December 17, 2022

"[T]he Trump cards will feature... the former president’s face grafted onto reasonably fit male bodies, clad in various costumes of masculine bravado..."

"... including sporting garb, a sheriff’s duster and lots of blue suits.... We can look to some of the darker trends in the contemporary art market... when seemingly trivial or worthless objects... are repurposed as art and treated as both intellectually substantial and commercially valuable.... What matters here is... how closely Trump’s attempt to market amateurish iconography parallels the way artists, critics and collectors have used laughter to establish the boundaries of the art world. Simply put, if you can’t take Duchamp or conceptual art seriously, you are a philistine, by the definition of the art world. It proves that you are unwilling or incapable of a basic set of thought exercises and mental calisthenics that are essential to the appreciation of contemporary art. One of the hallmarks of Trump’s art, and the work of other artists who have attempted to market Trump imagery as art, is the expectation that elites will laugh at it. Those who laugh are immediately outsiders to Trump world, where a taste for the tawdry is established as a fundamental shibboleth of loyalty and belonging. Call it inverse philistinism: the use of intentionally bad imagery, perhaps with a wink, to create an 'us-them' dynamic...." 

Writes Philip Kennicott in "Trump NFTs are not art. Unless you consider grifting an art form. These $99 trading cards are laughably bad. That’s the whole point" (WaPo).

Hey, that got surprisingly intellectual!

129 comments:

Narr said...

So Trump wants to be The Village People?

Hey, it's a free country.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

This is so dumb. Nobody is talking about his “defending the first amendment” video because this stepped all over it because someone on Trump’s team of Top Men is someone who agrees with Hunter’s Hooker and might even be the same insider who keeps calling in the Feds and other sabotage. Even Bannon abandons ship now.

FleetUSA said...

How does this compare to HBiden's "art"?

Maynard said...

What is tackier, Trump's ridiculous cards or the predictable bashing from the elite liberal media?

Achilles said...

I would have set the art up around historic accomplishments of the Trump administration.

But I am old and a bit of an oddball in the crypto world.

I am guessing the humor and obvious over the top pictures connect better with a wider audience than a history lesson would.

Shouting Thomas said...

I only saw one pic, and it was clearly a reference to Trump’s experience in the pro wrestling biz.

One of the quivers in my “skill set” as Scott Adams calls it, is graphic design.

That pic didn’t look amateurish to me. It looked like it was generated by a very sophisticated illustrator and graphic designer. Superhero comic style to be sure. What’s amateur about that? It’s one of the most successful and lucrative graphic business styles.

Adams says that Trump’s offering was the most successful one day fund raising event in history.

Owen said...

Love this essay. It smells of the lamp (a lovely old expression, meaning “bullshit you labored over all night long to look vaguely respectable”).

Achilles said...

The thing that most people are missing is that this NFT release as a fundraiser is the fundamental change this brings to campaign finance.

It allows little people to anonymously support a candidate like Trump in a time where supporting Trump gets you investigated by the FBI, IRS, and Homeland security.

This is going to be a very large historical footnote.

Obama removed identity reporting to allow illegal foreign contributions.

That made it so the only people that were tracked were US citizens who had names and addresses attached to credit cards and bank accounts.

Now US citizens have a way to be as anonymous as foreign contributors.

mccullough said...

Like Star Trek Commemorative Plates, these Trump tarot cards are supposed to be fun. They are amusing kitsch.

$99 is overpriced to most.

But there are some who buy Hunter Biden’s art for tens of thousands in order to launder money to the Bidens. Or give the Obamas $50 million to “produce” dreck that makes after-school specials from the 80s look like a Bergman film.

What bothers The Elite is not that Trump is trading on the presidency. It’s that he’s mocking the Elite.

Lurker21 said...

It's a way of fundraising. It's better than just getting a calendar and less expensive than the gifts the papers say that Ronna McDaniel bestows on big donors. People are giving the money to support Trump, not to get the card.

Still, Trump messed up. Reagan realized that you had to give the press something to talk about or they will invent stuff on their own. Trump certainly does that, but he doesn't realize that the stories you give the media ought to be things that make you look better, rather than worse. I also wonder if this doesn't give his persecutors something else to charge him with, given the current environment.

Mark said...

the expectation that elites will laugh at it. Those who laugh are immediately outsiders to Trump world, where a taste for the tawdry is established as a fundamental shibboleth of loyalty and belonging

No, there are PLENTY of deplorables who also are laughing AT Trump, who voluntarily turned himself into a complete joke. Forget all the mean tweets, this is something that cannot be defended nor can it be taken back. EVERY ACTION he's taken since November 2020 has been a colossal blunder.

John henry said...

The author asks if grifting is an art form. I'd turn that around and ask isn't Art (big A fancy prices) basically grifting?

Last week I watched "Made You Look" on Netflix. A woman hired a Chinese artist to make paintings in the style of Mark Rothko and some other artists. She then peddled them through the Hammer-Knoedler Gallery as genuine previously unknown Rothkos etc. Appraisers, the gallery, experts, people willing to spend $10mm on a painting all did due diligence and pronounced them real Rothkos etc.

So what is the difference between a genuine Rothko and a really good spurious one? Nothing, apparently. Other than that one might sell for $500 and the other might sell for $10mm.

Who is the grifter?

Only 22 days to go. I suspect it is not gonna happen. 6 more years!1

John Henry

Gusty Winds said...

They are not meant to be art. They're meant to be a joke.

I read yesterday they all sold out. 45K units @ $99. $4.5 million in 24hrs. Hilarious.

But...are we required to take Hunter Biden's $500K money laundering art seriously?

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Agreed - creates "us/them" dynamic.

Trump is pushing more people into the "them" category. His "us" loyalists are fine with it. You see, the "thems" is too "stupid" to understand his genius chess moves.
Shrink the big tent - push the undesirables and non-loyalists out the door. Call them names.

Meanwhile -I'm still hoping my Trump de-coder ring and bubble gum cards arrive before Christmas.

Achilles said...

For people who want to know what is really going on here instead of Ann's WAPO propaganda we can start with this link.

Trump NFT collection sells out.

The floor price is 230$, more than double the mint price.

I have not looked at the specifics of the rarity distribution for this NFT but generally it goes something like, 50% common, 25% uncommon, 15% rare 4% legendary 1% mythic. According to this the 1 of 1's were about 2.4% of the total distribution which was 45,000 total.

"Some tokens are selling for much higher prices. The one-of-ones, the rarest of the NFTs, which comprise 2.4% of the 45,000 unit collection (roughly 1,000), are selling for as much as 6 ETH at the time of writing. One of these rare trading cards, of the 45th president standing in front of the Statue of Liberty holding a torch, is currently listed at 20 ETH, or about $24,000."

That means the average price for these NFT's is easily over 500$.

Another point to this that people need to understand is that there are royalties on the secondary market.

"According to data from OpenSea, at time of writing, the collection’s trading volume is 900 ETH, or about $1.08 million. Its floor price is about 0.19 ETH, or about $230 – more than double the original price of $99."

Typically the royalty fee is around 5% so the Trump campaign is going to get 5% of the secondary sales on OpenSea. I expect trade volume to go down by about 75% over time so the Trump campaign is likely going to be pulling in 15-20K per day.

This is in addition to the historic ability of little people like us being able to contribute to the Trump campaign without fear of IRS and FBI reprisals.

What's emanating from your penumbra said...

Wow, I don't see it as intellectual at all. Is this phenomenon different than if you criticize Obama or pan Hillary's book we'll know you're not on the team? No, but Philip wants to say that the NFTs are different.

What makes them different? They're so bad that it must be intentional. But then "what matters here" can't be a parallel to markers based on whether you "take Duchamp or conceptual art seriously," because those aren't intentionally bad.

This is more like faux intellectualism. Art is smart!

It would be more accurate to compare the NFTs to this article. Our analysis is so bad that if you call it astute, we'll know you're one of us!

Kate said...

Those who [are insulted by Piss Christ] are immediately outsiders to [the art] world, where a taste for the tawdry is established as a fundamental shibboleth of loyalty and belonging.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bob Boyd said...

One of the hallmarks of Trump’s art, and the work of other artists who have attempted to market Trump imagery as art, is the expectation that elites will laugh at it.

Not really. We know they won't get it. Trump supporters I know laugh joyfully at these images and we have fun with them.
"Elites" don't laugh at this stuff. They sneer, but that's not the same thing. Usually they seem angered by it, even outraged. They tend to rail against it.

Those who laugh are immediately outsiders to Trump world, where a taste for the tawdry is established as a fundamental shibboleth of loyalty and belonging.

Making pronouncements about what's in the minds of total strangers is a major tell for projection. Trump haters are all about identifying outsiders, looking down on them and shunning them. This entire article relies on the writer and his audience feeling secure within their own us-them dynamic.


From what I've observed, TDS prevents the afflicted from perceiving Trump's sense of humor.
The cards are not a grift. It's a straight forward transaction. Humorless scolds, like this guy, are making an assumption that anyone who buys a card wouldn't really want it if only they knew what the humorless scold knows about Trump.

Trump haters writing breathlessly about these cards are working for Trump, they're selling his cards for him, as Trump probably knew they would.

BarrySanders20 said...

The Trump cards are ridiculous. But can the writer spot the ridiculousness of his own caste? Let's see: the Trumpers lack "a basic set of thought exercises and mental calisthenics that are essential to the appreciation of contemporary art." That's what it's all about. Elites need the gatekeepers but do not have the self-reflection to realize the ridiculousness of what passes as high art or fashion, much of which is absurd where no amount of thought exercises by a normal person could change into anything else.

Achilles said...

Shouting Thomas said...
I only saw one pic, and it was clearly a reference to Trump’s experience in the pro wrestling biz.

One of the quivers in my “skill set” as Scott Adams calls it, is graphic design.

That pic didn’t look amateurish to me. It looked like it was generated by a very sophisticated illustrator and graphic designer. Superhero comic style to be sure. What’s amateur about that? It’s one of the most successful and lucrative graphic business styles.

Adams says that Trump’s offering was the most successful one day fund raising event in history.


There are two broadly common reactions to something new you don't understand.

1. Sneering Condescension acting as tribal signalling.

2. Curiosity.

wendybar said...

And Trump is laughing all the way to the bank. Progressive hate sells.

Owen said...

Achilles @ 10:10: excellent comment (echoed by others) as to the significance of this move to raise anonymous contributions for political campaigns, litigation or frankly anything. I particularly liked what you said here (below in quotes), because I had direct experience of what Obama did in 2008 to enable this. I told people but they didn’t want to believe it.

“…Obama removed identity reporting to allow illegal foreign contributions….”

Michael K said...

The left prefers characters like Sam Brinton, "Mister Luggage."

Achilles said...

Hunter Biden's tax payer funded Hooker said...
Agreed - creates "us/them" dynamic.

Trump is pushing more people into the "them" category. His "us" loyalists are fine with it. You see, the "thems" is too "stupid" to understand his genius chess moves.
Shrink the big tent - push the undesirables and non-loyalists out the door. Call them names.


Do you have a mirror handy?

This is so obviously reversed I would give you credit for making an obvious joke if you claim that intent.

Trump is opening up new connections to people outside the political sphere.

Just like he brought in millions of first time voters in 2016 and 2020 from disaffected working class and minority groups he is opening up avenues into the crypto world.

You all read these political op ed pages and regime political propaganda rags and think this is the only world where people live and work.

Then you get mad when someone like Trump steps outside your little box.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Trump's strange immature self promotion is not "grifting". Self-promotion is just that-> Self-promotion.

The Bidens are the REAL international money grubbing grifters.
Illegal grift. Illegal behavior - OKed by our very own FBI and press.

In fact, we Still wait for the Hack-D press to get it right. They won't - because the hack-D press is as corrupt as the Biden family.

*fixed

Achilles said...

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...
This is so dumb. Nobody is talking about his “defending the first amendment” video because this stepped all over it because someone on Trump’s team of Top Men is someone who agrees with Hunter’s Hooker and might even be the same insider who keeps calling in the Feds and other sabotage. Even Bannon abandons ship now.

Bannon's world is that of the expert.

Bannon is focused on politics and people who live in the political sphere.

There are more people that trade NFT's than there are political junkies that watch Bannon or read and comment on blogger.com threads.

Most politicians spend too much time listening to other people in the political sphere.

One of the reasons Trump is so hated by both parties is because he doesn't spend his time catering solely to people like us and keeping his hair neat and trimmed and his pants well creased.

Jaq said...

Andy Warhol’s art was definitely not a grift…

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

But this stupid non-Presidential own goal was super profitable is the worst justification ever. PICK ANOTHER DATE or kneecap the campaign: it ain’t rocket surgery!

Bob Boyd said...

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...
This is so dumb. Nobody is talking about his “defending the first amendment” video because this stepped all over it


I agree with that.

MartyH said...

It’s not a grift if the product represented and the product purchased on the same.

If Trump does not follow through on the prizes offered or does not randomize them as promised it is a grift. Otherwise it’s Capitalism 101-recognizing a market opportunity and then offering a product to fill it.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

It sells out! proof Trump is Captain America!

Mason G said...

"Those who laugh are immediately outsiders to Trump world, where a taste for the tawdry is established as a fundamental shibboleth of loyalty and belonging."

How to say "deplorables" without saying "deplorables". So quaint.

Achilles said...

Bob Boyd said...
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...
This is so dumb. Nobody is talking about his “defending the first amendment” video because this stepped all over it

I agree with that.


Would the media have talked about it?

Would the Republican party have spent any resources talking about it?

Would Ann have posted it here if it didn't show up in the WAPO or NYT's?

The answer to all of these questions is no. You are talking about a small bubble of people that would have even noticed Trump put out a Free Speech video.

And there are more people trading NFT's by orders of magnitude than that small bubble of people.

We on this board spend so much time focused on these picayune arguments and so little time looking outside.

Peglegged Picador said...

Haven't they been doing this with t-shirts of him driving monster trucks and riding on t-rex all the way along?

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Achilles -

"Trump is opening up new connections to people outside the political sphere. "

Uh - No.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Bannon jumped ship? wow.
As former loyalists who aided Trump's 2016 win, jump ship - Trump and his loyalists say "He meant to do that!" or something. As always - Trump's every move is pure genius.


mmm kay. Delusion isn't just a river on the It's a Small World After All ride.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Achilles said...

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...
But this stupid non-Presidential own goal was super profitable is the worst justification ever. PICK ANOTHER DATE or kneecap the campaign: it ain’t rocket surgery!

It would not have mattered what day he released the video.

It would have been ignored. Trump has released other videos like this. Without the NFT release nobody would have talked about Trump at all that day.

Until the Republican party is united behind the things that Trump is saying in that video it will not be addressed. And the Romney wing of the Republican party is dead set against Trump and the people that support him and these principles that we all espouse.

You pretend like if he had just released that video that anyone other than Bannon would have talked about it. You need to look at how things like this happened in the past to see why that is wrong.

Robert Cook said...

"Those who [are insulted by Piss Christ] are immediately outsiders to [the art] world, where a taste for the tawdry is established as a fundamental shibboleth of loyalty and belonging."

But PISS CHRIST is not tawdry, (other, perhaps, than its title). It is a beautiful image. If I were ever compelled to put an image of Christ on the cross on my wall, it would be this.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Ducks...

Rabel said...

"It proves that you are unwilling or incapable of a basic set of thought exercises and mental calisthenics that are essential to the appreciation of contemporary art."

I remember my calculus professor making a similar comment to me way back when.

Václav Patrik Šulik said...

The really funny thing is if you google Velvet Trump - you can see that most ticky-tacky "artwork" are for detractors of Donald Trump.

Mr Wibble said...

What's the easiest way to get laid?

"Hi, you're cute. Want to fuck?"

Ask enough women this question and some will say, "yes." You'll get slapped a lot. You'll get turned down a whole lot more. You'll also get laid a hell of a lot.

It's what Nassim Taleb talks about: being willing to take risks and small losses for the occasional big payout. That seems to be Trump's attitude in life. It's why Twitter worked so well for him; no one cared much about any embarrassing tweets, but the occasional hit more than made up for them in terms of building his brand, and getting his message out.

Is this NFT thing cringe? I think so. Will it be successful? I doubt it. That's probably why I'm not a billionaire, and Trump is one. He's willing to take those risks. And even if it flops, it helps build up his brand. That's important in politics. FDR locked in blue collar voters for generations, to the benefit of Dems. W did something similar after 9/11, locking in suburban white voters for almost a decade.

Rusty said...

Mark said.......

"Adams says that Trump’s offering was the most successful one day fund raising event in history."

You were saying, Mark?
Don't really care because I'm laughing at you and the rest of you Biden sycophants. Like I said before. If you don't get the joke, you are the joke. Now whine some more about how unfair Musk is. Because that never gets old.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Mike Wolf said...
" someone on Trump’s team of Top Men is someone who agrees with Hunter’s Hooker and might even be the same insider who keeps calling in the Feds and other sabotage."

what? Unless I'm reading that wrong- you're telling us that there's a secret saboteur on Trump's team who is controlling Trump and in charge charge of Trump's dick-moves? ...with a direct line to the FBI... and it could be me or someone like me... or someone who agrees with me.

What the hell kind of tortured logic is that?

Bob Boyd said...

@Hook

"Ducks..." link doesn't work.

Drago said...

Meanwhile, as we speak, Mitch McConnell and his Legion of McConnell-tards, represented quite well on this thread by the usual suspects, are preparing to hand their democratical allies ANOTHER massive win across the board on the omnibus budget deal.

This is on top of the McConnell-tards/GOPe-ers already delivering the best democratical policy win term in 40 years.

Which is after the GOPe-ers spent the last 3 years capitulaing and actively supporting the democraticals unconstitutional changes to election rules in the states.

But somehow, none of that is a problem and a Trump NFT offering is the biggest, most colossal error the GOPe-ers can think of.

Have any of McConnell's surrenders or backstabbing actions ever been termed a "colossal" error by the usual suspects?

Spoiler: No.

Quite the opposite in fact. McConnell and his band of Merry GOPe-ers are lauded and "respected" by all the most "respectable" and non-icky non-deplorable types.

Well, I hate to break it to you GOPe-ers who are looking forward to your Christmas party gatherings with your democratical neighbors where you can share laughs with them about those terrible deplorables, the core republican base voters that support Trump within the working classes/lower middle classes and expanding low-propensity & minority voters will be unmoved by your social pressure driven "arguments" and strong desire to return to a quieter and more peaceful time.

Your only real hope to boot Trump and win a general election is to find a candidate who can "out-America First" Trump. Assuming you support those policies...though most of you don't.

So, good luck finding one. I am rooting for you because we need as many of those as possible.

A good first step would be to contact your state GOP party reps to tell them to vote for Harmeet Dhillon over HBTPFH's beloved GOPe weakling Ronna Romney. Harmeet will take the election fraud issue head on, not undermine conservative candidates and not waste money on the DC/establishment grifter class that profits by screwing over the republican base.

Bob Boyd said...

Would the media have talked about it?

Probably the major MSM outlets would have attacked it and that's good. Make them attack fundamental American values, that's a win for our side. I think there would have been a lot of discussion about it more generally on popular blogs, podcasts, etc, especially with the Twitter thing blowing up right now. Releasing the cards on the same day was a distraction and it gave the left-wing media cover for not talking about it. Seems pretty basic. I mean, look what we're mostly talking about here.


Would the Republican party have spent any resources talking about it?

Probably not the Party, but a number of individual Republicans would have leapt to support Trump on that, say Rand Paul, Cruz, probably quite a few Representatives. But the card thing made it harder for them to rally to Trump's call for digital rights. You can call them cowards, but they are what they are. Why make getting what you want from somebody harder. Make it easier.
Hopefully team Trump will learn and do better going forward.

Would Ann have posted it here if it didn't show up in the WAPO or NYT's?

Conceivably. Especially if that announcement was what was making headlines instead of the cards thing.
The Prof cuts a very broad swath. That's one of many things that makes this such a great blog. Another is commenters like you, Achilles.

To sum up, Trump's announcement of his proposed digital rights ideas was the best I've seen him in a long time. He looked presidential doing it. I hope he recognizes that and does more of it. I thought he looked great there. It's something you hope people in the middle will remember on election day. The card flap is something you hope they'll forget.

Howard said...

H.L. Mencken

No one in this world, so far as I know—and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me—has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby. The mistake that is made always runs the other way. Because the plain people are able to speak and understand, and even, in many cases, to read and write, it is assumed that they have ideas in their heads, and an appetite for more. This assumption is a folly.

n.n said...

To buy or not to buy. Shared responsibility? Voluntary.

Mark said...

You were saying, Mark?

I was saying that you are as dumb as sh*t as Mike K.

So Trump outsmarted the world again...making a lot of $$$$$.

BFD. I thought this Trump thing was about seriously being president again. Clearly it is not. It is about juvenile antics and hucksterism and a different kind of Trump Derangement that should embarrass you folks.

Known Unknown said...

"No, there are PLENTY of deplorables who also are laughing AT Trump, who voluntarily turned himself into a complete joke. Forget all the mean tweets, this is something that cannot be defended nor can it be taken back. EVERY ACTION he's taken since November 2020 has been a colossal blunder."

Keep in mind Mark is not a deplorable.

Mark said...

I may have voted for Trump twice. And I may praise him until the end of history for his presidential policies and many excellent accomplishments - the Supreme Court appointments leading to the end of Roe being number one.

But that does not obligate me to flush my self-respect down the toilet for the man.

He really needs to just go away and fade into retirement now. Thank you for the job well done. Now leave the scene. If not because of the obnoxiousness, if not because of the obsessive craziness, then because you made yourself into an object of laughter and derision.

FullMoon said...

Trump should begin painting. Rumor has it some new artists can fetch a quarter mill for "art".

Rollo said...

People who think Trump has no sense of humor may not have one themselves.

I found the snippet hard to parse. It leaves open the possibility that Trump understands Duchamp and his critics don't, but that may not be what the author meant. Or perhaps Duchamp's "art" was getting something manifestly not art taken seriously as an artwork. In any case,the joke is on Kennicott himself.

Jim at said...

Kennicott needs to look up the definition of grifting.

Drago said...

Mark: " It is about juvenile antics and hucksterism and a different kind of Trump Derangement that should embarrass you folks."

"Hucksterism" is better defined as the complete GOPe sellout of the base to dems and cashing in on it while they keep you guys focused like trained seals on Trump.

But it seems as though many of you guys have grown quite comfortable with that.

Mazel tov.

Drago said...

For those that care (not you HBTPFH, there's far too many words involved for your "capabilities"), this is something much more important from a non-Trump guy at Redstate:

The Republican Party Does Not Want to Change
By Jeff Charles | 4:30 PM on December 17, 2022

"At this point, it seems the GOP will remain set on business as usual, as it prepares for the next election season. Many on the right, including myself, have questioned whether the party’s leadership actually wants to win–or if it is content with continuing to play the role of the “Party of No.” So far, most indications suggest this is the case."

n.n said...

It's not "graft", it's "identity". What will you wear today? And will it be funded through a voluntary or involuntary redistributive change scheme?

Rusty said...

Mark said...
"I may have voted for Trump twice."
Uh huh. Sure. If I believed that I really would be a dumbsh*t.

n.n said...

Trump is needling his antagonists. No diversity intended.

Jupiter said...

I don't know much about art, but I know what I like.

TickTock said...

Again, just like the time he sold Trump steaks inthe 2016 campaign. No one does fuck the ruling class quite like Trump.

Tim said...

Is Hunter still painting? Seems similar to me, which does not really surprise or disappoint me, Trump was a good President, but he is still Trump. Really hoping for a DeSantis/Cotton ticket myself.

AMDG said...

Blogger Achilles said...
The thing that most people are missing is that this NFT release as a fundraiser is the fundamental change this brings to campaign finance.

It allows little people to anonymously support a candidate like Trump in a time where supporting Trump gets you investigated by the FBI, IRS, and Homeland security.


12/17/22, 10:10 AM

—————————-

The only problem with this theory is that the NFT sale has nothing to do with Trump’s campaign. It is strictly a payday for the fat Tub of Goo.

BUMBLE BEE said...

On the other hand, Richard Jackson's Bad Dog, complete with yellow paint, was a pinnacle of sophistication for the true art afficianado.

Saint Croix said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Saint Croix said...

Trump made $4.5 million from these NFTs.

Saint Croix said...

Maybe not Superman, but he could get two-thirds of the Bionic Man.

A couple of legs and a right arm, maybe.

Saint Croix said...

We could throw in a Blogger Brain for $9.99

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

From Drago's link:

One of those sounding the clarion call for change is attorney Harmeet Dhillon, who is challenging Ronna McDaniel for Republican National Committee (RNC) chair. During an interview with Fox News, she cautioned that the GOP needs to “change and adapt or die,” and criticized the party’s leadership for failing to change in a way that allows it to appeal to more Americans. She noted that McDaniel has overseen a six-year losing streak for the party, and that Republicans must change course.

“We need a change at the RNC. I’m hearing that from voters. I’m hearing that from donors. I’m hearing that from influencers online and figures in the movement,” she argued.

McDaniel took over the position in 2017 with the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.


WAIT WHAT?

Again -
McDaniel took over the position in 2017 with the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

I do agree that it's time to kick Trump's endorsed RNC loser, Ronna, - OUT!

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

The only problem with this theory is that the NFT sale has nothing to do with Trump’s campaign. It is strictly a payday for the fat Tub of Goo.

worth a nice hearty bold.

For some dumb reason - Trump's loyalists are happy to rid their bank accounts of funds on behalf of their glorious billionaire Super-Hero.

(fixed)

Rusty said...

"The only problem with this theory is that the NFT sale has nothing to do with Trump’s campaign. It is strictly a payday for the fat Tub of Goo."
Maybe he's making up for all those times he donated his presidential salary.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Trump's donors are fine - Trump's former donors are pure evil.

That's how it works inside the Ever-Trumper brain trust.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Drago said...

HBTPFH appears shocked, amazed and dismayed that it is now almost 2023 and no longer 2017.

That level of obtuseness is probably why HBTPFH makes moronic assertions like "the Saudi's are funding the Trump campaign" and DeSantis' donors were Trump donors.

You almost have to work at it to be as invincibly ignorant as HBTPFH has been demonstrated to be.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Drago - Trump approved of Ronna Romney. A reminder right there in the link you shared.

You have nothing to offer but tired stale retread deflection.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Drago - next time you bitch about Ronna Romney McDaniel - do remember she is Trump approved.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

April, the logic is “how many times do Trump’s associates step on his message before we ask how coincidental the timing is?” Trump or someone close told Seb Gorka that the reelection team had no idea the Trump business team was making an announcement that same day. I’m alluding to the problems that have dogged Trump explicitly because of GOPe moles in his organization. But whatever the cause, the effect is an accelerated erosion of support for Trump, which I am observing without comment. The winnowing of the GOP field has begun.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...
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Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...
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Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Drago - read your own links. Or - we will all conclude that for you - history begins a-new each day.


btw- what does DeSantis have to do with this topic? Nothing. Deflection is all you have. Until and unless he announces he is running in 2024 - it's all BS out of your Ever-Trumper nauseatingly repetitive blind faith pie hole.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

The Saudis are funding the Trump family. And?

Mark said...

You guys really are thick sometimes.

It's not that hard to tell the difference between me and "Lefty Mark."

It is for you though, apparently.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Mark - you might want to update your on-line name, then. A last initial? Even if it's fake?

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Mike Wolf -

So ultimately - when Trump or Trump's team make a huge mistake - it's not EVER Trump's fault... No NO.. Instead, the blame belongs to some insider mole/GOPe person (or people) who are still on Trump's team, in Trump's orbit, or on Trump's payroll.

Wow - I'm so inspired with confidence in Trump. ////

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Mike Wolf -

So ultimately - when Trump or Trump's team make a huge mistake - it's not EVER Trump's fault... No NO.. Instead, the blame belongs to some insider mole/GOPe person (or people) who are still on Trump's team, in Trump's orbit, or on Trump's payroll.

Wow - I'm so inspired with confidence in Trump. ////

Drago said...

HBTPFH: "The Saudis are funding the Trump family. And?"

You, in your ignorance, claimed the Saudi's were funding the Trump Campaign.

Its no surprise you are now going Full Howard when you were called out on it.

After all, like Schumer & McConnell, you and Howard share many of the same goals.

Drago said...

HBTPFH: "Drago - read your own links. Or - we will all conclude that for you - history begins a-new each day."

Feel free to point out any specifics you'd care to.

We wont be holding our breath.

And congratulations on your GOPe heroes voting against allowing unvaccinated servicemembers to return to active service.

Another Team GOPe/Dem win.

Drago said...

HBTPFH: "Drago - next time you bitch about Ronna Romney McDaniel - do remember she is Trump approved."

I am sorry that calendars flummox you.

Its no longer 2017.

I hope that clears things up a bit for you.

Drago said...
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Drago said...

HBTPFH: "For some dumb reason - Trump's loyalists are happy to rid their bank accounts of funds on behalf of their glorious billionaire Super-Hero."

What % of this NFT offering was purchased by "Trump loyalists" that "rid their bank accounts of funds" and not simply investors looking to convert an asset for a quick profit?

Feel free to break down your "analysis" (LOL) by initial and secondary sales.

Btw, is this similar to your moronic claim the Saudi's are funding the Trump Campaign?

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Drago - Ronna was approved by Trump.

Got anything to say about it? Still waiting. Not that anyone cares. I think most here tune you out.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...
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Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

What does 2017 have to do with anything? Why would it matter? 2017, 2020, 2022? Your focus on the date makes you look like a fool.


Trump approved of the Ronna. Period. Ronna is the person you claim is destroying Trump.
But all of Trump's past moves don't count? Why?

Not that anyone cares about your deflecting hypocrisy and foolishness.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...
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Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

From Drago's link:

"One of those sounding the clarion call for change is attorney Harmeet Dhillon, who is challenging Ronna McDaniel for Republican National Committee (RNC) chair. During an interview with Fox News, she cautioned that the GOP needs to “change and adapt or die,” and criticized the party’s leadership for failing to change in a way that allows it to appeal to more Americans. She noted that McDaniel has overseen a six-year losing streak for the party, and that Republicans must change course.
“We need a change at the RNC. I’m hearing that from voters. I’m hearing that from donors. I’m hearing that from influencers online and figures in the movement,” she argued. McDaniel took over the position in 2017 with the endorsement of former President Donald Trump."


Again - for the moron who doesn't read his own links. Or perhaps he thinks we will merely ignore that inconvenient FACT.

Drago said...

HBTOFH: "Again - for the moron who doesn't read his own links. Or perhaps he thinks we will merely ignore that inconvenient FACT."

You simply cant grasp that its no longer 2017.

Amazing. HBTPFH is like a slow motion rhetorical accident that you cant look away from.

Drago said...

HBTPFH: "Ronna is the person you claim is destroying Trump."

LOL

What an amazing lie. Much more ridiculous than your "The Saudi's are funding the Trump Campaign" lie.

You really cant help yourself can you? No wonder Inga and Howard are your newest bestest buddies.

I'll bet HBTPFH is just moments away from claiming the NFT offering is somehow money laundering!.... Or did you already make that claim HBTPFH?

Since the idiot lefties have already made that claim I am assuming you would be right there with them.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Again - why would 2017 matter? If Super-Trump understood how horrible McConnell-Romney was - he never should have approved of Ronna Romney to head the RNC.

But he did.

An inconvenient truth for poor Drago. But alas - Somehow the DATE has special significance.... That being, history can be erased on behalf of Super-Trump. 2017! That's like, forever ago and stuff. (or - *shut up*, he said)

If Trump Ok-ed Ronna Romney in 2017 - you go back to the files, and you shred 2017. 2017 must burn. 2017 is forever-ago. Ancient history.
Die 2017 - die! 2017 doesn't count.

(of course we never hear the end of reenacting 2016 as the moment when Trump beat Hillary by the most votes ever.... well in reality it about 30,000 across 3 states)

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Of course it's not longer 2017. Why would you say such moronic deflecting BS?

2017 is the year your hero Trump OKed Ronna Romeny to head the RNC.
That fact drives you into fits of "it's not 2017 anymore" LOL.


History matters, you fool. or does it begin a-new each day with you?

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Drago - We all look forward to your continued bitching about Ronna Romney.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL.

but 2017! -

Idiot.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

deflect deflect deflect


Ronna Romney was approved by Trump to head the RNC.

but because it was 2017 - it doesn't count.

LOLOLOLOLOL

Jeff Sessions forever, man. Ye, Fuentes - Bubble gum cards... It's all super amazing 3-d chess you simpletons just don't understand. or an insider is making poor Trump look bad. Either way - Trump alone cares... you can trust he is surrounded with top people. Top people!

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

deflect deflect deflect


Ronna Romney was approved by Trump to head the RNC.

but because it was 2017 - it doesn't count.

LOLOLOLOLOL

Jeff Sessions forever, man. Ye, Fuentes - Bubble gum cards... It's all super amazing 3-d chess you simpletons just don't understand. or an insider is making poor Trump look bad. Either way - Trump alone cares... you can trust he is surrounded with top people. Top people!

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

shorter Drago: **If you're not a Trump loyalist - you're a seekrit lefty Inga-Howard!*

Sometimes, Howard is funny - so what? Sometimes, Robert Cook makes a valid point - so what? Are you threatened or something? You're soooo Trumpian. So small. Please - stick with Trump to the bitter end. It's a match made in heaven.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

shorter Drago: **If you're not a Trump loyalist - you're a seekrit lefty Inga-Howard!*

Sometimes, Howard is funny - so what? Sometimes, Robert Cook makes a valid point - so what? Are you threatened or something? You're soooo Trumpian. So small. Please - stick with Trump to the bitter end. It's a match made in heaven.

Drago said...

HBTPFH: "Ronna Romney was approved by Trump to head the RNC."

Wrong again. Ronna Romney-McDaniel had to be elected by the 168 voting members of the RNC.

Would it be too much to ask for you to do even a little bit of research?

And for your benefit, I'm also going to include this: 2017 is not 2022.

I'm not sure I can dumb it down for you any more than that.

Good luck!!

Drago said...

HBTPFH: "Sometimes, Howard is funny - so what? Sometimes, Robert Cook makes a valid point - so what? Are you threatened or something?"

I am not threatened in the slightest by the clear alignment of yours, Howard's and Inga's positions and content.

Does it bother you that others notice that?

Drago said...

And since we are on a "its just the basics" roll with HBTPFH, lets continue with another one.

HBTPFH, repeat after me (and make sure to say it very, very slowly so you don't trip over your tongue): Saudi investors placing capital into an international investment fund run by Jared Kushner does not mean the Saudi's are funding the Trump Campaign.

If possible, write it down at least 10 times or as long as it takes to sink in, which, honestly, could be awhile.

Now, like your allies Howard and Inga constantly lying about Trump "criminality", your accusation that the Saudi's were funding the Trump Campaign falls directly into that category of typical lefty lie.

You may not know this....well, who am I kidding, you definitely don't know this, when you claimed the Saudi's were funding the Trump Campaign you were explicitly saying Trump was violating federal election law, which in this case is a felony.

Now I know you are looking forward to the coming Team GOPe/Dem indictment and conviction of Trump, but I assure you, your lefty pals already have the market cornered on false accusations of criminality. They really don't need your help.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Why would you link to something that stated an inconvenient truth, Drago?

ah... So NOW... Voting-for is BAD - but endorsing is OK?

McDaniel took over the position in 2017 with the ENDORSEMENT of former President Donald Trump.

Still waiting for you to come to honest terms with that. won't hold my breathe.

Drago said...

HBTPFH: "McDaniel took over the position in 2017 with the ENDORSEMENT of former President Donald Trump."

Very good. I think you may have finally figured out your first "small" thing! Still, a step in the right direction.

HBTPFH: "Still waiting for you to come to honest terms with that. won't hold my breathe."

LOL

You only just realized it because I made you go back and rethink your earlier dumb comment!

Still, I'm proud of you. Good job tiger.

Drago said...

HBTPFH: "ah... So NOW... Voting-for is BAD - but endorsing is OK?"

Darn it! Just when I thought you might finally be turning a corner you had to revert to being...well, you.

That's a shame. It's back to Square 1.

Drago said...

What its like "conversing" with HBTPFH:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-rE03PGQfA

Drago said...
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Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Drago -

Diversions are lame - but that's what we get with you. This is all to do with YOUR link.

Waiting for you to acknowledge that your divine Trumpie - did something stupid when he endorsed Ronni Romney McDaniel.

You stuck?

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Drago -

Diversions are lame - but that's what we get with you. This is all to do with YOUR link.

Waiting for you to acknowledge that your divine Trumpie - did something stupid when he endorsed Ronni Romney McDaniel.

You stuck?

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Drago -

Diversions are lame - but that's what we get with you. This is all to do with YOUR link.

Waiting for you to acknowledge that your divine Trumpie - did something stupid when he endorsed Ronni Romney McDaniel.

You stuck?

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Drago - Your silly non-answers sum up why you are a Trump Humper.


Yes or NO - Did Trump make a mistake when in endorsed Ronna Romney McDaniel for head of the RNC?

Yes or NO.

Can't do it - can you. LOLOLOL

Drago said...

HBTPFH: "Yes or NO - Did Trump make a mistake when in endorsed Ronna Romney McDaniel for head of the RNC?"

Are you asking based on 2017 knowledge or 2022 knowledge?

If based on 2017 knowledge, the answer is "no".
If based on 2022 knowledge, the answer is "yes".

Now, since you have the mental acuity of a 12 year old, that answer will throw you for a loop.

What's most funny about this whole exchange? Prior to my pointing it out, HBTPFH really thought Trump installed Ronna Romney as the RNC chair via his "approval". HBTPFH had no idea the RNC members voted for the RNC chair!

LOL

It's like that in every single exchange with HBTPFH.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

No April, once again you have a weird interpretation straw man you bat around. Of course this episode is Trump’s fault. Personnel is policy. Everyone involved is a Trump person. His track record on personnel choices is not inspiring at all. This was the area that needed improvement.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Drago - you got that wrong.

In 2017 - the answer is YES. Your bubble gum card god got it wrong.

But as a loyal Trump Humper - Trump can do now wrong.

Jeff Sessions!

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Trump screwed himself over time and time again - at least Mike Wolf understands.

"His track record on personnel choices is not inspiring at all." Indeed,

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Drag's NO response to 2017 Trump tells us all we need to know about the Ever-Trumper disease.

Obedience and blind faith come naturally.

Drago said...

HBTPFH: "In 2017 - the answer is YES. Your bubble gum card god got it wrong."

LOL

The 2017 answer remains a quite firm "No" due to no one having a clear picture at that time of just how duplicitous and pro-dem your GOPe heroes were really going to be.

Drago said...

HBTPFH: "Obedience and blind faith come naturally."

Indeed it does for the McConnell-tards.

The blind faith and total subservience of the McConnell-tards is really quite amazing to behold and Schumer greatly appreciates the support of the GOPe for his next big policy win for Team GOPe/Dem on the budget.