Posts Made By: Rod Kaufman

"The price of a new vehicle is now over $47,000 on Average! "

Really?! While I suppose that depends upon what kind of vehicle you're talking about but the average amount according to the current and new Consumer Reports annual auto issue is $40,000 along with 10 "great cars" under $27,000.

Additionally, just checking the cost of my favorite vehicle at a local dealer, the Subaru Forester, prices range from about $33,000 for the well equipped premium model to $40,000 for the top of the line leather trimmed touring model and that's MSRP. And since they've got 139 of 'em sitting on their lot, there's room for negotiation, not to mention going through TrueCar, Costco or Sam's Club for a better deal without the hassle of negotiation. 

But, in your case, Rich, I don't think you couldn't afford anything anyway so I understand your consternation in this regard...

Originally Posted by James Lacey

It's classic Rich being so contrary he argues with himself. On one hand, business is so good (i.e., people are spending money like crazy) that he gets every job he bids on and can charge more. But, wait for it, the Biden economy is terrible.

Well, he does have a special skills set:  el-speedy porta-potti maintenance, fresh fertilizer services and on-call gravedigger.  
That's how he can set his own rates and it allows him the luxury of posting on the AM all the time...

Originally Posted by James Lacey

A friend of ours bought a brand-new 2023 Kia Soul for $17,000; it will be just a low-mileage town car for him and his wife. There are plenty of choices that are far less than $40K. Even a mid-range 2024 of many makes and models can be had for $30K or less.

I couldn't agree more James but, again in Rich's case, given his special work requirements like septic tank cleanings, his vehicle of choice can be none other than:

a U-Haul rental!

Still, since he lives in the evangelical vatican of the world, and therefore solid Trump country, one can only have one vehicle model that identifies one with the brand:

the Pickup Truck, of course! 

So, in the end and when all things are said and done, Rich is right and a new truck is way over the top for him and that horse drawn carriage for casket facilitations remains his tried and true means of transport...

"A majority of Americans who tuned in had a positive response to President Biden’s State of the Union address Thursday evening, a CNN flash poll found."
"More than 6 in 10 Americans who watched the speech had a positive reaction to the president’s message, the survey conducted by SSRS shortly after the address found."

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4518673-majority-of-americans-had-positive-response-to-bidens-sotu-speech-cnn-poll/


"A former Trump economic adviser said Friday there is “no question” the U.S. has the strongest economy in the world after a strong February jobs report followed President Biden’s State of the Union address.

“One thing that Biden said last night that was true: It is true that the United States today has the strongest economy. There’s no question about it,” said Stephen Moore, a former Trump campaign economic adviser, on Fox Business Network."

https://thehill.com/business/4518770-former-trump-adviser-no-question-us-has-strongest-economy/


And the Republican response? Did you actually stomach the bobby-soxer lollipop soap opera box with the little woman in the kitchen saying that Biden just doesn't get it?...

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

"Former President Donald Trump has posted a $91.63 million bond as he appeals the judgment against him in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case."

"In January, a federal jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages as a result of Trump’s defamatory statements denying he raped her, saying she wasn’t his type, and accusing her of making up the allegation to boost sales of her book."

"Insurance company Chubb underwrote the bond for Trump, which the former president signed on Tuesday. Under the terms of the bond, Chubb will only secure the appeal of the $83.3 million judgment, not any future appeals."

"The bond size is greater than the judgment because the district court generally requires a party to post 110% of the bond."

"Trump also faces a March 25 deadline to put up another $454 million in the New York attorney general’s civil fraud case."


https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/08/politics/trump-carroll-83-million-defamation-bond-appeal/index.html

The CEO of Chubb is reportedly one of Trump's buddies so...

Chubb retorts:

“When Chubb provides an appeal bond it has nothing to do with the underlying merits or with favoring any of the parties in the case,” Evan Greenberg, Chubb’s chair and CEO, wrote in a letter to customers who inquired about the decision."

“As the surety, we don’t take sides, it would be wrong for us to do so and we are in no way supporting the defendant,” he continued. “We are supporting and are part of the justice system plumbing included in this case.”

"In 2018, Trump appointed Greenberg to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, a volunteer group that advises the U.S. trade representative."


"Though the terms were not made public in court filings, Greenberg signaled that Trump’s bond is fully collateralized. It remains unclear what assets Trump put down."

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4529679-chubb-ceo-defends-underwriting-trumps-bond-in-carroll-case-we-dont-take-sides/

"Former President Donald Trump has posted a $91.63 million bond as he appeals the judgment against him in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case."

"In January, a federal jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages as a result of Trump’s defamatory statements denying he raped her, saying she wasn’t his type, and accusing her of making up the allegation to boost sales of her book."

"Insurance company Chubb underwrote the bond for Trump, which the former president signed on Tuesday. Under the terms of the bond, Chubb will only secure the appeal of the $83.3 million judgment, not any future appeals."

"The bond size is greater than the judgment because the district court generally requires a party to post 110% of the bond."

"Trump also faces a March 25 deadline to put up another $454 million in the New York attorney general’s civil fraud case."


https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/08/politics/trump-carroll-83-million-defamation-bond-appeal/index.html

I'll add that the Republicans in Texas have jurist-shopped for the ultra-conservative Trump-appointed federal appeals judges in New Orleans who are apparently going to declare the screening physical exams, breast cancer screenings and immunizations offered free under the affordable care act to be unconstitutional and therefore null and void...

"Public health advocates are watching in growing alarm as former President Trump increasingly embraces the anti-vaccine movement."  

“I will not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate or a mask mandate,” Trump said in a recent campaign rally in Richmond, Va.


"Every state and the District of Columbia requires children to get vaccinated against certain diseases before they start school, including measles, mumps, polio, tetanus, whooping cough and chickenpox. A plan to withhold federal funding would have widespread impact."


"Experts say the politicization of vaccines has led to an increase in hesitancy and is sparking more outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles."  

"There have been measles outbreaks in 15 states this year, most recently in Florida, where state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo did not recommend parents vaccinate their children or keep unvaccinated students home from school as a precaution."  
"Instead, he sent a letter to parents advising them to make their own decisions about school attendance."

"Ladapo told people not to get the most recent shot and has drawn sharp rebukes from the medical community — as well as federal health agencies — for claims that the shots alter human DNA, can potentially cause cancer, and are generally unsafe."  
"Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, said he worries that Trump is signaling he will empower more people like Ladapo if he wins reelection."

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4517350-trump-vaccine-rhetoric-public-health/

Originally Posted by James Lacey

You would think that people would be so tired of Trump by now. Did you see where he recently vilified migrants (again) and mocked Biden's stutter at a rally in Georgia? For good measure, he called the press criminals and repeated his big lie that the 2020 election was stolen. And to think there are still people who will claim Trump was not mocking disabled reporter Sergei Kovaleski with the NYT in 2015. How many times does Trump have to show these people who he is before they get it?

" How many times does Trump have to show these people who he is before they get it?"

Well,  this guy didn't get it so he's going to jail on Tuesday March 19th:


https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4523581-peter-navarro-ordered-to-prison/

The obnoxious prick of a person should have gotten more.
At least he'll do the time before Trump can pardon him if and when he's re-elected...