wetting the hem of those dignified black robes. What a bunch of chumps. Enjoy the show everybody.
First Hegseth was unacceptable, then he did Signal Gate, twice, he's been a total Bozo the entire time he's been in there and yet....they just rode it out. The attention span and velocity of new outrages just takes over any single issue. He'll take possession of the plane and we'll be lucky if they can prevent anybody from spending anything more than minimal maintenance costs...those will be enormous in themselves. Maybe he'll designate it Air Force Three and just let the Family fly around in it.
Hmmm... The Nazis killed six million Jews during their holocaust mass murder. musk and trump and GOP could kill six million Africans during their reign of terror. What do you call that? Carelessness? I am always amazed how GOP policy that leads to the death of millions is not given more than a shrug...
Shouldn't Tulsi Gabbard feel rather embarrassed about their ignorance?
I mean it's sort of a lost cause with Trump.... but come on... the un-restrained, comprehensive, and astounding level of ignorance of this administration, and MAGA, is simply offensive and excruciating
Additional notes: the bizarre assumptions on the term are not in the top 5 or ten original meanings, and if it is the case that Gabbard and Trump assert it probably was conjured up as such in the near past by Trump and MAGA himself
True confessions: I am pretty old, and I have never heard its use in the context of "assassination"
I still haven't immunized myself from being initially stunned then amazed by these MAGA meltdowns.
Then I chide myself for falling for their most recent attempt to deflect attention and suck up the available oxygen through their manipulation of the media and their idiotic base.
I'll forever be mystified at how a lot of people much smarter and better informed than Trump committed themselves to insisting that he is possessed of deep wisdom and insight. It's almost as weird as portraying such a conspicuously selfish and amoral person as a self-sacrificing champion of average Americans and a heroic crusader against "corruption."
I think it boils down to: "He shares my deepest prejudices."
It is a no-brainer
I would say it's a bribe, for what remains to be seen. Corruption is everywhere in this regime and it needs to be tamped down. But like you write, it probably won't be and that is truly sad and despicable!
Good ol' Jim Comey, astute as ever. 🤡
In a perfect world the Demopublicans would draft a document accepting the gift on behalf of the American people which would pass easily and the Grifter in Chief would smilingly sign an Executive Order of appreciation for the gift. And DOGE would then cut the funding for refurbishment to make it fit for purpose, maintenance, upkeep, and operation of the White Elephant. Never look a gift horse in the mouth regardless how spavined or lame.
"Here’s one thing that should be painfully clear by now, though. The old regime turns out to have been one under which most statutory restraints on presidential action turned out to be pretty much just suggestions, able to be jettisoned at the president’s say-so, provided Congress didn’t have the spine to impeach him for it."
True to some extent, but there should be less extreme remedies available than impeachment, and I think that a more immediate problem is that this Supreme Court is interpreting what seem to be clearly self-enforcing Constitutional prohibitions as if they were suggestions until Congress passes implementing legislation to give them some teeth. That should have been evident in the way that the Court made impossible-to-meet standing demands with respect to the Emoluments Clauses during Trump I. The President and the Congress should have addressed that gap with appropriate legislation in 2021, as more than one of us suggested at the time in these very pages. And when the Supreme Court refused to treat Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment as self-enforcing, that should have caused an alarm like "a fire bell in the night". Instead it was ignored, and we got Trump II.
If people who believe in the Constitution and liberal democracy ever get control of the government again then correcting those failures, as well as fixing the various "Emergency Acts" that hand over legislative authority to the President until he feels like giving it back -- which no President of either party ever does -- should be at the very top of any reform agenda.
Is this the plane I read about a few years ago where if you walked across the carpet and touched the walls you would get shocked? Or is it the one where the electrical systems have issues?
Both, one would hope.
The False Messiah continues to gleefully urinate on Congress, on our Constitution and wave his member at SCOTUS daring them to stop him from peeing on lawful due process while already wetting the hem of those dignified black robes. What a bunch of chumps. Enjoy the show everybody.
2547. As in, use the 25th Amendment to end the incompetent, insane Drumpfenreich. Got it?
You posted this yesterday, has anyone come by? ...
Are you still there? ...
Hello ... hello?
I'm still standing....pretty far away.
Comey should pay every single day for his stupidity.
I have zero concern for what happens to him with this WH.
"...should we be fortunate enough to see another decent president..."
More importantly, a responsible Congress patriotic and protective of the Constitution and people and not power or party.
First Hegseth was unacceptable, then he did Signal Gate, twice, he's been a total Bozo the entire time he's been in there and yet....they just rode it out. The attention span and velocity of new outrages just takes over any single issue. He'll take possession of the plane and we'll be lucky if they can prevent anybody from spending anything more than minimal maintenance costs...those will be enormous in themselves. Maybe he'll designate it Air Force Three and just let the Family fly around in it.
To "86" is to eject from the premises. This case won't get past discovery.
The stupid, it burns.
I'm reminded of Abscam ....those were the days. You could buy somebody for $50,000
Hmmm... The Nazis killed six million Jews during their holocaust mass murder. musk and trump and GOP could kill six million Africans during their reign of terror. What do you call that? Carelessness? I am always amazed how GOP policy that leads to the death of millions is not given more than a shrug...
"Arab Force One" is fantastic. Need to put it on t shirts.
Oh Mahhh Goddddd
Shouldn't Tulsi Gabbard feel rather embarrassed about their ignorance?
I mean it's sort of a lost cause with Trump.... but come on... the un-restrained, comprehensive, and astounding level of ignorance of this administration, and MAGA, is simply offensive and excruciating
Additional notes: the bizarre assumptions on the term are not in the top 5 or ten original meanings, and if it is the case that Gabbard and Trump assert it probably was conjured up as such in the near past by Trump and MAGA himself
True confessions: I am pretty old, and I have never heard its use in the context of "assassination"
I still haven't immunized myself from being initially stunned then amazed by these MAGA meltdowns.
Then I chide myself for falling for their most recent attempt to deflect attention and suck up the available oxygen through their manipulation of the media and their idiotic base.
Maybe some day ...
I'll forever be mystified at how a lot of people much smarter and better informed than Trump committed themselves to insisting that he is possessed of deep wisdom and insight. It's almost as weird as portraying such a conspicuously selfish and amoral person as a self-sacrificing champion of average Americans and a heroic crusader against "corruption."
I think it boils down to: "He shares my deepest prejudices."
These are our fellow citizens.
But they think you're not a "real American."
Me Thinks "MAGA" 86ed THEMSELVES from reality
Shameless greed. This is what JVL is referring to when he talks about the decadence of our society. Russian money, yes, thank you.