70 Comments

Most corrupt president in American history.

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Biden should order background checks on all the clowns and make them public. Of course the MAGAts will just giggle. “Daddy” can do as he pleases. We are fucked.

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Welcome to the greatest kleptocracy in modern world history. Maybe some czars and kings and Roman emperors whose enrichment off the public till and position could be calculated higher, we will see.

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I do not understand why no one is making him go through the transition ethics process???

His administration, if you could call it one, should be called “Trump, Inc.”

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Who exactly can make him do anything?

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Yep, that’s the problem. Long before the Supremes gave him freedom to do anything and everything he desires, the DOJ dragged its feet and looked clueless as he ran roughshod over every speed bump along the way. Guardrails weren’t even an inconvenience; he just ignored them . Mitch McConnell let his own thirst for power keep him from worrying about the survival of our country.

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The six Republican politicians on the Supreme Court didn't give him freedom to do anything and everything he desires. They only gave him freedom to commit any crimes he wants in his official capacity, which is whatever the six Republican politicians say it is. There are lots of other things, which are not crimes, which he still, on paper, can't do. For example, under the Constitution, he can't appoint cabinet members without Senate consent. See the article at Slate, "Here’s What the Constitution Actually Says About Trump’s Recess Appointments Scheme."

The problem is that the Maggots in Congress will not stop him, so he can do anything and everything he wants. My point is only that his power to do so comes not only from the Supreme Court.

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Gun toting patriots may be the only recourse...

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I’m confused about this as well. During the nomination hearings how can the nominees be questioned or judged without background checks? And the signing of the ethic paperwork?? I’m disappointed that all it takes is a willful toddler saying no, when for more than 200 years common decency and precedent prevailed.

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Yes, and I'd like to say that, after reading the description of T's screaming about Chris Christie's management of the transition office in 2016, that it's clear that T is a toddler and that's why he wears diapers.

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Lets not forget that time is extracting its wages. To paraphrase....his mind is terrible....and it's wasting. He will be lucky to get to 2026, let alone 2028.

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Then we'll have Vance. Ick

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No suprise.

Soon Trump will figure out how to screw Elon Musk and become the world's richest family.

Thank you Daddy

Baron

I'm glad Putin was able to get you to marry my mom.

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Pledges? Trump? Why doesn't he just sign them? Trump has never lived up to a pledge in his life, starting with the one of Allegiance.

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In his own twisted way, Drumpf is just acting logically. John Roberts has ruled that he is a King, Maga just waits to see how high he wants them to jump, and he believes his own fantasy that voters awarded him an overwhelming mandate to do anything he wants. His avarice knows no bounds and all limits have been removed. The only question now is whether he can steal enough to replace Elon as the world's richest.

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He can just "nationalize" all of Elon's businesses. After all, l'etat c'est moi.

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Just in case he does foresee a term limited to four years, with lame duckery looming the big liar knows he has no time to lose. He soars a bit higher over the top every hour, every day. How long can he keep this up, and enough of Congress and his larger audience in thrall?

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Remember also the corrupt SCOTUS case to protect Thomas and Alito - a bribe is not a bribe if paid after the quid is pro quo'ed. So, if you pay in advance it's a bribe, if you pay after the fact it's a tip, or a gift, or whatever. Expect Trump to become an actual billionaire using this and his immunity to rake in cash from anyone who wants anything from the government.

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Remember his “No tax on tips” pledge? Now you know why.

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Trump's actions and attitude are consistent with other trends to monetize us peasants. So it makes sense that Trump considers American citizens as "customers" - or even "easy marks." Of course, Trump will consider the US Treasury as "mine." Elon Musk better be careful, or his holdings will be Trump's, too.

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We are all NPCs.

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The amount and breadth of theft is going to be so large that the term "kleptocracy" won't suffice and a new one will be required....

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Trumpocracy

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Should come with an automatic prison sentence

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I'm glad that Lucian writes things like this for people who care, but I'm not one of them. I know that Trump is a crook and will steal the country blind, and I don't care about the details of how he does it. I going to cope with the next four years by paying less attention.

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Like the Trump Washington Hotel, his Truth Social will be home to corporations paying outrageous fees for advertising to a tiny audience. All of it will be legal bribery, but I want the names of those corporations.

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Excellent point and since TS legal bribery will be a constant firehouse it will dwarf the one-off stuff. Beyond the $$$ Trump will enjoy poking Musk over the ad revenue stream and their corporate homage to him but not to Musk. So, as a grifter Trump has no equal.

But as a businessman/negotiator Trump is a born loser as his record demonstrates. Numerous times on the campaign trail Trump promised to impose 1--20% tariffs on ALL imported goods. His primary target CHY-NAH. The tariff % kept growing and growing. His fav was 60% plus additional ones if PRC took hostile action against Taiwan. Now Trump seems to have violated rule number one in business or diplomatic negotiations, nevah evah negotiate w/self by public announcing a mere 10%.

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I haven’t read your piece but the title shows it is the same old/same old from 2016.Trump never ever put his businesses in a blind trust as required and never disclosed his income tax returns.Nothing changes if nothing changes.Like the classic definition of insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome.Duh

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It’s absolutely terrible. When people at the top cheat and steal it creates cynicism and others feel they are going to get theirs too. Trump is smart enough to know if he can flout the law before he is even sworn in it’s going to be a free for all for at least 4 years.

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We will be governed by outlaws for the next four years, and if the Dumpster has his way, many years beyond. After his term is up, he will install Don Jr as the next president to ensure that the Trumps will reign for eight more years, and then it will be Eric’s turn.

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Eight? Who said eight years?

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You’re right, although he did promise his supporters, “If you vote for me, you’ll never have to vote again,” which to me sounds like he plans on never leaving the presidency.

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