Politics, pop culture and entertainment news of interest to the LGBTQ community
You may recall that Mike Lindell – the MyPillow guy – promised folks that August 13 would be #ReinstatementDay – when Donald Trump would again ascend to the White House. Guess what – gasp! – didn’t happen? Continue reading “#ReinstatementDay – Guess What Didn’t Happen Today?”
The folks at Trump Plaza in West Palm Beach are done with being associated with the Trump name.
From the Palm Beach Post:
The Trump name has been dumped from a signature West Palm Beach condominium in the wake of the Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol.
Last week, the board of the Trump Plaza condominium voted unanimously to change the legal name of the twin-tower complex. As a result, former President Donald Trump no longer will have a condo bearing his name across the water from his island enclave on Palm Beach.
The 32-story, twin-tower complex decided to cut its last link with Trump following his actions in inciting the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The condo’s Jan. 19 vote cleared the way for residents to cast a ballot to choose a new name for the luxury condo, where units sell from $1 million to more than $4 million.
“The Trump brand is damaged, so rebranding the complex is a wise move,” said Burt Minkoff, a real estate agent with Douglas Elliman on Palm Beach.
It’s not just Florida, either. Data shows buildings in Manhattan bearing the Trump name have seen their value drop by half.
“The Trump name is probably pretty radioactive right now,” realtor Mark Cohen told Business Insider.
With the Electoral College affirming the results of the 2020 presidential election this week, followed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell recognizing President-elect Joe Biden as the winner, one might think Donald Trump would begin to accept the reality that his time in the White House is coming to an end.
But…no.
From CNN:
Yet even amid the intractable movement of the transition and the hurried lame-duck activity — some of which he is participating in himself — Trump is steadfastly refusing to acknowledge that he lost.
In his moments of deepest denial, Trump has told some advisers that he will refuse to leave the White House on Inauguration Day, only to be walked down from that ledge. The possibility has alarmed some aides, but few believe Trump will actually follow through.
“He’s throwing a f***ing temper tantrum,” an adviser said. “He’s going to leave. He’s just lashing out.”
The White House declined to comment for this report.
“Temper tantrums, lashing out, talking about not leaving the White House. Trump is not 4, right? He's 74,” @ErinBurnett says.
“And despite his increasingly deranged delusions, he still has the power to instill cowering and fear and sycophancy in others.” https://t.co/nzAk7rq8gV pic.twitter.com/GLbZl79VU2
— OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) December 17, 2020
Donald Trump was apparently so upset the Supreme Court didn’t hand him the election (as he’d planned) that he refused to come down to his own White House holiday party superspreader event.
But he did make time for a Twitter rant…because of course.
It’s worth pointing out that Team Trump lost dozens and dozens of baseless lawsuits in trying to steal the election. He lost in federal courts, appellate courts, and now the Supreme Court wouldn’t even let his peeps in the door. He lost to conservative, Republican-appointed judges, he even lost to judges he appointed.
It’s time, Donnie. It’s time to find some dignity.
#TrumpMeltDown quickly began trending on Twitter.
At the White House Christmas Party, guests were informed about 10 minutes ago that the president won't be joining them to make remarks.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 12, 2020
The Supreme Court really let us down. No Wisdom, No Courage!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2020
….The American people deserve answers, better late than never.” @IngrahamAngle
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2020
I WON THE ELECTION IN A LANDSLIDE, but remember, I only think in terms of legal votes, not all of the fake voters and fraud that miraculously floated in from everywhere! What a disgrace!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2020
Who is a worse governor, @BrianKempGA of Georgia or @dougducey of Arizona??? These are two RINO Republicans who fought against me and the Republican Party harder than any Democrat. They allowed states that I won easily to be stolen. Never forget, vote them out of office!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2020
WE HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2020
The Supreme Court had ZERO interest in the merits of the greatest voter fraud ever perpetrated on the United States of America. All they were interested in is “standing”, which makes it very difficult for the President to present a case on the merits. 75,000,000 votes!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2020
Another #TrumpMeltdown going on right now!
He's the biggest baby, sorest loser, and the most reality-denying human this country has ever seen.
— Brian O'Sullivan (@osullivanauthor) December 12, 2020
#TrumpMeltdown because it turns out you can’t steal an election by installing “loyal” judges on SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/pIsnYNkrOb
— 🏴☠️TrashRat🏴☠️ (@trashytrashrat) December 12, 2020
Trump cheated and won in 2016. He cheated and lost in 2020. Now he's willing to take the whole country down with him. #TrumpMeltdown
— Richard Hine (@richardhine) December 12, 2020
The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed last weekend’s ruling dismissing the lawsuit brought by Team Trump in Pennsylvania that was argued by Rudy Giuliani.
Pennsylvania has already certified its election results which show President-elect Joe Biden won the Keystone State by 81,660 votes.
And Trump can’t blame the judge in this new ruling – it was one of his own nominees. The all-GOP panel agreed the case had ‘no merit.’
From the New York Times:
The 21-page ruling by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals was a complete repudiation of Mr. Trump’s effort to halt Pennsylvania’s certification process and a full-throated affirmation of a decision last Saturday by Judge Matthew W. Brann of Federal District Court in Williamsport, Penn., who dealt the Trump campaign its initial defeat in the case.
“Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy,” Judge Stephanos Bibas, a Trump appointee, wrote on behalf of the appeals court. “Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here.”
Trump’s lawyers have already announced they plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court where Trump believes his 3 handpicked justices would give him a win.
BUT – most legal eagles doubt the high court would be willing to take up a case where the evidence is lacking and ultimately won’t change the outcome of the race. Even if SCOTUS were to take the case and rule in Trump’s favor, Biden would still have 286 votes in the Electoral College – far more than the required 270 to win the White House.
As Judge Bibas writes:
“Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy. Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here.”
— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) November 27, 2020
There is no chance SCOTUS will review the suit dismissed by Judge Brann seeking to block Pennsylvania’s certification. The lawyers representing the President are either delusional or intentionally misleading him and his supporters.
— SCOTUSblog (@SCOTUSblog) November 22, 2020
The US Court of Appeals has totally destroyed Trump’s claims in Pennsylvania. The opinion, written by Trump appointee Steve Bibas, is devastating. It didn’t even bother holding oral argument, saying the “claims have no merit.”
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) November 27, 2020
A federal judge has thrown out the Trump campaign’s lawsuit in Pennsylvania hoping to stop the certification of ballots there likening Team Trump’s arguments to Frankenstein’s monster, saying it appeared “haphazardly stitched together.”
From the New York Times:
A federal judge in Pennsylvania dismissed on Saturday night a lawsuit by the Trump campaign that had claimed there were widespread improprieties with mail-in ballots in the state, ending the last major effort to delay the certification of Pennsylvania’s vote results, which is scheduled to take place Monday.
In a scathing order, Judge Matthew W. Brann wrote that Mr. Trump’s campaign, which had asked him to effectively disenfranchise nearly seven million voters, should have come to court “armed with compelling legal arguments and factual proof of rampant corruption” in its efforts to essentially nullify the results of Pennsylvania’s election.
But instead, Judge Brann complained, the Trump campaign provided only “strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations” that were “unsupported by evidence.”
BREAKING: Federal judge dismisses Trump campaign's last lawsuit seeking to delay certification of Pennsylvania's election results. pic.twitter.com/oYi0wLHQUe
— Jeremy Roebuck (@jeremyrroebuck) November 21, 2020
"This Court has been presented with … speculative accusation … unsupported by evidence. In the United States of America, this cannot justify the disenfranchisement of a single voter, let alone all the voters of its
sixth most populated state."— David Frum (@davidfrum) November 21, 2020
"Plaintiffs’ only remaining claim alleges a violation of equal protection. This
claim, like Frankenstein’s Monster, has been haphazardly stitched together from
two distinct theories in an attempt to avoid controlling precedent."— David Frum (@davidfrum) November 21, 2020
CNBC reports that Donald Trump has lost in a second attempt to block a Congressional subpoena requesting his tax returns.
What is this guy hiding?
A federal appeals court in a split ruling Friday rejected President Donald Trump’s bid to block a House committee subpoena for his income tax returns. The subpoena was issued earlier this year to Trump’s accountants at Mazars USA by the Democrat-controlled House Committee on Oversight and Reform for his tax returns.
A federal judge in Manhattan had denied Trump’s effort to block the subpoena. Trump then appealed that ruling to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.
That appeals court, in a 2-1 decision, upheld the lower court’s ruling on Friday. The dissent came from Judge Neomi Rao, who was appointed by Trump to that Manhattan-based appellate court.
|
| Donald Trump |
For the third year in a row, Donald Trump has skipped the Cinco de Mayo celebration at the White House.
White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney was scheduled to attend, but cancelled at the last minute leaving the Mexican Ambassador, Martha Bárcena, with mid-level administration officials.
Both Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush attended/hosted large Cinco de Mayo celebrations at the White House during their administrations.
However, it is good to know that the Trumpster does at least enjoy a taco bowl every now and then.
Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics! https://t.co/ufoTeQd8yA pic.twitter.com/k01Mc6CuDI— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2016
The White House issued this statement:
I send my greetings and best wishes to all those celebrating Cinco de Mayo.
On this day 157 years ago, the Mexican people valiantly defended their freedom and prevailed in the Battle of Puebla. Facing a French army equipped with more men and better weapons, the tenacious Mexican forces, under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza, rose to the daunting challenge and emerged victorious on May 5, 1862.
As we honor the anniversary of this historic victory, we celebrate the courage and patriotism the Mexican soldiers exemplified in defeating the invading army of Napoleon III. We also acknowledge the remarkable achievements of Mexican Americans and the many contributions they have made, and continue to make, to our Nation.
Melania and I hope those who are celebrating enjoy today’s festivities. Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
|
| French President Emmanuel Macron |
At a ceremony on today commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a direct slap at Donald Trump’s “America first” approach to international affairs.
“Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism,” said Macron. “By saying, ‘Our interests first, who cares about the others,’ we erase what a nation holds dearest, what gives it life, what gives it grace and what is essential: its moral values.”
Trump, along with 80 other world leaders, was sitting just feet away from Macron at the time.
The Trumpster famously declared himself a “nationalist” recently as he campaigned for the midterm elections.
The video below shows the world’s leaders gathering for the ceremony, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Trump beamed at seeing, as well as part of Macron’s speech.
The Faces of Macron, Merkel and Trump as Putin Approaches#ArmisticeDay100 #VeteransDay #SundayMorning pic.twitter.com/y3ENHsBZNr— Ron L Pitts™ (@RonLPitts) November 11, 2018
This comes just a day after Trump decided to skip a ceremony at an American cemetery honoring fallen WWI soldiers because of a light fall of rain.
The Twitterverse was more than happy to show off tons of photos of President Obama at past Memorial Day events in the rain.
This is a real leader @realDonaldTrump. The rain…seriously? You have no idea what we go through in war and that’s why us Vets should hold a special place in society. Thank you @BarackObama for being a pure class act! #Resist pic.twitter.com/M6uWy7m06c— Doc T. (@Recon7997) November 10, 2018
Hey @realDonaldTrump here’s a picture of President Obama in the rain supporting his American troops on Memorial Day. Sad to know you’re too much of a gerber baby to go outside to pay homage to our American hero’s. pic.twitter.com/309elqRiXw— Zach Dendas (@Zdendas1) November 10, 2018
You commemorate wars, not celebrate them. Also, you don’t pull a no-show because of rain. What a joke of leadership and respect. Thank God @BarackObama wasn’t afraid of melting in the rain. pic.twitter.com/mJlvoTEoC0— Bethany Primrose (@BethanyPrimrose) November 10, 2018
President Obama takes stage on Memorial Day in the rain. pic.twitter.com/6clLHibhmK— Jeffy “Rainproof” Sessions the Thoyd (@JeffytheThoyd) November 10, 2018
This is what a real leader looks like. pic.twitter.com/5lDDQXxKUb— Louise Seeley (@liberrygirl65) November 10, 2018
Donald Trump is now taking credit for “hope” in America, a rise in the stock market and retail spending over the holidays.
And he hasn’t DONE anything yet.
#goodgrief
#I-just-can’t