Day 1016 – Tiny Hands, Big Questions

Friday, November 3, 2023

This week we have seen the bombing of Gaza killing hundreds if not thousands, Trump’s boys as witnesses in a civil fraud case, the head of FTX the crypto exchange found guilty on all charges, the Senate finally getting fed up with Tommy Tuberville’s antics, and Republican senators outraged that someone wants to question the billionaires that gave tons of money to a Supreme Court justice. Meanwhile, the Speaker of The House put a bill on the floor giving aid to Israel but not Ukraine and cutting funding to the IRS.

And what is the Supreme Court doing? Considering whether a t-shirt maker has the right to trademark the slogan “Trump Too Small”.

Tuberville, who has no military experience, says his holds for nine months do not affect our military readiness. I hope that when Alabama asks for a military flyover at a football game they get a dilapidated bi-plane holding a banner saying something like – I dunno – something. “Tommy You Suck”?

Apparently, the Trump boys have no idea that their accountants or appraisers were grossly inflating the value of the assets held by the Trump organization. Seems odd. You’re the CEO or some such and you do’t know? But you sign the papers anyway? Hey, how about all those emails where you discuss it? Can’t recall? I see. You might want to look to Sam over at FTX to see what might happen. But that’s criminal, not to worry. No jail time, just repay everything you made from not knowing. What? you’d have to sell something? Maybe, everything? Oh no.

Meanwhile, the Repubs put up a bill cutting funding to the IRS. They like to say that giving money to the IRS will pay for storm troopers to come kick down your doors when the reality is that it will pay for accountants and auditors who would go after the Republican super donors, who currently pay little or no taxes. One commentator pointed out that the poor are being audited much more than the rich. No wonder the Republicans want to keep it that way. The poor aren’t their voters.

I overheard some folks talking about Romney retiring from the Senate. He’s burnishing his image as an elder statesman, which I guess he is. Have people forgotten how he made his money? Basically, it’s how Richard Gere did it in Pretty Woman. He bought businesses whose stock was down, sold off the assets, loaded the company up with debt, charged fees to do it, took the cash then declared the company bankrupt or resold the stock or dumped the shell on a U.S. agency to clean up. Elder statesman my A.. No, wouldn’t be prudent.