This administration's unprecedented corruption -- made possible only by a Republican legislature and fawning conservative majority on the Supreme Court -- must remain front and center. Democrats must run on the promise that the first vote they bring to the floor in the House will be on whether the President can keep his plane. In other words, they should run on the promise to exercise Congress's power under the Emoluments Clause and vote on whether the president may keep this extravagant gift from a foreign power. This will surely put pressure on House Republicans before and after the midterms. They are getting a free pass right now and are willfully ignoring the issue. Make them take a vote! Make them defend this corruption on the record on the House floor. Trump may keep his plane if Congress votes to let him BUT only a Dem majority will make that vote happen. It will put Republicans in a bind, and the spectacle will remain in the news cycle. The same may be said of all the foreign payments he is receiving through his crypto and real estate interests.
Of course trump expressed no condolences for the slain officer, he took one look at his picture and noted "incompetent DEI hire." It is his administrations answer to anything he doesn't like
May the memory of Officer David Rose be a blessing. He was an American hero.
As for Trump and Jr., they never sacrificed. They never served. They never wore the uniform. And perhaps more than anyone else, they personify the cultural depravity in the contemporary United States and profound moral decay that has occurred here over the last ten years.
Their malevolence and madness is going to bring sheer devastation to the American people. Mark my words!
Thank you for the article about David Rose. There hasn't been enough attention paid to him and his honorable life. He rushed to the shooting to do his duty. Trump and Kennedy barely took notice.
These sad reports only serve to deepen my commitment to keep the resistance going. I'm not sure why the country seems so soporific just now. Maybe it is information overload, or worse, they are buying the lies that Trump is selling. I know that he will die, probably in office, and that there will be needed deep and sweeping change in the wake of MAGA's passing. Reform. Rebuild. Rejoice.
Thank you for the tribute to Officer Rose and for reprinting the cri de coeur from the embattled CDC employees. Thank you for calling the corruption and craziness what it is. That is why I subscribed.
Before I posted this, I thought I’d check to see if Trump had said anything about David Rose. Nope. Still nothing. But I did see a posting from RFK, Jr. claiming that Trump is the “most empathetic person that I know”. Here’s one thing that I know – if you have to tell people that someone is empathetic, they aren’t.
There is a style of decoration known as narco chic. Kitch is the politest thing you can say about it, but it is characterized by a complete lack of taste with gaudy being the primary motif. It's the kind of thing that a narco who grew up on the streets thinks is the way rich, cultured people decorate their homes. An analogy would be Newt Gingrich Is ‘A Stupid Man’s Idea Of What A Smart Person Sounds Like’. In Zimbabwe narco chic describes Mugabe's palaces. In the US, narco chic describes agent Krasnov's residences.
The idea that those who govern our nation think that a UFC gladiatorial is appropriate to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is disgusting. Of course, it’s in a long line of disgusting actions from Trump and his minions.
William Kristol wrote (in connection with the murder of David Rose, a Marine veteran who joined the Atlanta police after having served in Afghanistan and who died while defending CDC employee from a person enraged by the lies that the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the president of the United States have told about the CDC):
*****It’s sad but true: Contemptible men occupy the highest offices in our land.
[...]
For their whole lives, Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have run away not merely from danger (recall Trump’s bone spurs) but from responsibility and accountability. They have gotten away with contemptible behavior. They occupy high public office after living sordid lives of wealth and privilege. They have paid no price for their irresponsibility and cowardice.
The contrast with David Rose, Marine and police officer, who lived far too short a life of courage and public service, is striking.
One would like to think that David Rose represents the real and lasting America. One would like to think that Trump and Kennedy are sad historical aberrations whose current prominence and power we will one day—perhaps one day soon—look back on with horror and disgust.*****
.
Marcy Wheeler is one of the sharpest analysts of the once and current president's authoritarian and criminal activities and that of his hench-people, allies and manipulators in the United States and abroad (Russia principally).
In addition to her highly detailed and perceptive legal analysis, Wheeler shares astute political observations and advice. Kristol's essay reminds me of a piece that Wheeler published yesterday: "Don’t Be Distracted from Trump’s Filth." Excerpts below the link:
*****A man just moved the woman who “stole” his spa girls and turned one into a sex slave into comfier prison digs to prevent her from revealing the dirt she has on him, and we’re losing the battle over who is filth.
It is my belief that this failure of messaging — the left’s inability to remain laser-focused on not just Trump’s crimes, but the impact of them — is the real reason Trump got reelected in spite of the fact that he’s a thuggish criminal (though the fact that most lefties wanted to spread conspiracy theories about Merrick Garland instead of focusing on Trump’s crimes didn’t help). I mean, some of the voices who were most focused on Trump’s crimes — Dan Goldman and. Ryan Goodman — confessed during the transition not only that they didn’t know what had been made public before the election, much less hammer Trump on those public details, but were misinforming people about key details.
People got bored and that created a vacuum Trump exploited.
Voters didn’t factor Trump’s history of sex crimes, fraud, and fascism into their vote because Trump’s opponents failed to prosecute the issue in the public sphere on a daily basis even as Trump spun a tale of grievance that actually attracted younger voters. And unless we fix this — unless we find a message that a President who pardoned cop assailants, freed terrorists, and may soon free the sex predator who “stole” his girls is filth — we will not defeat this fascist onslaught.*****
This administration's unprecedented corruption -- made possible only by a Republican legislature and fawning conservative majority on the Supreme Court -- must remain front and center. Democrats must run on the promise that the first vote they bring to the floor in the House will be on whether the President can keep his plane. In other words, they should run on the promise to exercise Congress's power under the Emoluments Clause and vote on whether the president may keep this extravagant gift from a foreign power. This will surely put pressure on House Republicans before and after the midterms. They are getting a free pass right now and are willfully ignoring the issue. Make them take a vote! Make them defend this corruption on the record on the House floor. Trump may keep his plane if Congress votes to let him BUT only a Dem majority will make that vote happen. It will put Republicans in a bind, and the spectacle will remain in the news cycle. The same may be said of all the foreign payments he is receiving through his crypto and real estate interests.
Doggone speed reading. I thought it said Trump's new BS commissioner.
"Trump’s new BLS commissioner nominee"
(Funny how the mind works.)
Of course trump expressed no condolences for the slain officer, he took one look at his picture and noted "incompetent DEI hire." It is his administrations answer to anything he doesn't like
Bill,
May the memory of Officer David Rose be a blessing. He was an American hero.
As for Trump and Jr., they never sacrificed. They never served. They never wore the uniform. And perhaps more than anyone else, they personify the cultural depravity in the contemporary United States and profound moral decay that has occurred here over the last ten years.
Their malevolence and madness is going to bring sheer devastation to the American people. Mark my words!
Thank you for the article about David Rose. There hasn't been enough attention paid to him and his honorable life. He rushed to the shooting to do his duty. Trump and Kennedy barely took notice.
These sad reports only serve to deepen my commitment to keep the resistance going. I'm not sure why the country seems so soporific just now. Maybe it is information overload, or worse, they are buying the lies that Trump is selling. I know that he will die, probably in office, and that there will be needed deep and sweeping change in the wake of MAGA's passing. Reform. Rebuild. Rejoice.
Cage fight on the South Lawn?.? We are truly in Idiocracy land. If you haven’t recently watched that movie, pull it up and weep for us.
Officer Rose was a hero, and a true American, in contrast to the kleptocrats and conspiracy theorists who are infesting our democracy.
Thank you for the tribute to Officer Rose and for reprinting the cri de coeur from the embattled CDC employees. Thank you for calling the corruption and craziness what it is. That is why I subscribed.
Bill's story and the contrast between Officer David Rose and RFK Jr and Cheeto Jesus is just too infuriating for words.
Before I posted this, I thought I’d check to see if Trump had said anything about David Rose. Nope. Still nothing. But I did see a posting from RFK, Jr. claiming that Trump is the “most empathetic person that I know”. Here’s one thing that I know – if you have to tell people that someone is empathetic, they aren’t.
Thank you for telling us about Officer Rose. It choked me up.
There is a style of decoration known as narco chic. Kitch is the politest thing you can say about it, but it is characterized by a complete lack of taste with gaudy being the primary motif. It's the kind of thing that a narco who grew up on the streets thinks is the way rich, cultured people decorate their homes. An analogy would be Newt Gingrich Is ‘A Stupid Man’s Idea Of What A Smart Person Sounds Like’. In Zimbabwe narco chic describes Mugabe's palaces. In the US, narco chic describes agent Krasnov's residences.
Thank you, Bill. Excellent article.
The idea that those who govern our nation think that a UFC gladiatorial is appropriate to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is disgusting. Of course, it’s in a long line of disgusting actions from Trump and his minions.
William Kristol wrote (in connection with the murder of David Rose, a Marine veteran who joined the Atlanta police after having served in Afghanistan and who died while defending CDC employee from a person enraged by the lies that the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the president of the United States have told about the CDC):
*****It’s sad but true: Contemptible men occupy the highest offices in our land.
[...]
For their whole lives, Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have run away not merely from danger (recall Trump’s bone spurs) but from responsibility and accountability. They have gotten away with contemptible behavior. They occupy high public office after living sordid lives of wealth and privilege. They have paid no price for their irresponsibility and cowardice.
The contrast with David Rose, Marine and police officer, who lived far too short a life of courage and public service, is striking.
One would like to think that David Rose represents the real and lasting America. One would like to think that Trump and Kennedy are sad historical aberrations whose current prominence and power we will one day—perhaps one day soon—look back on with horror and disgust.*****
.
Marcy Wheeler is one of the sharpest analysts of the once and current president's authoritarian and criminal activities and that of his hench-people, allies and manipulators in the United States and abroad (Russia principally).
In addition to her highly detailed and perceptive legal analysis, Wheeler shares astute political observations and advice. Kristol's essay reminds me of a piece that Wheeler published yesterday: "Don’t Be Distracted from Trump’s Filth." Excerpts below the link:
.
https://www.emptywheel.net/2025/08/12/dont-be-distracted-from-trumps-filth/
*****A man just moved the woman who “stole” his spa girls and turned one into a sex slave into comfier prison digs to prevent her from revealing the dirt she has on him, and we’re losing the battle over who is filth.
It is my belief that this failure of messaging — the left’s inability to remain laser-focused on not just Trump’s crimes, but the impact of them — is the real reason Trump got reelected in spite of the fact that he’s a thuggish criminal (though the fact that most lefties wanted to spread conspiracy theories about Merrick Garland instead of focusing on Trump’s crimes didn’t help). I mean, some of the voices who were most focused on Trump’s crimes — Dan Goldman and. Ryan Goodman — confessed during the transition not only that they didn’t know what had been made public before the election, much less hammer Trump on those public details, but were misinforming people about key details.
People got bored and that created a vacuum Trump exploited.
Voters didn’t factor Trump’s history of sex crimes, fraud, and fascism into their vote because Trump’s opponents failed to prosecute the issue in the public sphere on a daily basis even as Trump spun a tale of grievance that actually attracted younger voters. And unless we fix this — unless we find a message that a President who pardoned cop assailants, freed terrorists, and may soon free the sex predator who “stole” his girls is filth — we will not defeat this fascist onslaught.*****
So much for a pleasant retirement...