• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Four legs? good! two legs? we’re not so sure…

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

I really should read my own blog.

No one could have predicted…

This is all too absurd to be reality, right?

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Call the National Guard if your insurrection lasts more than four hours.

The revolution will be supervised.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Fuck if i know. i just get yelled at when i try it.

This really is a full service blog.

We have all the best words.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

This blog goes to 11…

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Let there be snark.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

Just a few bad apples.

Shocking, but not surprising

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

Mobile Menu

  • Look Forward & Back
  • Balloon Juice 2021 Pet Calendar
  • Site Feedback
  • All 2020 Fundraising
  • I Voted!
  • Take Action: Things We Can Do
  • Team Claire, and Family
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • BJ PayPal Donations
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • Nature & Respite
  • Information As Power
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • On The Road
  • Garden Chats
  • Nature & Respite
  • Look Forward & Back
You are here: Home / Economics / C.R.E.A.M. / Late Night Open Thread: Mike Pence, GOP Mafia Underling & Natural Toady

Late Night Open Thread: Mike Pence, GOP Mafia Underling & Natural Toady

by Anne Laurie|  September 4, 20191:14 am| 24 Comments

This post is in: C.R.E.A.M., Open Threads, Republican Venality, Trump Crime Cartel, All Too Normal, Assholes

Facebook0Tweet0Email0

In the mafia there’s a concept known as “kicking up” or “paying tribute” to the Boss – lining the Boss’s pockets to keep him happy. The Boss doesn’t have to explicitly ask; it’s understood.

Now we’ve got both @VP Pence and AG Barr spending thousands patronizing Trump hotels. https://t.co/8XKgnco8lt

— Elie Honig (@eliehonig) September 3, 2019

There is no bottom to the GOP barrel; they’re excavating down towards the Earth’s molten magma core…

The AG is holding a private party at the President’s hotel.

The VP is staying 180 miles away from his meetings to stay at the President’s resort.

The President is pushing his own resort to host the G7 next year.

The corruption can’t be more obvious. https://t.co/Wv2bAZXNQv

— Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) September 3, 2019

NEW: Trump, Pence, & aides have repeatedly invoked the Secret Service when explaining why they stay in Trump resorts, arguing that it's easier for law enforcement to secure them. But Secret Service vets say that's not true, and can actually make it harder. https://t.co/BXVpUyycZj

— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) September 3, 2019

Not that I doubt the word of our present VP, but the folks in Dublin have had considerable experience in working with security teams.

— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) September 3, 2019


Pence kicking up to the boss personally is a nice idea but I assume that when the VP travels he travels with security, staff, etc. and a range of non-family expenses that funnel taxpayer money to Trump.

Just like how the Secret Service pays to rent golf carts at Trump’s clubs. https://t.co/iVXKR9sAkH

— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) September 3, 2019

The VP is staying a 3 hour drive from Irish capital, necessitating costly helicopters, all so that his visit to Ireland can put cash in the boss’s pocket. Normal federal employees go to prison for such schemes

— David Frum (@davidfrum) September 2, 2019

This is such bullshit. https://t.co/ov2R4wenvM pic.twitter.com/EqmsQxNkSs

— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) September 3, 2019

Pence is used to going out of his way to help his boss profit from the presidency.

For starters, @VP's Great America Committee has spent more than $225,000 at the Trump Hotel DC.

Via @1100Penn https://t.co/bFOXWQj9Hm pic.twitter.com/l7WU73rgRu

— Zach Everson (@Z_Everson) September 3, 2019

Facebook0Tweet0Email0
Previous Post: « I Don’t Know How You Parents Do It
Next Post: Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Tis the Season »

Reader Interactions

24Comments

  1. 1.

    NotMax

    September 4, 2019 at 1:29 am

    Penned in Mikey’s diary: “Why did the stupid Irish put their capital so far away from where the action is?” //

  2. 2.

    Raoul

    September 4, 2019 at 1:29 am

    The contrast between the ‘rebel’ UK Conservatives, and our absolutely supine and useless US GOPers is just so stark. Frankly, I’m pleasantly surprised by them. I am totally unsurprised by how terrible our Rump party is here.

    I hope this Ireland trip bites Pence in the ass down the road. I may be dreaming, but he opened himself to liability, if Democraps (yeah, that’s my party!) find a nutsack or two (looking mostly at women like AOC to have ’em).

  3. 3.

    tokyokie

    September 4, 2019 at 2:02 am

    @Raoul: I hope it bites him in the ass in the form of an indictment after he’s defenestrated from office.

  4. 4.

    Sister Golden Best

    September 4, 2019 at 2:22 am

    @Raoul: To repeat a hoary joke about “strong” women, AOC’s balls are so big they had to put them on her chest to avoid chafing. //

    In other news, today is the biweekly trip for us patients to my surgeon’s beach house mansion. Spending a lazy afternoon napping, chatting and waiting my turn for a Thai massage. Life does not suck.

  5. 5.

    Amir Khalid

    September 4, 2019 at 2:32 am

    It’s not fair to pick on President Trump for making a buck this way, because that Obama person doesn’t even own any resort properties.

  6. 6.

    Mary G

    September 4, 2019 at 2:37 am

    I feel sad for the Irish leader and his partner, having to eat lunch with Pence and Mother.

  7. 7.

    NotMax

    September 4, 2019 at 2:44 am

    @Mary G

    One could hope they served the Pences reheated fast food hamberders. “We understand it’s a staple of official White House functions and wanted to make you feel right at home.”

  8. 8.

    Brachiator

    September 4, 2019 at 2:44 am

    NEW: Trump, Pence, & aides have repeatedly invoked the Secret Service when explaining why they stay in Trump resorts, arguing that it’s easier for law enforcement to secure them. But Secret Service vets say that’s not true, and can actually make it harder.

    The morning and mid day hosts on the most popular talk radio station in the Los Angeles area didn’t mention this story at all. But they will reach back and bring out old irrelevant crap about Obama’s travel if they need to provide cover for Trump or Pence.

  9. 9.

    TriassicSands

    September 4, 2019 at 3:10 am

    McConnell and the Republican Party have given Trump carte blanche to steal as much as he can while in office and Trump’s going to squeeze every dime he can out of the presidency. It’s impossible to decide which is more appalling — the incompetence, the depravity, or the blatant criminality.

    Oh well, maybe next year he’ll remember what a Category 5 hurricane is. If there were any justice in the world*, Trump would be looking up hurricanes in a prison library. Assuming he could read and count to five.

    *In the US with William Barr as AG? Raucous, deafening laughter intermixed with weeping.

  10. 10.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    September 4, 2019 at 3:23 am

    remember how the Village freaked out when the Clinton Foundation accepted donations from Arab countries. Never mind that every penny was used for proven charitable projects – they still freaked out.

    yet they have no problem with Dump lining his pockets from the very same entities.

  11. 11.

    Patricia Kayden

    September 4, 2019 at 4:11 am

    Democrats need to subpoena all records associated with this blatant grifting. No Democratic President could get away with this nonsense.

  12. 12.

    Sloane Ranger

    September 4, 2019 at 4:15 am

    Confused by Pence’s Chief of Staff’s comments. Is this a personal trip for Pence to find his roots with a meeting with the Irish PM tacked on or an official meeting with Irish Head of Government with a personal side trip?

    Actually that’s a rhetorical question. It’s obviously a jolly with the meeting tacked on to justify the government paying with some beak wetting for the Boss.

  13. 13.

    Amir Khalid

    September 4, 2019 at 4:29 am

    @Patricia Kayden:
    Come to think of it, I’m not sure any Democratic POTUS ever even tried it.

  14. 14.

    Amir Khalid

    September 4, 2019 at 4:55 am

    The BBC site’s football page reports this astounding claim by an Inter Milan supporters’ group after a black Inter player was racially abused in a league match at Cagliari by home supporters.

  15. 15.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    September 4, 2019 at 4:57 am

    @Amir Khalid: Have you thought of moving to Washington DC? With that line of thinkin’, you’d be a perfect fit for Press Secretary.

    (Now can you say it public with a straight face?)

  16. 16.

    Amir Khalid

    September 4, 2019 at 5:07 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:
    Hmm. There’s no citizenship requirement for White House Press Secretary, is there?

  17. 17.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    September 4, 2019 at 5:42 am

    @Amir Khalid: There might be, but with the Great Negotiator, all things are negotiable.

  18. 18.

    Cluttered Mind

    September 4, 2019 at 6:02 am

    @Amir Khalid: There might be, but I doubt there is one for Acting White House Press Secretary! Going to go scream into a pillow now.

  19. 19.

    VOR

    September 4, 2019 at 8:14 am

    I have no expertise in security matters, but a quick look at Google Maps shows what a poor choice the Trump Doral would be to hold the G7. One of the top requirements has to be the security of so many major world leaders. You want a place where you have limited access, like an island or a peninsula. Or isolated, like Camp David located in a forest with limited access roads. Trump Doral is in a populated area with two major roads right next door. As a golf resort, there is a lot of perimeter although the buildings appear clustered. Secret Service would have to erect considerable fencing and place barriers capable of stopping a large vehicle holding a truck bomb. Second, you need to shut down air traffic over the site. The Trump Doral is very close, easily less than 10 miles, from Miami International Airport. Imagine the disruption caused by shutting down an international airport for 3-5 days. Someplace out of regular air traffic routes would be better. The last two G7/G8 summits held by the US were at Sea Island, Georgia and Camp David, illustrating my point. But it’s all about putting money in Trump’s pocket.

  20. 20.

    Kat In Buffalo

    September 4, 2019 at 10:17 am

    @VOR: World leaders should boycott G7 here if trump
    Insists on having it at his shitty resort. Seriously.

  21. 21.

    Ruckus

    September 4, 2019 at 10:32 am

    @TriassicSands:

    It’s impossible to decide which is more appalling — the incompetence, the depravity, or the blatant criminality.

    The incompetence at least has a normal reason, they really are morons.
    The depravity, the blatant criminality, those are done with malice, with thought, they take action to happen, those are far more appalling. Now the moronic part may make them unable to see the difference but that’s doubtful, it’s not like people aren’t complaining about it, it’s not like people don’t get the message. drumpy has been told, sued, had court decisions against him, he just doesn’t give a fuck about anyone else, not another person on the planet.

  22. 22.

    zmulls

    September 4, 2019 at 11:09 am

    The G7 Dorian discussion is missing the main point — it almost doesn’t matter whether it is held at Dorian or not. Trump managed to squeeze in a global infomercial for his property in the middle of a world leadership summit.

    It is like when Billy Crystal hosted the Oscars, and at the end of the broadcast, called out “and go see MR. SATURDAY NIGHT! What, come on, there’s a billion people watching, right?” Or WTTE. Took the opportunity to pimp his own movie when he was supposed to be honoring everyone else’s.

  23. 23.

    Heywood J.

    September 4, 2019 at 1:06 pm

    If only there was an equivalent branch of gubmint that could provide some sort of investigative oversight to these sorts of blatant shenanigans. They’re not even trying to hide it, and why should they? No one’s going to do anything about any of it, and it’s gotta be more fun for them to rub everyone else’s nose in it.

  24. 24.

    Zinsky

    September 4, 2019 at 1:18 pm

    A Truth and Reconciliation Commission after the evil Trump empire is brought down, is what is needed. Have an army of lawyers and accountants descend on Trump Tower and investigate everything this pig and his inbred family have done for the last 40 years and send every single one, including Melania to a federal penitentiary!

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

Do Something!

Call Your Senators & Representatives
Directory of US Senators
Directory of US Representatives

Vaccine Venting Here!
I Got the Shot!  (Month 2)
I Got the Shot!

 

🎈Ways to Support Our Site

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal
Shop Amazon via this link to support Balloon Juice ⬇  

Recent Comments

  • James E Powell on Yesterday Was a Pretty Big Day (Mar 7, 2021 @ 3:49pm)
  • rikyrah on Yesterday Was a Pretty Big Day (Mar 7, 2021 @ 3:48pm)
  • Mike on Yesterday Was a Pretty Big Day (Mar 7, 2021 @ 3:48pm)
  • James E Powell on Yesterday Was a Pretty Big Day (Mar 7, 2021 @ 3:48pm)
  • Martin on Open Thread: Obama Museum and Selma Anniversary (Mar 7, 2021 @ 3:47pm)

Team Claire, and Family

Claire Updates
Claire is Home!

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year

Featuring

John Cole
Silverman on Security
COVID-19 Coronavirus
Medium Cool with BGinCHI
Furry Friends

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Submit Photos to On the Road
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Meetups: Proof of Life
2021 Pets of Balloon Juice Calendar

Culture: Books, Film, TV, Music, Games, Podcasts

Noir: Favorites in Film, Books, TV
Book Recommendations & Indy Recs
Mystery Recommendations
Netflix Favorites
Amazon Prime Favorites
Netflix Suggestions in July
Longmire & Netflix Suggestions

Twitter

John Cole’s Twitter

[custom-twitter-feeds]

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!