@futurebird His past history is one of failure. Trump projects are always shoddy.

@robotistry @waitworry

I expect the new ballroom wing to be just as bad as what it replaced. In that sense it will be a continuation of the tradition of this kind of architecture.

But if we need to tear the wing down again we can.

@robotistry @waitworry

I expect the new ballroom wing to be just as bad as what it replaced. In that sense it will be a continuation of the tradition of this kind of architecture.

But if we need to tear the wing down again we can.

@futurebird @robotistry @waitworry Thinking of the Eiffel Tower for some reason

@futurebird @robotistry @waitworry Oh, I think it'll be worse; they're moving from (fairly low-grade) Federalist to Bank Neoclassical. The columns will be bigger and uglier, with the intent of being more imposing and feeling like, well, an investment bank. I like to think it's because this is where you come to give Trump money.

The old building wasn't much but it wasn't a statement, either. They mostly built it to hide the bunker underneath. Either way, it'll be uglier, both visually and spiritually, in intent.

@martinvermeer @robotistry @waitworry

one can become attached to anything.

I think it’s more about the fact that he’s a real estate developer. The one thing that he actually knows is how to do is a real estate project: he has actual experience, knows the process end to end. It’s probably very comforting for him to work on something where he’s not out of his depth.

(for this reason the only thing I don’t worry about with this clown show is the white house construction)

@futurebird
You know he has a history of buying cheap labour and then not paying for it, right?

@futurebird @martinvermeer @robotistry @waitworry

It became a scientific resource back in the day. Cosmic rays! Radio!

@robotistry @waitworry

But listen if this is the last straw for some people ... great.

I do wonder how such a person missed all of the other much larger and more massive straws. My camel's back broke long ago. Back in 2016 if not before that.

@robotistry

Okay I will say one more thing. The only reason I'm running my mouth putting a little cold water on the notion that "tearing down the East Wing of the White House is architectural terrorism etc. etc." is because I sincerely think it could go one of many ways. Generally presidents hate to make dramatic changes to the White House because of exactly this kind of reaction. (And it's not the oldest part, so come on.)

@robotistry

It could be that in some happy future we write "Nearly everything that occurred during the Trump presidency was a disaster, except for the White House renovation."

Is it very likely? I give it a chance.

I also understand that he has not earned the trust to do this, so if people find it upsetting that is very reasonable.

(And I really do think that building was ugly and dysfunctional.)

I think it’s more about the fact that he’s a real estate developer. The one thing that he actually knows is how to do is a real estate project: he has actual experience, knows the process end to end. It’s probably very comforting for him to work on something where he’s not out of his depth.

(for this reason the only thing I don’t worry about with this clown show is the white house construction)

@futurebird Doesn't he mostly just lease the rights to his name and not actually develop shit himself? He was involved in actually building stuff with his dad back in the 70s and 80s but seems like it's been mostly buying out other companies and selling licensing deals since then...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world/trump-worldwide-licensing/

@admin

That was after they let him into the entertainment business. Something that never should have been done. And something that the people who green-lit and produced the Apprentice have never really owned.

He'd still be flopping around doing things with a few buildings otherwise.

@futurebird I dunno, seems like he started by developing new buildings and slapping his name on them, then he went to buying existing buildings and slapping his name on them, then to just letting other people slap his name on their own buildings...which makes me feel like it was never about the buildings as much as just about having his name all over a bunch of big shit.

He just wants the majority of the White House to forever be known as the Trump Ballroom. Lincoln Bedroom? How cute. Just one teeeny little room!

@moira @robotistry @waitworry

I think you are underestimating how ugly "plantation bunker" really is.

I mean... I'll take the bank.

@futurebird @robotistry @waitworry "But if we need to tear the wing down again we can." This is what I've been thinking, too. The original East Wing replaced stuff that had been there, and this monstrosity can be replaced, as well.

@mfennvt @futurebird @robotistry @waitworry Yeah, Nixon removed the Johnson cleaning station.

@robotistry

It could be that in some happy future we write "Nearly everything that occurred during the Trump presidency was a disaster, except for the White House renovation."

Is it very likely? I give it a chance.

I also understand that he has not earned the trust to do this, so if people find it upsetting that is very reasonable.

(And I really do think that building was ugly and dysfunctional.)