Someone must have wished the USA to "live in interesting times." Thanks a lot!
29
At least he appears for a press conference. WWHD. What would Hillary do?
13
Trump will most likely be impeached - when the Republicans figure out a way to do it that won't taint the rest of them, which could either be a definitive Russia scandal or new Trump international financial deals scandals. And then the Republicans will have what the really want - Pence, and the rest of us, especially the female half of us, will be even worse off than we are with that exploding pile of refuse in the White House.
144
The inaugural press conferences of President Trump was enjoyable. Much better than the Apprentice. So spontaneous. Daytime TV at its best. It should be scheduled on a regular basis so that all Americans can stop and watch or listen to the President offer his views.
21
Gail under any other circumstances…I love your satire. But after that unhinged 75 minute press conference…I feel like we would be better off if a meteor hit us rather than have this lunatic running our country.
We are in deep, deep trouble...
We are in deep, deep trouble...
166
Dear Gail Collins, I would not be surviving without you.
47
The thing about Trump is he is desperate for adoration and his perception of his own power. This leads to his utterly goofy non-sequitur answers, like his "answer" to a question about anti-semitism, with a reply (that was a lie) about his electoral victory.
The man is quite mad (whether he exhibits clinical Narcissistic Personality Disorder appears to be in question, his never having been examined for it), and also seems to be in the beginning stages of dementia.
It's very hard to get any real humor out of a man like this armed with nuclear weapons and in thrall to Putin.
The man is quite mad (whether he exhibits clinical Narcissistic Personality Disorder appears to be in question, his never having been examined for it), and also seems to be in the beginning stages of dementia.
It's very hard to get any real humor out of a man like this armed with nuclear weapons and in thrall to Putin.
61
Gail, I absolutely love you and your writing, been a LONG time fan. But I am finding I just can't laugh anymore, even with you at your wittiest. I think I may truly be learning what "soul crushing worry" feels like. You and all the journalists at the Times are one of our anchors to reality at this very, VERY surreal moment. I wonder if, when White House security is forced to drag Trump out of his office after he is impeached, if he will then, finally, come to grips with reality. Honestly I doubt it.
81
It's seven years and 48 weeks. May you live in interesting times.
15
Probably too much to hope for, but I would love it if during Trump's State of The Union Address several Senators would, in unison shout "you lie!". I'm sure there will be plenty of whoppers embedded in the speech. All it would take to bring it off would be a ringleader to give a signal at an appropriate time. It was shameful when Republican doofus Joe Wilson interrupted President Obama's address. Trump deserves zero respect as President."Lock Him Up" would be a good alternative to "You Lie".
78
every single day, more bizarre, absurd stuff from a guy described as The President, low intellectual content, innarticulate, extremely self-referential, defensive, non self reflective, cant process, revealing body language, these video things are painful but somehow attractive (or addictive) to watch, out of fear or anxiety and a pinch of humor, no positive vision or chance for achievement but high chance of regression and risk (already has occurred), Friday/Saturday/Wednesdays TV occurences unbelievable, and his antipathy towards many targeted peoples keeps coming out, what else?
56
Trump is as incompentent as I expected him to be. Any "CEO" with as many bankruptcies as Trump should never have been considered for any government job. But you are right. I did not expect this much mess in less than a month.
Trump is amazing, in a bad way.
Trump is amazing, in a bad way.
79
A great article but I look forward to the updated version that address Trump's most recent press conference.
Ringling Brothers called it quits because it couldn't handle the competition from this band of circus monkeys.
Ringling Brothers called it quits because it couldn't handle the competition from this band of circus monkeys.
44
I'm grateful for you, Gail. Your columns are one of the things getting me through this mess of a presidency. It's only been four weeks, but it feels as though it's been so much, much longer.
What stuns me is not that things have come to this, but that there are still people who defend Trump and every utterance that comes out of his mouth, as well as his inept, dangerous, and generally smarmy administration. I know people who, despite the lies, the nuttiness, the chaos, the executive orders, the half-baked tweets, the "alternative facts", the monstrous Steve Bannon, the incompetent Betsy DeVos, the shredding of our international reputation, and the specters of Russia, Putin, and North Korea - I could go on, I guess - still defend Trump and are squarely in his corner. These are the same people who spent months screaming about Hillary Clinton's e-mails and declaring that she was unfit for the presidency.
At this point, I don't know what it's going to take for some of these people. I don't know what exactly Trump and his administration have to do to demonstrate that they are not working in the nation's best interest and are, in fact, a clear, present, and persistent danger to this country. I fear that, by the time Trump's most die-hard supporters face reality, we won't have much of a country left. So write on, Gail. We need voices like yours now more than ever.
What stuns me is not that things have come to this, but that there are still people who defend Trump and every utterance that comes out of his mouth, as well as his inept, dangerous, and generally smarmy administration. I know people who, despite the lies, the nuttiness, the chaos, the executive orders, the half-baked tweets, the "alternative facts", the monstrous Steve Bannon, the incompetent Betsy DeVos, the shredding of our international reputation, and the specters of Russia, Putin, and North Korea - I could go on, I guess - still defend Trump and are squarely in his corner. These are the same people who spent months screaming about Hillary Clinton's e-mails and declaring that she was unfit for the presidency.
At this point, I don't know what it's going to take for some of these people. I don't know what exactly Trump and his administration have to do to demonstrate that they are not working in the nation's best interest and are, in fact, a clear, present, and persistent danger to this country. I fear that, by the time Trump's most die-hard supporters face reality, we won't have much of a country left. So write on, Gail. We need voices like yours now more than ever.
89
Twilight Zone. We're living in The Twilight Zone.
64
After watching his press conference today (i.e., Thursday) I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Unhinged... hmm, me thinks not; today he went clear of the rails and into orbit. What is fact and what is fiction is a tough one for the Orange Pinhead to clearly discern. God help us all.
59
Gail - when watching Stephen Miller on TV last weekend, the image of Douglas Neidermeyer of Animal House jumped off the screen!
Is THAT the best and the brightest of what they have to offer for Senior Policy advisors??
Is THAT the best and the brightest of what they have to offer for Senior Policy advisors??
45
While your satirical political humor is amongst the very best Gail, after the laughter subsides there is the sinking, morbid realization that "Oh God, there is a bona fida nut-job in the White House"! His performance at the so-called press conference today must have sent new Valium prescriptions for unnerved Americans through the roof. His fixation on Hillary Clinton, the Electoral College, fake news, the dishonest media, etc., etc., runs in one continuous verbal loop for him. My only consolation is that I'm not there at the press conference, suffering through this bazaar, incoherent spectacle in person. Pity the White House press corps. Three years and 48 weeks? No Way!
54
"Things could be worse"? Clearly, Gail Collins has never been on a long losing streak in Las Vegas and Trump is that long losing streak. Things CAN get worse.
27
At least in Lost Wages when all your money is gone they'll give you a free bus ticket home.
8
As much as I support the new president I still say (this is for you Mr President) that his daughter has no business working for the government. She wasn't elected, she didn't fill out an application and nepotism is illegal all over the country in even local jurisdictions, for very good reasons that are proven time and time again.
Her husband is his adviser, which required an extraordinary decision to clear. His wife is not. If I were a White House staffer, a government employee of any type, which I certainly am not, in any case, if I was and I heard or saw Ivanka Trump giving any instruction or order to any government employee during her time "assisting " her father as president I would immediately file a well documented complaint with the inspector general's office or any other office that the president did not control.
Nepotism is un-American.
Her husband is his adviser, which required an extraordinary decision to clear. His wife is not. If I were a White House staffer, a government employee of any type, which I certainly am not, in any case, if I was and I heard or saw Ivanka Trump giving any instruction or order to any government employee during her time "assisting " her father as president I would immediately file a well documented complaint with the inspector general's office or any other office that the president did not control.
Nepotism is un-American.
24
Defiling our Constitution: even more un-American.
34
How so?
1
There won't be three years and 48 weeks to go. He will be impeached within the year, hopefully sooner than that. The breadcrumbs all go back to him, all of the warning signs were there before the election. Now that he has completely inflamed our intelligence community, he doesn't stand a chance. The knives are out, blood is in the water, it's only a matter of time before the rats desert the sinking ship, even the spineless ones like Ryan and McConnell. And hopefully their voters will finally vote them out of office once they get the chance.
50
Every time you think it can't get worse, it will. This man has no filter, no thought process, no boundaries. If he's not stopped, he will destroy this country.
61
Time to develop a contingency plan. If (make that "when") , in a fit of rage, Trump yells "Ok, that's it! Bring me the football!" a uniformed man should bring him one of those telephones shaped like an actual...football. (Be sure to remove the NFL branding.). When he screams, "Now give me the codes!", have him punch in the number of a mental health hotline.
Short of that, we're all in serious trouble.
Short of that, we're all in serious trouble.
43
Thanks, Ms. Collins, I needed that. I cannot tell you how much I have looked forward to your pithy comments to get me in a good mood for the day. My home town paper used to publish your column on Saturdays. It was the first thing I reached for - well, after coffee of course. The paper changed its format so now I have to go to the NY Times. Not onerous, but still. Makes Saturdays a little blah. And yes, Rumor, the German Shepard that won the Westminster Dog Show is Amazing! Ah well, back to researching impeachment proceedings.
20
oh, if only Trump were Korean.
27
Trump these days is like the commander on the bridge of a Klingon warship. "Tactical." "Evasive." "Photon torpedo." "Cloaking" (cue Sean Spicer).
In other words, otherworldly. And, fictional.
In other words, otherworldly. And, fictional.
18
No matter what happens, according to trump, it will always be the Democrats' fault, Hillary Clinton's fault, President Obama's fault or the fault of the fake and failing media. This is all so appalling and the past 4 weeks have been so stunning that, at the moment, I can't find any humor in it.
39
Well, we can keep quaking in our boots, or we can get this maniac out of office. We The People have to march to Congress, and walk in and take it back. We cannot sit back any longer and wait for armageddon, which this man will precipitate. Already today he is talking about nuclear war with Russia. Our children and our grandchildren will not inherit any kind of world in which anyone can live. What are we waiting for - our pathetic representatives who are too lily livered to remove him? This has to be done. Please, please we have to do something!
24
I'm writing, Gail, to offer my condolences on your ordeal of trying to find anything amusing about that creature. Nothing I've seen or heard since the election has been cause for so much as a small chuckle. Even your fine wit has not been able to console me; he is too frightening to be funny. You have my sympathy. Alas for the days of the dog on the roof of the car.
25
"And you can’t pin North Koreans on the Trump administration yet. Except for the part where our president dealt with the crisis over their new ballistic missile while dining at Mar-a-Lago in front of throngs of resort guests and their Facebook friends."
Not to mention lit up phones--who knows who was looking in.
Not to mention lit up phones--who knows who was looking in.
17
I used to be able to laugh at Bush, even though I was also upset by his actions after he stole the election.
But with Trump, I just cannot laugh. I lost a sense of humor about this situation when he stole this election. And every day that goes by, every outrageous action leaves my sense of humor further and further in the dust.
I know it's bad when even Gail Collins can't make me laugh...
But with Trump, I just cannot laugh. I lost a sense of humor about this situation when he stole this election. And every day that goes by, every outrageous action leaves my sense of humor further and further in the dust.
I know it's bad when even Gail Collins can't make me laugh...
21
You know what?
Most of us have homes, jobs, money, cars, boats...etc etc etc. we are relatively safe from war and upheaval. Life is STILL good in the United States......why else would everyone else be risking life and limb to get here?
Ask yourself........why?
Because with all of our problems, we are still the ideal of human life on this planet.
Maybe we should stop seeing all the bad and and appreciate some good.
Now let's get back to some champagne......
Most of us have homes, jobs, money, cars, boats...etc etc etc. we are relatively safe from war and upheaval. Life is STILL good in the United States......why else would everyone else be risking life and limb to get here?
Ask yourself........why?
Because with all of our problems, we are still the ideal of human life on this planet.
Maybe we should stop seeing all the bad and and appreciate some good.
Now let's get back to some champagne......
2
That's funny, I see quite a few people risking life and limb to get out of the USA and over the border into Canada lately.
30
One word describes Trump's press conference today. Incoherent.
38
Well done to Rumor for winning Westminster. No comfort found in La La Land. Fake musical
4
That's a first - describing Kellyanne Conway as "that poor woman," even if done so derisively. We are now paying her salary and contributing to her pension so she can lie to us with her all-you-can-eat alternative facts?
29
How many of you remember the old talking Barbie and Ken dolls, the ones with the pull strings? Think of them as the "Gaslighting Barbie" set.
8
It was only a matter of time before the grate (sic) orange one started blaming President Obama. Who's next? Mother Teresa? Perhaps someone in this demented cabinet of cretins will know she's no longer in this world but, of course that wouldn't matter, as long as she's not around to counter attack. So the rump administration is going to "war" against the fake media. How dare they report actual events, comments and diabolical goings on when what they should be reporting are the massive crowds at the rump's inauguration, how he won by more votes than Jesus would've gotten had he run, and isn't it a shame that rump's daughter's habiliments aren't selling and it goes on ad nauseam. What a cruel, sick joke has been befallen our country. If our country can survive this then we are truly a great country. One wonders.
29
Trump misspoke....what he meant to say is he's leaving #46 a bigly mess.
10
We seem to forget that it was Republicans in Congress who created that free trade zone right across the Mexican border so that they could get cheaper cars and other stuff. So to point this out as a Democratic error, it wouldn't be a bad idea to look back at the Republicans' own actions.
17
For all those talking about a "do over" in the election... it ain't happening! Like it or not the Constitution has a process for those cases where the President is incapacitated (or just plain insane) and the progression is: Vice President (Who would have thought that Pence would seem a rational choice?), followed by the Speaker of the House (Paul Ryan, the man who gives weasels a bad name). I personally feel the Founding Fathers gave us a great foundation in the Constitution (warts of 3/5 human and all) and no where in that great document is there any mention of a "do over". If we don't like them apples, we have to get out and vote!! And now back to my no Trump alert bunker...
18
Fear not! Trump is going back to campaigning so he can hold a rally to make a lot of non-specific promises that no one expects him to follow through with and millions of adoring fans will weep his name with joy.
This is the point when a competent president doesn't need to campaign anymore, they just go in and enact the policies they promised. But Trump is incompetent and only every wanted to see more of his face on television. We're all in trouble now.
This is the point when a competent president doesn't need to campaign anymore, they just go in and enact the policies they promised. But Trump is incompetent and only every wanted to see more of his face on television. We're all in trouble now.
17
I hope that rally is more poorly attended than the inauguration. Then we'll see how unpopular he has become with his deplorables.
10
A few days ago it was reported by our commander in Afghanistan that the battle taliban is at a stalemate. But when you go from winning to stalemate it actually means you have lost ground and/or tactical advantage. Or stated more simply, losing. This is one of the more important messes that Trump has inherited, and his decision on whether to throw more resources and personnel into that un winnable and un ending war, or cut our losses may become his first big decision as commander in chief. He has no good options and only difficult choices, so how he deals with it will show us whether his presidency has a chance of succeeding or whether it will just stumble from crisis to crisis, kind of like it started out.
4
It would have been Russia's problem and not ours if Charlie Wilson and other Republicans in the government back in the day hadn't plotted to arm the Taliban against the Russians! Sad.
15
During President Trump's 2/16/17 press conference, it soon became evident that he was speaking not to the press, but to his supporters. His attacks on the press, evasions, misunderstandings of the import of reporter's questions, and falsehoods were obvious attempts to further manipulate his base.
Some enterprising polling organization should devise items that would flush out the data relevant to the following: (1) What percent of those who voted for Mr. Trump did so because they believed he would never win the election, but that voting for him would send a wake-up call to both the Republican and Democratic establishments? (2) What percent of these Trump voters now regret casting their ballots as they did?
My suspicion: President Trump's belief that he still enjoys wide voter support seems, at the very least, quite misguided.
Some enterprising polling organization should devise items that would flush out the data relevant to the following: (1) What percent of those who voted for Mr. Trump did so because they believed he would never win the election, but that voting for him would send a wake-up call to both the Republican and Democratic establishments? (2) What percent of these Trump voters now regret casting their ballots as they did?
My suspicion: President Trump's belief that he still enjoys wide voter support seems, at the very least, quite misguided.
121
What cannot be underestimated in the amazing lack of response from Republicans is Trump's supporters' fanatical and almost delusional support of the man. Trump said it best himself: "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters." Imagine the implications of these words for millions of people: Trump could actually SHOOT A HUMAN BEING and that would not sway his frenzied supporters.
I believe nothing short of serial pedophile convictions would even make a dent. Even that might not matter to millions. They sop up every inane, false, blustering baloney Trump spews, and overlook vile words and deeds they would be mortally ashamed if their children committed. They do this in the name of Trump their god. They believe an incompetent, ignorant, corrupt president who boasts about making good on his promises but who has actually done almost nothing and what little he has done has been handled with breathtaking ineptitude, is just fine and better than an experienced, competent "insider".
It will take years for these supporters to realize the con. Only when the jobs don't materialize, the health insurance is decimated, the wall does little and infrastructure never happens; only then MIGHT they question their undying support of their god. That's a big might. Because Trump is training them to blame everyone else: the media, the Democrats, the liberals, and he'll somehow get Hillary in there too.
We must call out craven Republicans. LOUDLY.
I believe nothing short of serial pedophile convictions would even make a dent. Even that might not matter to millions. They sop up every inane, false, blustering baloney Trump spews, and overlook vile words and deeds they would be mortally ashamed if their children committed. They do this in the name of Trump their god. They believe an incompetent, ignorant, corrupt president who boasts about making good on his promises but who has actually done almost nothing and what little he has done has been handled with breathtaking ineptitude, is just fine and better than an experienced, competent "insider".
It will take years for these supporters to realize the con. Only when the jobs don't materialize, the health insurance is decimated, the wall does little and infrastructure never happens; only then MIGHT they question their undying support of their god. That's a big might. Because Trump is training them to blame everyone else: the media, the Democrats, the liberals, and he'll somehow get Hillary in there too.
We must call out craven Republicans. LOUDLY.
48
I should go buy stock in pharma, since I think >25% of the population will be forced onto a panel of psychotropic drugs to survive.
People that are worried and ask but why, shouldn't you care, and a variety of other messaging are missing the biggest point of all ...
Their are a lot of folks that hated the status quo, and stated said this guy will cause these folks the most pain and concern. Lets vote for him and we don't care about the results after just as long as they are uncomfortable and feel out of control like we have. So while people cry for impeachment and other things ... these folks are just chuckling and laughing since they know the American dream is dead, the government is a farse, and no one cares about them so spread the love ... Anything to make it more entertaining they say ... go for it ....
(This is not my view fwiw) ....
People that are worried and ask but why, shouldn't you care, and a variety of other messaging are missing the biggest point of all ...
Their are a lot of folks that hated the status quo, and stated said this guy will cause these folks the most pain and concern. Lets vote for him and we don't care about the results after just as long as they are uncomfortable and feel out of control like we have. So while people cry for impeachment and other things ... these folks are just chuckling and laughing since they know the American dream is dead, the government is a farse, and no one cares about them so spread the love ... Anything to make it more entertaining they say ... go for it ....
(This is not my view fwiw) ....
9
And also stock in the companies that make guns, bullets, tanks, military uniforms, etc.
8
Oh thanks. As if 3 years and 44 weeks weren't bad enough, you had to go and amend our time in purgatory to 3 years and 48 weeks.
Ok, I still love you New York Times!
Ok, I still love you New York Times!
5
Let us hope that there are not 3 years and 48 weeks to go. Let us hope, too, that the investigation, albeit under the same FBI director that helped sway the election toward #45, will continue and thus reveal what by now seems evident: this administration was not only in collusion with Putin, but that collusion is a cause for treason, and hence, an impeachable offense. If there is any justice left in Washington, the investigation will include the infamous tax returns as well as the revelations of what was in the much talked about dossier.
Listening to Kellyanne Conway, #45 or Sean Spicer is as informative as listening to Sesame Street. The rhetoric is geared toward children and not to be taken in any way seriously, other than to add to another dossier of a vast cover-up of the truth.
Listening to Kellyanne Conway, #45 or Sean Spicer is as informative as listening to Sesame Street. The rhetoric is geared toward children and not to be taken in any way seriously, other than to add to another dossier of a vast cover-up of the truth.
6
We won't be safe until we see Trump cross the Canadian border, strapped to the roof of Mitt Romney's station wagon.
52
If we're all around come this fall, things will get worse if Trump doesn't even get nominated for an Emmy.
As for how bad Trump can make things, we'll finally know - when Alec Baldwin wins for Outstanding Lead Actor ...
As for how bad Trump can make things, we'll finally know - when Alec Baldwin wins for Outstanding Lead Actor ...
14
If we had a parliamentary system. it might be possible to hold a snap election. Unfortunately, the founders provided only impeachment - a process would require the Republicans to put country before party. Even so, stupidity, racism, and mental incapacity are not impeachable offenses. Perhaps Congress can turn to the 25th amendment because Trump is obviously mentally unbalanced. But liberals beware! Mike Pence as acting president may be much more successful in getting the conservative agenda through Congress. On the other hand, the risk of nuclear war may decrease substantially with acting President Pence. The country can survive Pence, but we may not survive even a "limited' nuclear exchange.
12
Yes, things could be worse.
Reasonable people who understand how the government has always worked, have the idea that the Trump Administration is on the ropes. All the illegal, dangerous, clumsy things they're doing, all the ridiculous rants from their frontman, would normally bring down a presidency pretty quickly.
But someone has to actually bring it down. And so long as Trump remains popular with his base and the majority of other Republicans, Congress isn't going to act against him. And the Department of Justice is now part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Trump's continued blustering, and the draconian measures his handlers are putting into place, don't bode well at all. I don't like to follow Godwin's Rule, but we've seen these actions - from scapegoating vulnerable Others down to the comical rants of the Leader - before. Hopefully the citizenry won't be so passive this time.
Reasonable people who understand how the government has always worked, have the idea that the Trump Administration is on the ropes. All the illegal, dangerous, clumsy things they're doing, all the ridiculous rants from their frontman, would normally bring down a presidency pretty quickly.
But someone has to actually bring it down. And so long as Trump remains popular with his base and the majority of other Republicans, Congress isn't going to act against him. And the Department of Justice is now part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Trump's continued blustering, and the draconian measures his handlers are putting into place, don't bode well at all. I don't like to follow Godwin's Rule, but we've seen these actions - from scapegoating vulnerable Others down to the comical rants of the Leader - before. Hopefully the citizenry won't be so passive this time.
19
When Trump complained (on Thursday) about illegal leaking, he commented that he phoned the Mexican and Australian leaders and then that exactly what had been said was leaked. He thus confirmed the truthfulness of the leaked version.
Or maybe not. He'd told a string of such obvious whoppers earlier in his remarks that perhaps this was skillful redirection: if the lying president says the leaks are true, then they must be false! The Trump Paradox!
Or maybe not. He'd told a string of such obvious whoppers earlier in his remarks that perhaps this was skillful redirection: if the lying president says the leaks are true, then they must be false! The Trump Paradox!
10
"... our president dealt with the crisis over their new ballistic missile while dining at Mar-a-Lago."
China's long run goal is--Buy the USA corporation by corporation.
Russia's short run goal is --But the USA politician by politician.
Trump's goal Is--Bill the USA for "Winter White House" expenses at gold clubs and hotels. Wonder what he charges? Wonder where the Summer White House will be. Does he bill for First Lady Office space in Trump Tower?
This is all how he makes America great--for him.
China's long run goal is--Buy the USA corporation by corporation.
Russia's short run goal is --But the USA politician by politician.
Trump's goal Is--Bill the USA for "Winter White House" expenses at gold clubs and hotels. Wonder what he charges? Wonder where the Summer White House will be. Does he bill for First Lady Office space in Trump Tower?
This is all how he makes America great--for him.
13
But, but, Ms. Collins we have only 48 weeks to go with Herr Trump and then the homour to have three years of our Priest-in-Chief, Mike Pence.
4
In answer to your headline: I don't see how. Please explain.
7
His penchant for gaffes and ethical mire would suggest that his tenancy may well be abridged. Let's hope that it is the outside limit...3 years 48 weeks and counting down!
4
I'll always wonder how Canadian PM Justin Trudeau kept a straight face while fielding questions from the press with Donald Trump recently. Did he have to think about dead puppies to keep from laughing?
When a Canadian journalist asked about his restrictive stance on accepting Syrian refugees compared with Canada's open policy, Trump answered as if he were asked, "Do you have a political mandate to round up and deport undocumented Mexican criminals in the US and how is it going?"
When a Canadian journalist asked about his restrictive stance on accepting Syrian refugees compared with Canada's open policy, Trump answered as if he were asked, "Do you have a political mandate to round up and deport undocumented Mexican criminals in the US and how is it going?"
17
I think we're way past the point of looking at Trump in a whimsical, gee whiz isn't he awful but so entertaining point of view. This is deadly serious. Why does no one at NYT dig into this guy's dealings and nail him to the cross. He is violating the fed rules against one of their employees leasing one of their buildings for profit as in the Trump Hotel. What happened to that one? Instead we get this crap.
15
I agree. Watching from Canada I am sick. I know life has to go on but I feel slightly negligent if I forget about your politics. I have friends whose grandparents ran across fields carrying their children to escape Hungary as the tanks were rolling into the cities while other stood on the sidewalk watching. I often wondered, would I have had to brains to run or would I have waited to see what was going to happen? It feels as serious as the stories of those days from history.
15
"People" are feeling sympathy for Conway? That's pretty vague. Name three.
15
...I’ll bet you didn’t actually have “worry about collapse of the government” written down on your schedule for February.
Acutally, Gail, I did. And right next to it is "worry that an actual shooting-each-other civil war is about to break out, with armed blockades on interstate highways", as well as "worry about fighting a war with Russia while trying to fight a civil war".
Anyone actually shocked at the dysfunction and open stupidity from the Trump White House was either not paying attention or is hopelessly self-delusional.
Acutally, Gail, I did. And right next to it is "worry that an actual shooting-each-other civil war is about to break out, with armed blockades on interstate highways", as well as "worry about fighting a war with Russia while trying to fight a civil war".
Anyone actually shocked at the dysfunction and open stupidity from the Trump White House was either not paying attention or is hopelessly self-delusional.
21
Will trump take responsibility for anything? The mess in Washington is his fault and the fault of the boobs who voted for an an "outsider". Here's praying his supporters use the same logic to select an outsider for their health care. After all, the AMA is full of insiders who screw every sick person. Time for all trump supporters to hire medical services from people who, you know, aren't insiders, like your local real estate rep. Also, hire teachers who can't read, accountants who can't do simple math, and folks who read Grisham novels. On that last one, put your order nearly, I hear trump trolling for cabinet posts.
11
The Obamas were Classy! Obama's team was classy. First rate professionals, smart, hard working, dedicated and extremely well informed. IN contrast, Trump and his team appear to be sloppy, opposite of classy.
12
"Well, at least the National Security Council still has Steve Bannon."
My question is, how on earth can someone with Steven Bannon's background ever obtain a security clearance adequate to attend NSC meetings? What about the rest of these people?
My question is, how on earth can someone with Steven Bannon's background ever obtain a security clearance adequate to attend NSC meetings? What about the rest of these people?
9
I don't know. It seems like we are only in Act 2 of a 1000 Act tragicomedy and Trump's theater of the absurd holds us all hostage. One thing is for certain, we'll need an intermission at some point. Get up stretch our legs, get something stiff to drink. Hopefully, there is a deus ex machina somewhere in the script...for which we will gladly suspend out belief and accept. Because nothing could be worse than this....
6
No, nothing is Trump's fault. Whatever is wrong, and that's not admitting that anything is wrong, mind you, it's because the democrats lost so badly bigly. And it's always really the media's fault. Whatever is wrong.
But nothing is wrong in the first place. There's no chaos in the White House. And so what if there is? Trump really likes chaos. Digs keeping us all, like the world, wondering. Likes to surprise us. Except that by now, nothing he does can surprise us. Okay, maybe shooting somebody on Fifth Avenue might shock, but not surprise us because he told us he could do it and his mob wouldn't care. And they wouldn't. So, no surprise there.
Trump's in charge. Whenever Bannon isn't around. Trump's power is absolute and substantial and unquestionably unquestionable and by golly he's going to use his powers. To bring down SNL and Nordstrom. And the media. And use his pulpit to show who the real enemies are. Like, you know, Nordstrom and the media, both real and fake and/or failing. And the democrats who lost so badly. Put them all in their places.
And the very idea that the Russians had anything to do with Trump's promised October surprise, and the Comey October surprise, and then the really big election surprise, is just more fake news and the Russians will tell you so.
Flynn is a great guy and was treated badly just because he lied to the vice president. And the American people, but they don't count. Didn't lie to Trump, though. Didn't have to.
But nothing is wrong in the first place. There's no chaos in the White House. And so what if there is? Trump really likes chaos. Digs keeping us all, like the world, wondering. Likes to surprise us. Except that by now, nothing he does can surprise us. Okay, maybe shooting somebody on Fifth Avenue might shock, but not surprise us because he told us he could do it and his mob wouldn't care. And they wouldn't. So, no surprise there.
Trump's in charge. Whenever Bannon isn't around. Trump's power is absolute and substantial and unquestionably unquestionable and by golly he's going to use his powers. To bring down SNL and Nordstrom. And the media. And use his pulpit to show who the real enemies are. Like, you know, Nordstrom and the media, both real and fake and/or failing. And the democrats who lost so badly. Put them all in their places.
And the very idea that the Russians had anything to do with Trump's promised October surprise, and the Comey October surprise, and then the really big election surprise, is just more fake news and the Russians will tell you so.
Flynn is a great guy and was treated badly just because he lied to the vice president. And the American people, but they don't count. Didn't lie to Trump, though. Didn't have to.
14
Did the corrections department really have to mention that "It is three years and 48 weeks not three years and 44 weeks" Lord have mercy!
2
I'm just curious. This would be the obvious time to talk about Iran/Contra but it seems Gail and all the others are letting it slide. Perhaps they are too young to remember.
Reagan or Oliver North or other Reagan soldiers actually met with the Iranians and arranged to have them hold the hostages at our embassy in Tehran until after the election so Ronnie could defeat the peanut Governor from Georgia. Funds from Iran made it to Nicaragua to fund the terrorists who were fighting the Sandinistas.
Reagan or Oliver North or other Reagan soldiers actually met with the Iranians and arranged to have them hold the hostages at our embassy in Tehran until after the election so Ronnie could defeat the peanut Governor from Georgia. Funds from Iran made it to Nicaragua to fund the terrorists who were fighting the Sandinistas.
7
Three years and 48 weeks? I can't believe that people can't believe our government is collapsing before our very eyes.
6
On the plus side, nobody is talking about Donald cheating contractors or lusting after his daughter anymore.
11
The Trump administration so far is a sad, sad joke and no one with any brains is laughing.
15
Please don't say "Did you see that poor woman trying to answer questions about Flynn on the “Today” show?" I don't see anything to sympathize with about a liar, fronting for another. She is one of the chief architects of Trump's victory, which is off to a very bad start. I commend Matt Lauer for pointing out how inconsistent her statements were.
15
The Trump Reality Show continues and the stakes get ever higher. Americans: Do the Right Thing! Do not stop until this whole cesspool of corruption is laid open for all to see. Closing up a festering wound can lead to Sepsis!
14
Just had to turn off today's news conference. Didn't realize that this president inherited such a mess of a country?
Does this president not realize that we can check facts for ourselves? That we can call up video and see him say things that he later claims as fake?
Does he think that we are all that dumb that we don't know he favors news media that only says what he wants to hear and believe? That he disparages creditable new media as fake? That he says one thing and then immediately contradicts himself.
A master manipulator, but he comes across as just crazy. He needs a full time minder.
Congress better stop drinking the koolaid and get to work before he fires at that Russian ship that's off the east coast.
Does this president not realize that we can check facts for ourselves? That we can call up video and see him say things that he later claims as fake?
Does he think that we are all that dumb that we don't know he favors news media that only says what he wants to hear and believe? That he disparages creditable new media as fake? That he says one thing and then immediately contradicts himself.
A master manipulator, but he comes across as just crazy. He needs a full time minder.
Congress better stop drinking the koolaid and get to work before he fires at that Russian ship that's off the east coast.
23
Could have done without the correction on the time left for the next innauguration. Can I have my own 'alternate facts' please?
5
Whether it's factual or not is irrelevant. It's fake news until Trump says it. And if the media reports what he says accurately, he will reiterate that it's fake news.
7
Trump won because he appealed to the angry and sizeable alt-right GOP base who lived on his ever angry, bullying word. They did not care about anything but having someone who could vent his spleen, on their behalf, to the world. The GOP in their infinite state of delusion believed they could 'control the beast'. This was delusional, because they couldn't control the previous beast...The Tea Party. Now the country is fully ensconced in fear (both on the right and left) and the delusional GOP is not pushing back, but rather, rolling over to this dictator-wanna-be. "Republican' as a brand, now looks more like "Yugo" than GE.
10
We read a lot these days about similarities between Trump and Putin. But in some strange way that is unfair to Putin. At least Putin knows when he is lying, and his team is organized around it.
The unfortunate truth is that Trump has much more in common with his fellow statesman, Kim Jong-un.
Talk about sad.
The unfortunate truth is that Trump has much more in common with his fellow statesman, Kim Jong-un.
Talk about sad.
16
Regarding the "unhinged" issue, I don't feel it's necessary to pose that as a question.
13
I am still amazed that the people who voted for Trump had such disregard for the importance of electing a president that actually had the ability to perform such an important job.
Maybe their hate of intellect, and ability was just to strong to understand the necessity of electing a competent person for the job. They have lack of understanding of the complexity and demands of electing someone who can successfully manage the job. "Any average Joe can handle the job".
They will never understand how intelligent Obama is how he rescued us from a financial meltdown, and ran the office for the country despite zero co-operation from the Republicans.
Well folks, now you are getting your wish to disrupt and throw a monkey wrench into the works. Congratulations, I hope you're enjoying the show!
Maybe their hate of intellect, and ability was just to strong to understand the necessity of electing a competent person for the job. They have lack of understanding of the complexity and demands of electing someone who can successfully manage the job. "Any average Joe can handle the job".
They will never understand how intelligent Obama is how he rescued us from a financial meltdown, and ran the office for the country despite zero co-operation from the Republicans.
Well folks, now you are getting your wish to disrupt and throw a monkey wrench into the works. Congratulations, I hope you're enjoying the show!
15
The only Trump supporters I know watch a lot of reality TV. These people don't live in the real world.
8
I think the only way things could be worse is if we were fighting a real civil war. This is, indeed, our worst Constitutional crisis that we have ever had, in our history. We have criminals running our government, and we must resist, and strongly as we can.
12
All the subterranean Presidency of Trump wants is love. It just doesn't want to earn it.
Unhinged President Trump is leading this charge by creating his own reality, truth is relative. He doesn't lie to deceive, he lies to protect his fragile ego. His self-love means never having to say you are sorry.
He, with the help of the Republicans, will put forward a slash and burn agenda meant to obliterate the Democrats who don't love America or him and hand control of the government to the private sector.
If his policies fail well he will just blame that lack of love on the media, the Democrats, the fake voters, the Chinese, the Muslims - anyone but him. And his rabid 20 million supporters or so will raise their fists at all these blackguards and hail Trump as the great leader who loves America.
Unhinged President Trump is leading this charge by creating his own reality, truth is relative. He doesn't lie to deceive, he lies to protect his fragile ego. His self-love means never having to say you are sorry.
He, with the help of the Republicans, will put forward a slash and burn agenda meant to obliterate the Democrats who don't love America or him and hand control of the government to the private sector.
If his policies fail well he will just blame that lack of love on the media, the Democrats, the fake voters, the Chinese, the Muslims - anyone but him. And his rabid 20 million supporters or so will raise their fists at all these blackguards and hail Trump as the great leader who loves America.
6
I think to expect the pro-trumpites to think, to reason, to comprehend reality is disillusional.
In the book, The German War: A Nation Under Arms, 1939-1945; Citizens and Soldiers by Stargardt, I discovered that the German people did not ever disavow Hitler. In 1945, with the rubble piled high, there were Germans in the general population writing veneration for him in letters, etc. I know to compare Hitler to trump leads to squabbles and stale arguments, so I suggest just sticking to talking about the mindset of the German citizens. They were wooed and won. Once wooed and won by the propaganda campaign of a rally rousting, cult celebrity, the die is cast.
Less than 25% of the voters voted for trump. Over 50% did not vote. Our future is dependant on awakening the non-voters
In the book, The German War: A Nation Under Arms, 1939-1945; Citizens and Soldiers by Stargardt, I discovered that the German people did not ever disavow Hitler. In 1945, with the rubble piled high, there were Germans in the general population writing veneration for him in letters, etc. I know to compare Hitler to trump leads to squabbles and stale arguments, so I suggest just sticking to talking about the mindset of the German citizens. They were wooed and won. Once wooed and won by the propaganda campaign of a rally rousting, cult celebrity, the die is cast.
Less than 25% of the voters voted for trump. Over 50% did not vote. Our future is dependant on awakening the non-voters
21
Narcissistic Personality Disorder in full view of the entire world. We have had more questions and answers and observation than a psychiatrist would normally have. You have a duty to warn and protect that supersedes all other oaths or codes or rules. Trump as president has the power to obliterate the world. Stand up. Show some courage.
7
The scenario is playing out:
1. GOP mainstrearm (Ryan and Mitch, etc.) hold their nose and "support" new president after planting one of their own as Vice President.
2. Ryan/McConnell get their budget passed and whatever else they can get rammed through in first 100 days,
3. Trump is deemed as totally of our control and GOP leads impeachment effort. Bi-partisonship is achieved on this issue.
4. Trump is impeached and Pence sworn in.
Pence names Ryan VP.
1. GOP mainstrearm (Ryan and Mitch, etc.) hold their nose and "support" new president after planting one of their own as Vice President.
2. Ryan/McConnell get their budget passed and whatever else they can get rammed through in first 100 days,
3. Trump is deemed as totally of our control and GOP leads impeachment effort. Bi-partisonship is achieved on this issue.
4. Trump is impeached and Pence sworn in.
Pence names Ryan VP.
4
NYT, please write an article on what it would take to have a presidency annulled and a new election held. Is there a shred of law anywhere we could grab onto? I realize it seems like a very long shot, but in only a week the idea has gone from a complete fantasy to a looming necessity.
A simple impeachment will not due because the Vice President was elected by the same scurrilous tricks and is not the choice of the majority, either.
A simple impeachment will not due because the Vice President was elected by the same scurrilous tricks and is not the choice of the majority, either.
7
“People are trying to cover up for a terrible loss that the Democrats had under Hillary Clinton.”
And those people are the President, the Vice President, Flynn, Manafort, the Senate majority leader, and the Speaker of the house.
And those people are the President, the Vice President, Flynn, Manafort, the Senate majority leader, and the Speaker of the house.
9
When, if ever, is Trump going to address Putin's recent transgressions? North Korea's was easy.
We heard something sarcastic at today's press conference, that's all.
We heard something sarcastic at today's press conference, that's all.
2
Trump stands at the pinnacle of 12,000 years of civilization; a flaming ignoramus, given access to enough destructive energy, to send it back to square one.
16
Reminds me of a scene from The Simpsons where Homer is spinning on the ground while the family laughs at him, but as he continues to spin the laughing turns to worried looks on the family.
7
Trump didn't just magically appear in the White House, 63% of white men and 53% of white women voted for this deranged racist, misogynist, pathological liar, six time bankrupt, imbecile. They ate up his racism, and white supremacy, like white cotton candy. No thought went into Trump's alarming behavior. I guess as long as Trump repeated "crooked Hillary" "Mexicans are rapists" :"Muslims are not American" and all his endlessly vile nonsense, Trump was their great white hope. Well now we have a huge problem, a lunatic, with no moral compass as president, and a treasonous Republican Congress who conveniently looks the other way.
18
In Stephen Miller, Trump has essentially reinstalled the late Roy Cohn into the Oval Office. Miller not only looks a lot like Cohn, but in his threatening stance, his immaturity and his obliviousness to reality, he poses a potential real danger as he advises a much older man who is threatening, immature and oblivious to reality.
10
Gail you are right. Things can always be worse.
If we didnt have a working judiciary, Trumpers the Clown would have been putting the finishing touches on his dictatorship and getting a makeover with one of those chili-bowl haircuts like his friend in North Korea. The composting throne and portable fly whisk will not be far behind if we American citizens let down the pressure.
If we didnt have a working judiciary, Trumpers the Clown would have been putting the finishing touches on his dictatorship and getting a makeover with one of those chili-bowl haircuts like his friend in North Korea. The composting throne and portable fly whisk will not be far behind if we American citizens let down the pressure.
3
Thanks, Gail. If I didn't have the Trump press conference on TV in the background, I would feel somewhat relieved by this dose of humor.
I just can't be light-hearted about this inept, incompetent, irrational man and his troop of clowns and goons, and their nastiness and malfeasance.
I just can't be light-hearted about this inept, incompetent, irrational man and his troop of clowns and goons, and their nastiness and malfeasance.
11
Stephen Miller; clearly there is something seriously wrong with this person.
One need not be a psychiatrist to recognize that Stephen Miller is a disturbed individual and one need not be anything more than someone with a grain of common sense to know that if he is an advisor to the US president the world is in a dangerous place.
One need not be a psychiatrist to recognize that Stephen Miller is a disturbed individual and one need not be anything more than someone with a grain of common sense to know that if he is an advisor to the US president the world is in a dangerous place.
19
Ms Collins, I truly appreciate your humor in this most dire time. The monster trio in the White House--Steve, Steve, and Don--is the stuff of our worst nightmares. I have been on edge every single day since Jan 20. I read the news obsessively, helplessly--multiple times a day!! I am only surviving with the help of wit like yours to break the tension, to allow me to laugh occasionally as I watch and wait for someone to tilt the Titanic away from the iceberg and certain death of democracy.
10
Don't forget Pence and Ryan. It's Ryan's face I see in my nightmares.
6
Yes Gail, as the headline says, things could be worse. And I will bet real money that they will get a lot worse before any steps are taken by the Republican Congress to do anything to make things better - or at least not worse.
I sure hope the Democrats start to really work on the local level to elect Democrats to state legislatures - that would be a really good start. But I won't hold my breath (even though blue is my favorite color).
I sure hope the Democrats start to really work on the local level to elect Democrats to state legislatures - that would be a really good start. But I won't hold my breath (even though blue is my favorite color).
7
I commented back in May 2016 that the Democrats and the national media were making too much of Trump's anti-everything slurs at the expense of not talking about the fact that Trump is simply not emotionally stable. His ranting is not an act, he is a certifiable mental case. His delusions are real to him.
I firmly believe that there is a real possibility that Trump will be removed from office on the basis of being mentally incompetent as to pose as too great a danger to the U.S. and the World. I believe there is a process for this without having to go through impeachment, and would appreciate it if The Times would explore this. Can a President be removed from office without going through impeachment? Or, do we wait until he blows up the planet.
I firmly believe that there is a real possibility that Trump will be removed from office on the basis of being mentally incompetent as to pose as too great a danger to the U.S. and the World. I believe there is a process for this without having to go through impeachment, and would appreciate it if The Times would explore this. Can a President be removed from office without going through impeachment? Or, do we wait until he blows up the planet.
5
Well written...One must rmemember that history has shown us that demagogues can last quite a long time. The most recent ones, Bert. in Italy and Chavez in Venz. lasted quite a few yrs before their countries saw what damage they did.
Trump is a ego maniac demagogue but he is not psychotic. He will do what the people want good or bad and last I checked the people do not want to get us into WW3 nuclear war or for that matter any big war.
We can only wait him out till he self implodes either thru impeachment, resignation (highly unlikely) or being voted out of office in 4yrs.
Meanwhile let the moderates on both sides get off our complacent rears and start demonstrating, organizing and teaching against this demagogue.
Depend on the courts (as they have already done) to reign Trump in and also put pressure on moderate republicans to wake them up to the demagogue in their party.
Trump is a ego maniac demagogue but he is not psychotic. He will do what the people want good or bad and last I checked the people do not want to get us into WW3 nuclear war or for that matter any big war.
We can only wait him out till he self implodes either thru impeachment, resignation (highly unlikely) or being voted out of office in 4yrs.
Meanwhile let the moderates on both sides get off our complacent rears and start demonstrating, organizing and teaching against this demagogue.
Depend on the courts (as they have already done) to reign Trump in and also put pressure on moderate republicans to wake them up to the demagogue in their party.
7
I saw a sign carried by a protester recently that says it all: "If you're not horrified, you're not paying attention." I am horrified. We must calculate the damage done to the prestige and reputation of the United States around the world and close to home (Mexico, in particular) in the first weeks of Trump's presidency. Then we multiply this by three years and 48 weeks left on his term in office. Our only hope is that there are still some Republicans in Congress who value patriotism over partisanship and will have the courage to join Democrats and act quickly to save our great nation from disaster.
9
Not funny. Trump is a delusional madman surrounded by dumb, arrogant, good alt right soldiers. Actually, some of us can inhale because we can see Trump's demise. I, like other readers have checked the Times and Post daily to see if there is something that Trump did that has a good chance of him getting impeached. Flynn's resignation and the fact that some republicans asking what and when did Trump know. And why were his people in contact with the Russians gives me hope. It's not a fait accompli, but it could be the deal killer. Trump's art of the deal is history. He's bluffed his way so far, but soon he's going to have to fold. And when he does, I and many others will be celebrating in the streets Trump Day. The day he got impeached.
9
Seems like historical lessons may last only as long as the mature lifetimes of the people who experienced them. People who were adults during Watergate are getting up there, and younger people have no memory of it. So a whole generation's worth of lessons -- about executive restraint, about government transparency, about the protection of the press and of whistleblowers -- is being forgotten and has to be learned again the hard way. First time as tragedy, second time as farce.
7
"We will not dwell on the nuclear codes in his office". That's like not trying to think about a blue horse. I get up every morning look out the window, and check for a mushroom shaped cloud floating around.
It is even scarier to think about how much Trump and Kim Jong-un share in common. Maybe it's the really weird hairdos that causes them to exhibit such bizarre behavior. They are like evil villains from some James Bond movie. We could use a 007 about right now.
I have a fantasy that Trump will just quit. He won the election and most importantly to him, the bragging rights. He will soon run out of world leaders to boast to about his bigly electoral college win, so that done, maybe it just won't be fun anymore to hold the fate of the world in your hands. Besides the press is being mean to him and his odious cabinet appointees. Maybe he will take his toys and go home to Trump Tower or Mar-a-Lago. If there is a God, he will. Even Pence would be far more acceptable than Trump, he is at least sane - I think.
It is even scarier to think about how much Trump and Kim Jong-un share in common. Maybe it's the really weird hairdos that causes them to exhibit such bizarre behavior. They are like evil villains from some James Bond movie. We could use a 007 about right now.
I have a fantasy that Trump will just quit. He won the election and most importantly to him, the bragging rights. He will soon run out of world leaders to boast to about his bigly electoral college win, so that done, maybe it just won't be fun anymore to hold the fate of the world in your hands. Besides the press is being mean to him and his odious cabinet appointees. Maybe he will take his toys and go home to Trump Tower or Mar-a-Lago. If there is a God, he will. Even Pence would be far more acceptable than Trump, he is at least sane - I think.
5
Trump proved not to be the fascist dictator as predicted. He has been sued for an improper law, as was Obama. But most realize that he has not been purposely exceeding his powers. Rather, he has consistently attempted to comply with the law. Democrats have rightfully opposed him. But claims that he is an outlaw are sheer nonsense. He may be an idiot, but he is answerable to the courts and Congress. Those who characterize him as a madman lack credibility and sound like fanatic birthers. While once there were a few birthers at this site, there are now a majority who are irrationally anti-Trump and would take him to task for insuring world peace.
3
And what does President Trump do in response to his calamity of a roll out and the continued revelations and confirmations of his administration's connections to Russia and Putin?
He starts touting some narrative that is inherently contradictory in nature by simultaneously condemning the leaks and the leakers--vouching for the veracity of the leaked info--and doubling down on fake news. Evidently he only likes leaks in Russia.
And now that it is firmly established that the going is tough and that the demands of the job are truly challenging, the tough one aims to return to the easy high of the campaign trail--where only empty words and no action are required--and some external confirmation of his self-annointed greatness by holding a rally in Orlando for the faithful to shower him in adoration and provide him with the easy dopamine rush that he so desperately craves.
Gosh, even Gail can't make me laugh about all of this.
He starts touting some narrative that is inherently contradictory in nature by simultaneously condemning the leaks and the leakers--vouching for the veracity of the leaked info--and doubling down on fake news. Evidently he only likes leaks in Russia.
And now that it is firmly established that the going is tough and that the demands of the job are truly challenging, the tough one aims to return to the easy high of the campaign trail--where only empty words and no action are required--and some external confirmation of his self-annointed greatness by holding a rally in Orlando for the faithful to shower him in adoration and provide him with the easy dopamine rush that he so desperately craves.
Gosh, even Gail can't make me laugh about all of this.
5
A humorous take on the current political happenings in our country. Many of us did console ourselves on election night thinking there must be at least few sound voices of reason around the egomaniac, who would guide the President along the right path. But, that was not to be. Looks like he is being surrounded by unqualified people, who lack respect for the office they are working for. Even today while announcing his new pick for labor secretary the President talked about his electoral college victory; Emphasizing his legitimacy. Why would he want to do that repeatedly? Is he finally feeling some pressure, that he has to remind everyone at every opportunity that he was democratically elected? He uses the 'gaslight' tactic quite well when he says everything else in this country is in turmoil, but not his administration, which is apparently 'running like a fine tuned machine'. What a joke! Well, I hope that at the end of three years and 48 weeks, the effects of the Presidency do not affect the American people's sanity.
2
Here's the thing about all the Trump scandals: none of them are a surprise. He is what everyone who voted for Hillary Clinton was afraid he'd be. Long before the election, I thought these were the possible Trump's administration would be one of these things:
1. A Fourth Reich that commits atrocities like the world has never seen.
2. The most inept, corrupt, scandal-ridden and slipshod administration ever.
3. 1 & 2.
It seems we're well on our way to #2, but we really shouldn't rule out #1-- early days yet.
Whatever happens, he is being what he indicated he would be. The difference is some people wanted him stopped and some chose to live with it. No one has any business being surprised.
1. A Fourth Reich that commits atrocities like the world has never seen.
2. The most inept, corrupt, scandal-ridden and slipshod administration ever.
3. 1 & 2.
It seems we're well on our way to #2, but we really shouldn't rule out #1-- early days yet.
Whatever happens, he is being what he indicated he would be. The difference is some people wanted him stopped and some chose to live with it. No one has any business being surprised.
4
Is Trump becoming far more unstable? What can be done about it?
Trump is now living alone in a new dwelling, apparently by himself. This clearly allows him to indulge in some of his worse habits, like not sleeping enough, and obsessing over cable TV. He is cut off from his accustomed Trump Tower accommodations and wife and restaurants. For anyone, this can be bad. For Trump, it can be disastrous.
Trump is also taking finasteride, a drug sometimes prescribed to manage hair loss. Unfortunately, the side-effects include erectile dysfunction, aggressive prostate problems of several kinds, and depression.
Putting the two together, and we have someone at significant risk, who might well flail out, as he does when he is angry and/or in pain (see the divorce papers from Ivanna).
Would it be possible for him to work from "home" more? Could someone take away his finasteride? Let him get the very finest wig, or whatever it takes.
Leaving Trump alone in the White House seems to literally be making Trump crazy (and his self-inflicted wounds don't help). While I wish he had never gotten there, letting him go crazy is not safe for the US or the world. He needs help.
Trump is now living alone in a new dwelling, apparently by himself. This clearly allows him to indulge in some of his worse habits, like not sleeping enough, and obsessing over cable TV. He is cut off from his accustomed Trump Tower accommodations and wife and restaurants. For anyone, this can be bad. For Trump, it can be disastrous.
Trump is also taking finasteride, a drug sometimes prescribed to manage hair loss. Unfortunately, the side-effects include erectile dysfunction, aggressive prostate problems of several kinds, and depression.
Putting the two together, and we have someone at significant risk, who might well flail out, as he does when he is angry and/or in pain (see the divorce papers from Ivanna).
Would it be possible for him to work from "home" more? Could someone take away his finasteride? Let him get the very finest wig, or whatever it takes.
Leaving Trump alone in the White House seems to literally be making Trump crazy (and his self-inflicted wounds don't help). While I wish he had never gotten there, letting him go crazy is not safe for the US or the world. He needs help.
2
"Well, Trump Watchers, Things Could Be Worse" - Gail, after watching the "Press Conference" and his rambling on Mr. Flynn (I asked for his resignation but it is the fault of the media?), the promises of chaos coming with new executive orders next week (do we get more love and affection from Mr. Miller?) and the other delusional and intentional distracting efforts it is apparent things are much worse!
President Trump seems to be obviously reading or skimming the NYT, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal and the more he calls them the "dishonest media" the more it seems he does not know how to deal with different points of view or the efforts of anyone or any institution to hold him accountable. His actions and dialog are only credible for one thing, and that is to support the push to investigate his administration, his campaign, and the complicit efforts of foreign actors in this recent unpleasantness. Watergate may seem like a picnic when this is done, and it seems the complicit actions of senior GOP leaders to focus more on finding leaks versus looking at the obvious issues (elephants?) in the room. It was nice to have the President give credence (validate?) the leaks as noted by the CBS label "The leaks are real, the news is fake" during the conference but it is a great snapshot of what is so dysfunctional about this entire sordid affair.
President Trump seems to be obviously reading or skimming the NYT, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal and the more he calls them the "dishonest media" the more it seems he does not know how to deal with different points of view or the efforts of anyone or any institution to hold him accountable. His actions and dialog are only credible for one thing, and that is to support the push to investigate his administration, his campaign, and the complicit efforts of foreign actors in this recent unpleasantness. Watergate may seem like a picnic when this is done, and it seems the complicit actions of senior GOP leaders to focus more on finding leaks versus looking at the obvious issues (elephants?) in the room. It was nice to have the President give credence (validate?) the leaks as noted by the CBS label "The leaks are real, the news is fake" during the conference but it is a great snapshot of what is so dysfunctional about this entire sordid affair.
2
"If you thought a successful President Trump was the worst possible scenario..."
Actually I thought a successful President Trump was the *best* possible scenario (and by "successful" I mean good at governing, not successful at enabling every inhumane element of the conservative agenda). I never thought it was likely, though, and still don't.
Actually I thought a successful President Trump was the *best* possible scenario (and by "successful" I mean good at governing, not successful at enabling every inhumane element of the conservative agenda). I never thought it was likely, though, and still don't.
1
Welcome to America's worst reality show ever!
Yes, things could be worst. We could be forced to watch this spectacle, not by choice, and have TV's or mobiles that never turn off from the rantings of 'the leader'.
Worse yet, we could be forced to attend the endless rallies that aggrandize Trump because he's just not as popular as he thought and the media and CIA are doing their jobs and being tough on him.
I watch with both horror and amusement. Amused because i predicted this if he got elected. Horror, because I predicted this if he got elected.
Encouragement comes from faith in the American people.
Disdain comes from seeing the gutless, self preserving GOP reveal themselves in totality.
As for the level of incompetence displays daily, entropy has its ways of working things out and even the junior brown 'shirter' Miller making his best threats can be amusing when you think about that guy in high school everyone hated and made fun of.
Resist I say and enjoy the show. We have the power, implosion is imminent.
Yes, things could be worst. We could be forced to watch this spectacle, not by choice, and have TV's or mobiles that never turn off from the rantings of 'the leader'.
Worse yet, we could be forced to attend the endless rallies that aggrandize Trump because he's just not as popular as he thought and the media and CIA are doing their jobs and being tough on him.
I watch with both horror and amusement. Amused because i predicted this if he got elected. Horror, because I predicted this if he got elected.
Encouragement comes from faith in the American people.
Disdain comes from seeing the gutless, self preserving GOP reveal themselves in totality.
As for the level of incompetence displays daily, entropy has its ways of working things out and even the junior brown 'shirter' Miller making his best threats can be amusing when you think about that guy in high school everyone hated and made fun of.
Resist I say and enjoy the show. We have the power, implosion is imminent.
4
One can watch Trump all one wants. He will remain immutable for a long time to come. His distaste, for details, numbers, and calculations, is immeasurable. The only number he cares to quote, more often than not, is 306 - his winning electoral votes. Perhaps, the only thing he might want to change is others' behaviors, and not his, evidently.
Mum was the word, when he was asked about Russia, and LTG. Flynn's resignation. It is almost tantamount to trying and extracting milk from a rock. On the surface, to an unbiased and neutral observer, he may seem quite innocuous and even amicable, shaking hands with those who meet and greet him, during WH congregations of VIPs. Once cornered with sensitive quizzing, he turns deaf ears, let alone offer cagey and dodgy rejoinders, many times.
Besides being capricious and whimsical, one also wonders if he has attention deficit and defiant disorders. Being a brash trash talker, he probably cares 2 hoots for handling all issues with astuteness. His twitter addiction can be a perfect recipe for a cataclysm, before anyone realizes, since it can be hacked, resulting in a havoc.
And his (in)attention to security issues at his mar-a-lago club, after the North Koreans launched the missile, recently, has set a perilous precedence. Before long, this has a potential for a major meltdown, just waiting to happen, at the push of a button. Or will it happen? Time alone can tell.
Mum was the word, when he was asked about Russia, and LTG. Flynn's resignation. It is almost tantamount to trying and extracting milk from a rock. On the surface, to an unbiased and neutral observer, he may seem quite innocuous and even amicable, shaking hands with those who meet and greet him, during WH congregations of VIPs. Once cornered with sensitive quizzing, he turns deaf ears, let alone offer cagey and dodgy rejoinders, many times.
Besides being capricious and whimsical, one also wonders if he has attention deficit and defiant disorders. Being a brash trash talker, he probably cares 2 hoots for handling all issues with astuteness. His twitter addiction can be a perfect recipe for a cataclysm, before anyone realizes, since it can be hacked, resulting in a havoc.
And his (in)attention to security issues at his mar-a-lago club, after the North Koreans launched the missile, recently, has set a perilous precedence. Before long, this has a potential for a major meltdown, just waiting to happen, at the push of a button. Or will it happen? Time alone can tell.
4
Gail - here's how it could be, and is, worse. We have a Congress so enthralled with the prospect of decimating the social safety net for the purpose of further lining the pockets of the .01%, who are also their benefactors, and who are intent on rolling back all manner of laws and regulations -- preferably by executive fiat -- that protect us, our water, our air, the drugs we take, the food we eat, our financial system, our access to health care, for the sole purpose of benefiting their corporate benefactors, that they have abdicated their sworn oath to uphold and defend this nation, its citizens and the Constitution. That's how it could be, and is, worse. On top of that, they fiddle while the so-called President schemes to install a friend who has exactly zero experience in intelligence to "review" the intelligence community, which is a not even veiled attempt to shut down the one branch of our government -- along with some of our judges -- that is still trying to fulfill its obligations to our nation and its citizens, and under our Constitution. It really couldn't be worse - unless he actually used those nuclear codes.
8
Question for GOP leadership: Is it possible to be both reflexively right-wing and supportive of Russia? We're all about to find out.
25
What scares me more are the idiots that voted him in, Michigan is one of them, Hispanic's for Trump was a sign in one of the rally's on TV. What are they thinking????))
21
They are thinking very differently than those of us who get our news from outlets other than Breitbart and Russia Today. That's the scary part. We inhabit totally different worlds. Read the comments on Breitbart.com if you want to have some real nightmares. Many on there despise the Senate and intelligence communities. We've got a bigger problem on our hands than Trump: the media sources that groomed enough of the electorate to be receptive to his message.
7
Thank you, Ms. Collins, for a wonderful Valentine's gift, a slice of light shining through the fustion and fear surrounding Month One of the NeverNeverLand Tour. Lots better than chocolate hearts or red roses.
Your patriotism shines through. And in every hilarious sentence.
Thanks, again.
Your patriotism shines through. And in every hilarious sentence.
Thanks, again.
18
I can't agree with the closing sentiment "only three years and 48 weeks to go." While I will admit I am far from viewing this objectively, I believe that if the current trajectory for the administration continues, if there isn't some kind of radical reset, we have President Pence by the summer. If damaging information keeps coming out as it has done, and Trump keeps reacting to it in the same manner, the whole mess will go down the toilet pretty quickly. And he's totally nuts, which has been obvious all along, so he won't change tactics.
A wounded, losing Trump is no doubt a dangerous thing, as Ms. Collins points out, but what is the option? Eight years of treating him like Kim Jong Un? As if he'd leave willingly after eight years. The longer he is in charge the more damage he does and the harder it may be to force him out. He's a malignant tumor in our body politic. No good is going to come from delaying the surgery. Here's my point: lets not contemplate four years of him; let's think about how we get him out now (Yes we can).
A wounded, losing Trump is no doubt a dangerous thing, as Ms. Collins points out, but what is the option? Eight years of treating him like Kim Jong Un? As if he'd leave willingly after eight years. The longer he is in charge the more damage he does and the harder it may be to force him out. He's a malignant tumor in our body politic. No good is going to come from delaying the surgery. Here's my point: lets not contemplate four years of him; let's think about how we get him out now (Yes we can).
24
We MUST prevail in the midterms.
2
Hi, Gail. This is how I'm being "positive": on the outside of the envelope I wrote "The President of the United States" and the White House address and then began the note inside with "Dear President Obama," thanking him for the ACA and for his leadership. Seal, stamp, drop in the mail.
No mention of #45.
Since the White House must handle correspondence, someone will need to deal with my little note. I know it's unlikely to get to #45, but I wonder, what with all of the confusion there at present, where anyone will notice that it's not to #45?
I wonder ... what would happen if LOTS of people wrote letters or notes to their last favorite President (if not Obama, how about Bush, or Clinton, or Reagan, or Jefferson, even?) and sent their letters to POTUS at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?
No mention of #45.
Since the White House must handle correspondence, someone will need to deal with my little note. I know it's unlikely to get to #45, but I wonder, what with all of the confusion there at present, where anyone will notice that it's not to #45?
I wonder ... what would happen if LOTS of people wrote letters or notes to their last favorite President (if not Obama, how about Bush, or Clinton, or Reagan, or Jefferson, even?) and sent their letters to POTUS at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?
27
That would assume our current president would/could read them.
2
This is an absolutely wonderful idea.
1
I've thought about dropping a note (or two or three or four) addressed to "President Barack Obama, or current resident, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW..."
1
The CIA's raison d'etre is to protect America from Russia, and that is what they are doing here. The fact that so much of the US govt has been captured by a Russian fifth column only makes their task more urgent. America's friends everywhere pray they are successful in defending the America we know.
This is the CIA's Battle of Britain. It is their finest hour.
This is the CIA's Battle of Britain. It is their finest hour.
46
'DEEP THROAT', whoever you are this time around, keep the leaks coming. Your input may help to save our democracy!
39
Can someone please nominate Stephen Crowley for a Pulitzer Prize! The photographers at the Times have done exceptional work in general capturing the SCPOTUS in all of his smug glory while still making framing and focus choices that reveal the Inner Man, but Crowley's are really exceptional.
11
Thank goodness, we have Rumors the German Shepherd to distract us from the spectacle of ugliness in our White House and offer some indications of good breeding and manners in the show ring.
Because what he’s shown so far is is utter incompetence and wounded pride that he could not win the popular vote.
Because what he’s shown so far is is utter incompetence and wounded pride that he could not win the popular vote.
11
Stephen Miller, looks and sounds like Senator Joseph McCarthy's chief counsel, Roy Cohn
38
Show of hands....how many of us think that Trump is just the puppet of the folks really running the show? A lot of my like minded friends keep talking impeachment, but unless we can get rid of the whole terrifying gang, I doubt there's much point.
27
I do see your point, but not all of the folks who are really running the show are as unhinged/unstable and in that regard could be an improvement. I don't see Pence, say, pushing the button in a fit of wee-hour pique. (Fortunately the dangerous extremist Bannon is not in the line of succession.)
1
Let's not forget it was Roy Cohn that taught Donnie bullies always win.
17
Now the "leaks' are the problem ? The culprits who executed the criminal actions are all exempt and loyal comrades? All is "fake" news simply because they are harmful FACTS to POTUS and his alternative 'Cosa Nostra" team?...To our army of journalists and intelligence "decent' community, please : Dig, Dig, Dig, Leak, Leak ,Leak, Drip, Drip, Drip and let the dam finally collapse...I have my "wally boots" on...
28
Everybody on Trump's crazy merry go round approach to government is complicit.
Sooner or later someone will refuse to obey an order that they cannot in food conscience carry out. Trump and Bannon will really go irrational.
Sooner or later someone will refuse to obey an order that they cannot in food conscience carry out. Trump and Bannon will really go irrational.
8
The following helps me:
https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/to?iso=20210120T12&p0=263&...
https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/to?iso=20210120T12&p0=263&...
1
"Life could always be worse"
Yeah, the GOP could lobby for seriously mentally ill people to get their gun on. Oh wait.
Well Trump IS going to look for the terrible leakers in his administration. If his pattern holds, he could just talk to the person in Russia who leaked stuff to HIM during his election.
Just kidding.
Yeah, the GOP could lobby for seriously mentally ill people to get their gun on. Oh wait.
Well Trump IS going to look for the terrible leakers in his administration. If his pattern holds, he could just talk to the person in Russia who leaked stuff to HIM during his election.
Just kidding.
14
Thank you, Gail, for my only laugh about Trump in quite some time. But every time I do that, I have to remember that there are millions of people in this country who are now actively terrified of every knock on the door...and if that doesn't describe you right now, pray that it stays that way. There is no way to feel sanguine about this so-called Administration.
19
If we don't laugh, we'll all collapse into a national anxiety attack.
Thanks, Gail, I needed that--a slap across the face to relieve me of my hysteria. I personally think Steve Bannon got Stephen Miller from some Boys from Brazil experiment.
And I mistakenly thought La La Land was a movie!
Thanks, Gail, I needed that--a slap across the face to relieve me of my hysteria. I personally think Steve Bannon got Stephen Miller from some Boys from Brazil experiment.
And I mistakenly thought La La Land was a movie!
13
Perhaps the only way to get through to Donald Trump is to attend his rally in Florida this Saturday? He lives in a gold-tinted bubble, convinced that everyone loves him except for the fake media and a few bad loser Democrats, and nasty women, and unpatriotic criminal intelligence leakers, and anyone of Mexican descent. (Oh, and those hater Palestinians and Iraqis and Syrians and Somalis and...) But true Americans they all love him. Hugely. They know he's just the greatest.
9
There's a crisis coming and Trump's team will be unable to handle it. How will Trump handle a mass shooting and its aftermath. Will he tell everyone to pray for the victims and then say, by the way, I won 306 Electoral College votes. Will Trump say anything about gun control or will he say, let everything settle down before we talk about gun control and then never say anything about the subject. After all he's in the NRA's pocket. Will Kelleyanne be the spokeswoman when some poor black man is shot by law enforcement this summer and a riot ensues. Will Kellyanne say that Black Lives matter? I doubt it. Will Trump give an inspiration speech at a Black church? I doubt it. Will Trump ever give an inspirational relevant speech? I doubt it. This is the flimflam White House with some questionable appointees who will do and have done some questionable acts vis-à-vis Michael Flynn.
12
As I watch the news over the last few weeks I couldn't help but notice the striking similarities between Donald Trump and Mohamed Morsi the former president of Egypt, who was removed from office one year after assuming office. Here is a partial list of the traits shared both men:
1. Both were democratically elected, due to either the help of outside power or the unfitness of the respective opponents.
2. Both of them have a great loathing for the news media.
3. Both also share a great degree of loathing for the judiciary.
4. While Morsi issued a decree excluding all his acts and decrees from any judicial review, Trump and his senior advisors argue that the powers of the presidents on matters of national security should not be subject to judicial review.
5. Morsi was the first president to be convicted for spying for a foreign country, Qatar, supplying its with classified documents and information about Egypt's military forces and economic data. Trump's associates and campaign officials are now suspected of making improper contacts with Russian officials, and seem heading to formal investigations by congress and the Justice Department.
The sad saga of Morsi's rule was cut short by most popular uprising in Egypt, when more than 30 million Egyptians took to the streets demanding the removal of Morsi after one year of his election, and he was removed by the Egyptian army which answered the call of the Egyptian people. The Trump saga continues.
1. Both were democratically elected, due to either the help of outside power or the unfitness of the respective opponents.
2. Both of them have a great loathing for the news media.
3. Both also share a great degree of loathing for the judiciary.
4. While Morsi issued a decree excluding all his acts and decrees from any judicial review, Trump and his senior advisors argue that the powers of the presidents on matters of national security should not be subject to judicial review.
5. Morsi was the first president to be convicted for spying for a foreign country, Qatar, supplying its with classified documents and information about Egypt's military forces and economic data. Trump's associates and campaign officials are now suspected of making improper contacts with Russian officials, and seem heading to formal investigations by congress and the Justice Department.
The sad saga of Morsi's rule was cut short by most popular uprising in Egypt, when more than 30 million Egyptians took to the streets demanding the removal of Morsi after one year of his election, and he was removed by the Egyptian army which answered the call of the Egyptian people. The Trump saga continues.
10
Back in the Bush years, when people would ask me, 'Where are you from?', I found it easier to say I'm from Canada, than go into having to try to explain the U.S., the war in Iraq, etc. to someone in the country where I lived at the time. Once again, I'm afraid that I'm to go back to being 'Canadian'.
14
Trump betrayed Roy Cohen when he was dying. Rather than be pleased at how well he taught his protege, Cohen died embittered. But now we see him re-incarnated as Stephen Miller. This could be Trump's gift back to Cohen. Who will betray whom is anyone's guess. But the damage they will do in the meantime could be enormous.
13
Better to say, "Wow! Is this guy really president?" Proof of conniving with the Russians cannot come soon enough, followed by immediate impeachment proceedings. Keep up the good work, all you patriotic Americans serving in the intelligence community, because only through your leaks will we get to the bottom of Drumpf's venality!
12
And now Trump is going to hold a "Rally" in Florida to attempt (I predict successfully) to distract the media from a scandla that will ultimately make Watergate look like misdemeanor in Mayberry prosecuted by an overly zealous Deputy Barney Fife.
True to form, Man-Child Donald is shooting the messenger. The problem is with the leakers. The conversations with Russian agents is Kosher, I guess.
My theory: Don knew he was going to lose the election during the summer. So he said, "Well, if we are going to lose, none of this illegal stuff is going to matter so let's see if we can't generate a little bad news for Hillary that might tighten things up. The Russians are good at this and besides I owe them some money and Manafort knows all of those oligarchs. Putin is going to demand favorable treatment in exchange but I don't have to pay him back because I am not going to get elected."
The GOP is going to fight this tooth and nail but eventually so much obvious evidence is going to get leaked that they will have to hold hearings. That means more evidence coming out and an eventual impeachment or Donald resigns (unfair).
End result. President Mike Pence. Which is a horrible result as well but Pence is at least not crazy in the traditional sense of the word. He is a crazy right wing extremist but not "Hey, let's fire off some nukes!" crazy.
In case, you had any doubts, this is the decisive end of American greatness. For some reason, we chose to elect the worst among us.
True to form, Man-Child Donald is shooting the messenger. The problem is with the leakers. The conversations with Russian agents is Kosher, I guess.
My theory: Don knew he was going to lose the election during the summer. So he said, "Well, if we are going to lose, none of this illegal stuff is going to matter so let's see if we can't generate a little bad news for Hillary that might tighten things up. The Russians are good at this and besides I owe them some money and Manafort knows all of those oligarchs. Putin is going to demand favorable treatment in exchange but I don't have to pay him back because I am not going to get elected."
The GOP is going to fight this tooth and nail but eventually so much obvious evidence is going to get leaked that they will have to hold hearings. That means more evidence coming out and an eventual impeachment or Donald resigns (unfair).
End result. President Mike Pence. Which is a horrible result as well but Pence is at least not crazy in the traditional sense of the word. He is a crazy right wing extremist but not "Hey, let's fire off some nukes!" crazy.
In case, you had any doubts, this is the decisive end of American greatness. For some reason, we chose to elect the worst among us.
21
'' Things are so dire, people are feeling sympathy for Kellyanne Conway. Did you see that poor woman ... '''
NO.
I do not feel sorry, I do not feel sympathy. I feel only anger.
This is why this administration got voted in with a clear minority in the first place. YOU, the press did not and continue to not do your effin' job.
Simply relay the truth, the facts and the information to us, the voter and allow us to make the informed decisions that we need to make in choosing who is to lead us. That is it. Forget the opinions, the punditry and the shaping of the story. Do not embellish or frame or make excuses.
Running the country is serious business.
Running our lives is serious businesses.
The welfare and safety of us all is serious business.
These people voted in have no business being there and you helped them get there. ( and continue to help them )
This is on you.
NO.
I do not feel sorry, I do not feel sympathy. I feel only anger.
This is why this administration got voted in with a clear minority in the first place. YOU, the press did not and continue to not do your effin' job.
Simply relay the truth, the facts and the information to us, the voter and allow us to make the informed decisions that we need to make in choosing who is to lead us. That is it. Forget the opinions, the punditry and the shaping of the story. Do not embellish or frame or make excuses.
Running the country is serious business.
Running our lives is serious businesses.
The welfare and safety of us all is serious business.
These people voted in have no business being there and you helped them get there. ( and continue to help them )
This is on you.
13
Well, I'm gratified that Gail sees the similarity between Kim Jong-un and DJ Trump, and that DJ is actually crazy. As for the last, the NYT is a bit slow in recognizing DJ is nuts, even with his obvious "divorce from reality".
It would be a first if becoming President was shown to be good therapy for some forms of insanity.
It would be a first if becoming President was shown to be good therapy for some forms of insanity.
7
Is Trump standing at a urinal in this picture? If so, why is he so close?
3
Speaking of Steve Miller: am I the only one to notice his uncanny resemblance to Roy Cohn?
8
Re: Impeachment if not resignation.
Of course the dilemma is that VP MP is an apparent extreme rightist GOP.
MP is smooth, but no moderate as far as I perceive reality, let me be wrong
and I'd be happy.
It's probably why DJT calculated a nasty paradox.
And so, the political process of impeachment is a loser for rational, pragmatic,
moderates and others.
And if President MP--for whatever rationale--Speaker Ryan, third in succession.
becomes POTUS, and sophomoric Ayn Rand fantasies are clash with reality.
Patriotism is rearrange the DJT-GOP
deck chairs in 2018, but white voters despise liberal Democrats, so forget I posted about my interpretation of "patriotic."
In other words the Democrats and conscientious GOPs are flummoxed.
DJT is actually probably doing/"playing" as he might perceive it,
his best, which is "radical" and thus the nation is
bye-bye if you're as pessimistic I am
after our Electoral College decisive
8 November upheaval-chaos-radicalism choice of direction.
Of course the dilemma is that VP MP is an apparent extreme rightist GOP.
MP is smooth, but no moderate as far as I perceive reality, let me be wrong
and I'd be happy.
It's probably why DJT calculated a nasty paradox.
And so, the political process of impeachment is a loser for rational, pragmatic,
moderates and others.
And if President MP--for whatever rationale--Speaker Ryan, third in succession.
becomes POTUS, and sophomoric Ayn Rand fantasies are clash with reality.
Patriotism is rearrange the DJT-GOP
deck chairs in 2018, but white voters despise liberal Democrats, so forget I posted about my interpretation of "patriotic."
In other words the Democrats and conscientious GOPs are flummoxed.
DJT is actually probably doing/"playing" as he might perceive it,
his best, which is "radical" and thus the nation is
bye-bye if you're as pessimistic I am
after our Electoral College decisive
8 November upheaval-chaos-radicalism choice of direction.
i find nothing amusing about this column. The present situation is not funny to me
4
Kudos! You may write a better morning summary but no one else is likely. And how about that better half profile of some fat man in a black suit? Is he going to a funeral?
We can't all be looking forward to the weekend. I'm boycotting my regular activities to salute the immigrants in our country. Tell them "We have your backs." I'm an immigrant. Of course I had to get my parents here so they could meet. Otherwise I would have been born in the old country. Another one of those countries with an actual 20% unemployment.
So lift a glass of ale now and wish us all a tribute to the grand old flag, Old Glory!
We can't all be looking forward to the weekend. I'm boycotting my regular activities to salute the immigrants in our country. Tell them "We have your backs." I'm an immigrant. Of course I had to get my parents here so they could meet. Otherwise I would have been born in the old country. Another one of those countries with an actual 20% unemployment.
So lift a glass of ale now and wish us all a tribute to the grand old flag, Old Glory!
3
I'm glad I could a laugh a little. During these unpredictable days, I sometimes feel that humor (whether it be from columnists or the Daily Show or Steven Colbert) is the only thing that can get me through the day because when I look at reality-- the reality of an inept, crazy leader and his equally clueless advisors... my heart just sinks.
5
There is some serious stuff here. To paraphrase the new president, we need to put a halt to any legislation until we figure out what is going on with this administration.
1
Oh, thanks Gail. I feel so much better now knowing that issues of national security are really not as bad as some people, including the president, say it is. To be able to, while having dinner with the PM of Japan on an outdoor patio surrounded by so many fellow friends, foes, golfing buddies, and just about anyone else able to afford the club's $200K membership fee, skillfully dispatch of an issue as inconvenient as a North Korean missile launch, gives me a true sense of relief. We finally have a president who knows how to chew gum and walk.
1
I just wish President Trump would calm down and start thinking before speaking and acting on his impulses. I'd like to see our nation stop and take a collective breath. Checking out the Fox News site their narrative is that the "failing New York Times" is responsible for Flynn's departure and that he did nothing wrong. Mr. Trump doesn't appear to be a very good judge of character, hence Bannon, Conway and Miller. Perhaps Melania would reconsider her decision to remain in New York, I sense a strong moral soul in her presence. Someone needs to ground her husband and I think it's her job. Sorry my note isn't funny like Gail's column, these aren't funny times. Mr. Trump is our president and we need to accept that and become the best we can with him at our helm, like it or not. And I voted for Hillary proudly and have yet to remove her sticker from my car.
1
I would be very happy if Arnold and DT changed jobs. I certainly would sleep better.
Thank you Gail for your column- written words we've all thought and said to our friends.
Thank you Gail for your column- written words we've all thought and said to our friends.
3
I just can't understand what the republicans are thinking? The complete inaction taken by them is beyond all reason. Pence, McConnell and Ryan should be a total embarrassment to their party. How much more damage does Trump have to do before he is forced out. It is very scary.
10
I want to see his tax returns. How much does he owe Russia and its oligarchs?
7
But didn't we have a wonderful interlude of sanity last week with the Washington State attorneys arguing at the 9th circuit against Trump's immigration order? Such a contrast to Trump to have competent, coherent government officials trying to do the right thing. They restored my faith that the country can get through this Trump mess, and we'll have a new generation of leaders to help put things back together.
5
FDR was the first US President who caught my attention. Somehow those who've followed don't measure up in any way. He was a smoker though. JGAAIA
2
Never corner a fear-biter. That's what my veterinarian sister told me.
6
Actually, you can blame LA LA Land on Trump, too. That people are loving such a mediocre movie can only be explained by their need for bright colors to relieve the gloom cast over our country by the realization that the White House has been taken over by a paranoid narcissist being blackmailed by the Butcher of Moscow.
5
Even with Teflon pans, things eventually stick.
Hopefully with Trump, your Teflon man, things will soon start to stick.
It may "take death from a thousand transgressions", and maybe we are only at number 56, but keep commenting on them.
Hopefully with Trump, your Teflon man, things will soon start to stick.
It may "take death from a thousand transgressions", and maybe we are only at number 56, but keep commenting on them.
3
Watch Stephen Miller’s eyes in the video clip Gail Collins has included in her piece. Miller sounds like he’s reading from a script, and his eyes are clearly moving back and forth, side to side, as he speaks. The guy doesn’t trust himself to answer a journalist’s questions without a prepared script, it appears. Or someone else doesn’t trust him to do so. Or maybe he’s watching a ping pong match on TV and is so smart he can simultaneously answer questions about the Trump circus. These clowns are scary.
8
Trump, vulgar, ignorant and mentally disturbed, is even worse than the evil nightmare we had all anticipated. But the greatest source of worry is the cowardly Republican Congress that looks the other way as Trump places our national security at risk. Trump behaves every day in every way as if he is owned and controlled by Putin, but the GOP doesn't care. We need massive protests demanding an investigation into Trump's ties to Russia.
13
You shoud organize street protests - as this forum - as true the commentars are - will be lost in time. Bring your emotions on street!!!
I do worry about a wounded Donald holding everyone at bay. He proposed an umbrella PR firm to oversee all our intel agencies -- to "manage" information. Right.
our only hope is they get him before he gets them. and odds are 4:1 he's gone by year end.
our only hope is they get him before he gets them. and odds are 4:1 he's gone by year end.
7
While you are correct in calling out errors in judgement, poor selection of personnel and what appears to be a 'bull in the china shop' method of management, let's not forget that we are in the 26th day of this POTUS' term! The fact that a private citizen spoke with a Russian official, then could not recall with specificity certain parts of that conversation should not be cause for the unbridled panic being fostered by individuals who will never accept this mans election. NEVER. Rooting against any success by his administration and continuous whining and/or 'protests' over the same doesn't move the ball forward.
Blame everything on Mitch McConnell. Really! For the past 8 years he had time to drive Americans to drink so they wouldn't be sober on Nov. 8th. You done a good job Mitchy boy.
3
I already knew that a pathological liar such as Trump has been proven to be, would not last long as a President. It is just a matter of time...Kelly Conway is next.
4
You present to me as super glib and self-satisfied, Ms. Collins. It's not very entertaining or informative - I would dig harder if you're dignified the mouthpiece of being a commentator in these times. I'm not personally histrionic about this administration, just aware as you seem to be it's a dangerous and incompetent - historic - insult against the constitutional principles of democracy. Perhaps you spend more time at cocktail parties where being witty is part of the healing process. I'm more inclined to protest in words and actions. Looking for you to have more grit. And no, I don't feel sorry for Kellyanne Conway. My god...
2
Hey Krishna
You are a bit unfair to Ms. Collins, who is responding to our new national nightmare with wit and humor because the outrage, activism, and defiance many have been expressing have for a time emptied our tanks.
Lincoln, who had cause far greater than any of us, laughed and told bawdy stories so he didn't cry. Some thought he was irreverent and an ape, but they were fundamentalists and literalists, truly dangerous folks.
Anyway, Ms. Collins often gets the tone right, and she does speak for me, though not about Kellyanne. Nobody feels sorry for her. Her performances defy both words and empathy.
You are a bit unfair to Ms. Collins, who is responding to our new national nightmare with wit and humor because the outrage, activism, and defiance many have been expressing have for a time emptied our tanks.
Lincoln, who had cause far greater than any of us, laughed and told bawdy stories so he didn't cry. Some thought he was irreverent and an ape, but they were fundamentalists and literalists, truly dangerous folks.
Anyway, Ms. Collins often gets the tone right, and she does speak for me, though not about Kellyanne. Nobody feels sorry for her. Her performances defy both words and empathy.
1
"there are things in this world that are not Donald Trump’s fault ... Collapse of Chipotle stock"
Trump likes fast food. His dirty hands might have contaminated the food at Chipotle with E. coli and norovirus. I'm not not saying that but - believe me - a lot of people are saying it. Sad!
Trump likes fast food. His dirty hands might have contaminated the food at Chipotle with E. coli and norovirus. I'm not not saying that but - believe me - a lot of people are saying it. Sad!
2
A reminder of Hamilton's words about Burr, "he is dangerous". Hamilton was correct, after he paid for his words with his life. The same words apply well to Trump.
1
When your nominees run into trouble because of Russians, hiring illegals, or spousal abuse and have to resign, or your executive orders are blocked, or the republican congress stalls because they can't figure out your strategy or policy direction, what do you do?
Why hold a campaign rally in Melbourne, Florida...of course!
Why hold a campaign rally in Melbourne, Florida...of course!
5
Trump did at least one good thing for me: he led me to join the local branch of the Democratic Party and put my mouth where my money is. This is the best way I know to combat the scary talk coming out of the White House.
Mr. Trump seems to say whatever he thinks at any given moment, with no regard for its effect on foreign relations. We don't know what to think and the rest of the world is reeling as we are.
One thing: Let us not call him mentally ill (loony, crazy, etc.) without a diagnosis, because that stigmatizes the millions who have real mental illness and still manage to behave and think rationally in public.
Mr. Trump seems to say whatever he thinks at any given moment, with no regard for its effect on foreign relations. We don't know what to think and the rest of the world is reeling as we are.
One thing: Let us not call him mentally ill (loony, crazy, etc.) without a diagnosis, because that stigmatizes the millions who have real mental illness and still manage to behave and think rationally in public.
5
The American Press is obsessed with so-called President by force of habit - Sensation sells. In so doing, the Press is short-changing its Constitutional Mandate - to be the Eternal Watchdog of Democracy, of Govt of the People by the People for the People. The Press, while keeping the so-called President under the sharpest Lens of Public Scrutiny, MUST engage in equally Public Analysis of the Root Causes which led to the American People Freely Electing this so-called President. Especially when the Alternative Choice before the American People was Hillary Clinton - the Most Competent & Fittest Nominee for President in the History of the United States !! The Prime Duty of the American Press is to dispassionately find the Answer to this Riddle - which has brought the Entire Free World under a Dark Cloud of Unmitigated Disaster. The Press MUST find the Answer to ensure - NEVER AGAIN.
5
America, what have you done?
And how - and how soon - will you fix it?
The people in some countries look on all this and laugh; some rejoice at this distressing spectacle of ugliness, ineptitude and worse. Many millions of us don't; this is too serious, too dangerous, and its uniqueness means the antidote isn't obviously and readily to hand, or, if it is, those who could and should administer it just won't.
The judiciary can only work with contested cases brought to it. In those instances, I'm pretty confident it will do what needs to be done; let's hope the administration doesn't rapidly pack the federal bench with weakness and obsequience.
But surely it's predominantly Congress which has to act. Do enough of these people have the backbone? What's stopping them? Their power over the executive is far greater than in many other countries (ask Obama about that). And with great power comes the responsibility to use it, especially in cases of grave danger and emergency.
And how - and how soon - will you fix it?
The people in some countries look on all this and laugh; some rejoice at this distressing spectacle of ugliness, ineptitude and worse. Many millions of us don't; this is too serious, too dangerous, and its uniqueness means the antidote isn't obviously and readily to hand, or, if it is, those who could and should administer it just won't.
The judiciary can only work with contested cases brought to it. In those instances, I'm pretty confident it will do what needs to be done; let's hope the administration doesn't rapidly pack the federal bench with weakness and obsequience.
But surely it's predominantly Congress which has to act. Do enough of these people have the backbone? What's stopping them? Their power over the executive is far greater than in many other countries (ask Obama about that). And with great power comes the responsibility to use it, especially in cases of grave danger and emergency.
12
I was wondering what Hillary had been up to since November 8th. I thought she was walking in the woods communing with small animals. Apparently she has been VERY busy dressed not in pantsuits running around DC and the White House. I wonder why no one has seen her. Could they not turn the lights on?
Anyway, Trump is certainly seeing her everywhere! She was the one listening in on Flynn's call. She then went to the various intelligence agencies and hung out with lattes and chats orchestrating leaks. See after all this 'winning' it is still all Hillary's fault.
Anyway, Trump is certainly seeing her everywhere! She was the one listening in on Flynn's call. She then went to the various intelligence agencies and hung out with lattes and chats orchestrating leaks. See after all this 'winning' it is still all Hillary's fault.
5
Do these fools in the White House even know when they are lying? What kind of hallucinogenic drugs are they taking? Maybe they should share so the rest of us could lie to ourselves about what good shape our democracy is in!
3
He's hiring one of his buddies to find the illegal leakers. Get a Pro Minority -Pres.
The KGB is looking for work . They'd be happy to investigate the CIA and FBI . You can make a YUGE deal with them. They'd probably do it for nothing.
The KGB is looking for work . They'd be happy to investigate the CIA and FBI . You can make a YUGE deal with them. They'd probably do it for nothing.
6
Gail, when so much is VERY SERIOUS, I love to find those moments in a column like this that let me laugh. Thanks!
2
Yes!
A minor quibble: Nobody is feeling sympathy for Kellyanne Conway. Schadenfreude, perhaps.
A minor quibble: Nobody is feeling sympathy for Kellyanne Conway. Schadenfreude, perhaps.
7
Come on Gail. Who are you kidding? Everything you describe is music to the ears of Democrats (and maybe some Republicans) who hope and pray that Trump doesn't make it through the year, let alone his term. You love this stuff. Admit it.
1
I wonder how many time Stephen Miller was stuffed in a locker when he was in high school, and why did they let him out?
7
Well that would explain his pallor. I'm pretty pasty myself but Trump's inner circle is made up of the sickliest looking bunch of creatures I've ever seen.
1
"..you can’t help thinking — wow, is this guy really unhinged?" No, we've known that for sure for over a year now. What we're constantly wondering is, "what has he done now?"
3
The carnage in San Diego - people are in a a panic.... (fake news). Two days ago the lowest crime rate in 47 years was reported (real news).
No thinking person expected our so called president to take office and have a miraculous transformation into an intelligent, well spoken, calm, rational, well versed person surrounding himself with the best in the borightest. We are not watching "The Weat Wing" but "Duck Dynasty". It's going to be a very tumultuous 4 years, may America survive.
3
This is not a 'fun' time to be an American, nor is it 'tragic', as true tragedy includes a failure in character. The Miller/Bannon/Trump triumvirate have no character to speak of other than rancid, backward beliefs and a naked grab for power. No comedy, not tragedy, big, big problem.
3
Could it be that the Russian placement of nuclear weapons announced recently could be an arrangement between Trump and Putin to take the attention off of his other troubles in the White House? Just an "alt fact" thought.
2
Open appeal to former Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush and Carter:
Please issue a joint statement calling for a bi-partisan full investigation of Trump's ties to the Kremlin. Let us again see the true patriots we already know you to be. Your united voices will give cover to any member of both houses of Congress who worry about re-election. Please don't wait until Trump installs senior leadership in the intelligence services. It will be late for all of us.
Please issue a joint statement calling for a bi-partisan full investigation of Trump's ties to the Kremlin. Let us again see the true patriots we already know you to be. Your united voices will give cover to any member of both houses of Congress who worry about re-election. Please don't wait until Trump installs senior leadership in the intelligence services. It will be late for all of us.
8
The realization, on January 21st, that We the People didn't have a functioning government was a bit disconcerting. Realizing that if the abysmal so called president did have a functioning government with all his cronies, all the billionaires, all the Goldman Saks people, and all the crazy ex generals aboard his crew it would be worse is what really wakes me up in the morning wondering when the nightmare will be over.
Will it be over in 2018 when voters finally stop hallucinating that any schlub with a pulse can run the government? When voters stop hallucinating that the republican party has any interest what so ever in governing for anyone's interest except the industrialists they serve?
T rump must become the face of the republican party. His constricted sphincter mouth must become the image people see when they think of Ryan and McConnell and Rand Paul and all of them.
Only when republican austerity is thrown on the ash heap of history will we be able to go forth and realize the ideal that used to be America. That ideal is currently circling the porcelain convenience.
Will it be over in 2018 when voters finally stop hallucinating that any schlub with a pulse can run the government? When voters stop hallucinating that the republican party has any interest what so ever in governing for anyone's interest except the industrialists they serve?
T rump must become the face of the republican party. His constricted sphincter mouth must become the image people see when they think of Ryan and McConnell and Rand Paul and all of them.
Only when republican austerity is thrown on the ash heap of history will we be able to go forth and realize the ideal that used to be America. That ideal is currently circling the porcelain convenience.
3
In 2016, almost no newspaper supported Trump. Election forecasts were way off.
Thinking, reading people should have grasped by now that a huge proportion of the US electorate likes Trump, no matter how offensive, crude, and dangerous he may seem to the rest of us. Of course most Republicans stick with him; like parasites on a rat, they are afraid they will die politically if they disengage. They still hope to marginalize him enough from policy making to be able to enact their program. Or perhaps they will have to wait him out, as they would any other opponent.
Nearly half the public likes Trump. They do not read what Liberals read or know what Liberals know. Perhaps we need to treat them with the same anthropological distance and respect we have for far flung ethnic groups, or North Koreans. For sure, we must try to understand better how Americans are sticking with Trump. Trump is a symptom. Something weird is going on in America. We had better focus on the cause than on the symptom.
Thinking, reading people should have grasped by now that a huge proportion of the US electorate likes Trump, no matter how offensive, crude, and dangerous he may seem to the rest of us. Of course most Republicans stick with him; like parasites on a rat, they are afraid they will die politically if they disengage. They still hope to marginalize him enough from policy making to be able to enact their program. Or perhaps they will have to wait him out, as they would any other opponent.
Nearly half the public likes Trump. They do not read what Liberals read or know what Liberals know. Perhaps we need to treat them with the same anthropological distance and respect we have for far flung ethnic groups, or North Koreans. For sure, we must try to understand better how Americans are sticking with Trump. Trump is a symptom. Something weird is going on in America. We had better focus on the cause than on the symptom.
4
This morning, a republican official used the term "purge", when discussing what should happen to intelligence individuals who are leaking information to the press.
Stalin? Mao?
Most people thought Trump didn't stand a chance for the nomination. Then we thought Trump wouldn't stand a chance for the Presidency. Now we're hopeful that he doesn't stand a chance in subverting democratic institutions and implementing a dictatorship? I'm getting a real sense that there's a race against time to do something about this maniacal tyrant, before it's too late. When does the military move in? Is this America or Argentina?
Stalin? Mao?
Most people thought Trump didn't stand a chance for the nomination. Then we thought Trump wouldn't stand a chance for the Presidency. Now we're hopeful that he doesn't stand a chance in subverting democratic institutions and implementing a dictatorship? I'm getting a real sense that there's a race against time to do something about this maniacal tyrant, before it's too late. When does the military move in? Is this America or Argentina?
7
Stephen Miller is an obnoxious twit. He is also a serial liar. His fantasies about voter fraud were laugh-out-loud ridiculous.
But this lying twit is Senior Advisor to the President! The noxious combination of Miller and wife-beater and racist Steve Bannon at the highest levels of power in the United States is terrifying. And both are vicious and aggressive. Miler's pronouncement that President Trump's power was "not to be questioned" in that shrill little squeaky voice sent chills down my spine, since it could have been uttered by any 1930's Fascist.
Trump may be a buffoon, but his senior staff are treacherous and dangerous. They are unvetted and unelected, and not responsible to the American people. They need urgently to somehow to be removed or we are in terrible danger.
But this lying twit is Senior Advisor to the President! The noxious combination of Miller and wife-beater and racist Steve Bannon at the highest levels of power in the United States is terrifying. And both are vicious and aggressive. Miler's pronouncement that President Trump's power was "not to be questioned" in that shrill little squeaky voice sent chills down my spine, since it could have been uttered by any 1930's Fascist.
Trump may be a buffoon, but his senior staff are treacherous and dangerous. They are unvetted and unelected, and not responsible to the American people. They need urgently to somehow to be removed or we are in terrible danger.
13
"Unhinged"? Yes...only the Don would call for an insulated, controlled and wildly premature Campaign Rally in order to soothe his badly, and "unfairly", tarnished ego, while chaos reigns in Washington and our country slouches towards political and diplomatic dysfunction. It is painful, if not frightening, to watch a grown man squirm in a sea of manifest insecurity and narcissism. How long do we have to bear witness to this unfolding dumpster fire, that is the "so-called" Trump Presidency? Can we wait 4 years - I am not sure that our national security and stature in the world will survive. Perhaps, if Mr. Trump is so sanguine about his popularity, then he would agree to a recall election. I am confident that the electorate would vote with their hearts and minds this time...
4
I want to be the first to propose Dennis Rodman as Trump's point person on N. Korea.....Let's not forget the deep bench the current President has to draw upon from his time on the t.v. show The Apprentice!
3
The media should preceed before any Trump speech or radio or television sound bite with the theme from the Looney Tunes cartoons and end with Th-th- th all Folks. If they don’t - just play it in your mind.
And yes, mental illness is no joke. Remember Europe in 1945? Can you imagine Hitler with nuclear missiles? My god, if tweets won’t do, maybe destroying a small city, one with no Trump investments, will tell them who won in a landslide.
And yes, mental illness is no joke. Remember Europe in 1945? Can you imagine Hitler with nuclear missiles? My god, if tweets won’t do, maybe destroying a small city, one with no Trump investments, will tell them who won in a landslide.
2
Thin, Gail. Trump is comedy gold yet you keep bringing us iron pyrite. Are you so 'mesmerized' by this tottering Colossus of Reeds that you can't look squarely at him plain and clear, as the artist must? What about a White House packed situation room to situation room with rapists and murderers, not to mention, you know, situations? What about all those librard Democrats in White House basement extrajudicial rendition rooms being tortured with hot cheese mouth like small children in a Pizza parlor? Forget dogs on the roof. Now we've got Twitter-guided intermediate-range nuclear cruise missiles on the roof.
Take that on the family vacation.
Take that on the family vacation.
When I read in The Presidents Club by Michael Duffy and Nancy Gibbs, that Nixon was treasonous, going behind Johnson's back to the North Vietnam government, telling them to hold off on making peace, that a better deal awaits them when he's elected. And now trump and company have shown the world that they too a year before the election contacted the russians. Well, there is enough reason call the administration on the carpet or in the dock for acts of treason. Twice? We are going to have to go through this twice?
Throw the bums out!
Throw the bums out!
2
The references to Kim Jong-un are timely. I expect that relations with North Korea will improve. Kim is not stupid. It will undoubtedly occur to him to watch his step: the "leader of the free world" is just a nuts as Kim himself.
Trump may be on the ropes now. But wait! There is bound to be some catastrophe (terrorist, economic, natural disaster). Trump's barely disguised glee will come first followed by gradual, autocratic assumption of control. That is how autocrats work.
Trumps followers do not understand that "strong" leadership of the type he admires comes at the sacrifice of civil liberties. Autocrats ALWAYS efficiently manage threats in exchange for civil liberties. ALWAYS!
Giving over to an autocrat may in fact what Trump's supporters have wanted all along. It is safe and comfortable (at first) and by the time freedoms are irrevocably lost, it is too late.
Beware.
Trumps followers do not understand that "strong" leadership of the type he admires comes at the sacrifice of civil liberties. Autocrats ALWAYS efficiently manage threats in exchange for civil liberties. ALWAYS!
Giving over to an autocrat may in fact what Trump's supporters have wanted all along. It is safe and comfortable (at first) and by the time freedoms are irrevocably lost, it is too late.
Beware.
2
Yes it could be worse . Gail Collins might not be writing her juicy columns to cheer us up.
2
I think the punditocracy should proceed more cautiously before pouncing on Trump's advisors, and focus on what we already know. We know that Putin preferred Trump, because he saw somebody he could do business with, and interfered with our elections by selectively leaking emails from Democrats, which were embarrassing because the internal workings of campaigns are. and we know that Trump and his advisers also see Russia as good for their bottom line. This is what you get when you have an amoral CEO in Chief like Trump who views every problem from the perspective of how to turn a profit from it.
Trump voters happen to think that he will be good for their bottom line as well and will continue to support him until they realize that he actually wants to double down on all the forces that have been working to erode the middle class to this day - less protections for workers, lower taxes on the wealthy, and encouraging working people to take irresponsible risks with their health and their money.
And, the phrasing noted by Paul Krugman, "malevolance tempered by incompetance" is more pithy than "a dark combination of mean and inept".
Trump voters happen to think that he will be good for their bottom line as well and will continue to support him until they realize that he actually wants to double down on all the forces that have been working to erode the middle class to this day - less protections for workers, lower taxes on the wealthy, and encouraging working people to take irresponsible risks with their health and their money.
And, the phrasing noted by Paul Krugman, "malevolance tempered by incompetance" is more pithy than "a dark combination of mean and inept".
3
Thank you Gail Collins. You are a true gem. As usual, clever, accurate, and smile-inducing. Well done!
3
Trump Von Clownstick's gallery of deplorables: SS Storm Trooper Bannon, Kellyanne ConJob, Putin lookalike Stephen Miller, and last but far from lease, the poor poor pitiful Spicy Boy.
What an absolute embarrassment, an abundance of dunderheads, brown noses, alternative fact fascists.
Barack Obama, I miss you so. And every day I imagine Hillary in the White House a month in and I am sure we would have witnessed none of this were she our President.
America, you goofed, badly, bigly, big league. Some people are wrong all of the time. Those who voted Trump Von Clownstick, you blew it.
DD
Manhattan
What an absolute embarrassment, an abundance of dunderheads, brown noses, alternative fact fascists.
Barack Obama, I miss you so. And every day I imagine Hillary in the White House a month in and I am sure we would have witnessed none of this were she our President.
America, you goofed, badly, bigly, big league. Some people are wrong all of the time. Those who voted Trump Von Clownstick, you blew it.
DD
Manhattan
10
When lee Iacocca became chairman of Chrysler in the late 70s commented on the stock, which was trading at $11. He said, it can't get worse than this. The next year it was trading at $4.
There was a soccer coach who lost all 10 of his high school games. He also said it could not get any worse than this. The next year the team played 11 games. They lost them all.
I
There was a soccer coach who lost all 10 of his high school games. He also said it could not get any worse than this. The next year the team played 11 games. They lost them all.
I
6
Before Kellyanne shilled for Ivanka Trump products, she shilled for Ted Cruz, and has some fairly truthful things to say about Donnie. For some reason, these "self evident truths" have been ignored by many, to our detriment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMvObdGZo30&list=FLTekvFhkT1UwfquRU-...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMvObdGZo30&list=FLTekvFhkT1UwfquRU-...
4
Worse? Yes, a Pence theocracy & it wouldn't even be entertaining.
7
@RAYMOND ~ don the con is not entertaining, but an embarrassment and when I think of the fact he has the nuclear codes, it is frightening. djt is more apt to destroy us than Pence and though I abhor his false piety, he presents a calmer mindset. What were the voters thinking when they voted for this duo?
2
I now remember fondly how Bob Dole used to refer to himself in the third person, as if he were a spokesman for Dole rather than Dole himself.
Donald Trump at times seems to be a spokesman for another Donald Trump who can, sadly, be very unfair to people like Michael Flynn who the spokesman Trump greatly admires -- almost as greatly as he admires himself.
I think the evil mass media has to come up with a way to differentiate one Trump from another, so we are not confused.
"Which Trump said that?" you ask. "This one who fires people when they make him look bad," the media answers. "Too bad he's on duty today," you sigh.
Donald Trump at times seems to be a spokesman for another Donald Trump who can, sadly, be very unfair to people like Michael Flynn who the spokesman Trump greatly admires -- almost as greatly as he admires himself.
I think the evil mass media has to come up with a way to differentiate one Trump from another, so we are not confused.
"Which Trump said that?" you ask. "This one who fires people when they make him look bad," the media answers. "Too bad he's on duty today," you sigh.
5
Bob Dole -- in retrospect appears a great statesman. But in describing his role as Gerald Ford's 1976 running mate, there's a warning:
"They told me to go for the jugular and I did -- my own."
"They told me to go for the jugular and I did -- my own."
@Richard Leuttgen wrote: "If indeed Flynn said nothing to the Russians that suggested collusion, then his sole mistake in THIS matter was not owning up fully to the contacts."
Um, remember the whole Bill Clinton thing: the fishing expedition that started with Whitewater then morphed into Vice Foster and ended up with Monica Lewinsky? What was Clinton impeached for? Simply because he lied about an affair.
What Flynn lied about is MUCH more serious. And if there are any links to tRump, Pense, Bannon, etc., they need to be tried for treason.
RL also wrote: "We will have a lot of cooperation between a president and Congress."
You mean what we've seen so far? The way Congress is starting investigations against his administration? Like the way they're cooperating on repealing ACA?
In the good old days, I used to think that your comments on here were a cute (and sometimes reasonable) counterpoint to the generally Democrat perspective of most Times commenters. But since the election, your comments have devolved into rabid partisan rantings. You've given up thoughtful discourse, selling out just to support your "party" and its Exalted Leader, in spite of the damage being done to our country. Your gloating is bordering on hubris. You're becoming unhinged, like our president (and the deplorables that he represents).
Since you feel free to offer counsel to others, my counsel to you is: Go immerse yourself in the bubble of alternative facts on Faux News. You'll be much happier there.
Um, remember the whole Bill Clinton thing: the fishing expedition that started with Whitewater then morphed into Vice Foster and ended up with Monica Lewinsky? What was Clinton impeached for? Simply because he lied about an affair.
What Flynn lied about is MUCH more serious. And if there are any links to tRump, Pense, Bannon, etc., they need to be tried for treason.
RL also wrote: "We will have a lot of cooperation between a president and Congress."
You mean what we've seen so far? The way Congress is starting investigations against his administration? Like the way they're cooperating on repealing ACA?
In the good old days, I used to think that your comments on here were a cute (and sometimes reasonable) counterpoint to the generally Democrat perspective of most Times commenters. But since the election, your comments have devolved into rabid partisan rantings. You've given up thoughtful discourse, selling out just to support your "party" and its Exalted Leader, in spite of the damage being done to our country. Your gloating is bordering on hubris. You're becoming unhinged, like our president (and the deplorables that he represents).
Since you feel free to offer counsel to others, my counsel to you is: Go immerse yourself in the bubble of alternative facts on Faux News. You'll be much happier there.
8
Things will get worse with Trump as president--and on a daily basis, as we are seeing. But, as Mom used to tell us, sometimes things need to get worse before they get better.
People don't know what they have until they don't have it, and now we are about to lose what was left of our democracy, our country's place on the world's stage, and our traditional democratic values spelled out in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Why?
Because the politically connected people in the electoral college elected an egotistical, authoritarian man, who openly rejects law, ethics, and human decency--a man who prefers lies to truth and gets by on the basis of his cult of personality.
But here is the good news. Gone is our collective complacency--no more taking democracy, truth, and human decency for granted. At least we know what we are against, and Trump and his dreadful political appointees are our worst nightmare in action.
On the very day after Trump's inauguration, women marched in protest around the country, and people who never protested are marching for justice and fairness. We are signing petitions and bothering their congressional "representatives" about what Trump and the GOP are doing to this country and our lives.
Amazingly, the mainstream media is finding its voice--forced to defend itself, against Trump's assertion that truthful news is "fake news." CBS is correcting Trump & showing the effects of climate change in Antarctica.
Democracy is our job
People don't know what they have until they don't have it, and now we are about to lose what was left of our democracy, our country's place on the world's stage, and our traditional democratic values spelled out in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Why?
Because the politically connected people in the electoral college elected an egotistical, authoritarian man, who openly rejects law, ethics, and human decency--a man who prefers lies to truth and gets by on the basis of his cult of personality.
But here is the good news. Gone is our collective complacency--no more taking democracy, truth, and human decency for granted. At least we know what we are against, and Trump and his dreadful political appointees are our worst nightmare in action.
On the very day after Trump's inauguration, women marched in protest around the country, and people who never protested are marching for justice and fairness. We are signing petitions and bothering their congressional "representatives" about what Trump and the GOP are doing to this country and our lives.
Amazingly, the mainstream media is finding its voice--forced to defend itself, against Trump's assertion that truthful news is "fake news." CBS is correcting Trump & showing the effects of climate change in Antarctica.
Democracy is our job
6
Trump is a pathological liar. And what would be worse, if he is so self centered, he is delusional. It is sad, when pathological liar would be a step up from delusional. The continued mention about the crowd size or related comments about his electoral vote win. He lost the popular vote to Clinton and the crowd size was smaller than Obama's inauguration.
Trump needs to sit in front of a judge and or congress and answer questions directly about his involvement with Russia. I mean when the National Security head is recorded on telephone talking about sanctions and than our Attorney General sends a warning to the president about his compromised security status. Then Flynn lied to the Vice President. Flynn is supposed to be on the USA side looking out for USA interest. When did Trump know about it?
Pathological liar, possibly delusional, I would like to throw in unpredictable and disorganized, and a national security risk for the USA. I am convinced Trump is a dangerous person. It is now a matter of when not if he will be impeached. And if there is evidence Trump or his team were involved with Russia to sway the election, or soften sanctions, I am certain that Trump will be dumped.
On a lighter note, Thanks for trying to keep our spirits up. You forgot to mention France won the Miss Universe contest and she was a dental student who had never worn high heels before the event. I think that was a high five for smart women and for women dentists everywhere.
Trump needs to sit in front of a judge and or congress and answer questions directly about his involvement with Russia. I mean when the National Security head is recorded on telephone talking about sanctions and than our Attorney General sends a warning to the president about his compromised security status. Then Flynn lied to the Vice President. Flynn is supposed to be on the USA side looking out for USA interest. When did Trump know about it?
Pathological liar, possibly delusional, I would like to throw in unpredictable and disorganized, and a national security risk for the USA. I am convinced Trump is a dangerous person. It is now a matter of when not if he will be impeached. And if there is evidence Trump or his team were involved with Russia to sway the election, or soften sanctions, I am certain that Trump will be dumped.
On a lighter note, Thanks for trying to keep our spirits up. You forgot to mention France won the Miss Universe contest and she was a dental student who had never worn high heels before the event. I think that was a high five for smart women and for women dentists everywhere.
5
Things COULD be worse. Your last name could be "Trump."
"Quisling" was the surname of a man who collaborated with the Nazis in Norway. His name became a synonym for "traitor."
"Quisling" was the surname of a man who collaborated with the Nazis in Norway. His name became a synonym for "traitor."
2
Another good thing about the melodrama that Trump daily serves up: It makes us feel better about losing to him in November. We may have lost the most winnable election in decades, but hey, the Electoral College! Emails! Comey! The RUSSIANS! Flynn! See, he stole it. We wuz robbed!
So the window closes on the brief moment of reflection about how we, the opposition, managed to lose to him.
So the window closes on the brief moment of reflection about how we, the opposition, managed to lose to him.
1
Gail, STOP!
I developed vertigo on starting to read your article -
By the time I finished - it had reached crisis level and I might need shock therapy to get relief.
I developed vertigo on starting to read your article -
By the time I finished - it had reached crisis level and I might need shock therapy to get relief.
2
People are saying that there's only three years and 44 weeks to go. A lot of people. I'm not saying that, but a lot of people, a really lot of people are saying that. Sad!
4
What is another ride along the spin cycle, where President and Pop Culture jettison in synch, one seemingly as important as the other? A supersaturated culture able to shape shift and surreptitiously morph at will. It was only a short trip back in time when Gorby and Reza were the toast of the town, the darlings of the left and preferred at cocktail parties to those troglodytes in the White House; Ron and Nancy if memory serves right.
Now left is right and right is red and blue is left. Same as it ever was; not exactly. President Roosevelt embraced Stalin when strategic and that got the nod. Why not now? Doesn’t Putin represent a good counterbalance to China? Isn’t it better to be inside than out? Who cares? It’s nightly entertainment. Cavalier sanctions become sacrosanct in this new disrupted world coming unhinged by the self-righteous; those forgetful of their own history.
Now left is right and right is red and blue is left. Same as it ever was; not exactly. President Roosevelt embraced Stalin when strategic and that got the nod. Why not now? Doesn’t Putin represent a good counterbalance to China? Isn’t it better to be inside than out? Who cares? It’s nightly entertainment. Cavalier sanctions become sacrosanct in this new disrupted world coming unhinged by the self-righteous; those forgetful of their own history.
Emperor Donnie is a 70 year old man who has run his sole proprietorship companies as a dictator ("you do what I say or you are FIRED"). He thinks he was elected to run the US Government in the same manner. He thinks "checks and balances" refer to pieces of paper he signs and to what the bank says you have in your account. He has ZERO interest in learning anything new. He was told by a 31 year old lying blowhard that his decisions "will not be questioned."
Other than that, he has the job under control, except for the occasional input he gets from his boss, Vladimir.
Other than that, he has the job under control, except for the occasional input he gets from his boss, Vladimir.
4
This was great!!! Nice to read you, ALONE. Hint, hint.
2
Nixon was once the bottom of the barrel. then came Reagan who declared that ketchup was a vegetable, then the Bush family with "read my lips" and the "decider."
Now this. Does the GOP hang out a sign?: ONLY FOOLS APPLY
Now this. Does the GOP hang out a sign?: ONLY FOOLS APPLY
3
In a singular move, the mentally ill rejected President Trump from their ranks.
In a Valentine's Day letter to the Times editor Dr. Allen Frances, head of the DSM-IV task force, rejected the widespread notion that Mr. Trump is a narcissist.
It reads: "Mr. Trump causes severe distress rather than experiencing it and has been richly rewarded, rather than punished, for his grandiosity, self-absorption and lack of empathy. It is a stigmatizing insult to the mentally ill (who are mostly well behaved and well meaning) to be lumped with Mr. Trump (who is neither)."
This is a variation on Jon Stewart's words. He said on a Colbert show that the presidency should age the president, not the public. How I miss Mr. Stewart!
In a Valentine's Day letter to the Times editor Dr. Allen Frances, head of the DSM-IV task force, rejected the widespread notion that Mr. Trump is a narcissist.
It reads: "Mr. Trump causes severe distress rather than experiencing it and has been richly rewarded, rather than punished, for his grandiosity, self-absorption and lack of empathy. It is a stigmatizing insult to the mentally ill (who are mostly well behaved and well meaning) to be lumped with Mr. Trump (who is neither)."
This is a variation on Jon Stewart's words. He said on a Colbert show that the presidency should age the president, not the public. How I miss Mr. Stewart!
5
The trotting out of Stephen Miller recently is unsettling. He reminds me of Fredo in the Godfather. who felt he never got the respect and assignments he deserved as a family member.
Interviewed a few times this past week, not only were Millers words disturbing, he appeared just giddy with power.
As I remember, things didn't end well for Fredo.
Interviewed a few times this past week, not only were Millers words disturbing, he appeared just giddy with power.
As I remember, things didn't end well for Fredo.
4
You are strange Americans ...
You are so used to the way of life for tens of years, you do not want to change anything.
You need a change, it can be seen from Europe. The American Dream is a myth.
Donald Trump is not a bad president. Perhaps he can be compared to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He is some kind of revolutionary.
About Russia
We're wasting time. In the world there are many problems that can be solved only together. You're smart people. It is necessary to us to finally start to cooperate. The confrontation, which gave Obama does not benefit either the US or around the world.
There are common problems. Americans must transcend your ego and begin to cooperate with Russia. It is important...
You are so used to the way of life for tens of years, you do not want to change anything.
You need a change, it can be seen from Europe. The American Dream is a myth.
Donald Trump is not a bad president. Perhaps he can be compared to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He is some kind of revolutionary.
About Russia
We're wasting time. In the world there are many problems that can be solved only together. You're smart people. It is necessary to us to finally start to cooperate. The confrontation, which gave Obama does not benefit either the US or around the world.
There are common problems. Americans must transcend your ego and begin to cooperate with Russia. It is important...
When Stephen Miller stood there, and with barely controlled rage, told us that Donald Trump's executive orders will NOT be challenged by the Courts, all I could see was a young, angry Colonel Klink. Werner Klemperer had it written into his contract that under no circumstances could his character, Klink, ever, EVER win! Because Klemperer, and his world-famous conductor father, Otto, were German Jews forced to flee another insane leader's fantasy-based hatred that the people around him thought they could manage.
When Miller stood there, proclaiming Trump absolute monarch with no mechanism of appeal, did you feel the same icy wind I felt of fear that our Democratic Republic is teetering on the brink of the cliff?
Meanwhile, other than a meager number of Democrats with spines and even fewer number of Republicans with respect for the Law AND spines, combined with a newly-energized "lying, false" main stream media, and Court system that has not succumbed to illegal pressure, the collapse hasn't yet happened.
Instead, the steady flow of evidence, data and leaks may well crack the Trump White House wide open. What's sad, is NONE of this is new or news, just what's coming out is Trump and his team's criminal behavior and ineptness have resulted in obvious, prosecution-demanding violations. While the Logan Act has never been enforced, it's hard to remember when such a blatant violation as General Flynn's could so easily be proven.
We may yet save the Republic from Trump.
When Miller stood there, proclaiming Trump absolute monarch with no mechanism of appeal, did you feel the same icy wind I felt of fear that our Democratic Republic is teetering on the brink of the cliff?
Meanwhile, other than a meager number of Democrats with spines and even fewer number of Republicans with respect for the Law AND spines, combined with a newly-energized "lying, false" main stream media, and Court system that has not succumbed to illegal pressure, the collapse hasn't yet happened.
Instead, the steady flow of evidence, data and leaks may well crack the Trump White House wide open. What's sad, is NONE of this is new or news, just what's coming out is Trump and his team's criminal behavior and ineptness have resulted in obvious, prosecution-demanding violations. While the Logan Act has never been enforced, it's hard to remember when such a blatant violation as General Flynn's could so easily be proven.
We may yet save the Republic from Trump.
6
" We’ve learned that Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Flynn, talked with the Russians before the inauguration."
And been able to reasonably conjecture that Flynn wasn't going rogue, but was acting as an errand boy for TOTUS, who has now gotten him to fall on his sword.
With prospects of more aides to fall or be thrown under the bus, including Mike Pence, who have been in on this folly designed to enhance Trump's business prospects in Russia and keep Putin from leaking about Trump's sexcapades in Moscow -- and probably elsewhere.
What? Putin is going to order hacking of everyone else at the top levels of American politics and give Trump Inc. a pass? Think about that.
Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Gail, of course, as well, it's time to start saying out loud what has such a high degree of probability of being true that Donald Trump would have been Tweeting about it daily long ago, if it were not his ox that were being gored.
The titular most powerful man in the world has almost certainly been brought to heel through blackmail by Putin because of his commercial and sexual cupidity.
Time to get your T-Shirt:
"Craven and Phony Beyond Belief Paul Ryan for Designated Survivor!"
On the back:
"The Constitution Doesn't Give Us No Selection."
And been able to reasonably conjecture that Flynn wasn't going rogue, but was acting as an errand boy for TOTUS, who has now gotten him to fall on his sword.
With prospects of more aides to fall or be thrown under the bus, including Mike Pence, who have been in on this folly designed to enhance Trump's business prospects in Russia and keep Putin from leaking about Trump's sexcapades in Moscow -- and probably elsewhere.
What? Putin is going to order hacking of everyone else at the top levels of American politics and give Trump Inc. a pass? Think about that.
Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Gail, of course, as well, it's time to start saying out loud what has such a high degree of probability of being true that Donald Trump would have been Tweeting about it daily long ago, if it were not his ox that were being gored.
The titular most powerful man in the world has almost certainly been brought to heel through blackmail by Putin because of his commercial and sexual cupidity.
Time to get your T-Shirt:
"Craven and Phony Beyond Belief Paul Ryan for Designated Survivor!"
On the back:
"The Constitution Doesn't Give Us No Selection."
2
A Russian plane buzzed a US ship. A Russian plane forced a US plane to avoid a mid-air collision. Russia moved a Cruise missile to a prohibited site. Trump's response, I won the electoral college and the popular vote except for the 3 million dead voters who arrived in NH by vans.
Cross-cultural contacts with Russia were more frequent than hook-ups on a dating app; nothing political, mind you, just the usual chatter recorded which now provides a reason to dismantle the US intelligent gathering network--I didn't think they would spy on my guys; loyal Americans seeking wealth and power, international alliances in defiance of American and European interests, with a leader I admire.
I had to send the 31-year old kid out to remind America my power "will not be questioned." (They should know that; wasn't the illegal, undocumented Obama [who I vetted and ended the national debate which I amplified over his birth] a dictator or emperor or something?)
My first military mission killed a couple of kids, one an American 8-year old (her daddy was a bad dude), lost a man and a plane, but we got the flash drives and hard discs.
The courts can't read well. Don't they know the law? Labor lost a real leader; he knew the needs of the working class very well and would have done so much for jobs, eliminating overtime at work to tighten family budgets.
Nobody listened when I told Spicer (the real one) to tell everybody shut-up! Where's Frederick Douglass? He's in charge of spelling.
Cross-cultural contacts with Russia were more frequent than hook-ups on a dating app; nothing political, mind you, just the usual chatter recorded which now provides a reason to dismantle the US intelligent gathering network--I didn't think they would spy on my guys; loyal Americans seeking wealth and power, international alliances in defiance of American and European interests, with a leader I admire.
I had to send the 31-year old kid out to remind America my power "will not be questioned." (They should know that; wasn't the illegal, undocumented Obama [who I vetted and ended the national debate which I amplified over his birth] a dictator or emperor or something?)
My first military mission killed a couple of kids, one an American 8-year old (her daddy was a bad dude), lost a man and a plane, but we got the flash drives and hard discs.
The courts can't read well. Don't they know the law? Labor lost a real leader; he knew the needs of the working class very well and would have done so much for jobs, eliminating overtime at work to tighten family budgets.
Nobody listened when I told Spicer (the real one) to tell everybody shut-up! Where's Frederick Douglass? He's in charge of spelling.
5
Thanks, Gail, for the few laughs I can muster these days.
2
I'm looking for a, "I miss Warren Harding" bumper sticker...
2
The only good happening during since Trump was sworn in before the ten million (or was it the hundred million) at his Inauguration?) is the Superbowl advertisement by 84 Lumber, which of course was cut. (you can see it in its entirety on the Internet). Unfortunately, that superb ad was a requiem for what America used to be, and may never be again.
I believe we will find out (after Trump's downfall) that the majority of his advisors are robots. Very life like but robots nonetheless programed by mad IT guys in a bunker somewhere in the US; perhaps in the unbelly of the Trump Tower.
Are you sure there's three years and 48 weeks to go? I'm not sure we'll be here if we wait that long.
1
Well, tee hee hee. Ms. Collins is reliably lame. Why is the honor and responsibility of a NY Times column reduced to a marginally funny stand-up routine? Look aound, Ms. Collins, your colleagues are doing some actual work. There are actual policy issues, like health care or protection of trans teens to research, and synthesize on the editorial page.
"...Except for the part where our president dealt with the crisis over their new ballistic missile while dining at Mar-a-Lago in front of throngs of resort guests and their Facebook friends...." and later complained that leaks might endanger policymaking re. North Korea.
1
It's not so much the lies from the Trump administration that bothers me. It's the insult to the intelligence of our Nation as a whole that I find offensive.
2
Not to worry...billionaire and close Trump friend Stephen A Feinberg will relinquish his co-foundership title at Cereberus Capitol and investigate a broad review of the Intelligence agencies...stability and truth are imminent...
3
The fact that this administration is unravelling even faster than I expected is a wonderful surprise. However, my biggest fear is still in play - that President Breitbart Bannon will order the Dark Operations dept. of the republican party to move up the launch date of our War with Iran. It would provide a much-needed distraction for these nitwits.
4
This administration has, to date, served up so many outlandish stories that any report of what's going on would be soundly rejected as too "over the top" if it were presented as fiction. You can't make this stuff up!
1
Glad to see the dog mention. Too bad it wasn't Sheamus....
Don't remind us that things could be worse! I know it could be, and probably will be before they get better. Thanks for the momentary laughs.
1
I wonder if that German Shepherd would consider a cabinet post.
1
Sure. Department of Trickle - Down Economics.
2
I keep thinking that perhaps we are living in an alternative universe. Any day now I will wake up to find that this fraud and phony lost every State and is now in an exclusive sanitarium where he can't hurt himself or anyone else. What is almost as unsettling is that elements of the population actually admire his deplorable approach to governing.
Uh Gail, we've known all along that he's unhinged and no, we didn't expect his administration to fail immediately. In fact, the opposite is far more troubling and I don't mean his administration but rather the demise of a two party Democracy. The Republican party has already shown us that Trump "will not be questioned." They've equally shown us that they're not in the least bit interested in determining if Russia is involved in our country's politics. This not a time for joking around and trying to be lighthearted. We're in a lot of trouble and it's only been four weeks.
The sanctimony that is hypocritically pious or crocodile tears of leftists and democrats is pretty obvious to anyone. The least patriotic, the most globalist thinkers have taken to attacking Trump for doing what they themselves advocate. Having worked on a farm I remember how caged turkeys would pick at an injured animals open wound until it became infected and the bird died.
Trump needs to prove that he is more popular than ever by starting his 2020 campaign this coming Saturday. Really?! In four long weeks he has made a hash out of his time in office and hit with so much resistance that he needs to stroke his own ego by campaigning for reelection? There is something radically wrong with this guy. I can't wait for the media circus around this event. We can't win on this one if large crowds of protestors show up he will spin it his way as a big success if small crowds then its the media's fault for spreading "fake news". Somebody please help us, find enough bad stuff to impeach this clown.
3
I am dwelling on the positive. The Canadians haven't built a wall. Yet.
5
I make it a personal policy to never wish time away. I may have to change that as 3 years, 48 weeks need to SPEED by for any of us to sleep soundly and without fear again. I open the newspaper every day asking, "What did he do now?" Thank God for Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert, and you, dear Gail! Oh, for the days of Seamus on the roof, when we were all still safe!
1
The world has watched so many incompetent leaders
Abdicate and fly off to another 'neutral' countries-
Do you think we could orchestrate an exit plan for
Mr. T, let's say his Scotland golf property?
Come on folks let's use our American imaginations!
Abdicate and fly off to another 'neutral' countries-
Do you think we could orchestrate an exit plan for
Mr. T, let's say his Scotland golf property?
Come on folks let's use our American imaginations!
If this greedy egomaniac is pinned to the wall by the changes of treason and conspiracy ... he would use the infamous "box". I am pretty sure he would use it as the last resort to "prove them wrong" All of "them", the whole planet.
His brain works this way, he does not know any better.
Imagine his thrill of holding the whole planet population hostages.... Narcissists are like that its Clinical Psychology 101
His brain works this way, he does not know any better.
Imagine his thrill of holding the whole planet population hostages.... Narcissists are like that its Clinical Psychology 101
2
"No fair mentioning there are only three years and 44 weeks to go."
Ohfortheloveofgawd, make it stop!! Please make it stop!!!
Ohfortheloveofgawd, make it stop!! Please make it stop!!!
2
I think it's time for Trump to file for bankruptcy. That's always been his fall-back in the business world. Screw something up, lose money, investors are screaming? Just stuff some cash into your pockets, declare bankruptcy and walk away. Start another bloated project, rinse and repeat.
Oops, can't quite do that with this job. Now what?
I'm wondering if he'll just quit. "I was elected with a billion votes, and I tried my best to fix the horrible no good government. But folks, even I, the great Trump, couldn't fix the mess of Washington. It's unfixable because everyone stopped me from fixing it. So sad. So I'll be leaving now, good luck, thanks for your standing ovation. ".
Oops, can't quite do that with this job. Now what?
I'm wondering if he'll just quit. "I was elected with a billion votes, and I tried my best to fix the horrible no good government. But folks, even I, the great Trump, couldn't fix the mess of Washington. It's unfixable because everyone stopped me from fixing it. So sad. So I'll be leaving now, good luck, thanks for your standing ovation. ".
3
Donald Trump and Donald Trump alone has set himself up to national ridicule and condemnation. He is a loose cannon. Mr. Trump believes in alternative facts. He believes that there is a conspiracy by the press/media to discredit his election win. The crowed count was wrong. Fake news.
Every tweet from Mr. Trump attacks someone, or an institution or organization. There are no boundaries. I expect Tweety Pie of cartoon fame to tweet. I don't expect that of the President of the United States. At least Tweety Pie actually saw a Putty Tat. Donald sees spies, liars, leakers, and conspiracy everywhere. And those are real cartoon imaginings.
"But let’s dwell on the positive. At least Trump doesn’t have any half brothers." No, we can't take heart there either. Donald's brother passed away years ago and Donald took revenge upon him and his family with terrible vindictive, mean spiritedness. There is no positive.
Between Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Puzder, Conway, Flynn and the rest of Trump's crew the White House is a 3 ring circus without a ringleader. The GOP, the elephants, have retired from the scene afraid for themselves.
You're right Gail, "Now every time it happens you can’t help thinking — wow, is this guy really unhinged?"
Every tweet from Mr. Trump attacks someone, or an institution or organization. There are no boundaries. I expect Tweety Pie of cartoon fame to tweet. I don't expect that of the President of the United States. At least Tweety Pie actually saw a Putty Tat. Donald sees spies, liars, leakers, and conspiracy everywhere. And those are real cartoon imaginings.
"But let’s dwell on the positive. At least Trump doesn’t have any half brothers." No, we can't take heart there either. Donald's brother passed away years ago and Donald took revenge upon him and his family with terrible vindictive, mean spiritedness. There is no positive.
Between Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Puzder, Conway, Flynn and the rest of Trump's crew the White House is a 3 ring circus without a ringleader. The GOP, the elephants, have retired from the scene afraid for themselves.
You're right Gail, "Now every time it happens you can’t help thinking — wow, is this guy really unhinged?"
2
Trump appears to be laying the groundwork for an Erdogan style presidency for life. Purge the intelligence services, muzzle the press, deny the power of the courts, and announce that elections are rigged, so let's not hold them until we get it all figured out.
Who could stop him?
Who could stop him?
5
I caught the end of the Westminster dog show on TV the other night and was heartbroken over the German shepherd losing out to the pointer (I grew up with a German shepherd). A few days later I woke up to reading in the Times how the German shepherd had taken first prize. It was only then I realized that I had been watching last year's dog show on TV!
If only presidential elections were more like that.
If only presidential elections were more like that.
The best of times--China approves Trump brand.
The worst of times--millions lose health insurance.
Ah, the good old days.
The worst of times--millions lose health insurance.
Ah, the good old days.
2
Well, Susan Sarandon seems to think that loony leaders rushing us to the apocalypse is a good thing, because, you know, it's re-invigorated the progressive left. And some musicians think it will be good for punk rock. So that's ok.
Everyone I know, self included, is losing their marbles, their blood pressure, their cookies, and the inclination to be moderate with the fruit of the grape, non stop stress eating, and an addiction to non stop news feeds. Where in the world is Barack Obama?????
Everyone I know, self included, is losing their marbles, their blood pressure, their cookies, and the inclination to be moderate with the fruit of the grape, non stop stress eating, and an addiction to non stop news feeds. Where in the world is Barack Obama?????
Also on the brighter side: We are getting a great education in the Logan Act, the Emoluments Clause, and the 25th Amendment. Searches for all three are spiking in Google Trends, with the latter currently in the lead.
Those years majoring in "political science" no longer seem wasted--though I still think the term is an oxymoron. Isn't a science supposed to produce repeatable experiments?
Those years majoring in "political science" no longer seem wasted--though I still think the term is an oxymoron. Isn't a science supposed to produce repeatable experiments?
4
Gail,
I can't laugh, we are flying without a safety net. We have a President who is a Narcissistic dangerous fool, a Cabinet composed of individuals who wish to destroy this Nation and a Congress without a moral compass. "Republicans should not investigate Republicans", from the lips of Paul Ryan. This group together will tear the Constitution to shreds and here we are.
I would much rather have even Romney and his dog, Shamus.
I can't laugh, we are flying without a safety net. We have a President who is a Narcissistic dangerous fool, a Cabinet composed of individuals who wish to destroy this Nation and a Congress without a moral compass. "Republicans should not investigate Republicans", from the lips of Paul Ryan. This group together will tear the Constitution to shreds and here we are.
I would much rather have even Romney and his dog, Shamus.
1
I'm sorry. I am not feeling any sympathy for Kellyanne Conway. Instead, I feel sympathy for her children.
But mostly I feel sympathy for our nation and the world.
But mostly I feel sympathy for our nation and the world.
3
Trump was an unfit candidate that won a stunning victory by the slimmest of margins. 6 voters per 1,000 cast changing sides in three states and Hillary wins! Every reason you can name is plausible when the margin is that thin.
He had no experience, no coherent plans, no fundamental philosophy on governing. Just a bunch of slogans, most of which he had no intention of fulfilling. He did have Internet trolls and someone in Congress who revealed the Comey letter (a clear violation of the Hatch Act) that convinced 63 million American to vote for him anyway.
The voting public still needs to see Mr. Trump's taxes. We need to know who made Director Comey's confidential letter public. We need to know the extent and degree of collusion, if any, between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence.
Just imagine if a Democrat had carried out any of these actions. The roar from FNC and the Right would have been unending. Investigate Trump or place the Democrats even further behind the starting line in the next election.
He had no experience, no coherent plans, no fundamental philosophy on governing. Just a bunch of slogans, most of which he had no intention of fulfilling. He did have Internet trolls and someone in Congress who revealed the Comey letter (a clear violation of the Hatch Act) that convinced 63 million American to vote for him anyway.
The voting public still needs to see Mr. Trump's taxes. We need to know who made Director Comey's confidential letter public. We need to know the extent and degree of collusion, if any, between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence.
Just imagine if a Democrat had carried out any of these actions. The roar from FNC and the Right would have been unending. Investigate Trump or place the Democrats even further behind the starting line in the next election.
3
Gail -- there's been no time in American history when the Presidency has been as deranged, incompetent and malignant as this one. We will not survive it as a nation for another 3 years and 44 weeks with Trump and his merry band of maniacs.
It's time to exile them to Russia, where all their money and support is anyway.
It's time to exile them to Russia, where all their money and support is anyway.
2
we no longer can point to North Korea and smirk about their unhinged leader....
BUT here, we elected ours !!!!
So, if we compare ourselves to the North Korean people, we are the Bozos !!! After all, we CHOSE idiocy....
.... with a little help from the Rooskies, of course... thanks, Vlad...
BUT here, we elected ours !!!!
So, if we compare ourselves to the North Korean people, we are the Bozos !!! After all, we CHOSE idiocy....
.... with a little help from the Rooskies, of course... thanks, Vlad...
4
Last time we checked, President Francis Underwood was backed into a corner and it looked like he was going to respond by starting a war to deflect from all the bad stuff that was happening.
I think President Trump needs a Tribble to calm him down. Nuclear War would be Sad and Unfair, albeit Big and Tremendous.
Sitting here in my underwear and scratching myself waiting for American to be Great Again.
I think President Trump needs a Tribble to calm him down. Nuclear War would be Sad and Unfair, albeit Big and Tremendous.
Sitting here in my underwear and scratching myself waiting for American to be Great Again.
1
Actually, many of Trump's ideas are good (not all). The difficulty is that he lacks the intellectual tools to bring them about. Democrats seem to be hostile to him and Republicans have noticed that he is not a true "dyed in the wool" conservative.
Gosh, the man actually said some kind words about Planned Parenthood! How non-Republican can you get?
What Trump needs is some smart Democrats in his administration. But any Democrat who joins him will be signing his own political death warrant. And trumpets will resist any overtures by Trump to "the enemy".
Still it should be done. I would like to nominate Bill Clinton as an adviser to Trump. What could be better than an ex=president, who has had his own problems with sex? (smile).
But seriously, Bill Clinton has all the intelligence that Trump lacks and he is actually a moderate as Trump himself is. And Clinton worked really hard to solve the Israel-Palestinian problem. Perhaps the two of them could do it and the world would thank them, even while throwing brickbats at them for sexual failings.
Gosh, the man actually said some kind words about Planned Parenthood! How non-Republican can you get?
What Trump needs is some smart Democrats in his administration. But any Democrat who joins him will be signing his own political death warrant. And trumpets will resist any overtures by Trump to "the enemy".
Still it should be done. I would like to nominate Bill Clinton as an adviser to Trump. What could be better than an ex=president, who has had his own problems with sex? (smile).
But seriously, Bill Clinton has all the intelligence that Trump lacks and he is actually a moderate as Trump himself is. And Clinton worked really hard to solve the Israel-Palestinian problem. Perhaps the two of them could do it and the world would thank them, even while throwing brickbats at them for sexual failings.
3
Uncovering and then exposing the watergate scandal took months and months. The big difference with this GOP 2017 watergate redux is that it has implications that can negatively impact our national security.
What does Putins puppet know about the Russian connection and when did he know it?
RELEASE HIS TAX RETURNS...after that it won't take months to get to the bottom of the puppets relationship with Russia.
What does Putins puppet know about the Russian connection and when did he know it?
RELEASE HIS TAX RETURNS...after that it won't take months to get to the bottom of the puppets relationship with Russia.
3
"I know a lot of you were saying in December that this administration wouldn’t last a month. But I’ll bet you didn’t actually have “worry about collapse of the government” written down on your schedule for February."
It was more of a mental note, because who wants to see that in black and white?
It was more of a mental note, because who wants to see that in black and white?
1
For an alternative view of the similarities between Trump and Kim Jong-un see the Martin Rowson cartoon a few days ago in The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2017/feb/13/martin-row...
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2017/feb/13/martin-row...
1
I had my calendar marked for a little under a year. Maybe August or September. I figured catastrophe would come in the first six months but procedure and face saving would slow things down a bit. Most Republicans aren't ready to admit that the Trump administration really is as bad as everyone expected. Not that Trump's epic failure is any consolation. Mike Pence is waiting in the wings. Dream of dreams, Mike Pence is also indicted in the Russo-gate conspiracy. You still have Paul Ryan in line. Orrin Hatch comes next. Presidential succession doesn't seem to improve our situation.
Actually, Trump's implosion vindicates a certain portion of the electorate or so they believe. The traditionalists get to wag their finger and say "I told you so" while the nation gets stuck in another half-century of Reagan influenced policy making with exclusive politics. The parties hold up two ice cream cones. We get to choose between vanilla with a red cone and vanilla with a blue cone. Forgive me if I'm uninspired. We do need change. We just didn't need Trump. There's a lesson here that stubborn beneficiaries will haplessly reject. So the world turns.
My strategy for tranquility: sensory deprivation. I wonder if there's a world record yet. Three years and 44 weeks seems competitive. Although, I suppose I'll need to take a break for mid-term elections.
Actually, Trump's implosion vindicates a certain portion of the electorate or so they believe. The traditionalists get to wag their finger and say "I told you so" while the nation gets stuck in another half-century of Reagan influenced policy making with exclusive politics. The parties hold up two ice cream cones. We get to choose between vanilla with a red cone and vanilla with a blue cone. Forgive me if I'm uninspired. We do need change. We just didn't need Trump. There's a lesson here that stubborn beneficiaries will haplessly reject. So the world turns.
My strategy for tranquility: sensory deprivation. I wonder if there's a world record yet. Three years and 44 weeks seems competitive. Although, I suppose I'll need to take a break for mid-term elections.
1
Hey boss, let's whip up a nice campaign rally in Orlando so you can further insulate yourself within a fawning bubble of admirers. Up for it? Great. You're the bestest, handsomest, smartest, most genius boss-guy ever!
You were saying it's not Pyongyang?
You were saying it's not Pyongyang?
2
Thank you. Your columns always bring new, and welcome thoughts to mind. Just a few as they tumbled out.
- Another coincidence for your list: only 5 days after the Inauguration, when 45's full NatSec team began receiving briefings, Russia arrested four high level cyberintelligence officers for leaking the Russian DNC hack connection. Hmmm.
- Stephen Miller looks a lot like the comedian Pat Paulsen; heavy-lidded reptile eyes, long narrow face, and a slight mouth gape to his RBF (resting bully face). Pat had more hair, though.
- 45 told O'Reilly he's surprised how hard the job is (duh!). But even if he doesn't pull a Palin, he could be impeached. The continual chaos and infighting, and his Nixonian arrogance (but lacking Nixon's competence), could reassure the timorous GOP that, in fact, the bluster and bullying covers profound weakness and insecurity (duh-squared!), letting them overcome their own fear and impeach.
- 45 can't create a war of distraction because a) he can't plan the run-up well enough and b) the military won't buy it.
- There may also be a silver lining to Pence's isolation from the inner sanctum. Once he becomes President he will probably feel no hesitancy in throwing the rest of the cabal out the door. I'd love to see Bannon perp-walked to the sidewalk of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Then we'll just have to figure out how to deal with a President with theocratic tendencies.
In the future this will prove to be entertaining history -- if we survive it.
- Another coincidence for your list: only 5 days after the Inauguration, when 45's full NatSec team began receiving briefings, Russia arrested four high level cyberintelligence officers for leaking the Russian DNC hack connection. Hmmm.
- Stephen Miller looks a lot like the comedian Pat Paulsen; heavy-lidded reptile eyes, long narrow face, and a slight mouth gape to his RBF (resting bully face). Pat had more hair, though.
- 45 told O'Reilly he's surprised how hard the job is (duh!). But even if he doesn't pull a Palin, he could be impeached. The continual chaos and infighting, and his Nixonian arrogance (but lacking Nixon's competence), could reassure the timorous GOP that, in fact, the bluster and bullying covers profound weakness and insecurity (duh-squared!), letting them overcome their own fear and impeach.
- 45 can't create a war of distraction because a) he can't plan the run-up well enough and b) the military won't buy it.
- There may also be a silver lining to Pence's isolation from the inner sanctum. Once he becomes President he will probably feel no hesitancy in throwing the rest of the cabal out the door. I'd love to see Bannon perp-walked to the sidewalk of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Then we'll just have to figure out how to deal with a President with theocratic tendencies.
In the future this will prove to be entertaining history -- if we survive it.
1
If we want to understand what is going on in the White House, I think we really need to grasp that the mindset that prevails within the Oval Office is a clone of that on display at Breitbart News. There, all of Trump's problems, all of America's problems, all of the World's problems are laid at the feet of the "Deep State" a vast and of course secret conspiracy of like-minded individuals hidden away in Congress, the Intelligence agencies, and each and every Federal agency that exists.
This conspiracy theory is being spewed out on Breitbart's web pages on a daily basis, and it is then amplified, echoed, and rebroadcast on the nation's radio waves by "Conservative Talk Radio" hosts and their febrile callers to an audience that consists largely of unrepentant Trump supporters, Tea Party types, unmoored Libertarians, and Alt-Right extremists.
Meanwhile, back in the White House, President Trump has Stephen Bannon, the former front-man for Breitbart, and Stephen Miller, a Michelle Bachman/Jeff Sessions acolyte, affirming his belief that he is the one man who can save the country from the existential threat posed by this same horrible Deep State.
What could possibly go wrong given such a White House?
This conspiracy theory is being spewed out on Breitbart's web pages on a daily basis, and it is then amplified, echoed, and rebroadcast on the nation's radio waves by "Conservative Talk Radio" hosts and their febrile callers to an audience that consists largely of unrepentant Trump supporters, Tea Party types, unmoored Libertarians, and Alt-Right extremists.
Meanwhile, back in the White House, President Trump has Stephen Bannon, the former front-man for Breitbart, and Stephen Miller, a Michelle Bachman/Jeff Sessions acolyte, affirming his belief that he is the one man who can save the country from the existential threat posed by this same horrible Deep State.
What could possibly go wrong given such a White House?
1
Few sane folks have concerned themselves with this administration not lasting a month.
Most normal healthy Americans have been a bit focused on if the United States would survive 2017, with a sick cowboy bringing in a deplorable basket of troubled souls into the White House.
Most normal healthy Americans have been a bit focused on if the United States would survive 2017, with a sick cowboy bringing in a deplorable basket of troubled souls into the White House.
1
Three years and 44 weeks to go? Gail, I think our so-called president, while he may be over his head in his current position, has a great deal of experience and expertise in bankruptcy. I think he should declare his administration morally bankrupt.
Mr. Trump can get a TV reality show judge to preside over the bankruptcy proceedings. His lawyer can declare that like a fish, the rot starts at the head and is moving down. As evidence, he can produce a lying national security advisor and a counsel to the president who, when not explaining alternate facts, is attempting to enrich the president's family by using her government position to promote the family business.
Even a TV judge will see that bankruptcy is the only way to keep our country solvent, and hopefully will call this whole experiment in reality-show government off.
Mr. Trump can get a TV reality show judge to preside over the bankruptcy proceedings. His lawyer can declare that like a fish, the rot starts at the head and is moving down. As evidence, he can produce a lying national security advisor and a counsel to the president who, when not explaining alternate facts, is attempting to enrich the president's family by using her government position to promote the family business.
Even a TV judge will see that bankruptcy is the only way to keep our country solvent, and hopefully will call this whole experiment in reality-show government off.
I will go to my grave mystified over voters who liked neither presidential candidate and therefore did not vote, or voted for a third party candidate with no chance of winning.
I ask them: Did you not foresee the exact onslaught of problems we are now facing when a person so unqualified in skills, knowledge of how government works, related experience, character, temperament, attention span, self-control and empathy is POTUS?
Their answers startle me. For example, a relative who voted for Gary Johnson said "Yeah, I was worried Trump could start World War III in a fit of pique" and a colleague said "I was worried he would grope important women like the American president did in the movie 'Love Actually.'
"So why didn't you vote for Hillary, to make sure we were not going to be in this constant-crisis mode we now face?" I ask. "Was your Hillary-disdain worth what we have now?"
My small sample gave fascinating answers to this question, including:
I thought she was a lock so I spared myself the indignity of voting for someone I don't trust. I never thought Trump would win.
I figured if the worst happened, and Trump won, he would do the smart thing and surround himself with great people at the White House and in his cabinet, not these jerks.
NY overwhelmingly goes Democratic so there was no way she needed my vote.
In retrospect, I would have sucked it up voted for Clinton if I saw this coming.
Worst case, it would be a wild ride, but something different.
I ask them: Did you not foresee the exact onslaught of problems we are now facing when a person so unqualified in skills, knowledge of how government works, related experience, character, temperament, attention span, self-control and empathy is POTUS?
Their answers startle me. For example, a relative who voted for Gary Johnson said "Yeah, I was worried Trump could start World War III in a fit of pique" and a colleague said "I was worried he would grope important women like the American president did in the movie 'Love Actually.'
"So why didn't you vote for Hillary, to make sure we were not going to be in this constant-crisis mode we now face?" I ask. "Was your Hillary-disdain worth what we have now?"
My small sample gave fascinating answers to this question, including:
I thought she was a lock so I spared myself the indignity of voting for someone I don't trust. I never thought Trump would win.
I figured if the worst happened, and Trump won, he would do the smart thing and surround himself with great people at the White House and in his cabinet, not these jerks.
NY overwhelmingly goes Democratic so there was no way she needed my vote.
In retrospect, I would have sucked it up voted for Clinton if I saw this coming.
Worst case, it would be a wild ride, but something different.
1
Did Trump ask Flynn to talk to the Russian Ambassador? Of course. Consider Trump's background and experience.
People apparently forget Mr. Trump's only work experience. All his life he has been CEO of wholly owned businesses. Never once had to answer to a boss, board of directors, generate or meet an earnings goal. He's never been answerable to anyone but himself. He's always done whatever he wants and, if necessary covers his tracks with his legal team. He's told people what to do and expects response, and absolutely no criticism. He's not a team player, makes decisions on his own and tries to implement them with minimal help. He fires or seeks to destroy his enemies.
He's become president and expects to be able to run the country the same way. He still thinks he's CEO, answerable to no one. His tweet rants after criticism carry a common theme: "I'm boss; there shall be no criticism." The leaks were the problem, not the behavior. He has surrounded himself with lackeys and sycophants, not experienced leaders. As Dictator, he expected to be able to release his Travel Ban with virtually no internal reviews from experienced staff, the State Department or Congress. He clearly expected accolades. He was blindsided by the response and the successful lawsuits.
In this context, is it credible that Flynn was acting on Trumps orders? Oh yes. In fact it would be surprising to find that Trump was not involved.
People apparently forget Mr. Trump's only work experience. All his life he has been CEO of wholly owned businesses. Never once had to answer to a boss, board of directors, generate or meet an earnings goal. He's never been answerable to anyone but himself. He's always done whatever he wants and, if necessary covers his tracks with his legal team. He's told people what to do and expects response, and absolutely no criticism. He's not a team player, makes decisions on his own and tries to implement them with minimal help. He fires or seeks to destroy his enemies.
He's become president and expects to be able to run the country the same way. He still thinks he's CEO, answerable to no one. His tweet rants after criticism carry a common theme: "I'm boss; there shall be no criticism." The leaks were the problem, not the behavior. He has surrounded himself with lackeys and sycophants, not experienced leaders. As Dictator, he expected to be able to release his Travel Ban with virtually no internal reviews from experienced staff, the State Department or Congress. He clearly expected accolades. He was blindsided by the response and the successful lawsuits.
In this context, is it credible that Flynn was acting on Trumps orders? Oh yes. In fact it would be surprising to find that Trump was not involved.
1
I'm afraid things *will* get worse, Gail.
Trump, as we all know, is an egomaniac and will do anything and everything to preserve his power.
Every chance he gets, Trump rails against the courts and the press, two of the major institutions that keep our democracy afloat.
During the campaign he attacked U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel. Now he has scaled up his attacks to other judges. Supreme Court could be next.
Trump was relentless against the press during the campaign. He hasn't let up since he became president. In fact, he has not only ratcheted it up, but now he takes questions only from the conservative media sympathetic to him.
Of course, Trump is also not reluctant to attack members of Congress who speak out against him. Just ask Senators McCain and Graham, just to name two.
Short of his resignation or impeachment, I don't see how things get better. Depressing, isn't it?
Trump, as we all know, is an egomaniac and will do anything and everything to preserve his power.
Every chance he gets, Trump rails against the courts and the press, two of the major institutions that keep our democracy afloat.
During the campaign he attacked U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel. Now he has scaled up his attacks to other judges. Supreme Court could be next.
Trump was relentless against the press during the campaign. He hasn't let up since he became president. In fact, he has not only ratcheted it up, but now he takes questions only from the conservative media sympathetic to him.
Of course, Trump is also not reluctant to attack members of Congress who speak out against him. Just ask Senators McCain and Graham, just to name two.
Short of his resignation or impeachment, I don't see how things get better. Depressing, isn't it?
1
From Mayo Clinic
Propecia (Finasteride) SIDE EFFECTS
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following occur:
Confusion
Dizziness (ever see Trump walk down stairs?)
Bloating or swelling of the face
Redness of the skin
Unusal weight gain
Isn't this Trump's resume?
Propecia (Finasteride) SIDE EFFECTS
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following occur:
Confusion
Dizziness (ever see Trump walk down stairs?)
Bloating or swelling of the face
Redness of the skin
Unusal weight gain
Isn't this Trump's resume?
2
Gail, life in 45’s first month is so scary that even your column, which is usually my favorite part of the Times, doesn't lighten my fear. We had been thinking about a springtime trip up the East Coast but abandoned the idea because I'm afraid that by May, DC and and environs will be under martial law.
In the future, if there is actually a future for the US, we have to insist that candidates for President have medical, psychiatric and financial reviews by impartial experts.
I was holding out hope for change in the 2018 elections, but now those two years feel like a millennium away.
In the future, if there is actually a future for the US, we have to insist that candidates for President have medical, psychiatric and financial reviews by impartial experts.
I was holding out hope for change in the 2018 elections, but now those two years feel like a millennium away.
1
Well, he's going to be in Melbourne, FL this weekend at a rally, soaking up the love and adoration of his fans AND selling Trump themed merchandise.
Here's one thing you could never accuse him off: having any class.
Here's one thing you could never accuse him off: having any class.
2
I hope it will not be that long. 1403 days is too long to let this bumbling ignorant fool control the presidency. I for one would not be afraid of a wounded bleeding extremest Pence in the top job. He would only highlight all the reasons why the people of Indiana where about to vote him out of office. And don't forget that we can win back the Senate, despite the odds, in only a couple of years. Not to mention a 50 state strategy to pry the House out of right wing hands as well.
No. President Tweety Bird is just too dangerous to remain in office.
No. President Tweety Bird is just too dangerous to remain in office.
1
Since Trump's presidential victory (courtesy of only 77,000 voters and 600,000 moronic third party voters in Michigan, Pa., and Wisconsin) all humor has left the building.
It won't be returning for a very long time.
It won't be returning for a very long time.
1
Things couldn't be worse.
They now want to destroy the Endangered Species Act, a day after repealing Obama's common sense gun restrictions for the mentally ill. Both absurdities join the Trump agriculture department deciding that pet food shouldn't regulated, putting your pet at risk. Check out the ASPCA website for the other horrors.
Please tell your local GOP hack representative that he will be endangered come the 2018 election.
They now want to destroy the Endangered Species Act, a day after repealing Obama's common sense gun restrictions for the mentally ill. Both absurdities join the Trump agriculture department deciding that pet food shouldn't regulated, putting your pet at risk. Check out the ASPCA website for the other horrors.
Please tell your local GOP hack representative that he will be endangered come the 2018 election.
2
"No fair mentioning there are only three years and 44 weeks to go."
This guy has to go, and now. It is completely obvious to anyone will to embrace objective facts that Trump is COMPLETELY unfit for office. Can we stop pretending now? His administration has been an absolute catastrophe, and will continue to be one, until such time that he is removed from office. It is a whirling dervish of avarice, incompetence, ignorance. Add to that, Russian intelligence a connected to the inner circle, a grave security risk.
These are the facts.
What does this buffoon do? Double down on every bit of quackery he managed to dredge up over the campaign. Count on the shameful Republican Congress to slow-walk, obfuscate and stall the (very obviously necessary) investigation into the Russian matter. Amazing how quickly those guys will sell their soul to get tax-cuts!
Well, a presidency doesn't take place in a vacuum (or inside Mr.Trump's vacuous mind). It takes place in the real world. One that has been blessedly quiet during his first few weeks. It will not remain that way for the next three years and 44 weeks. What will happen when we need real leadership? A steady hand on the tiller? Thoughtful and reasoned planning, strategy, and action?
If these guys are this pathetic at running their own administration what happens when something like the Cuban Missile Crisis comes up? Or the Spratly Islands heats up? Of Saudi Arabia and Iran go into open conflict?
This guy has to go, and now. It is completely obvious to anyone will to embrace objective facts that Trump is COMPLETELY unfit for office. Can we stop pretending now? His administration has been an absolute catastrophe, and will continue to be one, until such time that he is removed from office. It is a whirling dervish of avarice, incompetence, ignorance. Add to that, Russian intelligence a connected to the inner circle, a grave security risk.
These are the facts.
What does this buffoon do? Double down on every bit of quackery he managed to dredge up over the campaign. Count on the shameful Republican Congress to slow-walk, obfuscate and stall the (very obviously necessary) investigation into the Russian matter. Amazing how quickly those guys will sell their soul to get tax-cuts!
Well, a presidency doesn't take place in a vacuum (or inside Mr.Trump's vacuous mind). It takes place in the real world. One that has been blessedly quiet during his first few weeks. It will not remain that way for the next three years and 44 weeks. What will happen when we need real leadership? A steady hand on the tiller? Thoughtful and reasoned planning, strategy, and action?
If these guys are this pathetic at running their own administration what happens when something like the Cuban Missile Crisis comes up? Or the Spratly Islands heats up? Of Saudi Arabia and Iran go into open conflict?
There are worse things than having a half-baked egomaniac who can't spell for president.
For instance, ~60mm friends and neighbors who think he is doing a great job.
For instance, ~60mm friends and neighbors who think he is doing a great job.
2
Last night Trevor Noah put forward the theory that Donnie is just old.
Not as comforting as funny.
Not as comforting as funny.
1
"the powers of the president to protect our country are very substantial and will not be questioned."
Did Miller really say this? Yegads.
He shouldn't have ever gotten to "college sophomore" - if he understands so little about the United States he should not have passed high school sophomore status.
Did Miller really say this? Yegads.
He shouldn't have ever gotten to "college sophomore" - if he understands so little about the United States he should not have passed high school sophomore status.
The lack of action on the part of the Republicans in Congress, absent a few voices, is truly shocking. The POTUS clearly revels in chaos, and the GOPers who vacillated between endorsing him outright or simply tolerating his candidacy to advance their pet causes, will be judged harshly by history. and at the ballot box.
I pity the columnists who market in humor as they find their readers clamoring for serious discussion on these threats to our rule of law. Admiring Ms. Collins greatly as I do, I eagerly await hearing her perspective straight-up and unvarnished by trying to find the funny bits. There sadly aren't any at present.
I pity the columnists who market in humor as they find their readers clamoring for serious discussion on these threats to our rule of law. Admiring Ms. Collins greatly as I do, I eagerly await hearing her perspective straight-up and unvarnished by trying to find the funny bits. There sadly aren't any at present.
Your column would be hilarious if it wasn't so terrifying. We are stuck with a mentally unstable person as commander in chief and there doesn't seem to be much we can do about it. Except maybe pray that he doesn't take it into his head to start another unnecessary war to take the focus off his incompetent administration.
In the meantime, our spineless Congress is working in the shadows to roll back laws and regulations that were passed to protect consumers, the environment, wildlife, children, etc. Led by Senator Foghorn McConnell and Representative Ayn Ryan, they are trying to turn back the clock to a simpler, more business friendly time when women and minorities knew their place.
Truthfully, I don't know who is more frightening.
In the meantime, our spineless Congress is working in the shadows to roll back laws and regulations that were passed to protect consumers, the environment, wildlife, children, etc. Led by Senator Foghorn McConnell and Representative Ayn Ryan, they are trying to turn back the clock to a simpler, more business friendly time when women and minorities knew their place.
Truthfully, I don't know who is more frightening.
1
Right we are much better off and "happy" than those North Korean people humorless worker bees.
We the American people have the Third Lady aka Last Wife Melania. Along with those Not So Little Rascals Don, Jr., Ivanka, Eric and Jared. Plus the Four Stooges Steve Bannon, Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer and Reince Priebus.
Plus we have our "Vice" President Mike Pence, the Talker of the House Paul Ryan and the Confederate Rebel Mitch McConnell. And at the "pinnacle" of American power is the red Siberian President puppet dummy of Russian Czar wannabe Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.
All the poor North Koreans have is their young 33 year old Kim Jong-un son of their Dear Leader and grandson of their Great Leader. What do their late night show and cable news network hosts do for their stand-up routines and skits about Kim's rule over them? Poor Little Kim is down an entertaining rogue big brother. How funny is that?
We the American people have the Third Lady aka Last Wife Melania. Along with those Not So Little Rascals Don, Jr., Ivanka, Eric and Jared. Plus the Four Stooges Steve Bannon, Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer and Reince Priebus.
Plus we have our "Vice" President Mike Pence, the Talker of the House Paul Ryan and the Confederate Rebel Mitch McConnell. And at the "pinnacle" of American power is the red Siberian President puppet dummy of Russian Czar wannabe Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.
All the poor North Koreans have is their young 33 year old Kim Jong-un son of their Dear Leader and grandson of their Great Leader. What do their late night show and cable news network hosts do for their stand-up routines and skits about Kim's rule over them? Poor Little Kim is down an entertaining rogue big brother. How funny is that?
1
Woke up this morning and somewhat by accident heard the voice of Trump and his fantastic trill and tripe in front of a World audience. The Prime Minister of Israel trying to be serious, the Prime Minister of Japan, a Country known for its fine manners, looking cordial and stoic.
'When America Came to a Pause', I call it. All right, sue Us but We got a bit sloppy in our thinking and priorities along the way. This can be rectified. Let us bring back Education to America, start the War against Poverty, and for those of us planning a holiday overseas in the Spring, be prepared for your host country to poke fun of you and your 'President'. You will live. Just ask for another glass of sherry and start smiling.
A few devious friends have sent me comic webs of Trump which are deleted because Trump is the greatest comic of all. What is less funny is having Russia with its big finger in the American Pie. This dangerous and stupid administration is going. We cannot afford it, nor do we deserve it. Give me a break.
This American wants a President and a strong steadfast Administration. Looking forward to enjoying "La La Land" and to caring from an Irish friend's German shepherd when America decides to wake up from DoDo Land now and before the March Hare descends upon US.
'When America Came to a Pause', I call it. All right, sue Us but We got a bit sloppy in our thinking and priorities along the way. This can be rectified. Let us bring back Education to America, start the War against Poverty, and for those of us planning a holiday overseas in the Spring, be prepared for your host country to poke fun of you and your 'President'. You will live. Just ask for another glass of sherry and start smiling.
A few devious friends have sent me comic webs of Trump which are deleted because Trump is the greatest comic of all. What is less funny is having Russia with its big finger in the American Pie. This dangerous and stupid administration is going. We cannot afford it, nor do we deserve it. Give me a break.
This American wants a President and a strong steadfast Administration. Looking forward to enjoying "La La Land" and to caring from an Irish friend's German shepherd when America decides to wake up from DoDo Land now and before the March Hare descends upon US.
1
"Things are so dire, people are feeling sympathy for Kellyanne Conway."
No they're not.
No they're not.
5
Both Putin and Trump have read Sun Tzu assuming they studied this Chinese Classic in their military or (Prep School) training. Lets ponder who is using the strategies described. Trump or Putin. Any Guess?
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity”
“Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity”
“Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.”
Couple of suggestions, #Fake Presidency:
Mir-A-Lago have a newly named "Ballistic Lounge."
And when Kellyanne Conway transitions to her next gig, I have a recommendation: She go on the road as Cruella De Vil.
The resemblance is uncanny.
And don't forget the lyrics:
"Cruella De Vil, Cruella De Vil,
If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will.
To see her is to take a sudden chill, Cruella, Cruella.
She's like a spider waiting for the kill. Look out for
Cruella De Vil...."
Mir-A-Lago have a newly named "Ballistic Lounge."
And when Kellyanne Conway transitions to her next gig, I have a recommendation: She go on the road as Cruella De Vil.
The resemblance is uncanny.
And don't forget the lyrics:
"Cruella De Vil, Cruella De Vil,
If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will.
To see her is to take a sudden chill, Cruella, Cruella.
She's like a spider waiting for the kill. Look out for
Cruella De Vil...."
1
Stephen K. Bannon, President Trump’s chief strategist and senior adviser, with a full seat on the “principals committee” of the National Security Council, had been charged in 1996 with domestic violence, battery and dissuading a witness. A police report says that Bannon’s then-wife claimed he pulled at her neck and wrist during an altercation over their finances, and an officer reported witnessing red marks on her neck and wrist to bolster her account. The case was called for trial however the “victim/witness” was “unable to be located” and the judge ordered it dismissed.
President Trump plans to assign Stephen A. Feinberg to lead a broad review of American intelligence agencies, an investigation that members of the intelligence community fear could curtail their independence. He is co-founder of Cerberus Capital Management, perhaps the company best reflecting the nation’s fraught relationship with firearms. Cerberus is the owner of the Freedom Group, one of the largest manufacturers in the world of firearms and ammunition, with some of the most globally recognized brands including Remington, Bushmaster Firearms, DPMS/Panther Arms, Marlin, H&R, The Parker Gun, Mountain Khakis, Advanced Armament Corp. , Dakota Arms, Para USA and Barnes Bullets.
But let’s dwell on the positive.
President Trump plans to assign Stephen A. Feinberg to lead a broad review of American intelligence agencies, an investigation that members of the intelligence community fear could curtail their independence. He is co-founder of Cerberus Capital Management, perhaps the company best reflecting the nation’s fraught relationship with firearms. Cerberus is the owner of the Freedom Group, one of the largest manufacturers in the world of firearms and ammunition, with some of the most globally recognized brands including Remington, Bushmaster Firearms, DPMS/Panther Arms, Marlin, H&R, The Parker Gun, Mountain Khakis, Advanced Armament Corp. , Dakota Arms, Para USA and Barnes Bullets.
But let’s dwell on the positive.
As a businessman, Trump made billions not by adhering to rules of integrity, fairness, and good business practice. He made billions by shady deal-making, by pushing competitors and detractors aside, and by fleecing vendors.
Now as president, he's proving to be just as shady (even more so).
It's this abhorrent modus operandi that casts the Trump presidency in Darkness. And the sun will not appear again until its end.
Now as president, he's proving to be just as shady (even more so).
It's this abhorrent modus operandi that casts the Trump presidency in Darkness. And the sun will not appear again until its end.
2
There are no scenarios where we cannot imagine something worse. We cannot comfort ourselves with this rationalization. As the pieces of the puzzle gradually fall into place, it appears that Trump has made many deals with the Devil in order to get elected - each of which puts America in peril.
One deal was with the Russians, who present serious external threats to American security. Another was with the alt-right movement, which presents serious internal threats. Many deals were made with corporate special interests, whose radical right agenda will exacerbate existing socio-economic inequalities and intensify domestic socio-political unrest. Yet another deal was made with the G.O.P., to secure election victory and power, which now looks the other way while Herr Drumpf pursues his nefarious agenda.
There are countless upcoming opportunities for conscientious Americans to unite and strongly encourage their representatives to exercise their perception, wisdom, integrity and courage to halt the Trump assault. If your representative cannot be moved to do so for the common good, then perhaps he or she can be persuaded to do so for the good of the party. Fear of losing seats in the upcoming mid-term elections is a powerful motivator.
This is a moment in history that calls for individual and collective good leadership. Many times Americans have fought and died to rid the world of external despots. The world calls upon you now to rid your country of an internal despot.
One deal was with the Russians, who present serious external threats to American security. Another was with the alt-right movement, which presents serious internal threats. Many deals were made with corporate special interests, whose radical right agenda will exacerbate existing socio-economic inequalities and intensify domestic socio-political unrest. Yet another deal was made with the G.O.P., to secure election victory and power, which now looks the other way while Herr Drumpf pursues his nefarious agenda.
There are countless upcoming opportunities for conscientious Americans to unite and strongly encourage their representatives to exercise their perception, wisdom, integrity and courage to halt the Trump assault. If your representative cannot be moved to do so for the common good, then perhaps he or she can be persuaded to do so for the good of the party. Fear of losing seats in the upcoming mid-term elections is a powerful motivator.
This is a moment in history that calls for individual and collective good leadership. Many times Americans have fought and died to rid the world of external despots. The world calls upon you now to rid your country of an internal despot.
1
It was obvious, watching the video of Stephen Miller Gail linked to, that Miller was reading from cue cards. Easier to keep the lie(s) consistent that way. He shares with Kellyanne Conway and Sean Spicer the ability to inhale aurally, thus keeping the flow of verbiage both endless and at full volume. Ms. Conway is better at the ad lib than either Miller or Spicer and, Ginger Rogers-like, she can do it backwards in high heels.
La La Land? I thought the Oscars was for movies, not a 24-hour/day soap out of DC.
The TV show starring our TV president I'm waiting for is the debut on C-SPAN of "The Impeachment!" It could pay off the entire debt of the US government if advertising time was sold.
La La Land? I thought the Oscars was for movies, not a 24-hour/day soap out of DC.
The TV show starring our TV president I'm waiting for is the debut on C-SPAN of "The Impeachment!" It could pay off the entire debt of the US government if advertising time was sold.
1
Though well made, all these arguments really misdirect the point. One is not going to get the so-called-President’s attention by lambasting him or holding him accountable on political grounds. He’s a business man. If Trump is to be held accountable, he must be addressed in terms he understands and that have value in his world – business terms. Doing so will make the current situation quite simple for him to understand and solve.
Don’t ask “who knew what, when”, business people don’t care about that. They’re bottom-liners; results at any cost – human, ethical, or moral. It’s business. Backstabbing, undercutting, positioning for power and influence, deflection, quashing the “little guy”, corporate takeovers, price gouging, and monopolies – all is fair, as long as you don’t get caught. You don’t think corporate espionage exists? This is Trumpworld. And corporate “borders” are much different than national, territorial ones. Russia. China. Saudi Arabia.
So in his world, Trump only needs to be presented with one scenario and question: If one of his CEO bigleys (sic), and their administrative underlings were managing one of Trump’s companies in the same manner, and with the same results – think ‘negative publicity’; trump hates anything negative about any of his holdings – as the White House and their administrative team have managed the country, what would he do?
Simple, they’d be fired.
Don’t ask “who knew what, when”, business people don’t care about that. They’re bottom-liners; results at any cost – human, ethical, or moral. It’s business. Backstabbing, undercutting, positioning for power and influence, deflection, quashing the “little guy”, corporate takeovers, price gouging, and monopolies – all is fair, as long as you don’t get caught. You don’t think corporate espionage exists? This is Trumpworld. And corporate “borders” are much different than national, territorial ones. Russia. China. Saudi Arabia.
So in his world, Trump only needs to be presented with one scenario and question: If one of his CEO bigleys (sic), and their administrative underlings were managing one of Trump’s companies in the same manner, and with the same results – think ‘negative publicity’; trump hates anything negative about any of his holdings – as the White House and their administrative team have managed the country, what would he do?
Simple, they’d be fired.
For me the scariest part of this reality TV show is that if we lose Trump to an alligator or something, we get Pence.
Pence, a man who doesn't believe in evolution but does believe man roamed the Earth alongside Dinosaurs.
Pence, a man who doesn't believe in evolution but does believe man roamed the Earth alongside Dinosaurs.
Liberal, Leftist and "Progressive" professors have long taught that anti-ideological Pragmatism is intellectually respectable. What's the problem?! With Trump, you got anti-ideological Pragmatism. Of course, his Pragmatism has a shorter time-span than Liberal, Leftist and "Progressive" Pragmatist time-spans. Remember the good old says when Keynes gushed, "In the long run, we're all dead?" This is the long run. Trump is your baby.
"[The Pragmatists] declared that philosophy must be practical and that practicality consists of dispensing with all absolute principles and standards—that there is no such thing as objective reality or permanent truth—that truth is that which works, and its validity can be judged only by its consequences—that no facts can be known with certainty in advance, and anything may be tried by rule-of-thumb—that reality is not firm, but fluid and “indeterminate,” that there is no such thing as a distinction between an external world and a consciousness (between the perceived and the perceiver), there is only an undifferentiated package-deal labeled “experience,” and whatever one wishes to be true, is true, whatever one wishes to exist, does exist, provided it works or makes one feel better."
-Ayn Rand
"[The Pragmatists] declared that philosophy must be practical and that practicality consists of dispensing with all absolute principles and standards—that there is no such thing as objective reality or permanent truth—that truth is that which works, and its validity can be judged only by its consequences—that no facts can be known with certainty in advance, and anything may be tried by rule-of-thumb—that reality is not firm, but fluid and “indeterminate,” that there is no such thing as a distinction between an external world and a consciousness (between the perceived and the perceiver), there is only an undifferentiated package-deal labeled “experience,” and whatever one wishes to be true, is true, whatever one wishes to exist, does exist, provided it works or makes one feel better."
-Ayn Rand
Many of us feel transported to a scary episode of The Twilight Zone.
Now the paranoid president is going to get his billionaire friend to conduct a review of our national intelligence agencies.
A capitalist directly linked to Trump's main adviser: conspiracy theorist and shadow president Steve Bannon!
Does Trump even know that changes to the intelligence community requires an act of Congress?
Our intelligence agencies are convinced the Kremlin penetrated the White House the day of Trump's inauguration. On day one!!!
And Trump dismisses each U.S. intelligence assessment given to him.
The stuff is getting unprecedented and scary. There is not a shred of humor about it by day. Saturday Night Live might make us laugh.
But there is always that next day...in the Twilight Zone...........
He seems a buffoon, but a dangerous one. It is breathtaking.
Now the paranoid president is going to get his billionaire friend to conduct a review of our national intelligence agencies.
A capitalist directly linked to Trump's main adviser: conspiracy theorist and shadow president Steve Bannon!
Does Trump even know that changes to the intelligence community requires an act of Congress?
Our intelligence agencies are convinced the Kremlin penetrated the White House the day of Trump's inauguration. On day one!!!
And Trump dismisses each U.S. intelligence assessment given to him.
The stuff is getting unprecedented and scary. There is not a shred of humor about it by day. Saturday Night Live might make us laugh.
But there is always that next day...in the Twilight Zone...........
He seems a buffoon, but a dangerous one. It is breathtaking.
1
North Korea is firing missiles in our direction and Russian battleships are cruising our shores.
But not to worry. The Donald is obsessing over the size of his electoral victory and ever planning more weekend trips to Mar A Lago in order to showcase his presidential exploits in a public/private dining room while further monetizing his brand.
Nothing says national security like a selfie taken with Rick, the guy with the nuclear football.
It's TV time in America. That once quaint postage-sized screen that we American families hovered around back in the good old days has metastasized into a full-blown Reality TV weapon of destruction that is blowing our American democracy apart, while the majority of us who didn't vote for This look on in horror and distress.
But not to worry. The Donald is obsessing over the size of his electoral victory and ever planning more weekend trips to Mar A Lago in order to showcase his presidential exploits in a public/private dining room while further monetizing his brand.
Nothing says national security like a selfie taken with Rick, the guy with the nuclear football.
It's TV time in America. That once quaint postage-sized screen that we American families hovered around back in the good old days has metastasized into a full-blown Reality TV weapon of destruction that is blowing our American democracy apart, while the majority of us who didn't vote for This look on in horror and distress.
1
Ms. Collins, in case no one's ever said it, you are a national treasure. When the ship of state founders, I hope I'm in your lifeboat, if there are any.
The Stephen Miller quote would be chilling were it not so obviously uttered by an inexperienced, unschooled buffoon. Instead, it just increases the outrage and determination not to let the country, with all its virtues and flaws, be destroyed by these amateur charlatans.
Very good. Exemplary. Keep it up.
The Stephen Miller quote would be chilling were it not so obviously uttered by an inexperienced, unschooled buffoon. Instead, it just increases the outrage and determination not to let the country, with all its virtues and flaws, be destroyed by these amateur charlatans.
Very good. Exemplary. Keep it up.
1
Will Trump have to get the People's Choice Award before he stops talking about the electoral votes? Someone please give him a trophy to put on his Oval Office wall. Does he need a trophy head likeness of Hillary hanging on the wall with the date of the election underneath?
The continued rhetoric of power and control is designed to make the Trump voters feel heir own power vicariously through the POTUS. What is it going to take for the common people who voted for him to see they have been punked?
The continued rhetoric of power and control is designed to make the Trump voters feel heir own power vicariously through the POTUS. What is it going to take for the common people who voted for him to see they have been punked?
" the worst possible scenario, imagine an egomaniac who feels threatened with being a “loser,” back to the wall. In the interest of public tranquillity we will not dwell on the nuclear codes in his office."
Gail, mayhap, was suffering a post-traumatic Clinton flashback. The about-to-be impeached prez, you may recall, lost the nuclear codes for two weeks while contemplating Lewinsky's blue dress. Worse, he told no one about it! Had there been a need to launch, the obvious delay could have proved catastrophic.
General Shelton, Clinton's chairman of Joint Chiefs, blew the whistle in his memoirs.
Gail, mayhap, was suffering a post-traumatic Clinton flashback. The about-to-be impeached prez, you may recall, lost the nuclear codes for two weeks while contemplating Lewinsky's blue dress. Worse, he told no one about it! Had there been a need to launch, the obvious delay could have proved catastrophic.
General Shelton, Clinton's chairman of Joint Chiefs, blew the whistle in his memoirs.
My new Countdown App tells me only 1434 days, 3 hours,6 minutes, 00 seconds (as of hitting 'submit') until 12 Noon, 21 Jan 2021. I can't wait!!
On another note, at 72 1/2, I don't recall any political scenario as bizarre and disheveled as what we're seeing in DC - or is it Mar-a-Lago or maybe Manhattan??? I'm saddened at the unusual collection of Wall-Streeters and others with absolutely no experience in the political scene. Especially our president (ouch!!). Secretary Clinton got it right - he certainly gives all appearance of being a puppet. He changes his 'position' with every person he meets/speaks with. E.g., it's now being reported he is swaying toward a 'single state' solution to the Israeli-Palestinian 'stalemate' while (still??) discouraging PM 'Bebi' to hold of on further settlement building.
I can only hope none of us experience 'battle-fatigue' or 'burnout' because of the no doubt intentional fusillade of EOs, changes , resignations, nominee-withdrawals, ad nauseum!!
R. Galli
Edison, NJ
On another note, at 72 1/2, I don't recall any political scenario as bizarre and disheveled as what we're seeing in DC - or is it Mar-a-Lago or maybe Manhattan??? I'm saddened at the unusual collection of Wall-Streeters and others with absolutely no experience in the political scene. Especially our president (ouch!!). Secretary Clinton got it right - he certainly gives all appearance of being a puppet. He changes his 'position' with every person he meets/speaks with. E.g., it's now being reported he is swaying toward a 'single state' solution to the Israeli-Palestinian 'stalemate' while (still??) discouraging PM 'Bebi' to hold of on further settlement building.
I can only hope none of us experience 'battle-fatigue' or 'burnout' because of the no doubt intentional fusillade of EOs, changes , resignations, nominee-withdrawals, ad nauseum!!
R. Galli
Edison, NJ
1
"wow, is this guy really unhinged?"
yes, he is. it has been on full display since the first debate.
yes, he is. it has been on full display since the first debate.
5
The so-called president is delusional. He has surrounded himself with a group of power-hungry, in-fighting sycophants, who have apparently permanently tuned every television he can access to Faux News to prevent him from going further off the deep end. His insane tweets this morning are evidence of that.
Any Republican member of Congress or Senator who actually cares about our country needs to put on his or her big person pants and get this whole administration out of office. At this point, President Ryan would be preferable to anyone associated with the crazy that we've got going on.
Any Republican member of Congress or Senator who actually cares about our country needs to put on his or her big person pants and get this whole administration out of office. At this point, President Ryan would be preferable to anyone associated with the crazy that we've got going on.
1
First, a definition:
- deprecate: (verb), express disapproval of.
I think it would be a good thing for everyone to
say "Deprecate!", when asked what they'll do when
they see the latest outrage.
trump's:
- putin bromance: I deprecate!
- anti-muslim agenda: I deprecate!
- swamp cabinet: I deprecate!
- bigotry: I deprecate!
- racism: I deprecate!
- misogyny: I deprecate!
All this trumpiness makes me sick to my stomach.
No, er, stuff.
- deprecate: (verb), express disapproval of.
I think it would be a good thing for everyone to
say "Deprecate!", when asked what they'll do when
they see the latest outrage.
trump's:
- putin bromance: I deprecate!
- anti-muslim agenda: I deprecate!
- swamp cabinet: I deprecate!
- bigotry: I deprecate!
- racism: I deprecate!
- misogyny: I deprecate!
All this trumpiness makes me sick to my stomach.
No, er, stuff.
1
Yes, I suppose things could be worse. That is what Trmp is counting on...that he has set the expectations so low for himself that anything short of nuclear war and total destruction is a good day. We can't afford to fall into that trap.
I wonder what all the white, middle class voters who put Trmp in office are thinking as they see billionaire after billionaire (with little experience in government) crony being put into the cabinet and other influential positions? Is this what they hoped for, voted for? Do they still believe that bringing good, high paying jobs back to America is still a priority for Trmp? I'd guess the die-hards are feeling good because after all, he's not Obama and any change is better than the status quo (at least he's doing something!). But I also believe that the slightly right of center voters who held their noses and voted for him are quickly becoming disillusioned. The demo need to keep up the pressure and not let this train wreck become the new normal. And tie the gop, mcconnell and ryan to all of it.
I wonder what all the white, middle class voters who put Trmp in office are thinking as they see billionaire after billionaire (with little experience in government) crony being put into the cabinet and other influential positions? Is this what they hoped for, voted for? Do they still believe that bringing good, high paying jobs back to America is still a priority for Trmp? I'd guess the die-hards are feeling good because after all, he's not Obama and any change is better than the status quo (at least he's doing something!). But I also believe that the slightly right of center voters who held their noses and voted for him are quickly becoming disillusioned. The demo need to keep up the pressure and not let this train wreck become the new normal. And tie the gop, mcconnell and ryan to all of it.
1
Why mince words? Forget "mean and inept". The proper phrase would be "cruel and incompetent". With a strong emphasis on incompetent.
The real problem is that Trump supporters don't have a problem with a government that is, in fact, demonstrably incompetent. During the campaign Trump said what they wanted to hear without any concern for fact or reality. He played (knowingly or otherwise) on the premise that alternate facts and alternate realities are so much easier on the egos of those who don't want to deal with the real world version of either.
That strategy was (and apparently remains) a successful one amongst the Trump base. Which means that this not going to end well for anyone.
The real problem is that Trump supporters don't have a problem with a government that is, in fact, demonstrably incompetent. During the campaign Trump said what they wanted to hear without any concern for fact or reality. He played (knowingly or otherwise) on the premise that alternate facts and alternate realities are so much easier on the egos of those who don't want to deal with the real world version of either.
That strategy was (and apparently remains) a successful one amongst the Trump base. Which means that this not going to end well for anyone.
2
We have a president who implied that the United States was just as bad as Russia in regard to murdering people. The outrage meter broke with that verbal assault. Obama was attacked by a mad bee hive of critics when made the least admission that the US had done anything wrong over the last 100 yrs. Trump gets away with slandering the nation as he apologizes for Putin. This stuff is so off the wall, so bizarre, so unhinged from any reality that our capacity to keep up and experience sufficient disgust is challenged and then fails, spectacularly.
If there is a plan, that's part of it, to put so much made up crapdoddle out there that, eventually, we start to think it tastes like filet mignon or, better yet, for Sean Spicer, cinnamon gum. Trump and the Trumpsters are speaking to a small and shrinking part of the population, one that will believe anything because he says it and have lost faith in a concept once called "truth" if it is reported by any but their trusted websites, radio talkers or Fox News.
Is there no one to restrain this guy? We can hope and pray that the generals who've labored to secure the nation against foreign threats will recognize an illegal order when they get one. But what do they do about an irrational order? Is there anything in the code of military conduct that calls on them to disobey that one?
We are seeing a crisis potentially worse than Watergate being unfurled in high speed. No one knows how this will end.
If there is a plan, that's part of it, to put so much made up crapdoddle out there that, eventually, we start to think it tastes like filet mignon or, better yet, for Sean Spicer, cinnamon gum. Trump and the Trumpsters are speaking to a small and shrinking part of the population, one that will believe anything because he says it and have lost faith in a concept once called "truth" if it is reported by any but their trusted websites, radio talkers or Fox News.
Is there no one to restrain this guy? We can hope and pray that the generals who've labored to secure the nation against foreign threats will recognize an illegal order when they get one. But what do they do about an irrational order? Is there anything in the code of military conduct that calls on them to disobey that one?
We are seeing a crisis potentially worse than Watergate being unfurled in high speed. No one knows how this will end.
3
I adore Gail Collins's columns and try never to miss one. I must say, though, that our daily angry clown sightings are getting a bit tiresome, if not downright terrifying.
When Gail talks about only three years and 44 weeks to go under the administration of a paranoid narcissist who carries the nuckear biscuit, I will feel extraordinarily blessed if human civilization lasts that long. We seem to be hurtling forward, unchecked, on the express bus to the twilight zone of utter dysfunction.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
When Gail talks about only three years and 44 weeks to go under the administration of a paranoid narcissist who carries the nuckear biscuit, I will feel extraordinarily blessed if human civilization lasts that long. We seem to be hurtling forward, unchecked, on the express bus to the twilight zone of utter dysfunction.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
2
Ms. Collins, do you think that Vice President's long connection to the Koch brothers might have been a reason that the President did not fully brief him about Flynn?
I would certainly like to see more articles about the Pence-Koch connection. After all, Pence is next in line to become President in case the current President cannot serve out his term.
I would certainly like to see more articles about the Pence-Koch connection. After all, Pence is next in line to become President in case the current President cannot serve out his term.
2
Real lives are in the balance. The incompetency and meanness of this administration, and needless to say, its White Christian Fascist Nationalism might very induce a terrorist attack or, indeed, a war. Any of these two scenarios feeds directly into the maw of Fascists . They can they suspend elections perhaps, curtail press freedoms, and create dictatorship. Think about it.
I wouldn't put anything past this sleazy New York City real estate developer.
I wouldn't put anything past this sleazy New York City real estate developer.
Thanks again, Gail, for finding the humor in the news.
Thanks also to Barack Obama. His silence on all of this is a deafening put down to the sitting President.
Thanks also to Barack Obama. His silence on all of this is a deafening put down to the sitting President.
3
If we "normalize" Trump, we normalize:
1. Disrespect for the Constitution and laws of the United States;
2. The refusal to accept the legitimacy of one's political opponents;
3. Public officials' refusals to respect the people who disagree with them and the condoning of officials who deny a fair hearing to critics' claims;
4. Diminishment of the media's right to communicate the truth and its duty to keep the citizenry informed;
5. The failure of public office holders to bear the responsibilities of public office with dignity;
6. Infidelity to facts and recourse to frequent distractions, falsehoods, and outright lies in order to manipulate the public;
7. The abandonment of customary practices that insure some degree of transparency on the part of public officials and the hiding of public officials' potential conflicts of interest beneath layers of opacity;
8. Disrespect for the members of the judiciary.
9. Nepotism and cronyism.
10. The condoning of public officials who are avaricious, self-servingly ambitious and vengeful.
11. An authoritarian assault on democratic freedom;
Please add your own contributions to this list.
Over two centuries ago, John Adams warned American citizens:
"[A]varice, ambition, [or] revenge . . . would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net."
We simply cannot "normalize" a president who respects no norms.
1. Disrespect for the Constitution and laws of the United States;
2. The refusal to accept the legitimacy of one's political opponents;
3. Public officials' refusals to respect the people who disagree with them and the condoning of officials who deny a fair hearing to critics' claims;
4. Diminishment of the media's right to communicate the truth and its duty to keep the citizenry informed;
5. The failure of public office holders to bear the responsibilities of public office with dignity;
6. Infidelity to facts and recourse to frequent distractions, falsehoods, and outright lies in order to manipulate the public;
7. The abandonment of customary practices that insure some degree of transparency on the part of public officials and the hiding of public officials' potential conflicts of interest beneath layers of opacity;
8. Disrespect for the members of the judiciary.
9. Nepotism and cronyism.
10. The condoning of public officials who are avaricious, self-servingly ambitious and vengeful.
11. An authoritarian assault on democratic freedom;
Please add your own contributions to this list.
Over two centuries ago, John Adams warned American citizens:
"[A]varice, ambition, [or] revenge . . . would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net."
We simply cannot "normalize" a president who respects no norms.
1
My daily routine for the last month or so, finishes with reading the news on the iPad in bed. Next morning, I wake up and google "Trump" to see if we signed a peace treaty with Russia, or went to war with everyone else overnight.
It's killing my sexlife!
It's killing my sexlife!
2
Don't do that! Seriously, you'll hurt yourself. No electronic devices an hour before bedtime and leave them out of the bedroom altogether. Read something nice, listen to music etc. Take care of yourself, you're going to need to be well rested during the days ahead.
1
My most recent favourite nonsense statement (paraphrased, to keep it in one sentence):
"My choice between the two-state solution and [whatever] is the plan that both Israelis and Palestinians will agree they approve of!"
How bold is that?! Decisive! Slices the cake cleanly.
"My choice between the two-state solution and [whatever] is the plan that both Israelis and Palestinians will agree they approve of!"
How bold is that?! Decisive! Slices the cake cleanly.
Gail isn't this the point in the movies when the grifters realize that the Feds are on to the con and its time to blow town? Hey wait a minute, what an interesting plot twist, the Feds might be in on the con.
Meanwhile in the basement of the White House a special Trump team is cranking out counterfeit Benjamin Franklins using high quality plates on loan from North Korea. Spicer and now Miller's job is to buy time and Session's job is to quash any investigation for as long as possible. Every day that can be bought yields the grifters millions.
It would almost be funny where it not for the fact that the seeds of hate and division planted so long ago by Richard Nixon and carefully nurtured under the guise of the "moral majority" by Ronald Reagan, have taken full root and grown into a dangerous invasive plant. The plant is now flowered in the Donald Trump presidency. Its like kudzu and its tenacious vines are especially strong in the regions of the country where ignorance is prized over education. For instance every member of the Utah congressional delegation is a science denier and Trump voter including Representative Jason Chaffetz, a key cog in the Congress's investigative processes as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee.
But hopefully the grifters will blow town sooner than later and the only question will be how much more damage has been done to the Nation. Oh, and of course the Republicans will find a way to blame President Obama.
Meanwhile in the basement of the White House a special Trump team is cranking out counterfeit Benjamin Franklins using high quality plates on loan from North Korea. Spicer and now Miller's job is to buy time and Session's job is to quash any investigation for as long as possible. Every day that can be bought yields the grifters millions.
It would almost be funny where it not for the fact that the seeds of hate and division planted so long ago by Richard Nixon and carefully nurtured under the guise of the "moral majority" by Ronald Reagan, have taken full root and grown into a dangerous invasive plant. The plant is now flowered in the Donald Trump presidency. Its like kudzu and its tenacious vines are especially strong in the regions of the country where ignorance is prized over education. For instance every member of the Utah congressional delegation is a science denier and Trump voter including Representative Jason Chaffetz, a key cog in the Congress's investigative processes as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee.
But hopefully the grifters will blow town sooner than later and the only question will be how much more damage has been done to the Nation. Oh, and of course the Republicans will find a way to blame President Obama.
1
Things certainly could be worse.
I thought I was a fairly tolerant and appreciative person, but now I see that I have been taking American democracy for granted, even as so much (most?) of the world does not enjoy democracy or the freedoms we have here. I would take it for granted that Muscovites or citizens of Beijing would go on with daily life without thinking about the cloud of oppression over their heads.
My grandfather, who immigrated from Russia, would say to my mother, you have no idea how free you are. (And he was a joyful, upbeat person, not a gloomy one.)
Yes, our democracy is messy and imperfect and now it feels like we would lose it as we become more oligarchic ~ kleptocratic ~ plutocratic ~ theocratic.
Well, it serves me right for my complacency. And now I need a lesson in how to go to work, raise children, drink coffee in a café, or whatever, cheerfully from the brave citizens of other countries.
A favorite movie line comes to mind, from The Lady Vanishes: "No one should judge a country by its politics. After all, we English are very honest by nature."
I thought I was a fairly tolerant and appreciative person, but now I see that I have been taking American democracy for granted, even as so much (most?) of the world does not enjoy democracy or the freedoms we have here. I would take it for granted that Muscovites or citizens of Beijing would go on with daily life without thinking about the cloud of oppression over their heads.
My grandfather, who immigrated from Russia, would say to my mother, you have no idea how free you are. (And he was a joyful, upbeat person, not a gloomy one.)
Yes, our democracy is messy and imperfect and now it feels like we would lose it as we become more oligarchic ~ kleptocratic ~ plutocratic ~ theocratic.
Well, it serves me right for my complacency. And now I need a lesson in how to go to work, raise children, drink coffee in a café, or whatever, cheerfully from the brave citizens of other countries.
A favorite movie line comes to mind, from The Lady Vanishes: "No one should judge a country by its politics. After all, we English are very honest by nature."
3
While I am all for enjoying the absurd, it is very hard to make light of the precarious position we are in. The current president meets all the metrics that certify one as a narcissist --not to mention a bully.
Bullies who make mistakes and feel threatened do not become more easily managed nor more rational.
And no comfort can be found in those that surround the president. It might be humorous to see the unending chaos spilling from the Trump clown car---if we weren't all hurtling towards disaster inside of it.
Bullies who make mistakes and feel threatened do not become more easily managed nor more rational.
And no comfort can be found in those that surround the president. It might be humorous to see the unending chaos spilling from the Trump clown car---if we weren't all hurtling towards disaster inside of it.
2
Until her dementia got the better of her and she stopped driving (long after I stopped riding with her!) I had a friend who refused to stop at stoplights; she would turn instead. Her paths to a destination were meandering, senseless, time-consuming and sometimes actually dangerous. She was hooked on action and too impatient to wait for a green light on the correct road. Many times she just would stop at a random place and say "See I told you I knew how to get here."
Trump reminds me of her. His path like hers is full of actions but mostly headed in the wrong direction.
Trump reminds me of her. His path like hers is full of actions but mostly headed in the wrong direction.
2
Gail, I'm thinking wow.....are his supporters really that "unhinged"????? I visited the Breitbart News Network this morning and was in shock. I couldn't believe that individuals were still posting debunked conspiracy theories.
While I do agree with you that our situation could be worse, I'm reminded about an article your colleague wrote earlier in the week regarding ways we can resist. I was wondering if their would be any benefit in posting research based facts in the comments sections of organizations like Breitbart to get rid of some of the erroneous information out there??? Indeed Gail it could be worse, but it isn't going to get better when individuals believe that "Libtards are losers and Trumpsters are winners." What happened to basic truths irrespective of political affiliations??
While I do agree with you that our situation could be worse, I'm reminded about an article your colleague wrote earlier in the week regarding ways we can resist. I was wondering if their would be any benefit in posting research based facts in the comments sections of organizations like Breitbart to get rid of some of the erroneous information out there??? Indeed Gail it could be worse, but it isn't going to get better when individuals believe that "Libtards are losers and Trumpsters are winners." What happened to basic truths irrespective of political affiliations??
2
Well if nothing else, the Republicans are forced to play defense. The ball is in their court, with their team headed by a deranged head coach and demented coaching staff. How much damage can the Trump team do? How much damage have they managed to do in less than a month?
The tide has turned, my beleaguered friends, and the Republicans don't have the Democrats to kick around anymore. They were very good at that, but now their job is to manage the government of the most powerful country in the world--not for long, however, at the rate they are going.
Imagine if Hillary had been elected not only by the American people (which she was) but by the electoral college, and she was the president instead of Trump and his gang of incompetent, despicable-deplorables. Hillary doesn't look so bad anymore, does she--just a hard-working, not very charismatic woman with lots of government know-how and experience in an increasingly complex world.
My bet is Trump will leave the political stage sooner rather than later--a disgraced phony--and Americans will be on to the GOP conniving and they will appreciate government far more than in the days of Fox and right-wing propaganda.
We will be stronger for it.
The tide has turned, my beleaguered friends, and the Republicans don't have the Democrats to kick around anymore. They were very good at that, but now their job is to manage the government of the most powerful country in the world--not for long, however, at the rate they are going.
Imagine if Hillary had been elected not only by the American people (which she was) but by the electoral college, and she was the president instead of Trump and his gang of incompetent, despicable-deplorables. Hillary doesn't look so bad anymore, does she--just a hard-working, not very charismatic woman with lots of government know-how and experience in an increasingly complex world.
My bet is Trump will leave the political stage sooner rather than later--a disgraced phony--and Americans will be on to the GOP conniving and they will appreciate government far more than in the days of Fox and right-wing propaganda.
We will be stronger for it.
1
Gail... things could always be worse? Like, Trump could be President instead of Bannon?
Every day, Trump redefines the meaning of "worse".
Every day, Trump redefines the meaning of "worse".
Gail, it could not possibly be worse.
We are living in Back to the Future 2, and not only does Biff have the almanac, he was elected president.
There are real horrors lying ahead.
We are living in Back to the Future 2, and not only does Biff have the almanac, he was elected president.
There are real horrors lying ahead.
3
Gail,
You wrote that Trump responded to a question about anti-Semitism in America by immediately pointing out he had won 306 Electoral College votes. (“We were not supposed to crack 220.”)
And this is supposed to be an example of him being mentally unhinged? As a psychologist, let me take a stab at Trump's "reasoning process."
(Going inside Trump's brain now)
"How could there be anti-Semitism in America if I won the election because Franklin Graham (and other evangelical zealots) said I won because God wanted me to, and Jesus is the son of God, and Jesus was Jewish, so
Jewish people must have wanted me to win the election and since I won, Jews had their prayers answered so that proves that there is no anti-semitism in America."
You're welcome.
You wrote that Trump responded to a question about anti-Semitism in America by immediately pointing out he had won 306 Electoral College votes. (“We were not supposed to crack 220.”)
And this is supposed to be an example of him being mentally unhinged? As a psychologist, let me take a stab at Trump's "reasoning process."
(Going inside Trump's brain now)
"How could there be anti-Semitism in America if I won the election because Franklin Graham (and other evangelical zealots) said I won because God wanted me to, and Jesus is the son of God, and Jesus was Jewish, so
Jewish people must have wanted me to win the election and since I won, Jews had their prayers answered so that proves that there is no anti-semitism in America."
You're welcome.
2
Is that what delusional means?
1
I never believed in karma, but after all of Trump's stiffing contractors, sexually assaulting women, being a peeping Tom at teenage beauty contestants, cheating real estate students out of their money, constant lying, Trump is getting the misery he deserves. His sleazy lifestyle is catching up with him.
Imprisonment for treason is in his future.
Imprisonment for treason is in his future.
2
Sensible people who voted for Trump/Stein/Johnson because they just could not stand Hillary after the Comey letter, now might be the time to admit that this was a mistake.
14
Believing that those people were "sensible" is like believing that Chicago exists somewhere in Canada.
2
And the people who didn't bother to vote at all because they thought Trump had no chance can share the blame. If they care about the country, they won't make that mistake again.
2
The Trump administration has an expiry date, as does the GOP's congress & senate. We the people can make that happen, sooner than later.
6
Kellyanne should resign, for her mental health and as a patriotic act.
You made this beautiful day in Mexico even better. Thanks so much for your wonderfully funny commentary on this absolutely horrific presidency.
9
Let's be clear, the Labor nominee lost Republican support not for spousal abuse, or hiring an undocumented worker, they saw him as being pro immigration.
4
Robot immigrants
I actually think the GOP establishment is pro-immigration as a means of depressing wages for american labor, something the investor class always desires. The GOP just doesn't want any of those immigrants to become legal voters. It's a tragic irony that so many low-information, low-skill voters have embraced the GOP as their savior! Their abandonment of the democratic party is sad proof of how utterly tone-deaf the democratic establishment has been.
3
We baby boomers stood up during the Vietnam war and made a difference; then a lot of us got married, had kids and bills to pay. Realizing that life is tough didn't make us as strong as our "greatest generation" parents and fear set in. So we became bitter that our lives weren't as good as when we were growing up and we wanna go back to those easier times! Cue the the clever 'trumpinistas' waiting for this opportunity to latch onto disaffection and remorse to gain some power and control, and waddaya know, we have this mess. If you think like the new president that things are so "unfair", just wait.
I don't understand the surprise. My 11-year granddaughter raised up off the couch the first time she heard Trump on TV at a campaign rally and asked is this a reality show?
9
what makes you think it's only 3 yrs. and 48 weeks? really, would the Trump family EVER give up power, or risk another election?
3
Cheer up, things could be worse. Sure enough, I cheered up and things got worse.
8
Three years and 48 weeks to go...
1
The American people wanted something different. They wanted Trump to shake up Washington. And we certainly got that. But be careful for what you wish for....the rust belt may not have the government to pull them out of poverty anymore (see Center on Budget Policy and Priorities) and companies won't have their illegal immigrants to work for low wages. An carton of milk will be $15 but at least we will have our Oxy to numb our pain
4
One can tell that things are not going well for the Trump administration just from the non-response to the provocations in the last week by the Russians, North Koreans and Iranians. I would expect, based on recent revelations that Trump would be dismissive about the Russian navy and air force buzzing our planes and spying on our submarine bases. But no viral reaction to archenemies Iran and North Korea? Obviously there is no one left on the NSC to offer even a modicum of intelligent advise to the president. This is the scary part, as undoubted the three countries will continue to test this new hapless administration, and worse, the Chinese are not far behind for the next opportunity.
6
At least Nixon knew what was happening. Trump appears to be in an alternate universe divorced from reality.
11
My friends all told me, "Cheer up! Things could be worse." So I cheered up, and sure enough, things got worse.
3
Three years and 44 weeks to go?! Here's hoping that this show gets canceled early.
3
Actually, I've been relieved, somewhat. I thought there would be marshal law on Jan. 21 and a bunch of dead women. That we still have some freedom is encouraging. We should use it.
Trump's base loves this confusion. They argue it's by design. And the GOP congress needs to be reelected by that base, so it will not be in their best personal interest if they cross Trump. And Sessions won't prosecute. He is just like that disturbed Trump base loving all this, waiting for the hammer to fall on the displaced immigrants. So where does that leave us? With four years of chaos and dysfunction. I would say put your seat-belt on, but I think we are gonna need a crash helmet and a harness.
2
We won't survive another three weeks. Time for the impeachment.
1
Surely no one is surprised or even looks askance at Trump in the White House. From thereby first caucus in Iowa he bragged his misanthropic, menacing and oppressive pathologies. When the audience applauded,no matter what he said, he decided to see just how far he could go. Being amoral as well as unethical, there is no such thing as a lie in his world. Cowards are ruled by fear and if big or strong enough they are bullies. Trump is a bully who only knows how to use speech as a threat. He is now 70 years old and cannot change. Through multiple failed business pursuits, cheating those who worked for him or lent him money, defrauding those who trusted him as students at his university, deceiving those who disingenuously bought into this pretense, cowarded those who disregarded his every lie, he bullied his way to the presidency of a political ideology that seeks power for self-aggrandizement as its only reward. And so America, enlarge part through its own neglect of its democracy cannot be surprised with the active or passive selection they made.
8
Oh he of little faith. Indeed, who will investigate the investigators? Was director Comey somehow duped by the Russians to make his fateful announcement that led to our slide down the rabbit hole? Was Trump the director of this cacophony of communications? Who had what on whom?
This GOP is circling the wagons, and repudiating the need for sunlight. They are still protecting the party and their jobs, not the country. We cannot depend on any so-called investigations, there are too many red lights, too much filth.
This government must fall. We, the voters MUST demand new elections.
This GOP is circling the wagons, and repudiating the need for sunlight. They are still protecting the party and their jobs, not the country. We cannot depend on any so-called investigations, there are too many red lights, too much filth.
This government must fall. We, the voters MUST demand new elections.
2
"Americans who went into a state of shock after the election are now floating in new, hitherto-uncharted realms of worry." Dear Gail, Americans have much to worry about at this particular juncture of American and world history, including the incompetence of "journalists" such as yourself, who predicted and stated with utmost confidence (bordering on arrogance) that Hillary would be our next president (your words, I believe.) I read with great interest and some bemusement, your column in today's NYT, and I must tell you, the time for comedy ended the day after election day. The moment has arrived for all of us- read YOU- to take this debacle very, very seriously.
3
Absolutely no sympathy for Kelly Anne. She's as vile and narcissistic as they come. She constantly lies without compunction. Goes out of her way to rebuff or detract, anything truthful. Any woe that befalls her, is well deserved!
6
Gail, I read your columns for acid reflux relief! Without your humorous take on events life would be dull indeed...no...in today's reality it would be overwhelming. Please don't leave anytime soon.
5
Hopefully he'll be impeached soon. Let's hope we survive until then. One silver lining you didn't mention is that all the chaos and incompetence seems to to slowing the Republican agenda down. Or maybe their incompetence is showing. After all they haven't govened in 8 years.
5
Thanks for keeping up the humor, Gail. We need it. Trump can't seem to stop or help himself out of any of his self-spun nonsense, so hopefully, he'll be his own undoing. It's only a matter of time before everyone sees that.
1
Here's an idea: the Senate should just back off and allow 45 to install as many creepy, rabid trolls as he and Bannon want to infest our government with. Drunk with power, they will do a lot of reckless, hopefully illegal stuff that will allow for their immediate banishment and incarceration in Mordor.
1
Well, Gail, there was also that phenomenal Super Bowl, something we may never see again.
Speaking of football, I think that Trump has hidden the ball under his jersey and is attempting to sneak down the sidelines with it. It's against the rules, but his fans cheer wildly. Rules to them are so passé. Without rules it's far easier for one to make America great again. To Trump supporters, having a democracy is that inconvenience that gets in the way of establishing a democracy. So let's trash it.
Somebody must have written the script for this reality TV version of the presidency. Maybe it's an unfinished Paddy Chayefsky script from years back. Or, it could be a snarky Preston Sturges arrangement in which Melania emerges as the real head of government. Who knows?
I await to see how the director cobbles together an ending for this grand farce. I am sure that there are many more episodes to come. I just got a nice new microwave. It'll make lots of popcorn as I watch this confused plot on TV from my couch.
Speaking of football, I think that Trump has hidden the ball under his jersey and is attempting to sneak down the sidelines with it. It's against the rules, but his fans cheer wildly. Rules to them are so passé. Without rules it's far easier for one to make America great again. To Trump supporters, having a democracy is that inconvenience that gets in the way of establishing a democracy. So let's trash it.
Somebody must have written the script for this reality TV version of the presidency. Maybe it's an unfinished Paddy Chayefsky script from years back. Or, it could be a snarky Preston Sturges arrangement in which Melania emerges as the real head of government. Who knows?
I await to see how the director cobbles together an ending for this grand farce. I am sure that there are many more episodes to come. I just got a nice new microwave. It'll make lots of popcorn as I watch this confused plot on TV from my couch.
16
Trump is driving libs mad. Perfect.
3
That's the objective? To loose an incompetent leader upon the world, whose conduct is so irrational,that satisfies your personal hostility to people who have liberal values? Oh, yes,- just what I thought was the motivation of Trump voters!
6
Believe me, we LOVE it. He's sprinting toward impeachment, if not a treason trial. If you weren't merely rooting for the Red team and actually loved about this country, you'd feel the same way.
5
Sadly, Greg, this is not a Liberal vs. Conservative issue. The issues here are Constitutional, of competence, corruption and integrity. I assume that you are a conservative: how do you defend or explain Flynn's forced resignation after only 28 days as conservative vs. liberal, and not as treasonous actions by someone unfit for the job? And how do you explain the insistence on "alternative facts," when there is only one truth which is not being told by your President and the people he hired to speak for him as a conservative vs. liberal issue? And how do you explain an avowed white supremacist with no security experience being elevated to the National Security Council as a liberal vs. conservative issue? How about putting aside the labels and doing what is best for the country?
8
So where is the congress when Steven Miller starts one of his robotic dictatoresque rants. Are they just not paying attention. Why do we even have those branches of government if in the Trump world they mean nothing. The democrats as a minority party can only do so much.
So shame on you Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnel and your band of Meh. We depend on you to be the watch dogs over the chicken hawk in the Hen, I mean White House. You certainly did your job when Obama was in office picking off one thing after another. Surely you don't agree with the all powerful KingDonald...I mean President Trump.
So shame on you Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnel and your band of Meh. We depend on you to be the watch dogs over the chicken hawk in the Hen, I mean White House. You certainly did your job when Obama was in office picking off one thing after another. Surely you don't agree with the all powerful KingDonald...I mean President Trump.
19
He fired his acting AG Yates for telling the truth about the legal viability of his travel ban, and now his NSC head for lying to the VP. But he had great Electoral College numbers, he can solve international policy at a banquet table, and "leaks" make us more like Russia. Of course, when they were leaking Hillary's emails that was a great thing. The cookie is crumbling.
21
Well, Gail - things could be worse.
Remember the first two years of Clinton's presidency? - three attempts at an Attorney General (we all learned about "nanny taxes"), Whitewater, Travelgate, HillaryCare in 1993 with illegal meetings and that started a wave of mergers in the healthcare industry that is still taking place.
And Clinton was supposedly a really experienced politician.
Not until he and Dick Morris came up with "triangulation" did he stabilize - simply wavering to a mid-point between both political parties. All depends on what your definition if "is" - is.
And let's not forget Obama - "I'll have more flexibility after the election" he told a Russian official in 2012 when there was an open microphone to record it.
Trump is in office for less than a month and the Trump haters are continuing the same Chicken Little drumbeat as before the election - if Trump gets elected, the stock market will crash - instead - the stock market reaches record highs.
Silence from the Trump haters...
It's getting old - real old.
Remember the first two years of Clinton's presidency? - three attempts at an Attorney General (we all learned about "nanny taxes"), Whitewater, Travelgate, HillaryCare in 1993 with illegal meetings and that started a wave of mergers in the healthcare industry that is still taking place.
And Clinton was supposedly a really experienced politician.
Not until he and Dick Morris came up with "triangulation" did he stabilize - simply wavering to a mid-point between both political parties. All depends on what your definition if "is" - is.
And let's not forget Obama - "I'll have more flexibility after the election" he told a Russian official in 2012 when there was an open microphone to record it.
Trump is in office for less than a month and the Trump haters are continuing the same Chicken Little drumbeat as before the election - if Trump gets elected, the stock market will crash - instead - the stock market reaches record highs.
Silence from the Trump haters...
It's getting old - real old.
5
No, what's getting "real old" is people dragging up Bill Clinton, which was twenty years ago. (Oh, and making HRC pay for her husband's mistakes. I got tired of that, too.) Try to be reasonable. Recognize that this administration, when it isn't demonstrating a truly breathtaking incompetence, is going to be a cartel for polluters, speculators, and white collar thugs.
5
All those so called "scandals" were Faux News/Ken Starr concoctions. Keep drinking the Kool Aid, kid. I can't wait til Chump gets tried for treason. A fitting end to a miserable narcissistic toxic existence.
3
It's only been a month. This clown will be done in 6 months- a new record.
10
Some now realize that Trump may be America's first dictator. Or he could simply be a paranoid, fearful, out of touch, longing for the good ol' days, grumpy old man. Now what?
13
Oh God, what next????
11
As kids we called guys like Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon punks. Punks shouted threats and hid under their mommy's aprons. Punks punched you from behind and ran to the teacher. Sooner or later punks got theirs. No one liked them except other punks.
Things could and will get worse. The majority Senate and House could stop this, but we've no signs of courage from those punks.
Things could and will get worse. The majority Senate and House could stop this, but we've no signs of courage from those punks.
30
I am waiting and will laugh when it happens. The Senate will move when his approval rating sinks below 30 and it is coming soon!
2
To paraphrase Alice in Wonderland, things are looking bleaker and bleaker. But it's always darkest before the dawn, so my question is, once we have our final dust-up and throw these bums out of office, what happens then? We cannot let these guys off with a pardon so that they can ride peacefully into the sunset as free as a bird. We did that with Reagan and the Iran-Contra Affair, with the guys on Wall Street who wrecked our economy, with BushCo and their trumped-up war and with the cops who got away with using black people as target practice. Too many bad guys got their hands slapped with a velvet ruler. And what did we get for this soft approach? A wanna-be dictator and his mindless minions. If we survive this administration, pursue the traitors and then let them go unpunished, we can pretty much guarantee that the next batch of traitors will be worse. I am not advocating a firing squad, per se, but let's at least lock them up forever, starting with Trump because "the buck stops here," seize their assets, and use their assets to reimburse this country's deficit. That way, at least the bad guys will know that there are unpleasant real-life consequences to their behavior besides getting a gig on Fox News.
10
Apparently, it's only democrats who are "investigated", and for nothing that equals this and Reagan's behavior.
Will the conspiracy theory drenched General fall on his sword for the cowardly draft dodger?
5
I have ZERO sympathy of the compulsive liar kellyanne CONway. Nor for the pathetic joke that infects the Oval Office.
16
Dear Ms. Collins,
Just when you thought things could not get any worst, there is talk that Trump is about to invade Northern Syria to wipe out Isis. I blame this on the media for putting pressure on Trump with this Flynn/ Russian thing.War has always been a out for Presidents when faced by situations that were embarrassing & threatening to their administration. This invasion will take the Flynn fiasco off the front page.
Just when you thought things could not get any worst, there is talk that Trump is about to invade Northern Syria to wipe out Isis. I blame this on the media for putting pressure on Trump with this Flynn/ Russian thing.War has always been a out for Presidents when faced by situations that were embarrassing & threatening to their administration. This invasion will take the Flynn fiasco off the front page.
5
It's been a no-brained since the inauguration that Trump would declare war to distract. Blaming the media, the only force we have that is trying to uncover what is happening here, is cowardly.
1
So it is super illegal for a private citizen, Flynn, to discuss American government policy issues with the Ambassador of a foreign country? SUPER illegal!! Hmmmm. It would take some real twisting of some obscure statues to make that case. It defies common sense. Flynn had no American government security clearance and thus no classified information to convey. Within a couple months, he would have full access to American classified information, and thus would have little benefit to be a recipient of hacked American classified information. A private citizen having a discussion about the state of American sanctions on Russia with a representative of the Russian government is not only not SUPER illegal, but so legitimate that it could occur on television, i.e. Sixty Minutes.
1
18 USC 953 is pretty clear:
"Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both."
This was intended to prevent private citizens from making unauthorized deals on behalf of our government. But it's one of the many laws Republicans feel is superfluous anytime they want what they want.
"Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both."
This was intended to prevent private citizens from making unauthorized deals on behalf of our government. But it's one of the many laws Republicans feel is superfluous anytime they want what they want.
4
OK, Trump has no half-brothers. But each of his children has at least one half-brother. (But that worry is for another decade.)
6
Once again Gail is spot on; although given the zeitgeist I am surprised that no mention was made that the Border Collie should have won by a Huge margin of victory. Sad.
5
Only a lower middle class revolution could have put a fool like Trump in the White House. At best, things will only get better for the bosses pushing them around for decades. The undereducated and low skilled folks will continue to sit around decaying small town America waiting for the $20 an hour jobs making widgets to return. What they will get are the low paying jobs abandoned by the illegals being deported. In the meantime, they will need a savings account to get health care when they can't afford a bus ticket to get out of town with a flood coming. Maybe the good times for the bosses will trickle down.
16
I've pulled out and am wearing a button from the 70's –reads "I'm so bored with the U.S.A." It's a YUUGE hit!
3
How bad is it? Turns out the German Shepherd who won the Westminster water bowl changed her name from Leaks to Rumor before the show. Sad.
2
Ah, Ms. Collins, you miss the "Game Show" aspects of this, shudder, presidency.
Perhaps a show like "The Get In Price is Right" where instead of just reading about the billionaires vying for Cabinet Posts, the public actually gets to see them guess, within a million or two, how much each 'contender' contributed to the GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE with the correct guesser becoming a member of the Cabinet!
Or, of course, "Let's Make a Phony Deal" where the contestants have to pick the right door out of three that doesn't lead to instant government chaos.
"You chose door number one? Oh, too bad, that leads to war with China"!
Steve Bannon would be host and he would also operate the really amusing trap doors under the contestants feet which whisk them, upon "choosing poorly", through a tube into Ohio forever! What fun!
Or even a soap opera such as "All of My Nepotism" where the Trump children we know discover Mr. Trump has fifty or so 'unaccounted for' offspring who show up demanding government jobs. Very, very touching.
How about "Guess My Tax Returns" with a large wheel spinning endlessly and never landing on a number? Sure to bring gales of laughter to the 1%!
For the kids, there'll be "Uncle Sean's Really, Really Funny Stories" as he tries to explain, well, just about everything coming from "The Leader"s mouth.
And we thought it would be ALL bad! Perhaps Kellyanne can amuse us with some tap dancing or cheerleading on "Dancing With the Media"!
Perhaps a show like "The Get In Price is Right" where instead of just reading about the billionaires vying for Cabinet Posts, the public actually gets to see them guess, within a million or two, how much each 'contender' contributed to the GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE with the correct guesser becoming a member of the Cabinet!
Or, of course, "Let's Make a Phony Deal" where the contestants have to pick the right door out of three that doesn't lead to instant government chaos.
"You chose door number one? Oh, too bad, that leads to war with China"!
Steve Bannon would be host and he would also operate the really amusing trap doors under the contestants feet which whisk them, upon "choosing poorly", through a tube into Ohio forever! What fun!
Or even a soap opera such as "All of My Nepotism" where the Trump children we know discover Mr. Trump has fifty or so 'unaccounted for' offspring who show up demanding government jobs. Very, very touching.
How about "Guess My Tax Returns" with a large wheel spinning endlessly and never landing on a number? Sure to bring gales of laughter to the 1%!
For the kids, there'll be "Uncle Sean's Really, Really Funny Stories" as he tries to explain, well, just about everything coming from "The Leader"s mouth.
And we thought it would be ALL bad! Perhaps Kellyanne can amuse us with some tap dancing or cheerleading on "Dancing With the Media"!
Even you are losing your sense of humor over this clown.
In the words of that great politacal philosopher and radio personality, Molly "T'aint funny, Magee".
In the words of that great politacal philosopher and radio personality, Molly "T'aint funny, Magee".
4
And I believed, until now, nobody could be a worse president in my lifetime than George W. Bush.
23
Thank you for bringing up his non-answer to the question of anti-Semitism. We need experts--psychological experts, communication experts, someone--to explain that non-answer. He will NOT come out against anti-Semitism in particular and he did not mention Jews in his Holocaust Remembrance remarks. Who is he speaking to? There is something going on there.
11
Why does anyone continue to interview Conway? It is clear that she will say nothing of substance and will never answer a question.
29
Waiting for her power source to decay. On air.
All this was fine and dandy when Trump was on reality TV, but now it’s Trump reality making news on TV day after day. It’s hard to imagine that we have to take another “three years and 44 weeks” of this reality – can we get this show canceled?
5
I believe that Trump realizes he's in over his oddly-coiffed head and he will resign. He's just waiting to surpass William Henry Harrison's record. 4 more days people!
8
In all honesty, I've lost count of the things that have made it this bad so far, and dread to think of how many other thing there are out there that can possibly make it worse --- (And yes, this is where the Nuclear Codes come in).
As someone who didn't vote for Trump, and never found him even cynically amusing, the fallout from his presidency has exceeded every one of my expectations, inasmuch as it has all happened within the space of three weeks.
It makes one balk at even asking the question: Can it get any worse???
As someone who didn't vote for Trump, and never found him even cynically amusing, the fallout from his presidency has exceeded every one of my expectations, inasmuch as it has all happened within the space of three weeks.
It makes one balk at even asking the question: Can it get any worse???
4
Yes.
1
Threee years and 48 weeks to go, but his campaign for 2020 is already underway — KEEP America Great caps anyone?
1
Gail, what if we have entered through a Trumpian wormhole into an alternate reality, an alternate Trump universe where nothing as we know it applies anymore? That seems to me would explain everything. Including Kellyanne. However, from what I read wormholes bring with them the dangers of sudden collapse and dangerous contact with exotic matter.
3
I was in high school during the Watergate hearings. As bad as it was for the country, it made many folks in my age range much more knowledgable about how our government works. My kids are all twenty-somethings now and are watching events closely and learning. There are many downsides to this dark chapter in our history, but I am optimistic that at least some younger folks might learn more about our democracy. We can have debates and a variety of views, but we all need to work to purge this cancerous administration.
324
Gail: Are there fake news and alternative facts in Heaven?
1
There must be a way to impeach him. Time to study the 25th amendment.
4
hmmmmmmm. President Trump chose to be paid only 100 pennies as salary support. Remember taxpayers - "you get what you paid for".
2
Really? I missed that. So is not taking a full salary meant to offset what he owes in past taxes? If so, that explains why he is now starting his next presidential run.
As liberal I cringe every time I see a column from Ms Collins. They are vacuous, her dearth of wit sends her attempts at humor flat. Wasted space in the precious Op Ed page. Certainly the Time could find better.
1
As a real liberal, I look foward to a column from Ms. Collins. Her wit at least makes me smile and feel that I am not alone when reading the Times. I appreciate her attempt to find humor in the disasterous administration the electoral college gave us. Gives me a respite from wanting to cry for my country.
1
As a liberal, I enjoy Gail Collins very much, every time. I guess we cancel out.
4
I too wish there was a little more "there" in these columns.
Trying to find the humor in the current situation is tricky. Too fluffy and Trump and company are "humanize" a la Jimmy Fallon. Too much and risk making these folks sympathetic a la SNL.
I would say this column is a little too much Jimmy Fallon right now.
Trying to find the humor in the current situation is tricky. Too fluffy and Trump and company are "humanize" a la Jimmy Fallon. Too much and risk making these folks sympathetic a la SNL.
I would say this column is a little too much Jimmy Fallon right now.
"Three years and 44 weeks" suddenly sounds like a very, very long time. Personally I think Trump may lose interest long before then and resign or, if the GOP sees him as a threat to their grip on congress, he will be impeached. (Just imagine the Trump whining and pathological lying that would accompany that event!)
3
Things will never get so dire that I will feel sympathy for Kellyanne Conway. The media needs to boycott her immediately. She is fake news personified.
9
Sorry to say, but 52 - 4 = 48, not 44, so three years and 48 weeks to go, Ms. Collins. (In keeping with the dwelling-on-the-positive-side theme, though, that means that you'll have eight more chances to write about the Trump administration.) (And on that same theme, we'll not even mention the possibility of seven years and 48 weeks to go.)
1
elections are held in November
Yes, about 10 weeks before the inauguration. Not sure what 44 weeks references.
Sitting in the doctor's waiting room with Fox News on the TV. It's a parallel universe. The message is that spies and criminal "leakers" in government agencies--holdovers from Obama's administration--are to blame for all the chaos in Trump's White House and the unfair sacking of poor, patriotic, Mike Flynn.. Any contact with the Russians was simply standard procedure for any incoming administration and, after all, nothing illegal has been proven. So lets GET these traitorous "leakers" who are out to hamper our fairly-elected president! It's an alternate world view that influences millions and millions of Americans with highly ideological republican propaganda. Shutting down this propaganda machine is key to getting Trump voters to see the (real) facts. Boycotting Fox News sponsors is a good place to start with letters to companies' CEOs to explain why.
8
I request a change of channel when I find "fox" on. DD finally agreed to mute.
1
I'm too trump-tired at 3:33 am for a proper rant so I'll try something else:
Trump's next "fake news" diversion will be that the German Shepherd who won best in show... it's fake news...he heard it was just Rumour.
Trump's next "fake news" diversion will be that the German Shepherd who won best in show... it's fake news...he heard it was just Rumour.
3
This is a clever column, Gail, but I can't laugh...I want to cry for our country. I am with the 30+ mental health care professionals who point to the word and actions of this president and his emotional instability. Chilling!
3
Partisan humor always falls flat, and Ms. Collins's article is just the latest example.Like Don RICKLES, a comic writer or stand up comedian must be, in his words, "an equal opportunity offender!"If not, you've lost your edge.Ms. Collins lost me when she came out in favor of HRC before the election. Thereafter, everything she wrote had a political tinge, and her efforts at humor became lack luster.Right now, she is about as funny as an anti Trump skit on SNL, which is not funny at all to many of us, since it is always so one sided.If you believe your vocation in life is to make readers laugh, rather than proselytize, then it is time, Ms. Collins, to rethink your approach to writing. At present, you give the impression that you have an axe to grind, which is to belittle the President Elect, and make excuses for the humiliating loss of HRC to a neophyte who had never before run for office.
Let's lower the curtain on the white house charade for a moment and consider an alternative possibility - what if they are all good actors, purposely performing this crazy dystopian drama for a reason? What if this is cover for a bigger operation that must go on in the shadows, so they are intentionally creating the fireworks for cover? What if things are indeed going according to script, including our reaction? Keep this in mind - Trump may be playing a narcissistic insecure 2-year-old with self-control issues, but others, like Netanyahu, are not. Perhaps there are adults in the room after all, and they are not nice people. Perhaps we are not seeing what is actually going on at all. On purpose.
3
a bit off on how long drumpf has left as potus....or does ms collins know something we don't know? a coup, death by mcdonald's.....?
2
Thank you Gail! You made getting out of bed to face another "situation" in the news funny! You made me laugh and thanks to all the readers posting notes that are funny! You made this morning memorable. Thank you
2
Welcome to the party Gail. Many of us in the mental health/neuroscience professions have been screaming YOU CAN'T CURE CRAZY fore over a year. As we age, and go through life experiences, the STRUCTURE of the brain changes, and it can't go back.
There is zero chance of Trump acting not-crazy, no matter how many knowledgeable, experienced, well-meaning people he employs in his administration because he is, in his own mind, the Boss, now and forever, amen.
There is zero chance of Trump acting not-crazy, no matter how many knowledgeable, experienced, well-meaning people he employs in his administration because he is, in his own mind, the Boss, now and forever, amen.
3
We've been waiting for GOP leaders to express disapproval of Trump's many excesses, and block his incompetent nominees. But, that is apparently not going to happen. Almost all of the GOP has lined up to enable Trump's distorting and dismantling of America's noblest values. They are shameless opportunists who care little for the laws and traditions of our nation (or even for their own integrity). Glimmers of resistance from Susan Collins, John McCain & Lindsey Graham gave me some hope, but it's not enough. Those "leaders" who have backed Trump and who enable his despicable propaganda tactics have sunk to the lowest kind of dishonor. May they rot in infamy.
Ponder this. What planet where the political class on that when they let a guy like Donald Trump win the election. How lost are they when they don't all stand up and denounce his outrageous behavior. Trump will show up as a blip in history but his election doesn't portend well for what is to come. Unless of course we start acting like responsible citizens.
3
Gail, I think we have way less than 3 years and 44 weeks of "Sideshow Donny" and his band of miscreants. It's just a shame that the next 2 in line are Pence and Ryan, 2 mental midgets.
It's those hear no evil; see no evil; speak no evil, Republicans' fault!
IMHO Gail is a better medicine than anything big pharma can come up with for dealing with Trump derangement syndrome. It's why I always read her before the serious news and the serious editorials and columns. Thank God she's here! I will think of Kellyanne Conway having been hit with a skillet next time she starts spouting some nonsense on tv.
3
Thank you, Gail, but from where I sit, in Europe, I find it difficult to laugh though your efforts are very well done and much appreciated. I have thought from the first report of Russian involvement with the DNC hack followed by reports of Trump campaign leaders communications with Russians that the entirety of top level Republicans had knowledge of the influence offensive. There is a reason that Ryan and McConnell were mute along with the normally vocal Chaffetz and Issa. They knew. Donald knew he could only lose through vote rigging because he knew the October bomb shells were in place. Comey had no choice because Bannon or some other shadow had some unsavory leverage over him or a family member. Not a conspiracy theory, a connect the dots game. They all knew just enough to be mostly silent then and now. It makes me very sad to witness my country fall into such a web of treason and lies. And now their blame targets our intelligence agencies and personnel. Sad, surreal, and horrifying. Hope lies in the free, honest press and very courageous whistle blowers.
Has Melania yet filed for divorce?
2
As for Ms. Conway - Hey Kellyanne, Reap the Whirlwind!
I never thought I'd say this.....I miss Nixon.
5
You're in better shape than I am -----I think I miss W. Or maybe it's time for my medication....
Next up: Trump nominates Melania to be Secretary of Blank Stares. A new agency. Hidden away in NY. Costs a lot to maintain.
1
This is beyond anything I have experienced in my lifetime. I am terrified. And just where are his tax returns? But now that he's president, will they be undoctored if they're released? Keep writing Gail, we need you.
1
Oh, I see what you did there. Ending on La La Land. Yeah, escapism through the movies may well be the only relief available to millions from this reality TV nightmare.
3
Trump's version of what happened to poor Mike Flynn plays well with his base. They believe it, and, with them, he can successfully shift the narrative away from the Russian involvement, to how untrustworthy the intelligence agencies are. He knows this. It doesn't matter what the blue press or voters think. You think it's delusional? Look at how the House Republicans are reacting
4
What gets me, is the outright treasonous behavior of the Republican party. In particular, the House of Representatives. How dare them take responsibility for approving an investigation of Trump and his band of deplorables! All I can say is the Republicans have betrayed our country. And, will continue to do so while in power!! Heartbreaking...
Gail: You may be way too pessimistic. I doubt DaTrump will have 3 and 44/52 more years in the White House. Before then it will either be the Looney Bin (and I don't mean Congress) or a Nixonian style exit--either impeached or resigned. Then it will be time for the Moony and Sick-pence.
2
Three years, 44 weeks huh? But how long until the impeachment trials start?
5
Yeah, no, sorry. Appetite entirely gone. The hypocrisy alone is nauseating, never mind the humiliation of being associated with this SCROTUS.
Yes, things are terrible.But where are the learnings?How did we get here?What are we doing about the tragic state of affairs?Blaming the Russians?the Electoral College?Criticizing everything and anything those in the WH say or do?How about developing a platform that is more likely to resonate?or Identifying a leader who is more likely to connect?It's time to to us on the next round of Elections.More light and noise please.
I don't know that it is in the progressives ability to "connect" with the folks you are thinking of. Fox News and Republicans have conditioned their constituencies to ignore inconvenient truths and not just about climate change.
I honestly believe there is no convincing or converting theses folks. Why? Because they could never convince me to change my perspective.
Let's focus on the 7 million people who voted for the 3rd party candidates and get 2-3% of the people who did not vote at all or voted for everyone but president to vote. That pretty much takes care of the Republicans of all stripes.
It will not be "centrist " Dems who will bring them over.
It did not work very well for Obama or the Dems to run those types of candidates. Can you say Evan Bayh? Joe Machin - what's the point, but to keep Dems looking like appeasers. Increase the count of lost seats over 1000?
Demonstrate we must, but also have a few talking points everyone sticks to and resist policies that are BAD for the people of this country.
I honestly believe there is no convincing or converting theses folks. Why? Because they could never convince me to change my perspective.
Let's focus on the 7 million people who voted for the 3rd party candidates and get 2-3% of the people who did not vote at all or voted for everyone but president to vote. That pretty much takes care of the Republicans of all stripes.
It will not be "centrist " Dems who will bring them over.
It did not work very well for Obama or the Dems to run those types of candidates. Can you say Evan Bayh? Joe Machin - what's the point, but to keep Dems looking like appeasers. Increase the count of lost seats over 1000?
Demonstrate we must, but also have a few talking points everyone sticks to and resist policies that are BAD for the people of this country.
Does it ever strike anybody peculiar about similarities between Trump and the leader of North Korea? They both walk onto a podium applauding themselves.
Of course Trump also puts his thumb up. I guess that is to dry it out after he takes it out of his mouth.
Of course Trump also puts his thumb up. I guess that is to dry it out after he takes it out of his mouth.
3
I feel good just reading all of these comments. Our world is indeed filled with thoughtful, articulate, clever individuals and you all give me hope. Now act on it, call those congressmen and congresswomen. Don't let up! Put all of your talents into wearing them down. Only we the people can truly make America......(I just can't finish THAT thought).
5
...untrumped? ...dump trump? ...detrumped?
Yes, things are terrible.But where are the learnings?How did we get here?What are we doing about the tragic state of affairs?Blaming the Russians?the Electoral College?Criticizing everything and anything those in the WH say or do?How about developing a platform that is more likely to resonate?or identifying a leader who is more likely to connect?It's time to focus on the next round of Elections.More light and less noise please.
."More light and less noise please.".....And would that it would emanate from the White House.
The notion that the immoral, incompetent and truth-challenged Trump would surround himself with top people was always ridiculous. Of course, he was going to surround himself with his ilk. Birds of a feather.
4
Heard on Fox and Friends Thursday morning. "The New York Times which I call the fish wrap of record!" Michelle Malkin, Senior Editor, Conservative Review
Other things that are NOT his fault:
3
Give me the Frank and Clare Underwood any day over this man and his ilk.
Yes, Frank is a murderer, but "nobody's perfect" (with credit to Billy wilder and IAL Diamond).
Yes, Frank is a murderer, but "nobody's perfect" (with credit to Billy wilder and IAL Diamond).
3
This piece should get an award for helping those of us who are shell shocked get some comic relief! Thank you Gail Collins and The New York Times!
3
I'm afraid it's three years and 48 weeks. 52-4=48. Was that some kind of Trumpian math Gail?
1
During that press conference Trump also promised that he would eliminate crime in general. And that dogs and cats would be living together in harmony in Trump World. Who knows how to react to this nonsense?
1
If Trump was competent he could easily try to stage something like the Reichtag fire or try to cause a Market Collapse. We are very lucky given the Press History and the inept Democrats that Trump seems merely authoritarian and inept and not a competent Fascist like started WWII. He also has substantial corporate opposition. We could be on the brink of WWIII. I thank myself for this presidency as in Truth is we could have full blown belligerent Fascism. None of our institutions seem up to this sort of fight.
Don't worry. Chafetz will protect the one competent adult in Trump's administration: Putin.
5
No fair. We all know now that each and every "crisis" in the Trump White House is the fault of the "failing" New York Times and other hideous journalists speaking truth to power. Putin doesn't have to put up with this nonsense. Why should Trump? We're waiting for the next Big League Executive Order abolishing the press -- maybe the judiciary as well.
You're on the right track Gail. There are only three years and 44 weeks to go, if we survive the first 100 days of this administration. Where people are counting forward, this being day 27, I'm counting down from 100....to the end of our country as we have known it.
3
This reminds me of the Mel Brooks classic, "young Frakenstein". The GOP sent out Igor,, who is clearly not the brightest, to find the monster a brain.
After the monster starts terrifying the town, the Dr. Asks Igor which brain he chose. Igor's response as he's being choked by the Dr. Is "Abby" - "Abby Normal".
The movie was a hysterically funny take on a horrifying idea. This is not.
After the monster starts terrifying the town, the Dr. Asks Igor which brain he chose. Igor's response as he's being choked by the Dr. Is "Abby" - "Abby Normal".
The movie was a hysterically funny take on a horrifying idea. This is not.
1
Trump's list of self-proclaimed enemies (as of February 16, 2017):
• All 14 national intelligence agencies
• Virtually every newspaper, television network and cable news channel (except Fox and Breitbart)
• The federal judiciary
• Moderate Republicans
• All Democrats
• About half the White House staff
• At least 50% of the US population
• All 14 national intelligence agencies
• Virtually every newspaper, television network and cable news channel (except Fox and Breitbart)
• The federal judiciary
• Moderate Republicans
• All Democrats
• About half the White House staff
• At least 50% of the US population
6
Hail to the divider!
1
Conway? "She looked as though she’d been hit over the head with a skillet."
Congratulations, Gail. I have not laughed since the inauguration, but that line did the trick.
Congratulations, Gail. I have not laughed since the inauguration, but that line did the trick.
3
Gail, you definitely deserve to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom for offering sanctuary to all those smiles that are feeling endangered right now.....thanks!
4
Only not from Trump.
Thanks Gail, I'd like to laugh but I'm too busy screaming.
8
What are the chances Hillary Clinton was making campaign promises to the many foreign leaders she was visiting while Secretary of State. She was running for president while on the government payroll.
1
Very very low, actually. One simply cannot draw an equivalency between Trump's extraordinarily disordered conduct and Hillary Clinton's "average" political work and campaigning.
5
But the point is that her excessive travel while Secretary of State was unusual and she most certainly had decided to run for president when she accepted the job of SoS. Then there is her negligent attention to the duties of her post, especially in regard to information security. Not only the careless email server but her failure to do her job as stipulated in Executive order 13526, signed by Obama.
The media did not pursue these issues like they are with Trump because the same media, this one especially, the NYT, actively campaigned for Hillary.
The media did not pursue these issues like they are with Trump because the same media, this one especially, the NYT, actively campaigned for Hillary.
Is it too factual to mention that Hillary Clinton resigned as Secretary of State in 2013? I suppose it is, since we no longer deal in facts. If you consider that she was already "running" in 2013, almost 4 years before the next election, then it would follow that no potential presidential candidate could ever hold office prior to being president. Then we'd end up with...oh, I see, only Mr. Trump, having no experience whatsoever would be a proper candidate. Makes sense to me!
2
A straight jacket and an impeachment would be in order.
8
Yes, and in that order.
2
NYT readers know that we are in a "yuge" mess when Gail Collins is having a heck of a time trying to make us smile this AM. After listening to 45's response to a reporter's question about the rise of ant-Semitic crime at his BiBi presser yesterday, the mind truly boggled. Leading with his tremendous electoral victory (of course!) and ending in how much "love" his misbegotten regime will bring to this country.... That was not a response, it was no artful verbal dodge, it made no sense at all. Better not to try to find the thought behind it because there is no thought, there is just a torrent of nonsensical word salad every day. The weight of the presidency is enormous-and every President in my lifetime felt that weight. we now have a POTUS who feels none of that weight because of his manifest deficits, and he's settled that weight on all of us instead.
9
Who exactly are the people feeling sympathy for Kellyanne Conway? Her family and Trump supporters who blindly believe any lie thrown at them don't count. She'd best put on a helmet asap because a lot more skillets are going to be coming in her direction.
6
Make that three years and 48 weeks to go or until we impeach him whichever is sooner...
2
our democracy will survive 'cause sensible people will rise up...no?
2
Actually, I DID worry about the collapse of the government in February. I guess I'm a prophet.
2
You're right as rain, dear Gail - surely things will get worse with our unfit President in office, viz the bizarre "alternative fact" that Trump responded to a question about anti-Semitism in America in his weird press conference yesterday with Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu by pointing out that he "won 306 Electoral College votes and "we weren't supposed to crack 220". Our entire 45th Presidency - with all the lies and promises and his hench-people and himself a loose cannon at the helm, will sink like the S.S. Titanic after sideswiping the iceberg.
3
Three years and fortyEIGHT weeks to go. Not that anyone is counting.
2
My hope is that, while his name is still marketable with a still sizable subclass of the country, he will simply decide to resign out of boredom with a job he doesn't comprehend. That would be the least disruptive outcome.
2
I'm hoping for a quick end to #45. Not 3+ years, how about 3 weeks?
8
We're being played. Trump never wanted the job and we'll settle for Pence just to get rid of him. In another 3 weeks we'll,be crying for Pence.
And they could be better. I think congress is moving way too slowly and the president could be faster as well.
Regardless of what the "so-called" president has to say about the demise of Flynn, lying did not bring Flynn down. Both of them getting CAUGHT lying explains why Flynn had to leave.
7
that's why he's blaming leaks. If they weren't caught red-handed, they do not consider that they have anything to worry about. He doesn't even realize the implications of his complaints. But alas, neither would his base.
1
I would have never thought that I wish that Mitt Romney or even John McCain had run for president in 2016. If one of them had won at least we'd have an adult in charge of the White House.
5
We are rapidly hurtling past "worse" all the way to "dire." The time for euphemisms and non-disparaging adjectives is over. We need to use the most precise language available: crisis, chaos, insanity, lies, treason and impeachment should enter our lexicon now.
7
I agree completely. We are past the point of finding any humor in any of this. America is rapidly turning into a one-party nation of hate and greed. There's nothing funny about any of it and the more we chuckle and say "well, at least we aren't in North Korea" the slower we are to demand that those responsible be held legally accountable before any more damage is done. Maybe changing America to Amerika won't matter as long as I laugh my way through the process.
I'm with McCain, you can't make this stuff up.
4
Sorry to sound like I've not moved on, but I have to ask if anyone else is asking: who put those emails on Weiner's laptop? So much has happened since then (Rumor, such a lovely coat) but it seems more and more likely that they were planted. Now if some agency could follow that lead ...
2
"What about Trump himself? Any chance that he encouraged Flynn to chat with the Russian ambassador?
We do know that on Public TV he (Trump) encouraged the Russia spy network to find the missing email conversations.
We do know that on Public TV he (Trump) encouraged the Russia spy network to find the missing email conversations.
5
Stephen Miller sounds less like a college sophomore than he does a 2nd grade actor in a school play trying to sound like Governor Grand Moff Tarkin from Star Wars:
Governor Tarkin: Princess Leia, before your execution, I'd like you to join me for a ceremony that will make this battle station operational. No star system will dare oppose the Emperor now.
Princess Leia Organa: The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.
Governor Tarkin: Not after we demonstrate the capabilities of this station.
Governor Tarkin: Princess Leia, before your execution, I'd like you to join me for a ceremony that will make this battle station operational. No star system will dare oppose the Emperor now.
Princess Leia Organa: The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.
Governor Tarkin: Not after we demonstrate the capabilities of this station.
2
Things could be worse. Trump might start campaigning for the next election. Oops, he starts this weekend.
1
The true Americans in the FBI and CIA will reveal the facts no matter what Donald tries to do to stop it. I believe the deals he made with the Russians go deeper than just getting some dirt on Hillary. The truth will come out. It always does.
4
some of us support trump. We think liberals are really bad people. we enjoy your tongue in cheek stuff on one hand, but we think you are just taking cheap shots, which is all the liberals have left. liberals do not care about the values that people who support trump have. they have no respect for trump supporters' values. It's just the way it is - we see that. and we will forever consider you the selfish, odd, over educated, smarmy, glib enemy. we will fight for our values til the end. we just don't care anymore. we will never give up. you have not seen us begin to fight yet. you will not like it.
1
Vietnam all over again. A few do support Trump, and that's legit.
Many more simply hate the people who hate him.
It's not logical, it's not even cognitive. It's tribal.
Many more simply hate the people who hate him.
It's not logical, it's not even cognitive. It's tribal.
So, exactly what values do Trump supporters have? Inquiring minds want to know.
1
Pray tell.
What are those values again? And how are they being exhibited in this administration.
My mother raised me to be honest, compassionate to my fellow man, ethical and humble. My dad fought in WWII and he taught me how to work hard, to love America, and the four pillars of freedoms. Of Speech. Of Press. From Want. From Fear.
Are those the values you are referring to?
And how are they being expressed by this administration?
What are those values again? And how are they being exhibited in this administration.
My mother raised me to be honest, compassionate to my fellow man, ethical and humble. My dad fought in WWII and he taught me how to work hard, to love America, and the four pillars of freedoms. Of Speech. Of Press. From Want. From Fear.
Are those the values you are referring to?
And how are they being expressed by this administration?
2
Plus, where are those Tax Returns??
4
The tax returns are in Putin's desk drawer. Even the IRS doesn't have them anymore.
Is it a bad sign when I am not laughing anymore at Gail's columns?
1
A wise songwriter once wrote, "when you think you've lost everything, you find out you can always lose a little more." We have lost a lot during this election cycle. Self respect for one thing. Trust in the presidency for another. Right now we are just trying to keep our Republic out of the hands of the Russian government. We've lost a lot. We can always lose a little more.
This is the perfect storm for something really, really bad to happen to the United States. As simple as that. Thanks, Trump supporters.
4
American travelers who supported Trump will be banned from the EU, Canada, Mexico, and Britain. Americans with approved passports will travel to Canada and Mexico for the healthcare they cannot get at home. Corporate taxes and taxes on the wealthy will be cut and taxes on middle America increased to pay for the loss of revenue. Public schools will close and Americans will cross the borders to go to school. Devise could not open enough for profit public schools. The wealthy Trump supporting Republicans will vacation in N Korea at the newest Trump golf resort and the Dear Leaders will of N Korea and the US will compare the size of their nuclear weapons. It's early on the West Coast / just checking in to see if the heads of the CIA and FBI are imprisoned at Guantanamo. Somehow the peril of ISIS is lost in the perils of Trump.
1
Today's chant will be, 'Four more days...four more days!' The one-month anniversary of the ascension of the clown prince to the throne is then.
Things are worse because, chillingly, we can devise any demented dystopic ending to the Trump administration and they are all plausible, from erosion of "some" constitutional protections to World War III. We also know that the current Republican-controlled power-is-all congress simply will not step forward to honor their piously mouthed but smugly ignored oaths. The courts have begun to offer some sense of normalcy and constitutional order but, given their reliance on simple trust, lack of actual enforcement authority, and the likelihood of appointment of politicized extremist right-wing judges, we wonder how quickly that check and balance will become irrelevant. No, things really can't be worse.
2
I tried to resist the impulse to add this, but obviously lost to the temptation...it's just so easy - most government leaders, as they move into their new position as in this presidential situation, have what's called a "pool" of candidates from which to select individuals for the many positions and levels of power. However, in this uniquely distasteful instance, Trump has at last shown one...just one...example of proper word selection for his 'process' - he has no pool of candidates, just the "swamp" he so famously referred to, populated with his special brand of creatures. Obviously, his preferred candidates lounge (squirm) around in this dark and dank swamp, waiting and slobbering for his call. I wonder what that call sounds like in the darkness...no, let's not venture into that fearful place...it might be something akin to a "putin tootin'" bugle call.
1
Trump and Kim Jong are cut out of the same cloth and the only thing standing g in the way of Trump is the Constitution - which apparently neither Trump nor Steven Miller have read or believe in. And most republicans look like they are more afraid of Trump, the NRA and the alt-right than the North Koreans are of Kim Jong.
Time for the Republicans in Congress to get a back bone and serve the country instead of their need for power. If they have not learned yet, Trump plans on taking that away as well.
Time for the Republicans in Congress to get a back bone and serve the country instead of their need for power. If they have not learned yet, Trump plans on taking that away as well.
1
Thanks Gail. I feel better now.
Here in Alabama we have always been grateful for Mississippi, for in most national rankings that state has been 50 to Alabama's 49. That was always sort of amusing. But when I think of the United States and North Korea jousting for lowest position on the international totem pole, what's left of my hair stands on end. Where are the cries for impeachment!
1
This is kind of like that situation when we were kids and got a scraped knee...while we were in pain and panic, someone would always say, "Well, it's not as bad as a stick in your eye"! Everything is relative, but the real fear is that with this current situation, it looks like we could very easily get that stick in our eye as well.
About ten days ago I emailed one of my senators and asked if it was
time to take another look at Amendment XXV. The response was a
canned reply from his Portland office which bore no relation to the questions
I asked. My conclusion is that the folks who could be doing something
about this mess are also in La-la-land.
time to take another look at Amendment XXV. The response was a
canned reply from his Portland office which bore no relation to the questions
I asked. My conclusion is that the folks who could be doing something
about this mess are also in La-la-land.
1
Yes, things could be worse. Hillary Clinton could have been inaugurated and we would still be investigating her emails and Benghazi.
2
Scary, but funny, column. However, your last sentence is wrong: Trumpty-Dumpty will fall before Christmas.
Trump is in soooooo much trouble and the Ides of March are not far off. Will we find the "dossier" to be true and that Putin has our boy by the "whatevers?" Seems crazy, but still... Wonder how long before Republicans trade him in for Pence? Hopefully, before the end times. And hopefully, the Democrats will win some elections next time around. Hopefully... we'll be here to see that...
1
I wouldn't be so sure about the Korean guy. After all, Americas not so pure, according to the Presidential Apprentice.
1
To paraphrase Billy Joel, "Say goodbye to America…" It's gone.
This is how the Republicans are coping, as summed up by Sean Spicer on SNL: "Let me wave some shiny objects in front of you animals." Deport immigrants, sanctuary cities, tax cuts for the super rich, bank deregulation, gut the EPA, relax environmental standards, bully manufacturers.
1
I wish I could find some amusement in all of this Gail, but Mr. Trump is so clearly deranged, it's very hard to do. He's holding a campaign rally this weekend -- all at taxpayer expense. Frankly, he should be impeached for this alone. All American's should expect him to be working for them -- not himself and his next election. He's the biggest con artist that this country has ever seen. When will people wake up -- I think for many -- even his supporters -- there is a major depression that has set in -- it's really hard to believe that such a loser is the leader of the free world. So, no, no happiness here...
2
I used to read your column and chuckle. Now I read and weep.
1
Yes but Kim Jong is smiling because he is no longer the craziest leader in the world.
4
No, it was never mesmerizing. As someone who worked for an arrogant, condescending, mean, petty, vengeful CEO of a public company much larger than Trump's, but whose last name was still on the front door, my belief always was that Trump would view the American people as having elected him CEO, not president. There are no courts in a private company, the CEO can fire on a whim and Trump clearly did, and surround himself with nothing but "yes" men. As CEO, he can bark orders, fire people and impose marshal law 24/7. I do not want to live in a country with a CEO who believes he is the supreme authority, everyone must kowtow to him, and if any citizen does not, he can "fire" them from being citizens. He has proved me right and he will never change his view of his job as being CEO of the US, his own privately held business, and every person had better look at everything he says and does through that lens.
3
I'm all out of laughter about Trump's follies. This is too scary. I want my country back.
2
I was just out on my front porch and saw an eagle fishing in the Penobscot River. And I thought to myself, "Lucky eagle - she doesn't know anything about Trump". Of course, when the EPA goes under, so will she. She just doesn't have to worry about it.
3
This administration is a total mess. Even the intelligence agencies cannot trust this president to LEAK information that could reveal names or methods without fear the information could end up in the hands of PUTIN. Flynn was working against America's better interest; now it is being reported that staff within the administration contacted Russia before the election. Would anyone on this site trust this government with sensitive intelligence concerning Russia and Putin? We wonder why intelligence Information that could end up with Russia intelligence agencies complements of Trump and his disloyal staff, especially Bannon and Steven Miller, places fear and dread into the mind of intelligence operatives. What we are witnessing is an administration that is DISLOYAL and skirting TREASON. For the safety of the nation, intelligence agencies must not give any intelligence that this administration is possibly willing to give Putin.
3
One more thing: does anyone remember some of the Tonka Toy commercials? If you do you probably saw the ones where the parent asks the child what happened to he/her toy. The answers were memorable. In one the child shrugs and says plaintively "Nothing" even though it's obvious that SOMETHING happened. In another the child tells the parent "An elephant came and stepped on it". Which one is relevant to today's politics?
6
Well Gail, things are actually worse.
According to an article in the WAPost yesterday, "the American Psychological Association polls Americans about their stress every year, and it’s common for many of those polled to report anxiety around personal life issues like work and money. But because so many of its members were reporting election-related stress last year, the APA added questions about politics to its annual survey in August."
"The APA did another survey in January to capture stress levels post-election. In August, 71% of Americans reported feeling a physical or emotional symptom of stress at least one day that month. In January, 80% had symptoms such as tension headaches or feeling overwhelmed or depressed."
"And mental health specialists who work in Veterans Affairs hospitals have reported their patients have made comments such as “This isn’t what I risked my life for,” said Vaile Wright, a licensed psychologist and member of APA’s Stress in America team."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2017/02/15/american...
So thanks a lot Trump, and all you angry white people in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin. You are literally making America sicker.
But don't worry because the brave, honorable Republicans in Congress are repealing Obamacare and then you'll have zero coverage to go along with your deteriorating mental health.
According to an article in the WAPost yesterday, "the American Psychological Association polls Americans about their stress every year, and it’s common for many of those polled to report anxiety around personal life issues like work and money. But because so many of its members were reporting election-related stress last year, the APA added questions about politics to its annual survey in August."
"The APA did another survey in January to capture stress levels post-election. In August, 71% of Americans reported feeling a physical or emotional symptom of stress at least one day that month. In January, 80% had symptoms such as tension headaches or feeling overwhelmed or depressed."
"And mental health specialists who work in Veterans Affairs hospitals have reported their patients have made comments such as “This isn’t what I risked my life for,” said Vaile Wright, a licensed psychologist and member of APA’s Stress in America team."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2017/02/15/american...
So thanks a lot Trump, and all you angry white people in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin. You are literally making America sicker.
But don't worry because the brave, honorable Republicans in Congress are repealing Obamacare and then you'll have zero coverage to go along with your deteriorating mental health.
36
If the Republicans in Congress are not going to get to the bottom of Trump's involvement with Russia, then we should crowd fund Hillary's civil lawsuit against Trump for election fraud, and use that to issue the subpoenas.
13
I hope Trump supporters are enjoying the chaos they have created. Next time they may want to vote for a rational candidate.
20
My my husband and I have been worried from day one of the Trump administration about possible government collapse.
8
I try to keep calm by remembering what my Republican friends have been telling me for years.
They like to say that when citizens are confronted with Corruption and career politicians in Congress refuse to protect the Republic, the job falls to a "well arms Second Amendment militia."
They like to say that when citizens are confronted with Corruption and career politicians in Congress refuse to protect the Republic, the job falls to a "well arms Second Amendment militia."
4
OH, please, don't say that even as a joke.....
I think we should blame Trump for everything bad that happens in the world including the fact that none of us have won the powerball or any other lottery lately (I need the money to move to France), since you can be sure he will rush to take credit for any thing good that might happen even if he has nothing to do with it. He already took credit for January's job numbers after just 7 days in office.
12
At least the chaos prevents efficiency.
9
Rumor, the Alsatian, best in show Westminster winner, must be a Republican "winner" and Trump could well be considering her for ambassador to Germany.
4
Thank you Gail for once again giving us an opportunity to laugh during a very fraught time.
6
I think that applying a frying pan forcefully to the heads of Donald, kellyann, sean, and the stevens sounds like an excellent idea--every time they lie. but we'll need a team of frying pan whackers, 'cause there's a lot of lying going on.
Thank you Gail for trying to cheer us up in these dark times.
9
If the US were a parliamentary system of government rather than a republic, this government would have collapsed already and elections called for.
11
If Trump believes what he says, "It’s really a sad thing that he [Flynn] was treated so badly, People are trying to cover up for a terrible loss that the Democrats had under Hillary Clinton,” and that Flynn is a ". . . wonderful man . . .," why did Trump fire him??
13
I wish a reporter would ask him that question.
It's too much to expect logical thinking from the great pretender, except he's the pretender, except he's the pathological pretender, too far gone - without the pathos that may engender pity from the audience.
My hope is that one day WH security catches Trump running around the WH grounds stark naked and tourists capture it on video so that finally the men show up and put the white jacket on him with the arms tied in the back and the Republicans can no longer pretend that Trump isn't a raving lunatic. I think it will take that kind of act caught on camera to finally rid the nation of Trump and the group of mini-loons with whom he surrounds himself.
13
It makes one yearn for stories about Seamus, the Irish setter who got sick while riding 12 hours on the roof of Mitt Romney’s faux-wood-paneled station wagon.
6
Somewhere in an office there are IRS employee who is studying the pentagon papers story and wondering if the right thing to do is to sort this out once and for all with what they know.
22
I love Gail Collins humorous take on our political life. However, I fear that I've lost my ability to laugh over 45 and the danger he and his administration present to this country and to we Americans. I opposed him from the day he announced his run and every bad thing that I thought might happen with him in the White House has gone beyond my wildest imaginings. The GOP is going to stonewall on investigating his ties to Russia until they are forced to by a crisis, catastrophe, or citizens taking to the streets in fury. I'm afraid that it's just not funny any more.
15
Lies lead to more lies especially when you know/believe no truths.
8
If the US can survive a Trump presidency, we can survive anything.
4
Jayne, we cannot survive with any reasonable policies in place.
I am doubtful that the republic or Trump could last 3 years and 44 weeks of this craziness.
9
With Trump as president I can appreciate now why some people find clowns frightening.
28
won t make it 3 years and 44 weeks. over/ under 50 weeks.. he ll either be impeached or resign
7
It's a dark day, indeed, when The Lion Queen, Kellyanne Conway, gets pushed off center stage by the likes of Stephen Miller and the rest of Trump's band of Merry Men.
9
I am loving these developments. The sooner this regime collapses, the sooner we can start making America great again.
10
Gail, I look favorably back to the days you wrote about Romney's dog on the car roof.
3