Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Nikki Haley, who can’t acknowledge ‘slavery’, is a pathetic shill.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

Republicans don’t trust women.

I have other things to bitch about but those will have to wait.

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

Everyone is in a bubble, but some bubbles model reality far better than others!

Not all heroes wear capes.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

We still have time to mess this up!

Tick tock motherfuckers!

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

Consistently wrong since 2002

How can republicans represent us when they don’t trust women?

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

If you’re looking for someone who’s young and athletic, go watch a fucking movie.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

“Why isn’t this Snickers bar only a nickel?”

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

This blog will pay for itself.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

This fight is for everything.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

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60Comments

  1. 1.

    Dangerman

    Now, we get into the big ticket items. Fraud could be 9 figures. And criminal could lead to soiling himself bigly.

  3. 3.

    sab

    Back in the day long ago when Jean Carroll started to write she probably wanted to have fun and earn a living. I bet being an inspiration to slightly younger women wasn’t a part of her plan. Or if it was not the way it is now. But she is one of my heros now.

    ETA I used to read her articles. They were fun. Then she vanished. I see why now.

  4. 4.

    JoyceH

    Here’s what I don’t understand about Trump and fraud. Michael Cohen explained the scam years ago – properties were overvalued to defraud the banks, and simultaneously undervalued to defraud the IRS. So when will the other half of the fraud be charged?

  5. 5.

    eclare

    @JoyceH:

    I worked in state tax for a few decades, my question is where is NYS/NYC?  IMHO his liabilities to those agencies could be much greater than to the IRS, and state agencies are usually a lot more ruthless.

  6. 6.

    Jess

    Why would it be wrong to tape it up on your wall? Or do you mean it’s wrong to “tape it” rather than put it in a honking big gold frame with fountains and an altar before it?

  7. 7.

    Tony Jay

    Wouldn’t it be lovely if El Stinkopanto’s defence in his oncoming and (for a certain value of the word) more ‘serious’ cases, was undermined by the significant financial hits he’s taking in trying to shake a tiny little fist in Carroll’s direction?

    And he just won’t shut the fuck up. She’s already got more than enough grounds for another defamation case from what he’s said during this one. How much of his disposable cash on hand is going to get swallowed up defending that indefensible conduct?

    Ah. The ups and downs of being a wannabe fascist dictator.

  9. 9.

    jonas

    @eclare: He’s in plenty of trouble from the state and city now as well, of course, but it took a while. Laetitia James was the first NY AG with the cojones, as it were, to take on Trump for financial fraud and the Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is charging Trump with business and tax fraud wrt the Stormy Daniels payments. Everyone knew Trump’s businesses were dodgy as fuck for decades, but his reputation for siccing his legal pit bulls on anyone who tried to cross him effectively shielded him from any accountability. Until now.

  10. 10.

    TaMara

    Totally off-topic and it’s probably been brought up in one of the medium cool posts, but I just discovered So Of on MAX. I’m completely charmed by this show…if anyone is looking for something to watch.

    On topic – I see the RNC is looking for money.

    Shermichael Singleton

    @Shermichael_

    RNC seeking new credit line to help climb out of money hole (washingtontimes.com)

  11. 11.

    Martin

    @JoyceH: Because in this part of the world, there is no definitive independent assessment of property value. The owner sets the value, so one half of that is presumed correct (definitionally) and the other half constitutes fraud. Which half the government picks is a purely a function of which side they think they have a better case for.

    The thing here is that there’s a 3rd party in this – insurers, who are the most motivated to accurately assess the valuations, and they aren’t even a consideration. It would be a very simple bit of legislation (in concept) and wildly disruptive for Congress to say that just like you, your employer, and the IRS all get the same copy of your W-2 at the same time, that the IRS, banks, and insurers all need to have an annual agreed valuation for self-determined property values. The owner, bank, and insurer need to agree on that number and they formally notify the IRS. That would make the fraud super-clear in most cases. I would expect a lot of backlash to that idea – because that kind of fraud is like speeding tickets – among that cohort of people, it’s a law that’s perfectly okay to break.

  12. 12.

    lowtechcyclist

    @TaMara:

    RNC seeking new credit line to help climb out of money hole (washingtontimes.com)

    Bring out the world’s smallest violin. :^D

  15. 15.

    Martin

    @sab: My understanding is that she’s always been pretty visible in NYC social circles. Trump was always obsessed with being included in those circles and was always rejected because he’s always been a boorish, selfish asshole and everyone hated him. Turns out politics is the social club that will tolerate any kind of asshole, and he showed up late to that game.

    I sometimes wonder if Citizens United was the catalyst. Prior to that you actually had to work for the money – it was hard to hustle it. But it really plays in really well to how Trump operates. It will be interesting to see the degree to which paying of Trumps legal liabilities becomes a drain on GOP political spending. I think that’s something that isn’t really being considered for 2024. Every GOP downballot race is going to be starved of cash.

  16. 16.

    Alison Rose

    Hey, if anyone wants to see Newsom’s MSNBC interview — for some annoying reason they couldn’t just post a single video of the whole thing, but I made a YT playlist with the four separate videos. (There’s some anchor desk stuff in each one, too, but you can scrub and skip ahead.) He’s a really great messenger for the Dems. Some quotes:

    “[Democrats] have outperformed in every single election by significant margins in every election — 2018, 20, 22, 23. And not just at the national stage — when you look at some of these mayor’s races, in Jacksonville, Colorado Springs, I mean, in every election, Democrats are winning. It’s one of the great winning streaks in modern American politics, particularly for an incumbent President.”

    [On getting people to understand Trump/GOP ended Roe] “Over and over and over and over and over and over again, we’ve gotta flood the zone with that message. He can’t be allowed to get away with it. He can’t. We’ve gotta go aggressively.”

    [On a national abortion ban and people not believing Trump supports it] “In a nanosecond, he would sign that bill if it landed on his desk, period, full stop. He’s responsible for the state of affairs today. We have to define the opposition and create that contrast. But we have to flood the zone to remind people of his record, and the reality that we’re living here today and the fear that women and girls have in this country because of the conditions he directly created through his actions. And that’s our job. That’s my job. It’s our collective job.”

    [In response to Wagner saying she knows he’s not running for president] “No chance. Who in their right mind would want to run when you have someone of such esteem as our incumbent president of the United States with a record of accomplishments and a man of character, a man of decency. I’m old school. Talk about loyalty — I’ll go to the ends of the Earth for this guy. I really would.”

    [On being excited for primary voting beginning] “This is what it’s about, this is what we’re best at, because we keep crushing it. Democrats, we keep crushing it. Look at all of the elections you’ve won, Democrats. You keep winning, you keep outperforming. It’s extraordinary. Pat yourselves on the back. Our message is working. Our values are American, they’re universal values.”

    Fuck yeah.

  18. 18.

    MattF

    @topclimber: It would not surprise me if, one day on the campaign trail, he just lets it go. I wonder if his campaign staff includes ‘guy with a shovel’.

  20. 20.

    Tehanu

    The $65M in punitive damages is what really delights me.  Dump didn’t have enough sense to keep from alienating the jury — or maybe “nauseating” them is a better way to say it.  Even if Ms. Carroll never sees a penny of it, it’s great to know that when normal people are confronted with Dump they see exactly what a disgusting piece of slime he is.

  22. 22.

    lowtechcyclist

    @MattF:

    Nah, they’ll just hustle him somewhere where he can change Depends, and toss the used pair in the nearest dumpster.

  23. 23.

    Jackie

    @Alison Rose: Newsom is barnstorming for Biden in S Carolina and Nevada.

    Wonder what states will be next on his barnstorming tour? Could they be Super Tues states?🤔

  24. 24.

    West of the Cascades

    I’ve done a lot of handwringing over the last eight years about how the media (and the Republican Party) have “normalized” Trump’s behavior.

    I’m starting to wonder, though, as little cracks appear in the media narrative (“Trump could be in trouble” “Trump is confused” in WaPo this week), whether this year might become a gusher of media takes “de-normalizing” Trump (“Trump has become erratic” “Trump has begun to talk like a fascist dictator” – even though these things have actually been true for eight years, the press is finally reporting some things objectively). And — if that actually happens — then the previous normalizing of Trump results in even worse “comparisons” to his former “normal” behavior and terrible press for Trump through the election.

    Not saying this has been some conscious effort on the part of the mainstream press to “set up” Trump … just that they can’t keep the fig leaf over monster any more.

  25. 25.

    Brachiator

    I am happy for Ms Carroll.

    I am also happy to know that Trump cannot continue to defame her without racking up another lawsuit. This must drive him crazy. And that’s a good thing.

  27. 27.

    Jackie

    @Tehanu: Joyce Vance’s takeaway on Alina Habba’s performance:

    Alina Habba’s behavior at trial was disgraceful. I would not be surprised to see the Judge refer her to the Bar Association for disciplinary action. It wasn’t her novice mistakes that were the issue, although they caused a lot of comments. It was her flagrant disregard of the Judge’s decisions about arguments that could and could not be made to the jury. She trod on those rulings despite repeated warnings from the Judge.

    If you think a judge has made an erroneous ruling at trial, you can take it up with the court of appeals. Alina Habba’s repeated strategy was to fight with the Judge. Tell her she couldn’t do something, and she jumped right in anyhow, repeatedly insinuating that Trump didn’t assault Carroll. The Judge would be well within his rights to let the Bar sort her out. Her lack of respect for the rule of law, which mirrors her client’s, is unacceptable in a lawyer.

    https://joycevance.substack.com/p/833-million?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=403d0&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

  30. 30.

    eclare

    @Jackie:

    Two professions where you are in absolute control:  judge and airline pilot.  Do what they say or FAFO.

    I read the article, thanks!

  32. 32.

    Harrison Wesley

    @topclimber: And if we Anglicized Mr. Jay’s Mar-a-Lago Maestro Moniker, we could refer to one of his followers as a Stinkopant sycophant.  Or not, if we choose not to regard language as something pliable as a rubber band or a Republican’s ethics.

  35. 35.

    Johannes

    @sab: I read her for years, back in the day–She was witty, funny, and kind (with a touch of sarcasm where warranted.). I can’t believe that crap she’s had to cope with, but she is a at lady for her endurance, her strength, and her decency.

  39. 39.

    trollhattan

    @Alison Rose: ​
    Thanks for the excerpts.

    Some keep trying to make Newsom into a Bond-villain Dem-lite and yet he keeps performing as a party-first Dem, as his declaration for Biden shows. (Loomis @ LGM loathes him for whatever that’s worth.)

    Never thought highly of the DeSantis debate thing but some felt he had a legit shot at Trump and I’ll cut them slack, even if I never believed it. If he can help defeat Trump in November, he’ll be front and center asking what to do.

    BTW am expecting the ’24-25 budget negotiations to be Sacramento’s biggest tussle in years.

  40. 40.

    Alison Rose

    @trollhattan: Loomis is no better than wingnuts when it comes to Newsom. FRENCH LAUNDRY!!!!!!!!! JFC get over it. And he seems to think that a Dem governor should never ever ever veto anything that Dem voters want, which is just childish and stupid.

  45. 45.

    Splitting Image

    @Martin:

    It will be interesting to see the degree to which paying of Trumps legal liabilities becomes a drain on GOP political spending. I think that’s something that isn’t really being considered for 2024. Every GOP downballot race is going to be starved of cash.

    Aw.

  46. 46.

    Splitting Image

    @Martin:

    I sometimes wonder if Citizens United was the catalyst. Prior to that you actually had to work for the money – it was hard to hustle it. But it really plays in really well to how Drumpf operates.

    Actually, good point about Citizens United. It used to be a requirement for high office that you had a good supply of bundlers who could organize events and get thousands of people to donate the maximum for a national campaign. You had to document how much money you were raising to get counted among the high rollers, and you had to have organizations working for you in different parts of the country.

    Citizens United shifted the field towards super-PACs which are built around a few megadonors and designed to shift money around without any kind of accounting. Like you said, this is Trump’s area of expertise. If he’d run in 2000, he’d have been a failed Ross Perot.

  47. 47.

    wjca

    @trollhattan: BTW am expecting the ’24-25 budget negotiations to be Sacramento’s biggest tussle in years.

    Sir, you have a gift for understatement.  “Tussle”?  Ha!

  48. 48.

    trollhattan

    @Splitting Image: Remember Alito’s reaction to Obama criticizing Citizens United in front of congress and the nation? That was a tell–the entire structure of Republicanism and conservatism relies on the cash unleashed by that decision. AND THEY FUCKING KNEW IT AT THE TIME.

  50. 50.

    Betty

    @trollhattan: Word is it is coming to Dominica, a country with a population of approximately 70,000. So more than 10% of the population on board. Not likely that even most will disembark. Heavens, I hope not.

  52. 52.

    trollhattan

    @Betty: Ye gods, those hapless locals don’t know what’s about to hit them.

    Was ready for a wisecrack about the ship being taller than the island, but they have legit mountains. Let us now consider Florida with its twee 345-foot ceiling.

  53. 53.

    wjca

    @trollhattan: Sure, we might get our hair mussed. :-)

    Rather more than that, I expect.  The budget shortfall is just too big.  Somebody’s, actually a lot of somebodys’, pet programs are going to have to get slashed.  Which they will not be happy about, to put it mildly.

  54. 54.

    Ruckus

    @Brachiator:

    This must drive him crazy crazier.

    FIXITFY

    Yes he can get crazier, and yes that’s hard to believe, but it is as possible and as likely as the sun coming up tomorrow.

    This is not a well human being, and his ego weighs more than he does.

  55. 55.

    Brachiator

    @Ruckus:

    Yes he can get crazier

    I agree with you. This is why it is tragic that the GOP leadership didn’t shut him down when they had an opportunity.

    When you let Trump get away with shit, he feels vindicated and will try to get away with even more outrageous shit.

    When you oppose or punish Trump for the shit he does, he gets sullen and vindictive and will try to get away with even more outrageous shit. And hurt people along the way.

  56. 56.

    Another Scott

    @Alison Rose: +1

    I have no idea how good a manager or coalition-building guy he is out there, but he knows how to do this soundbite campaigning stuff.

    More, please.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  57. 57.

    mvr

    I know this thread is dead. But maybe someone reading it will benefit from knowing that E Jean Carroll wrote some really good articles back in the day.  Outside Magazine reprinted and old one an issue or so back from perhaps the 1970s or 80s. IIRC it was about the work that went into being a rodeo queen.  And I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading it.
    Her reputation based on articles like that is actually worth a good bit, so harming it is a real harm.​
     

    Edit: I see that @Johannes: ​
      said something similar hours ago upthread.

  59. 59.

    RaflW

    @Martin: Several state Republican Parties are broke or even badly in hock. You’ll see occasional news stories about their debt woes or infighting about the lack of funds, but I don’t think I’ve seen much politics/horse race coverage about what that lack of cash can mean to this coming autumn’s election.

    State parties are typically an important part of the voter turnout drive. Such a shame to imagine GOP doorknockers not having clipboards, lists, or lit to drop. Boo hoo.

  60. 60.

    RaflW

    @Origuy: I’m vaguely fascinated by these megaships, but I also can’t imagine what a port town is like if a full complement of 8,000 cruisers all decamp the boat for the day.

    Even if the ship isn’t fully booked (surely many 3-4 passenger cabins just have couples), so 6,500 people cruise, and 500 stay aboard, it’s like having 17 of United Airlines biggest (and most densely packed) 777 jumbo jets land at a tropical island, one after another and disgorging everyone over the course of an hour. Boggles the mind.

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