Policy aside, Barack Obama leaves a legacy of pure class, a tenure without rendering scandal, debilitating conflicts of interest, dangerous lapses of judgement or embarrassingly shameful conduct. All the more notable because of who follows him.
I first heard Mark Shields, many years ago, observe that American voters continuously elect presidents who starkly contrast their predecessors.
After the imperialism and corruption of Richard Nixon, everyman Gerald Ford cooked his own breakfast.
But Ford had been a career politician for 25 years, so along came Carter, who had never met most of the Washington establishment, even some leaders of his own party.
Carter comes to office intelligent, conscientious, carrying his own bags — but he seems to change his mind a lot — so in 1980 in comes Ronald Reagan, who hadn’t changed his mind since 1964.
George Bush Sr. was certainly flexible, raised taxes after promising not to. His principle argument for election in 1988: I was VP for eight years, went to every meeting, never took a note, never asked a question — it’s my turn.
Bill Clinton was the faux populist response to Bush elitism.
George W. Bush presented a no-nothing response to Clinton’s wonkiness.
And then Obama brought intellectual reason back.
Now there’s Trump, apparently an experiment in stark raving madness.
in the next 2 weeks pbs newshour will review the legacy, successes and failures of president Obama. here’s the 1st segment
Published on Jan 2, 2017
In eight years, President Obama has permanently banned oil and gas drilling on hundreds of millions of acres of federally owned land and used his executive power 29 times to create new national monuments. William Brangham speaks with The Washington Post’s Juliet Eilperin about the Obama legacy on conservation, and whether these efforts will be rolled back by Republicans.
sooo, we wonder while wandering in the wilderness, whither next?
Whither next?
Patd, don’t know, but you get bonus points for using whither. Words aren’t our enemies, they are our friends 😉
Maybe not knowing who is a gift. Not relying on the usual suspects is a hard habit to break. Look, I respect anyone who enters public service. May not like them personally but respect their efforts – politics is pure nasty & getting nastier. It’s our responsibility to cultivate, support the Politicians who best reflect us. Not the responsibility of the media, not Party bigwigs. Us.
A challenge, dear friends: if you come across a promising new face, good soul who is not naive & has a clue somewhere in Politicsland, give her or him some free publicity here. We have the power. Plant an acorn, watch a mighty oak grow. It begins and ends with us.
From Classy to Crazy…. Craig… you got that right, my friend.
I agree with Pogo, Jace, and everyone else here that supported Obama yesterday.
I also want to say that I’m going to miss Michelle as much as Barak… I adore her! The fact that we are going from Michelle’s example of grace, elegance, and intelligence to a former pole dancer,IMO, doesn’t say much for America.
if this is their 1st step, god help us what’s next.
abc news: House Republicans Effectively Gut Congressional Ethics Watchdog
“Evidently, ethics are the first casualty of the new Republican Congress.”
sjwny, thank you. there is indeed poetry in words like whither, thither, whence and thence.
Hi RebelliousRenee,
Agree 100% with your comments about one of our classiest First Ladies ever. Also adding a shout out to Dr. Jill Biden.
Not passing judgment on the next First Lady – yet. Viewing her as collateral damage in her husband’s bizarro world. She’s in way over her head. Wouldn’t be surprised if she stays in her NYC cocoon. Wouldn’t blame her either.
This morning I clicked on my TV as is my habit to check news while checking email and sipping on the one and only cup of coffee for the day. Unfortunately, the thing was on MSNBC & Morning Joe which I have taking off the schedule since the election, but the channel was leftover from Maddow the night before. In the mad scramble to find the remote there was enough time to catch the Smarmy Elect in full formal regalia surrounded by others dressed in economically blessed couture raising is glass for a toast with “I don’t give a shit ____” CLICK
Avoided whatever it was Mr. Nauseating didn’t give a S*** about while adding to the opinion that the incoming whatever doesn’t need to be drunk to be rude, crude, and socially unacceptable. He just has to keep breathing.
Interesting to note that the inaugural team is promoting that it will have one of the shortest parades in modern times. What they failed to state is very few groups are applying to march.
WashPo is giving free rein to those writing opinions, a few of which are discussing the failure of the orange lunatic to grasp the basics of life in 2017. We live in a computer age. Whether he understands or not, that is our life. Throughout our days we interact with computers. The coffee maker, unless the power is out and making perc coffee on the butane stove. Some toasters have more than a bi-metalic strip to check for the correct doneness. Clocks are computer driven. The device that the babbling idiot uses to send out his incoherent tweets is a computer. Everything in his world is computer driven. Little computers. Big computers. Smart computers, dumb computers (four bit processing). Visible computers, like the things his entourage uses, invisible computers like his watch.
As so well put by his idiocy the other day, his ten year old son is his source of technical knowledge about computers. Yup. A real technological whiz the old man is.
Typewriters, pre-Selectric II of course, are the key to modern America. I like to sit down at my Underwood and pound out a page or two. In the floaters world that is secure document creation. No scanners and no carbon paper. Burn the ribbon after use.
Remember when the congressional delegation visited Red China with their Magic Slates? Loon time in the White House is coming up.
Jamie, mojo seems to have lost his cool over this “partying” with the twit charge according to
wonkette’s Joe and Mika DID NOT Make Out With Donald Trump on New Year’s Eve, SHUT UP!
Joe To GOP On Independent Ethics Gut: What’s Wrong With You?
Some wag is going to splice in film from the 1920’s Klan marches in Washington, DC with the Inaugural Parade. I believe this is what is referred to as a ‘given.’ Mussolini saluting the crowd should get a workout too.
There’s also the obligatory scene from Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein etc. etc. of crowds carrying torches & pitchforks.
This Inaugural Parade may never end. Any more suggestions? 😉
I’m not going to criticize Mrs Trump for these reasons. She appears content in concentrating on her relationship with young Barron, I have no idea of the degree their prenup is controlling of her public visibility under the circumstances that are now emerging. Would Mrs Trump be willing to lose her son in a prenup dispute? Especially if her personal assets are virtually nil? I bet she has no idea where her or the kid’s passports are. I see her being a prisoner of the Trump organization.
Flatus – an analysis which is very good. She is to be seen and not heard. And, if pictures of her prior to becoming a trump keep showing up, she may end up back in the old country.
Melanoma is a female Trump a liar and a cheat/ Lied on her immigration forms and other places
no sympathy for her she made her bed and then took an unusually large number of naked pictures in it.
Oh this response is amazing. One day when I was about 12, my mother called me to come immediately. A DJ must have mentioned the upcoming song. She said, “no comments, just listen and think”. The song that was played is this one:
Rebecca Ferguson says she will perform at Inaugural under one condition
I do have some sympathy for Melania. I can only imagine what it’s like living in Slovania with no prospects except to cash in on her good looks. Along comes a rich American and offers her something she can only dream about… hell, I’ll admit if it was me, I’d probably take it too.
And yeah… methinks if she becomes a liability, the cheeto will jettison her without a thought and have some nanny do the rest of the bringing up of their son.
There’s scads of country acts from Nashville who would kick their granny for a chance to play at the ignauguration…… I think we’s looking at country come to town.
Hank Jr would jump at it, in fact, probably already has
are you ready for some family tradition?
He’d never get Willie or Merle……..
but it will wind up a huge success and screw Hollywood and Fox News will go “Neener, Neener, Neener…….”
If history is any example, Trump is happy to leave the kids with their mothers
She was already out of Slovenia when they met. One thing that isn’t clear is if she was represented by the Trump pimping agency oh excuse me..modeling agency before she met lump.
Old Hank kinda embarrassed his old self a bit when he played for McCain and Palin that one time, but he’s a trouper, he knows how to suck it up and deliver when the stakes are high.
makes me wanna run a trot line or something
Country Music may surprise you. If my cousin in Nashville is any indication, they may be quiet so as not to offend some of their fans, but they aren’t major supporters of the Trump. Lots of dodging and weaving with other commitments going on.
but which came 1st, the bad press or the bad pres-elect tweet?
ap at msn:
House Republicans abruptly reversed themselves Tuesday under pressure from President-elect Donald Trump and dropped plans to gut an independent congressional ethics board.
The dizzying about-face came as lawmakers convened for the first day of the 115th Congress, an occasion normally reserved for pomp and ceremony under the Capitol Dome. Instead, House Republicans found themselves under attack not only from Democrats but from their new president, over their secretive move Monday to neuter the independent Office of Congressional Ethics and place it under lawmakers’ control.
GOP leaders scrambled to contain the damage, and within hours of Trump registering his criticism on Twitter, they called an emergency meeting of House Republicans where lawmakers voted without opposition to undo the change.
The episode, coming even before the new Congress had convened and lawmakers were sworn in, was a powerful illustration of the sway Trump may hold over his party in a Washington that will be fully under Republican control for the first time in a decade. Lawmakers who’ve felt unfairly targeted by the ethics office had defied their own House GOP leaders with their initial vote to gut the body, but once Trump weighed in they backpedaled immediately.
“With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it may be, their number one act and priority,” Trump had asked over Twitter Tuesday morning, in an objection that appeared focused more on timing than on substance. Trump, who will take office later this month, said the focus should be on tax reform and health care, and included the hash-tag #DTS, for “Drain the Swamp,” his oft-repeated campaign promise to bring change to Washington.
Democrats and even many Republicans were quick to point out that the lawmakers’ plans for their ethics watchdog flew in the face of that notion. The measure was part of a rules package that faced a vote in the full House later Tuesday and looked like it could fail after Trump registered his objections.
“We were elected on a promise to drain the swamp and starting the session by relaxing ethics rules is a very bad start,” said GOP Rep. Tom McClintock of California.
Said GOP Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma: “People didn’t want this story on opening day.”
The Office of Congressional Ethics was created in 2008 after several bribery and corruption cases in the House, but lawmakers of both parties have groused about the way it operates.
Lawmakers were especially incensed by an investigation of members of Congress from both parties who went on a 2013 trip to Azerbaijan paid for by that country’s government. Lawmakers said after the investigation was made public in 2015 that they had no idea the trip was paid for by Azerbaijan’s government, and the House Ethics Committee ultimately cleared the lawmakers.
Once the ethics controversy was dispensed with on Tuesday, lawmakers in both chambers of Congress returned to the ceremonial business. As set out in the Constitution, both chambers gaveled in at noon, and as storm clouds threatened outside, the halls of the Capitol filled with lawmakers’ children, friends and spouses on hand to witness the procedures. The day had a festive feel of the first day back at school, as new arrivals roamed the halls with old hands, exchanging greetings and taking in the day.
The only way “Country Music” might surprise me would be if they started playing country music.
The ethics thing was a ruse.
It was just too pat.
the twit’s tweets were made at 10:03 today….. way way way after abc, cbs, nbc, said their piece and morning joe ranted. why are ap others giving him credit?
here’s latimes article
Yes, Michelle was Obama’s best decision and biggest asset.
Does the FLOTUS-elect have a cause she wants to promote? I’m sure she loves her son, but it would seem odd if they didn’t have some hired help to see to his needs.
Why would Trumpco reach out to Talladega College to perform, aside from trying to get some cred by using those kids? Why would they accept the invitation? Do they have a special medley prepared? What’s the edgiest thing a marching band could play?
Megyn Kelley leaving Fox for NBC…as if I have much faith in any of the major news organizations.
Deutschland über alles?
That would be edgy.
Marching bands, especially from certain colleges, are well known for their formations and the ability to grab attention.
Maybe the floater promised a huge check for the college if they would show up? Even if he did they should know he would not pay off. And, if they do march in the parade they might lose more than they would ever gain.
Mrs. P asked what the hell Talladega College was thinking when they accepted the invitation. I figure there must be money in it for them. My recommendation – get it up front. Those little trumpette girl dancers found that out the hard way.
They got a racetrack AND a college?
De-Ga!
Too bad Lee Atwater’s gone……..he was a right fair moo-jician…..he’d a gathered em up a hell of a show……..
Sorry Sturgeone
Rock and Roll grew up and moved to the country. The classic variety is in clubs and small touring for old time fans. There’s still lots of old blues around so don’t give up hope of country rising from the dead. Happened to actually here Blind Willie Johnson during a show the other night. It helps for us fogies who aren’t all that fond of amplifiers.
Craig: Nice, succinct synopsis of 5 Presidential decades. I think this will be the starkest contrast of all time. Crazy is almost too nice a word to describe what’s ahead of us.
Renee: We won’t have to endure much of the pole dancer since the bottom feeder’s
main squeezeer daughter, will likely have the role of first lady in all but name. It’s actually sad that the dirtbag’s wife is just a place holder in this tragic comedy!Pat: Not surprising that they voted to do away with ethics, their new boss has none so they could be one united package of low class leadership! Not sure what the about face means…certainly out of character for trump, since he has no character or ethics, so someone must have done it for him! Either that or he noticed the bad reactions and he wants to look like he’s taking the high road. (surely he needs a map for that) It’s interesting how fast the toadies ran to do his bidding though.
sjwny: Here is what would work to make his parade perfect:
https://youtu.be/PjbYl3LgTHA
Talladega has a racetrack, college and a movie…. weeeeeeeee…… 😉
KGC…. thanks for making me look up Melania’s history on wiki…. forget what I said above…. she be a gold-digger…
GrannyM…. I LOVE the Patriots FU to Goodell Tour!
I went back to weaving today after a 3 week layoff…. feels good….
Thanks Granny. Back in the day I made a thing of succinct historical overview for cramped newspaper space. Once summed up the history of the Middle East in 800 words, and gave Christ one sentence: “The son of a Carpenter whose followers believed he was the son of God.”
A woman called to complain that I was too objective. I explained that many readers are not believers, such as Jewish folks.
She said, “Well I’d like to think they’re Christians too.”
So often I take a moment to wonder about that conversation. Somehow it gave me understanding.
I do hope Obama pardons her before leaving so there won’t be all kinds of surmising about arresting her at the big bash.
usa today: Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush to attend Trump inauguration
and from npr after noting that all the above and jimmy carter will be there:
That leaves only President George H.W. Bush absent. A spokesman tells NPR that “at ages 92 and 91— and all that entails — President and Mrs. Bush will be unable to attend.” Bush has had serious health issues in recent years.
While it may make for an awkward few moments for Mrs. Clinton, she is hardly the first to watch the candidate she lost to being sworn in. In 2008, Republican Sen. John McCain had a ringside seat as Barack Obama took the oath, and in 2000, outgoing Vice President Al Gore looked on as as George W. Bush was sworn in.
yeah, but what do they know. snooty elitists.
wapo:
A group of more than 1,100 law school professors from across the country is sending a letter to Congress on Tuesday urging the Senate to reject the nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) for attorney general.
The letter, signed by professors from 170 law schools in 48 states, is also scheduled to run as a full-page newspaper ad aimed at members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will be holding confirmation hearings for Sessions on Jan. 10-11.
“We are convinced that Jeff Sessions will not fairly enforce our nation’s laws and promote justice and equality in the United States,” states the letter, signed by prominent legal scholars including Laurence H. Tribe of Harvard Law School, Geoffrey R. Stone of the University of Chicago Law School, Pamela S. Karlan of Stanford Law School and Erwin Chemerinsky of the University of California, Irvine School of Law.
The professors — from every state except North Dakota and Alaska, which has no law school — highlight the rejection of Sessions’s nomination to a federal judgeship more than 30 years ago. Robin Walker Sterling of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, one of the organizers of the letter, said that 1,000 professors signed on within 72 hours. “Clearly, there are many, many law professors who are very uneasy with the prospect of Attorney General Sessions, and they are willing to take a public stand in opposition to his nomination,” she said.
Sturg, they do, and little else. When I was a younger man I spent a bunch of hours there (the racetrack, not the college) with my dad (a Richard Petty diehard and huge NASCAR fan back when there were a fair slew of drivers from the Birmingham area) eating fried chicken, getting sunburned and watching rednecks get drunk and stupid (no stretch there). Back when streaking was a thing I saw a guy (drunk redneck, I’m sure) try to streak the grandstand (the grandstand is way over 1/2 a mile long). The drunk rednecks caught him and pinned him up against the fence until the local sheriff guys came and wrapped him up and took him away. He didn’t look all that happy at the time.
I love hiassen’s books about news papering and fighting over column inches and getting onto front page and all that……in fact, one of them was about a Miami paper columnist who, in league with a Bingo-Rich Seminole, an ex-football strong man, and a Princeton-educated Cubano Activist who had a pet typewriter, went on a murderous rampage feeding selected tourists to the Seminole’s semi-pet crocodile in order to ruin the tourism business and send everyone flying away from south Florida……
Las Noches de Deciembre, they named themselves.
I bet they got a Wal-mart…….
I found out when i was making stuff that making stuff is no good without selling stuff……you gotta have a market or you’re just stuck with a lot of useless crap…….Nixon did something or other with china and so now there’s a Walmart in every village and town as a market for Chinese stuff……..
Sears and Roebuck never saw it coming.
Sturg, by now I bet they do have one. Back then – maybe a KMart, but I doubt it. Folks prolly drove into town in Anniston or for a big night out to Irondale.
Sturg- Maybe he’s been “jacked up on Mountain Dew,” when he tweets at 3am. Maybe he invited them because he likes the movie & got confused.
Craig – There is a TV show on one of the Christian channels here called, “The Jewish Jesus.” I’m not sure what could possibly require an on-going show to explain that, though.
I’ve always blamed Nixon.
Also to blame: China. The theft of intellectual property, the knock-offs.
Also to blame: Companies on the front end of the exodus of manufacturing jobs to increase profit for the 1%-ers. Smaller companies had little choice but follow suit to compete.
Dragging resources & finished goods around the globe; what a waste of time, fuel, and often, quality. Sometime safety, too.
BiD “I’ll come atchoo like a Spider Monkey…….”
The skena:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AfLtst6mC0Q
C&W and Hillbilly music is how I learned it. And, listened to it. Hillbilly is now Bluegrass. Same stuff, ma got caught by pa with his brother in the still house.
Listen to Johnny Cash and you get California style Western. My first campaign manager split for a few days to do the CMA (that was just over ten years ago). Then he split for good to handle a presidential campaign. My second campaign manager split for New Zealand. My third split for a second wife, forgetting to divorce his first. Some might say my campaigns were hard on my managers.
Or that your campaign managers made you crazyyyy
Father forgive me for I have sinned. (I’m watching Tweety). Looks like Kellyanne got a make over.
Finally to season 6 of West Wing. The variety of the music keeps surprising me. Last episode, it was Sam Cooke
https://youtu.be/1bgsiSHmZ20