Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I have other things to bitch about but those will have to wait.

…and a burning sense of injustice to juice the soul.

Let me file that under fuck it.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

The choice is between normal and crazy.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

“woke” is the new caravan.

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

Bad people in a position to do bad things will do bad things because they are bad people. End of story.

Somebody needs to explain to DeSantis that nobody needs to do anything to make him look bad.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Not all heroes wear capes.

Let the trolls come, and then ignore them. that’s the worst thing you can do to a troll.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

GOP baffled that ‘we don’t care if you die’ is not a winning slogan.

If West Virginia and San Francisco had a love child.

Cole, when it comes to calico cats, restraint is overrated.

White supremacy is terrorism.

There are a lot more evil idiots than evil geniuses.

It’s a doggy dog world.

It could be worse. Vance could have said “post-menopausal sows.” Waiting for that audiotape to surface.

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105Comments

  2. 2.

    4tehlulz

    Three hours and three minutes left.

    What can W screw up with that much time left on the clock?

  4. 4.

    Redhand

    The peaceful transition of power really is a remarkable thing.

    Very often overlooked, but when you see other societies and what happens when "the leader" dies, . . . well we can be happy that our institutions outlasted one miserable President and his even-worse VP. Their understanding of American democracy was that they were elected to be co-dictators for eight years.

  6. 6.

    D-Chance.

    Well, that’s fine and dandy. We’re a "democracy" and "democracy" is just the funnest and most wonderfulous thing in the world, doncha know (as long as our side wins; otherwise, not so much).

    Meh. Time for bed. I just hope the country’s still around when I awaken this evening…

  9. 9.

    Face

    The peaceful transition of power really is a remarkable thing.

    /checks watch, shakes fist at John for clear and obvious jinx he just laid

  11. 11.

    Dork

    So approximately how many minutes past noon should I expect the killing of all the white babies and raping of all the white women?

  12. 12.

    Trinity

    I still can’t believe this is happening. Thanks for putting the cynicism aside for a moment. For some of us this is a moment of unparalleled joy. My great-grandfather was an escaped slave that went to his deathbed without telling his family where he escaped from. He always feared they would find him. Because of that there is a hole in my history that can not be filled. I will never know where my people were slaves in this country. I will never be able to complete my family tree.

    That I can sit here today and see a black man become president is beyond anything I ever imagined I would see in my lifetime.

    Call it over the "over-the-top silliness" if you must but this is a wonderful day.

  13. 13.

    JL

    Last night I put on the Disney Channel to watch the children’s concert. The entertainment was awful but the smile on the faces of the children in the audience was priceless. The concert was put on for military families and they were overjoyed with glee.

  14. 14.

    gypsy howell

    No cynicism today. Just joy and happiness.

    We can start in on the cynicism again tomorrow, but for now, let’s congratulate ourselves for not completely f*cking it up again .

  15. 15.

    harlana pepper

    OT, but as I noted on an earlier thread, John, if you are still in the market for a light: Here you go, The Travel-lite. This is what I got. It’s light, adjustable, portable and $180.

  16. 16.

    harlana pepper

    K, I’ll try again. With regard to light therapy: here’s the Travel-lite from Northern Lights – it’s light, portable & adjustable and it’s $180. This is what I got.

  17. 17.

    JL

    I awoke early and put on MSNBC and they were showing a stream of people entering the mall area. It reminded me of the final scene in Field of Dreams.

  19. 19.

    PK

    I was relying on Hulu to watch the inauguration. I turn it on and they have the Fox news feed and Shep Smith reporting on portable potties. Dear God what a way to start the morning! Fox is the last thing I want to see today. Does anyone have any info on other good sites showing the inauguration?

  20. 20.

    South of I-10

    Now I’m feeling all hopey again. Thanks John! I am at work, but we are planning to crowd into one of the offices and watch it on the web. Can’t wait! I really hope they let the kids watch it at school, I want my daughter to see.

  22. 22.

    R-Jud

    we can be happy that our institutions outlasted one miserable President and his even-worse VP.

    We can HOPE that they have. We still don’t know how deep the rot of the last 30 years goes.

    Even so, I’m not going to sweat it today. I’m not really a hopium eater, but I am more proud of my country today than I have been in a long time.

  23. 23.

    Mazacote Yorquest

    I’ve heard of cutting it close, but Larry Johnson is REALLY flirting with disaster waiting this long to release that whitey-tape.

  26. 26.

    liberal

    John Cole wrote,

    Today Is The Day

    If Obama keeps up with his entitlement reform talk, it might well turn into "Same shit, different day."

  27. 27.

    burnspbesq

    Gotta love the French. Apparently, they are responsible for everything good in the world.

    In Le Monde today, Selogene Royal (remember her?) claims that all of Obama’s best moves were copied from her campaign.

    She neglects to mention, and Le Monde is too polite to remind her, that she lost – badly – to Sarko.

    But, what the hey, we can be magnanimous today. Let’s all sing a chorus of La Marseillese.

  28. 28.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    To quote Thomas Paine, "The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection."

    We’re inaugurating a real man today.

  30. 30.

    DougJ

    Is there a good channel to watch this stuff on? I put on MSNBC but it was Morning Ho. When does that piece of shit end?

  34. 34.

    Jim D.

    As I said over on UTI:

    One of the luxuries (also one of the dangers) of working for myself is that I get to set my schedule. And I long ago decided I wasn’t going to try and get anything done at least this morning – I wanted to celebrate the removal of Bush from office. I admit, I would have preferred to have it happen with him either leaving in a box, or being dragged out in handcuffs, but you take what you can get – there are worse things than a constitutional transfer of power. I was going to get drunk in celebration of that bastard being gone. But sometime in the last few days, that attitude changed. I decided that I was more concerned with observing Obama coming in. No, I have no illusions about his being some kind of semi-divine character who is going to make everything better instantly. That’s absurd. But it really is something remarkable that he is going to be president in a few short hours. I never believed I’d live to see it. So I’m going to stay sober and watch. Yeah, Bush will finally be out of office. And that is cause for deep happiness. But I don’t want him to taint this moment in history.

  35. 35.

    greynoldsct00

    I’m watching the MSNBC live-stream at work…figured I’d jump on now in case the site gets too much traffic at the appointed time… and yes, constant drivel from Mika and Joe but I think I can handle most anything on this most wonderful of days! Buh-bye Bushie!

  37. 37.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    @Trinity:

    Because of that there is a hole in my history that can not be filled. I will never know where my people were slaves in this country. I will never be able to complete my family tree.

    Obviously I won’t pretend to know what you or your family have gone through, but pretty good records were kept in much of the country during that time. The information you want may be out there. It’s happened before.

  39. 39.

    Laura W

    @Jim D.:

    I decided that I was more concerned with observing Obama coming in…. But it really is something remarkable that he is going to be president in a few short hours… So I’m going to stay sober and watch.

    Nice.
    I came to the same realization early this morning.
    I don’t want to miss a thing, and I want to experience all of the emotions in the purest manner with as much focus and presence as I can bring to the moment.

    I’ll get drunk tonight.
    BTW, who the hell looks that damn good in mustard yellow (while kissing Bush. Ick.)

    (Edit: Plus, those insinuations yesterday that if I got "squishy and stoopid" today I might get pregnant really scared me.)

  40. 40.

    Face

    @DougJ: Every cable news network has been furiously masterbating to scenes of dirty hippies and Scary Negroes(R) gathering in DC. We’ll about to witness either an Obama swearing or a Ozomatli concert.

  42. 42.

    Louise

    PK, I know! I had Hulu embedded in my LJ and when I went over there, they had Huckabee on, talking about gay marriage. WTF? DELETE.

    Of course, Morning Joe had Harold F***ing Ford on, and Bob Woodward, who helpfully reminded everyone that Nixon’s inaugural speech was all about hope and change. Thanks loads.

    Just a reminder, people: C-SPAN. You get a bit of history, but the rest of the time, you get the sights and sounds and nothing else.

    I’ve had my 1-20-09: Bush’s last day sticker on my car for four years. And it’s here! It’s today! I could start crying right now, just thinking about it.

  43. 43.

    The Other Steve

    I am so glad that we have the 22nd amendment, and Bush was prevented from seeking a third term.

    That being said, I think we should now repeal the 22nd amendment and declare Obama President for Life! :-)

  44. 44.

    Deborah

    "Over the top silliness" and "heart-warming Americana that pulls us all together" are not mutually exclusive concepts.

    Sweetest report so far was the NPR bit on the pile of warm clothing and sleeping bag that contains, deep inside, a 105-year-old woman who is absolutely determined to see this. Much nicer than the bit on 2 dozen people insisting he’s the Antichrist.

  45. 45.

    MikeJ

    Has the Onion done a headline yet? I’m imagining, "Suburban White Guy Doesn’t Think it’s that big of a Deal."

  46. 46.

    TheHatOnMyCat

    New Congress. Check. New President. Check. New Cabinet. Check.

    Same old dismal, tired, self-referential pundits. Check.

    In the name of Almighty Dog, can’t all those pundits retire and go do something else, and can we not have new ones?

    Am I forever doomed to listen to Pat Buchanan and Carl Bernstein and Peggy Noonan and George Will? MAKE THEM GO AWAY FOR CRISSAKES.

  47. 47.

    JL

    Earlier CNN interviewed several folks in the crowd. There were groups of folks singing and having a good time. They also said that Bill Bennett keeps getting teary eyed. WTF, is he going to miss Bush that much?

  48. 48.

    Ejoiner

    What are the odds that they play "This is the Day" by The The after his speech?

    Probably slim to none – but one can always hope! (It is the theme for the day right?)

    I’d put money on a lot of U2 – how about "City of Blinding Lights" or "Beautiful Day"?

  49. 49.

    kay

    I was churlish and snide many times during the course of this freaking marathon of an election and transition and inauguration. It’s a long haul, and we’re imperfect.

    I’m grateful we got him in. We’re imperfect, but we did do this, and I’m glad.

  50. 50.

    sparky

    caution: crankypants comment

    @Redhand: i’m not sure they were wrong. we certainly acted as if they were, and the hoopla now makes me wonder the same about Obama.

    no one seems to have noticed that if the US was a republic as originally constituted we wouldn’t be having this self-congratulatory discussion because power wasn’t originally centralized in the WH. so what’s the right term? elected emperor?

    incidentally, i am as happy as anyone else to see the Back of Bush and i am still hopeful about Obama. but i doubt the republic is coming back.

  51. 51.

    Joshua Haaland

    @MikeJ:

    or, "Suburban White Guy Who Didn’t Vote for Obama Now Wants to Know Why People Still Complain About Racism."

  52. 52.

    Reverend Dennis

    I’m old enough to remember Eisenhower federalizing the Arkansas National Guard to compel them to escort nine black kids to a formerly all-white high school in Little Rock. So, yeah, this is a big deal.

  54. 54.

    firebrand

    I just want to remind people, on this truly blessed day, of all the people who said this day could never happen, not in a million years, and thus that is why you shouldn’t vote for Barack Obama. And as you stand in the Mall seeing this live, or watching on TV or the web or wherever, just know this: all those people that said this couldn’t happen – these people are totally, utterly, and completely FULL OF SHIT.

    Suck it, haters! Barack Obama IS 44! MUAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAH!!!!

  55. 55.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    They also said that Bill Bennett keeps getting teary eyed. WTF, is he going to miss Bush that much?

    No, he put a nickel on McCain to win the presidency.

  60. 60.

    wilfred

    We’re an empire now. It’s just a question of good emperors and bad emperors.

    Caligula is getting the boot. People will get carried away with emotion today, to the point that the wanking that will take place on threads here and elsewhere should be put into an intertron time capsule and resurrected whenever necessary.

    I’m pleased to say that I’m happy, mainly because McCain/Clinton was unthinkable for the human race. I’m equally pleased to report that despite all the prelimiary wanking about "The whole world is breathless" in the little corner of the world I call my home nobody gives a shit.

  63. 63.

    Guzzuman

    Why? Peaceful transfer of political power goes on all the time. It’s not that remarkable.

    Guzzuman

  64. 64.

    Notorious P.A.T.

    I’ll get over it when it is over. Has anyone been prosecuted for war crimes? Has anyone been arrested for defrauding the government of any of the billions of dollars that vanished in Iraq?

  65. 65.

    Mike in NC

    They also said that Bill Bennett keeps getting teary eyed. WTF, is he going to miss Bush that much?

    Is it too soon to reserve a copy of "The Virtues of the Bush Administration" on Amazon?

  67. 67.

    JL

    @Laura W: You’re right It’s All Happening. Obama sent out an email wanting pictures of what you were doing when he took the oath of office. I’m going to send a picture of the Balloon Juice page.
    Michelle looks great.

  69. 69.

    sparky

    @Notorious P.A.T.: as another outlier, i am intrigued by the lack of Bush pardons. this was SUCH a big deal for Bush (remember telecom immunity?) that there’s no way someone hasn’t spent a lot of time working something out here.

    maybe (a) Obama will pardon everyone ala Ford? speculative, i know, but really, WTF is going on here?
    or (b) no pardons because that would give the Hague a green light for prosecution
    or [c] memory hole. the only problem with memory hole is that it’s a bit of a gamble but memory hole plus (b) might make sense.

    yeah i know i sound all paranoid, but really, doesn’t this seem a bit…odd?

  73. 73.

    sgwhiteinfla

    There are a lot of things I could say about Rush Limbaugh but I will point out at least he is being honest for a change, something you can’t say about Boehner and McConnell

    http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/20/limbaugh-obama-fail/

    So I’m thinking of replying to the guy, “Okay, I’ll send you a response, but I don’t need 400 words, I need four: I hope he fails.” (interruption) What are you laughing at? See, here’s the point. Everybody thinks it’s outrageous to say. Look, even my staff, “Oh, you can’t do that.” Why not? Why is it any different, what’s new, what is unfair about my saying I hope liberalism fails? Liberalism is our problem. Liberalism is what’s gotten us dangerously close to the precipice here. Why do I want more of it? I don’t care what the Drive-By story is. I would be honored if the Drive-By Media headlined me all day long: “Limbaugh: I Hope Obama Fails.” Somebody’s gotta say it.

  75. 75.

    Laura W

    @JL: Great minds, JL. I shot some photos of all the yards around my home at daybreak, sun coming up, light snow all around. I did the same thing on Nov. 5, just to remember where I was, and how it was, on That Day.
    I got some great indoor shots of the sun coming in with 3 cats and the dog in their positions by the teevee and the laptop.

    I especially love this one with the BJ page on it. I was going to keep it in reserve in case you-know-who gets churlish and snide, titled "Don’t Make Me Come Over There!", but I’m not going to be cynical on this thread, on this day.

  76. 76.

    Face

    I’ll get over it when it is over. Has anyone been prosecuted for war crimes? Has anyone been arrested for defrauding the government of any of the billions of dollars that vanished in Iraq?

    Hate to break it to ya, but these arrests/prosecutions will never, ever happen. And Bush/Cheney know it, which is why they were so transparently brazen and unapologetic about the theft.

  77. 77.

    John Cole

    Crittenden never fails. I think inauguration day should be a holiday for EVERY president, not just this one. If there is an award for willfully misreading things, he would be a lock.

  78. 78.

    Louise

    My father has waited for that moment: Bush leaving the WH for the last time. He said he couldn’t even celebrate properly on election night. NOW he’s happy.

    Karen Tumulty at Time’s liveblog says Dick Cheney in a wheelchair "completes his transformation into Mr. Potter from It’s A Wonderful Life. Heh.

    C-SPAN is just all crowd noise and PA introductions. Love it.

  79. 79.

    JL

    Laura, Great picture.
    The folks waving at Obama as he passes by don’t seem to mind the cold. There’s a lot of chills and tears at my house.

  80. 80.

    DougJ

    I hate to also be churlish and snide, but let’s not get too happy here, folks. You won’t believe the shit that we’ll see over the next few years.

  81. 81.

    TheHatOnMyCat

    Face is correct. The bar must be set impossibly high on prosecution of a former administration, lest the government just turn into a cycle of criminal investigations, prosecutions and impeachments. We really don’t want to turn into Italy.

    Well, if we got the food, that would be okay. But not the government with its constant turnovers.

  82. 82.

    DougJ

    I realize they’re both insufferable blowhards and that I’m supposed to hate Tweety, but I loves me some Chris-and-Keef talking about American political history.

    Tweety right now: “Bush is not an interesting figure.”

    So true.

  83. 83.

    Gravenstone

    Tuned in to MSNBCs coverage – just in time to hear Tweety compare Bush to the Romanoffs. What, does he know someone plans to march the Bush family into the basement after the ceremony and do away with them? Cripes…

  85. 85.

    DougJ

    Tuned in to MSNBCs coverage – just in time to hear Tweety compare Bush to the Romanoffs.

    I think it’s fairly apt.

    David Gregory is not very smart, by the way.

  87. 87.

    TheHatOnMyCat

    David Gregory is not very smart, by the way.

    Yes, but he makes up for it by displaying a lack of intelligence.

  88. 88.

    JL

    @DougJ: We can go back to doom and gloom tomorrow. Today I just want to cherish the moment. I would be shedding tears if McCain and Palin were being sworn in but for different reasons.

  89. 89.

    DougJ

    Today I just want to cherish the moment.

    It’s going to hurt that much more when we go belly-up. (Yes, I’m a lifelong Red Sox fan.)

  91. 91.

    wilfred

    So the theme of his inauguration speech is:

    The Birth of a New Freedom

    What do we do with the old freedom, send it to the third world or something?

    Obama’s biggest problem is that he is already becoming very easy to parody. New freedom?

  92. 92.

    Laura W

    There’s a reason why old people go south.

    Tweety’s amazing grasp of the obvious impresses.

    thud

  94. 94.

    wilfred

    Will we able to exchange old freedoms for new freedoms? Will there be an official rate like a Freedom Converter? Can I have a chart to tell the difference, one with simple and clear instructions? Not like one of those feet to meters things that are so confusing.

  95. 95.

    Louise

    When did George Sr. start hobbling like that? Is he ok?

    The girls look adorable and just thinking of them in the WH makes me smile. Can’t be cynical right now.

    The crowd!

  96. 96.

    Tsulagi

    @Reverend Dennis:

    I’m old enough to remember Eisenhower federalizing the Arkansas National Guard to compel them to escort nine black kids to a formerly all-white high school

    Now that’s fucking old. j/k

    As the primary season seriously started up, Obama wasn’t my first or even second choice. But when I first saw a photo of his daughters did think it would be very special for those two girls to be able to call the White House home for a while. To be able to play in the yard, have bedrooms in the WH full of their stuff, and have the full weight and power of the country protecting them and their right to be there. Not why I voted for their dad, but it didn’t hurt.

  97. 97.

    Laura W

    The crowd is a big chia pet with teeth.
    Could Rachel and Keith tape his mouth shut?
    Last dump on Tweety. Really. I mean it.

  98. 98.

    SGEW

    Dammit all. I thought I got over the emotional roller coaster once Obama got elected. I made an oath to abandon my pre-election rah-rah spirit and observe the Obama presidency with objectivity and some degree of skepticism once he was no longer the candidate but the president-elect.

    Then those little girls took the stage. Now I’m cryin’ here.

    Oh oh oh. This is as important as people say.

  99. 99.

    SGEW

    I still can’t believe it!

    I’ve been an Obama supporter since fucking 2003! And now he’s going to be the god damned President of the United States of America.

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