Full Report: From Vanity to Insanity: How the White House Cheated the American People Out of Their 250th Birthday.

Today, House Natural Resources Committee released a new 55-page report following months of investigative work by Committee Democrats exposing how Donald Trump hijacked what was supposed to be a unifying, non-political celebration of our country's 250th birthday and made it all about him – his vanity projects, his political and religious agenda, his business ventures, and his cronies who gorged on public funds under cover of a shadow corporation shielded from public scrutiny.

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[–] 46 points 2 months ago (52 children)

This sternly worded letter will certainly do him in this time.

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  • [–] 39 points 2 months ago (29 children)

    Gosh, why are all these do nothing Democrats getting defeated by DSA candidates in primaries?

    A 30 year incumbent in Colorado was just defeated by a 29 year old socialist and the race wasn't even close.

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  • [–] 20 points 2 months ago (3 children)
  • [–] 18 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    Quick, someone give a millionaire nepobaby 'political consultant' tons of money so thery can tell us it's okay to keep aligning with billionaires.

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  • [–] 14 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    We just need "nice" billionaires! They'll defeat all the Nazi billionaires with facts and logic when they see them at their next dinner party on their super yacht.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago (24 children)

    This is literally an article about Democrats doing something.

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  • [–] 10 points 2 months ago* (6 children)

    I think your definition of doing something and mine are different.

    "But they don't have enough votes" is the next excuse.

    Well, we're literally seeing the entire democratic party worried about their party becoming too popular as DSA members drop record wins and draw massive popular support. They seem to all be very concerned about the do nothing party actually electing people that want to DO SOMETHING.

    I'm critical of the Democrats because another "strongly worded letter" has deluded people like you into thinking that "pointing" to the problem will solve it.

    It's ok. You and I both want the same thing I'm sure. But please don't make excuses for these Democrats in office trying to show some small backbone as the DSA just beat a 30 year incumbent with a 29 year old socialist famous for saying "Fuck Kamala Harris".

    We're winning. You can come along for the ride. We're really nice, have snacks, and we're fighting for healthcare and an end to funding genocide.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago* (4 children)

    There is literally one thing that can legally be done to stop Trump - impeachment. It wouldn't matter a bit if every Democratic rep was magically changed into a DSA member tomorrow. Like you said, they don't have the votes.

    I'm well past the point where I will cheer on any non-legal solutions, but I don't expect that to come from elected representatives. Their job is to do what the Republicans did when Obama was in office - obstruction. That is what they are doing.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago* (3 children)

    Well we definitely disagree on what obstruction means. I could list countless successful obstructions the Republicans did to Obama. The supreme court pick being the massive one.

    What successful obstruction have the Democrats been able to pull off? Because all I've seen have been a couple government shutdowns that they eventually gave up on. Some unsuccessful (and questionably successful) redistricting measures at the state level? What have the federal government representatives in the Democratic party actually been successful in obstructing?

    Because, so far, it's been judges and states doing their best to delay while DC seems to be happy with "setting records for longest filibuster" or writing letters that do nothing.

    I could count on my fingers the number of Democrats in DC actually making any effort. And they're all the ones connected to DSA and it's momentum.

    Don't defend the entire party because AoC and company are in it. Criticize them for sitting on their asses while taking AIPAC donations.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

    Most recently they have blocked the SAVE act so far. That's the one Trump needs to steal the election.

    A bunch of stuff has been blocked that forced Trump to do it through executive order which was then blocked by Dem diatrict judges (for example Birthright Citizenship and the mail-in voting ban). Other stuff was blocked and then forced through budget reconciliation votes which necessitated stripping non-economic elements (like anti-trans legislation and immigration restrictions).

    I don't blame most people for not knowing these things because it is all boring as fuck and Dems suck at advertising their successes.

    Edit: Dems also need to figure out how to ditch support of Israel without getting tarred and feathered as antisemites by people who can't understand nuance.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    You really need to raise your expectations. I know all the boring stuff mate. You didn't mention anything that was concrete from DC.

    Also, the representatives that haven't already disconnected from Israel will NEVER disconnect from Israel. If they haven't taken the correct side by now; that is a clear sign they are immoral donation controlled robots. They should be removed at all cost and should never be taken seriously.

    Raise your expectations. Join DSA.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago*

    Even with my expectations low, I'm usually still disappointed. Everything comes second to getting Trump and his goons out of power because without that democracy is over. A Dem fully funded by AIPAC is still better than a Republican any day. Yeah, I prefer DSA, but I'll take what I can get.

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  • [–] -1 points 2 months ago (15 children)

    This is an expose into how Trump made the 250th celebration about himself.

    Truly the pressing issue of the times. /s

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  • [–] 6 points 2 months ago (14 children)

    It is documenting a crime Trump committed. There will come a time where Trump and his cronies are not in power and having this proof will be useful in prosecution.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 months ago* (13 children)

    I really hope that's true. But fascists don't give up power when their military is obedient and loyal to them. I don't wish the path to that justice to be paved with the blood of thousands. But, history is not filled with ruling class wilfully giving up their power in situations like we find ourselves.

    Unfortunately, we either get a "go high" liberal presidency that just leads us farther into a white supremacist Tucker Carlson 2032. Or, we actually elect a socialist in 2028 and the current fascist refuse to accept the results.

    The later is still the better option. Because if we get another "reach across the aisle" liberal that tries to renormalize the Republican party and doesn't bring real justice. Well, we'll go to a place in this country we'll never come back from.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 months ago (12 children)

    The right is going to call whoever the Democrat candidate may be a socialist regardless. I am fully convinced that the administration is going to use the supposedly "fraudulent" midterms as an excuse to block the 2028 elections entirely. I think it is likely that Trump will be pushed out after the midterms to set up for 10 years of Vance. With luck Rubio and others will try to steal the top spot from Vance and the whole thing will tear itself apart.

    I share your worry that the next Dem administration will fail to prosecute enough of Trump's cronies. They have enough money and influence to drag such a fight out for decades. We need to go full nuclear from day one and take the whole administration down for conspiracy to commit treason.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (11 children)

    Yep. And trials for all war criminals (Democrat and Republican) for support of the genocide in Gaza, attack on Iran, and genocide in Lebanon.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (10 children)

    Iran and Lebanon maybe, but nobody is going to jail for the genocide in Gaza. I hate it, but it's never happening. US law grants immunity to prosecution for official duties and no foreign army is big enough to force the matter.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (9 children)

    Maybe in the short term. But when the left takes real power immunity will not be a thing. There will be justice for Gaza. If there is no justice for Gaza that means the left has been defeated and fascism won. We aren't going to live in a world where that type of liberalism survives. It's Socialism or Barbarism.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (8 children)

    Immunity for elected officials is unfortunately necessary. Imagine if someone like Trump could arrest Democrats for how they voted. The only justice we can give Gaza is working to rebuild what was destroyed and preventing Israel from fucking with their state going forward.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (7 children)

    I think you need to think that through a bit more. You don't suddenly give a president power to arrest whoever they want for any reason. Like, what does that have to do with immunity? There are plenty of functional governments without the forms of immunity the US has.

    It's so strange that Americans can't just look to examples of functional countries and instead just buy the "it's not possible" bull shit they get fed. Use your brain a bit more mate.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (6 children)

    What have representatives done that affected Gaza besides vote? That's the only thing you could arrest them for.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago* (5 children)

    "What did the Nobles do that caused the Peasants to starve besides demand only the tax the King required?"

    This is what you sound like. I need you to think a little bit beyond the world you live. The authority you're trying to appeal to no longer exists. Trump is not some unique special boy that gets to break all the rules and then we go back to normal after we punish him. That's never going to happen. If we pretend and play that game, another fascist will rise. The systems you're talking about are not returning. They are broken beyond repair. Radical actions of the far right got us here. You don't undo that with more liberal bourgeoise democracy. Radical changes are required to undo the fascism that controls our businesses and our government.

    The world I am describing where the left has power is one where the politicians ARE held to account for their social crimes of genocide. We WOULD arrest them for their votes to send weapons to support genocide.

    I knows it's hard to imagine a world without a King, Nobles, and Peasants.

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  • [–] 0 points 2 months ago (4 children)

    Except reps aren't nobles. We voted for them and they voted for genocide. So are you going to hold every voter responsible? We didn't do anything different than they did. We all just voted and people died. Are we going to throw everyone who ever voted for Biden AND Trump into jail? Does that sound like a practical solution? No?

    Yes, of course I want the right punished. Trump and his cabinet should never see the outside of a cell again. Of I had my choice ever Trump supporter would have their citizenship stripped and would only have it back when they learned what being a citizen actually means.

    I'm all for treating Israel as a state that enacted genocide and prosecuting its officials and military as war criminals. But that is for the international community, not just us. America acting as world police is part of the problem.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago* (3 children)

    Do you want me to pretend you are too dumb to understand the difference between

    • voting for a representative
    • voting to send weapons to Israel as it commits a genocide?

    Because if I'm gonna reply to what you wrote I have to pretend you're that dumb and then attempt to explain it to you. I really don't want to have to do that. I'd rather you admit you're just lost in a slippery slope fallacy and trying to equate two things that are entirely different.

    I really hope you are not dumb enough to see them as equivalent just because they both use the word "vote". I'd rather assume you're just arguing in bad faith.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (2 children)

    Like it or not, you are responsible for who you vote for. Perhaps I have a different definition of responsibility than you do. Voting for a rep who has been openly supportive of Israel which has been oppressing and abusing Palestinians for decades is responsibility in my book. Oct 7 wasn't the beginning of something new. It was just what made people notice.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (1 child)

    So you're actually dumb enough to try to equate voting for a representative and voting for literal weapons funding during a genocide?

    Like, we're having a conversation about punishment for war criminals that took direct actions to support a genocide; and you're trying to make this false equivalency for some reason.

    I'm not sure why you even are trying to equate them.

    Even in something like murder we have different degrees. Even our flawed justice system understands there are differences of intention. Why do you keep pretending to be dumb and not understand what I'm saying? Do you want to punish voters? I'm so confused.

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  • [–] 9 points 2 months ago* (5 children)

    Reply below with a 'tut-tut' to do your part for justice. Do it for America!

    Tut-tut

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  • [–] 12 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    Maybe we should all bring in our little "No" signs to hold up in silent protest. Oh and coordinate our outfits to display our displeasure.

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