Clubbing Trump Sept 23^rd

(“Gloriskey Zero!” For those of you who don’t remember Little Annie Rooney, a comic strip that first saw the light of day three months before I did, that expression was uttered by Annie when she was pleasantly surprised. Yesterday the readership of this blog hit double digits for the first time. This surge was, I believe, due to the efforts of a person who shall remain anonymous for their own safety, but they certainly have my thanks.)

Now to the issue at hand: An organization called “The Club for Growth” is being sued for “millions” by Donald Trump. The basis for this suit is that Trump claims the Cub’s recent negative advertising about him has misrepresented his positions on various issues. This requires some analysis. First we shall look at the Club for Growth.

The Club is a right wing group dedicated to raising money to support politicians who agree with their agenda. This agenda is to lower taxes as much as possible and to reduce government as much as possible (excepting the military of course). They are particularly concerned with government restrictions on the ability of the wealthy to become wealthier; obviously they want lower taxes on the wealthy and have fewer restrictions on how their businesses can be conducted. In short the name is a misnomer; it should be called “The Club for the Growth of Wealth for the One Percent.” The Club collects money from those wealthy individuals who find its agenda agreeable (the Koch Brothers) and distribute money to legislators who follow instructions, or think of creative ideas agreeable to the Club (Tom Cotton). Tom Cotton was the guiding force behind the 47 Senators who felt it necessary to carry out their own diplomacy with the Iranians. (Trump claims they asked him for a million dollars which he refused to give them. Perhaps now they are getting even.)

The Club has placed some ads attacking Trump’s position on taxes specifically that Trump wants to raise them on at least some high income folks. They also claim that Trump favors various other positions much more to the left than the Club finds agreeable. As a result of this attack ad, Trump is suing the Club for Growth. Here is a quote from Trump’s message to the Club:

"In the interest of avoiding what will certainly be a costly litigation process, we are prepared to offer you the one-time opportunity to rectify this matter by providing us with your prompt written assurances that (i) you have stopped running the Attack Ads; and (ii) you will not generate or disseminate any misleading or inaccurate information or make any factually baseless accusations... with respect to my client at any point in the future." ---- I must say that phrase,” …we are prepared to offer you a one-time opportunity to rectify this matter…” sounds like a robo call from a collection agency.

If the Club for Growth refuses to heed Trump's warnings, the real estate mogul's counsel threatens: "we will commence a multi-million dollar lawsuit against you personally and your organization ... as well as pursue all other remedies available to us at law or in equity."

How does the Club respond? They tell us that the ads will continue just as before. As Trump should know the wealthy and their agents are not easily intimidated.