Day 1105 – Pitard? What Pitard?

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Fox News economic guy whatshisname said of Joe Biden’s economic numbers, “If I had those numers I’d be crowing too.”

While Republican politicians have been blaming Joe Biden for the economy and saying how terrible it is, Joe has racked up numbers better than their god Reagan. While economists predicted gloom and doom just around the corner the U.S. economy kept chugging along. It is in better shape than any other global economy – by far. 

Meanwhile, Republicans in the House are working hard to derail whatever they can: be it the economy, our allies, our citizens, other people – doesn’t matter, just destroy. What’s their plan? Plan? They don’t have no stinkin’ plan. Well, correction: keep chaos at the border by not voting for anything that might remotely help. Bring law suits to try and shutdown border stations to make it worse, and trying to impeach the head of Homeland Security for doing things that would actually help. That’s one thing. Then there’s the abortion ban stuff. Do most people want women to be able to make their own decisions? Yes? Screw ‘em. We will try to force women to have miserable lives while preaching about the sancity of life. Like, when you threw kids in cages and seperated the from their families? Making some kids orphans? 

Meanwhile their leader walked out of a courtroom as the case was winding down. I guess he didn’t like to hear the graphic description of what he had done to a woman. But enough of that, let me return to 1989 when an all woman hair metal band made a video with him in it. He was to get paid $10K for being in the vid. Everything went well during the shoot then they did PR shots. He put his arm around one of th women and said, “You’ve got a hot body. Not a bit of cellulite on it.” This was 1989. She was creeped out. Then Donald demanded $250K, said he hated the thing, etc. etc. etc. They reshot with a Trump stand-in. Blah Blah Blah. The band was on the cusp of making it and musical tastes changed. 

Remember when he ran the first time for President and all these women came forward saying how he had inappropriately touched them? “Touch” in this case is euphuistic for “grabbed them by the …”

I saw a replay of Meryl Streep at an award show saying how when a person in power uses their power to mock someone less powerful it gives others permission to do the same. Violence begets violence and mocking a person with a disability gives permission to cause violence against that person. (She was much more elogent than I.)

But now we’ve come to the point where we are no longer mocking, we are outright threatening. Shooting shoplifters. Not treating people arrested too gently. Blaming our ills on others. This is not the America of opportunity, but of revenge and blame.

While Donald Trump was treated to some real justice this week, it was a long time coming. He can claim it’s ridiculous and anything else he wants. (Except maybe he doesn’t want to call E. Jean Carroll anymore names?) But here’s where it will get interesting. Within thirty days of the $83.5M judgement against him the convicted rapist, four time indicted, 91 felony charged, ex-President, and loser of the House, the Senate, and the White House will have to put up the money in escrow, if he wants to appeal, or he can just pay. If he does neither than the law can seize it. I can hear him now, “Very unfair,” “Ridiculous,” “Nasty,” etc. etc. etc.

And what of his supporters? “Gosh gee. I dunno. I mean he’s a smart businessman right? Maybe, he should have shut up?”

Oh, and another thing, under New York State law he is not allowed to have someone else put up the money. Well, that’s okay, right? I mean he said in a deposition that he’s got $400M in cash and it’s going up every month. We believe him right? (No. No we don’t, but that’s okay.) So $83M from $400M isn’t even 25%. Go ahead Donnie open your mouth some more. You can afford it. Unless, you can’t. I’m betting there are going to be some quick (illegal?) transfers from some political action committee fund or maybe a Russian bank (or Saudi?) to help him meet the nut. Man, if he’s caught doing that, what’s the penalty? 

And then there’s the New York fraud case which is due on Tuesday, I think. Now we are talking major bucks. She was seeking $250M, but upped it to $370M. That should clean out the rest of his $400M, if he has it, and probably more. Then he’ll start selling stuff, and it will be at fire sale prices. Who wants New York commercial real estate right now? They’ve got gobs available. 

Oh but wait, there’s “The Trump Brand.” Estimated value $400B, by none other than you-know-who. So all he needs to do is sell a slice of that. Yeah. Right.

You know. Reality can be a cold place and Donald may be getting a glance of that. Me? I’m waiting to see the spiffy orange track suit.