That last sentence over and over again. Tearing down his monstrosities, erasing his name and face from public edifices, and stripping out all his gold gewgaws will be a cathartic effort for all Americans!
Sort of like getting rid of all those Confederate statutes . . . Trump probably isn't aware of how the traces of Hitler, Stalin, Gaddafy, and Saddam Hussein were erased after their passing. Or, except in the case of Stalin, how their passing came about.
A hospital??? Who will permanently staff the hospital? Who will pay for the staff, medicines and expensive medical devices as well as upgrades and service to those devices? What about those medicines? They do expire. And, ultimately, who will be allowed to go to that hospital? What a ridiculously absurd claim to make.
Re: the hospital. This would allow the president to receive the kind of treatment not currently available at the White House. In secret. It’s not normally possible to make trips to Walter Reed unnoticed. This makes me wonder if this is about Trump’s regular treatment, and not some potential future disaster.
Recommending this article from The Atlantic. "Hitler’s Edifice Complex"
Subheading: He was obsessed with adding an expensive new wing to the Reich Chancellery, part of his grandiose architectural ambitions for the nation’s capital. By Timothy W. Ryback
Disturbing parallels. It is behind a paywall if you have hit a monthly limit, not sure if the gift link works for all (as in this forum).
For a man who boasted “only I can fix it” and “the president can do anything”, the rude awakening cometh. In rushes. No arbitrary ballroom, no birthright citizenship extermination, no Noem, no Bondi. Republicans are fleeing both houses of congress, his popularity is plummeting, Epstein still towers, and the Unnecessary War …
Great summary of the ruling. I'd also like to point out that there is actually a fair amount of law, tax law, governing when something is maintenance and when it's a capital expenditure. Maintenance expenses can be deducted in the year incurred, while the cost of most capital expenditures must be recovered through depreciation, amortization or depletion over the tax life of the asset. Although tax law is not controlling in this case, there are abundant discussions and definitions of the distinction between the two concepts. FYI: Years and years ago, Congress created the Investment Tax Credit for many business items. No credit was allowed, however, for permanent attachments to buildings, such as HVAC systems, walls, etc. Corporations found a loophole in movable walls which were not attached to the building, hence the creation of the cubicle which did qualify for the credit.
Wow. Thanks so much. I knew the ballroom was a terrible idea even before the "national security" angle came to light, but you've shown with great clarity why it's also illegal. Now I'm wondering if the Republicans in Congress have the guts to stand up to Trump (and Miller et al.) if he comes to them with MAGA cap in hand.
Truth is stranger than fiction. If someone put this in a plot line it would be rejected as too ludicrous. Reading through this I hear the Seinfeld music when scenes changed.
Not his thinking about legal justifications. Trump does not care about those, does not trust legal reasons. He just wants it and demands his lawyers make it happen.
I am trying to figure out his emotional reasons and whether it includes ANY political calculations.
Listing possible motivations:
He really likes to build big things and get credit for it.
He likes the pomp and extravagance of something built for the 'upper class' to enjoy, because Ballrooms are not for the 'peasants'.
It is a convenient distraction to get people to talk about something other than the Epstein files.
It is a convenient distraction for Trump, so those he has empowered can use their power for their agendas.
He thinks it makes him look strong and powerful. Like his strong Dictator buddies, like Putin.
He wants to lose the midterms. Think of it this way, as long as he has a Republican Congress, he does not have the Democrats to blame for everything. He will still ignore congress in any case. He will claim the elections were stolen because he could not get all his 'election protections' in place...
Trump NEVER accepts Responsibility, for anything. He claims credit for everything 'good', but never responsibility.
It appears that Trump ran a shadow government in parallel with Biden's, controlling the Republicans in Congress as well as the Supreme Court. What makes anyone think this wouldn't happen again if he lost, assuming we have fair elections which is a rather optimistic assumption?
Of course he will, which is why assuming all Democrats need to do is establish investigative committees to subpoena people who will NOT answer questions is just plain silly.
We ALREADY have, in the public record, often out of his own mouth or postings, evidence of countless crimes. Seriously countless. I dare anyone to come up with a complete count of all the crimes Trump has committed while in office (both terms count for this purpose) and other (non partisan) reasons for his removal from office.
Just counting the categories for his crimes is a challenge (I am sure the number is over 20). Add them all up, list them, provide links to the evidence, reason it is a crime, reason it matters, damage done and put it in a website where everyone can see it without having to wade through pleas for donations. Make it factual and not hyper partisan. Let MAGA be the ones with TDS, we are simply trying to follow the constitution and remove a VERY damaged president.
With control of the senate, we can shift the rules so that the burden is placed on the senators as to how long the trial goes on. Republicans have made it clear, impeachment is NOT a court trial, and we need to adapt. The REAL jury is the public, the ones who can vote their Senators out of office. SELL it to the public, and make it dramatic, constant news about each and every one of his crimes, in chronological order (As opposed to categories) so it helps things make sense to the people.
Include his first two impeachments, since many Senators claimed they voted against it for reasons not related to his guilt, each time. Do NOT delay the process, since that just gives Trump more time to do crimes. Include his pardons, especially of J6 convicts, as it violates (again) the 14th amendment, Section 3. SO MUCH MORE, already obvious, already evidence in public... Especially when you address how he is ruling as a 'Unitary Executive" meaning the crimes he does not stop his subordinates from committing are HIS crimes.
I would love to wield a sledgehammer if this monstrosity is ever built. Perhaps Mar a Lago will serve as a reminder much in the same way that Nazi constructions are preserved in Germany.
That last sentence over and over again. Tearing down his monstrosities, erasing his name and face from public edifices, and stripping out all his gold gewgaws will be a cathartic effort for all Americans!
Sort of like getting rid of all those Confederate statutes . . . Trump probably isn't aware of how the traces of Hitler, Stalin, Gaddafy, and Saddam Hussein were erased after their passing. Or, except in the case of Stalin, how their passing came about.
A hospital??? Who will permanently staff the hospital? Who will pay for the staff, medicines and expensive medical devices as well as upgrades and service to those devices? What about those medicines? They do expire. And, ultimately, who will be allowed to go to that hospital? What a ridiculously absurd claim to make.
Re: the hospital. This would allow the president to receive the kind of treatment not currently available at the White House. In secret. It’s not normally possible to make trips to Walter Reed unnoticed. This makes me wonder if this is about Trump’s regular treatment, and not some potential future disaster.
Recommending this article from The Atlantic. "Hitler’s Edifice Complex"
Subheading: He was obsessed with adding an expensive new wing to the Reich Chancellery, part of his grandiose architectural ambitions for the nation’s capital. By Timothy W. Ryback
Disturbing parallels. It is behind a paywall if you have hit a monthly limit, not sure if the gift link works for all (as in this forum).
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/hitlers-edifice-complex/686662/
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/hitlers-edifice-complex/686662/?gift=UHeHt3VJRyQvdAJNFNkjX0qAWFojFFA2oZJnvwZ3oBc&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
This Atlantic subscriber noticed the similarities!
For a man who boasted “only I can fix it” and “the president can do anything”, the rude awakening cometh. In rushes. No arbitrary ballroom, no birthright citizenship extermination, no Noem, no Bondi. Republicans are fleeing both houses of congress, his popularity is plummeting, Epstein still towers, and the Unnecessary War …
Great summary of the ruling. I'd also like to point out that there is actually a fair amount of law, tax law, governing when something is maintenance and when it's a capital expenditure. Maintenance expenses can be deducted in the year incurred, while the cost of most capital expenditures must be recovered through depreciation, amortization or depletion over the tax life of the asset. Although tax law is not controlling in this case, there are abundant discussions and definitions of the distinction between the two concepts. FYI: Years and years ago, Congress created the Investment Tax Credit for many business items. No credit was allowed, however, for permanent attachments to buildings, such as HVAC systems, walls, etc. Corporations found a loophole in movable walls which were not attached to the building, hence the creation of the cubicle which did qualify for the credit.
Very interesting. I loathed cubicles - very noisy, greatly reducing productivity.
Wow. Thanks so much. I knew the ballroom was a terrible idea even before the "national security" angle came to light, but you've shown with great clarity why it's also illegal. Now I'm wondering if the Republicans in Congress have the guts to stand up to Trump (and Miller et al.) if he comes to them with MAGA cap in hand.
I don’t think his ego will ever let him ask Congress for permission for anything. That’s not how a dictator operates.
Thanks, Liz. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but am I the only person seeing parallels to “Red Dawn” and “The 100”? 😞
Truth is stranger than fiction. If someone put this in a plot line it would be rejected as too ludicrous. Reading through this I hear the Seinfeld music when scenes changed.
I am trying to figure out Trump's thinking here.
Not his thinking about legal justifications. Trump does not care about those, does not trust legal reasons. He just wants it and demands his lawyers make it happen.
I am trying to figure out his emotional reasons and whether it includes ANY political calculations.
Listing possible motivations:
He really likes to build big things and get credit for it.
He likes the pomp and extravagance of something built for the 'upper class' to enjoy, because Ballrooms are not for the 'peasants'.
It is a convenient distraction to get people to talk about something other than the Epstein files.
It is a convenient distraction for Trump, so those he has empowered can use their power for their agendas.
He thinks it makes him look strong and powerful. Like his strong Dictator buddies, like Putin.
He wants to lose the midterms. Think of it this way, as long as he has a Republican Congress, he does not have the Democrats to blame for everything. He will still ignore congress in any case. He will claim the elections were stolen because he could not get all his 'election protections' in place...
Trump NEVER accepts Responsibility, for anything. He claims credit for everything 'good', but never responsibility.
It appears that Trump ran a shadow government in parallel with Biden's, controlling the Republicans in Congress as well as the Supreme Court. What makes anyone think this wouldn't happen again if he lost, assuming we have fair elections which is a rather optimistic assumption?
Of course he will, which is why assuming all Democrats need to do is establish investigative committees to subpoena people who will NOT answer questions is just plain silly.
We ALREADY have, in the public record, often out of his own mouth or postings, evidence of countless crimes. Seriously countless. I dare anyone to come up with a complete count of all the crimes Trump has committed while in office (both terms count for this purpose) and other (non partisan) reasons for his removal from office.
Just counting the categories for his crimes is a challenge (I am sure the number is over 20). Add them all up, list them, provide links to the evidence, reason it is a crime, reason it matters, damage done and put it in a website where everyone can see it without having to wade through pleas for donations. Make it factual and not hyper partisan. Let MAGA be the ones with TDS, we are simply trying to follow the constitution and remove a VERY damaged president.
With control of the senate, we can shift the rules so that the burden is placed on the senators as to how long the trial goes on. Republicans have made it clear, impeachment is NOT a court trial, and we need to adapt. The REAL jury is the public, the ones who can vote their Senators out of office. SELL it to the public, and make it dramatic, constant news about each and every one of his crimes, in chronological order (As opposed to categories) so it helps things make sense to the people.
Include his first two impeachments, since many Senators claimed they voted against it for reasons not related to his guilt, each time. Do NOT delay the process, since that just gives Trump more time to do crimes. Include his pardons, especially of J6 convicts, as it violates (again) the 14th amendment, Section 3. SO MUCH MORE, already obvious, already evidence in public... Especially when you address how he is ruling as a 'Unitary Executive" meaning the crimes he does not stop his subordinates from committing are HIS crimes.
Well said. I couldn't agree more.
This insanity cries out for Jon Lovitz, and an SNL skit.
And just to say, the lunatic cooking it up is actually the president of the USA.
No words. You already know them.
I would love to wield a sledgehammer if this monstrosity is ever built. Perhaps Mar a Lago will serve as a reminder much in the same way that Nazi constructions are preserved in Germany.