# 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:** 431
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8607 "2023-01-24T18:56:51Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > (What is it with Germans and ambitious clocks?) We want to outsmart our Swiss neighbors. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2023, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8608 "2023-01-24T19:08:01Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > (What is it with Germans and ambitious clocks?) They got tired of that song by _Chicago._ ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8609 "2023-01-24T19:19:30Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > They got tired of that song by _Chicago_ Well, they werenā€™t alone. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2023, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8610 "2023-01-24T19:34:31Z")
Nice. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8611 "2023-01-24T19:45:50Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > > [@Cervaise](#): > > > > (What is it with Germans and ambitious clocks?) > > We want to outsmart our Swiss neighbors. šŸ˜‰ Started as a smartass, now outsmarting the swatch šŸ‡ØšŸ‡­, I see a smartwatch at the end of the Alzheimer test. Am I acing it yet? That is my ambition for today now. I know I can do that. Iā€™m in total control. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2023, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8612 "2023-01-24T20:35:29Z")
Wasnā€™t it **Measure\_for\_Measure** who had a funky clock avatar? Maybe someone else. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2023, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8613 "2023-01-25T04:12:14Z")
Hereā€™s a small source of schadenfreude for those following his trials in NY state: > **[Donald Trump ends another legal challenge to N.Y. attorney general probe](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump-ends-another-legal-challenge-ny-attorney-general-probe-2023-01-24/)** > > Donald Trump has ended his appeal of a court ruling that let New York state's attorney general investigate his real estate business and eventually file a $250 million civil fraud lawsuit against the former U.S. president. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8614 "2023-01-25T05:39:09Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > he had the photo taken together with former Philadelphia mob boss Joseph ā€œSkinny Joeyā€ Merlino and that he does not remember whether he knows him or not. Weird that anyone would give Trump the benefit of the doubt on this. Nobody _accidentally_ knows a mob boss except maybe in a wacky comedy. One would also suppose that Trumpā€™s Secret Service detail would know what kind of people are trying to cozy up to him and would proactively tell this guy to keep his distance unless they were instructed otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8615 "2023-01-25T06:35:28Z")
Just make sure you write IIII, not IV. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8616 "2023-01-25T09:13:36Z")
I did not write that he did not know, but that he no longer remembers. I see the picture and see the sagging posture, the thumbs up arm that no longer raises higher than his belt, the sloping down shoulders, the eyes half closed, the mouth open, and feel schadenfreude. His father had alzheimer, time for him to taste the same medicine and be taken advantage by his own sons, wife, ā€œfriendsā€ and associates. Iā€™m looking forward to the court cases that will arise about his wills. Yes, I believe there will be more than one, perhaps all will be considered fake in the end. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8617 "2023-01-25T12:28:27Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Iā€™m looking forward to the court cases that will arise about his wills. Yes, I believe there will be more than one, perhaps all will be considered fake in the end. He wishes he were as cool and accomplished as Howard Hughes. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8618 "2023-01-25T15:53:55Z")
The Trumpster becoming president may be the granddaddy of all ā€œBe careful what you wish forā€ stories. He thought he could be a tyrant and autocrat but the Dunning-Kruger effect stood in the way and he is worse off than if heā€™d never run. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8619 "2023-01-25T17:11:03Z")
My pinned Tweet: > ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8620 "2023-01-25T17:14:46Z")
That would imply Trump was competent in all his previous roles. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8621 "2023-01-25T17:43:55Z")
I believe we all grant that Donald was probably Fredā€™s favorite son. He was apparently quite competent in this role and it did require a fair amount of cunning and soft power plays within the family. Unfortunately for us, competency at that role did not require much in the way of probity, circumspection, proficiency outside of that cunning, or any other qualities that would have allowed him to succeed in any human endeavor that did not greatly rely on personal connections and inherited wealth. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8622 "2023-01-25T17:58:27Z")
I wonder if the mob boss paid to have his pic taken with Trump? I can see Trump being ignorant of who poses with him in photo ops. He uses that as a boilerplate denial of any unsavory characters he associates with anyway. Dining with Kanye and a white supremacist? They came to his table to admire him. Thatā€™s all that matters. They may as well be featureless mannikins otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8623 "2023-01-25T18:10:04Z")
ā€œWhew!ā€ - IRS šŸ˜† šŸ˜† šŸ˜† > **[Kevin McCarthy disavows 30 percent national sales tax he promised a vote on...](https://theweek.com/house-of-representatives/1020355/kevin-mccarthy-disavows-30-percent-national-sales-tax-he-promised)** > > The latest Speed Read,/speed-reads,,speed-reads, breaking news, comment, reviews and features from the experts at The Week > [@](#): > > Among the things House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) [promised a group of 20 hard-right holdouts](https://theweek.com/briefing/1020079/what-did-kevin-mccarthy-give-away-to-finally-be-elected-house-speaker) in order to win the speakerā€™s gavel was [a vote on legislation](https://www.nationalreview.com/news/house-republicans-to-vote-on-bill-to-abolish-irs/) that would scrap the Internal Revenue System and U.S. taxation system and replace it with a 30 percent national sales tax. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) has already filed legislation for this ā€œFair Tax Act,ā€ but McCarthy [told reporters](https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1618045102785695745) on Tuesday he opposes the bill. Really? Heā€™s showing some backbone? Possibly because of how utterly fucking ridiculous the proposed legislation was? Huh. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2023, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8624 "2023-01-25T18:11:09Z")
Motion to declare the Speakerā€™s chair vacant in fiveā€¦ fourā€¦ threeā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8625 "2023-01-25T18:31:11Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Really? Heā€™s showing some backbone? Possibly because of how utterly fucking ridiculous the proposed legislation was? > Huh. It says he promised thereā€™d be a vote on it, not that he, personally, would vote in favor of it. If you know there isnā€™t enough support to pass that bill, go ahead a promise a vote. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-perfectly-reasonable-amount-of-schadenfreude-about-things-happening-to-trump-his-enablers-part-1/925537/8626 "2023-01-25T18:36:24Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > He wishes he were as cool and accomplished as Howard Hughes. Hughes, despite his shortcomings and weirdness, especially his last years, was everything Trump is not. Yes he inherited his wealth. [Hughes Tool Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_Tool_Company), founded by his father, invented and sold a particularly effective rotary hard rock drill bit at the height of petroleum development in the US. When Hughes Sr. died, Hughes Jr. inherited a majority interest and after emancipating himself at 18 persuaded his relatives to sell him their shares as well. With the money from that he launched a highly successful [business career](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Hughes#Business_career) including - Movie making including _Hellā€™s Angels, The Front Page_, and _Scarface_, and later buying a chunk of RKO. - Real estate, mostly in Las Vegas, being highly instrumental in making the former railroad stop into a cosmopolitan city. - Aircraft, responsible for innovative designs ā€“ not all of them successful ā€“ and acquired controlling interest in TWA. - Founded the Howard Hughes Medical Institute dedicated to biomedical research and, as a tax dodge, transferred Hughes Aircraft to it in 1954 - Cooperated with the CIA to be a cover story for [_Glomar Explorer_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glomar_Explorer). Any _one_ of these things is cooler and more accomplished than the entirety of Trumpā€™s life. [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=430) [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=432)