Dismantle the Shakedown Regime of the Trump-Epstein Republican Machine
Today’s big news is all about the SCOTUS 6-3 ruling that Trump’s whole ‘emergency’ tariff shakedown routine using energy as a bargaining chip is illegal, with (of course) the three perps Thomas, Alito and Kavanaugh dissenting. This has drawn the president’s ire.
"I'm ashamed of certain members of the court - absolutely ashamed - for not having the courage to do what's right for our country."
He went on in his first direct attack on SCOTUS members:
Trump claimed Roberts, Barrett and Gorsuch were “fools and lapdogs of RINOs [Republicans-in-name-only] and the radical left Democrats.”
“They’re very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution,” he added. “It’s my opinion that the court has been swayed by foreign interests and a political movement that’s far smaller than people would ever think.”
Asked if he regretted nominating Barrett and Gorsuch in his first term, Trump said he wouldn’t say but added that he thought them joining the court’s majority opinion was an “embarrassment to their families, if you want to know the truth.”
He said he would sign an executive order to impose 10% tariffs on all nations. He can only do that for 150 days unless Congress votes to authorize anything longer.
The president’s Eyeshadow took the criticism further. JD Vance said the ruling was “lawlessness from the Court, plain and simple.”
Claiming the highest court in any country is dictator talk used when the plan is to invalidate the entire judicial branch. Greg Sargent makes a solid case that the entire regime is sinking. Which could make them doubly dangerous.
Meanwhile…
Only in the greatly weakened USA can a president file a lawsuit for billions of dollars against the US government and get his newly acquired Department of Justice to provide his representation and to provide the defense against his lawsuit. With the president as the arbiter in a legal settlement amount between both his sides.
We get to pay for both legal teams and the settlement and we, the people, did nothing wrong. Please send in your thousand dollar payment in a plain brown envelope festooned with gold filigree.
Far-fetched? Not so much. He keeps inventing new ways to shake down everyone.
The picture’s real and the caption isn’t. Or is it? In any living person’s memory, this is only the second time a president has had an attorney general serving as his hand puppet. It didn’t turn out so well for the other president when Nixon did it. The historic record doesn’t bother our current Little Princess Pretense though. He’s perfectly transparent with his criminal and unethical actions.
Stephen Colbert had a field day with Her Majesty’s latest at yesterday’s Princess Pretense Institute of Peace meeting:
Princess: “President Pena of Paraguay is here. President?” (spots him) “President. Thank you very much. Young, handsome, guy. It’s always nice to be young and handsome. It doesn’t mean we have to like you. I don’t like young, handsome…men. Women, it’s I like.” (breaks into sly grin)
Colbert (leans into camera, whispering) “Does he know we can hear him?”
Self awareness just ain’t his thang. At the close of the meeting, he did his usual signing ceremony stuff, holding up the signed documents to impress no one. Then the Institute’s Princess For Life banged down the golden gavel to end the meeting, followed by the playing of the Feminist Anthem: ‘YMCA.’
At a press conference, Press Secretary Twentysomething Leavitt said “This is a legitimate organization where there are tens of member countries from around the world.” - - - - [Colbert’s entire opening monologue]
Apparently, one of the countries in attendance at the meeting didn’t get the memo that it was all about peace.
The pomp and circumcision softballs the Shakedown Regime keeps tossing up for satirists to whack was preceded earlier this week by the appearance of Attourniquet General Pam Bondi before a Congressional committee investigating what’s up with her constant defense of the perps in the Trump-Epstein files.
The routine always came with two potential answers. A Congressperson asked a question. Bondi then (1) shuffled through some papers and opened her Mean Girl Burn Binder containing insults customized for each committee member and slammed them, or (2) did her best Sgt. Schultz impression: “I know nothingt!”
She never answered a single question, maintaining her perfect record of Perp Defense.
Around the world, other governments continued to hold Epstein associates accountable, most notably yesterday when the UK arrested ex-Prince Andrew on his 66th birthday for suspected sharing of confidential trade information with Epstein. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was caught in a lie that he cut off communication with Epstein in 2005 after one sole meeting. But a fresh cache of emails of his ongoing communications with Epstein till 2018 emerged, including a $50,000 donation Epstein made to a 2017 dinner honoring Lutnick.
Lutnick testified that his wife, kids and their nannies accompanied him to a lunch on Epstein Island with another couple and their kids also along for the soiree. In a scene reminiscent of a Mr. Bean skit, Lutnick asserted that every kid he boated over returned with him, as if he had taken the time to count each one personally to be sure. While several prominent Republicans are now calling for his dismissal, Princess Pretense responded with a standard ‘full confidence’ claim, just like NFL general managers do for coaches a few days before they fire them.
Meanwhile, the coverups abound. So far, survivors of Epstein’s global sex slave ring haven’t received justice, it looks like Epstein’s been an intel spy for one or more countries and Treasury Secretary Bessent appears to be blocking access to Epstein’s financial records which could prove the ultimate reveal that exposes all the biggest perps.
There are other serious matters afoot requiring everyone’s attention. The conduct of everyone in the Department of Homeland Security remains front and center. In addition to the money you’re paying for Princess Pretense’s DOJ offense/defense teams, you really should take note of the cost of the perpetual honeymoon suite of two unapologetic adulterers. Not a single taxpayer should miss the inside views supplied by the dogged reporter Judd Legum at Wonkette. Really. I’ll wait. And why is a pardoned major drug criminal getting VIP treatment which we are all paying for too?
Peaceful protesters are going to have a devil of a time soon trying to figure out which of the terrible policies require their attention in the remaining 4 weeks of winter. There’s the Trump-Epstein files (and no, Jeffrey Epstein didn’t kill himself). There’s the brutal CBP/ICE capades. Which cities will be hit next? In Minnesota, so many federal prosecutors have resigned, unwilling to follow DHS and White House directives that dangerous US criminals are being freed because of a shortage of prosecutors.
There’s the SAVE America Act advancing in Congress. If it passes, many older US residents born in rural areas are gonna be unable to vote because there are no state birth records to prove their citizenship. Most RealIDs and driver licenses aren’t considered proof. And women whose birth certificate maiden names don’t match their married names on current documents like driver licenses and social security cards are also going to be turned away. This is an outright effort to steal Congressional midterm elections as well as the 2028 one. You should be phoning in your opposition NOW to your Senators and to Republican Senators vulnerable in swing states, like Susan Collins in Maine.
There’s a whole lot of reading if you take time for all the links today, and you should.
And I’m convinced the worst actions by the president are mere days ahead. A NPR article about the Institute of Peace meeting ended with this ominous note:
Based on his past record, this means Iran is busy moving its nuclear stockpile, weapons armories, planes and government officials to safer locations. It also means the president (and likely Netanyahu) intend to hit Iran before that 10 day deadline. So I expect an attack will be launched as early as tomorrow and no later than Saturday Feb 28. All the ships and troops have now arrived in the Gulf.
With Trump’s string of recent setbacks in Minneapolis and today’s SCOTUS ruling, and the rising chorus for a complete release of the Trump-Epstein files, the rats are feeling cornered. Only a war can get some citizens to rally around the president. And like the last time around with the bunker buster attack, I also expect a relatively early declaration of victory. But with the 8th largest body of active troops in the world, Iran isn’t gonna roll over and quit that easily. Our troops have never engaged that big an adversary in US history, not in Vietnam, Korea, Germany nor Japan. This would be a war of major consequence and one that would grant the president extra powers, like jailing opponents and the press and declaring martial law. My greatest fear.
So that’s my first choice to make your signs and phone calls about now.
And cool your jets about the stupider things.
”Ask your Facebook friend who thinks he knows more than a doctor if XenoFoba is right for you.”
