#Felon 47

[socialjusticeinamerica]

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Kevin Siers :: @KevinSiers

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

November 25, 2024

Heather Cox Richardson

Nov 25, 2024

Today, President Joe Biden laid out very clearly the argument behind the economic policies his administration has put into place. “When I took office, the pandemic was raging and the economy was reeling,�� he wrote. “From Day One, I was determined to not only deliver economic relief, but to invest in America and grow the economy from the middle out and bottom up, not the top down.”

“Over the last four years, that’s exactly what we’ve done,” he wrote. “We passed legislation to rebuild our infrastructure, build a clean energy economy, and bring manufacturing back to the United States after decades of offshoring.” Investing in America included the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that is rebuilding our roads, bridges, water systems, ports, and airports, as well as making high-speed broadband available in underserved areas; the CHIPS and Science Act that invested in bringing the manufacture of silicon chips back to the U.S. and promoting research; and the Inflation Reduction Act, which invested in technologies to combat climate change.

Today the White House announced that this federal investment has attracted more than $1 trillion in private-sector investments. “These investments in industries of the future,” Biden wrote, “are ensuring the future is made in America, by American workers.” 

He noted that more than 1.6 million construction and manufacturing jobs have been created over the last four years and that “our investments are making America a leader in clean energy and semiconductor technologies that will protect our economic and national security, while expanding opportunities in red states and blue states.”

In a White House memo, White House deputy chief of staff Natalie Quillian wrote: “The progress we've made...represents only a fraction of the full impact of this agenda. If future Administrations continue to implement at the pace we have, people across the country will enjoy the benefits of safer water, cleaner air, faster internet, and smoother commutes.”

But the incoming Trump administration will advance a different economic vision. Instead of trying to expand the economy through investment in infrastructure and manufacturing, Trump’s team has emphasized cutting taxes for the wealthy and corporations and slashing regulations.

The argument behind this approach to the economy is that concentrating wealth in the hands of investors will spur more investment, while creating an environment that’s “friendly” to business will create jobs. Jack Brook of the Associated Press reported that earlier this month, the state of Louisiana illustrated what this policy looks like to ordinary people when it cut income taxes to a flat 3% rate, reducing revenue by about $1.3 billion. They made up that revenue by increasing the sales tax to 5%, thus shifting the burden of taxation to lower- and middle-class families. “Louisiana just became a much more attractive place to do business,” Louisiana economic development secretary Susan Bourgeois told Brook.

It is becoming clear what Trump’s economic policy will look like at the national level. Super wealthy donors funded Trump’s 2024 campaign, and in a departure from every previous incoming president, Trump is refusing to sign the documents required as part of a presidential transition at least in part because those documents mandate that he disclose who is funding his transition and limit those donations to $5,000 per donor. Without that disclosure, it is impossible to see who is funding him. For all we know, that list could include foreign governments. 

As activist Melanie D’Arrigo put it on Bluesky: “‘Secret donations’ are bribes. The hundreds of millions he received from Elon Musk and other billionaires are also bribes. There’s a reason Donald Trump isn’t signing ethics pledges.” Indeed, after his first term, the watchdog organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington concluded that “there is absolutely no doubt that Trump tried at every turn to use the presidency to benefit his bottom line,” and noted that those who spent money at Trump’s properties often received favorable policy decisions from the administration. 

During the campaign, Trump promised to fight for ordinary Americans, but many of Trump’s picks to fill offices in his administration are notable for their extreme wealth. His pick for treasury secretary is billionaire Scott Bessent, a hedge fund executive who invested money for philanthropist George Soros for more than ten years. To head the Commerce Department, Trump has tapped billionaire Howard Lutnick, the chief executive officer of financial giant Cantor Fitzgerald.

Trump’s choice for education secretary, Linda McMahon, and his choice for Interior Secretary, North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, are both billionaires. And then there are the two men Trump tapped for his Department of Government Efficiency. Former pharmaceutical executive Vivek Ramaswamy is worth around a billion dollars, but Elon Musk is usually at the top of the list of the richest people in the world. He’s worth about $332.6 billion.

Laura Mannweiler of U.S. News and World Report today estimated the worth of Trump’s current roster of appointees to be at least $344.4 billion, more than the gross domestic product of 169 countries. That number does not include Bessent, whose net worth is hard to find. In comparison, Mannweiler notes, the total net worth of the officials in Biden’s Cabinet was about $118 million. 

Economist Robert Reich noted yesterday that the wealth of America’s 815 billionaires grew by nearly $280 billion after Trump’s reelection, and the president-elect is promising to extend the 2017 tax cuts that are set to expire in 2025. Now, after all their complaints about the budget deficits under Biden as he invested in the country, Republicans are, according to Andrew Duehren of the New York Times, considering rejiggering the government’s accounting so that extending the tax cuts, which will create about $4 trillion in deficits, shows up as not costing anything. 

Deregulation, too, is on the agenda. It’s a cause close to the heart of Elon Musk, who frequently complains that unnecessary regulations are making it impossible for visionary entrepreneurs to develop the technological sector as quickly and efficiently as they could otherwise. 

In the Wall Street Journal yesterday, Susan Pulliam, Emily Glazer, and Becky Peterson noted that although Musk says his goal is to “protect life on Earth,” his companies “show a pattern of breaking environmental rules again and again.” The authors report that Tesla’s facility in Fremont, California, has received “more warnings for violations of air pollution rules over the past five years than almost any other company’s plant in California,” 112 of them. Federal regulators recently fined SpaceX for dumping about 262,000 gallons of wastewater into protected wetlands in Texas. Tesla, too, has dumped contaminated water into public sewer systems.  

One staffer for environmental compliance told the Environmental Protection Agency that ““Tesla repeatedly asked me to lie to the government so that they could operate without paying for proper environmental controls.”   

People who have worked with Musk “for years” told Pulliam, Glazer, and Peterson that they expect Musk will try to cut environmental regulations, especially the ones that affect his companies. After Trump announced that he was creating DOGE and putting Musk in charge of it, Musk posted: “We finally have a mandate to delete the mountain of choking regulations that do not serve the greater good.” 

Musk’s companies have brought in at least $15.4 billion in federal contracts over the past decade, and his companies have been targeted in at least 20 government investigations recently. Eric Lipton, David A. Fahrenthold, Aaron Krolik, and Kristen Grind of the New York Times note that Trump’s victory and his appointment of Musk to an oversight role in the government “essentially give[s] the world’s richest man and a major government contractor the power to regulate the regulators who hold sway over his companies, amounting to a potentially enormous conflict of interest.”

Today, Sara Murray, Kristen Holmes, and Kate Sullivan of CNN reported that Trump’s lawyers have conducted an investigation into whether top Trump advisor Boris Epshteyn has been selling access to Trump. Payments for his promotion of candidates for administration positions or access to administration officials were as much as $100,000 a month. The lawyers recommended that the Trump team should jettison Epshteyn, but it has apparently decided not to. 

“I am honored to work for President Trump and with his team,” Epshteyn said in a statement to CNN. “These fake claims are false and defamatory and will not distract us from Making America Great Again.”

Today, special prosecutor Jack Smith moved to drop both federal cases against Trump: the federal election case for his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, and the case concerning Trump’s retention of highly classified documents after he left office in 2021. Trump had said he would break the usual norms around special counsels when he returns to office—Biden retained the special counsel investigating his son, Hunter—and fire Smith. 

But Smith pointed to the position of the Department of Justice that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted as a reason for the cases’ dismissal. “This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant,” he wrote. “The Government’s position on the merits of the defendant’s prosecution has not changed.” Smith left open the possibility that the charges could be brought again in the future after Trump leaves office.

Trump’s approach to the cases was to delay and delay and delay in hopes voters would return him to the White House, and it appears his strategy worked. As democracy lawyer Marc Elias wrote: “Justice delayed was justice denied.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[dontmean2bepoliticalbut]

[greyysklls]

okay so the repost for @creature-wizard's post got turned off and is about the election that has passed, but I want to point out something a lot of people are missing with this.

He wants to deport people who support Hamas,

(click this picture for source) now, it's one thing to say you disagree with either side, but to put on your website that you want to deport people who are protesting and that you want to make college campuses "patriotic again" really goes against the whole freedom of speech/freedom of assembly thing now doesn't it? it doesn't help that he absolutely adores russia and likely israel, so this also means he could take action against those who disapprove of either country.

and then there's this:

He is outright saying he wants to cut funding for schools teaching "inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content". Judging by the books that are being banned in schools and a lot of current republican leaders' views, this could mean cutting funding or schools that teacher slavery or important events such as stonewall. adding in "political content" very strongly underlines this.

then this???

which not only is this not exactly possible but it would wreck the economy, and an iron dome over America? how would we get sunlight? where are we getting all these resources? this would prevent birds from migrating here? and butterflies? why would we need this unless we PLAN to go to nuclear war?

also with the very first item. migrant. not immigrant, not illegal immigrants. migrant.

not to mention most of our illegal immigration comes from canada.

[sponsored-deactivated20210106]

I'm TIRED Of Maga PRETENDING They CAN"T See This

[generalsciencetumblariansspy]

voting is not Black Jack! Split the 7s, but not the vote!!!

Whatever happens, two things remain true: 1. Trump might be distancing himself from Project 2025, but his Agenda 47, which is on his website, is basically the same thing. 2. Third party voting is useless without ranked choice voting; it's mathematically impossible to elect a third party candidate. DO NOT SPLIT THE VOTE.

[simplegenius042]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jessica Anderson for VA House of Delegates (@jessanderson4virginia)

[stoph8co]

caring about the economy excuses electing a chronic lying & corrupt racist rapist?

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

David Frum warns his fellow Canadians to brace themselves, because a person who is seriously mentally ill will be president in Washington in just a week now.

[normalcyisfake]

Trump and Vance are absolutely Project 2025 / Agenda 47.

[noisycowboyglitter]

Vote Felon Trump 2024: The Intersection of Law and Politics

This provocative design combines political messaging with controversial legal references, centered around Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. The phrase "Vote Felon Trump 2024" is prominently displayed, likely in bold, attention-grabbing typography.

Buy now:19.95$

The term "Felon" refers to Trump's legal challenges and indictments, which his supporters often view as politically motivated. This phrasing turns a potential negative into a rallying cry, suggesting defiance against the legal system and mainstream media narratives.

The design may incorporate traditional American symbols like the flag, eagle, or stars and stripes, juxtaposed with imagery associated with Trump's political brand - perhaps his distinctive silhouette or signature red cap.

Buy now

Color schemes likely feature patriotic red, white, and blue, possibly with gold accents to evoke Trump's well-known aesthetic preferences. The overall style might range from serious and bold to intentionally provocative or even satirical, depending on the creator's intent.

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This imagery could appear on various merchandise including t-shirts, flags, bumper stickers, and social media graphics. It's designed to resonate with Trump's base who view the legal actions against him as unjust persecution, turning his legal troubles into a badge of honor and a reason to support his campaign.

This type of messaging is highly polarizing, likely to evoke strong reactions across the political spectrum.

This satirical design plays on Donald Trump's presidency and potential future candidacy, combining humor with political commentary. The numbers "45" and "47" refer to Trump's status as the 45th president and his potential to become the 47th if re-elected in 2024.

The phrase "Vote For The Felon" is a provocative reference to Trump's legal issues, turning them into a tongue-in-cheek campaign slogan. This wording is likely displayed prominently, possibly in a bold, eye-catching font.

The design may feature caricatures of Trump, perhaps depicting him in an exaggerated prison uniform or with comical facial expressions. It might incorporate elements like mock campaign buttons, ballot boxes, or courtroom imagery to further the satirical theme.

Buy now

Color schemes could include the traditional red, white, and blue of American politics, possibly with orange accents alluding to prison jumpsuits.

This type of imagery is often found on t-shirts, mugs, stickers, and internet memes. It's designed to appeal to those who view Trump's legal troubles with humor or skepticism, while potentially irritating his supporters.

[citysvg1]

Not to day! you can't kill freedom 2024 Png

[i8i8t]

He was elected POOTUS ... again

Whatever Happened To Vileness Fats? - The Residents

The avant-garde music/art group The Residents worked on a film early on in their career in the 1970s called Vileness Fats that is famously unfinished. This film was not completed, and in 1984 an edited cut of it was released with a new soundtrack, that soundtrack being this album. The music is quite interesting, I really enjoy the mix of kind of industrial machinery sounds and more palatable music, especially compared to some of the earlier Residents' releases. My favorite song is Whatever Happened To Vileness Fats?

Apple Music:

Spotify:

[vintageseawitch]

veterans & active duty currently serving & consider the Constitution something that must be protected:

if you still want to vote for this traitor, you might as well take a dump on the Constitution next to the one he & his gang will be adding. anything that is sacred in the United States isn't to this felon. he was the first president to not only attempt to not peacefully transfer his power he also incited an attempted insurrection. do you care about cops? one died on January 6th.

this should be career-ending. it's illegal. it's a federal offense. but somehow this rich, spoiled narcissistic asshole spits on what we hold dearly & revere & yet he continues to be celebrated. are you angry? offended? upset? i should hope so if you actually respect our fallen.

if you still stand up with this piece of shit you're just as much of a traitor. do you look forward to shooting your fellow countrymen if they make the misfortune of having a problem with going through hell because of this man? you're fucking awful. do better. to anyone else who has served or are currently serving & you changed your mind or have always been here, welcome.

i was active duty & have since been honorably discharged. the Constitution is still very important to me. if this isn't sacred then neither are our rights. we need to fight to protect them. this evil man who avoided the draft with his fake bone spurs will never understand this.

please check your registration status often. vote early if you can. don't stop talking about Project 2025/Agenda 47 & this psychotic weirdo's connection to it. you want to know why he never talks about policy? it's because Project 2025 IS his policy. we can do this 💙

[blood-teeth]

the man is NOT going to outlaw gay marriage he HOSTED A GAY WEDDING FOR FUCKS SAKE

i'm going to say this one time to you and one time only for any followers that i may have who voted for trump this election or who have any vested interest in sympathizing for Trump and his cronies.

Fuck you. I hope you rot with what you've done.

You are morally reprehensible and have sold out the women, the poc, the sick, the poor, the disenfranchised, the lgbt community, the children all for the hopes of cheaper gas (won't happen) and grocery prices (only going to go up). You have voted for a candidate endorsed by the KKK. You have voted for hate, for bigotry, for autocracy. You will have to live with the simple fact, FOREVER, that you voted the same way the KKK did.

One day Donald Trump will be gone, but the dishonor you will have will remain forever. That is not my lesson to learn, it will be yours.

Despite all of this, you are egregiously INCORRECT. This convicted felon is on record saying he does not support gay marriage, that he would "seriously consider" overturning Obergefell V Hodges (2015) and giving it back to states. We all know how this would turn out. Additionally, his Agenda 47 (Read: Project 2025) clearly has an outline in how he plans to roll back civil liberty protections for all protected classes in America. Yes, moron, this would include the civil liberties for LGBT citizens.

I'm sure you feel really good about yourself for coming into my inbox, hiding like a coward behind your little anon button, but what you don't know is that Tumblr's Anonymous feature is not as good as you think it is.

I have your IP. I have your location. I know who you are. It's in your best interest to shut your filthy fucking mouth, i promise you.

[luxiomahariel]

Remembering the victims: Jean Butchart

Jean Butchart is being remembered for his love of the outdoors, which earned him the nickname “Nature Boy,” his obituary notes. He had a degree in environmental studies and was continuing his education with the aim of becoming a teacher. About a decade ago, he had volunteered with the Teen Peer Education Theater Troupe at the Corner Health Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. He progressed from “not believing he could do it to being one of our most consistent performers,” Craig VanKempen, a friend from that time, told MLive. VanKempen cried upon hearing of Butchart’s death, he said. “Jean was striving toward a brighter future for himself where he could educate others about environmental issues and matters, something that was apparently very close to his heart,” Tori Cooper, director of community engagement for the Human Rights Campaign’s Transgender Justice Initiative, said in a press release.

https://www.advocate.com/crime/transgender-man-shot-killed-michigan

Jean Thomas Butchart, a 26-year-old Michigan transgender man, was shot to death in August in what police are calling a crime spree that included attacks on two other people. The suspect is Matthew Torrey Tiggs Jr., 22, of Eastpointe, Mich. He is also accused of threatening a 45-year-old man, at whom he aimed a gun, July 28, and shooting and wounding a 47-year-old man August 6. These incidents took place in Van Buren Township as well. Tiggs was arrested after a standoff of two hours near the site of the August 6 attack. Tiggs has been charged with “second-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, felonious assault, three counts of felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of felony firearm,” according to MLive.