Replying to my own comment: oil companies and banks consider drilling in the refuge to be akin to clubbing baby seals, PR-wise. The last auction, before the Biden administration, attracted (checking notes) zero bids. So maybe there won't be drilling after all.
I saw a snippet of an interview with Murkowski yesterday where she was asked about the East wing and I was screaming at the TV. Why don’t you ask her about the giveaway of our precious resources?
"Yet the work on destroying the people’s White House continues because Trump claims it is financed with private funds, which raises a great many other questions about legality, quid pro quos, and access to the halls of government by favored billionaires."
I don't recall who made this point, but it's VERY interesting that Trump this week ALSO claimed that the Department of Justice owes him roughly the same amount as the funds raised for the ballroom as compensation for prosecuting him.
But don't call it a bribe. And the Emouments Clause, what's that?
This whole unfortunate episode in our newest history made me start using a new word. Sadgry. 😭😡. For someone to constantly be blaming the left and liberals for destroying our monuments, it takes a great deal of hutzpah to destroy the East wing of the People’s house.
Once the ballroom is finished and a Democrat is President, just wondering if they will have it torn down or use it in all it's splendor, considering Obama complained that there wasn't enough room in the White House for entertaining, galas, and such.
Well, this is Donald Trump, isn't he the construction whisperer? And as an aside, will Trump stiff his laborers on this project? Asking for a friend...
"Privately, many alumni of the Biden and Obama White Houses acknowledge the long-overdue need for an event space like what Trump is creating. It is absurd that tents need to be erected on the South Lawn for state dinners, and VIPs are forced to use porta-potties."
"The State Dining Room seats 140. The East Room seats about 200. Trump says the ballroom at the center of his 90,000-square-foot addition will accommodate 999 guests. The next Democratic president will be happy to have this."
I feel for you on the HOA position. I served on an HOA board for 3 years only because no one else would take the job after my patio home community in Augusta was built out and the residents could take control from the developer. I hated HOAs (still do) but they were mandatory in my last three residences. The residents hated me for being on the board and the board members hated me because I generally disagreed with them. Of course, I was outvoted on nearly every issue. The Architectural Review Board was always the hangup. We could not agree on covenants, and I always thought if it wasn't offensive to the next-door neighbors or visible from the street, it did not have to be regulated. It's also aggravating to have to submit 5 pages of paperwork and a fee for review of a permitted change that's described in detail with pictures in the covenants.
I'm not an ex-con and I barely have an inkling of what a crypto coin is, so I can't help you there.
I've been pretty laissez faire when it comes to ours. When I've had objections, I always point out that the complainer is welcome to take over, and the objections tend to vanish pretty quickly. We only have 21 units and fortunately no Karens that create problems. (We also have an absurdly-low assessment, which keeps people content.)
As for crypto - I could write a book trying to explain it to you, OR you could learn by doing by investing in $WLFI[1,2] and watching your investment shrink. There's no learning quite like putting skin in the game.
We have several hundred Karens who are also old and insist on getting their way. You are lucky to have none. Twenty-one units sounds like a condo or co-op development. I looked at condos on the Gulf Coast for a second home and determined that in most cases I would be the one of the few resident owners. The rest would be landlords who ran the development to maximize rentals. Atlanta is somewhat different, and I suppose Chicago is also.
No thanks on the crypto although I know people who claimed to have profited from investing. I'll stick to slow but steady growth that supplements my pensions and will probably provide for assisted living.
And while we're paying attention to the rubble, there's this: Trump opens the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in SW Alaska for drilling and road building to support drilling. We may see the last wild Polar Bears in North America perish before our eyes. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/climate/trump-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge-oil-drilling.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20251023&instance_id=165010&nl=breaking-news®i_id=70729101&segment_id=209190&user_id=3178b5c1fde83d61fea05115ea0a8458
Replying to my own comment: oil companies and banks consider drilling in the refuge to be akin to clubbing baby seals, PR-wise. The last auction, before the Biden administration, attracted (checking notes) zero bids. So maybe there won't be drilling after all.
I saw a snippet of an interview with Murkowski yesterday where she was asked about the East wing and I was screaming at the TV. Why don’t you ask her about the giveaway of our precious resources?
"Yet the work on destroying the people’s White House continues because Trump claims it is financed with private funds, which raises a great many other questions about legality, quid pro quos, and access to the halls of government by favored billionaires."
I don't recall who made this point, but it's VERY interesting that Trump this week ALSO claimed that the Department of Justice owes him roughly the same amount as the funds raised for the ballroom as compensation for prosecuting him.
But don't call it a bribe. And the Emouments Clause, what's that?
The Domestic Emoluments Clause (a.k.a. the
only federal, and not state, officeholders. According to the
Presidential Emoluments Clause) (art. II, § 1, cl. 7):
Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC),
“The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his
which has a developed body of opinions on the Foreign
Services, a Compensation which shall neither be
Emoluments Clause, offices “of profit” include those that
encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he
receive a salary, while offices “of trust” are those that
shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within
require discretion, experience, and skill.
that Period any other Emolument from the United
There is disagreement, however, over whether elected
States, or any of them.
Basically not a penny from the DOJ or anyone else in the federal government.
David, I beg your pardon…Trump never promised us a Rose Garden.
This whole unfortunate episode in our newest history made me start using a new word. Sadgry. 😭😡. For someone to constantly be blaming the left and liberals for destroying our monuments, it takes a great deal of hutzpah to destroy the East wing of the People’s house.
Yup, deface the White House and keep the confederate monuments.
I’m always curious about how things would have played out with shoe on other foot.
And lots of such opportunities with Trump, of course.
I wonder how apoplectic the right would’ve been had Obama or Biden tried this.
And yet when it’s Trump doing it, “bend over and take it” works very well for them.
The Trump admin is acting like they'll never leave office.
Once the ballroom is finished and a Democrat is President, just wondering if they will have it torn down or use it in all it's splendor, considering Obama complained that there wasn't enough room in the White House for entertaining, galas, and such.
That is an interesting question, assuming that it ever gets built.
Well, this is Donald Trump, isn't he the construction whisperer? And as an aside, will Trump stiff his laborers on this project? Asking for a friend...
My guess is the first event booked in the ball room will the coronation.
What a horrific thought.
"Privately, many alumni of the Biden and Obama White Houses acknowledge the long-overdue need for an event space like what Trump is creating. It is absurd that tents need to be erected on the South Lawn for state dinners, and VIPs are forced to use porta-potties."
"The State Dining Room seats 140. The East Room seats about 200. Trump says the ballroom at the center of his 90,000-square-foot addition will accommodate 999 guests. The next Democratic president will be happy to have this."
The whole thing here...
https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2025/10/26/wow-liberal-media-outlet-writes-rousing-editorial-in-defense-of-trumps-ballroom-n2195499
Maybe we need a Federal HOA. Any volunteers to chair it?
As a current HOA president (I swear that I can't give this job away), I will campaign to serve as the Unitary HOA Executive.
Now, where do I find an ex-con to help me get my crypto coin started?
I feel for you on the HOA position. I served on an HOA board for 3 years only because no one else would take the job after my patio home community in Augusta was built out and the residents could take control from the developer. I hated HOAs (still do) but they were mandatory in my last three residences. The residents hated me for being on the board and the board members hated me because I generally disagreed with them. Of course, I was outvoted on nearly every issue. The Architectural Review Board was always the hangup. We could not agree on covenants, and I always thought if it wasn't offensive to the next-door neighbors or visible from the street, it did not have to be regulated. It's also aggravating to have to submit 5 pages of paperwork and a fee for review of a permitted change that's described in detail with pictures in the covenants.
I'm not an ex-con and I barely have an inkling of what a crypto coin is, so I can't help you there.
I've been pretty laissez faire when it comes to ours. When I've had objections, I always point out that the complainer is welcome to take over, and the objections tend to vanish pretty quickly. We only have 21 units and fortunately no Karens that create problems. (We also have an absurdly-low assessment, which keeps people content.)
As for crypto - I could write a book trying to explain it to you, OR you could learn by doing by investing in $WLFI[1,2] and watching your investment shrink. There's no learning quite like putting skin in the game.
[1] https://www.coinbase.com/price/world-liberty-financial-ethereum-2
[2] https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/crypto/binance-pardon-trump-changpeng-zhao-crypto-rcna239371
We have several hundred Karens who are also old and insist on getting their way. You are lucky to have none. Twenty-one units sounds like a condo or co-op development. I looked at condos on the Gulf Coast for a second home and determined that in most cases I would be the one of the few resident owners. The rest would be landlords who ran the development to maximize rentals. Atlanta is somewhat different, and I suppose Chicago is also.
No thanks on the crypto although I know people who claimed to have profited from investing. I'll stick to slow but steady growth that supplements my pensions and will probably provide for assisted living.
We're 21 townhouses with 100% owner occupancy.
Nixing renting early on has helped us avoid a TON of issues.
Extremely intelligent decision. Residents are protected and get what most of them want. Dissidents can sell in what should be a sellers' market.