Laurie, I can't wait to see his gaudy marble mausoleum, once he's finally dead and gone. I hope I get to before they install the plexiglass panel, a la Oscar Wilde's tomb at Pere Lachaise. Of course Oscar's tomb was protected against lipstick kisses; trompy's will be so that the urine streams don't dissolve the precious marble.
I'm always amazed at the amount of work you put into these posts Joyce. Very thankful and wishing you and your loved ones a happy and hopefully more peaceful New Year.
He sees his role as more like Jackie Kennedy or Nancy Reagan - he fails to understand that deciding the decor in X or Y is not what the President does.
I am not denigrating at all what good work various First Ladies have done over centuries - it's just that it ain't what Trump should be focused on.
He's wanting to put in marble armrests? This man has not been to a theater and had to sit for hours. You would not want to rest your arms on something so hard. That is why it has not been done.
I have sent my CT governor a letter asking him to inform our national guard to be prepared to protect our residents. And I’m asking him to inform other governors, presumably democratic governors, to also ask to protect their residents. Let me edit this soon to include the letter.
Here it is. I'm now writing to our two senators and congressman pleading with them to inform the governor of this matter of protecting our residents. This is serious business. The federal government is out of control.
An open Letter to Governor Lamont: Will You Activate the Connecticut National Guard to Protect Residents of Connecticut?
The Supreme Court recently ruled that Texas could gerrymander its congressional districts in order to elect a full slate of republican candidates which is in violation of the 14th and 15th amendments. The effects of this rule is to further erode rights of citizens to elect representatives.
States do have significant historic rights embedded in their constitutions. The American Revolution was founded on rebellion against an oppressive central authority and in the 18th century, it was England. Today, the nation has elected a rogue authoritarian leader that states must come to terms with. This tyrannical government can be invisible to the unwary or to those who are informed of current events, realize that our system of federal governance is for now, not representative of the people. The federal government has moved toward tyrannical behavior and will continue unabated until state governments begin protecting its residents. ICE agents (and border patrol and other federal police agencies) in the form of jack-booted and hooded thugs are routinely arresting and dragging screaming residents from the streets.
If the U.S. Supreme Court can grant extreme power to states to gerrymander, then states certainly have rights to protect its residents. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Governor Lamont, will you authorize and activate the Connecticut State and National Guard to protect Connecticut residents?
Recently at a local NRZ meeting, I posed the question of protection of residents to our police chief but he seemed confused over the issue. He was not the person in authority to address this although ultimately, state and local army and police should work in tandem to protect residents.
Governor Lamont, you are running for re-election. Will you advise our Connecticut National Guard to be prepared to protect our residents from obvious extra judicial federal overreach? By assuming the lead in this response to a threatening federal government, Connecticut could take the lead and become a model for other states to follow.
Bill you make a great point comparing our 18th century rebellion against a tyrannical government (England) to rebellion against our present day authoritarianism ( the Trump Administration) and take the concept a step further by suggesting that the governor of CT protect his constituents from the current Federal Government (ICE) and call out its National Guard. THAT IS BOLD but it makes sense. Because of our current state of affairs, being proactive could ultimately make a difference.
Our governor has already taken the position that Massachusetts National Guard will not be used against the citizenry. If it comes to confronting an out-of-control federal government, T**** and his minions would do well to remember Concord. History may repeat itself.
I hope Abrego Garcia's vindictive prosecution issue gets his case dismissed. I personally find it difficult to see where this is not vindictive prosecution. I would also like to see the DOJ held accountable for redacting the names of people involved in the Epstein sex trafficking case, while omitting to redact the names of victims. It is disgusting on both counts. Finally, IMO, if trump goes for marble armrests, that will probably make sure attendance goes down, because those would be mighty uncomfortable.
You're on a real roll, David! I had to look up Jeff Koons, and now I can't envision the Lincoln Memorial without a blue balloon animal in place of Lincoln. Maybe I should be grateful for the nightmare reading about Wounded Knee just before bed gave me…
"Judge to hold hearing on whether Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being vindictively prosecuted"
"A federal judge this week CANCELED the trial of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran man who was mistakenly deported, and scheduled a hearing on whether the prosecution is being vindictive in pursuing a human smuggling case against him."
I assume this means the trial is delayed or dismissed until after the hearing about vindictive prosecution.
I think the trial is just delayed at this point. But I find it difficult to believe that anyone in their right mind would not see the trial as vindictive prosecution. The problem, as I see it, is that trump and his administration only know how to double or quadruple down on anything they want to do, so even if the case is dismissed as vindictive prosecution, they won't let go of it. If I were Abrego Garcia, I would seriously consider going to Costa Rica just to get away from all this stupidity.
I’m with Lucy, “You (T) (marble) block head!” I’m with you Joyce. I’m so tired of this guy and his vulgarness. He thinks if you gild it, marble it, or add red drapes, you create class. All I see is crass!
I’m so tired of reading about all the lies; not just from trump himself but from all the ones on his staff that continue to kiss his A** and ring as if he’s already a dictator. It’s time for the Democrats in Congress and Senate to grow some grit and start with an impeachment.
Those of you whose heads by now are already about to explode with more legal arcana than even lawyers care to know, may want to avert your eyes. It's called "sua sponte" or "on its own initiative" and is applied in legal proceedings to actions a judge or court makes voluntarily, without being asked or prompted by any party in a case. It's particularly rare for the Imperial Court to rule on something material not raised by either side ("party presentation principle"), and has been usually reserved in the past largely for jurisdictional questions or issues involving procedural defects. However, the Court (as Alito, joined by Thomas in dissent, acerbically points out) did pretty much that in the Illinois National Guard deployment stay request (Trump et al v. Illinois et al) and based its decision largely on an amicus curiae ("friend of the court") brief from a Georgetown University law professor (and former Deputy Assistant Attorney General). In his brief he pointed out a glaring flaw in the so-called government's argument when it came to the definition or interpretation of "regular forces" in the statute (10 U.S. Code § 12406) it relied on, which the weight of historical evidence indicated was the U.S. military, not civilian law enforcement like ICE as the so-called government claimed --- thus “there is no basis for concluding that the president would be ‘unable’ to enforce such laws with the assistance of those forces if it were legal for him to direct such a deployment.” This apparently was a key point overlooked by the respondents as well, but fortunately (at least for now) did catch the attention of what turned out to be the majority in the ruling.
Thank you for this useful addition to the discussion. Loathe it though we may, the government is still the government. Perhaps we should use the modifier "so-called" for the argument.
Since Trump is losing his marbles, he has to find marble somewhere.
Let's go all the way back to 1964, and put ashtrays in the new marble armrests! That should get the patrons rolling back in!
It’ll be enough to expunge all of the gold plating and his name branded across DC, let’s not add stale cigarette smoke to the mix.
Marble. Cold and hard, like Trump's heart.
Does he have a heart? Maybe whatever is in his chest is marble
Clever one, there. Laurie.
Take your pick—Venezuela or Greenland.
I think both! Why can't he have both! (Please read in the screeching voice of a toddler throwing a tantrum!)
(“I wanna, I wanna, I wanna!”)
Armrests?
Does he want everyone to keep their arms on their laps?
Steve, they are certainly not going to be comfy! So perhaps?
More reasons for not just performers to cancel but also patrons.
Someone else noticed that Trump has not been a concert-goer, so he'd have no idea about what's comfortable seating.
Quite possibly!
Best comment of the week, I read.
Laurie, I can't wait to see his gaudy marble mausoleum, once he's finally dead and gone. I hope I get to before they install the plexiglass panel, a la Oscar Wilde's tomb at Pere Lachaise. Of course Oscar's tomb was protected against lipstick kisses; trompy's will be so that the urine streams don't dissolve the precious marble.
I’m tired of him, too, but we can’t let him wear us down.
The Romans had a saying for that sentiment:
from U.S. Army General "Vinegar" Joe Stilwell:
"Non illegitimi carborundum": "don't let the bastards wear you down."
Eight gets you five he's turning over in his grave...
And quoted again by Kris Kristofferson to Sinead O'Connor when she was booed at the Bob Dylan tribute concert.
Two great artists and fighters for truth.
Sadly missed.
Also a similar phrase used in Handmaid's Tale!
I'm always amazed at the amount of work you put into these posts Joyce. Very thankful and wishing you and your loved ones a happy and hopefully more peaceful New Year.
Marble armrests.
This is what that jackass is spending his time (and our money) on?!
Such a sad little man…
He sees his role as more like Jackie Kennedy or Nancy Reagan - he fails to understand that deciding the decor in X or Y is not what the President does.
I am not denigrating at all what good work various First Ladies have done over centuries - it's just that it ain't what Trump should be focused on.
Perhaps it's taking his "attention" (such as it is) away from more deplorable acts.
Pathetic.
With the worst taste ever.
Uh-oh, now he’s gonna add some gold plate too!
That's a given.
Yup—pure classiness.
David - yes! Except gilt ain't pure!
And he ain’t classy …
When he's not cheating at golf.
Hey—that Oval Office mantle needs trophies!
He's wanting to put in marble armrests? This man has not been to a theater and had to sit for hours. You would not want to rest your arms on something so hard. That is why it has not been done.
He’s an idiot.
I have sent my CT governor a letter asking him to inform our national guard to be prepared to protect our residents. And I’m asking him to inform other governors, presumably democratic governors, to also ask to protect their residents. Let me edit this soon to include the letter.
Here it is. I'm now writing to our two senators and congressman pleading with them to inform the governor of this matter of protecting our residents. This is serious business. The federal government is out of control.
An open Letter to Governor Lamont: Will You Activate the Connecticut National Guard to Protect Residents of Connecticut?
The Supreme Court recently ruled that Texas could gerrymander its congressional districts in order to elect a full slate of republican candidates which is in violation of the 14th and 15th amendments. The effects of this rule is to further erode rights of citizens to elect representatives.
States do have significant historic rights embedded in their constitutions. The American Revolution was founded on rebellion against an oppressive central authority and in the 18th century, it was England. Today, the nation has elected a rogue authoritarian leader that states must come to terms with. This tyrannical government can be invisible to the unwary or to those who are informed of current events, realize that our system of federal governance is for now, not representative of the people. The federal government has moved toward tyrannical behavior and will continue unabated until state governments begin protecting its residents. ICE agents (and border patrol and other federal police agencies) in the form of jack-booted and hooded thugs are routinely arresting and dragging screaming residents from the streets.
If the U.S. Supreme Court can grant extreme power to states to gerrymander, then states certainly have rights to protect its residents. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Governor Lamont, will you authorize and activate the Connecticut State and National Guard to protect Connecticut residents?
Recently at a local NRZ meeting, I posed the question of protection of residents to our police chief but he seemed confused over the issue. He was not the person in authority to address this although ultimately, state and local army and police should work in tandem to protect residents.
Governor Lamont, you are running for re-election. Will you advise our Connecticut National Guard to be prepared to protect our residents from obvious extra judicial federal overreach? By assuming the lead in this response to a threatening federal government, Connecticut could take the lead and become a model for other states to follow.
Please pass it on everyone.
Bill you make a great point comparing our 18th century rebellion against a tyrannical government (England) to rebellion against our present day authoritarianism ( the Trump Administration) and take the concept a step further by suggesting that the governor of CT protect his constituents from the current Federal Government (ICE) and call out its National Guard. THAT IS BOLD but it makes sense. Because of our current state of affairs, being proactive could ultimately make a difference.
Our governor has already taken the position that Massachusetts National Guard will not be used against the citizenry. If it comes to confronting an out-of-control federal government, T**** and his minions would do well to remember Concord. History may repeat itself.
That wasn’t my point. I’m asking our National Guard to protect us from the oppression of federal police.
What a brilliant idea! I hope your governor acts on your suggestion!!
Pass it on to your governor.
I hope Abrego Garcia's vindictive prosecution issue gets his case dismissed. I personally find it difficult to see where this is not vindictive prosecution. I would also like to see the DOJ held accountable for redacting the names of people involved in the Epstein sex trafficking case, while omitting to redact the names of victims. It is disgusting on both counts. Finally, IMO, if trump goes for marble armrests, that will probably make sure attendance goes down, because those would be mighty uncomfortable.
Oh c’mon! Marble armrests are just the beginning … expect to see a marble Mausoleum.
He'd like one, for sure. But it would have to be guarded 24/7 to keep away the hordes of Americans who would love an opportunity to deface it.
Without 24/7 security, it would quickly become a marble urinal
That’s why we have marines.
Cuz they know the best cuss words?
And tolerate neither bullies or cowards.
"expect to see a marble Mausoleum."
Great.
And the sooner trump occupies it, the better.
That'd be fine with me if it could be built and occupied in a day
He’ll probably be buried under his Arc de Trump, you know, with an eternal flame, bigger and better than the Arc de Triumph.
Bien sur—l’Arc de Trompe!
Tromper tout le monde!
Or as James Cagney called, “Trump of the world, Ma!” (“White Heat” [1948]: got the quote wrong—“Look at me,ma—top of the world.”)
Center stage at the Kennedy Center??
No, silly, the new Washington D. T. (District of Trumpsylvania … emphasis on vain).
I think he'll have to eliminate Washington, Lincon or Jefferson to get anyone to notice. Point taken about vain.
Coming up: The Lincoln Memorial … with Lincoln removed (Sleepy Abe!) and replaced by a statue of Trump … hopefully executed by Jeff Koons.
PLUS, the Washington Monument rebuilt by Qatar.
You're on a real roll, David! I had to look up Jeff Koons, and now I can't envision the Lincoln Memorial without a blue balloon animal in place of Lincoln. Maybe I should be grateful for the nightmare reading about Wounded Knee just before bed gave me…
"Judge to hold hearing on whether Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being vindictively prosecuted"
"A federal judge this week CANCELED the trial of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran man who was mistakenly deported, and scheduled a hearing on whether the prosecution is being vindictive in pursuing a human smuggling case against him."
I assume this means the trial is delayed or dismissed until after the hearing about vindictive prosecution.
https://www.npr.org/2025/12/27/g-s1-103790/judge-hearing-kilmar-abrego-garcia
Michael, I wish they would stop saying "mistakenly deported." There was nothing "mistaken" about it.
Shouldn't it say "illegally and deliberately deported in defiance of a judge's order"?
I think the trial is just delayed at this point. But I find it difficult to believe that anyone in their right mind would not see the trial as vindictive prosecution. The problem, as I see it, is that trump and his administration only know how to double or quadruple down on anything they want to do, so even if the case is dismissed as vindictive prosecution, they won't let go of it. If I were Abrego Garcia, I would seriously consider going to Costa Rica just to get away from all this stupidity.
I’m with Lucy, “You (T) (marble) block head!” I’m with you Joyce. I’m so tired of this guy and his vulgarness. He thinks if you gild it, marble it, or add red drapes, you create class. All I see is crass!
I’m so tired of reading about all the lies; not just from trump himself but from all the ones on his staff that continue to kiss his A** and ring as if he’s already a dictator. It’s time for the Democrats in Congress and Senate to grow some grit and start with an impeachment.
First thing when Rep Jeffries counts 218 votes!
Please be assured that these Sunday posts are truly appreciated. Thanks for the ongoing commitment.
I too look forward to 2026, the year DEMOCRACY strikes back!!!
There’s good reason that chair arms are not made of marble. 🤔
The usual reasons and the inevitable chin gouging while tripping in the dark. Attend at your own risk.
Those of you whose heads by now are already about to explode with more legal arcana than even lawyers care to know, may want to avert your eyes. It's called "sua sponte" or "on its own initiative" and is applied in legal proceedings to actions a judge or court makes voluntarily, without being asked or prompted by any party in a case. It's particularly rare for the Imperial Court to rule on something material not raised by either side ("party presentation principle"), and has been usually reserved in the past largely for jurisdictional questions or issues involving procedural defects. However, the Court (as Alito, joined by Thomas in dissent, acerbically points out) did pretty much that in the Illinois National Guard deployment stay request (Trump et al v. Illinois et al) and based its decision largely on an amicus curiae ("friend of the court") brief from a Georgetown University law professor (and former Deputy Assistant Attorney General). In his brief he pointed out a glaring flaw in the so-called government's argument when it came to the definition or interpretation of "regular forces" in the statute (10 U.S. Code § 12406) it relied on, which the weight of historical evidence indicated was the U.S. military, not civilian law enforcement like ICE as the so-called government claimed --- thus “there is no basis for concluding that the president would be ‘unable’ to enforce such laws with the assistance of those forces if it were legal for him to direct such a deployment.” This apparently was a key point overlooked by the respondents as well, but fortunately (at least for now) did catch the attention of what turned out to be the majority in the ruling.
Thank you for this useful addition to the discussion. Loathe it though we may, the government is still the government. Perhaps we should use the modifier "so-called" for the argument.
Re: Epstein - and the this administration in general—why should anyone obey, much less respect, the law when th DoJ blatantly chooses not to?
I’m so tired of “that guy” too!
Wishing you and your family( and animals) A very Happy and Healthy New Year!
Keep fighting the good fight for all of us! Thank you
Karen
Nothing like stone cold, hard marble to lay your arm on comfortably while enjoying some theatre.
One pities the twelve Trump loyalists who will be the only audience.