Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

He seems like a smart guy, but JFC, what a dick!

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. do not touch it.”

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

Rupert, come get your orange boy, you petrified old dinosaur turd.

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

In after Baud. Damn.

Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

The line between political reporting and fan fiction continues to blur.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

Prediction: the gop will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

If rights aren’t universal, they are privilege, not rights.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

Books are my comfort food!

Trump should be leading, not lying.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

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

You are here: Home / Politics / Politicans / Missing Obama Already / Here, Have Some Sanity

Reader Interactions

80Comments

  1. 1.

    ruemara

    I simply do not understand how we went from Obama to Trump. I know how, but I can’t grok these people sidling up Trump at all.

  3. 3.

    Amir Khalid

    I’m watching it already. I don’t believe Trump understands in the slightest how vast the gulf is between himself and Barack Obama — in moral vision, in leadership, in wisdom, in simple humanity.

  5. 5.

    FlyingToaster

    @ruemara: It’s pretty clear, actually.

    1) Blackety Black Black Black*
    2) He-Man Women Haters Club
    3) Voter disenfranchisement (via ID requirements, generally)
    4) Russian interference, both online and via the NRA

    * Family code word for conversations with the racist assholes on my mom’s side of the family. The non-veterans are all Trumpistas. They won’t communicate with me or my sisters, and they only like my brother because he’s a blowhard male chauvinist pig. Sounds familiar, hmmm?

  10. 10.

    Zinsky

    @ruemara: A political pundit (I have forgotten who) once wrote that “each successive president is viewed as the antidote to the one who came before them”. So, I guess the antidote to an intelligent, articulate, well-reasoned black guy is a stupid, racist rich bigot who can’t put ten words together and have them make sense. What a pig!

  11. 11.

    Adam L Silverman

    @ruemara: “economic anxiety”

  13. 13.

    Yarrow

    @Adam L Silverman: As you know, the Black Lives Matter movement was infiltrated by Russia and used to increase fear of black people by white people. Seems like that op worked pretty well.

    We are so dumb about detecting propaganda and active measure in this country. We desperately need some kind of focus on education about that issue. It should be a national priority once we clear the traitors out of the government.

  14. 14.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Amir Khalid: Was not aware, or have forgotten, that the MH17 tragedy coincided (depending on time zones) with your birthday. Please accept my best wishes, even if they are belated.

  15. 15.

    Amir Khalid

    @Elizabelle:
    Blues turnarounds. I hope to get into the lead playing part of the blues course I’m following online. It’s from an Australian guy named Justin Sandercoe. A jackal pointed him out to me. He’s a great online teacher.

  17. 17.

    Betty Cracker

    I can’t bear to watch. It’s like I used to ride around in a top of the line Mercedes Benz, and now I’m a passenger in a rusty old Pinto with holes in the floor and a missing steering column. When the Mercedes blows by the Pinto on the highway, it’s too painful to even look.

  18. 18.

    The Moar You Know

    There’s good evidence that a substantial number of Obama-Trump voters made their partisan switch in 2014 and 2015; before Trump entered the national conversation but during the height of Black Lives Matter.

    @Adam L Silverman: And we KNOW that BLM was a small local legit anti-police brutality protest movement that was turfed into national prominence as an anti-white, anti-cop revolutionary black revolution movement (it was none of those things) specifically by the Russians, with an able assist from Facebook, who didn’t care where the money was coming from but were happy to run the ads and fake groups, who saw it as an excellent wedge issue (and it was). Those motherfuckers used both BLM and #metoo to damage the Dem party badly, while leaving the GOP virtually untouched.

  19. 19.

    Yarrow

    @Betty Cracker: I’m with you. I can’t watch him either. It does not help at all but just increases the pain. He’s a good man. I already know that.

    @The Moar You Know: They sure did. As I said above, we are in desperate need of education on propaganda and active measure. Americans are woefully naive about how they’re being used and how gullible they are.

  20. 20.

    jimmiraybob

    I’ve taken the liberty of drafting some legislation:

    National Emergency Legislation: Former President Barrack Obama, by virtue of his unparalleled experience and dedication to the US Constitution and proven commitment to our American ideals and norms and with consent of both houses of Congress, is hereby appointed and empowered to act as chief administrator of the Executive Branch of the United States of America, to execute all of the powers of the Presidency and to hold this position until our grave National Emergency has subsided and until such time as safe and fair elections can be held.

  21. 21.

    Rommie

    @Amir Khalid: Honestly I think Trump knows how wide the gulf is, that he is incapable of narrowing it, and it is one of the many things that infuriates him.

  22. 22.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?

    @Adam L Silverman:
    The black man didn’t magically fix everything and the negros started getting uppity about not wanting to be shot to death in the streets. Typical.

  24. 24.

    oatler.

    @Zinsky: Trump’s ascendancy makes me think of Crowley’s “Little, Big” fantasy novel which involves a mysterious, populist president installed by the fairies to create chaos:

    “He grinned at her from his chair, a long, wolfish conspirator’s grin. He placed his large blunt fingers over his stomach and nodded, pleased. Hawksquill turned to the window and thought Why him? Why him of all people? And thought: if the mice in a household were suddenly given some vote or say in its management, whom would they elect housekeeper?”

  25. 25.

    The Moar You Know

    National Emergency Legislation: Former President Barrack Obama, by virtue of his unparalleled experience and dedication to the US Constitution and proven commitment to our American ideals and norms and with consent of both houses of Congress, is hereby appointed and empowered to act as chief administrator of the Executive Branch of the United States of America, to execute all of the powers of the Presidency and to hold this position until our grave National Emergency has subsided and until such time as safe and fair elections can be held.

    @jimmiraybob: Terrifying idea. Fortunately, he believes in the rule of law (and Michelle would kill him) and would never do it. I wouldn’t want him to, either.

    Frankly, if shit has gone bad enough that we need to appoint a national dictator, it’s gonna have to be someone a lot nastier and more ruthless than Obama.

  28. 28.

    jimmiraybob

    If shit has gone bad enough that we need to appoint a national dictator…

    Technically the precedent is the ancient Greek idea of appointing a Tyrant (temporary) in times of national emergency. It was considered a good thing at the time. Something as a corrective. And, if it was legislated, it would be law. But, your right, Michelle would not let it happen. :)

    Just some playful musing. Maybe. I didn’t really mean it. Unless I did. We’ll see.

  29. 29.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    Good morning / whatever from Vancouver. Anything happen lately with that guy in the White House? Don’t answer that, I’m on a news vacation.

    We got in ridiculously late last night (3 am eastern time, midnight local). So this is my first look at the city now. First impressions, Canadians are really nice (but we knew that) and know that what’s his name is not representative. Nevertheless, the Chinese immigrant couple who served us breakfast say it is definitely different right now visiting the US.

    Other impression, they really like their coffee apparently. There are at least four cafes in this block, not counting the Tim Horton’s and the Starbucks a block away.

    Anybody have any thoughts on how to stop the iPhone from auto adjusting photo brightness? There was an awesome sunset at 30000 feet, filled the whole sky. But the phone turned the deep blue sky and gorgeous orange light into bright white glare and washed out daylight.

  31. 31.

    Kelly

    I spent most of yesterday playing in the river with the grandkids. Air temp 95 water temp 78. Lovely day.
    Took a glance at the news in the evening and oh boy. Didn’t listen to the conference just the reactions. Probably won’t listen to it.

  34. 34.

    Hildebrand

    “We have a better story to tell…But we are going to have to work harder.” An important speech, a reassertion of hope for progress and liberal progressivism, but also a recognition of the power of fear. Vintage Obama, and a vital antidote to knavery of our current administration.

  35. 35.

    rikyrah

    @FlyingToaster:

    1) Blackety Black Black Black*

    \

    true.

    2) He-Man Women Haters Club

    I underestimated this.

    3) Voter disenfranchisement (via ID requirements, generally)

    NEVER EVER FORGET…

    The numbers of voters denied the franchise by Voter Suppression measures – in those key states – was TWO TO THREE TIMES – the margin of Dolt45’s ‘ victory’ in those states

    4) Russian interference, both online and via the NRA

    ]
    yep.

  40. 40.

    Betty Cracker

    Regarding how Russia and the Trump people misrepresented BLM: I saw that effect in real time among acquaintances who should have known better. Ditto the “take a knee” protests, which were related, of course, and which Trump will demagogue again as soon as football starts, regardless of whether or not anyone actually takes a knee next season.

    I also expect the GOP and its troll enablers to hit the MS-13 theme really hard. A new poll shows that 85% of Trump supporters think MS-13 is a big threat, which is 100% bullshit, of course. Yes, they are a nasty gang. There are lots of nasty gangs all over the world. But a threat to your average Fox grandpa? A threat to the US? Absurd, as are Trump’s claim that ICE “liberated” towns from MS-13.

    They’ll continue to exploit “Abolish ICE” as Republicans are already doing — by lying about what it means, which is NOT open borders. Probably come up with some more bullshit we haven’t even thought of yet.

    It’s true that Americans need to develop a better bullshit detector, but I’m not sure what more we can do in the short term aside from call out the lies in real time and stay connected with local groups so we can better spot troll infiltrators. I’ve seen some Democrats slam others for the “Abolish ICE” slogan because they believe it’s setting the party up for the “open borders” lie. But if they didn’t have “Abolish ICE,” they’d make up another lie.

  43. 43.

    Yarrow

    @schrodingers_cat: It does. But people are complex and other issues can come into play. We see how racism and misogyny was stoked by Russia. People who are already leaning that way think they have more reasons to believe it because of propaganda. We need a national discussion and education about how to deal with manipulation by social media and how to see and combat propaganda and active measures. Everyone, even smart, aware people, can improve their understanding in these areas.

  44. 44.

    Chris T.

    Someone help me with the phrasing here… “I want to take my country back … from the Russians”

    or: “would you like your country back … from the Russians?”

    or: “make America American again, instead of Russian”?

  46. 46.

    Yutsano

    @Betty Cracker:

    A new poll shows that 85% of Trump supporters think MS-13 is a big threat, which is 100% bullshit, of course.

    You and I and anyone with a lick of sense knows that MS-13 is being used as proxy for Hispanic immigrants. Dolt45 just doesn’t have the huevos to go back to the dirty Mexicans line so he got himself a new toy. We should ask anyone afraid of MS-13 if they’ve ever actually seen a member of this gang. It’s okay. We’ll wait.

  48. 48.

    jimmiraybob

    @The Moar You Know:

    Frankly, if shit has gone bad enough that we need to appoint a national dictator,…

    Technically, this is playing on the ancient Greek idea of appointing a Tyrant – a temporary position with a set expiration date – during times of national emergency. The Tyrant would have special skills commensurate with the type of emergency (i.e., foreign invasion, corrupt leader being run out of country, etc.). It was before “tyrant” carried such negative baggage.

    Once the emergency passed they would attempt to get back to regular democratic order. However, sometimes the Tyrant would not leave. Thus, the beginnings of the bad baggage. I’d be willing to bet that Obama would gladly relinquish the power (especially if Michelle had a say) because he actually believes in our democratic norms.

    But you’re right. Michelle is sane and would never let it happen. And it probably is unconstitutional. Sigh.

    Just having a moment of gallows humor. But there would be an interesting tough of irony. I’d have posted a smiley emoji but there isn’t one that features a gallows. Couldn’t possibly happen. But maybe…….:)

  49. 49.

    Yarrow

    @Betty Cracker:

    They’ll continue to exploit “Abolish ICE” as Republicans are already doing — by lying about what it means, which is NOT open borders.

    “Abolish ICE” is a Russian Active Measure. They want Democrats to look like they want open borders. We are stupid to sign onto it. “Reform ICE” would be a better slogan because it inherently includes the need for some kind of immigration authority and also states something is wrong with the current system and needs to be changed.

    And yes, they will always make up another lie. It’s up to us to combat them. I think the Walk Away hashtag crashed and burned because people recognized it was stupid. Good job! We need to hone or powers of observation and not become tools in Russia’s propaganda game.

  50. 50.

    Teddys Person

    @Chris T.: For me, “taking back our country” has GOP cooties on it. I’d frame it in terms of stopping the people in power from giving away our country and reversing our Declaration of Independence.

  53. 53.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    I started crying at the moment the “lecture” began. I cannot even imagine how life would have been had Hillary been POTUS and had carried on Obama’s legacy. I would still be in the US, because I would feel safe there. As it is I am in the UK because it became obvious to me that green card holders would be a target. I will not stay where I am not wanted, or where I am in danger of being deported. I will defend my decision to move back to the UK as not giving up but putting myself first. I will always put myself first, because what else am I supposed to do. I didn’t stay and fight because the fight was beaten out of me. I will never apologize for that.

  54. 54.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @Amir Khalid:

    gulf is between himself and Barack Obama — in moral vision, in leadership, in wisdom, in simple humanity.

    hair, the ability to read at a collage level, humanly possible skin color…

    heck, as much as it pains me as a liberal to admit it, there is a huge gulf between GW Bush and Trump.

  57. 57.

    rikyrah

    Crazy day today as Putin wants to swap 12 Russian GRU agents who hacked the US election for me in his meeting with Trump in Helsinki. Here’s my take for @TIME on why I’ve gotten Putin so rattled and what he’s really afraid of https://t.co/FoJkJKtLhl

    — Bill Browder (@Billbrowder) July 17, 2018

  58. 58.

    Teddys Person

    The GOP appears to be MIA:

    At the start of an interview with Republican Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA), Sciutto [CNN] set the scene by noting that almost all Republican lawmakers contacted by the network had turned down the opportunity for an interview.

    Good on Scuitto for pointing that out. Maybe our media is learning.

  59. 59.

    The Other Chuck

    @jimmiraybob:

    Technically, this is playing on the ancient Greek idea of appointing a Tyrant – a temporary position with a set expiration date – during times of national emergency.

    You’re thinking of Roman Dictators, and by that time, “tyrant” had already picked a very negative connotation. The Greeks for sure had tyrants (and the term wasn’t always negative), but there wasn’t a set process for appointing them.

    Dictators didn’t have an expiration date on their power, but after Cincinnatus relinquished power willingly, other dictators respected the precedent. At least til Ceasar rolled in…

  61. 61.

    D58826

    @Enhanced Voting Techniques:

    there is a huge gulf between GW Bush and Trump.

    I’m sure Bush 43 lights a candle every morning that he will no longer be the answer to the trivia question – ‘who is the the worst president in US history?’.

    And yes watched a clip of Obama speaking in S. Africa on MSNBC. Truly miss the man.

  62. 62.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym: I know damned well what happened in Helsinki of course. It’s inescapable. Nevertheless we’re doing our best to put the rage and despair aside for 3 weeks (longest vacation of our lives) and just enjoy people and places.

    Aside on long vacations. Every time I’ve ever run into a vacationing Australian they seem to be in the middle of treks lasting months. How do they have so much free time?

  63. 63.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    I still argue that Trump is revenge of the Commies for the collapse of the Soviet Union. It’s no coincidence that their chosen battering ram is absolute the vilest caricature of a capitalist.

  65. 65.

    D58826

    @jimmiraybob:

    I’d be willing to bet that Obama would gladly relinquish the power (especially if Michelle had a say) because he actually believes in our democratic norms.

    If Obama even gave it a moment’s thought Michelle would have him sleeping out with the dog in the backyard.

  67. 67.

    The Other Chuck

    @oatler.:

    MSNBC might get so desparate they talk to…democrats!

    I’m sure they’ll keep Joe Manchin on speed dial.

  68. 68.

    Miss Bianca

    @Yarrow: @The Dangerman: Y’know what? I am so beyond giving a fuck right now just what the right-wing noise machine makes of our words. It’s not even on my list of concerns. The optics…or what would you call ’em? “Aurics”? Sounds like Goldfinger territory…of “Abolish ICE” v. “Reform ICE” don’t seem all that different to me. NO MATTER WHAT WE SAY, or how we say it, the right-wing noise machine will be looking for a way to distort it. It’s stupid to even worry about it. What we have to worry about is getting our volume pumped up a little louder, not “oh, we have to watch everything we say BECAUSE – “. No. How about, “let’s stop watching what we say, let’s say what we actually mean, and, in the immortal words of efg, fuck’em.”

  69. 69.

    Elizabelle

    @Miss Bianca: I disagree, respectfully. Reform ICE is a winner, and gets people to look at its excesses. Abolish ICE can be made to sound like “let ’em all in!”

    Words matter, and just because we are dealing with traitors and jackasses, we don’t have to score an own goal. It’s not stupid in the least to be very articulate and careful about word choice, with the full expectation lies will be told and hyperbole applied.

  70. 70.

    Elizabelle

    @D58826: I would be good with Obama back as a caretaker, and am not so concerned about the Constitution, because we are in perilous uncharted waters, and it’s not like the Supreme Court follows the Constitution when it does not serve their political aims.

    Mostly, don’t reward the GOP with letting them keep the stolen Executive Branch. Out, out, out.

    Of course, I greatly prefer President Pelosi, perhaps bringing back Secretary of State or VP Hillary Clinton.

  71. 71.

    Yarrow

    @Miss Bianca: I hear you and agree with you about how the rightwing noise machine will attack us and use our words no matter what. I also think it’s smart to understand how our own language can be used against us and make it less possible for us to accomplish our goals. Russia knows how that works. One of their techniques, as Adam has outlined many times, is to increase already existing divisions. We need to know and be aware of that so we are not used by them to damage our own movements.

    BLM was damaged by Russia. Me Too was used to get Democrats out of Congress. Be very skeptical of Abolish ICE. There are also tools out there to see where hashtags begin and are amplified. If they begin and are amplified in places that are Russian influenced or in Russia itself, be very, very skeptical.

    @Elizabelle: Agree and well said.

  72. 72.

    Dan B

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym: Welcome to the PNW (Seattle here). Glad you’re here with good weather. There’s a great walk around the downtown along the waterfront. Their urban development has been exemplary. It has issues but the delight of people watching and strolling is a great result. Art scene is good. Architecture is interesting. Skytrain (transit) is fine, if you have scenery don’t tunnel… UBC Anthropology museum is world class. Mountain terrain at Whistler ski resort is remarkable – glaciers, volcanoes, meadows, lakes. Some of the tourist sites are nice for expensive traps (Capilano Canyon). And the Canadian San Juan Islands are blissful. Much to see. Hope you’ve got time.

  73. 73.

    ruemara

    People, I love you, but if there’s one person who does understand the facts, it is I. But it doesn’t truly give you the ability to empathize. Their minds are alien to me and I like it that way. Enough evil has been a part of my life.

  74. 74.

    jimmiraybob

    @Frodo:

    Google “ancient Greeks” & “tyrannos” or “tyrant”.

    One of the mechanisms to achieve a tyranny in early ancient Greece was for the civic leaders to elect or appoint a tyrant for temporary purposes. But, power being power, this was abused an some would not give it up. Of course, a tyrant could also be self-appointed through violence or trickery and a tyrant could be appointed from the outside. As I said, bad baggage.

    By the time Aristotle wrote negatively of the tyrant it was because he’d seen the negative outcomes (see his “Politics”). Cicero was still lamenting tyranny before the fall of the Roman Republic and yes, after the rise of the imperial system there was a similar practice of designating a magistrate to act with the supreme authority of the state, often to fight wars or battles.

    Still, just going for gallows humor with the ironic twist of using “tyrant.” And for clarity, the twist was in the years of wingnut labeling of Obama as a tyrant.

  75. 75.

    Ohio Mom

    I don’t have time to watch the whole thing right now but I did skip around.

    I am sorry but Obama has an air of terrible discouragement about him, like he’s just been told someone near and dear to him has a terminal illness. Yes, because he is who he is, he will soldier on with his incredible self-discipline. But look at the look on his face — his heart is sunk.

    And since he has a deeper understanding of the implications of current events than I could ever have, it is absolutely frightening to see that.

  76. 76.

    Elizabelle

    @Ohio Mom: I will watch later. I would not be surprised if Obama (and Hillary) felt as sick to their soul as the rest of us and cannot hide it. It’s hard to come back from this, and the danger is real.

    Personally, I think Trump was not legitimately elected, and Obama is aware of that, but knowing and proving are two different things.

    In following the Constitution and transfer of power, Obama let a madman murderer into the house, despite his misgivings. And now Trump is trying to pull the country down around him, and profit with $$$ in the meantime.

    I really don’t think they should have gone forth with the inauguration. But that is all behind us now.

  78. 78.

    boatboy_srq

    @Amir Khalid: for tRump the difference is clear and plain as black and white.

    Unfortunately, while we use that phrase as metaphor, he means it literally.

  79. 79.

    Mart

    So he meant NATO is cool and did not drool last week as well? Also too, when do we get the revised Republican Prez Platform that does not crap on NATO and treat Russia in Crimea as not AOK? It’s not like this is a sudden development.

  80. 80.

    J R in WV

    @Ohio Mom:

    Well, to see a president follow you, who’s only guiding principle is to do the opposite of what you did as president must surely be vastly disappointing and discouraging. And that’s where President Obama is right now.

    The only news I really want to see is stories about frequent indictments and arrests of people definitively linked to Russian treason. The past 4 or 5 days was what I have in mind, now they need to keep it up going forward. I hope it is orchestrated like a building symphony, coming to a wonderful climax~!!!~

    I think Pence will be indicted before Trump; Agnew’s precedent will have him resign. That will make me smile again!

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