Interesting that moments before I opened this newsletter, I shot off messages to my senators and representative regarding the Trump slush fund from hell. I don't expect a quick responses, but will pass them on if and when I get them.
Also, let's not forget that payments from this fund won't be limited to J6 rioters. Trump's hand-picked Board will be able to hand money out to just about anyone.
This is straight up embezzlement of taxpayer funds, so I think the fund should be called the MEGA (Make Embezzlement Great Again) Fund.
Well, there are at least two lawsuits going now, but why couldn't every police officer in DC not get compensated?
Republican Congressman Andrew Clyde has already said he's thinking of applying for money:
"The Georgia Republican argued that he had been previously targeted by the IRS and had to forfeit assets to the tune of $1 million. Clyde won most of the money back after he took the IRS to court, but he told Politico that he still has considerable legal fees from the endeavor."
Dale - when I called on Tuesday, none of mine had office staff able to give me the senator/rep's position on the slush fund, but all 3 staffers did correct me to say it was "the anti-weaponization fund." So they don't know what they think about it but they sure as hell weren't going to leave me with the impression it was some sort of unappropriated presidential boondoggle! Goodness NO!
Should we take comfort that some Republicans are pushing back on the stupidest, most offensive act this administration has taken: to enrich convicted felons and give American tax dollars to people who tried to overthrow the governmnet?
It’s a small comfort, but feel free to take it. My analysis is that the Republicans, some of them, smell blood in the water. Trump is the alpha male of the tribe who is noticeably getting old, sick, and ripe for being toppled. The young bucks can sense it, they smell the weakness. The ones who have been primaried have nothing to lose by voting NO on anything the administration puts before them from now til January. And the bitter ones want revenge. Fun times ahead.
No mention of the audit immunity? Why do I think that while the $1.776 billion for Trumpists who feel they were wronged is getting most attention, what is really important to Trump is the audit immunity--which is just as egregious as the thug fund but much more personal?
Anything this Congress passes by reconciliation can be repealed by reconciliation when Democrats get control. Something tells me the next Dem Admin is going to have the IRS crawling so far up Trump's ass, they'll be able to see out of his eyes.
Maybe Dems in the House should bring a resolution to impeach acting AG Blanche for brokering this wildly corrupt slush fund at a time gas and grocery prices are out of control. Make Republicans defend it before the coming election.
Got to give Trump credit for one thing, when he appoints a lackey and they underachieve at their lackeyness, he kicks them to the curb in favor of an even bigger lackey. At least in this term. Noem was an attention wh*re who brought all the wrong kind of heat down on the Admin, so she was booted in favor of the odious Mullin, who carrying out the same policies in a much quieter and under the radar way. Bondi was too incompetent to carry-out basic marching orders, so he replaced her with his private attorney, Blanche, who at least seems to be willing and able to articulate and try to implement Trump's intentions. In every case, the replacement is worse, if only because they are more competent at doing, or at least trying to do, Trump's vile bidding.
Nothing will prevent the ONF (orange narcissist-felon) from paying nothing to anyone and pocketing it all: no accounting, no legal recourse, no nothing.
Tell it for what it is: the looting of taxpayer monies to benefit the ONF, his family and (maybe) his friends and cult followers, unless individuals with legal, governmental, ethical, moral and spinal values stand up and stop him. This, while the ONF's and his regime's policies gut essentially every major element of governmental benefit to millions.
All this while the moneyed influencers laugh all the way to the bank.
The DOJ is removing linked references to J6 convictions from its website. Trump pardoned almost all of them and commuted sentences of the ones he didn't pardon and now he's trying to buy their continued loyalty after wiping the J6 slate clean. He's requesting $1 billion for "security" for the White House grounds and new bunker/ballroom. The GOP states slavishly redistricted in order to add a dozen Republican seats to the House of Representatives and the Senate is more likely to stay Red than turn Blue. Most of the GOP states are on board with calling for a Constitutional Convention. Both Trump and Vance befriend defacto dictators, and billionaire donors support whoever promises them the best opportunity to make themselves even richer--"promoting the General Welfare"-- in the preamble of the Constitution be damned. I wish the connection between all these events, efforts, and trends wasn't so easy to draw because it doesn't portend well for the future of a democratic United States.
Aside from the absurdity of Trump effectively sound and settling with himself and the absurdity that the settlement would hand taxpayer $ to people who were not parties to the litigation for alleged mistreatment that was not relevant to the lawsuit, all that aside, the supposed settlement would take $ appropriated by Congress for a totally random use decided by the president. Why have a budget at all?
If a Democrat announced he was doing this, and giving the money to randos who's "civil rights were violated" by (take your pick of the oppressor), the cries of anger would shake the roof off the Capitol. It's one of the most brazen and craven ideas ever proposed by a president. Thankfully, with Mitch and Tillis opposed, this will never pass. No way Murk and Collins vote for this, and even Fetterman is not lame or corrupt enough to help Trump get to 50.
I agree with your position, but I am leaning on “prayer and hope” that the Republicans will find a stiffened spin, a coal-cleaned heart, and a brain cleansed of ashes to do the right thing. Their “dear leader” is simply not well at all. His MAGA and greedy rich followers have failed to think about us, the taxpayers. Prayers and Fingers crossed!!🛐🤞🏻
ESPECIALLY in an election year. With THIS economy, a war in Iran, unless you're in an R+25 district like mine, you'd be committing political suicide (I would hope!).
Sko - I'm in Indiana, +19 for Trump in 2024. One of our Senators tweeted yesterday, "Trump’s new Triumphal Arch is a monument to American greatness," linking to his op-ed on The Glorious Leader's mighty monument... probably polishing up his slush fund piece for Monday 😡
Vermin Supreme is a jokester anarchist who pokes fun at American politics in general, and while he regularly runs, the whole point of his running is to ridicule the whole process. That and the boot on his head is part of his costume. You can't argue with tradition. ;)
Something popped into my head reading part 1, which is this Traitor Stimulus Fund creates a ruby red line as to Republicans who are MAGA and those who are not. Trump essentially set Republicans up to fail. Either they block reparations for MAGA or they stay in the good graces and approve it. You can bet that Trump will hang no votes around the necks wherever he can in his effort to replace them. As we’ve seen before, it doesn’t matter what you did in the past, only whether they provide value now.
This is Trump's last election as a true GOP power broker. Oh, he will be the primary kingmaker in 2028 for the nomination, but I doubt he'll give a flying f*ck about Congressional races - and a Dem in going to win that election, anyway. After 2028, he might not live to see the 2032 election, and if he does, he'll be old news by then. His only remaining influence will be with the few deadenders who will go to their grave believing that Donald Trump was the greatest president since George Washington.
Only a few election cycles ago, Libertarians in Iowa fielded candidates for most statewide and federal offices.
This year they are trying to get candidates for U.S. Senate and governor on the ballot, and maybe a smattering of state legislative candidates, but otherwise not competing.
Libertarians also went to court (successfully) after Iowa Republicans tried in 2019 to move the filing deadline for third-party candidates from late August to mid-March. But when they enacted a law last year moving up the filing deadline to the date of the primary election (early June), Libertarians didn't have their act together to file a lawsuit.
Wouldn't congress need a veto-proof majority to stop the Payoffs for Jackoffs fund? Also, couldn't Trump move the funds out of the U.S. treasury before Congress passes a bill, putting it beyond their reach?
Interesting that moments before I opened this newsletter, I shot off messages to my senators and representative regarding the Trump slush fund from hell. I don't expect a quick responses, but will pass them on if and when I get them.
Also, let's not forget that payments from this fund won't be limited to J6 rioters. Trump's hand-picked Board will be able to hand money out to just about anyone.
This is straight up embezzlement of taxpayer funds, so I think the fund should be called the MEGA (Make Embezzlement Great Again) Fund.
Well, there are at least two lawsuits going now, but why couldn't every police officer in DC not get compensated?
Republican Congressman Andrew Clyde has already said he's thinking of applying for money:
"The Georgia Republican argued that he had been previously targeted by the IRS and had to forfeit assets to the tune of $1 million. Clyde won most of the money back after he took the IRS to court, but he told Politico that he still has considerable legal fees from the endeavor."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/republican-rep-wants-steal-americans-192951774.html
Dale - when I called on Tuesday, none of mine had office staff able to give me the senator/rep's position on the slush fund, but all 3 staffers did correct me to say it was "the anti-weaponization fund." So they don't know what they think about it but they sure as hell weren't going to leave me with the impression it was some sort of unappropriated presidential boondoggle! Goodness NO!
Should we take comfort that some Republicans are pushing back on the stupidest, most offensive act this administration has taken: to enrich convicted felons and give American tax dollars to people who tried to overthrow the governmnet?
It’s a small comfort, but feel free to take it. My analysis is that the Republicans, some of them, smell blood in the water. Trump is the alpha male of the tribe who is noticeably getting old, sick, and ripe for being toppled. The young bucks can sense it, they smell the weakness. The ones who have been primaried have nothing to lose by voting NO on anything the administration puts before them from now til January. And the bitter ones want revenge. Fun times ahead.
Leonard - maybe they're just jealous they don't think there's gonna be any crumbs from it falling their way?
No mention of the audit immunity? Why do I think that while the $1.776 billion for Trumpists who feel they were wronged is getting most attention, what is really important to Trump is the audit immunity--which is just as egregious as the thug fund but much more personal?
Anything this Congress passes by reconciliation can be repealed by reconciliation when Democrats get control. Something tells me the next Dem Admin is going to have the IRS crawling so far up Trump's ass, they'll be able to see out of his eyes.
The visual image you have put forth here has made my day. Thank you.
Maybe Dems in the House should bring a resolution to impeach acting AG Blanche for brokering this wildly corrupt slush fund at a time gas and grocery prices are out of control. Make Republicans defend it before the coming election.
Got to give Trump credit for one thing, when he appoints a lackey and they underachieve at their lackeyness, he kicks them to the curb in favor of an even bigger lackey. At least in this term. Noem was an attention wh*re who brought all the wrong kind of heat down on the Admin, so she was booted in favor of the odious Mullin, who carrying out the same policies in a much quieter and under the radar way. Bondi was too incompetent to carry-out basic marching orders, so he replaced her with his private attorney, Blanche, who at least seems to be willing and able to articulate and try to implement Trump's intentions. In every case, the replacement is worse, if only because they are more competent at doing, or at least trying to do, Trump's vile bidding.
This is all specious speculation.
Nothing will prevent the ONF (orange narcissist-felon) from paying nothing to anyone and pocketing it all: no accounting, no legal recourse, no nothing.
Tell it for what it is: the looting of taxpayer monies to benefit the ONF, his family and (maybe) his friends and cult followers, unless individuals with legal, governmental, ethical, moral and spinal values stand up and stop him. This, while the ONF's and his regime's policies gut essentially every major element of governmental benefit to millions.
All this while the moneyed influencers laugh all the way to the bank.
Oh, yeah, Trump is like a mob boss, he has to get his cut of "protection money". They'll be lucky to end up with $50 each if this thing goes through.
The DOJ is removing linked references to J6 convictions from its website. Trump pardoned almost all of them and commuted sentences of the ones he didn't pardon and now he's trying to buy their continued loyalty after wiping the J6 slate clean. He's requesting $1 billion for "security" for the White House grounds and new bunker/ballroom. The GOP states slavishly redistricted in order to add a dozen Republican seats to the House of Representatives and the Senate is more likely to stay Red than turn Blue. Most of the GOP states are on board with calling for a Constitutional Convention. Both Trump and Vance befriend defacto dictators, and billionaire donors support whoever promises them the best opportunity to make themselves even richer--"promoting the General Welfare"-- in the preamble of the Constitution be damned. I wish the connection between all these events, efforts, and trends wasn't so easy to draw because it doesn't portend well for the future of a democratic United States.
MAGA turns out to be really dictator friendly. I didn’t have that one on my bingo card.
The original America First in the 1930s was favourable to Hitler.
Aside from the absurdity of Trump effectively sound and settling with himself and the absurdity that the settlement would hand taxpayer $ to people who were not parties to the litigation for alleged mistreatment that was not relevant to the lawsuit, all that aside, the supposed settlement would take $ appropriated by Congress for a totally random use decided by the president. Why have a budget at all?
If a Democrat announced he was doing this, and giving the money to randos who's "civil rights were violated" by (take your pick of the oppressor), the cries of anger would shake the roof off the Capitol. It's one of the most brazen and craven ideas ever proposed by a president. Thankfully, with Mitch and Tillis opposed, this will never pass. No way Murk and Collins vote for this, and even Fetterman is not lame or corrupt enough to help Trump get to 50.
Not that my opinion means squat, but I don’t see any way republicans let this fund stand.
I agree with your position, but I am leaning on “prayer and hope” that the Republicans will find a stiffened spin, a coal-cleaned heart, and a brain cleansed of ashes to do the right thing. Their “dear leader” is simply not well at all. His MAGA and greedy rich followers have failed to think about us, the taxpayers. Prayers and Fingers crossed!!🛐🤞🏻
ESPECIALLY in an election year. With THIS economy, a war in Iran, unless you're in an R+25 district like mine, you'd be committing political suicide (I would hope!).
Sko - I'm in Indiana, +19 for Trump in 2024. One of our Senators tweeted yesterday, "Trump’s new Triumphal Arch is a monument to American greatness," linking to his op-ed on The Glorious Leader's mighty monument... probably polishing up his slush fund piece for Monday 😡
Republicans can't let this happen. Like paying the hitman sent to kill you.
Joe,
I appreciate your insight!
While I was born at night, it wasn't last night.
I have absolutely no confidence that ReTrumplican'ts who "see no bullshit, hear no bullshit, and condone the bullshit" will do the right thing.
C.
Vermin Supreme is a jokester anarchist who pokes fun at American politics in general, and while he regularly runs, the whole point of his running is to ridicule the whole process. That and the boot on his head is part of his costume. You can't argue with tradition. ;)
So is this Emo Caucus more Rites of Spring or more Dashboard Confessional? Or is it more just about the black fingernails and floppy hair?
Something popped into my head reading part 1, which is this Traitor Stimulus Fund creates a ruby red line as to Republicans who are MAGA and those who are not. Trump essentially set Republicans up to fail. Either they block reparations for MAGA or they stay in the good graces and approve it. You can bet that Trump will hang no votes around the necks wherever he can in his effort to replace them. As we’ve seen before, it doesn’t matter what you did in the past, only whether they provide value now.
This is Trump's last election as a true GOP power broker. Oh, he will be the primary kingmaker in 2028 for the nomination, but I doubt he'll give a flying f*ck about Congressional races - and a Dem in going to win that election, anyway. After 2028, he might not live to see the 2032 election, and if he does, he'll be old news by then. His only remaining influence will be with the few deadenders who will go to their grave believing that Donald Trump was the greatest president since George Washington.
Helpful, thanks. This outrage stands above all others, and that's saying a lot.
Only a few election cycles ago, Libertarians in Iowa fielded candidates for most statewide and federal offices.
This year they are trying to get candidates for U.S. Senate and governor on the ballot, and maybe a smattering of state legislative candidates, but otherwise not competing.
Libertarians also went to court (successfully) after Iowa Republicans tried in 2019 to move the filing deadline for third-party candidates from late August to mid-March. But when they enacted a law last year moving up the filing deadline to the date of the primary election (early June), Libertarians didn't have their act together to file a lawsuit.
Wouldn't congress need a veto-proof majority to stop the Payoffs for Jackoffs fund? Also, couldn't Trump move the funds out of the U.S. treasury before Congress passes a bill, putting it beyond their reach?