# A Perfectly Reasonable Amount of Schadenfreude about Things Happening to Trump & His Enablers (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 14, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537 "2020-11-14T00:09:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 115
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2285 "2021-07-31T17:30:39Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > This article has some of the statements that Trump has been making this week. He’s having a meltdown. Delicious. > > [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/565413-trump-blows-fuse-over-gop-moving-forward-on-infrastructure-deal](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/565413-trump-blows-fuse-over-gop-moving-forward-on-infrastructure-deal) > > I’m trying to find his actual statements, rather than these articles. He’s being quoted as semi-coherent, which is not his normal state. Here you go [www.donaldjtrump.com/news](http://www.donaldjtrump.com/news) I’m embarrassed that I know this, but his loser hissy fits make me happy. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2286 "2021-07-31T18:28:09Z")
I’m curious - what exactly would his tax returns have to reveal for it to damage him in the eyes of the members of the MAGA cult? Any cheating will simply make him look like a hero to them since they all hate the IRS anyway. They think getting away with paying less tax makes him SMART. It’s already clear they don’t care about Russian influence over him. And unless the base abandons him there is no way the GOP leadership will turn on him either. They are all too scared of being primaried by a Trumpist. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2287 "2021-07-31T18:31:20Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > And unless the base abandons him there is no way the GOP leadership will turn on him either. They are all too scared of being primaried by a Trumpist. If those Trumpists continue to lose primaries, his establishment support will, at least, diminish. Or more. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2288 "2021-07-31T18:32:27Z")
“If” is the key word. One loss is hardly a trend. I think it is much too early to say he is losing influence. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2289 "2021-07-31T18:34:21Z")
OK, so let’s include the White House and the Senate. Both lost under Trump’s “leadership”. He’s a losing machine, and sooner or later establishment Republicans will notice it. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2290 "2021-07-31T18:36:19Z")
The GOP “leadership” is already starting to turn on him, largely because the electorate is finally starting to turn on him. When he publicly threatened to support primary challenges against any Republican member of the Senate who supports the bipartisan infrastructure deal, the number of Republicans who came out in support of the legislation _increased_. Steve Scalise publicly got his COVID shot. Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama vehemently urged vaccination – a big turnaround from her earlier positions. Republican tongues are a’waggin’ over the loss of a Trump-supported Texas candidate to a non-Trump-supported Republican candidate a few days ago. (Elzey over Wright) A Trump endorsement just isn’t what it used to be. Thank fuck. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2291 "2021-07-31T18:42:27Z")
[https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/alan-dershowitz-clashes-with-laura-ingraham-on-covid-after-smallpox-remarks/ar-AAMKupe?ocid=uxbndlbing](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/alan-dershowitz-clashes-with-laura-ingraham-on-covid-after-smallpox-remarks/ar-AAMKupe?ocid=uxbndlbing) Alan Dershowitz breaks ranks and spews logic. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2292 "2021-07-31T18:42:56Z")
Mostly good points but Scalise getting his shot and Ivey encouraging vaccination doesn’t strike me as a repudiation of DJT. I’m not aware of him telling people they shouldn’t get it or of him turning on either of them because of this. I’m not yet convinced all this adds up to a definite loss of his hold on the GOP. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2293 "2021-07-31T18:46:02Z")
Oh, I agree, I’d like to see a lot more repudiation before feeling like the GOP has finally had a Come to Jesus moment. I can also make an argument that the reason Republican senators are supporting infrastructure has nothing to do with a rejection of Trump. It’s just good politics for them, even if they risk pissing off the Cheeto Benito. But _any_ daylight between them is good news, IMHO, and novel to see. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2294 "2021-07-31T19:33:45Z")
Possibly the most damaging thing that might come out of the tax returns is the revelation of how not rich he really is, and how much debt he is carrying (although not personally, and I don’t know if the tax returns include the Trump Corp.). So, not his crimes, but his general incompetence and lack of actual success. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2295 "2021-07-31T20:10:07Z")
Does Trump still have lawyers? “WASHINGTON – A federal judge is giving former President [Donald Trump](https://www.cnbc.com/donald-trump/) time to challenge a Department of Justice order that said the IRS must surrender his income tax returns to Congress. U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Columbia Trevor McFadden said that Trump and his lawyers have until Wednesday to issue a response. Neither Trump nor his lawyers have said if they will challenge Friday’s order.” > **[Judge gives Trump time to challenge tax return disclosure to Congress](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/31/judge-gives-trump-time-to-challenge-tax-return-disclosure-to-congress.html)** > > Neither Trump nor his lawyers have said if they will challenge Friday's order. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2296 "2021-07-31T21:19:14Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Does Trump still have lawyers? When he stiffs his lawyers, can they count it as a _pro bono_ contribution? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2297 "2021-07-31T21:23:10Z")
Pro bonehead, more like. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2298 "2021-07-31T21:27:07Z")
If they don’t include the Tip they got. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2299 "2021-08-01T00:14:32Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Possibly the most damaging thing that might come out of the tax returns is the revelation of how not rich he really is, and how much debt he is carrying (although not personally, and I don’t know if the tax returns include the Trump Corp.). So, not his crimes, but his general incompetence and lack of actual success. Yes. From what I’ve read, the reason Trump was able to pay so little in taxes during his White House years was that he was claiming business loss after business loss after business loss after business loss after business loss after business loss after business loss after business loss after business loss…etc. It’s not that his fans can’t rationalize that away; it’s just that they have to make an _effort_ to do so. Trump’s tax returns, by all accounts, simply do not support the Heroic Winning Business Genius image the fans want to believe in. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2300 "2021-08-01T00:22:08Z")
I was hoping it was proof of fraud, Properties on his tax return valued lower than the value used for collateral for some loan. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2301 "2021-08-01T00:24:29Z")
That’s what the speculation is about Cy Vance’s inquiry. Just having the tax returns wouldn’t be enough; would also need the loan documents, which Congress can’t access this way. Vance can, via subpoenas under the tax code. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2302 "2021-08-01T02:53:16Z")
“An Illinois tax agency has ruled that former President Donald Trump is due a $1 million refund on the 2011 tax bill for his downtown Chicago skyscraper, but local officials are trying to block the refund. The [Chicago Sun-Times](https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/7/30/22602534/trump-property-tax-refund-1-million-cook-county-lawsuit-chicago-illinois-attorney-general)reports that at issue is the Cook County Board of Review’s estimation of the value of the the Trump International Hotel & Tower’s rooms and retail space. In June, the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board voted 5-0 to reduce the assessment on the building’s commercial property. The vote means that Trump is owed $1.03 million, money that would come out of the property taxes due the city of Chicago, the Chicago Public Schools and several other government agencies. The Cook County State’s Attorney is disputing the refund and has filed a lawsuit with the Illinois Appellate Court in the hopes of blocking it. The dispute is the latest chapter in a long-running legal battle over Trump’s tax bills that started more than 12 years ago and has led to more than $14 million in tax breaks for Trump. It also involves not only a former president who is at the middle of a host of legal battles but a Chicago alderman whose own legal troubles had been making headlines in Chicago for months. Alderman Edward M. Burke, whose former law firm, Klafter & Burke, won the tax breaks for Trump, has been indicted on federal charges that he blocked businesses from getting city permits unless they hired the firm. He has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.” Ed Burke is an old school corrupt Chicago Democrat. Way to go, Machine, let’s get Trump a million bucks! > **[Agency: Trump is Due $1M Tax Refund for Chicago Skyscraper](https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/agency-trump-is-due-1m-tax-refund-for-chicago-skyscraper/2574450/)** > > An Illinois tax agency has ruled that former President Donald Trump is due a $1 million refund on the 2011 tax bill for his downtown Chicago skyscraper, but local officials are trying to block the refund. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2303 "2021-08-01T20:33:35Z")
Strange bedfellows and all, but even for Chicago, _jeez_… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/2304 "2021-08-02T09:44:03Z")
My greatest professional “joy” is that several of the condos in that building are on my resume. \* shudder \* [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537.md?page=114) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537.md?page=116)