Malignant narcissism on steroids

As predicted, Trump lawyer Alina Habba wrote to Judge Lewis Kaplan requesting a delay in the second E. Jean Carroll trial because he wants to attend both the trial and his mother-in-law's funeral on Thursday.  For some reason Habba thinks a two-week delay is necessary, although to my knowledge the Knavs family does not plan to sit shiva.  Aware that Trump never appeared at the first trial, Judge Kaplan responded, "Mr. Trump is free to attend the trial, the funeral, or all or parts of both."  He may have been more inclined to sympathy before learning that Trump has a rally scheduled in New Hampshire on the day of the funeral.  Carroll II starts bright and early tomorrow.

Lest we forget, Trump is also being criminally prosecuted in Manhattan in connection with the Stormy Daniels payment.  Lawyer Joe Tacopina has now withdrawn from that one, which will doubtless lead to more demands for delay and possibly for a public defender.  They're free.

In some parts of Iowa it was -20F yesterday with blowing snow, but Trump doesn't see why that should interfere with his plans for a yuge victory.  He cancelled three of his four events yesterday but told the faithful, "If you're sick as a dog you say 'Darling, I gotta make it.' Even if you vote and then pass away, it's worth it."  Always with the dogs.

Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) has no legislative achievements to speak of, but he is famous for leading a "tour" of the Capitol on January 5, 2021, with special attention to Capitol Police checkpoints and tunnel entrances.  Now he heads up a special subcommittee dedicated to protecting and defending the insurrectionists who benefited from that tour, and hundreds of others.  

In its crosshairs is Cassidy Hutchinson, the aide to Mark Meadows who asked to change her testimony to the House Select Committee after dumping her Trump-allied lawyer and was a cooperative witness for Jack Smith.  She and the lawyer, Stefan Passantino, can expect to get the Hunter Biden treatment as Loudermilk continues to dodge responsibility for the coup attempt.  The rioters have already morphed from "indignant voters" to "friendly tourists" to "FBI/antifa agents" to "hostages."  Is it possible there was never a January 6 in 2021?

Speaking of movies, every organized crime picture has a moment where the boss turns on a treacherous underling, followed by sudden death.  For political dilettante Vivek Ramaswamy the moment has come.  His supporters were spotted in shirts that featured the Trump mug shot and the words "Save Trump, vote Vivek," a presumed promise to pardon him when the time comes.  Whatever it means, Trump is enraged, and not just because he isn't making any money from the use of his image.  Though once a "great supporter, very talented," all he does now is "disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks," he ranted on social media.  "Vote for 'Trump,' don't waste your vote!  Vivek is not MAGA!"  Ramaswamy polled too low to be invited to the last debate but the Boss still feels threatened.  I know it was you, Vivek.  You broke my heart.

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, on the other hand, loyally took part in a Trump stunt in Waukee, Iowa, delivering pizza to some firefighters and being praised as "one of the greatest governors in the country."  Evidently Burgum paid for the pies, just as he paid people to contribute to his campaign so he qualified for the first debate.  This is not a sustainable business model.

The new hat says IOWA CAUCUS CAPTAIN for some reason and MAGAts will want to own one, if they have any money left after buying the virtual trading cards and authentic scrap of cloth.

DeSantis and Haley may as well go home and get warm.  You can't compete with someone who just got his character endorsed by "Sammy the Bull" Gravano.  And I can't make that up.