The Continuing Disaster that is Donald Trump

The Embarrassment-in-Chief
Image from source, Mediaite

As is evidenced by my large gaps between posts, I've let the blog sit idle most of this year. The reasons are many, and not important at the moment. But I'm feeling moved to blog again this evening, even after three weeks of 60-hour work weeks.

Today's Donald Trump outrage--and let's face it, there's at least one nearly every day--on the surface, seems nearly trivial. Not the subject matter, mind you, that is deadly serious. But the actual thing that sparks the outrage: the cloddishness of President Trump himself. It's not news that he's a clod. He's evidenced this for decades now. It's one of the reasons that his detractors are still baffled by his supporters. What draws people to this detestable man? Again, a subject for another day.

This particular story regards a personal phone call from Trump to a grieving war widow, and his botched attempt to handle it extemporaneously. He reportedly didn't know the deceased's name, and other details of who he was. And he is alleged to have said, “He knew what he signed up for …but when it happens it hurts anyway.” The statement, if actually uttered, is oddly enough, true. But it is of course, not a comforting thing to say. In fact, it's rather crass. And utterly believable.

Now, I don't know if the conversation really went down that way. According to Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, it did. According to the family, it did. But it's almost beside the point, in this case. Because what we do know is how Donald Trump responded to the allegation (by the Congresswoman, by the way, not "The Media"). He attacked. He accused the Congresswoman of fabricating the whole thing. The White House considers it to be a media plot. And it's of course turned into the "Thing" du-jour.

Because Donald Trump is a crass clod. A monstrously ego maniacal dolt. And dotard, can't forget that. Any other president, from Obama, to Bush to Clinton would have come out with a statement, reiterating their condolences, and imploring the widow to forgive them if they came off poorly in the initial conversation. If Trump had done that, my assessment of him would have actually budged upward (the only way it can go, frankly), slightly. But Trump can't do that.

He can never apologize, never admit either defeat nor mistake. It's only part of what makes him unfit for office. More to come. Maybe slowly, but it will come.

[Excerpt]

Trump Calls Grieving Widow of Soldier Killed in Niger: ‘He Knew What He Signed Up For’

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump was confronted during a press conference for not publicly speaking about the four soldiers who were killed in Niger earlier this month. Trump took that opportunity to not only defend his actions but to claim that Barack Obama and other presidents hadn’t called the families of slain soldiers in the past. . .

Read more at: Mediaite

Donald Trump a Prisoner in the White House?

My perfect dream casting (were she not dead): Rue McClanahan
for Donald J. Trump. Photo from source, Raw Story

It would seem by all outward indications that President Donald Trump (a phrase that still sounds like it comes out apocalyptic fiction) is not having a good time. He wanted the praise, the accolades, the title, the crown. I don't believe, and never believed for a minute, that he wanted the actual job. Oh sure, he'd take the bows, he'd love for "TRUMP" to be emblazoned upon monuments and memorials, and no doubt he'd like to leave a mark in the history books via Make America Great Again™ policy and appointments to courts.

But you can't guarantee a good legacy, and make good policy as a bull in a china shop. This is, I should note, what his followers wanted, partly. They claimed they wanted to shake things up, some went so far as "blow it up." And by his behavior, Trump certainly seems to be doing that. He is absolutely heedless of protocols, traditions, decorum, diplomacy. . .he is no different a sitting President than he was a brash candidate. He tweets and says things no other president (or upwardly mobile elected official) would say or do. He stomps all over regulations, policies and even laws, and that will probably be his undoing. Whether he quits, gets bounced, or croaks in office, it's going to be interesting (and horrifying) to see just how much damage he does on purpose versus how much he stumble-bums his way through, crashing like the Kool-Aid Man through every American institution.

And the worst part for him, is that he's apparently hating it bigly. Good. Stew, you ignorant man-baby, stew.

[Excerpt]

He doesn’t like this sh*t’: Trump reportedly hates his job and his staff after less than a month

After just three weeks on the job, President Donald Trump is reportedly frustrated with the realities of trying to run the U.S. government the way he manages his family-owned business.

Politico interviewed nearly two dozen people who have spent time with the former real estate developer and reality TV star since his inauguration — and they said Trump’s “mood has careened between surprise and anger as he’s faced the predictable realities of governing,” according to the report. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Rachel Maddow Expresses Confusion Over Donald Trump's Allure

Rachel Maddow has long been one of my favorite liberal pundits, long before her MSNBC show debuted. What I like most about her is the research behind her work, the context provided, and the unique angle from which she approaches a story. I also appreciate her humility and honesty, a rather unique feature in her profession. [Story continues below]



So, I won't question her confusion as it regards Donald Trump. Her perspective on the whole Trump allure is, "Why? I just don't understand." I don't get it either. This is a clownish buffoon, leagues ahead of the rest of the people jokingly referred to as "the GOP Clown Car." His appeal as even a reality TV star confuses me. He's an asshole. He's self-centered and self-serving. He's the worst kind of bullshitter, one whose bullshit is undisguised, heaped tall, sitting right in front of you with that ridiculous hair on top.

Trump's ludicrous boastfulness is transparent bullshit, whether it's his alleged investigation in Hawaii concerning the nonsense behind the President's "real" birth certificate. His solution to any foreign policy challenge, or domestic policy problem is a blanket, "I could solve that, and I'd solve it fast, and it would be marvelous." No details, because it's just bullshit. His ego knows no bounds, but is as hollow as papier-mâché.

So, my confusion has nothing to do with Trump himself. He's easy to figure out. He's a boastful jackass and bull-shitter. Fact checking him would become a full-time job for many, many people in the press. But his appeal? THAT is confusing. It's like explaining the appeal of music that grates on your ears. How can anyone like that, right? That's Donald Trump. Apparently, if you like him, you just like him. Maybe the assholery and bullshittery is your gangsta rap, or your death metal.

Hannity Worries Parents Won't Be Able to Teach "Gays are Not Normal"

Image of Lou Costello Sean Hannity, from source, Raw Story

Hey, Sean. Meat-head spokesmodels with no particular qualifications or education, hosting prime time "news" shows aren't normal. You absolute bigoted douchebag.

[Excerpt]

Sean Hannity worries parents won’t be able to teach kids ‘gays are not normal’

. . .“Here’s where my fear goes with all of this,” Hannity said on his radio show. “You guys are gonna tell parents what they can and cannot do — for example, is it gonna become illegal if a parent teaches the politically [incorrect] view that being gay is not normal?”. . .  

Read more at: Raw Story

The Gay Thing: Pastor Proposes Amendment to Jail Gays for 10 Years

Yeah, I know, why give this crazy guy a platform? But it's already out there, and there's another reason to highlight stuff like this: it seems to be spreading. As marriage equality spreads--and it seems likely to become the law of the land nationally sooner rather than later--the anti-gay backlash is starting to get nutty. Or rather, nuttier than usual. This guy is bananas, but there are a bunch more just like him.



The good Pastor Williams. Nice red neck you've got there.
Image from source, Raw Story.

So anyway, this guy likely sees himself as a patriot, but he doesn't seem to understand what the Constitution is, what's in it, what it's for, and how you amend it. I mean, if we just put the odiousness of what he'd like to do aside for the moment, his proposed amendment would be in conflict with the first amendment. But beyond that, the amendment would require massive support in both houses of Congress, as well as in a supermajority of the states. Constitutional amendments are extremely difficult to pass, and for good reason.

I'm not sure this punishment has
been completely thought through.

Beyond that, this guy wants to criminalize private sexual behavior. Behavior--it should be pointed out--that is practiced by straight people as well as gay people. That should freak everybody out. But even with this extreme proposal, the guy is a chickenshit. The Bible doesn't call for imprisoning gay people, it calls for the death penalty. As long as he's shooting for the moon here, he might as well go for it, right? But he wussed out. Not that his proposal would enjoy an ounce more support either way.

It's time for people to stop proposing changes to the Constitution that sever no other purpose but to limit rights. That's totally outside the purpose of the document. And you would think these "strict constructionist"-types would know that.

[Excerpt]

Pastor calls to imprison gays for ‘ten years hard labor’ with new constitutional amendment
 
A pastor who uses his Internet platform to teach political lessons based on conservative Christian ideology has proposed a constitutional amendment to punish LGBT people for “ten years in prison at hard labor.” In a video posted to his PreachingPolitics.com website last month that was flagged by the Good As You blog on Monday, Pastor Michael V. Williams asserts that Christians have been “increasingly tolerant” of gay people over the last 50 years. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Right Wing Hero James O'Keefe to Pay $100,000 Damages for ACORN "Sting"

Best picture this dweeb has ever taken, from Gawker.

Whenever there is a fresh right-wing world freakout going on (you know, Clang! FOX "News" Alert!), I roll my eyes. That's because so many of them are either not at all what they say they are, they're a cherry-picked nugget of outrage in an overall innocuous non-story, or they are freshly driven bullshit. And the king prince jester of the bullshit pushers is twerp-faced James O'Keefe.

O'Keefe puts together "sting" operations, and surreptitiously video tapes them. Then, he creatively edits them, and takes them to FOX "News" (particularly now that Andrew Breitbart is dead), where he then dresses them up, by wearing pimp clothes, or whatever will sell it best. This has made him a right wing hero, which is puzzling, but then, kinda not, given some of the other right wing heroes.

In any event, it's very gratifying to see this skeevy, bottom-feeding tool get what's coming to him.

[Excerpt]

James O’Keefe Will Pay $100,000, Apologize to Former ACORN Employee

Journalism school laughingstock and expert jazz hands practitioner James O'Keefe will pay $100,000 and apologize to a former ACORN employee who was fired after being featured in one of O'Keefe's 2009 "sting" videos. The heavily-edited videos were successful, in that they led to a congressional investigation that eventually shutdown ACORN, netting O'Keefe $65,000 in the process. The videos were also, apparently, illegally filmed, at least the one shot in California. Former ACORN employeed Juan Carlos Vera sued O'Keefe and his partner-in-crime Hannah Giles last year, saying the secretly recorded video violated California law that prohibits recording someone without their permission. . .

Read more at: Gawker

Why All the Love for Chris Christie?

I'll be honest, the number one reason this post is here on my page is for the hilarious/scary picture of New Jersey Behemoth Governor Chris Christie. He is emblematic to me of the inherent and seemingly increasing meanness of today's Republican Party.  He is also a shining example of a right-wing hero that is viewed with amusement and/or horror by the left. When I think of the caliber of right-wing hero--Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Joe the Plumber, Scott Walker, the late Andrew Breitbart, James O'Keefe, Joe Walsh, Rick Scott, and on, and on--I am confused, amused and horrified among many other emotions. And then, the actual leaders: Mitch McConnell, John Boehner. . .really?


Christie is a little different. He's an outsized (sorry) personality, with hints of self-deprecation, a sense of humor, and an air of intelligence. But there's that mean streak. I think the authoritarian lurch the right has taken over the last several years has created the belief that meanness is a virtue. Rudeness is now refreshing. Being an asshole is revered. It's a strange world.

[Excerpt]


Chris Christie Blows Up At Jersey Shore Heckler


Chris Christie's temper strikes again.  While on vacation with his family in Seaside Heights, N.J. on Thursday, the Republican governor lashed out at a passerby who, according to TMZ, made a derisive comment about his education policies. . .

Read more (with video) at: Huffington Post

Gov. Scot Walker (R-WI) Using Forclosure Settlement to Balance Budget

Gov. Wanker. Image from Think Progress

Honestly? It seems like prominent Republicans (particularly the Governors and Presidential candidates) are trying to out dick each other, doesn't it?


[Excerpt]


Gov. Scott Walker To Use Foreclosure Settlement Money To Balance His Budget, Not Help Homeowners 

Yesterday, 49 states joined the federal government in announcing a $26 billion settlement with five of the nation’s biggest banks over the banks’ foreclosure fraud abuses. The money from the settlement is meant to aid homeowners who lost their homes to foreclosure or who find themselves underwater, meaning they owe more on their mortgage than their home is currently worth. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Rick Perry's Homophobic, Dishonest Ad

I know that politics is dirty. I know that many politicians play fast and loose with the truth. But in addition to being homophobic--criticizing active-duty gay soldiers--it also is outright dishonest. Kids can't celebrate Christmas or openly pray in school? Yes. They. Can. Organized, school-led prayers are not allowed. Teaching the Christmas story as truth is not allowed, because it is largely (or totally) a myth. Is this Rick Perry's plan to inch back up in the polls? Lie a couple of times and take potshots at soldiers? Great plan. Douche.

And finally, what's with this "Obama's war on religion?" Is that part of, or in addition to the fake FOX "News" War on Christmas?

Jim DeMint is an Asshole

Portrait of a douche nozzle, from Huffington Post

But, then again, you knew that, right?  If you need any more proof that this jackass has partisanship ahead of country, this infamous quote: "If we’re able to stop Obama on this it will be his Waterloo. It will break him," oughtta do it.

[Excerpt] 

Jim DeMint: Veterans Hiring Bill Is A Democratic 'Trick'  



Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) distinguished himself Thursday as the only senator to oppose a measure aimed at hiring veterans, calling it a "trick" by the Obama administration and Democrats.

He knew his decision wouldn't be popular, but still cast the lone vote against an amendment to grant employers tax breaks worth up to $9,600 for giving a veteran a job. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Neil Cavuto Called an "Asshole" on FOX "News"

Frankly, I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often to Neil Cavuto. And for that matter, I'm surprised it doesn't happen to the hosts of The O'Reilly Factor, FOX & Friends, Hannity, On the Record, and every other show on FOX "News."  Kudos to Ron Blackwell for having the cajones to do so.

Another Stupid Monkey Cuts & Runs

Posted by Stupid Monkey Planet

And what are your qualifications??? Ummm... I can spell V.A.

"HECKUVA JOB JIMMY!"

V.A. Secretary Chimp, realizes he IS supposed to care for the wounded vets... Cuts & Runs.