DONALD TRUMP, THE NIGERIAN PRINCE OF POLITICS
Raging Moderate by Will Durst
Donald Trump likes to brag he’s not a politician. And he’s not; he’s a hustler, a scam artist, a grifter, a modern day P.T. Barnum who deserves congratulations for running the ultimate con on the American people. He’s a carnie with a glob of inedible cotton candy on his head.
Financial reports filed with the Federal Election Commission reveal someone focused on the best interests of Trump Inc. rather than the country. To him, we are the designated losers in this year’s rigged edition of “Presidential Apprentice.â€
In 2000 Trump told Fortune Magazine, “It’s very possible I could be the first presidential candidate to run and make money off of it.†And that’s obviously the goal. He’s got four and a half months to make as much money as possible and is full speed ahead pursuing his windfall like a kid on Halloween a half hour before curfew.
For the New York businessman, it is now, has been and always shall be, all about the Benjamins. His wife and kids are on the payroll. So is an ex- wife and a couple of contestants from “The Apprentice.†And probably John Miller, the name he used when masquerading as his own publicist.
Almost a fifth of the money he spent in the month of May went to his companies, subsidiaries and properties. He billed his campaign over $400,000 for an event at the Florida resort, Mar-A-Lago, where Trump lives. He undoubtedly did that thing hospitals do by charging a hundred bucks for each ply of toilet paper. Trump branded toilet paper of course. Got to get me some of that.
Another half million went to Trump Tower, the other place he lives. He’s charging himself to sleep in his own bed. Wonder if Melania charges as well. Trump even paid himself $3,000. Which works out to $750 a week. An attempt to find out how the other 99 percent lives? Not likely.
Trump paid out $4.5 million to TAG Air for private jets. And guess who the CEO of TAG Air is? That’s right. Don the Con. Some other products the campaign purchased are Trump Wine, Trump Steaks, Trump Water and we shouldn’t be surprised to discover an itemized expense for Trump luggage to carry around the Trump ego.
All that talk about self-funding was just more snake oil sold to us rubes. Another bogus plea from the Nigerian Prince of politics. He didn’t give money to his campaign, he lent it $37 million and expects to be paid back by the Republican National Committee. The man is the Florence of malfeasance.
He loans money to the Trump Campaign which spends money on his properties, then solicits contributions from wealthy donors to pay himself back the money he loaned his campaign to buy stuff from himself.
This has to be straight out of a course at Trump University. Double Dipping 101. His scampaign is nothing but a shell game with the GOP as the mark. Paul Ryan has a big old X on his back that can only be seen under infrared light.
It’s the classic vulture capitalist scenario. Swoop in, grab the money, then leave everyone else to clean up the mess. A Presidential Ponzi Scheme. Or in this case… a Donzi Scheme. Bernie Madoff would be proud.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
Below is a list of the felony cases filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.
William Jeffrey Cutteridge Criminal confinement, Level 6 felony
Strangulation, Level 6 felony
Battery resulting in bodily injury, Class A misdemeanor
Operating a vehicle with an ACE of .08 or more, Class C misdemeanor
Stephen Robert Libs Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, Level 6 felony
Larry Fredrick Lamar Baker Battery against a public safety official, Level 6 felony
Battery by bodily waste, Level 6 felony
Resisting law enforcement, Class A misdemeanor
Public intoxication, Class B misdemeanor
Disorderly conduct, Class B misdemeanor
Disorderly conduct, Class B misdemeanor
Antoine Barnes Attempted battery by means of a deadly weapon, Level 5 felony
Intimidation, Level 5 felony
Intimidation, Level 6 felony
Resisting law enforcement, Class A misdemeanor
Terra Lanae Linder Criminal recklessness, Level 6 felony
John Gregg’s $239,114.64 Issue
John Gregg’s $239,114.64 Issue
by ABDUL HAKIM Â SHABAZZ f or IndianaForefront
Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg has a problem and it’s worth about $239,114.64.
Because by the end of the year, that’s how much taxpayers are estimated to have paid for what basically amounts to free healthcare for Gregg, his wife, his ex-wife and two sons.
You see back in 2002, when Gregg was Speaker of the House, he along with then Republican Senate Leader Bob Garton passed legislation giving lawmakers lifetime health care. Yes, lifetime, as in when they left office the taxpayers would still be picking up the tab for most of their health insurance.
House Speaker Brian Bosma ended the perk in 2006, but due to legal/constitutional restraints they couldn’t end it retroactively. So the Speaker authored a law saying any lawmaker elected or re-elected after 2006 could no longer get the benefit. A number of them retired. And today, Gregg and about 30 other lawmakers are still receiving it.
With respect to Gregg’s family, coverage for his former spouse ended in June 5, 2006. Coverage for his current wife began on March 30, 2013 and coverage for his two sons ended on December 31 of 2015. Those same records also show the House of Representatives paid $202,863.63 in benefits for Gregg and his family through the end of 2015 and is expected to pay another $36,251.01 in 2016.
Gregg’s campaign is defending the benefit, arguing it’s not free, but he does pay premiums. Which is true, but they won’t disclose the amount.
Luckily you have me.
In 2002, a traditional family health insurance plan under the state was $8,993.60. A retiring lawmaker would only pay about $343.67 or 4 percent of the costs. And the law locked in that rate for life any lawmaker who had six years and one day of service. Extrapolate that to today. And assuming Gregg is on the traditional plan, he is paying $1,440, saving about $34k -$36k year. Or that’s what you’re paying for him and his family’s health insurance.
Now my Democratic friends say this isn’t an issue because Gregg didn’t do anything illegal and some have even brought up Governor Mike Pence’s salary when he was in Congress. And to be honest, I was surprised Gregg was still on the program. I figured he would have been on his own plan since he was President of Vincennes University at one time and worked for a Fortune 500 company. Regardless, I think my democratic friends’ positions show a fundamental misunderstanding of politics.
While voters may not appreciate the subtleties between acquired wealth and deferred compensation, they can sure wrap their arms around any politician (who is supposed to be part-time) writing a law to give him and his family basically free health insurance 14 years after they left office.
And if you don’t believe me, just watch the campaign commercials that are likely to come out of all this.
CALLING ALL DEMOCRATS: 2016 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner
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Answer Telephone Calls, Manage State-Reviewed Filing System, Time Card Mgmt, Collect payments from customers. Must maintain an orderly office and State-reviewed…
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Applicants must have a valid state driver’s license, a safe driving record, and at least two years of. KSAs include Postal Service driving policies, safe…
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OTTERS SHOW GRIT EN ROUTE TO SERIES SWEEP
 Facing off for the finale of a critical three game series, the Evansville Otters grinded to secure a 7-6 victory and series sweep of the Windy City Thunderbolts on Thirsty Thursday at Bosse Field. The scoring of the game kicked off in the bottom of the second inning when Chris Breen crushed a mammoth of a solo homerun that may still be sailing. Windy City would charge right back in the very next frame, sparked from a three run outburst that saw six Thunderbolts reach base safely. Nevertheless, Evansville displayed their resiliency through storming back to tie the game at 3-3 in the third, highlighted by a high flying two-run homerun from Josh Allen that amazingly left the entire stadium. Three hits and a walk for the Windy City offense would translate to two additional runs in the sixth. However, Evansville would save another rally for the Thunderbolts. Following back to back singles, Chris Breen lined a single to center that would drive in a run. Although, the play wouldn’t end that simply as a bad throw towards second base and a fielding misplay in center field led to two errors and a little league style homerun for Breen, which gave the Otters a 6-5 advantage. After tying the game in the eighth, the Thunderbolts were finally vanquished after Christopher Riopedre lined a clutch go-ahead RBI single in the latter half of the inning. Randy McCurry would slam the door on Windy City in the ninth, while notching his league leading 13th save of the season.
Next, the Otters will go on the road tomorrow and begin a three game series against the Lake Erie Crushers.
Drive Safe and Sober this Fourth of July
- The Evansville-Vanderburgh County Traffic Safety Partnership, the Governor’s Council on Impaired and Dangerous Driving and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) would like to remind all Indiana motorists to celebrate the Fourth of July responsibly by driving safe and sober.
Sheriff David Wedding stated, “Friends and family will soon be getting together to celebrate Independence Day. With all the excitement and fun, keeping an eye on an intoxicated friend may not seem like a priority. We ask that you don’t wait for someone else to take action if a person is about to drive away drunk. By refusing to ignore the problem you can save a life.†Sheriff Wedding added, “Make transportation plans now if you know you will be drinking this Fourth of July weekend. Don’t put your friends in the position of having to take your keys.”
During the 2015 Independence Day holiday from July 3 through July 7 there were over 960 traffic collisions in Indiana. Of those, at least 64 were alcohol-related. In total, 43 Hoosier motorists were injured and two (2) lost their lives as a direct result of an impaired driver.
Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin stated, “The Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office work hard all year long to inform the public about the dangers of impaired driving. Many heed the message, while a few choose to ignore it.†Chief Bolin explained, “For those drivers who refuse to listen, a DUI arrest or a fatal crash are the only two alternatives.”
A sobriety checkpoint is planned for this Saturday night. The Sheriff’s Office, Evansville Police Department and Indiana State Police will conduct a joint sobriety checkpoint on July 02, 2016 from 11:30 pm until 3:00 am. Throughout the extended holiday weekend sheriff’s deputies, police officers and state troopers will be aggressively looking for drunk drivers and will arrest anyone caught driving impaired.  If you have any doubt about your sobriety, please do not get behind the wheel. If you do choose to drive impaired, expect to be arrested. No warnings. No excuses.
Funding for local impaired driving enforcement is provided by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) through a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA).
IS IT TRUE JULY 1, 2016
IS IT TRUE that we found two ads in the Wednesday, June 29, 2016 Courier’s “legal notices†that have us wondering about the true financial status of certain local entities located in Evansville?  …that two properties scheduled to be sold by the Sheriff at a sale on July 28, 2016 in room 310 of the Civic Center in foreclosure sales have public entities listed as defendants?  …that there may be a perfectly logical explanation for the foreclosures, but we believe the public deserves to hear it from the local entities involved?
IS IT TRUE that 400-564 Jeanette Benton Dr is listed with an outstanding debt of $1.9 million dollars? Â …that the plaintiff is Bayview Loan Servicing, and the defendants include Lincoln Estates Redevelopment Partnership, LLC and Old National Bank, Washington Court Redevelopment Corporation, and the Housing Authority of Evansville?
IS IT TRUE that the other foreclosure of interest is filed on nine parcels of property at 420 NW 5th St. by Whitacre Funding LLC, a Delaware LLC and the defendant is ERC I, LLC in the amount of $3.2 million dollars? …that the pictures displayed on the County Assessor’s website of that address appear to be Berry Plastics, and it is reasonable to believe that ERC is Evansville Redevelopment Commission?
IS IT TRUE we are hearing  that  “Drastic Changes”  in city employees health insurance are being considered in the 2017 budget?
IS IT TRUE we wonder when members of City Council ask city department head questions why in the world does the City Attorney  send them back written answers to their questions?
IS IT TRUE that Monday’s City Council meeting was another series of 9-0 votes? …we wonder how all of this consensus is met? Â … we believe some well-reasoned dissent is healthy for a free society?
IS IT TRUE that at the same City Council meeting City controller Russ Lloyd declared that we are borrowing 12.5 million dollar based on “hope†that Riverboat revue will rise when the casino comes on land? …that we doubt that a bank would lend that kind of money based on the “hope” of an increased of future income?
IS IT TRUEÂ that yesterday out going State Representative Gail Riecken held a political Fundraising Reception for Ryan Hatfield in Indy? …this event was held at the Indiana City Brewing facility in Indy and was well attended by “political insiders” and ‘“special interest” groups?
IS IT TRUE we would like to congratulate Joe Wallace for being appointed  Chief Executive Officer of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership on July 1?  … Mr. Wallace served as “interim†CEO for 18 months for the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership?  …it looks like Evansville/Vanderburgh County lost another outstanding business executive to another State?
IS IT TRUE City-County Observer is proud to promote all veteran-owned businesses? Â … we are pleased to announce that Autumn Barn Farms Popcorn will be awarding popcorn tins each month to lucky winners chosen randomly from those whose birthdays appear on our site for each month? Â … we encourage you to send in names and birthdays dates of your friends and family members to us, so they can have a chance to win? Â …the following Birthday winners for June will receive a half gallon tin valued at $10, that can be refilled for $7? Â …popcorn tins winners for the month of June are: Bob DeGraffenreid, Salome LaMarch, Steven Pirnat, Evelyn Maveety, Marcia Bivins, Tiffany Nunn Stepto, Robert Money, Nathan Bayne, China Phelps, Stan Levco, Jamie Fuchs, Joe Templeton, Breck Bitter, Chris Lantaff, and Melanie Bozsa
FOOTNOTES: Todays “Readers Poll” question: : DO you feel that Evansville City Council is transparent?
Please take time and read our newest feature articles entitled “HOT JOBS†and “LOCAL SPORTS†posted in our sections.
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