The critical thing about today’s Miichigan primaries is how much of an “uncommited” protest vote Biden will get. And whether Trump continues to underperform his polling numbers. If there are results before it’s ridiculously late I may comment on them. Feel free to comment here also, as usual.
Paul Waldman and Tom Schaller have a new book out called White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy. I’ve just downloaded a Kindle edition and will let you know how it is.
Trump is trying to get out of posting a bond for the E. Jean Carroll appeal. And part of his argument is that he’s too rich to be expected to come up with a bond like some ordinary person. Asking him for a bond is an insult, apparently.
“Having argued to the jury that President Trump has great financial resources, Plaintiff is in no position to contradict herself now and contend that she requires the protection of a bond during the brief period while post-trial motions are pending,” he huffs. “This fact nullifies risk to the judgment creditor and weighs heavily in favor of an unsecured stay.”
He then immediately turns around and argues that, despite his vast wealth, having to post a bond would constitute irreparable injury.
“Here, under this district’s common practice of requiring a bond of 110 percent of the judgment, President Trump faces the prospect of posting a bond of $91.63 million—a sizeable bond which will come with very substantial, non-recoverable financial costs,” he moans. “These costs plainly constitute irreparable injury.”
You can read more about it here. This is truly desperate. Trump’s time is up to appeal this case on March 9. I’m betting he’s figured out he can’t come up with all the money he needs for his appeals without liquidating assets, which everyone will notice and which will reveal maybe he’s not a rich as he claims. See also Trump throws Truth Social tantrum demanding all cases against him “must be immediately halted.”
Update: They’re still counting votes, but it looks like the “uncommited” vote is respectable. This is supposed to be a vote to demand a cease fire in Gaza, and I hope that message is received.
I've always heard that psycopaths are devoid of certain emotions – remorse. empathy, compassion, and several others – but I don't think stress is listed among them. I know Trump has billed himself as a finanical Houldini who thrives in financial adversity. It appears to me that his mental deterioration has been excerbated as a result of stress. His house of card is tumbling down and it is taking its toll. Once the judgements of his fraud and defamation trial hit his pocketbook he's going be a drooling basket case of rage. Stay tuned…I doubt he's going to be able to pull a rabbit out of his hat without compromising himself with an indebtedness to either a foreign agent or a political entity at odds with democracy. He'll be further damaged goods.
"I doubt he's going to be able to pull a rabbit out of his hat without compromising himself with an indebtedness to either a foreign agent or a political entity at odds with democracy"
No doubt but he's already there isn't he? He was asked in an interview if wanted Russia or Ukraine to win the war. He refused to answer, this was just the other day and isn't front page news, the media ignores everything bad about him except the trials. To me a presidential candidate refusing to pick side between a struggling democracy thats has been been invaded unprovoked by our age old foe Russia should be the lead story everywhere?
The greatest thing to come from Michigan since the 32 ford coupe!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHgwF4q6P3A
Good one, I tried to guess before clicking, thought Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1PE_YsSNkQ
uncledad,
Iggy!
He put on a great show in NYC at a concert I went to at The Rose Ballroom, back in late '81 or early '82.
Oy, I am OLD!
BTW: The Misfits opened for them. They were terrific, too!
But, I still have my memory!
Yeah he puts on a wild show, I saw him in Ohio in 1981, it was a great show, he was on his game. I saw him again in Chicago around 1989 I think? Anyway he broke a bottle on stage and cut himself, played the whole show with blood dripping down his torso, oh yeah and he showed the crowd his package. I love Iggy but that wasn't a very good show, might have been some drugs involved? My favorite album is Soldier, didn't sell very well but not a bad track on it.
If tRUMP had any brains, and he has the money, he should pay-off E.J.C..
Actually, he should have done that right after the judgement.
THAT would have helped him avoid being exposed as just another "paper" billionaire!
But, apparently, he's neither smart, nor fabulously wealthy (as far as disposable income is concerned).
Anything bad for tRUMP is GREAT for America!!!
And democracy, worldwide!
I'm in favor of Michigan firing a warning shot regarding the murder of civilians using US-provided weapons.
I'm not sure how unhinged from reality Trump is. Is anyone on Trump's legal staff telling Trump how the process works. My perception, mostly from some truly stupid filings, is that Trump is calling the shots on the civil and criminal cases. The lawyers are executing the plays Trump calls. Usually, this results in a simple denial from the judge but some stuff has been a gift to the prosecutor.
My gut feeling is that Trump won't put up a bond on either of the civil cases he lost. If he does, he's out ALL the damages the court has awarded. Trump thinks he's a negotiator but he's just a cheat. But Trump knows he has leverage if he controls something his adversary wants. Once Trump posts a bond, Trump is fighting to get back even some portion of what Trump has no control over.
I suspect Trump thinks he can litigate giving up assets for years. And Trump thinks he will become Emperor in January. Actually, NY will proceed to dismantle Trump's assets in NY even if Trump is POTUS.
Trump thinks the legal mess is negotiable. In his mind, if he has the asset, say Trump Tower, they have to fight to get the title to the property in Trump's name. And Trump thinks he will be able to play games with the title or value to rob his opponent. Not being a lawyer in NY, I have to rely on others who say that's not how it works. After thirty days, if you fail to post a bond, your adversary has the power to clean your clock. It may be a LOT more expensive than paying would have been.
"I’m betting he’s figured out he can’t come up with all the money he needs for his appeals without liquidating assets, which everyone will notice and which will reveal maybe he’s not a rich as he claims."
When it comes time to liquidate those assets, I believe we'll see of the properties emblazoned with the business-toxic Trump name on them, not being able to overvalue them this time since that game is exposed, how much he really owns vs owned by banks and investors. This will result in a scenario Trump may fear more than prison, to be exposed as nowhere near a "billionaire", and maybe even looking at yet another bankruptcy, all too familiar territory for him though it may be.
Things are not looking good for the American Hitler lately. I'm not saying he's done, but he's on a disastrous trajectory on several fronts — politically, financially, mentally that may find him a blubbering mess by the time November rolls around. With the GOP still too captivated to do anything but keep pretending their emperor has clothes on.