Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

Accountability, motherfuckers.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

“Squeaker” McCarthy

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

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Come on, man.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

Take your GOP plan out of the witness protection program.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

We still have time to mess this up!

Republicans do not pay their debts.

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

I know this must be bad for Joe Biden, I just don’t know how.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

You are here: Home / Past Elections / 2020 Elections / Monday Evening Open Thread: The Biden Transition Continues

Monday Evening Open Thread: The Biden Transition Continues

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ETA:


Moar breaking news!!!!

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226Comments

  1. 1.

    Cheryl Rofer

    Add that GSA_Emily finally gave in.

  5. 5.

    Mai Naem mobile

    Buh bye Orange Dbag. Take the rest of your grifter family with you. Leave the keys in the mailbox.

  17. 17.

    The Moar You Know

    This is the 18th day Trump has lost the election.

    Oddly, I’m still not tired of all this winning.  Not one bit.  Watching this dumb asshole drag himself through day after day of total humiliation, when he could stop it all with just two words, has been epic.

  18. 18.

    Mary G

    I want to feel like all my admonishing postcards after every vote for a trump nominee and the ten or so I sent screaming about collaborating with Lindsey Graham may have paid off:

    Sen. Dianne Feinstein: "After serving as the lead Democrat on the Judiciary Committee for four years, I will not seek the chairmanship or ranking member position in the next Congress."— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 23, 2020

  20. 20.

    Sloane Ranger

    Hurrah! What a relief. New Trump tweet reported by Jim Acosta making it sound like the Orange One instructed GSA to certify the election for Biden for the best interests of the county. I strongly suspect someone else has possession of his phone.

  25. 25.

    scav

    @Scout211: Vain hope on her part.

    Are they going to have to come up with some sort of witness protection-like program for the entire administration?

  26. 26.

    Scout211

    https://www.kcra.com/article/gm-flips-to-californias-side-in-pollution-fight-with-president-trump/34762100

    And the dominoes keep falling . .

    General Motors says it will no longer support the Trump administration in legal efforts to end California’s right to set its own clean-air standards.

    CEO Mary Barra said in a letter Monday to environmental groups that GM will pull out of the lawsuit, and it urges other automakers to do so.

    She said the company agrees with President-elect Joe Biden’s plan to expand electric vehicle use. Last week, GM said it is testing a new battery chemistry that will bring electric-vehicle costs down to those of gas-powered vehicles within five years.

     

  31. 31.

    Spanky

    @Zzyzx:

     I’m amazed that Trump isn’t firing off tweets between that and Michigan

    I’m picturing him slumped over like Hitler in the last shot in the Downfall meme.

  32. 32.

    natem

    While Giuliani was key in stoking Trump’s conspiracy theories, Trump loss in PA suit made him realize Giuliani was not painting honest picture, per people briefed on what’s taken place.— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 23, 2020

    Shut the fuck up Maggie

  33. 33.

    Suzanne

    I wish that I could never again see that image of Rudy Giuliani with diarrhea running down his cheek.

  34. 34.

    Redshift

    President Trump is worried that his campaign’s legal team, which is being led by his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, is comprised of “fools that are making him look bad,”

    “Who keeps hiring these idiots? moans man who hired the idiots.

  35. 35.

    Dan B

    @sanjeevs: Moar good news!

    Friends in San Francisco back when she was on the council (board of supervisors?) despised her.  I’m not sure why especially since they didn’t want to talk about her, made their skin crawl.

  37. 37.

    Spanky

    @Mary G:

    I want to feel like all my admonishing postcards after every vote for a trump nominee and the ten or so I sent screaming about collaborating with Lindsey Graham may have paid off:

    I think you certainly should. Thank you for your efforts on all our behalf.

  38. 38.

    danielx

    President Trump is worried that his campaign’s legal team, which is being led by his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, is comprised of “fools that are making him look bad,”

    Dude, it’s not your legal team which is making you look bad….

  39. 39.

    Kent

    @Mai Naem mobile:@Cheryl Rofer: I think Murphy was scared of becoming famous via a  Katie Porter gif. It may still happen.

    She isn’t old enough to retire.  She wants to have a nice posh administrative job in the private sector after this.  Like HR director of some fortune 500 company or something like that.  Becoming a household name and too politically toxic to over 50% of the country was going to make that impossible.

  41. 41.

    Redshift

    @germy: If anyone voted for other Republicans and didn’t vote for Trump, that’s clear evidence of fraud! There’s no other way that could possibly happen! /MAGAt

  42. 42.

    Mai Naem mobile

    @Mary G: sounds like DiFi is not going to run again. Not sure Pelosi is going to stick around for many more years. That’s some heavy state leadership loss even if  Kamala is Veep.

  43. 43.

    Martin

    @Mai Naem mobile: Plus Congress was coming. Part of the pleasure of being the head of the GSA, is nobody knows who you are or what you do. That was changing extremely quickly for Emily.

  44. 44.

    MomSense

    @Keith P.:

    Are we ready to speculate as to whether he will stay in the country or flee to a non extradition treaty country?  I doubt he will want to arrest Biden’s inauguration.

  45. 45.

    germy

    I want to thank Emily Murphy at GSA for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country. She has been harassed, threatened, and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her, her family, or employees of GSA. Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good…— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2020

    …fight, and I believe we will prevail! Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2020

     

    One person in the US died from COVID-19 whilst you typed that tweet. 1500 souls are dying every day— Marc Bryant (@MarcBryant8) November 23, 2020

  46. 46.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    It’s both defensive and offensive. Did you catch “Dear Mr. Biden”? Not “Dear Mr. President-elect,” not even “Dear Vice President Biden.” There is absolutely no bottom for these people.

  47. 47.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    Did Emily Murphy appear before the congressional committee today? I read that it was going to be a closed session. Maybe they read her the riot act and spurred her to action.

  49. 49.

    danielx

    @MomSense:

    I doubt he will want to arrest Biden’s inauguration.

    Do you mean ‘attend’ instead of ‘arrest’? I have no doubt he would like to see every single person attending Biden’s inauguration arrested and imprisoned.

  52. 52.

    Mai Naem mobile

    Just saw Janet Yellen is being considered for Treasury. I am happy with that choice. Qualified and a woman and a slap at Orange Dbag. Such a nice change from weasely weasel Stephen Mnuchin.

  54. 54.

    Redshift

    While Giuliani was key in stoking Trump’s conspiracy theories, Trump loss in PA suit made him realize Giuliani was not painting honest picture, per people briefed on what’s taken place.

    Ah, quintessential narcissist. He surrounds himself with yes-men for his entire life and fires anyone who disagrees with him or fails to praise him to the skies, but when it goes south, it’s because they weren’t “honest.”

  61. 61.

    dm

    @Baud: Can’t be true.  Emily says right there in her letter that she came to the decision without outside interference or influence.

  66. 66.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @germy:

    Isn’t Dr. Paul Gosar the guy who is so cray his entire family not only voted against him in 2018, but cut a campaign ad against him?

  67. 67.

    danielx

    Who will be the first to ask, “Are the Biden picks TOO qualified?”
    — Schooley (@Rschooley) November 23, 2020

    Consensus is Chuck Todd by a country mile, for reasons I am at a total loss to explain.

  70. 70.

    TS (the original)

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    Said it on the last thread, I hope she is the first person fired  after Biden is inaugurated.  Like everyone in this administration, her letter exposes that the lies will continue until the bitter end.

  72. 72.

    Cheryl Rofer

    I usually don’t like to post Trump tweets, but I’ll give him this one:

  73. 73.

    dmsilev

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    That is some defensive letter.

    It was the same tone as all those news stories where “her friends” informed the media that she was a selfless policy person who was deeply morally conflicted and was under no pressure whatsoever from Trump.

    In other words, she’s still throwing herself a pity party and should not be lauded for finally and grudgingly doing something that the law said she should have done two weeks ago.

  81. 81.

    NotMax

    Is Fox going to send out staff for a breaking news story that the trees in Michigan are no longer just the right height?

    //

    @debbie

    and Murphy’s capitulation

    You do not want to know what that was first misread as.

    :)

  82. 82.

    zhena gogolia

    @NotMax:

    In West Haven, CT, there is a Yale Auto Parts junkyard. My ex-husband wanted them to put up another sign, “Not affiliated with any university.”

  84. 84.

    hueyplong

    That GSA letter is a piece of shit, especially read in conjuction with the tweets sent out under Trump’s name.

    I expect there to be a lot of stalling and and passive-aggressive obstruction in lieu of the former flat-out stonewalling.

    Never, ever assume anything in the neighborhood of good faith from these people.

  87. 87.

    TS (the original)

    @Sloane Ranger:

    New Trump tweet reported by Jim Acosta making it sound like the Orange One instructed GSA to certify the election for Biden for the best interests of the county.

    Proving that her letter was far from the truth – to quote but one sentence

    Please know that I came to my decision independently, based on the law and available facts.

    If don is going down, he’s taking all the sycophants with him.

  91. 91.

    Sally

    May I just say, trump and trumpoids, none of these dipshit clowns in the “legal” elite squad are making you guys look bad. Birds of a feather – all the “best” people, amirite?

  93. 93.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Cheryl Rofer: Can you imagine being one of the Secret Service people assigned to Trump’s post-presidential detail? It’s the ultimate booby prize. Maybe a few of them like him, I guess.

  95. 95.

    Mary G

    A journalist RTed the gsa letter but had a typo and accidentally called it the gas letter and ive never seen a more appropriate typo in my life— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 23, 2020

  97. 97.

    What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?

    I have a sneaking suspicion that the part of the reason Trump hasn’t wanted to cooperate with the transition is because when the Biden team asks “what’s the current rollout plan for vaccines?” The Trump folks will say “there isn’t one” and it’ll be clear in about 5 minutes that the Trump folks don’t have a plan for anything.

    They didn’t write a single term paper and don’t want that exposed.

  98. 98.

    patrick II

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    If we have to continue to have the Secret Service pay outrageous prices to stay at Mar a Lago during his post-presidency, I support giving him a couple of guard dogs and telling him he’s on his own.

  104. 104.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Jenna Ellis is on Ari Melber

    PHRASING! Sorry about that. She’s a guest on Ari’s MSNBC show, is what I meant, and I’m ashamed of you for your potty brains.

  106. 106.

    germy

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    An hour ago:

    GSA Administrator Emily Murphy was supposed to brief Congressional leadership today about why she’s obstructing a smooth transition of power. She refused to show up, and now she’s trying to send her deputy next week in her place.

    Enough. The American people deserve answers. pic.twitter.com/5fuVfyRoZg

    — Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) November 23, 2020

  107. 107.

    sdhays

    @Mai Naem mobile: Didn’t they have a closed-door meeting today? Now I really, really want to know what was said. Did she need a change of pants afterwards

    ETA: Ah, I see she chickened out. Not surprised.

  108. 108.

    Mike in NC

    So it seems like the Trump Crime Family will decamp to Mar-a-Lago for Christmas after all and never set foot in DC again. Cool.

  111. 111.

    NotMax

    @zhena gogolia

    OT – the winning continues.

    Ducked out an hour or so ago to the nearest market for some last minute items for holiday meal prep. Fresh yams, fresh mushrooms, that sort of stuff. Scored the very last can of crushed pineapple (a necessary part of the particular cranberry relish I savor) in the store, hunkered all alone at the back of an otherwise wide expanse of empty shelf.

  113. 113.

    Martin

    In other news, GM has abandoned Trumps position on CAs right to regulate air quality and fuel mileage (consider the timing if you think any part of that decision was in good faith or based on science or economics) but it’s a nice little victory for CA and climate change efforts.

  115. 115.

    Mai Naem mobile

    @Martin: part of me wants all these Trumper enablers to wear a red T like Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter, for the rest of their lives. But I know it’s an awful inaccurate analogy. I feel like a bad person wanting them to be treated like the French did after WW11 with the collaborators. I just don’t want them to move on and not be held responsible.

  116. 116.

    burnspbesq

    If I worked for ICE, the idea of Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of DHS would have me shitting bricks.

    ETA: and updating my resume.

  117. 117.

    lamh36

    Evening BJ.

    Read that Feinstein is stepping down as top Dem on Judiciary.

    I’m thinking those of us who mentioned dementia or some sort of age-related impairment on Feinstein’s part lately may well have been correct.

    I have a feeling it’s just a matter of time before she announces her full retirement. The question is when?

    I know re-election isn’t until 2025 right?  But IDK that she’ll even make it to 2025 before just stepping down.

    I wonder if she’ll wait to see who Newsom picks to replace Harris and then decide.

  118. 118.

    sanjeevs

    Choices like Blinken and Yellen for his Cabinet are going to make it hard for the GOP Senators to go against confirmation.

    Not that they won’t, but still.

  120. 120.

    What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?

    @Mike in NC: I think part of the reason they moved to FL is that FL bankruptcy laws let you keep your primary residence. At least that’s what I read somewhere. Not sure it’s true.

  121. 121.

    Brachiator

    @What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?:

    I have a sneaking suspicion that the part of the reason Trump hasn’t wanted to cooperate with the transition is because when the Biden team asks “what’s the current rollout plan for vaccines?” The Trump folks will say “there isn’t one” and it’ll be clear in about 5 minutes that the Trump folks don’t have a plan for anything.

    And Trump always lied about the Obama administration not leaving them anything or co-operating with them.

    I am so tired of this fool. I can’t wait until he is finally gone.

  123. 123.

    Suzanne

    @SiubhanDuinne: Yes, that is the Gosar!

    I seem to recall you (I think?) saying that you were considering relocating to Prescott. If you did, you could have Gosar as your congresscritter.

    It’s a shame, I actually really like Prescott.

  126. 126.

    mrmoshpotato

    Who’s gonna tell the traitorous, orange, Soviet shitpile about all the winning – and us not getting tired of the winning?

  127. 127.

    Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony

    @TS (the original): 

    Proving that her letter was far from the truth – to quote but one sentence

    Maybe. Or Trump realized he couldn’t stop her and sent out that tweet so his followers would think he was being gracious and in control of the situation.

  128. 128.

    H-Bob

    @danielx: “Dude, it’s not your legal team which is making you look bad….”  like “it’s not the dress that makes you look fat ….”

  131. 131.

    LuciaMia

    Ahhhh, ( exhaling) thank god. Finally the GSA gives it up. In Trumps tweet he , of course, takes the credit, tho Emily says it was her final decision.

  135. 135.

    NotMax

    @What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?

    Well, there’s still that niggling signed agreement… (WaPo link)

    a small group of loosely aligned preservationists, disgruntled neighbors and attorneys have unearthed documents that they assert call into question the legality of Trump’s much-publicized decision late last year to change his official domicile from Manhattan to Mar-a-Lago and to register to vote in Florida using the club’s address. According to those documents, and additional materials obtained by The Washington Post, Trump agreed in writing years ago to change the use of the Mar-a-Lago property from a single-family residence to a private club owned by a corporation he controls.

    The distinction is significant. The property is taxed as a private club — not as a residence, according to Palm Beach County property appraiser records. Trump’s own attorney assured local officials in Palm Beach before they voted to approve the club in 1993 that he would not live there. Mar-a-Lago’s website says only that Trump maintains “private quarters” at the club.
    [snip]
    During lengthy talks with the council, Trump’s attorney, Paul Rampell, addressed a question on a lot of minds in those days: Would Trump live at the club?

    “The answer is no,” Rampell said, according to a summary transcript of a 1993 council meeting, “except that he will be a member of the Club and would be entitled to use its guest rooms.”

    In August 1993, Trump got his club, signing an extraordinarily detailed document called a “use agreement” that governs to this day how Mar-a-Lago can be used. The document makes clear that Mar-a-Lago would no longer be a single-family residence and was now a private club.
    [snip]
    The deal he struck made it clear that no one could live permanently at the property. It stated that the guest suites could be used only by members for a maximum of three times a year for no longer than seven days at a time, and that those seven-day stays couldn’t be strung together consecutively. Source

  136. 136.

    Fair Economist

    @Scout211:

    General Motors says it will no longer support the Trump administration in legal efforts to end California’s right to set its own clean-air standards.

    GM is ahead of Ford and Chrysler in its EV development and is hoping to leverage that.

  139. 139.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    I thought part of the Mar-a-Lago deal with the local authorities was that it cannot be used as a residence. Is that one more thing Trump is going to get away with ignoring? He and Melania voted from there, so I guess so.

    Although Pence trumped him by using the Indiana governor’s mansion as his voting address. ?

  140. 140.

    Brachiator

    @sanjeevs:

    Choices like Blinken and Yellen for his Cabinet are going to make it hard for the GOP Senators to go against confirmation.

    It would be cool if Biden could find someone with the surname Nod for his cabinet.

    Blinken and Yellen and Nod.

  143. 143.

    Mai Naem mobile

    @Kent: She can go do HR for the Trumpov Org  until its bankrupt and then move onto the Kushner Companies. I really should be a career counselor.

  144. 144.

    Immanentize

    ACERTAINMENT!!

    WE HAVE ACERTAINMENT!

    And, Feinstein steps down as Ranking Member on the Judiciary Cmmt.

    Lovely Day!

  145. 145.

    Fair Economist

    @Mai Naem mobile:

    sounds like DiFi is not going to run again. Not sure Pelosi is going to stick around for many more years. That’s some heavy state leadership loss even if Kamala is Veep.

    The general expectation was that she wouldn’t run again in 2024 at age 91 anyway. The hope is that she’ll step back from a lead role in the Senate and if the rumors that she’d getting a bit dotty are true that would be a reasonable step. *Most* people in the early stages of dementia realize something is wrong and take appropriate steps.

    CA still has 4 House chairs and of course the largest Dem House delegation by far. We’ll be fine.

  147. 147.

    Danielx

    @What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?:

    They didn’t write a single term paper and don’t want that exposed.

    Whole Trump administration reminds me a lot of a guy who was my roommate first semester at IU. Guy never seemed to go to class – got up late, went over to hang out with his homies living at the next quad over, came back….etc etc. I moved out at the last of the semester for off campus housing after semster break and the guy was gone like he’d never been in the dorm room. I checked the mail, and for the first and last time in my life opened somebody else’s mail, that being his grades.

    I had to know.

    Turned out he had achieved a 0.00 GPA, which was quite an accomplishment at the time. I mean, if you were warm and breathing and took quizzes/exams you could pull a D average. So with the Trump administration – even a little effort could have made such a difference.

  149. 149.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Suzanne:

    what a memory you have! Wow, I’m impressed!

    I’m rethinking moving to Prescott. I kind of like living in a part of the country that’s turning purplish-blue before my very eyes, and that I’m playing my part to help bring about. But family circumstances and dynamics have also changed a lot, so much of my original reasoning (being close to siblings) no longer applies. But it’s all still very iffy.

  150. 150.

    geg6

    I’m really psyched to see Biden’s pick for Education.  Kicking DeVos out of that office is one of my great joys in Biden’s win.  Also the VA because they have made my life miserable, changing compliance requirements.  The most recent change happened the other day after I’d had my exit interview for the campus’ biannual compliance survey.  Within an hour of the exit interview, I got a call from the compliance officer that I needed to provide a whole set of data for each semester going back to Spring 2017 even though I already had a waiver on the rule that requires that data.  The VA had just informed him of this change.  He said he couldn’t send the official letter until I did.  We don’t collect the data the same way they want it, so both the registrar and I had to spend the next three days getting the data, determining it was all correct and converting it to the metrics they wanted.  It was infuriating and exhausting and it shouldn’t happen like that.

  152. 152.

    japa21

    @SiubhanDuinne: My guess is that nobody had any pott brained reactions to the original comment until you brought it up. And don’t make any potty brained interpretations of my last comment.

  156. 156.

    ByRookorbyCrook

    @Kristine: Ghouliani just needs to give a kickback to Trump, say, 25%? The Campaign is paying and if Trump gets his beak wet the payment will be okayed. The Rubes will be donating to keep the legal battle going…

  159. 159.

    Mike in NC

    @debbie: Fat Bastard did do a few things to Make America White Again. There was a photo of him from a couple of years ago posing with White House interns. 90% of them were white males.

  162. 162.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Mike in NC:

    Can’t help wondering if Melania is going to leave the nation a special LDFY (Lame Duck Fuck You) Christmas display in the White House.

  163. 163.

    cain

    @danielx: Consensus is Chuck Todd by a country mile, for reasons I am at a total loss to explain.

    I would like to see no Biden people show up for Chuck’s show. Fuck that guy. I want to see Meet the Asshole go down the toilet.

  165. 165.

    cain

    @debbie: If Trump, say, absconded to Scotland, would the Secret Service still have to protect him?

    They would have tried, but probably would take a wrong turn at Albuquerque.

  166. 166.

    cain

    @HumboldtBlue: That woman scheduled an aide to appear on her behalf.

    I assume the only instructions this aide would have would be repeat the refrain “I know you are, but what am I?”

  167. 167.

    LurkerNoLonger

    According to Mark Elias: “ Trump and his allies are now 1-35 in post-election litigation.”

    I’m not good at percentages, but that sounds pretty bad.

  168. 168.

    Mary Ellen Sandahl

    @debbie:From the Scots? You betcha. If nothing else they’d be yelling fabulously vicious invective at him everytime he poked his evil nose out the door.

  169. 169.

    JoyceH

    @Matt McIrvin:

    Can you imagine being one of the Secret Service people assigned to Trump’s post-presidential detail? It’s the ultimate booby prize. Maybe a few of them like him, I guess.

    Presidents are entitled to Secret Service protection for the rest of their lives. But the security detail can be waived (Nixon did), and my prediction is that Trump is going to waive it – maybe not right away, but eventually. Think of what we know about his behavior and business practices. You think he’s going to want government agents following him around, seeing where he goes, who he meets, what he does?

  170. 170.

    sdhays

    @SiubhanDuinne: I hope so. It would a wonderful visible gift to throw back in the face of those Christmas warriors – “Your own fucking queen hated Christmas and didn’t even give enough of a shit to do it her last opportunity after she didn’t have to try to keep up appearance.”

    @cain: I just saw that Rahm is being considered for a position in the Biden administration, and it occurred to me that Rahm is the Chuck Todd of the Democratic Party. He keeps being given new powerful positions after doing a poor job in his previous one. With all of the talent out there, why must we keep going back to this guy? It’s annoying.

  172. 172.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @sdhays: I really hope those rumors are coming from Rahm Emmanuel and no one else.

    in fairness, he wasn’t given his last position, he won it.

  174. 174.

    Scout211

    @cain:

    My guess:  Not until he decides that he won’t run again in 2024. For some reason he thinks staying married earns him more votes.

    But as soon as he decides not to run again, they will make the “difficult decision to consciously uncouple.”  Or whatever . . .  Bring in the lawyers!

  175. 175.

    Kent

    @JoyceH:Presidents are entitled to Secret Service protection for the rest of their lives. But the security detail can be waived (Nixon did), and my prediction is that Trump is going to waive it – maybe not right away, but eventually. Think of what we know about his behavior and business practices. You think he’s going to want government agents following him around, seeing where he goes, who he meets, what he does?

    I doubt it.  Top-flight 24/7 security is enormously expensive.  Like millions and millions per year.  I expect he’ll use the secret service for his perimeter security and screening of visitors but won’t keep them in the room standing next to him when he is cutting deals and such.

  178. 178.

    cain

    @Scout211:

    I think Melania is going to serve him papers – she wants out of this shit show. Settle down with a Secret Service agent and live off whatever millions she can get before Trump is completely broke.

    Maybe write a book!

  179. 179.

    cain

    I am so tired of winning. 18 days of winning – so tired. So very tired.— Covfefe is still strong in this place (@sramkrishna) November 24, 2020

    Someone said this.

    Ok ok,it was me :D

  181. 181.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @piratedan:

    Thanks. I’m actually rethinking the whole AZ thing, but I’ve always wanted to see Flagstaff. If I can travel to Phoenix next spring for my grandniece’s wedding, I’ll check out both Flagstaff and Prescott.

  182. 182.

    cain

    Soon will we welcome Mrs. Kayleigh Mcenany Trump? Such a lovely woman with all the right traits that Trump looks for.

    Can’t wait for these rats to jump off the ship and hopefully never to be seen again.

  184. 184.

    japa21

    @SiubhanDuinne: We have friends who live in Prescott Valley. They love it there. Prescott still has an old central area with quaint shops. I love the statue of the Rough Riders there. It is lovely and so many places within a few hours drive.

  185. 185.

    Roger Moore

    @SiubhanDuinne: 

    Can’t help wondering if Melania is going to leave the nation a special LDFY (Lame Duck Fuck You) Christmas display in the White House.

    She could continue her tradition of plagiarizing from previous First Ladies by decorating her Christmas tree with sex toys and drug paraphernalia. Yes, I realize that didn’t actually happen in the Clinton White House, but it would be funny if she believed it and followed suit.

  186. 186.

    Captain C

    @SiubhanDuinne: If you get a chance, don’t forget to check out Jerome, which is right between Prescott and Flagstaff on the 89A (which is a great, scenic drive in and of itself).

  188. 188.

    Steve in the ATL

    @SiubhanDuinne: next door neighbors at the lake are from Flagstaff. I didn’t think it was real place until you mentioned it.  Sister and one of her previous husbands had a place in Prescott with a sculpture garden. Yes, she knows how to marry well.

    haven’t been to the alleged Flagstaff but neighbors said they moved here to get away from the snow there.  Prescott is nice, as noted supra. Sedona is nice too, for half a day or so.

  191. 191.

    cain

    @Roger Moore: She isn’t from Eastern Europe.

    That’s true – I don’t think he likes the Scots anyways. I suppose he’ll need to find another woman from there. He’s got those assume dancing skills, he’ll do fine.

  192. 192.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @leeleeFL:  I’ve been wondering if he’ll make Mar-A-Lago into his library. After he’s dead, of course, no way he’s gonna give up that sweet, sweet cash stream for bilking the rubes. “Donate to our library fund and win lunch with the trump of your choice* at Mar-Lago**”

    *Donald, Ivanka and Barron not included

    ** Monday through Thursday between 1 and 3 pm. Lunch options include choice of Daily Special, Cobb Salad or Half-Sandwich/Cup of Soup Combo and one (1) fountain beverage or iced tea (Arnold Palmer $1 extra). Travel expenses the responsibility of contest winner(s).

  195. 195.

    Kent

    @cain:

    Soon will we welcome Mrs. Kayleigh Mcenany Trump? Such a lovely woman with all the right traits that Trump looks for.

    Can’t wait for these rats to jump off the ship and hopefully never to be seen again.

    My money was on Hope Hicks, who was the Trump Whisperer apparently.

  196. 196.

    mrmoshpotato

    @cain:

    I think Melania is going to serve him papers – she wants out of this shit show. Settle down with a Secret Service agent and live off whatever millions she can get before Trump is completely broke.

    Maybe write a book!

    Are we taking bets on how many times that gold-digging, birther bitch gets slapped at each book signing?

    Fuck her.  Fire her into the Sun too.

  198. 198.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Mike in NC: So it seems like the Trump Crime Family will decamp to Mar-a-Lago for Christmas after all and never set foot in DC again. Cool.

    American Nuremberg trials in Florida – works for me.

  199. 199.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Kent: that might be a bet worth placing….

    Though I shudder to think what happened to that young woman to make that a perfectly plausible scenario. And IIRC she dated a couple of the more repulsive hangers-on in the orbit. Lewandowski?

  202. 202.

    Geminid

    @SiubhanDuinne: Flagstaff is a cool town, up on the Coconino Plateau with lots of trees. The Lowell Observatory is worth a day’s visit. The drive north from Phoenix is probably pretty nice; the drive from Flagstaff south off the plateau is spectacular.

  205. 205.

    jonas

    @Matt McIrvin: You’re a veteran USSS officer. What would you rather do? Follow an ex-president around as he — *shudder* — gives speeches, hugs orphans in third-world countries and builds houses for poor people, or golfs and hangs out with rich assholes in the clubhouse? You might get Kid Rock’s autograph!

  207. 207.

    sdhays

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: True, but didn’t he decline to run for another term in Chicago because it was clear he wouldn’t be reelected? I recall the voters there were more than done with his shitty performance. He won in the first place completely on his association with Obama.

  210. 210.

    sgrAstar

    @Mai Naem mobile: CA is not looking at any “leadership loss” whatsoever. We are absolutely crawling with excellent leaders who are ready to step up. The prospect of a new, motivated leadership group in California is really thrilling.

    ?

  213. 213.

    artem1s

    @Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony:

    Or Trump realized he couldn’t stop her and sent out that tweet so his followers would think he was being gracious and in control of the situation.

    I assumed he was trying to keep grifting the fools who are donating money to his legal challenges.

  215. 215.

    dnfree

    @NotMax: do you make the cranberry relish with fresh cranberries, a whole navel orange complete with peel, and crushed pineapple?  That’s my favorite.

  216. 216.

    MCA1

    @Nora Lenderbee: Was thinking along the same lines.

    “Dear Soon-to-be HR Manager at A Regional Jimmy John’s Franchisee,

    We have received and reviewed your letter of today, including the small portion thereof wherein you conveyed information relevant to PRESIDENT-ELECT JOSEPH R. BIDEN’S transition.  Despite not seeing anywhere in said letter the phrase “I have ascertained,” which would be the constitutionally appropriate form of the applicable correspondence, delegates of PRESIDENT-ELECT JOSEPH R. BIDEN’S transition team will be at your office at 8:00 A.M. tomorrow morning to begin the transition process.

    Attached is our preliminary list of required documentation and information.  We trust that, as the election was two weeks ago today, you and your staff have previously collected the majority of material pertinent to these matters and will have it ready for delivery tomorrow morning.  Any missing materials should be delivered no later than 12:00 P.M. Wednesday, November 25.

    We will bring our own coffee.

    See you soon, emily.

    Ronald Klain, Chief of Staff to PRESIDENT-ELECT JOSEPH R. BIDEN

    cc: Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, United States House
    Katie Porter, United States House Representative, Badassville, California”

  218. 218.

    Bill Arnold

    @What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?:

    I think part of the reason they moved to FL is that FL bankruptcy laws let you keep your primary residence. At least that’s what I read somewhere. Not sure it’s true.

    And cunning plan B is to get Florida (or NYS, or both) to secede from the Union so that he can’t be extradited.

  221. 221.

    J R in WV

    @sdhays:

     

    @cain: I just saw that Rahm is being considered for a position in the Biden administration, and it occurred to me that Rahm is the Chuck Todd of the Democratic Party. He keeps being given new powerful positions after doing a poor job in his previous one. With all of the talent out there, why must we keep going back to this guy? It’s annoying.

    never gonna happen…

  222. 222.

    Another Scott

    If anyone is curious, this tweet has the letter sent to Obama’s transition team in 2008:

    On the left: The letter the then-GSA Administrator sent to President-Elect @BarackObama in 2008

    On the right: The letter GSA Administrator Emily Murphy sent to President-Elect @JoeBiden pic.twitter.com/X9aUPYxyY9

    — Johnny Verhovek (@JTHVerhovek) November 24, 2020

    Back in the olden times, when GOP appointees knew how to do the job…

    (via notlarrysabato)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  223. 223.

    SFAW

    @Spanky:

    I’m picturing him slumped over like Hitler in the last shot in the Downfall meme.

    “Das war ein Be-FAIL!!”

    Note to Amir: Na, ich weiss wie man “Befehl” buchstabiert.

  224. 224.

    burnspbesq

    @MCA1:

    Katie Porter, United States House Representative, Badassville, California”

    You’ve obviously never been to Irvine.

  225. 225.

    Original Lee

    @SiubhanDuinne: I was bothered by that, too, but then I looked it up in Emily Post, and it’s actually correct. The verbal address is Mr. Vice President or Mr. President-Elects, but the letter salutation is Mr. Biden.

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