Today's Daily Schadenfreude: Donald Trump

Last month, Blast Off! reported on the flag flap between Donald Trump and the city of Palm Beach. As you may recall, Teh Donald's enormous American flag over his club, Mar-a-Lago, allegedly violates a city ordinance regarding the size of flagpoles.

Well, according to today's Palm Beach Post, the fight isn't anywhere near over:

Donald Trump's super-sized flag on its super-sized flagpole at his Mar-a-Lago Club earned him a super-sized fine from the town today.

The town's code enforcement board rang up a $250-per-day fine on each of five different violations, totaling $1,250, dating back to Jan. 6.

Bill to date and counting: $16,250.

That's still far short of the $25 million Trump is seeking in a lawsuit filed against the town in December.

Trump's attorney said 20 other violators — all named in his suit — should be before cited as well.

"The town should treat everyone the same. Bring them before the board all at once," attorney Raymond Royce said after the hearing.

He also said all violations relating to the flagpole should be consolidated in a single $250-per-day fine.

Okay, I know, it's kind of lame for schadenfreude, I know (look, if you have better nominees, put 'em in the comments), but it just makes me laugh because it's so silly. We're talking about Donald Fucking Trump, for cryin' out loud ... I'll bet he's paying his attorneys a lot more than $1,250 a day, so the idea of a guy whose name is synonymous with money trying to cut the amount of the fine is pretty ridiculous.

Plus, didja notice that the amount sought in the lawsuit has multiplied 250%? It was reported as $10 million in December, now it's $25 million? Veddy interestink ...

Basically, Trump is going to stand on principle ... and add to his already-solid (or "soiled?") tabloid reputation. Nice going, Donald -- way to win over your neighbors! And congratulations -- today's Blast Off! Daily Schadenfreude is for you!

$10 million for a flag? So says Trump

The controversy over the ginormous flag flying at Teh Donald's Palm Beach estate, Mar-a-Lago, has moved into the realm of the absurd.

Donald Trump has fired back at the town of Palm Beach over a dispute revolving around his 375-square-foot American flag.

Attorneys for the Mar-a-Lago Club, which he owns, filed a complaint Thursday with Palm Beach County Circuit Court, suing the town and asking for $10 million in damages plus attorneys' fees.

Mr. Combover, fresh from his fracas with Rosie O'Donnell and sending Miss USA to rehab, claims that the constitutional protection of free speech allows him to fly his flag. As for size (which, I keep saying, isn't everything), his argument is that a flag that large is perfectly appropriate for an estate as large as Mar-a-Lago. Indeed, says Trump, the flag is the same size as the one flying over the White House.

A smaller flag would look silly at Mar-a-Lago and would fail to express Trump's and club members' patriotism, according to the complaint.

Any damages the club collects, the lawsuit states, will be donated to returning veterans from the war in Iraq.

Playing the patriotism card now ... why am I reminded of the scene in Animal House, when all the Deltas walk out of the disciplinary hearing humming "America, the Beautiful?"

Yep, just another example of the wretched excess that characterizes Palm Beach, where even a Starbucks is met with snooty disdain. Lucky we have this to distract us from what's really going on in the world ...