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Steve Berman's avatar

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&regi_id=70729101&segment_id=209190&user_id=3178b5c1fde83d61fea05115ea0a8458

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Steve Berman's avatar

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.

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Kim's avatar

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?

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Chris J. Karr's avatar

"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?

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Kim's avatar

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.

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Kim's avatar

Basically not a penny from the DOJ or anyone else in the federal government.

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Jay Berman's avatar

David, I beg your pardon…Trump never promised us a Rose Garden.

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Kim's avatar

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.

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Jay Berman's avatar

Yup, deface the White House and keep the confederate monuments.

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Steve Cheung's avatar

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.

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SGman's avatar

The Trump admin is acting like they'll never leave office.

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Cameron Sprow's avatar

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.

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David Thornton's avatar

That is an interesting question, assuming that it ever gets built.

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Cameron Sprow's avatar

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...

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Nick Gibbs's avatar

My guess is the first event booked in the ball room will the coronation.

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Kim's avatar

What a horrific thought.

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Curtis Stinespring's avatar

Maybe we need a Federal HOA. Any volunteers to chair it?

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Chris J. Karr's avatar

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?

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Curtis Stinespring's avatar

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.

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