Counting The Hours
On April 20 of 2017, I remember talking to a friend who was already absolutely exhausted by all of Donald Trump's antics. I remember the date because I responded with: "It's been exactly three months since he took office. That means one-fourth of one year, or only one-sixteenth of his whole term." This was met with groans, even though I was really just trying to caution: "Pace yourself."
We have now almost (as I sit down to write this, there are exactly 18 hours to go) made it through the other 15/16ths of Trump's term. And everybody is now far beyond just being exhausted by it all.
But now our long national Trumpian nightmare is finally (finally!) almost over. My prediction is that tomorrow there will be spontaneous bursts of dancing in the streets, all across America, starting at noon Eastern. That's the time when Joseph Robinette Biden Junior is sworn in as president. Those too exhausted to dance will (at the very least) heave an enormous sigh of relief. We are battered, bruised, bloodied, and beset by a pandemic, but we made it through somehow. Except for the 400,000 (and counting) who didn't, who died needlessly because the president of the United States took it as a personal affront that anyone would listen to scientific and medical experts over his own boneheaded and uninformed opinions. How in the world did "wearing a face mask" become a political statement? Donald Trump, that's how.
Thankfully, starting at noon tomorrow, we will have a sane, rational adult in the Oval Office once again. We will have a president with empathy, intelligence, and compassion -- all three of which have been sorely lacking for the past four years. We will once again have a president who believes in the concept of being a public servant rather than just eyeing all the ways the presidency can make him a quick buck or two and who only ever cares about his own planet-sized ego. If ever there was a "gas giant" of a president, it was Donald Trump.
Since the election, it has been hard for me to write about anyone else in politics, which has led me to somewhat shortchange everything Joe Biden's transition team has been doing. The reason for this is that Trump has been plotting sedition -- as usual, right out in the open. The threat to our democracy and our form of government was so high that it was almost impossible to address any other subjects. Some disagreed, right up until an unruly and undemocratic mob listened to what Trump directed them to do and then stormed the United States Capitol, our citadel of democracy. They were trying to use violence and extortion (and possibly assassination) to thwart the will of America's voters in a free and fair election. Such a thing has never happened before, but the possibility of it happening this time was obvious to anyone who had been paying attention.
So now Trump has been impeached not just once, but twice. And the second one may actually stick and cause him to be permanently banned from ever holding office again. One can only hope. Senate Majority Leader (soon-to-be "Minority Leader") Mitch McConnell is pretty broadly hinting that he's actually going to vote to convict Trump after the Senate holds the impeachment trial. His voice carries an enormous amount of weight within the Republican Party's Senate caucus, so it is now actually a possibility that 16 other Republicans could also vote to convict -- which would meet the two-thirds threshold (if all Democrats vote to convict as well).
It's a pretty open-and-shut case. Donald Trump -- by his own words and actions and tweets -- led an effort to incite an insurrection against the United States government and the Constitution that every elected official from Trump on down is sworn to protect. It's hard to even imagine a more egregious example for what should be considered an impeachable offense, in fact. It truly is that bad.
Just the past three months -- the final 1/16th of Donald Trump's term -- is more than enough to cement him firmly in the position of "worst U.S. president of all time." The only ones celebrating Trump's newfound ranking as "worst ever" are the ghosts of Richard Nixon and Warren G. Harding, because it finally means they'll be able to move up a rung from the absolute bottom. You can almost hear Nixon's ghost bragging to Harding's ghost: "At least Watergate didn't have a body count."
Donald Trump loves superlatives, especially when used about himself. He is absolutely delusional when it comes to ranking himself historically, because he either sees himself as the greatest president ever, or possibly behind either George Washington and/or Abraham Lincoln. This, of course, was laughable balderdash even before Trump tried to lead a rebellion to overturn his loss in the election. But that one incident pretty much assures that Trump will be firmly placed in the "worst ever" category for a very long time to come.
Trump is such a bad president that -- with only (now) 17 hours before he loses all power -- we're all still frightened of what else he could manage to do to make things worse. His advisors, since the Capitol Insurrection, have reportedly been busily trying to fend off Trump's worst impulses (such as pardoning himself pre-emptively) and keeping him far away from a microphone where he can ad-lib what he really thinks. They got him to read yet another "hostage video" script today (which has not been released, as of this writing). But he's planning on giving himself a big sendoff (even though he does not by any stretch of the imagination deserve such a thing) tomorrow morning, right before he flies to Florida one final time on Air Force One (an excellent measure of his pettiness is that he's doing so before noon, so that the plane will still be identified as "Air Force One" -- a designation only used when the current president is on the plane -- and also so he won't have to ask Joe Biden for the favor of using the plane one last time).
Donald Trump is the most egotistical and venal man ever to hold the presidency. He's also quite likely the meanest and most vindictive, to boot. There are plenty of superlatives that Donald Trump has earned, but all of them are just as bad. He will leave office in absolute disgrace, and he will be used as the prime example of what presidents should not be allowed to get away with, for decades to come.
We'll probably have to wait until next season to hear it, but the definitive dismissal of Donald Trump's presidency will come not from some respected historian, but from the most amusing and scathing putdown artist in modern pop culture. This would be the snarkiest possible voice using the snidest possible inflection. Or, to put it another way, I will certainly be waiting to hear, in a future Simpsons episode, Comic Book Guy's scathing summation of Donald Trump's single term in office: "Worst. President. Ever."
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
We are battered, bruised, bloodied, and beset by a pandemic, but we made it through somehow. Except for the 400,000 (and counting) who didn't, who died needlessly because the president of the United States took it as a personal affront that anyone would listen to scientific and medical experts over his own boneheaded and uninformed opinions. How in the world did "wearing a face mask" become a political statement? Donald Trump, that's how.
My biggest hope for Biden's first 100 days is that he will be able to slow down that count and save countless lives, literally!
Ken Burns ... "I feel like tonight is New Year's Eve. I think we just got the dates wrong. I think we've got a new possibility of turning a new leaf. There's a real optimism there."
My feeling, exactly!
Okay, the Senate needs 2/3rds to Convict and Remove. Could Trump fearing Repug Senators abstain rather than voting either way? If I know Mitch McConnell he wants to be rid of Trump with the lowest possible collateral damage to the GOP. And I think whatever the Establishment/Gamers Repugs do it will be in unison. Hawley and Cruz/Breakers are all-in on Trump and there will be other die hards, but could the Death to Donald Repugs abstain en masse, leaving the Dems to swamp the Trumpers who do vote?
For example, if half the 50 Repugs abstain it'd be 50-25 which is 2/3rds, even if all 25 Repugs are pro-Trump.
This is also a chance for individual GOP Senators to reclaim some dignity/the soul of the Party/blah blah blah and take a stand by voting against Trump.
I expect Nancy will time the transmission of the Article to the Senate most precisely.
The Senate must Convict and Remove to proceed to the lifetime ban, via simple majority.
This Impeachment will be quite the sorting event for Repugs.
Did I just see a news blob that suggested McConnell wants to trade a Republican conviction of Trump for a Democratic commitment to maintain the filibuster, effectively gutting Biden's non-budgetary legislative agenda for the next two years?
John M,
Oh, I think Biden is capable of making a much better deal than that! :)
[7]
McConnell is not in a position of strength at the moment. You can't blame him for trying to get the best deal he can, it's the clever move. Hoping Joe gets fixated on negotiate against yourself "bipartisanship" as did Obama.
(an excellent measure of his pettiness is that he's doing so before noon, so that the plane will still be identified as "Air Force One" -- a designation only used when the current president is on the plane -- and also so he won't have to ask Joe Biden for the favor of using the plane one last time)
Speaking of pettiness, I would suggest the timing is also related to the fact that he did not send a plane to fly Joe from Delaware to DC, despite the fact it was requested and is customary.
From what I read, some historians would say that you're being unfair to Harding by ranking him at the bottom. A number of them assign that honor to James Buchanan, and there are interesting parallels between Trump and Buchanan. One saw a pandemic sweep over the nation and did nothing; the other saw a civil war brewing and did nothing. Both allowed American military installations to be abandoned to enemy forces, one in Syria to the Russians, the other in the seceding states to the Confederacy. Both could have saved thousands of American lives by more decisive action.
Looks like somebody is Deathly afraid that things are going to improve and trolling his unfounded assertions and conspiracy theories is going to look even more foolish than ever.
McConnell said that the orange one provoked the mob. Does provoked = incited? He said that other important people also provoked them. Does that mean that he won't convict because maybe it's really their fault? He's treacherous and we shouldn't get too invested in him just yet.
John M from CT,
McConnell doesn't need to make that deal. Manchin has already granted that wish.
Short Fingers has apparently pardoned Bannon, so news reports that told us he wouldn't were wrong. We should expect him to pardon himself and his spawn despite what his underlings have been telling the press.
The Qnuts can't get near the mall in DC, so they've settled for Westboro Baptist style protesting the Cheesus Crust pizza at Comet Pizza. They object to baby parts as an available topping.
[13]
We'll see, Brother Don.
As a Bernie Bro I don't have the highest of expectations for Joe Biden. But 1- reality based competence and 2-not being Donald Trump checks a couple of critical boxes. Needless deaths averted makes a real life difference and saying there's no difference between the two candidates is simply going to lose the reader, right on the spot. Counterproductive!
One thing about Joe is he has usually sniffed the breeze and gone where the party goes. And the party has definitely gone left since 2016. All he has to do is go with the flow.
Let's listen to Joe's words and judge the man's deeds, in real time. Like real citizens. As opposed to flunking him for failing your purity test.
It really comes down to Joe's political chops. He was there for eight years of GOP obstructionism under Obama so I doubt he'll make that same mistake.
Let's see what he does, K?
[18]
Ooooo! Hands down Most Brutal Comment of the young year here in Weigantia. Congratulations you're my kind of scum!
And I hope to remember this come McLaughlin Awards time.
Don Harris
2
A sane, rational adult with empathy, intelligence and compassion who believes in the concept of being a public servant is going to be in the oval office tomorrow?
You likely wouldn't need any of this explained to you if you resembled any of the adjectives in the aforementioned description.
I thought it was going to be Joe King Kong Capitalist Biden.
Your bio explains your admitted confusion and penchant for fantasy.
You don't have to worry about short changing Biden's transition team. As the "new" administration is made up of the usual corporate hack suspects it is plenty short on change all on it's own.
You sound exactly like your bio describes you so you needn't ever be concerned about seeming the tiniest bit knowledgeable... not even a scintilla.
Looks Like Biden will do better than Trump in keeping some campaign promises- like the one about nothing fundamentally changing.
You've proven without doubt that you know your limitations and are quite content to prattle on and on like a repetitive know-nothing about the same fundamentally never-changing few sentences.
Joe Biden will soon become President of the United States; meanwhile, you're still that self-described average guy that whines repetitively and never fundamentally accomplishes a thing.
So to recap: Joe Biden will soon be the POTUS and running the country... and you'll still be the self-described Average Joe running nothing but his mouth. :)
MtnCaddy
4
Could Trump fearing Repug Senators abstain rather than voting either way?
Yes, sir. They could just not show up for the vote, and the 2/3 of the voting Senators could make the decision for the entire nation. It's less democratic and more cowardly and would fit today's GOP to a "T"... heh. :)
If I know Mitch McConnell he wants to be rid of Trump with the lowest possible collateral damage to the GOP.
Trump is threatening to start his own "Patriot Party" and seems determined to tear apart the so-called GOP. They deserve it for enabling the lying, gaslighting, and Trumpism.
John From Censornati
14
Looks like somebody is Deathly afraid that things are going to improve and trolling his unfounded assertions and conspiracy theories is going to look even more foolish than ever.
Do you think it's even possible for him to look more foolish? He seems solidly on "rock bottom" to me... having already worn out a bulldozer to excavate his way down.
The Senate is adjourned until 4:30 today when three incoming Democratic senators will be sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris:
Jon Ossoff (GA)
Rev. Raphael Warnock (GA)
Alex Padilla (CA)
Upon taking their oaths, Warnock will become the first black senator from GA, Ossoff will become the first Jewish senator from GA, and Padilla will become the first Latino senator from CA. Additionally, at 33 years of age, Ossoff will become the youngest Democratic senator to serve since Joe Biden in 1973 at the minimum age of 30.
Upon the swearing in of the three Democratic senators, Chuck Schumer will simultaneously become the first New Yorker and first Jewish lawmaker to become Majority Leader of the Senate.
And the rest is history. :)
Don't let the door smack you in the ass on the way out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcXiGPdnFz0
I'm a little disappointed this morning. I was really hoping that the series finale of Housewives of Coronavirus would include Osama bin Orange forcing the Secret Service to drag him out of there in a straitjacket.
Maybe they'll throw him out of Air Force One into some shark infested water near Miami.
Projection ^ ^ ^ ^
Don Harris
29
Once again you attack me in a feeble attmept to discredit my arguments by trying to discredit me. You once again have failed at both.
Incorrect. One can only be discredited if one has the "credits" to "dis," and you've got nothing. Blaming JFC or me for your lengthy list of having accomplished nothing is comical as well as a fool's errand:
You are the ones that look foolish as all you do is make stuff up that you can argue against, deflect or attack me instead of addressing the points I make with rational argument.
Incorrect. Neither JFC nor I made up your bio nor caused you to become the colossal underachiever you've already confessed that you are.
The defnition of being trolls.
Sentence fragment containing meaningless prattling and incorrect spelling. Also: JFC and I are not concerned with your opinion of us since you are self-admittedly "average" and have no experience, no success, and no education. Also: We think it's not fair to average people to refer to yourself as "average" since you make them look like Einsteins.
And not fooling anyone except maybe yourselves.
Sentence fragment. Also: Projection ^ ^ ^ ^
Don Harris
27
I never said they were the same.
Never? Bullshit. You've claimed they are the same on multiple occasions.
Partners are not the same.
Bullshit. Some partners are the same.
Cheech and Chong are partners.
Both male, both potheads, both comedians... same same same.
Abbott and Costello are partners.
Both male, both comedians, both dead... same same same.
Penn and Teller are partners
Both male, both comedians... same same. Why don't you pretend you're Teller and zip it?
Pretty sure my comments would be the least bullpoo-poo (for all you children that can't handle adult language from me but don't complain when anyone else uses it) out of all of them.
Bullshit. Your comments contain the most bullshit and the most repetitive Trumpian whining about how you've been done wrong and the most advertisements for your personal political purity bullshit and the ever-present endless grifting.
Yes. Let's use his words.
"NOTHING WILL FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE."
Use them in context. Biden was explaining to the rich donors that nothing would fundamentally change in their lives when he raised their taxes. Everyone else here knows this... so much so that every time you use that quote out of context, you simply remind everyone how simple your mind is. We have your bio for that too.
Please take the advertisements for your failed purity test and shove them as high up your backside as your head is located... same same. :)
Don Harris
34
Exactly how do you think my bio discredits me?
I've read it looking for accomplishments and found nothing to your credit.
Do you think that not every citizen can have an idea that could improve our political process?
Yes, I do believe that not every citizen could have an idea that could improve our political process.
Ideas should only come from some approved sources?
Idiotic... yet does remind me of your bullshit wherein you disapprove of anyone who doesn't meet with your own fantastical definitions.
I am not blaming you and JFC for One Demand not being successful yet. Just for attacking me and trolling this board.
We are not concerned with your opinion of us, but if you're going to troll the author of this forum with your personal attacks of him, then suck it up buttercup and learn to take it right back at you. We are entitled to our opinions of your repetitive bullshit. If you don't like it, then make like Teller and remain silent.
Grow up.
Shut up. :)
It's entertaining to watch Fox Noise this morning. First they demonstrate their commitment to lies by calling Osama bin Orange gracious rather than graceless. Then they immediately undermine their lie by going to Dan Quayle who says that it's important for someone in his position (one term VP?) to show up at the inauguration and witness the peaceful transfer of power.
I really do hope that Biden throws that letter that Fat Donny had somebody else write in the trash without mentioning it.
[23] Kick wrote:
"Trump is threatening to start his own "Patriot Party" and seems determined to tear apart the so-called GOP. They deserve it for enabling the lying, gaslighting, and Trumpism."
I would love it if he did EXACTLY that before being hauled off to jail! Since most of our elections are decided by a plurality and not a majority, a split on the Right like that would ensure Democratic dominance for several years.
well, it's official. thank god.
^^^by the way, the question of life, the universe and everything is....
Biden has inherited enormous disasters from the orange arsonist, but this is what Chuck Todd had to say yesterday.
My first question is: Why does gasbag Todd still have a job? I don't know anybody who voted for Biden because they expected him to meet a goal that could not have been set before election day.
My next question is: Did Biden promise that or did he and his team set that as an ambitious goal?
I don't really the answer to either question.
I don't really know the answer to either question.
Nina Simone - Feeling Good
The party has gone left since 2016? At best the party has moved from hard right of center to maybe a little softer hard right.
True of the Democratic Party as a whole since Reaganism® began. But Bernie's insurgencies in '16 and '20 mirror where America has come.
Not just Democrats but majorities of all Americans approve of $15, taxing the wealthy more, letting same-sex couples etc. pursue their happiness, legalizing weed, dealing with climate change, something approaching MediCal for All who Want It and keeping the government out of women's uteruses, among other things.
So are you saying you don't think that the Party will deal with any of that? Not doing enough in 2 years killed the Democrats under Obama. But because Democrats take big money they'll rince and repeat that foolishness?
Again, [27]
Yes. Let's use his words.
"NOTHING WILL FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE."
-Joe Biden
So what if he said this and whatever to get past the Big money people? It doesn't matter.
Let's see what he does, good or bad. With something approaching an open mind, hello?
. . . just in case you missed shelter dog Major Biden's indoguration.
Let us not forget the importance of context when we use quotes.
Biden told his audience that day that nothing would fundamentally change for them when they start paying their fair share.
See how context makes all the difference?
Biden's message doesn't change with the audience he is speaking to.
And setting aside what good One Demand may or may not do, please stop bagging on CW for not plugging your crusade. You obviously haven't sold him on OD and you have apparent free reign to do your thing in these Comments, so shut up. CW is a blogger not a journalist and has no obligation to do or say anything. You know, this is Weigant's playground.
Forget? Haha. That's not what that was. Try: Let us not lie, distort, twist, and troll like an orange conman.
Chris has as much obligation to plug your crusade as you have an obligation to plug his whatever. Which is zero
Forget? Haha. That's not what that was. Try: Let us not lie, distort, twist, and troll like an orange conman.
Ah, that was meant for Don and his penchant for quoting Biden out of context. Heh.
Yep. Your intended target was clear.
I thought so ...
So, what did you think of president Biden's big speech?
@caddy,
what exactly do you mean by, "plug his whatever?"
JL
I didn't watch past the swearing-in ceremony. Chris Wallace says it was swell. I guess he said we need to unify with the Qnuts.
Actually, no.
@liz,
i think it was a pretty good speech. perhaps not the eloquence of an obama, but the right message for the moment.
JL
It was very Bidenesque.
I think it was a sincere effort, drawn from the heart, and a message to individual Americans of all political persuasions. It was almost as if he was talking to everyone on a one-to-one basis, trying to pull everyone onto the same page to move forward without leaving anyone behind.
Elizabeth Miller
50
Let us not forget the importance of context when we use quotes.
^^^^^ This right here. ^^^^^
See how context makes all the difference?
Yes, ma'am... and how lying liars who repeatedly bear false witness are part of the problem and not the solution.
Biden's message doesn't change with the audience he is speaking to.
Unless it's Major... and/or Champ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcC71NytPSk
Nice tune playing in the background there. :)
I still think Buchanan was the worst president, and Jackson was the worst human being among the US presidents. What did Harding do to compete with putting his thumb on the scales of SCOTUS, in favor of the worst decision in US judicial history?
I predict that, decades hence, Trump's name will be buried in in the same section of the rankings with Fillmore, Hoover, and Pierce: clearly bad, but not noteworthy.
Kick,
That video is unavailable in my country. :(
What tune was playing in the background?
Elizabeth Miller
62|63
*
So to recap: Lying liars must be exposed.
Are you trying to tell me something?
Don Harris
64
You are a lying liar who invents bullshit and judges everyone according to your own fantastical fabricated bullspew.
Once again- if we wait until Biden let's us down it will be too late to do anything about it in 2024.
It's never too late to stop inventing your bullshit and lying, and it's never too late to get an education. Well, I don't want to be accused of lying... so I will say it appears too late for you.
Right after everyone else here approaches One Demand with an open mind.
You can shove One Demand up your ass. If you need directions: Your ass is that thing where your head resides... metaphorically speaking, of course. :)
Don Harris
65
No. I will not stop.
Yes, you will stop... the only question is how and when that is going to happen.
It is my opinion and I will continue to post it.
It is grifting and trolling. If you're going to do it, we are definitely going to provide our opinions in response to your grifting and trolling.
That is the purpose of a comments section.
Liar. Grifting and trolling with your own personal bullshit crusade is not the purpose of a comments section. It is damn sure not the purpose of this comments section, and we all know this because you've been notified regarding same and we can read and comprehend the written word... something you have repeatedly demonstrated you have trouble doing.
Bloggers are not journalists?
Your point is moot.
How did CW gets press credentials for the convention in 2016?
Not your concern and none of your business.
It's okay for me to have free reign- as long as I use it to shut up. That's helpful advice.
Moot point. You have "free reign" on your own platform, and even then it is illegal to disseminate voter disinformation.
I do believe CW has an obligation to provide information he is aware of to those that read his blogs.
Then you believe in a lie. I blame your life choices as clearly listed in your bio.
That is what a journalist does and what he claims to do.
Liar.
*
I have not convinced CW about One Demand because he refuses to discuss it.
Liar. He's discussed it multiple times.
And having the blog makes him a public figure so it is perfectly alright for me to continue to pressure him until I get an answer.
Liar. Having a blog does not make a person a public figure and give you permission to troll their platform. He's given you multiple answers, and lying about it doesn't change those facts.
CW has said it is alright to do that to other public figures so it should alright to do to him.
Liar. Liar. Liar. Also: Ignorant prattling. :)
dsws
68
I predict that, decades hence, Trump's name will be buried in in the same section of the rankings with Fillmore, Hoover, and Pierce: clearly bad, but not noteworthy.
The only President of the United States to be impeached twice will always be "noteworthy." There's a reason Benedict Arnold will always remain "noteworthy," and that treasonous wannabe was simply a major general.
What does a miserable, vomitous mass have to do in this country to get recognized? <--- Rhetorical question.
Elizabeth Miller
69
Try this one, EM:
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/vp-biden-shows-his-dog-is-a-talker/
Elizabeth Miller
71
Are you trying to tell me something?
Just supplying a verbatim quote that nicely illustrates your very factual points made in 62 and 63. :)
@Dan,
Show some love/hate for Andrew Johnson. What, a hundred years of Jim crow isn't enough to make your list?
[58]
...plug his whatever means to state whatever strikes his fancy in his various and sundry posts. His, you know, soapbox. Don has one, I've got one and so does CW.
[64]
Yeah. Wait and see what Joe does. Action talks and bullshit walks.
[65]
So what if CW got press credentials once? Doesn't mean he's not primarily a blogger, a talking head, a pundit. He's not obligated to be anything that he doesn't want to be, credentials or not. Silly.
[65]
I didn't tell you to shut up. I did tell tell what I disagreed with. There's a difference
Naw, two impeachments or none, Cheetogod is singular because he came this close to getting his VP lynched. That's dictator stuff and Mitch and the Establishment Repugs are going to whack him.
@caddy,
i knew what you meant, i just thought your word choice was kind-of funny. "ha-ha" funny, not weird funny. think megyn kelly.
JL