Portland says federal government owes nearly $200,000 over courthouse fence

TU Curmudgeon · Aug 4, 2020

dcsports said:
It's OK to not like the president, or to disagree with his politics. Many do. But it's stupid to say that he hasn't been very successful in business, or to dismiss his accomplishments as 'inheritance'.

Considering that Mr. Trump's net worth would be approximately the same today if he had simply put the 46+ million dollars that he received from his father into a professionally managed mutual fund, I don't see a whole lot of evidence of "success" being involved.

TU Curmudgeon · Aug 4, 2020

Luce said:
He was successful as a businessman because he worked the bankruptcy laws.

He is a successful parasite.

That reminds me of an old friend of mine from my first bout of "University". When he was about 10 years old, the local Minister of Education was touring his school and asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. His response was that he wanted to be "a social parasite".

He grew up to become a Professor of Psychology.

TU Curmudgeon · Aug 4, 2020

Crossfire said:
When you have to play word games to try to obfuscate your point, do you really have a valid point in the first place?

I am deeply distressed that you do not know the difference between "word games" and "literate English".

Crossfire said:
Let us start over then. What assemblies have "American conservatives" tried to ban or want to ban, other than Gohmert's stupid bill?

Did I say "TRIED to ban", or did I say "WANTED to ban"?

There IS a difference you know.

Crossfire said:
I do not have any other evidence of your citizenship, and if you are a citizen, just say so. I do not know why people have to *****foot around a point. Why beat around the bush?

I make it a point NOT to give out personal details that might make it easier to identify me.

However, yes, I am a "Citizen". In fact I am a "Multiple Citizen". If I wanted to be impolite and ask you for personal details, I'd ask you if you were a citizen, but I won't.

TU Curmudgeon · Aug 4, 2020

Eriech said:
Feds should sue local governments for damages to federal property that they failed to protect and for the fence they were forced to build.

Frivolous and vexatious nuisance lawsuits for political purposes should be strongly discouraged.

TU Curmudgeon · Aug 4, 2020

jaypatriot said:
Did anyone ever suggest you would be happier in Cuba, a truly Socialist country?
Don't have to worry about nasty capitalism in that country.
You can be poor as dirt like everyone else.

You do realize that the current economic conditions in Cuba are the direct results of the actions of the governments of the United States of America in attempting to force the Cubans to install a government that was as free, democratic, egalitarian, and honest as the one of Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar was (to say nothing of giving back all of the properties (that were owned by "The Mob") that were expropriated), don't you?

TU Curmudgeon · Aug 4, 2020

jaypatriot said:
You live in a perfect nation protected by the most powerful nation in the world.

There is only one country in the world that has the military and logistical capacity to invade, conquer, and rule Canada. Do you know the name of that country?

jaypatriot said:
Not to mention having the biggest economy in the world as your major trading partner.

You do know that the combined economy of the world, exclusive of Canada and the US is larger than the economy of the US, don't you?

jaypatriot said:
You won the 'birth lottery' - benefiting by having the most powerful neighbor you could ever hope to have
and never having to worry about being attacked by a foreign nation.

Only one foreign nation has ever attempted to invade and conquer Canada (and it tried three times), don't you? Do you know the name of that country?

jaypatriot said:
You just have to worry about those French wannabees that want their independence.

Why would Canadians "worry" about someone who doesn't actually want what they say they want (unless what they say they want is "a level playing field for trade" when what they actually want is "a trading relationship that guarantees that _[fill in the blank]_ ALWAYS gets all the profits and Canada ALWAYS takes all the losses")?

TU Curmudgeon · Aug 4, 2020

Luce said:
I think you misread me.

It does, sometimes, happen. If I did, I apologize.

However, there are other posters for which the amended post most certainly does NOT constitute a misreading.

NWRatCon · Aug 4, 2020

TU Curmudgeon said:
I am deeply distressed that you do not know the difference between "word games" and "literate English".

Did I say "TRIED to ban", or did I say "WANTED to ban"?

There IS a difference you know.

I make it a point NOT to give out personal details that might make it easier to identify me.

However, yes, I am a "Citizen". In fact I am a "Multiple Citizen". If I wanted to be impolite and ask you for personal details, I'd ask you if you were a citizen, but I won't.

I think to prove his bona fides for the internet, he should provide his SSN, date of birth, current address and any previous addresses for the last 10 years. Don't you, товарищ? [tovarishch]

dcsports · Aug 4, 2020

Luce said:
He has a lifelong history of declaring bankruptcy to get out of paying bills.

{random comment}.

That's not true. Look it up.

dcsports · Aug 4, 2020

Luce said:
1. It blocked a portion of the road.

2. It wasn't permitted.

It's a temporary action by law enforcement, due to an emergency. Not a business doing construction.

dcsports · Aug 4, 2020

TU Curmudgeon said:
Considering that Mr. Trump's net worth would be approximately the same today if he had simply put the 46+ million dollars that he received from his father into a professionally managed mutual fund, I don't see a whole lot of evidence of "success" being involved.

I doubt that's true, but it would still be a very successful business. Running a business and achieving the overall return equal to the stock market would be extremely difficult to do.

Luce · Aug 4, 2020

dcsports said:
It's a temporary action by law enforcement, due to an emergency. Not a business doing construction.

Apparently that doesn't seem to matter. Portland police may set up temporary barricades as necessary, as may the Portland fire department, and sanitation department. No other agency at any level is authorized to do so without a permit.

NWRatCon · Aug 4, 2020

TU Curmudgeon said:
Considering that Mr. Trump's net worth would be approximately the same today if he had simply put the 46+ million dollars that he received from his father into a professionally managed mutual fund, I don't see a whole lot of evidence of "success" being involved.

I'd like to try a little real-world experiment. I'd like someone to supply me with a $1.5 billion "seed money" (the current dollar equivalent of DJT's original "nest egg") and a tax break that would allow me to avoid taxes for 10 years - then come back to me in 40 years and see how I'm doing. I'll bet a million dollars I'll be a billionaire in no time.

dcsports · Aug 4, 2020

Luce said:
Apparently that doesn't seem to matter. Portland police may set up temporary barricades as necessary, as may the Portland fire department, and sanitation department. No other agency at any level is authorized to do so without a permit.

Under Portland city ordinances, this is probably correct. Although it could be argued that this is an emergency measure by law enforcement, and isn't covered under the city permitting process. However, I would think that there are federal and state laws that supersede these. We are in a declared emergency.

In any case, the city of Portland would have to sue DHS to collect, and I would think be laughed out of court given the situation.

Luce · Aug 4, 2020

dcsports said:
Under Portland city ordinances, this is probably correct. However, I would think that there are federal and state laws that supersede these. We are in a declared emergency.

In any case, the city of Portland would have to sue DHS to collect, and I would think be laughed out of court given the situation.

I don't think that the city actually intends to collect. I think they intend to be a royal pain in the ass over the entire thing, and I think that's well within the realm of possibility.

dcsports · Aug 4, 2020

Luce said:
I don't think that the city actually intends to collect. I think they intend to be a royal pain in the ass over the entire thing, and I think that's well within the realm of possibility.

Likely so, although it's probably a big fail on their part. I think the only intent was to make a statement so that the city didn't look so incompetent - and they did just the opposite.

Luce · Aug 4, 2020

dcsports said:
Likely so, although it's probably a big fail on their part. I think the only intent was to make a statement so that the city didn't look so incompetent - and they did just the opposite.

Maybe it will be a big fail. Maybe they don't care. At some point, this sort of thing becomes personal.

Crossfire · Aug 4, 2020

TU Curmudgeon said:
I am deeply distressed that you do not know the difference between "word games" and "literate English".

Did I say "TRIED to ban", or did I say "WANTED to ban"?

There IS a difference you know.

I make it a point NOT to give out personal details that might make it easier to identify me.

However, yes, I am a "Citizen". In fact I am a "Multiple Citizen". If I wanted to be impolite and ask you for personal details, I'd ask you if you were a citizen, but I won't.

Who in the hell tries to ban something without first wanting to ban it? Are you next going to tell me when you said "American" conservatives want to ban all assemblies they are not a part of, you meant there could be two or more in the country that feel this way since you know damn well that ridiculous assertion is unable to be supported by facts?

Citizenship status is hardly a personal detail, give me a break. If you are paranoid about someone knowing what citizenship(s) you have, fine. Save the sanctimony for someone who gives a crap.

NWRatCon · Aug 4, 2020

Crossfire said:
Who in the hell tries to ban something without first wanting to ban it?

That would be the Republican party. Do it all the time, because they rarely reason beyond the first talking point and never consider 2nd and 3rd order effects. Think of, for example, the "birthright citizenship" controversy. Great soundbite for xenophobes, bad idea for business. They never have understood that whole "baby/bathwater" thing.

TU Curmudgeon · Aug 4, 2020

NWRatCon said:
I think to prove his bona fides for the internet, he should provide his SSN, date of birth, current address and any previous addresses for the last 10 years. Don't you, товарищ? [tovarishch]

That would be quite acceptable, PROVIDED that they were certified originals of all documents AND included his DD 214, ALL of his police (and motor vehicle department) files (including positive evidence that there are no documents whatsoever that have been "missed"), six 8x10 glossies (with one full face and one full facial profile and four full length shots from various angles that have been certified [by the FBI, CIA, DHS, DMV, and BSA] as being taken within the previous 24 hours) and a full set of fingerprints.

TU Curmudgeon · Aug 4, 2020

dcsports said:
I doubt that's true,

"Donald Trump isn't rich because he's a great investor. He's rich because his dad was rich." (from Vox)

"Would Donald Trump Be Better Off Investing In Stocks?" (from Forbes)

"Trump Would Be Richer If He'd Have Invested in Index Funds" (from The Wealth Advisor)

"Donald Trump Should Have Invested in Index Funds" (from Practice Financial Group)

dcsports said:
but it would still be a very successful business.

Yes it would - PROVIDED that you classified "behaviour that is the equivalent of sticking your money in the bank and leaving it there" as a "business".

dcsports said:
Running a business and achieving the overall return equal to the stock market would be extremely difficult to do.

Not if you compare it with the actual rate of return of the stock market.

TU Curmudgeon · Aug 4, 2020

dcsports said:
Under Portland city ordinances, this is probably correct. Although it could be argued that this is an emergency measure by law enforcement, and isn't covered under the city permitting process. However, I would think that there are federal and state laws that supersede these. We are in a declared emergency.

In any case, the city of Portland would have to sue DHS to collect, and I would think be laughed out of court given the situation.

Actually the City of Portland probably would NOT have to sue DHS to collect. The City of Portland could simply engage in some "cross accounting" and deduct the money that DHS (an agency of the federal government) has been assessed from the amount that other requirements say that it is required to remit to the federal government. At that point, the federal government WOULD have to sue the City of Portland to recover the withheld money AND at that point the City of Portland could counterclaim.

Given what the law actually is, the City of Portland would likely win on its counterclaim and the federal government would likely win on its claim. The result of that would be a net payment from the City of Portland to the federal government of $0.00 (and a snarky judge just might stick the federal government with paying the costs that the City of Portland incurred in defending itself against "a frivolous and vexatious lawsuit".

TU Curmudgeon · Aug 4, 2020

Crossfire said:
Who in the hell tries to ban something without first wanting to ban it?

Many people WANT to do something without TRYING to do it.

Crossfire said:
Citizenship status is hardly a personal detail, give me a break. If you are paranoid about someone knowing what citizenship(s) you have, fine. Save the sanctimony for someone who gives a crap.

Personal details are what the person being asked to supply them feels are personal details.

If you were NOT "someone who gives a crap", you wouldn't have asked.

Just to really frustrate you, I will tell you that I am also entitled to citizenship in two countries MORE than the number of countries that I already hold citizenship in (and haven't bothered to apply for those citizenships yet) PLUS could obtain at least three more citizenships in addition to those if I felt like putting out the effort.

poweRob · Aug 4, 2020

Living statues of President Trump pop up in downtown Portland | KATU

dcsports · Aug 4, 2020

TU Curmudgeon said:
"Donald Trump isn't rich because he's a great investor. He's rich because his dad was rich." (from Vox)

"Would Donald Trump Be Better Off Investing In Stocks?" (from Forbes)

"Trump Would Be Richer If He'd Have Invested in Index Funds" (from The Wealth Advisor)

"Donald Trump Should Have Invested in Index Funds" (from Practice Financial Group)

Yes it would - PROVIDED that you classified "behaviour that is the equivalent of sticking your money in the bank and leaving it there" as a "business".

Not if you compare it with the actual rate of return of the stock market.

And.... you failed.

Portland says federal government owes nearly $200,000 over courthouse fence

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