The saddest thing I saw this morning was United States Marines saluting as Trump arrived at the White House. All these years they kept their honor clean. Now this. Not their fault, of course. They’re doing their duty as always. But as someone would say: Sad!
Initially, I saw this in the Post this morning:
John F. Kennedy was the first Catholic president; Ronald Reagan, the first actor and also the first to have divorced; Barack Obama, the first African American….
And was going to Tweet, “And today we swear in our very first idiot president.” But if I Tweeted it, it would also be seen by the politer souls of Facebook, and there could be hurt feelings. And Jesus told us that “whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” Which should most certainly give us pause. And my wife, my conscience, really doesn’t like it when I call people idiots, however richly they have deserved the honor.
So I’m trying to dial that back. Today sorely tries that resolution, but I’m trying to keep it nonetheless. As I type this, I’m listening to some Donovan in the hope that will gentle me, or at least serve as a soporific, something to numb me (Season of the Witch, indeed! So strange..). We’ll see if it works. Laudanum would probably work better.
But back to that Post story about the precedents being set today. A few examples from the list of what Donald J. Trump is:
- The first president to have never performed public service, either by holding public office or serving in the military….
- At age 70, the oldest man to be inaugurated president. (Ronald Reagan was 69.)…
- The first president to be the subject of a Comedy Central Roast….
- The first president to have not disclosed his tax returns during the campaign since the tradition began in 1976….
- The first president to have hosted a reality show.
- And the first to still hold the title of executive producer of one….
- The first president to appear on Howard Stern’s radio program. Repeatedly. And brag about his sex life and discuss women’s appearances….
I’ll stop there, as I may have exceeded the bounds of Fair Use already. But I should set straight one “first” that is not. The story notes that “He will not be the first to be married to a former model. Betty Ford also modeled. However, he will be the first to be married to a former model who posed topless.”
So we have that to celebrate.
For their part, the folks at The Wall Street Journal protested that “Mr. Trump isn’t wholly unique.” Perhaps not wholly. For instance, they note that “Mr. Trump likes to play golf, a pastime many past presidents relished.”
So there’s that, too, but it’s thin stuff. And in the end, in the Journal story as well, it’s the departure from all that this country has previously experienced that stands out. We were blessed for so long, and being flawed humans, we didn’t properly appreciate it…
Related Posts
The point, of course, is never to forget what a grotesque departure from all of American history this is. No one must slip into the normalizing pattern of thinking of this as just another president of this or that party.
No. Absolutely not. We’ve had 44 more or less qualified, fit men hold this office — regardless of party. This is a complete, shattering break with that history…
43. Grover Cleveland always gets double counted. Trump may not be as bad as W. That’s a really, really low bar.
Well if he was trying to reach out to me, he failed. This passage here specifically felt very alienating:
“For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost.
Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth.
Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed.
The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.
Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.”
I am a speech language pathologist. I work in a public school primarily with preschoolers. My salary is paid completely out of IDEA funds. Today one of my 3 year old autistic students tapped me on the shoulder, made eye contact, and said my name, for the first time. A few months ago this child mostly only said random things seemingly unrelated to things going on around her to no-one in particular. Another of my 3 year olds who is likely apraxic produced several words with 3 sounds in them today. May not sound like much, but both of those are significant progress for these kids. Both of those are victories. Victories made possible by government funds. Victories that I know, cos they’ve told me, are very much celebrated by their, yes, quite, struggling families.
It is offensive for him to insinuate that ordinary people do not benefit from government. There are so many more examples, many mundane, but still important. But those are the two that were on my mind when I heard his words. It was a jarring juxtaposition to have had such a good day with my kids and get in the car and hear that on the way home.
And the future of IDEA appears to be in question. Betsy DeVos does not seem to know what it is or to be very committed to insisting that States enforce it. I guess that is not surprising with a President who mocks people with disabilities.
I don’t why the above post appeared as a reply. Sorry, Bud. It was meant to be a new post, not a response to your comment.
That’s ok. As a state worker I too found those comments offensive.
As the parent of a child on the autistic spectrum (high functioning), I know exactly how important those little steps are that you describe — and how hard it can be for a child to take them. So thank you for what you do. And if there is any threat to the funding of your program, I hope you will use this forum to make it known, so that we can take whatever steps we can (however small) to keep you doing your important work.
Thank you. I appreciate that. I will.
Trump is now in formal violation of the emoluments clause in the Constitution. I’ll be eagerly awaiting formal Congressional steps toward impeachment.
After all, wasn’t this election at least in part about “restoring Constitutional government”?
Hahahahaha! That’s a good one…
It also happens to be the truth.
How can anyone forget that our new POTUS is also a member of the WWE Hall of Fame? I think the USA is a much better place than the dark picture painted in the Inaugural Address.
Absolutely. It hasn’t dawned on him, and probably won’t ever, that the stuff he used over the past year to whip up crowds bears little relationship with reality…
re: “The saddest thing I saw this morning was United States Marines saluting as Trump arrived at the White House. All these years they kept their honor clean. Now this. Not their fault, of course. They’re doing their duty as always. But as someone would say: Sad!”
Brad, the caption under the saluting Marine photo is what bears no relationship to reality. The caption evidences only the superficial, required aspects of saluting, totally missing the most important element of reciprocal respect. Compulsory it is, but underlying the salute is the reverential respect accorded a leader who Marines trust and will follow with enormous vigor.
For too long (almost 8 years too long now) our troops have been subject to undeserving leadership, demoralizing Rules of Engagement and slights such as mistaking an Air Force Colonel for a waiter (cf. by lawyer Valerie Jarrett, Sr. Advisor to U.S. ex-President Obama)
Rather than merely superficial, perfunctory renderings of mandatory respect for office, the most meaningful salutes, when applicable, convey respect for an honorable leader. The last president did not earn the real honor that Trump already carries into office. Military retention and recruiting numbers are bound to rise under Trump as suicide numbers gradually fall.
“The real honor Trump already carries into office”???
Juan, sometimes you are just too much.
I am still searching for the moment Trump did something neither self-serving nor dishonorable. Nothing comes to mind…though would be happy to consider any moment I might have overlooked.
That’s because you’re one of those Hillary supporters who are wired not to look at anything positive when it comes to Trump.
Mark, only shuttered minds have failed to see the dishonor to our military bequeathed by both HRC’s and Obama’s failures to act promptly to protect our ambassador.
Wait just a few years until one of the dispersed and sequestered Benghazi fact witnesses retires and writes the tell-tale book. Will you still insist that Trump was tarnished by his private self-service before coming to public office while the last administration tarred itself again and again as government, and as our “Commander in Chief”? In private life Trump has been magnanimous in helping others – — from NYC’s government to the deserving less fortunate individuals.
Give us a little break with the close-minded drivel.
Still with the Bhengazi deraingment syndrome nonsense?
I’m missing where – in any of the last 8 yrs – anyone in the executive branch (Ray Maybus cut a little close here but never crossed into “dishonor”) has not supported our military personnel and mission. Going back a little further, W’s “enhanced interigation techniques” did not represent our military’s finest hour.
Yes, I would have absolutely rather have seen a more robust international posture from the Obama Whitehouse. However, it looks as though his will be multiples stronger than what Trump appears to be proposing.
So, no, your comments make little sense.
“Still with the Bhengazi deraingment syndrome nonsense?”
Nonsense??? The fact that our administration left those guys over there to defend for themselves without any attempt to help? Nonsense???
Will that hold up his Nobel Peace prize they’ll be awarding him next week, or is it different than how Obama’s award was awarded?
Obama already had his by now, didn’t he?
This new guy’s a slacker…
Seriously, he got it about nine months into his presidency. It just SEEMED earlier.
And yes, it was ridiculous under the circumstances….
Typical Trump. So dark and gloomy.
When was the last time we had a POTUS who didn’t drink alcohol at all? (Trump is a teetotaler.)
Not really significant of anything, just sort of curious.
I think it was William Howard Taft.
Bush. He drank earlier in life, but quit.
Yes, I think that’s right. Now that you mention it, I feel dumb for not remembering that.
Bad omen. Worst POTUS ever was a teetotaler.
Of course, you mean IS, not WAS…
I always thought one of the most commendable things about 43 was how he pulled his life together; and appears to have kept it that way.
I’m not really keen on thinking of drinking as a requirement or not a requirement of a President.
Yes. Commendable indeed.
Also, Joe Biden avoids the booze because of a history of alcoholism in his family, I believe..
With what came out of Joe’s mouth, can you imagine what he’d say if he did drink?
Which is SO hard to believe, looking at him and listening to him.
He is SO non-abstemious. And he looks, talks and acts like a guy who is either on bender, or was last night…
So, knowing he’s a nondrinker, what’s his excuse?
Just a guess, but I think he wanted his dad’s love while spending his life being told how great he was. He demands the latter because he can’t validate the former. You said yourself he married a woman who has modeled topless (he wants everyone to know he has the best toys), is a frequent guest on Stern, and is willing to step into the WWE ring.
Not that we haven’t had plenty of presidents with approval issues. TR also wanted it while running from his demons, but TR specifically didn’t want to be a spoiled brat. He spent his entire life trying to escape it. That is probably the thing that marks Trump most different from modern presidents. Trump is, beyond any of his other vices, a brat.
I’ve only read the first book in that TR trilogy, but it was fascinating the way he reinvented himself in his youth.
He was a sickly kid. His Dad built him his own gymnasium taking up a floor of their house, and told him to grow strong. He did, exercising maniacally, and spent the rest of his life setting himself physical challenges to overcome. His energy was boundless, almost freakish — and yet it seems to have arisen entirely from his relentless will…
In work and play he spent his life running from depression. Moving forward was the only way out for him.
Not to mention gym rats will tell you that the more you work out the more energy you have. After getting shot, his doctor told him he couldn’t strain himself like he did before and it put one foot in the grave. Then he threw the other foot in the grave with the Amazon expedition.
“Wild Bill” Guarnere definitely would not approve.
As he said of then-Lt. Winters, “He ain’t Catholic… Joe, he don’t even DRINK!”
Interesting question, and I found some (unverified) information on the Project Know website, that is about “understanding addiction.” Their teetotaler list includes Presidents Harrison, Taylor, Fillmore, Hayes, Taft and Bush.
Rutherford B. Hayes, and Abraham Lincoln.
Washington used laudanum, which as you know can be very efficacious when judiciously administered…
I hear Hillary is an angry drunk.
Hey, anybody see ol’ “Claus” lately? Odd the way he’s disappeared today…
Do you miss me? I’ve been busy today getting ready to hit the road for a few days.
Isn’t that him right above and below?
With that “Miss Me?,” I suspect that Claus is really Moriarty…
The best inauguration speech ever, those 60 Democrats who boycotted it for sinus reasons missed out. I especially enjoyed NBC purposely trying to keep scowling Michelle out of the picture. I think Chuck Todd was on the verge of crying. They need to make today a national holiday, I took the day off especially for this event. MAGA
What word triggered moderation? MAGA
I don’t know, but from now on all your comments will be moderated.
We moderated folks need to start a club.
Interesting. Most people would say it was nothing like an inauguration speech, much less “best ever.” I mean, everything he said could have been copied and pasted from this speeches over the past year. He just got up there and spouted the usual.
Most presidents try to come up with something special on Inauguration Day, rather than cranking out the usual…
By the way, folks, most of my observations on the inauguration are on Twitter.
Here’s one of my favorite Tweets from someone other than myself:
If not America First, then who first?
On a lesser level, it’s me first, my family first, my friends first… long before someone I don’t know in another country, state, or city. If a kid in St. Louis is in a horrible school, I’ll worry about him after I worry about kids in my neighborhood are in a decent school. Is that wrong? As President I hope he will spend money on schools in the US before he spends that same money on schools in Iraq.
History lesson: “America First” was an isolationist movement and slogan before WWII.
While it was a broadly popular movement embraced by plenty of respectable people, memory of it is tainted not only by the fact that it was immediately discredited after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, but by the fact that famous America-Firster Charles Lindbergh was something of a German sympathizer.
You basically can’t say “America First” without invoking memories of that…
From Pearl Harbor on, both Democrats and Republicans embraced an internationalism that accepted responsibility for American leadership in the world.
Democrats fell away from that somewhat after Vietnam, but not at the highest levels of policy. When I questioned Barack Obama about such things in 2008, the words he used to describe American engagement in the world could have been spoken by Truman, Kennedy or Nixon.
Republicans have only started pulling back from the internationalist consensus as libertarianism and anti-intellectualism have gained a foothold (and more) in the party in recent years. But there are a few left, such as Lindsey Graham and John McCain, who still reject isolationism in terms that would have been familiar to Roosevelt…
I believe NBC said basically the same thing but said it was before WWI.
So “America First” is the “AF word” now.
If you told 100 people “America First”, maybe 1 would invoke memories of pre-WWII.
Yeah, there’s a lot of ignorance out there…
There’s a lot of progress out there too. But from reading your blog, you apparently prefer how things used to be done. This isn’t 1617 anymore.
Yeah, and that’s a shame.
I see on Wikipedia that that’s the year Elias Ashmole was born.
Don’t you know the other 17th-century kids had fun with HIM? “Yo, Elias! You’re a real ashmole, you know that?”…
That list created by The Post is reaching. How many other presidents were even in office before reality television became popular? Before the election, Trump wasn’t a career politician, how many career politicians have ever been on a morning radio show?
Complain and whine all you want, Donald Trump is still going to be our President.
It’s not reaching at all. No previous president has been this intimately involved with the lower, tackier levels of popular culture. Reagan came the closest.
There have always been things that corresponded to “reality” TV. For instance, in the mid-19th century, someone might have been a sideshow in P.T. Barnum’s circus. That’s on about the same level…
I’ll disagree, but then I expect I’ll disagree with everything you have to say about Trump over the next 8 years. And yes, 8 not 4.
Good luck with just 4…
However, that will be lucky for no American.
I don’t know about you, but I’m having a good day except for one short period. MAGA
Impeached within the year.
I doubt it, just as I doubt Hillary will ever serve a day behind bars.
Yeah, I think all of us here agree with you on that, since, you know, there’s nothing for her to serve time FOR…
Just think, if things had turned out differently, The Post could have written about the first woman president, the first lawyer to successfully defend a child rapist on a technicality during the trial and then laugh at the victim who happened to be a child at the time to become president. There’s a role model.
“The saddest thing I saw this morning was United States Marines saluting as Trump arrived at the White House. All these years they kept their honor clean. Now this. Not their fault, of course. They’re doing their duty as always. But as someone would say: Sad!”
Who wrote this garbage? I can guarantee those Marines are more honored to serve under Trump than they were under Obama. I’m willing to bet that there are more Marines who saluted Obama because it was protocol for the office than out of respect for the man.
I wrote it, of course. As someone who has deeply respected the Corps my whole life (what does Bill term it — my “fawning attitude toward the military”), it was a tragic sight.
These are men who adhere to the highest notions of honor, saluting Howard Stern’s vulgar buddy. Not a good thing to have to see.
Of course, it is their honor that causes them to salute the office (what did that admiral say, Bryan — “I’ll make them salute a midshipman’s uniform on a handspike?”).
It is OUR shame that we’ve given them such a commander in chief to salute…
So, you didn’t answer my question. Since you interviewed Obama once, just as Stern interviewed Trump once, is Obama your buddy? You stated Stern was Trump’s buddy.
Nope. Of course, as you say, I interviewed him once. He didn’t come on my show repeatedly; he just visited my office.
And our conversation was entirely professional. Nothing like Howard Stern’s show. No competition to say crude things.
The closest I’ve experienced to that was being on “Pub Politics” 10 times. And just as I criticize Trump for being on Stern’s show so often, Doug takes me to task for being buds with those partisan political operatives (Republican and Democratic, but mainly he criticizes the Republicans) who hosted that show…
Yeah, I agree with Richard on this one, those were some pretty rough comments by you. As someone who grew up in a “military family”, all support Trump more than they did Obama. I don’t think those Marines are saluting under protest.
Well, there’s no way of knowing what they think, personally. Because they’re Marines. They don’t let personal feelings affect how they perform their duty. And that’s one of the great things about Marines.
AND let me say that’s the other side of the coin. The fact that they DO so smartly salute Trump — and Obama, and Bush, and Clinton, and so forth — is testimony to the glories not only of the Marines, but of our system. I’ve lived in a country where the military DOES express itself politically, and it’s not a good thing.
So I’ll look at the bright side. So should we all.
I certainly wasn’t trying to upset or insult Richard, or anyone. It’s just that, as you know, I have such respect for the Corps, and as you also know, so little respect for Trump, that that was my honest reaction. I suppose you and Richard may have a similar reaction when Marines have had to salute, I don’t know, Bill Clinton. And to a certain extent, I would share that reaction. Just not to the extent as with Trump.
It was the first thing I saw today that said, “He’s now commander in chief.” And that was not a happy thought. So I let that be known…
If you have never served as a Marine, you have no right to speak for them. Most active duty military personnel I know, (I do business at Fort Jackson, Shaw, McEntire, Charleston, and periodically Paris Island) are overjoyed at Trump beating Clinton, because they knew under her it’d be more of the same. I don’t know of one military installation where moral dropped after the election. So to say what you did is 100% wrong and nothing more than your opinion.
Trump will do more for the military than Obama ever did.
Not one word you just said backs this up: “So to say what you did is 100% wrong.”
I said it was sad to see. I didn’t say the Marines were sad. I have no idea what the Marines were thinking. They’re Marines. They’re not paid to have opinions about their duty; they just do it.
It doesn’t matter if every Marine in the Corps voted for Trump. That has nothing to do with ANYTHING I said. What I said was that it was sad sight…
And then, I said that on second thought it WASN’T such a sad sight, because Marines are supposed to salute whoever their boss is, whether he’s a worthy boss or not. And that’s a GOOD thing, because that means the system works.
That doesn’t mean I’m going to be happy to see it, if this is the guy being saluted. I’ve been as clear as anything about that, from the very beginning.
From Lindsey Graham:
Yes, of course — very gracious, senator. But did you hear that speech?…
By the way, if you’re interested, here’s the text of Trump’s speech — on the immediately transformed White House website.
That’s the only item right now in the “Briefing Room” section of the website. Everything from before today — such as those Photos of the Day from Pete Souza — are gone, erased…
Not erased. This is the Digital Age. Nothing is ever erased. The Obama White House website is archived here.
Oh, good! Thanks.
“At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other.”
“When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.”
I despise comparisons of Trump to a certain 20th century dictator (and I’m already more than a little burnt out on the left’s constant hysterics and hyperbole), but that feels just a little too on the nose. Like maybe the speech writer, perhaps some guy named Steve, was laughing pretty hard when he thought of the inevitable blow back from that statement.
“Oh they want Godwin? I’ll give ’em Godwin!”
Well, comparisons to Hitler are dumb. He’s closer to Mussolini.
But aside from the strutting and the bombast and the fascism, he’s not all that much like il Duce, either.
He’s much, much closer to Berlusconi than to any other political figure I can think of. And that’s a comparison I doubt you can find much fault with…
“At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other.”
“When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.”
That comes across as a pompous lecture and a thinly veiled call for the people to be in allegiance with Trump. Didn’t hear much about “total allegiance” when he was blathering about birtherism. But now that he’s in charge he expects, no demands, allegiance.
Trumps very first act as president is a measure that will cost first time home owners. Let the reign of the plutocrats begin:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-cut-mortgage-insurance_us_5882765ee4b0e3a73568f0a4?tt04peymcm84r6bt9
“The Obama administration had said last week that the Federal Housing Administration would drop the cost of mortgage insurance it sells by almost a third to 0.60 percent. But after Trump took office, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees the FHA, told lenders the fee cut was off. The reversal of the reduction will mean that homebuyers who borrow $200,000 under the program will see their mortgage insurance fees go up by $500 a year relative to what the Obama administration had ordered, according to figures released by the FHA when the cut was announced”.
Important words, “mortgage insurance”. This is not for the life of the loan, just until you have 20% equity. Trump didn’t raise the rates, he simply cancelled the reduction, so the people who are paying mortgage insurance won’t see any change from what they’re paying now.
If $29/month on a $200,000 loan is going to deny you from getting the loan, or cause you financial distress you you probably don’t need to buy that house. Replacing a roof or furnace would likely cause you to go into default.
$29 x 12 months is $348/year.
It’s my understanding that mortgage insurance continues unless one refinances. Since treasuries and other interest rates are already rising and will likely continue to rise, that prospect dims for many. This is only the beginning of the assault on all but the affluent.
Mortgage insurance can typically be cancelled by the borrower when the mortgage balance hits 80% of the value of your home. Once it gets to 78%, it’s automatically dropped whether you remember to request the cancellation or not.
In any event, it’s a proposed price cut that’s being cancelled. The status quo is simply staying the same, as I read that article. Also, it appears this only applies to FHA loans, not VA or conventional loans.
What interest rates are doing will likely more significantly affect the mortgage lending business than this.
“What interest rates are doing will likely more significantly affect the mortgage lending business than this.”
Allowing people to buy homes without at LEAST 10% and better 20% is one of the factors that contributed to the market collapse. And it’s still happening. When we sold our home in 2015, the purchaser came to the closing with a check for $11 and change. They had financed EVERYTHING including all the closing costs. They’ll be underwater for years and then will probably let it go into foreclosure. But if the banks denied them the loan, there would be all the Elizabeth Warren types claiming the banks are oppressing poor people. It’s a no win situation. Give them loans they can’t pay back, and you’re a predatory lender. Don’t give them loans, and you’re a racist.
How terrible it is to expect people to save money for a down payment on a house and have some real equity in the loans….
Yeah, the days for people coming in with 20% down are long, long gone.
I’ve been doing residential real estate closings as part of my practice for 10 years now, doing hundreds (if not thousands) of closings and I can probably count on one hand the number of first-time home buyers who came in with 20% down.
Yeah, I’ve seen this, too. Let’s not blow this one out of proportion. They eliminated a scheduled reduction. Nobody’s mortgage insurance will increase; it just won’t decrease.
The real impact of this change will be to make it more difficult for some prospective buyers to get loans.
I’m saving my outrage for unwarranted military actions, civil rights abuses, and climate change anti-policy.
Exactly, the only ones affected will be those new buyers who are borderline eligible for that particular loan. With or without the reduction they can barely afford that house anyway.
Good point Norm, thanks.
The unfounded and at this moment, unwarranted commentary has already started with a bang. A National Parks Service employee apparently used the official Parks Service Twitter account to compare the crowds at Obama’s 2009 inauguration vs. Trump’s. It was re-tweeted and in turn, the Twitter account was shut down. Then the accusations started that Trump had shut it down and his facism was already showing. But, the truth is that the National Parks Service does not have anyone heading it up now because of the change in administrations. A new head is in the confirmation process by congress and in the interim, career Park Service employees are running it. They understand the politics involved when there is an administration change and know they have to adapt to the changes if they want to remain as employees.
They made the decision, not Trump or anyone associated with his new administration. Stopping to consider the ramifications of using a federal government’s Twitter account to tweet what could be considered a negative about the new president could have an impact on the jobs of the career employees and it is very possible someone as thin skinned as Trump could take action and do whatever is within his power to initiate a wholesale change in personnel at an offending department.
Given the uncertainty of the moment, I agree with the decision of the temporary management based on their future and job protection. If placed in the same position, I would have probably made the same decision. In the end, their jobs are on the line, not yours or mine.
Some of the great regulars on this blog work for the state or a municipal government and understand the rules. Would you or they jeopardize your jobs and careers to make a political statement no matter how innocuous or innocent it may be?
Facts are negatives, apparently.
Care to show where there is any proof or facts that indicate Trump directed the Parks Service to shut down the Twitter account? If you have them, then provide them. My comments were not a defense of Trump, only to demonstrate how twisted things can get when the truth is left out of the equation.
That’s fair Norm but I think it foreshadows things to come. The $500/yr was, in effect, a tax cut. But it had no effect on wealthy people. What makes this noteworthy is that it was his first act of his administration.
Wealth has nothing to do with it. If Warren Buffett or Bill Gates buys a property and don’t put down 20% they have to pay it too. Like I said, if you’re going to be affected by 0.25% difference in your mortgage, you’re probably looking for too much house for what you can afford.
Here’s my bottom line with the new POTUS. I don’t like the man personally and find much of his past behavior reprehensible. But I differ with Brad in one important respect. I don’t acknowledge his election as a necessary AND sufficient condition to declare the election a disaster. No, that can only be ratified by outcomes. If the economy booms, civil rights are honored, international security is enhanced and the environment is healthy then I will regard the election a success. I only ask my conservative friends to judge the election by facts not platitudes, memes and phony rhetoric. The right has never judged Obama on facts. I pledge not to engage in that way with Trump.
Two words Webster’s will add or modify the description of this year thanks to the election.
MAGA
snowflake
While still waiting for the tides to recede and many of the other utopian type promises Obama made and couldn’t keep, I will wait patiently to see how Trump plans to round up millions of undocumented/illegal immigrants and send them out of the country and then explain the costs that will be not in the millions and billions but in the trillions – it “ain’t” gonna be cheap in dollar terms not counting it in terms of how it will affect the humanity aspect of sending them out of the country.
I will wait patiently to see how Mexico will pay for a wall as promised by Trump. In truth, a wall that will never be built.
I will wait patiently to see how Trump will bring back all of the jobs that have been sent to other countries and avoid an economic meltdown on an international scale when or if he can do it. Many may not be sent out of the country but the ones already outsourced will remain outsourced. The global impact of suddenly bringing all or most of them back will be a disaster. There may be a slight ripple in our favor but not much more. The world is different than it was in 1950.
I will wait patiently to see how Trump and Republicans will make the necessary changes and corrections to ACA to make it work better and at the same time, provide the necessary health care to ones who are truly in need and cannot afford it (not the freeloaders but the legitimate ones in need).
The list could go on and on but the ones mentioned should suffice for the time being.
I will join bud to see how he does his new job with a wait and see attitude. Fortunately, POTUS is not a reward for being on a reality television show, it has real world consequences and when the words, “You’re Fired” are said to his face, it will be said by forces much more powerful than he is.
Trump is like a dog chasing a big truck and catching it. Okay, now what? Cock his hind leg and piss on the tires, walk around the truck and bark at it and the driver and occupants? Hopefully I am wrong, not just for my sake but for the sake of the people of this country.
Anybody know how The Women Against Trump movement went today in Columbia?
The new Press Secretary, I already like him compared to the smarmy Press Secretaries under Obama.
Here’s a consequence;
http://militaryoneclick.com/trump-administration-deletes-joining-forces-page/
Is this your first presidential change during the internet age? At every change of administration the page has basically be taken back to a generic page. The Bush page was changed when Obama took office.
Wow. Seems so petty.
Just quite simply, the first utter fool and jackass we’ve had as President. The most thin-skinned, egotistical maniac to ever occupy the office. Just look at his first day in office: his press secretary immediately starts whining (at Trump’s behest I’m sure) about unfair coverage of what was by all objective accounts the lowest-attended inauguration in some time, and Trump stands in front of the wall of honor of CIA officers who gave their lives in service to their country, and uses that opportunity to —what else— ramble on about himself, argue again about attendance at his inauguration, and basically make it all about The Donald.
If this is the pace of one day, just imagine day after day of this, his Presidency completely consumed by lashing out at any and all criticism. There’s no way he can last at that pace, because every ally will turn against him in Washington. You can run against Washington all you want but at the end of the day he has to try to work with the structure of government and that means actually doing things, not just defending himself constantly. In spite of having a sizable majority of his own party in both houses of Congress, he’s not going to last 15 months in the Presidency is my guess. There’s no way he gets through a whole term without bringing himself down by some combination of ill-tempered utterances, corruption and violation of the emoluments clause of the Constitution, and just generally being judged unfit for office.
Phillip,
Too bad we the citizens of the US cannot initiate a recall vote for POTUS. The only recourse is impeachment. One group is filing suit today against Trump.
Trump made campaign pledges and is keeping his promises that appealed to enough voters to put him in the White House. But, sometimes keeping a pledge or promise requires careful planning and consideration of the ramifications of going about it too soon. Trump is not going to carry TPP forward and signed the necessary paperwork to stop it this morning.
He is going to interfere too much with our economy and do it too soon, creating uncertainty and ultimately, economic chaos. His ego and narcissism drives him to believe he is the only person in the world capable of understanding the complexities of treaties, trade agreements, and other “business” matters on a local, state, national, and international scale. This is the real world and involves not just the US but other nations, especially our allies. This is not a practical application of his book, “The Art of the Deal”, it is much more complex than cutting a deal with a bank, a broker, or a real estate transaction. The man has never brokered anything involving geopolitical partners at this level and if he goes about making changes and “deals” the way he did with his private affairs, we will lose any advantage we have with China, Russia, the EU, and just about every nation we deal with economically.
I’m starting to suspect this crowd nonsense is a brilliant, planned strategy to divert the medias attention from real issues. If so it’s working. Very little coverage of the mortgage insurance issue, NAFTA or other real policy measures.
Kellyanne Conway just schooled Chuck Todd on Meet The Press, she’s tough but on point and doesn’t take his smarmy crap. He was stuttering, arms folded, and about to lose his temper.
Wow. You really think that, Richard? Wow. That’s amazing…
She utters a baldfaced lie in the most absurd terms — with a phrase that will live forever — and Todd laughs in her face, that THAT’S what you saw?
Chuck Todd got owned in that interview. You didn’t see his body language? I’ve never seen him cross his arms in an interview with anyone and that’s a classic defensive sign. She had him backed into a corner and he sat there stuttering and stammering and trying to ask the same question over and over. A question that didn’t matter if she agreed or disagreed with him, it was that unimportant.
But that’s a non-newsperson’s perspective, I’m sure you saw it from the other side.
Wow again. I guess I need to go find the interview Claus was watching. I must have missed it when I was watching the “alternative facts” one with Kellyeane Conway…
Chuck’s body language was showing he was frustrated with her, as any reasonable person would have been. The fact that he was frustrated and showed it does not mean she had any sort of point. Her ridiculous words remain not valid.
You should try evaluating arguments based on what the words mean and not just the emotional tone.
It was a very important question.
Too bad, George Stephanopolis and Chuck Todd can’t be merged into one person. George is better at keeping his cool in the face of the inane, but he drops it and moves on when they deflect or say blatantly false things. Chuck is better at not letting them off the hook when they won’t answer a question.
Interestingly George did have a very similar conversation with her yesterday and kept his cool, but she didn’t say the stupid alternative facts thing with him. She kept saying to him that crowd size is not a big deal, and George kept saying, yes exactly, so why did the President make it a big deal? Shockingly, she deflected some more and never answered.
Shall we have a chat about what the hell ‘alternative facts’ are supposed to be?
Facts that are left out in making the initial statements?
Well, if you are talking about ESTIMATES of sizes of crowds, there are no facts. There are varying estimates, each probably using different factors. What “facts” are in question?
The facts are not in question. It’s Spicer’s and Conaway’s statements that contradict the facts that should be cause for concern for everyone.
Spicer’s statement: “We know that 420,000 people used D.C. Metro public transit yesterday, which compares to 317,000 that used it for President Obama’s last inaugural.”
Actual figures according to Metro:
January 20th, 2013–782,000
January 20th, 2017–570,000
The press secretary of the President of the United States made a demonstrably false statement to the American people while accusing the press of doing the same thing. Kelly Anne Conaway referred to Spicer’s statement as “alternative facts”. Chuck Todd was right to laugh at her, and all press outlets should refuse to talk to any member of the administration that behaves in such a manner.
The photos that Spicer referred to clearly show a difference in crowd size prior to the ceremony. AP reports that both pictures were taken 45 minutes prior.
And it’s not the crowd size that matters. What matters is that these people are so willing to deny reality and expect the citizens to accept what they say as truth.
The number of riders on the D.C. Metro, as measured by turnstile counts is a fact. Trumps press secretary cited a bogus set of numbers. Trump used “alternative” facts otherwise known as lies.
Kinda scratched my head on that one when I read it. Please understand I am not trying to be crude but with Trump everything is coming down to a “p@$#%r measuring” contest and he always wants to win. He will stretch the truth, provide “alternative facts”, and go after the groups protesting in one tweet and in minutes, send out another one praising their right to protest. It is obvious, he cannot resist hitting back at the slightest provocation.
It has been my intent to try to be as fair as possible and even defend Trump when some things are said that are not accurate or cannot be proven, i.e., the Parks Service Twitter account being shut down by Trump.
The truth can be defended, a lie cannot. It should be obvious to his supporters, it is becoming more and more difficult to defend him when he contributes little or nothing to his own defense when he and his staff offer up an oxymoron comment like “alternative facts”. You know, when using terms like “open secrets”, “paid volunteers”, or in this case, “exact estimate”.
Just ran across this old post, and I can’t believe I forgot to mention that he’s the first president to have been inducted into the professional wrestling hall of fame…