[Explanations: lol your fat. pathetic anger bread. hey your gay.]
Belly up to the bar,
and be in this space together.
The Virtual Pub Is Open
[Explanations: lol your fat. pathetic anger bread. hey your gay.]
Belly up to the bar,
and be in this space together.
Quote of the Day
"I don't see this president-elect as a legitimate president. ...I don't plan to attend the inauguration. It will be the first one that I miss since I've been in the Congress. You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong."—Rep. John Lewis, a genuine American hero.
Submitted Without Further Comment
[Content Note: Erosion of health insurance access; lack of empathy.]
The "Unaffordable" Care Act will soon be history!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2017
Just the President-elect of the United States excitedly telling 20 million people he's going to take away their health insurance. https://t.co/KDmy1TzW3Z
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 13, 2017
What Is This
This is really, really freaking me out:
The head of the D.C. National Guard, Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz, said Friday that he has been ordered removed from his command effective Jan. 20, 12:01 p.m., just as Donald Trump is sworn in as president.This is not normal. None of this is normal.
Schwartz's forced departure will come in the midst of the presidential inauguration that he has spent months helping plan alongside D.C. police, the U.S. Secret Service and other top District officials. He will turn over command to an interim as power transfers from one president to the next, and just before the inaugural parade marches down Pennsylvania Avenue.
"The timing is extremely unusual," Schwartz said in an interview Friday morning, confirming a memo announcing his ouster that was obtained by The Washington Post. During the inauguration, Schwartz would command not only the members of the D.C. guard but also an additional 5,000 unarmed troops sent in from across the country to help. He also would oversee military air support protecting the nation’s capital during the inauguration.
UPDATE: I've got more at Shareblue: "Commanding general of D.C. National Guard to be removed during inauguration."
Daily Dose of Cute
As always, please feel welcome and encouraged to share pix of the fuzzy, feathered, or scaled members of your family in comments.
Tons o' Midday Reading!
Dianna E. Anderson: Senator Dick Durbin calls for special investigation into Trump's Russian ties.
Katie Paris: IT'S GROWING: Resistance groups are emerging everywhere.
Tommy Christopher and me: Hillary Clinton and her team tried to warn us about Trump's ties to Russia.
Leah McElrath: Trump starts the morning with a blatant lie.
Matthew Chapman: Trump cheers Senate GOP move to repeal Obamacare provisions he claimed to support.
Dianna E. Anderson and Ginger McKnight-Chavers: John Lewis makes a passionate closing argument against Jeff Sessions.
Tommy Christopher: Russia-owned cable channel RT America ominously takes over C-SPAN feed for ten minutes.
Alison R. Parker: Secretary of State nominee's position on China could cause international crisis.
Tommy Christopher: Elizabeth Warren grills Ben Carson on whether Housing Dept. funds could enrich Trump.
Dianna E. Anderson: CIA Director nominee stumbles over hard questions about troubling tweet.
Tommy Christopher: Trump's lawyer makes devastating case against Trump's conflicts of interest.
Me: Rep. Barbara Lee will boycott Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Tommy Christopher: Justice Dept. will investigate FBI conduct during election at request of Democrats and Republicans.
Alison R. Parker: In emotional ceremony, Obama awards Biden Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Dianna E. Anderson: Pelosi advocates for seniors and disabled people in fight to protect the ACA.
Oh My Heart
President Obama, in his final days in office (sob), has designated three new national monuments honoring civil rights history: The Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, the Freedom Riders National Monument, and the Reconstruction Era National Monument.
In a statement, President Obama said these monuments "tell the important stories of the citizens who helped launch the civil rights movement in Birmingham and the Freedom Riders whose bravery raised national awareness of segregation and violence. These stories are part of our shared history."I am already feeling weepy every time I think of him leaving office, but something about this in particular has hit me hard. I feel immensely grateful to this president for caring about people in this way. In many ways. But this is especially moving to me, in this moment. Blub.
He also addressed what has become a quiet, though profoundly meaningful, part of his legacy: "From designating Stonewall National Monument, our country's first national monument honoring the LGBT movement, to recognizing the movement for women's equality through the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument, I have sought to build a more inclusive National Park System and ensure that our national parks, monuments and public lands are fully reflective of our nation's diverse history and culture."
Maintain Skepticism
[Content Note: Torture; bullying; silencing.]
I've got a new piece at Shareblue about why we must be very cynical about the future utility of the independence expressed by some of Trump's cabinet nominees during their confirmation hearings:
During his confirmation hearing to head the CIA, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) was asked by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) if he would comply if Donald Trump asked him to reinstate torture. "Absolutely not," he replied.There is much, much more at the link. Including yet more analysis of how Pence's outsized role in the incoming administration may affect this dynamic.
Pompeo's answer signified a major break with Trump, who bluntly advocated resuming the use of waterboarding and "much worse" in the fight against terrorism.
On the one hand, it is an indictment of Trump's contemptible position on torture. On the other, Trump benefits from looking as though he chose independent-minded people to serve in his administration, and the appearance of independence is more likely to ensure their confirmations garner Democratic support.
Some or all of the nominees may even genuinely hold opposing views to Trump.
But Trump has repeatedly shown he seeks vengeance on anyone who criticizes or disagrees with him. Even if his cabinet nominees were the most principled people on the planet, who intend to and would stand up to him, we have every reason to anticipate that Trump would simply marginalize them or get rid of them completely.
On their face, these critical divergences from some of Trump's more odious campaign positions are reassuring...
But we can only be reassured insofar as we believe that Trump will listen to and adopt the recommendations of members of his cabinet.
And there is precious little reason to believe that he will.
Question of the Day
Suggested by Shaker ivyceltress: "If you could send a message back to an earlier version of yourself when would it be and what would you say?"
"You'll be okay."
TV Corner: This Is Us
This Is Us returned from its midseason break on Tuesday night, so here is a thread for discussion! What did you think of the newest episode? Thumbs up? Thumbs down? Discuss!
Discussion Thread: Trump Despair
About a month ago, we had a Trump Despair thread, and, with the way I'm feeling after spending this week immersed in confirmation hearings for his cabinet nominees, I thought that maybe some of us could use another one.
With every fresh reminder that Trump's goal is to utterly destroy the federal government, decades of diplomacy, the economy, and everything that makes this country what it is, I feel deeper despair.
I am figuring I'm (still) not alone in that. So here is a thread to talk about it, again, for anyone and everyone who needs it.
Daily Dose of Cute
As always, please feel welcome and encouraged to share pix of the fuzzy, feathered, or scaled members of your family in comments.
In Good News
Schumer announces he will oppose Sessions' nomination for Attorney General: "After reviewing his record and giving careful consideration to his answers during the hearing, I am not confident in Senator Sessions' ability to be a defender of the rights of all Americans, or to serve as an independent check on the incoming administration. I am also deeply concerned by his views on immigration, which I saw firsthand during the push for comprehensive immigration reform. For those reasons, I will oppose his nomination to serve as the next Attorney General."
GOOD.
Just F#@k
In a late night vote, Senate Republicans eliminated healthcare for 30 million Americans without any plan to replace it. Morally indefensible
— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) January 12, 2017
GOP said theyd keep the parts of ACA Americans liked. So whyd they just vote down protections for veterans & ppl w/ pre-existing conditions?
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 12, 2017
⚡️ “What did ACA votearama do, anyway?” by @IndivisibleTeamhttps://t.co/EOP2X9fwgn
— Indivisible Guide (@IndivisibleTeam) January 12, 2017
Once again: Call your Reps + Senators.
— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) January 12, 2017
Here is @kelseyfuller_'s simple script. Be polite-but unrelenting. #SaveACA pic.twitter.com/oyNlkLss0l
The House votes Friday on the ACA repeal the Senate rammed through last night. You have 24 hours to call your rep. https://t.co/CHKZaQhxCs
— Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) January 12, 2017
Trump did promise to protect certain provisions of the ACA, e.g. coverage of preexisting conditions. But you know who didn't? Mike Pence.
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 12, 2017
And Pence is the one who has been coordinating with Congressional Republicans on the repeal.
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 12, 2017
Pence has always been a hard-liner against subsidized healthcare. He fought against the ACA as governor of Indiana, and defunded clinics.
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 12, 2017
So, we may be seeing the first consequences of Trump leaving domestic policy to Pence. Who is even more conservative on health than Trump.
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 12, 2017
I've been telling you: Keep your eyes on Pence. And I'm going to keep saying it.
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) January 12, 2017
A Chilling Historic Moment
I've got a new piece at Shareblue about Trump's press conference yesterday, and it may be one of the most important things I've written about the president-elect.
Giving his first press conference since last July, Donald Trump seemed rattled when he first appeared in front of reporters. Though the presser was ostensibly called to present how he would address his vast conflicts of interest as a result of his business, he almost certainly expected to be grilled about new reports on his ties to, and potentially being compromised by, Russia.There is much more at the link.
He got some questions on the subject, but it was hardly the intense and relentless questioning that the subject warrants. And when CNN's Jim Acosta appeared inclined to ask a tough question on Russia, Trump simply refused to call on him, insulting his outlet and shouting at him for being "rude" for trying to do his job.
By the time another reporter queried Trump on his refusal to disclose his tax returns, an entirely on-topic question given the reason for the press conference, Trump was no longer looking shaky. To the contrary, he appeared to have returned to his default state of overconfidence, and, feeling pressed into a corner, he resorted to bullying and mockery.
...Trump's entire press conference was a brazen statement of rejection of ethical recommendations, combined with evasion of concerns regarding his disloyalty and a continued campaign of hostility and intimidation toward the press.
Those are not features of the leader of a free democracy. They are the behaviors of despots.
Trump's changing demeanor during the press conference, from nervous to belligerent, is very concerning. As he managed to bully through questions and exhibited stunningly troubling behavior without consequence, his back stiffened with empowerment.
This was a turning point. A very alarming one.
...One night earlier, President Obama warned us about threats to our democracy. During his press conference, President-elect Trump revealed that the biggest threat to our democracy is him.
Question of the Day
Suggested by Shaker particolored: "Describe your ideal lazy afternoon. What would you do (or not do)?"
Quote of the Day
"Law and order without justice is unobtainable; they are inextricably tied together. If there is no justice, there is no peace."—Senator Cory Booker, during his unprecedented testimony against Senator Jeff Sessions today.
He said a lot of other really terrific stuff, too, and there is a complete video, extended excerpt, and link to complete transcript at the link.
I will say again: Given that a Republican majority ensures that most, if not all, of the president-elect's nominees will sail through their confirmation hearings, the Democrats are doing a damn fine job of using every bit of media attention they have to highlight the nominees' abysmal records, and to make sure that every aspect of those abysmal records are forever attached to Donald Trump.
An Observation
Trump's nominee for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, sounds like a CEO. I think that's probably because he has spent much of his life being a CEO. Funny how that works.
The thing is: I don't want the U.S. Secretary of State to sound like a CEO. No one should.
Except maybe Putin.
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