Cape Cod Times reported:
President Joe Biden will once again be spending Thanksgiving on Nantucket, continuing his four-decade-long tradition that has seen him evolve through elected positions in public life.
There is no official word from the White House.
The Nantucket Current added:
Nantucket Police Lt. Angus MacVicar told the Current he anticipates there won’t be any changes from President Biden’s visit to the island last year. If that’s correct, it would entail a stay at billionaire David Rubenstein’s compound on Nantucket Harbor, Thanksgiving dinner from Faregrounds restaurant, a visit to the downtown area for dining, shopping and the tree lighting ceremony on Friday, and time with his family.
Carlyle co-founder David Rubenstein has big bets on crypto's resurgence, healthcare artificial intelligence, fintech and defense/security through his family office, Declaration Partners. He's also the face of private equity's preferred "carried interest" taxation, showing up on Capital Hill every time there is a serious challenge.
While many are outraged by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' non-declaration of expensive trips gifted by rich friends, consider the rules in place regarding Presidential trips:
When Biden receives free lodging, he’s supposed to disclose it on annual financial disclosure forms that are released publicly each May. The form requires the president and vice president to disclose free lodging worth more than $390. Ethics experts say the “personal hospitality” reporting exception on that form doesn’t cover instances where the homeowner isn’t present.Historically, Rubenstein only spends twelve days a year at his Nantucket estate. That means the odds are good that citizens won't see the value of this trip on an annual disclosure form. Nearby properties rent for $25,000 to $75,000 per week.
David Rubenstein recently interviewed Citadel Chief Ken Griffin at Mount Vernon, the estate of President George Washington. They did talk about money in politics but viewed the ignorant masses as a larger problem for democracy. They also discussed the ballooning federal deficit but did not offer to give up their preferred taxation or pay higher income tax rates.
Griffin mentioned Nikki Haley as his preferred Red Team Presidential candidate. Rubenstein did not cite his horse for the 2024 Presidential race, but rest assured David is poised to benefit regardless of the outcome.
So few have so much to be thankful for.
Update 11-24-23: President Biden called for Americans to "put unity above politics" from Nantucket. The Hill piece did not mention Biden's stay at the Rubenstein compound. From the Biden cabinet to his Thanksgiving vacation host it's clear the President feels strongly about peunity.
...if capitalism and its moneyed interests are in charge, those excesses inevitably grow to the point where they are able to extinguish democracy and ride roughshod over the common good.
Politicians Red and Blue love PEU and increasingly, more are one.
Update 4-26-24: Hard times for some Nantucket homeowners as storms and rising tides have taken out homes.
