146 Comments
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Karen Simmons's avatar

When I first saw what the Oval Office looked like after the avalanche of gold ornaments and doodary my first thought was that he had turned that historical room into something akin to the lair of a pimp.

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Rick Hoff's avatar

I heard a word today that I never heard before so I looked it up. The word is trumpery. A word from the 15th century, and it hilariously defines what you describe the oval office to look like under Trump. It means something showy but worthless. Ironic how 45-47 is actually trumpery personified!

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Cindy Watter's avatar

I think of words from The Great Gatsby — “vast, vulgar, and meretricious.”

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

It's remarkable how many words and phrases that include "trump" are appropriate to the current occupant of the Oval Office. "Trumpery" for sure, but also, e.g., "trumped up." My favorite comes from bridge: "No Trump".

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T L Mills's avatar

And, in that insane tomfoolery that is what passes for a presser these days, Trump indicated that he wanted to either paint or apply gold leaf to the cornice or crown moldings in the Oval Office. JHC, he's already tarted it up like his putrid & nauseating over-decorated Trump Tower apartment. Trump is a tasteless, classless buffoon who is not only mentally impaired but out of control.

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Mary Roeser's avatar

More like the front room in a house of ill repute. Though I do believe that the madams of those houses have better taste in decor than Donnie Demento has. His taste seems to be entirely in his mouth.

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Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

Sad truth Karen!!

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Leslie Goodman-Malamuth's avatar

More photos circulate of Trump with Epstein than of him with his children, wives, or anyone. Coincidence?

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Sarah's avatar

Trump is the most obvious and publicly documented companion of Jeffrey Epstein, having known him for years, partied with him, and even boasted about Epstein’s interest in “younger” women. While Epstein’s flight logs, contact books, and court filings implicate powerful figures from both political parties, there’s a clear, bipartisan reluctance to fully unseal the records, likely because too many have something to hide. But the MAGA elite’s outrage over the Epstein case is especially disingenuous. They demand “the list” while knowing that Trump is deeply entangled in it. Their silence on his ties to Epstein and Ghislaine isn’t oversight, it’s calculated misdirection and hypocrisy.

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Mary Roeser's avatar

Nobody ever will accuse the MAGAT cult of thinking things through. Matter of fact, no one will ever accuse them of thinking at all.

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Helen Stajninger's avatar

Exactly right Sarah

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Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

This, Sarah!!

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T L Mills's avatar

I think that bullshittery in the Oval Office presser was Trump reacting in a very defensive manner. Hmmm....makes one wonder, does it not?

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Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

The two were best friends for over 15 years Leslie, shared sexual conquests, as if it were a game. They’re a couple of sick psychopaths that prey on youthful helplessness with their money and power!

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Leslie Goodman-Malamuth's avatar

[Groans] Back in the ‘80s, I noticed that in every issue, SPY featured a media-obsessed regional oddity. I naively assumed he’d just go away, like disco.

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Mary Roeser's avatar

Nope.

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Victoria Brown's avatar

Thank you Lucian,

especially for your

closing paragraph.

Child abusers, especially

sexual child abusers, no

matter their sex,

deserve the harshest

punishment law can

give.

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Ally House (Oregon)'s avatar

Agreed.

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Charles Austin's avatar

Was that the White House or a Broadway musical? There was a lot of verbal dancing going on there. There ARE records of Epstein's client list. Bondi and Patel are seeking a slick way to make them disappear, because Chitolini is all over them. Being that I'm from Columbus, Ohio, I knew about Epstein long before most of the world did. A gentleman (🤮) named Leslie Wexner (The Limited, Victoria's Secret) gave Epstein his first job. He maintained close ties to Epstein for years. I'm sure that Les is prominent in the evidence. Wexner's name is all over hospitals, art museums, and other civic projects around here. I'm sure that he's rooting for the disappearance of those files. Monsters that prey on children should have their privates roasted over an open flame, regardless of who they are!!😡😡☠️☠️

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Gail (Chicago)'s avatar

Donald Barr (the odious Bill Barr’s father) gave Epstein his first job at The Dalton School (K-12) working with children in the early 70’s. He did go on to form a strong “relationship” with the equally odious Les Wexner, starting in the ‘80’s. So many ties to the orange fool….

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Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

Agreed Gail, the “odious” Bill Barr has been front and center, of ending presidential investigations from Reagan, Bush, all the way through to Trump. He personally possesses the Epstein safe contents, including the massive cache of video evidence collected from his residences.

Barr is complicit in a plethora of presidential criminal activities, he should have been locked up with a number of this countries corrupt leaders!

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Mary Roeser's avatar

There is good reason why Lapdog Barr is known as the Cover-up General.

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Gail (Chicago)'s avatar

Yes, Bill Barr is one horrible human and responsible for much suffering.

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Lisa Botwinick's avatar

I want to see those files and they do exist as Pam Bondi said they were on her desk. She is a liar!

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Terry's avatar

Probably destroyed by now...

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Lisa Botwinick's avatar

You’re probably right!

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Linda's avatar

I am sure there are pirated copies somewhere!

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Kenneth Tiven's avatar

HOW CAN WE TRUST ANYTHING COMING FROM THIS GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY THE FBI IN THE HANDS OF AMATEUR IDEOLOGUES AND ASS KISSERS.

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celeste k.'s avatar

We can't. And don't.

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Mary Roeser's avatar

Who says we do? It is a capital mistake to trust those who cannot be trusted.

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Paula B.'s avatar

That nothing has come out of the stories told by the victims is outrageous. There are so many of them and yet nothing can be done? What kind of a country are we running here?

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Ellen Franzen's avatar

Think of the USSR.

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Margo Howard's avatar

One wonders what happened with the 28 sexual abuse suits filed against Lardass?

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Bliss Grey's avatar

Margo, I have missed you. "Lardass," made me laugh. My Mom used to call mean people, Lardass

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shee-rah's avatar

He probably paid them off.

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Yehawes (VA)'s avatar

There was a long story on one of the girls in something a few years back, and one had been around 14 and ended up homeless. She tried filing a lawsuit but the courts demanded an address, and there were several successive events but one time she provided an empty lot between buildings and that got thrown out. As I recall, she said she was threatened and her family, despite being estranged, were threatened. I don't remember her saying she was paid off. Perhaps that figured in too, but intimidation and over-powering privilege definitely did.

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shee-rah's avatar

What a tragic story. She probably believed Epstein’s lies and thought her life would get better, but it just resulted in more misery.

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Geneveive Griffin's avatar

Sigh. I was 14 and sexually abused by my 65 yo English teacher. I tried to report him but nobody would help me. Eventually, I just gave up.

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Elizabeth M. (Massachusetts)'s avatar

Genevieve, I am so sorry you went through that! It’s outrageous and unforgiveable both that you were abused and that when you tried to report him, no one would listen. Everyone around you let you down. I am so sorry!

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Geneveive Griffin's avatar

It was terrible. I told the principal and he said he would handle it. I was Honors English and he moved me to Remedial English. Soon after, I dropped out of high school.

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Elizabeth M. (Massachusetts)'s avatar

The principal clearly orchestrated a coverup. You deserved to be heard. The teacher should have been placed on leave, investigated, tried, and found guilty. He should have lost his job and spent years in prison. You were grievously wronged. You deserved SO much better. I hope you have gotten a lot of support more recently. You are allowed to insist on being treated with compassion and complete respect!

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Geneveive Griffin's avatar

Thank you, Elizabeth. 💗

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Elizabeth M. (Massachusetts)'s avatar

And I’m embarrassed to be adding this only belatedly: Not only at the time should you have been believed and the perpetrator seriously punished. Also, as soon as adults around you learned about the trauma you experienced, they should have sprung into action to give you wrap-around emotional support and trauma recovery services. Those adults around you seriously failed you. I am so sorry for everything you’ve been through. I hope you have found all the resources you need, now.

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Gail (Chicago)'s avatar

I’m so sorry that happened to you.😩

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Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

I am sending you loads of hugs, Genevieve. Thoughtless people surrounded you, unfortunately. Like Elizabeth said, I sincerely hope you got and are getting good counseling. I wish you all of the best. Oh and your name is the name of my niece! 💕

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Vickie Berry's avatar

My heart breaks again for the victims of Epstein (and associates) and any other sexual abuse survivors, they will have to relive the trauma that the justice system failed them and this time the United States Justice Department where the buck should stop.

No wonder so many of these assaults go unreported. 💔

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Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

The main person who was raped by Epstein after Maxwell set up the introduction, was also raped by Prince Andrew. Her testimony was so crucial. Yet, her heart was shattered and she was extremely depressed. She committed suicide this year. It really hit me hard. Those bastards, except for Epstein, are still walking around like their shit doesn’t stink!

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Helen Stajninger's avatar

Couldn’t like your comment Genevieve, but I am truly sorry

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Mary Roeser's avatar

I am so sorry that you had to endure that. As bad as the actual abuse was, nobody listening to you was even worse. You were abused twice. I hope and pray you were able to find treatment.

I would hug the stuffing out of you if I could.

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Ally House (Oregon)'s avatar

That is just disgusting. I am so sorry that happened to you...and doubtless to others.

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LaurieOregon's avatar

Lucian, thanks for reminding everyone that this is a story about children being abused. There are volumes in just the last six words of that sentence.

Given what we've seen of right-wing hypocrisy about sex -starting with Catholic priests of course, evangelical pastors, political pundits, and other famous people, I'm surprised right-wingers are eager to see the list. There's probably enough fear about list to cover the entire political spectrum. My guess is that outrage is covering up huge sighs of relief that there might not be a list - or just as likely, that there is a list but no one can find it.

Does anyone know who decides who an influencer is? And who actually pays attention to what an influencer says and does? Is there a socio-economic-ideological demographic who follow influencers? Do people know that most of them are shills for their financial sponsors?

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Mary Roeser's avatar

To me, an influencer is someone who makes a living doing commercials in the belief that there is anyone with a pulse who actually pays any attention to them.

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Rob Patterson's avatar

Let's not forget the 13-year-old girl who accused tRump of violently raping her while she was tied to a bed in Epstein's townhouse during one of his parties (she also says Epstein also raped her). Dumpy Donnie's abuse also included slapping her face, she said. The accuser dropped her suit she filed against tRump in 2016 because, her lawyer claimed, she had been threatened. (Or paid off?)

I believe her (she also had another girl as a witness). As if we needed more proof that Donald Littledick is a pathological mysoginist and scum of the Earth....

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Terry's avatar

I 100% believe the girls! The felon rapist is a pedophile and a disgrace and should be in prison.

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Rob Patterson's avatar

I feel he should be castrated. I wish he would just die. Not by assassination and become a martyr for the dumb MAGA (m)asses. Or maybe live, but suffer a massive crippling stroke. His diet and corpulence alone must make him a prime candidate.

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Mary Roeser's avatar

Do not insult scum. It has way more class than schlockmeister Donnie Demento has or will ever have.

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Chauncey Gardiner's avatar

Bondi, Bongino, and Patel were either lying about all of the evidence they had and promised to release all along, or they destroyed all of the evidence of Trump's involvement in child rape, human trafficking, and extortion with his good buddy Jeffrey Epstein and are lying about it now.

In the days before America became a Banana Republic, either of those would have led to impeachment for the president and jail for the entire lot. We're now a failed nation and gangster state thanks to the damned treasonous Banana Republican Party, the stacked kangaroo SCOTUS, our craven corporate owned media, and the depravity of 75 million bad Americans.

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Claudia Classon's avatar

Thank you for this column, Lucian. I have no doubts that First Felon Trump is prominent on that list of child abusers. Shame on those who are refusing to release it. Wouldn’t it be poetic justice if MAGA World takes them down.

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James's avatar
Jul 9Edited

Two points.

Epslime procured girls at maro Laredo.

The D.A. who let epslime skate with a slap on the wrist was appointed to a high position by trump.

Republicans are a Rico violation.

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Terry's avatar

We are ruled by a lawless gang - mafia run...

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Frank Kane's avatar

'Looking like "Mafia" Don might be about to lose the veil of secrecy he's been able to maintain on the degree to which Repunantan "integrity" has been compromised.

Problem is; we can no longer trust the Judiciary to apply justice to the situation because half of them are just as compromised.

"Dirty old Town".

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Frank Kane's avatar

'Jus sayin'

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Mark's avatar

Guessing that Ghislaine Maxwell's time is just about up. The list is in her head.

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Lisa Botwinick's avatar

I want to see "those files" and they do exist as Pam Bondi said, "They were on her desk." She is really something else and a huge embarrassment to our country as is most of the so called Cabinet. As people have mentioned, Ikea makes better cabinets!

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Mary Roeser's avatar

I suspect she was talking about nailfiles.

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Ally House (Oregon)'s avatar

🤣🤣🤣

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