Trump 55: The Bronze Baron Of Bedminster Wants Back On Twitter And the Forbes 400

[Cartmann99]

 

[Cartmann99]

@47of74 are you by any chance related to Richard Marx? This sounds like something you would say.

[47of74]

9 hours ago, Cartmann99 said:

@47of74 are you by any chance related to Richard Marx? This sounds like something you would say.

Yeah he just might be.  And and calling fuckopotomus an illiterate fuckstick is something I would do.  At the very least. 

[GreyhoundFan]

So the TFG Christmas card has been released. It's worse than I thought:

 

 

I agree with the observations below.

 

[formergothardite]

He looks miserable in that picture. 

[Jana814]

WTF he’s not president!!  But I’m not surprised that he did this. He will think he’s president for the rest of his life!  

[GreyhoundFan]

So I just read that the earlier card may not be real. I'm of two minds about it: It certainly is tacky enough to fit his overall style, but he looks ridiculous and I can't imagine him approving it without at least a bit of shrinking his midsection using photoshop.

 

Another thought, maybe the extra tacky card is the card being sent out and the one in Aaron's inbox is just the one he is selling to suckers supporters to give to people they love (or hate).

[47of74]

47of74, this reminds me of the time you tried to drill a hole in your head, remember that?  Yeah it: (1) would have worked if you hadn't stopped me; and (2) it was right after I saw the pictures of orange fuckface's Christmas cards.

[onekidanddone]

7 hours ago, GreyhoundFan said:

So the TFG Christmas card has been released. It's worse than I thought:

 

 

I agree with the observations below.

 

Showed the photo to Mr. OneKid and his response was and I quote: “Oh I see Trump has finally gotten his cum-uppance”

[Cartmann99]

 

[47of74]

Orange Fuckknob was mad at Bibi for congratulating President Biden.  

Quote

Former President Donald Trump lashed out with profanity at Benjamin Netanyahu for congratulating President Joe Biden on his victory in last year’s election, an Israeli newspaper reported Friday.

In interviews earlier this year with the Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, Trump expressed fury at a video Netanyahu circulated online in which he congratulated Biden.

 

[47of74]

Fuck face had a bund meeting with Dildo O’Rielly yesterday. He didn’t get the crowds he wanted. 

Quote

There were so many empty seats at Donald Trump’s Florida event on Saturday that organizers had to shut down the upper level of the arena in Sunrise, Florida, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

Trump fans sitting in the nosebleed section of the FLA Live Arena were told that they were being “upgraded” to the lower levels, according to the newspaper.

Many tickets remained unsold before the event.

Trump appeared with former Fox Newspersonality Bill O’Reilly, who was bounced from the network after accusations of sexual harassment.

 

[Cartmann99]

 

[Cartmann99]

Rest of the thread is under the spoiler.

Spoiler

 

 

[Cartmann99]

Trump’s Social Media Company Just Partnered With a QAnon Video Site

Quote

Former President Donald Trump’s proposed social network is now going to rely on a video-sharing site known for spreading anti-vaxxer and QAnon conspiracies to provide its video and streaming services, the Trump Media and Technology Group (TMGT) announced last night.

Truth Social, which is part of the proposed TMGT media empire, will partner with Rumble in a “wide-ranging technology and cloud services agreement.” The companies are also apparently in “exclusive negotiations” to launch a subscription-based streaming service called TMGT+.

Interestingly, the press release claimed that Truth Social has already launched to “invited guests only” and that Rumble was already providing the cloud services to the beta version. Back in October, when Trump announced his new enterprise, the former president said that a beta version of Truth would go live in November.

It isn’t clear if the site has indeed launched in any capacity, how many invited guests are using Truth Social, or who those guests are.

What is clear however is that a partnership with Rumble would make a lot of sense. Rumble is a Canadian tech company launched in 2013. However, its popularity spiked in the last 12 months thanks to support from right-wing figures like Donald Trump Jr. and Dan Bongino. The company has also secured the financial backing of Silicon Valley entrepreneur Peter Thiel and Hillbilly Elegy author and Senate candidate JD Vance. 

Rumble advertises itself as a free-speech alternative to YouTube and other mainstream social networks, but the site is actually filled with conspiracy-laden videos including channels run by many of the biggest QAnon influencers who were kicked off of YouTube and Facebook during the last 12 months.

 

[GreyhoundFan]

The procession to kiss the orange ring ass is continuing: "GOP candidates are flocking to Mar-a-Lago to pay Trump for the privilege of hosting their events"

Quote

As his guests sampled short ribs and chocolate cake at a Dec. 1 reception held in Mar-a-Lago’s gilded ballroom and others mingled at another event held by the pool, U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker of Georgia raised more than $1 million for his campaign and an allied super PAC.

The following evening, Donald Trump dined at his private Florida club with about 20 couples, each of whom paid $250,000 to the Make America Great Again Again super PAC, a group run by close allies of the former president.

Two days later, Turning Point USA, a conservative group for young Americans, held a sprawling event at Mar-a-Lago, where organizers said Trump’s presence was the key to attracting 750 guests.

Since Trump returned from his New Jersey club to Palm Beach, Fla., this fall, Mar-a-Lago has become a hotbed for Republican fundraisers, with candidates jockeying to line the former president’s pockets in hopes of winning his endorsement, get a photo with him or simply give donors a chance to be in his presence.

The surge in business at his private club spotlights the unparalleled way in which Trump has personally profited from his presidency and his popularity in the GOP — a revenue stream that began during his time in the White House and has only strengthened since he left office. Rather than hosting fellow Republicans, Trump is charging them for the privilege of using his venues.

The Washington Post identified at least 30 events held by GOP candidates or conservative groups at Trump properties through mid-December, based on campaign finance records and social media posts. That’s more than The Post tallied in any previous year; in 2020, The Post counted 13 such fundraisers — most of them paid for by Trump’s own reelection campaign.

Trump’s properties have collected $463,000 in revenue from just nine of the 2021 gatherings that have been disclosed so far in federal campaign finance reports. That sum will grow substantially next month when federal political committees report their spending for the second half of the year.

The disclosures will also show that the total number of fundraisers held at Trump properties in 2021 is far greater than the 30 identified so far by The Post, according to club members and Trump advisers familiar with the events.

Many of the largest gatherings have happened in recent months, such as the Walker fundraiser, a “Spirit of Lincoln Gala” put on by the Log Cabin Republicans and the Turning Point gala, according to people familiar with the schedule. At times in recent weeks, advisers said, there have been several fundraisers in one evening.

The steady business indicates that even after the former president’s lies about the 2020 election, the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters and a polarizing presidency in which many charities and companies stopped patronizing his properties, Trump has held onto a durable base of political business, thanks to his strength inside the Republican Party.

Mar-a-Lago is a particularly popular venue with Trump-inspired candidates, those running for the first time and those competing in crowded Republican primaries, according to people familiar with the events who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private gatherings.

Among those planning to hold fundraisers at the club are GOP Reps. Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) and Jeff Van Drew (N.J.), according to Trump advisers. In a news release put out by her campaign, Stefanik said she was “honored” to kick off her reelection effort “with my friend President Trump at Mar-A-Lago.” An adviser for Van Drew confirmed an upcoming fundraiser but declined to comment.

Julian Zelizer, a presidential historian at Princeton University, said the rush of paid GOP events at Trump’s club is “indicative of how powerful of a hold he has on the party.”

Zelizer noted that while other former presidents have given paid speeches or taken seats on lucrative boards, they did not rent property to candidates while serving as GOP kingmaker and contemplating another White House run.

“It‘s like a party boss, with one of his homes being the place for wheeling and dealing and picking the next Senate candidate,” Zelizer said.

Taylor Budowich, a Trump spokesman, said the former president’s properties — including his Bedminster club in New Jersey — are sought after by those running for office on the right.

“When it comes to raising money for Republican causes and candidates, there are only two seasons that matter: Bedminster season and Mar-a-Lago season. Through the dozens of fundraisers that will be held at Mar-a-Lago this season, the Trump property and Trump brand will continue to fuel the MAGA wave ahead of the midterms,” he said.

The Trump Organization did not respond to a request for comment.

The vast majority of the fundraisers held at Trump properties this year have taken place at Mar-a-Lago, the members-only club that now doubles as Trump’s home for much of the year.

The Republican National Committee spent about $175,000 there this year after the national party agreed to move part of its annual spring donor retreat to the club, finance records show. At that dinner, Trump briefly thanked the donors in attendance before launching into a jeremiad about the “rigged” 2020 election and lambasting other Republicans.

Other groups have paid Trump’s business to host events that honor him or former first lady Melania Trump. And sitting U.S. senators have held events at his properties, even as he attacks Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Before Mar-a-Lago cites a price to candidates seeking to book a fundraiser, they are required to fill out a form asking if Trump’s presence is requested, how many photos the candidate needs with him and whether his name will be on the invite, according to a copy of the form reviewed by The Post. A longtime Florida GOP fundraiser, Meredith O’Rourke, is now a point person for scheduling such events at the club, according to multiple people involved. A candidate has to be sponsored by a Mar-a-Lago member to hold an event there.

Two political consultants who have planned events at Mar-a-Lago said that the club’s fees were steep but the fundraisers were key to potentially gaining face time with the former president. The Trump Organization did not respond to requests for comment about what it charges.

Some candidates have gravitated to Mar-a-Lago because donors are eager to visit the club and meet Trump, and because Palm Beach is a place where many wealthy contributors live.

“Contrary to what you might hear from other candidates, he’s still by and far the most popular figure in the Republican Party in North Carolina,” said Jonathan Felts, an adviser to Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), who held a Nov. 11 fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago for his U.S. Senate bid. “Between his popularity and the perceived cool factor of Mar-a-Lago, it has a significant attractiveness in and of itself.”

Trump, who endorsed Budd in June, agreed in advance to speak at the November fundraiser, at which the top-tier tickets cost $10,800 a person. And invitation to the event obtained by The Post noted that the former president would be a “special guest” and featured an image of Mar-a-Lago surrounded by palm trees.

Some candidates hold events at the club because they are still hoping to get his endorsement, according to consultants familiar with their thinking.

Of the 20 candidates who The Post identified as having held events at Trump properties this year, 11 had been endorsed by him by the time of their fundraiser. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), was endorsed by Trump on the very day he held a lunch fundraiser at the club in April.

Holding an event at a Trump property doesn’t guarantee a candidate will get his backing.

Lynda Blanchard, who served as Trump’s ambassador to Slovenia, spent $24,000 in March on a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago for a short-lived campaign for U.S. Senate in Alabama. She brought along a group of state Republicans, who had a framed proclamation from the Alabama GOP calling Trump “one of the greatest and most effective presidents” in American history, Fox News reported.

“Honored to have received a surprise visit from President Trump at my event this weekend!” Blanchard wrote on Facebook, alongside a picture of Trump attending the event — which was held within a few hundred yards from his home.

But Trump never endorsed Blanchard, instead backing Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) for the Senate seat. Brooks, who had loudly echoed Trump’s falsehoods about the 2020 election, held his own fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago two weeks after Trump’s endorsement. (Blanchard has since ended her Senate bid and launched a campaign for governor.)

A Trump spokesman did not respond to a question about whether candidates who hold events at his properties have a better chance of getting his endorsement.

The club has drawn business this year from both federal and state candidates, including nine people running for Senate, six running for the House, four for governor and one for state attorney general.

Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Sarah Sanders — Trump’s former White House press secretary — held two events in March and April, paying a total of $59,000, according to campaign finance filings. Sanders did not respond to requests for comment.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), running for reelection in a crowded GOP primary, held an event at the club last week — the first state attorney general The Post has identified as holding a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago this year. In footage from the event posted online, Trump can be seen praising Paxton.

Paxton was indicted in 2015 on charges of felony securities fraud, a case that has not yet gone to trial amid numerous legal challenges. Paxton’s campaign did not reply to requests for comment.

When Trump took office, Mar-a-Lago was the center of Palm Beach’s busy — and lucrative — charity ball circuit. It hosted dozens of events a year, including galas that cost $250,000 or more.

The bulk of that business disappeared in 2017, however, after Trump said there were “very fine people” among the protesters at a violent “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville. Afterward, 22 charities canceled their events, and most stayed away, reducing one of the club’s largest income streams.

Since then, Mar-a-Lago’s shift to court Republican customers has mirrored a broader change in Trump’s businesses, which appear to be shifting from their focus on apolitical luxury brands toward an effort to monetize Trump’s GOP base.

Trump’s company has already seen its hotel chain shrink by four locations, and it is now seeking to sell a fifth — Trump’s hotel in Washington, which lost millions during his presidency as his politics drove some customers away.

Instead, Trump appears to be focused on new ventures that build on his political supporters, including an e-commerce site that sells “Make America Great Again” hats, and a fledgling social media company that has already attracted more than a billion dollars of potential investment before even launching its product. He is also selling picture books of his time in office.

At Mar-a-Lago, Trump also appears to have shifted one of his oldest businesses to rely on those new customers. While most of Trump’s businesses were hammered by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Mar-a-Lago’s revenue actually went up that year to its highest level since 2017, according to Trump’s financial disclosures.

“He can bring people to the table who will write checks,” said Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), who held a golfing fundraiser with Trump in May that raised more than $1 million, according to the Graham. “He has real juice.”

Blake Masters, a U.S. Senate candidate in Arizona, held a fundraiser at the club in November. Trump has not endorsed a candidate his race.

“I‘d been to Mar-A-Lago before, but I’m always blown away when I return. We always knew we wanted to host an event there, and it was especially awesome to learn that President Trump was willing to host us and attend the event. He was a huge draw for dozens of our guests,” Masters said in a statement. He said Trump gave the crowd a history of Mar-a-Lago and criticized Democrats, adding: “His remarks were high energy.”

Josh Mandel, a candidate for U.S. Senate in Ohio candidate, has held a fundraiser at the club — and even attended a recent fundraiser for Herschel Walker, according to an attendee and a Trump adviser. Another Trump adviser said Mandel was a regular visitor to the club.

He was joined by at least five other candidates for different offices who also attended the Walker fundraiser, Trump advisers said. A representative for Mandel did not respond to requests for comment.

The Dec. 4 Turning Point event marked the fifth time the nonprofit group had held its gala at Mar-a-Lago, spokesman Andrew Kolvet said.

“At this point, it’s become tradition. So all the folks that are supporters and fans of Turning Point USA sort of expect the winter gala to happen at Mar-a-Lago,” Kolvet said. He said the former president also plays a role in bringing attendees: “The Trump connection is a draw.”

Trump didn’t speak at the gala itself. But he did address an earlier poolside reception, hosted by Turning Point’s political arm. According to video taken at the event, Trump called Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley a “f---ing idiot” for the way he oversaw the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Kolvet declined to say how much Turning Point spent at Mar-a-Lago this year. In past financial disclosures, however, the group has reported spending about $280,000 on its annual Mar-a-Lago galas — in line with the largest charity events the club attracted before Trump entered politics.

At the fundraiser for Walker, Trump and the retired football player stood on the balcony overlooking the pool as the former president ticked off football statistics from Walker’s career for about 550 attendees, according to someone who was present.

Guests included country singer Travis Tritt, who sang a patriotic tune for the crowd, and attendees were able to view a Heisman trophy and greet football player Doug Flutie.

Contributors who paid for access to a private dinner were served Trump wine with their meal, and the former president took photos with at least 50 donors who had contributed the highest amounts.

 

[Xan]

Big dumb guy is now saying he saved Christmas:  (From Raw Story site)

While being interviewed by Newsmax's Mike Huckabee, Trump falsely claimed that Americans were afraid to say "Merry Christmas" before his presidency, but that his presidency gave them the strength to muster up the courage to say the words in public again.

"We went through a long period where people quit saying Merry Christmas," Huckabee said, without citing any evidence that Americans had ever quit saying "Merry Christmas." "You deliberately changed that!"

"It was embarrassing for stores to say 'Merry Christmas,' you'd see these big chains, they want your money but they don't want to say 'Merry Christmas,'" Trump said of the purportedly dark era that preceded his four years in the White House. "They'd use reds, they'd use whites and snow but they wouldn't say Christmas!"

Trump then bragged that "when I started campaigning, I said, 'You're going to say Merry Christmas again,' and now people are saying it."

In conclusion, Trump said of Christmas that "we brought it back very quickly!"

 

Edited December 16, 2021 by Xan

[Cartmann99]

 

[AlmostSavedAtTacoBell]

19 hours ago, Xan said:

Big dumb guy is now saying he saved Christmas:  (From Raw Story site)

While being interviewed by Newsmax's Mike Huckabee, Trump falsely claimed that Americans were afraid to say "Merry Christmas" before his presidency, but that his presidency gave them the strength to muster up the courage to say the words in public again.

"We went through a long period where people quit saying Merry Christmas," Huckabee said, without citing any evidence that Americans had ever quit saying "Merry Christmas." "You deliberately changed that!"

"It was embarrassing for stores to say 'Merry Christmas,' you'd see these big chains, they want your money but they don't want to say 'Merry Christmas,'" Trump said of the purportedly dark era that preceded his four years in the White House. "They'd use reds, they'd use whites and snow but they wouldn't say Christmas!"

Trump then bragged that "when I started campaigning, I said, 'You're going to say Merry Christmas again,' and now people are saying it."

In conclusion, Trump said of Christmas that "we brought it back very quickly!"

 

I was never afraid to say "Merry Christmas".  I am Christian and I say it when appropriate to appropriate people.  I choose, however, to say "Happy Holidays" in public to people whose religious alignment, if any, I do not know.  I see it as a sign of respect to others to not make assumptions.  Businesses choosing to use neutral words and decorations are showing the same respect to their customers.  Chucklebee and Dolt 45 would lose their minds if people wished them "Happy Hanukkah" or "Joyous Kwanzaa".  I know I am preaching to the Dolly Parton backup choir here, but it just fries my bacon that these asshats can't see that basic respect to others doesn't take away anything from themselves.  If anything, it actually shows Christianity in that it follows what Jesus Christ (ahem, a Jew) teaches.  

(I do admit I am laughing at Trump fleecing the GOP for money.  He'll piss it away and it takes away funds for other candidates to use for campaigns.  Keep riding the dragon, but eventually the dragon throws you off his back and attacks you.  Only in this case the dragon is a sad little poof of hair who could have and should have been easily wiped out in 2015 with a willingness to throw some cold water on the hatred and racism.)

[Alisamer]

36 minutes ago, AlmostSavedAtTacoBell said:

I was never afraid to say "Merry Christmas".  I am Christian and I say it when appropriate to appropriate people.  I choose, however, to say "Happy Holidays" in public to people whose religious alignment, if any, I do not know.  I see it as a sign of respect to others to not make assumptions.  Businesses choosing to use neutral words and decorations are showing the same respect to their customers.  Chucklebee and Dolt 45 would lose their minds if people wished them "Happy Hanukkah" or "Joyous Kwanzaa".  I know I am preaching to the Dolly Parton backup choir here, but it just fries my bacon that these asshats can't see that basic respect to others doesn't take away anything from themselves.  If anything, it actually shows Christianity in that it follows what Jesus Christ (ahem, a Jew) teaches.  

I agree. I have had a couple people respond with a pointed "merry CHRISTMAS" if I say Happy Holidays, but so far no one has said anything negative. Which is kind of annoying because I have a response ready! "Well, I was hoping you 'd have a nice New Year, too. But sure. Merry Christmas."

[AlmostSavedAtTacoBell]

1 hour ago, Alisamer said:

I agree. I have had a couple people respond with a pointed "merry CHRISTMAS" if I say Happy Holidays, but so far no one has said anything negative. Which is kind of annoying because I have a response ready! "Well, I was hoping you 'd have a nice New Year, too. But sure. Merry Christmas."

Stealing your response.  I have had a few people act the same as you have experienced.  I am petty enough that I do an exaggerated eyeroll as I give my "Why THANK YOU!"  I only do it to the people who are clearly being jackasses.  Some people just say Merry Christmas as their regular go to this time of year and that's fine.  It's when it's said as some kind of BIG RELIGIOUS STATEMENT ABOUT THE BABY JESUS BECAUSE I'M SO CHRISTIAN that I admit my petty nacho cheese sauce oozes out. 

[front hugs > duggs]

I’m Jewish and I don’t get offended at all if someone wishes me a Merry Christmas. However, I don’t appreciate how it is assumed in our society that you are a Christian individual with a married mother and father. 

[fraurosena]

This whole discussion of saying merry christmas is soooo foreign to me. We don’t do that at all. At least not until right before the holidays themselves and then usually only to wish both a merry christmas and a good year’s end. We’ll wish a happy new year for about a week after the first of January, and that’s about it.

There are absolutely no religious discussions about any of it at all. But then, in general we consider religion to be a personal thing and proselytizing is ‘not done’. Anyone being overtly religious is side-eyed.

[thoughtful]

7 hours ago, AlmostSavedAtTacoBell said:

I was never afraid to say "Merry Christmas".  I am Christian and I say it when appropriate to appropriate people.  I choose, however, to say "Happy Holidays" in public to people whose religious alignment, if any, I do not know.  I see it as a sign of respect to others to not make assumptions. 

I always wish people a good upcoming holiday or personal event, specifically naming the event, if I know they have one coming up. So, of course, there are lots of people to whom I've been saying "Merry Christmas" lately.

I know people mean well with "Happy Holidays" and "the holiday season," and I will certainly take that over meanies who want to make everyone into their kind of Christian (y'know, the kind that would have Jesus rolling His eyes and asking "did ye read anything I said?!").

 But (and this is no criticism of you, @AlmostSavedAtTacoBell, I'm just using your post as a jumping off point, because I know you are a kind person who really wants to be inclusive), I would greatly prefer that strangers, who have no idea what I do or don't celebrate, say whatever they would say in any other month - "have a nice day," "thank you for shopping at ________," etc.

I don't change what I say to strangers during this time of year, and have never had anyone react badly. I highly recommend it.

I think about this every year, and usually end up sticking a long post in a thread about something completely different.

So this time I started a thread about it, rather than blabbing on in this one.

If anyone is interested:

 

[Xan]

Donald has been tweeting furiously (via Liz Harrington) recently.  The Twitterverse thinks it's because he's nervous about the NY investigations that might bring racketeering charges.  

..................

I particularly enjoyed the way he thinks "the people of our Country won't stand for it".  Really, dude?  You think they're going to keep committing terrorist acts and going to jail for you?  I don't think so.

He's tweeted that Biden's ratings are poor, He's tweeted that "wokeness" can't stop Christmas.  He's tweeted that CNN wants to get rid of Zucker.  He also tweeted out a fake crowd pic to talk about his event today in Texas.  The news is saying that the arena was only half full.

The most liked tweet only got about 1.5 thousand likes with most just getting into the hundreds.  He used to get tens of thousands and sometimes hundreds of thousands.  At least, even with Liz flouting the rules, his reach isn't that far anymore.