I just listened to the Secret pod. I like when JVL is candid and shares righteous thoughts about YouTube commentators. I may have heard JVL say bad words. JVL, more of that, please. Next point: Shield of The Republic is excellent. Kindly facilitate a future podcast between Eliot, Eric, and Stephen Kotkin. I'd like to hear Eliot and Eric explore Kotkin's idea of one or more democratically elected governments facilitating Russian / autocratic regime change. Ask them to discuss that, please.
I wish Trump to do so well with his merch sales that he retires from the presidential race and gets a permanent slot hawking his goods on late night TV. It's a natural fit for someone with his charisma and integrity.
Is it weird that I am hung up on what percentage of the take Trump negotiated? JVL points out that he'd be fool to take anything less than 75%, suggesting that, of course, he took at least that amount. But he is a fool. He is a terrible dealmaker. I bet they could have easily sweet talked him into taking way less than that. They gave him a dollar figure, he saw a bunch of zeros, and ihe never stopped to do the math. Now I cannot tell if I am more horrified by him doing this grift or by him not getting paid enough to do this grift ("the food is terrible...and there's so little of it!"). I've fallen down a watch rabbit hole and not the one JVL keeps lining up for us....
I'm hopeful that the price of these watches puts them out of reach for most of the millions of ardent Trump supporters who are not capable of understanding that they have been and continue to be conned by one of the greatest con artists of all time. On one hand I have little sympathy for people who continue to support this despicable human being, despite 10 or more years of evidence of exactly who he is. On the other hand, I hate to see him fleece them when many of them don't even realize it.
True, Trump’s brand isn’t street. It’s also not modern. He’s stuck in the 1980’s idea of aspirational wealth: gold gilding, stretch limos, steak lunches. His taste hasn’t changed.
Trump is a commercial vampire. He won’t be happy until he bleeds his supporters of every dollar while making them think salvation is at hand. Just another way he’s a cult leader.
I suspect that the $100,000 watches are not purchased by people who want a watch. They are purchased by people who want to get something from the next Trump administration. It's a legal form of bribery. Who knows what you can get if you buy 20 or 30 of them?
JVL: Knowing your expertise of watches, I really didn't think I would read your Triad about building watches (compared to Trump's watches). But it is brilliant! It must be getting pretty expensive for those Trump Supporters who can't afford the price of groceries. As for me, I love my Citizen Eco Drive. I like a watch where you actually have to tell time. And don't bother me with something that counts the steps you take daily or monitors your heart beat.
The insight of pointing out the disdain Trump etc has for their voters, juxtaposed with their anger at being characterized as "deplorable" is so spot on. What's more, the deplorable comment was not directed at all Republican voters--it's just that so many assumed it was (why?), whereas the grift is aimed at any of them with a credit card
JVL: we, your devoted readers who endure the watch stuff because you deserve your ‘you time’ after giving us so much “us time”, are SO HAPPY for you today! You truly have your cake and get to eat it too in today’s triad.
I was wracking my brain for how best to characterize the absolute perfection of JVL's horological analysis. All the while, all I needed to do was to like your post about a thousand times. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏
I just listened to the Secret pod. I like when JVL is candid and shares righteous thoughts about YouTube commentators. I may have heard JVL say bad words. JVL, more of that, please. Next point: Shield of The Republic is excellent. Kindly facilitate a future podcast between Eliot, Eric, and Stephen Kotkin. I'd like to hear Eliot and Eric explore Kotkin's idea of one or more democratically elected governments facilitating Russian / autocratic regime change. Ask them to discuss that, please.
I’ve said a few times that I’d love more watch content, but this isn’t exactly what I had in mind. Still it’s good for what it is.
Why is there such a high tolerance for this among the MAGA faithful?
I assume it’s because we disdain it so they have to do the opposite. Makes me want to tell some of them voting is a lib thing. Or breathing.
Idolatry wouldn’t shock me either. There was too much idolatry in the pre-Trump era but this is an exponential leap in a terrible direction.
Next Trump project? Bespoke dishwasher.
I wish Trump to do so well with his merch sales that he retires from the presidential race and gets a permanent slot hawking his goods on late night TV. It's a natural fit for someone with his charisma and integrity.
Is it weird that I am hung up on what percentage of the take Trump negotiated? JVL points out that he'd be fool to take anything less than 75%, suggesting that, of course, he took at least that amount. But he is a fool. He is a terrible dealmaker. I bet they could have easily sweet talked him into taking way less than that. They gave him a dollar figure, he saw a bunch of zeros, and ihe never stopped to do the math. Now I cannot tell if I am more horrified by him doing this grift or by him not getting paid enough to do this grift ("the food is terrible...and there's so little of it!"). I've fallen down a watch rabbit hole and not the one JVL keeps lining up for us....
I'm hopeful that the price of these watches puts them out of reach for most of the millions of ardent Trump supporters who are not capable of understanding that they have been and continue to be conned by one of the greatest con artists of all time. On one hand I have little sympathy for people who continue to support this despicable human being, despite 10 or more years of evidence of exactly who he is. On the other hand, I hate to see him fleece them when many of them don't even realize it.
It’s just so…distasteful. Once a huckster, always a huckster.
What if Kamala Harris started selling something, like Kamala watches or pantsuits, what would be the reaction?
Why does JVL know so much about high end watches? And building watches too? Fascinating....
My core competenices: Watches, politics, wrestling.
In that order.
True, Trump’s brand isn’t street. It’s also not modern. He’s stuck in the 1980’s idea of aspirational wealth: gold gilding, stretch limos, steak lunches. His taste hasn’t changed.
Trump is a commercial vampire. He won’t be happy until he bleeds his supporters of every dollar while making them think salvation is at hand. Just another way he’s a cult leader.
I suspect that the $100,000 watches are not purchased by people who want a watch. They are purchased by people who want to get something from the next Trump administration. It's a legal form of bribery. Who knows what you can get if you buy 20 or 30 of them?
If 100% of the profits go into His pocket instead of the RNC, I'm OK with it.
JVL: Knowing your expertise of watches, I really didn't think I would read your Triad about building watches (compared to Trump's watches). But it is brilliant! It must be getting pretty expensive for those Trump Supporters who can't afford the price of groceries. As for me, I love my Citizen Eco Drive. I like a watch where you actually have to tell time. And don't bother me with something that counts the steps you take daily or monitors your heart beat.
Citizen makes solid watches.
The insight of pointing out the disdain Trump etc has for their voters, juxtaposed with their anger at being characterized as "deplorable" is so spot on. What's more, the deplorable comment was not directed at all Republican voters--it's just that so many assumed it was (why?), whereas the grift is aimed at any of them with a credit card
JVL: we, your devoted readers who endure the watch stuff because you deserve your ‘you time’ after giving us so much “us time”, are SO HAPPY for you today! You truly have your cake and get to eat it too in today’s triad.
Thank you, Heidi. Today we were all winners.
We all have our particular fetishes. JVL's is watches. Like you said Heidi, we are all so happy for him today!
Esoteric knowledge put to good use. Like Marissa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny.
I was wracking my brain for how best to characterize the absolute perfection of JVL's horological analysis. All the while, all I needed to do was to like your post about a thousand times. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏
All those products that Trump pitches it sure must be getting expensive for his suckers, er, I mean supporters.