BILLBOARD News Now
Not So Supreme, Mr. Roberts
(Editor’s note: This morning Maureen Dowd, opinion columnist for The New York Times, wrote the piece below. Ms. Dowd is an American Journalist, best-selling author, and Pulitzer Prize-winning writers.)
It’s crazy to think about Donald Trump outrunning anything.
But in legal terms, the president is an Olympic-class sprinter. He breaks the law so fast that the law is left in his orange dust.
Trump is an outlaw. And our system was not built for an outlaw in the Oval.
He zeros in on loopholes in the law and the system that are based on trust and the assumption that our leaders — and their families — will not be voracious scam artists.
“The Constitution was built on this idea that the president would have enough decency and morality that they just wouldn’t run around exploiting the gaps,” said the Trump biographer Tim O’Brien. “And for Trump, it’s like red meat. This idea that Trump’s mentor was Roy Cohn was profoundly wrong. Donald Trump’s mentor was Fred from day one. His father showed him how to exploit the government system, the legal system and business. His whole worldview is built around the idea that you exploit systems for personal gain, and there’s nothing wrong with doing that because the world’s populated by sharks and you just have to be the biggest shark.”
After running a court that has been complicit in Trump’s defiling our institutions and razing our hallowed spaces, Chief Justice John Roberts seems belatedly alarmed.
“That construction is likely unlawful,” Roberts wrote in his dissent on Monday from his fellow Republican justices’ ruling that the president’s ballroom behemoth — with taxpayers on the hook for over $300 million — can slouch toward completion. Noting that the president was “likely” infringing on Congress, Roberts added, “Today’s decision is no victory for the separation of powers.”
The White House is the People’s House. Chief executives are transient tenants. Its “stately simplicity,” President Teddy Roosevelt once said, “is an expression of the character of the period in which it was built, and is in accord with the purposes it was designed to serve.” Safeguarding it, he said, gave us continuity with our past.
Roberts used that quote in his dissent, as well as a line from Winston Churchill: “We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.”
Trump was a builder, but he is such an egotist he can only view buildings — and reflecting pools — as reflections of himself. When he built Trump Tower, he tore down the Art Deco friezes on Bonwit Teller despite promising them to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Just so, he bulldozed the East Wing and tore up both of Jackie Kennedy’s gardens before Congress or historic preservationists had a chance to weigh in.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson calls this a “catch me if you can” approach.
The Supreme Court protects the outlandish outlaw by palavering about whether the architectural historian who brought the case has “standing” to do so. Yet shouldn’t any American have standing to challenge Trump’s desecrations? Trump ludicrously blasted the preservationists fighting to stop the ballroom as “TREASONISTS.”
As he casually divides and undermines America, he obsesses on using Krazy Glue to affix gold crap to the walls of the Oval Office or plotting to plant 47 maple trees in Lafayette Park to honor himself. He got us into a war he has no clue how to get out of, yet spends his time mulling redecorating projects, gold gewgaws, his new helipad and his replacement of the asphalt driveway at the White House with granite.
There are so many pathetic scenes of the Supreme Court and Republicans in Congress caving in to Trump — on his war in Iran that he calls “small potatoes” and that JD Vance risibly claims is not a war; on his attempts to disenfranchise voters; on trying to hijack the Postal Service to obstruct those voting by mail; on plotting to sell of a chunk of Yosemite to a private developer; on allowing the killing of endangered wolves and the secret slaughter of wild horses; on trying to slap his name back on the Kennedy Center; on his petty, vindictive renaming of Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” in the midst of the U.S.-Canadian trade war, even though it’s not even named for the Canadian province.
Now Trump is breaking ground for his solipsistic, Napoleonic Triumphal Arch — never mind that it lacks federal approval and that the gold angel on top might endanger planes flying in and out of Reagan National Airport.
O’Brien thinks the most tragic thing is that the Supreme Court now has a conservative majority that believes in the unitary executive and is getting roadblocks out of the way to give the president more latitude, at the very moment we get a Caligula who desperately needs roadblocks. Roberts issued the ruling in 2024 giving Trump near-total criminal immunity, and that makes him complicit in Trump’s egregious behavior.
Roberts gave Trump the runway, and now he’s objecting. But it’s too late.
“And that’s the lesson of everybody who doesn’t understand who Donald Trump is,” O’Brien said. “He’s simply there to pick your pocket.”
Use icons and envelope above to forward this post to your friends.
Follow us on Twitter (X), Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook or Threads.
DeSantis Set-Back
Florida Republican Party has turned against Governor Ron DeSantis. It said no to his supporters who wanted to keep a loyalty pledge passed earlier this year. That pledge would have required GOP presidential candidates to agree they would support the eventual party...
Waiting & Guessing
There is no way to know the private thoughts of Senator Joe Manchin. However, he has made it clear his political path will not be decided until the end of the year. West Virginia waits and Washington guesses. No doubt he has his sights on being the next President of...
Powerful
Readers send me articles, editorials & commentaries I might otherwise never see. Here is a powerful editorial from The Philadelphia Inquirer. The writer takes on the U. S. media saying pollsters and political strategists are not the only ones we should be hearing...
Balance the Numbers
While waiting for the arrival of Hurricane Idalia started thinking about how politics had changed. When I got interested, the Democrats were totally in charge at home (West Virginia). Today the opposite is the case with Republicans in control of every level of state...
Last Night
The first 2024 Republican presidential debate is now history. It certainly gave anyone interested a firsthand look at the current offering of candidates. Opinion writers at the New York Times pulled together a special feature after the debate offering a perspective...
Florida Constitution Abused
The Constitution needs changed as officials elected “by the people” are being removed from office. Why It Matters: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has removed elected officials at a rate greater than precious governors. Not all have committed a crime. But DeSantis...
“Drop This Crap”
Advised to “drop this crap” is provided by a Florida business leader supporting Governor DeSantis campaign. Despite DeSantis having a third “reboot” this week the supporter feels another is needed. Starting to write this blog to provide a Florida based view of the...
DeSantis Owes Democrats
I'm surprised when Governor Ron DeSantis continues to brag about his 2022 "red wave" victory he did not call it a tsunami. This guy came in from the dark with a single Tweet by President Trump getting him the Republican nomination in 2018. Narrowly defeated Democratic...
Money & Blood Will Be Everywhere
This post has something for everyone. A Politico story which could impact the future control of the U.S Senate. The focus is on a bitter battle among Republicans in West Virginia who want rid of Senator Joe Manchin. First, it seems they need to push Congressman Alex...
Like It or Not!
The political season is here. Based in Florida for the last twelve years observing politics & current events. And being a native West Virginian I keep an eye on what’s going on there…you know Senator Joe Manchin! I just cannot stay out of the game. Oh, I got it! I...
Manchin’s New Role?
President Joe Biden must now name someone to the seat of Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court. The appointment of Vice President Kamala Harris would solve a number of problems for the administration. Another Biden problem has been Senator Joe Manchin (D. WV). ...
A Toxic Mess
(Editor’s note: To view the article click on “Congress Has Become a Toxic Mess. Can It Be Saved?” ) “Congress Has Become a Toxic Mess. Can It Be Saved?” was the subject of Carl Hulse’s “On Washington” column recently in the New York Times. Hopefully, every Member...
BILLBOARD Archives
It’s About Time
(Editors note: The writer served on the West Virginia Racing Commission & International Association of Racing Commissioners board.) It’s About Time As an avid racing fan & former racing regulator I am disgusted it took the FBI and Department of Justice to...
Racing’s Demise
Racing’s Demise After seeing a picture of a deceased Mountaineer race horse in a local landfill I can no longer withhold my concerns. This photograph conveys the condition of those responsible for management and oversight of the racing industry in West Virginia....
Oh My!
There’s more to the “no confidence” resolutions being adopted by Republicans across the state than to send Governor Jim Justice a message. Nor was it about not following the Republican platform – which I doubt 100 Republicans have even read. What is going on is raw...
Why Not?
“Racing is in need of open-heart Surgery” Dean Crutchfield, senior vice president of Sterling Brands said in The Guardian story entitled “American horse racing isn’t dead – but it’s getting awfully close”. Hall of Fame Jockey Gary Stevens says “we need to come...
Disgusted
I am disgusted. What’s going on in the Republican Party in West Virginia? Though I no longer reside or vote in West Virginia I spent a lifetime there building the Republican Party and advancing the two party system. What took place during WV GOP day at the Capitol...
Nothing Is Secret
(Editor’s note: Served as a Member of the WV Racing Commission from February, 2013 until January 31, 2017 when Governor Justice replaced me after taking office.) The West Virginia Racing Commission will again make their meetings available via conference call. Chairman...
“Be Prepared”
Last week the U. S. Supreme Court said it will hear New Jersey’s appeal to legalize sports betting. West Virginia Governor Justice, Members of the Legislature and the racing industry needs to “Be Prepared.” Phil Kabler has an encouraging story in today’s...
Act Now
The Herald Dispatch in Huntington today ran the editorial below calling attention to online gambling being looked at by various states. Phillipsbillboard.com has called attention to this revenue opportunity that West Virginia should consider. The Huntington newspaper...
Secret Meeting
(Editor’s note: Served as a Member of the WV Racing Commission from February, 2013 until January 31, 2017 when Governor Justice replaced me after taking office.) A visit to the website of the WV Racing Commission revealed they are ending the ability for interested...
After Thought
[Editor’s Note: During the Reagan Administration I was responsible for rural development policy based at the U. S. Department of Agriculture.] Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue went to an urban city (Cincinnati) to tell rural citizens and communities he was...
At Trump’s Elbow
[Editor’s Note: During the Reagan Administration I was responsible for rural development policy based at the U. S. Department of Agriculture.] President Trump’s Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was sitting at the elbow of President Trump in the White House about...
Missing Out
Is West Virginia missing out on new revenue - by not thinking ahead? Maryland’s Legislature is taking steps to be prepared. Forward thinking members have introduced legislation to assure the State is ready to take advantage of sports betting. Introduced February 8th...