Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

The revolution will be supervised.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”

Republicans do not pay their debts.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

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

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

You cannot shame the shameless.

Bark louder, little dog.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

Usually wrong but never in doubt

Infrastructure week. at last.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

Take your GOP plan out of the witness protection program.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

You are here: Home / Politics / America / The Inaugural Address of the 45th President of the United States

Reader Interactions

288Comments

  2. 2.

    PhoenixRising

    …Could someone with a strong stomach translate it from the Russian for me? I’m going to the gym to hit things. For health reasons.

  10. 10.

    Quinerly

    Weird speech. He thanked the “people of the world.” Don’t watch it. I understand. You must read it, though. He’s talking about the “movement.” He’s snorting and sniffing like he does when he reads. It’s a campaign speech. Talking about crime, gangs, “American carnage,” and a failing education system “flushed with cash.” “Sad depletion of our military.”

  11. 11.

    Mary G

    I am watching and the speech is as classless as you could imagine. I have never wanted to smack anyone in the face as much I want to slap the smirk off of Paul Ryan right now.

  12. 12.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    Goddamn, Trump is starting with a bang. He’s talking like he has simultaneously won victory over Hitler, the Borg and Emperor Palpatine, and he will rebuild American society from the current smoking hellscape.

    This is nothing but a retooled version of his stump speech.

  17. 17.

    Mary G

    And the sniffing is off the charts. He is issuing a new decree. You are sadly mistaken. You are not a dictator.

  20. 20.

    The Moar You Know

    This is not going to go well for Pumpkin Hitler. Problem is, we’re strapped into the roller coaster with him.

    Never thought I could actually miss W.

    @EBT: For me, that started about two days after election day. At least he had most of his dad’s people – and his dad, for that matter – to fall back on if he fucked up too badly.

    Trump has nobody and has no clue what he’s doing.

  21. 21.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    @Mary G:

    I realized earlier in some of the behind-the-scenes shots that he has permanent resting smirk face. Really keeps him close to the top of the “most punchable face” list.

  22. 22.

    Lizzy L

    Not listening. Not planning to listen or watch this man until the day he leaves office — may it come soon! Resist!

  26. 26.

    EZSmirkzz

    What were you expecting for nothing??!!!

    A rubber biscuit?

    Remember – this is a philosophical speech, Kantian in its’ gossamer threads …

  27. 27.

    Cacti

    @The Moar You Know:

    This is not going to go well for Pumpkin Hitler. Problem is, we’re strapped into the roller coaster with him.

    He never mentioned the real purpose of his proposed wall.

    To keep us trapped in here with him.

  28. 28.

    Adam L Silverman

    Radical Islamic Terrorism: Drink!

    Also, check to see if ISIL just vanished in a puff of smoke.

  32. 32.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    Somehow the standard inflammatory Trump rhetoric is way scarier when it’s delivered by the president. Ngrr!

  35. 35.

    The Moar You Know

    Ryan was the only one smiling for most of all of this shitshow.

    @Quinerly: I suspect he knows he’s not going to be around as Speaker, or in Congress, much longer. I’d be smiling too if that were the case.

  36. 36.

    Adam L Silverman

    “The hour of talk is over, now comes the time of action”. He’s gone full on praxis.

  37. 37.

    pamelabrown53

    @Judge Crater: #23

    Well, I wouldn’t say “no one’s there” but certainly space available for many, many more people. I hope the “newz” networks actually compare President Obama ’09 with Trump 17.

  38. 38.

    Mary G

    What a dreadful situation. Putin has to be ROTFLHAO. Enjoy it while it lasts, assholes, because it won’t last long. This clown and his crew are just too incompetent. And Sheldon Adelson makes Jabba the Hutt look like a cute little puppy.

  40. 40.

    hilts

    @Steeplejack (tablet):

    This is nothing but a retooled version of his stump speech.

    Thanks for the description, I expected as much from this tool in chief. What a horrible day for the world. Hopefully, we’ll be able to undo some of the damage this lunatic will unleash before his term ends.

  41. 41.

    EZSMirkzz

    Well it’s not like the guy didn’t want to put tanks on the street on his first day in office.

  44. 44.

    Irony Abounds

    I ain’t watching that shit. And a big FUCK YOU to all those lazy ass Democratic voters who stayed home and handed Trump FL, PA, MI and WI. You people (and James Comey) are responsible for the shitstorm the next 4 years will be.

  53. 53.

    JPL

    @Adam L Silverman: From the comments, isn’t it to late to be inclusive after you criticized half of the electorate? Wouldn’t the time to be inclusive be at the beginning of the speech?

  54. 54.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    Man, the religious speakers are really pounding hard on the Jesus thing, as in “Fuck you, everybody else!”

  55. 55.

    Cacti

    @EZSMirkzz:

    Well it’s not like the guy didn’t want to put tanks on the street on his first day in office.

    I’m wondering how long until he creates himself a special Commander in Chief uniform with epaulettes and medals.

  57. 57.

    Mary G

    It started to rain just as he got up and Franklin Graham says in the bible that’s a sign of God’s favor. Name the verse, because I don’t know that one.

  58. 58.

    pamelabrown53

    @Adam L Silverman: #39

    Unfortunately, Trump doesn’t do inclusive well. Anyway, I began watching because I’ve always watched and part of me believes it’s my civic duty. However, this inauguration just feels so surreal. Decided it’s more important to take care of myself.

  59. 59.

    Adam L Silverman

    Not a lot of love in that crowd for Rabbi Hier’s invocation. My guess is they go nuts for Franklin Graham.

  60. 60.

    WJS

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but when he stood up, President Obama did not clap. He looked like someone had just farted.

  64. 64.

    hilts

    Now comes the time of action

    Yes protests and demonstrations against the policies of this idiot and constant reminders to the public of his many conflicts of interest.

  65. 65.

    SFAW

    @Judge Crater:

    There is nobody there.

    I call bullshit. Why, I counted AT LEAST 150 million! Proving it’s the BIGGEST EVENT EVAH!!

    Oh, sorry, I re-counted, it was more like150. 175 if you count the police.

  66. 66.

    catclub

    @Major Major Major Major:

    One of these is a presidential inauguration in 2017 for a man named Donald Trump and the other is from 2009 for a man named Barack Obama. Can you tell which?

    The massive numbers of white people are so white in the second one, they look like expanses of empty white cement?

  70. 70.

    Phylllis

    Listening to the Pandora Motown channel. Coworker in adjoining office is listening to the inauguration on her computer. I think it made her mad that I shut my door.

  72. 72.

    ET

    There are some pictures on a local blog around the area of the Washington Monument and there is no one. Metro is saying as of about 11:30 there were less than 200,00 trips while Obama’s 2009 had way over 500,000.

    I live on the Hill a bit out and there is little movement of cars or people. I did see a UPS delivery van as well as a garbage truck, Safeway’ s delivery van, and a random USPS van. There was more activity for Bush’s second term. The only way you could tell there was anything going on was the helicopter sounds and the fact that it was so dead.

  75. 75.

    Mary G

    Does anyone know what the blue button Nancy SMASH and some of the other Democratic women are wearing says?

  77. 77.

    khead

    “We stand at the doorstep of a new millennium” – Bulworth, 1998

    “We stand at the (birth? edge?) of a new millennium..” – Trump today

  85. 85.

    Cacti

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Not a lot of love in that crowd for Rabbi Hier’s invocation. My guess is they go nuts for Franklin Graham.

    Funny thing. When right wingers prattle on about our “Judeo-Christian heritage,” they never seem to be lamenting a lack of Judaism in our public discourse.

  86. 86.

    Lyrebird

    No way will I click on this. Gonna look again at the hatted ducks from an earlier thread. Distributed some snacks to friends who will march. Breathing.

  89. 89.

    zhena gogolia

    Inspired by someone in the thread below: “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”

  91. 91.

    Ajabu

    No thanks. I will not acknowledge this lunatic as “president”.
    Like other commenters, I will ignore him entirely until he A) drops dead or B) is dragged away in a nice public perp walk. Then I’ll watch. Otherwise, FUCK HIM & his reprehensible family.

  100. 100.

    ArchTeryx

    And now my personal deathwatch begins in earnest, while I at the same time work like fury to try to get myself to the point where I no longer depend on the ACA for survival.

    It’s (as usual) a day late and a dollar short, but something I would have posted to Richard Mayhew’s dead thread downstairs:

    I’m a Gen Xer that has never known prosperity in my adult life. I have three degrees – a B.S., an M.A. and a Ph.D. – and every single time, I graduated with them into a steadily worse recession. The only jobs I have ever held are freelance and temp jobs. The only stability I ever knew was when I was getting a grad stipend, and even that fell by the wayside when I got seriously ill with junk grad student health insurance.

    At 45, my life savings are precisely zero.

    I would have been homeless or dead a long time ago, if not for my circle of extremely close friends, that have never failed in their generosity when the chips have truly been down. They fixed my junker when it broke down, they paid my car insurance, they put food on my table and they paid (the co-insurance) for the surgery that saved my life.

    I may as well have survived the Great Depression, when it comes to my personal economics. American society has been doing its best my entire 45 years to kill me, and my loved ones are all that have stood between me and death all these years, and may yet do so again.

  108. 108.

    hovercraft

    @Adam L Silverman:
    Why are you lying, you know those pictures have been doctored, and the dates on them transposed!!
    Also too the weather was much nicer 8 years ago, and reasons.

  109. 109.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes: It put me in mind of a skit Jane Curtain used to do way back in the bicentennial days– Audrey Pierce Dickman, a sort of proto-Marsha Blackburn who was unashamed of her patriotism. She was proud to have the American Eagle, stamped on her toilet tissue (while Chevy Chase made rude gestures next to her).

    That outfit is that toilet tissue writ large.

  111. 111.

    dance around in your bones

    ‘Twould take an immense amount of quatloos to make me give a microdot’s consideration to listen to (let alone WATCH!) this deplorable flap his buttlips in my general direction. And then I would quickly decline, preferring to listen to a pack of snarling jackals instead – ? music to my ears !! ?

  112. 112.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Steeplejack (tablet): He’s taken a lot of hits within the Jewish American community for normalizing the extremism that’s been pulled into the mainstream by the Trump campaign and transition. The Weisenthal Center is not what it once was. More the pity.

  117. 117.

    Tilda Swintons Bald Cap

    Jonathan Sloan @MrBigFists

    The attendance for the Inauguration may seem light, but you have to understand how brutal the commute is from Moscow.
    11:32 AM – 20 Jan 2017

  118. 118.

    Mary G

    The Pences are seeing the Bidens off and the helicopter is waiting for the Obamas. Now my wailing and rending of garments begins. NOOOOO!!!!

  125. 125.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Mary G:

    Does anyone know what the blue button Nancy SMASH and some of the other Democratic women are wearing says?

    Somebody mentioned it earlier on NPR. It’s something like “Save Our Care” or “Keep Our Care,” referring to both the ACA and Medicare. Not sure of the precise phrase, but that’s the message.

  128. 128.

    Spanky

    I ain’t watchin’ that shit. Passed a TV here in Giant Govt Agency office at the point that Freakin’ Frank Graham was blathering. “Bout lost my lunch.

  129. 129.

    Yarrow

    Adam, your thoughts on this?

    If brand-new-POTUS Trump tries to shut down IC investigation into his Kremlin ties, the loaded phrase "Russian coup" then becomes operative.— John Schindler (@20committee) January 20, 2017

  132. 132.

    zhena gogolia

    Any publication that comes in the house with his picture on it, first I scribble all over it with black felt-tip pen, then I rip it off, tear it into tiny bits, and throw it in the trash.

  135. 135.

    Busybody

    I can’t bear to watch this shit but I just looked at the Mall Earthcam. Can it be accurate? Is it live ? There’s nobody there. The seats are empty and the pedestrians look like a normal WaDC day. Is that the way it looks to everyone else? WTF?

  136. 136.

    zhena gogolia

    @? Martin:

    I truly, truly had a vision this morning that he would be struck down as he put his hand on the Bible, which would burst into flame.

  137. 137.

    Jeffro

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Also, check to see if ISIL just vanished in a puff of smoke.

    This is my fear, that his awesomer-than-the-generals plan for ISIL (much less his plan to ‘wag the dog’ once he gets close to impeachment) is to fire a warning shot…”You know, just one nuke, a small one, right over ISIL HQ? Do it. I’m the President now.”

  140. 140.

    Yarrow

    @zhena gogolia: I’ve been known to turn over or hide any magazines with his face on them. Doctors’ waiting rooms, supermarket checkout lines, wherever. No one should have to see that ugliness. I’ll be doing the same with that US Magazine cover with Ivanka. No normalizing!

  146. 146.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Steeplejack (tablet): He’ll misstep. Same problem Abe Foxman created for himself at ADL.

    I spent almost four hours over the past week consulting with both the security chair and the rabbis at my Mom’s synagogue on security issues. The latter on the same day that those 30 plus bomb threats were called in to Jewish Community Centers across the US. The word is that the ethnic churches, as well as the local mosques have also been threatened and/or vandalized as well. People are scared. They are not going to get less scared in the immediate future. The biggest issue is that I do not know how to estimate how bad things may or may not get.

  147. 147.

    mai naem mobile

    Adam I am disappointed. I thought you were going to have a pic of a piece of legal paper with ‘I is bigly great,no I is bigliest greatest Preznit’ in alternating red and blue crayon..

  150. 150.

    MomSense

    I’m fucking furious. I just read that pathetic speech and he has no business being a guest speaker let alone the leader of the world formerly known as free.

    My god.

  151. 151.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes:

    She took very literally that line about “When fascism comes, it will be wrapped in the flag….”

    And KellyAnne is the one, let’s not forget, who on Memorial Day made her daughter change one blue outfit for another blue outfit because the first one wasn’t the “right blue.”

  152. 152.

    JPL

    Twitter has informed me that Chuck read a letter from a Civil War Soldier to his wife. This is the last paragraph

    But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the gladdest days and in the darkest nights … always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again …

    I don’t find the words encouraging.

  153. 153.

    hovercraft

    @Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes:
    Considering the woman, who is a fucking millionaire always looks terrible on TV, a medium she has been a regular on for decades, she has No sense of style. She obviously thinks if she wears red, white, and blue it will make her boss look legitimate and patriotic. Fat chance. DUH, I am such an idiot, those are the colors of Putin’s Russia, so a nod to her boss’s boss.

  156. 156.

    mai naem mobile

    Am not watching but the comments about Ryan smirking he probably thinkz this is how he’s going to become president. Muse have a sachsxytime tape on Pence too.

  158. 158.

    Tilda Swintons Bald Cap

    It turns out that many teachers who voted for Trump are mad about Betsey DeVos. Ha ha. #sorrynotsorry

  160. 160.

    dexwood

    @Jeffro:

    Thanks, but the simple message idea comes from commentor ASV in John’s Thursday night post asking for sign ideas. I liked it so much I hung a sign from my front porch this morning with only that word on it.

  164. 164.

    hovercraft

    @mike in dc:
    Fuck that shit, We are not, we have different goals, and they are diametrically opposite of each other. I wanted EVERYONE to have a better life, they want only what’s best for the “right” people. So now they can all go DIAFF.

  166. 166.

    Chris

    @chris:

    “We will be protected by god.” whistle whistle

    I fucking hate that brand of Christianity SO MUCH. Never mind the religion in politics. The extent to which these people spout bog-standard American nationalist rhetoric and think as long as they’ve slapped the words “bcoz Jesus!” in front of it they can call it Christianity. It’s something that should piss off the religious community so much more than it actually does, given how much it stinks of idolatry.

    (Or course, it was never about Christianity for these people. Christianity’s just another tribal identity, one that overlaps nicely with their American and white identities, and the purpose of invoking it is to say “us good, dem bad.” And possibly “God on our side.”)

  167. 167.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Yarrow: I don’t know Schindler, I had almost no contact with any of the faculty at Naval War College when he was there and I was at Army War College. I think he’s being cute with that tweet and may mean that it is evidence that the Russians really did this, there really was contact, and so the current government amounts to a coup by Russia. Or he could be writing literally. Or a bit of both.

    I think what I’ve been telling you all, he’s been telling his readers/twitter followers, Malcolm Nance his, Rick Wilson his, that the IC will just keep pushing until something gives is what will happen if there is an attempt to shut the CI investigation down done by the FBI and IC CI folks. The Senate investigation is a different kettle of fish – the Administration has no ability to do that at all.

  169. 169.

    DesertFriar

    @Quinerly:

    “America is unstoppable.” “We will be protected by God.”

    If he truly believes this then he should ask to fund the Military Industrial Complex to 10% of what it is now.

    And he should be look to enlist a young boy who plays a harp, writes poetry, guards sheep and who is a crackerjack with a slingshot!

  174. 174.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Jeffro: That wasn’t my point. I was making fun of the almost fetish object Republicans and conservatives have made of the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism”. As if by saying it ISIL and al Qaeda and al Shabab and Boko Haram, etc would all just disappear in a puff of smoke at the power of the incantation.

  176. 176.

    catclub

    @MomSense: I also re-read Obama’s 2009 speech. The difference is appalling.
    Not to mention the difference in eloquence and inclusiveness. Trump can say we and the people but cannot pick out any individuals.

  177. 177.

    Adam L Silverman

    @eric: Just for this flight its Executive One. As soon as the Obamas disembark it becomes Marine One again.

  179. 179.

    ed_finnerty

    He stole a line from warren beatty’s speech in Bullworth

    “we stand on the edge (cusp) of a new millenium”

  182. 182.

    Chris

    @Mary G:

    It started to rain just as he got up and Franklin Graham says in the bible that’s a sign of God’s favor.

    I wonder if one of the Nazis said that when the Ark of the Covenant started acting up.

  183. 183.

    Mnemosyne

    @Quinerly:

    I started crying at random this morning. Not triggered by reading the news or anything, just sitting in my living room and crying.

    I think I’m going to be doing a lot of that the next 4 years.

  184. 184.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    @JPL:

    Schumer read part of the letter, but not that part. He did invite everyone to read the whole thing, though.

  187. 187.

    Tilda Swintons Bald Cap

    @Major Major Major Major: Absolutely. They are of the age of majority, are holding down jobs, and raising families. They are not even functionally informed about things that affect their lives. But this does show one thing, for better or worse, people in this country always blame the President when things go bad. We should always remember that when dealing with Trump, the more we make it hard for him the more blame he gets.

  188. 188.

    dance around in your bones

    I remember watching and cheering with my husband as Dubya puttered away in a helicopter for the last time. Now I (husband muerte) am imagining The Best President Ever and his wife flying away from the White House and I’m grieving.

    The Orange Cheez-Whiz Thing is just too intensely awful to contemplate. I Wanna Be Sedated.

  190. 190.

    ruemara

    @Mary G: Man. That is a lie on the Word of God. Graham must not actually believe the Bible, because the consequences of that are harsh.

  191. 191.

    bemused

    Rump declaring now transferring power from Wash DC to you, the people and on this day 1/20/17, the people will rule again. Trump voters, you are so screwed.

    Trump voters who claim to be Christians, proud to be patriots putting America first sure gave Rump a free pass. They tossed their principles, morals, their bible and their country right into the trash to support a deviant butt grabber and Putin boot licker. WWJD There must be a relevant Bible verse that would fit these people.

  192. 192.

    Raven Onthill

    (My short remarks over at my blog.)

    That was bizarre. Trump gave a version of his stump speech to an uncrowded mall, and he used the words, “American First,” which was the cry of Americans opposed to US entry into World War II, while neo-nazi David Duke applauded on Twitter.

    Even Trump’s supporters don’t seem happy. Oh, I’m sure there are some who are jubilant. But most stayed home. What’s your problem, guys? You won. You’re going to get what you want. Why aren’t you happy about it?

    …or perhaps it is dawning that you didn’t win, after all.

  193. 193.

    La Caterina (Mrs. Johannes)

    Yay! There’s a demo going on outside my office! They’re chanting NOT OUR PRESIDENT!!

  195. 195.

    pamelabrown53

    @hilts: #155

    In 71 days as president elect of the United States, Donald Trump told at least 82 untruths.

    It disgusts me that “untruth” is now a euphemism for “lie”.

  196. 196.

    hovercraft

    @amk:

    How is god doing you a favor by literally peeing on your parade?

    It’s a golden shower from God donchaknow ;-)

  198. 198.

    ET

    @zhena gogolia: the Washington Post had an insert with his face on it and I put in the recycling outside of the house before I started to read the rest of the paper.

  199. 199.

    Jazzman

    On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be occupied by a downright moron.
    –H. L. Mencken, column in The Baltimore Sun, July 26, 1920

    Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.

    And may God have mercy on the United States of America.

  201. 201.

    rikyrah

    As power shifts, Trump’s team remains unprepared to govern
    01/20/17 11:08 AM—UPDATED 01/20/17 11:23 AM
    By Steve Benen

    When one U.S. administration transfers power to another, it’s not uncommon for various officials to remain at their posts for a while, which is why this Associated Press report, published yesterday, may not have seemed especially surprising.

    President-elect Donald Trump has asked roughly 50 senior Obama administration appointees to remain in their posts after his inauguration to ensure continuity in government, his incoming White House press secretary said Thursday.

    The officials include the highest-ranking career officials at key national security agencies like the Pentagon and State Department.

    Just on the surface, there is a certain irony to the appeals: much of Trump’s campaign platform was predicated on the idea that President Obama’s team was an incompetent and disastrous failure, unfit for power, who must be replaced by people hand-picked by the Republican amateur.

    Evidently, as of yesterday, Trump decided Obama administration officials aren’t so bad after all – because the people he spent a year bashing are now being asked to keep doing their jobs a while longer.

    Note, we’re not just talking about random, low-level officials in obscure government offices. Team Trump has pleaded with top members of Obama’s team – professionals who work on highly sensitive tasks related to national security, for example – to stick around, for an indefinite amount of time, while the incoming administration gets its act together.

    And therein lies the broader point. Trump and his team have known for months they needed to prepare a vast executive-branch team to take the reigns of power this afternoon – and they blew it badly. The Republicans didn’t just ask dozens of Obama appointees to keep going to work because of the officials’ competence; Trump World is also scrambling because it’s desperate.

  203. 203.

    The Moar You Know

    It turns out that many teachers who voted for Trump are mad about Betsey DeVos. Ha ha. #sorrynotsorry

    @Tilda Swintons Bald Cap: Hell has no fire hot enough.

    My wife, who teaches, tells me about 35-40% of her teachers are GOP. And only about a quarter of that number have the expected rich spouse or trust fund. So I ask her, what the fuck is up with the rest?

    As you would expect, they’re the insufferable co-workers who think they are a true gift to education and all their colleagues are mooching at the tit of the system, and they truly believe that if they could get rid of the union and Dems, they’d be recognized as the geniuses that they are and be rewarded handsomely.

    I told her, these people missed their avocation, with an attitude like that they need to be software engineers.

  205. 205.

    Bobby D

    What a goddamn farce.
    I don’t drink anymore, 7yrs sober, but the temptation is bigly and you can’t really hit the bong at work.
    On the positive side of things – two new Obama official Presidential photos came in the mail yesterday (ordered from Govt printing office, 11×14 for $12. GPO stock number is 021-000-00204-6 if anyone needs one, bookstore.gpo.gov )

  206. 206.

    ed_finnerty

    he should have plagiarized someone (other than hitler). it is after all the family tradition.

    It would have been less egregious than that nonesense

  209. 209.

    Phylllis

    @Tilda Swintons Bald Cap: I intend for my last words to my idiot coworkers in my district* who voted for him when I leave next June to be “You broke it, you bought it”.

    *Which will be in some kind of dire straits w/o federal education funds.

  211. 211.

    p.a.

    Well it’s Day 1 of TAKING OUR FUCKING COUNTRY BACK.

    “I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: Oh Lord, make my enemies ridiculous. And God granted it.”

    (Letter to Étienne Noël Damilaville, May 16, 1767)”

    ― Voltaire

    (you know I mean from tRumpism, right?)

  212. 212.

    chris

    @Chris: I’m an atheist but, y’know whatever. I’d be willing to bet that Trump is the same, which makes it… bigly more better?

  213. 213.

    hovercraft

    @pamelabrown53:
    It doesn’t matter even if they call them lies, his fans just come back with, al politicians lie. Besides I think that is a lowball count. Every other word out of his mouth is a lie, they probably decided to only count the significant lies.

  215. 215.

    Cacti

    Kellyanne’s ensemble that looked suspiciously like a Russian Federation flag…

    Also had brown bear buttons on the front of it.

    They’re not even trying to hide it anymore. She was saluting the big boss in Moscow.

  216. 216.

    randy khan

    @Schlemazel:

    I was thinking 1970s flight attendant.

    Remember, by the way, that this is the woman who said she’d handle Trump the way she did her kids, using as an example offering them a choice of outfits rather than letting them choose whatever they wanted. Those kids clearly are going to need therapy if she’s the one choosing their clothes.

  218. 218.

    Chris

    @zhena gogolia:

    It pisses me off. But I’m the kind of Christian who doesn’t get any publicity.

    “When pray, go into your room, close the door?”

    @ruemara:

    @Mary G: Man. That is a lie on the Word of God. Graham must not actually believe the Bible, because the consequences of that are harsh.

    “But the prophet who shall presume to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, even that prophet shall surely die?”

  221. 221.

    Yoda Dog

    The VICE channel is showing the movie version of 1984 from 11:30-2 today.

    Well played, VICE. Well played.

  224. 224.

    Adam L Silverman

    @D58826: Yes and no. After the Intel Committee got the briefing last week, the GOP Chair of the committee immediately flipped his position. If McConnell wants to hold his caucus he’ll let it play out. It is important to remember that McConnell is cautious bordering on cowardly.

  225. 225.

    Cacti

    @Chris:

    “But the prophet who shall presume to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, even that prophet shall surely die?”

    “Do not add to His words or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”

  226. 226.

    Gindy51

    @Mnemosyne: Me too, was playing a computer game this Am and just started to bawl like a baby. Took me ten minutes to stop. In all my years I have NEVER felt so sad about losing a president.

  228. 228.

    mr_gravity

    @Mary G: The bible, not unlike trump, is subject to interpretation. Except when it isn’t which is about half the time.

    Just remember: god loves you so much that he will be forced to cast you into a lake of fire for eternity if you question him.

  232. 232.

    catclub

    @eric: Given that The Obamas are moving to a house in Washington DC, putting them into a helicopter makes no sense.

    But Tradition!

  233. 233.

    Chris

    @mr_gravity:

    The bible, not unlike trump, is subject to interpretation.

    Yes, that’s a good point.

    For instance, it seems that if you take American nationalism, Ayn Rand’s economics, and white heartlandese (preferably Southern) cultural anxieties, package them all together, and put the words “because Jesus” in front, you’ll end up with something that’s shockingly identical in all respects to the Biblical texts written down between two and three thousand years ago on the other side of the ocean.

    According to some.

  234. 234.

    Adam L Silverman

    @eric: As far as I know its only ever used by the President, or in this case for the last flight of the outgoing President. The VP has his own: Marine 2.

  239. 239.

    ruemara

    @ArchTeryx: I’m about your age and that’s been my reality so far. The only bright spot in 2016 was a pay raise to the actual regional scale and now, a real job with benefits. Look, we’re just going to have to take care of our own, so that means if you need being taken care of, establish a patreon page. A go fundme. something. And ask for help.

  241. 241.

    hovercraft

    @catclub:
    I think they took them out to Andrews, which gave them a chance to say thank you and farewell to them as well, kinda makes sense. Then they get to drive home like normal people. I wonder if Obama got to drive, he said he missed driving himself ;-)

  243. 243.

    Adam L Silverman

    @hovercraft: They’re flying on a reflagged Air Force 1 out to Palm Springs on a vacation. The designator for today is Special Air Service.

  244. 244.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    @catclub:

    They went to Joint Base Andrews, where they are taking a plane to Palm Springs, California, for a vacation.

  245. 245.

    Chris

    @ArchTeryx:

    Fifteen years younger than you, but I can relate to this. I have for a year been living in the basement of friends who don’t charge me rent except when I can afford it – temp jobs – so thankfully the circle of loved ones thing has worked out for me too, so far. How long that lasts we’ll see. I remember going to a Krugman talk years ago, in the depths of the Great Recession, where somebody asked him a question about today’s youth and he said that it’s important to realize that the years they lose now, during which (in a healthy economy) they’d have been getting a stable career and saving for retirement and maybe buying a car or even a house were years they’d never get back, and that would affect them (us) in old age. Years later and with still nothing in my name, I still think about it.

    And I relate to the entire “American society has been trying to kill me” thing, too. Not as viscerally as you do. But yesterday night when I was taking the metro home and looking at the various Trump supporters for the inauguration, I was definitely thinking: those are the people who just voted to take away my health insurance.

  250. 250.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    A protest on K Street has turned violent. Tear gas and pepper spray deployed. Live video on MSNBC right now.

  255. 255.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    @Major Major Major Major:

    It’s a small minority of the protesters, and it seems like the same type of nitwits who turn up to disrupt peaceful protests in Seattle.

    ETA: O’Keefe would never do anything so risky (to him).

  256. 256.

    Betty Cracker

    Tweet from @JuliaFortney: It started raining & all the white ppl in the #Inauguration  mall crowd pulled up white poncho hoods… if that’s not a sign, idk what is.

    Didn’t see a nanosecond of it, but I read the text. Trump and his minions don’t have an ounce of grace or humility in them.

  259. 259.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    How do you get rid of them? It’s probably not going to work to ask them politely to leave.

  261. 261.

    hovercraft

    @Betty Cracker:
    A sea of white hoods, it’s like they’ve never heard of symbolism, irony or any of those fancy words.
    Here is was Josh Marshall’s take:

    hovercraft

    says:

    January 20, 2017 at 2:10 pm

    He Xeroxed the Convention Speech

    “America First” has now be spoken in an inaugural address. This was quite similar to Trump’s convention speech: dark, defiant, filled with talk of “American carnage”, a landscape dotted with tombstones. This was vintage campaign Trump.

    “Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities, rusted out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation, an education system flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge, and the crime, and the gangs, and the drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.”

    If you didn’t hear it, that’s about all you need to know. This speech was about grievance and reclamation, reclaiming power, wealth from those who’ve stolen it. These themes can make sense and be salutary for countries which are weak, battered and poor. When they become the rallying cry for the strongest and wealthiest of countries, that is always dangerous. Our work is cut out for us.

    – Josh Marshall

  263. 263.

    clay

    @The Moar You Know: I teach, and we have quite a few hardcore conservatives types. But, oddly, a lot of them are proud union members. (Including one guy who just joined the union this year which is the last year before he retires!)

    I think some of them have been around long enough to realize that the state legislature can really screw teachers over on a whim, and they want the extra force of the union. And some of them want the extra legal protection in case a vengeful administrator or parent goes after them. But the older conservatives seem a lot more likely to join the union than the fresh, young liberals, which is somewhat depressing.

  264. 264.

    dance around in your bones

    @Gin & Tonic: Thanks for noticing ;)
    I’ve been alternating between here today and plastering my (newly acquired prolly soon to be de-quired) FB page with anti-Cheez Whiz screeds/images. Impressing my 13 (count ’em!) followers(family/friends) with my wit. I also don’t drink anymore but am sorely tempted ……
    Nah. Can’t give in to the brain drain….

  267. 267.

    Another Scott

    @ArchTeryx: Your posts are poignant for me because I know that I could have had the same experience (BA, PhD here) if my luck had been a tiny bit different. None of us fully control our destiny and chance has a huge impact on our lives.

    It’s horrible to contemplate and no sensible society should need such things, but have you considered putting up a bleg somewhere? Or something on Paetron? If Randall Munroe can make a decent living drawing stick figures, it can’t be that hard, eh? (Ow! Ow! Stop hitting me!!! That’s a JOKE! ;-) Even an extra $20 a month that lets us show you’re not alone and gives you the option of having a decent meal might help keep your spirits up. Just something to think about.

    Hang in there.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  270. 270.

    catclub

    @hovercraft: I noticed he said that all that middle class wealth was redistributed overseas. He neglected to mention ‘into the hands of US millionaires and Billionaires – like my cabinet’.

  272. 272.

    Ruckus

    @rikyrah:

    because it’s desperate

    I wonder if it’s dawned on them yet that they are so far in over their tiny pea brains that there is no other way than to ask their betters to stay on. I also wonder how many of their betters will be the bigger people and do the work. Me, I think I’d say no thanks, you broke it, you bought it, you own it, even if it is the normal thing to do, this totally not being a normal transition.
    I’m coming around with the view that if they are going to break it into dust, at least let them own it 100%.

  273. 273.

    Ruckus

    @dance around in your bones:
    Drinking doesn’t make it better, it makes it numb. You wake up and the problem is still the problem but you are hungover as well. So now you have two problems, not counting whatever you did when you were enjoying the numb.

  274. 274.

    Groucho48

    @JPL:

    The chivalrous soldiers of the noble Lost Cause dug up and desecrated his body. That’s just how they roll.

  275. 275.

    MoxieM

    @ArchTeryx & Chris: I’m another one…I’m about 12 years older than ArchTeryx. I have all the degrees, and post-doctoral training as well… I made the mistake of switching from research into non-profit (museum) work just as the Bushies took over, and it’s been all downhill from there. I make barely over minimum, work part time, have acquired a chronic illness along with regular aging shit. And the work I have, while I’m grateful for it–well, it really sucks to be working about 10x below your competency. Oh, and a disastrous divorce…is there any other kind? So I’m co-signer for 100k of my kid’s tuition loans (and she had good financial aid). (Yes, I do believe it was my responsibility as her parent to get her the best undergraduate education she could do. And I did.) And she contributes, but among the many things I grieve about HRC’s loss, this is a biggie. oh well, poor, toothless, barely walking, in endless pain yet absurdly educated is not a good way to go through life, but I may have no choice!

  276. 276.

    catclub

    here’s a question for Adam or other lawyers. I saw this statement at the WaMonthly Political Animal blog:

    Collusion with a foreign adversary to influence the outcome of the presidential election would certainly meet the standard of a high crime or misdemeanor.

    Which law? I agree this should be against the law, but which law?
    How would adversary be defined? How about influence? Does having Bibi Netanyahu campaign for you qualify? Why or Why not?

    My real suspicion is that this is just norm breaking. There is no actual law stopping this from happening, and if there were, it should have been applied to Romney and Netanyahu.

  277. 277.

    catclub

    @Ruckus:

    I’m coming around with the view that if they are going to break it into dust, at least let them own it 100%.

    I can already bet that McGurk, who stayed as anti-ISIS coordinator, will get blamed for anything bad that happens in The Middle East.

  279. 279.

    Peale

    @hovercraft: Part of me is afraid that white people will turn off their TVs and go out of their houses and realize that we aren’t actually living in Poland Circa 1944 and they’ll give Trump all the credit for it. I’m sure in their minds the inflation rate and gas prices fell 50% today.

  282. 282.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Quinerly:
    @Mnemosyne:
    @Gindy51:

    I’ve been the same. Ever since I woke up this morning, just random waves of grief would wash over me. I think I’ve cried more in the last 2-1/2 months than I have in the past 20 years.

  283. 283.

    Miss Bianca

    @SiubhanDuinne: All day I’ve been at work trying to hold it together. I think I’ve figured out that the ache in my throat and chest is only partly due to the onset of a cold. Going home now, to the top of my mountain, drink hot cider, and watch “Supergirl”. And try to ignore all the people who are my new, and abiding, pet peeve: “Stay positive! Hope for the best!”

    Because, how bad could things possibly be, in this best of all possible worlds?

  284. 284.

    Ruckus

    @Miss Bianca:
    Went on FB this morning and the number of posts asking for us to just get along……..
    Fuck that. I just got along with GWB and how’d that work out? I lost everything and ended up having to live on the kindness of a good friend. Have spent the last 5 yrs getting back to a reasonable place in life. Not a great one mind you just reasonable. And now this. So Fuck that.
    And by the way, Fuck Fucking Cancer. Too.

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