The Check Ain't In the Mail

at the "packed" GOP convention

Over in Fantasyland, President Felon promised the country that if the GOP retains control of Congress after the midterms, each US adult would get a "dividend" of $5,000. Now, I don't know how they're planning on determining what constitutes an adult, but I'm guessing there may be some interesting factors involved. Nevertheless, considering that if there are around 260 million "adults," the payout would be in the neighborhood of $1.3 trillion dollars. Surely there would be questions about where it's gonna come from? NBC News posed the question to Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick:

“Together we’re going to deliver that plan and we’re going to pay that money to the Americans, and not from taxpayer money,” Lutnick said.

He referenced the Trump Platinum Card, an upcoming Commerce Department program allowing wealthy individuals to sign up to pay $5 million in order to extend their U.S. visas for an additional 270 days.

“We have a waitlist of more than 100,000 people who want to come,” Lutnick said. “That’s $500 billion.”

Lutnick also cited an investment in Intel the administration made last year. “Everybody knows we got just about 500 million shares, and the stock was $20, and now it’s $100, so we’re up $50 billion,” he said.

The administration spent $8.9 billion from appropriated CHIPS Act funds to make the investment in Intel. While the stock has appreciated from the government’s purchase price of $20.47 to $100.32 as of Thursday, the administration has not sold those shares — meaning the gain is merely on paper.

Remember, this promise comes from the same Goldleaf House that promised us We, the People would reap great benefits from Elon Musk and DOGE efficiency implementation:

President Trump said on Wednesday evening that the newly established Department of Government Efficiency might return a portion of the savings accrued through job cuts and other budget curbs to American taxpayers.

The idea of giving back 20 percent of the money saved as a result of initiatives recommended by the new department, known as DOGE, is “under consideration,” said Mr. Trump. The potential initiative, he said, was “a new concept” under which his administration would give “20 percent of the DOGE savings to American citizens” and “20 percent goes to paying down debt.” (He didn’t mention what would be done with the other 60 percent of the money.)

If you're wondering what happened to that other 60%, let me assure you it didn't go into public coffers. 

But, wait! There's more! With pledges and promises that an economy so robust would be produced by tariffs, President Felon promised freedom from income tax! A December 3, 2025 article in Politifact reported that President Felon said, 

...Americans could soon stop paying federal income taxes. But experts say he’s overpromised. 

“Over the next couple of years, I think we’ll … be cutting income tax — could be almost completely cutting it, because the money we’re taking in is going to be so large,” Trump told service members in a Thanksgiving video. 

He repeated the idea in a Dec. 2 Cabinet meeting.   

“I believe at some point in the not too distant future, you wouldn’t even have income tax to pay because the money we’re taking in is so great,” Trump said. “It’s so enormous that you’re not going to have income tax to pay. Whether you get rid of it or just keep it around for fun or have it really low, much lower than it is now, but you won’t be paying income tax.”

According to several sources, the amount collected from U.S. customs duties and tariffs in 2025 reached approximately $264 billion. Those cost of those tariffs were absorbed not by foreign exporters, but by U.S. firms, importers, and consumers via higher prices. And if that wasn't enough to rock that free-money boat, in February of 2026, SCOTUS struck down the emergency powers tariffs as illegal. Subsequently, approximately $166 billion in illegal gains need to be returned. Sure, some refunds went to corporations, importers, and retail doors, but nothing was refunded to consumers.

How much did you get in your income-tax-eliminating-tariff-windfall? Probably the same amount I did.

I am certain none of the above is news, gentle readers. I'm equally certain none of you actually believed you getting anything in that fictitious pay envelope he waves around. And I am absolutely certain that President Felon is a lying sack of rubbish. This past weekend, he was going on about how he could put together a unified Ireland. Really? Whose flagpole did he run that one up? Apparently no one's. 

Donald Trump has reiterated his support for Irish unification and brushed off Andy Burnham’s opposition to a referendum.

“Everybody says that. Then things happen,” the US president said on Sunday of the British prime minister’s response.

“It seems to me that one of the naturals of all time is to put them together,” Trump said of the unification of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Trump caused consternation on both sides of the Irish Sea on Saturday when, at the start of a two-day visit to Ireland, he said he would “love” to see a united Ireland and “it may as well happen now”.

I'm just wondering when he's gonna send "advisors" in to make that happen. This guy is not simply a feckin' eejit, which is Irish slang for whatever you think it means, he's a feckin' meddling dilettante with neither smarts nor understanding of world politics. What's he gonna do next? Attempt to free Scotland? Oh, wait, there are some who would welcome that. But never you mind; this is just another feckin' attempt to buy himself a Nobel Peace Prize....or is that Piece Prize? I forget. It's not enough to screw up Ukraine, Iran, or Venezuela...he's now setting his sights on Europe. 

Meanwhile, back at the Arch d'Trump L'oiel, and his self aggrandizement of our impeccably planned nation's capital, remember all those promises that We, the Tax-Paying People, weren't paying for this stuff?

Au contraire, mes amis! 

Turns out We, the Tax-Paying People, are indeed paying for the demolition of the White House and its transformation into the Gold Leaf House. Apparently, over half of the $600 million needed is being paid for by us because they didn't raise enough money. 

And that eyesore arch he's planning? As reported in the NY Times:

Mr. Trump suggested in October of last year that the arch might be funded by money left over from the ballroom project, but documents show that the National Endowment for the Humanities, an independent federal agency, is reserving $15 million for the project. The overall cost is likely to be much higher. Already, $500,000 has been awarded to an Oregon-based firm for an environmental assessment of the site.

Christ the Redeemer Rio

They didn't have money for Children's Television Network and Public Broadcasting that services the entire nation, but they have money for this garbage. None of the normal channels and provisions for protection have been observed in any of this. They might as well just erect a gold plated Don-The-Felon statue with outstretched arms overlooking Washington DC. 

If, by some remote, inexplicable chance you harbor the idea that there are not machinations taking place as I type to upend the midterms in some way, shape, or form, I would suggest you think about your future expectations for this country. Maybe enough benighted souls will vote GOP in the foolish belief they're gonna get $5k? Not bloody likely.

We are poised at a perilous edge, and given the direction the three branches of government are headed, we will sail over as the country we once knew becomes a third-world-dictator-run banana republic faster than you can say, We, The People.

See, sometimes the self aggrandizement is a red-herring, a distraction to get your arguing over nonsense so the really bad stuff can happen. Like the Wizard of Oz.  Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. In the end, however, that's precisely whom you should be looking for. The Stephen Millers. The Elon Musks. Even the Vlad-the-Impaler Putin. The guys who pull the strings to make the feckin' eejit dance. Cuz it sure as hell isn't We, the People.

The Wifely Person's Tip o'the Week 

For those who will observe Yom Kippur:

May you have an east fast,

and 

may you all be sealed in the Book of Life

for a happy, healthy new year. 

!גמר חתימה טובה