Michael Steele, former RNC chair in saner days and now a MNBC political analyst, tweeted:
“I’m flipping stations and shaking my head. No wonder we can’t recover from this Trump infection because the media continues to feed Trump’s thirst to be everything everywhere simultaneously! On the plane, off the plane, in the car. You all know the actual @POTUS traveled today?”
In an impassioned plea to the media yesterday, Steele also raged to Nicole Wallace about the affliction and addiction the media has with their 24/7 coverage repeating the free airtime that catapulted a relative unknown scoundrel to the presidency.
even the late night comics have the same monkey on their back
https://youtu.be/-yvjiKizyng
click here for stephen colbert’s monologue
Will T**** Pose For a Mugshot? | GOP Insists the Indictment is Politically Motivated
I have come to like Steele on air, but I disagree A LOT with this one. The more independent voters see this man and who he is, the more unpopular he gets for a general election.
In fact, I hope this gets done: “Trump’s trial could be televised under new Albany bill” — New York Post
Fifty-five years ago today Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated by a white man in Memphis for trying to bring about equality for black people in America. Fifty years ago Donald J Trump (hereinafter”Dumbass”) was sued by the US DOJ for racial discrimination against blacks in housing. Thirty four years ago Dumbass called for the execution of 5 innocent black men wrongfully convicted of raping a white woman in NYC. Three years ago Dumbass asked the white Secretary of State of Georgia to “find” 11,780 [white] votes, “one more than we have” [moron speak] to overturn his election loss in Georgia, which he lost largely as a result of black voters in Cobb and Fulton counties. Today Dumbass will be arraigned as result of charges brought by a black prosecutor in NYC and likely will face charges brought by a black DA in Fulton County. MLK’s view about the arc of justice being long may indeed be correct, but it is definitely applicable to irony as well. Ahhh, sweet irony.
craig, but there are other important issues to also cover coming up. not so minor stuff like the debt ceiling crashing down on us. we should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time even if the walk is boring and the chaw is historical.
you do agree that the media in effect provided free campaign publicity for him back in 2016 with the wall to wall coverage of him over the other candidates.
Craig
I’m all in favor of Trump being seen. I’m not in favor of his plane being seen for 30 minutes of air time while reporters hash and rehash why they are staring at baggage.
He’s gotten free airtime for rallies, etc., so the least the media can do is spotlight (not ignore) today’s indictment proceedings. I don’t know if they need to track him like OJ in the white Bronco, though. They seem to think folks care more than they do, but if you air it, it’s there to watch.
Of course, it’s a two-edged sword because tRUMPsky wants to play the martyr card….but he’s going to do that with or without media coverage.
The only tangible tidbits of Orange Adolf’s uppance coming for him should be covered.
ps – When only journalists show up, but no protesters, you know that’s gonna rub him the wrong way.
The News is corporate. The News does what the News is told to do.
Yes Pat, I agree 2016 mega coverage was a mistake. Nowadays it’s different, he’s not a shiny new thing anymore, and nowadays it’s helpful for independent voters, especially in the suburbs, to be reminded why they turned against him in 2020, which is a big reason he los — and will again if they remain disgusted with him.
There’s plenty of coverage of other important stories, seems to me.
Jamie, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Trump’s plane have to wait in line to take off. He aint on Air Force One anymore.
I agree with jamie that some coverage is absolutely necessary but not in lieu of completely and at the expense of other news. plus talking head opinions are speculation, not news.
The dip is doing for this trial the same thing Imus did for his apology trip to Rutgers. He apologized, but he also showed up in a block-long limousine to awe them with his Imusness.
The ride to NY was a big power display which didn’t need wall to wall coverage. At least none of that crap will fly in the courtroom.
patD – Yes! It’s the talking heads droning on about it that does the real disservice.
…there’s always the BBC (but i’ll bet they’re covering it, too, ‘cuz it’s major international news)
Advertisers don’t mind if you hate-watch the coverage, as long as you see the ads
i’m personally just interested in what the charges are 🤔
also happening today that just might be a little more important is
Finland joins NATO, doubling alliance’s land border with Russia – The Washington Post
as of today one misstep by vlad on those 800 border miles, kaboom, we’re in a real war not just a proxy one.
IMO, the reason why Michael Steele is so upset with the wall to wall SFB coverage is because he wants to see his Republican Party win more elections. I do like him too… he’s a moderate. But moderation is not where the present party stands. Steele would like to see that change.
So the shit show will continue for today. I plan not to watch much tv until tonight…. when I’ll watch a Celtics basketball game.
in case you missed it, here’re 49 min. of slo-mo coverage on nicole’s deadline white house show yesterday. michael steele makes his more fervent comments early on. sorry i can’t pinpoint for you where. other guests also have a say both pro and con.
His countless crimes are far from victimless and most of his victims will never have justice. Some accountability for at least some of them is less than we deserve but all we can hope for.
patd – In today’s world, high tech armor/tanks/artillary/etc, puttie no longer has a military to use. He shot his wad, so to speak, in Ukraine. His military is stretched and being made into worm food. He can’t move from Pacific and China, someone there is looking to return to the old borders, hundreds of years old of course. He can’t leave Africa, several countries are ready to step in there. And he has already moved a portion of the troops who were on the Finnish-Russian border to Ukraine, and their weapons. Any move by russia into Finland, or the Baltic countries, would be met with immediate and deadly force. Many of my cousins would be happy to take back what the Soviets stole in WWII.
When will his opponents flip the script: if he can get away with these crimes against _______, he can get away with his next crime against you.
Clever twist, Ivy. I like it. Fed up with “they can do it to you” argument.
I baked a cake. Dunno. Just felt like celebrating. Vegan, pineapple, right-side down cake.
I don’t think he has supporters there, just looky-loos.
Going for a swim while the cake cools.
Interested in the charges, not the parade for the giant, orange, circus peanut.
Trump posts from the motorcade:
“Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”
Hillary must be itching to tweet “Lock Him Up”
She’s entitled, he is now officially under arrest.
I have been breaking out in laughter and chuckling all day today. I think of sfb being Mirandized and it makes me laugh. Too bad they were not planning on shiny bracelets.
“Can’t believe this is happening in America.”
Same as I felt as a pandemic swept unchecked across the nation killing more than a million Americans. Same as I felt as a self-appointed unregulated militia swept unchecked through the halls of Congress.
This can’t be happening in America.
I’ve had a swim and a shower. Are they still reading charges???
Busted!
MSNBC NEW: Criminal defendant, Donald Trump, has pleaded NOT GUILTY to 34 felony counts of Falsification of Business Records
So what is the felony count we’ve heard so much about – or are all charges felony counts?
Still waiting for full indictment, Pogo
They photoshopped a mug shot for their latest grift.
They really are mobsters. Donald Trump Jr. has posted a picture of the judge’s daughter on truth social.
Craig
That posting is probably why the judge was so stringent in his statements about negative or threatening remarks about the judge and other participants.
The entire mob family should get on a plane and leave. Just go away.
When did Junior post that pic?
WaPo banner – In court, Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. He pleaded not guilty. Thassa lotta felony counts.
https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-the-other-manhattan-case-that-can-topple-trump-20230404-ad65f7zyszegrhkdbo6wiai3ma-story.html
“The civil case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll claiming that Trump raped and subsequently defamed her is scheduled for a jury trial on April 25. Unlike the indictment that could take a long time to reach a jury, this trial could result in a blockbuster jury verdict as early as May finding that Trump is guilty of rape.”
“…New York Adult Survivors Act that extended the statute of limitations for sexual assault victims to sue the perpetrators for damages. The trial evidence appears to be heavily stacked against Trump. Although Carroll’s case does not depend solely on her testimony, Trump’s defense hinges on Trump’s own testimony.”
“On March 10 Judge Kaplan ruled that as part of her direct case, Carroll can introduce the testimony of two women who were allegedly sexually assaulted by Trump, one on an airplane and one at Mar-a-Lago during an interview of Trump for People magazine. Both women provide evidence of Trump’s propensity to commit such sexual assaults, as permitted by the rules of evidence.”
“Trump is faced with a conundrum — the only way he can rebut Carroll’s case is to testify in his own defense. That will subject him to a blistering cross examination concerning his predatory history. That coupled with his propensity to lie puts him in a real bind.”
“However, Trump cannot hide behind the Fifth Amendment privilege without suffering the dire consequences that in a civil case, unlike a criminal prosecution, his refusal to take the witness stand or to assert his Fifth Amendment privilege can be used by the jury to conclude that Trump raped Carroll and therefore defamed her.”
Jamie, haha! The only thing that’s made me laugh today.
Listening to Bragg talk about State campaign finance laws, I think George Santos and company should be getting nervous.
The look on Orange Adolf’s face in that pic from court was that of a petulant child who wants to set his parent’s bed on fire for putting him in time out.
Full indictment, best stuff in the Statement of Facts
https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Donald-J.-Trump-SOF.pdf
Lock him up.
I too wish he would go away. However I am enjoying his being forced to participate in the criminal justice system with no special excuses or protections. He can’t help himself he is going to do something which will force the judge to jail him….
Here are the all the counts:
i’m wondering why there’s no
“conspiracy” charge since the indictment states they have audio recordings of him (allegedly) conspiring
I agree Bing, don’t understand why no conspiracy count given how much the Statement of Facts alleges a conspiracy
crackers – Should we start a pool to see how long he can hold his tongue, before he spews something he should’ve kept to himself?
“Matthew Galluzzo, a former prosecutor in the New York County District Attorney’s Office …says it’s theoretically possible to delay a case for two or three years using motions and appeals.”
😬
https://www.npr.org/2023/04/03/1167756756/trump-traveling-new-york-arraignment-whats-next-trial
BID
I think he already has. Don Jr seems to be the face of
stupid remarks and actions that could get you jailed for contempt.
The judge warned Trump about this kind of behavior
“…how long…before he spews something he should’ve kept to himself?”
Rally at 8:15EST, so about 3 hours
Coming up, three more. I am thinking Georgia On My Mind. What if GA drops this week or next week? I think stroke out time as those are absolute criminal.
State court matters can be delayed for waaaaay too long. If Smith brings the federal indictments that’s a different matter altogether. Federal Judges don’t have much patience and delays are limited.
I, too, don’t understand how there was no conspiracy count. Yesterday Cohen said he, Dumbass and Weaselburg sat in Dumbass’ office and agreed to make the payment and then Dumbass sent C & W away to W’s office to figure out how to pay it.
Reading through the indictment, it looks to me like the best attack the Democrats have on Trump is to explain just how stupid it was.
All he had to do was reach in his pocket and fund the LLC from his personal money. He can spend all he wants, so there is no problem with campaign contributions. He has the right to buy anybody’s personal story. Instead he runs it through his general company account where it is listed as a business expense. Can anybody say IRS?
This is just the start of this silly thing and all because he won’t fund the LLC from his own pocket.
Stupid, but then Trump and stupid seem to go hand in hand.
Jack
I would say the problem with conspiracy is that the charges are about using the company account and that would be Trumps personal decision.
Jack
“All he had to do was reach in his pocket and fund the LLC from his personal money”
So, that’s a pivotal point in this case, in that, by doing so, he would make himself vulnerable electorally to the same criticisms of character as it could be perceived as an admission of guilt in the court of public opinion, which was in fact the pending Presidential election, so by enlisting others to avoid that personal exposure, it becomes a campaign finance issue. That is to say, “there’s your motive”
Bink
By the time anybody would have traced the LLC back to Trump The election would have been over.
In 4 years it would have been old news.
They could have even fulfilled their agreements and published the stories and the voters wouldn’t give a fuck.
As I said, stupid.
NEW THREAD courtesy of fearless leader