Trump's Lowest Grift Ever Saved for Holy Week

This is a story about how the devil's puppet, aka Donald Trump, mocked Christianity by selling a book combining the Bible, the Constitution, the Pledge of Allegiance, the song God Bless America, and the Bill of Rights. 

Obviously purposely mixing church and state is a dog whistle for Christian Nationalists and other so-called religious groups that don't really follow the teachings of the Bible and don't believe in a Constitutional Democracy.

Now we have a blasphemous spectacle of a convicted rapist and traitor hawking Bibles during holy week to pay for his legal bills. It's both sacrilegious and probably the lowest of the grifts he's ever tried.

It's no secret Trump needs money and would sell his son Eric if it would cover his fraud bond in New York. Never shy to lie, Trump has taken his grifting to the lowest levels in hell in pursuit of money.

Watching a former twice impeached president holding up a bible tainted with secular beliefs and politics, was surreal and scary. The Trump cult is sinking its claw into the religious right more every day.

Trump posted a video on his Truth Social account endorsing his "God Bless the USA Bible," for $59.99. "I want a lot of people to have it for their heart and soul" he claimed.

Some of those wacked out religious groups are already calling Trump their "Lord" and comparing him to Jesus Christ. 

The devil must be dancing in hell watching Trump's antics right now.

The irony is as thick as a brick watching a man who does not believe in God and his son's teachings, pollute congregations that once didn't believe in cults and called out false prophets.

"Trump has never prayed a day in his life," Mary Trump tweeted, adding that if "that was a real bible, it would burst into a ball of flame.

The hosts of "The View" mocked Trump for "pandering" with the Bible sales. "The last time he was on his knees, he was picking up a French fry," joked Joy Behar.

Every time I think Trump has hit a new low, it's quickly surpassed by something worse. Trump has proven to be a biblical plague on our country who threatens future generations of Americans with chaos.

As it Stands, nothing is sacred in Trump's pursuit of the almighty dollar.

Teflon Don Dodges Justice Again! Court Throws Trump a Lifeline

Once again, the legend of Teflon Don Trump continues. Another travesty of justice has taken place. 

The slippery former president managed to avoid paying his fraud fines because an appellant court decided to give him 10 more days to pay and to only come up with half the original bond amount.

It was $454 million but was reduced to $175 million by someone in the system sympathetic to Trump.

Why? What happened? Was someone bribed?

Political pundits were struck dumb by a New York appellant court's decision to save Trump at the 11th hour. The bond was due Monday, but justice wasn't served.

It's just a reminder Trump continues to game our judicial system which sucks and is riddled with MAGA-loving judges who hate our Constitutional democracy.

During the last eight years Trump has reduced the nations courts (including the Supreme Court) credibility significantly with his sheer defiance of laws and constantly getting away without being held accountable.

After the decision to save Trump's ass New York Attorney General Letitia James said, "Donald Trump is still facing accountability for his staggering fraud. The court has already found that he engaged in years of fraud to falsely inflate his net worth and unjustly enrich himself, his family, and his organization."

She added, "The 464 million judgement - plus interest - against Trump and the other defendants still stands."

Meanwhile Trump and sons can still run a business in New York and obtain loans from New York financial institutions. 

The really galling thing about this 11th hour rescue for Trump is that no one is saying why this crazy decision was made. And I highly doubt we'll ever find out.

Watching the bloated wannabee dictator make monkeys out of judges is a spectator sport for his cult members. It's a horror show for the rest of America.

As for the rest of the world there is no doubt that one man is above the law in America. It's been apparent for years.

Trump's sobriquet Teflon Don was inherited from mafia boss John Gotti, a perfect fit for the orange clown's mob boss reputation.

As it Stands, let's hope that despite Trump's court connections he ends up like John Gotti - in jail.

Be Careful Who You Let Come to Your House

 
"The better to see with, my child."

"Grandmother dear, what big teeth you have!"

"The better to eat you with!"

- Little Red Riding Hood

I was slack jawed when I found out that former Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel was hired by NBC as a political analyst after Trump ran her out of the party.

Why in the world would NBC do that?

Don't they realize they've introduced an election denier termite into their house that's going to eat away at their credibility?

Think about McDaniel's long history of assailing the news media as "fake" and her promotion of false claims about the 2020 election. 

She was even in on a call involving pressure on Michigan county officials not to certify the vote in the Detroit area, where Joe Biden had a commanding lead in 2020.

Apparently, McDaniel's experienced a Road to Damascus moment (or a brain fart) and suddenly acknowledged Joe Biden won "fair and square" on Meet the Press Sunday.

The interview came before NBC invited her to babble about politics. Supposedly. 

It isn't just NBC who's invited MAGA termites to spew their drivel to their audience. CBS and ABC are also guilty of taking the locks of their doors and allowing MAGA morons to slobber conspiracies to the world at large instead of just inside their own propaganda silos. 

Astute readers of this blog remember that I've written on this subject before. Just recently as a matter of fact.

As a journalist I have trouble keeping my thoughts to myself especially when I see the profession I love get dragged through the fever swamps of MAGA termites infesting what was once called the mainstream news.

What disgusts me is the thinly veiled excuses these networks give when they trot out another lunatic to "show what the other side thinks" when it's really just about the almighty dollar. Getting more viewers makes board members happy. Regardless of what kind of clown show is produced.

As it Stands, my warning to you dear reader is to watch who you let into your house... there's wolves on TV in disguise.

March Madness and Sports Betting is a Bad Combination for Gambling Addicts

Straight up.

The Supreme Court screwed up big when they struck down the ban on sports betting in 2018.

Now Americans who fight gambling addictions are facing massive sports betting temptations on a scale that would make the old-time bookies lose their cookies!

Not so long-ago watching sports on TV or listening to them on the radio were a fresh break from the evils of corporate gambling. Stars like baseball's Pete Rose were banned from the game and denied a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame because they betted on sports events.

Now look at March Madness where the best men's and women's college basketball team challenge each other... and have been contributing to the skyrocketing legal sports betting industry since 2018.

For decades March Madness betting in office pools offered employees a chance at winning a jackpot. A harmless event that didn't make headlines in Las Vegas sporting parlors.

According to the American Gaming Association, which promotes gambling, Americans made $120 billion in sports bets in 2023.

This year the group predicts Americans will place $2.7 billion in legal bets on March Madness alone!

How did we come to this place where the love and integrity of sports has been diluted into another get rich quick scheme?

Jay L. Zagorsky is an associate professor of markets, public policy and law at Boston University who has been studying March Madness and sports betting for years. He offers an explanation of why legal sports betting became acceptable.

"Studying sports betting has shown me how valuable it is for states short on cash. Unfortunately, it also has significant drawbacks, especially for gambling addicts and their families," Zagorsky said in a recent article on the subject.

So, it's a money-maker for cash-strapped states and gaming companies but not so good for one segment of Americans - gambling addicts.

As of this month, 38 states allow some form of sports gambling, and six more are debating the issue. The need for more revenue for these states is an appealing option to politicians.

Apparently, to my surprise, state revenues from so-called "sin taxes" have flatlined after adjusting for inflation. People are smoking and drinking less, reducing revenue from cigarette and alcohol taxes. Even lottery revenue has flattened out after growing for decades, according to the experts.

As it Stands, sports betting is a gamble to save states (it too will flatline someday) at the expense of vulnerable Americans.

'Crazy Days and Nights in the USA' Would Make a Good Book

Think of the potential.

If someone wanted to write a book about the year 2024, they'd have a wealth of characters and sub plots regarding this year's presidential election.

Every good fiction book I've ever read has believable heroes and great villains who provide a clear contrast of good and evil.

Setting the scene...

The Republican party has folded up its tent and is now the party of one of the greatest con man in history - Donald Trump. In our fictional account we'll call him Thump. He's running for re-election in November after losing his last attempt in 2020.

Thump's resume includes being the first US president to be impeached twice and charged with 88 felony counts in four different jurisdictions for (among things) trying to overthrow the last election and stealing top secret documents from the government.

Throw in Thump's recent conviction for being a rapist, and his major fraud conviction, and you have the foundation for a great villain.

President Biden - we'll call him President Goodman - is Thump's foil. He stands as a bulwark against the MAGA cult, representing sanity, honesty, and a conviction to help all Americans regardless of their skin color and gender.

Think about the cast of characters you as the writer can draw from in Congress, our judicial system, state and federal politicians, crazed activists calling Thump "Our Lord," and so much more.

You could describe how Thump's followers left their caves and basements in 2016 to elect Thump and the ruinous effect they've had in this country for the last eight years.

Talk about a thriller.

Will our Constitutional Democracy survive if President Goodman isn't re-elected?

Will America become a fascist state with a supreme leader for life?

This book would have all the elements of a great novel. The suspense caused by a corrupt Supreme Court, and the fact that millions of Americans are under the spell of Orange Jesus, would keep any reader on edge waiting to see the results of the election.

As it Stands, speaking of books... my good friend journalist and author Woody Woodburn just released a new book titled "The Butterfly Tree: An Extraordinary Saga of Seven Generations." 

I highly recommend it. It's now available at Amazon and other online stores or ordered at your favorite local bookshop.

I'll be writing a review of it in the near future. Stay tuned. 

A Gene-Edited Pig Makes History: First-Ever Kidney Transplant to Human is Successful

Somewhere in an undisclosed Midwestern location there is a special farm that raises genetically altered pigs.

One of those pigs made medical history recently when it was flown to Boston for a transplant procedure where it donated its life and kidney to Richard "Rick" Slayman of Weymouth, Massachusetts.

It was the first time a genetically modified pig kidney was transplanted into a person.

It was also the first time someone survived with that organ from another species.

Mr. Slayman is due to be released from the hospital within a couple of days. After a four-hour surgery he managed to walk 20 laps around the hospital's transplant unit.

Researchers have been working for decades trying to find a way to use pig organs as replacements for human ones. 

That day has come.

Pig organs make sense for transplant because they are roughly the right size for people, are relatively similar biologically, and are already being bred by the billions for food, so sacrificing them for the organs raises fewer ethical concerns that using primates would.

Now that researchers have overcome one of the most formidable barriers to transplantation - rejection - it could be on its way to FDA approval someday for routine use.

The modification of pig genes has made them more compatible with people by improving the drug regimen to reduce the risk of rejection, and by providing enough evidence through animal-to human transplants to make researchers and patients feel comfortable testing in people.

Another historical note, Massachusetts General was the site of the first human-to human organ transplant, in 1954, when an identical twin donated his kidney to his brother.

The future for animal-to human transplants is a lot brighter now than it was, but there's still a long way to go before most Americans will benefit from it.

As it Stands, I can't wait until animal-to-human brain transplants are available. It would be a huge upgrade for Donald Trump!

Protecting A Legacy: Kennedy Family Backs Biden

Imagine for a moment that a member of your family, the real crazy one, suddenly appeared on the national scene spewing conspiracy theories and running for president.

That's what happened to the proud Kennedy clan when Robert F. Kennedy decided to run for president as a third-party candidate this year.

Having established his right-wing credentials by being a top vaccine denier, RFK Jr emerged from the swamp of conspiracy theorists and QAnon as a chief disseminator of misinformation about the deadly COVID virus.

Kennedy Family Fights Back

Photo: President Biden greets Kennedy clan on St. Patrick's Day at the White House. Kerry Kennedy, the seventh of Robert and Ethal Kennedy's eleven children and president of the family foundation, played a lead role in organizing the family photo to support President Biden.

Kerry Kennedy has also taken the lead on helping President Biden's candidacy by organizing family member's political work.

Stephan Kennedy Smith posted the Rose Garden photo afterwards, warning that his cousin could hand the election to Trump and "put our democratic process at risk."

The Democratic National Committee announced this week that Mary Beth Cahill, a former chief of staff to Sen. Ted Kennedy will serve as senior advisor in the party's efforts to counter third party candidates.

The Kennedy family is doing everything they can to preserve their legacy, even going after one of their own in favor of democracy.

As a kid I idolized John F. Kennedy. He was a military hero and president of the United States. When he was assassinated, I was crushed.

To think a member of his own family is now threatening to help a wannabee dictator by being a political spoiler, is beyond the pale.

As it Stands, Biden is going to need all the help he can to stay in the White House. Hopefully the Kennedy clan's efforts will make a positive difference.

It's Time to Pay Up Donnie!

It's looks like there will be some prime real estate going on the market soon in New York City.

Convicted rapist and former president Trump is unable to post the bond to satisfy the $464 million civil fraud judgement against him.

Now it's time to pay up. Time to grab Donnie by the wallet and watch him whine. 

His lawyers, in another last moment appellate court filing pleaded with the judge to secure the bond in a lesser amount. 

Alina Habba and Clifford Robert - Trump's lawyers - proposed a far lesser amount to a skeptical Judge Arthur Engoron.

Habba and Robert claimed, "Obtaining such cash through a 'fire sale' of real estate holdings would inevitably result in massive, irrecoverable losses - textbook irreparable injury."

The judge said no. The full amount must be posted in order to file the appeal. Period. End of the story.

No one should be surprised that Don the Con is having such a tough time securing bond.

The surety companies have not allowed the Trump Organization to use its properties as collateral, leaving the company with the only option of posting 120% of the bond in the form of cash and cash equivalents, totaling $557, 491,716.

Trump's attorneys, while claiming the company is in a strong liquidity position, admit Trump does not have that much in cash or equivalents. Isn't that too bad?

No amount of whining and wailing will change Trump's situation. For the second time (the E.J. Carroll case cost him 91 million) in his life Trump is the one paying the piper for his corruption.

As it Stands, I will be watching with pleasure when the state puts up Trump Tower (and his other properties) for sale. It'll be the fire sale of the century.

Stay Away from My Decaf Coffee!

Quick backstory.

My name is Dave, and I was once a caffein addict. 

I drank it morning noon and night. If I could have, I would have had a permanent caffein drip inserted into my arm.

I started drinking coffee around 1966 when I discovered it as a sophomore in high school. Since then, I developed into an addict that was very grumpy when I didn't have my caffein fix the moment I opened my eyes.

Then I had an epiphany - along with my wife - last year and cut the caffein and replaced it with decaf coffee. That artificial buzz was taking a toll on both of us, especially my wife who has heart issues.

It wasn't exactly like quitting cold turkey because decafe still tastes good. You still feel like it's the real deal, but without the ill effects of consuming too much caffein.  

On Decaf Coffee

Now that I've found a good substitute I've discovered there's a significant coffee controversary brewing between two activist groups and a California lawmaker who have petitioned to ban European Method decaf - the most common form of decaffeinated coffee in the country.

The controversy centers on decaf because its produced using chemical solvents, including methylene chloride, which bind to the caffeine and extracts it from the beans.

In January California Assemblymember Eloise Reyes proposed new legislation that would expressly prohibit a "person or entity from using methylene chloride in the process of decaffeinating coffee" starting in 2027.

The bill was introduced in Feb and has yet to be heard in counsel.

Here's What I Learned

The European Method decafe is authorized as safe by the rigorous standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Food Safety Authority, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and other food authorities around the world.

According to the National Coffee Association, 26 million Americans drink decaffeinated coffee every day and the majority of it was made using the European method for more than 50 years.

As it Stands, decaf coffee is the best of two worlds. I don't want to see some clowns change that. Just stay away from my damn decaf!

Mainstream Media is Doing a Disservice to American Viewers

I can't trust the so-called mainstream media these days because it's looking more like the lamestream media when it comes to coverage on Trump's bid to overturn our Constitutional Democracy and become America's first dictator.

It seems the news organizations didn't learn their mistake the first time when Trump ran for the presidency, and they gave him carte blanche coverage - lies and all. That's where the problem began when it came to factual and credible reporting about Trump.

This massive mistake by editors has taken its toll on journalism in America, muddying up the truth to the point no one knows what to believe. By giving a malicious sociopath so much coverage - without constantly fact-checking him - news organizations are doing a disservice to their viewers and readers.

Here's the most recent example...

CNBC made a curious decision to WELCOME Donald Trump onto its airwaves for an extended live telephone chat Monday.

Squake Box news line, hosted by Joe Kernen, allowed itself to be taken over by the twice-impeached, four-time indicted, insurrection-inciting former president who immediately launched his trademark "fact free" rants.

Kernen didn't even make the slightest attempt to correct the lies Trump was spewing to thousands of listeners. Listening to the CNBC host brushing aside the insidious comments and outright lies told me that this wasn't a serious interview.

There was one or two feeble attempts to ask him a question, but they were turned aside as Trump dominated the broadcast with his rambling and laundry list of lies.

The whole thing was a disgrace. Not one attempt to live fact-check the biggest liar on the planet. The station running their Mea culpa acknowledgement stating the facts about Trump's claims AFTER THE FACT was a useless attempt to cover up the damage inflicted.

How many people won't see or hear this admission they let loose lips Trump tell lies live on the air? It's a typical Trumpian tactic that only works if a network is complicit - like CNBC was this time.

Why is this happening?

I think it's obvious. Trump is a money-maker who every time he gets a platform his cult tunes in like the loyal minions they are. These once-respectable news outlets have made a decision - milk Trump mania if it continues to bring in readers or viewers - and damn doing the right thing.

What happened at CNBC was the host surrendered the channel's air to Trump, allowing the convicted rapist to abuse the platform and mislead its audience of influential viewers - by phone.

It wasn't a "perfect phone call."

As a former newspaper publisher and editor, I'm aghast at what's happening to journalism in this country today.

I remember when publications and social platforms couldn't get away with blatantly lying because their viewers and readers would call them out. 

Some listeners may call out CNBC for letting Trump spread propaganda, but their concerns will go unanswered because the channel waited until AFTER the damage was done to correct Trump.

And that seems to be the new terrible norm in journalism today.

As it Stands, if this trend continues Trump could very well win and then credible journalism in this country will be totally crushed by that orange ape.

Trump Now Owns the Republican National Committee and is Rebranding It

It's official.

Like termites, Trump's handpicked team of loyalists have taken over the Republican National Committee and fired most of the staff in order to completely re-brand the party.

The RNC has chosen a new leadership team, chair Michael Whatley, and co-chair Lara Trump to carry out Donald Trump's every wish.

I'm waiting for Trump to officially rename/rebrand it the Party of Trump. It's inevitable. The man's ego is bigger than a blimp filled with toxic flatulence.

I can imagine the MAGA morons swarming into offices where the last of the conservative Republicans had Ronald Reagan's photo on the walls being quickly replaced with a 24-hour TV monitor hawking Trump merchandise to the faithful.

The elephant symbol for the party will be replaced with golden painted statutes of Trump in assorted ridiculous poses.

The one thing the new Party of Trump doesn't have a lot of is money. According to a January campaign finance filing the GOP had an historically low $8.7 million cash on hand while the Democrats had $24 million.

Then there's that little matter of coming up with millions of dollars to pay Trump's legal fees which will be foremost on the new party's agenda. 

The legal fees in his criminal cases are literally increasing every day, and the coffers can't cover that big a cash drain for long.

Like everything Trump gets his tiny hands on he's blown up the once proud Republican party whose last real conservative members are leaving Congress in droves.

I almost feel sorry for the ousted Republicans, but then I consider they probably voted for the orange ape and are getting their just reward.

Trump is a loser. He has solidified a following of losers who live in an alternate world and are untouched by reality and facts. This dangerous segment of zombies in our society are directly challenging yours, and mine, freedoms. 

As it Stands, the question this November is do we want a Constitutional Democracy? Or do we want an autocracy? We'll find out at the polls.