At the same time, it has always struck me as odd that the leader of a democracy should live in a palace at all. In real democracies: Germany, Switzerland, the Nordics; heads of government mostly live in their own homes or modest residences, pay their own utilities, and commute to work like everyone else.
The White House was already a symbolic exception. Now it’s becoming Versailles.
This isn’t governance. It’s donor-funded monarchy cosplay.
Good post except for one glaring error: Trump did NOT win the election. The tabulation machines were hacked, the numbers they reported were different from the paper ballots that were fed into them. The evidence for this is clear and growing. This way out will eventually supplant all other discussion of the horrors of this insanity, but so far too many people are determined to ignore it. It's like the teens determined to spend the night in the haunted house even though the audience knows what's coming. Wake up. Turn your focus onto this.
All of us reading pieces like this are onto Trump's greed, corruption and lying. Unfortunately, many people get their "news" only from mainstream media. They don't even know what Trump is up to, let alone feel outrage about it. Preaching to the choir has no effect on the stupid Trump loyalists. Yes, I'm discouraged and have little hope for the future. I, along with millions of others, stood up and carried homemade signs expressing our disgust with Trump. But Trump explains that we are domestic terrorists paid by Soros, and there weren't any large groups anyway. So it didn't really happen. Case closed. I love this country, and what is happening makes me sick. But I see no solution now that Trump has seized power and there no guardrails.
I hear you, Edith. I keep wondering what the breaking point might be. When will enough people stand against the takeover? A general strike would need to have twice as many people participate as participated in the “No Kings” protests, and it’s not clear to me how cities like New York, Chicago, LA, etc. would significantly count towards a resistance. We also need a rally point and a government that is ready to take over, with clear objectives. It’s not coming from the Democrats at the moment…
So much to comment on, but I have two thoughts. First, any company which contributes to the demolition of the East Wing of the White House and construction of the so-called ball room should be called out and boycotted, especially the ones that have stockholders that may not feel as those running the companies.
Second, the money Trump is suing for, $230 million, was actually paid for by his PAC’s, an entirely legal action but it’s not “his money” at all. Same for the $15 million for the entirely legal search of Mar a Lago which did turn up exactly what the government was searching for. I cannot see any court yielding to his requests and especially if it came down to a jury trial.
I’m sure the people of the United States deeply want a Holiday Inn convention center attached to the newly refurbished Trump Bordello! Plenty of space for “The Little Girls’ Room”.
Right from the authoritarian playbook: build a gilded palace as a vanity project; other people pay as homage; no one else has a say because he can do as he pleases.
Excellent piece and thank you!
At the same time, it has always struck me as odd that the leader of a democracy should live in a palace at all. In real democracies: Germany, Switzerland, the Nordics; heads of government mostly live in their own homes or modest residences, pay their own utilities, and commute to work like everyone else.
The White House was already a symbolic exception. Now it’s becoming Versailles.
This isn’t governance. It’s donor-funded monarchy cosplay.
— Johan
Call him King Donald I, if you must. King Trump earns too much gravitas. Donald Tower confers the right ridiculousness upon the gilded vulgarian.
Good post except for one glaring error: Trump did NOT win the election. The tabulation machines were hacked, the numbers they reported were different from the paper ballots that were fed into them. The evidence for this is clear and growing. This way out will eventually supplant all other discussion of the horrors of this insanity, but so far too many people are determined to ignore it. It's like the teens determined to spend the night in the haunted house even though the audience knows what's coming. Wake up. Turn your focus onto this.
All of us reading pieces like this are onto Trump's greed, corruption and lying. Unfortunately, many people get their "news" only from mainstream media. They don't even know what Trump is up to, let alone feel outrage about it. Preaching to the choir has no effect on the stupid Trump loyalists. Yes, I'm discouraged and have little hope for the future. I, along with millions of others, stood up and carried homemade signs expressing our disgust with Trump. But Trump explains that we are domestic terrorists paid by Soros, and there weren't any large groups anyway. So it didn't really happen. Case closed. I love this country, and what is happening makes me sick. But I see no solution now that Trump has seized power and there no guardrails.
I hear you, Edith. I keep wondering what the breaking point might be. When will enough people stand against the takeover? A general strike would need to have twice as many people participate as participated in the “No Kings” protests, and it’s not clear to me how cities like New York, Chicago, LA, etc. would significantly count towards a resistance. We also need a rally point and a government that is ready to take over, with clear objectives. It’s not coming from the Democrats at the moment…
There is no “breaking point” … borders are as soggy and trustworthy as the “man” himself.
I mean breaking point of “the masses”…or are we mere cattle ready to be culled?
Moos likely.
So much to comment on, but I have two thoughts. First, any company which contributes to the demolition of the East Wing of the White House and construction of the so-called ball room should be called out and boycotted, especially the ones that have stockholders that may not feel as those running the companies.
Second, the money Trump is suing for, $230 million, was actually paid for by his PAC’s, an entirely legal action but it’s not “his money” at all. Same for the $15 million for the entirely legal search of Mar a Lago which did turn up exactly what the government was searching for. I cannot see any court yielding to his requests and especially if it came down to a jury trial.
I’m sure the people of the United States deeply want a Holiday Inn convention center attached to the newly refurbished Trump Bordello! Plenty of space for “The Little Girls’ Room”.
I absolutely love the snark… It’s so appropriate and fitting. I listened to this Substack 3 times.
Right from the authoritarian playbook: build a gilded palace as a vanity project; other people pay as homage; no one else has a say because he can do as he pleases.
It is all indefensible. Call your reps and senators every day. Resist. Resist resist.