Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

When I was faster i was always behind.

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

Innocent people do not delay justice.

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

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

If you thought you’d already seen people saying the stupidest things possible on the internet, prepare yourselves.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Just because you believe it, that does not make it true.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

In after Baud. Damn.

Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

The “burn-it-down” people are good with that until they become part of the kindling.

People are complicated. Love is not.

Anne Laurie is a fucking hero in so many ways. ~ Betty Cracker

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

You are here: Home / Elections 2024 / Saturday Evening Open Thread: Grumble in the South Bronx

Saturday Evening Open Thread: Grumble in the South Bronx

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As someone who once lived in the South Bronx (for one summer, fifty years ago, in the rent-controlled apartment my dad inherited from his parents after his divorce), my first assumption was that Trump went there for the same reason Reagan did in 1980: In the hope that some spectator would throw a brick, or at least a naughty word, and provide clip-worthy Those People, what ya gonna do? coverage to share with scared suburbanites.

(Noted later: A cult-friendly subtext of ‘Sure, Biden can throw a party for the President of Kenya, but it’s *Trump* the Black Americans REALLY love!’)

On a bucolic spring Thursday in the Bronx, a tinny, familiar voice carried through Crotona Park, sharing horrible visions of the city we call home and gripes with housing code regulations. Donald Trump, the once-and-possibly-future president, currently awaiting closing arguments in a Manhattan criminal trial and, for the first time ever, holding a rally in one of New York City’s five boroughs, was probably loving what he saw—a diverse, fairly large crowd, all wanting to see America made great again, again. Or at the very least, to be near the man himself.

“If Trump is here, and he’s asking for a second chance, I can’t judge that,” said Minerva Rosa, a Bronx resident who lives two blocks away from Crotona Park. “If he wins again, is he going to keep any of the promises he makes on the stage today, or is he going to do the opposite? That’s what we’re afraid of. If he wants to straighten out the schools and open up youth centers, get guns off the streets, and that will make America great? Then sure, be president again.”

Rosa, like a lot of other neighborhood residents who had turned out, wasn’t actually going inside via the Secret Service checkpoint to see Trump speaking in person. She was posted across the path from the entrance, leaning against a wooden fence, witnessing the spectacle that had overtaken the park…

If there’s really anything to be gleaned from a Trump rally in the Bronx in 2024, it’s that by virtue of Trump continuing to fill a charismatic space left completely open by the incumbent president, or any other would-be right-wing rivals, he continues to scoop up the disaffected, alienated, and the just generally dickheaded as supporters. How many of those people will actually be voters? Unclear. That’s what the Democrats are hoping for—numerical support for Trump in the streets, but much less at the polls…

The Secret Service had only set up six scanners for people to walk through, leading to a crush of people waiting just inside the security perimeter to be admitted into the area where Trump was giving his speech. As each small group made it through the scanners, they ran up a grassy hill like festival goers trying to cram in another act.

But there was really only one attraction inside, and as the heat and the now-standstill line to get in dragged on, people began to lose patience. A counterprotest across from the line, where people chanted the ever-resonant “Fuck Donald Trump,” drew wandering Trump supporters looking to get into some light antagony, cursing at the counter-protestors, only to be led away by blue-shirted community affairs NYPD officers…

As Trump’s speech droned on, the evening took on the feel of people just outside the perimeter of any other summer park event, like a concert or festival—scattered skirmishes, teens running screaming from one side of the park to another, people selling water and piraguas, and Bronx residents laying out on the glacially exposed schist, as a once-broiling day became pleasant and cool.

Trump’s voice floated above it all, only scattered bits coming through:

“Worst I’ve ever seen…” “Terrible…” “Disgusting…”

Reader Interactions

107Comments

  1. 1.

    Baud

    They’re going to lie about crowd size and enthusiasm all the way to the election.

  2. 2.

    smith

    numerical support for Trump in the streets, but much less at the polls…

    Really? He can only half-fill a park with a capacity of 3,500. At his trial he typically draws a crowd of no more than 6 supporters (his little Trump Scout troop is usually larger than the tiny cluster of MAGA protesters). What numerical support in the streets?

  4. 4.

    Percysowner

    @Baud: If they don’t Trump will pout and throw ketchup. It’s at least partly to keep the orange baby happy.

  6. 6.

    WaterGirl

    @Baud:

    They’re going to lie about crowd size and enthusiasm all the way to the election and beyond!

    I thought the needed a little editing

    edit: @bbleh: Ha!  Great minds and all that.

  7. 7.

    tcbleu

    i’ve yet to see a comment on the incredibly long runway required for DJT to mount that podium. RW talk radio likes to talk about biden being old and unstable…geesh

  9. 9.

    Spanky

    Also, I haven’t seen anyone mention the long, gently sloping ramp up to the stage. No steps for Mr. MAGA.

    Eta, beaten by tcbleu!

  11. 11.

    Another Scott

    @tcbleu: @Spanky:

    I noticed it too.

    Of course, what else would TIFG have??

    I suppose at his next rally he’ll ban helicopters/drones and/or put up a cover over the runway to prevent such obvious questions…

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  12. 12.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @tcbleu: ​
    There were no two-star generals available to hold TIFG/PAB’s hand as he descended the ramp, so they had to lower the grade by making it longer.

  14. 14.

    Lapassionara

    Trump is supposedly “filling the charismatic space left open by” Biden. Really? Yuck, just yuck.

    ETA, does the writer know anyone with charisma?

  16. 16.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @tcbleu:

    Great observation! The long ramp solves Fat Bastard’s unstable walks to the podium.

    What we need is for someone to grease a section of the ramp. Shits and giggles and all that!

    @Spanky:

    Ditto!

  17. 17.

    Lapassionara

    @SpaceUnit: I’m too old to know what dickheaded means, although I can tell it’s an insult. So I give him no points for that phrase.

  18. 18.

    RSA

    Also Trump (I don’t know if this has been covered here already; via Acyn on X):

    “Evan Gershkovich, the Reporter from The Wall Street Journal, who is being held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the Election, but definitely before I assume Office. He will be HOME, SAFE, AND WITH HIS FAMILY. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, will do that for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL BE PAYING NOTHING!”

    This is such rage-inducing Trumpism.

    Why can’t it happen now instead of after the election? Putin wants Trump as President but could not care less about Trump as candidate.

    Why mention payment? Trump is an amoral, transactional human being.

    How can Trump not recognize the subtext of “I am a tool” in the words coming out of his mouth?  He’s also deeply stupid.

  22. 22.

    Spanky

    @RSA: Is you assuming any part of that statement is fact? Cuz no part of it is. Florida Man does not know or care who Evan Gershkovich is.

  27. 27.

    Anoniminous

    @Baud:

    They’re going to lie about crowd size and enthusiasm all the way to the election

    Too Wordy.

    They lie.

    FIFY

  28. 28.

    Spanky

    From the AP:

    CONCORD, N.H. — A political consultant who sent artificial intelligence-generated robocalls mimicking President Joe Biden’s voice to voters ahead of New Hampshire’s presidential primary faces a $6 million fine and more than two dozen criminal charges.

    The Federal Communications Commission said the fine it proposed Thursday for Steven Kramer is its first involving generative AI technology. The company accused of transmitting the calls, Lingo Telecom, faces a $2 million fine, though in both cases the parties could settle or further negotiate, the FCC said.

    Kramer has admitted orchestrating a message that was sent to thousands of voters two days before the first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 23. The message played an AI-generated voice similar to the Democratic president’s that used his phrase “What a bunch of malarkey” and falsely suggested that voting in the primary would preclude voters from casting ballots in November.

    Kramer is facing 13 felony charges alleging he violated a New Hampshire law against attempting to deter someone from voting using misleading information. He also faces 13 misdemeanor charges accusing him of falsely representing himself as a candidate by his own conduct or that of another person. The charges were filed in four counties but, as often happens with serious allegations, will be prosecuted by the state attorney general’s office.

  29. 29.

    smith

    Looks like there might be a real rumble tonight at the Libertarian convention where the Defendant is scheduled to speak. While the Libertarians were off doing their convention business, a bunch of MAGAs flooded into the hall where the speech will take place, and grabbed all the rows up front. The Libertarians came back, kicked them out, and a chanting and booing confrontation ensued.

    Ron Filipkowski@RonFilipkowski  If Trump’s plan tonight was to try to win over support from actual libertarians, showing up at their convention at the very end and trying to pack it with your supporters posing as fake libertarians isn’t very smart. But he isn’t very smart.

    Zachary Petrizzo@ZTPetrizzo Following Trump being told to go “f*ck himself” and rubber chickens being passed out at the Libertarian convention, Trump allies on Telegram are making a last-ditch attempt to get the message to the ex-president that he’s going to be “ambushed” by incognito “antifa” activists

    Unfortunately, word has come down that the squeaky rubber chickens won’t be allowed in the hall.

  30. 30.

    karen marie

    @HumboldtBlue: I don’t know from boysenberry but I could only manage to eat the strawberries before they spoiled, so I made blueberry sauce for my pancakes.  So delicious!  So easy!  Just sugar, blueberries, and a tiny bit of water.

    I have a more involved recipe that calls for orange juice that’s really good but the simple approach is good for a quick rescue before the fruit rots in the fridge.  I recommend a pinch of nutmeg whichever blueberry sauce you make.  It really complements the blueberries.

  32. 32.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    2020 election Bronx county

    Biden………….83.29%

    Dump…………15.88%

    Green Party..00.33%

    Kenya West…00.02%

  33. 33.

    bbleh

    @smith: Unfortunately, word has come down that the squeaky rubber chickens won’t be allowed in the hall.

    Lol is that for real?  At the Libertarian convention?  I would love for it to be real…

  34. 34.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    @Baud: ​
     OTOH my submission is always rewarded by my dominatrix.

  41. 41.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    Tobacco has become a drag on Bob Dole, the presumed Republican Presidential nominee, partly because he is being shadowed through the land by Democrats in seven-foot, foam-rubber cigarette costumes.

    At campaign events, the costumed Butt Man — animated by different Democrats directed from party headquarters — has been popping up in crowds, gaining press coverage by waving stubby arms and passing out fake dollar bills that show “Smokin’ Bob Dole” puffing on a scribbled-in cigarette.

    Butt Man rode on the Democratic Party’s float at the Independence Day parade in Wheaton, Ill., yesterday while Mr. Dole walked the two-mile parade route in the town, which has long been considered a Republican stronghold.

    Where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire (photo)

  42. 42.

    bbleh

    @smith: or perhaps it’s ANTIFA ACTIVISTS who are just PRETENDING to be Secret Service!  Or they really ARE Secret Service but Bill Gates has activated the 5G chips and is CONTROLLING THEIR MINDS!!

    I almost cannot imagine the crosscurrents of delusion, paranoia, and incel rage in an auditorium full of MAGAts AND Libertarians who are angry at each other.  It would be hilarious, at least from a distance and for a short while.

  44. 44.

    Scout211

    So the latest contender in the veepstakes beauty contest who the media is currently talking about is . . . Tom Cotton?!

     

    The latest additionto Donald Trump’s horror show of vice presidential candidates is Senator Tom Cotton, The New York Timesreports.

    Trump reportedly thinks the Arkansas senator is a reliable communicator, and likes the fact that Cotton is a military veteran with undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard.

    Go for it, team Trump!  Sounds like an awesome choice for your veep.  Everyone loves Tom Cotton! Good choice!  🙄

  45. 45.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — A man in a chicken costume is stalking the Bush campaign.

    At most of the President’s stops on the campaign trail over the last two days, a character calling himself “Chicken George” has been showing up to taunt Bush over his rejection of an invitation to debate Democrat Bill Clinton under the auspices of the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates.

    Police removed the chicken Tuesday from a campaign stop in Greenville, Miss., for unruly behavior.

    It’s never good to run afowl of the law. (photo)

  46. 46.

    smith

    @bbleh: At least there have been no fisticuffs. Yet.

    Fistfights did break out at last night’s convention session, though, and of course the MAGAs have their own quaint customs along those lines.

    Also, I’m sure none of the MAGAs or Libertarians were allowed to bring their guns (in clear contravention of their Second Amendment rights), so the bloodshed is likely to be limited.

  47. 47.

    SpaceUnit

    Anybody know if there’s going to be a livestream of that libertarian affair?

     

    I usually can’t stand to hear that sleazeball speak, but if he’s going to be pelted with rubber chickens and dog shit then it’s must-watch tv.

  49. 49.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    @Scout211: Dump will never select someone who is much taller than him to stand next to him.  His self loathing, vast inferiority complex, and hyper resentment over being rejected by NYC society will also prevent him from selecting someone from a perceived elite location.​
     

    eta:

    President Donald Trump on Friday denied a rumor that he doesn’t like being photographed with his youngest daughter because he believes she is overweight.

  50. 50.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @HumboldtBlue: Never had it, but I used to be fond of boysenberry yogurt, which I haven’t seen in years. Actually come to think of it, all of what used to be my favorite flavors disappeared long ago. I try not to take it personally.

    Edit: Huh. Dannon apparently still makes boysenberry yogurt. So it’s my grocery store’s fault.

  52. 52.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @smith: I’m sure there will be flagpoles around the stage. MAGAs like to use flagpoles as weapons.

    @Scout211: Is Tom Cotton dumb enough to make TFG look smart in comparison? That was an important attribute Pence brought to the table. I wonder if Tuberville is available.

  54. 54.

    SpaceUnit

    @smith:

    Thanks.

    And yeah, I think he’ll cancel if he thinks there’s any chance of getting booed and heckled.

  56. 56.

    bbleh

    @Harrison Wesley: ooh ooh, and hornets! and a whole lotta spiders, and maybe some snakes!  Oh that would be FUN!!

    And then … clowns.

    The Libertarian Party (what would be left of it) would never be the same.

  57. 57.

    SpaceUnit

    @Baud:

    Maybe.  But if trump isn’t so sure he just might chicken out.

     

    I’m going to get my walk in so I can be back in time for the shitshow.

  58. 58.

    Tony Jay

    @David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch:

    2020 election Bronx county

    Biden………….83.29%

    Dump…………15.88%

     

    “Can you you tell us what these figures, when plotted against the evidence of President Trump’s latest overflowing Bronx rally, tell us?”

    “What they tell us is that the popular Republican candidate is beating the odds in a way not seen since George Washington himself. If he can cut Biden’s 2020 advantage by 20%, 30%, even 40%, and hell, maybe even put a district like The Bronx in play for a surprise flip, there is nowhere in this country he can’t go and put the hurt on the Democrats.”

    “A 40% swing? That seems unlikely.”

    “Black men in MAGA caps. Unlikely is the new normal. A 40% swing nationwide puts this Election into landslide territory. That’s got to be keeping the Biden campaign up at night.”

    “And we know how much old guys need their sleep.”

    Cross-laughter.

        Writing these scripts is easy. I bet a spin like that is out there somewhere, just waiting to be found. 

  60. 60.

    a thousand flouncing lurkers (was fidelio)

    @Baud: I give you John Chancellor at the 1964 Republican Convention, still talking into his live mike while being carried out bodily to make space for the Goldwater Girls.

  64. 64.

    smith

    @Jackie: Not watching but enjoying the commentary from a distance:

    Ron Filipkowski@RonFilipkowski This is a disaster for Trump. He’s sweating like a pig. Reading his speech five times faster than normal trying to get the hell out of there while being loudly booed and heckled the whole time. Whoever had this idea is getting fired.

  68. 68.

    Lyrebird

    @Scout211: Go for it, team Trump! Sounds like an awesome choice for your veep. Everyone loves Tom Cotton! Good choice!

    Hear, hear!

    Those hollow eyes will really win back suburban moms I tell ya!

    And being determined not to understand that Singapore is a separate country from China, that will definitely bring back the Bill Kristol types!

  69. 69.

    JWR

    @smith:

    Trump’s Secret Service detail is confiscating rubber chickens:

    But what if it’s somebody’s Emotional Support Rubber Chicken?

  70. 70.

    Another Scott

    @smith: i’ve got the C-Span feed on in another tab.

    He’s reading – just reading – some haigiography published by some Murdoch or other.

    “Trump did this and that…”

    It’s sad.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  72. 72.

    Baud

    @Lyrebird:

    Those hollow eyes will really win back suburban moms I tell ya!

     
    If I had a uterus, I’d definitely want Tom Cotton telling me what I could do with it.

  73. 73.

    SpaceUnit

    He’s gibbering like a baboon.  You can’t make any sense of it.  Also he keeps referring to himself in the third person.

    Crowd is getting increasingly hostile.

  74. 74.

    Jackie

    More quid pro quo… If you vote for me, I’ll put Libertarians in my Cabinet! I promise! So you have to vote for me…

    More booing and cat-calling 😂🤣😂🤣😂

    He’s sweating and his face is beet RED! The orange hue is buried under the RED, GLISTENING WITH SWEAT face. This is priceless!!!

  76. 76.

    smith

    I saw a comment earlier that the rubber chickens were actually supplied by the RFKJr campaign. We have almost the whole gamut of political Goofusses represented tonight — we’re only missing Marianne Williamson and her crystals.

  77. 77.

    Lyrebird

    @Baud:If I had a uterus, I’d definitely want Tom Cotton telling me what I could do with it.​

    I definitely have a uterus. Debates are ongoing about whether I actually have a sense of humor, but I gotta say, you and Not Really David Koch There With the Rainbows (
    @David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch: ​
     ) are making my weekend. Needed a laugh, thank you!

  78. 78.

    Jay

    @smith:

    The only decision TFIG’s group made, was to accept the invitation.

    There is an ongoing coup attempt by the Mises Group to take over the Libertarian Party and turn it into another MAGA group.

    The have already managed to get a bunch of “Libertarians” to split off.

    Pekka Kallioniemi
    @P_Kallioniemi
    May 22
    In today’s #vatniksoup, I’ll introduce an American politician, Angela McArdle (@angela4LNCChair). She’s best-known for turning the US Libertarian Party into a wing of MAGA Republicans, and for promoting pro-Kremlin narratives about the Russo-Ukrainian War.

    1/20

    https://nitter.poast.org/P_Kallioniemi/status/1793260571212517846#m

    They also invited RFK Jr and his brain worm.

  80. 80.

    smith

    @Baud: I know they had Vivek, and when he tried to pimp for the Defendant, he got the same special welcome we’re seeing tonight.

  81. 81.

    SpaceUnit

    Well, I’d say it was a mostly friendly crowd.  But it sure as hell wasn’t what he was used to.

     

    He’s going to be really pissed at someone.

  82. 82.

    Scout211

    I just caught the final minutes of his shouty speech.  C-Span closed caption:

    [CROWD BOOING]

    LOL

    Also the rubber chicken in silhouette on camera was nice.

  83. 83.

    Jackie

    Who’s the “Ross” the libertarians were referring to with their “Free Ross” signs?

    TIFG also promised to pardon Ross if he was elected. LOTS of quid pro quos promised tonight!

  84. 84.

    Scout211

    @Jackie: Who’s the “Ross” the libertarians were referring to with their “Free Ross” signs?

     

    Former President Donald Trump plans to announce at the Libertarian National Convention on Saturday that he intends to commute “Silk Road” website operator Ross Ulbricht’s life sentence, according to a source familiar with the matter.

    Ulbricht was sentenced to life in federal prison in 2015 for creating and operating a hidden website known as “Silk Road” that people used to buy and sell drugs, among other illegal goods and services.

    Many libertarians have called for Ulbricht’s release. At the convention on Saturday, the crowd was filled with “Free Ross” signs and took up chants in support of Ulbricht.

  85. 85.

    smith

    @Jackie: Ross Ulbricht, mastermind behind the Silk Road dark web drug dealing site, now serving a life sentence. Combine this with his sharing the stage with indicted gangsters yesterday and with a convicted pedophile a few days back, and you get a convincing picture of a lawnorder president.

  86. 86.

    SpaceUnit

    @Jackie:

    Apparently it’s somebody named Ross Ulbricht.  He created the dark web site Silk Road, which trafficked in illegal drugs.  He was convicted and sentenced to prison.

     

    ETA:  Welp, others got to it before me.

    ETA2:  So I guess he’s what passes for a libertarian hero these days –  a convicted drug dealer.  What a bunch of knobs.

  89. 89.

    Jackie

    I have to admit I’m looking forward to MSNBC and CNN’s morning shows tomorrow!

    And, I’m SURE TIFG will have plenty of late night/early morning social media rants to enjoy while sipping coffee!

  90. 90.

    Ruckus

    @Lapassionara:

    In this case dickhead: Pompous, arrogant, and always wrong about everything, a male who thinks his maleness is immense so he must be right about everything. It can be his physical maleness or his personality maleness. ShitForBrains believes it is both. He is the greatest human being on the planet, just ask him.

    Now, if you are even semi human you will be easily able to see that everything about him is a lie. The crowds he gets, his intelligence, his personality, his so called policies. He is the epitome of educated, pompous, arrogant, asshole, stupidity. He is prime dickhead.

  92. 92.

    karen marie

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym: What gives me joy is the thought of all those fucking assholes being out of the senate.

    Of course, that joy would be extremely short lived were Trump to somehow win the election.

  94. 94.

    Brachiator

    @Ruckus:

    Now, if you are even semi human you will be easily able to see that everything about him is a lie.

    The sad thing is that the MAGA dopes believe every lie that Trump spews about himself. Every. Single. One.

  95. 95.

    Scout211

    For your reading pleasure from AP News:

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing the Libertarian Party National Convention on Saturday night, with many in the crowd shouting insults and decrying him for things like his COVID-19 policies, running up towering federal deficits and lying about his political record.

    When he took the stage, many jeered while some supporters clad in “Make America Great” hats and T-shirts cheered and chanted “USA! USA!” It was a rare moment of Trump coming face-to-face with open detractors, which is highly unusual for someone accustomed to staging rallies in front of ever-adoring crowds.

    . . .

    Trump tried to praise “fierce champions of freedom in this room” and called President Joe Biden a “tyrant” and the “worst president in the history of the United States,” prompting some in the audience to scream back: “That’s you.”

  100. 100.

    Soprano2

    @Bex: It’s actually not bad with a little sweetener. I have some blueberry-flavored coffee at work.

  101. 101.

    frosty

    @JWR: ​But what if it’s somebody’s Emotional Support Rubber Chicken?

    I’ve been down on news and thinking I should spend less time on this Almost Top-10,000 Blog and then a comment like this drops in that is truly laugh out loud funny. Kudos! (Back to obsessively reading Balloon-Juice. Sigh.)​

    @NotMax: ​ And another winner!!

  102. 102.

    Splitting Image

    @Baud:

    Never thought I’d say these words, but kudos to the libertarians.

    First Bill Kristol, now the Libertarians. What next?

  107. 107.

    Anne Laurie

    @eclare: Honestly, that was an impressive duck by W. That shoe was fast and came out of nowhere.

    I remember seeing the video and thinking ‘There is a man who grew up with an abusive parent.’  Barbara was, by all reports, fond of her martinis — and ‘sharp tongued’ after the first pitcher, as the vintage euphemism had it.

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