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.

With 18 days left of the Obama presidency, the lookbacks begin. And Chief White House photographer offers up some entertaining candid pics of the President at play.

By Jace, a Trail Mix Contributor

It is a New Year and defiantly a New World. Hopefully it will be a brave new world. There is something in this work for everyone. May each of you find something special and rewarding in the year to come. As always, enjoy the music and enjoy your day!

Happy New Year!

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… was the work of a wayward imagination brought to the end of its tether by political disgust and personal confusion. — John Le Clare

By Blue Bronc, a Trail Mix Contributor

Notes about the Russkies packing up and going home.

First, and most important, it is not the hacking the DNC that is the issue.  It is what they are doing that is not reported.  The DNC is old news.  Yahoo is old news.  OPM is old news.  VA is old news.  You do not know what they have been attacking.  Those attacks are why the GRU/FSB/SVR are booking flights home this weekend.  Getting them out of the D.C. region is the key.

Second, many of those kicked out were getting to be a pain in the ass.  Not much more is needed to explain their departure.

Third, which could be first, is to box the floater in.  If the orange lunatic wants to turn around and invite the GRU/FSB/SVR back in to reestablish spy operations he would be very close to treason.  This is as much for his “enjoyment” as poking Putin in the eye (sort of like closing down one of his eyes on the U.S.)

I do not know what is going on other than what is reported in the news.  But, I can guess there is something more behind this.  Most likely is a lot more going on to reach this point.  The DNC thing is a nice cover. (Don’t worry, the Russians already know that.)

Of interest to me is that Putin did not kick out any U.S. operatives at this time.  It is not out of the goodness of his large intestine.  He is KGB and does not have a heart (just wondering what another heartless soul, Cheney, thinks of his party leader kissing up to the Soviet KGB).  Why would he not follow tradition?  I can only guess that he expects this example of “good” will make his saddle buddy allow the GRU/FSB/SVR to come back in and start local spying again.

This action also wipes the slate a little bit clean so that the GRU/FSB/SVR will have to reestablish their networks.  That will take time.  Perhaps longer than four years and the floater will be out of office by time Putin gets operatives back in and doing the nasty.

The best of this is that the Soviets/Russians get kicked in the groin.  A few U.S. assets have been given to the GRU/FSB/SVR, but the loss may not be in the same scale as what was accomplished.

Next note:  GRU is military intelligence, a mix of NSA, CIA and local folk; FSB is local (Russian) intelligence but with some external contacts and SVR is spy service, sort of like CIA.  Be happy you do not have to deal with these people.

Next note:  Putin, and the FSB/SVR would rather have known operatives stay in Russia than to kick out those they know are there.  This is a multi-layer poker game.  Do you keep what you know?  Or do you remove what you know to wait for a new deal of cards?  Take a card on 16 or take a card on 17.

And, I am sure you are starting to build a question as to why I know this.  I am just like you, except I was exposed to this stuff a long time ago.

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We’ve lost some icons this year, but Tony Bennett (90) is still here.