Trump will be a coward all the way to the end.

It's not that he can't cough up the money. He's just afraid the Democrats will make a big show about his conviction and the billions he had to pay for losing his case.

Mainly, Trump hates being called a loser.

Too late for Pence to bend the knee. He's already on Trump's enemies list for disrupting Trump's scheme to overthrow the election on January 6th.

Trump never forgets and never forgives.

Suck it up. Until Trump screws up so bad that the Senate is forced by the public to pull a Goldwater/Nixon on him, American democracy is in for the roughest ride of it's life. Perhaps even terminal.

Definitely a new Constitution or one so heavily amended or redacted by a corrupt U.S. Supreme Court to favor the new fascist imperial regime until the end of time.

This is your tax dollars paying for a political party (GOP) on steroids, ruled by self-serving oligarchs, in conjunction with Russia. (America's new evil stepmother).

Welcome to a new social class called surfdom.

Trump is going to enter office on January 20, 2025 as a convicted felon . . . 34 times.

There oughta be a law.

If this move by the Pope turns into a problem, Trump will just start a rumor on social media (X-formerly Twitter and Trump's own Truth Social) about Father McEloy molesting young boys.

No doubt with some fake testimony and a few photoshops.

Before Trump is through the Catholics in the D.C. area will want to burn Father McElroy at the stake.

That's how Trump rolls. He destroys everything that stands in his way.

Pussycat, Pussycat, where have you been?
I've been to Greenland to visit the King.
Pussycat, Pussycat what did you there?
I frightened a little mouse under his chair.

LAMP is right. America is not the land of wide open spaces anymore. Times have changed. Without a system of legal immigration to control the population that the country has the means to integrate, the long range prediction would be disastrous.

America may be the breadbasket to the world but there are limits.

By the same token, Trump's inhumane solution is not the answer either.

My suggestion is to go back to the roots and solve the problem at its origin. Of course, that shouldn't be over-simplified either. It could take the CIA years and a lot of deposing of governments who are either helpless or themselves profiting from corruption.

FEDUP

"Is there a treaty or something that obligates the US to defend Israel?"

Sort of. The agreement has been common knowledge for a long time.

I'm surprised that you have to ask.

Suppose Rudy's son included the rings, or the collateral value of the rings to be sold, in an irrevocable trust fund for a chosen recipient for which the trust fund was established and redeemable at a time certain? Such as to pay for the marriage or collage of a child or grandchild.

An irrevocable trust is untouchable even by a court.

I don't speak for whatever the son did or didn't do but it's what I would do in the same circumstances, especially with Rudy for a father.

CLOWN

I'd think it might be to convince Iran to stop using a proxy to attack Israel.

Ya' think.

While I condemn an opportunistic Israel for acerbating this whole thing, the U.S. still has an obligation to help Israel when they're under attack. Biden fulfilled that obligation.

By the same token, the U.S. had no obligation to follow Israel into a war that Israel started with the Palestinians. The only thing Biden did in that respect was send an envoy to talk sense into Netanyahu which, after numerous efforts, failed. Netanyahu is hell bent on the destruction of Gaza and no amount of talk from the U.S. or any go-between countries is going to stop him.

Don't forget, the U.S. has military bases in Israel. So the armament Biden is sending is to protect them. If one of Iran's proxy bombs hits a U.S. base, all hell will break loose and America will be dragged into the war not of its making.

That's what President Biden is trying to prevent.

"steer clear of comfort foods."

And that goes for women, too. Being a mother is the hardest job in the world. 24/7/365 and you don't get paid vacations.

So when the kids leave the nest and you feel like nobody needs you anymore, slap yourself in the face if you evern think about comfort foods. If you tell yourself "this little bit won't hurt," you're lying.

When a person is accustomed to handling a lot of responsibility in their job, it's a big letdown after retiring when it all goes away and you're no longer the "it" person.

A lot of people get fat after retiring. So find something to do that keeps you out of the refrigerator.

IOW, steer clear of comfort foods.

In exchange for . . WHAT?

LAMP

LOL ~ Lounging around half the day in your bathrobe and slippers may sound great to some but it turns a man into a pest to his wife.

LAMP

I don't think "gifts" are considered income unless they're used to generate a profit. Although his homeowners insurance and property tax may go up.

Much like a fiance' might keep that half-million dollar diamond engagement ring after the breakup.

When you get off the treadmill at retirement age, make sure you have something else to occupy your time. Those "golden years" ain't what they're cracked up to be after a few months of vegetation.

I, for one, am so busy now that I don't know when I found time to work. And none of my associates think of me as elderly.

Do something good for mankind so you can hold onto that feeling of gratification. Keep standing tall.

If memory serves me right, Rudy claims that he gifted the rings to his son so the rings are not his to give up, per the court order.

A convenient ruse to salvage the loss of his prized possession??

Probably, but can it be proven? His son backs up the story.

REIN

They may as well. It won't be long before displaying the Stars and Stripes in any fashion will be considered treason against Trump's dictatorship, punishable by the death penalty.

LAMP

"Only if the Country succumbs to Pres-elect Trump."

Short of a mass revolt I'm not sure "the country" has any choice.

I'm thinking more along the lines of if the Congress succumbs to Trump. We'll get a hint today if the Republican Freedom Caucus folds.

Otherwise, what I see is the next four years filled with chaos and non-stop, personal and political power grabs. With everybody out for themselves and not for the country.

On the bright side, that scenario usually leads to self-destruction while allies and foes alike sit on pins and needles waiting for the Grand Finali.

LAMP
Re your #19

"If he presents himself in a respectful manner"

LOL ~ Trump doesn't have any manners nor social graces. He would be incapable of showing genuine respect for the occasion because it isn't about him.

LAMP

I would be willing to bet that if Biden, Obama and both Clintons attend the funeral, Trump won't.

Trump would be out-shined, comparatively speaking, and his ego wouldn't want to risk that.

Food for thought:

It would be a real blow if Nancy Pelosi and Liz Cheney were in attendance. Trump would be the backbencher.

YODAGIRL

The only thing Trump will toss out is lies at an impromptu rally after the funeral when he tries to steal the headline from Jimmy Carter.

Maybe he'll try another fake assassination attempt and blame it on the Biden Administration.

Ya' think?

I always figured Steven Miller would be the designer of the new American flag once Trump makes it illegal and punishable by the death penalty to display Old Glory in any form.

Might as well start thinking about trading your money in, too, for Trump conscript at half the value.

And if you own a business get ready to Quit Claim 10% ownership to the new Trustee government so you can't make a move without the Dictator knowing about it. Of course, if your name is Elon Musk you'll be exempt for all that.

'narc tunnel'

Only one. LIL ~ They're slipping.

WHATSLEFT

"his true self"

Did you mean drunk?