Hakeem Jeffries: “Trump was entitled to the presumption of innocence. He received it. Trump was entitled to a trial by a jury by his peers. He received it. Trump was entitled to a vigorous defense. He received it … that is an affirmation of the American judicial system” pic.twitter.com/ztWjlKEEi7
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 2, 2024
Anecdotal, but callers into Black radio today are NOT HAPPY that Trump can run for office – for PRESIDENT – when people in our community can't get jobs, loans, housing and CAN'T VOTE when they have a felony record:"he's rich & not Black, so the system is rigged for him." Welp.
— Irie DC (@irieDC) June 3, 2024
Trump stumped? I wrote for @theatlantic about Trump’s “dark, but not purposeful” post verdict rant. https://t.co/MSzSilrbDo
— Juliette Kayyem (@juliettekayyem) June 2, 2024
Excellent argument from Juliette Kayyem, in the Atlantic:
[Gift link]
The first post-trial press conference of the once and potentially future president, and now convicted felon, was bizarre, even by his standards. The word unhinged tends to be overused in this context, but Donald Trump lacked focus as he spoke after the conclusion of his trial in a New York state court on 34 felony counts relating to his payoff of the porn star Stormy Daniels. The presumptive Republican nominee ranted about this and that, including off-topic riffs on “Little League games” being canceled, “propane stoves,” the rainy weather, and immigrants living in “luxury hotels.” It wasn’t really a press conference—he took no questions—but nor was it what some feared it would be: a call to action…
Trump could already have started using his sentencing date, July 11, as a cause for his supporters and the GOP elites to rally around, much as he did with January 6, 2021. Then, the last time he lost big, he was still president and had all of the tools of the presidency to try to stop his loss from taking effect and prevent the transfer of power. But he doesn’t have that this time. He is not in office; this is not 2021. He may yet attempt to orchestrate disruption, protest, even violence, but unless he is elected again, he cannot promise his supporters that they will be pardoned. And he could actually face jail time. The calculations are different.
First, Trump knows enough about the law to know that his behavior between the verdict and the sentencing will be a factor in the judge’s decision about what penalty to impose. During the trial itself, Trump risked antagonizing Judge Juan Merchan by violating gag orders and calling him a “devil” and a “tyrant,” but Trump’s day in court is not done. Just a few days before the Republican National Convention opens next month, Merchan will reconvene his court to determine Trump’s sentence based on a number of factors, including, presumably, whether there is a mob outside.
Second, a great deal has happened since January 6, 2021, and Trump should rightly be worried that he cannot deliver the crowds. The MAGA movement is furious but not organized. “Mass mobilizations are hard and require work,” The Atlantic’s Ali Breland wrote on Friday, including “boring little logistical things.” No such effort on Trump’s behalf seems under way. And, as I’ve written previously, Trump’s people may be angry, but they are also dispersed and in disarray, and many are in jail because of the post–January 6 prosecutions. Several leaders of the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, groups that took such a planning role before the Capitol riot, have been found guilty and are serving time for seditious conspiracy. Today, Trump’s rallies are small, though he continues to lie about the numbers…
Third, Trump has an election to win—and to win it, he will need more votes, in the right states. Independents may be uncomfortable voting for a convicted felon, or they may not care that much—the early evidence suggests that there are more of the former type, but not conclusively so. Meanwhile, Trump is demanding allegiance from his party like an autocrat, but that’s easy—the GOP has proved itself nothing but slavish—and much easier than figuring out how to expand his base. Trump’s recent trip to seek support at the Libertarian National Convention was a disaster: He roused more hecklers than voters.
Trump lost the election in 2020. He lost in court last week. He’s on a longtime losing streak, and he knows that the only way to turn that around is to win the presidency. The likelihood that Trump can’t help himself is always high, and he could easily beckon violence on his social-media platform and get a response from the die-hard fringe. But Trump may be calculating that a spectacle of unruly masses on July 11—assuming he could get them—would not be such a great look for a presidential candidate when the whole world is watching.
oh dear, Trump 13.8: I never said "lock her up". that was fake news. everybody else said it. https://t.co/KKCBVZHmh8
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) June 2, 2024
They are not acting like people who sincerely believe that being convicted of 34 felony counts in actuality helps a politician’s election campaign
— David Frum (@davidfrum) June 2, 2024
zhena gogolia
I agree with Frum.
rikyrah
Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) posted at 9:51 AM on Mon, Jun 03, 2024:
Fox News, Newsmax, and House Republicans are desperately trying to revive covid conspiracy theories this morning by somehow pinning the pandemic on Fauci — the one guy in Trump’s orbit who was sane and rational throughout the ordeal. They don’t want to have a reality-based conversation about who really botched things and who guided us out of the worst of it.
t.co/ZHeiK38S92
(x.com/atrupar/status/1797642153822216221?t=2iRcdgeRXiiU1fN4MnhIVw&s=03)
rikyrah
Looking for the lie. See None.
Dr. AJ is using her earned title, deal with it (@ResistsAj) posted at 9:29 AM on Mon, Jun 03, 2024:![]()
“Conservatives” are super aggressive in Blue states because as much as they love the prosperity, they are always mad that they cannot freely inflict their hate on non Yt people. They also believe they are owed more $, no connection made between prosperity and services provided
(https://x.com/ResistsAj/status/1797636832534110395?t=MCCEH_AeGAOVm7cOOlr1gA&s=03)
SiubhanDuinne
@zhena gogolia:
I still can’t get used to seeing those words in that sequence on this blog, but I agree too.
rikyrah
Democrat, Environmentalist, & the establishment (@BlueSteelDC) posted at 9:17 AM on Mon, Jun 03, 2024:
“Progressive” politicians have been rejected in cities like
San Francisco, Portland, New York City, Buffalo New York, Washington D.C. place that progressive politics are VERY popular.
Jasmine Crockett’s Anger Translator (@Needle_of_Arya) posted at 9:47 AM on Mon, Jun 03, 2024:
Let’s have a discussion about the distinction between “progressivism” and “white populism.”
What’s being rejected in these cities is left-wing white populism that is itself derivative of right-wing white supremacy & white privilege, and everyone can see through it from jump.
(x.com/Needle_of_Arya/status/1797641225576812858?s=03)
rikyrah
Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) posted at 9:30 AM on Mon, Jun 03, 2024:
NEW: Supreme Court remands Arkansas congressional redistricting case back to trial court in light of recent South Carolina racial gerrymandering decision. This almost certainly means the end of the road for this case.
Marvin Sapp InTheSkreets/Marvin Gaye InTheSheets (@groove_sdc) posted at 9:40 AM on Mon, Jun 03, 2024:
I wish it were a bigger story that the Supreme Court has essentially gave its blessing to legislative racial gerrymandering. Particularly in deep red states in the South.
(x.com/groove_sdc/status/1797639406637228295?s=03)
gene108
Does anyone know when the New York state court of appeals will take up his cases on what he owes NYC and E. Jean Carroll?
I hope it’s before the election.
I hope NYS is able to put his properties up for sale, if he can’t come up with the cash.
Chet Murthy
@SiubhanDuinne: As tough as that is, there’s something even *tougher*:
“I agree with Bill Kristol”
*ugh
opiejeanne
My stockbroker just announced her retirement and I got a call this morning from her replacement. I wanted to talk to him about getting rid of our Vanguard shares, after reading people’s comments on Vanguard here recently.
The conversation touched on politics, and this guy says he’s in the middle politically and he doesn’t know who to believe, he can’t tell from all of the bias on both sides, and he’s thinking about just voting for RFKjr.
Oh, and he added that he thinks Bill Maher is in the middle.
I have a meeting with him on Wednesday. ARRGH!!!
David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch
yup. the wingnuts aren’t freaking out because the conviction is helpful.
HumboldtBlue
I was today years old when I learned that Mariska Hagirtay’s mom is Jane Mansfield.
In other news, Trump is a corrupt motherfucker, but we already knew that.
gene108
@HumboldtBlue:
Trump Org former CFO Alan Weisellberg
Yutsano
[CITATION NEEDED]
Baud
@opiejeanne:
Take your money and run.
KenK
@opiejeanne: … and this guy is handling your money?
Melancholy Jaques
@HumboldtBlue:
I’d argue that would be void as against public policy.
persistentillusion
@opiejeanne: Time to get a less stupid broker IMHO.
ETA: I was a broker at several points in my career. It is quite possible to be a knowledgeable investment advisor and also not an asshat at the same time.
Chet Murthy
@opiejeanne: A long time ago, when I was a kid, our family had a stockbroker. Time passed, we grew up, he retired, and his son took over the job. Eventually, it became clear that (1) he was a right-winger, and (2) he was just a salesman, with no actual knowledge brought to the job. So we all got rid of him, moved our money elsewhere (like Vanguard).
I can believe that back in the day, personal stockbrokers offered something. But today? I kinda doubt it.
Last: I remember a discussion about investment banks and such (where to keep one’s $$) but I don’t remember anything problematic coming up about Vanguard. Maybe I missed the conversation you’re referring to. Could you quickly summarize your concerns re: Vanguard? B/c I have most of my retirement savings there (in Vanguard ETFs).
Michael Bersin
“…One of the anti-Warrensburg Pride Festival protesters got upset about being asked to leave the venue parking lot. It’s private property. It was a private event. She wasn’t a guest. She was trespassing….”
She and her family (supposedly, she’s 17 years old) are pumping up their cult of the victim on social media.
Breaking News: Pearl Clutchers Clutch Pearls
hueyplong
@Melancholy Jaques: Yes, and I’d expect to win that argument.
persistentillusion
@HumboldtBlue: Lawyers of the blog: is that suborning perjury, bribery or obstruction of justice?
suzanne
Sparkling consequences. Drink up, there’s plenty more!
Tony Jay
I’m way, way, waaaaaay past being shocked at the greasy eagerness of (almost) every western News Media outlet to firehouse whatever Rightist garbage the cranks are selling today. It’s always the same nonsense excuse of –
“But if the (insert major party that isn’t the main conservative option) Party can’t provide sufficient evidence to convince the (insert main conservative option) Party that they’re wrong to say that the (insert major party that isn’t the main conservative option) Party wants to enslave all white children and sacrifice them to Moloch the Insatiable, we have a sacred duty to cover all sides of the debate!”
– because I’m way, way, waaaaay past having any faith in the integrity or ethics of any western News Media outlet. They’re Gaslight Machines, nothing else.
hueyplong
@persistentillusion: You’d sure want to know the severance package payouts to employees who didn’t obligate themselves not to cooperate with law enforcement, the difference of which would tend to establish the amount of the bribe paid in the furtherance of a conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Shakti
My brain keeps trying to rewrite Edelweiss as “Schadenfreude”.
I was looking at a timeline for something else, and I wonder if we’re ever going to bookend what the culture was like between Roe v. Wade and “straight people who don’t use drugs or need transfusions and are not in the sex industries are generally aware you can get AIDS by fucking and therefore should wear condoms”
I might be part of a microgeneration of some kids who got the OMG WEAR A CONDOM OR DIE TELL YOUR PARTNERS IF YOU CATCH AN STD sex ed. And I think abstinence only ed became more common since the Bush administration but I can’t be sure.
Thinking about how people now need to create contingency plans for things they didn’t have to before. Because of the selfish fuckers who voted for and enabled this man (yes, it’s been decades in the making but ugh).
Baud
Surprised Trump didn’t try this.
WaterGirl
@Baud: @KenK: I would not let that guy handle my money.
BYE!
JoyceH
@Baud:
Did she get to keep the money?
Raoul Paste
@opiejeanne: What you want in an investment advisor is good judgment
lowtechcyclist
@Chet Murthy:
Before index funds, I’m sure the average broker had a much better idea of how to invest your money than you would.
But now, in order to add value, they’ve got to do better than the index funds, because anyone can put their money in a low-fee fund that tracks the S&P or Dow. And at least back in the day, your average stockbroker couldn’t beat the market. I’m not sure there’s a reason to expect most brokers could beat the market now.
Baud
@JoyceH:
No.
Nukular Biskits
Good evenin’, y’all!
TBone
Karma, babeeeee! 😆😆😆
apnews.com/article/trump-supporters-bus-crash-new-york-8e988570e4d0568b4f1830d1b0125534
smith
Sigh. The GA appeals court has set a hearing on the Felon’s appeal of McAfee’s decision not to disqualify Fani Willis — four months from now. This ensures the GA RICO trial won’t take place before the election.
It’s been a wonder to behold the way powerful institutional forces that nominally are sworn to uphold the law and the Constitution have acted to put up one roadblock after another to holding the Felon to account, even knowing his plans to destroy the very system they are part of. I don’t believe many of the judges that are part of this cabal actually worship at the orange idol’s feet — not even Alito and Thomas. They are cynically making the same old bet that elites always make with fascists — that they will be abe to control their fates in the new order where the only law is the whim of the ruler. In some ways they seem to me to be even more gullible than the Asshole-Americans who only want to slake their thirst for cruelty.
karen marie
@opiejeanne: You’re going to get a new broker, right? I wouldn’t trust my money with someone that stupid.
TBone
@opiejeanne: do you know how to do your due diligence on a broker? Do not skip it! If you don’t know, please ask!!! I’ll help you with links.
Nukular Biskits
@Chet Murthy:
Found myself saying those very words through gritted teeth this weekend.
TBone
@persistentillusion: they must prove intent. I hope some prosecutor(s) work on that!!!
Ken
That we know of.
Just kidding. If Trump had bribed a juror and then been convicted, nothing would keep him from loudly complaining about it. “Weisselberg, Cohen, Daniels, these jurors — you can’t trust anyone to stay bought!”
zhena gogolia
I finally watched the Jeffries clip in the OP. What an asshole that NBC newsman is.
schrodingers_cat
The results of the Indian elections will start trickling in from tomorrow. Godi media manipulated the exit polls and have given ridiculous, mathematically impossible numbers to the BJP. Tomorrow is the real test.
Keep your fingers crossed for India. Never before have I been worried about election integrity of Indian elections. But Modi hai to mumkin hai (it is possible, if it is Modi)
Baud
@schrodingers_cat:
I saw something about Modi claiming he’s going to get a supermajority. Hopefully, reality will be better.
Manyakitty
@schrodingers_cat: I know a lot of my Indian colleagues took various days off for voting, but I’ve been afraid to ask too much about their views on the election.
Grumpy Old Railroader
When one realizes that the media reports precisely what the owners of that media want them to report, then all their reporting makes sense.
schrodingers_cat
@Baud: BJP swept north India, Maharashtra and Karnataka in 2019 and ended with 303 seats. Unless they outright cheat I don’t see how they can increase those seats. (BJP is sill deeply unpopular today in the south and Punjab where they didn’t win in 2019)
In 2024 they are definitely more unpopular in Maharashtra and Karnataka and most other places than they were in 2019. The opposition is far more united than in 2019.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
Kayyem is one of the few writers at the Atlantic that isn’t a hack.
VFX Lurker
One of our jackals is going through hell resolving a situation with her inheritance at Vanguard. Hoping she gets through it as soon as possible.
Right now, I have all of my personal IRAs and my spousal IRAs at Vanguard. My 401(k) relies on Vanguard Retirement Trusts. Their unique client-owned structure ensures that their costs to investors are rock-bottom, and that their investors get the most from their investments.
However, Vanguard’s taken criticism from the Bogleheads forum over the years for their so-so website and customer service. It hasn’t been a problem for me so far, but our jackal’s situation gives me pause.
A number of Bogleheads (including The Finance Buff himself, Harry Sit) have recently moved their Vanguard investments (ETFs) to Fidelity. That way they get Fidelity customer service and Fidelity’s fine website, while still investing in Vanguard ETFs with rock-bottom costs.
If I followed suit, I’d have to learn how to trade Vanguard ETFs after 20+ years of Vanguard mutual funds. At Fidelity, I’d also lose free trading for Vanguard’s mutual funds (though I could buy/sell Vanguard ETFs like any other stock).
I should probably make the switch, but I need to think about it.
TBone
@opiejeanne: here’s a place to start
brokercheck.finra.org/
Also
sec.gov/check-your-investment-professional
schrodingers_cat
@Manyakitty: Are your Indian colleagues here or in India.
Geminid
@zhena gogolia: The Minority Leader was unaffected, and stayed on point throughout. I was reminded of a New York reporter who said interviewing Jeffries was like “talking to a very handsome robot.”
I noticed some typical Jeffries technique. Repeating “Donald Trump was entitled to…” three times: a classic method rooted in Black Church preaching that Jeffries uses often.
A friend thought the one word answer at the end was perfect. No shilly-shallying around to give the asshole reporter an opening.
Suzanne
If it’s too painful to say, “I agree with [INSERT ASSHOLE HERE]”, I will proffer my phrasing:
“I find myself in alignment with [INSERT ASSHOLE HERE] on this narrow point.”
schrodingers_cat
Art break: Spring in the Alps, illustrated by Rita Berman, colored by me, with colored pencils and watercolor pencils,
Baud
@schrodingers_cat:
Neat.
Shana
@Chet Murthy: I remember my father having a stockbroker who he dealt with for decades at Merril Lynch. Then, sometime in the 80s he retired and the world of brokerages changed. May or may not have been related.
zhena gogolia
@Geminid: Yes, Jeffries was great.
zhena gogolia
@schrodingers_cat: Very nice! Fingers crossed for the elections.
WaterGirl
@Raoul Paste: Yes, you want someone with good judgment, who you can trust. This guy appears to be 0 for 2.
WaterGirl
@TBone: That seems harsh. It’s one thing to think Trump supporters are stupid, or racist, or misguided, but to be gleeful that a bunch of people were in a vehicle crash, and some were probably hurt or went to the hospital? Aren’t we better than that?
Ken
The post title cries out for the Variety treatment. “Stumped Chump Trump Slumps”, something like that.
opiejeanne
@KenK: Maybe not for long. He sounds very young and he did say he’s new-ish but started in 2020 with zero investments, now handles over $90million which is supposed to impress me; it doesn’t.
He’s Chinese/Vietnamese/French, tried to justify his stance as being a Christian and, after I countered that I am a Methodist he said he was raised Catholic and Southern Baptist in Georgia, so he’s mostly evangelical. Explains a lot of why he tries not to discuss politics, but it came up organically during the conversation.
He works for the firm that has my stocks on the books and my instructions are to just leave us alone. We stopped taking advice from them several years ago.
We shall see
Anyway
@Manyakitty:
Co-workers in India had the day off for voting – I remember thinking how different it is here.
Same.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
It’s also nice to see folks like Houle continue to call out the crapitude of media people like Jim Fucking Vandehei and Mike Fucking Allen.
The fact that the former was once on the Pulitzer prize board is telling.
TBone
@WaterGirl: my inner Wednesday Addams is filled with glee. I do not have a scintilla of sympathy for MAGA. Too bad, so sad! Do you think they’d have sympathy if the situation were reversed? It was a tour bus that follows Dotard around selling cheap crap at his rallies. No tears shed by me.
Argiope
@Shakti: high school in the late 80s/early 90s? Yep, I got that form of sex ed, too. My math teacher sat us seniors all down in 1986 and let us know about AIDS and how to protect ourselves with condoms, because he knew it was coming for everyone sooner or later. Much respect to him for taking what I’m sure was a professional risk. He probably saved at least one life.
schrodingers_cat
@Baud: @zhena gogolia: Thanks.
Did you guys see this one? I actually colored a person which I don’t do very often. This is from Hanna Karlzon’s Daydreams.
Base layer is with Derwent Inktense Paint Palette 1 and then I used Prismacolor Premier pencils.
comrade scotts agenda of rage
@opiejeanne:
Purely anecdotal but I have at least a dozen stories from friends and acquaintances over the years that highlight somebody providing a service, particularly where the sums of money being exchanged were not-insignificant, and being told as part of the pitch something about “being a good Christian” and then having the worst experience ever in whatever particular transaction/service was being done.
It taught me to avoid anybody who advertises that fact up front or when you’re talking to them and they bring it up as if it’s a qualification for the job.
WaterGirl
@TBone: I don’t care what they would do. I think it’s creepy to be gleeful because other people got hurt.
schrodingers_cat
@Anyway: Ask them, they may even be flattered to know that you care.
ETA: 4 or 5 of the 7 phases the voting was on Friday. And many of BJP’s well off voters took off for a long weekened.
Parfigliano
@WaterGirl: I wouldnt let that stockbroker guy pick up the dogshit in my yard. Find out someone is a MAGAt move your business and tell them why.
Ishiyama
@WaterGirl: No MAGAs were injured, the bus was empty – Jesus took the wheel.
cain
@Chet Murthy: My parents have a personal stockbroker/investment and he’s a republican, they had a democratic on earlier – for quite some years, but the republican one has been doing much better.
I’m planning on switching my wife’s 401k to that guy. He’s a decent man, and I don’t think he’s a Trumper at all.
TBone
@WaterGirl: furthermore, those fuckers risked my life because they couldn’t even wear a mask.
Jay
@Ishiyama:
Were they raptured off the bus just in time, or were they taken to the other place, fulfilling their deal with the other guy for their souls
Either way, who get’s their stuff?
Manyakitty
@schrodingers_cat: they are all throughout India. We have offices in Bangalore and Hyderabad, but lots of remote workers, too.
Manyakitty
@schrodingers_cat: really nice
Geminid
@Ishiyama: I saw a funny one this weekend (it might have been here):
zhena gogolia
@schrodingers_cat: I don’t see a link.
UncleEbeneezer
I’d also note that we already have evidence of Russian/Chinese funding of Greyzone (Max Blumenthal), Chinese propagandist funding various member of the Students For Justice In Palestine umbrella coalition and Russian rat-fuckery in France, Germany, Poland, Estonia, etc. They are trying to meddle in ALL the elections!
zhena gogolia
@Ishiyama: One person was in it but she wasn’t hurt. But I’m worried about the cat.
TBone
@WaterGirl: it was 2 hucksters on a decorated bus. I do not feel anything but glad they lost all their Dotard merch. These people routinely threatened all of us with death by Covid. Anti vaxx anti mask anti science anti women anti LBGTQ+ anti immigrant anti American. I do not forget and I do not forgive
Ohio Mom
@opiejeanne: I hate it when professionals I depend on retire.
After my ophthalmologist retired, it took several years, trying out and leaving three different ones, before I found a satisfactory replacement. She’s way younger than me so I’m hoping her career will outlast me.
I took my car in for an oil change this morning and took a good long look at the mechanic who owns the shop. It’s hard to tell exactly how old he is but he’s getting on in years. I don’t think finding a new mechanic will be as critical as finding the right eye doctor but it will be a chore.
Too bad your stockbroker didn’t give you more notice instead of transferring you to the new guy so abruptly. I don’t know what is more concerning, that the new guy has such uninformed political views, or that he thinks his political views are an appropriate conversational topic with a new client.
Oh well. If he doesn’t work out, you’ll find another one.
schrodingers_cat
@zhena gogolia: I thought I added it.
Here you go.
Chet Murthy
@WaterGirl:
I think I can try to be better than that, once it’s no longer an existential issue. If TCFG comes back to power, many of us will need to think about fleeing. Maybe not from the country, but certainly from Red States. We’ll be faced with what to do about our relatives and loved ones who refuse to flee. What happens if one of those relatives falls ill? Do you travel to that red state to stay with them? What risks are you willing to take?
Civility, kindness, “when they go low, we go high” are all excellent things. But they extend to allies, neutrals, and surrendered enemy. As for the enemy: glee at their demise and stupidity is mere self-preservation.
Jackie
@WaterGirl: No one was hurt. Only TCFG’s Jesus take the wheel bus was injured. The Trumpers who lived on the bus are now homeless.
zhena gogolia
@schrodingers_cat: That is sweet! You are very talented.
Geminid
@Manyakitty: The parents of Suha Subramanyam, who I hope will succeed Rep. Jennifer Wexton, came to the U.S. from Bangalore. They traveled on to Houston after passing through Dulles Airport, which is still in the 10th Virginia CD Subramanyam hopes to represent.
Baud
@UncleEbeneezer:
That’s why I only have bad principles.
TBone
@Ishiyama: 💙😆😆😆
Manyakitty
@Geminid: fingers crossed!
Spanky
@VFX Lurker: I have over 40 years’ experience with Fidelity, starting with my 1st 401K, and subsequently 4 of the next 5 401ks at the companies I worked at. Never had a problem with rollovers or anything, really. Website is very good, though I really don’t have anything to compare it with.
Only caveat is that I have never availed myself of their broker services, so I can’t evaluate how their personnel compare.
Jackie
@WaterGirl:
It’s actually a humorous situation. No pedestrians were hurt, the bus owners weren’t hurt…
The link above has photos of the smashed up bus.
Chief Oshkosh
@smith: They’re not wrong. Chances are good that you own and/or use several products of the German elites who, in the long run, did just fine before, during, and after WWII. And even if you don’t, they aren’t hurting for your business.
The elites always do just fine. I think you are thinking of those in the grubby station just below “elites,” who think erroneously that they’ve already made it, or that they are on the verge of making it. They pretty much got burned up in the Nazi conflagration.
Spanky
@Baud:
That’s why you’re my guru.
Chief Oshkosh
@opiejeanne: Wait, what’s wrong with Vanguard?
Jay
@UncleEbeneezer:
Now that Felon Musk has “allowed” porn on Shitter, they have an easy way to prove that they are minorities &/or vulnerable citizens.
Jackie
Stormy is concerned for Melania 🤭
Geminid
@Manyakitty: Rep. Wexton has endorsed state Senator Subramanyam. It’s a large field, so that will help. Subramanyam is highly qualified, and I think he is only 37 years old; an Obama White House Fellow, like Reps. Colin Allred and Sharice Davids.
The primary is June 25.
Tony Jay
@Grumpy Old Railroader:
Yup. They are businesses in pursuit of profit, but what they’re selling isn’t journalism, it’s a misinformed electorate.
Chief Oshkosh
@VFX Lurker:
Whaaaa?
I’ve had to go through this shift due to one of the institutions I work with. I find the exact opposite. The Vanguard customer service and website are way, way, WAY better than Fidelity’s.
Obviously YMMV, but when I was forced to start using Fidelity’s website, it felt like I was working with a human-machine interface from the late 90s
ETA: And, as you mentioned, moving my money from one fund to another is no longer free at the Fidelity website. So, no value-added, and previous value lost. What’s not to hate?
WaterGirl
@Ishiyama: haha
Jay
@Chief Oshkosh:
OTTOMH*, a couple of commenters are having issues in regards to moving/cashing inherited assets or dual accounts, under a married name and a maiden name, and are not happy with customer service, or the red tape involved, turning what should be simple into a months long slog.
Oh, and some of the fees involved.
*Off The Top Of My Head.
opiejeanne
@TBone: Ok, I’ll admit that I don’t know. We had a couple of good ones, and then we get … this. So, yes, I’d appreciate anything you’d care to share. Email me through WaterGirl or Anne Laurie.
The guy we had until 2018 admitted that he couldn’t figure out why certain of our stocks had crashed when Trump was elected because they were things that you would expect to rise because of it, like other stocks in the same industry. He had many of the same investments that we did, and admitted that it was very confusing. Pretty sure that guy was a Republican, maybe an ex-Republican now; he agreed with almost every comment I made about Trump which was a surprise to me.
WaterGirl
@Jackie: Okay, thanks for the explanation.
TBone
@Jackie: 😍 I somehow see whisps of snark rising off of Stormy’s words. I can’t imagine that true concern motivated that statement but I’ll have to read the context. TB with the HOG* and all, but she knows Melanie is an asshole, so…
* Gregory Peck said of Lauren Bacall “tough broad with the heart of gold”
I hope Stormy makes bank for quite a while!
Chief Oshkosh
@Jay: Thanks. I’m sorry to hear of those problems. I haven’t had to use those services at Vanguard yet. I find their more run-of-the-mill service and fees much, much better than Fidelity.
opiejeanne
@TBone: Thank you!
chrisanthemama
@Baud: Agreed, with the stipulation to also make it clear to the investment manager that anyone who would consider voting for RFKJr. cannot be trusted with any amount of money. Lack of common sense and reasoning skills.
frosty
@schrodingers_cat:
Very nice! I can see your improvement since you started posting these. Keep at it!
(I’m about to sign up for another round of harmonica lessons. Much easier to take on a Road Trip than a guitar!)
schrodingers_cat
@frosty: Thanks! My skills have improved as have my supplies. The artist grade stuff is really better.
schrodingers_cat
@Manyakitty: Thanks!
@zhena gogolia: Aww thanks! I am glad you like it.
What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?
@Chief Oshkosh: The Reich didn’t last long enough to engage in purges. Whether they would have gone down that road we don’t know, but I don’t think all the elites skated through Stalin’s purges just fine.
opiejeanne
@comrade scotts agenda of rage: I found that out years ago. I won’t hire anyone who has that fish symbol on their business card because I got burned a couple of times by incompetent contractors when I was very young and naive. A roofing contractor recommended by our elderly neighbor because he went to her church, had that fish on his card. After he supposedly fixed our roof we noticed how often he was over at her house, repairing her roof. We get bids on everything now. There was another one who “fixed” our wall oven by installing the wrong part, but it was an emergency or would have called the shop that sold it to us. I did when that part burned out and they sent a very nice man whose religion I did not know, and who popped the correct part in, the oven worked. He told me since I’d paid for an hour of his time, what else needed repairs? He showed me how to pop the agitator back into place on the washing machine.
I don’t care what their religion is at all, I just want them to be competent and fair, which is different from being the cheapest. we tend to hire from the middle of the bids.
Telling an evangelical that you’re a Methodist does make them pause for a moment, because according to most of them we’re not actually Christian enough. I’m chuckling because that comment in counter to his Christian claim made him take a couple of beats. He seemed to be unaware that Democrats and liberals can also be Christians.
Steve in the ATL
@What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?: Dans ce pays-ci, il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres.
schrodingers_cat
Oh BTW John Oliver roasted Modi on his show and YT has obliged the despot by not publishing it on YT.
Manyakitty
@schrodingers_cat: as if that even makes a difference. If these authoritarian jerks are such big, strong, hairy men, why do they waste a moment worrying about what the ants (us) think of them? //S
TBone
@opiejeanne: 💙 for a fellow Jackal. Use the info from those searches AND your intuition when you see this new guy. Don’t be afraid to say no, not right now, I’m still thinking about it, I need to explore all of my options before I make a decision, I’ll get back to you, etc. Practice in a mirror if necessary! A lot of these guys are like used car salesmen!!!
Randal Sexton
@opiejeanne: A quick question regarding Vanguard — why not sell the shares and buy the corresponding ETF ? You can then just buy and sell the ETF without any interaction with Vanguard’s administrative bs. Vanguard does have just about the lowest cost indexes in the bizz.
BRyan
@Chief Oshkosh: IIRC, there was one commenter who was concerned with Vanguard’s (new?) policy of charging customers who are leaving them $100 to move their account. I wasn’t thrilled to read about it because Vanguard is where I ended up after spending more than that to move my accounts from MSSB, who didn’t feel my account was worth their trouble. Essentially, “ Your funds are too insignificant for us to bother with, but not too insignificant for us to charge you a lot of money to transfer them elsewhere.” It will be disappointing if I encounter a similar attitude with the Vanguard folks. So far, no issues, but then I haven’t tried to take my money away from them.
schrodingers_cat
@Manyakitty: Modi is a gasbag with a thin skin.
TBone
@Jay: I recently received a Notice of New Fees etc. from VG and bitched about it here. They now charge you to close your account and they can do it unilaterally, plus more new stuff that pisses me off. They also just got a new CEO with a rather sordid past IMO.
lowtechcyclist
@opiejeanne:
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard “how can someone be a Christian and a democrat?” I could host a very sumptuous party with the dough.
And yeah, they certainly don’t believe that people who attend churches of mainline denominations are real Christians. They’d probably allow that maybe a very few of them are, but what are they doing there? they’d ask.
TBone
@opiejeanne: use the background checks and be sure to read all of his history. The big one: BE SURE he is a FIDUCIARY. There are a lot of additional questions you need to ask him as well. Remember YOU are the “employer” in this situation and you’re interviewing your prospective new employee. Wield your power.
Lots of good info here:
themoneyknowhow.com/what-should-i-ask-a-stock-broker/
brendancalling
@WaterGirl: If I’m like me, and I know I am, I’m not a nice person about MAGA misfortune.
Manyakitty
@schrodingers_cat: most of them seem to be. Pathetic, really.
Steve in the ATL
@brendancalling: aren’t you a bass player? No one expects you to be nice!
Jackie
😡😡😡
Geminid
Now here’s a,story:
The “multinational media company” publishes the Epoch Times.
Barbara
@opiejeanne: I am surprised by the negativity about Vanguard. Of course, if it really was as clueless as reported about not being able to figure out (duh!) a change of name through marriage, that also is surprising.
However, my husband’s 401(k) has been in Vanguard for going on 30 years, along with one of my 529 accounts and I have never had an issue with their customer service. I didn’t log into the account (requires a text message to my husband) but I think what you do is file a change of name form for the account under the name that you no longer use legally. I mean, they should make it somewhat difficult or at least multi-step. You can only have one legal name at a time so one of them has to be incorrect.
I feel like Vanguard has much better tools and customer service than Fidelity (different 401(k) account).
Jeffro
@Baud:
@JoyceH:
“Did I say they dropped off a bag containing $120,000, your honor? My bad. I meant $20,000. Just five figures, is all. Yes indeedy!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment to see a dealer about a new Corvette…”
Steve in the ATL
@Geminid: damn. I’ll have to ask about this at my next Falun Gong meeting.
karen marie
@HumboldtBlue:
I’m not paying any attention to who’s on the campaign staff. But the first thought is that it’s Kellyanne Conway’s daughter. That family is disturbed enough it wouldn’t surprise me.
Jeffro
Very true.
Think about how astonishing that is.
Frankly, even if he doesn’t regain the WH, the red states are completely bugfuck nuts and out of control (thanks, mostly, to the Sinister Six on SCOTUS). It will be a delicate thing, trying to keep the country together going forward, even without the head bomb-thrower in the mix.
Baud
@Geminid:
Thanks, Biden!
Quiltingfool
I got a phone survey today! Let’s see, I rated Biden and Lance Kunce “favorable” and TCFG and Hawley “unfavorable!” So easy!
I think the main purpose of the survey was to find out what kind of shows I watch on tv, what news sources I followed, social media sites, etc. for the purpose of political ad buys.
I was asked if I was a “strong” or “lean” Democrat, and if I was liberal, centrist or conservative. Guess what my choices were, lol! What was rather interesting is that the only policy type question was if I was pro-life (AKA forced birth) or pro choice. Nothing about the border or the economy or direction of the country.
This was a landline call – I still have a landline as my dad refuses to call me on my cell phone. I don’t argue with Dad.
scav
@opiejeanne: Advertising one’s Christianity is in no way evidence of goodness. At best, it indicates a devout hope of forgiveness.
MagdaInBlack
@karen marie: The Conway daughter Claudia is not a trumper. Rawstory tells me shes now being harassed by the maga cult because she tweeted ” Trump Convicted.”
karen marie
@TBone: The “Trust Jesus” on the front is *chef’s kiss* …
VFX Lurker
Yowza. Maybe I’ll stick with Vanguard after all. Thank you for sharing that experience.
Marleedog
@karen marie:
The daughter is even more virulentley anti-TFG than is is her father.
karen marie
@MagdaInBlack: Not being a Trumper and getting paid by the Trump campaign are not mutually exclusive. Unlikely but they’re all bugfuck crazy, so nothing would surprise me.
I don’t understand why names aren’t named. Are the people not named embarrassed to be identified?
Jackie
@karen marie: It was Susie Wiles daughter; TCFG’s campaign manager.
Conway’s daughter has chosen to support Daddy George Conway’s political direction and has recently been attacked by the MAGA Deplorables on Xitter.
MinuteMan
@gene108:
Sure seems like that ought to be unenforceable.
MagdaInBlack
@karen marie: The Propublica report names a lot of names.
Jay
cbc.ca/news/politics/amandeep-singh-nijjar-sikh-modi-1.7222853
Geminid
@Jackie: Susan Wiles may suspect the next few months will be the last chance for her and her daughter to make money off of Donald Trump. Get it while you can!
MattF
@Chief Oshkosh: When I retired, I had retirement accounts at both Vanguard and TIAA, and so had to deal with both in order to set up my RMDs. They both did the job adequately, although Vanguard tended to make things a bit more complicated. Both organizations allowed me to go paperless— they generate quarterly account PDFs that I download and online tax forms. I get emails from TIAA once in while, which I assume is an attempt to sell me annuities.
UncleEbeneezer
I got a text from “Trump Campaign” the other day about Biden’s DOJ doing a witch-hunt on Trump or some such. I responded: Fuck off, Nazi!
Jackie
@MinuteMan: That’s Allen Weisselberg, who’s currently sitting in prison protecting TCFG.
catclub
Wouldn’t that depend on how it is scheduled to be paid?
Jeffro
@Jackie:
@Geminid:
wow – Wiles’ daughter??
Susan Wiles strikes me as a true believer who probably lives completely in the FoxBubble, so while I’m sure she (and her daughter) are enjoying the payoff, I think Wiles would still be in there without it.
If I were a political reporter, I’d suuuuuuuure be trying to get Wiles’ take on what trump’s shiny new felony convictions mean to her as a person. Zero chance she’d respond, but that in itself would be worth having out there.
Jackie
@MagdaInBlack: Jen Psaki’s covering the Propublica article on her program this evening.
MagdaInBlack
@Jackie: TY for the tip.
smith
@MinuteMan: That was Weisselberg, whose solution to his conundrum when called upon to testify was to commit perjury. As I recall, as part of the verdict in the NY fraud case, he was fined $1 million because of that severence agreement.
karen marie
@Jackie: THIS Susie Wiles?
Was the hiring of WIles’ daughter included in the Pro Publica witness payoff story?
Jesus, tehse people.
YY_Sima Qian
More good news today:
The Falun Gong is corrosive is so many ways.
Jackie
@MagdaInBlack: 👍🏻
catclub
@BRyan: I will note that Vanguard says _May_ charge a $100 fee for moving an account.
I would also say that after you have saved thousands of dollars over the years with their low cost administrative fees, Charging you the cost of doing business is not a big deal.
For instance UBS is charging about 1%/ year on funds they hold, PLUS any mutual fund expense ratios.
Vanguard has lower expense ratios and charges 0% a year. If you have $100k and hold it ten years how much better have you done at Vanguard? Enough to afford a $100 exit charge? If you have a $million?
karen marie
@MagdaInBlack: I have no idea if the quote with no names is from the Pro Publica story or not. I haven’t read it. My life is too short to spend much time reading stories about a convicted felon and his friends. Especially when it’s clear none of them will face any real consequence. Inconvenience? Sure, a little bit. Maybe. But nothing beyond that. Not even embarrassment, because you can’t embarrass shameless people.
They’re all trash.
Jackie
@karen marie: The very same Susie Wiles. Yes, her daughter is listed in the article.
Here’s the Propublica link again: propublica.org/article/donald-trump-criminal-cases-witnesses-financial-benefits
Names are listed at the end of the article.
MagdaInBlack
@karen marie: Ok then. Have a good night.
karen marie
@Jackie: “Again”?
Hahaha. No, I’m not going to read it. My life isn’t that long. I already know if you’ve got an R after your name, you’re a fucking crook. And that goes double for anyone who supports and/or works for Trump.
I was initially just curious who the unnamed person was. My curiosity doesn’t extend so far as knowing the precise details of their criminality.
karen marie
@MagdaInBlack: Well, bless your heart!
Steeplejack
Trump’s sentencing hearing is on the same day as my colonoscopy. I hope we will have a similar experience.
PaulB
As you said, YMMV. I’ve used both Fidelity and Vanguard. I find both of them to be far superior to, e.g., Schwab or e-Trade and others that I’ve been mandated to use by various employers. Personally, I have also found that neither Vanguard nor Fidelity is superior to the other, as they each have their strengths and weaknesses. Currently, I’m using Fidelity and I’m reasonably happy with the site and the service.
That mostly applies to Vanguard funds, as far as I can tell. I can’t help but wonder whether that is Fidelity’s doing or Vanguard’s. Certainly, no such limitation exists in the funds and ETFs that I have at Fidelity, including a couple of Vanguard ETFs. The trading I do there, along with the automatic reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, is all done cost-free for the funds in my account.
To go back to the original topic, as others have noted above, I’d drop that broker and go to self-management of my investments, selecting a diverse assortment of low-cost index funds. These are available at both Vanguard and Fidelity, and you’d be doing better than over 90% of managed funds, with no need to pay a broker in the process.
PaulB
One workaround for that is to query the other site to see if they will offer a bonus to persuade you to move. Several years ago, Fidelity offered me $2,000 to consolidate my various 401(k) accounts into a Fidelity Rollover IRA.
Fidelity offers the same benefits.
ETA: To be honest, if I were on Vanguard now, I’d stay there. If I were on Fidelity, which I am, I’d stay there. I don’t see any compelling reason to choose one over the other, since their offerings, costs, and services are essentially the same. It’s a little like a Mac vs. PC debate.
Jackie
@Steeplejack: I hope your experience is more pleasant! 😏
Steeplejack
@MinuteMan:
It’s being paid out in installments to make sure Weisselberg stays uncoöperative.
RaflW
It occurs to me, reading the Atlantic piece and reaching the second paragraph after the fold in the OP about how a protest requires “‘boring little logistical things.’ No such effort on Trump’s behalf seems under way,” that, while Trump and well funded groups like Heritage are already drafting highly odious plans like Project 2025, the actual Trump Campaign is running on a very tight budget, has as it’s head someone who thinks only about saving his own skin, and probably doesn’t have much real talent under him at Campaign HQ.
Likewise, the national GOP is not raising as much money, isn’t doing great on supporting non-Trump candidates, and seems quite listless and disorganized.
We cannot bank on this, but it sure seems like the poor attendance at Trump’s Bronx event, as an example, indicates a major organizational struggling-to-gel that I think is substantially under reported.
Jay
theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/03/hamas-still-strong-in-areas-cleared-by-israel-in-northern-…
Geminid
@Jeffro: Wiles does not seem like an enthusiast to me. She’s a committed Republican for sure, but she’s a political professional to the core. Running a Presidential campaign is the biggest job a political professional can ever have, and I think that power is her motivation. Wiles would probably be at least as happy managing a presidential campaign for Brian Kemp or Glenn Youngkin, but she correctly gauged that Trump was going to be the nominee again, so she persuaded Trump that she could help him win in 2024.
Politico Magazine published a long article on Wiles, maybe 6 weeks ago. It’s definitely worth a read if you are interested in her. It’s kind of a psychological study, trying to figure out what makes Suzie Wiles tick. So the reporter gets into Wiles’ childhood and even a little bit into the childhood experiences of her father, who was a high functioning alcoholic.
This was Pat Sumerall, the NFL player who became a very successful sportscaster. When Susan Wiles graduated from the University of Maryland in 1979, her father lined up her first job as a staffer for Rep. Jack Kemp, a former teammate of his.
The 1980 Reagan campaign soon hired the efficient Wiles to work on advance teams where she “made the trains run on time.” Wiles worked for Reagan throughout his two terms, and during his first years of retirement. That was her first experience working with an ex-President who was losing his marbles, but not her last.
smith
@RaflW: It’s been reported that the Biden campaign has almost 150 field offices set up and staffed, while the Felon’s campaign apparently has none. On the other hand, his people have been setting up “election Integrity” operations nationwide. It seems they will forgo GOTV and go right to voter intimidation, harrassing election workers, and bringing lawsuits to contest results.
Steeplejack
@Jackie:
At least I’ll be sedated for mine!
Well, maybe Trump will be, too.
Yutsano
@opiejeanne: I am a complete and total idiot! I actually know a broker in Bellevue. I sent an e-mail through WaterGirl and hopefully I can get you connected to him.
Shakti
@Argiope: Early 90s. AIDS was the leading cause of death of Americans 25-44 in my first year of high school (per the government)
…which explains our health class curricula– abstinence plus. They didn’t say it though.
The next year, after a public discussion on the wall ( a literal cinderblock wall) that was essentially “Is it ok to be gay?”, several teachers came out to the student body.
I feel like we’re going backwards now, in a lot of ways. And the sad part is my time on earth is finite, my window for doing things is also that way. Perhaps it’s because in the last year six people I’ve known well and for long, have died. The youngest was a little under a year older than me. She didn’t need to die and she shouldn’t be gone. Not from Covid on top of everything else.
Geminid
@Jeffro: The Politico Magazine article about Susan Wiles is titled “The Most Feared and Least Known Political Operative in America” Michael Kruse; April 26, 2024. It’s a long one.
This link ought to work:
politico.com/news/magazine/2024/04/26/suzie-wiles-trump-desantis-profile-00149654
Link doesn’t work, not sure why. The article is easily found though, by looking up “politico magazine suzie wiles.”
@Geminid:
ToocanAnj
@TBone: Thanks for these links. I’m a long-time lurker (I wept the day Tunch left us) and before that watched John’s conversion to liberal, but I rarely comment.
Recently, I became responsible for our investments, due to my spouse’s early onset atypical Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
I’m looking for a financial advisor, these are very helpful.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Grumpy Old Railroader:
Our billionaire owned media have a fiduciary responsibility to gaslight our nation to provide the best returns in shareholder value, both in dividends and the selection of a favorable ruling class.
TBone
@ToocanAnj: good luck! If you’re a semi good judge of character, do your homework, and don’t let the financial jargon (it’s easy to look up any confusing words or acronyms) or anyone intimidate you, you should be well prepared. I found taking notes at all points during my learning curve and during all meetings very helpful. I don’t take politics into account, other than if the guy seems really truly clueless like the one mentioned. Word of mouth from trustworthy friends is also great if you have that luxury. You got this! I am sorry that it’s not under better circumstances.
ToocanAnj
@TBone: Thanks T-Bone, the circumstances do suck and it’s time to get my nose into it. It’s helpful to realize there’s a learning curve! I appreciate your comment back.
tokyokie
@comrade scotts agenda of rage: When I see a truck for, say, a house painter that incorporates a Christian symbol into a logo, I make a mental note to never use that service. Being adherent to a particular faith does not connote expertise in an unrelated field, and making the point of emphasizing such a secondary qualification informs me of quite the opposite. (I would apply the same test to proponents of any religion, but the only ones that seem to do so are Evangelicals.)
elliottg
@chrisanthemama: Not even a good salesman. Thinking that comment would have a positive cost/benefit is a hard fail unless he had some other read on the situation.
Kayla Rudbek
@Shakti: same type of sex ed growing up in Minneapolis and running with the theater crowd in high school. Even at a Catholic high school, we knew the score.