I say YES. YOU say NO....Numero Tre! Enjoy!
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Hello, that's for sure. Maybe Ron-o didn't think ahead too well.
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A little more of the insanity of the great ( choke-choke ) Reps. party.
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Some other a$ licker will step in. There seems no end to the supply of those who think they will get a 'better' ( har-har ) result than the last guy who must have done something really wrong.
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So true cardplayer. DeSantis is playing both ends to get to his middle. He has spent most of the time since Pres. Biden got into office doing all he can to downgrade him, make him wrong, and otherwise try to keep him from gaining any ground with Reps. for the most part. He ( like Chris Christie ) found the best laid plans sometime trip you up before you know that it is happening almosst. -- or put another way -- be careful lest you be found to be biting the hand that feeds you.
It is likely, just like Christie, the minute he thinks he can gain " points " for degrading Pres. Biden again he will do so. Sad that they never quite get it. The need for power, money and complete control just blind them to how to 'make' LASTING well remembered points. So end to tearing down that they don't see the destruction that is so highly evident to so many around them.
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DeSantis does come to mind.
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Trump's paid-speeches organizer is struggling financially
A company that puts on for-profit Trump rallies, including an upcoming Mar-a-Lago gala and multimillion-dollar fees for the former president, is having trouble paying its bills
By Josh Dawsey and Isaac ArnsdorfSeptember 29, 2022 at 12:29 p.m. EDT
Former president Donald Trump dances after speaking during the American Freedom Tour at the Austin Convention Center on May 14 in Austin. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
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A company that organized a lucrative series of post-White House paid speeches for former president Donald Trump is now struggling to pay vendors, investors and employees, angering Trump allies who supported the effort.
The American Freedom Tour, which struck a multimillion-dollar deal with Trump after he left office, has lost two top executives and canceled events in a number of locations as it has failed to pay its bills, according to people familiar with the activities and documents obtained by The Washington Post. Its founder and owner, who has a history of bankruptcy filings, recently sought bankruptcy protection again.
The group has promised events in a number of locales but canceled them before they began and appears to be banking on a large event at Mar-a-Lago in December to turn its financial position around.
With speakers, affiliates and investors all clamoring for their money, one of the people involved who did get paid was Trump, people close to the former president say. Some Trump advisers have warned against doing future events, though Trump has expressed interest.
It's not clear what that means for the tour's advertised upcoming black-tie gala at Mar-a-Lago, with tickets starting at $10,000 a couple to spend time with Trump. The event includes a poolside reception and a formal ballroom dinner. Dinner and a photo with Trump costs $40,000, and a private library meeting with Trump is so pricey that it's only listed as: "INQUIRE BELOW." The company declined to say how much Trump is being paid for the event.
The company's CEO, Brian J. Forte, declined to be interviewed for this article. A Trump spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.
"The tour did have some unexpected scheduling issues over the summer that slowed things down, but we are working through it," said Larry Ward, a spokesman for the company. "We are positioning the tour for greater strength and success going forward."
The American Freedom Tour started last October, staging glitzy events around the country that resemble Trump rallies but sell tickets ranging from $55 to more than $4,000. In addition to Trump, the shows featured right-wing celebrities such as Candace Owens and Kimberly Guilfoyle, as well as motivational speakers offering personal finance courses.
Essentially, it was a place where Trump supporters could buy a chance to see him and other conservative luminaries — or pay more for special access — with the money not going to a political campaign, but a for-profit company and Trump himself. It was founded by Forte, a motivational-speaker promoter with a long trail of bankruptcy filings and business disputes across the country.
The tour has had a slate of problems, including angry investors, speakers and vendors who have not been paid, according to people familiar with the situation, who like some others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to reveal internal details.
Trump joined the group with little vetting, advisers say, and some of his team was not aware of Forte's business history when told by The Post.
Some unpaid investors are preparing possible legal action, demanding full payment plus interest, according to a demand letter obtained by The Post. If the company doesn't pay, the group wants Forte to step aside and give them control of the company, according to the letter. Otherwise, they said they will sue.
"Vendors, speakers and other unpaid participants are lining up to collect," a lawyer working for the investors said in an email to the group. "The intention is still to put a board of governance in place."
Trump's new money-maker: Paid speeches to fans
Forte's spokesman said he didn't receive a demand letter. "The tour has a solid relationship with its investors," Ward said.ADVERTISING
Ward said the tour was attempting to pay both investors and speakers. "Unforeseen scheduling issues for the programs caused a delay and we asked a limited number of investors if their payment could be delayed until November," Ward said.
Several speakers other than Trump have not been paid, including prominent Trump allies, a person with direct knowledge of the tour's finances said.
"We are working very hard to make them whole, and we are confident they will be made whole very soon," Ward said.
In July the company missed payroll, according to a note to staff from Forte. "We are experiencing some growing pains and all will be OK," he said in the internal message reviewed by The Post. The spokesman said the company is currently paying its employees.
Forte recently sought personal bankruptcy protection for a fifth time this summer, according to court filings, saying that he owned 100 percent of the American Freedom Tour, earned $19,900 a month, but owed more than $3 million. In a response seeking to dismiss the case, the Justice Department accused Forte of abusing the bankruptcy system to try to thwart foreclosure proceedings and criticized him for traveling to Puerto Rico rather than "making this fifth bankruptcy case a priority." The government later withdrew its motion at a hearing.
"The bankruptcy filings were over a dispute with a mortgage company," Ward said, adding: "Mr. Forte visits Puerto Rico frequently but is a legal resident of Florida."
The financial pressures at the American Freedom Tour led to business practices that some employees found objectionable. In July, the company canceled a planned event in Milwaukee but continued selling tickets online, according to two people familiar with the matter. At times, the company has continued to sell tickets online for events that organizers knew were unlikely to happen, according to two people familiar with the matter.
When another show was canceled in North Carolina, the company initially said it would honor tickets for a future event before agreeing to issue refunds. "We give the option of refunds or rain checks for postponed or canceled events," Ward said.
The tour's website currently lists no upcoming events. A planned show in Birmingham, Ala., was also canceled earlier this year.
To promote the events, the company offered a 25 percent commission for ads and social media posts resulting in sales, according to its website. But a Republican Party county chapter in Texas that helped sign up attendees for an event there went unpaid for at least two months, messages show.
"We are awaiting payment and now four months overdue," Matt Mackowiak, a Republican consultant who leads the local Republican Party in Austin, wrote in an email on Sept. 7. "I will get loud and litigious if not paid by end of week."
"As you know from reaching out a few weeks ago looking for your payment, I resigned from the American freedom tour on August 3rd," Chris Widener, the company's former president and emcee who quit in August, responded. "You are definitely owed the money and should be paid promptly."
Widener confirmed his resignation in an email but declined to comment on the exchange with Mackowiak, who said he was paid last Friday afternoon "once The Washington Post sought comment."
Mackowiak said he vetted the company before entering into an agreement with it and heard from others that while it often was slow to make payments, it eventually did. He said he demanded a written contract, "which took more than a month even though it was a simple document," according to Mackowiak.
"I hope anyone that is owed money uses every legal channel available," Mackowiak said. A spokesman for the company said they were sorry Mackowiak's payment was late.
The company also recently lost its chief financial officer, Dale Ainge. In an interview, Ainge said he left the company in June due to a health issue and wished the company well. He said the company had defaulted on two of its loans before he left, and some vendors were complaining they had not been paid.
"They had to cancel a couple events, which caused some financial issues," he said. "They were behind on things. They were behind on payments. So for me to say, what kind of financial position they're in? They were a little bit behind in a couple of the notes. There were a couple accounts payable that were past 60 days."
Ainge said he was paid by the company and that he believed it would turn its fortunes around when he left in June. Ainge said he was approached by Forte to plan events around Trump and conservative speakers, similar to events he held for a company called Get Motivated.
He said some of the events had made money, but others had not and some were canceled even after expensive marketing. "It's a start-up," he said. "There are always challenges."
How a QAnon splinter group became a feature of Trump rallies
When the tour was starting, investors were promised to earn 20 percent on their money in six months, according to loan documentation obtained by The Post. But internal emails show that when the money came due, the company failed to pay.
"We needed a little more time," Forte assured investors in March. "The investment is intact. Please bear with us a couple of weeks."
By August, Forte still hadn't provided the money, the emails show. In one email, Forte explained that he was trying to raise more money domestically and overseas and confirm future event dates with Trump. He offered to pay $5,000 in a week while the company closed other deals to be able to pay in full by November.
One person familiar with Forte's actions said he was constantly trying to hold off speakers, investors and others who were seeking money — "putting the biggest fire out and holding on."
"You have been an INCREDIBLE supporter of President Trump and the events we are doing," Forte told an investor in an email. "We would love if you could attend the Gala" at Mar-a-Lago in December. "We would like to honor you there if you are able to make it," he wrote.
Ainge said Trump was the highest paid speaker but declined to say how much, citing a confidentiality agreement. "It's in line with the speaking fee of past presidents," he said.
He said that Trump was the group's biggest seller, and many supporters wanted to meet him backstage and were willing to pay "thousands and thousands of dollars to do it." Trump, he said, was freewheeling and congenial to the guests.
Ward, the spokesman for the tour, said Trump had expressed no reservations about participating going forward.
"President Trump has been fantastic to work with," Ward said. "He has opened Mar-a-Lago to the American Freedom Tour for a gala December 1st. I'm sure he wouldn't do that if he had reservations about the tour. President Trump loves speaking on the American Freedom Tour. He wants to do more programs."
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Expert On Extremism Says He Expects Right-Wing Violence During 2022 Midterm Elections
- Post authorBy Andrew Bradford
- Post dateSeptember 30, 2022
The 2022 midterm elections are now just a bit more than a month away, and those who study right-wing extremist groups are warning that domestic terrorist groups such as the Proud Boys and QAnon are indeed planning violence to coincide with voters going to the polls.
Andy Campbell, a senior editor at The Huffington Post who authored the book We Are Proud Boys: How a Right-Wing Street Gang Ushered in a New Era of American Extremism, said in a recent interview with Vice that he fears what may be about to transpire.
Campbell began by remarking on comments made by former president Donald Trump that the country will "problems … the likes of which perhaps we've never seen" if he's indicted for any of the crimes he has allegedly committed:
"I think Trump knows that everybody is going to react violently to this. The pipeline between the rhetoric and the violence in the street is so short now. How many hours was it between the time he was complaining about the FBI going through Mar-a-Lago and somebody showing up with a gun to an FBI field office? He knows he has people waiting to mobilize."
And that led him to focus on the upcoming 2022 and 2024 elections:
"There will absolutely be Proud Boys violence in 2024 and I think in the 2022 election, too," noting that Arizona Republicans have called for vigilante justice around ballot boxes.
"I think they are absolutely going to show up in force for Trump's election regardless of what happens. I think we have to realize that the violence has trickled out to everyday Americans. It's not just extremist groups anymore. Trump pointing to the back and calling the press the enemy, Trump glorifying Jan. 6 rioters,… that has come full circle."Campbell added:
"I think the spirit of January 6 is still here. All of the groups involved are still here, and everyday Americans have joined them… It's going to be scary.
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And about one of those banned books !!
Oliver Wendell Homes said : " Some people are so heavenly, they are no earthly good ". Where a lot of the Reps. are concerned, I can't really ague much with that statement.
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Three hours ago:
Judicial Complaint No. 11-22-90135 will be processed pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. 351-364 and the rules for judicial conduct.
Judge Cannon violated her oath and is unfit for the bench. Her biased rulings in the Trump matter are a clear cut impeachable offense and she may have engaged herself in obstruction of Justice.
We will continue to provide news and developments as the the Judicial Council of the Eleventh Circuit hears the merits of our misconduct complaint against Judge Cannon.I did not know about this. Great -- hope we don't have to wait long.
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I find this true, but feeling that the majority of Reps. are in a hopeless state riight now. I do pray that in the next couple of elections we can work on that to the betterment of all.
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The Fla. Gov. is insane.
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My sister woks for FEMA and already arrived yesterday in Florida. Pretty much any large national disaster in the past ten years or more, she's been to. This is the quickest I've ever known her to be sent. Usually she has to wait a few days or a week to find out what the game plan is before she even books a flight. She's in Miami because there are currently no rooms anywhere on the west coast of FL. She's working with Collier, Lee & Charlotte counties, considered ground zero: Naples, Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, and Port Charlotte. They'll be working 12 hour days, usually seven days a week, and will move closer as soon as some hotels re-open. Her husband also works for FEMA tho they often aren't in the same place or even same state working. He got interested in this kind of work after 9/11. He's 70, she turns 70 next year. They both love the job and the pay.
They’re big Trumpers.
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There is a vitality, a life force, an energy that is translated through you;
and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique.
Martha Graham0 -
Good to hear that FEMA is right on things. Divine, I'm sure a lot of your family getting called out so early is the size and massive damages Ian caused. I do recall your having mentioned that much of your family are Trumpers. As long as it doesn't affect how they do their jobs. They are willing to do these things although I will say that nowdays many people in their 70's are going quite strong. I'm a fan of working as long as you and your bosses are comfortable with it. Keeps the mind and body strong. Sounds like they will have boutiful paychecks with the amt. of nearly non-stop work they will have to accomplish.
I do hope the states on up-line will not be hit so hard and so far that sounds like it is the case. I do feel for them anyway. Hopefully the storm will continue to lessen and weaken.
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When Andrew Weissmann has this to say about Judge Cannon then she is REALLY off.
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and who knows what else.
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I did a little Google dive on the Baldwin brothers.
What first caught my attention on this thread, in reference to them, was Sandy's mention of Chynna Baldwin chanting "Holy Spirit activate!" on Family Feud. I loathe when Christians pray for trivial things right alongside the devastating stuff: "Lord, I ask that you would heal my co-worker's little boy from leukemia, and please, God, let me win big at the slots!" (I've discussed this pet peeve on the Atheist thread.)
So I knew mostly about Alec Baldwin whom I loved on 30 Rock and read his memoir, "Nevertheless" which was excellent. I'd forgotten Billy Baldwin was married to Chynna Phillips, daughter of Michelle & John Phillips of Mama and Papas fame. I knew of her music career and she was a DWTS contestant.
No doubt Chynna did FFeud to promote her religious YouTube channel "California Preachin" which launched in 2021. Well of course she has to invoke the spirit of the Lord publicly; gotta get that channel viewership up! She credits her brother-in-law Stephen Baldwin & his wife for her born again Christian conversion.
However, husband Billy (a Biden backer as mentioned), says Trump once hit on his wife. So, not sure how Chynna's religious and political views mesh.
I barely knew about Steven and didn't know he was a Trump freak. I never realized that Hailey Bieber, married to Justin, was his daughter. Hailey endorsed Biden and says her dad Stephen's backing of Trump divided the family. (Yours and who all else's, Hailey…..?)
Meanwhile, I didn't know Alec's wife, Hilaria, was accused last year of trying to pass as a Spanish person. Her real name is Hilary and she is of English, French-Canadian, German, Irish, and Slovak descent. I have no idea what all that "cultural misappropriation" is about or why people do it. Alec is of course dealing with legal ramifications over the accidental fatal shooting of a cinematographer on one of his movie sets. He and Hilaria, 26 years his junior, just had their 7th child.
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Jackie, the thing with my sister and her husband, married over 40 years, is they are such decent and very generous people in so many respects. They’re not religious at all, and I can’t imagine my sister having a problem with pro choice, tho we never discussed it. If you ever needed assistance, you’d be thrilled that they were the ones to help you because they are so dependable and get things done, and their politics would never enter the picture for a second. They don’t fly Trump flags or join Trump caravans. They live very comfortably and don’t have to work, it’s just that they have a passion to be involved with FEMA, to travel and see the destruction.
But to keep the family peace, I don’t talk politics with my sister at all, ever. I don’t spend much time with her because she likes to toss out bait and I’m not taking it. I keep in touch by texting. We have a complicated relationship. She lives 20 minutes away. I mostly see her at big family gatherings on 4th of July and Christmas. I’m not mad at her, I just don’t want to spend much time with her. If she needed anything I would be there for her in a second. Not that she would ever humble herself to ask me for anything anyway.
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Divine, I think many families ( including my own ) are like you and yours. We have some truly fundamental disagreements, but if something happened and we were needed, we'd be there in the blink of an eye. We have them both sides of the family. Not always about politics which truly had me going for awhile when we returned back home. I left when I was 18 and returned for the very first time at age 52. It was difficult at first, but I finally got there were a lot of resentments that I often felt were mis-placed ( based on growing up with everyone ) and I still do. In the end though, it was one for all and all for one when and if needed.
Hard for me still sometimes as I often see the nit-picking as fruitless. My view is in general -- if its negative ( unless there is some REAL import ) leave it alone and talk kindly where family is concerned.
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