The inauguration of the 45th President of the United States of America
January 20, 2017 3:01 AM Subscribe
Assuming no last-minute surprises, while the White House transitions the son of a Leòdhas emigrant will take the Oath and become the next POTUS in Washington D.C. today (security gates open at 6am, ceremony begins at 11:30am), as part of the 58th Presidential Inauguration (events began yesterday). Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath; the Lincoln Bible and a family bible will be used. Clarence Thomas will administer the Oath of Office to Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Many Democratic lawmakers are boycotting the inauguration; security is tight, and selfie sticks, drones and drums are not permitted. Some artists are performing at the inauguration and after events. The day after, the Women's March takes place in D.C. and many other cities and towns. Channels showing the inauguration, the 2009 and 2013 ceremonies, and Obama's 2008 victory speech.
We're all counting on you!
posted by chavenet at 3:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 3:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [34 favorites]
First the came for the vuvuzelas, and I said nothing, for I was more into those rain sticks.
posted by thelonius at 3:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 3:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [36 favorites]
First the worst, second the be...If only 45th fitted the rhyming scheme.
posted by jaduncan at 3:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by jaduncan at 3:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Today might be the only time I'm ever actually glad I'm going to be stuck in what promises to be an extraordinarily boring training shift at work for most of the day.
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
This must be National Shite Day.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
.
posted by Pendragon at 3:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by Pendragon at 3:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
In fact, no. I have nothing good to say. It has come to this, and I feel sad inside. I feel for Hillary, but I feel more for the people who needed her policies. I hope that we're all wrong about Trump, and I hope he succeeds in making America a better version of itself in ways that aren't massively destructive. It's just that today feels like a very dark day indeed, and I don't think the optimistic future is what is going to happen. Let's fight every day for the best version of what will.
posted by jaduncan at 3:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [110 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 3:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [110 favorites]
.
posted by MtDewd at 3:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by MtDewd at 3:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Have the #BikersforTrump showed up yet? Only I'm a bit worried because there's only like, two photos and three videos of them and they appear to have set off in 2013, so maybe they got lost?
posted by threetwentytwo at 3:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [69 favorites]
posted by threetwentytwo at 3:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [69 favorites]
Oh this thread. Popcorn Time.
(crack open the server repair kit, just to be ready :-)
posted by sammyo at 3:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
(crack open the server repair kit, just to be ready :-)
posted by sammyo at 3:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
America - you're fired.
posted by Segundus at 3:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Segundus at 3:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
America - you're fired.
Exposed to a massive amount of hot air and a severe risk of fracture? Why, it's possible.
posted by jaduncan at 3:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
Exposed to a massive amount of hot air and a severe risk of fracture? Why, it's possible.
posted by jaduncan at 3:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
A Million Right-Wing Inauguration Conspiracies Bloom
> Six of the 10 most popular YouTube videos uploaded in the last week with the keyword “inauguration” are bogus reports and prognostications made by longtime purveyors of fake news and misinformation, a Vocativ analysis found. Drawing on everything from planned protests on the left and celebrity tweets, to recent news stories and liberal boogeymen, these videos all but assure their viewers that the fix is in on Friday, when Trump takes his oath of office. Combined they’ve attracted more than 2.2 million views.posted by Buntix at 3:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
> “They’re getting ready to green light rogue groups arresting him or killing [Trump],” said radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones during a recent broadcast in which he claimed — emphatically — that he had confirmed that the CIA planned to stop Trump from assuming office.
Yes, much love and thanks to mods, Wordshore and all of yous.
posted by threetwentytwo at 3:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by threetwentytwo at 3:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
Maybe, like, he'll ...
Oh fuck, let me just get my seatbelt on - no? we're already ... whoa! Fast! Oh shit!
*screams for foreseeable future*
posted by From Bklyn at 3:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Oh fuck, let me just get my seatbelt on - no? we're already ... whoa! Fast! Oh shit!
*screams for foreseeable future*
posted by From Bklyn at 3:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
I am so, so, genuinely fucking sorry for everyone in the US. This is breaking my heart so I can't even imagine what it's like for people who live there. I just don't understand how this is even happening. I remember being so thrilled watching Obama being sworn in and thinking what that said about how far society had finally progressed and now I just feel sick. The bad guys won. Don't let them keep winning for the next four years.
posted by billiebee at 3:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [131 favorites]
posted by billiebee at 3:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [131 favorites]
Alex Jones during a recent broadcast in which he claimed — emphatically — that he had confirmed that the CIA planned to stop Trump from assuming office.
He's raising our hopes to crush them, I tell you.
posted by jaduncan at 3:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
He's raising our hopes to crush them, I tell you.
posted by jaduncan at 3:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
I don't know where we're going, but we're going ...
posted by josephfor at 3:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by josephfor at 3:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
He's raising our hopes to crush them, I tell you.
It's also worryingly close to incitement given how heavily armed and excitable some of his audience are...
posted by Buntix at 3:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's also worryingly close to incitement given how heavily armed and excitable some of his audience are...
posted by Buntix at 3:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
The inauguration of the 45th and last President of the United States of America
posted by adept256 at 3:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 3:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
You know, I grew up knowing astronauts have steak and eggs for breakfast before launch.
Here's hoping the White House cooks serve you the best damned steak and eggs ever Mr. Commander and Chief President Obama.
Thanks for all the hard work.
posted by mikelieman at 3:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [46 favorites]
Here's hoping the White House cooks serve you the best damned steak and eggs ever Mr. Commander and Chief President Obama.
Thanks for all the hard work.
posted by mikelieman at 3:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [46 favorites]
My God, I can't believe we're actually going to do this. It's like I'm watching a horror movie, yelling, "Don't open the door! Don't open the door! He's right outside the Oval Office and he's got a chainsaw!" No one can hear me and nothing can stop it.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 3:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [168 favorites]
posted by Snarl Furillo at 3:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [168 favorites]
It's also worryingly close to incitement given how heavily armed and excitable some of his audience are...
That's pretty much true of every Jones broadcast; to his infinitesimally small credit, at least this one hasn't alleged a secret paedophile ring that's run by the very NWO/UN Secretary General himself yet.
posted by jaduncan at 3:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
That's pretty much true of every Jones broadcast; to his infinitesimally small credit, at least this one hasn't alleged a secret paedophile ring that's run by the very NWO/UN Secretary General himself yet.
posted by jaduncan at 3:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Lots of tweets along the lines of "Mecha Lincoln slowly rising from his stone seat and striding purposefully across the Tidal Basin towards the Inauguration stands..."
Also remember to set your watches back n years
posted by sidereal at 3:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [42 favorites]
Also remember to set your watches back n years
posted by sidereal at 3:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [42 favorites]
Maybe he will make the country great again, and give everyone jobs. Maybe he does have a solution for those people who don't belong.
I mean, no one with such silly hair could really be that evil. He sort of looks like Charlie Chaplin.
The wall comes later.
posted by adept256 at 3:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I mean, no one with such silly hair could really be that evil. He sort of looks like Charlie Chaplin.
The wall comes later.
posted by adept256 at 3:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't know where we're going, but we're going ...
Well, we know where we're going.
But we don't know where we've been.
posted by Grangousier at 3:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
Well, we know where we're going.
But we don't know where we've been.
posted by Grangousier at 3:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
I'm glad to be here with you, Samwises Gamgee... here, at the end of all things.
posted by Behemoth at 3:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [92 favorites]
posted by Behemoth at 3:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [92 favorites]
Actually, nope. I'm not doing this. Time for some good pot and an Adventure Time marathon. See you next week mefites.
posted by adept256 at 3:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [67 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 3:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [67 favorites]
(I just put this on Facebook...)
I will not be watching the Inauguration today. Because, at that time, I will be at my job - a low-level, data-entry job at the International Rescue Committee, where I handle the day-to-day processes that go into hiring, transferring, and arranging pay for the nearly 10 thousand men and women working all around the world for the benefit of refugees. I will probably take a couple calls from people asking who to contact about volunteering to assist the refugees we resettle in the United States. I may may process the hire of a nurse in a camp in Libya or a teacher in Serbia, or a leader for the unit here in the US that is working to figure out how to help newly refugees navigate the process of getting a social security number, vaccinations, and certification so that they can become full taxpaying members of society.
In other words - I won't be watching the inauguration because I will be too busy doing the REAL work of making America great again.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [327 favorites]
I will not be watching the Inauguration today. Because, at that time, I will be at my job - a low-level, data-entry job at the International Rescue Committee, where I handle the day-to-day processes that go into hiring, transferring, and arranging pay for the nearly 10 thousand men and women working all around the world for the benefit of refugees. I will probably take a couple calls from people asking who to contact about volunteering to assist the refugees we resettle in the United States. I may may process the hire of a nurse in a camp in Libya or a teacher in Serbia, or a leader for the unit here in the US that is working to figure out how to help newly refugees navigate the process of getting a social security number, vaccinations, and certification so that they can become full taxpaying members of society.
In other words - I won't be watching the inauguration because I will be too busy doing the REAL work of making America great again.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [327 favorites]
If nothing else, I will celebrate the peaceful transition of power. It will be peaceful, right?
posted by AugustWest at 3:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by AugustWest at 3:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I just don't understand how this is even happening.
Figures close to Donald Trump, such as his chief strategist Steve Bannon and the Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel, are closely acquainted with cutting-edge data analytics techniques, via companies such as Cambridge Analytica, on whose board Bannon sits. During the presidential election campaign, Cambridge Analytica drew on various data sources to develop psychological profiles of millions of Americans, which it then used to help Trump target voters with tailored messaging.
This ability to develop and refine psychological insights across large populations is one of the most innovative and controversial features of the new data analysis. As techniques of “sentiment analysis”, which detect the mood of large numbers of people by tracking indicators such as word usage on social media, become incorporated into political campaigns, the emotional allure of figures such as Trump will become amenable to scientific scrutiny. In a world where the political feelings of the general public are becoming this traceable, who needs pollsters?
From the Guardian: How statistics lost their power – and why we should fear what comes next
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [62 favorites]
Figures close to Donald Trump, such as his chief strategist Steve Bannon and the Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel, are closely acquainted with cutting-edge data analytics techniques, via companies such as Cambridge Analytica, on whose board Bannon sits. During the presidential election campaign, Cambridge Analytica drew on various data sources to develop psychological profiles of millions of Americans, which it then used to help Trump target voters with tailored messaging.
This ability to develop and refine psychological insights across large populations is one of the most innovative and controversial features of the new data analysis. As techniques of “sentiment analysis”, which detect the mood of large numbers of people by tracking indicators such as word usage on social media, become incorporated into political campaigns, the emotional allure of figures such as Trump will become amenable to scientific scrutiny. In a world where the political feelings of the general public are becoming this traceable, who needs pollsters?
From the Guardian: How statistics lost their power – and why we should fear what comes next
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [62 favorites]
I'm not sure what one is supposed to do when the time/space continuum fractures and we find ourselves in a dystopian alternate reality. My secret hope that Iron Man will turn up at the last minute to save us all doesn't really seem that outlandish, on balance.
Never, ever in my life have I had the experience of sounding like an alt-left conspiracy theorist but man, I know I sound like one now. Learn Russian or order tanks of helium? ("Why not both!")
In other news, word broke yesterday that Michael Flatley / Riverdance / Lord of the Dance agreed to do the inauguration and Ireland collectively declared him dead. (That site is satire but the story is real -- Lord of the Dance is jigging in the apocalypse.)
posted by DarlingBri at 3:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
Never, ever in my life have I had the experience of sounding like an alt-left conspiracy theorist but man, I know I sound like one now. Learn Russian or order tanks of helium? ("Why not both!")
In other news, word broke yesterday that Michael Flatley / Riverdance / Lord of the Dance agreed to do the inauguration and Ireland collectively declared him dead. (That site is satire but the story is real -- Lord of the Dance is jigging in the apocalypse.)
posted by DarlingBri at 3:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
If anyone is like me and you feel like the wind gets kicked out of you every five minutes when you realize this is happening..
Breathe.
I'm on a crazy sleep schedule so I hopefully won't wake up to the world destroyed. (Though I did tell my husband to call me ya know, if it seems like something might explode.) I will be donating to Planned Parenthood today. Women's health rights are essential.
I have both more words I want to say, and yet I struggle to find any words.
Dealing with a chronic illness already makes my life feel unreal, and now this, I'm convinced I'm in limbo or something.
posted by Crystalinne at 3:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Breathe.
I'm on a crazy sleep schedule so I hopefully won't wake up to the world destroyed. (Though I did tell my husband to call me ya know, if it seems like something might explode.) I will be donating to Planned Parenthood today. Women's health rights are essential.
I have both more words I want to say, and yet I struggle to find any words.
Dealing with a chronic illness already makes my life feel unreal, and now this, I'm convinced I'm in limbo or something.
posted by Crystalinne at 3:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Obama leaving the White House.
posted by get off of my cloud at 4:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by get off of my cloud at 4:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
It feels a little like we've come to that moment in Planet of the Apes when the illusions fall away and Charlton Heston rends his chest and wails as the camera pans back to show the statue of liberty lying in ruins.
posted by saulgoodman at 4:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by saulgoodman at 4:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
What's Next?
Take a break sometime today with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s West Wing Rap! Just a smidge of catharsis.
posted by sammyo at 4:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Take a break sometime today with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s West Wing Rap! Just a smidge of catharsis.
posted by sammyo at 4:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
As someone on Twitter pointed out, Kanye wasn't invited to perform because his performance wouldn't be "traditionally American," but Michael Flatley of Ireland was.
Oyyyy
posted by Yowser at 4:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [84 favorites]
Oyyyy
posted by Yowser at 4:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [84 favorites]
I must stand by the side of the mountain
I must be where I know I must be
When you stand and face the gas masks and truncheons
You must know what it all really means
It is the time of the last persecution
And Caesar shall be raised
He will ask for his feet to be kissed by your sister
And your children will fear at his name
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I must be where I know I must be
When you stand and face the gas masks and truncheons
You must know what it all really means
It is the time of the last persecution
And Caesar shall be raised
He will ask for his feet to be kissed by your sister
And your children will fear at his name
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Michael Flatley
Born and raised in Chicago.
posted by PenDevil at 4:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Born and raised in Chicago.
posted by PenDevil at 4:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
I wish they'd stop pushing his Scottish ancestry because, well, Scotland isn't here for that.
posted by kariebookish at 4:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by kariebookish at 4:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [31 favorites]
I stand corrected, PenDevil.
He sure hides it well.
posted by Yowser at 4:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
He sure hides it well.
posted by Yowser at 4:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Stay strong, American friends. Your country has survived scoundrels before. You can do it again.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
Have the #BikersforTrump showed up yet?
The Night Wolves have an American chapter now?
posted by acb at 4:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
The Night Wolves have an American chapter now?
posted by acb at 4:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
At least he's not a competent would-be tyrant. Governing requires some degree of diligence, and I've seen none of that so far.
posted by leotrotsky at 4:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 4:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Stay strong, American friends. Your country has survived scoundrels before. You can do it again.
In a gesture of solidarity with the lady behind the counter at the gym y'day, I offered, "Hey we survived Nixon, we'll survive this!". And she pointed out was before her time.
With that said.
At this point we're in an alternative universe. All bets are off. Shit is so fucked up I can't even drink anymore.
posted by mikelieman at 4:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
In a gesture of solidarity with the lady behind the counter at the gym y'day, I offered, "Hey we survived Nixon, we'll survive this!". And she pointed out was before her time.
With that said.
At this point we're in an alternative universe. All bets are off. Shit is so fucked up I can't even drink anymore.
posted by mikelieman at 4:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
More people need to call this what it is: Harding's Second Inaugural. Loudly, in public fora.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 4:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 4:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Instead of continuing my tradition of spending the last two Inauguration Days at home in front of the TV watching all the coverage, eating snacks, and crying happy tears--I will be going to work as usual.
I still can't wrap my head around the fact that this is really happening. I did watch the live coverage of Trump's remarks at a pre-Inaugural dinner last night (in a sort of "can't look away from the train wreck" way) and literally was shaking my head in disbelief at the content and tone of his words--and those were simply relatively meaningless social remarks. I'm just feeling so sad and depleted and worried and embarrassed.
I am going to make extra donations to Planned Parenthood and Habitat for Humanity this morning. I doubt that anyone will bring up the Inauguration in my presence at work today. That's probably a good thing.
Stay safe everybody.
posted by bookmammal at 4:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
I still can't wrap my head around the fact that this is really happening. I did watch the live coverage of Trump's remarks at a pre-Inaugural dinner last night (in a sort of "can't look away from the train wreck" way) and literally was shaking my head in disbelief at the content and tone of his words--and those were simply relatively meaningless social remarks. I'm just feeling so sad and depleted and worried and embarrassed.
I am going to make extra donations to Planned Parenthood and Habitat for Humanity this morning. I doubt that anyone will bring up the Inauguration in my presence at work today. That's probably a good thing.
Stay safe everybody.
posted by bookmammal at 4:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
I love you all and hope in 4 years we are here again, marveling that we got through this and ready to take the country in a better direction. I hope the next four years have enough bright spots to get us through the darkness.
posted by emjaybee at 4:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [72 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 4:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [72 favorites]
Prison Stocks Have Gone on a Rampage Ahead of Donald Trump's Inauguration
posted by Buntix at 4:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [54 favorites]
Trump is likely to be more private prison-friendly. He expressed his support for such entities in an interview with MSNBC's Chris Matthews in March, and his policies -- specifically those related to immigration -- bode well for the industry."Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" ...they represent a significant incarceration industry investment opportunity.
At an October campaign speech in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Trump proposed a two-year mandatory minimum prison sentence for illegal immigrants reentering the U.S. after deportation and a mandatory five-year minimum for illegal criminal immigrants reentering.
posted by Buntix at 4:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [54 favorites]
My husband and I work in downtown DC so our offices are closed (thank God as I'm sure perpetual disaster WMATA will be even worse than usual today) so we're spending the day taking care of ourselves by playing with our baby and reading her stories and telling her (truthfully) how good and brave and strong she is. I slept terribly last night and I just feel sick now. Please, everyone, take care of yourselves today and this weekend and for as much of a future as we have.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 4:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 4:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
I wish they'd stop pushing his Scottish ancestry because, well, Scotland isn't here for that.
You say that. I can only hope it prompts someone to interview Alex Salmond or Nicola Sturgeon about it.
posted by jaduncan at 4:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
You say that. I can only hope it prompts someone to interview Alex Salmond or Nicola Sturgeon about it.
posted by jaduncan at 4:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
My elder daughter lives in Arlington and has the day off today. She and some friends are going to the Women's March, and we talked last night about whether she wants to go to the Inauguration.
"I've never gotten to see President Obama," she reasoned. I pointed out that he would be living in the area a little while longer and would still be quite visible, not to mention that she would be seeing him on a pretty bad day for him.
She waffled a little more, and I told her that I, an Army veteran who has seen combat, would not want to go. She still wasn't sure, so I made her promise to take her Go Bag, to wear a scarf or something that she can use as a face mask if necessary, and to write ICE phone numbers on her arms in Sharpie. We brainstormed some, and we ran through some ideas on staying out of, defusing, and getting away from problems that might arise.
She's 12. She's a responsible, mature 12, but I have had a fucking tactical discussion with my 12-year-old daughter.
This is not normal. This is not OK. This is not fine.
posted by Etrigan at 4:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [163 favorites]
"I've never gotten to see President Obama," she reasoned. I pointed out that he would be living in the area a little while longer and would still be quite visible, not to mention that she would be seeing him on a pretty bad day for him.
She waffled a little more, and I told her that I, an Army veteran who has seen combat, would not want to go. She still wasn't sure, so I made her promise to take her Go Bag, to wear a scarf or something that she can use as a face mask if necessary, and to write ICE phone numbers on her arms in Sharpie. We brainstormed some, and we ran through some ideas on staying out of, defusing, and getting away from problems that might arise.
She's 12. She's a responsible, mature 12, but I have had a fucking tactical discussion with my 12-year-old daughter.
This is not normal. This is not OK. This is not fine.
posted by Etrigan at 4:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [163 favorites]
thank God as I'm sure perpetual disaster WMATA will be even worse than usual today
OH IF YOU ARE IN DC TO PROTEST, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO SWIPE YOUR SMARTRIP CARD AGAIN TO EXIT THE SYSTEM! YOU CAN'T JUST WALTZ OUT! EVERYTHING WILL TAKE LONGER IF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GET TO THE EXIT AND FUMBLE IN THEIR POCKETS FOR TWO MINUTES LOOKING FOR THEIR DAMN CARD! STAND ON THE RIGHT WALK ON THE LEFT. WHEN BOARDING, PLEASE MOVE TO THE CENTER OF THE CAR. GIVE SEATS TO PEOPLE WHO MOST NEED THEM. WMATA is definitely going to be overloaded and these are real important things that will help everyone.
If you are here (and even if you're not), please also remember that DC is a progressive, largely-minority city with no congressional representation and high vulnerability to congressional meddling. Some unscrupulous people who claim to believe in "local control" have already indicated that they want to overturn the laws the people and elected representatives of this city have passed, something Congress has the legal ability to do. We are right here and very vulnerable and I am very afraid that this city is going to be punished for being liberal and voting against the incoming administration, one full of petty vindictiveness. They're going to fuck with us because they can, because they're powerful and cruel and we're vulnerable and progressive and right here and defenseless. Please please be kind to our city and its residents and businesses and don't forget us when you're calling to talk to the congressional representatives we don't have.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 4:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [121 favorites]
OH IF YOU ARE IN DC TO PROTEST, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO SWIPE YOUR SMARTRIP CARD AGAIN TO EXIT THE SYSTEM! YOU CAN'T JUST WALTZ OUT! EVERYTHING WILL TAKE LONGER IF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GET TO THE EXIT AND FUMBLE IN THEIR POCKETS FOR TWO MINUTES LOOKING FOR THEIR DAMN CARD! STAND ON THE RIGHT WALK ON THE LEFT. WHEN BOARDING, PLEASE MOVE TO THE CENTER OF THE CAR. GIVE SEATS TO PEOPLE WHO MOST NEED THEM. WMATA is definitely going to be overloaded and these are real important things that will help everyone.
If you are here (and even if you're not), please also remember that DC is a progressive, largely-minority city with no congressional representation and high vulnerability to congressional meddling. Some unscrupulous people who claim to believe in "local control" have already indicated that they want to overturn the laws the people and elected representatives of this city have passed, something Congress has the legal ability to do. We are right here and very vulnerable and I am very afraid that this city is going to be punished for being liberal and voting against the incoming administration, one full of petty vindictiveness. They're going to fuck with us because they can, because they're powerful and cruel and we're vulnerable and progressive and right here and defenseless. Please please be kind to our city and its residents and businesses and don't forget us when you're calling to talk to the congressional representatives we don't have.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 4:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [121 favorites]
The end of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead has been running through my mind a lot recently. In the film, at least, they are standing, nooses around their necks, and one of them says something along the lines of "There must have been a moment when we could have stopped this. There must have been a moment when we could have said 'no,' but we missed it." Then the floor drops out, and they die.
Some day, when time and distance have allowed historians to truly write the history of this mess, someone will pinpoint the moment in history when someone, somewhere could have said no, or done something. The thing is, it wasn't the election, or the debates, or the conventions, or even Brexit. The nagging voice inside me says that that moment, the one where things could have turned differently, was at least ten years ago, and we missed it, and today, the floor drops out from under us.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [183 favorites]
Some day, when time and distance have allowed historians to truly write the history of this mess, someone will pinpoint the moment in history when someone, somewhere could have said no, or done something. The thing is, it wasn't the election, or the debates, or the conventions, or even Brexit. The nagging voice inside me says that that moment, the one where things could have turned differently, was at least ten years ago, and we missed it, and today, the floor drops out from under us.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [183 favorites]
I don't know where we're going, but we're going ...
Well, we know where we're going.
But we don't know where we've been.
What have you got to lose? You come from nothing; you go back to nothing! What have you lost? Nothing!
posted by otherchaz at 4:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Well, we know where we're going.
But we don't know where we've been.
What have you got to lose? You come from nothing; you go back to nothing! What have you lost? Nothing!
posted by otherchaz at 4:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Two years until the mid-terms. You know what to do. Grassroots the shit out of every possible district until there are enough decent people in Congress to impeach this fucking clown.
posted by Optamystic at 4:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [45 favorites]
posted by Optamystic at 4:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [45 favorites]
Searching for Time-Travelers on the Eve of the Trump Inauguration: From the National Mall to the DeploraBall, an investigation into whether anyone from the future has come back to prevent what’s about to happen.
posted by zachlipton at 4:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
I remember the joyful tears I wept when Obama was sworn in, and, until fairly recently, imagined how I would again weep those tears of joy for Hillary...
But we're still here, guys. You know, those people who care about other people? There are millions upon millions of us. Not all is lost. Not by a long shot.
posted by Defying Gravity at 4:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
But we're still here, guys. You know, those people who care about other people? There are millions upon millions of us. Not all is lost. Not by a long shot.
posted by Defying Gravity at 4:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
I guess CNN got the memo. Not a thing about Russian intercepts, just inaugural swooning.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Just in case you haven't seen this yet #BridgesNotWalls gaining traction on twitter.
posted by melisande at 4:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by melisande at 4:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm participating in the Women's March tomorrow but I feel like I'm spitting in the wind. I feel like I have to display my moral outrage at this farce but marching won't change anything. What do we do about an EPA head who doesn't believe in protecting the environment or an Education head who doesn't believe in public education and don't even get me started on healthcare.
This article discussing how the Women's March will be just another Occupy was depressing.
In my opinion, the marches are most popular in areas where Trump didn't win. (I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area and will be marching in Oakland.) We're not changing the hearts and minds of folks in Iowa and Kansas and those are the folks that gave us Trump. Fox News probably won't even show the marches and that's where Trump voters get their news.
posted by shoesietart at 4:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
This article discussing how the Women's March will be just another Occupy was depressing.
In my opinion, the marches are most popular in areas where Trump didn't win. (I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area and will be marching in Oakland.) We're not changing the hearts and minds of folks in Iowa and Kansas and those are the folks that gave us Trump. Fox News probably won't even show the marches and that's where Trump voters get their news.
posted by shoesietart at 4:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Tomorrow is a day many Americans have been eagerly awaiting! Donald Trump will finally be eligible for impeachment.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [78 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [78 favorites]
It's in the high 60s today in Oklahoma.
I'm going to go for a long walk at the lake, do some crochet, read some books, watch some DVDs. I'm hugging my family today.
But the regular coverage can take a hike. This -- stuff -- does not need my participation. Tomorrow is another day.
Psychic hugs to my Mefites today. Do something good for yourself.
posted by TrishaU at 4:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
I'm going to go for a long walk at the lake, do some crochet, read some books, watch some DVDs. I'm hugging my family today.
But the regular coverage can take a hike. This -- stuff -- does not need my participation. Tomorrow is another day.
Psychic hugs to my Mefites today. Do something good for yourself.
posted by TrishaU at 4:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
posted by pangolin party at 5:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [51 favorites]
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
posted by pangolin party at 5:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [51 favorites]
I remember back in October, when I posted in one of these threads idly wondering, "but wait, what if Trump actually wins?" I thought I was just catastrophising, like that time that I read Command and Control.
Those were innocent times...
posted by indubitable at 5:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Those were innocent times...
posted by indubitable at 5:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Born and raised in Chicago
So begins the Michael Flatley Birther Movement.
posted by dr_dank at 5:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
So begins the Michael Flatley Birther Movement.
posted by dr_dank at 5:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
We're not changing the hearts and minds of folks in Iowa and Kansas and those are the folks that gave us Trump
Fuck. Those. People. You don't need to convince them. You need to convince more of your people to actually get out the goddamn vote. And strong showings of solidarity might do that. The "folks in Iowa and Kansas" didn't give you Trump. People staying home in the cities gave you Trump. NPR gave you Trump. The FBI gave you Trump.
Some people, lots of people, are going to pull the lever for an R, any R, every time. Forget about them. Worry about the people who might pull the D lever but didn't.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [93 favorites]
Fuck. Those. People. You don't need to convince them. You need to convince more of your people to actually get out the goddamn vote. And strong showings of solidarity might do that. The "folks in Iowa and Kansas" didn't give you Trump. People staying home in the cities gave you Trump. NPR gave you Trump. The FBI gave you Trump.
Some people, lots of people, are going to pull the lever for an R, any R, every time. Forget about them. Worry about the people who might pull the D lever but didn't.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [93 favorites]
I am avoiding the news today, social media for the most part as well. I don't have to subject myself to bad news if I don't want to.
posted by tommasz at 5:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 5:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I was thinking last night, about Trump et al. and how this got started.
All the craziness from the far right in the US: The Rapture, Creationism, Climate Change Denial, Birtherism, etc., weren't ends in themselves, but just ways to soften up people's minds, to get them used believing insane things that were at direct opposition to the observable reality around them, and to drive a wedge between people who believe these things and those who don't, to make any communication between the two camps impossible, because how do you even start arguing with somebody who believes that they will be taken bodily up to heaven where they can sneer at us for being left behind?
If you already believe 9 crazy things before breakfast, all of them easily refutable by 15 minutes of googleing, what's to stop you from believing Trump could be president?
posted by signal at 5:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
All the craziness from the far right in the US: The Rapture, Creationism, Climate Change Denial, Birtherism, etc., weren't ends in themselves, but just ways to soften up people's minds, to get them used believing insane things that were at direct opposition to the observable reality around them, and to drive a wedge between people who believe these things and those who don't, to make any communication between the two camps impossible, because how do you even start arguing with somebody who believes that they will be taken bodily up to heaven where they can sneer at us for being left behind?
If you already believe 9 crazy things before breakfast, all of them easily refutable by 15 minutes of googleing, what's to stop you from believing Trump could be president?
posted by signal at 5:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
Saw a Facebook post encouraging me to tune my television to the food network or weather channel and leave it on all day in order to somehow deprive the inauguration of ratings.
Please don't do this. Wasting electricity helps the enemy.
posted by FeatherWatt at 5:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Please don't do this. Wasting electricity helps the enemy.
posted by FeatherWatt at 5:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
I have a longer blog post to write about this, but I ended up with 20 ukulele players at my flash mob. We raised $30, which I will be donating to the Massachusetts chapter of the ACLU. I'm hoping to do more actions, but this was a good start.
posted by pxe2000 at 5:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by pxe2000 at 5:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
The big events today on the world stage are, of course, the Eurovision Song Contest qualifying competitions in Georgia and Belarus. #ThingsThatDidNotMakeTheFPPCut
posted by Wordshore at 5:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by Wordshore at 5:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
If nothing else, I will celebrate the peaceful transition of power. It will be peaceful, right?
In Shrek world he would be grabbed by a dragon.
posted by rongorongo at 5:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
In Shrek world he would be grabbed by a dragon.
posted by rongorongo at 5:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Donald Trump that conservatives voted for is an entirely fictitious person they invented in their minds.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [90 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [90 favorites]
Man I feel like we could get all philosophical about what could have changed 5 or 10 years ago to prevent this but I just blame every piece of shit house and senate and state and local republican who could have opened their mouths in 2016 and said "do NOT vote for this guy, he is a dangerous fuck who doesn't know what he's doing and will wreck everything. He is a clown, I will not be voting for him and neither should you, fellow republicans" but instead just sat silently and watched this car accident happen in slow motion. Motherfucking fuck them, all of them.
posted by windbox at 5:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
posted by windbox at 5:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
Saw a Facebook post encouraging me to tune my television to the food network or weather channel and leave it on all day in order to somehow deprive the inauguration of ratings.
That so many people still believe that all traditional broadcast or cable TV is somehow tracked for ratings bugs me in a way I hadn't expected.
posted by Servo5678 at 5:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [44 favorites]
That so many people still believe that all traditional broadcast or cable TV is somehow tracked for ratings bugs me in a way I hadn't expected.
posted by Servo5678 at 5:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [44 favorites]
Woke up to NPR swooning over the inauguration. Think I'll listen to Stephanie Miller this morning.
posted by ZeusHumms at 5:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ZeusHumms at 5:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just decided that my small, quiet, protest today is going to be posting to FB favorite works by women poets, presented without any other commentary.
posted by Tevin at 5:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by Tevin at 5:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
If you do want to watch TV, animal planet is showing Too Cute all day.
posted by dinty_moore at 5:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by dinty_moore at 5:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
I am so, so, genuinely fucking sorry for everyone in the US. This is breaking my heart so I can't even imagine what it's like for people who live there.
Well, I, for one, woke up to ELO's New World Rising - Ocean Breakup Reprise for the umpteenth morning since after the election, donned a unnamed jersey for a hockey team around here, and am about to head into work.
There's been a lot of should've, could've, would've in my mind, mixed in with the what we knew at the time, and resources I had. My main conclusion is that for the second time in my life (W. Bush, Trump), and 4th for my parents (Nixon, Reagan, et al.), the US has been royally fucked.
Good luck all
posted by JoeXIII007 at 5:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Well, I, for one, woke up to ELO's New World Rising - Ocean Breakup Reprise for the umpteenth morning since after the election, donned a unnamed jersey for a hockey team around here, and am about to head into work.
There's been a lot of should've, could've, would've in my mind, mixed in with the what we knew at the time, and resources I had. My main conclusion is that for the second time in my life (W. Bush, Trump), and 4th for my parents (Nixon, Reagan, et al.), the US has been royally fucked.
Good luck all
posted by JoeXIII007 at 5:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Woke up to NPR swooning over the inauguration
They did have Christopher Buckley on throwing some fine patrician shade, though. Still doesn't make the rest of it particularly palatable.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
They did have Christopher Buckley on throwing some fine patrician shade, though. Still doesn't make the rest of it particularly palatable.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
That so many people still believe that all traditional broadcast or cable TV is somehow tracked for ratings bugs me in a way I hadn't expected.
Not broadcast, but it seems like most people at this point expect their set-top cable and satellite boxes to be phoning home some kind of metrics-- which, increasingly, is probably correct. And even if it's not, it's probably better that consumers assume their data is being collected these days.
It's just that, in this case, the data collected isn't used for the TV ratings we see. Possibly, it has some effect on the viewership numbers that cable/sat cos and networks assert themselves.
But the way to deal with that possibility without wasting electricity is to just TURN THE FUCKER OFF.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Not broadcast, but it seems like most people at this point expect their set-top cable and satellite boxes to be phoning home some kind of metrics-- which, increasingly, is probably correct. And even if it's not, it's probably better that consumers assume their data is being collected these days.
It's just that, in this case, the data collected isn't used for the TV ratings we see. Possibly, it has some effect on the viewership numbers that cable/sat cos and networks assert themselves.
But the way to deal with that possibility without wasting electricity is to just TURN THE FUCKER OFF.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Pink Floyd's Animals is my official soundtrack for the day.
posted by He Is Only The Imposter at 5:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by He Is Only The Imposter at 5:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
So I got on the train this morning on a gloomy day with gloomy people because of what's going on today. I open twitter on my phone and searched #inauguration. This was at the top, and while I think the metaphor is accurate, the dark humor kinda restored my faith in the power of satire. My favorite tweet so far on a day of a gazillion tweets
(language may be nsfw, but it sums it up nicely.)
posted by prepmonkey at 5:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
(language may be nsfw, but it sums it up nicely.)
posted by prepmonkey at 5:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
"There must have been a moment when we could have stopped this. There must have been a moment when we could have said 'no,' but we missed it."
There's a good article by Rebecca Solnit in the Grauniad today about pretty much exactly that.
And solidarity in the face of the high-velocity spatter #PuTrump shitstorm bearing down on us...
There's a good article by Rebecca Solnit in the Grauniad today about pretty much exactly that.
And solidarity in the face of the high-velocity spatter #PuTrump shitstorm bearing down on us...
> We need to tell our stories better and learn to influence what stories get told. We need an endless series of reforms, from media and technology to education and healthcare. There’s more than enough work for everyone. There will be too much, and each of us will have to find a piece of the problem where we can be effective and stick to it. We’re going to have to build alliances – that means working alongside people with whom you agree about the big things and not quibbling about the little ones. We’re going to have to remember what kind of power civil society has and how to use it. We’re going to have to be brilliantly organised.posted by Buntix at 5:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
I cried just now, just reading the title. God save us all.
posted by corb at 5:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by corb at 5:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
Looking at the radar, things appear to be quite wet in DC today.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:28 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by Thorzdad at 5:28 AM on January 20, 2017
A friend of mine in DC says all of the sunrise pictures you see on Twitter of the Capitol building this morning are fake. He lives a few blocks away, and said it has been gross and overcast.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
I have never been this unhappy that it's a Friday.
posted by INFJ at 5:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by INFJ at 5:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
We shall fight in the hillsh;
Take lots of heavy warm blankets... to reduce your heat footprint from the attack drones.
posted by sammyo at 5:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Take lots of heavy warm blankets... to reduce your heat footprint from the attack drones.
posted by sammyo at 5:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Take lots of heavy warm blankets... to reduce your heat footprint from the attack drones.
Carry a Roomba - drones won't shoot their own kin.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 5:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [48 favorites]
Carry a Roomba - drones won't shoot their own kin.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 5:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [48 favorites]
> The Donald Trump that conservatives voted for is an entirely fictitious person they invented in their minds.
From the article those quotes are from:
Like most? “I like his straightforwardness. I like that he says it as he feels it.”
Like least? “I wish he would stop and think about what he’s going to say next instead of just saying it.”
Uh huh.
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
From the article those quotes are from:
Like most? “I like his straightforwardness. I like that he says it as he feels it.”
Like least? “I wish he would stop and think about what he’s going to say next instead of just saying it.”
Uh huh.
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
Carry a Roomba - drones won't shoot their own kin.
Isn't the Roomba made in China?
posted by cardboard at 5:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Isn't the Roomba made in China?
posted by cardboard at 5:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
This is the worst day in American history since Pearl Harbor.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
... is this really worst than 9/11?
I mean ... it's pretty shitty. But it's not 2,753 dead in one day shitty.*
*saying this from the present and allowing for future increases in body account because of Trump
posted by Tevin at 5:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
I mean ... it's pretty shitty. But it's not 2,753 dead in one day shitty.*
*saying this from the present and allowing for future increases in body account because of Trump
posted by Tevin at 5:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Woke up to NPR swooning over the inauguration. Think I'll listen to Stephanie Miller this morning.
Are they going to feel the same warm feelings when he cuts all of their funding?
posted by octothorpe at 5:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Are they going to feel the same warm feelings when he cuts all of their funding?
posted by octothorpe at 5:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
I just decided that my small, quiet, protest today is going to be posting to FB favorite works by women poets, presented without any other commentary.
I just FB posted "Rant" by Diane di Prima, one of my favorite poems ever. I might post some of her "Revolutionary Letters" later.
posted by dnash at 5:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
I just FB posted "Rant" by Diane di Prima, one of my favorite poems ever. I might post some of her "Revolutionary Letters" later.
posted by dnash at 5:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Well. I am spending today having been literally abandoned by Republican family members on the streets of a strange city after a meal in which my grandparents insinuated my job was worthless, vomited some impressively copied and pasted racism, and then decided to dig in further in a vicious screed against immigrants in front of my immigrant partner. No matter how I tried to respond, including attempting to defuse, the anger kept coming. When I finally stood up for myself and my spouse and basic decency, they left the restaurant we had been eating in while we watched.
I have watched the Republican family members who profess to care about me and mine rewrite their opinions of this administration over the last few months, and I am newly and emotionally cynical about NeverTrump and in particular the faction of the party that falls together under McCain, a man my grandfather has known and befriended for fifty years.
We were picked up by a friend's aunts, themselves immigrant women who didn't know us at all before volunteering to take us in based on my friend's request. They did this despite having family coming today that will put them at seven people in a three bed house. And they were not the only people who offered to help; they were just the fastest.
I am therefore spending this inauguration reflecting on the person I would like to be and the people who I would like to support, and figuring out where to stay for the next two nights that might ideally be somewhere on a metro line and have a place for two people to sleep that isn't actually on the floor.
We managed, on some fluke of luck, to secure time pass tickets to the new Smithsonian museum of African American history and culture this afternoon. When we are safe and we know our situation in more detail, I intend to do my best to use them so that I can reflect on the people who built this nation, the methods they used and the nation's shame and pride. We spent much of yesterday at the Museum of the American Indian doing the same thing.
This all feels very, very appropriate. I will, I think, be remembering this inauguration for some time to come.
posted by sciatrix at 5:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [280 favorites]
I have watched the Republican family members who profess to care about me and mine rewrite their opinions of this administration over the last few months, and I am newly and emotionally cynical about NeverTrump and in particular the faction of the party that falls together under McCain, a man my grandfather has known and befriended for fifty years.
We were picked up by a friend's aunts, themselves immigrant women who didn't know us at all before volunteering to take us in based on my friend's request. They did this despite having family coming today that will put them at seven people in a three bed house. And they were not the only people who offered to help; they were just the fastest.
I am therefore spending this inauguration reflecting on the person I would like to be and the people who I would like to support, and figuring out where to stay for the next two nights that might ideally be somewhere on a metro line and have a place for two people to sleep that isn't actually on the floor.
We managed, on some fluke of luck, to secure time pass tickets to the new Smithsonian museum of African American history and culture this afternoon. When we are safe and we know our situation in more detail, I intend to do my best to use them so that I can reflect on the people who built this nation, the methods they used and the nation's shame and pride. We spent much of yesterday at the Museum of the American Indian doing the same thing.
This all feels very, very appropriate. I will, I think, be remembering this inauguration for some time to come.
posted by sciatrix at 5:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [280 favorites]
As a Brit, I've looked on in horror as two slow-motion car crashes have unfolded recently so, should we ever meet in person, I'll make you a promise now: I won't mention Trump if you don't mention Brexit.
Good luck everyone.
posted by faceplantingcheetah at 5:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
Good luck everyone.
posted by faceplantingcheetah at 5:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
I'm feeling numb and afraid - I don't even have the energy for anger right now, and we're only just getting started. The one thing that's been helping is continuing to try to find a way to take action - I still haven't found "the" right thing for me but I won't stop trying.
Towards that end, for all you Pittsburghers in the crowd, tonight there's going to be a 'music / food / solidarity march' event at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church (East Liberty & Justice For All - FB link), and tomorrow will be an all-day Summit Against Racism at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (the very seminary attended by Fred Rogers ... I feel like that is very right).
The DingoWife and I will be at both events; maybe drop me a note if you'd like to say hi!
posted by DingoMutt at 5:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Towards that end, for all you Pittsburghers in the crowd, tonight there's going to be a 'music / food / solidarity march' event at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church (East Liberty & Justice For All - FB link), and tomorrow will be an all-day Summit Against Racism at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (the very seminary attended by Fred Rogers ... I feel like that is very right).
The DingoWife and I will be at both events; maybe drop me a note if you'd like to say hi!
posted by DingoMutt at 5:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Like most? “His willingness to avoid political correctness and state the issues the way they should be stated.”
Like least? “His comments about women I found very offensive. And they really bothered me during the campaign.”
Ahahaha.
Fucking hell.
Most of them mention his Twitter as the thing they like least, interestingly.
posted by threetwentytwo at 6:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Like least? “His comments about women I found very offensive. And they really bothered me during the campaign.”
Ahahaha.
Fucking hell.
Most of them mention his Twitter as the thing they like least, interestingly.
posted by threetwentytwo at 6:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
14 poems to read on Inauguration Day. There were several I wasn't familiar with. They were all good.
posted by skycrashesdown at 6:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by skycrashesdown at 6:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
Just popping in to amplify messages of solidarity.
Working in coalition is hard. It is OK to disagree, and to do so without demeaning reasonable dissent as "letting the perfect be the enemy of the good" or "a circular firing squad," though recognizing and distinguishing productive disagreement from unproductive is difficult.
Different people, coming from different positions, will have different priorities and work on addressing them accordingly. Progress has always relied on both radical protests that shock the public mind working alongside pragmatic compromise so small as to go unnoticed by most. As Ernestine Rose said in 1860:
Working in coalition is hard. It is OK to disagree, and to do so without demeaning reasonable dissent as "letting the perfect be the enemy of the good" or "a circular firing squad," though recognizing and distinguishing productive disagreement from unproductive is difficult.
Different people, coming from different positions, will have different priorities and work on addressing them accordingly. Progress has always relied on both radical protests that shock the public mind working alongside pragmatic compromise so small as to go unnoticed by most. As Ernestine Rose said in 1860:
In 1855, while speaking before the Legislature, I told them we claimed perfect equality of rights; we ask for no more, we can be satisfied with no less; we will accept as much as you are prepared to acceede, and then claim the rest; and now, having obtained this much, we can 'wait a little longer' not in silence and inaction, but in the faith which springs from work.posted by audi alteram partem at 6:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
For a little light distraction from all this, I think I will spend the time reading the Malleus Maleficarum. It may also help me understand some of the events which are yet to unfold
posted by Myeral at 6:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Myeral at 6:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
On the bright side, today we either get confirmation that time travel is possible or like a 99% proof that it's not.
posted by signal at 6:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [37 favorites]
posted by signal at 6:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [37 favorites]
Just in case you haven't seen this yet #BridgesNotWalls gaining traction on twitter.
posted by melisande at 8:55 AM on January 20 [+] [!]
This just brought tears to my eyes. Thank you everyone around the world for supporting us.
posted by INFJ at 6:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by melisande at 8:55 AM on January 20 [+] [!]
This just brought tears to my eyes. Thank you everyone around the world for supporting us.
posted by INFJ at 6:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
That kinda sums up how this aging geek feels today.
posted by nubs at 6:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [117 favorites]
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
That kinda sums up how this aging geek feels today.
posted by nubs at 6:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [117 favorites]
Ya'know, he is not necessarily a true GOPer, he's a Donaldian, it's possible he gets in a big fight with some factions and decides to woo some variety of alt-left for 2020. Possibly functional effective activist donalodian strategy: suck up to Ivanka. Keep your options open. Build 30 feet of a wall for photo ops, fill jets with war orphans and get them in front of news cameras. Work the system, the republicans certainly will be.
posted by sammyo at 6:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by sammyo at 6:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I mean ... it's pretty shitty. But it's not 2,753 dead in one day shitty.*
Once healthcare is gone there's going to be a lot more. Not in one day, granted, but there's a lot of people who are going to die unnecessarily.
posted by Talez at 6:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [34 favorites]
Once healthcare is gone there's going to be a lot more. Not in one day, granted, but there's a lot of people who are going to die unnecessarily.
posted by Talez at 6:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [34 favorites]
I was holding it together until I saw this thread had been posted. I guess it was the final signal my psyche needed 'Yes, yes it is happening. We are now in the Trump becomes president thread'.
Metafilter makes it real.
I'm going to town and get some booze. I don't drink much but feel like it today. Just trying to decide what to get.
posted by Jalliah at 6:07 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
I am spending today having been literally abandoned by Republican family members on the streets of a strange city
Oh no! I am so sorry, sciatrix. I was starting to vicariously like your grandmother. I am shocked and angry on your behalf that they actually kicked you out because of your beliefs. That is not good Republican values, or really good any values.
All the people I know that might even possibly have space would only have floor space also, sadly, everyone's packed.
I am so sorry-angry.
posted by corb at 6:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
Oh no! I am so sorry, sciatrix. I was starting to vicariously like your grandmother. I am shocked and angry on your behalf that they actually kicked you out because of your beliefs. That is not good Republican values, or really good any values.
All the people I know that might even possibly have space would only have floor space also, sadly, everyone's packed.
I am so sorry-angry.
posted by corb at 6:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
I looked at the weather in Washington. It says it's raining. Anyone know if it's actually raining? Does it suck?
posted by Jalliah at 6:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Jared Yates Sexton is attending the inaugeration as a student of politics. Here's his Twitter from the last few minutes.
posted by Talez at 6:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [123 favorites]
Jared Yates Sexton @JYSextonThis election was a primal scream from the electorate.
White people. Most celebrating Obama leaving, vocalizing Trump as revenge. They're reveling in sending him as punishment, not governance
This isn't about government. This is about winning.
People are saying, in so many words, that this is about spitting liberals and multiculturalism. They're celebrating it openly.
Two men walk by holding hands, someone yells "it's not your country anymore"
posted by Talez at 6:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [123 favorites]
Most of them mention his Twitter as the thing they like least, interestingly.
Because it's hard to pretend that he's anything other than a petty narcissist if you read his tweets?
posted by Slothrup at 6:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Because it's hard to pretend that he's anything other than a petty narcissist if you read his tweets?
posted by Slothrup at 6:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
sciatrix, as someone with (part of my) family I no longer speak to, I know today must be difficult for you. If it's any help, I've come to view family the same way as nationality. It's something that happens to you before you have any choice in the matter. The beautiful thing is that we are free, as we grow older, to make a new family, one where we choose the members because they are the people near and dear to us. I don't know if that helps, but I hope you find a non-floor place to stay.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by Ghidorah at 6:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
This morning in having a true PTSD reaction straight from my childhood.
I have the feeling of waiting for the next thing, quiet breathing my only company.
It's going to be a long day.
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
I have the feeling of waiting for the next thing, quiet breathing my only company.
It's going to be a long day.
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
>I looked at the weather in Washington. It says it's raining. Anyone know if it's actually raining? Does it suck?
It is raining according to McKay Coppins at least.
posted by Tevin at 6:15 AM on January 20, 2017
It is raining according to McKay Coppins at least.
posted by Tevin at 6:15 AM on January 20, 2017
I looked at the weather in Washington. It says it's raining.
That's just Trump peeing on the nation's leg and saying it's raining.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
That's just Trump peeing on the nation's leg and saying it's raining.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Rained earlier, stopped for now but another big rain band is maybe an hour out. It's nasty and overcast. Any sunny photos of the mall you see are a lie.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
It is raining according to McKay Coppins at least.
It's just a little thing that makes it a tiny bit better. I'm glad he doesn't get glorious sunshine and the petty side of me is glad that all of the people there, especially the ones Jared Yates Sexton tweets posted above have to do it in miserable weather.
Thanks universe.
posted by Jalliah at 6:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's just a little thing that makes it a tiny bit better. I'm glad he doesn't get glorious sunshine and the petty side of me is glad that all of the people there, especially the ones Jared Yates Sexton tweets posted above have to do it in miserable weather.
Thanks universe.
posted by Jalliah at 6:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm going to town and get some booze. I don't drink much but feel like it today. Just trying to decide what to get.
Yeah, I picked the wrong decade to stop drinking
posted by thelonius at 6:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Yeah, I picked the wrong decade to stop drinking
posted by thelonius at 6:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm hiding inside (near downtown dc) so my saint of a boyfriend offered to walk the dog this morning. People are openly wearing swastikas.
(and yes, it is raining)
posted by R a c h e l at 6:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
(and yes, it is raining)
posted by R a c h e l at 6:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
*deep exhale* I just thought we were better than this.
This morning I took the American flag pin off my work ID lanyard and put it back on upside down. It has a little extra point on the pinback so it won't just turn itself rightside up. No idea how long I will have to leave it that way.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
This morning I took the American flag pin off my work ID lanyard and put it back on upside down. It has a little extra point on the pinback so it won't just turn itself rightside up. No idea how long I will have to leave it that way.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Well, what's to say?
It was nice knowing you all.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
It was nice knowing you all.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
That so many people still believe that all traditional broadcast or cable TV is somehow tracked for ratings bugs me in a way I hadn't expected.
Broadcast wouldn't be tracked. But anyone with a cable provided DVR is probably tracked. Tivo does the same. And that's been the case, at least with Tivo, for 15 years. Tivo announced Firefly was the most recorded show when Fox was considering cancellation.
Have no idea what percentage of the population has an Internet-connected DVR, but probably enough to make for a good sample to rival Nielsen.
posted by honestcoyote at 6:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Broadcast wouldn't be tracked. But anyone with a cable provided DVR is probably tracked. Tivo does the same. And that's been the case, at least with Tivo, for 15 years. Tivo announced Firefly was the most recorded show when Fox was considering cancellation.
Have no idea what percentage of the population has an Internet-connected DVR, but probably enough to make for a good sample to rival Nielsen.
posted by honestcoyote at 6:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm hiding inside (near downtown dc) so my saint of a boyfriend offered to walk the dog this morning. People are openly wearing swastikas.
I hope people take pictures of this. I assume they are.
It won't make much of difference now but it needs to be recorded for the sake of history.
posted by Jalliah at 6:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
WMATA is throwing metro shade:
As of 8:30, parking available at all stations with lots/garages. All under 50% except E Falls Chrch (65%) & Van Dorn (55%) #wmata #inaug2017
It's literally less full than a normal Wednesday.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [82 favorites]
As of 8:30, parking available at all stations with lots/garages. All under 50% except E Falls Chrch (65%) & Van Dorn (55%) #wmata #inaug2017
It's literally less full than a normal Wednesday.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [82 favorites]
This is the worst day in American history since Pearl Harbor.
Fort Sumter. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the country was unified with a common purpose, suddenly. (Even America Firster Lucky Lindy flew combat missions.)
posted by Pseudonymous Cognomen at 6:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Fort Sumter. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the country was unified with a common purpose, suddenly. (Even America Firster Lucky Lindy flew combat missions.)
posted by Pseudonymous Cognomen at 6:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
i can't look
posted by murphy slaw at 6:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 6:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
In a weird way, I'm feeling better this morning, because at least we're not waiting anymore. I'm sure I'll feel worse as specific things happen, but the mere fact of the long stretch between the terrible news and the actual terrible event has been, for me, particularly hard to bear.
Also, it seems like Republican disarray and popular pushback are making at least some of the Ryanist agenda harder to implement. If we can get through this without absolutely everything gutted, there's some possibility to rebuild again.
posted by Frowner at 6:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
Also, it seems like Republican disarray and popular pushback are making at least some of the Ryanist agenda harder to implement. If we can get through this without absolutely everything gutted, there's some possibility to rebuild again.
posted by Frowner at 6:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
Neil Macdonald at the CBC is not pulling any punches in this editorial: America descends into brutality as the real-life Archie Bunker is sworn in as president
posted by fimbulvetr at 6:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by fimbulvetr at 6:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
I'm hiding inside (near downtown dc) so my saint of a boyfriend offered to walk the dog this morning. People are openly wearing swastikas.
I hope people take pictures of this. I assume they are.
Wow, this really really needs photos with unambiguous locations and time posted.
posted by sammyo at 6:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
I hope people take pictures of this. I assume they are.
Wow, this really really needs photos with unambiguous locations and time posted.
posted by sammyo at 6:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
... is this really worst than 9/11?
This is something I've been contemplating, because I feel similarly ill this morning to how I felt that day. Right now we are suspended in the moment just before the plane hits. You can plainly see that something horrible is happening, that there is nothing you can do to stop it, but you can't yet imagine the terrible consequences of how it will all play out. IMO this feels worse because it became clear on 9/11 or shortly after that it was foreign terrorists who did it. This? Americans did it to themselves. Russia, yeah... but Americans voted for this person. Everything we've learned since Election Day has only confirmed what was already apparent. This is worse than 9/11 because I have lost faith in my fellow citizens. There will be no pulling together in the wake of this, only ripping the frayed seams apart entirely.
posted by gatorae at 6:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
This is something I've been contemplating, because I feel similarly ill this morning to how I felt that day. Right now we are suspended in the moment just before the plane hits. You can plainly see that something horrible is happening, that there is nothing you can do to stop it, but you can't yet imagine the terrible consequences of how it will all play out. IMO this feels worse because it became clear on 9/11 or shortly after that it was foreign terrorists who did it. This? Americans did it to themselves. Russia, yeah... but Americans voted for this person. Everything we've learned since Election Day has only confirmed what was already apparent. This is worse than 9/11 because I have lost faith in my fellow citizens. There will be no pulling together in the wake of this, only ripping the frayed seams apart entirely.
posted by gatorae at 6:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
Sciatrix, I'm so sorry. Your posts have been giving me so much strength and hope these past few weeks, and you deserve so much better. If it's any consolation, I believe strongly that the chosen family you are going to create around you in the long will be vibrant, loving, powerful, and sustaining. You have a great and loving heart, and we are all rooting for you. Don't give up.
posted by pretentious illiterate at 6:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [72 favorites]
posted by pretentious illiterate at 6:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [72 favorites]
This is something I've been contemplating, because I feel similarly ill this morning to how I felt that day. Right now we are suspended in the moment just before the plane hits. You can plainly see that something horrible is happening, that there is nothing you can do to stop it, but you can't yet imagine the terrible consequences of how it will all play out. IMO this feels worse because it became clear on 9/11 or shortly after that it was foreign terrorists who did it. This? Americans did it to themselves. Russia, yeah... but Americans voted for this person. Everything we've learned since Election Day has only confirmed what was already apparent. This is worse than 9/11 because I have lost faith in my fellow citizens. There will be no pulling together in the wake of this, only ripping the frayed seams apart entirely.
I have the same horrified, 'this is going to change everything' feeling of dread that I had on 9/11 immediately after the info came out that it was foreign terrorists. I'll be honest that up until then I was saying 'Please let them be white and American, please let them be white and American' begging it to be so. So bad, but a domestically contained bad.
I suppose there is some irony in that now.
*sigh*
posted by Jalliah at 6:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
I have the same horrified, 'this is going to change everything' feeling of dread that I had on 9/11 immediately after the info came out that it was foreign terrorists. I'll be honest that up until then I was saying 'Please let them be white and American, please let them be white and American' begging it to be so. So bad, but a domestically contained bad.
I suppose there is some irony in that now.
*sigh*
posted by Jalliah at 6:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
How is it possible that this country has willingly elected a President even WORSE than George W. Bush?
How?
posted by darkstar at 6:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
How?
posted by darkstar at 6:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
I stopped in at the post office this morning, and the Obama/Biden pictures are down. Scared to think what's going up, and how it's going to be depressing to go there for some time now
posted by MtDewd at 6:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by MtDewd at 6:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I've been listening to Sleater Kinney's album "One Beat" a lot lately. Much of it was their response to 9/11 and it feels relevant again these days. Here's Combat Rock. Sample lyric: "We'll come out with our fists raised/The good old boys are back on top again/And if we let them lead us blindly/The past becomes the future once again". Worth listening to today I think.
posted by skycrashesdown at 6:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by skycrashesdown at 6:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Pretty stoked that Putin was so nice as to give Trump the weekend off after starting his new job.
posted by porn in the woods at 6:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by porn in the woods at 6:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Oh god, I've been reading all of the other threads ALL THE TIME but this one I might have to look away from.
posted by armacy at 6:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by armacy at 6:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm going to start a list of things that are good in a relative sense.
It's raining in Washington.
People are there recording horrible things people there 'celebrating' are saying and doing. You're now part of history folks as the bad guys. Doesn't matter if you see it that way or not. YOU ARE.
All of the protests. Huge numbers of people and huge number of protests. I would be feeling a whole lot more despondent if there wasn't protests.
posted by Jalliah at 6:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
It's raining in Washington.
People are there recording horrible things people there 'celebrating' are saying and doing. You're now part of history folks as the bad guys. Doesn't matter if you see it that way or not. YOU ARE.
All of the protests. Huge numbers of people and huge number of protests. I would be feeling a whole lot more despondent if there wasn't protests.
posted by Jalliah at 6:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
Once healthcare is gone there's going to be a lot more. Not in one day, granted, but there's a lot of people who are going to die unnecessarily.
And there will be the next war, wherever it is.
I am more resigned than angry today. I have pulled an Aslan and moved past Deep Cynicism to a Deeper Cynicism From Beyond the Dawn of Time. Of course, in this nation of relentless media deregulation and 24/7 howling through the wires, Hope would be succeeded by Spite. In a era where one party has gone completely Manichaean, declared the other party illegitimate and denounced cooperation, bipartisanship and compromise as evils, and where the American media has _accepted that_ as a legitimate stance to take, of course they would eventually emerge triumphant on a frightening scale.
Trump is not the disease. Trump is the latest symptom.
How is it possible that this country has willingly elected a President even WORSE than George W. Bush?
Because they did it before, and his name was Ronald Reagan, and he caused more damage to this country's foundations than anyone else before him. And he and Dubya and Trump share a pedigree; they are not Presidents in a normal sense, but distractions sugarcoating what the party and power brokers and super-rich behind them are doing and wrapping it all up in red, white and blue.
So we pick up our guitar and play, just like yesterday, and begin the slow process of survival just as we've done every other time that the beasts have won the day. Not all of us will make it, but we will prop up whoever we can and make sure that when the shit hits the fan, history records who was truly to blame.
posted by delfin at 6:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [48 favorites]
And there will be the next war, wherever it is.
I am more resigned than angry today. I have pulled an Aslan and moved past Deep Cynicism to a Deeper Cynicism From Beyond the Dawn of Time. Of course, in this nation of relentless media deregulation and 24/7 howling through the wires, Hope would be succeeded by Spite. In a era where one party has gone completely Manichaean, declared the other party illegitimate and denounced cooperation, bipartisanship and compromise as evils, and where the American media has _accepted that_ as a legitimate stance to take, of course they would eventually emerge triumphant on a frightening scale.
Trump is not the disease. Trump is the latest symptom.
How is it possible that this country has willingly elected a President even WORSE than George W. Bush?
Because they did it before, and his name was Ronald Reagan, and he caused more damage to this country's foundations than anyone else before him. And he and Dubya and Trump share a pedigree; they are not Presidents in a normal sense, but distractions sugarcoating what the party and power brokers and super-rich behind them are doing and wrapping it all up in red, white and blue.
So we pick up our guitar and play, just like yesterday, and begin the slow process of survival just as we've done every other time that the beasts have won the day. Not all of us will make it, but we will prop up whoever we can and make sure that when the shit hits the fan, history records who was truly to blame.
posted by delfin at 6:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [48 favorites]
Southwest Flight Lights Go Pink for Women's March
A passenger on a flight from Chicago to Baltimore Thursday said the light adjustment was a welcome surprise.
"It was unexpected and unannounced," passenger Jennifer Moran told NBC in an email. "There was no announcement explicitly from the staff and no one screamed this is for the March. Nothing, just spontaneous and everyone knew exactly why they were cheering."
posted by windbox at 6:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [58 favorites]
A passenger on a flight from Chicago to Baltimore Thursday said the light adjustment was a welcome surprise.
"It was unexpected and unannounced," passenger Jennifer Moran told NBC in an email. "There was no announcement explicitly from the staff and no one screamed this is for the March. Nothing, just spontaneous and everyone knew exactly why they were cheering."
posted by windbox at 6:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [58 favorites]
I stopped in at the post office this morning, and the Obama/Biden pictures are down
We went to see a play at my nephews' elementary school last weekend, and Trump's picture was already up. I almost wept.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
We went to see a play at my nephews' elementary school last weekend, and Trump's picture was already up. I almost wept.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'll be back at work, in DC, on January 22 (Sunday), and I don't expect anything other than leftover chaos. The Roe v. Wade protesters will be in town on Friday, January 27, since the anniversary of the decision came on a weekend this year--January 22--and they protest only when the Supreme Court is in session). So that's the next storm.
FWIW, I've been at work (Capitol Hill) most years on the march date. I have never seen so many white people in one place. Lots of religious (e.g., monks, nuns, etc.). Lots of teenagers. Lots of signs. And some legendary jaywalking and crowding the sidewalks as they walked after the march was over. My heart goes out to shopkeepers and residents on that day, every year.
posted by datawrangler at 6:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
FWIW, I've been at work (Capitol Hill) most years on the march date. I have never seen so many white people in one place. Lots of religious (e.g., monks, nuns, etc.). Lots of teenagers. Lots of signs. And some legendary jaywalking and crowding the sidewalks as they walked after the march was over. My heart goes out to shopkeepers and residents on that day, every year.
posted by datawrangler at 6:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
The news crew is coming to my house at 10:15 this morning. If y'all want me to post the video afterwards, I am happy to do so. I guess I better get my anti-Trump talking points ready!
posted by Kitteh at 6:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [51 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 6:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [51 favorites]
White people. Most celebrating Obama leaving, vocalizing Trump as revenge. They're reveling in sending him as punishment, not governance
This isn't about government. This is about winning.
People are saying, in so many words, that this is about spitting liberals and multiculturalism. They're celebrating it openly.
Two men walk by holding hands, someone yells "it's not your country anymore"
There's a parade of white (-sounding?) people calling into C-SPAN right now pretty much underscoring these sentiments, with all the attendant clueless soundbitey rah-rah. I've been listening for about 20 minutes and I've heard exactly one person express an anti-Trump sentiment. I've followed the campaigns and the conventions on C-SPAN mostly because I can't stand the networks' coverage—and partly, apparently, because I hate myself enough to subject myself to the unfiltered opinions of Americans thanking Jesus that the end of the republic is finally here.
posted by Rykey at 6:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
This isn't about government. This is about winning.
People are saying, in so many words, that this is about spitting liberals and multiculturalism. They're celebrating it openly.
Two men walk by holding hands, someone yells "it's not your country anymore"
There's a parade of white (-sounding?) people calling into C-SPAN right now pretty much underscoring these sentiments, with all the attendant clueless soundbitey rah-rah. I've been listening for about 20 minutes and I've heard exactly one person express an anti-Trump sentiment. I've followed the campaigns and the conventions on C-SPAN mostly because I can't stand the networks' coverage—and partly, apparently, because I hate myself enough to subject myself to the unfiltered opinions of Americans thanking Jesus that the end of the republic is finally here.
posted by Rykey at 6:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
The news crew is coming to my house at 10:15 this morning. If y'all want me to post the video afterwards, I am happy to do so. I guess I better get my anti-Trump talking points ready!
*squee* What station?
posted by Jalliah at 6:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
*squee* What station?
posted by Jalliah at 6:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Two men walk by holding hands, someone yells "it's not your country anymore"
Whatever. I'm wearing a rainbow beanie at work today.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
Whatever. I'm wearing a rainbow beanie at work today.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
Oh booze store open in 10. Going now. The only annoying thing is I'll get back to a bajillion comments here.
posted by Jalliah at 6:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Sciatrix, I'm not rolling in until pretty late tonight and staying an hour out of the city in Frederick, or I'd be swooping in this second to scoop you and your partner up. I'm holding you both in my heart right now.
BLM is Facebook Living various protests right now. That's the only thing I'll be watching today, when I do watch anything.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
BLM is Facebook Living various protests right now. That's the only thing I'll be watching today, when I do watch anything.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
In related portents and signs news - the first sunspot of Solar Cycle 25 has just turned up, meaning we're probably not in for the mini Ice Age that some thought might be on its way.
So that's good.
posted by Devonian at 6:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
So that's good.
posted by Devonian at 6:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
previous thread:
Would they pile into the saucer
Find Orlando's rat and hug it?
Go screaming through the universe
Just to get McNuggets?
...
They're not here, they're not coming
Not in a million years
Turn your hopes back homeward
Hold your children, dry their tears
You may see the heavens flashing
You may hear the cosmos humming
But I promise you, my brother
They're not here, they're not coming
posted by deludingmyself at 6:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I've been ugly sobbing off and on all night while also kinda pleading with the universe to send extraterrestrials now.And now I'm going to have a Don Henley song in my head all day, and I'm not even sad about it.
posted by fluffy battle kitten
Would they pile into the saucer
Find Orlando's rat and hug it?
Go screaming through the universe
Just to get McNuggets?
...
They're not here, they're not coming
Not in a million years
Turn your hopes back homeward
Hold your children, dry their tears
You may see the heavens flashing
You may hear the cosmos humming
But I promise you, my brother
They're not here, they're not coming
posted by deludingmyself at 6:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
sciatrix, I'm so sorry to hear about your experiences in D.C. Be strong.
posted by tofu_crouton at 6:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by tofu_crouton at 6:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump's here. We have four years to write a better story
posted by lalochezia at 6:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by lalochezia at 6:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Thank you all non-USAers for your condolences and hopes for us. As an American who travels a lot, it is heartening to be on the receiving end of good wishes.
For those of you feeling despondent (I'm right there with you), channel that in to action.
And this in my inbox this morning from the ACLU (not a plug for them, it's just the first concrete 'within the system' action I've seen and I don't think they will give up easily):
The ACLU is demanding access to key documents concerning Trump’s conflicts of interest. The public has a right to know...
On behalf of the American public, the ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Office of Government Ethics and three other government offices. FOIA is a crucial tool for ordinary Americans to provide checks and balances on elected officials – this won’t be our last one.
This is just the beginning.
posted by bluesky43 at 6:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
For those of you feeling despondent (I'm right there with you), channel that in to action.
And this in my inbox this morning from the ACLU (not a plug for them, it's just the first concrete 'within the system' action I've seen and I don't think they will give up easily):
The ACLU is demanding access to key documents concerning Trump’s conflicts of interest. The public has a right to know...
On behalf of the American public, the ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Office of Government Ethics and three other government offices. FOIA is a crucial tool for ordinary Americans to provide checks and balances on elected officials – this won’t be our last one.
This is just the beginning.
posted by bluesky43 at 6:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
*buckles up*
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
*squee* What station?
CKWS, our local news station here in Kingston.
I just called my mom to tell her. My mom, who is Hispanic and voted Hillary, said, "I don't like the man but I'm watching anyway because this is a historic moment." I replied, "Mom, they voted in a racist white dude. That's not a historic moment, that's business as usual."
posted by Kitteh at 6:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [31 favorites]
CKWS, our local news station here in Kingston.
I just called my mom to tell her. My mom, who is Hispanic and voted Hillary, said, "I don't like the man but I'm watching anyway because this is a historic moment." I replied, "Mom, they voted in a racist white dude. That's not a historic moment, that's business as usual."
posted by Kitteh at 6:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [31 favorites]
Hi, I'm MetaFilter's petebest, here to talk to you about the blue that binds us all together. Did you know that these election threads cost actual real, no-foolin' money to make available to you?
Why not spend some of your hard-earned money supporting a mediated discussion you're already a part of? It's easy to do, just scroll down and donate. Consider it an inauguration celebration of your own online haven. A swearin-in of the quidnunc, as it were.
Be nice to yourself and to the great unwashed masses of lurkers, yearning to be reading for free, who depend on at least one site that has its s**t together. And thank you for your support.
*hums MeFi the Beautiful*
posted by petebest at 6:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [53 favorites]
Why not spend some of your hard-earned money supporting a mediated discussion you're already a part of? It's easy to do, just scroll down and donate. Consider it an inauguration celebration of your own online haven. A swearin-in of the quidnunc, as it were.
Be nice to yourself and to the great unwashed masses of lurkers, yearning to be reading for free, who depend on at least one site that has its s**t together. And thank you for your support.
*hums MeFi the Beautiful*
posted by petebest at 6:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [53 favorites]
.
posted by tobascodagama at 6:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by tobascodagama at 6:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
i see npr is already hard at work at normalization this morning
DOESNT MATTER YOU TOADIES HE'S STILL GONNA ELIMINATE PUBLIC BROADCASTING WHY NOT GO DOWN SWINGING FOR A CHANGE
posted by entropicamericana at 6:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [103 favorites]
DOESNT MATTER YOU TOADIES HE'S STILL GONNA ELIMINATE PUBLIC BROADCASTING WHY NOT GO DOWN SWINGING FOR A CHANGE
posted by entropicamericana at 6:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [103 favorites]
Anyone know if it's actually raining? Does it suck?
I don't know if it's actually raining.
But I can promise you: it sucks.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
I don't know if it's actually raining.
But I can promise you: it sucks.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
hippybear: "Biggest crowd ever and best ratings ever. Inauguration truly the greatest. Thank you America for uniting under me to be Great Again!" -@realDonaldTrump, Jan 21, 2017, 6:30am
Real-time revisions to history (or just lying), unless he's changing "any press is good press" to "any crowd is a good crowd" ... but he's still not bringing crowds like Obama in 2009: Obama drew an estimated 1.8 million people to the National Mall eight years ago, according to federal and local agencies. Planners say they are expecting no more than 900,000 people to attend Trump's ceremonies Jan. 20. And most of them will be protesters.
And in other downscaling news, NPR has changed their promotional language - they were previously saying the would be providing live fact-checking to the Inaugural address, but now it's "providing footnotes." Footnotes, to me, imply some elaboration and additional detail, not clarifying how certain statements are just plain incorrect.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Real-time revisions to history (or just lying), unless he's changing "any press is good press" to "any crowd is a good crowd" ... but he's still not bringing crowds like Obama in 2009: Obama drew an estimated 1.8 million people to the National Mall eight years ago, according to federal and local agencies. Planners say they are expecting no more than 900,000 people to attend Trump's ceremonies Jan. 20. And most of them will be protesters.
And in other downscaling news, NPR has changed their promotional language - they were previously saying the would be providing live fact-checking to the Inaugural address, but now it's "providing footnotes." Footnotes, to me, imply some elaboration and additional detail, not clarifying how certain statements are just plain incorrect.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
How is it possible that this country has willingly elected a President even WORSE than George W. Bush?
The voters who helped Trump win the Republican primary, and the voters who helped him win the rust belt states despise GWB with every bone in their body. They hate him more than progressives do. Trump won because the GOP establishment sneered at him, and that was good enough for their angry base, a base so pissed off that hating Democrats wasn't enough anymore. A base finally accepting what liberals had been telling them for years, that Republicans didn't give two shits about them, so they latched on to Trump, and the more he ridiculed Jeb, the more they loved him.
posted by Beholder at 7:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
The voters who helped Trump win the Republican primary, and the voters who helped him win the rust belt states despise GWB with every bone in their body. They hate him more than progressives do. Trump won because the GOP establishment sneered at him, and that was good enough for their angry base, a base so pissed off that hating Democrats wasn't enough anymore. A base finally accepting what liberals had been telling them for years, that Republicans didn't give two shits about them, so they latched on to Trump, and the more he ridiculed Jeb, the more they loved him.
posted by Beholder at 7:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
NPR did make one good point this morning - Trump has been making the same noises about the state of America since the 1980s. Also their funding sources are quite diverse.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
By this time in 2020, my knuckles will be so white they'll glow in the dark.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
5pm here in Beirut. As I watch the NY Times live feed, I feel a sense of unheimlich, an uncanny discomfort that this inauguration both looks and feels like a coup, from Kellyanne Conway's red, white and blue outfit to the all-white sea of people, many of which sport blood red MAGA hats.
posted by standardasparagus at 7:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by standardasparagus at 7:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
And now I'm going to have a Don Henley song, in my head all day, and I'm not even sad about it.
Trump is a walking Don Henley song.
A new age is dawning
On fewer than expected
Business as Usual
That's how the headline read
Some shaky modern saviors
Have now been resurrected
In all this excitement
You may have been misled
People want a miracle
They say Oh Lord, can't you see us?
We're tryin' to make a livin' down here
And keep the children fed
But, from little dark motel rooms
To Six Flags over Jesus
How are the mighty fallen
So the Bible said
You don't have to pray to a little tin god
Step out of the way for a little tin god
You might fear the reaper, fear the rod
But you never have to get down on your knees
You don't have to holler, please, please
No, you never have to get down on your knees
For a little tin god
The cowboy's name was Jingo
And he heard that there was trouble
So in a blaze of glory
He rode out of the west
No one was ever certain
What it was that he was sayin'
But they loved it when he told them
They were better than the rest...
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Trump is a walking Don Henley song.
A new age is dawning
On fewer than expected
Business as Usual
That's how the headline read
Some shaky modern saviors
Have now been resurrected
In all this excitement
You may have been misled
People want a miracle
They say Oh Lord, can't you see us?
We're tryin' to make a livin' down here
And keep the children fed
But, from little dark motel rooms
To Six Flags over Jesus
How are the mighty fallen
So the Bible said
You don't have to pray to a little tin god
Step out of the way for a little tin god
You might fear the reaper, fear the rod
But you never have to get down on your knees
You don't have to holler, please, please
No, you never have to get down on your knees
For a little tin god
The cowboy's name was Jingo
And he heard that there was trouble
So in a blaze of glory
He rode out of the west
No one was ever certain
What it was that he was sayin'
But they loved it when he told them
They were better than the rest...
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
It feels fitting that my monthly therapist appointment is at 11 am.
posted by Kitteh at 7:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 7:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Anyway, I figure now is as good as time as any to borrow a plot device from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Specifically, the Infinite Improbability Drive, because it can cause the most improbable things to happen. And the current situation, unpleasant and undesirable as it is, is not the most improbable situation that could happen now.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
.
posted by photoslob at 7:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by photoslob at 7:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Snarl Furillo: My God, I can't believe we're actually going to do this. It's like I'm watching a horror movie, yelling, "Don't open the door! Don't open the door! He's right outside the Oval Office and he's got a chainsaw!" No one can hear me and nothing can stop it.
It probably doesn't make you feel any better, but you can imagine that instead of watching this horror movie alone, you're in a packed theater where a majority of the audience is screaming in terror, but the other movie patrons are chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" as if they expect something wonderful to happen.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
It probably doesn't make you feel any better, but you can imagine that instead of watching this horror movie alone, you're in a packed theater where a majority of the audience is screaming in terror, but the other movie patrons are chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" as if they expect something wonderful to happen.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
Specifically, the Infinite Improbability Drive, because it can cause the most improbable things to happen
you've made me think of an innocent creature hurtling towards an uncaring, implacable object, wondering if it will be his friend...
posted by nubs at 7:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
you've made me think of an innocent creature hurtling towards an uncaring, implacable object, wondering if it will be his friend...
posted by nubs at 7:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
You didn't so much lose your family sciatrix, as discover who your real family is. The people who care about and value you are the ones who deserve your time, energy and love and I'm so glad there are people like that in your life.
It's hard to let go of blood family, I've had to do that too, and I'm sorry. I miss what I thought we had as a family. That's a real grief. But I guess it's better to know who they are than to have illusions about them.
Like you, I've got my chosen family who love and support me, and they now get 100% of my time and care. I can't help but feel like that's right and good.
posted by emjaybee at 7:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
It's hard to let go of blood family, I've had to do that too, and I'm sorry. I miss what I thought we had as a family. That's a real grief. But I guess it's better to know who they are than to have illusions about them.
Like you, I've got my chosen family who love and support me, and they now get 100% of my time and care. I can't help but feel like that's right and good.
posted by emjaybee at 7:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
you've made me think of an innocent creature hurtling towards an uncaring, implacable object, wondering if it will be his friend...
Some of us are the whale, some of us are the bowl of petunias. But either way, MAGAthea is getting awfully close.
posted by mushhushshu at 7:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
Some of us are the whale, some of us are the bowl of petunias. But either way, MAGAthea is getting awfully close.
posted by mushhushshu at 7:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
Has Donald had his nuclear briefing yet? Are we already dealing with a weaponized Donald Trump?
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Are we already dealing with a weaponized Donald Trump?
Yes.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Yes.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Joint Chiefs just walked by NBC's cameras, looking slightly green around the gills.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Let us celebrate the peaceful transfer of power to a man who was going to claim the election results were invalid if he lost.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [68 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [68 favorites]
Free joints being handed out en masse at Dupont Circle. Jury's out on whether that's a net plus or minus for these protests.
posted by the sobsister at 7:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by the sobsister at 7:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Has Donald had his nuclear briefing yet?
The nuclear briefing is famously humbling. I assume it's really, truly horrifying. I would have to be. And yet, I am imagining Trump, phone in hand, distractedly scanning CNN's headlines while graphic images of the effects of nuclear weapons flash on a screen, while he is warned of the awesome power of the arsenal.
The presentation ends, he looks up and says, "Great, great. Say, when do I get the password to the @POTUS account?"
posted by uncleozzy at 7:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
The nuclear briefing is famously humbling. I assume it's really, truly horrifying. I would have to be. And yet, I am imagining Trump, phone in hand, distractedly scanning CNN's headlines while graphic images of the effects of nuclear weapons flash on a screen, while he is warned of the awesome power of the arsenal.
The presentation ends, he looks up and says, "Great, great. Say, when do I get the password to the @POTUS account?"
posted by uncleozzy at 7:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
NBC stream failed.
I will die laughing if Trump's inauguration gets DDOSed.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
I will die laughing if Trump's inauguration gets DDOSed.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
David Frum: The worst human being ever to enter the presidency, and I include all the slaveholders.
posted by gatorae at 7:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [52 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 7:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [52 favorites]
Two men walk by holding hands, someone yells "it's not your country anymore"
And THAT is what this election was all about.
One side says, yes, we are part of a country in which there is room for us all. Whoever you are, whoever you love, however you feel, you are American, you are included. We can believe different things in our private lives but balance our public behavior for the common good.
One side says, no, your tribe and my tribe are permanently at war. Our belief is that your beliefs are illegitimate, and now that we are in control we can exclude you from being heard, exclude you from being full citizens, exclude having to tolerate anyone or anything different.
The mere fact of someone being gay in a public place was a THREAT to that person. Their comfort in holding hands in public was oppressive -- it meant that America wasn't HIS America any more. And now he thinks that it's payback time.
Good luck with that, asshole.
posted by delfin at 7:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [116 favorites]
And THAT is what this election was all about.
One side says, yes, we are part of a country in which there is room for us all. Whoever you are, whoever you love, however you feel, you are American, you are included. We can believe different things in our private lives but balance our public behavior for the common good.
One side says, no, your tribe and my tribe are permanently at war. Our belief is that your beliefs are illegitimate, and now that we are in control we can exclude you from being heard, exclude you from being full citizens, exclude having to tolerate anyone or anything different.
The mere fact of someone being gay in a public place was a THREAT to that person. Their comfort in holding hands in public was oppressive -- it meant that America wasn't HIS America any more. And now he thinks that it's payback time.
Good luck with that, asshole.
posted by delfin at 7:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [116 favorites]
Assuming no last-minute surprises
Come on last-minute surprises....you can do it.....don't fail us now!
Though if you do, it would be awesome if you can make it a literal last minute surprise....60 seconds before the oath is taken Trump and Pence look at their cell-phones and then just shuffle off the stage without explanation....sort of in an "oh crap - someone has video of THAT night - I wonder if I can make it back to the plane before anyone notices I'm gone" sort of way. Queue hilarious slow motion car chase as they try and escape and keep driving down blocked roads, surrounded by media, and end up holed up in a cheap motel, followed by them trying to climb out the back window in makeshift disguises.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 7:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Come on last-minute surprises....you can do it.....don't fail us now!
Though if you do, it would be awesome if you can make it a literal last minute surprise....60 seconds before the oath is taken Trump and Pence look at their cell-phones and then just shuffle off the stage without explanation....sort of in an "oh crap - someone has video of THAT night - I wonder if I can make it back to the plane before anyone notices I'm gone" sort of way. Queue hilarious slow motion car chase as they try and escape and keep driving down blocked roads, surrounded by media, and end up holed up in a cheap motel, followed by them trying to climb out the back window in makeshift disguises.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 7:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
not clarifying how certain statements are just plain i̶n̶c̶o̶r̶r̶e̶c̶t̶ wrong
Fixed that for you.
posted by datawrangler at 7:19 AM on January 20, 2017
Fixed that for you.
posted by datawrangler at 7:19 AM on January 20, 2017
I would not take a joint on my way to a DC protest if someone paid me to. And I love joints!
Anyway, BLM protestcam way better than white supremacist orangecam.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Anyway, BLM protestcam way better than white supremacist orangecam.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
I will die laughing if Trump's inauguration gets DDOSed.
It would be fitting if the Russians turned on him the moment he took the reins. They were never going to back you as a state actor, Donnie. They just saw their chance to undermine western democracy, and guess what you're now the face of?
posted by Mayor West at 7:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
It would be fitting if the Russians turned on him the moment he took the reins. They were never going to back you as a state actor, Donnie. They just saw their chance to undermine western democracy, and guess what you're now the face of?
posted by Mayor West at 7:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
how much do you think these poor npr reporters drink at night when they get home from interviewing this redneck ignoramuses? especially those poor bastards on extended "middle america" safaris?
posted by entropicamericana at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Clinton is wearing all white. <3
posted by gatorae at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
I, also, will be working today..my first client will arrive in 15 minutes. Business here in the clinic will probably boom as more and more folks face the oncoming tidal wave of Bad Things. Depression and anxiety will abound, marital problems will soar... business will be good, lots of need for therapists, until the insurance is gone... then folks will stay home, contemplate suicide, luxuriate in panic attacks, abuse each other, and neglect the kids because "things are so crappy, who the fuck cares"...
posted by HuronBob at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by HuronBob at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Also, the Night Wolves Bikers4Trump made a noisy turn around the circle a while back. To my taste, not even puppies and kittens as riders could mitigate how obnoxious motorcycles can be. Then, when knuckledragging paramilitary "security" yobbos are straddling them...
posted by the sobsister at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by the sobsister at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017
David Frum:
This day is bad enough without bringing David Frum into it.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
This day is bad enough without bringing David Frum into it.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Two men walk by holding hands, someone yells "it's not your country anymore"
Remember, when you hear this noxious shit, that it is either legally and factually incorrect, or else utterly devoid of meaning. The government is not the country.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Remember, when you hear this noxious shit, that it is either legally and factually incorrect, or else utterly devoid of meaning. The government is not the country.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Come on last-minute surprises....you can do it.....don't fail us now!
where have you gone, giant asteroid?
a hopeful nation turns its eyes to you, ooo ooo ooo
posted by entropicamericana at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [44 favorites]
where have you gone, giant asteroid?
a hopeful nation turns its eyes to you, ooo ooo ooo
posted by entropicamericana at 7:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [44 favorites]
Christ, @POTUS is gonna make me cry.
posted by postcommunism at 7:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by postcommunism at 7:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's raining in D.C.. Even Mother Nature is crying.
My poor son turns 12 today, and he is so bummed that he has to share his day with...THIS.
posted by jenny76 at 7:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
My poor son turns 12 today, and he is so bummed that he has to share his day with...THIS.
posted by jenny76 at 7:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
The future is deplorable.
posted by acb at 7:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by acb at 7:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Kellyanne looks like the Nutcracker soldier.
posted by lazaruslong at 7:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by lazaruslong at 7:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Remember, when you hear this noxious shit, that it is either legally and factually incorrect, or else utterly devoid of meaning. The government is not the country.
That technicality made fuck all difference to a lot of Germans of Jewish descent in the 1930s.
posted by acb at 7:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
That technicality made fuck all difference to a lot of Germans of Jewish descent in the 1930s.
posted by acb at 7:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
The nuclear briefing is famously humbling. I assume it's really, truly horrifying. I would have to be.
uncleozzy, I get the impression that's not actually how it works. (source: Politico,
Trump’s nuclear wake-up call )
That article paints the picture that it's a sterile, military briefing. This is the phone. these are the codes. you pick a plan. you operate the device. you say this, and that, and we're off to the races. You can't stop it once you start it. Any questions?
So, it would be immensely sobering to a RATIONAL HUMAN BEING that they have the ability to just wipe everything out without any check on their decision. Donald doesn't think like that. He'll shrug his shoulders and declare "Good." and move on.
We're so fucked.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 7:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
uncleozzy, I get the impression that's not actually how it works. (source: Politico,
Trump’s nuclear wake-up call )
That article paints the picture that it's a sterile, military briefing. This is the phone. these are the codes. you pick a plan. you operate the device. you say this, and that, and we're off to the races. You can't stop it once you start it. Any questions?
So, it would be immensely sobering to a RATIONAL HUMAN BEING that they have the ability to just wipe everything out without any check on their decision. Donald doesn't think like that. He'll shrug his shoulders and declare "Good." and move on.
We're so fucked.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 7:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
Holy SHIT Kelly Anne Conway is dressed like a nutcracker. (jinx!)
posted by dis_integration at 7:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by dis_integration at 7:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Anecdote of these political times: a County employee (friend of a friend) was told to watch what he posts on Facebook by his boss. It sounds like the boss was lurking on the person's FB page, not a complaint from the public at large. WTF. (ACLU may be contacted.)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 7:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
It would be fitting if the Russians turned on him the moment he took the reins.
They first have to fly him to Reykjavík to undo the Reagan-Gorbachev agreement that was signed there by signing Yalta II.
posted by acb at 7:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
They first have to fly him to Reykjavík to undo the Reagan-Gorbachev agreement that was signed there by signing Yalta II.
posted by acb at 7:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Where is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain on the mountain, like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow. How did it come to this?
posted by blue_beetle at 7:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by blue_beetle at 7:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
the sobsister: "Free joints being handed out en masse at Dupont Circle. Jury's out on whether that's a net plus or minus for these protests."
The Joint Chiefs!
posted by chavenet at 7:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
The Joint Chiefs!
posted by chavenet at 7:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
I think the next time some racist, hateful person starts with the vindictiveness, we shouldn't give them any media attention whatsoever ( or pay attention to any media reports about them). We shouldn't be making them well known.
And props to all the Congress women and men who are boycotting this debacle.
posted by gt2 at 7:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
And props to all the Congress women and men who are boycotting this debacle.
posted by gt2 at 7:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Report from a Canadian booze run:
Most surreal booze run I've ever had.
I am not the only one who was buying sorrow drowning booze as soon as the store opened. There was a couple and another guy there for the same reason. It's not usual to just strike up a convo like we had but it was like we all just knew what was up and booze bonded. Was fine until the woman started to tear up and then I teared up and we just sorta all got quiet, bought our drinks of choice and shuffled off to our respective abodes.
I'm now drinking strawberry wine in a Darth Vader mug. Seemed appropriate.
posted by Jalliah at 7:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [49 favorites]
It turns out Donald Trump is bad guy Prince John from Disney’s Robin Hood
posted by Mayor West at 7:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Mayor West at 7:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Another update from the dog walk: a group of 20-30 people passed, in head-to-toe black (incl. ski masks) and carrying black flags, chanting "Kill Donald Trump! Kill Donald Trump!"
I feel like my home has been invaded (well, I know it has). This is so disturbing.
posted by R a c h e l at 7:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
I feel like my home has been invaded (well, I know it has). This is so disturbing.
posted by R a c h e l at 7:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Let us celebrate the peaceful transfer of power to a man who was going to claim the election results were invalid if he lost.
Ooh! Something I can put on Facebook and claim that I wasn't trying to pick a fight!
In a show of more restraint than the PEOTUS, it may not make the cut for my public Twitter, since our foster care application worker told us to think about what we put on social media. Maybe I can write something about being held to a higher standard than certain elected officials, instead.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 7:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Ooh! Something I can put on Facebook and claim that I wasn't trying to pick a fight!
In a show of more restraint than the PEOTUS, it may not make the cut for my public Twitter, since our foster care application worker told us to think about what we put on social media. Maybe I can write something about being held to a higher standard than certain elected officials, instead.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 7:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I will die laughing if Trump's inauguration gets DDOSed.
It would be fitting if the Russians turned on him the moment he took the reins
More like China. Or even NK, as a deniable proxy. As a way of pantsing Trump (and Giuliani) on their first day, and making their veiled threats about cyber-war in response to trade sanctions more than just spooky talk. That's totally their style.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
It would be fitting if the Russians turned on him the moment he took the reins
More like China. Or even NK, as a deniable proxy. As a way of pantsing Trump (and Giuliani) on their first day, and making their veiled threats about cyber-war in response to trade sanctions more than just spooky talk. That's totally their style.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
At noon EST today I will not be able to watch the inauguration, as I have some work to do.
I will be at a local alternative high school moderating a roundtable with students and local employers about apprenticeships in trades like HVAC and plumbing. Seriously: apprenticeships.
Then I'll return to campus to help our industrial automation program's faculty plan some grant-funded outreach activities for displaced and underemployed adults. Seriously: industrial automation.
Later, I'll read a transcript of Trump's speech. I want to know the lay of the land, but I don't want to hear his voice just yet.
posted by Caxton1476 at 7:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
I will be at a local alternative high school moderating a roundtable with students and local employers about apprenticeships in trades like HVAC and plumbing. Seriously: apprenticeships.
Then I'll return to campus to help our industrial automation program's faculty plan some grant-funded outreach activities for displaced and underemployed adults. Seriously: industrial automation.
Later, I'll read a transcript of Trump's speech. I want to know the lay of the land, but I don't want to hear his voice just yet.
posted by Caxton1476 at 7:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Holy SHIT Kelly Anne Conway is dressed like a nutcracker. (jinx!)
As I said to Mr. Carmicha, "She looks like a fucking majorette!"
posted by carmicha at 7:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
As I said to Mr. Carmicha, "She looks like a fucking majorette!"
posted by carmicha at 7:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Surely "The End of the Innocence" is the Don Henley song for today?
Remember when the days were long
And rolled beneath a deep blue sky
Didn't have a care in the world
With mommy and daddy standing by
When happily ever after fails
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers dwell on small details
Since daddy had to fly
But I know a place where we can go
Still untouched by man
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass wave in the wind
You can lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
O' beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swords
For this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie
But I know a place where we can go
And wash away this sin
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass wave in the wind
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair spill all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
Who knows how long this will last
Now we've come so far, so fast
But, somewhere back there in the dust
That same small town in each of us
I need to remember this
So baby give me just one kiss
And let me take a long last look
Before we say good bye
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
posted by mynameisluka at 7:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Remember when the days were long
And rolled beneath a deep blue sky
Didn't have a care in the world
With mommy and daddy standing by
When happily ever after fails
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers dwell on small details
Since daddy had to fly
But I know a place where we can go
Still untouched by man
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass wave in the wind
You can lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
O' beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swords
For this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie
But I know a place where we can go
And wash away this sin
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass wave in the wind
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair spill all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
Who knows how long this will last
Now we've come so far, so fast
But, somewhere back there in the dust
That same small town in each of us
I need to remember this
So baby give me just one kiss
And let me take a long last look
Before we say good bye
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
posted by mynameisluka at 7:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Guys, you are killing me with all the Mordor posts but I'm trying to internalize Aragorn instead: A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day.
I won't believe this is going to be the end of good things in America. I'm only 40. I'm not going to live in a dystopian horrorshow for the rest of my life. We're not rolling over. We can get through it.
posted by something something at 7:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [62 favorites]
I won't believe this is going to be the end of good things in America. I'm only 40. I'm not going to live in a dystopian horrorshow for the rest of my life. We're not rolling over. We can get through it.
posted by something something at 7:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [62 favorites]
90 minutes until the time travel guys show up, right?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
The Bikers for Trump are pretty disgusting to me. Even if they're not aware of Altamont, where bikers as security was shown to be an incredibly stupid idea, they're definitely using the image of bikers as dangerous, threatening figures to do their best to intimidate people they don't like. And Trump singling them out for praise just made me feel ill, that he was essentially legitimizing their presence and emboldening them. I'm hoping sanity prevails, and people just point and laugh at these old men/little children on their noisey toys trying to get everyone to pay attention to them.
Either way, welcome to Trump's USA, where things that were unthinkable ten minutes ago are totally acceptable ten minutes from now.
posted by Ghidorah at 7:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Either way, welcome to Trump's USA, where things that were unthinkable ten minutes ago are totally acceptable ten minutes from now.
posted by Ghidorah at 7:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
It really feels like a terrible movie. I'm still hopeful that once the worst people have been rounded up for the ceremony, the aliens will drop in and slime them all.
posted by stillmoving at 7:32 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by stillmoving at 7:32 AM on January 20, 2017
My problem is that I mix up David Frum, the Republican asshole, with David Brock, the formerly Republican asshole.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
C'mon everyone, the most appropriate LOTR reference is Theoden's speech:
We are the Rohirrim. We ride. Arise, arise Riders of Théoden (Riders of Rohan)! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride for ruin… and the world’s ending! Death! Death! Forth Eorlingas!
posted by drezdn at 7:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
We are the Rohirrim. We ride. Arise, arise Riders of Théoden (Riders of Rohan)! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride for ruin… and the world’s ending! Death! Death! Forth Eorlingas!
posted by drezdn at 7:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
90 minutes until the time travel guys show up, right?
Yes, but it'll be old Biff Tannen in a stolen DeLorean here to take the Oath of Office.
posted by Servo5678 at 7:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Yes, but it'll be old Biff Tannen in a stolen DeLorean here to take the Oath of Office.
posted by Servo5678 at 7:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Another update from the dog walk: a group of 20-30 people passed, in head-to-toe black (incl. ski masks) and carrying black flags, chanting "Kill Donald Trump! Kill Donald Trump!"
Well they seem legit and not like plants at all, yessir.
posted by emjaybee at 7:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [46 favorites]
Well they seem legit and not like plants at all, yessir.
posted by emjaybee at 7:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [46 favorites]
> 90 minutes until the time travel guys show up, right?
Our one and only hope!
posted by Tevin at 7:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Our one and only hope!
posted by Tevin at 7:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
i always mix up david frum the asshole with john frum, the cargo-cult diety
then again maybe there isnt that much difference
posted by entropicamericana at 7:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
then again maybe there isnt that much difference
posted by entropicamericana at 7:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Surely "The End of the Innocence" is the Don Henley song for today?
Remember when the days were long
And rolled beneath a deep blue sky
Didn't have a care in the world
With mommy and daddy standing by
Maybe for the Boomers it was written for. I sure as hell don't remember that. I remember the cold war, the AIDS panic, the rule of Wall Street and Reagan.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:34 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
Remember when the days were long
And rolled beneath a deep blue sky
Didn't have a care in the world
With mommy and daddy standing by
Maybe for the Boomers it was written for. I sure as hell don't remember that. I remember the cold war, the AIDS panic, the rule of Wall Street and Reagan.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:34 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
I turned on the TV and somehow figured that watching a Canadian news station would be bearable. But no I just got to hear one of the commentators say that she thought Trump was going to do some really good things and talk about what a good team he's surrounding himself with.
WTF.
posted by Jalliah at 7:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I feel like my home has been invaded (well, I know it has). This is so disturbing.
I'm glad we live across the river and not in DC itself. We're hiding inside all day today. Drinking and playing video games. Hoping tomorrow for the Womens March wont turn violent.
I did get a call this morning from my 86year old stroke-addled grandpa asking if I was going in the city to be there. I told him we're watching on TV. He doesn't read Metafilter.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm glad we live across the river and not in DC itself. We're hiding inside all day today. Drinking and playing video games. Hoping tomorrow for the Womens March wont turn violent.
I did get a call this morning from my 86year old stroke-addled grandpa asking if I was going in the city to be there. I told him we're watching on TV. He doesn't read Metafilter.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Joe Biden is going to end up wandering the desert until he learns how to ride a sandworm.
posted by drezdn at 7:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [54 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 7:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [54 favorites]
Christ, @POTUS is gonna make me cry.
Apologize if this has already been discussed and I missed it, but what happens when Trump gets the @Potus password? Can he delete Obama's tweets? Wouldn't that be a violation of FOIA rules?
posted by bluecore at 7:37 AM on January 20, 2017
Apologize if this has already been discussed and I missed it, but what happens when Trump gets the @Potus password? Can he delete Obama's tweets? Wouldn't that be a violation of FOIA rules?
posted by bluecore at 7:37 AM on January 20, 2017
Rep. Nanette Barragan (D CA) wearing her pussy hat on the way to Trump inauguration.
posted by scalefree at 7:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [49 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 7:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [49 favorites]
Don't tweet, myself, but it would be sweet if the top trending hashtag was #2900000. Might ruin his day to be reminded of how bigly he lost the popular vote.
posted by barrett caulk at 7:38 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by barrett caulk at 7:38 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
The plan is to wipe the twitter and start fresh; Obama's tweets are already archived. The notion being that that will be standard practice in future transitions as well.
posted by cortex at 7:38 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by cortex at 7:38 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
BLM protest livestream changed because the original streamer's phone died. New stream here. They're about to march.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:38 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:38 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
The plan is to wipe the twitter and start fresh; Obama's tweets are already archived. The notion being that that will be standard practice in future transitions as well.
IIRC, @POTUS is being renamed to @POTUS44, with its entire history and likes/retweets, and a new @POTUS is being created.
posted by acb at 7:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
IIRC, @POTUS is being renamed to @POTUS44, with its entire history and likes/retweets, and a new @POTUS is being created.
posted by acb at 7:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
A friend in Nebraska just asked me if I'm marching tomorrow. I respect those who can and will but having seen what a downtown crowd looks like in single-minded mode--don't care whose side they're on; I need to be elsewhere to keep the panic down.
posted by datawrangler at 7:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by datawrangler at 7:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm seeing some posts of desperation on here, and I want to remind my beautiful mefites that you have resources, should you need them. One is the Crisis Text Line. Text 741-741. Someone is waiting to listen and help.
posted by greermahoney at 7:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by greermahoney at 7:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Well they seem legit and not like plants at all, yessir.
I could totally see a particular corner of the anarchist crowd in our town doing something like this.
posted by Rykey at 7:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I could totally see a particular corner of the anarchist crowd in our town doing something like this.
posted by Rykey at 7:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Some absolute chucklefucker friend of a friend on Facebook posted a comment to our mutual friend's "please, please don't watch the inauguration post" with some nutball nonsense about how that stance is soooooo un-American because real Americans watch the inauguration no matter what... but he had zero response when I asked him if he complains to businesses that don't give their employees the day off or provide a space for them to do their patriotic duty on inauguration day, or if he petitions his elected officials to make the day a national holiday, or if he contributes money to organizations that would set up free viewing stations for people without access to TVs, like the homeless. Oh, but it does turn out that he refused to watch Obama's inaugurations.
These fucking people, you guys.
Anyway, my agenda today: stay as high as possible, which is easy considering I work from home and there's actually very little work to be done at the moment. Watch something that cheers me -- The West Wing? That's been my evening companion for a couple of weeks now, but today it might be too hurtful. Maybe I should lean into the anger and watch The 13th. Maybe I should take off my pants and let one boob hang out and run around the neighborhood screaming gibberish and waggling at people. Who knows? Any choice is valid. I might already be really high. Whatevs.
posted by palomar at 7:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
These fucking people, you guys.
Anyway, my agenda today: stay as high as possible, which is easy considering I work from home and there's actually very little work to be done at the moment. Watch something that cheers me -- The West Wing? That's been my evening companion for a couple of weeks now, but today it might be too hurtful. Maybe I should lean into the anger and watch The 13th. Maybe I should take off my pants and let one boob hang out and run around the neighborhood screaming gibberish and waggling at people. Who knows? Any choice is valid. I might already be really high. Whatevs.
posted by palomar at 7:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
Road in what I think is in Rockville Maryland. I looked up the name and one of the roads on the highways sign.
"Inauguration Day Jan 20
Expect delays
Consider Canada"
posted by Jalliah at 7:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [65 favorites]
"Inauguration Day Jan 20
Expect delays
Consider Canada"
posted by Jalliah at 7:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [65 favorites]
My opinion of the true motives of your typical "anarchists in black" protesters is not a good one. They are always such a convenient reason for arrests and bad press. If they aren't plants, they're useful idiots.
posted by emjaybee at 7:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 7:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
Gentle reminder/plea for everyone to stop using Facepals and The Tweeter. It's a virtual "Why are you hitting yourself? Huh? Why are you hitting yourself?"
posted by petebest at 7:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by petebest at 7:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
C'mon everyone, the most appropriate LOTR reference is Theoden's speech:
I'm a little more Two Towers Theoden today, myself.
But there will be times for valor ahead, and need for valor without renown.
posted by nubs at 7:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm a little more Two Towers Theoden today, myself.
But there will be times for valor ahead, and need for valor without renown.
posted by nubs at 7:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Yeah, it's not like the black bloc window smasher is not an actual thing. It's a thing.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Democracynow.org livestreaming saying different groups of protesters have tried blocking various routes to the inauguration, one being pepper sprayed. BLm is one of the groups (not the one being sprayed in the report).
Also that activists are unfurling banners on bridges around the world, one at least supporting migrant rights.
I know my feeds up in Canada are full of knitters in pink hats.
posted by chapps at 7:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also that activists are unfurling banners on bridges around the world, one at least supporting migrant rights.
I know my feeds up in Canada are full of knitters in pink hats.
posted by chapps at 7:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Heads uo me and the other Democratic Socialists are going to be angrily carrying signs at Foley Square in NYC at 5pm if you want to do something other than enmiserate
posted by The Whelk at 7:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 7:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Clarification... The protestors are trying to blockade "inauguration check points"
posted by chapps at 7:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by chapps at 7:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
BLM did block a checkpoint successfully, no violence. They've moved forward now as a group.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
The Dow Jones averages go back to 1896. Now that Obama has finished out his term, we can rank him. Increased, means additional. For example, if a number says 100%, that is doubling the number in the index.
Dow Jones
Rank, President, (party), %increased/decreased
1. Calvin Coolidge, (R), +260.6
2. Bill Clinton, (D), +225.2
3. Franklin Roosevelt, (D), +201.6
4. Barack Obama, (D), +138.3
5. Ronald Reagan, (R), +130.6
6. Dwight Eisenhower, (R), +120.4
7. Harry S. Truman, (D), +81.1
8. William McKinley, (R), +52.2
9. George H.W. Bush, (R), +45.4
10. Theodore Roosevelt, (R), +45.1
11. Lyndon B. Johnson, (D), +31.5
12. Woodrow Wilson, (D), +26.7
13. Gerald Ford, (R), +23.4
14. Warren G. Harding, (R), +17.6
15. John F. Kennedy, (D), +12.5
16. Jimmy Carter, (D), +0.2
17. William Howard Taft, (R), -0.1
18. Richard Nixon, (R), -16.1
19. George W. Bush, Jr., (R), -21.8
20. Herbert Hoover, (R), -83.5
Some notes: I know that purists favor the S & P which didn't beginning tracking its signature 500 stocks until 1957. It pretty much follows the Dow Jones with the exception that Carter did much better on the S & P. Wilson's numbers are suspect. The stock market closed at the beginning of World War I in Europe (August, 1914) and reopened in December with its numbers refigured.
War doesn't appear to be good for the Dow Jones. Non-war presidents: Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Calvin Coolidge, Theodore Roosevelt, George H.W. Bush were all in the top 10. Two more in the top 10, Eisenhower and Obama inherited wars and had them end. Although FDR had a remarkable increase (201.6%), most of this took place in his first two terms. From his third term (1941) to his death, the Dow Jones went up by 22.1%. Wilson in his second term (U.S. involvement in World War I) had a loss of -20.9%. LBJ had a 4.4% increase during his second term.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
Dow Jones
Rank, President, (party), %increased/decreased
1. Calvin Coolidge, (R), +260.6
2. Bill Clinton, (D), +225.2
3. Franklin Roosevelt, (D), +201.6
4. Barack Obama, (D), +138.3
5. Ronald Reagan, (R), +130.6
6. Dwight Eisenhower, (R), +120.4
7. Harry S. Truman, (D), +81.1
8. William McKinley, (R), +52.2
9. George H.W. Bush, (R), +45.4
10. Theodore Roosevelt, (R), +45.1
11. Lyndon B. Johnson, (D), +31.5
12. Woodrow Wilson, (D), +26.7
13. Gerald Ford, (R), +23.4
14. Warren G. Harding, (R), +17.6
15. John F. Kennedy, (D), +12.5
16. Jimmy Carter, (D), +0.2
17. William Howard Taft, (R), -0.1
18. Richard Nixon, (R), -16.1
19. George W. Bush, Jr., (R), -21.8
20. Herbert Hoover, (R), -83.5
Some notes: I know that purists favor the S & P which didn't beginning tracking its signature 500 stocks until 1957. It pretty much follows the Dow Jones with the exception that Carter did much better on the S & P. Wilson's numbers are suspect. The stock market closed at the beginning of World War I in Europe (August, 1914) and reopened in December with its numbers refigured.
War doesn't appear to be good for the Dow Jones. Non-war presidents: Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Calvin Coolidge, Theodore Roosevelt, George H.W. Bush were all in the top 10. Two more in the top 10, Eisenhower and Obama inherited wars and had them end. Although FDR had a remarkable increase (201.6%), most of this took place in his first two terms. From his third term (1941) to his death, the Dow Jones went up by 22.1%. Wilson in his second term (U.S. involvement in World War I) had a loss of -20.9%. LBJ had a 4.4% increase during his second term.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
Well they're buildin a platform outside the Cap'tol
We got 25 minutes to go
The whole world's waiting to go to hell
We got 24 minutes to go
[...]
Well I'm waitin to awake from this shitty dream
9 more minutes to go
But this is the world, just as bad as it seems
8 more minutes to go
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 7:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
We got 25 minutes to go
The whole world's waiting to go to hell
We got 24 minutes to go
[...]
Well I'm waitin to awake from this shitty dream
9 more minutes to go
But this is the world, just as bad as it seems
8 more minutes to go
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 7:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Pink Floyd's Animals is my official soundtrack for the day.
I'm just going to be hitting the Inception BWAAAAAAAAAA button randomly during the inauguration broadcast.
posted by Kabanos at 7:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm just going to be hitting the Inception BWAAAAAAAAAA button randomly during the inauguration broadcast.
posted by Kabanos at 7:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Final Metro parking update: Only stations >60% are E Falls Church (95%) & Van Dorn St (75%). All others <6>
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Gentle reminder/plea for everyone to stop using Facepals and The Tweeter. It's a virtual "Why are you hitting yourself? Huh? Why are you hitting yourself?"
I'm happy to contribute to avoidance of Facetwat going forward, but for now I'd like to know what's going on today and this weekend.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm happy to contribute to avoidance of Facetwat going forward, but for now I'd like to know what's going on today and this weekend.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Another update from the dog walk: a group of 20-30 people passed, in head-to-toe black (incl. ski masks) and carrying black flags, chanting "Kill Donald Trump! Kill Donald Trump!"
And that is just fucking stupid on about ten different levels.
I don't want Trump struck by divine lightning with his hand on the Bible, I don't want a crowd uprising to drive him off, and I certainly do not want him assassinated. Not only is that counter to the very notion of human decency and behavior but it would not SOLVE ANYTHING. If anything, it would make the situation worse, because the rabble who voted Trump in to be Mr. Authoritarian Law And Order would take that as proof that Civil War II Has Begun and it is now acceptable to I-thought-he-was-going-to-shoot-me-so-I-shot-him-back-first. (Even if you're not a police officer or George Zimmerman.) President Pence would intone solemnly about The Need For Law And Order and Trump the Martyr would dominate American life for decades.
No, I want him and his cronies to assume power smoothly, now that it is inevitable. And I want to watch it fail spectacularly.
This is not accelerationism. I voted against it in the primary, I voted against it in the general, I have spoken out against it repeatedly; I do not want any of this Republican wave to happen. People will suffer, people will die, Lord of the Flies-level bullshit going down. If I sound like Mitch McConnell saying "our first duty is to make sure Obama fails," fine; their tactics worked, so maybe it's time the left adopted them for a while. Dems in Congress should not abandon their posts and let Trump and Ryan and McConnell do any fucking thing they want; they must be ready to use every Robert's Rules for Order trick imaginable to obstruct what little they can.
But I feel like this is like having said "if you do what you're doing, there's going to be a tidal wave" repeatedly and now there's an 80-foot wave hitting the beach. I want anyone who said "Oh, I voted for Trump but I was really just voting against Hillary, I never thought Trump would [x]" to feel the same stomach-shrinking-to-a-golf-ball sensation of terror. I want them to own what they voted for, while we point our surfboards in the right direction and try to ride this shit out and hang on. Because no matter what we say or who we blame, it's coming.
posted by delfin at 7:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [58 favorites]
And that is just fucking stupid on about ten different levels.
I don't want Trump struck by divine lightning with his hand on the Bible, I don't want a crowd uprising to drive him off, and I certainly do not want him assassinated. Not only is that counter to the very notion of human decency and behavior but it would not SOLVE ANYTHING. If anything, it would make the situation worse, because the rabble who voted Trump in to be Mr. Authoritarian Law And Order would take that as proof that Civil War II Has Begun and it is now acceptable to I-thought-he-was-going-to-shoot-me-so-I-shot-him-back-first. (Even if you're not a police officer or George Zimmerman.) President Pence would intone solemnly about The Need For Law And Order and Trump the Martyr would dominate American life for decades.
No, I want him and his cronies to assume power smoothly, now that it is inevitable. And I want to watch it fail spectacularly.
This is not accelerationism. I voted against it in the primary, I voted against it in the general, I have spoken out against it repeatedly; I do not want any of this Republican wave to happen. People will suffer, people will die, Lord of the Flies-level bullshit going down. If I sound like Mitch McConnell saying "our first duty is to make sure Obama fails," fine; their tactics worked, so maybe it's time the left adopted them for a while. Dems in Congress should not abandon their posts and let Trump and Ryan and McConnell do any fucking thing they want; they must be ready to use every Robert's Rules for Order trick imaginable to obstruct what little they can.
But I feel like this is like having said "if you do what you're doing, there's going to be a tidal wave" repeatedly and now there's an 80-foot wave hitting the beach. I want anyone who said "Oh, I voted for Trump but I was really just voting against Hillary, I never thought Trump would [x]" to feel the same stomach-shrinking-to-a-golf-ball sensation of terror. I want them to own what they voted for, while we point our surfboards in the right direction and try to ride this shit out and hang on. Because no matter what we say or who we blame, it's coming.
posted by delfin at 7:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [58 favorites]
Coworker has decided to stream the inauguration on her phone across the table from me. I feel a little sick.
posted by PearlRose at 7:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by PearlRose at 7:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hillary has shown up in a white pantsuit. I assume Eru sent her there after learning of Saruman's treachery.
posted by drezdn at 7:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [66 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 7:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [66 favorites]
Oh God, their faces.
posted by slipthought at 7:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by slipthought at 7:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
My poor son turns 12 today, and he is so bummed that he has to share his day with...THIS.
Join me in saying: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jenny's kid! 12 is an amazing age. You are going to have awesome experiences this year. And someday you'll be a cool adult, a better person than some of the examples today. Young guys like you give us hope. (And hey, I'm old, I don't know if anyone says cool anymore :).)
posted by NorthernLite at 7:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [45 favorites]
Join me in saying: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jenny's kid! 12 is an amazing age. You are going to have awesome experiences this year. And someday you'll be a cool adult, a better person than some of the examples today. Young guys like you give us hope. (And hey, I'm old, I don't know if anyone says cool anymore :).)
posted by NorthernLite at 7:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [45 favorites]
PearlRose you are suddenly very ill and have to go home sick.
Or puke on your coworker's phone.
(Also I love your username)
posted by INFJ at 7:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Or puke on your coworker's phone.
(Also I love your username)
posted by INFJ at 7:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
What a world, making me look at GW and Laura Bush and feel nostalgia.
posted by something something at 7:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by something something at 7:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Trump flying monkey Kellyanne Conway's inaugural outfit. The buttons are cat faces.
posted by scalefree at 7:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by scalefree at 7:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Thanks delfin. Anyway, Trump is not a good enough politician to get all of the bad stuff rolled through in two years. It should be scary enough that the mid-term sweep essentially shuts off all legislation. Get out and start campaigning for your new congressperson.
posted by sammyo at 7:55 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by sammyo at 7:55 AM on January 20, 2017
So much of what I'm reading around the internet today is about endings (understandably!) but I just want to say that I am here and ready to begin fighting today and for the next four years and more.
posted by ferret branca at 7:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by ferret branca at 7:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
(Also I love your username)
I thought the Pearl and Rose fusion was Rainbow Quartz?
posted by Talez at 7:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I thought the Pearl and Rose fusion was Rainbow Quartz?
posted by Talez at 7:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Cat feces would have been more appropriate.
posted by peeedro at 7:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 7:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Even W. looks kinda grim. I wonder to what extent he realizes his lowering of the competency standard was a major factor in bringing this about.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
BLM voluntarily and peacefully dispersing. That was an expertly run blockade and protest, y'all. Really inspiring.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
It should be scary enough that the mid-term sweep essentially shuts off all legislation.
It's a good thing the Democrats are so shrewd and cunning at winning electoral races!
posted by acb at 7:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
It's a good thing the Democrats are so shrewd and cunning at winning electoral races!
posted by acb at 7:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
There's a section from "Slaughterhouse Five" that I think explains the Trump presidency:
America is the wealthiest nation on Earth, but its people are mainly poor, and poor Americans are urged to hate themselves. To quote the American humorist Kin Hubbard, 'It ain’t no disgrace to be poor, but it might as well be.' It is in fact a crime for an American to be poor, even though America is a nation of poor. Every other nation has folk traditions of men who were poor but extremely wise and virtuous, and therefore more estimable than anyone with power and gold. No such tales are told by the American poor. They mock themselves and glorify their betters. The meanest eating or drinking establishment, owned by a man who is himself poor, is very likely to have a sign on its wall asking this cruel question: 'if you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich?' There will also be an American flag no larger than a child’s hand – glued to a lollipop stick and flying from the cash register.
Americans, like human beings everywhere, believe many things that are obviously untrue. Their most destructive untruth is that it is very easy for any American to make money. They will not acknowledge how in fact hard money is to come by, and, therefore, those who have no money blame and blame and blame themselves. This inward blame has been a treasure for the rich and powerful, who have had to do less for their poor, publicly and privately, than any other ruling class since, say Napoleonic times. Many novelties have come from America. The most startling of these, a thing without precedent, is a mass of undignified poor. They do not love one another because they do not love themselves.
posted by drezdn at 7:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [108 favorites]
America is the wealthiest nation on Earth, but its people are mainly poor, and poor Americans are urged to hate themselves. To quote the American humorist Kin Hubbard, 'It ain’t no disgrace to be poor, but it might as well be.' It is in fact a crime for an American to be poor, even though America is a nation of poor. Every other nation has folk traditions of men who were poor but extremely wise and virtuous, and therefore more estimable than anyone with power and gold. No such tales are told by the American poor. They mock themselves and glorify their betters. The meanest eating or drinking establishment, owned by a man who is himself poor, is very likely to have a sign on its wall asking this cruel question: 'if you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich?' There will also be an American flag no larger than a child’s hand – glued to a lollipop stick and flying from the cash register.
Americans, like human beings everywhere, believe many things that are obviously untrue. Their most destructive untruth is that it is very easy for any American to make money. They will not acknowledge how in fact hard money is to come by, and, therefore, those who have no money blame and blame and blame themselves. This inward blame has been a treasure for the rich and powerful, who have had to do less for their poor, publicly and privately, than any other ruling class since, say Napoleonic times. Many novelties have come from America. The most startling of these, a thing without precedent, is a mass of undignified poor. They do not love one another because they do not love themselves.
posted by drezdn at 7:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [108 favorites]
If you want a break from this side of things, there's a love-in post over on MetaTalk.
posted by cortex at 7:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by cortex at 7:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Cat feces would have been more appropriate.
Institutional toxoplasmosis?
posted by acb at 7:57 AM on January 20, 2017
Institutional toxoplasmosis?
posted by acb at 7:57 AM on January 20, 2017
My feeling is that giving space to the dumbest kind of black-clad stuff is a bad idea. Whether they're cops or kids might be something we could figure out on the ground. If they're kids, whether it's a "this is a serious chant that we seriously believe because we think the consequences of that act would be good rather than a huge disaster" or "we're on our way to the protest, let's break out a parody chant even though that's not probably a good idea" (which seems at least fairly likely to me based on my experience of parody chants)...we can't know, and frankly the totally-thoughtless wing of anarchism is a pretty small wing which does very little. Those aren't even necessarily the street-fighting types, and they're usually not the "glue the locks at the military recruitment office" types either.
Again, I think when you see black-clad types doing a truly fool thing (not just "being militant" or "chanting something with which I disagree but which is arguable"), there's not much use getting worked up about it. All that happens is that people on the left try to blame each other or disavow each other over the actions of a tiny, tiny group who don't even really represent black-clad anarchists generally.
posted by Frowner at 7:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Again, I think when you see black-clad types doing a truly fool thing (not just "being militant" or "chanting something with which I disagree but which is arguable"), there's not much use getting worked up about it. All that happens is that people on the left try to blame each other or disavow each other over the actions of a tiny, tiny group who don't even really represent black-clad anarchists generally.
posted by Frowner at 7:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Wapo livestream commenting on the crowds being significantly smaller then they've ever seen before. Looks sparse. And really much smaller then Obama's.
posted by Jalliah at 7:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Road in what I think is in Rockville Maryland.
Yeah, that's northbound I-270 there. I think the third line is meant to be read, "Keep on going until you run out of road, and DON'T LOOK BACK. You'll turn into a pillar of salt if you do."
posted by jackbishop at 7:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Yeah, that's northbound I-270 there. I think the third line is meant to be read, "Keep on going until you run out of road, and DON'T LOOK BACK. You'll turn into a pillar of salt if you do."
posted by jackbishop at 7:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I don't know WTF this thing is that Conway is wearing, but I hope it's the new mandatory White Wing staffer livery.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Re: above. I called George H.W. Bush a non-war president. Sorry.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:58 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:58 AM on January 20, 2017
I'm accidentally striking, since I had to call out to wait for the super to fix our partial power outage.
I wish I were at work, helping people, but I'm also glad I don't have to listen to Trump supporters complain to me about millenials with no work ethic (I was born in '84 and I been working since '02) ruining our country while they pick up their (free, provided by the library) newspaper and sit in our (comfortable, efficient, free, accessible, taxpayer-supported) public library. Because that's my least favorite part of my job.
posted by blnkfrnk at 8:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I wish I were at work, helping people, but I'm also glad I don't have to listen to Trump supporters complain to me about millenials with no work ethic (I was born in '84 and I been working since '02) ruining our country while they pick up their (free, provided by the library) newspaper and sit in our (comfortable, efficient, free, accessible, taxpayer-supported) public library. Because that's my least favorite part of my job.
posted by blnkfrnk at 8:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Driving past scores of empty stands. That's gotta piss him off.
posted by threetwentytwo at 8:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by threetwentytwo at 8:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
Trump Around
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 8:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 8:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
I don't know WTF this thing is that Conway is wearing, but I hope it's the new mandatory White Wing staffer livery.
My guess is it was supposed to resemble a Revolutionary War soldier's uniform. It does not. And the cat face button thing is just plain weird.
posted by scalefree at 8:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
My guess is it was supposed to resemble a Revolutionary War soldier's uniform. It does not. And the cat face button thing is just plain weird.
posted by scalefree at 8:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
So that Kellyanne Conway outfit...it's sort of Hunger Games-y in a way, isn't it? Like "the evil people in the capitol dress up in ridiculous eye-catching costumes as part of their media schtick"?
(It's Gucci, apparently, and costs a mere $3600, which is less than I would have expected her to spend. Did Gucci make it on purpose in the hopes of selling it to American oligarchs?)
posted by Frowner at 8:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
(It's Gucci, apparently, and costs a mere $3600, which is less than I would have expected her to spend. Did Gucci make it on purpose in the hopes of selling it to American oligarchs?)
posted by Frowner at 8:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
Buzzfeed is running photo comparisons of the crowd in 2009, 2013, and today.
posted by skycrashesdown at 8:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by skycrashesdown at 8:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Youtube video shared by a relative (anti Trump ironic/comic song).
posted by gudrun at 8:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by gudrun at 8:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
The cat face buttons are kind of awesome, but the rest of the ensemble really doesn't use them to the best effect. It's a pity.
posted by blnkfrnk at 8:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by blnkfrnk at 8:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I am amazed at the number of peers (50ish professionals with kids and no history of protesting) who are joining marches in NYC and DC. I am not sure if it will build to anything but its exciting.
posted by shothotbot at 8:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by shothotbot at 8:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
This here is my daily cackle:
this is just to sayposted by XtinaS at 8:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [92 favorites]
i have stolen
the presidency
which
you probably wanted
to go
to someone qualified
forgive me
i am so rich
and so white— Chaos (@chaosprime) January 19, 2017
The buttons are cat faces.
To unfasten Conway's coat, you have to grab it by the pussies.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [76 favorites]
To unfasten Conway's coat, you have to grab it by the pussies.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [76 favorites]
Even W. looks kinda grim. I wonder to what extent he realizes his lowering of the competency standard was a major factor in bringing this about.
Perhaps he's also thinking about his parents, who were both hospitalized this week.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Perhaps he's also thinking about his parents, who were both hospitalized this week.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Here's a direct link to National Mall Cam. It's... uh lol.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
The buttons are cat faces.
I read "faces" as having two e's.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I read "faces" as having two e's.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Ugh, CBS commentator just compared Trump's relationship with his children to FD FUCKING R'S.
posted by Rykey at 8:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Rykey at 8:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump Nation - the game
Help! Mexico is sending their worst to America! Make America great again by building a ridiculous wall of dream crushing proportions!
Youtube preview of game
posted by beesbees at 8:08 AM on January 20, 2017
Help! Mexico is sending their worst to America! Make America great again by building a ridiculous wall of dream crushing proportions!
Youtube preview of game
posted by beesbees at 8:08 AM on January 20, 2017
Holy guacamole.
Here's Obama for comparison.
That is ... uh ... his photoshoppers are going to be busy.
posted by Tevin at 8:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Here's Obama for comparison.
That is ... uh ... his photoshoppers are going to be busy.
posted by Tevin at 8:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I am disgusted and disappointed by Donald and his assembled enablers and henchmen, but I'm heartened by the fact that there is a loud and present resistance and huge numbers of people want nothing to do with him. I'm proud to stand alongside you as allies in the fight to come.
He seems to be desperately pretending there are cheering crowds, good weather, and that his inauguration is the Yugest Ever. He can't process anything else.
I'm sorry that happened to you, sciatrix. That sounds terrible, and I'm sorry your family treated you so shabbily.
As for me, I've been trying to convince my parents (both old-time lefties) to join me and protest, but they want to wait until "he actually does something", even though he has done things.
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 8:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
He seems to be desperately pretending there are cheering crowds, good weather, and that his inauguration is the Yugest Ever. He can't process anything else.
I'm sorry that happened to you, sciatrix. That sounds terrible, and I'm sorry your family treated you so shabbily.
As for me, I've been trying to convince my parents (both old-time lefties) to join me and protest, but they want to wait until "he actually does something", even though he has done things.
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 8:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
What I'm looking forward to is when John Roberts gets up there and says: "THE ARISTOCRATS!"
posted by My Dad at 8:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by My Dad at 8:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I have some kind of food poisoning and/or flu, and all I can think about is how much more appropriate I could be feeling and the answer is none more appropriate.
posted by minsies at 8:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by minsies at 8:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm feeling sorry for Barron. He had to walk in alone behind the adult children because the procession of the offspring was organized in pairs by age order. And once on the dais, no one is looking out for him or trying to engage him. He looks terribly lonely. I hope he had access to Sasha and Malia, who may have been able to offer useful advice.
posted by carmicha at 8:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 8:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Ha, they keep talking about the small crowds. They look enthusiastic but small.
posted by Jalliah at 8:12 AM on January 20, 2017
The kids are allright: Be like Connor and do not take this shit.
“Screw our President!” - Child claims to have started fire at @realDonaldTrump protest.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
“Screw our President!” - Child claims to have started fire at @realDonaldTrump protest.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
let's break out a parody chant even though that's not probably a good idea
Not to say that some of the black bloc can't be caricatures of themselves, but it does seem hinkey in that they are very much trying to obviously draw negative attention to themselves: the 'kill trump' chant does seem like it would be what an alt-right activist would imagine anarchists would chant. They do have form, and it's pretty much a given that there's some of them would love to see the protests turn ugly with all the kettling and etc. Hopefully whichever they are they can be persuaded not to do anything stupid.
posted by Buntix at 8:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Not to say that some of the black bloc can't be caricatures of themselves, but it does seem hinkey in that they are very much trying to obviously draw negative attention to themselves: the 'kill trump' chant does seem like it would be what an alt-right activist would imagine anarchists would chant. They do have form, and it's pretty much a given that there's some of them would love to see the protests turn ugly with all the kettling and etc. Hopefully whichever they are they can be persuaded not to do anything stupid.
posted by Buntix at 8:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
dilaudid, that actually made my pulse surge.
posted by mynameisluka at 8:15 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by mynameisluka at 8:15 AM on January 20, 2017
Meanwhile, in the real timeline, Prince and David Bowie are preparing to go on stage at the Clinton inauguration.
posted by acb at 8:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [93 favorites]
posted by acb at 8:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [93 favorites]
I'm surprised that Donald Trump wasn't denied a trademark on Make America Great Again as it came, verbatim, from Parable of the Talents.
I've got it on, because I've got to face this bullshit head on.
Bob Schaffer just called out that the crowd for this inaguration was about 1/3 the size of Obama's.
Okay, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden were just escorted out (Dr. Biden in a lovely hot pink dress under a white coat! What, no pussy ears?). And now I'm bawling.
posted by tilde at 8:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've got it on, because I've got to face this bullshit head on.
Bob Schaffer just called out that the crowd for this inaguration was about 1/3 the size of Obama's.
Okay, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden were just escorted out (Dr. Biden in a lovely hot pink dress under a white coat! What, no pussy ears?). And now I'm bawling.
posted by tilde at 8:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Michelle Obama, for the first time, looks like she did not sleep last night.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Kellyanne Conway's outfit was made in Italy and "inspired by the city of London." Making America great again indeed.
posted by zachlipton at 8:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 8:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
I'm very optimistic. I think our new President will win over a lot of skeptics.
posted by grobertson at 8:21 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by grobertson at 8:21 AM on January 20, 2017
Crazy day today! Who knows what is going to happen.
posted by pizzakats708 at 8:21 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by pizzakats708 at 8:21 AM on January 20, 2017
Thanks for covering the Mall with that white protective coating so you can really, really see the blank spaces quite well.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [36 favorites]
I can't imagine Melania will be in DC again for a few months after tonight.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Joe looks like he's about to cry :(
posted by zachlipton at 8:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 8:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think this is the right time for me to share the anti-Trump playlist I made for the inauguration.
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 8:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 8:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
I have a good thing to say. I do like Melania's outfit.
That's all I got though.
posted by Jalliah at 8:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
(I think the bits you can see in the webcam are invite-only areas, yes? I expect there's a bit of a crowd out of camera in the cheap seats that are out of frame.)
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:24 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:24 AM on January 20, 2017
Here's a direct link to National Mall Cam. It's... uh lol.
OMG... there's nobody there
posted by photoslob at 8:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
OMG... there's nobody there
posted by photoslob at 8:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Obvious trolls are obvious.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'm very optimistic. I think our new President will win over a lot of skeptics.
You have misspelt 'fuck' quite impressively.
posted by jaduncan at 8:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [48 favorites]
You have misspelt 'fuck' quite impressively.
posted by jaduncan at 8:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [48 favorites]
Joe looks like he's about to cry :(
Not in the "Presidential Medal of Freedom" way, though.
posted by tilde at 8:25 AM on January 20, 2017
Not in the "Presidential Medal of Freedom" way, though.
posted by tilde at 8:25 AM on January 20, 2017
Not always a fan of The Nation, but this is good. Throw Sand in the Gears of Everything
posted by emjaybee at 8:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 8:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Area "Never" Trumpers torn between supposedly principled Never Trumpism and unbridled glee at seeing liberals lose
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
What is Pelosi wearing on her lapel? It's a blue button but I can't read it.
posted by tilde at 8:26 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by tilde at 8:26 AM on January 20, 2017
(I think the bits you can see in the webcam are invite-only areas, yes? I expect there's a bit of a crowd out of camera in the cheap seats that are out of frame.)
Here is a very clear shot from overhead for comparison.
posted by anastasiav at 8:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Here is a very clear shot from overhead for comparison.
posted by anastasiav at 8:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Yeah, Melania's rocking that outfit. Too bad her fashion sense didn't rub off on Kellyanne "Sgt. Pepper" Conway, at least for the inauguration.
posted by magstheaxe at 8:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by magstheaxe at 8:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
"Protect our care," tilde.
posted by mynameisluka at 8:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by mynameisluka at 8:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Area "Never" Trumpers torn between supposedly principled Never Trumpism and unbridled glee at seeing liberals lose
Best reply: "Kind of like plugging a meat grinder with your own fist because you hate sausage."
posted by Talez at 8:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Best reply: "Kind of like plugging a meat grinder with your own fist because you hate sausage."
posted by Talez at 8:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Crowd: "Give us Barrabas!"
posted by Rykey at 8:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by Rykey at 8:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
Here is a very clear shot from overhead for comparison.
Ouch. I mean, good.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Ouch. I mean, good.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm sitting out the inaughurination with no media, social or otherwise, and perhaps just a little peek at Metafilter.
See you on the other side.
posted by Devonian at 8:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
See you on the other side.
posted by Devonian at 8:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
It just doesn't feel good to hope that the President-Elect falls down the stairs of the Capitol on his way to the podium.
posted by something something at 8:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by something something at 8:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
The NYT running commentary is pretty great:
Jon Meacham
Presidential Historian
11:27 AM ET
If Trump isn’t humbled by this spectacle as well as thrilled, we’re in trouble.
Carl Hulse
Chief Washington Correspondent
11:28 AM ET
In talking to some of the longtime aides to Mike Pence over the past few days, even they find the sequence of events that led him being here as surreal.
Jon Meacham
Presidential Historian
11:28 AM ET
I just thought of part of the last line of Robert Penn Warren’s “All the King’s Men”: now he is “walking out of History, into History, and the awful responsibility of Time.”
Maggie Haberman
White House Correspondent
11:28 AM ET
This is a daunting moment for every president. But Trump is the first with no previous experience in government.
Alan Rappeport
Washington Correspondent
11:28 AM ET
Trump just stared right into the camera and gave a little wink.
Maggie Haberman
White House Correspondent
11:28 AM ET
Trump also just mouthed something into the camera.
posted by stillmoving at 8:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Jon Meacham
Presidential Historian
11:27 AM ET
If Trump isn’t humbled by this spectacle as well as thrilled, we’re in trouble.
Carl Hulse
Chief Washington Correspondent
11:28 AM ET
In talking to some of the longtime aides to Mike Pence over the past few days, even they find the sequence of events that led him being here as surreal.
Jon Meacham
Presidential Historian
11:28 AM ET
I just thought of part of the last line of Robert Penn Warren’s “All the King’s Men”: now he is “walking out of History, into History, and the awful responsibility of Time.”
Maggie Haberman
White House Correspondent
11:28 AM ET
This is a daunting moment for every president. But Trump is the first with no previous experience in government.
Alan Rappeport
Washington Correspondent
11:28 AM ET
Trump just stared right into the camera and gave a little wink.
Maggie Haberman
White House Correspondent
11:28 AM ET
Trump also just mouthed something into the camera.
posted by stillmoving at 8:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Thank you, mynameisluka. Mr. Trump just broke the fourth wall on his pre-walk out to the dias. Can't stop looking at the camera and saying what I think is "Hello".
posted by tilde at 8:29 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by tilde at 8:29 AM on January 20, 2017
So America's really doing this, huh?
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
A. Stevenson: “Someone asked me...how it felt [to lose election] and I was reminded of a story that a fellow townsman of ours used to tell--Abraham Lincoln. They asked him how he felt once after an unsuccessful election. He said he felt like a little boy who had stubbed his toe in the dark. He said that he was too old to cry, but it hurt too much to laugh.”
posted by Postroad at 8:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Postroad at 8:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
something something, it doesn't feel good, but you are in good company. Millions (if not billions) of others are thinking just the same thing.
posted by stillmoving at 8:30 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by stillmoving at 8:30 AM on January 20, 2017
What is Pelosi wearing on her lapel? It's a blue button but I can't read it.
I couldn't read it either, but Fahrenthold has us covered on this too. It's a "#ProtectOurCare" pin, being worn by many Democratic members.
posted by zachlipton at 8:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
I couldn't read it either, but Fahrenthold has us covered on this too. It's a "#ProtectOurCare" pin, being worn by many Democratic members.
posted by zachlipton at 8:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Well enjoy everybody. I won't be watching. I watched far too much of our fuckstick-in-chief to figure out just what we were up against. This is one I can finally skip because I know all too well now what we're up against.
posted by Talez at 8:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Talez at 8:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
In about an hour Trump will start signing executive orders. Ignore your inner monologue's highly seductive disaster gospel, which will only be amplified by a news media hellbent on entertaining you to death. As Joe Hill once wrote to Big Bill Haywood: "Don't waste any time mourning. Organize!"
posted by milquetoast at 8:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by milquetoast at 8:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
I reread those words in the NYT's guide to the inauguration and got angry all over again.
posted by brainwane at 8:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I reread those words in the NYT's guide to the inauguration and got angry all over again.
posted by brainwane at 8:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is the last chance I have to call him the PEEOTUS, so:
What are the odds that after he's sworn in, the PEEOTUS turns to Obama and says "You're fired!" - with a smirk and a wink to show that, you know, he's just joking?
(I can't look, obviously.)
posted by RedOrGreen at 8:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
What are the odds that after he's sworn in, the PEEOTUS turns to Obama and says "You're fired!" - with a smirk and a wink to show that, you know, he's just joking?
(I can't look, obviously.)
posted by RedOrGreen at 8:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
(NB: The "you" here is actually me. This is a note to self.)
posted by milquetoast at 8:34 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by milquetoast at 8:34 AM on January 20, 2017
Billy House @HouseInSession 33 minutes ago
Huh? House gaveled into session; and members on the floor. But press barred from gallery because, say officials, Capitol closed by Congress.
What the hell?????
posted by anastasiav at 8:34 AM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
Huh? House gaveled into session; and members on the floor. But press barred from gallery because, say officials, Capitol closed by Congress.
What the hell?????
posted by anastasiav at 8:34 AM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
I'm bowing out - I've seen just about all of Donald I can stomach.
Keep on fighting the good fight.
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 8:34 AM on January 20, 2017
Keep on fighting the good fight.
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 8:34 AM on January 20, 2017
It is the uncertainty that's killing me.
We have no idea what Trump will do, how far he'll go. And we know that the only thing that will stop him is him.
We know this because he's already breaking the ethics laws and the US Constitution. From the moment he takes his oath of office he's in violation of the US Constitution, and he doesn't give a shit.
Rules are only meaningful if someone enforces them. At the moment the only people who have the power to enforce the rules are the Congressional Republicans, and they've proven they won't.
What rules, what laws, what norms, will Trump break next? We don't know. No one knows. And that's what's been keeping me up at night.
Will he be content to just pimp out the Presidency to line his own pockets? Or will he decide that he needs to go further? He's known to be a vindictive man, what will he do to get revenge on his enemies?
At this point I truly would not be surprised if he tries to cancel elections in 2020 or 2018. I'm not saying he will, I'm just saying we don't know what he'll do and I'm pretty sure **HE** doesn't know what he'll do.
It's the uncertainty that's killing me.
posted by sotonohito at 8:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
We have no idea what Trump will do, how far he'll go. And we know that the only thing that will stop him is him.
We know this because he's already breaking the ethics laws and the US Constitution. From the moment he takes his oath of office he's in violation of the US Constitution, and he doesn't give a shit.
Rules are only meaningful if someone enforces them. At the moment the only people who have the power to enforce the rules are the Congressional Republicans, and they've proven they won't.
What rules, what laws, what norms, will Trump break next? We don't know. No one knows. And that's what's been keeping me up at night.
Will he be content to just pimp out the Presidency to line his own pockets? Or will he decide that he needs to go further? He's known to be a vindictive man, what will he do to get revenge on his enemies?
At this point I truly would not be surprised if he tries to cancel elections in 2020 or 2018. I'm not saying he will, I'm just saying we don't know what he'll do and I'm pretty sure **HE** doesn't know what he'll do.
It's the uncertainty that's killing me.
posted by sotonohito at 8:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States
To be fair, this is a very, very low bar.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
To be fair, this is a very, very low bar.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
Alan Rappeport
Washington Correspondent
11:32 AM ET
Here we go. Trump is making his way down.
He gives a thumbs up as he walks, then stops and pumps his fist to the crowd.
Carl Hulse
Chief Washington Correspondent
11:32 AM ET
Always with the full name at the inauguration. Donald John Trump.
Alan Rappeport
Washington Correspondent
11:32 AM ET
He gave Mrs. Obama a kiss and shakes hands with Obama and Biden.
This is closest Trump and Hillary Clinton have been to each other since their final debate. He did not greet her.
Jon Meacham
Presidential Historian
11:33 AM ET
No handshake for Clintons. Bad form, methinks.
Maggie Haberman
White House Correspondent
11:34 AM ET
Yes, Jon, that is striking.
And in his mind I’m sure he thinks it’s justified. But it is telling about the future.
posted by stillmoving at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Washington Correspondent
11:32 AM ET
Here we go. Trump is making his way down.
He gives a thumbs up as he walks, then stops and pumps his fist to the crowd.
Carl Hulse
Chief Washington Correspondent
11:32 AM ET
Always with the full name at the inauguration. Donald John Trump.
Alan Rappeport
Washington Correspondent
11:32 AM ET
He gave Mrs. Obama a kiss and shakes hands with Obama and Biden.
This is closest Trump and Hillary Clinton have been to each other since their final debate. He did not greet her.
Jon Meacham
Presidential Historian
11:33 AM ET
No handshake for Clintons. Bad form, methinks.
Maggie Haberman
White House Correspondent
11:34 AM ET
Yes, Jon, that is striking.
And in his mind I’m sure he thinks it’s justified. But it is telling about the future.
posted by stillmoving at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
dilaudid: So uh what is this?
A reminder for anyone posting blind links, especially to Twitter: please do what you can to reference the linked material in-thread, as long as it's not a wall of text. (My personal work-around for work-filtering of Twitter and similar sites of saving and viewing those links on Archive.org didn't work here, so I have no idea what "this" is.)
posted by filthy light thief at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
A reminder for anyone posting blind links, especially to Twitter: please do what you can to reference the linked material in-thread, as long as it's not a wall of text. (My personal work-around for work-filtering of Twitter and similar sites of saving and viewing those links on Archive.org didn't work here, so I have no idea what "this" is.)
posted by filthy light thief at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Shelley's "The Masque of Anarchy" hits home today, as the poet describes a lengthy parade of political hypocrisy in government, culminating in grotesque autocratic figure:
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Last came Anarchy : he rodeBut that poem also speaks of of Hope:
On a white horse, splashed with blood ;
He was pale even to the lips,
Like Death in the Apocalypse.
And he wore a kingly crown ;
And in his grasp a sceptre shone ;
On his brow this mark I saw—
‘I AM GOD, AND KING, AND LAW!’
‘Let a vast assembly be,Somehow, the verses of of a 19th-century British Romantic poet feel like a direct address to the massive counter-marches this weekend in the aftermath of losing an election yet winning the popular vote.
And with great solemnity
Declare with measured words that ye
Are, as God has made ye, free—{...}
‘And these words shall then become
Like Oppression’s thundered doom
Ringing through each heart and brain.
Heard again—again—again—
‘Rise like Lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number—
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you—
Ye are many—they are few.’
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
.
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Ha ha. My bladder is on it. As soon as Donald came out I had leave watching and go pee.
Don't mind me. Just sitting here in full on state of giggle coping.
posted by Jalliah at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I was planning to go surfing today, if to do nothing else but temporarily cancel out the overwhelming sense of impending doom. Unfortunately, it's raining pretty hard here in Southern California...and I've paddled through enough figurative sewage and bacterial runoff over the past few weeks that I don't need to do it quite so literally in choppy, freezing water.
Instead, I'm going to apply to what looks like a dream job, make some tortillas, clean the house, and go to a drag show later tonight.
And tomorrow, I'll march.
posted by otenba at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Instead, I'm going to apply to what looks like a dream job, make some tortillas, clean the house, and go to a drag show later tonight.
And tomorrow, I'll march.
posted by otenba at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
What do we tell our kids?
Won’t somebody PLEASE think of the children?
It was late 2014, she had just turned three. “Are monsters real?”
I said, “It depends; if you’re asking about the kind of monsters you read about in a fairy story, dragons and giants and such, no. But sometimes real people act like monsters.”
“Like who?”
“Well, Vladimir Putin is a monster. He kills people so he can rule people, so he can steal. Donald Trump is a monster. He lies a lot. Donald Trump isn’t as bad as Vladimir Putin though; he hurts people but he doesn’t have people killed.”
I was of course oblivious that these two men would end up on the same team, working toward the same goal. I was unaware that one man would elevate the other to join him in the pantheon of the most powerful world leaders. I did not foresee the piss thing.
Still, you picked some good names.
This presidency is a joke.
Maybe it’s a joke to a non-Muslim cismale Caucasian with an office job.
Jokes can hurt. This joke may get people killed. It’s still a joke. I mean to say the people behind the campaign to get Donald Trump elected President of the United States, even the people who voted for him, did not do so with the sincere belief that he would or realistically could be elected President of the United States, nor that he would be the best option as President of the United States. They did so to make a statement about the country and about their own identity. An impact. They were protesting, and while their protest was sincere, their vessel for achieving it was this manifestly incompetent, offensive buffoon, a man who until recently might be seen as a punchline incarnate, especially in the context of high office. They were, essentially, trolling. The kind of trolling that, if you’re in DC, might help your career in a right wing think-tank, or if you’re in Pittsburgh, might allow you to enjoy adorning your car with a bumper sticker that says DON’T BLAME ME, I VOTED TRUMP. And then he won.
It’s a bad joke because it’s not “punching up”.
A country is a story you tell your kids.
This story is not working out so well. The jokes are bad. It needs editing. And the plot-holes!
The story says the country is not at war with Islam, because Islam is a major world religion accounting for 23% of the world’s population, overwhelmingly just regular people, including many Americans, and we have constitutionally-enshrined freedom of religion and we welcome all decent people of diverse faiths and no faith and going to war with Islam is insane.
So we elected the man who proposed banning all Muslims from entering or re-entering the country. Tourists. Citizens. Whatever. A primal scream immigration policy of white Christian disgust against the dark ones.
The story says that institutional racism is a major problem, but most people are trying to better themselves and treat people with respect. The story says that cops are necessary and most of them are trying to help people.
So we elected the man who led the birther movement. The movement that said the first black president was literally un-American, the product of a Dan Brown conspiracy. So the largest police union, the Fraternal Order of Police, endorsed Trump, presumably to quantify how much black lives matter. Sad!
The story says that we provide equal opportunities for women.
As long as they have a good email server configuration. No promises otherwise. We might even elect a man with no experience in public service whatsoever, who will surely use his Supreme Court nominations and legislative power to decimate women’s access to healthcare.
The story says that the liberal representative democracy of the United States defeated the authoritarianism of Russia and that was the end of the Cold War!
So we elected the guy who expressed his pleasure at having met Vladimir Putin, and who subsequently started denying he had ever met Vladimir Putin, but also that Vladimir Putin was a pretty great guy and everything he did was pretty great. Huge leadership. Not born in Kenya. Do we actually need NATO? Maybe we should undermine the EU as an institution! The global economy is a zero-sum game of the winners and the losers and haters! Putin looks like a winner. We can be winners too.
The story says that the Republican Party is the party of respecting the US Military.
So we elected the Republican who said that John McCain wasn’t a real war hero because he got captured. Who John McCain subsequently endorsed. Even though he said he wants to reinstate torture, against the will of the military. Presumably the torture won’t be as bad as what the Viet Cong did.
The story says that the Republican Party is the party of family values.
So we elected a sexual predator with a seemingly endless list of accusers. We elected the guy with small hands but with no problems downstairs, believe me. We elected the guy who called Ted Cruz’s wife ugly and said Ted Cruz’s dad was involved in assassinating JFK. Then Ted Cruz endorsed him. We elected “The Wraith of Dignity”.
The story says that politicians who are corrupt get punished by the electorate.
So we elected the guy from Trump University. Without getting his tax returns. Or getting him to sell his businesses to pay off his debts to foreign banks. Or follow any modern ethical standards for the office. We are going to let him get very much richer because this is a hard job and he’s probably going to hate it. After four years, maybe he will even be as rich as he claims!
The story says that we are the forefront of science and research. The story says that in the apocalyptic disaster movie, we lead the charge to save the world.
So we elected the guy who says vaccines cause autism and that climate change is a plot by the Chinese to undermine American workers.
The story says that America is exceptional.
This is pretty exceptional.
We tell our kids that if you work hard and treat people with respect, no matter where you come from in this great nation, you can achieve anything. We say that in America, anything is possible.
It has become increasingly clear that in America, anything is possible.
This is not a good story.
Back to the drawing board.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [54 favorites]
Won’t somebody PLEASE think of the children?
It was late 2014, she had just turned three. “Are monsters real?”
I said, “It depends; if you’re asking about the kind of monsters you read about in a fairy story, dragons and giants and such, no. But sometimes real people act like monsters.”
“Like who?”
“Well, Vladimir Putin is a monster. He kills people so he can rule people, so he can steal. Donald Trump is a monster. He lies a lot. Donald Trump isn’t as bad as Vladimir Putin though; he hurts people but he doesn’t have people killed.”
I was of course oblivious that these two men would end up on the same team, working toward the same goal. I was unaware that one man would elevate the other to join him in the pantheon of the most powerful world leaders. I did not foresee the piss thing.
Still, you picked some good names.
This presidency is a joke.
Maybe it’s a joke to a non-Muslim cismale Caucasian with an office job.
Jokes can hurt. This joke may get people killed. It’s still a joke. I mean to say the people behind the campaign to get Donald Trump elected President of the United States, even the people who voted for him, did not do so with the sincere belief that he would or realistically could be elected President of the United States, nor that he would be the best option as President of the United States. They did so to make a statement about the country and about their own identity. An impact. They were protesting, and while their protest was sincere, their vessel for achieving it was this manifestly incompetent, offensive buffoon, a man who until recently might be seen as a punchline incarnate, especially in the context of high office. They were, essentially, trolling. The kind of trolling that, if you’re in DC, might help your career in a right wing think-tank, or if you’re in Pittsburgh, might allow you to enjoy adorning your car with a bumper sticker that says DON’T BLAME ME, I VOTED TRUMP. And then he won.
It’s a bad joke because it’s not “punching up”.
A country is a story you tell your kids.
This story is not working out so well. The jokes are bad. It needs editing. And the plot-holes!
The story says the country is not at war with Islam, because Islam is a major world religion accounting for 23% of the world’s population, overwhelmingly just regular people, including many Americans, and we have constitutionally-enshrined freedom of religion and we welcome all decent people of diverse faiths and no faith and going to war with Islam is insane.
So we elected the man who proposed banning all Muslims from entering or re-entering the country. Tourists. Citizens. Whatever. A primal scream immigration policy of white Christian disgust against the dark ones.
The story says that institutional racism is a major problem, but most people are trying to better themselves and treat people with respect. The story says that cops are necessary and most of them are trying to help people.
So we elected the man who led the birther movement. The movement that said the first black president was literally un-American, the product of a Dan Brown conspiracy. So the largest police union, the Fraternal Order of Police, endorsed Trump, presumably to quantify how much black lives matter. Sad!
The story says that we provide equal opportunities for women.
As long as they have a good email server configuration. No promises otherwise. We might even elect a man with no experience in public service whatsoever, who will surely use his Supreme Court nominations and legislative power to decimate women’s access to healthcare.
The story says that the liberal representative democracy of the United States defeated the authoritarianism of Russia and that was the end of the Cold War!
So we elected the guy who expressed his pleasure at having met Vladimir Putin, and who subsequently started denying he had ever met Vladimir Putin, but also that Vladimir Putin was a pretty great guy and everything he did was pretty great. Huge leadership. Not born in Kenya. Do we actually need NATO? Maybe we should undermine the EU as an institution! The global economy is a zero-sum game of the winners and the losers and haters! Putin looks like a winner. We can be winners too.
The story says that the Republican Party is the party of respecting the US Military.
So we elected the Republican who said that John McCain wasn’t a real war hero because he got captured. Who John McCain subsequently endorsed. Even though he said he wants to reinstate torture, against the will of the military. Presumably the torture won’t be as bad as what the Viet Cong did.
The story says that the Republican Party is the party of family values.
So we elected a sexual predator with a seemingly endless list of accusers. We elected the guy with small hands but with no problems downstairs, believe me. We elected the guy who called Ted Cruz’s wife ugly and said Ted Cruz’s dad was involved in assassinating JFK. Then Ted Cruz endorsed him. We elected “The Wraith of Dignity”.
The story says that politicians who are corrupt get punished by the electorate.
So we elected the guy from Trump University. Without getting his tax returns. Or getting him to sell his businesses to pay off his debts to foreign banks. Or follow any modern ethical standards for the office. We are going to let him get very much richer because this is a hard job and he’s probably going to hate it. After four years, maybe he will even be as rich as he claims!
The story says that we are the forefront of science and research. The story says that in the apocalyptic disaster movie, we lead the charge to save the world.
So we elected the guy who says vaccines cause autism and that climate change is a plot by the Chinese to undermine American workers.
The story says that America is exceptional.
This is pretty exceptional.
We tell our kids that if you work hard and treat people with respect, no matter where you come from in this great nation, you can achieve anything. We say that in America, anything is possible.
It has become increasingly clear that in America, anything is possible.
This is not a good story.
Back to the drawing board.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [54 favorites]
Here is a very clear shot from overhead for comparison.
Kudos to whoever installed the white flooring on the National Mall. It makes all the empty space really pop.
posted by scalefree at 8:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
Kudos to whoever installed the white flooring on the National Mall. It makes all the empty space really pop.
posted by scalefree at 8:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
"Noon swearing-in, 3 p.m. inaugural parade, 6 p.m. impeachment hearing"
posted by Postroad at 8:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Postroad at 8:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
> Carl Hulse
Chief Washington Correspondent
11:32 AM ET
Always with the full name at the inauguration. Donald John Trump.
Oh, it's John! No lie, I always thought it stood for "Jackassdickhead." TIL!
posted by Tevin at 8:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Chief Washington Correspondent
11:32 AM ET
Always with the full name at the inauguration. Donald John Trump.
Oh, it's John! No lie, I always thought it stood for "Jackassdickhead." TIL!
posted by Tevin at 8:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think I understand that Sen. Blunt is at least making a half-assed attempt at reconciliatory language so he can always say later that he tried, but all I can think is "You need to keep Lincoln's words out of your mouth and take several seats."
posted by magstheaxe at 8:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by magstheaxe at 8:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Emma Roller @emmarollerFuck this shit indeed.
So. My boyfriend's office is directly next to Comet Ping Pong. He had to shelter in place when there was the near-shooting there. (1/3)
He just texted to say there are pro-Trump protesters outside of Comet Ping Pong chanting "Penis doesn't belong in anus" (2/3)
Fuck this shit. (3/3)
posted by Talez at 8:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
Make a donation to Trump right here
posted by porn in the woods at 8:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by porn in the woods at 8:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh boy, Paula White, author and life coach.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:41 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:41 AM on January 20, 2017
Trump just stared right into the camera and gave a little wink.
I'd feel happier if I didn't think he felt like a fucking debutante. He's going to make the most important oath he'll ever swear and most important job he'll ever have all about how great he is. The New Yorker cartoon has it. The usual subtitute caption is left as an exercise for the reader.
posted by jaduncan at 8:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'd feel happier if I didn't think he felt like a fucking debutante. He's going to make the most important oath he'll ever swear and most important job he'll ever have all about how great he is. The New Yorker cartoon has it. The usual subtitute caption is left as an exercise for the reader.
posted by jaduncan at 8:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
So far today, I started the new gym membership, and now I'm wearing my "Nah.--Rosa Parks" Civil Rights t-shirt and am blasting Splendor and Misery while I clean my apartment and dream of better futures... There must/be/a better place...
posted by TwoStride at 8:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by TwoStride at 8:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
@wmata - Metro Ridership: As of 11am, 193k trips taken so far today. (11am 1/20/13 = 317k, 11am 1/20/09 = 513k, 11am 1/20/05 = 197k) #wmata
posted by DynamiteToast at 8:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by DynamiteToast at 8:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Is that the part of the Comet Ping Pong Pizza story that they're upset about?
posted by birdheist at 8:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by birdheist at 8:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
If you're looking for a safe space to shelter in place, the MeFi MST Club is hosting a SECRET INAUGURATION IGNORING MARATHON. It's not really MST3k content, but more just general weirdness, and anyone can suggest content.
posted by valkane at 8:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by valkane at 8:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
It does feel like what's happening on the TV at the end of a movie, where the hero is in the background, running from one place to another to get the thing to the thing so they can do the thing and avert the end of the world. Except I suspect the hero's tripped over a shoe lace and fallen into a vat of something corrosive.
posted by Grangousier at 8:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Grangousier at 8:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
The Bikers for Trump are pretty disgusting to me. Even if they're not aware of Altamont, where bikers as security was shown to be an incredibly stupid idea, they're definitely using the image of bikers as dangerous, threatening figures to do their best to intimidate people they don't like.
It reminds me a lot of the Basij we heard so much about back when those protests were going on in Iran a few years back (fun fact I just discovered: entering "Iran paramilitary rednecks" into DDG will take you to the Wikipedia entry on the Basij).
posted by indubitable at 8:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
It reminds me a lot of the Basij we heard so much about back when those protests were going on in Iran a few years back (fun fact I just discovered: entering "Iran paramilitary rednecks" into DDG will take you to the Wikipedia entry on the Basij).
posted by indubitable at 8:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Nice shade there, WMATA.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I think the bits you can see in the webcam are invite-only areas, yes?
The non-ticketed areas start at 4th St, one block after the Reflecting Pool and Union Square, so most of the webcam view isn't ticketed.
posted by holgate at 8:44 AM on January 20, 2017
The non-ticketed areas start at 4th St, one block after the Reflecting Pool and Union Square, so most of the webcam view isn't ticketed.
posted by holgate at 8:44 AM on January 20, 2017
Black Lives Matter shut down the Judiciary Square entrance / checkpoint to the inauguration.
posted by FirstMateKate at 8:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by FirstMateKate at 8:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
False alarm, no weird conspiracy stuff in Congress today after all.
posted by scalefree at 8:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 8:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I can't look. I'll just read about it when it's over.
posted by pracowity at 8:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by pracowity at 8:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump looks like he's having a hard time tolerating the Missouri State University choir, which doesn't bode well for enduring painful ceremonial aspects of his new gig. I always liked how much joy President Obama took in his interactions with ordinary people trying to show him something or entertain him.
posted by carmicha at 8:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 8:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
C-SPAN is pointing their camera on the mall in a weird angle to make it look like there's a good crowd, fwiw...
posted by JoeXIII007 at 8:47 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by JoeXIII007 at 8:47 AM on January 20, 2017
So back when I was in high school, there was a tradition that the senior class would make some kind of "senior entrance" on the first day of school. And so when I was a senior, we had a meeting to figure out what ours was going to be. It was a stupid process, full of groupthink, and the final decision was really really damn stupid. Like not wearing pants stupid (literally). And since I knew most people agreed it was damn stupid, after the idea was provisionally agreed upon, I spoke up and asked for a quick show of hands of who actually liked the idea. And at best 20% of the class did. And because I was a stupid high school senior, I naively expected that people would pick up on that and maybe we wouldn't do the thing that it was now perfectly obvious people didn't want to do.
Well, reader, I will tell you that we did that the thing that it was perfectly obvious people didn't want to do. And that's what we're doing now. We had a brave Muslim, a pussy tape, and Alicia Machado. What the hell are we doing here? We had a majority of voters say they didn't want this. We have a majority of poll respondents saying they don't approve now. Why are we doing this?
posted by zachlipton at 8:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [36 favorites]
Well, reader, I will tell you that we did that the thing that it was perfectly obvious people didn't want to do. And that's what we're doing now. We had a brave Muslim, a pussy tape, and Alicia Machado. What the hell are we doing here? We had a majority of voters say they didn't want this. We have a majority of poll respondents saying they don't approve now. Why are we doing this?
posted by zachlipton at 8:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [36 favorites]
The House weirdly had a closed session but all they did was read some routine messages from the Senate then adjourn until Monday.
posted by scalefree at 8:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by scalefree at 8:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
It does feel like what's happening on the TV at the end of a movie, where the hero is in the background, running from one place to another to get the thing to the thing so they can do the thing and avert the end of the world. Except I suspect the hero's tripped over a shoe lace and fallen into a vat of something corrosive.
Or like a video game where earlier in the level you missed picking up something vital, or speaking to someone, or reading some important clue, so there's nothing you can do except wander about avoiding the bad guys until the timer reaches zero and the game ends.
posted by tapeguy at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Or like a video game where earlier in the level you missed picking up something vital, or speaking to someone, or reading some important clue, so there's nothing you can do except wander about avoiding the bad guys until the timer reaches zero and the game ends.
posted by tapeguy at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Schumer you fucking quisling renfield motherfucker.
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Why are we doing this?
Because the constitution says no backsies.
posted by Talez at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Because the constitution says no backsies.
posted by Talez at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
People are booing Schumer and shouting "Trump! Trump" as he speaks.
posted by zachlipton at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yolandi wore it better.
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
Because the constitution says no backsies.
It's in that rare first draft of the constitution with the word "suckers" in it.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
It's in that rare first draft of the constitution with the word "suckers" in it.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
People are booing Schumer and shouting "Trump! Trump" as he speaks.
When he said 'people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.'
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
When he said 'people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.'
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Here's Obama's crowd from 2009
Here's today's crowd as of 11am
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Here's today's crowd as of 11am
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Cue the Ashokan Farewell
posted by Esteemed Offendi at 8:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Esteemed Offendi at 8:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Didn't want this day to go by without sending a hug to all my dear mefites and to thank you for being here. On this dark day, remember we got through George Bush together, we will somehow get through this. We will. Stay strong. Stay safe. Take care of yourself first.
I was reflecting on Twitter that the last time I felt this bad, sad, mad at my country was the night the Iraq war began.
I'll be one of the 70,000 people anticipated in Boston tomorrow.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
I was reflecting on Twitter that the last time I felt this bad, sad, mad at my country was the night the Iraq war began.
I'll be one of the 70,000 people anticipated in Boston tomorrow.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
I'm watching live on NBC (no cable here and not sure how to find C-SPAN). Feeling queasy. Can't look away.
My office in downtown LA was closed today because of a combination of threats of disruptive protests on our block, bad weather, an extremely liberal senior manager and an anxious VP. This is the first time they've closed the office during normal business hours in 4 years.
posted by samthemander at 8:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
My office in downtown LA was closed today because of a combination of threats of disruptive protests on our block, bad weather, an extremely liberal senior manager and an anxious VP. This is the first time they've closed the office during normal business hours in 4 years.
posted by samthemander at 8:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Clarence Thomas can speak?
posted by Glibpaxman at 8:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Glibpaxman at 8:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
I mean, I know Schumer has to participate, but he has seemed all along to be pretty fine with the normalization.
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Except I suspect the hero's tripped over a shoe lace and fallen into a vat of something corrosive.
That's what we get for relying on Aeon Flux to save us.
God, but that just made me realize what a tremendous improvement Trevor Goodchild would be, and that is a sad thought.
posted by byanyothername at 8:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
That's what we get for relying on Aeon Flux to save us.
God, but that just made me realize what a tremendous improvement Trevor Goodchild would be, and that is a sad thought.
posted by byanyothername at 8:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
People are booing Schumer and shouting "Trump! Trump" as he speaks.
When he said 'people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.'
How damn pathetic is it that the literal name of the President of the United States can be used to express hate? Like, if you want to be bigoted toward someone, you don't have to come up with an appropriate slur or anything, you just shout the President's name. And everyone knows exactly what you mean.
posted by zachlipton at 8:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [90 favorites]
When he said 'people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.'
How damn pathetic is it that the literal name of the President of the United States can be used to express hate? Like, if you want to be bigoted toward someone, you don't have to come up with an appropriate slur or anything, you just shout the President's name. And everyone knows exactly what you mean.
posted by zachlipton at 8:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [90 favorites]
Pence is sworn in.
posted by samthemander at 8:54 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by samthemander at 8:54 AM on January 20, 2017
O mia patria, sì bella e perduta.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Mike Pence has a total "how did I get here?" look on his face.
We don't know either, buddy.
posted by Leslie Knope at 8:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
We don't know either, buddy.
posted by Leslie Knope at 8:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has joined Fox News Channel as a contributor.
The fact that this guy was basically run out of another country for being a lying racist asshole wasn't enough reason for Fox News to think twice.
posted by zachlipton at 8:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
The fact that this guy was basically run out of another country for being a lying racist asshole wasn't enough reason for Fox News to think twice.
posted by zachlipton at 8:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
Enjoy the Obama/Pence administration while it lasts.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
SEPTEMBER 1, 1939
by W.H. Auden
I sit in one of the dives
On Fifty-second Street
Uncertain and afraid
As the clever hopes expire
Of a low dishonest decade:
Waves of anger and fear
Circulate over the bright
And darkened lands of the earth,
Obsessing our private lives;
The unmentionable odour of death
Offends the September night.
Accurate scholarship can
Unearth the whole offence
From Luther until now
That has driven a culture mad,
Find what occurred at Linz,
What huge imago made
A psychopathic god:
I and the public know
What all schoolchildren learn,
Those to whom evil is done
Do evil in return.
Exiled Thucydides knew
All that a speech can say
About Democracy,
And what dictators do,
The elderly rubbish they talk
To an apathetic grave;
Analysed all in his book,
The enlightenment driven away,
The habit-forming pain,
Mismanagement and grief:
We must suffer them all again.
Into this neutral air
Where blind skyscrapers use
Their full height to proclaim
The strength of Collective Man,
Each language pours its vain
Competitive excuse:
But who can live for long
In an euphoric dream;
Out of the mirror they stare,
Imperialism's face
And the international wrong.
Faces along the bar
Cling to their average day:
The lights must never go out,
The music must always play,
All the conventions conspire
To make this fort assume
The furniture of home;
Lest we should see where we are,
Lost in a haunted wood,
Children afraid of the night
Who have never been happy or good.
The windiest militant trash
Important Persons shout
Is not so crude as our wish:
What mad Nijinsky wrote
About Diaghilev
Is true of the normal heart;
For the error bred in the bone
Of each woman and each man
Craves what it cannot have,
Not universal love
But to be loved alone.
From the conservative dark
Into the ethical life
The dense commuters come,
Repeating their morning vow;
'I will be true to the wife,
I'll concentrate more on my work,'
And helpless governors wake
To resume their compulsory game:
Who can release them now,
Who can reach the dead,
Who can speak for the dumb?
All I have is a voice
To undo the folded lie,
The romantic lie in the brain
Of the sensual man-in-the-street
And the lie of Authority
Whose buildings grope the sky:
There is no such thing as the State
And no one exists alone;
Hunger allows no choice
To the citizen or the police;
We must love one another or die.
Defenseless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.
posted by stolyarova at 8:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [45 favorites]
by W.H. Auden
I sit in one of the dives
On Fifty-second Street
Uncertain and afraid
As the clever hopes expire
Of a low dishonest decade:
Waves of anger and fear
Circulate over the bright
And darkened lands of the earth,
Obsessing our private lives;
The unmentionable odour of death
Offends the September night.
Accurate scholarship can
Unearth the whole offence
From Luther until now
That has driven a culture mad,
Find what occurred at Linz,
What huge imago made
A psychopathic god:
I and the public know
What all schoolchildren learn,
Those to whom evil is done
Do evil in return.
Exiled Thucydides knew
All that a speech can say
About Democracy,
And what dictators do,
The elderly rubbish they talk
To an apathetic grave;
Analysed all in his book,
The enlightenment driven away,
The habit-forming pain,
Mismanagement and grief:
We must suffer them all again.
Into this neutral air
Where blind skyscrapers use
Their full height to proclaim
The strength of Collective Man,
Each language pours its vain
Competitive excuse:
But who can live for long
In an euphoric dream;
Out of the mirror they stare,
Imperialism's face
And the international wrong.
Faces along the bar
Cling to their average day:
The lights must never go out,
The music must always play,
All the conventions conspire
To make this fort assume
The furniture of home;
Lest we should see where we are,
Lost in a haunted wood,
Children afraid of the night
Who have never been happy or good.
The windiest militant trash
Important Persons shout
Is not so crude as our wish:
What mad Nijinsky wrote
About Diaghilev
Is true of the normal heart;
For the error bred in the bone
Of each woman and each man
Craves what it cannot have,
Not universal love
But to be loved alone.
From the conservative dark
Into the ethical life
The dense commuters come,
Repeating their morning vow;
'I will be true to the wife,
I'll concentrate more on my work,'
And helpless governors wake
To resume their compulsory game:
Who can release them now,
Who can reach the dead,
Who can speak for the dumb?
All I have is a voice
To undo the folded lie,
The romantic lie in the brain
Of the sensual man-in-the-street
And the lie of Authority
Whose buildings grope the sky:
There is no such thing as the State
And no one exists alone;
Hunger allows no choice
To the citizen or the police;
We must love one another or die.
Defenseless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.
posted by stolyarova at 8:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [45 favorites]
Someone just yelled something on the livefeed. What was that?
posted by all about eevee at 8:56 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by all about eevee at 8:56 AM on January 20, 2017
According to the PBS caption person, Schumer urged all Americans to read "Balou's letter," but apparently Balou is a city in Haiti and how French people misspell the name of the bear from The Jungle Book?
posted by clorox at 8:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by clorox at 8:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I will be shocked if Trump can repeat the oath back appropriately, without another thumbs up, fist pump, or kissy face.
posted by stillmoving at 8:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by stillmoving at 8:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
http://decay.us/
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Who knew that I would ever find some solace in stark white ground cover.
posted by Jalliah at 8:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
er, is the Morman Tabernacle Choir at least a half measure off from the band? Because it sounds like it.
posted by zachlipton at 8:57 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by zachlipton at 8:57 AM on January 20, 2017
Enjoy the Obama/Pence administration while it lasts.
ROBERTS: Actually, you know what? I'm good. Are you all good? Cool. We're done here.
[fake, but probably more popular a prospect than reality]
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
ROBERTS: Actually, you know what? I'm good. Are you all good? Cool. We're done here.
[fake, but probably more popular a prospect than reality]
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
They're selling postcards of the hanging
They're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor is filled with sailors
The circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner
They've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker
The other is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless
They need somewhere to go
As lady and I look out tonight
From Desolation Row
posted by kyrademon at 8:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
They're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor is filled with sailors
The circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner
They've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker
The other is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless
They need somewhere to go
As lady and I look out tonight
From Desolation Row
posted by kyrademon at 8:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
ok, time to read up on what we're getting
posted by the phlegmatic king at 8:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by the phlegmatic king at 8:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Oh oops I thought your comment was about racism and silencing minorities. Not about Thomas's actual MO in court.
Now it can be about both.
posted by Glibpaxman at 8:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Now it can be about both.
posted by Glibpaxman at 8:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Someone just yelled something on the livefeed. What was that?
I'm pretty sure (and Twitter seems to agree) someone yelled "lock him up" as Pence shook Obama's hand.
posted by zachlipton at 8:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm pretty sure (and Twitter seems to agree) someone yelled "lock him up" as Pence shook Obama's hand.
posted by zachlipton at 8:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Buckle up, everybody.
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I wonder if Roberts is going to fuck this oath up.
posted by Rhaomi at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Rhaomi at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
"That I will faithfully execute Hillary Clinton" [fake]
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2017
God damn it.
God damn it.
God damn it.
posted by byanyothername at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
God damn it.
God damn it.
posted by byanyothername at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Trump is sworn in.
posted by samthemander at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by samthemander at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2017
Today's an all-RAtM day for me. I overheard the inauguration on our workplace casual area TV, and ugh. Ugggh. Full-body shudder.
posted by XtinaS at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by XtinaS at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2017
LIVE FROM NEW YORK IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
God save the United States of America
posted by zachlipton at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
I can hear protestors and so can he :)
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Poetry isn't cutting it for me. Well, a complete disaster is in progress, but enjoy these metrical mouth noises!
posted by thelonius at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by thelonius at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
See you on the other side.
posted by clorox at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by clorox at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Watching this Twitter video of protesters smashing windows while listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is surreal.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Oh, my God.
posted by mynameisluka at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by mynameisluka at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017
Are you fucking kidding me? The crowd is yelling shit like "lock him up" during this?!
posted by agregoli at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by agregoli at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Awesome. Wow. Do you have a clue what happens now?
posted by zachlipton at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
Guys, esp. theatre geeks, the Concert for America folks have their stream up - watch rehearsals. They were just practicing West Side Story's "America." (I mean, rehearsals are fun. "[Play] just the downbeats, not all that weird upbeat shit.")
posted by NorthernLite at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by NorthernLite at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
.
posted by Brainy at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Brainy at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Did...did he say "so help me guy"?
posted by I-baLL at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by I-baLL at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
@POTUS has switched. The feed is gone and they dumped all the followers.
posted by anastasiav at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by anastasiav at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
.
posted by marshmallow peep at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by marshmallow peep at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2017
Today's an all -RAtM day for me
I'm partial to the pretty-goddamn-appropriate Take the Power Back.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm partial to the pretty-goddamn-appropriate Take the Power Back.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
In the words of the late, great Charlie Brown: "Rats."
posted by bondcliff at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
.
posted by Sweetdefenestration at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by Sweetdefenestration at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2017
None of us have a clue what happens now.
posted by sotonohito at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by sotonohito at 9:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
@POTUS hasn't tweeted yet.
Yet.
It's been content and follower moved to @POTUS44
posted by tilde at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Yet.
It's been content and follower moved to @POTUS44
posted by tilde at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
.
posted by Enturbulated at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by Enturbulated at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017
.
posted by slipthought at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by slipthought at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017
.
posted by stolyarova at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by stolyarova at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017
Oh man, I have a clue: non-stop constant drinking until my liver goes on strike. 🥃 🥃 🥃 🥃
posted by XtinaS at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by XtinaS at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Awesome. Wow. Do you have a clue what happens now?
Now we fight.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
Now we fight.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
Just remembered I could be here with you instead of on twitter, hold me now.
.
posted by missmobtown at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
.
posted by missmobtown at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
> @POTUS hasn't tweeted yet.
Screencapped for posterity.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Screencapped for posterity.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
.
posted by cirhosis at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by cirhosis at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
The old @POTUS account is still there, renamed to @POTUS44.
posted by mbrubeck at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by mbrubeck at 9:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I thought he wasn't going to use @POTUS
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017
.
posted by Neronomius at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by Neronomius at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017
Forbes.com: Man Boasts Of Sexual Assault, Later Inaugurated 45th President Of United States
posted by Rhaomi at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [58 favorites]
posted by Rhaomi at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [58 favorites]
And the rain begins.
posted by all about eevee at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by all about eevee at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
At Tara in this fateful hour,
I place all Heaven with its power,
And the sun with its brightness,
And the snow with its whiteness,
And the fire with all the strength it hath,
And the lightning with its rapid wrath,
And the winds with their swiftness along their path,
And the sea with its deepness,
And the rocks with their steepness,
And the earth with its starkness:
All these I place,
By God's almighty help and grace
Between myself and the powers of darkness.
posted by dnash at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [33 favorites]
I place all Heaven with its power,
And the sun with its brightness,
And the snow with its whiteness,
And the fire with all the strength it hath,
And the lightning with its rapid wrath,
And the winds with their swiftness along their path,
And the sea with its deepness,
And the rocks with their steepness,
And the earth with its starkness:
All these I place,
By God's almighty help and grace
Between myself and the powers of darkness.
posted by dnash at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [33 favorites]
.
posted by DynamiteToast at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by DynamiteToast at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017
I only just found this: "We are visiting Colony Cats (& Dogs) on Thursday and hanging out in the kitten room with the adoption center’s smallest felines. Our “coverage” begins at 11 a.m."
They have laser pointers.
posted by Katemonkey at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
They have laser pointers.
posted by Katemonkey at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
@POTUS has switched. The feed is gone and they dumped all the followers.
"@POTUS hasn't tweeted yet."
To quote George Clinton in a way that he never intended... "That's a temporary condition."
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017
"@POTUS hasn't tweeted yet."
To quote George Clinton in a way that he never intended... "That's a temporary condition."
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017
Had a sandwich. Back to bed.
posted by Splunge at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Splunge at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Did it just start raining?
posted by Karmeliet at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Karmeliet at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Unless
posted by drezdn at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 9:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Well here we all are on Crony Island.
posted by srboisvert at 9:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 9:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
it started raining, apparently, only with trump's speech. lol
posted by sylvanshine at 9:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by sylvanshine at 9:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
.
Blood rack barbed wire
Politicians' funeral pyre
Innocents raped with napalm fire
Twenty first century schizoid man
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 9:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Blood rack barbed wire
Politicians' funeral pyre
Innocents raped with napalm fire
Twenty first century schizoid man
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 9:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Reaction shot of Obama, gracefully acknowledging Trump's mention, but also appearing to me on the verge of tears
posted by Theiform at 9:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Theiform at 9:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
.
posted by Bibliogeek at 9:05 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by Bibliogeek at 9:05 AM on January 20, 2017
When all the men in uniform were suddenly clustered behind him, I had a hopeful thought that maybe he was going to be arrested during his very first speech as president.
posted by Burn.Don't.Freeze at 9:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Burn.Don't.Freeze at 9:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
It's 3am in America.
posted by cmfletcher at 9:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 9:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
.
posted by pemberkins at 9:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by pemberkins at 9:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
All this "by the people" stuff seems so false given that he lost the popular vote.
posted by carmicha at 9:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 9:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm actually kind of believing he wrote this himself. It's trite and lacking in any rhetorical devices other than "say the same thing over and over in slightly different ways."
posted by zachlipton at 9:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 9:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
it started raining apparently, only with trump's speech. lol
The Young Pope is getting more and more eerie with each passing day.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:07 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
What the hell. This is horrible. Just horrible.
posted by Jalliah at 9:07 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
well now it's time to do my civic duty and read up on who this new Don Trump president guy is, hope i find out some pleasant things!
posted by beerperson at 9:07 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by beerperson at 9:07 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Again with the goddamn "inner cities." You racist bastard.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:07 AM on January 20, 2017 [66 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:07 AM on January 20, 2017 [66 favorites]
This election was a primal scream from the electorate.
A primal scream in all its powerlessness, definitely. This election was a physical manifestation of a psychological extinction burst from a minority of the electorate who were about to be left behind in their miserable, self-isolating, closed off worldview. I won't grant them any more power than that. Onward, we progress onward.
posted by orbit-3 at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
A primal scream in all its powerlessness, definitely. This election was a physical manifestation of a psychological extinction burst from a minority of the electorate who were about to be left behind in their miserable, self-isolating, closed off worldview. I won't grant them any more power than that. Onward, we progress onward.
posted by orbit-3 at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Fuck you guys I went outside and it was so much harder to withstand than I thought.
There's a line of police in riot gear at the end of the block - I'm not even at the restricted traffic zone (though I'm close) so I didn't expect it to extend all the way here. There aren't any organized protesters here but lots of stragglers with dejected looks on their faces. Plus other randos and gawkers (including me, I suppose...) - luckily I assume anyone I saw wasn't a Trump supporter since they'd be at the mall right now. I can't place exactly why it made me feel so much more emotional, but I'm still shaking.
Luckily and unluckily I was able to use my home's unfortunate location to help at least one injured protester so far - if anyone else hears of anyone needing shelter for any reason in the Thomas Circle-Convention Center area, please memail.
posted by R a c h e l at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
There's a line of police in riot gear at the end of the block - I'm not even at the restricted traffic zone (though I'm close) so I didn't expect it to extend all the way here. There aren't any organized protesters here but lots of stragglers with dejected looks on their faces. Plus other randos and gawkers (including me, I suppose...) - luckily I assume anyone I saw wasn't a Trump supporter since they'd be at the mall right now. I can't place exactly why it made me feel so much more emotional, but I'm still shaking.
Luckily and unluckily I was able to use my home's unfortunate location to help at least one injured protester so far - if anyone else hears of anyone needing shelter for any reason in the Thomas Circle-Convention Center area, please memail.
posted by R a c h e l at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
My cat is making sad noises. My proudly Mexicano cat.
posted by byanyothername at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by byanyothername at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Sons of Gondor! Of Rohan! My brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me! A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of Men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand! Men of the West!This day we fight. And the next. And the next. And so on for the next 1,460 days.
We fight.
If we lose, we fight.
If we win, we fight.
But we must fight.
posted by sotonohito at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
So now we start counting the seconds to this moment in four years' time. Because they are counting down.
126,144,000
126,143.959
126,143.958
126,143.957...
posted by Devonian at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
126,144,000
126,143.959
126,143.958
126,143.957...
posted by Devonian at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
"Young and beautiful students"? That's an ... odd choice of words.
posted by Karmeliet at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by Karmeliet at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Oh god, this speech. We're doomed.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
So now we start counting the seconds to this moment in four years' time. Because they are counting down.
There should be an app for this.
posted by Glibpaxman at 9:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
There should be an app for this.
posted by Glibpaxman at 9:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Does EVERYTHING have to be negative with this "administration"? The entire resources of Trump's "team" literally don't have the rhetorical skill and awareness to come up with a speech suitable to the moment (of "celebration").
posted by sylvanshine at 9:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by sylvanshine at 9:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
"this moment is your moment. It belongs to you." - also lyrics from a Ke$ha song
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
He just talked about our "glorious destiny." Not like I'm surprised, but that's creepy.
posted by Lyme Drop at 9:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Lyme Drop at 9:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump looks like he's having a hard time tolerating the Missouri State University choir, which doesn't bode well for enduring painful ceremonial aspects of his new gig. I always liked how much joy President Obama took in his interactions with ordinary people trying to show him something or entertain him.
They're no 3 Doors Down.
posted by srboisvert at 9:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
They're no 3 Doors Down.
posted by srboisvert at 9:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
He's going to ruin our country.
posted by carmicha at 9:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 9:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
This is the most dismal, apocalyptic speech I have ever heard from a politician in my life. I can't take four years of this.
posted by Pfardentrott at 9:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Pfardentrott at 9:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
I've been trying to decide what to put on my sign tomorrow, and I keep coming back to "SILENCE = DEATH" .
Because it feels that desperate.
posted by ApathyGirl at 9:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
Because it feels that desperate.
posted by ApathyGirl at 9:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
Trumps speech "Everything, everywhere sucks to the greatest level of suck" I'm gonna fix it all.
posted by Jalliah at 9:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I bid you stand! Men of the West!
I am no man!
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [46 favorites]
I am no man!
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [46 favorites]
Does tequila go with girl scout cookies? I couldn't find an appropriate wine and anyway I think the hard stuff is a better idea. Just to get through today. Tomorrow tho....sleeves rolled up. Because sotonohito said it: We must fight.
posted by merelyglib at 9:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by merelyglib at 9:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
zachlipton I'm actually kind of believing he wrote this himself. It's trite and lacking in any rhetorical devices other than "say the same thing over and over in slightly different ways."
Trump's Razor: imagine the stupidest possible way that something could have happened, that's the most likely explanation.
Per Trump's Razor the odds are that he did write it himself.
Also, he's a raving egomaniac and probably believes that he is the best writer of speeches to have ever existed and wouldn't allow any lesser person to have a hand in it.
posted by sotonohito at 9:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Trump's Razor: imagine the stupidest possible way that something could have happened, that's the most likely explanation.
Per Trump's Razor the odds are that he did write it himself.
Also, he's a raving egomaniac and probably believes that he is the best writer of speeches to have ever existed and wouldn't allow any lesser person to have a hand in it.
posted by sotonohito at 9:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
"I will never, ever let you down." - Trump as POTUS
posted by samthemander at 9:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by samthemander at 9:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
If any Trump-supporters have any sense, they're noting during his inaugural speech that Trump made the same sort of generalized populist put-gov't-back-into-the-hands-of-the-people promises during the campaign.
And they will also note that--so far since winning the election--Trump's been doing a great job putting it into the hands of billionaires who have been a major factor of our economic problems for decades.
I really, really hope they start to realize they've been had. Probably and unreasonable hope, but yet it springs eternal from the human breast.....
posted by magstheaxe at 9:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
And they will also note that--so far since winning the election--Trump's been doing a great job putting it into the hands of billionaires who have been a major factor of our economic problems for decades.
I really, really hope they start to realize they've been had. Probably and unreasonable hope, but yet it springs eternal from the human breast.....
posted by magstheaxe at 9:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
America First! America First! Uber Alles! Uber Alles!
posted by bodywithoutorgans at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by bodywithoutorgans at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Oh wow, this is like everything awful about the campaign stump speeches only even more chauvinist and Fatherland-y.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
TRUMP: "The wealth of people's homes was ripped from them and redistributed across the world by Secretary Mnuchin, but that is in the past."
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
"I will never ever let you down." This really is just a lazy repeat of his convention speech.
posted by zachlipton at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by zachlipton at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017
Whoa, Astley lyrics!
posted by buzzman at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by buzzman at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Oooh, Amerika Uber Alles /and/ a rickroll in five minutes!
posted by Ogre Lawless at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Ogre Lawless at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Nyet my president.
posted by missmobtown at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by missmobtown at 9:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Did he just lowkey rickroll the United States?
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
DJT: Everything sucks and America is a hellscape. Don't bother me with facts.
posted by carmicha at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Hey, at least you lot are getting... Roads and tunnels? WTF?
posted by threetwentytwo at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by threetwentytwo at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also some important mental health links:
* live kitten cam
* live puppy cam
posted by XtinaS at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
* live kitten cam
* live puppy cam
posted by XtinaS at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Does tequila go with girl scout cookies?
As your attorney, I advise you against doing this
posted by thelonius at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
As your attorney, I advise you against doing this
posted by thelonius at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
He has already let me down by this farce.
posted by Archelaus at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Archelaus at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Keep your eyes on the goal:
This man will not serve four years.
His party will not make it past two.
Whether we make it or not, this is the fight: never settle for less.
posted by jason_steakums at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
This man will not serve four years.
His party will not make it past two.
Whether we make it or not, this is the fight: never settle for less.
posted by jason_steakums at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
"I will never ever let you down."
Is he rickrolling the country?
posted by nubs at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Is he rickrolling the country?
posted by nubs at 9:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
"We will eradicate radical Islamic terrorism from the face of the earth." Yeah, that's realistic.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
"We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone"
Except, say, the gay people your supporters are shouting your own name at as a homophobic slur.
posted by zachlipton at 9:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [48 favorites]
Except, say, the gay people your supporters are shouting your own name at as a homophobic slur.
posted by zachlipton at 9:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [48 favorites]
As your attorney, I advise you against doing this
As independent counsel, I'd suggest these are extenuating circumstances to be considered.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
As independent counsel, I'd suggest these are extenuating circumstances to be considered.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Well guess this is what the new era of America Nationalism sounds like.
Good gawd.
posted by Jalliah at 9:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Protected by God: the divine mandate. Just like kings!
posted by Ogre Lawless at 9:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Ogre Lawless at 9:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Seriously, has there been a more vengefully masturbatory inauguration speech in recent memory?
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Trump's inauguration
Obama's 2nd inauguration
#NotNormal #FuckFascism #RealPresidentsDontPlagiarizeRickAstley
posted by byanyothername at 9:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Obama's 2nd inauguration
#NotNormal #FuckFascism #RealPresidentsDontPlagiarizeRickAstley
posted by byanyothername at 9:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Now he's doing Stronger Together. FFS.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:15 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:15 AM on January 20, 2017
As well as checking MetaFilter (and thereby saving my sanity), perhaps tracking bills for congressional activities. Staying informed does help. I'll leave this here.
posted by datawrangler at 9:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by datawrangler at 9:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Sons of Gondor!
Now come the days of the clown.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Now come the days of the clown.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Please someone link to the speech when it is available. I can read, but not bear to hear, him speak.
posted by agregoli at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by agregoli at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Perhaps they're just uncomfortable, standing in the cold rain, but a lot of people in the crowd are not looking terribly ecstatic.
posted by carmicha at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Transcript of Trump's speech: http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/20/transcript-of-president-trumps-inauguration-speech.html
posted by sotonohito at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by sotonohito at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Oooh, Amerika Uber Alles /and/ a rickroll in five minutes!
If you recall the RNC, I have to think this is the third rickroll in a major speech. Calling one of the writers as a 4channer.
posted by jaduncan at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
If you recall the RNC, I have to think this is the third rickroll in a major speech. Calling one of the writers as a 4channer.
posted by jaduncan at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Jon Meacham
Presidential Historian
12:12 PM ET
I’m sorry, I know I’m overly historically-minded, but “America First” just can’t be liberated from Lindberghian politics and isolation that led to cataclysm.
Alan Rappeport
Washington Correspondent
12:13 PM ET
Trump vows to eradicate “radical Islamic terrorism” from the face of the earth.
Trump: “When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.”
Maggie Haberman
White House Correspondent
12:14 PM ET
I do too. This is a pure rejection of the three presidents sitting up there. Trump’s line about uniting “the civilized world” against “radical Islamic terrorism” is a jarring contrast to those presidents, and it is also a reminder that the fundamental view of portions of this White House is that the United States is in a clash of civilizations.
Jon Meacham
Presidential Historian
12:14 PM ET
He just quoted Psalm 133.
Alan Rappeport
Washington Correspondent
12:14 PM ET
Now Trump is calling for unity and solidarity.
Jon Meacham
Presidential Historian
12:14 PM ET
Is he really not going to pay some tribute to Hillary? A big mistake, I think, to fail to do so. Looks small-minded.
Maggie Haberman
White House Correspondent
12:15 PM ET
Alan, this is always what Trump does, as you know. He describes the ying, then the yang. And people hear whatever they want to hear.
Alan Rappeport
Washington Correspondent
12:15 PM ET
Trump says that the military, law enforcement and God are protecting the American people.
Jon Meacham
Presidential Historian
12:15 PM ET
Does God know that?
posted by stillmoving at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
Presidential Historian
12:12 PM ET
I’m sorry, I know I’m overly historically-minded, but “America First” just can’t be liberated from Lindberghian politics and isolation that led to cataclysm.
Alan Rappeport
Washington Correspondent
12:13 PM ET
Trump vows to eradicate “radical Islamic terrorism” from the face of the earth.
Trump: “When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.”
Maggie Haberman
White House Correspondent
12:14 PM ET
I do too. This is a pure rejection of the three presidents sitting up there. Trump’s line about uniting “the civilized world” against “radical Islamic terrorism” is a jarring contrast to those presidents, and it is also a reminder that the fundamental view of portions of this White House is that the United States is in a clash of civilizations.
Jon Meacham
Presidential Historian
12:14 PM ET
He just quoted Psalm 133.
Alan Rappeport
Washington Correspondent
12:14 PM ET
Now Trump is calling for unity and solidarity.
Jon Meacham
Presidential Historian
12:14 PM ET
Is he really not going to pay some tribute to Hillary? A big mistake, I think, to fail to do so. Looks small-minded.
Maggie Haberman
White House Correspondent
12:15 PM ET
Alan, this is always what Trump does, as you know. He describes the ying, then the yang. And people hear whatever they want to hear.
Alan Rappeport
Washington Correspondent
12:15 PM ET
Trump says that the military, law enforcement and God are protecting the American people.
Jon Meacham
Presidential Historian
12:15 PM ET
Does God know that?
posted by stillmoving at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
@ApprovedNews6 is On It:
Blood-Red Ravens Blot Out Sky Over D.C. as #Inauguration Commences— Approved News 6 (@ApprovedNews6) January 20, 2017posted by XtinaS at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
WTF was that about space?
posted by samthemander at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by samthemander at 9:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh good he's doing the "we all bleed the same color" bit now
posted by OverlappingElvis at 9:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by OverlappingElvis at 9:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Michelle is fucking done. She hasn't smiled all morning. She isn't clapping. Even Hillary is clapping politely.
posted by unknowncommand at 9:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [82 favorites]
posted by unknowncommand at 9:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [82 favorites]
Trump: "From mountain to mountain..."
I thought the U.S. had more than two?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I thought the U.S. had more than two?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Michelle just did the most amazing side-eye.
posted by Jalliah at 9:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
"For too long, a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have bore the cost. Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth. "
Says the man who appointed Goldman Sachs as his Cabinet.
posted by mudpuppie at 9:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [61 favorites]
Says the man who appointed Goldman Sachs as his Cabinet.
posted by mudpuppie at 9:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [61 favorites]
Why is he pumping his fist like he just finished The Breakfast Club?
posted by zachlipton at 9:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 9:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
16 minutes total speech time
2 minutes total applause
13% time spent applauding
SAD!
posted by peeedro at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
2 minutes total applause
13% time spent applauding
SAD!
posted by peeedro at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Michelle is fucking done. She hasn't smiled all morning. She isn't clapping. Even Hillary is clapping politely.
You know how sometimes, the best bit of the day is when you get home and take off your bra? Imagine how fucking great that's going to be for Michelle tonight.
posted by threetwentytwo at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [100 favorites]
You know how sometimes, the best bit of the day is when you get home and take off your bra? Imagine how fucking great that's going to be for Michelle tonight.
posted by threetwentytwo at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [100 favorites]
Why is he pumping his fist like he just finished The Breakfast Club?
Because anyone who doesn't support him is a neo-maxi-zoom dweebie?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Because anyone who doesn't support him is a neo-maxi-zoom dweebie?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
The Wapo guys seem almost speechless. Not verbatim "Well that was the darkest Presidential speech I've heard. Well..okay..sure.okay maybe all American don't see things this way."
posted by Jalliah at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
ahahahaha the education system is "flush with cash" ahahahahaha
posted by radicalawyer at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by radicalawyer at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
Fuck the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
posted by zachlipton at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Why is he pumping his fist like he just finished The Breakfast Club?
Pounding the podium would be too on the nose?
posted by nubs at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Pounding the podium would be too on the nose?
posted by nubs at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
countdown clock: howlonguntiltrumpisoutofoffice.com
posted by jazon at 9:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by jazon at 9:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
In the post speech handshake bit, there was still no acknowledgement of either Clinton
posted by carmicha at 9:21 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by carmicha at 9:21 AM on January 20, 2017
Good on Michelle. She doesn't have to look neutral and nice anymore, and that fucking speech was nothing but corrosive racist bullshit and bellicose fascist posturing.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [68 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [68 favorites]
This is how the world ends, not with a bang, but a yuge, bigly whimper
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 9:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 9:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
The skies here in Phoenix are also overcast in sympathy.
Why does it feel like I now need to dust off my Bug Out Bag and fully stock the pantry?
Plus, there's crap like this: Trump team planning to kill the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and privatize the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
posted by darkstar at 9:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Why does it feel like I now need to dust off my Bug Out Bag and fully stock the pantry?
Plus, there's crap like this: Trump team planning to kill the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and privatize the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
posted by darkstar at 9:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Why is he pumping his fist like he just finished The Breakfast Club?
As with so many things, the answer is 'because he's a small league asshole who got lucky and is too fucking dumb to even realise how much he's in over his head.'
He doesn't think he's the monarch, he thinks he's the USA #1 prom king. Worse than that, he is not entirely wrong.
posted by jaduncan at 9:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
As with so many things, the answer is 'because he's a small league asshole who got lucky and is too fucking dumb to even realise how much he's in over his head.'
He doesn't think he's the monarch, he thinks he's the USA #1 prom king. Worse than that, he is not entirely wrong.
posted by jaduncan at 9:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
Hey, I'm an atheist, the rain doesn't signify anything other than shitty luck.
posted by missmobtown at 9:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by missmobtown at 9:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh, fuck you Franklin Graham.
posted by Karmeliet at 9:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Karmeliet at 9:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm honestly surprised his speech didn't end with "you knew I was a snake when you took me in."
posted by zachlipton at 9:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 9:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [26 favorites]
They are now acknowledging that it started raining as President Trump came to the platform, LOL.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
The rabbi is followed by a preacher declaiming that the only God is Christ Jesus..
posted by Theiform at 9:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Theiform at 9:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Policy proposals are now up on the new white house site, the first one is getting rid of Climate change deals
posted by DynamiteToast at 9:24 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by DynamiteToast at 9:24 AM on January 20, 2017
16 minutes total speech time
There goes my hope that he was going to go the same way as William Henry Harrison.
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
There goes my hope that he was going to go the same way as William Henry Harrison.
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
They are now acknowledging that it started raining as President Trump came to the platform, LOL.
It's been raining in Los Angeles all morning.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:24 AM on January 20, 2017
It's been raining in Los Angeles all morning.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:24 AM on January 20, 2017
I-baLL:
Laurie Goodstein
National Religion Correspondent
12:20 PM ET
The rabbi, Marvin Hier, founded the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles to fight anti-Semitism and bigotry. More than 3,000 people signed a petition asking him not to participate in this inauguration because they said Mr. Trump has only encouraged bigots.
Rabbi Hier stood by his decision. He is friendly with the family of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and an Orthodox Jew. His family are big donors to the Wiesenthal Center.
posted by stillmoving at 9:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Laurie Goodstein
National Religion Correspondent
12:20 PM ET
The rabbi, Marvin Hier, founded the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles to fight anti-Semitism and bigotry. More than 3,000 people signed a petition asking him not to participate in this inauguration because they said Mr. Trump has only encouraged bigots.
Rabbi Hier stood by his decision. He is friendly with the family of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and an Orthodox Jew. His family are big donors to the Wiesenthal Center.
posted by stillmoving at 9:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
It feels like it's raining
all over the world
posted by darkstar at 9:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
all over the world
posted by darkstar at 9:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Oh, so you Americans will have God helping you? That seems like cheating to me.
Anyhoo, watching this live on Danish television – is that crowd very white, or what?
And those preachers were just, well right out of my comfort zone.
posted by bouvin at 9:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Anyhoo, watching this live on Danish television – is that crowd very white, or what?
And those preachers were just, well right out of my comfort zone.
posted by bouvin at 9:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Jackie Evancho's sister is a transgender teenager suing her school for the right to use the bathroom.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Jackie Evancho sounds awful.
posted by gatorae at 9:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 9:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
It is actually raining in Pittsburgh. Has been all morning.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
She sounds terrible. I feel bad for her.
posted by all about eevee at 9:27 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by all about eevee at 9:27 AM on January 20, 2017
East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94: "Here's Obama's crowd from 2009
Here's today's crowd as of 11am"
Trump's crowd looks small in the pictures, but it's really normal-sized. Just like his hands.
posted by chavenet at 9:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Here's today's crowd as of 11am"
Trump's crowd looks small in the pictures, but it's really normal-sized. Just like his hands.
posted by chavenet at 9:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
I suspect Rabbi Hier thinks he was making a point with his words about justice and Babylon, but the only bit that got through was "bless President Trump."
posted by zachlipton at 9:27 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by zachlipton at 9:27 AM on January 20, 2017
Terrible microphone setup. And yes, Jackie is not sounding her best. Let's hope it was in honor of her sister.
posted by samthemander at 9:27 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by samthemander at 9:27 AM on January 20, 2017
"The dangerous anti-police atmosphere in America is wrong. The Trump Administration will end it."
:::whimpering in fear:::
posted by agregoli at 9:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
:::whimpering in fear:::
posted by agregoli at 9:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Is it actual rain? Or rhetorical rain? I can't even tell after all that UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF SPACE with nonstop racist dogwhistles and fascist chestbeating language-chaos.
Also, it's petty, but Trump is off to a bad start Saving the Economy when he still stumbles over pronouncing "industry."
posted by byanyothername at 9:27 AM on January 20, 2017
Also, it's petty, but Trump is off to a bad start Saving the Economy when he still stumbles over pronouncing "industry."
posted by byanyothername at 9:27 AM on January 20, 2017
It's been raining in Los Angeles all morning.
It's raining in Milwaukee (which is freakin' weird because it is JANUARY).
posted by drezdn at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I really hope this is live, and that that's why it's terrible.
posted by Karmeliet at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by Karmeliet at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2017
You know how sometimes, the best bit of the day is when you get home and take off your bra? Imagine how fucking great that's going to be for Michelle tonight.
I will guaran-fucking-tee you Barack is standing up there right now just thinking about the fresh new pack of Marlboros in his breast pocket.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [44 favorites]
I will guaran-fucking-tee you Barack is standing up there right now just thinking about the fresh new pack of Marlboros in his breast pocket.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [44 favorites]
Did she just say "gave birth through the night"?
posted by stillmoving at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by stillmoving at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I turned on the TV and somehow figured that watching a Canadian news station would be bearable. But no I just got to hear one of the commentators say that she thought Trump was going to do some really good things and talk about what a good team he's surrounding himself with.
NPR has been doing the same thing. They even carried Rick Perry's testimony before the Energy Committee that he's pick competent people to run the Department of Energy for him (which always raises the question, then what do we need you for, but nevermind).
I believe that a swath of Americans voted for Trump because they want what the rest of us want -- a good job and the security to take care of their families.
I don't believe for a hot minute that Trump is going to bring the steel jobs back, or the coal jobs back, or the manufacturing jobs back. These people that hope Trump is the solution to getting good things done for this country are in for a huge disappointment.
And it's going to be crucial that those opposed to the Republican agenda shine a huge spotlight on the party merrily working to transfer the other half of the country's wealth to the 1%, and point out that the pain these people feel is Republican policy.
Maybe a bunch of them will never vote Democrat, but if they stay home next Election Day perhaps the rest of us can get to work -- as usual -- fixing the Republican damage.
posted by Gelatin at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
NPR has been doing the same thing. They even carried Rick Perry's testimony before the Energy Committee that he's pick competent people to run the Department of Energy for him (which always raises the question, then what do we need you for, but nevermind).
I believe that a swath of Americans voted for Trump because they want what the rest of us want -- a good job and the security to take care of their families.
I don't believe for a hot minute that Trump is going to bring the steel jobs back, or the coal jobs back, or the manufacturing jobs back. These people that hope Trump is the solution to getting good things done for this country are in for a huge disappointment.
And it's going to be crucial that those opposed to the Republican agenda shine a huge spotlight on the party merrily working to transfer the other half of the country's wealth to the 1%, and point out that the pain these people feel is Republican policy.
Maybe a bunch of them will never vote Democrat, but if they stay home next Election Day perhaps the rest of us can get to work -- as usual -- fixing the Republican damage.
posted by Gelatin at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
One of my few moments of agreement with Trump: he closed his eyes in pain when Jackie Evancho reached for the high note to close out "land of the free."
posted by carmicha at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump's speech sounded like 25% recycled tweets.
posted by gatorae at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
She sounds terrible. I feel bad for her.
I don't! (I'm not actually listening to her, though, just revelling in any bad reports).
posted by TwoStride at 9:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't! (I'm not actually listening to her, though, just revelling in any bad reports).
posted by TwoStride at 9:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
In my wildest, darkest, most paranoid liberal nightmares, never did I think we would willingly and affirmatively sink this low as a nation.
posted by madamjujujive at 9:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [78 favorites]
posted by madamjujujive at 9:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [78 favorites]
I'm feeling like we spent more time in this thing praying than hearing about plans for the country.
posted by zachlipton at 9:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 9:29 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
They should have built an escalator for Trump's exit.
posted by uosuaq at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
So in the coverage of the inauguration that I listened to on CBC radio for the last hour or so, all the announcers literally had the tone of voice you'd expect them to use while covering a state funeral.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
stillmoving: Yeah, reading up on them on wikipedia. Still, "fuck so and so" without context is, in my opinion, not a helpful statement.
posted by I-baLL at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by I-baLL at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Whew, guys. It was long and awful but it's finally over.
( "it" includes civilization)
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
( "it" includes civilization)
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
From the sublime to the ridiculous: never more apt.
posted by GrammarMoses at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by GrammarMoses at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2017
Is it actual rain? Or rhetorical rain?
It's just some scattered showers.
posted by FJT at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's just some scattered showers.
posted by FJT at 9:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I've given Trump a tough time but I acknowledge he's reaching out to the left by appointing an undocumented immigrant as First Lady
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [34 favorites]
I'm feeling like we spent more time in this thing praying than hearing about plans for the country.
From the outside, the American cultural thing with so much God stuff involved at this level is just weird and creepy. Always has been.
posted by Jalliah at 9:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [40 favorites]
From the outside, the American cultural thing with so much God stuff involved at this level is just weird and creepy. Always has been.
posted by Jalliah at 9:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [40 favorites]
I will guaran-fucking-tee you Barack is standing up there right now just thinking about the fresh new pack of Marlboros in his breast pocket.
Hell, except for the traumatic stressful day my neighbors' house burned down, I haven't lit up a smoke for like a decade. I think I'm having one later today in solidarity with President Obama and our burning-down nation.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Hell, except for the traumatic stressful day my neighbors' house burned down, I haven't lit up a smoke for like a decade. I think I'm having one later today in solidarity with President Obama and our burning-down nation.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I-baLL: I completely agree! Especially in an increasingly hate-filled and noxious climate. I just posted the NYT commentary for context to the other poster's comment.
posted by stillmoving at 9:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by stillmoving at 9:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is like the opening credits of a post-apocalyptic film, where they show you a montage of scenes and news broadcasts that clue the audience in on how we got to this point.
posted by castlebravo at 9:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
posted by castlebravo at 9:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
It's creepy from the inside, too! :)
posted by radicalawyer at 9:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by radicalawyer at 9:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
Hey, I'm an atheist, the rain doesn't signify anything other than shitty luck.
No lie, I wanted the symbolic image of Trump being attacked by flocks upon flocks of crows on Inauguration Day. But I floated (only half-jokingly!) to my husband the idea of training super smart crows all over the country to hate Trump's face by harassing them with his masks and imagery, leading a caravan all the way to the National Mall so they could rain their crow intelligence network down on the actual man. I'm backing up my ridiculous symbolic desires with a semblance of science!
posted by orbit-3 at 9:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
No lie, I wanted the symbolic image of Trump being attacked by flocks upon flocks of crows on Inauguration Day. But I floated (only half-jokingly!) to my husband the idea of training super smart crows all over the country to hate Trump's face by harassing them with his masks and imagery, leading a caravan all the way to the National Mall so they could rain their crow intelligence network down on the actual man. I'm backing up my ridiculous symbolic desires with a semblance of science!
posted by orbit-3 at 9:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
In my wildest, darkest, most paranoid liberal nightmares, never did I think we would willingly and affirmatively sink this low as a nation.
A silver lining: you can also just copy/paste this statement in a year's time, it'll probably still work.
posted by jaduncan at 9:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
A silver lining: you can also just copy/paste this statement in a year's time, it'll probably still work.
posted by jaduncan at 9:32 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
So in the coverage of the inauguration that I listened to on CBC radio for the last hour or so, all the announcers literally had the tone of voice you'd expect them to use while covering a state funeral.
The idea of American Democracy is dead so seems fitting
posted by photoslob at 9:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
The idea of American Democracy is dead so seems fitting
posted by photoslob at 9:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Commentators from NBC news live coverage
"I have to say it was surprisingly divisive for an inaugural address, and I say it this way it was a challenge when you're elected as an outsider, you're elected as a populist, and you're channeling what was real anger out there with his supporters it's tough to be both a unifier and that populist carrier. He went with populism and I think that it's going to play well with his folks but that wasn't the type of inaugural address that was intended to bring this country together"
"...playing well with the crowd right now as he reaches out and greets the people who are gathered there. If there's a theme, it was there's a new sheriff in town."
"America first, I mean, there was a point there, Lester, where it felt as if he almost was insulting every living president that was sitting next to him in a very personal way."
"He was also insulting all the republican congressmen and senators who were on that stage. "He has a majority, but he went after politicians point blank"
Yes, I do believe this is setting the tone for things to come.
posted by Enturbulated at 9:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [55 favorites]
"I have to say it was surprisingly divisive for an inaugural address, and I say it this way it was a challenge when you're elected as an outsider, you're elected as a populist, and you're channeling what was real anger out there with his supporters it's tough to be both a unifier and that populist carrier. He went with populism and I think that it's going to play well with his folks but that wasn't the type of inaugural address that was intended to bring this country together"
"...playing well with the crowd right now as he reaches out and greets the people who are gathered there. If there's a theme, it was there's a new sheriff in town."
"America first, I mean, there was a point there, Lester, where it felt as if he almost was insulting every living president that was sitting next to him in a very personal way."
"He was also insulting all the republican congressmen and senators who were on that stage. "He has a majority, but he went after politicians point blank"
Yes, I do believe this is setting the tone for things to come.
posted by Enturbulated at 9:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [55 favorites]
stillmoving: Yeah, reading up on them on wikipedia. Still, "fuck so and so" without context is, in my opinion, not a helpful statement.
Yeah sorry about that. There's been a bunch of discussion over the last year about the Simon Wiesenthal Center's silence on bigotry when other Jewish and non-Jewish organizations devoted to fighting hatred were speaking out. It's come up in various threads in the past, but I recognize that's not particularly obvious if you're not super-closely following every word (which nobody can do) and my comment was pretty darn context-free.
posted by zachlipton at 9:34 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Yeah sorry about that. There's been a bunch of discussion over the last year about the Simon Wiesenthal Center's silence on bigotry when other Jewish and non-Jewish organizations devoted to fighting hatred were speaking out. It's come up in various threads in the past, but I recognize that's not particularly obvious if you're not super-closely following every word (which nobody can do) and my comment was pretty darn context-free.
posted by zachlipton at 9:34 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Time to start day drinking.
posted by dis_integration at 9:34 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 9:34 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm feeling like we spent more time in this thing praying than hearing about plans for the country.
The Trump Administration in a nutshell.
posted by GrammarMoses at 9:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Trump Administration in a nutshell.
posted by GrammarMoses at 9:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Only three more years to wait, and we can finally enjoy our cyberpunk dystopia!
posted by HFSH at 9:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by HFSH at 9:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
So the @POTUS account banner is a photo of the Obama inauguration.
posted by zachlipton at 9:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 9:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
Hell, except for the traumatic stressful day my neighbors' house burned down, I haven't lit up a smoke for like a decade. I think I'm having one later today in solidarity with President Obama and our burning-down nation.
Here's where I admit that along with the booze I bought this morning I also got a pack of cigarettes.
I am enjoying them, guilt free today.
Tomorrow it will be back to normal.
posted by Jalliah at 9:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Here's where I admit that along with the booze I bought this morning I also got a pack of cigarettes.
I am enjoying them, guilt free today.
Tomorrow it will be back to normal.
posted by Jalliah at 9:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Well, the actual Civil War, in which half the country fought and killed hundreds of thousands in the other half of the country - and died in the hundreds of thousands themselves - to support their right to enslave people, is probably the lowest* point in our nation's history.
*Praying fervently that this statement is still true four years from now.
posted by darkstar at 9:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
*Praying fervently that this statement is still true four years from now.
posted by darkstar at 9:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
I'm handling our central help phone line and inbox today and it's been just silent for the past 2 hours. Which is good for me because I can't concentrate on shit. I think everyone is hiding under their covers.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hmmm, Bob Dole on the main stage; wheelchaired, but very much there.
posted by buzzman at 9:38 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by buzzman at 9:38 AM on January 20, 2017
I'm surprised that Donald Trump wasn't denied a trademark on Make America Great Again as it came, verbatim, from Parable of the Talents.
...I'm not sure how I missed this. Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents have always been some of the most terrifyingly plausible dystopias I've read (although it's remarkable that even Butler wasn't cynical enough to write Jarret as anything but an attractive, charismatic populist and religious zealot.) I can't say I'm happy we're inching closer to them in more ways than I realized.
posted by ubersturm at 9:38 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
...I'm not sure how I missed this. Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents have always been some of the most terrifyingly plausible dystopias I've read (although it's remarkable that even Butler wasn't cynical enough to write Jarret as anything but an attractive, charismatic populist and religious zealot.) I can't say I'm happy we're inching closer to them in more ways than I realized.
posted by ubersturm at 9:38 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
I have a very full day of meetings and work today, which is probably for the best, as much as I wish I could just sit home and day drink. I'm wearing the darkest clothes I could pull together into something vaguely work-appropriate, and one way or another I'll get through it.
Tomorrow I'll be at our local march, working the merch table of an organization focused on getting pro-choice women Democrats into office throughout the state of Arizona. (Come by if you're around!) And last week I was elected Communications Chair of our legislative district, the bluest and most populous in the state. If we can mobilize our constituents, we can be the engine driving Arizona's shift from purple to blue. I'll be wearing my brightest winter clothes to celebrate.
Today, we mourn. Tomorrow, it's time to roll up our sleeves.
posted by Superplin at 9:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Tomorrow I'll be at our local march, working the merch table of an organization focused on getting pro-choice women Democrats into office throughout the state of Arizona. (Come by if you're around!) And last week I was elected Communications Chair of our legislative district, the bluest and most populous in the state. If we can mobilize our constituents, we can be the engine driving Arizona's shift from purple to blue. I'll be wearing my brightest winter clothes to celebrate.
Today, we mourn. Tomorrow, it's time to roll up our sleeves.
posted by Superplin at 9:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
For all that populism in his speech, his big plan is corporate tax cuts.
posted by zachlipton at 9:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 9:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
BREAKING: The Secret Service has shot and killed another time traveller, bringing today’s total to 873
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [74 favorites]
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [74 favorites]
Hell, except for the traumatic stressful day my neighbors' house burned down, I haven't lit up a smoke for like a decade.
is this a confession to arson
posted by beerperson at 9:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
is this a confession to arson
posted by beerperson at 9:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
Hah - Biden (and Mrs. Dr.) are taking Amtrak back to Wilmington. Never change, Diamond Joe.
posted by Guy Smiley at 9:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [77 favorites]
posted by Guy Smiley at 9:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [77 favorites]
Sadly I forgot my smokes at home today, but tonight is definitely a whiskey night.
Does anyone know if there's any good recent follow-up articles on the effects of voter suppression and the repeal of the VRA had on the election? I can't find anything that isn't just a few days after the election. I feel like it will somehow make me feel better if I remind myself that this election was stolen.
Or worse. One of the two.
posted by mayonnaises at 9:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Does anyone know if there's any good recent follow-up articles on the effects of voter suppression and the repeal of the VRA had on the election? I can't find anything that isn't just a few days after the election. I feel like it will somehow make me feel better if I remind myself that this election was stolen.
Or worse. One of the two.
posted by mayonnaises at 9:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
.
John Titor Jr.
2043 - 2017
"He Tried"
posted by byanyothername at 9:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [83 favorites]
John Titor Jr.
2043 - 2017
"He Tried"
posted by byanyothername at 9:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [83 favorites]
BREAKING: The Secret Service has shot and killed another time traveller, bringing today’s total to 873
That's kind of a relief actually, that there's a future and they seem to have retained the ability to use technology.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [48 favorites]
That's kind of a relief actually, that there's a future and they seem to have retained the ability to use technology.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [48 favorites]
John Titor Jr.
Wasn't he an Objectivist or something?
posted by acb at 9:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Wasn't he an Objectivist or something?
posted by acb at 9:44 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Look you now, what follows.
Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear
Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?
Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed
And batten on this moor? Ha, have you eyes?
posted by bird internet at 9:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear
Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?
Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed
And batten on this moor? Ha, have you eyes?
posted by bird internet at 9:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
I had intended to sleep through this, because it's on my kinda normal sleep cycle, but the impending shitshow has apparently contributed to insomnia. So:
Chris Knight: "I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, '... I drank what?'"
-- Val Kilmer, Real Genius
posted by bryon at 9:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Chris Knight: "I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, '... I drank what?'"
-- Val Kilmer, Real Genius
posted by bryon at 9:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Wait, they swore him in already?
Well, shit.
posted by Catblack at 9:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Well, shit.
posted by Catblack at 9:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Lin-Manuel Miranda just posted a clip of his first sketch of "The Story of Tonight." It feels appropriate right now. We have so much work to do.
posted by zachlipton at 9:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 9:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Was becoming President part of your plan?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
FUCK.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 9:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 9:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Here's where I admit that along with the booze I bought this morning I also got a pack of cigarettes.
I am enjoying them, guilt free today.
I've never smoked but feel the sudden desire to give it a whirl today. I won't but if I ever had been addicted I'm pretty sure today would make me fall off the wagon.
posted by emjaybee at 9:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
I am enjoying them, guilt free today.
I've never smoked but feel the sudden desire to give it a whirl today. I won't but if I ever had been addicted I'm pretty sure today would make me fall off the wagon.
posted by emjaybee at 9:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Watchdog group files complaint over Trump's Washington hotel
The watchdog group Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington greeted Trump's inauguration by filing a complaint over his ownership interest in the new Trump International Hotel, which sits on federal property and operates under a lease from the General Services Administration.posted by zachlipton at 9:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [73 favorites]
The group is urging GSA to declare that as of the time Trump was sworn in today he's in violation of a clause in the 60-year, $180 million lease that restricts the ability of government officials to benefit from it.
CNN sound surprised that there wasn't a coup with the number of times they say peaceful transition.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
ahahahaha the education system is "flush with cash" ahahahahaha
Right? He should explain that to my wife's coworker, whose children go to a school where the PTA is responsible for buying the school's toilet paper.
For all that populism in his speech, his big plan is corporate tax cuts.
Which of course worked out so well in Kansas. See above.
posted by god hates math at 9:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Right? He should explain that to my wife's coworker, whose children go to a school where the PTA is responsible for buying the school's toilet paper.
For all that populism in his speech, his big plan is corporate tax cuts.
Which of course worked out so well in Kansas. See above.
posted by god hates math at 9:49 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
If I can get through today without a cigarette, then I have truly quit.
posted by Etrigan at 9:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 9:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
.
The first thing that comes up on the White House under Trump website is a repeal of the Climate Action Plan.
We are finished as a species.
posted by bodywithoutorgans at 9:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
The first thing that comes up on the White House under Trump website is a repeal of the Climate Action Plan.
We are finished as a species.
posted by bodywithoutorgans at 9:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Feel like bad-winner violence was more likely than a coup, to be honest.
posted by ominous_paws at 9:50 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by ominous_paws at 9:50 AM on January 20, 2017
Spike Lee cuts Chrisette Michele from Netflix series due to Trump inauguration performance
Good Morning Folks. I Wuz Sorry To Read That "Sistuh Girl" Is Singin' At DT's Inauguration (And To Use His Fav Word-SAD). I Wuz Thinkin' 'bout Using Chrisette's Song- BLACK GIRL MAGIC In My Netflix Series SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT…. NOT ANYMORE. And Dat's Da Truth, Ruth.posted by filthy light thief at 9:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [31 favorites]
It'll be a long, hard slog. Some of us may not make it, and we may not win. However, there are more of us than they realize, and we're tough as nails. Now we must show the world whose country this is.
Q: Whose country?
A: Our Country!
Q: Whose America?
A: Our America!
Never let the world forget that.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 9:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Q: Whose country?
A: Our Country!
Q: Whose America?
A: Our America!
Never let the world forget that.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 9:52 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
It honestly goes against my better judgment to jump in here, but I'm going to.
I've known abusers, I've known hucksters and liars and just generally shitty people. I've been mad for a long time about a lot of things and I've felt like I've been screaming into a void. People say I hate fun, that I should chill out, that I should calm down and not participate if it bothers me so much.
Nope. We, America, the collection of so many things I've been mad about for most of my life, just gave all the crappy things that have been bothering me all my life the reins of power.
I was hoping we wouldn't elect him...didn't work out like that. But now, I get four years of pointing at Sphincterface and saying, "That thing you're doing that's horrible? That anti-woman/minority/race/gender orientation, anti-freedom, anti-progress, anti-decency thing you're doing? Yeah, those are the consequences. Maybe you should stop."
That's cold comfort, but I, and all of us in the progressive camp, are going to have our outrage vindicated. And when it is, we will all have a vivid example of what went wrong to point at. This time it's different than Bush, because in 2000, it was still cloaked in a veneer of civility and process. I mourn for the damage that will be done this time, but more than anything, I feel ready to fight tonight.
Trump is the spear that will destroy Republican credibility, the politics of hate, and the blissful ignorance of liars and abusers and their methods in America. Our hands will drive it into their heart.
posted by saysthis at 9:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [48 favorites]
I've known abusers, I've known hucksters and liars and just generally shitty people. I've been mad for a long time about a lot of things and I've felt like I've been screaming into a void. People say I hate fun, that I should chill out, that I should calm down and not participate if it bothers me so much.
Nope. We, America, the collection of so many things I've been mad about for most of my life, just gave all the crappy things that have been bothering me all my life the reins of power.
I was hoping we wouldn't elect him...didn't work out like that. But now, I get four years of pointing at Sphincterface and saying, "That thing you're doing that's horrible? That anti-woman/minority/race/gender orientation, anti-freedom, anti-progress, anti-decency thing you're doing? Yeah, those are the consequences. Maybe you should stop."
That's cold comfort, but I, and all of us in the progressive camp, are going to have our outrage vindicated. And when it is, we will all have a vivid example of what went wrong to point at. This time it's different than Bush, because in 2000, it was still cloaked in a veneer of civility and process. I mourn for the damage that will be done this time, but more than anything, I feel ready to fight tonight.
Trump is the spear that will destroy Republican credibility, the politics of hate, and the blissful ignorance of liars and abusers and their methods in America. Our hands will drive it into their heart.
posted by saysthis at 9:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [48 favorites]
My assessment of the WaPo livestream commentary was that is was pretty decent. Not really any rah, rah wooha America stuff and overall subdued and rather clinical. I was able to listen to it without wanting to tear my hair out.
posted by Jalliah at 9:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Etrigan: If I can get through today without a cigarette, then I have truly quit.
I get the sentiment, but consider this: is he really worth it? Hang tough today.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
I get the sentiment, but consider this: is he really worth it? Hang tough today.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
public void setPresident(Person p) throws AmericanException
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
zachlipton: For all that populism in his speech, his big plan is corporate tax cuts.
Watch what he does, not what he says. Thus it has been, and shall always be.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Watch what he does, not what he says. Thus it has been, and shall always be.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
> Lin-Manuel Miranda just posted a clip of his first sketch of "The Story of Tonight."
Thanks. Between this, and the previous link to the farewell White House performance of "One Last Time", I think I might be ready to come back to the Hamilton soundtrack again.
(Hamilton was the soundtrack to the hardest I've probably ever worked in my life - and the work paid off very nicely - but I have felt physically ill even thinking about playing it again since November 8th. Maybe it's time, again.)
posted by RedOrGreen at 9:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Thanks. Between this, and the previous link to the farewell White House performance of "One Last Time", I think I might be ready to come back to the Hamilton soundtrack again.
(Hamilton was the soundtrack to the hardest I've probably ever worked in my life - and the work paid off very nicely - but I have felt physically ill even thinking about playing it again since November 8th. Maybe it's time, again.)
posted by RedOrGreen at 9:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
All across the world, terrorists are dropping their weapons and giving up. A president finally said "radical Islamic terrorism."--@normornstein
posted by zachlipton at 9:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
Interesting, it looks like all of the "We The People" petitions are gone.
posted by goHermGO at 9:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by goHermGO at 9:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
@you_work_for_me @realDonaldTrump get back to work, you moron, you stupid moron, fucking moron, you biggest fucking moron on the planet right now 🐁
posted by localhuman at 9:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
posted by localhuman at 9:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
A taxonomy of Mall headcount truthers:
- "we have jobs" ("Uh, thanks, Obama?")
- it's full, look at this shallow angle from the opposite direction!
- #fakenews
posted by holgate at 9:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
- "we have jobs" ("Uh, thanks, Obama?")
- it's full, look at this shallow angle from the opposite direction!
- #fakenews
posted by holgate at 9:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
The first thing that comes up on the White House website is repeal the Climate Action Plan.
We are finished as a species.
I'm not as despondent about this as I was. A goodly portion of the rest of the planet is giving the US a hearty fuck you, we're doing it anyway. Doesn't bode well for the US who will be left behind and not be able to deal very well with the geo-political shifts that will be a consequence of dropping the ball. It's going to screw the US big time both politically and economically but the rest of the world is not giving up.
China as it stands now is setting itself to take the superpower reigns on the issue.
posted by Jalliah at 9:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
When the field is nationwide, and the fight must be waged chiefly at second and third hand, and the force of personality cannot so readily make itself felt, then all the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre -- the man who can most easily adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum. The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men.
As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.
-H.L. Mencken, writer, editor, and critic (1880-1956)
posted by HE Amb. T. S. L. DuVal at 10:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [31 favorites]
As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.
-H.L. Mencken, writer, editor, and critic (1880-1956)
posted by HE Amb. T. S. L. DuVal at 10:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [31 favorites]
I get the sentiment, but consider this: is he really worth it? Hang tough today.
Yes I know it is hard but do not let this man harm your health or sobriety. You got this. I got this.
posted by yellowbinder at 10:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Yes I know it is hard but do not let this man harm your health or sobriety. You got this. I got this.
posted by yellowbinder at 10:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
BBC and Al Jazeera both reporting violent protests in DC... but I'm not seeing anything in US media?
posted by slipthought at 10:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by slipthought at 10:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Slipped into a Chinatown restaurant after protests to see inauguration. Scene I won't forget:--@gzornick
Crowd of red-hatted Trump fans applauded loudly as Obamas boarded the copter. Waitress, a young black woman, began weeping by the register.
posted by zachlipton at 10:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [87 favorites]
Donald Trump’s New Twitter Background Is a Photo From the Inauguration of Barack Obama
He's going to be appropriating Obama's accomplishments from minute one
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [83 favorites]
He's going to be appropriating Obama's accomplishments from minute one
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [83 favorites]
Interesting, it looks like all of the "We The People" petitions are gone.
That was an Obama thing, it's gone now. I got an email a couple weeks ago that basically said, "It's been fun, nice knowing you!"
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:02 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Trump is the spear that will destroy Republican credibility, the politics of hate, and the blissful ignorance of liars and abusers and their methods in America. Our hands will drive it into their heart.
I admire your optimism that there will be a functional democracy to start restoring when that happens.
posted by scalefree at 10:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I admire your optimism that there will be a functional democracy to start restoring when that happens.
posted by scalefree at 10:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
slipthought: The NYT has a bit on the protests in DC. Some window smashing by what look like black bloc groups.
posted by stillmoving at 10:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by stillmoving at 10:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
somebody plz photoshop obama out of his "hope" campaign poster and retitle it "no hope" tia
posted by entropicamericana at 10:03 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by entropicamericana at 10:03 AM on January 20, 2017
President Trump has his phone/Twitter back. So much for that.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:04 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:04 AM on January 20, 2017
T.D. Strange: That's funny because I noticed a whole lot of Trump hats at the inauguration today and not a lot of US flags. It really is about the figurehead and not the country. (Duh, but an interesting visual reminder).
posted by stillmoving at 10:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by stillmoving at 10:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
He probably thinks the POTUS twitter account is for signing bills and official presidenty stuff.
posted by klarck at 10:06 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by klarck at 10:06 AM on January 20, 2017
Rick Perry blew a bubble.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:07 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:07 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Obama is going to speak. Yay. I can pretend for a few minutes.
posted by Jalliah at 10:07 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't think he's the one making those tweets. Sounds like a speechwriter.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 10:08 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 10:08 AM on January 20, 2017
It's being covered on the WaPo livestream in case it's not in other places.
posted by Jalliah at 10:08 AM on January 20, 2017
What We Do Now, by Rachel B. Tiven, CEO of Lambda Legal, the country’s oldest and largest legal organization for LGBT & HIV+ people.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
I don't think he's the one making those tweets. Sounds like a speechwriter.
Trump Twitter Archive says they're iPhone Tweets.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 10:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump Twitter Archive says they're iPhone Tweets.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 10:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
President Trump has his phone/Twitter back. So much for that.
I'll only believe it when it's an Android tweet at somewhere past midnight, and I'll be utterly convinced if it's a comment on how some celebrity who doesn't like him has had too much plastic surgery, is fat, is ugly, or all three.
posted by jaduncan at 10:10 AM on January 20, 2017
I'll only believe it when it's an Android tweet at somewhere past midnight, and I'll be utterly convinced if it's a comment on how some celebrity who doesn't like him has had too much plastic surgery, is fat, is ugly, or all three.
posted by jaduncan at 10:10 AM on January 20, 2017
Is it atypical for the former President (I can't believe I just typed that, sigh) to speak at this point? I just remember W flying away.
posted by zachlipton at 10:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 10:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
The split screen on NBC right now is heart-wrenching. Obama's farewell speech on one side, and Trump sitting down at the Oval Office on the other side. They're playing the audio from both.
posted by samthemander at 10:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by samthemander at 10:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Is it atypical for the former President (I can't believe I just typed that, sigh) to speak at this point? I just remember W flying away.
If he did it wasn't shown on the coverage I watched.
posted by Jalliah at 10:12 AM on January 20, 2017
For those that are going to be protesting or marching tomorrow, in DC or elsewhere, please stay safe.
posted by X-Himy at 10:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by X-Himy at 10:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
CNN sound surprised that there wasn't a coup with the number of times they say peaceful transition.
At the end of things a mixed contingent of military members came down and I thought "and now the Marine is going to put the cuffs on and we're going to see him perp walk right here."
Feel like bad-winner violence was more likely than a coup, to be honest.
Weary Oakland shopowners are bracing for Anti-Trump/antifa rioting following a peacful protest tonight. The Chronicle reports its about $1600 to get a place boarded up, one merchant lost her insurance after recent post-riot claims; owners are sympathetic but exhausted. The city is on a hard line against breaking heads when these things turn south and for sure there are riot tourists to take advantage of the resulting playground.
Stay chilly, Oaktown.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 10:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
At the end of things a mixed contingent of military members came down and I thought "and now the Marine is going to put the cuffs on and we're going to see him perp walk right here."
Feel like bad-winner violence was more likely than a coup, to be honest.
Weary Oakland shopowners are bracing for Anti-Trump/antifa rioting following a peacful protest tonight. The Chronicle reports its about $1600 to get a place boarded up, one merchant lost her insurance after recent post-riot claims; owners are sympathetic but exhausted. The city is on a hard line against breaking heads when these things turn south and for sure there are riot tourists to take advantage of the resulting playground.
Stay chilly, Oaktown.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 10:13 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
What is Trump signing?
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:13 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:13 AM on January 20, 2017
The WaPo is splitscreen but only Obama audio and Obama is bigger.
posted by Jalliah at 10:13 AM on January 20, 2017
Nancy Pelosi smiling and clapping as Trump arrives in the President's Room like this is all normal.
posted by Rykey at 10:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Rykey at 10:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
What is Trump signing?
THe official paperwork
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:15 AM on January 20, 2017
THe official paperwork
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:15 AM on January 20, 2017
"This is not a period. This is a comma."
I'd like to believe Obama is a MeFite. :)
,
posted by slipthought at 10:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [34 favorites]
I'd like to believe Obama is a MeFite. :)
,
posted by slipthought at 10:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [34 favorites]
WaPost says Trump is signing documents that officially make him president
posted by Theiform at 10:15 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by Theiform at 10:15 AM on January 20, 2017
COMPUTERWORLD -- Trump’s phone replaced with more secure device
Hopefully, an Etch-a-Sketch.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
Hopefully, an Etch-a-Sketch.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
Paul Ryan looks like the proud parent of a toddler who just went peepee in the potty for the first time.
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
,
posted by samthemander at 10:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by samthemander at 10:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Between this, and the previous link to the farewell White House performance of "One Last Time", I think I might be ready to come back to the Hamilton soundtrack again.
I was afraid to go back to it, because it was such a hope soundtrack, and I couldn't see hope right now. But I did, and my daughter and I sang along at the top of our lungs yesterday, and it was just wonderful. Go back if you can.
I think maybe today is a day for media that cheers us, that inspires us. I am thinking of doing a rewatch of the Lord of the Rings, from everyone's beautiful quotes, because right now, even if it's fictitious, I need to see the portrayal of a long hard slog, of things that seem hopeless, but eventually turning out right.
posted by corb at 10:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
I was afraid to go back to it, because it was such a hope soundtrack, and I couldn't see hope right now. But I did, and my daughter and I sang along at the top of our lungs yesterday, and it was just wonderful. Go back if you can.
I think maybe today is a day for media that cheers us, that inspires us. I am thinking of doing a rewatch of the Lord of the Rings, from everyone's beautiful quotes, because right now, even if it's fictitious, I need to see the portrayal of a long hard slog, of things that seem hopeless, but eventually turning out right.
posted by corb at 10:16 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's been ~30 minutes and apparently the Dep't of Labor page on LGBT workplace rights has already been removed: https://www.dol.gov/asp/policy-development/lgbt-workers.htm https://twitter.com/jpscasteras/status/822506502606954498/photo/1
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
The Onion: Black Man Out Of Work
Joining the ranks of the unemployed at a time when joblessness remains stubbornly high among African Americans, 55-year-old local black man Barack Obama has lost the full-time job he has held for the past eight years, sources confirmed Friday.posted by zachlipton at 10:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [64 favorites]
...
According to sources, the local black resident has cycled through at least three different occupations since turning 40, and was in serious danger of losing his job four years ago. Reports indicate that after taking the position in 2009, he faced daily antagonism from his mostly white colleagues, who reportedly never stopped questioning his qualifications and competence, a situation that is said to have made it difficult for him to perform the duties assigned to him.
As such, sources asserted that the man faced greater challenges in the workplace than a white person with the same job would have, and had to work much harder to achieve even the smallest amount of respect. Acquaintances noted the working conditions soon began to take a visible toll on his health.
Obama Just Took One Final Step to Fight Global Warming
And there's nothing Donald Trump can do about it.
President Barack Obama has made one final contribution to the fight against global warming on his way out the White House door. On Tuesday, Obama transferred $500 million to the UN's Green Climate Fund, a key program set up to finance climate change adaptation and renewable energy projects in developing countries. That's on top of another $500 million the Obama administration had already given to the fund.
posted by Jalliah at 10:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [33 favorites]
And there's nothing Donald Trump can do about it.
President Barack Obama has made one final contribution to the fight against global warming on his way out the White House door. On Tuesday, Obama transferred $500 million to the UN's Green Climate Fund, a key program set up to finance climate change adaptation and renewable energy projects in developing countries. That's on top of another $500 million the Obama administration had already given to the fund.
posted by Jalliah at 10:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [33 favorites]
Paul Ryan looks like the proud parent of a toddler who just went peepee in the potty for the first time.
Punch bowl, surely.
posted by jaduncan at 10:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Punch bowl, surely.
posted by jaduncan at 10:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's been ~30 minutes and apparently the Dep't of Labor page on LGBT workplace rights has already been removed
It's loading for me. This report is missing: https://www.dol.gov/asp/policy-development/lgbt-report.pdf
This is also still loading for now:
https://www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/crc/20150422GenderIdentity.htm
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's loading for me. This report is missing: https://www.dol.gov/asp/policy-development/lgbt-report.pdf
This is also still loading for now:
https://www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/crc/20150422GenderIdentity.htm
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump is the spear that will destroy Republican credibility, the politics of hate, and the blissful ignorance of liars and abusers and their methods in America. Our hands will drive it into their heart.
I admire your optimism that there will be a functional democracy to start restoring when that happens.
posted by scalefree at 2:03 AM on January 21 [+] [!]
I am optimistic, because democracy is the people who fight for it. A lot came out today, and a lot more will tomorrow. That was my takeaway, at least.
Also, sorry for blurting out that accelerationist apologia. I don't think America will let them tear it all down is what I meant.
posted by saysthis at 10:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I admire your optimism that there will be a functional democracy to start restoring when that happens.
posted by scalefree at 2:03 AM on January 21 [+] [!]
I am optimistic, because democracy is the people who fight for it. A lot came out today, and a lot more will tomorrow. That was my takeaway, at least.
Also, sorry for blurting out that accelerationist apologia. I don't think America will let them tear it all down is what I meant.
posted by saysthis at 10:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
WaPost says Trump is signing documents that officially make him president
Do such documents exist? What would they say? Constitutionally, he became president the moment the oath was over, right?
posted by dis_integration at 10:18 AM on January 20, 2017
Do such documents exist? What would they say? Constitutionally, he became president the moment the oath was over, right?
posted by dis_integration at 10:18 AM on January 20, 2017
I'm thinking of building a prop guillotine that I can bring to protests with a sign that says "WATCH YOUR HEAD, DONALD" for the next (hopefully not quite) four years for the sake of some catharsis, but I guess that might get me in trouble.
posted by Gymnopedist at 10:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Gymnopedist at 10:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
They're playing the audio of the Oval Office signing in of nominations. Chuck Shumer just traded the pen used to sign in Ben Carson for the pen used to sign in the nominee for the VA. "That's a good trade."
posted by samthemander at 10:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by samthemander at 10:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
WaPost says Trump is signing documents that officially make him president
Let The Greatening—
BEGIN!
posted by FJT at 10:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Let The Greatening—
BEGIN!
posted by FJT at 10:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
He is apparently not signing any executive orders, like the lobbying ban he promised would be a day 1 activity, but he is signing the Mattis waiver bill, the cabinet nominations, and a proclamation of a national day of patriotism.
posted by zachlipton at 10:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 10:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
The whole pen thing reminds me of the scene with the diagnostic probes from Idiocracy
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:21 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
All I can think of is the cold comfort of Rick and Morty.
"Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everybody’s going to die. Come watch TV."
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 10:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
"Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everybody’s going to die. Come watch TV."
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 10:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
Okay, time to go take an angry lunchtime run. I'm going for a personal best in the rage department if not the actual mileage.
(I was just talking to my son the other night about where I'm going this weekend. He asked what a protest is. I said it's when we exercise our rights as citizens to tell our government that we're not happy with them. He said, "But you're always happy, mommy." I'm not sure when is an age-appropriate time to reveal the actual seething ball of rage that I really am all of the time.)
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [61 favorites]
(I was just talking to my son the other night about where I'm going this weekend. He asked what a protest is. I said it's when we exercise our rights as citizens to tell our government that we're not happy with them. He said, "But you're always happy, mommy." I'm not sure when is an age-appropriate time to reveal the actual seething ball of rage that I really am all of the time.)
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:22 AM on January 20, 2017 [61 favorites]
ok, I took a benchmark reading yesterday afternoon... America's Greatness Index stood at 6.03. We'll see where it goes now.
posted by the phlegmatic king at 10:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by the phlegmatic king at 10:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
The Obamas need to peel out at the end of a red rug in a big ol' muscle car. VRAAAAAAAAAAAP! Sad seeing the undraped lectern.
I know he's just indexing I'm sure, but my WaPo stream crapped out showing DJ Trump using his middle as an index finger like a big "fuck you".
posted by Ogre Lawless at 10:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I know he's just indexing I'm sure, but my WaPo stream crapped out showing DJ Trump using his middle as an index finger like a big "fuck you".
posted by Ogre Lawless at 10:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I've been listening to Solange's "A Seat At The Table" and went music-less for much of the last two weeks. listening to "Weary" let me finally cry ever since Nov 9th. I was angry that earlier people were chanting horrible shit at Hilary Clinton. I was angry at twitter for intruding on my timeline to force me to scroll around their inauguration box. I'm mad at the Girl Scouts. I am still angry that I have to take a fucking goddamned pee test they haven't approved for me yet so i can finally start a new job that will give me less money but far more time to volunteer and do local stuff in order to keep what we have and make further gains for all people, *PEOPLE*, of all backgrounds and all statuses. I'm mad i have today off and must work this stupid job tomorrow.
Fuck you, millionaire-grifter-sex-predator. I will never respect you. I will continue disrespecting you while you remain on Earth and i PLAN to outlast you and despise your very memory until I myself am taken.
My thoughts with all of you here who are dealing with awful family members and I wish I could be there to offer a hug, a meal, a bed with lots of blankets, an old dog to pet. I'm trying to figure out my strong points as quickly as i can and shore up myself to support myself and others. Surviving can be a political act. As recommended by podcast Yo! Is This Racist? to in one concrete way fight fascism/authoritarianism I am going to write down "who you are, what you believe in, and what you'll never do." With a pen and paper. I believe the advice is from journalist Sarah Kendzior. Hang in there everyone. As said in an old pinned tweet by Heben and Tracy: drink some water, take your meds, call your person.
posted by one teak forest at 10:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Fuck you, millionaire-grifter-sex-predator. I will never respect you. I will continue disrespecting you while you remain on Earth and i PLAN to outlast you and despise your very memory until I myself am taken.
My thoughts with all of you here who are dealing with awful family members and I wish I could be there to offer a hug, a meal, a bed with lots of blankets, an old dog to pet. I'm trying to figure out my strong points as quickly as i can and shore up myself to support myself and others. Surviving can be a political act. As recommended by podcast Yo! Is This Racist? to in one concrete way fight fascism/authoritarianism I am going to write down "who you are, what you believe in, and what you'll never do." With a pen and paper. I believe the advice is from journalist Sarah Kendzior. Hang in there everyone. As said in an old pinned tweet by Heben and Tracy: drink some water, take your meds, call your person.
posted by one teak forest at 10:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
and a proclamation of a national day of patriotism.
Uh, what? the? heck?
"How many national days of patriotism did your precious Obama declare, hm? Yeah, that's what I thought, loser."
posted by Etrigan at 10:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Uh, what? the? heck?
"How many national days of patriotism did your precious Obama declare, hm? Yeah, that's what I thought, loser."
posted by Etrigan at 10:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
WaPo is reporting that all the noise in the background of their commentary are protests. You can really here them. Lots of sirens too.
posted by Jalliah at 10:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Jalliah at 10:24 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Thanks to all the congresspeople who had the courage and principles to boycott today. They're taking this moment in history so much more appropriately than these "Ho-ho, we're your opposition on the Sunday morning shows, but in the room with all the levers of power, we're all jocular boarding school chums" Democrats I'm seeing.
posted by Rykey at 10:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by Rykey at 10:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Uh, what? the? heck?
It's one America, one people, and one leader. You know, patriotism.
posted by jaduncan at 10:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's one America, one people, and one leader. You know, patriotism.
posted by jaduncan at 10:25 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Isn't there a German word for that, jaduncan?
posted by wenestvedt at 10:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by wenestvedt at 10:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I got your patriotism RIGHT HERE, Donny boy.
posted by corb at 10:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by corb at 10:27 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
CNN (John King) is pointing out that Trump is playing two games at once: the outside game and the inside game. He just stood outside railing against the Washington establishment, then walked inside and is joking around with the same people he just bashed as he signs cabinet appointments and heads to lunch with them.
posted by zachlipton at 10:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 10:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [33 favorites]
gatorae: Trump's speech sounded like 25% recycled tweets.
I think he's still in campaign mode, trying to win support. Which makes sense, if you look at his polling numbers now (which have their own issues).
It also makes sense when you remember that he, like so many of his cabinet picks, has no idea what his new job entails. Stick to simple, tweet-able statements that are 1) easy to remember, and 2) avoid getting into details of how things will actually work.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
I think he's still in campaign mode, trying to win support. Which makes sense, if you look at his polling numbers now (which have their own issues).
It also makes sense when you remember that he, like so many of his cabinet picks, has no idea what his new job entails. Stick to simple, tweet-able statements that are 1) easy to remember, and 2) avoid getting into details of how things will actually work.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
I remember crying in the kitchen when the Supreme Court gave the election to George W. Bush. But then a switch flipped and I felt resolve rise in me that I was not going to let GWB ruin my life, for Mr. Carmicha and I had recently decided to marry and the future was bright. Today, I felt the same sense of resolve, this time to stop wallowing in the grief that has dominated my outlook since November 9th and to rise up and take action any way I can to counter the looming horror of the Age of Trump. Strength to you all.
posted by carmicha at 10:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 10:30 AM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
Kudos to whoever installed the white flooring on the National Mall. It makes all the empty space really pop.
That's so they can green screen in the adoring crowds later.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:31 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
proclamation of a national day of patriotism
When they voiced objection, Captain Black replied that people who were loyal would not mind signing all the loyalty oaths they had to. To anyone who questioned the effectiveness of the loyalty oaths, he replied that people who really did owe allegiance to their country would be proud to pledge it as often as he forced them to. And to anyone who questioned the morality, he replied that “The Star-Spangled Banner” was the greatest piece of music ever composed. The more loyalty oaths a person signed, the more loyal he was; to Captain Black it was as simple as that, and he had Corporal Kolodny sign hundreds with his name each day so that he could always prove he was more loyal than anyone else.
“The important thing is to keep them pledging,” he explained to his cohorts. “It doesn’t matter whether they mean it or not. That’s why they make little kids pledge allegiance even before they know what ‘pledge’ and ‘allegiance’ means.”
posted by flabdablet at 10:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
When they voiced objection, Captain Black replied that people who were loyal would not mind signing all the loyalty oaths they had to. To anyone who questioned the effectiveness of the loyalty oaths, he replied that people who really did owe allegiance to their country would be proud to pledge it as often as he forced them to. And to anyone who questioned the morality, he replied that “The Star-Spangled Banner” was the greatest piece of music ever composed. The more loyalty oaths a person signed, the more loyal he was; to Captain Black it was as simple as that, and he had Corporal Kolodny sign hundreds with his name each day so that he could always prove he was more loyal than anyone else.
“The important thing is to keep them pledging,” he explained to his cohorts. “It doesn’t matter whether they mean it or not. That’s why they make little kids pledge allegiance even before they know what ‘pledge’ and ‘allegiance’ means.”
posted by flabdablet at 10:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
It's like 400 comments back now but I want to argue against this:
Gentle reminder/plea for everyone to stop using Facepals and The Tweeter. It's a virtual "Why are you hitting yourself? Huh? Why are you hitting yourself?"
If we abandon those media then Putin and the alt right and the Tea Party and Alex Jones can say whatever they want on them and not be contradicted. They'll be the only ones with a megaphone, while we whisper to each other.
I'd say those are the battlefields we have to fight on these days, as unpleasant as it is. The cure for fake news is real news. The cure for bad speech is more speech. I think not only should we start arguing with the idiots on Facebook and Twitter more, we should inject ourselves into conversations on Reddit and 4-chan and infowars and wherever the hell misinformation exists. We need to spread the truth wherever lies are spread.
And it will be miserable and we might get doxxed or SWATed or just drowned in hate mail (and in all honesty I haven't been brave enough to go to those places myself yet and I'm not sure if I'm going to, but I can at least push back in the places I already visit...) but I think maybe that's what it's going to take to keep this from happening again. No more silence. No more quietly unfollowing the assholes. We have to talk back to them, and we have to be loud. That's what I think these days. Now let's see how much of it I have the guts to follow through on...
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
Gentle reminder/plea for everyone to stop using Facepals and The Tweeter. It's a virtual "Why are you hitting yourself? Huh? Why are you hitting yourself?"
If we abandon those media then Putin and the alt right and the Tea Party and Alex Jones can say whatever they want on them and not be contradicted. They'll be the only ones with a megaphone, while we whisper to each other.
I'd say those are the battlefields we have to fight on these days, as unpleasant as it is. The cure for fake news is real news. The cure for bad speech is more speech. I think not only should we start arguing with the idiots on Facebook and Twitter more, we should inject ourselves into conversations on Reddit and 4-chan and infowars and wherever the hell misinformation exists. We need to spread the truth wherever lies are spread.
And it will be miserable and we might get doxxed or SWATed or just drowned in hate mail (and in all honesty I haven't been brave enough to go to those places myself yet and I'm not sure if I'm going to, but I can at least push back in the places I already visit...) but I think maybe that's what it's going to take to keep this from happening again. No more silence. No more quietly unfollowing the assholes. We have to talk back to them, and we have to be loud. That's what I think these days. Now let's see how much of it I have the guts to follow through on...
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
National Day of Patriotism? Don't we already have the 4th of July for fireworks and flag-waving?
posted by stolyarova at 10:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by stolyarova at 10:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
guys this fucking sucks
posted by R.F.Simpson at 10:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
posted by R.F.Simpson at 10:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
My coworkers were talking about the inauguration, and then, after complaining about the rising cost of healthcare, independently invented the ACA insurance subsidies ("insurance should be based on how much money you make. If you make more, you can pay more. Everyone still pays something, so that the insurance companies can still get their money"). One told the other to get on the phone to the (new) president.
Sigh.
But I was good and didn't yell anything across the lobby. I'm also waiting for them to ask about my yellow shirt, because I'm passive aggressive like that.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 10:34 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Sigh.
But I was good and didn't yell anything across the lobby. I'm also waiting for them to ask about my yellow shirt, because I'm passive aggressive like that.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 10:34 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
That's so they can green screen in the adoring crowds later.
White is hard to green screen. That's why they use green screens. :D
posted by Jalliah at 10:34 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
White is hard to green screen. That's why they use green screens. :D
posted by Jalliah at 10:34 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
The Obamas just boarded the plane. We'll miss you in this role, Mr. President, but are so fortunate for the direction you gave us. Thank you.
posted by samthemander at 10:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by samthemander at 10:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
this guy fucking sucks
FTFY
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 10:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
FTFY
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 10:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
National Day of Patriotism? Don't we already have the 4th of July for fireworks and flag-waving?
That one celebrates the dead white guys who gave us our freedom. This one's celebrating the current white guy who's giving us our freedom.
posted by Etrigan at 10:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
That one celebrates the dead white guys who gave us our freedom. This one's celebrating the current white guy who's giving us our freedom.
posted by Etrigan at 10:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
guys this fucking sucks
posted by R.F.Simpson
At last I can start suffering and write that symphony!
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 10:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by R.F.Simpson
At last I can start suffering and write that symphony!
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 10:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
I'd say those are the battlefields we have to fight on these days, as unpleasant as it is. The cure for fake news is real news. The cure for bad speech is more speech. I think not only should we start arguing with the idiots on Facebook and Twitter more, we should inject ourselves into conversations on Reddit and 4-chan and infowars and wherever the hell misinformation exists. We need to spread the truth wherever lies are spread.
I agree. First time I've ever posted on Reddit was a couple of weeks ago. I've decided that one of the things I can do is spend at least 20mins a day doing exactly this.
posted by Jalliah at 10:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
also fucking hell, i live in the western suburb of portland oregon and about an hour ago i heard fireworks going off
i was idek livid and sad and hurt jfc thank goodness for these giant bose speakers i have bc my bro stole them from my brown-from-southeast-asia-trump-voter father
i guess.
posted by one teak forest at 10:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
i was idek livid and sad and hurt jfc thank goodness for these giant bose speakers i have bc my bro stole them from my brown-from-southeast-asia-trump-voter father
i guess.
posted by one teak forest at 10:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
"Girl"
"Girl I know girl"
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [39 favorites]
"Girl I know girl"
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [39 favorites]
National Day of Patriotism? Don't we already have the 4th of July for fireworks and flag-waving?
And literally every NFL game.
posted by shothotbot at 10:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
And literally every NFL game.
posted by shothotbot at 10:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Just catching up. Watched that inaugural address. Did nobody notice the pee-joke? He said we are entering a "loo millennium".
posted by stonepharisee at 10:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 10:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
“Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair. Or fucking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. Withstand it...and give some back.”
- Al Swearengen (paraphrased)
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
- Al Swearengen (paraphrased)
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Civil Rights, Climate Change, and Healthcare Were All Scrubbed from the White House Website
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
The S & P 500 began its index in 1957. Here's a ranking of how well the presidents have done in regards to performance. If a number says 100%, that is doubling the number in the index.
Standard and Poor's 500
Rank, President, (party), %increased/decreased
1. Bill Clinton, (D), +209.8
2. Barack Obama, (D), +166.4
3. Ronald Reagan, (R), +133.1
4. George H.W. Bush, (R), +51.2
5. Lyndon B. Johnson, (D), +42.5
6. Dwight Eisenhower (1957-61), (R), +36.1
7. Jimmy Carter, (D), +29.4
8. Gerald Ford, (R), +25.7
9. John F. Kennedy, (D), +19.4
10. Richard Nixon, (R), -19.0
11. George W. Bush, Jr., (R), -36.7
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 10:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Standard and Poor's 500
Rank, President, (party), %increased/decreased
1. Bill Clinton, (D), +209.8
2. Barack Obama, (D), +166.4
3. Ronald Reagan, (R), +133.1
4. George H.W. Bush, (R), +51.2
5. Lyndon B. Johnson, (D), +42.5
6. Dwight Eisenhower (1957-61), (R), +36.1
7. Jimmy Carter, (D), +29.4
8. Gerald Ford, (R), +25.7
9. John F. Kennedy, (D), +19.4
10. Richard Nixon, (R), -19.0
11. George W. Bush, Jr., (R), -36.7
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 10:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Charles Pierce: The Day That Gave Us Donald Trump: Emails, servers, and a burst of hope.
posted by homunculus at 10:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by homunculus at 10:42 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
All mentions of #LGBT removed from http://WhiteHouse.gov ; 44 mentions for 'military'. The great work begins.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
"God-appointed duties"?
Mentioned in prayer at inaugural lunch.
posted by marguerite at 10:45 AM on January 20, 2017
Mentioned in prayer at inaugural lunch.
posted by marguerite at 10:45 AM on January 20, 2017
It's disturbing how fast the very recent past is being rewritten.
posted by AlexiaSky at 10:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 10:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
Yossi Klein Halevi: Obama, Trump and the dangers of a ‘Jewish’ president
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'd say those are the battlefields we have to fight on these days, as unpleasant as it is. The cure for fake news is real news. The cure for bad speech is more speech. I think not only should we start arguing with the idiots on Facebook and Twitter more, we should inject ourselves into conversations on Reddit and 4-chan and infowars and wherever the hell misinformation exists. We need to spread the truth wherever lies are spread.
The cure for bad speech is more and better moderation. You want to start seeing change? Demand that newspapers, televisions news stations, magazines, etc. take responsibility for the contents of their social media sites, instead of being hosts to a core group of belligerent propagandists who do not care about the truth and cannot be fact-checked away.
All mentions of #LGBT removed from http://WhiteHouse.gov ; 44 mentions for 'military'. The great work begins.
Parker Molloy has pointed out that this shouldn't be interpreted too drastically. The Obama white house site has been archived and there is a bare-bones new one, as happens with every election. We'll see what the new one is populated with, but this isn't evidence of a mass elimination of social services and progressive agendas.
posted by maxsparber at 10:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
The cure for bad speech is more and better moderation. You want to start seeing change? Demand that newspapers, televisions news stations, magazines, etc. take responsibility for the contents of their social media sites, instead of being hosts to a core group of belligerent propagandists who do not care about the truth and cannot be fact-checked away.
All mentions of #LGBT removed from http://WhiteHouse.gov ; 44 mentions for 'military'. The great work begins.
Parker Molloy has pointed out that this shouldn't be interpreted too drastically. The Obama white house site has been archived and there is a bare-bones new one, as happens with every election. We'll see what the new one is populated with, but this isn't evidence of a mass elimination of social services and progressive agendas.
posted by maxsparber at 10:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Civil Rights, Climate Change, and Healthcare Were All Scrubbed from the White House Website
Time for a shadow government site? Someone, somewhere must have saved all of this stuff.
posted by Jalliah at 10:47 AM on January 20, 2017
Time for a shadow government site? Someone, somewhere must have saved all of this stuff.
posted by Jalliah at 10:47 AM on January 20, 2017
From the Beaverton: America opts for open-casket inauguration.
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 10:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
All mentions of #LGBT removed from http://WhiteHouse.gov ; 44 mentions for 'military'. The great work begins.
The queer hatin' types out there must realize that uhh, there are many non-queer folks that like and value us as people!
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 10:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
The queer hatin' types out there must realize that uhh, there are many non-queer folks that like and value us as people!
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 10:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Parker Molloy is a fairly controversial person.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:49 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:49 AM on January 20, 2017
> WaPo is reporting that all the noise in the background of their commentary are protests. You can really here them. Lots of sirens too.
Was surprised at the lack of coverage of anything other than the official activities, in part because I've been getting texts all morning from people elsewhere in the city and there seemed to be a fair bit of normally-newsworthy stuff going on.
Including some "black bloc"-type unpleasantness near one of the manned military checkpoints, which normally would have been continuous-breaking-news stuff, earlier this morning, which it didn't seem like any of the major news outlets were aware of. Although that seems to have changed (only in the last 45 minutes, though it was on MPD's Twitter earlier).
Presumably because all the press is inside the security perimeter for the inauguration itself, there seems to be / was a big delay in reporting anything going on outside of it.
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:49 AM on January 20, 2017
Was surprised at the lack of coverage of anything other than the official activities, in part because I've been getting texts all morning from people elsewhere in the city and there seemed to be a fair bit of normally-newsworthy stuff going on.
Including some "black bloc"-type unpleasantness near one of the manned military checkpoints, which normally would have been continuous-breaking-news stuff, earlier this morning, which it didn't seem like any of the major news outlets were aware of. Although that seems to have changed (only in the last 45 minutes, though it was on MPD's Twitter earlier).
Presumably because all the press is inside the security perimeter for the inauguration itself, there seems to be / was a big delay in reporting anything going on outside of it.
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:49 AM on January 20, 2017
Time for me to admit I'm over the deep end, go write up some inauguration fanfic wherein instead of taking the oath, The Orange Anger has a Third Wave moment instead. Seems like I should have done something stronger than caramel creamer in the coffee this morning.
posted by Enturbulated at 10:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Enturbulated at 10:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Explosions heard - 4 or 5 so far. I'm bad at identifying, but they don't sound like gunshots exactly to me.
I really hope everyone's ok.
posted by R a c h e l at 10:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I really hope everyone's ok.
posted by R a c h e l at 10:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Parker Molloy is a fairly controversial person.
Yes she is, but she's right about this. I recall shortly after Obama took over the was a whole new White House web page that was similarly bare bones.
posted by maxsparber at 10:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yes she is, but she's right about this. I recall shortly after Obama took over the was a whole new White House web page that was similarly bare bones.
posted by maxsparber at 10:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm so glad to be here with all of you. Thanks.
posted by pt68 at 10:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by pt68 at 10:51 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Yes she is, but she's right about this
You are much more optimistic than I am.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:52 AM on January 20, 2017
You are much more optimistic than I am.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:52 AM on January 20, 2017
Time for a shadow government site? Someone, somewhere must have saved all of this stuff.
The internet archive crawled it
I'm at a protecting climate data event today, and after the initial whitehouse.gov switch happened there was a little in room panic but it was pointed out that this is a relatively normal part of a presidential transition (the replacement of the site) and not unexpected. There's still a lot of other things to worry about.
posted by The Shoodoonoof at 10:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
The internet archive crawled it
I'm at a protecting climate data event today, and after the initial whitehouse.gov switch happened there was a little in room panic but it was pointed out that this is a relatively normal part of a presidential transition (the replacement of the site) and not unexpected. There's still a lot of other things to worry about.
posted by The Shoodoonoof at 10:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm watching MSNBC with some live video. The explosions are flashbangs. Cops are spraying pepper spray. It's a small group of the (presumably anarchist?) protesters wearing black with their faces covered.
posted by gatorae at 10:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by gatorae at 10:53 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Explosions? WTF, don't see any news about this anywhere.
posted by stolyarova at 10:54 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by stolyarova at 10:54 AM on January 20, 2017
Sorry guys, I really couldn't bear to follow the "play-by-play." But don't think anyone's posted these:
Live from Mt. Rushmore
Hillary - us too.
posted by NorthernLite at 10:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Live from Mt. Rushmore
Hillary - us too.
posted by NorthernLite at 10:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Explosions? WTF, don't see any news about this anywhere.
Flashbangs.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Flashbangs.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Meanwhile, I enjoyed a lecture today about how protesters should just stfu because it's not fair not to give Trump a chance, since "all campaigns are just promises and lies so NO ONE can assume what he'll do."
If someone runs for office and says "I want more people stabbed in the neck," and he wins and is handed a screwdriver, you go stand next to him and see if he was kidding. I'll be over here.
posted by delfin at 10:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
If someone runs for office and says "I want more people stabbed in the neck," and he wins and is handed a screwdriver, you go stand next to him and see if he was kidding. I'll be over here.
posted by delfin at 10:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
School shooting in Ohio. Story says cyber-crimes unit is involved but nothing on whether or not there's any sign of political involvement or motivation.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:56 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:56 AM on January 20, 2017
You are much more optimistic than I am.
Oh, I'm not optimistic at all. I expect the stuff that is gone today will never be replaced. But the pages still exist elsewhere, at least, for posterity and perhaps for a better future president.
By the way, the BBC accidentally put the wrong subtitles on today and it's something to see.
posted by maxsparber at 10:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Oh, I'm not optimistic at all. I expect the stuff that is gone today will never be replaced. But the pages still exist elsewhere, at least, for posterity and perhaps for a better future president.
By the way, the BBC accidentally put the wrong subtitles on today and it's something to see.
posted by maxsparber at 10:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Explosions heard - 4 or 5 so far. I'm bad at identifying, but they don't sound like gunshots exactly to me.
MPD was using flashbangs earlier today; they sound a bit like gunshots but not quite.
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:57 AM on January 20, 2017
MPD was using flashbangs earlier today; they sound a bit like gunshots but not quite.
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:57 AM on January 20, 2017
I'm not seeing anything on local news either, and everyone I can see outside is still walking at a calm pace. Maybe it was a ceremonial thing (cannon fire?) or a truck backfiring. But I definitely heard about 10 bangs.
posted by R a c h e l at 10:58 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by R a c h e l at 10:58 AM on January 20, 2017
Yes, flashbangs was probably right. They sounded louder than I expected!
Then again, I've only seen them on tv...
posted by R a c h e l at 10:59 AM on January 20, 2017
Then again, I've only seen them on tv...
posted by R a c h e l at 10:59 AM on January 20, 2017
MSNBC (www.msnbc.com/now) is streaming the violent protests.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:59 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:59 AM on January 20, 2017
Stephen Colbert talking about Barack Obama (via Salon.com)
posted by bitteroldman at 10:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by bitteroldman at 10:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
On MSNBC cops in riot gear are confronting a protest and using pepper spray on the crowd.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yeah its' being covered on MSNBC. Looks pretty chaotic. Also saying they have reports from San Francisco and possibly 50+ arrests.
posted by Jalliah at 11:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Now that our Reader in Chief has left office ( . ), here are a few positive, book-based things you can do:
Heyday, a wonderful small publisher in Berkeley, is hosting a book drive for its upcoming book Fred Korematsu Speaks Up (part of the Fighting for Justice series for young readers). At the link you can purchase a copy for a library or nominate a library or school to receive one.
John Lewis's March graphic novel trilogy is still in stock at Barnes & Noble. The boxed set sold out on Amazon after people started buying it as a show of support for Lewis's inauguration boycott.
And, of course, send a copy of Hiroshima to the White House (self-link).
posted by sunset in snow country at 11:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Heyday, a wonderful small publisher in Berkeley, is hosting a book drive for its upcoming book Fred Korematsu Speaks Up (part of the Fighting for Justice series for young readers). At the link you can purchase a copy for a library or nominate a library or school to receive one.
John Lewis's March graphic novel trilogy is still in stock at Barnes & Noble. The boxed set sold out on Amazon after people started buying it as a show of support for Lewis's inauguration boycott.
And, of course, send a copy of Hiroshima to the White House (self-link).
posted by sunset in snow country at 11:00 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I can't bear to read this thread, so I apologize if you've already covered this. I tried to search for it and didn't see any matches.
This NYT article came out last night:
Intercepted Russian Communications Part of Inquiry Into Trump Associates
American law enforcement and intelligence agencies are examining intercepted communications and financial transactions as part of a broad investigation into possible links between Russian officials and associates of President-elect Donald J. Trump, including his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, current and former senior American officials said.
posted by diogenes at 11:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
This NYT article came out last night:
Intercepted Russian Communications Part of Inquiry Into Trump Associates
American law enforcement and intelligence agencies are examining intercepted communications and financial transactions as part of a broad investigation into possible links between Russian officials and associates of President-elect Donald J. Trump, including his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, current and former senior American officials said.
posted by diogenes at 11:01 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Looks like a good portion of the people that are milling around people reporting/recording and watching it. Hard to get an idea of how many. MSBC say it's only several dozen now.
posted by Jalliah at 11:01 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by Jalliah at 11:01 AM on January 20, 2017
Day 1
Trump Administration Overturns Obama’s FHA Mortgage-Fee Cut
"A letter from the Department of Housing and Urban Development on Friday said the agency is canceling a reduction announced last week while President Barack Obama was still in office. The Federal Housing Administration had planned to cut its annual fee for most borrowers by a quarter of a percentage point to 0.60 percent, effective on Jan. 27."
posted by anastasiav at 11:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Trump Administration Overturns Obama’s FHA Mortgage-Fee Cut
"A letter from the Department of Housing and Urban Development on Friday said the agency is canceling a reduction announced last week while President Barack Obama was still in office. The Federal Housing Administration had planned to cut its annual fee for most borrowers by a quarter of a percentage point to 0.60 percent, effective on Jan. 27."
posted by anastasiav at 11:03 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm looking at whitehouse.gov. I could quote this endlessly in horror but this particular bit is from the "America First Foreign Policy" page:
posted by gatorae at 11:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Finally, in pursuing a foreign policy based on American interests, we will embrace diplomacy. The world must know that we do not go abroad in search of enemies, that we are always happy when old enemies become friends, and when old friends become allies.Old friends.. become allies? Our old friends aren't already our allies? Not to mention phrasing it like diplomacy is an afterthought/last resort is... expected, but unsettling to actually see written on the President's official website.
posted by gatorae at 11:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
I really hope that these protests don't ruin it for everyone else this weekend.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
MSNBC reporting that police say 95 people arrested.
posted by Jalliah at 11:04 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by Jalliah at 11:04 AM on January 20, 2017
I've decided to adopt the poop emoji as my talisman for the next four years. With it's connection to luck, I feel like it's a way I can wish grace and protection for the people I send it to while still acknowledging that this is total shit.
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 11:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 11:04 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump is the spear that will destroy Republican credibility, the politics of hate, and the blissful ignorance of liars and abusers and their methods in America. Our hands will drive it into their heart.People thought that about George W. Bush, and they also thought it about the Tea Party, and they also thought it about the shutdown, and they also thought it about how Boehner was pushed out.
But anyway. Surely this.
posted by fedward at 11:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
From the NYT article:
The decision to open the investigations was not based on a dossier of salacious, uncorroborated allegations that were compiled by a former British spy working for a Washington research firm.
And then this:
"We have absolutely no knowledge of any investigation or even a basis for such an investigation,” said Hope Hicks, a spokeswoman for the Trump transition.
I find that hard to believe.
posted by diogenes at 11:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
The decision to open the investigations was not based on a dossier of salacious, uncorroborated allegations that were compiled by a former British spy working for a Washington research firm.
And then this:
"We have absolutely no knowledge of any investigation or even a basis for such an investigation,” said Hope Hicks, a spokeswoman for the Trump transition.
I find that hard to believe.
posted by diogenes at 11:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I really hope that these protests don't ruin it for everyone else this weekend.
It is a concern. On the positive note the black blocky types will be significantly outnumbered and in my experience it makes a difference. Also it looks like a lot have been arrested and probably more will be before tomorrow.
posted by Jalliah at 11:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
It is a concern. On the positive note the black blocky types will be significantly outnumbered and in my experience it makes a difference. Also it looks like a lot have been arrested and probably more will be before tomorrow.
posted by Jalliah at 11:06 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm listening to our new national anthem: Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" (with 105mm cannons) and will be welcoming our new leader with some off-brand vodka later.
It's even more fun if you imagine the cannons are shooting at Trump.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:07 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's even more fun if you imagine the cannons are shooting at Trump.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:07 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've decided to adopt the poop emoji as my talisman for the next four years.
I'm afraid that's going to be a little bit like picking an obscure-but-awesome name for your kid the same year it happens to become ultra-popular.
posted by gurple at 11:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm afraid that's going to be a little bit like picking an obscure-but-awesome name for your kid the same year it happens to become ultra-popular.
posted by gurple at 11:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
The sheer gall of America's first for profit President, the man who appointed the richest Cabinet in all recorded history, saying he was there (for the first time ever, unlike all those other losers before him) for the American people.
How did his head not explode from the sheer force of a lie so huge?
posted by sotonohito at 11:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
How did his head not explode from the sheer force of a lie so huge?
posted by sotonohito at 11:08 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Time for me to admit I'm over the deep end, go write up some inauguration fanfic wherein instead of taking the oath, The Orange Anger has a Third Wave moment instead.
Back around Obama's first inauguration thread someone had linked to a deeply weird piece of fiction wherein it's revealed that the outgoing president actually becomes the real leader of some eldritch cabal and the incoming president is a figurehead.
I was wondering if the author had updated for Trump, but I'm not able to quickly find the original link.
posted by audi alteram partem at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Back around Obama's first inauguration thread someone had linked to a deeply weird piece of fiction wherein it's revealed that the outgoing president actually becomes the real leader of some eldritch cabal and the incoming president is a figurehead.
I was wondering if the author had updated for Trump, but I'm not able to quickly find the original link.
posted by audi alteram partem at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Thanks, Obama.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
scalefree: Kudos to whoever installed the white flooring on the National Mall. It makes all the empty space really pop.
kirkaracha: That's so they can green screen in the adoring crowds later.
qcubed: given how cut-rate everything they do has been, when they do the digital compositing they'll probably forget to mask the current audience so it'll be all bodies with messed up faces.
To be fair, there were similar issues in 2009 (auto-panorama stitching software did some funky things).
posted by filthy light thief at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
kirkaracha: That's so they can green screen in the adoring crowds later.
qcubed: given how cut-rate everything they do has been, when they do the digital compositing they'll probably forget to mask the current audience so it'll be all bodies with messed up faces.
To be fair, there were similar issues in 2009 (auto-panorama stitching software did some funky things).
posted by filthy light thief at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
People thought that about George W. Bush, and they also thought it about the Tea Party, and they also thought it about the shutdown, and they also thought it about how Boehner was pushed out.
Exactly. Despite the predictions and bad governance, the Republican party is right now the strongest it's ever been in history. Democrats are barely still alive as a national party. Every thing that should've hurt them only made them stronger and stronger.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Exactly. Despite the predictions and bad governance, the Republican party is right now the strongest it's ever been in history. Democrats are barely still alive as a national party. Every thing that should've hurt them only made them stronger and stronger.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
How did his head not explode from the sheer force of a lie so huge?
Practice, practice, practice.
posted by Etrigan at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Practice, practice, practice.
posted by Etrigan at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
The George W. Bush reaction cam during Trump's inauguration speech was lit (photos)
posted by zachlipton at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:09 AM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
Hat tip to my colleague that noticed this, but the new @potus profile picture bears a striking resemblance to that harbinger of death, Vigo the Carpathian.
posted by Happy Dave at 11:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by Happy Dave at 11:10 AM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
The Federal Housing Administration had planned to cut its annual fee for most borrowers by a quarter of a percentage point to 0.60 percent, effective on Jan. 27
So how many mortgage applicants just got their underwriting (and, by consequence, their closing date) fucked?
posted by JoeZydeco at 11:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
So how many mortgage applicants just got their underwriting (and, by consequence, their closing date) fucked?
posted by JoeZydeco at 11:11 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I am starting to think the liberal assumption that the far-right would die from self inflicting wounds has kept us from delivering any kind of real blow.
No more assuming that people are going to get woke on their own now, please.
posted by Tevin at 11:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [51 favorites]
No more assuming that people are going to get woke on their own now, please.
posted by Tevin at 11:12 AM on January 20, 2017 [51 favorites]
BBC News have the wrong subtitles on and it's pretty glorious
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:14 AM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
I've decided to adopt the poop emoji as my talisman for the next four years.
I'm afraid that's going to be a little bit like picking an obscure-but-awesome name for your kid the same year it happens to become ultra-popular.
Ha, that totally works for me! I will draw strength and comfort from the sound of Patrick Stewart's voice.
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 11:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm afraid that's going to be a little bit like picking an obscure-but-awesome name for your kid the same year it happens to become ultra-popular.
Ha, that totally works for me! I will draw strength and comfort from the sound of Patrick Stewart's voice.
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 11:15 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Tentacle of Trust: I've decided to adopt the poop emoji as my talisman for the next four years
gurple: I'm afraid that's going to be a little bit like picking an obscure-but-awesome name for your kid the same year it happens to become ultra-popular.
Hey, Sir Stewart is back in poop! (Spoiler warning - Wikipedia page with the plot description of Masterminds (1997), which you really don't need to watch. Ever. Not Patrick Stewart's finest moment.)
posted by filthy light thief at 11:16 AM on January 20, 2017
gurple: I'm afraid that's going to be a little bit like picking an obscure-but-awesome name for your kid the same year it happens to become ultra-popular.
Hey, Sir Stewart is back in poop! (Spoiler warning - Wikipedia page with the plot description of Masterminds (1997), which you really don't need to watch. Ever. Not Patrick Stewart's finest moment.)
posted by filthy light thief at 11:16 AM on January 20, 2017
Also, Parker Molloy is full of crap, sorry. The new administration's website is not bare bones. It is all up now. LGBT people have just been deleted from it.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:17 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
He is Cheeto the Carpathian and you are like the buzzing of flies to him!
posted by cmfletcher at 11:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 11:18 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Old friends.. become allies? Our old friends aren't already our allies? Not to mention phrasing it like diplomacy is an afterthought/last resort is... expected, but unsettling to actually see written on the President's official website.
It is blather, true, but perhaps not the way you think.
Countries do not have friends. Countries have interests. Sometimes the interests of two countries coincide. Sometimes they do not. The degree of coincidence or its opposite determines the amount of friction between countries.
posted by IndigoJones at 11:18 AM on January 20, 2017
It is blather, true, but perhaps not the way you think.
Countries do not have friends. Countries have interests. Sometimes the interests of two countries coincide. Sometimes they do not. The degree of coincidence or its opposite determines the amount of friction between countries.
posted by IndigoJones at 11:18 AM on January 20, 2017
I'm listening to our new national anthem:
I've found early Ministry pairs well with our new reality.
posted by mcdoublewide at 11:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I've found early Ministry pairs well with our new reality.
posted by mcdoublewide at 11:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's 19:27 here in the UK, and I'm having a whisky (slightly bitter now that I've just remembered how much Trump loves touting his Scottish roots).
I'm not even American, but this hit me hard for some reason. Harder than I thought it would. The world of democracy and progressiveness and my faith in it all getting better is a little darker. I'm just sad.
I just kicked in another £25 to the Liberal Democrats here, and added more available options for myself to volunteer for them in my constituency. Time to do something. Though, like Trump, I've decided to take this weekend off - then it's down to work.
posted by generichuman at 11:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm not even American, but this hit me hard for some reason. Harder than I thought it would. The world of democracy and progressiveness and my faith in it all getting better is a little darker. I'm just sad.
I just kicked in another £25 to the Liberal Democrats here, and added more available options for myself to volunteer for them in my constituency. Time to do something. Though, like Trump, I've decided to take this weekend off - then it's down to work.
posted by generichuman at 11:19 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
""How did his head not explode from the sheer force of a lie so huge?"
It's not a lie, if you believe it. - George Costanza
posted by COD at 11:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
It's not a lie, if you believe it. - George Costanza
posted by COD at 11:20 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
@amyklobuchar Nice shot, Senator. Or, as Getty Images knows you, "a woman".
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [54 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [54 favorites]
Haven't caught up with the thread but: can't get to the museum of African American History through security, because while there's about as many folks here in protest gear as in celebration gear there sure is a lot of security and military.
So we're at the Holocaust Museum today instead. There's a good long line.
Good.
posted by sciatrix at 11:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
So we're at the Holocaust Museum today instead. There's a good long line.
Good.
posted by sciatrix at 11:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
The WaPo live feed is covering the protests that are happening right outside their building.
posted by peeedro at 11:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by peeedro at 11:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just looked at Whitehouse.gov and can't believe it's not a joke hack.
posted by zutalors! at 11:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 11:23 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
National Day of Patriotism? Don't we already have the 4th of July for fireworks and flag-waving
Bart: Oh, Lisa, maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong! The important thing is, veterans deserve a day to honor them!
Lisa: [through clenched teeth] They have two!
Bart: Well maybe they should have three. I'm Bart Simpson.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 11:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Bart: Oh, Lisa, maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong! The important thing is, veterans deserve a day to honor them!
Lisa: [through clenched teeth] They have two!
Bart: Well maybe they should have three. I'm Bart Simpson.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 11:26 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Old friends.. become allies? Our old friends aren't already our allies?
He's very likely talking about Russia, as far as the Trump Organization is concerned. Maybe, if Steve Bannon has a hand in it, that also means eventually an England under PM Nigel Farage, France under Marine Le Pen, Germany under AfD, and Austria under the Freedom Party.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:29 AM on January 20, 2017
He's very likely talking about Russia, as far as the Trump Organization is concerned. Maybe, if Steve Bannon has a hand in it, that also means eventually an England under PM Nigel Farage, France under Marine Le Pen, Germany under AfD, and Austria under the Freedom Party.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:29 AM on January 20, 2017
The @POTUS banner changed. "Hooray".
and they've tweeted... a not quite in focus picture.
posted by cirhosis at 11:30 AM on January 20, 2017
and they've tweeted... a not quite in focus picture.
posted by cirhosis at 11:30 AM on January 20, 2017
WaPo live stream at protests
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 11:30 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 11:30 AM on January 20, 2017
oops, jinx peeedro!
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 11:31 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 11:31 AM on January 20, 2017
The new foreign policy page talks about defeating "Defeating ISIS and other radical Islamic terror group"."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
These destructive protesters are really going to make things difficult for the peaceful protesters tomorrow. Fuck these assholes.
posted by gatorae at 11:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 11:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
The WaPo live feed yt is covering the protests that are happening right outside their building.
Such modern scene. It looks like there's maybe a few dozen people causing the problems and the majority are all people filming or just watching.
posted by Jalliah at 11:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also, the word "alien" is back for undocumented people.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:33 AM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
A friend who is in DC for the protests says police are "tear gassing and shooting rubber bullets" at 12th & K.
posted by corb at 11:35 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by corb at 11:35 AM on January 20, 2017
These destructive protesters are really going to make things difficult for the peaceful protesters tomorrow. Fuck these assholes.
Fuck that. While I personally won't be destructively protesting, protesting of any kind is fine with me. Civil or uncivil, I don't give a shit. We are protesting a decidedly destructive administration. They are going to crack down whether we speak softly and nicely or not. There's no tone argument to be made that will appease these motherfuckers. No more purity tests for resistance, just resistance.
posted by lazaruslong at 11:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [85 favorites]
Fuck that. While I personally won't be destructively protesting, protesting of any kind is fine with me. Civil or uncivil, I don't give a shit. We are protesting a decidedly destructive administration. They are going to crack down whether we speak softly and nicely or not. There's no tone argument to be made that will appease these motherfuckers. No more purity tests for resistance, just resistance.
posted by lazaruslong at 11:35 AM on January 20, 2017 [85 favorites]
I see a blurry photo of sad Donny looking out a window that's not the Oval Office.
I'll miss Pete Souza. Not that I'll be looking at as many White House photos now.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'll miss Pete Souza. Not that I'll be looking at as many White House photos now.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Such modern scene.
Americans warming themselves by a garbage fire, get used to it.
posted by peeedro at 11:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Americans warming themselves by a garbage fire, get used to it.
posted by peeedro at 11:36 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Why's his @POTUS twitter picture gotta be one where it looks like he's trying to take a shit after two days straight of eating deep dish?
posted by phunniemee at 11:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 11:37 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
That FHA reduction thing is such a kick in the nuts. (I'm not sure it would have helped up us, but our re-finance is up in the air because there are lots of people that have the same name as me)
posted by drezdn at 11:38 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by drezdn at 11:38 AM on January 20, 2017
A friend who is in DC for the protests says police are "tear gassing and shooting rubber bullets" at 12th & K.
That's the protest on the WaPo livestream, their office is at 13th and K NW.
posted by peeedro at 11:38 AM on January 20, 2017
That's the protest on the WaPo livestream, their office is at 13th and K NW.
posted by peeedro at 11:38 AM on January 20, 2017
A friend who is in DC for the protests says police are "tear gassing and shooting rubber bullets" at 12th & K.
The tear gas and flash bangs have been flying for a while now. Can't see bullets on the streams.
posted by Jalliah at 11:38 AM on January 20, 2017
The tear gas and flash bangs have been flying for a while now. Can't see bullets on the streams.
posted by Jalliah at 11:38 AM on January 20, 2017
Barron Trump wins Inauguration Day by playing peekaboo with his nephew while his father signs his first Executive Orders.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:39 AM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
These destructive protesters are really going to make things difficult for the peaceful protesters tomorrow. Fuck these assholes.
Please don't pretend that the cops weren't going to be shits to tomorrow's protesters anyway.
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [80 favorites]
Please don't pretend that the cops weren't going to be shits to tomorrow's protesters anyway.
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [80 favorites]
Watch what he does, not what he says. Thus it has been, and shall always be.
This needs to be said and done more often. He lies so often because he wants you wasting time and resources correcting him. His goal is to have command over the truth in your mind.
I assume everything Trump says to be a lie. If everything he says is a lie, I don't need to listen to him ever and I don't intend to. He will say terrible things and great things. He will claim he is going to good things and bad things. He will say more things that cause controversy and spark many new threads for us to express our rage at them. That's his goal, to get us focused on what he says so we waste so much time being outraged and proving that he's wrong and we know the truth. If I'm doing exactly what my enemy wants me to be doing, I need to do something, anything, else.
I don't get outraged anymore, I get cold, I get committed, I get focused, and I steel myself to fight. But we're not fighting his words, his words are worthless. Fight his actions, be outraged at his actions, at his policies, pay no attention to his words. I mean that literally. I mean that every time that Donnie is on TV we should turn it off, ideally he'd have ZERO twitter followers. You might feel need to find out what he said at some point to feel like you're following current events (reading a transcript of the state of the union for example) but don't get angry about what you read, it's all lies. You're only reading it so you aware of the current zeitgeist.
The POTUS is no longer a person to be listened to when they speak but someone you should turn away from.
His words are just wind, pay them no mind.
posted by VTX at 11:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [65 favorites]
This needs to be said and done more often. He lies so often because he wants you wasting time and resources correcting him. His goal is to have command over the truth in your mind.
I assume everything Trump says to be a lie. If everything he says is a lie, I don't need to listen to him ever and I don't intend to. He will say terrible things and great things. He will claim he is going to good things and bad things. He will say more things that cause controversy and spark many new threads for us to express our rage at them. That's his goal, to get us focused on what he says so we waste so much time being outraged and proving that he's wrong and we know the truth. If I'm doing exactly what my enemy wants me to be doing, I need to do something, anything, else.
I don't get outraged anymore, I get cold, I get committed, I get focused, and I steel myself to fight. But we're not fighting his words, his words are worthless. Fight his actions, be outraged at his actions, at his policies, pay no attention to his words. I mean that literally. I mean that every time that Donnie is on TV we should turn it off, ideally he'd have ZERO twitter followers. You might feel need to find out what he said at some point to feel like you're following current events (reading a transcript of the state of the union for example) but don't get angry about what you read, it's all lies. You're only reading it so you aware of the current zeitgeist.
The POTUS is no longer a person to be listened to when they speak but someone you should turn away from.
His words are just wind, pay them no mind.
posted by VTX at 11:40 AM on January 20, 2017 [65 favorites]
Something about that speech sounded familiar.
posted by zakur at 11:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by zakur at 11:41 AM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Something about that speech sounded familiar.
Well that's not at all creepy.
posted by Jalliah at 11:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Well that's not at all creepy.
posted by Jalliah at 11:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
People thought that about George W. Bush, and they also thought it about the Tea Party, and they also thought it about the shutdown, and they also thought it about how Boehner was pushed out.
And the Republican Party has pursued a policy of voter suppression, gerrymandering, unprecedented obstructionism, and general reality denial, which are not the actions of a party that believes it has solid majority support.
The Republican Party knows darn well that it's toxic and, thanks to Trump, is going to get get a lot more so. Maybe voter suppression, bamboozling the working class with more empty promises and rhetoric about "big government" being what stands in the way of prosperity, and working the refs with complaints about "liberal media" will keep the leaks in the dam plugged in the next few elections. But has Trump shown any capability at all of overcoming this popularity pit he's in? Is he suddenly going to become compassionate and competent? Fat chance.
And in two years, he's going to be a millstone around the neck of every Congressional Republican. Many of whom are going to get re-elected anyway, because in spite of what NPR keeps telling me, this election was not about outsiderism -- plenty of incumbent Republicans, even shaky ones, got re-elected, so it was about backlash. So let's make the Republicans face the unpleasant choice of opposing an unpopular president, thus risking the ire of their base, or possibly losing to a Democrat. And let's keep on doing that in 2018.
And more importantly, 2020, when state houses are up for control.
posted by Gelatin at 11:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [39 favorites]
And the Republican Party has pursued a policy of voter suppression, gerrymandering, unprecedented obstructionism, and general reality denial, which are not the actions of a party that believes it has solid majority support.
The Republican Party knows darn well that it's toxic and, thanks to Trump, is going to get get a lot more so. Maybe voter suppression, bamboozling the working class with more empty promises and rhetoric about "big government" being what stands in the way of prosperity, and working the refs with complaints about "liberal media" will keep the leaks in the dam plugged in the next few elections. But has Trump shown any capability at all of overcoming this popularity pit he's in? Is he suddenly going to become compassionate and competent? Fat chance.
And in two years, he's going to be a millstone around the neck of every Congressional Republican. Many of whom are going to get re-elected anyway, because in spite of what NPR keeps telling me, this election was not about outsiderism -- plenty of incumbent Republicans, even shaky ones, got re-elected, so it was about backlash. So let's make the Republicans face the unpleasant choice of opposing an unpopular president, thus risking the ire of their base, or possibly losing to a Democrat. And let's keep on doing that in 2018.
And more importantly, 2020, when state houses are up for control.
posted by Gelatin at 11:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [39 favorites]
These destructive protesters are really going to make things difficult for the peaceful protesters tomorrow. Fuck these assholes.
No they aren't. The police will decide whether they want to make things difficult or not, regardless of the behavior of the protestors themselves. I have seen them ignore Dumpster fires and attack drum circles.
posted by maxsparber at 11:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
No they aren't. The police will decide whether they want to make things difficult or not, regardless of the behavior of the protestors themselves. I have seen them ignore Dumpster fires and attack drum circles.
posted by maxsparber at 11:43 AM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
I just saw this tweet from David Corn (the reporter who broke the dossier story in Mother Jones).
Spoke to @LindseyGrahamSC re revelations of top secret evidence of Trump camp contacts w/ Russia. He wants a full investigation.
posted by diogenes at 11:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Spoke to @LindseyGrahamSC re revelations of top secret evidence of Trump camp contacts w/ Russia. He wants a full investigation.
posted by diogenes at 11:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
There's no tone argument to be made that will appease these motherfuckers. No more purity tests for resistance, just resistance.
My facebook is already getting polluted with ***CONCERN*** about smashed windows, etc. Thank god for window smashers to make sure we shift the discussion from the point of the protesting to "Why Property Damage isn't Nice 101"
posted by windbox at 11:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
My facebook is already getting polluted with ***CONCERN*** about smashed windows, etc. Thank god for window smashers to make sure we shift the discussion from the point of the protesting to "Why Property Damage isn't Nice 101"
posted by windbox at 11:45 AM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
The Hill Poll: Trump approval rating hits new low hours before inauguration
Just over a third of Americans approve of President-elect Donald Trump, according to a new poll released hours before his inauguration.
The survey from Fox News showed that 37 percent of Americans approve of Trump ahead of his inauguration, while 54 percent do not.
Measuring the country’s mood just before Inauguration Day, 60 percent of Americans said “it’s everyone for themselves,” and 34 percent said “we’re all in this together.”
The poll comes at the tail end of a flurry of surveys that show Trump as having a historically low approval rating for a president-elect
posted by Jalliah at 11:46 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
anybody know if they're arresting just the window breakers or is it like scooping up everybody near the window breakers or what
Doesn't look like it.
posted by Jalliah at 11:47 AM on January 20, 2017
Doesn't look like it.
posted by Jalliah at 11:47 AM on January 20, 2017
So let's make the Republicans face the unpleasant choice of opposing an unpopular president, thus risking the ire of their base, or possibly losing to a Democrat. And let's keep on doing that in 2018.
And let's keep on doing that
posted by kirkaracha at 11:47 AM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
I am not broken.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Re: FaceTwits
If we abandon those media then Putin and the alt right and the Tea Party and Alex Jones can say whatever they want on them and not be contradicted.
If we abandon those media, who cares?
The platforms are inherently designed to favor outrage and anti-(intellectualism, science, social behavior). It's not a battlefield, it's a slaughterhouse. There's no "winning" to be had in the long run.
Also, all information (text, coordinates, relationships, images) will inevitably be used against the users or otherwise without concern or consent. There are many many other ways to live and communicate than through these advertising / profiling / datamining platforms.
posted by petebest at 11:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
If we abandon those media then Putin and the alt right and the Tea Party and Alex Jones can say whatever they want on them and not be contradicted.
If we abandon those media, who cares?
The platforms are inherently designed to favor outrage and anti-(intellectualism, science, social behavior). It's not a battlefield, it's a slaughterhouse. There's no "winning" to be had in the long run.
Also, all information (text, coordinates, relationships, images) will inevitably be used against the users or otherwise without concern or consent. There are many many other ways to live and communicate than through these advertising / profiling / datamining platforms.
posted by petebest at 11:48 AM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
If we abandon those media, who cares?
Question: So far, the Wikipedia obsessives have been able to keep their turf free from the noise machine's interference. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)
Can they guide the rest of us ?
posted by ocschwar at 11:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Question: So far, the Wikipedia obsessives have been able to keep their turf free from the noise machine's interference. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)
Can they guide the rest of us ?
posted by ocschwar at 11:50 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Trump looks like he absolutely fucking hates this luncheon.
posted by gatorae at 11:50 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by gatorae at 11:50 AM on January 20, 2017
Repeating the phrase "tone argument" is like magic!
posted by thelonius at 11:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 11:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Nevertrump conservatives on my facebook feed are already saying "Please do not treat every single thing President Trump does as if it is the end of civilization. If removing items from a website is treated as a world historic crisis when a world historic crisis actually occurs I feel like criticism of the new President will fall on deaf ears." It's infuriating that we've been lectured at to give Trump a chance and not get mad before he's even done anything, and now that he starts doing bad things we're also not supposed to be mad yet either! Can't wait for Republicans to let us know when it's ok to be mad at Trump!
posted by DynamiteToast at 11:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [52 favorites]
posted by DynamiteToast at 11:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [52 favorites]
There are many many other ways to live and communicate than through these advertising / profiling / datamining platforms.
Oh, definitely. But there are not really any better places to refute the misinformation that is spread virally in those places. And it got Trump elected. People voted for him because they believed the lies spread by him and on his behalf. Just a never ending barrage of lies. And when we saw those lies most of us just quietly hit "unfollow" or "hide post" (I certaintly did) and assumed people would recognize them for what they were. Well, they didn't. And here we are.
posted by OnceUponATime at 11:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Oh, definitely. But there are not really any better places to refute the misinformation that is spread virally in those places. And it got Trump elected. People voted for him because they believed the lies spread by him and on his behalf. Just a never ending barrage of lies. And when we saw those lies most of us just quietly hit "unfollow" or "hide post" (I certaintly did) and assumed people would recognize them for what they were. Well, they didn't. And here we are.
posted by OnceUponATime at 11:54 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
oschwar Its the same as the guidance from those parts of reddit that aren't infested with neo-Nazi scum: a large mod team and a quick hand on the banhammer.
You need enough dedicated mods to have parts of the team up and active 24/7, and you need those mods to be utterly ruthless about smashing any sort of derailment and banning those who start it.
It can produce an occasionally oppressive environment, but without those clear sharp lines being defended vigorously the scum will seep in.
posted by sotonohito at 11:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
You need enough dedicated mods to have parts of the team up and active 24/7, and you need those mods to be utterly ruthless about smashing any sort of derailment and banning those who start it.
It can produce an occasionally oppressive environment, but without those clear sharp lines being defended vigorously the scum will seep in.
posted by sotonohito at 11:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Watching the Whitehouse live luncheon feed, it feels like a declaration of manifest destiny.
posted by stonepharisee at 11:55 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by stonepharisee at 11:55 AM on January 20, 2017
Chris Rock on Twitter, Don't Forget To Set Your Clocks Back 300 Years.
posted by vac2003 at 11:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by vac2003 at 11:55 AM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Trump looks like he absolutely fucking hates this luncheon.
all toddlers have a difficult time sitting still.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 11:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
all toddlers have a difficult time sitting still.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 11:56 AM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
Repeating the phrase "tone argument" is like magic!
is this that new anti pc thing, do we all have to do this now
posted by zutalors! at 11:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
My facebook is already getting polluted with ***CONCERN*** about smashed windows, etc. Thank god for window smashers to make sure we shift the discussion from the point of the protesting to "Why Property Damage isn't Nice 101"
I just got Facebook-unfriended by someone who expressed concern about the protests and didn't seem to appreciate my citing Martin Luther King's criticism of that attitude in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail.
I am not sorry at all.
posted by Gelatin at 11:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [53 favorites]
I just got Facebook-unfriended by someone who expressed concern about the protests and didn't seem to appreciate my citing Martin Luther King's criticism of that attitude in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail.
I am not sorry at all.
posted by Gelatin at 11:57 AM on January 20, 2017 [53 favorites]
Trump has his arms crossed and there's a tiny little hand sticking out from under his elbow and I was like Hey does he have a kid on his lap but no he does not
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
C'mon everyone, the most appropriate LOTR reference is Theoden's speech
Then why do I feel less like Theoden King and more like Fatty Bolger?
AWAKE! FEAR! FIRE! FOES! AWAKE!
posted by ActingTheGoat at 11:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Then why do I feel less like Theoden King and more like Fatty Bolger?
AWAKE! FEAR! FIRE! FOES! AWAKE!
posted by ActingTheGoat at 11:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Departing Obama Tearfully Shoos Away Loyal Drone Following Him Out Of White House:
‘Go On Now, Git,’ Says Former President
posted by Coventry at 11:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [40 favorites]
‘Go On Now, Git,’ Says Former President
posted by Coventry at 11:58 AM on January 20, 2017 [40 favorites]
Repeating the phrase "tone argument" is like magic!
posted by thelonius
Want to expand on this? Cause it sure doesn't read well.
posted by lazaruslong at 11:58 AM on January 20, 2017
posted by thelonius
Want to expand on this? Cause it sure doesn't read well.
posted by lazaruslong at 11:58 AM on January 20, 2017
Wikipedia is very susceptible to BS if it affirms the biases of its biggest demographics (and it has severe issues there), and doesn't translate to individual-user platforms very well anyway. If you look at the discussions, Wikipedia culture tends to be very conservative (frequently bordering on alt-right crankiness). It keeps large, popular articles from being defaced through active moderation, but it's sort of a miracle it hasn't really succumbed to the worst parts of internet scumbigotry.
posted by byanyothername at 11:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by byanyothername at 11:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
make sure we shift the discussion from the point of the protesting to "Why Property Damage isn't Nice 101"
And what, pray tell, is "the point of the protesting?"
The behavior of these yahoos is a perfect example of appropriation of voice. We live, or would like to live, in a civil society. Damaging property is more than just damaging property. It's an act of violence. You might think I'm wrong but whatever. Tantrums don't change the world.
posted by My Dad at 11:59 AM on January 20, 2017
And what, pray tell, is "the point of the protesting?"
The behavior of these yahoos is a perfect example of appropriation of voice. We live, or would like to live, in a civil society. Damaging property is more than just damaging property. It's an act of violence. You might think I'm wrong but whatever. Tantrums don't change the world.
posted by My Dad at 11:59 AM on January 20, 2017
Repeating the phrase "tone argument" is like magic!
It literally showed up once in this thread in a specific context. If you have issue with that context, go ahead and state your issue, but, honestly, just complaining about the phrase itself is so weak and so fucking tiresome and I just don't have the energy for this sort of dismissiveness right now.
posted by maxsparber at 11:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
It literally showed up once in this thread in a specific context. If you have issue with that context, go ahead and state your issue, but, honestly, just complaining about the phrase itself is so weak and so fucking tiresome and I just don't have the energy for this sort of dismissiveness right now.
posted by maxsparber at 11:59 AM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Tantrums don't change the world.
I mean, they literally just got someone elected, so I really don't know what to say.
posted by maxsparber at 12:00 PM on January 20, 2017 [139 favorites]
I mean, they literally just got someone elected, so I really don't know what to say.
posted by maxsparber at 12:00 PM on January 20, 2017 [139 favorites]
“One thing is for certain: there is no stopping them; the ants will soon be here. And I for one welcome our new insect overlords. I’d like to remind them that as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves.”
That never felt so poignant as it does today.
posted by darkstar at 12:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
That never felt so poignant as it does today.
posted by darkstar at 12:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Counterpoint: 'Do you want ants? Cuz this is how you get ants!'
posted by ian1977 at 12:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 12:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Tantrums don't change the world.
So when a mob armed with pitchforks stormed Versailles that was what, if not a massive tantrum that changed the world?
Which is not to say I'm endorsing violence here and now, but I'm also not crying over some broken windows if maybe it alerts some folks to the real dangers we are now in.
posted by dnash at 12:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
So when a mob armed with pitchforks stormed Versailles that was what, if not a massive tantrum that changed the world?
Which is not to say I'm endorsing violence here and now, but I'm also not crying over some broken windows if maybe it alerts some folks to the real dangers we are now in.
posted by dnash at 12:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
trump calling for a standing ovation for bill and hillary coming to the abomination.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 12:03 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 12:03 PM on January 20, 2017
D.C. police chief: Violence a ‘small disturbance’
D.C. Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham told CNN that there were “maybe a couple of hundred” or so protesters who were acting violent, throwing rocks or objects at law enforcement officers or destroying property.posted by zachlipton at 12:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [41 favorites]
“In the grand scheme of things, this is a small disturbance in a small part of the city,” he said. “Literally, we have thousands of others who are peacefully demonstrating.”
It's infuriating that we've been lectured at to give Trump a chance and not get mad before he's even done anything, and now that he starts doing bad things we're also not supposed to be mad yet either! Can't wait for Republicans to let us know when it's ok to be mad at Trump!
I don't know if gaslighting can be considered a rhetorical style, but commentary from conservatives meant for anyone not-conservative is entirely gaslighting nowdays from what I see on social media.
posted by MillMan at 12:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
I don't know if gaslighting can be considered a rhetorical style, but commentary from conservatives meant for anyone not-conservative is entirely gaslighting nowdays from what I see on social media.
posted by MillMan at 12:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
I guess my worry is that breaking windows will just make it easier to dismiss the protests as "full of crazy people" or whatever misguided stereotype is in vogue, rather than focusing on the substance of the protest. Isn't that the power of nonviolent resistance - disruption without actual destruction?
posted by fast ein Maedchen at 12:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by fast ein Maedchen at 12:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Why's his @POTUS twitter picture gotta be one where it looks like he's trying to take a shit after two days straight of eating deep dish?
That's his official portrait. That's the photo that's going to be glowering at us from every post office and DMV wall.
posted by theodolite at 12:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
That's his official portrait. That's the photo that's going to be glowering at us from every post office and DMV wall.
posted by theodolite at 12:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
The behavior of these yahoos is a perfect example of appropriation of voice. We live, or would like to live, in a civil society. Damaging property is more than just damaging property. It's an act of violence. You might think I'm wrong but whatever. Tantrums don't change the world
There are always people who show up to protests to break and start shit and don't want to change anything or do anything in particular except burn and break and start shit.
posted by zutalors! at 12:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I guess my worry is that breaking windows will just make it easier to dismiss the protests as "full of crazy people" or whatever misguided stereotype is in vogue,
Believe it or not, this will happen anyway, with or without broken windows.
Nothing we do changes the way they paint us. They are propagandists, not reporters, and will find whatever reason they can to dismiss everything we do.
posted by maxsparber at 12:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [55 favorites]
Believe it or not, this will happen anyway, with or without broken windows.
Nothing we do changes the way they paint us. They are propagandists, not reporters, and will find whatever reason they can to dismiss everything we do.
posted by maxsparber at 12:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [55 favorites]
I forgot, I'm sorry: we have a more permanent place now, with a friend of mine. We're okay. We're grateful. More when I have WiFi and keyboard, but this - - remembering - - was and is important.
posted by sciatrix at 12:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [63 favorites]
posted by sciatrix at 12:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [63 favorites]
So the White House petitions site? It's still up and as of right now there's one new petition. Is the site staying up an oversight or intentional? Eh, who knows, but I really like the looks of this first petition.
Peition on whitehouse.gov
And, just in case, here's an archive.org link
posted by Enturbulated at 12:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Peition on whitehouse.gov
And, just in case, here's an archive.org link
posted by Enturbulated at 12:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Why's his @POTUS twitter picture gotta be one where it looks like he's trying to take a shit after two days straight of eating deep dish?
That's the face trump makes when he's trying to make a serious business face
It's his only face
posted by quaking fajita at 12:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
That's the face trump makes when he's trying to make a serious business face
It's his only face
posted by quaking fajita at 12:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
>>>Tantrums don't change the world.
I mean, they literally just got someone elected, so I really don't know what to say.
Hey, nobody's saying you can't dress up in black and smash windows. But you won't be speaking for me. And, as usual, progressive-thinking people like me ("natural allies") will be the "bad guy" because I have the wrong opinion.
So interesting that the black-clad protesters this morning were all white, by the way.
posted by My Dad at 12:08 PM on January 20, 2017
I mean, they literally just got someone elected, so I really don't know what to say.
Hey, nobody's saying you can't dress up in black and smash windows. But you won't be speaking for me. And, as usual, progressive-thinking people like me ("natural allies") will be the "bad guy" because I have the wrong opinion.
So interesting that the black-clad protesters this morning were all white, by the way.
posted by My Dad at 12:08 PM on January 20, 2017
The behavior of these yahoos is a perfect example of appropriation of voice. We live, or would like to live, in a civil society. Damaging property is more than just damaging property. It's an act of violence. You might think I'm wrong but whatever. Tantrums don't change the world
My belief is that the real goal of the Black Bloc/Anarchist groups is to prop up the "plate glass replacement" industry. There is absolutely no other explanation for these groups being so ineffective at bringing any sort of change for decades and decades.
posted by sideshow at 12:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
My belief is that the real goal of the Black Bloc/Anarchist groups is to prop up the "plate glass replacement" industry. There is absolutely no other explanation for these groups being so ineffective at bringing any sort of change for decades and decades.
posted by sideshow at 12:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
That's the face trump makes when he's trying to make a serious business face
It's his only face
Well you're probably feeling what Donald's feeling... "Carpathian Kitten Loss". He misses his kitty! Well we'll just place one in here right by the curtains...
posted by Servo5678 at 12:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's his only face
Well you're probably feeling what Donald's feeling... "Carpathian Kitten Loss". He misses his kitty! Well we'll just place one in here right by the curtains...
posted by Servo5678 at 12:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
...that was what, if not a massive tantrum that changed the world?
A military action which targeted a locus of oppressive power, to great effect political effect.
posted by Coventry at 12:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
A military action which targeted a locus of oppressive power, to great effect political effect.
posted by Coventry at 12:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
As far as I can tell the power of nonviolent resistance is to get beat up on so badly you provoke sympathy from your oppressors.
posted by dilaudid at 12:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by dilaudid at 12:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Incoming DOJ Deputy Assistant AG for Civil Rights Worked Defending Redistricting Plans
The hits just keep on coming.
posted by zachlipton at 12:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
The hits just keep on coming.
posted by zachlipton at 12:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Believe it or not, this will happen anyway, with or without broken windows.
This. If there were, by some miracle, not one broken window or any damaged property, pictures of protests from some bygone day when windows were broken or cars were burned would be circulated anyway, and it wouldn't matter that they weren't real, because the narrative is: leftist protesters are always violent thugs who need to have their heads busted.
posted by uncleozzy at 12:13 PM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
This. If there were, by some miracle, not one broken window or any damaged property, pictures of protests from some bygone day when windows were broken or cars were burned would be circulated anyway, and it wouldn't matter that they weren't real, because the narrative is: leftist protesters are always violent thugs who need to have their heads busted.
posted by uncleozzy at 12:13 PM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
That's his official portrait. That's the photo that's going to be glowering at us from every post office and DMV wall.
Geez. Even Nixon was at least smirking.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:14 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Geez. Even Nixon was at least smirking.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:14 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
So the White House petitions site? It's still up and as of right now there's one new petition. Is the site staying up an oversight or intentional? Eh, who knows, but I really like the looks of this first petition.
If Trump wanted to collect the names of people that need to be dealt with one strategy might be the official petition page. Not that I'm suggesting that is happening. Oversight is probably far more likely.
Probably.
posted by COD at 12:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
If Trump wanted to collect the names of people that need to be dealt with one strategy might be the official petition page. Not that I'm suggesting that is happening. Oversight is probably far more likely.
Probably.
posted by COD at 12:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Given what has happened, it is a given that there will be violent protests. They don't have to speak for anyone. It's a biological expression of outrage, like an inflammation.
posted by stonepharisee at 12:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 12:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Words Donald Trump said for the first time in any U.S. inaugural address
They include bleed, carnage, stolen, urban, tombstones, and sad.
In other words, most inaugural addresses aren't bottomless pits of despair.
posted by zachlipton at 12:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [87 favorites]
They include bleed, carnage, stolen, urban, tombstones, and sad.
In other words, most inaugural addresses aren't bottomless pits of despair.
posted by zachlipton at 12:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [87 favorites]
Believe it or not, this will happen anyway, with or without broken windows.
Nothing we do changes the way they paint us. They are propagandists, not reporters, and will find whatever reason they can to dismiss everything we do.
I hear that and believe it wholeheartedly. I guess I still think there's value in keeping disruption peaceful (as in non-violent), even just for its own sake. Is smashing things ever demonstrably more effective than not smashing things? (Real question.)
posted by fast ein Maedchen at 12:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
And the Republican Party has pursued a policy of voter suppression, gerrymandering, unprecedented obstructionism, and general reality denial, which are not the actions of a party that believes it has solid majority support.
This is true of course, but Democratic self-sorting into geographic disadvantage is as big or bigger problem than Republican gerrymandering, especially in a system that rewards occupation of land area over actual human voters, compounding losses in the House, and especially state governments.
They hold a commanding rural/land area advantage that goes beyond Trump or gerrymandering.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
This is true of course, but Democratic self-sorting into geographic disadvantage is as big or bigger problem than Republican gerrymandering, especially in a system that rewards occupation of land area over actual human voters, compounding losses in the House, and especially state governments.
They hold a commanding rural/land area advantage that goes beyond Trump or gerrymandering.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
So the White House petitions site? It's still up and as of right now there's one new petition. Is the site staying up an oversight or intentional? Eh, who knows, but I really like the looks of this first petition.
Peition on whitehouse.gov
I just tried to sign [this petition demanding the release of Trump's tax returns] and got an error message.
posted by DingoMutt at 12:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Peition on whitehouse.gov
I just tried to sign [this petition demanding the release of Trump's tax returns] and got an error message.
posted by DingoMutt at 12:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Protests are complicated things. They often serve multiple functions, and those functions can contradict each other, and people who are in them are aware of this contradiction and, in my experience, often okay with it, because we can't really control a protest, or dictate what it is supposed to mean.
So there are some in the protest who are trying to communicate with a larger audience. And there are some who will be trying to mess shit up as a warning: This sort of bullshit leads to shit getting broken.
Experienced protesters know this, and so there is a sort of detente that happens, where the black bloc hangs back and does its stuff away from the main protest, and the main protesters tell the media, oh, that wasn't us, we would never condone that. And I've been involved in a lot of protests, and honestly can't say which works best, or if they work well in collaboration.
I mean, Dr. King was supposed to have once said "I am only effective as long as there is a shadow on white America of the black man standing behind me with a Molotov cocktail." I don't know if he ever actually said it, but the biographies I have read of him sure make it seem like he understood that the threat of violence helped legitimize his approach as an alternative. He did say that "I think that we've got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard."
anarchists are white boys
Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin, for one, would be quite surprised to hear this. I was part of the anarchist community in Minneapolis for quite a few years, and can certainly say that this statement was not true then. The scene was actually dominated by women, and we had an awful lot of people of color involved.
posted by maxsparber at 12:17 PM on January 20, 2017 [37 favorites]
So there are some in the protest who are trying to communicate with a larger audience. And there are some who will be trying to mess shit up as a warning: This sort of bullshit leads to shit getting broken.
Experienced protesters know this, and so there is a sort of detente that happens, where the black bloc hangs back and does its stuff away from the main protest, and the main protesters tell the media, oh, that wasn't us, we would never condone that. And I've been involved in a lot of protests, and honestly can't say which works best, or if they work well in collaboration.
I mean, Dr. King was supposed to have once said "I am only effective as long as there is a shadow on white America of the black man standing behind me with a Molotov cocktail." I don't know if he ever actually said it, but the biographies I have read of him sure make it seem like he understood that the threat of violence helped legitimize his approach as an alternative. He did say that "I think that we've got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard."
anarchists are white boys
Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin, for one, would be quite surprised to hear this. I was part of the anarchist community in Minneapolis for quite a few years, and can certainly say that this statement was not true then. The scene was actually dominated by women, and we had an awful lot of people of color involved.
posted by maxsparber at 12:17 PM on January 20, 2017 [37 favorites]
Words Donald Trump said for the first time in any U.S. inaugural address
(From Washington Post)
Bleed, carnage, stealing, stolen, tombstone....
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
(From Washington Post)
Bleed, carnage, stealing, stolen, tombstone....
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Is smashing things ever demonstrably more effective than not smashing things? (Real question.)
Just asking that is allowing the narrative to swing back to "The anti-Trump protestors are violent!"
posted by Etrigan at 12:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Just asking that is allowing the narrative to swing back to "The anti-Trump protestors are violent!"
posted by Etrigan at 12:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I went to sleep with President Obama.
Because of the time zone differences, I woke up with President Trump.
That's just as awful as it sounds.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Because of the time zone differences, I woke up with President Trump.
That's just as awful as it sounds.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
(Wow - sorry zachlipton - this thread is moving fast!)
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also, Trump is now breaking the law, right? Regarding his hotel in the post office.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
T.D. Strange And the fact that the US system does reward land occupation rather than numbers is the main reason why, long before Trump was even a blip on the radar, I feared the USA might not last another 100 years.
A system where simply by moving to a city you surrender most of your political voice is not a system that can survive in a world that is increasingly urban. And that system is baked so deeply into our Constitution I don't think it can ever be fixed.
Even if we expanded the House and eliminated gerrymandering, the Senate would still tilt to the regressive forces simply because it rewards land rather than people, and the Presidency would still be up for grabs because of the massive over-representation of rural votes.
I think, I fear, that sooner or later the majority of the population will reject being lorded over by a tiny handful of rural voters. The only way to fix the problem is to end the USA, and that's not a good thing or something I want to see happen. But I don't see how it can be avoided.
posted by sotonohito at 12:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
A system where simply by moving to a city you surrender most of your political voice is not a system that can survive in a world that is increasingly urban. And that system is baked so deeply into our Constitution I don't think it can ever be fixed.
Even if we expanded the House and eliminated gerrymandering, the Senate would still tilt to the regressive forces simply because it rewards land rather than people, and the Presidency would still be up for grabs because of the massive over-representation of rural votes.
I think, I fear, that sooner or later the majority of the population will reject being lorded over by a tiny handful of rural voters. The only way to fix the problem is to end the USA, and that's not a good thing or something I want to see happen. But I don't see how it can be avoided.
posted by sotonohito at 12:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
I went to sleep with President Obama.
Because of the time zone differences, I woke up with President Trump.
America has some shit beer goggles.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [63 favorites]
Because of the time zone differences, I woke up with President Trump.
America has some shit beer goggles.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [63 favorites]
It isn't clear to me that the destructive protesters here are even necessarily anti-Trump so much as anti-establishment anarchists who would have done the same thing to protest Clinton.
posted by gatorae at 12:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 12:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Thanks, maxsparber - food for thought for this amateur.
Etrigan, that wasnt my intention. I'm asking for my own information; I'm a reluctant and inexperienced activist with a bleeding heart and I was curious about conventional wisdom from people more experienced than I am. That said, I don't want to center the conversation around the idea that all protestors are violent or whatever (I know I don't plan to be tomorrow), so let's move on if this isn't helpful.
posted by fast ein Maedchen at 12:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Etrigan, that wasnt my intention. I'm asking for my own information; I'm a reluctant and inexperienced activist with a bleeding heart and I was curious about conventional wisdom from people more experienced than I am. That said, I don't want to center the conversation around the idea that all protestors are violent or whatever (I know I don't plan to be tomorrow), so let's move on if this isn't helpful.
posted by fast ein Maedchen at 12:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
> Trump is now breaking the law, right? Regarding his hotel in the post office.
He's already been sued by CREW, link somewhere up there... (Here)
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
He's already been sued by CREW, link somewhere up there... (Here)
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
As far as I can tell the power of nonviolent resistance is to get beat up on so badly you provoke sympathy from your oppressors.
Sympathy (or persuasion) is one way nonviolent power works, but it isn't the only way or even the most common way nonviolent action has an effect. For example, boycotts don't work by provoking sympathy; they work, like other non-violent tactics, by disrupting the system your opponent depends on. See Gene Sharp's The Politics of Nonviolent Action.
posted by audi alteram partem at 12:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Sympathy (or persuasion) is one way nonviolent power works, but it isn't the only way or even the most common way nonviolent action has an effect. For example, boycotts don't work by provoking sympathy; they work, like other non-violent tactics, by disrupting the system your opponent depends on. See Gene Sharp's The Politics of Nonviolent Action.
posted by audi alteram partem at 12:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
These yahoos that burn things have been around forever. I was in protests with them 20 years ago and they were just as annoying and stupid. And yet it seems like every time they come out and burn things people get all upset and hand wring and we have to go through a big long discussion about the pros and cons of burning and breaking things.
Yes it sucks because it can take attention away from peaceful protest.
Yes it sucks because it's something that the 'other side' can use as an example of blah blah whatever.
I am not an activist that supports breaking windows and burning things. Not so much because I think it's wrong at the core but because most of these yahoos that do this are really just about burning things down and don't have any real concrete goals except some form of start the revolution stick it to the man sort of worldview. In history there are numerous example where masses of people have got more violent and broken things and it has led to change.
In other places in the world including democracies having some people break windows is pretty much a normal state of affairs. It happens, because some people are just shits, like to be shitty, don't care about the larger group and use big events like this play the revolutionary and be all uber angry. People just protest despite them.
These folks are not going to go away. And I expect in this state of affairs the US are going to be out burning more things.
There is little point in worrying about what other people think. They will use any excuse whatever to call protesters crazy, nutso, violent and whatever if they want too. If there wasn't people burning things it would be something else. Heck they'll just make stuff up. I've been at protests where people accused people of breaking stuff and no such thing happen.
Just protest.
If you're at a protest and these yahoos are there my advice is don't engage them and do your best not march around them. If they start something and your in the vicinity do your best to calmly walk away and leave. (unless you have the desire to watch/and or record but understand you may get caught up if the police come in). If you can't leave for whatever reason get as far out of the way as possible and do you best to show that you are not one of them.
Otherwise just protest. These folks aren't going to stop. They don't care.
posted by Jalliah at 12:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
Yes it sucks because it can take attention away from peaceful protest.
Yes it sucks because it's something that the 'other side' can use as an example of blah blah whatever.
I am not an activist that supports breaking windows and burning things. Not so much because I think it's wrong at the core but because most of these yahoos that do this are really just about burning things down and don't have any real concrete goals except some form of start the revolution stick it to the man sort of worldview. In history there are numerous example where masses of people have got more violent and broken things and it has led to change.
In other places in the world including democracies having some people break windows is pretty much a normal state of affairs. It happens, because some people are just shits, like to be shitty, don't care about the larger group and use big events like this play the revolutionary and be all uber angry. People just protest despite them.
These folks are not going to go away. And I expect in this state of affairs the US are going to be out burning more things.
There is little point in worrying about what other people think. They will use any excuse whatever to call protesters crazy, nutso, violent and whatever if they want too. If there wasn't people burning things it would be something else. Heck they'll just make stuff up. I've been at protests where people accused people of breaking stuff and no such thing happen.
Just protest.
If you're at a protest and these yahoos are there my advice is don't engage them and do your best not march around them. If they start something and your in the vicinity do your best to calmly walk away and leave. (unless you have the desire to watch/and or record but understand you may get caught up if the police come in). If you can't leave for whatever reason get as far out of the way as possible and do you best to show that you are not one of them.
Otherwise just protest. These folks aren't going to stop. They don't care.
posted by Jalliah at 12:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
Interesting story in the protests in San Francisco this morning. People protested at the Bank of America building which Trump apparently partially owns, which is whatever, but other than that it appears most of the arrests were of people blocking Caltrain (to protest Peter Thiel and Palantir) and Market Street (to protest Travis Kalanick and Uber). People in purple are also forming a human chain across the Golden Gate Bridge.
Maybe I'm projecting or reading too much into it but it seems to me like even after the tech boom, rents doubling, and the total decimation of San Francisco's black population, our San Francisco values (tm) are intact, but we're waking up to the fact that some of our tech overlords are evil. There was stuff like the tech bus protests, but that was seen as a fringe thing. This isn't. Everyone agrees that protesting Trump is the right thing to do. I can't quite put my finger on why it is so interesting to me that parts of the tech industry are caught up in the protests, but it feels like a change.
posted by sunset in snow country at 12:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Maybe I'm projecting or reading too much into it but it seems to me like even after the tech boom, rents doubling, and the total decimation of San Francisco's black population, our San Francisco values (tm) are intact, but we're waking up to the fact that some of our tech overlords are evil. There was stuff like the tech bus protests, but that was seen as a fringe thing. This isn't. Everyone agrees that protesting Trump is the right thing to do. I can't quite put my finger on why it is so interesting to me that parts of the tech industry are caught up in the protests, but it feels like a change.
posted by sunset in snow country at 12:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
A historical thread today. A report from a lurker. A mental minority person. MLA? MLA now.
I will post some things that I believe.
Facts:
(1.) The humble bumblebee has gone endangered on Friday the 13th in 2017.
(2.) If your sportsball team loses then your testosterone goes down.
(3.) The witches in the New World were drawn as bathing in petroleum as viewable in "Salem" the television show. Cars weren't out at the time. Petroleum wasn't used commercially.
(4.) Cable television penetration correlated with autism growth in diagnosis.
(5.) You can talk to the smart TV, but the smart TV doesn't talk back with "videoshop."
(6.) The child star of Poltegeist the movie died young.
(7.) We used Japanese biowarfare scientists and German V2 rocket scientist from WWI.
(8.) Journalists were first decimated under Bill Clinton's reign during merger mania.
(9.) 40% more journalists were decimated in 2007 I guess.
(10.) Press corps is being moved.
(11.) Mattis is illegal pick for Secretary of Defense since he is not 10 years retired from military.
(12.) There is a "shadow cabinet" not vetted by Congress.
(13.) I'm listening to music picks from this thread.
Opinions:
(1.) Time travel exists in informational capacity.
(2.) We live inside a Dyson sphere around our solar system, and it is at black hole level. Stephen Hawkin lost the bet. It's a painted sky like the Greek's said.
(3.) Libido affects the weather as described in an Anthology of Madness.
(4.) Carrie Fischer is dead and not in Hotel California. She had "lude mouth" from Playboy Mansion.
I'm done. I could go on but I have Bud Light to drink.
Talk left swing right. Until there's a plight. Then second light.
Trump is the Populism Party candidate. Consider he is a nativist platform and former friend and donater to Clintons and golfed with them. I suggested the immigration plank from wikipedia version of Libertarian Party of 2016 during his Caucusing.
Posted before review. I used "stratified statistical sampling" of this thread to read it quickly, as described in the Knuth 3:16 book. I press the spacebar and hold it a little to scroll in chunks.
The entertainment President for the cross of televisions burning at the Marilyn Manson concert is President.
posted by thoughtslut at 12:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I will post some things that I believe.
Facts:
(1.) The humble bumblebee has gone endangered on Friday the 13th in 2017.
(2.) If your sportsball team loses then your testosterone goes down.
(3.) The witches in the New World were drawn as bathing in petroleum as viewable in "Salem" the television show. Cars weren't out at the time. Petroleum wasn't used commercially.
(4.) Cable television penetration correlated with autism growth in diagnosis.
(5.) You can talk to the smart TV, but the smart TV doesn't talk back with "videoshop."
(6.) The child star of Poltegeist the movie died young.
(7.) We used Japanese biowarfare scientists and German V2 rocket scientist from WWI.
(8.) Journalists were first decimated under Bill Clinton's reign during merger mania.
(9.) 40% more journalists were decimated in 2007 I guess.
(10.) Press corps is being moved.
(11.) Mattis is illegal pick for Secretary of Defense since he is not 10 years retired from military.
(12.) There is a "shadow cabinet" not vetted by Congress.
(13.) I'm listening to music picks from this thread.
Opinions:
(1.) Time travel exists in informational capacity.
(2.) We live inside a Dyson sphere around our solar system, and it is at black hole level. Stephen Hawkin lost the bet. It's a painted sky like the Greek's said.
(3.) Libido affects the weather as described in an Anthology of Madness.
(4.) Carrie Fischer is dead and not in Hotel California. She had "lude mouth" from Playboy Mansion.
I'm done. I could go on but I have Bud Light to drink.
Talk left swing right. Until there's a plight. Then second light.
Trump is the Populism Party candidate. Consider he is a nativist platform and former friend and donater to Clintons and golfed with them. I suggested the immigration plank from wikipedia version of Libertarian Party of 2016 during his Caucusing.
Posted before review. I used "stratified statistical sampling" of this thread to read it quickly, as described in the Knuth 3:16 book. I press the spacebar and hold it a little to scroll in chunks.
The entertainment President for the cross of televisions burning at the Marilyn Manson concert is President.
posted by thoughtslut at 12:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
So interesting that the black-clad protesters this morning were all white, by the way.
Every protest I went to in Seattle, there were always some of these guys and they were always white.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 12:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Every protest I went to in Seattle, there were always some of these guys and they were always white.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 12:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
It isn't clear to me that the destructive protesters here are even necessarily anti-Trump so much as anti-establishment anarchists who would have done the same thing to protest Clinton.
They totally would have.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
They totally would have.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Ray Walston, Luck Dragon Yup, and also his foreign money. But breaking the law only means something if there's enforcement. And the Republicans won't enforce the law on Trump.
Which is why I fear there may be a cycle of ever greater lawbreaking from Trump. He's been a cheat and fraud his entire life and now he's in a position where he really can get away with just about anything so he'll try anything that pops into his head.
Who knows what fresh lawbreaking our only president will think of? Maybe it'll be something little, maybe it'll be something big. No one knows and that uncertainty is terrifying.
Why wouldn't he declare martial law? Or suspend elections? Or simply ban Islam? Or whatever? Who's going to stop him? The Republicans? Not a chance.
posted by sotonohito at 12:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Which is why I fear there may be a cycle of ever greater lawbreaking from Trump. He's been a cheat and fraud his entire life and now he's in a position where he really can get away with just about anything so he'll try anything that pops into his head.
Who knows what fresh lawbreaking our only president will think of? Maybe it'll be something little, maybe it'll be something big. No one knows and that uncertainty is terrifying.
Why wouldn't he declare martial law? Or suspend elections? Or simply ban Islam? Or whatever? Who's going to stop him? The Republicans? Not a chance.
posted by sotonohito at 12:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Is smashing things ever demonstrably more effective than not smashing things?
That's a much more academic question than can be easily answered in practice, because protest doesn't run top down and in lockstep and you can't get everybody to agree on everything up front.
A more practical question is: is the fear that some splinter group will smash stuff sufficient reason to abandon otherwise peaceful protests? Because the only way that folks 100% dedicated to an entirely smashing-stuff-free demonstration can insure that that's what they get is by declining to show up at all.
If they show up, in great numbers, and so do a few window-smashing duders, it's now "a violent protest".
So: show up anyway and do the thing, or abandon protest entirely because of some knuckleheads?
Those are the two choices if you take an approach of philosophical purity on the idea. And if those are the two choices, I sure as shit hope folks choose to show up and demonstrate peacefully anyway. And that's what a lot of people do, and aim to do.
That this impossible dilemma is basically never the focus of media coverage of demonstrations is the bigger problem with the situation, as far as that goes. It's good for ratings to show off violence or property damage; it's good for anti-demonstration rhetoric to conflate that with all protest. Whether those two cohorts actually mean to work together, they feed off one another with regularity.
posted by cortex at 12:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
That's a much more academic question than can be easily answered in practice, because protest doesn't run top down and in lockstep and you can't get everybody to agree on everything up front.
A more practical question is: is the fear that some splinter group will smash stuff sufficient reason to abandon otherwise peaceful protests? Because the only way that folks 100% dedicated to an entirely smashing-stuff-free demonstration can insure that that's what they get is by declining to show up at all.
If they show up, in great numbers, and so do a few window-smashing duders, it's now "a violent protest".
So: show up anyway and do the thing, or abandon protest entirely because of some knuckleheads?
Those are the two choices if you take an approach of philosophical purity on the idea. And if those are the two choices, I sure as shit hope folks choose to show up and demonstrate peacefully anyway. And that's what a lot of people do, and aim to do.
That this impossible dilemma is basically never the focus of media coverage of demonstrations is the bigger problem with the situation, as far as that goes. It's good for ratings to show off violence or property damage; it's good for anti-demonstration rhetoric to conflate that with all protest. Whether those two cohorts actually mean to work together, they feed off one another with regularity.
posted by cortex at 12:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
Man, I hate having to be at work and sober all day and have to sneak around to look at this shit.
Is it vaguely possible that cat buttons are some form of shade?
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:27 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is it vaguely possible that cat buttons are some form of shade?
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:27 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
And totally what Maxsparber said. Maybe we've been at the same sort of protests. :D
posted by Jalliah at 12:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Justice Breyer put all his belongings in a Zip Lock bag like he’s going on Splash Mountain
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
Every protest I went to in Seattle, there were always some of these guys and they were always white.
Ditto ones that I've been too. Always the majority young, white and male.
posted by Jalliah at 12:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Ditto ones that I've been too. Always the majority young, white and male.
posted by Jalliah at 12:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
> young, white and male.
You mean, the population of people that can literally get away with murder?
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 12:30 PM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
You mean, the population of people that can literally get away with murder?
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 12:30 PM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
So interesting that the black-clad protesters this morning were all white, by the way.
Interesting in that it reflects the white privilege of generally suffering less disruption and risk if arrested?
posted by Coventry at 12:32 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Interesting in that it reflects the white privilege of generally suffering less disruption and risk if arrested?
posted by Coventry at 12:32 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
were there destructive protests by anarchists during Obama's inaugurations?
posted by zutalors! at 12:32 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 12:32 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Pink Floyd's Animals is my official soundtrack for the day.
Let's hope the sheep master the art of karate sooner rather than later.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Let's hope the sheep master the art of karate sooner rather than later.
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
So the White House petitions site? It's still up and as of right now there's one new petition. Is the site staying up an oversight or intentional? Eh, who knows, but I really like the looks of this first petition.
If Trump wanted to collect the names of people that need to be dealt with one strategy might be the official petition page.
Come at me, you meretricious motherfucker. I got an error when I tried to sign it and had to re-create my account, but it works now.
Immediately release Donald Trump's full tax returns, with all information needed to verify emoluments clause compliance.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 12:34 PM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
If Trump wanted to collect the names of people that need to be dealt with one strategy might be the official petition page.
Come at me, you meretricious motherfucker. I got an error when I tried to sign it and had to re-create my account, but it works now.
Immediately release Donald Trump's full tax returns, with all information needed to verify emoluments clause compliance.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 12:34 PM on January 20, 2017 [25 favorites]
not weird. has no heart
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:35 PM on January 20, 2017 [42 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:35 PM on January 20, 2017 [42 favorites]
You mean, the population of people that can literally get away with murder?
Yeah of the few people that I've actually known of come from middle to upper middle class backgrounds. There seems to be core groups that 'live the life' so to speak and will travel around in a posse and then there's those that join in. Then they just go back to regular life.
posted by Jalliah at 12:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yeah of the few people that I've actually known of come from middle to upper middle class backgrounds. There seems to be core groups that 'live the life' so to speak and will travel around in a posse and then there's those that join in. Then they just go back to regular life.
posted by Jalliah at 12:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Justice Breyer put all his belongings in a Zip Lock bag like he’s going on Splash Mountain
Dude knew beforehand a lot of bullshit was gonna be flung up there.
posted by darkstar at 12:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Dude knew beforehand a lot of bullshit was gonna be flung up there.
posted by darkstar at 12:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
omg some moron on wapo live feed is saying we're vilifying him before he's done anything.
This is provably false unless you want to argue selecting a cabinet and support staff and making statements that provoke foreign governments counts as "not doing anything."
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
This is provably false unless you want to argue selecting a cabinet and support staff and making statements that provoke foreign governments counts as "not doing anything."
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Here's an Occupy article on black blocs. They are considerably more complicated than "white male hooligans who just want to trash things."
posted by maxsparber at 12:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by maxsparber at 12:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Happy Dave: "Hat tip to my colleague that noticed this, but the new @potus profile picture bears a striking resemblance to that harbinger of death, Vigo the Carpathian."
A helpful reference.
posted by charred husk at 12:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
A helpful reference.
posted by charred husk at 12:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
1M homebuyers would have saved $500/year. Trump suspended the cut, making it more expensive for Americans to buy a home
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
I was in and out of doing work stuff while listening to the inauguration on the radio, and I missed this bit:
"At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country we will rediscover our loyalty to each other."
After much internal debate, me, myself and I decided the album that would be the best soundtrack for the reast of the day is Bad Religion's Recipe for Hate....
I don't need to be a global citizen
Because I'm blessed by nationality
I'm member of a growing populace
We enforce our popularity
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
"At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country we will rediscover our loyalty to each other."
After much internal debate, me, myself and I decided the album that would be the best soundtrack for the reast of the day is Bad Religion's Recipe for Hate....
I don't need to be a global citizen
Because I'm blessed by nationality
I'm member of a growing populace
We enforce our popularity
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Ha. Netflix released a teaser trailer today announcing the next season of House of Cards.
posted by INFJ at 12:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by INFJ at 12:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
I've watched several different channels' local news (it's tough because they're mostly running the national ones) and one thing I appreciate is that they've REALLY emphasized what a small portion of the protests were at all violent, and how many nonviolent protesters were here today...I doubt national news will present that truth as emphatically.
On the topic of the "appropriate" ways to protest: I have many family members that marched in the massive nonviolent part of the protests that became the Battle for Seattle, and, well, many people don't even realize that whole part even happened. I won't be participating in violent protests and I hope no people are hurt, but property destruction is incredibly effective at drawing attention. And if people want a reason to dismiss protesters, well, they'll find one no matter the protester's methods.
posted by R a c h e l at 12:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
On the topic of the "appropriate" ways to protest: I have many family members that marched in the massive nonviolent part of the protests that became the Battle for Seattle, and, well, many people don't even realize that whole part even happened. I won't be participating in violent protests and I hope no people are hurt, but property destruction is incredibly effective at drawing attention. And if people want a reason to dismiss protesters, well, they'll find one no matter the protester's methods.
posted by R a c h e l at 12:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's a day for the Kronos Quartet setting of Ginsburg's Howl.
with mother finally ******, and the last fantastic book flung out of the tenement window, and the last door closed at 4 A.M. and the last telephone slammed at the wall in reply and the last furnished room emptied down to the last piece of mental furniture, a yellow paper rose twisted on a wire hanger in the closet, and even that imaginary, nothing but a hopeful little bit of hallucination—posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 12:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
.
.
.
ah, Carl, while you are not safe I am not safe, and now you’re really in the total animal soup of time—
This is provably false unless you want to argue selecting a cabinet and support staff and making statements that provoke foreign governments counts as "not doing anything."
For these idiots, basically anything short of causing a nuclear war will be swept aside as "oh, come on, give him a chance!".
This is the same WaPo whose top headline on google news, as of a few minutes ago, was about awful protesters vandalizing DC.
posted by tocts at 12:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
For these idiots, basically anything short of causing a nuclear war will be swept aside as "oh, come on, give him a chance!".
This is the same WaPo whose top headline on google news, as of a few minutes ago, was about awful protesters vandalizing DC.
posted by tocts at 12:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
There's something weird going on with the We the People page. The number of signatories keeps going down rather than up, and the other petition that was there before is now gone.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Who actually runs the petition site? I thought it was Obama's staff and it would be gone once he was.
posted by dilaudid at 12:42 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by dilaudid at 12:42 PM on January 20, 2017
That's his official portrait. That's the photo that's going to be glowering at us from every post office and DMV wall.
Glad to see they're going with the orange/blue combo that's so popular on TV these days.
But seriously, why didn't they color-balance for daylight so the White House would be white? It's such a terrible portrait, in so many ways.
posted by god hates math at 12:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Glad to see they're going with the orange/blue combo that's so popular on TV these days.
But seriously, why didn't they color-balance for daylight so the White House would be white? It's such a terrible portrait, in so many ways.
posted by god hates math at 12:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Bonus: The same album also includes Sing Sing J Edgard Hoover
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 12:43 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 12:43 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
This is provably false unless you want to argue selecting a cabinet and support staff and making statements that provoke foreign governments counts as "not doing anything."
It only counts as "doing something" if it directly affects the angry white dudes drinking bad coffee at the diner while Fox News plays on the little countertop TV. Everything else is unimportant.
posted by uncleozzy at 12:43 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
It only counts as "doing something" if it directly affects the angry white dudes drinking bad coffee at the diner while Fox News plays on the little countertop TV. Everything else is unimportant.
posted by uncleozzy at 12:43 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Time for a strong cup of tea so I can power through the rest of my work day and then drive 4 hours to DC. I like to think that just rage will get me through, but I think caffeine is good as a backup.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
I just caught a clip on the WaPo feed and there was a yellow costumed guy dancing in front of the police. If you haven't been to large protests like the Woman's March before you're more likely to see that sort of thing. The atmosphere though serious will be positive.
They can be super fun and invigorating. Dancing, singing, chanting and lots and lots of genuine comradery. They can be life changing in that way.
I wish I could go.
posted by Jalliah at 12:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
So the White House petitions site? It's still up and as of right now there's one new petition. Is the site staying up an oversight or intentional? Eh, who knows, but I really like the looks of this first petition.
I tried to sign the petition about releasing tax returns about an hour ago—it went through, but told me I'd be receiving an email to confirm my signature, which never showed up. When I tried to fill out the divest/blind trust petition just now, I get an error "Sorry, there was a problem submitting your signature…". So maybe the site is in the process of being taken down, with bits of the backend disabled first. Or just accidentally broken during the transition?
posted by JiBB at 12:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I tried to sign the petition about releasing tax returns about an hour ago—it went through, but told me I'd be receiving an email to confirm my signature, which never showed up. When I tried to fill out the divest/blind trust petition just now, I get an error "Sorry, there was a problem submitting your signature…". So maybe the site is in the process of being taken down, with bits of the backend disabled first. Or just accidentally broken during the transition?
posted by JiBB at 12:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
@JedediahSPurdy:
Notice he asked nothing of his audience
Soldiers, police, & god will protect you
He will bring back your wealth
Strongman salesman politics
posted by Coventry at 12:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Notice he asked nothing of his audience
Soldiers, police, & god will protect you
He will bring back your wealth
Strongman salesman politics
posted by Coventry at 12:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
White House Office of National AIDS Policy has been closed. Created in 1992.
posted by dnash at 12:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [62 favorites]
posted by dnash at 12:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [62 favorites]
Yeah, I couldn't sign the petition either--I just got the 'sorry, there was a problem' message. Probably gives a good idea of how this will work from now on.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 12:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Sing Or Swim at 12:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
After much internal debate, me, myself and I decided the album that would be the best soundtrack for the reast of the day is Bad Religion's Recipe for Hate....
On Election Night 2000 I, along with everyone else at the Hollywood Palace, found out that GWB had "won" when Brian Baker (guitarist of Bad Religion) stopped playing American Jesus to yell out "George W. Bush is the next American President!". He then proceeded to go playing the lead guitar solo.
I've probably been to 100 hardcore/punk/rock/whatever shows, and I've never felt (before or since) as much angry energy as I did during the rest of that song.
Obviously, the election wasn't final for another month, but we all had thought it was over at that point.
posted by sideshow at 12:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
On Election Night 2000 I, along with everyone else at the Hollywood Palace, found out that GWB had "won" when Brian Baker (guitarist of Bad Religion) stopped playing American Jesus to yell out "George W. Bush is the next American President!". He then proceeded to go playing the lead guitar solo.
I've probably been to 100 hardcore/punk/rock/whatever shows, and I've never felt (before or since) as much angry energy as I did during the rest of that song.
Obviously, the election wasn't final for another month, but we all had thought it was over at that point.
posted by sideshow at 12:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
White House Office of National AIDS Policy has been closed. Created in 1992.
What the actual fuck.
(and here I thought I had exhausted my supply of fucks and evens)
posted by INFJ at 12:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
What the actual fuck.
(and here I thought I had exhausted my supply of fucks and evens)
posted by INFJ at 12:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
Now my brother is sending me passive aggressive texts about how if I have so much time to go to protests instead of working I should at least protect myself wearing a motorcycle helmet. I guess he still reads my Facebook.
Ok, thanks bro.
posted by emjaybee at 12:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Ok, thanks bro.
posted by emjaybee at 12:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
As someone who works with Ryan White funding, WTF.
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
White House Office of National AIDS Policy has been closed. Created in 1992.
Pence caused an HIV outbreak in Indiana back in the day. I have no doubt that he sees AIDS as a useful tool in his war on people who aren't white heteros, and Trump just doesn't care because he personally doesn't have it.
posted by Etrigan at 12:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [56 favorites]
Pence caused an HIV outbreak in Indiana back in the day. I have no doubt that he sees AIDS as a useful tool in his war on people who aren't white heteros, and Trump just doesn't care because he personally doesn't have it.
posted by Etrigan at 12:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [56 favorites]
The leanest, meanest government possible. I'm so sorry, Americans and everyone.
.
posted by cotton dress sock at 12:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
.
posted by cotton dress sock at 12:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
I finally read his speech. Any remaining (small, small) doubts I had that he is not as dangerous to the country and the world as Hitler have been wiped away.
'“From this day forward a new vision will govern our land,” he said. “From this day forward, it’s only going to be America first, America first.”'
This is literally the kind of stuff the Nazis said!
posted by Automocar at 12:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [51 favorites]
'“From this day forward a new vision will govern our land,” he said. “From this day forward, it’s only going to be America first, America first.”'
This is literally the kind of stuff the Nazis said!
posted by Automocar at 12:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [51 favorites]
The ONAP tweet stuff is from January 4. Hoiw did nobody catch this?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Back in the day is in the last two years for Pence and rising new HIV/AIDS diagnosis.
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
At least now there's no excuse not to confirm Merrick Garland.
posted by ckape at 12:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by ckape at 12:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Maybe Donald Trump just really hates Ryan White?
Claims he paid for Ryan White's HIV treatments, now he's defunding the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.
posted by birdheist at 12:55 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Claims he paid for Ryan White's HIV treatments, now he's defunding the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.
posted by birdheist at 12:55 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Ein volk, ein Reich, ein Führer
posted by kirkaracha at 12:55 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 12:55 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
What sphinx of cement and aluminum bashed open their skulls and ate up their brains and imagination?And finally the madman's Revelation:
Moloch! Solitude! Filth! Ugliness! Ashcans and unobtainable dollars! Children screaming under the stairways! Boys sobbing in armies! Old men weeping in the parks!
Moloch! Moloch! Nightmare of Moloch! Moloch the loveless! Mental Moloch! Moloch the heavy judger of men!
Moloch the incomprehensible prison! Moloch the crossbone soulless jailhouse and Congress of sorrows! Moloch whose buildings are judgment! Moloch the vast stone of war! Moloch the stunned governments!
Moloch whose mind is pure machinery! Moloch whose blood is running money! Moloch whose fingers are ten armies! Moloch whose breast is a cannibal dynamo! Moloch whose ear is a smoking tomb!
I’m with you in Rocklandposted by CBrachyrhynchos at 12:55 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
where we hug and kiss the United States under our bedsheets the United States that coughs all night and won’t let us sleep
I’m with you in Rockland
where we wake up electrified out of the coma by our own souls’ airplanes roaring over the roof they’ve come to drop angelic bombs the hospital illuminates itself imaginary walls collapse O skinny legions run outside O starry-spangled shock of mercy the eternal war is here O victory forget your underwear we’re free
I'll also add: this is like stopping vaccinations because Measles and Mumps and [insert name of disease] are so rarely a problem anymore. It means the money we spend on it is -working- not that it's wasted.
posted by birdheist at 12:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by birdheist at 12:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Stands along the parade route were almost all empty
posted by fungible at 12:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by fungible at 12:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
The WH web pages were removed but they were replaced with deplorableness.
The minute Donald Trump was sworn into office, the White House’s web site changed—dramatically.
The page on climate change was replaced with a page entitled “An America First Energy Plan” that ignores climate change entirely and says, “President Trump is committed to eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the U.S. rule.”
The new “America First Foreign Policy” page made no mention of Russia or China, instead discussing the defeat of ISIS and the renegotiation of NAFTA and other trade deals. “If our partners refuse a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal, then the President will give notice of the United States’ intent to withdraw from NAFTA,” the page read.
The page on civil rights was replaced with a page entitled “Standing Up For Our Law Enforcement Community” that replaces concerns with how police act with a demand for more cops. It also paints predominantly black inner cities as shooting galleries.
Civil Rights replaced by Law Enforcement. Climate replaced with the destruction of the planet. pukes
posted by futz at 12:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [69 favorites]
The minute Donald Trump was sworn into office, the White House’s web site changed—dramatically.
The page on climate change was replaced with a page entitled “An America First Energy Plan” that ignores climate change entirely and says, “President Trump is committed to eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the U.S. rule.”
The new “America First Foreign Policy” page made no mention of Russia or China, instead discussing the defeat of ISIS and the renegotiation of NAFTA and other trade deals. “If our partners refuse a renegotiation that gives American workers a fair deal, then the President will give notice of the United States’ intent to withdraw from NAFTA,” the page read.
The page on civil rights was replaced with a page entitled “Standing Up For Our Law Enforcement Community” that replaces concerns with how police act with a demand for more cops. It also paints predominantly black inner cities as shooting galleries.
Civil Rights replaced by Law Enforcement. Climate replaced with the destruction of the planet. pukes
posted by futz at 12:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [69 favorites]
I'll also add: this is like stopping vaccinations because Measles and Mumps and [insert name of disease] are so rarely a problem anymore.
No, this is like stopping vaccinations because you actively want people to die of measles and mumps and you are fucking enraged that they are so rarely a problem anymore.
posted by Etrigan at 12:58 PM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
No, this is like stopping vaccinations because you actively want people to die of measles and mumps and you are fucking enraged that they are so rarely a problem anymore.
posted by Etrigan at 12:58 PM on January 20, 2017 [43 favorites]
Is there a citation for the closure of the office of AIDS policy? It sounds like the departure of the existing staff on Jan 4 was an ordinary part of the transition process.
posted by schmod at 1:02 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by schmod at 1:02 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I agree, Etrigan. Mine was the most charitable interpretation (imo) and it's still shortsighted and awful. I think yours is the correct reading.
posted by birdheist at 1:04 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by birdheist at 1:04 PM on January 20, 2017
Is there a citation for the closure of the office of AIDS policy? It sounds like the departure of the existing staff on Jan 4 was an ordinary part of the transition process.
I mean, if they were going to replace the staff, why wouldn't they just keep the website up? Could it be some sort of tech error?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:04 PM on January 20, 2017
I mean, if they were going to replace the staff, why wouldn't they just keep the website up? Could it be some sort of tech error?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:04 PM on January 20, 2017
Is it weird that I've felt like crying all day, directly because of the inauguration? I'm not usually a cry-er.
posted by XtinaS at 1:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by XtinaS at 1:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
I was looking around and couldn't find any immediate verification. I solely work with individuals with HIV/AIDS and am constantly utalizing Ryan white funds, so if I hear something I'll let everyone know.
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
"We will also develop a state-of-the-art missile defense system to protect against missile-based attacks from states like Iran and North Korea."
Has this gotten any more feasible over the past decade or so?
Has this gotten any more feasible over the past decade or so?
So yesterday the missile defense system failed again. Now there’s a lotta negative nancies out there talkin about how our missile shield is a costly Cold War boondoggle that has wasted billions of dollars, alienated our allies and started a new and pointless arms race. But this kinda talk is very destructive an costly to our missiles, who love us an want to do the very best they can for us.posted by Coventry at 1:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
DC police directly pepper spray elderly woman, disabled man
Please be careful out there. Police do not give an eff.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Please be careful out there. Police do not give an eff.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Barack on his own Twitter now.
Hi everybody! Back to the original handle. Is this thing still on? Michelle and I are off on a quick vacation, then we’ll get back to work.
In the meantime, I want to hear what you're thinking about the road ahead. So share your ideas with me here:
posted by Jalliah at 1:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [44 favorites]
Hi everybody! Back to the original handle. Is this thing still on? Michelle and I are off on a quick vacation, then we’ll get back to work.
In the meantime, I want to hear what you're thinking about the road ahead. So share your ideas with me here:
posted by Jalliah at 1:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [44 favorites]
Does anyone know of a Whitehouse.gov website that was up yesterday that is still under the same URL though? Maybe ONAP still exists, but this really is a tech problem.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:11 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:11 PM on January 20, 2017
"We will also develop a state-of-the-art missile defense system to protect against missile-based attacks from states like Iran and North Korea."
Has this gotten any more feasible over the past decade or so?
No, the possibility of Iran or North Korea attacking the U.S. with missiles hasn't gotten any more feasible.
Oh, you meant the missile defense stuff? Doesn't matter whether it works. It matters that a lot of money is going to go to defense contractors.
posted by Etrigan at 1:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Has this gotten any more feasible over the past decade or so?
No, the possibility of Iran or North Korea attacking the U.S. with missiles hasn't gotten any more feasible.
Oh, you meant the missile defense stuff? Doesn't matter whether it works. It matters that a lot of money is going to go to defense contractors.
posted by Etrigan at 1:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Many of the .gov websites regarding HIV/AIDS are up.
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:13 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:13 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump, Russia, and the News Story That Wasn’t
Every time you think the New York Times' coverage couldn't have been worse, more comes to light showing just how utterly irresponsible it was.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:14 PM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
Every time you think the New York Times' coverage couldn't have been worse, more comes to light showing just how utterly irresponsible it was.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:14 PM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
The Broadway Concert for America fundraiser is streaming live right now. I realize it's the same kind of thing that didn't, you know, get Clinton elected, but if you want to hear some great music, tune in and donate if you can. It's the first in a series of monthly concerts to support various civil rights, women's health, and environmental charities.
posted by zachlipton at 1:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
yo as a very disabled and not-yet elderly lady who will be protesting tomorrow, i query w/r/t the above pepper spray video, "WTF"
Deliberately and openly doing violence to those unable to fight back is part of how filth display dominance.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [26 favorites]
Deliberately and openly doing violence to those unable to fight back is part of how filth display dominance.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [26 favorites]
After considerable contemplation, I have settled on my coping strategy.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
posted by delfin at 1:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
posted by delfin at 1:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
Ugh, I just had a full-on freakout - hyperventilating, ugly crying, the works - over the phone at my poor mom when she asked how I'm doing ... all day long I've been depending on numbness to carry me through; I've been relying on my anxiety meds and trying to breathe and go easy on myself and do all the right self-care things ... I thought it was working, but I guess the cracks are beginning to show. I'm glad to have someone like my mom to listen and support me, but the feelings of helplessness are really overwhelming. I'm also getting overwhelmed by the people who say they sympathize with me, or who want to remind me that "so many people didn't vote for him," but who aren't fucking doing anything. It must be decent to be able to shake your head and chuckle over how "stupid" people are but not feel like you're personally at risk.
The inauguration of the president of the United States should not incite terror and despair like this. I don't even know what the fuck to do.
posted by DingoMutt at 1:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
The inauguration of the president of the United States should not incite terror and despair like this. I don't even know what the fuck to do.
posted by DingoMutt at 1:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
Jen Psaki, former White House Communications Director under Obama, on the Women's March:
My Facebook and Instagram feeds are already full of photos and anecdotes in anticipation of the march, of feminist quotes inviting others to join and photos of homemade pink cat hats and nasty women t-shirts. But I have a sinking feeling in my stomach about the march. Not because I am worried about the cold or the chaos. But because I worry it will give too many people license to congratulate themselves for their activism and move on with their daily lives.posted by zachlipton at 1:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [51 favorites]
...
The danger we face is allowing the march to make us feel better, to lull us into complacency. That is where the sinking feeling is coming from.
...
The march shouldn’t be a moment to rest and celebrate. It should be a warm up.
The Washington Post feed is currently juxtaposing jaunty military band music with footage of protestors setting a limo on fire and getting teargassed. Unfuckingbelievable.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 1:20 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by OverlappingElvis at 1:20 PM on January 20, 2017
A friend of mine just posted on Facebook that every rest area along I-95 is jammed with women and they are taking over the men's rooms and everyone seems to be cool with it.
posted by Etrigan at 1:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [83 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 1:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [83 favorites]
Cat hats?
posted by petebest at 1:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by petebest at 1:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
The march shouldn’t be a moment to rest and celebrate. It should be a warm up.
Actually, I need a rest. I am waking up at the crack of dawn to head down to Silver Springs because I am so tired of being afraid and angry and like the world is ending. I will do other stuff too, but please give me a starting point!
posted by armacy at 1:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Actually, I need a rest. I am waking up at the crack of dawn to head down to Silver Springs because I am so tired of being afraid and angry and like the world is ending. I will do other stuff too, but please give me a starting point!
posted by armacy at 1:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
@NatlParkService is retweeting pictures of the 2009-vs-2017 crowds. Think they might be running low on fucks.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 1:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [74 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 1:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [74 favorites]
Funny, my Facebook feed is full of people saying basically exactly this. WE KNOW EVERYONE THINKS THAT MARCHERS AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ELSE. We've been told. Repeatedly. By many people, publicly and privately. I anticipate that every single speaker at the rally tomorrow is going to also urge us to further work and resistance when we leave.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
i always mix up david frum the asshole with john frum, the cargo-cult diety
then again maybe there isnt that much difference
posted by entropicamericana at 7:33 AM on January 20
[4 favorites −] Favorite added! [Flagged]
The drop - down menu is not my friend! I meant 'fantastic comment!'
sciatrix I am sorry your blood family have been so horrible.
I am glad your friends have rendered aid.
We have a sister-march to the Women's March tomorrow, which I will be attending. I live in a red area.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 1:23 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
then again maybe there isnt that much difference
posted by entropicamericana at 7:33 AM on January 20
[4 favorites −] Favorite added! [Flagged]
The drop - down menu is not my friend! I meant 'fantastic comment!'
sciatrix I am sorry your blood family have been so horrible.
I am glad your friends have rendered aid.
We have a sister-march to the Women's March tomorrow, which I will be attending. I live in a red area.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 1:23 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Jesus fucking Christ, that pepper spray video. I feel like I've just been sucker-punched.
I'm not counting on the LAPD to be on their best behavior* tomorrow, either.
(*especially considering that bar is already astonishingly low)
posted by otenba at 1:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm not counting on the LAPD to be on their best behavior* tomorrow, either.
(*especially considering that bar is already astonishingly low)
posted by otenba at 1:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've been listening to my Politics and Protest Spotify playlist at work today. It feels appropriate.
posted by SisterHavana at 1:24 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by SisterHavana at 1:24 PM on January 20, 2017
Petition for Trump to release his tax returns currently the 3rd most visited government site.
posted by Coventry at 1:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 1:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [20 favorites]
Apparently alt-right dapper fascist Richard Spencer got socked in the jaw today, if all the people on twitter pleading for a video are to believed.
So there's that.
posted by maxsparber at 1:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
So there's that.
posted by maxsparber at 1:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
@NatlParkService is retweeting pictures of the 2009-vs-2017 crowds. Think they might be running low on fucks.
Below that they retweeted a tweet about he website being scrubbed.
I'm going with no fucks.
posted by Jalliah at 1:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
Below that they retweeted a tweet about he website being scrubbed.
I'm going with no fucks.
posted by Jalliah at 1:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
'We give it back to you... the people'
posted by PenDevil at 1:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 1:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
"Looters," "vandals," and "agents provocateur" set things on fire when protests are occurring.
They are not protestors. Protestors exercise their rights to free speech, peaceable assembly, and petition government for redress of grievances.
Protest is legal. Vandalism is not.
We cannot let the other side spin vandalism and crime as "Trump protestors."
posted by Cookiebastard at 1:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [31 favorites]
They are not protestors. Protestors exercise their rights to free speech, peaceable assembly, and petition government for redress of grievances.
Protest is legal. Vandalism is not.
We cannot let the other side spin vandalism and crime as "Trump protestors."
posted by Cookiebastard at 1:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [31 favorites]
/me is having a lot of resented feels about never getting ENDA passed.
And now it's probably too late.
posted by Annika Cicada at 1:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
And now it's probably too late.
posted by Annika Cicada at 1:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm glad to have someone like my mom to listen and support me, but the feelings of helplessness are really overwhelming.
My mom voted for Trump, as did almost everyone in my family. I don't have a lot of friends in real life that I'm comfortable talking about this stuff with either. (I mean I'm starting to talk about it even when I'm uncomfortable, but most of my friends are people I know from work... And a lot of the people I know who aren't work friends have been very much of the "both sides are terrible" variety.) I know I've alienated people in real life with my political freak outs already.
So MeFi is pretty much all I've got to help me cope with all this. Thanks, guys.
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [61 favorites]
My mom voted for Trump, as did almost everyone in my family. I don't have a lot of friends in real life that I'm comfortable talking about this stuff with either. (I mean I'm starting to talk about it even when I'm uncomfortable, but most of my friends are people I know from work... And a lot of the people I know who aren't work friends have been very much of the "both sides are terrible" variety.) I know I've alienated people in real life with my political freak outs already.
So MeFi is pretty much all I've got to help me cope with all this. Thanks, guys.
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [61 favorites]
Hey they're showing a car driving down the road. So inspiring.
posted by petebest at 1:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by petebest at 1:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Protestors are false flag. That's the only response. It's all the alt-right ever respond with when you show them what their deplorable squad is up to. And they are known to pay people to act badly. Any video of protestors = just type "false flag" and move on. We don't believe it's us, we disavow them, nice try Trumpites.
Even if it turns out any of them actually are progressives, I'm past believing it anymore. We live in a post-fact world and the only way to fight back is to pick the truth that works best for you and spread it thick. Do not wring your hands and call them our own. They're not.
Trump's people spent good money on those protestors so they could disrupt the Left and make us look bad. And may try to use it to revoke the permits for tomorrow. We have to say, loud and clear, "Sorry, we're not falling for that. It's a false flag" - burden's on them to prove it isn't.
That's how this works now.
posted by Mchelly at 1:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [59 favorites]
Even if it turns out any of them actually are progressives, I'm past believing it anymore. We live in a post-fact world and the only way to fight back is to pick the truth that works best for you and spread it thick. Do not wring your hands and call them our own. They're not.
Trump's people spent good money on those protestors so they could disrupt the Left and make us look bad. And may try to use it to revoke the permits for tomorrow. We have to say, loud and clear, "Sorry, we're not falling for that. It's a false flag" - burden's on them to prove it isn't.
That's how this works now.
posted by Mchelly at 1:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [59 favorites]
@NatlParkService is retweeting pictures of the 2009-vs-2017 crowds. Think they might be running low on fucks.
Well, the incoming congress just valued public lands at $0, which is prelude to selling them off (or granting them to the states, who will likely sell them off, because the states largely can't afford to maintain them) so I would expect NPS personnel to be righteously angry about their prospects.
posted by fedward at 1:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [40 favorites]
Well, the incoming congress just valued public lands at $0, which is prelude to selling them off (or granting them to the states, who will likely sell them off, because the states largely can't afford to maintain them) so I would expect NPS personnel to be righteously angry about their prospects.
posted by fedward at 1:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [40 favorites]
Ugh crap I think it just hit me. I was trying really hard to be in denial but this is our life now.
posted by Tarumba at 1:30 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Tarumba at 1:30 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I mean, I know several people whose form of protesting during the past week has been knitting adorable pink hats with kitty-ears and giving them away. No way do I lump fire-setting assholes in with them.
posted by Cookiebastard at 1:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 1:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Complaining about "violent" protestors is the respectability politics liberals can feel good about. Peaceful protestors will be beaten, disrespected, and treated as criminals regardless of whether property gets damaged, because the system is stacked against the left and in favor of every oppression. The police, media, and government do a million times more damage to peaceful protestors and peaceful protest than "violent" protestors could ever do.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [50 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [50 favorites]
That poor awkward child. I can't believe no one is keeping him company.
posted by slipthought at 1:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by slipthought at 1:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
is that shade? bc he did it quite deadpan.
I've been watching this feed all day and this has been happening all day. Was that shade? Am I reading something I want to be there? I don't who they commentators are but compared to others I've tried over the day they've been pretty good.
posted by Jalliah at 1:32 PM on January 20, 2017
T.D. Strange Trump, Russia, and the News Story That Wasn’t
As of now I'm full on rooting for the NYT to go fucking bankrupt. I'll cheer when they die and piss on their grave. "Paper of record" my ass. they're just another bunch of pro-Trump propagandists.
Now, long after the damage is done and they want to seem reasonable and sane, finally they say "hmmm, perhaps we should have let America know the truth about Trump instead of running yet another story about Clinton's email server, maybe there's some merit to this suggestion of publishing news instead of actively working to sabotage Democrats while shielding Republicans...."
What the actual fuck NYT? Really? Now you want to be all philosophic and muse about how perhaps, maybe, possibly, there's merit in this radical belief that a newspaper exists to publish news rather than protect powerful Republicans?
No. Just no. All that shit about how they desperately need our support to hang on and do "good"? BWAHAHAHAHAHAH. Not a chance motherfuckers.
Apparently their supposed journalistic standards only apply to stories harmful to Republicans, while any rumor, leak, or lie about Democrats is worthy of the front page without the slightest hesitation or consideration.
I'll not only never contribute a cent to the NYT, I'll spend time figuring out ways to cost them money just so I can say I had a hand in their demise.
The day the NYT goes bankrupt will be a great day for America.
posted by sotonohito at 1:34 PM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
As of now I'm full on rooting for the NYT to go fucking bankrupt. I'll cheer when they die and piss on their grave. "Paper of record" my ass. they're just another bunch of pro-Trump propagandists.
Now, long after the damage is done and they want to seem reasonable and sane, finally they say "hmmm, perhaps we should have let America know the truth about Trump instead of running yet another story about Clinton's email server, maybe there's some merit to this suggestion of publishing news instead of actively working to sabotage Democrats while shielding Republicans...."
What the actual fuck NYT? Really? Now you want to be all philosophic and muse about how perhaps, maybe, possibly, there's merit in this radical belief that a newspaper exists to publish news rather than protect powerful Republicans?
No. Just no. All that shit about how they desperately need our support to hang on and do "good"? BWAHAHAHAHAHAH. Not a chance motherfuckers.
Apparently their supposed journalistic standards only apply to stories harmful to Republicans, while any rumor, leak, or lie about Democrats is worthy of the front page without the slightest hesitation or consideration.
I'll not only never contribute a cent to the NYT, I'll spend time figuring out ways to cost them money just so I can say I had a hand in their demise.
The day the NYT goes bankrupt will be a great day for America.
posted by sotonohito at 1:34 PM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
It's gone all Falls Road in one part of K street front 13th to 14th, and some are throwing bricks at the police and the press. There's a burning limo. The provocateurs have been at work. Jebiga.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 1:35 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 1:35 PM on January 20, 2017
Billy Porter doing Edelweiss was way, way too on the nose for today. (Concert4America)
posted by zachlipton at 1:35 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:35 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Speaking of protestors, I know Tucker Carlson has a lot of unpleasant and harmful tendencies, but this interview by him, of a group claiming they were going to pay inauguration protestors, is hilarious.
posted by Coventry at 1:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 1:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Does the women's march have security? It's suddenly occurs to me that because this is a group of people who aren't usually protesting, they may not have set up some of the usual protections. Anyone know if there are scouts? Dammit, I wish I was there right now. stay safe, everyone. Don't count on the cops to protect you.
posted by corb at 1:38 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by corb at 1:38 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Yep as I said above the only good thing I can say about today is that I like Melania's outfit.
posted by Jalliah at 1:38 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
the only good thing I can say about today is that I like Melania's outfit.
Barron entertaining the baby was pretty cute.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Barron entertaining the baby was pretty cute.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Meanwhile, Anonymous seems to have an objective. Oh please oh please oh please please please
posted by yoga at 1:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by yoga at 1:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I think I'm going to go eat my kitchen plates.
posted by petebest at 1:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by petebest at 1:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Barron entertaining the baby was pretty cute.
Oh yes. 2 things!
posted by Jalliah at 1:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh yes. 2 things!
posted by Jalliah at 1:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
WTF re: the DC police.
I'm writing my councilmember. Our police are usually better than this.
The District of Columbia is unambiguously (and often vocally) aligned with the protesters in this situation. We should be protecting them; not attacking them.
posted by schmod at 1:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm writing my councilmember. Our police are usually better than this.
The District of Columbia is unambiguously (and often vocally) aligned with the protesters in this situation. We should be protecting them; not attacking them.
posted by schmod at 1:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
And on the day El Donald officially leaves NYC, who arrives? El Chapo, coincidence?
posted by sammyo at 1:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by sammyo at 1:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
er, where's Trump going (WaPo feed)? He didn't go to the reviewing stand as would be expected.
posted by zachlipton at 1:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 1:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Systematic purging of #LGBT- & #HIV-related material from government websites continues. This time, it's @USDOL.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Meanwhile, Anonymous seems to have an objective. Oh please oh please oh please please please
'Anonymous' isn't really anything. The whole point is that anyone can claim to speak for 'Anonymous'. In practice there's a large overlap with the same people that make up the alt-right/4chan/Russian troll army.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
'Anonymous' isn't really anything. The whole point is that anyone can claim to speak for 'Anonymous'. In practice there's a large overlap with the same people that make up the alt-right/4chan/Russian troll army.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Oh, hey, fuck this guy.
He's the goddamn Fox Mulder of the Clintons. He must have a poster in his office that has a picture of Hillary and Bill holding bloody steak knives that says "I WANT TO BELIEVE"
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
He's the goddamn Fox Mulder of the Clintons. He must have a poster in his office that has a picture of Hillary and Bill holding bloody steak knives that says "I WANT TO BELIEVE"
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Meanwhile, Anonymous seems to have an objective. Oh please oh please oh please please please
I've been wondering where those guys have been for the past seven or eight months. It sounded like they were going to release stuff last summer and then there was just . . . nothing.
posted by dinty_moore at 1:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've been wondering where those guys have been for the past seven or eight months. It sounded like they were going to release stuff last summer and then there was just . . . nothing.
posted by dinty_moore at 1:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
If I've learned anything about today, it's that I really could have used those drugs from my wisdom teeth extraction.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
And on the day El Donald officially leaves NYC, who arrives? El Chapo, coincidence?
He was sent back yesterday. They said it was a present for Obama.
posted by Jalliah at 1:43 PM on January 20, 2017
He was sent back yesterday. They said it was a present for Obama.
posted by Jalliah at 1:43 PM on January 20, 2017
Our police are usually better than this.
I mean. To you, being polite and normal on the metro or side walk. I've worked a couple police force cases as an intern several years ago. Police are police everywhere, DC isn't an exception. Especially not when there's destruction of property going on. They're going to do what police are trained to do.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I mean. To you, being polite and normal on the metro or side walk. I've worked a couple police force cases as an intern several years ago. Police are police everywhere, DC isn't an exception. Especially not when there's destruction of property going on. They're going to do what police are trained to do.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Newt Gingrich wants to fire federal employees who voted for Clinton
Offering perhaps the most nakedly political argument for firing federal employees, Gingrich said, “all those bureaucrats overwhelmingly voted for Clinton. There won’t be any real cooperation until we change federal law so we can fire them.”
posted by futz at 1:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [69 favorites]
Offering perhaps the most nakedly political argument for firing federal employees, Gingrich said, “all those bureaucrats overwhelmingly voted for Clinton. There won’t be any real cooperation until we change federal law so we can fire them.”
posted by futz at 1:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [69 favorites]
I'm writing my councilmember. Our police are usually better than this.
There's a good chance they weren't your police. They bring in spares from departments all over the country for this sort of thing. It's one of the reasons why large protests can go south so quickly and weirdly--cops who have no local accountability, and see it as a free ticket to just fuck some people up.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
Every time I see the resemblance to their dad in one of Trump's kids' faces I want to punch them.
Yes, including Barron.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Yes, including Barron.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
I think I just achieved full bias,
Trump was randomly clapping on the WaPo feed and my inner dialogue went ugh look at that piece of shit clapping like a piece of shit he can't even clap right
posted by Tarumba at 1:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [55 favorites]
Trump was randomly clapping on the WaPo feed and my inner dialogue went ugh look at that piece of shit clapping like a piece of shit he can't even clap right
posted by Tarumba at 1:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [55 favorites]
The only thing holding me together is knowing that tomorrow, I'm going to see a crap ton of people who will not stand for this shit get together and be awesome. Getting hear Elizabeth Warren is a bonus.
posted by smirkette at 1:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by smirkette at 1:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
I was able to sign the petitions, after I whitelisted the site, but haven't gotten my e-mail address confirmation thingies yet.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
why do the secret service gusy hold their lapels instead of hands at sides?
posted by sio42 at 4:44 PM on January 20
easy access to weapons (hands ready)
posted by ShawnString at 1:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by sio42 at 4:44 PM on January 20
easy access to weapons (hands ready)
posted by ShawnString at 1:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Trump is everyone's bitch eating crackers.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
why do the secret service gusy hold their lapels instead of hands at sides?
Think about where you'd keep a weapon and how far you'd have to move your hands to get there quickly if you needed to. It's standard practice for Secret Service to hold their hands closer to their chests instead of at their sides. It's the kind of thing you can't stop noticing once you know about it.
posted by zachlipton at 1:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Think about where you'd keep a weapon and how far you'd have to move your hands to get there quickly if you needed to. It's standard practice for Secret Service to hold their hands closer to their chests instead of at their sides. It's the kind of thing you can't stop noticing once you know about it.
posted by zachlipton at 1:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
why do the secret service gusy hold their lapels instead of hands at sides?
It's the "hands ready" position. There's a lot of weird sites showing up in search results, so I'm not going to link to anything, but Google can tell you more.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 1:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's the "hands ready" position. There's a lot of weird sites showing up in search results, so I'm not going to link to anything, but Google can tell you more.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 1:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
smirkette I'm envious that you guys get to hear Warren and Steinem!!!
posted by yoga at 1:48 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by yoga at 1:48 PM on January 20, 2017
BBC has an interactive comparison of 2017 v 2009
posted by slipthought at 1:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by slipthought at 1:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
A few weeks ago, the DOL Women's Bureau posted a ZIP file containing their entire library of online resources for women in the labor force. It's certainly important and enlightening information, but something tells me the incoming administration is probably not going to want to have a hand in publicizing issues like equal pay and the unique challenges faced by girls and women of color.
So if you have some free hard drive space, try to grab a copy while it's still there, OK? The download link is available on their Resources page.
posted by amnesia and magnets at 1:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
So if you have some free hard drive space, try to grab a copy while it's still there, OK? The download link is available on their Resources page.
posted by amnesia and magnets at 1:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
FUCK.
did i already say that?
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 1:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
did i already say that?
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 1:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Department of Labor: Advancing LGBT Workplace Rights report (now links to nothing)
It was apparently selectively deleted, as the LGBT landing page is still there.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
It was apparently selectively deleted, as the LGBT landing page is still there.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
lolz. Lewandowski Stopped From Joining Trump at Inauguration. He was unable to produce the right credentials and was denied entry, but this detail:
posted by zachlipton at 1:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
Capitol Police asked Lewandowski if he was a member of “staff,” to which he responded, “I’m Mr. Trump’s campaign manager.”Doesn't he know he got fired? Like six months ago.
posted by zachlipton at 1:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
So if you have some free hard drive space, try to grab a copy while it's still there, OK? The download link is available on their Resources page.
It's also on archive.org
posted by Coventry at 1:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's also on archive.org
posted by Coventry at 1:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
The new First Lady's bio page hawks her products, available now on QVC.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 1:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
BBC has an interactive comparison of 2017 v 2009
The Make America Kittens Again extension does amazing things to that.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
The Make America Kittens Again extension does amazing things to that.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
That Liz Spayd editorial in the NYT pisses me off too, in exactly that same distinct NYT way of pissing you off that we've all felt before. But. I hope every news organization out there is reading between the lines on this thing:
This part of the original reporting on that server has never been explained away in any way that made sense to me:
One vein of reporting centered on a possible channel of communication between Trump’s organization and a Russian bank with ties to Vladimir Putin....because to me that looks like the supposed "email marketing" server communicating with Alfa Bank is back in play. The NYT themselves downplayed it, and now Liz Spayd is saying they probably shouldn't have.
[...]
But The Times knew several critical facts: the F.B.I. had a significant and sophisticated investigation underway on Trump, possibly including FISA warrants. (Some news outlets now report that the F.B.I. did indeed have such warrants, an indication of probable cause.) Investigators had identified a mysterious communication channel.
At one point, the F.B.I. was so serious about its investigation into the server that it asked The Times to delay publication.
[...]
On the computer server, once the F.B.I. signaled it had grown wary of its importance — without explaining why — the paper backed off.
This part of the original reporting on that server has never been explained away in any way that made sense to me:
The Times hadn’t yet been in touch with the Trump campaign—Lichtblau spoke with the campaign a week later—but shortly after it reached out to Alfa, the Trump domain name in question seemed to suddenly stop working. When the scientists looked up the host, the DNS server returned a fail message, evidence that it no longer functioned. Or as it is technically diagnosed, it had “SERVFAILed.” (On the timeline above, this is the moment at the end of the chronology when the traffic abruptly spikes, as servers frantically attempt to resend rejected messages.) The computer scientists believe there was one logical conclusion to be drawn: The Trump Organization shut down the server after Alfa was told that the Times might expose the connection. Weaver told me the Trump domain was “very sloppily removed.” Or as another of the researchers put it, it looked like “the knee was hit in Moscow, the leg kicked in New York.”posted by jason_steakums at 1:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
Four days later, on Sept. 27, the Trump Organization created a new host name, trump1.contact-client.com, which enabled communication to the very same server via a different route. When a new host name is created, the first communication with it is never random. To reach the server after the resetting of the host name, the sender of the first inbound mail has to first learn of the name somehow. It’s simply impossible to randomly reach a renamed server. “That party had to have some kind of outbound message through SMS, phone, or some noninternet channel they used to communicate [the new configuration],” Paul Vixie told me. The first attempt to look up the revised host name came from Alfa Bank. “If this was a public server, we would have seen other traces,” Vixie says. “The only look-ups came from this particular source.”
Uh. The stands by the viewing stand and White House aren't even full.
posted by Jalliah at 1:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
White House website promotes Melania Trump’s modeling and jewelry line
-- Visitors to the newly revamped White House website get more than a simple rundown of first lady Melania Trump’s charitable works and interests — they also get a list of her magazine cover appearances and details on her jewelry line at QVC.
-- That’s when the brief backgrounder takes a promotional turn. The website includes a lengthy list of brands that hired her as a model and several of the magazines in which she appeared, including the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
-- It is not uncommon for the White House to note the accomplishments of the first lady in her official biography, but Trump’s decision to include a detailed list of her media appearances is unusual.
The site also lists the brand names of Trump’s jewelry lines sold on QVC, at a time when questions have been raised by critics about the ethical implications of the family’s business entanglements.
bletch
posted by futz at 1:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
-- Visitors to the newly revamped White House website get more than a simple rundown of first lady Melania Trump’s charitable works and interests — they also get a list of her magazine cover appearances and details on her jewelry line at QVC.
-- That’s when the brief backgrounder takes a promotional turn. The website includes a lengthy list of brands that hired her as a model and several of the magazines in which she appeared, including the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
-- It is not uncommon for the White House to note the accomplishments of the first lady in her official biography, but Trump’s decision to include a detailed list of her media appearances is unusual.
The site also lists the brand names of Trump’s jewelry lines sold on QVC, at a time when questions have been raised by critics about the ethical implications of the family’s business entanglements.
bletch
posted by futz at 1:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
I'm not even sure that the WaPo live update headlines even count as "shade" at this point. I think they've moved to open snark.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's time to form a new government.
posted by Annika Cicada at 1:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Annika Cicada at 1:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
This made me cry: Flights Packed With Women’s March Participants Are Cheering All The Way To DC
posted by Room 641-A at 1:58 PM on January 20, 2017 [59 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 1:58 PM on January 20, 2017 [59 favorites]
Parade is running late. CBS remarked on it.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 1:59 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 1:59 PM on January 20, 2017
Offering perhaps the most nakedly political argument for firing federal employees, Gingrich said, “all those bureaucrats overwhelmingly voted for Clinton. There won’t be any real cooperation until we change federal law so we can fire them.”
Yes, yes, let's fire the people who keep everything running smoothly in a clear violation of their protected first amendment rights. What could possibly go wrong?
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [31 favorites]
Yes, yes, let's fire the people who keep everything running smoothly in a clear violation of their protected first amendment rights. What could possibly go wrong?
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [31 favorites]
This list of words exclusive to Trump's inaugural "address":
bleed, carnage, stolen, urban, tombstones, and sad
reads like a prompt for a "Supernatural" fanfic.
posted by allthinky at 1:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
bleed, carnage, stolen, urban, tombstones, and sad
reads like a prompt for a "Supernatural" fanfic.
posted by allthinky at 1:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
WaPo commenting on "lots of empty seats near the white house"
Sad parade, or saddest parade?
posted by petebest at 2:00 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Sad parade, or saddest parade?
posted by petebest at 2:00 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
This is far too real for me right now. Stay safe, USians. We're thinking of you.
posted by LMGM at 2:01 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by LMGM at 2:01 PM on January 20, 2017
More importantly, in the pepper-spray video, what's good is seeing all the folks who flock around to protect the folks getting targeted. Like Mr. Rogers always said... look for the helpers.
posted by allthinky at 2:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by allthinky at 2:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
The bigly most saddest parade .
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Pete Souza's last official picture of Obama, looking out of the window of the departing Executive One helicopter, down at the White House.
It's captioned simply, "Farewell."
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [50 favorites]
It's captioned simply, "Farewell."
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [50 favorites]
‘Worst parade ever’ says Trump supporter
By the time Trump reached the front of his hotel – where protesters were across the street – he was back in the limo and with the gloomy lighting of a winter afternoon, few could tell which limo the president was in.
“Was that him?” Asked a man from Tennessee at the western edge of the hotel, near 12th St NW.
There was hardly any applause as the president passed for a block.
The announcement minutes later, that Trump had reached Freedom Plaza, was the only confirmation.
“Worst parade ever,” said another in a Make America Great hat. “I waited three hours for that?”
posted by Jalliah at 2:02 PM on January 20, 2017 [54 favorites]
That picture of Obama brought tears to my eyes. I thought I'd be okay-ish today, and I'm not.
posted by dinty_moore at 2:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by dinty_moore at 2:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
T.D. Strange: Donald Trump’s New Twitter Background Is a Photo From the Inauguration of Barack Obama
He's going to be appropriating Obama's accomplishments from minute one
To be honest, I'd be fucking thrilled if _rump just ran around pretending to be Obama, but you know, white. Which is what so many of his supporters seem to care about in the end.
But that's not going to happen. Still, every time _rump claims that something that is going well is his and not a legacy of Obama, I'll find some happiness that he hasn't tried to overturn everything that Obama did.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
He's going to be appropriating Obama's accomplishments from minute one
To be honest, I'd be fucking thrilled if _rump just ran around pretending to be Obama, but you know, white. Which is what so many of his supporters seem to care about in the end.
But that's not going to happen. Still, every time _rump claims that something that is going well is his and not a legacy of Obama, I'll find some happiness that he hasn't tried to overturn everything that Obama did.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
‘Worst parade ever’ says Trump supporter
Was it the Comic Book guy from the Simpsons?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Was it the Comic Book guy from the Simpsons?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
From Trump's official bio:
posted by zachlipton at 2:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
Mr. Trump announced his candidacy on June 16, 2015, and after seventeen Republican contenders suspended their campaigns, he accepted the Republican nomination for President of the United States in July of 2016. Mr. Trump won the election on November 8 of 2016 in the largest electoral college landslide for a Republican in 28 years. He won over 2,600 counties nationwide, the most since President Reagan in 1984. Additionally, he won over 62 million votes in the popular vote, the highest all-time for a Republican nominee. He also won 306 electoral votes, the most for a Republican since George H.W. Bush in 1988.Besides this being outright pathological and glossing over the bit where millions more people voted against him than for him, he's bragging about winning the most electoral votes for a Republican since George H.W. Bush. There's only been one other Republican who won the Presidency (twice...) since then! He's boasting that he came in #1 in a two man race.
posted by zachlipton at 2:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [38 favorites]
Believe it or not, this will happen anyway, with or without broken windows.
I do not think that this is true at all. The media will run with whatever the sexiest footage/photo/story is. If that's photogenic people in a drum circle or holding signs, that'll be the image on TV. If it's people in black balaclavas setting cars on fire while riot police throw flashbangs, that'll definitely win, though.
Doesn't seem especially productive, except insofar as every time anyone runs footage of the Trump inauguration, they'll probably counterpoint the footage of his speech with the footage of a burning car. I think that probably does more to advance his "America is in chaos" rhetoric than it does to discredit him, though.
On a scale beyond individual protests, though, and as a more general point: if you abandon nonviolence as a principle and take the gloves off, you had better be really fucking sure you can win the subsequent no-holds-barred fight. Because suddenly you're not going to have that asymmetric advantage which makes nonviolent protests so effective, in that the state is constrained from using unlimited violence against them because it delegitimizes the state if it does so. Once you jump the fence, you're going to get called a "terrorist" pretty quickly, and then the state can let its security apparatus off the leash without much of a legitimacy hit.
posted by Kadin2048 at 2:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I do not think that this is true at all. The media will run with whatever the sexiest footage/photo/story is. If that's photogenic people in a drum circle or holding signs, that'll be the image on TV. If it's people in black balaclavas setting cars on fire while riot police throw flashbangs, that'll definitely win, though.
Doesn't seem especially productive, except insofar as every time anyone runs footage of the Trump inauguration, they'll probably counterpoint the footage of his speech with the footage of a burning car. I think that probably does more to advance his "America is in chaos" rhetoric than it does to discredit him, though.
On a scale beyond individual protests, though, and as a more general point: if you abandon nonviolence as a principle and take the gloves off, you had better be really fucking sure you can win the subsequent no-holds-barred fight. Because suddenly you're not going to have that asymmetric advantage which makes nonviolent protests so effective, in that the state is constrained from using unlimited violence against them because it delegitimizes the state if it does so. Once you jump the fence, you're going to get called a "terrorist" pretty quickly, and then the state can let its security apparatus off the leash without much of a legitimacy hit.
posted by Kadin2048 at 2:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
It's time to form a new government.
oops you spelled vanguard party wrong
posted by poffin boffin at 2:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
oops you spelled vanguard party wrong
posted by poffin boffin at 2:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
That parade is a threadbare combover
posted by stonepharisee at 2:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 2:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
As far as we know, Donald Trump is constitutionally the President of the United States. I am by birth legally a citizen of the United States. Therefore, both constitutionally and legally Donald Trump is my president. And that is as far as it's ever fucking going to go...
posted by jim in austin at 2:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by jim in austin at 2:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I think I've had enough wine. I just read my last post, didn't realize it was mine and favoured it.
posted by Jalliah at 2:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [124 favorites]
The new First Lady's bio page hawks her products, available now on QVC.
I've always been a vote with your wallet type, but now I'm going to have to get more serious.
http://grab-your-wallet.com/
posted by bongo_x at 2:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've always been a vote with your wallet type, but now I'm going to have to get more serious.
http://grab-your-wallet.com/
posted by bongo_x at 2:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I love that Obama's tweet was been retweeted 95,000+ times in the hour since it was published, which is considerably more than any of Trump's in the last week.
You just know that drives him fucking insane and there is fuck all he can do about it.
posted by jontyjago at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
You just know that drives him fucking insane and there is fuck all he can do about it.
posted by jontyjago at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
So excited by those Southwest attendants, but am now worried that they'll get fired or doxxed, because that's the world we live in.
posted by corb at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by corb at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
If I can get through today without a cigarette, then I have truly quit.
Ha. Yeah. Yesterday I had something traumatic happen (it involved animal harm) and I was shaking so hard I was really glad my husband had left a pack of cigarettes in the house. I smoked a whole one and it was amazing how much it calmed me down even though I've been quit for a decade. The fact that I don't feel the need for a cigarette today is reassuring in the face of that.
posted by threeturtles at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Ha. Yeah. Yesterday I had something traumatic happen (it involved animal harm) and I was shaking so hard I was really glad my husband had left a pack of cigarettes in the house. I smoked a whole one and it was amazing how much it calmed me down even though I've been quit for a decade. The fact that I don't feel the need for a cigarette today is reassuring in the face of that.
posted by threeturtles at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
“Worst parade ever,” said another in a Make America Great hat. “I waited three hours for that?”
The string of disappointments starts small, but will continue for four years.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [41 favorites]
The string of disappointments starts small, but will continue for four years.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [41 favorites]
futz: White House website promotes Melania Trump’s modeling and jewelry line
...
bletch
Discomfort is one thing, but I really care about the legality of this. And how it tarnishes all of the United States, as if the whole country was a backdrop for low-quality, foreign-made good hawked on TV.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [31 favorites]
...
bletch
Discomfort is one thing, but I really care about the legality of this. And how it tarnishes all of the United States, as if the whole country was a backdrop for low-quality, foreign-made good hawked on TV.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [31 favorites]
This the part where Andy Kaufman reveals himself, right? I mean, I'm no performance art critic but this has been the longest buildup ever.
posted by petebest at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by petebest at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
“Worst parade ever,” said another in a Make America Great hat. “I waited three hours for that?”
img src="nelsonmuntzhaha.gif"
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
img src="nelsonmuntzhaha.gif"
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
‘Worst parade ever’ says Trump supporter
Needs more tanks.
posted by jontyjago at 2:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Needs more tanks.
posted by jontyjago at 2:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Tractor-ish dune buggies? Can the monster trucks be far behind?
posted by carmicha at 2:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by carmicha at 2:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
What the shit
Tractors?
what
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Tractors?
what
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Tractor is good for production, comrade.
posted by valkane at 2:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by valkane at 2:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
To paraphrase the late Harold Ramis, this looks extraordinarily bad. States are complex things, and they need moral authority—and moral legitimacy—in order to function. This administration looks to have neither, right from the get go. I see acts of protest and defiance, relatively small-scale to begin with, escalating into widespread civil unrest, especially if protests are met with heavy-handed force. Opponents of the regime will cheer to start with, then become more and more alarmed as things start to spiral out of control. An overmatched and illegitimate state police apparatus will encourage opportunistic crime, then widespread non-compliance and civil disobedience. Cities and campuses will burn.
As we live now in a global monoculture united by the sinews of social media and Facebook Live, I expect the same things to start happening in London and Paris by summer. We will see a worldwide late-'60s style irruption, but bigger and more prolonged, with little chance of rebuilding and consolidation afterwards. The liberal, city-based cosmopolitanism we have grown used to over the last two decades will no longer be sustainable. Civil policing will become less and less distinguishable from military occupation. Everywhere.
I haven't felt this bleak about our shared futures, well ... ever.
posted by Sonny Jim at 2:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
As we live now in a global monoculture united by the sinews of social media and Facebook Live, I expect the same things to start happening in London and Paris by summer. We will see a worldwide late-'60s style irruption, but bigger and more prolonged, with little chance of rebuilding and consolidation afterwards. The liberal, city-based cosmopolitanism we have grown used to over the last two decades will no longer be sustainable. Civil policing will become less and less distinguishable from military occupation. Everywhere.
I haven't felt this bleak about our shared futures, well ... ever.
posted by Sonny Jim at 2:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
Gen. Kelly and James Mattis just confirmed. So I think that's 2/28 of named nominees. Still 600 some-odd to go.
posted by birdheist at 2:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by birdheist at 2:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Mattis confirmed as SoD.
posted by petebest at 2:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by petebest at 2:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
So the explanation for the small crowds that Trump supporters seem to be pushing is that people are running all around Washington and rioting so people didn't show up because they were scared.
posted by Jalliah at 2:14 PM on January 20, 2017
on the upside I scored rush tickets to Wait Wait tonight so maybe I'll get to hear Tom Bodett say Fuck
posted by theodolite at 2:14 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 2:14 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Weirdly, instead of despair, I'm feeling invigorated today. I think over the past couple months since the election, I wrung out every last ounce of worry and fear I had about what's to come. I can't do that anymore. No matter what happens, we can't get bogged down in anxiety and helplessness. We need to focus on the resistance.
posted by downtohisturtles at 2:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by downtohisturtles at 2:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
WaPo commenters talking a LOT about the protesters who are trying to stop other protestors from doing violent shit. Definitely appreciate that.
posted by telepanda at 2:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by telepanda at 2:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
bogged down in anxiety and helplessness
I can't actually see the anxiety and helplessness through the rage. So. Much. Rage.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I can't actually see the anxiety and helplessness through the rage. So. Much. Rage.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
You scored Rush tickets? Dude I didn't think they were even touring anymore, sweet.
*tongue-out air Spirit of Radio*
posted by petebest at 2:17 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
*tongue-out air Spirit of Radio*
posted by petebest at 2:17 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
the wapo live feed was honestly pretty awesome
Yeah it has been. I'm glad I found it first thing.
posted by Jalliah at 2:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yeah it has been. I'm glad I found it first thing.
posted by Jalliah at 2:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
futz: Newt Gingrich wants to fire federal employees who voted for Clinton
That's funny, they want to fire him, too. Out of a cannon, preferably. Into space would also work.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [35 favorites]
That's funny, they want to fire him, too. Out of a cannon, preferably. Into space would also work.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [35 favorites]
Opponents of the regime will cheer to start with, then become more and more alarmed as things start to spiral out of control. An overmatched and illegitimate state police apparatus will encourage opportunistic crime, then widespread non-compliance and civil disobedience. Cities and campuses will burn.
That's a fairly realistic worst case scenario.
But what makes you think the Republican congress has the guts to withstand all of that without turning on him? Trump called Cruz's wife ugly and threatened to "spill the beans on her." (I still wonder if the latter isn't partly why Cruz caved, eventually...) He said McCain wasn't a hero because he got caught. He called Rubio "Li'l Marco". He said Ryan "didn't know how to win."
These guys don't like him. They would much prefer President Pence. Once his approval rating falls low enough that they don't imperil there own chances of re-election by going after him, he's gone.
And President Pence is not good news either, but we survived Bush Jr, goddamnit.
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
That's a fairly realistic worst case scenario.
But what makes you think the Republican congress has the guts to withstand all of that without turning on him? Trump called Cruz's wife ugly and threatened to "spill the beans on her." (I still wonder if the latter isn't partly why Cruz caved, eventually...) He said McCain wasn't a hero because he got caught. He called Rubio "Li'l Marco". He said Ryan "didn't know how to win."
These guys don't like him. They would much prefer President Pence. Once his approval rating falls low enough that they don't imperil there own chances of re-election by going after him, he's gone.
And President Pence is not good news either, but we survived Bush Jr, goddamnit.
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Trump just picked John Gore, lawyer who defended NC's anti-trans #HB2 in court, to run DOJ's Civil Rights Division. That didn't take long.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:20 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:20 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Into space would also work.
if you told him he was going to the moon he'd get in the cannon willingly
posted by poffin boffin at 2:20 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
if you told him he was going to the moon he'd get in the cannon willingly
posted by poffin boffin at 2:20 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
When Biden pulled into the Wilmington train station, the conductor made sure to announce its full name to cheers. Hundreds of supporters turned out to welcome the Bidens with signs and flowers as tubas blared patriotic tunes
The last time that Joe Biden was a private citizen was 1972.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:20 PM on January 20, 2017 [134 favorites]
The last time that Joe Biden was a private citizen was 1972.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:20 PM on January 20, 2017 [134 favorites]
At this point I'd **GLADLY** take President Pence over President Trump. Pence would be awful, but he'd be awful in a way that doesn't threaten the very fabric of the country.
posted by sotonohito at 2:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by sotonohito at 2:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
These guys don't like him. They would much prefer President Pence. Once his approval rating falls low enough that they don't imperil there own chances of re-election by going after him, he's gone.
Republicans didn't do anything to fight Trump when he was eminently fightable in the primaries. They're spineless turds and will do nothing.
posted by selfnoise at 2:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [33 favorites]
Republicans didn't do anything to fight Trump when he was eminently fightable in the primaries. They're spineless turds and will do nothing.
posted by selfnoise at 2:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [33 favorites]
Is it weird that I've felt like crying all day, directly because of the inauguration? I'm not usually a cry-er.
posted by XtinaS at 4:05 PM on January 20 [5 favorites +] [!]
Not weird at all. I have been crying on and off all day. I'm so very upset. It's okay to cry and feel however we feel.
posted by FireFountain at 2:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by XtinaS at 4:05 PM on January 20 [5 favorites +] [!]
Not weird at all. I have been crying on and off all day. I'm so very upset. It's okay to cry and feel however we feel.
posted by FireFountain at 2:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
wow they walked in right by barron and didn't even touch him on the shoulder or smile at him.
what the fuck.
I was just going to say. He has yet to even acknowledge him. Poor, poor kid. Gah.
posted by Jalliah at 2:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
what the fuck.
I was just going to say. He has yet to even acknowledge him. Poor, poor kid. Gah.
posted by Jalliah at 2:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Trump has some kind of personality disorder. He's not going anywhere. Destructive drama is his purpose in life.
posted by Annika Cicada at 2:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Annika Cicada at 2:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
At this point I'd **GLADLY** take President Pence over President Trump. Pence would be awful, but he'd be awful in a way that doesn't threaten the very fabric of the country.
Pence is not out there saying: "torture works" "you have to take out their families" "Bomb the shit out of them" and "take the oil" He is not openly nostalgic for the good old days when political protesters were "carried out on a stretcher". He's not saying Saudi Arabia needs to get their own nuclear weapons.
So yeah, I'd prefer President Pence. And I'm pretty sure Paul Ryan would too.
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Pence is not out there saying: "torture works" "you have to take out their families" "Bomb the shit out of them" and "take the oil" He is not openly nostalgic for the good old days when political protesters were "carried out on a stretcher". He's not saying Saudi Arabia needs to get their own nuclear weapons.
So yeah, I'd prefer President Pence. And I'm pretty sure Paul Ryan would too.
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Years ago, I saw a live Wait Wait taping in Berkeley. They had a news item that started with the phrase "Senator Rick Santorum." And this being Berkeley, the audience booed pretty uproariously. And since NPR couldn't air like that, they did it again. And the audience booed again. It took a good five takes or so before they had something they could use.
Anyway I hope something like that happens for you tonight, theodolite.
posted by zachlipton at 2:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Anyway I hope something like that happens for you tonight, theodolite.
posted by zachlipton at 2:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
wow they walked in right by barron and didn't even touch him on the shoulder or smile at him.
If, as speculated, Barron has some special needs, perhaps they are treating him as he wishes.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
If, as speculated, Barron has some special needs, perhaps they are treating him as he wishes.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Whoever recommended listening to Pink Floyd's album Animals, thank you, you've saved a sanity today.
posted by XtinaS at 2:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by XtinaS at 2:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Pete Souza's last official picture of Obama, looking out of the window of the departing Executive One helicopter, down at the White House.
Just as we were lucky to have Obama for the last 8 years, we were also lucky to have Pete Souza document those years. Amazing photographer.
posted by chris24 at 2:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
Just as we were lucky to have Obama for the last 8 years, we were also lucky to have Pete Souza document those years. Amazing photographer.
posted by chris24 at 2:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
They're spineless turds and will do nothing.
They're spiteful turds who would gut their own mothers for a buck and never, ever forget an insult. They will bury Trump first chance they get, but it will be too late for America. The weasels are already in the barn.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
They're spiteful turds who would gut their own mothers for a buck and never, ever forget an insult. They will bury Trump first chance they get, but it will be too late for America. The weasels are already in the barn.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Republicans didn't do anything to fight Trump when he was eminently fightable in the primaries.
He wasn't as "eminently fightable" as you would think for the GOP. They couldn't go after him in ways that would undercut their base, which crippled them.
posted by NoxAeternum at 2:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
He wasn't as "eminently fightable" as you would think for the GOP. They couldn't go after him in ways that would undercut their base, which crippled them.
posted by NoxAeternum at 2:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
wow they walked in right by barron and didn't even touch him on the shoulder or smile at him.
Barron has not yet slain a mighty beast of the plain and proven his ability to Win. When that day comes his father will reward him with eye contact and a firm hand on his shoulder and acknowledge him as his legitimate offspring.
Many elephant tails did the wretched Eric have to lay before his father's feet before his long-sought acknowledgement came! But Eric had his day at last, and Barron will too, if the LORD wills it.
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
Barron has not yet slain a mighty beast of the plain and proven his ability to Win. When that day comes his father will reward him with eye contact and a firm hand on his shoulder and acknowledge him as his legitimate offspring.
Many elephant tails did the wretched Eric have to lay before his father's feet before his long-sought acknowledgement came! But Eric had his day at last, and Barron will too, if the LORD wills it.
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
The new First Lady's bio page hawks her products, available now on QVC.
No, no that's the thing! As anyone else interested in the world of TV shopping could tell you, Melania's entire web presence was scrubbed last summer and there is still no mention of her on QVC and melaniattrump.com redirects to Trump.com. If I recall, it was because all her pieces were made in China.
So when the official bio says:
posted by Room 641-A at 2:27 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
No, no that's the thing! As anyone else interested in the world of TV shopping could tell you, Melania's entire web presence was scrubbed last summer and there is still no mention of her on QVC and melaniattrump.com redirects to Trump.com. If I recall, it was because all her pieces were made in China.
So when the official bio says:
Melania is also a successful entrepreneur. In April 2010, Melania Trump launched her own jewelry collection, ‘Melania™ Timepieces & Jewelry,’ on QVC,” the site reads.I think, You're not wrong, Walter, and remind myself that there is nothing about this family that isn't based on, or wrapped in, lies.
posted by Room 641-A at 2:27 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Pence is entirely predictable. I hate him but I can create a cohesive argument before the new cycle changes.
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I turned on the TV and the headlines was "President Trump watches..."
Oh god its happening.
posted by Justinian at 2:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh god its happening.
posted by Justinian at 2:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
What the actual fuck, I just saw an ad on the Pittsburgh NBC affiliate advertising a visit from Rudy Giuliani being hosted by a local retirement community.
posted by miratime at 2:30 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by miratime at 2:30 PM on January 20, 2017
If, as speculated, Barron has some special needs, perhaps they are treating him as he wishes.
i mean? in what fantasy world would any member of that family care about someone with special needs?
posted by poffin boffin at 2:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
i mean? in what fantasy world would any member of that family care about someone with special needs?
posted by poffin boffin at 2:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Make sure you read to end. I do think WaPo is full on dead pan snark right now.
Trump supporter to protesters: ‘I’ll whoop every one of you all’
President Trump remained in his limousine as it slowly drove along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of Trump International Hotel, where throngs of protesters had been shouting chants against the president for about 20 minutes. A chorus of boos greeted the president as his vehicle passed.
Minutes later, with the crowd mostly dispersed and a largely pro-Trump contingent remaining, Vice President Pence walked the same block to a mix of cheers and taunts, with some yelling, “Shame, shame, shame.”
Pence entered his limousine shortly after passing the hotel. He turning to the crowd and waiving before ducking into the vehicle.
A gruff Trump supporter with grey hair taunted the lingering protesters as he walked away from the parade route.
“Don’t be sore losers,” he shouted. “Suck it up and get over it.”
With protesters jeering at him, he yelled: “I’ll whoop every one of you all.”
He was pushing along a woman in a wheelchair. He let go of the chair as he turned to confront the protesters. The chair cruised for a few feet without him, and he jogged a few steps to catch up to it.
posted by Jalliah at 2:32 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Trump supporter to protesters: ‘I’ll whoop every one of you all’
President Trump remained in his limousine as it slowly drove along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of Trump International Hotel, where throngs of protesters had been shouting chants against the president for about 20 minutes. A chorus of boos greeted the president as his vehicle passed.
Minutes later, with the crowd mostly dispersed and a largely pro-Trump contingent remaining, Vice President Pence walked the same block to a mix of cheers and taunts, with some yelling, “Shame, shame, shame.”
Pence entered his limousine shortly after passing the hotel. He turning to the crowd and waiving before ducking into the vehicle.
A gruff Trump supporter with grey hair taunted the lingering protesters as he walked away from the parade route.
“Don’t be sore losers,” he shouted. “Suck it up and get over it.”
With protesters jeering at him, he yelled: “I’ll whoop every one of you all.”
He was pushing along a woman in a wheelchair. He let go of the chair as he turned to confront the protesters. The chair cruised for a few feet without him, and he jogged a few steps to catch up to it.
posted by Jalliah at 2:32 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
If, as speculated, Barron has some special needs, perhaps they are treating him as he wishes.
Even if that is true, you would expect his mother would at least look at him occasionally to see how he's doing.
posted by slipthought at 2:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Even if that is true, you would expect his mother would at least look at him occasionally to see how he's doing.
posted by slipthought at 2:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
is it weird Trump salutes the troops? that's weird right? he's not military. he dodged the draft!
I thought so but I checked. Lots of pics of Obama saluting.
posted by Jalliah at 2:34 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
is it weird Trump salutes the troops? that's weird right? he's not military. he dodged the draft!
Well technically he's (swallows hard) Commander in Chief, which is a civilian position without a rank. But every time Obama forgot to salute or had a coffee in his other hand the pitchforks came out, so just like the flag pins you gotta do it now.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 2:35 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Well technically he's (swallows hard) Commander in Chief, which is a civilian position without a rank. But every time Obama forgot to salute or had a coffee in his other hand the pitchforks came out, so just like the flag pins you gotta do it now.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 2:35 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
How the inaugurations looked in 2009 and 2017
posted by kuatto at 2:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by kuatto at 2:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Parade route from Capital to WH. Entire stands empty. Crowd thin.
posted by AtoBtoA at 2:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by AtoBtoA at 2:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Sometimes the son of the evil king is the one who ends up dramatically overthrowing him at the end of the story so I'm keeping high hopes and an open hand to Barron. You can do it, kid! Plz hurry
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
I turned on the TV and the headlines was "President Trump watches..."
Oh god its happening.
It still hasn't sunk in for me yet, weirdly. I thought I'd come to grips with the reality that this is happening but... nope, I... feel nothing.
I did actually puke my guts out about 5 minutes before the inauguration, though. So I think my body knows, but my brain's just not there yet.
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh god its happening.
It still hasn't sunk in for me yet, weirdly. I thought I'd come to grips with the reality that this is happening but... nope, I... feel nothing.
I did actually puke my guts out about 5 minutes before the inauguration, though. So I think my body knows, but my brain's just not there yet.
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
thanks for checking. just looks weird.
because hands so small
posted by BrashTech at 2:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
because hands so small
posted by BrashTech at 2:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Mod note: A few comments removed, cool it with the Barron stuff.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Offering perhaps the most nakedly political argument for firing federal employees, Gingrich said, “all those bureaucrats overwhelmingly voted for Clinton. There won’t be any real cooperation until we change federal law so we can fire them
Bureaucracy created from the ground up and run along Republican ideology by handpicked unqualified Republicans has already been tried once this century. It was the Iraq occupation.
posted by srboisvert at 2:39 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Bureaucracy created from the ground up and run along Republican ideology by handpicked unqualified Republicans has already been tried once this century. It was the Iraq occupation.
posted by srboisvert at 2:39 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Saluting troops is apparently something that started with Reagan.
posted by drezdn at 2:39 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 2:39 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Meanwhile, back on The Hill: Senate Kicks Off Trump-Era With Confirmation Fight Over CIA Nominee
posted by zachlipton at 2:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 2:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Up to three good things now.
Tornado something something band.
Good thing # 3
posted by Jalliah at 2:41 PM on January 20, 2017
As C in C the President must salute military people. Clinton, Obama and now Trump.
I do think Barron has some type of special needs. Probably as a family they've tried to work around it, make things look 'normal' or whatever. I'd rather they embraced whatever it was and used it to help everyone in the same situation, but that's none of my business.
I really don't care for the adult members of the family. I can't hate on kids. Maybe their adolescent rebellions will be amazing.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 2:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I do think Barron has some type of special needs. Probably as a family they've tried to work around it, make things look 'normal' or whatever. I'd rather they embraced whatever it was and used it to help everyone in the same situation, but that's none of my business.
I really don't care for the adult members of the family. I can't hate on kids. Maybe their adolescent rebellions will be amazing.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 2:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
An interesting omission: No mention of health law repeal in inaugural speech or on new WhiteHouse.gov
Shortly before the election, he vowed he would ask Congress to repeal the ACA in a special session before he was even sworn in. Now it's not even worth a mention.
posted by zachlipton at 2:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Shortly before the election, he vowed he would ask Congress to repeal the ACA in a special session before he was even sworn in. Now it's not even worth a mention.
posted by zachlipton at 2:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Parade route from Capital to WH. Entire stands empty. Crowd thin.
This reassures me somewhat about the American people. Not much but at least it's something.
posted by Talez at 2:43 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
This reassures me somewhat about the American people. Not much but at least it's something.
posted by Talez at 2:43 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
As CinCthe President must salute military people. Clinton, Obama and now Trump.
Nope. The Commander in Chief is a civilian and doesn't have to salute according to salutes.
posted by drezdn at 2:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
It's getting dark and cold. The parade had a late start. Not everything likes parades enough to watch in the dark.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 2:45 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 2:45 PM on January 20, 2017
is it weird Trump salutes the troops? that's weird right? he's not military. he dodged the draft!
Doing a bit of looking around, it appears that it isn't expected; while the President is Commander in Chief, salutes only are required to happen when people are in uniform. So when in uniform the military will salute the President, but a return salute is not expected/required as the President is in civilian clothes. It appears the custom of the President returning salutes probably started with Reagan, who was an officer in WWII.
posted by nubs at 2:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Doing a bit of looking around, it appears that it isn't expected; while the President is Commander in Chief, salutes only are required to happen when people are in uniform. So when in uniform the military will salute the President, but a return salute is not expected/required as the President is in civilian clothes. It appears the custom of the President returning salutes probably started with Reagan, who was an officer in WWII.
posted by nubs at 2:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
He won over 2,600 counties nationwide, the most since President Reagan in 1984.
Including many, many sparsely-populated counties
This map is from 2012 but it's not like everybody moved since then.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
These guys don't like him. They would much prefer President Pence. Once his approval rating falls low enough that they don't imperil there own chances of re-election by going after him, he's gone.
His approval rating, and how much he interferes in the agenda of the Republican Congress. Which he already has, in some ways, such as screwing up the Republican united front on healthcare. The first time they want him to sign a bill that he doesn't like, I don't see him signing it, and if it's an unpopular bill I don't see him liking it. If he gets more unpopular himself, I think they'd still try to back him unless he becomes kryptonite. If he's unpopular and meddling with their agenda, then they start looking at Pence sooner.
Importantly, the further away from the next election they do this, the more it mitigates the effect of anger in the base at removing him. Rip the bandaid off soon and time can heal the wound. And conveniently they've got the best cover of plausible deniability they could hope for with the Russia stuff - "our hand was forced, he betrayed us!" - but that's a "use it or lose it" advantage, it goes cold if they don't prolong it and they can't endlessly Benghazi their own President to keep it in the papers. So the pressures on this point to moving quickly and decisively, so long as they're not moving recklessly.
Basically I think right now Ryan and McConnell are waiting to see which way the wind blows on Trump's ratings and how much he tries to get in the way of their agenda, but Ryan and McConnell understand power enough to understand that decisions will have to be made sooner rather than later or they'll be in uncertain territory and could lose the initiative.
posted by jason_steakums at 2:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
His approval rating, and how much he interferes in the agenda of the Republican Congress. Which he already has, in some ways, such as screwing up the Republican united front on healthcare. The first time they want him to sign a bill that he doesn't like, I don't see him signing it, and if it's an unpopular bill I don't see him liking it. If he gets more unpopular himself, I think they'd still try to back him unless he becomes kryptonite. If he's unpopular and meddling with their agenda, then they start looking at Pence sooner.
Importantly, the further away from the next election they do this, the more it mitigates the effect of anger in the base at removing him. Rip the bandaid off soon and time can heal the wound. And conveniently they've got the best cover of plausible deniability they could hope for with the Russia stuff - "our hand was forced, he betrayed us!" - but that's a "use it or lose it" advantage, it goes cold if they don't prolong it and they can't endlessly Benghazi their own President to keep it in the papers. So the pressures on this point to moving quickly and decisively, so long as they're not moving recklessly.
Basically I think right now Ryan and McConnell are waiting to see which way the wind blows on Trump's ratings and how much he tries to get in the way of their agenda, but Ryan and McConnell understand power enough to understand that decisions will have to be made sooner rather than later or they'll be in uncertain territory and could lose the initiative.
posted by jason_steakums at 2:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
It's getting dark and cold. The parade had a late start. Not everything likes parades enough to watch in the dark.
It was the same long before it got dark and cold.
posted by Jalliah at 2:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
It was the same long before it got dark and cold.
posted by Jalliah at 2:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
As CinCthe President must salute military people. Clinton, Obama and now Trump.
Nope. The Commander in Chief is a civilian and doesn't have to salute according to salutes.
Certain people sure made a fuss at deficiencies in the salute department.... thanks for teaching me something
Thanks for that link!
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 2:48 PM on January 20, 2017
"Two white 20-something men just walked past the long line at the Holocaust Museum and yelled "Six million Jews! Alright!""
posted by zachlipton at 2:49 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:49 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
It appears the custom of the President returning salutes probably started with Reagan, who was an officer in WWII.
that grueling slog in the First Motion Picture Unit
posted by entropicamericana at 2:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
that grueling slog in the First Motion Picture Unit
posted by entropicamericana at 2:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
anyway time to raise taxes and ban heteros in my nationstates country
posted by poffin boffin at 2:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 2:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Fucking Tractors! I thought you guys were shitting me! I guess they had to have something since the Pentagon nixed the gigantic tanks and big missiles....živi Rodina!
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 2:55 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 2:55 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
An interesting omission: No mention of health law repeal in inaugural speech or on new WhiteHouse.gov
Shortly before the election, he vowed he would ask Congress to repeal the ACA in a special session before he was even sworn in. Now it's not even worth a mention.
Rather than it not being worth a mention, I think it's that he may be coming to understand how difficult and unpopular it would be.
I think it's entirely possible that they wont actually do it, betting that nobody expects politicians to keep campaign promises anyway.
Their calculation may be that the fallout for doing it (making peoples lives worse in a way that is unambiguously attributable to them) is worse than the fallout for not doing it (some people will grumble, but mostly real people didn't care about it anyway).
The people who legitimately hate the ACA are small-government politicians, and there aren't enough of them to make this happen, I don't think. Right-wing citizens think they hate the ACA but really it's just a thing to be against, to define themselves against, while not understanding or accepting the good it does for them. Taking that away could make their lives worse in a way that they have no choice but to blame Trump for.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 2:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Where I live there are always tractors in our parades. But it's rural and farm country so it makes sense.
posted by Jalliah at 2:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Whoever recommended listening to Pink Floyd's album Animals, thank you, you've saved a sanity today.
I'm just listening to "Gimme Shelter" on endless loop.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:58 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
I don't know why this is the thing that's hitting me and making this feel real when the oath, parade, the protests, everything didn't fully do it, but the Concert for America cast signing their finale of "Let The Sunshine In" is finally the bit that's made me begin to understand what's happened today.
And I'm thinking right now would be a really good time for a revival of Hair.
posted by zachlipton at 2:58 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
And I'm thinking right now would be a really good time for a revival of Hair.
posted by zachlipton at 2:58 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Shortly before the election, he vowed he would ask Congress to repeal the ACA in a special session before he was even sworn in. Now it's not even worth a mention.
I am ok with this.
posted by emjaybee at 2:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I am ok with this.
posted by emjaybee at 2:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Where I live there are always tractors in our parades. But it's rural and farm country so it makes sense.
In New Orleans, tractors pull floats. For kids who haven't gone far beyond that city, it might be confusing to see a tractor without a float.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
In New Orleans, tractors pull floats. For kids who haven't gone far beyond that city, it might be confusing to see a tractor without a float.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
You know it's Inauguration Day when you find yourself on Reddit arguing with people that 'Liberals' drive tractors too.
posted by Jalliah at 3:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
find yourself on Reddit arguing
Well there's your first mistake.
posted by Talez at 3:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [26 favorites]
Well there's your first mistake.
posted by Talez at 3:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [26 favorites]
Pink Floyd's Animals is my official soundtrack for the day.
I'm going with Mozart's Requiem and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm going with Mozart's Requiem and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
No one looks happy in this picture of the swearing-in.
From Vox's President Trump's inauguration speech, annotated.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
/cdn3.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7842617/GettyImages_632195096.jpg){kind=link}
From Vox's President Trump's inauguration speech, annotated.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
No one looks happy in this picture of the swearing-in.
Next campaign slogan. 'Make America Smile Again'
posted by Jalliah at 3:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Next campaign slogan. 'Make America Smile Again'
posted by Jalliah at 3:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
> No one looks happy in this picture of the swearing-in
Thats's a giant grin, by Melania's standards.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Thats's a giant grin, by Melania's standards.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
"find yourself on Reddit arguing"
Well there's your first mistake.
Not a mistake. Go Jalliah! "Only conservatives drive tractors" is a terrible conspiracy theory, and you're fighting the good fight but countering it.
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Well there's your first mistake.
Not a mistake. Go Jalliah! "Only conservatives drive tractors" is a terrible conspiracy theory, and you're fighting the good fight but countering it.
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I swear I just saw Pennywise the Clown flash by on the screen there for a second. Was it just me? No there he was again!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:14 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:14 PM on January 20, 2017
No one looks happy in this picture of the swearing-in.
John Thune looks like he ate a bug.
posted by jason_steakums at 3:17 PM on January 20, 2017
John Thune looks like he ate a bug.
posted by jason_steakums at 3:17 PM on January 20, 2017
John Kelly confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security
posted by zachlipton at 3:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
No one looks happy in this picture of the swearing-in.
The guy at center-right looks like he just realized that this was really happening.
posted by waitingtoderail at 3:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
The guy at center-right looks like he just realized that this was really happening.
posted by waitingtoderail at 3:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
woody guthrie must be rolling in his grave to have This Land is Your Land played at this thing.
Got my "All You Fascists Bound To Lose" shirt on right now. No amount of misappropriation by the right is gonna steal Woody from us.
posted by downtohisturtles at 3:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Got my "All You Fascists Bound To Lose" shirt on right now. No amount of misappropriation by the right is gonna steal Woody from us.
posted by downtohisturtles at 3:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
On Thursday, those Obama aides who were left at the White House spent their day on a scavenger hunt organized by chief of staff Denis McDonough. It included finding the scorch marks left from when the British burned the building in the war of 1812 and writing their names in permanent marker on the leftover tiles of the swimming pool that lies under what is now the White House briefing room.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
Tuned in to check on the parade and the announcer just described a group of police on horseback as "one of the oldest continuous mounted units in America." Their butts must be so sore.
Now we have Vietnam helicopter pilots in actual helicopters (being towed) wearing Vietnam-era flight suits, in case the whole "set the clocks back" analogy wasn't clear enough.
posted by zachlipton at 3:23 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Now we have Vietnam helicopter pilots in actual helicopters (being towed) wearing Vietnam-era flight suits, in case the whole "set the clocks back" analogy wasn't clear enough.
posted by zachlipton at 3:23 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
From Lawyers Guns and Money:
Come out for the Drumpfster, deplorables all,
Short-fingered vulgarian, builder of malls!
With purpose and strength he came down from his tower
To welcome his vassals in a golden shower.
Now a cry has gone up and the KKK calls,
“Come out for the Drumpfster, deplorables all!”
When freedom is threatened by Obamacare
And Muslims and Mooselimbs run loose everywhere
We’ll take an extra syllable or two to express how mad we are
And thank the Almighty for Drumpf our new czar.
He’ll never betray us, he’ll build us a wall,
Who elected the Drumpfster, deplorables all!
When arrogant Negroes displayed their free phones,
And crashed the economy with their home loans,
As Kenyan usurpers defiled our White House
And limousine liberals lined their own pockets*
The forgotten decided to heft up their balls
And march for the Drumpfster, deplorables all!
The Drumpfster’s a humble man, eager to serve,
Ne’er screwing his clients out of fees they deserve.
A soldier for justice, a wronger of right,
And an indefatigable warrior for the execution of five young black men even after DNA evidence determined that they were totally innocent of the horrible rape of which they were falsely accused and about which Drumpf took out a full-page ad in the New York Times not long after the events of that terrible night.
The honest and true gladly shout “uber alles!”
And stand for the Drumpster, deplorables alles!
True friend of the migrant from both far and near,
He rejects the swarthy, and guards our frontier,
Lest a scarf-wearing woman, cov’ring her hair,
Should threaten our lives and our nation impair.
We stand with the whites who say “yee-ha” and “y’all,”
Coming out for the Drumpster, deplorables all!
Academe lies in ruins, and this we deride
So we can say “retard” and “pussy” with pride;
Its mendacious scientists roaming the land
With lies about “climate change” and lists of demands.
Now we learnèd of mind add ourselves to the crowd
(We learned to say learnèd, of this we are proud!)
The black man, forgotten, in poverty dying,
The poor man, the sick man, with young children crying,
The soldier abroad and the mother who waits,
The young without work or behind prison gates,
The veterans, wounded, are totally fucked
The Drumpfster will drumpf them in his Drumpfster truck.
Whilst scary young shemales flashing their gams
Teach children to dress up as ewes or as rams,
We doughty young boys will defend our bathrooms
For Drumpf will ensure that all grooms will be grooms!
Now the bonnie young lassies en route to the ball
Have a champion in Drumpfster, deplorables all!
But for all his great wisdom, the crotch-grabbing man
Is matched by his children, the handsome Drumpf clan,
And the flower of Europe, Melania the fair,
Adds a luster and grace with her long flowing hair.
May they purge the White House of the blackness that palls,
And cleanse it with Drumpsters, deplorables all!
Is there man left in Russia, be it early or late,
Who remembers Ivan or Putin the Great?
For the stronger we our houses do build,
The less chance we have of being killed.
Get up and walk free, while democracies fall,
And pledge to the Drumpster, deplorables all!
posted by emjaybee at 3:27 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Come out for the Drumpfster, deplorables all,
Short-fingered vulgarian, builder of malls!
With purpose and strength he came down from his tower
To welcome his vassals in a golden shower.
Now a cry has gone up and the KKK calls,
“Come out for the Drumpfster, deplorables all!”
When freedom is threatened by Obamacare
And Muslims and Mooselimbs run loose everywhere
We’ll take an extra syllable or two to express how mad we are
And thank the Almighty for Drumpf our new czar.
He’ll never betray us, he’ll build us a wall,
Who elected the Drumpfster, deplorables all!
When arrogant Negroes displayed their free phones,
And crashed the economy with their home loans,
As Kenyan usurpers defiled our White House
And limousine liberals lined their own pockets*
The forgotten decided to heft up their balls
And march for the Drumpfster, deplorables all!
The Drumpfster’s a humble man, eager to serve,
Ne’er screwing his clients out of fees they deserve.
A soldier for justice, a wronger of right,
And an indefatigable warrior for the execution of five young black men even after DNA evidence determined that they were totally innocent of the horrible rape of which they were falsely accused and about which Drumpf took out a full-page ad in the New York Times not long after the events of that terrible night.
The honest and true gladly shout “uber alles!”
And stand for the Drumpster, deplorables alles!
True friend of the migrant from both far and near,
He rejects the swarthy, and guards our frontier,
Lest a scarf-wearing woman, cov’ring her hair,
Should threaten our lives and our nation impair.
We stand with the whites who say “yee-ha” and “y’all,”
Coming out for the Drumpster, deplorables all!
Academe lies in ruins, and this we deride
So we can say “retard” and “pussy” with pride;
Its mendacious scientists roaming the land
With lies about “climate change” and lists of demands.
Now we learnèd of mind add ourselves to the crowd
(We learned to say learnèd, of this we are proud!)
The black man, forgotten, in poverty dying,
The poor man, the sick man, with young children crying,
The soldier abroad and the mother who waits,
The young without work or behind prison gates,
The veterans, wounded, are totally fucked
The Drumpfster will drumpf them in his Drumpfster truck.
Whilst scary young shemales flashing their gams
Teach children to dress up as ewes or as rams,
We doughty young boys will defend our bathrooms
For Drumpf will ensure that all grooms will be grooms!
Now the bonnie young lassies en route to the ball
Have a champion in Drumpfster, deplorables all!
But for all his great wisdom, the crotch-grabbing man
Is matched by his children, the handsome Drumpf clan,
And the flower of Europe, Melania the fair,
Adds a luster and grace with her long flowing hair.
May they purge the White House of the blackness that palls,
And cleanse it with Drumpsters, deplorables all!
Is there man left in Russia, be it early or late,
Who remembers Ivan or Putin the Great?
For the stronger we our houses do build,
The less chance we have of being killed.
Get up and walk free, while democracies fall,
And pledge to the Drumpster, deplorables all!
posted by emjaybee at 3:27 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
@NatlParkService is retweeting pictures of the 2009-vs-2017 crowds. Think they might be running low on fucks.
Looks like somebody noticed. Both this one and the government scrubbing one are gone now.
posted by Jalliah at 3:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Mark Marczyk, lead guy of Toronto's balkan-klezmer-gypsy-party-punk band Lemon Bucket Orkestra, is in D.C. to witness the inauguration and other goings on. He's posting some of his impressions to FB.
"And what colour is the blood of every person on this bus?”
“Red.”
“Yes sir.”
“The same colour as those ‘Make America Great Again’ hats?”
posted by Kabanos at 3:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
"And what colour is the blood of every person on this bus?”
“Red.”
“Yes sir.”
“The same colour as those ‘Make America Great Again’ hats?”
posted by Kabanos at 3:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Trump DOJ Signals Shift By Asking For Delay In Texas Voter ID Case: The first sign that President Donald Trump's Justice Department would be shifting its approach to voting rights – specifically towards voter ID laws – came in a motion it filed Friday in a blockbuster case in Texas. The motion asked for a 30-day delay in the proceedings, particularly a hearing scheduled for next week, "to brief the new leadership of the Department on this case and the issues to be addressed at that hearing before making any representations to the Court."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
A British knitting celebrity I follow on Twitter flew to the US today and reports that the immigration officer told her "welcome to the demise of the United States." I think that, at least for the moment, Federal civil servants are pretty close to being in open revolt. I don't think Donnieboy really understands the mess he has gotten himself into. Unfortunately, we're all in it with him.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [72 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [72 favorites]
I've had Robb Johnson's song 'Here'* squirrelling around in my head since November. Written years ago: could have been written for today.
Audio link.
*Yes: song by a British man, posted by a British woman; but the USA is most certainly Here tonight.
I was trying to get back home – the banners filled the sky
There were flags in every window, and the hand of every child
And the smart Party members with that badge in their lapel
And the teenagers with photos of that face we know so well
And the mothers and the fathers standing proud behind their sons
Standing at attention in their uniforms and guns
And you thought it couldn’t happen
You thought it couldn’t happen…
...here
First there was the torchlight, then the drummers on their horses
Cops on motorcycles, then the Special Forces
When someone gave the order, every hand went to the sky
And we all stood to attention as the leader’s car rolled by
And the brownshirts stood behind us with their bully-clubs and boots
Watching out for traitors who were slow with their salutes
And you thought it couldn’t happen
And you thought it couldn’t happen…
...here
The leader gave his big speech; the crowd all cheered and roared
He said there was no choice left: the nation was at war
And the cameras showed him smiling on the giant plasma screens
Protected by the gunships, surrounded by Marines
And then they brought the rock band on to sing the Freedom Song
And I thought about my children as the crowd all clapped along
And you thought it couldn’t happen
And you thought it couldn’t happen…
...here
Here!
Now I’m trying to reach the border with fake papers and ID
Sooner or later, the cops will come for me
And I’m travelling by moonlight, and I’m hiding out by day
In the few safe houses of the Underground Railway
Europe’s signed a treaty: they’re refusing refugees
The Red Army isn’t coming – there’s only you and me
And you thought it couldn’t happen
And you thought it couldn’t happen
And you thought it couldn’t happen…
...here
Here! Right here!
I was trying to get back home – the banners filled the sky...
--------------------------------------------------
BlueNorther and I attended one of the small UK anti-Trump protests tonight, in solidarity. (I'm aware even as I type of how inadequate that gesture sounds, but...) On a slightly humorous note: There was chalk provided for slogans to be written on the pavement. At my wife's request, I was chalking a couple for her. I'd got as far as JEWS AGAINST ISLAM before - looking up at the amused fellow protester watching me - squawking: "Don't you bloody dare make a crack or take a photo before I've finished the OPHOBIA."
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 3:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
Audio link.
*Yes: song by a British man, posted by a British woman; but the USA is most certainly Here tonight.
I was trying to get back home – the banners filled the sky
There were flags in every window, and the hand of every child
And the smart Party members with that badge in their lapel
And the teenagers with photos of that face we know so well
And the mothers and the fathers standing proud behind their sons
Standing at attention in their uniforms and guns
And you thought it couldn’t happen
You thought it couldn’t happen…
...here
First there was the torchlight, then the drummers on their horses
Cops on motorcycles, then the Special Forces
When someone gave the order, every hand went to the sky
And we all stood to attention as the leader’s car rolled by
And the brownshirts stood behind us with their bully-clubs and boots
Watching out for traitors who were slow with their salutes
And you thought it couldn’t happen
And you thought it couldn’t happen…
...here
The leader gave his big speech; the crowd all cheered and roared
He said there was no choice left: the nation was at war
And the cameras showed him smiling on the giant plasma screens
Protected by the gunships, surrounded by Marines
And then they brought the rock band on to sing the Freedom Song
And I thought about my children as the crowd all clapped along
And you thought it couldn’t happen
And you thought it couldn’t happen…
...here
Here!
Now I’m trying to reach the border with fake papers and ID
Sooner or later, the cops will come for me
And I’m travelling by moonlight, and I’m hiding out by day
In the few safe houses of the Underground Railway
Europe’s signed a treaty: they’re refusing refugees
The Red Army isn’t coming – there’s only you and me
And you thought it couldn’t happen
And you thought it couldn’t happen
And you thought it couldn’t happen…
...here
Here! Right here!
I was trying to get back home – the banners filled the sky...
BlueNorther and I attended one of the small UK anti-Trump protests tonight, in solidarity. (I'm aware even as I type of how inadequate that gesture sounds, but...) On a slightly humorous note: There was chalk provided for slogans to be written on the pavement. At my wife's request, I was chalking a couple for her. I'd got as far as JEWS AGAINST ISLAM before - looking up at the amused fellow protester watching me - squawking: "Don't you bloody dare make a crack or take a photo before I've finished the OPHOBIA."
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 3:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
A British knitting celebrity
thank you, this phrase alone will get me through the rest of the day
posted by poffin boffin at 3:34 PM on January 20, 2017 [71 favorites]
thank you, this phrase alone will get me through the rest of the day
posted by poffin boffin at 3:34 PM on January 20, 2017 [71 favorites]
John Kelly confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security
88 "yes" votes too. Good Lord, when the only principled person in the cabinet is named "Mad Dog"...
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:35 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
88 "yes" votes too. Good Lord, when the only principled person in the cabinet is named "Mad Dog"...
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:35 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
In resistance news, Mrs. Example is going to the Women's March on London tomorrow, complete with hat. I, with my currently raging cold, will be there in spirit, while actually physically being at home with a pile of drugs, a blanket, and ALL THE TEA.
(Oh, and a list of lawyers open in one tab just in case. Let's hope I don't need that.)
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 3:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
(Oh, and a list of lawyers open in one tab just in case. Let's hope I don't need that.)
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 3:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
So, the power is out here and Im taking it as a sign I need to get off of my phone, pay attention to MrsCloudySky and try and relax.
Stay strong, compassionate and wonderful. Thanks for the company and I'll protesting tomorrow in Chicago.
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:39 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Stay strong, compassionate and wonderful. Thanks for the company and I'll protesting tomorrow in Chicago.
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:39 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Want a gif of Richard Spencer being punched in the face? Because that's a thing now. (video)
posted by zachlipton at 3:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [70 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [70 favorites]
I believe the Trump administration has specifically requested that all nominees be confirmed by exactly 88 votes
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [36 favorites]
Want a gif of Richard Spencer being punched in the face? Because that's a thing now.
Is it okay to find satisfaction with a Nazi getting punched in the face? Or does that make me bad person.
posted by Jalliah at 3:43 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Is it okay to find satisfaction with a Nazi getting punched in the face? Or does that make me bad person.
posted by Jalliah at 3:43 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
You know it's Inauguration Day when you find yourself on Reddit arguing with people that 'Liberals' drive tractors too.
How do they pay for gas? Liberals hate money too. Do they buy it with marijuana cigarettes?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
How do they pay for gas? Liberals hate money too. Do they buy it with marijuana cigarettes?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
"Two white 20-something men just walked past the long line at the Holocaust Museum and yelled "Six million Jews! Alright!""
I mentioned this on twitter, but the museum had quite a few white guys in red hats within its walls when my partner and I went to bear witness this afternoon. For all I desperately wanted them to learn something, my faith in reaching out has been badly shaken this week; particularly since my mother kept looking for reasons I might be responsible for being left on a street corner when I called her, and surviving that conversation wore me out.
After we limped through the main exhibits and the exhibit on the complicity of neighbors, we found ourself walking through the Children's Hall, which was quieter and designed for reflection on a particular boy. Walking alongside us was a young guy in an inauguration hat. I had just been telling another woman about the bomb threats on synagogues, and the museum felt more like a checklist than a warning, and I couldn't share that space just then.
So I asked him, angrily, "Are you proud? Are you happy?"
He would not meet my eyes. Eventually he walked slowly away.
posted by sciatrix at 3:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [96 favorites]
I mentioned this on twitter, but the museum had quite a few white guys in red hats within its walls when my partner and I went to bear witness this afternoon. For all I desperately wanted them to learn something, my faith in reaching out has been badly shaken this week; particularly since my mother kept looking for reasons I might be responsible for being left on a street corner when I called her, and surviving that conversation wore me out.
After we limped through the main exhibits and the exhibit on the complicity of neighbors, we found ourself walking through the Children's Hall, which was quieter and designed for reflection on a particular boy. Walking alongside us was a young guy in an inauguration hat. I had just been telling another woman about the bomb threats on synagogues, and the museum felt more like a checklist than a warning, and I couldn't share that space just then.
So I asked him, angrily, "Are you proud? Are you happy?"
He would not meet my eyes. Eventually he walked slowly away.
posted by sciatrix at 3:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [96 favorites]
Is it okay to find satisfaction with a Nazi getting punched in the face? Or does that make me bad person.
That gif is awesome, and hands up to the black bloc-er who did it. The dude is a nazi - if you're a nazi people should punch you in the fucking face all the time every day.
(Also, I'm growing out my hair - I used to have that dapper styleblogger queer short sides cut but no more, because those fucking nazis wear it.)
posted by Frowner at 3:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [64 favorites]
That gif is awesome, and hands up to the black bloc-er who did it. The dude is a nazi - if you're a nazi people should punch you in the fucking face all the time every day.
(Also, I'm growing out my hair - I used to have that dapper styleblogger queer short sides cut but no more, because those fucking nazis wear it.)
posted by Frowner at 3:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [64 favorites]
Is it okay to find satisfaction with a Nazi getting punched in the face? Or does that make me bad person.
You can accept that violence is bad and also derive an incredible amount of pleasure from that video/gif. I'm living proof. Cognitive dissonance? Maybe! The important thing is that Richard Spencer is being punched in the face.
ETA. If you're still on the fence: in the video he gets punched as soon as he says the word Pepe.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [49 favorites]
You can accept that violence is bad and also derive an incredible amount of pleasure from that video/gif. I'm living proof. Cognitive dissonance? Maybe! The important thing is that Richard Spencer is being punched in the face.
ETA. If you're still on the fence: in the video he gets punched as soon as he says the word Pepe.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [49 favorites]
on the upside I scored rush tickets to Wait Wait tonight so maybe I'll get to hear Tom Bodett say Fuck
"We'll leave some evens out for ya."
posted by notyou at 3:49 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
"We'll leave some evens out for ya."
posted by notyou at 3:49 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
If punching Nazis was good enough for Captain America, it should certainly be good enough for all of us.
posted by TwoStride at 3:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [66 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 3:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [66 favorites]
88 "yes" votes too
OK, just to clarify for reality's sake, my "Biff Tannen in a stolen DeLorean" remark earlier was meant as a joke. Sorry for the confusion.
posted by Servo5678 at 3:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
OK, just to clarify for reality's sake, my "Biff Tannen in a stolen DeLorean" remark earlier was meant as a joke. Sorry for the confusion.
posted by Servo5678 at 3:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
ETA. If you're still on the fence: in the video he gets punched as soon as he says the word Pepe.
Yep that did it.
posted by Jalliah at 3:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Yep that did it.
posted by Jalliah at 3:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Is it okay to find satisfaction with a Nazi getting punched in the face? Or does that make me bad person.
I don't know. Is Captain America a bad person?
posted by maxsparber at 3:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
I don't know. Is Captain America a bad person?
posted by maxsparber at 3:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
If punching Nazis was good enough for Captain America, it should certainly be good enough for all of us.
I bet Magneto would punch him too. All my favorite superheroes would absolutely punch him, except for the ones that would, frex, crush him inside a giant ball of metal or summon up a windstorm to blow him away.
posted by Frowner at 3:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
I bet Magneto would punch him too. All my favorite superheroes would absolutely punch him, except for the ones that would, frex, crush him inside a giant ball of metal or summon up a windstorm to blow him away.
posted by Frowner at 3:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Obviously we're on the same page about Captain America here.
posted by maxsparber at 3:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by maxsparber at 3:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Here's an article they're coming out now.
White nationalist Richard Spencer got punched in the face during the protests at Trump's inauguration
At the end he says ""I'm afraid this is going to become the meme to end all memes."
Er yup.
posted by Jalliah at 3:55 PM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
Meme magic is real, Dick.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 3:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 3:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
kek fucking wills it
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Paul Ryan: The Magazine
"Paul Ryan" is the unofficial parody magazine of Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, brought to you by the team who made The Neu Jorker.posted by kirkaracha at 3:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
HERE'S PEPE!!! *PUNCH!!!* HERE'S PEPE!!! *PUNCH!!!* HERE'S PEPE!!! *PUNCH!!!*
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
White nationalist Richard Spencer got punched in the face during the protests at Trump's inauguration
On Twitter he referred to the assailant as an antifa. At least he's openly (if subtly) admitting he's a fascist.
posted by Talez at 3:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
On Twitter he referred to the assailant as an antifa. At least he's openly (if subtly) admitting he's a fascist.
posted by Talez at 3:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
I haven't felt this much schadenfreude since Buzz Aldrin punched Bart Sibrel right in his stupid little face.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 3:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 3:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Is Captain America a bad person?
Yes. Captain America is a Nazi now.
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yes. Captain America is a Nazi now.
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
No, that storyline never happened.
posted by maxsparber at 4:02 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by maxsparber at 4:02 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
I gotta say, media fandom's version of Cap gives me life. And if we run out of Nazis to punch or spit on, well. We have a whole administration of Hydra here waiting for us, too.
I have a sign to make tonight. So let's march.
posted by sciatrix at 4:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I have a sign to make tonight. So let's march.
posted by sciatrix at 4:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
White nationalist Richard Spencer got punched in the face during the protests at Trump's inauguration
Good. It's open season on assholes like him.
posted by photoslob at 4:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Good. It's open season on assholes like him.
posted by photoslob at 4:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Nick Spencer is a Life Model Decoy.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Anybody heard anything about this? Cause if it's true. lol omg *cries*
Giuliani and top Trump White House officials hacked, passwords leaked
The Trump Presidency's new cyber tsar, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has had his passwords leaked online along with a whole host of top officials
Trump's proposed ‘cyber tsar' and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been hacked. A Channel 4 Investigation has revealed that the passwords of Trump's cyber-security adviser and 13 prospective government officials, including cabinet members, have “been leaked in mass hacks”.
The investigation discovered the passwords of those 14 top officials as well as those of their aides, publicly available online.
posted by Jalliah at 4:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Giuliani and top Trump White House officials hacked, passwords leaked
The Trump Presidency's new cyber tsar, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has had his passwords leaked online along with a whole host of top officials
Trump's proposed ‘cyber tsar' and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been hacked. A Channel 4 Investigation has revealed that the passwords of Trump's cyber-security adviser and 13 prospective government officials, including cabinet members, have “been leaked in mass hacks”.
The investigation discovered the passwords of those 14 top officials as well as those of their aides, publicly available online.
posted by Jalliah at 4:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
(Seriously, the hell with Marvel fan boys or the actual comics with their shitty anatomy and endless pandering. Give me the character vision fangirls bring every fucking time.)
posted by sciatrix at 4:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by sciatrix at 4:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
i can't stop watching the gif of spencer getting clocked - it's the only thing that's made me feel better today and someone just pointed out there's a big DSA banner in the background of the shot and so it's even better than i had originally thought!!
posted by burgerrr at 4:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by burgerrr at 4:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
New poll shows Obamacare is more popular than Donald Trump
ust as Republicans prepare to repeal Obamacare, there are signs that the health care law is more popular than ever.
A new poll from Fox News finds that 50 percent of voters feel favorably about the Affordable Care Act — a sharp uptick from the 41 percent who felt favorably about the law the last time the network polled, in the summer of 2015.
It’s not just the Fox News poll: NBC and the Wall Street Journal released separate polling data this week that showed similar results. It was the first time they had seen more people say they like the health care law than dislike it.
posted by Jalliah at 4:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
In my town we have tractors in parades,S tractors, not float-pullers I just never expected it in D.C. I am neither a zemljak nor a gradjanim
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 4:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 4:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
i can't stop watching the gif of spencer getting clocked
The fact that it happens just as he is explaining Pepe is just too good for words. It's a perfect thing.
posted by maxsparber at 4:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
The fact that it happens just as he is explaining Pepe is just too good for words. It's a perfect thing.
posted by maxsparber at 4:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
Oh jeez, when I was reading a few hours ago the discussion was excellent about disavowing & denying provocateurs and false flags out to discredit you...
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 4:10 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 4:10 PM on January 20, 2017
It looks like it's trending on Twitter. At least it is on mine.
posted by Jalliah at 4:10 PM on January 20, 2017
Obviously we're on the same page about Captain America here.
Well, Dr. Henry Jones, Jr. is more my wheelhouse, but we're both right there with you.
posted by valkane at 4:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Well, Dr. Henry Jones, Jr. is more my wheelhouse, but we're both right there with you.
posted by valkane at 4:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
The fash are taking a two pronged approach to the "lack of crowd" issue. Either :
A) All the real people are back in small - town wherever Making America Great Again from home or
B) Camera persons have been manipulating the feed. Apparently the Mall was full right back as far as the eye could see. The white surfaces that were right there on live streams are all FAKE.
Ah the joy in my cold cold heart that Trump knows the truth.
posted by threetwentytwo at 4:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
A) All the real people are back in small - town wherever Making America Great Again from home or
B) Camera persons have been manipulating the feed. Apparently the Mall was full right back as far as the eye could see. The white surfaces that were right there on live streams are all FAKE.
Ah the joy in my cold cold heart that Trump knows the truth.
posted by threetwentytwo at 4:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
"is it OK to punch Nazis" is like the most perfect liberal-circular-firing-squad argument Man or Nature could conceive of
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:13 PM on January 20, 2017 [66 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:13 PM on January 20, 2017 [66 favorites]
FAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:14 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:14 PM on January 20, 2017
What argument? Of course it's okay to punch Nazis.
posted by maxsparber at 4:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by maxsparber at 4:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [26 favorites]
I am firmly in the pro-punching-Nazis camp, for the record.
posted by Grandysaur at 4:17 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Grandysaur at 4:17 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
threetwentytwo: "Ah the joy in my cold cold heart that Trump knows the truth."
I'm imagining that the nearly empty stands along the parade route would have been even more ego-crushing to Trump. The mall, though half-empty, was probably the biggest crowd he'd ever stood in front of and he almost certainly hadn't seen the side-by-side visual comparisons to Obama's crowds yet. But those empty stands that could have been filled with a just a few hundred people? That's gotta sting.
posted by mhum at 4:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm imagining that the nearly empty stands along the parade route would have been even more ego-crushing to Trump. The mall, though half-empty, was probably the biggest crowd he'd ever stood in front of and he almost certainly hadn't seen the side-by-side visual comparisons to Obama's crowds yet. But those empty stands that could have been filled with a just a few hundred people? That's gotta sting.
posted by mhum at 4:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
I seem to recall punching nazis didn't work out for James Tiberius Kirk in the fictional series Star Trak. Hell, he had to straight up kill an antifi activist.
Note: details may be wildly inaccurate, I haven't seen the episode in question in decades.
posted by Yowser at 4:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Note: details may be wildly inaccurate, I haven't seen the episode in question in decades.
posted by Yowser at 4:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
We should also feel free to encourage middle aged ladies to smack them with handbags, because middle-aged ladies are practical and besides you can get some really good momentum on those things.
posted by sciatrix at 4:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by sciatrix at 4:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
So, to revise the list:
punching down: bad
punching up: fine
punching Nazis: dandy
posted by uosuaq at 4:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [59 favorites]
punching down: bad
punching up: fine
punching Nazis: dandy
posted by uosuaq at 4:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [59 favorites]
Trump is a narcissist surrounded by sycophants and handlers. He did not see nearly empty stands.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
middle-aged ladies are practical and besides you can get some really good momentum on those things
A coin purse full of bus change at the bottom of the purse works really well. For (cough) y'know...making sure you know where the coin purse is.
posted by datawrangler at 4:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
A coin purse full of bus change at the bottom of the purse works really well. For (cough) y'know...making sure you know where the coin purse is.
posted by datawrangler at 4:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
"is it OK to punch Nazis" is like the most perfect liberal-circular-firing-squad argument Man or Nature could conceive of
I won't do it, I don't condone it, but I'm not your damn mother.
posted by Talez at 4:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I won't do it, I don't condone it, but I'm not your damn mother.
posted by Talez at 4:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
"is it OK to punch Nazis" is like the most perfect liberal-circular-firing-squad argument Man or Nature could conceive of
Until very, very recently I would have thought "is it OK to punch Nazis" was one of the few questions on which not just liberals but Americans of all political outlooks could reach near-unanimous agreement. Today, though, I expect we'll be seeing plenty of stories in the lügenpresse taking the Nazi's side.
posted by contraption at 4:23 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Until very, very recently I would have thought "is it OK to punch Nazis" was one of the few questions on which not just liberals but Americans of all political outlooks could reach near-unanimous agreement. Today, though, I expect we'll be seeing plenty of stories in the lügenpresse taking the Nazi's side.
posted by contraption at 4:23 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Trump is a narcissist surrounded by sycophants and handlers. He did not see nearly empty stands.
How could he not? He litterally drove right by them all.
posted by Jalliah at 4:24 PM on January 20, 2017
How could he not? He litterally drove right by them all.
posted by Jalliah at 4:24 PM on January 20, 2017
That Nazi-punching was 45% satisfying and 55% "oh shit, there's going to be wild, open warfare on American streets for at least four years"
posted by cotton dress sock at 4:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by cotton dress sock at 4:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I seem to recall punching nazis didn't work out for James Tiberius Kirk in the fictional series Star Trak. Hell, he had to straight up kill an antifi activist.
I haven't seen the episode with the Nazi society in a long time, so I don't recall how the punching went, but he didn't kill an antifi activist in City on the Edge of Forever. He had to allow a peace activist die in order to restore the timestream, as her survival would have kept America out of WWII, leading to a Nazi victory.
In short, he let her die so that the Nazis could get punched in the face.
posted by nubs at 4:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I haven't seen the episode with the Nazi society in a long time, so I don't recall how the punching went, but he didn't kill an antifi activist in City on the Edge of Forever. He had to allow a peace activist die in order to restore the timestream, as her survival would have kept America out of WWII, leading to a Nazi victory.
In short, he let her die so that the Nazis could get punched in the face.
posted by nubs at 4:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm going to come down on the side of not punching Nazi (or anyone) because that just tends to escalate the violence. I don't want Nazi (who I perceive as violence-prone to begin with) to become even more likely to inflict violence on other people. Inevitably, the people they hurt are nearly always going to be people who are not able to fight back.
On the other hand, I'm all in favor of holding them accountable for their awful beliefs in every other way possible.
And I'm in favor of punching them if they punch first.
And I found the video of him getting punched hilarious.
I hate nazi and fascists but escalating to violence gives them permission to go there too.
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:27 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
On the other hand, I'm all in favor of holding them accountable for their awful beliefs in every other way possible.
And I'm in favor of punching them if they punch first.
And I found the video of him getting punched hilarious.
I hate nazi and fascists but escalating to violence gives them permission to go there too.
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:27 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
...unless I'm totally misreading the conversation and we're just celebrating Captain America...
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:27 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:27 PM on January 20, 2017
I hate nazi and fascists but escalating to violence gives them permission to go there too
Well that's it, I doubt the red hatted ones are going to exercise restraint
posted by cotton dress sock at 4:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Well that's it, I doubt the red hatted ones are going to exercise restraint
posted by cotton dress sock at 4:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
"oh shit, there's going to be wild, open warfare on American streets for at least four years"
Here's the fucking thing if it comes to that though:
Cops/Military/"Well-Regulated" Militia v. CIA/Non-Cop Antifa
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 4:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Here's the fucking thing if it comes to that though:
Cops/Military/"Well-Regulated" Militia v. CIA/Non-Cop Antifa
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 4:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Han punched first!
posted by valkane at 4:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by valkane at 4:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
How could he not? He litterally drove right by them all.
All he can perceive is that which he thinks glorifies him and that which he thinks insults him. This is his big moment, therefore it is the biggest moment anyone has ever had. He literally cannot see otherwise.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
All he can perceive is that which he thinks glorifies him and that which he thinks insults him. This is his big moment, therefore it is the biggest moment anyone has ever had. He literally cannot see otherwise.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
A German friend of mine once told me about a group of people in his town who, if they learned that some teenager had fallen in with neo-Nazis, would track the kid down and...let's say *strongly encourage* him to stay on the right side of history.
He said "normally I am quite opposed to violence. But...well...Nazis..."
posted by uosuaq at 4:30 PM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
He said "normally I am quite opposed to violence. But...well...Nazis..."
posted by uosuaq at 4:30 PM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
A good friend of mine was a party once and some dude from central Europe whipped out an old, authentic Nazi tank flag, showing it around and talking about how it was passed down from his great uncle or whatever. The guy was an asshole, had been a problem at the party, and was of the fascist persuasion.
When he got to my pal, my pal calmly reached into his pocket and proceeded to light it on fire, with a stars and stripes BIC lighter. It burned right up and the guy was like "THAT WAS A FAMILY HEIRLOOM I WILL FIGHT YOU RIGHT NOW!"
My friend fought him and kicked his ass. The moral? Sometimes you have to kick a Nazi's ass.
posted by vrakatar at 4:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [166 favorites]
When he got to my pal, my pal calmly reached into his pocket and proceeded to light it on fire, with a stars and stripes BIC lighter. It burned right up and the guy was like "THAT WAS A FAMILY HEIRLOOM I WILL FIGHT YOU RIGHT NOW!"
My friend fought him and kicked his ass. The moral? Sometimes you have to kick a Nazi's ass.
posted by vrakatar at 4:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [166 favorites]
Just in case you haven't seen it, here is the photo of a woman hitting a nazi with her bag. Her mother was in a concentration camp.
This is why I am fine with hitting nazis. Nazis are fundamentally people who support mass extermination of Jews, people of color, GLBTQ people and dissidents. They support our marginalization, suffering and death. They try to dress it up, and they may not have the political power to do it, but they're monsters. They don't mind being associated with the horrors that David Olere experienced and painted. To anyone who would be up at the sharp end if they were actually in power, it's pretty ridiculous to say to us that we can't applaud them getting a little bit of consequences.
And taking them down a peg is important - Spencer thinks he's pretty hot shit, pretty macho, pretty new-model racist....and blam! Some skinny little masked up dude rabbits into the frame and punches him in the head. These nazis depend on the powers of fear and horror, and we need to take them down before they have actual material power to create fear and horror.
posted by Frowner at 4:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [104 favorites]
This is why I am fine with hitting nazis. Nazis are fundamentally people who support mass extermination of Jews, people of color, GLBTQ people and dissidents. They support our marginalization, suffering and death. They try to dress it up, and they may not have the political power to do it, but they're monsters. They don't mind being associated with the horrors that David Olere experienced and painted. To anyone who would be up at the sharp end if they were actually in power, it's pretty ridiculous to say to us that we can't applaud them getting a little bit of consequences.
And taking them down a peg is important - Spencer thinks he's pretty hot shit, pretty macho, pretty new-model racist....and blam! Some skinny little masked up dude rabbits into the frame and punches him in the head. These nazis depend on the powers of fear and horror, and we need to take them down before they have actual material power to create fear and horror.
posted by Frowner at 4:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [104 favorites]
I hope Trump stays in that limo. Just as long as his limo windows don't show him the future.
posted by Yowser at 4:31 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by Yowser at 4:31 PM on January 20, 2017
This is why I am fine with hitting nazis.
I'm fine with them being hit if it ends there. Let's hope it ends there.
posted by cotton dress sock at 4:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm fine with them being hit if it ends there. Let's hope it ends there.
posted by cotton dress sock at 4:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
He has apparently signed an executive order "to ease burdens of #ACA while administration pursues repeal." Nobody knows what that actually means.
posted by zachlipton at 4:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
A German friend of mine once told me about a group of people in his town who, if they learned that some teenager had fallen in with neo-Nazis, would track the kid down and...let's say *strongly encourage* him to stay on the right side of history.
He said "normally I am quite opposed to violence. But...well...Nazis..."
Yes today I learned I have a line. I dislike Black Bloc people immensely (mostly from personal experience with them and some First Nation disputes) but it looks like I'm okay if one of them punches a Nazi, Fascist, leader in the face.
Oh well. People are complicated.
posted by Jalliah at 4:34 PM on January 20, 2017 [33 favorites]
He said "normally I am quite opposed to violence. But...well...Nazis..."
Yes today I learned I have a line. I dislike Black Bloc people immensely (mostly from personal experience with them and some First Nation disputes) but it looks like I'm okay if one of them punches a Nazi, Fascist, leader in the face.
Oh well. People are complicated.
posted by Jalliah at 4:34 PM on January 20, 2017 [33 favorites]
I'm just shocked that we found the single Black Bloc person on the planet who wasn't an agent provocateur.
posted by Yowser at 4:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Yowser at 4:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
I'm just shocked that we found the single Black Bloc person on the planet who wasn't an agent provocateur.
That's because they're not? I mean some can be. That's a problem but in my experience most sure aren't.
posted by Jalliah at 4:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
That's because they're not? I mean some can be. That's a problem but in my experience most sure aren't.
posted by Jalliah at 4:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
White House says Trump chief of staff Priebus to issue government-wide order immediately freezing regulations.
posted by waitingtoderail at 4:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by waitingtoderail at 4:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I don't know who punched that Nazi, maybe it was China. Can't we just be glad a Nazi got punched?
posted by contraption at 4:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by contraption at 4:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
It should a crime to not punch Nazis when presented with the opportunity. Nazi-punching is a civil obligation, and keeps the fabric of society from unraveling.
posted by um at 4:43 PM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by um at 4:43 PM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
Punched 'em right in the Nazi. He totally did Nazi that coming.
posted by tonycpsu at 4:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by tonycpsu at 4:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [33 favorites]
I am 100% here for nazi-punching-related puns.
posted by quaking fajita at 4:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by quaking fajita at 4:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
So I've been looking at the map of Sister Marches that are happening around the country (and world!) tomorrow, and for the first time in days I'm feeling some optimism.
Look at all of these people coming together! It makes me want to cry, in a good way. And a special cheer for all of the marchers in the red states, who may be feeling outnumbered and in special need of support.
I'm looking forward to joining the rest of my sisters in Houston (for real) and across the world (virtually). I'm looking forward to some solidarity and getting involved. I'm frightened of this state being a canary in the coal mine for the rest of the country, and in whatever small way I can I want to stand up and let them know that they don't speak for me and I intend to fight back.
posted by Salieri at 4:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Look at all of these people coming together! It makes me want to cry, in a good way. And a special cheer for all of the marchers in the red states, who may be feeling outnumbered and in special need of support.
I'm looking forward to joining the rest of my sisters in Houston (for real) and across the world (virtually). I'm looking forward to some solidarity and getting involved. I'm frightened of this state being a canary in the coal mine for the rest of the country, and in whatever small way I can I want to stand up and let them know that they don't speak for me and I intend to fight back.
posted by Salieri at 4:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
I have no qualms about punching people who are actively trying to erase my very existence. That's really all there is to it.
posted by otenba at 4:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by otenba at 4:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
I've also discovered the arguing about punching Nazis on Reddit, after you've been drinking pink wine all day is quite fun.
posted by Jalliah at 4:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Jalliah at 4:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
I haven't seen this mentioned yet and I think that it may have been yanked because of ridicule. Not sure. It is donnie's bio on WH.gov. I have linked to an archive.is screengrab. It is terribly written for starters. Here ya go.
Likewise, his entry into politics and public service resulted in the Presidential victory in, miraculously, his first ever run for office.
Didn't he run on the Reform Party??
posted by futz at 4:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Likewise, his entry into politics and public service resulted in the Presidential victory in, miraculously, his first ever run for office.
Didn't he run on the Reform Party??
posted by futz at 4:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Mefi can I get some more favorites on credit? Cause I just ran out in the middle of Nazi punching and there are so many more I want to give.
posted by jason_steakums at 4:49 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 4:49 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
White House says Trump chief of staff Priebus to issue government-wide order immediately freezing regulations.
What does this even mean?
posted by Jalliah at 4:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
No more regulations on anything until further notice?
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you start issuing a regulation and Reince says "freeze!" in the middle of it the part you said still stands
posted by jason_steakums at 4:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 4:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
Priebus is now Mr. Freeze! Captain America can't save us now - we've gone full DC!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
> No more regulations on anything until further notice?
Look on the bright side -- no additional charge for botulism and listeria.
posted by tonycpsu at 4:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Look on the bright side -- no additional charge for botulism and listeria.
posted by tonycpsu at 4:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
somebody call Warren G
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
What does this even mean?
That the USA is a fiction no longer agreed upon, that its new rulers intend to steal what they can while the stealin's good, and that we should start start asking ourselves now: at what point would an orderly collapse and fragmentation of the nation be the responsible course of action?
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
That the USA is a fiction no longer agreed upon, that its new rulers intend to steal what they can while the stealin's good, and that we should start start asking ourselves now: at what point would an orderly collapse and fragmentation of the nation be the responsible course of action?
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
No more regulations on anything until further notice?
That's how it reads to me. And it looks like this is all people are reporting. So it's open season now?
posted by Jalliah at 4:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Judging from these executive orders I have a feeling that Trump's management style may be similar to Homer at Globex.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:58 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:58 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I had a weird phone call with my Town Hall reading / Dennis Praeger loving mother's husband.
He said she was at her "last" Tea Party meeting.
Does the current state of government- all in Republican hands - mean the Tea Party is breaking up? Or is it just that my mom is no longer invested?
Yes, in a normal family I would have asked but I can't listen to another one of these people's talking points right now - my Mom breathes in air and breathes out propaganda.
posted by hilaryjade at 4:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
He said she was at her "last" Tea Party meeting.
Does the current state of government- all in Republican hands - mean the Tea Party is breaking up? Or is it just that my mom is no longer invested?
Yes, in a normal family I would have asked but I can't listen to another one of these people's talking points right now - my Mom breathes in air and breathes out propaganda.
posted by hilaryjade at 4:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Everyone is okay with no regulation until someone lights a fire in the firework store.
posted by AlexiaSky at 5:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 5:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's probably not healthy how much I'm laughing at the Spencer gif. It's the first positive emotion I've felt all day – well, that and what I feel when I see the pictures of entire airliner cabins of women inbound for tomorrow's march.
posted by adamgreenfield at 5:02 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by adamgreenfield at 5:02 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
I checked around. No one seems to know for sure.
Some think it might be referring to some of Obama's regulations that haven't been in yet. Some think it's referring to agencies can't make new rules on the fly.
Other then that, people got nothing.
posted by Jalliah at 5:03 PM on January 20, 2017
No regulations? Is it purge night already? I wanted to catch a nap first.
posted by valkane at 5:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by valkane at 5:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
President for eight hours, and look what he's already done for the airline industry!
posted by uosuaq at 5:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by uosuaq at 5:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Well the protesters had the moral ground til they started breaking windows. I work in that city ya know? Without money I starve, so knock it off.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 5:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 5:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I work in that city ya know? Without money I starve, so knock it off.
somebody's gotta get paid to replace windows
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
somebody's gotta get paid to replace windows
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Tapper has the Obamacare exec order.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
This admin is so nutz that I'm actually considering that it could mean what its says. All regulations *poof*
posted by Jalliah at 5:09 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's probably not healthy how much I'm laughing at the Spencer gif. It's the first positive emotion I've felt all day
I think it's sort of like that thing baboons do, where they go and beat up on some other, weaker baboon after being dominated by a stronger one.
posted by Coventry at 5:11 PM on January 20, 2017
I think it's sort of like that thing baboons do, where they go and beat up on some other, weaker baboon after being dominated by a stronger one.
posted by Coventry at 5:11 PM on January 20, 2017
I'm just listening to "Gimme Shelter" on endless loop.
it's just a shot away.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 5:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
it's just a shot away.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 5:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I think it's sort of like that thing baboons do, where they go and beat up on some other, weaker baboon after being dominated by a stronger one.
I could not possibly disagree more.
posted by adamgreenfield at 5:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I could not possibly disagree more.
posted by adamgreenfield at 5:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
It's gonna take more than one shot.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by kirkaracha at 5:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
it's... so child-like, as if written by someone who hadn't yet mastered any form other than the declarative.
I just read it. At this level? Leader of the Free World, most important job in the world level? It's utterly embarrassing. I felt embarrassed reading it.
posted by Jalliah at 5:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I am not a violent man, but I will use all of my powers of persuasion to try and convince neo-nazis that they really—really—want to taste the kerb.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 5:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 5:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Rise Above by Black Flag is helping me tonight.
posted by cmfletcher at 5:17 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 5:17 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
I think it's sort of like that thing baboons do, where they go and beat up on some other, weaker baboon after being dominated by a stronger one.
Spencer was on national news "Heil Trump!"-ing a couple weeks ago and just finished a failed but pretty strong attempt at terrorizing the Jewish population of northwest Montana. He's a strong enough baboon to get punched in the fucking face.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [37 favorites]
Spencer was on national news "Heil Trump!"-ing a couple weeks ago and just finished a failed but pretty strong attempt at terrorizing the Jewish population of northwest Montana. He's a strong enough baboon to get punched in the fucking face.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [37 favorites]
.
posted by Going To Maine at 5:19 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by Going To Maine at 5:19 PM on January 20, 2017
I've been listening to London Calling and Zen Arcade kind of a lot lately.
posted by pxe2000 at 5:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by pxe2000 at 5:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Tapper has the Obamacare exec order.
Does this, er, actually do anything at all? The sense I'm getting is that it's basically a thing to say "look, we did something about that horrible Obamacare on day 1" without actually changing anything.
posted by zachlipton at 5:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Does this, er, actually do anything at all? The sense I'm getting is that it's basically a thing to say "look, we did something about that horrible Obamacare on day 1" without actually changing anything.
posted by zachlipton at 5:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Correction: the MLK bust is still there, but the pool reporter couldn't see it behind a door and a Secret Service agent.
posted by zachlipton at 5:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 5:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun
The effort to impeach President Donald John Trump is already underway.
At the moment the new commander in chief was sworn in, a campaign to build public support for his impeachment went live at ImpeachDonaldTrumpNow.org, spearheaded by two liberal advocacy groups aiming to lay the groundwork for his eventual ejection from the White House.
The organizers behind the campaign, Free Speech for People and RootsAction, are hinging their case on Trump’s insistence on maintaining ownership of his luxury hotel and golf course business while in office. Ethics experts have warned that his financial holdings could potentially lead to constitutional violations and undermine public faith in his decision-making.
Their effort is early, strategists admit. But they insist it is not premature — even if it triggers an angry backlash from those who will argue that they are not giving the new president a chance.
“If we were to wait for all the ill effects that could come from this, too much damage to our democracy would occur,” said Ron Fein, legal director at Free Speech for People. “It will undermine faith in basic institutions. If nothing else, it’s important for Americans to trust that the president is doing what he thinks is the right thing … not that it would help jump-start a stalled casino project in another country.”
posted by Jalliah at 5:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
The effort to impeach President Donald John Trump is already underway.
At the moment the new commander in chief was sworn in, a campaign to build public support for his impeachment went live at ImpeachDonaldTrumpNow.org, spearheaded by two liberal advocacy groups aiming to lay the groundwork for his eventual ejection from the White House.
The organizers behind the campaign, Free Speech for People and RootsAction, are hinging their case on Trump’s insistence on maintaining ownership of his luxury hotel and golf course business while in office. Ethics experts have warned that his financial holdings could potentially lead to constitutional violations and undermine public faith in his decision-making.
Their effort is early, strategists admit. But they insist it is not premature — even if it triggers an angry backlash from those who will argue that they are not giving the new president a chance.
“If we were to wait for all the ill effects that could come from this, too much damage to our democracy would occur,” said Ron Fein, legal director at Free Speech for People. “It will undermine faith in basic institutions. If nothing else, it’s important for Americans to trust that the president is doing what he thinks is the right thing … not that it would help jump-start a stalled casino project in another country.”
posted by Jalliah at 5:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
We use to execute Nazis idk why punching them is such a big deal 🙄 Also, what about the Battle of Cable Street? Ppl have been fighting Nazis for decades.
posted by gucci mane at 5:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 5:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
White House says Trump chief of staff Priebus to issue government-wide order immediately freezing regulations.
What does this even mean?
So, this is actually fairly standard and expected. Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (proposed regulations) that have been submitted to OMB will be paused pending review by the new administration. Final Rules published in the Federal Register cannot come into effect for 30days, and those too will be paused for review prior to going into effect. Most of those will obviously be changed or repealed, or just never heard from again and never come into effect. But I doubt they really mean, no more regulations, ever! Because that would pretty much end the Executive's ability to act without Congress.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
What does this even mean?
So, this is actually fairly standard and expected. Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (proposed regulations) that have been submitted to OMB will be paused pending review by the new administration. Final Rules published in the Federal Register cannot come into effect for 30days, and those too will be paused for review prior to going into effect. Most of those will obviously be changed or repealed, or just never heard from again and never come into effect. But I doubt they really mean, no more regulations, ever! Because that would pretty much end the Executive's ability to act without Congress.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Does this, er, actually do anything at all?
It seems like the biggest actual effect would be on a state like Kentucky, where Teabagger Bevin has requested a waiver to further reform the state's medicaid program along teabagger lines, ie, institute work requirements and copays with stingier coverage. The Obama CMS would never have granted a waiver for that. Trump has now directed that any state that wants a waiver, for whatever stupid reason that won't actually achieve the ACA's goals, gets it.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:30 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
It seems like the biggest actual effect would be on a state like Kentucky, where Teabagger Bevin has requested a waiver to further reform the state's medicaid program along teabagger lines, ie, institute work requirements and copays with stingier coverage. The Obama CMS would never have granted a waiver for that. Trump has now directed that any state that wants a waiver, for whatever stupid reason that won't actually achieve the ACA's goals, gets it.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:30 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
So if they had just added the word 'proposed' to the sentence then it makes more sense. Wonder if that's AP reporting fail or a Trump press release fail.
posted by Jalliah at 5:30 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is it okay to find satisfaction with a Nazi getting punched in the face? Or does that make me bad person.
actually killing nazis with your bare hands makes you the righteous among the nations
posted by poffin boffin at 5:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [35 favorites]
actually killing nazis with your bare hands makes you the righteous among the nations
posted by poffin boffin at 5:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [35 favorites]
Various people are fuming at AP for being so unclear.
posted by zachlipton at 5:32 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 5:32 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
As a general rule I don't condone violence.
But when we're talking about a guy who says things like
Immigration is a kind a proxy war—and maybe a last stand—for White Americans, who are undergoing a painful recognition that, unless dramatic action is taken, their grandchildren will live in a country that is alien and hostile
and
Today, in the public imagination, ‘ethnic cleansing’ has been associated with civil war and mass murder (understandably so). But this need not be the case
I have a hard time not cheering when dude gets punched.
posted by joedan at 5:38 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
But when we're talking about a guy who says things like
Immigration is a kind a proxy war—and maybe a last stand—for White Americans, who are undergoing a painful recognition that, unless dramatic action is taken, their grandchildren will live in a country that is alien and hostile
and
Today, in the public imagination, ‘ethnic cleansing’ has been associated with civil war and mass murder (understandably so). But this need not be the case
I have a hard time not cheering when dude gets punched.
posted by joedan at 5:38 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
10-year-old antiabortion protester shoved, Anti-Trump activist reaches out to help
posted by porn in the woods at 5:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by porn in the woods at 5:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
pxe2000: "I've been listening to London Calling and Zen Arcade kind of a lot lately."
I was listening to Courtney Barnett all afternoon. Not that she's explicitly political but she kicks ass and it seemed be what my brain wanted to hear. My sister told me last night that she's just been listening to Sandinista in her car at full volume on repeat since December and I can understand.
posted by octothorpe at 5:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I was listening to Courtney Barnett all afternoon. Not that she's explicitly political but she kicks ass and it seemed be what my brain wanted to hear. My sister told me last night that she's just been listening to Sandinista in her car at full volume on repeat since December and I can understand.
posted by octothorpe at 5:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I haven't seen this mentioned yet and I think that it may have been yanked because of ridicule. Not sure.
the bio of lyin' donny is still on the official site.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 5:41 PM on January 20, 2017
the bio of lyin' donny is still on the official site.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 5:41 PM on January 20, 2017
White nationalist Richard Spencer got punched in the face during the protests at Trump's inauguration
Apparently he did Nazi it coming.
posted by scalefree at 5:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [26 favorites]
Apparently he did Nazi it coming.
posted by scalefree at 5:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [26 favorites]
We are all agreed. Nazi Punching derail over.
posted by valkane at 5:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by valkane at 5:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
WaPo: Trump White House takes down website pages about disabilities
If you search for the word “disabilities” on the Trump White House website, you get links to historical stories and posts about how people with disabilities can visit the White House and apply for fellowships.posted by Room 641-A at 5:43 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
My parents parents put their lives on hold and sacrificed their time, sanity, money, and literal flesh to stop sub-human filth like that. When you align with those beliefs you are no longer my neighbor, you are a threat to my humanity.
My only regret watching that was that they weren't my knuckles.
posted by cmfletcher at 5:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
My only regret watching that was that they weren't my knuckles.
posted by cmfletcher at 5:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
James Fallows: ‘American Carnage’: The Trump Era Begins. Most presidents view inaugural addresses as a rare opportunity to appeal beyond “the base.” This was base-only.
posted by homunculus at 5:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 5:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
Looks like numbers did not turn out for Trump because unlike liberals, conservatives have jobs, plus the massive rioting all of the city kept people away.
That's what the word from his supporters seems to be so far.
posted by Jalliah at 5:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Charles Pierce: Today Was Just the Beginning. The Reckoning Will Come. Dispatches from the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump.
posted by homunculus at 5:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 5:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
One of the most impressive little details of the Clinton campaign was that they included people with disabilities in their civil rights agenda. They called out disability rights as important every single time. It wasn't a centerpiece of the campaign, just a simple reminder that we see you and we've got people on staff generally interested in doing the right thing when the time comes. There was, of course, more outreach behind the scenes.
And now people with disabilities have been literally erased from the White House website. Damn.
posted by zachlipton at 5:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [46 favorites]
And now people with disabilities have been literally erased from the White House website. Damn.
posted by zachlipton at 5:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [46 favorites]
EXECUTIVE ORDAR: STOP ALL OBAMACARE IMMEDIATELY!
it's scrawled in crayon
on a bar napkin
posted by indubitable at 5:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
it's scrawled in crayon
on a bar napkin
posted by indubitable at 5:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
I've considered how I feel about a Nazi being on the wrong side of political violence, and here's my dot:
☺
posted by jaduncan at 5:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
☺
posted by jaduncan at 5:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Ah the joy in my cold cold heart that Trump knows the truth.
There's a photo I saw but can't find, it may have been posted here. It's Trump & Melania sitting side by side somewhere inside after he was sworn in. There's a bunch of flowers on a table in front of them. He has this just absolutely miserable scowl on his face. It made my heart leap for joy because it told me that his coronation was spoiled by the low attendance. He knows.
posted by scalefree at 5:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [35 favorites]
There's a photo I saw but can't find, it may have been posted here. It's Trump & Melania sitting side by side somewhere inside after he was sworn in. There's a bunch of flowers on a table in front of them. He has this just absolutely miserable scowl on his face. It made my heart leap for joy because it told me that his coronation was spoiled by the low attendance. He knows.
posted by scalefree at 5:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [35 favorites]
No One Came to Donald Trump's Little Parade
posted by argonauta at 5:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by argonauta at 5:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Via the Daptone email list:
posted by filthy light thief at 6:00 PM on January 20, 2017 [56 favorites]
This land is your land(free, for the charge of your email address, where you will receive the actual download link to the 45 mb WAV that is hosted through Soundcloud)
This land is my land
Though it has often been co-opted as a benignly patriotic campfire sing-a-long, "This Land Is Your Land" was actually written by Woody Guthrie in 1944 as a subversive protest song in biting response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America." At my sister Samra's urging, we recorded our version in 2004, during the George W. Bush presidency, in an effort to re-establish it as a song about social justice.
Ironically, when Woodie Guthrie resided in Coney Island in 1950, his landlord was none other than Donald Trump's father, the infamously racist real estate mogul Fred Trump, about whom Guthrie composed his poem "Old Man Trump," including the lines:
I suppose that Old Man Trump knows just how much racial hate
He stirred up in that bloodpot of human hearts
When he drawed that color line
Here at his Beach Haven family project
Using a dark re-harmonization of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" as an intro, the Dap-Kings re-arranged "This Land" as a rough blues-y march, setting the tone for Sharon to tear into the lyrics of the song with the fiery gusto of a revolutionary (live). However, it was the inclusion of Guthrie's rarely-heard original verses that really enabled Sharon to reclaim the song as an urgent and unambiguous demand for equality and human dignity in a nation rife with social injustice and patriotic hypocrisy.
Today, as we inaugurate a rapacious billionaire to the highest office in the land, those original verses resonate with us as loudly as the day they were written:There was a big high wall thereWe are grateful to Woodie Guthrie and to Sharon Jones, two friends of the people and bitter foes of the Trumps, who have given us an essential soundtrack to our struggle. When times get dark, let us not crumble in fear and bigotry. Let us honor the unbreakable spirit of those tireless fighters who have fallen before us. Let us rise to the fight, and let us help each other never to forget this noble truth:
That tried to stop me
The sign was painted
Said 'Private Property'
But on the backside
It didn't say nothing
This land was made for you and me
One bright sunny morning
In the shadow of the steeple
By the relief office
I saw my people
As they stood hungry
I stood there wondering
If God Blessed America for me
This land was made for you and me.
-Gabe Roth
Today only, we're offering a free download of Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings "This Land Is Your Land."
posted by filthy light thief at 6:00 PM on January 20, 2017 [56 favorites]
No One Came to Donald Trump's Little Parade
That is the picture of a government that has a popular mandate for fundamental changes in the social contract and international order.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
That is the picture of a government that has a popular mandate for fundamental changes in the social contract and international order.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Dateline: Middle of Nowhere, PA. I'm on the road from Pittsburgh to DC and took a pit stop. Ladies room full of pussy hats. Expect us, motherfucker.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [111 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [111 favorites]
ha I'm in a hotel in frederick va filled with people headed to the women's march. TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE SO FUCKING GRATIFYING
posted by bluesky43 at 6:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 6:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [24 favorites]
Big sigh. OK. Something I've been holding onto all day: It's all on him now, he is the guy in charge. No more sitting on the sidelines and sniping and disparaging the Presidents as they have attempted to do their job-- it is his job now and it is going to be very clear to anyone with eyes that can see that he is a rank amateur with absolutely zero ability to govern.
Think about how he has spent his whole adult life making big promises in order to seal the deal and every time he has gone back on those promises. He promised Scotland 6000 jobs if only they would let him build a golf course. That was 10 years ago, there are still only 200 jobs. He promised students the secret to success the "Donald Trump way" and after they went deep in debt to him, they wound up with nothing. There were condos never built, a Casino that went bankrupt and a magazine that folded-- all with shareholders that got burnt. Even the DC Hotel Lease was obtained with promises that were forgotten about as soon as the ink dried.
Now he has made his biggest sale ever with the most intricate, most convoluted promises. How many of these promises are impossible? How is he going to insure everyone with better coverage, at lower cost? It is complete Pie in the Sky and the only question is how long will it take for his base to discover they have been sold a pig in a poke that turned out to be a lot of hot air?
Sure he can paint America as a post-apocalyptic hellscape that can only be saved by DJT, and he can jiggle the numbers, and use the White House.Gov to spread lies, but the miners are going to know the truth when the mining jobs don't come back. The Iowa housewife is going to know when her new insurance doesn't cover anything and has a $5000 yearly deductible. The old couple in Wisconsin are going to know it when their Social Security check is smaller and they no longer have MediCare. There is no amount of smoke and mirrors that can obscure the hard reality of a Trump Presidency.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
Think about how he has spent his whole adult life making big promises in order to seal the deal and every time he has gone back on those promises. He promised Scotland 6000 jobs if only they would let him build a golf course. That was 10 years ago, there are still only 200 jobs. He promised students the secret to success the "Donald Trump way" and after they went deep in debt to him, they wound up with nothing. There were condos never built, a Casino that went bankrupt and a magazine that folded-- all with shareholders that got burnt. Even the DC Hotel Lease was obtained with promises that were forgotten about as soon as the ink dried.
Now he has made his biggest sale ever with the most intricate, most convoluted promises. How many of these promises are impossible? How is he going to insure everyone with better coverage, at lower cost? It is complete Pie in the Sky and the only question is how long will it take for his base to discover they have been sold a pig in a poke that turned out to be a lot of hot air?
Sure he can paint America as a post-apocalyptic hellscape that can only be saved by DJT, and he can jiggle the numbers, and use the White House.Gov to spread lies, but the miners are going to know the truth when the mining jobs don't come back. The Iowa housewife is going to know when her new insurance doesn't cover anything and has a $5000 yearly deductible. The old couple in Wisconsin are going to know it when their Social Security check is smaller and they no longer have MediCare. There is no amount of smoke and mirrors that can obscure the hard reality of a Trump Presidency.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
Jeet Heer: We Are Entering the Great Unknown. It’s Scary as Hell. Donald Trump has no historical analogy, making his presidency truly unimaginable. That's what's most frightening about him.
President Donald Trump Is a Radical Extremist: His speech declared war against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
posted by homunculus at 6:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
President Donald Trump Is a Radical Extremist: His speech declared war against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
posted by homunculus at 6:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
On my way driving home tonight there were a number of houses with their x-mas lights on for the first time in weeks. Celebrating the good news of a new King, I guess. Protip: it is unsafe to facepalm while driving.
posted by peeedro at 6:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 6:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
If you unfollowed the @POTUS account last night/this a.m., you might want to check. It appears many of us are magically following again.
posted by NorthernLite at 6:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by NorthernLite at 6:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
There is no amount of smoke and mirrors that can obscure the hard reality of a Trump Presidency.
"Obama left the country in a bad state, we are trying to fix it but you gotta understand, it takes time"
posted by ymgve at 6:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
"Obama left the country in a bad state, we are trying to fix it but you gotta understand, it takes time"
posted by ymgve at 6:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's all on him now, he is the guy in charge. No more sitting on the sidelines and sniping and disparaging the Presidents as they have attempted to do their job-- it is his job now and it is going to be very clear to anyone with eyes that can see that he is a rank amateur with absolutely zero ability to govern.
I'm with you on this. The problem is that he's going to go scapegoat hunting when that reality hits - and it's not as though this hasn't happened already, as his campaign was based on that - only it's going to be from the Oval Office this time.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm with you on this. The problem is that he's going to go scapegoat hunting when that reality hits - and it's not as though this hasn't happened already, as his campaign was based on that - only it's going to be from the Oval Office this time.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
I realized today that Craig Ferguson must wake up every damn morning (probably for months now) and immediately think, "Oh thank fuck I don't have to go on TV tonight and say, 'It's a great day for America' anymore.'" Because it probably would have killed him by now.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
To follow up on filthy light thief's comment (thank you), I'm sure a lot of us remember Pete Seeger delivering those verses at the Obama inauguration in 2009. As well as the encouraging verse:
Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking my freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.
posted by uosuaq at 6:23 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Nobody living can ever stop me
As I go walking my freedom highway
Nobody living can make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.
posted by uosuaq at 6:23 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
@steveschale Trump gold curtains come to the Oval
Link goes to picture of side by side comparison of Trump's Oval office with Trump Gold draperies and Obama's Oval office in which the drapes were terracotta. He literally cannot reside in anyplace without gold furnishings. It must get so tiring for everyone else. Sometimes you just want a nice pale blue or sunny yellow.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Link goes to picture of side by side comparison of Trump's Oval office with Trump Gold draperies and Obama's Oval office in which the drapes were terracotta. He literally cannot reside in anyplace without gold furnishings. It must get so tiring for everyone else. Sometimes you just want a nice pale blue or sunny yellow.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:24 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I noticed that I was suddenly following Mike Pence, whom I had never followed before. Shortly afterward, I got a notice from Twitter that someone had tried to log into my account, so I had to go and change my password. WTF?
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
One of my most cherished memories is coming up out of the Metro tunnel onto the Mall with my wife to hear Seeger and Springsteen introducing "This Land Is Your Land."
posted by EarBucket at 6:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by EarBucket at 6:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
If you unfollowed the @POTUS account last night/this a.m., you might want to check. It appears many of us are magically following again.
Not anymore. One less.
posted by scalefree at 6:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Not anymore. One less.
posted by scalefree at 6:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
I noticed that I was suddenly following Mike Pence, whom I had never followed before. Shortly afterward, I got a notice from Twitter that someone had tried to log into my account, so I had to go and change my password. WTF?
Encryption is your friend now.
Use strong passwords with an offline password manager.
No one is too small or beneath notice. He controls the NSA. Protect yourself, and all of us.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [36 favorites]
Encryption is your friend now.
Use strong passwords with an offline password manager.
No one is too small or beneath notice. He controls the NSA. Protect yourself, and all of us.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:29 PM on January 20, 2017 [36 favorites]
Possibly I'd followed the VP account before, can't remember. But I changed my password anyway.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:31 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:31 PM on January 20, 2017
In March of 1973, E. B. White wrote the following perfectly formed reply to a Mr. Nadeau, who sought White's opinion on what he saw as a bleak future for the human race.
Dear Mr. Nadeau:
As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.
Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society—things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man's curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out.
Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.
Sincerely,
[Signed, 'E. B. White']
From: lettersofnote.com
posted by cynicalidealist at 6:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [47 favorites]
Dear Mr. Nadeau:
As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.
Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society—things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man's curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out.
Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.
Sincerely,
[Signed, 'E. B. White']
From: lettersofnote.com
posted by cynicalidealist at 6:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [47 favorites]
There is no amount of smoke and mirrors that can obscure the hard reality of a Trump Presidency.
"Obama left the country in a bad state, we are trying to fix it but you gotta understand, it takes time"
That'll buy him some time from the truly gullible but then what? In 2019 they will be asked, "Are you better off now then you were 4 years ago?"
I'm with you on this. The problem is that he's going to go scapegoat hunting when that reality hits - and it's not as though this hasn't happened already, as his campaign was based on that - only it's going to be from the Oval Office this time.
This is a little trickier than if he blames it all on Obama. If he starts blaming it on other countries he could gin up enthusiasm for going to war-- certainly it has been done before. But if he tries to blame something on illegal aliens? Well he's in charge now. How come they are still here? If he tries to blame some problem on gangs? Well he is in charge now, how come there still is crime? Remember when he promised, "Day One. Crime is over"
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:34 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
"Obama left the country in a bad state, we are trying to fix it but you gotta understand, it takes time"
That'll buy him some time from the truly gullible but then what? In 2019 they will be asked, "Are you better off now then you were 4 years ago?"
I'm with you on this. The problem is that he's going to go scapegoat hunting when that reality hits - and it's not as though this hasn't happened already, as his campaign was based on that - only it's going to be from the Oval Office this time.
This is a little trickier than if he blames it all on Obama. If he starts blaming it on other countries he could gin up enthusiasm for going to war-- certainly it has been done before. But if he tries to blame something on illegal aliens? Well he's in charge now. How come they are still here? If he tries to blame some problem on gangs? Well he is in charge now, how come there still is crime? Remember when he promised, "Day One. Crime is over"
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:34 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
This is super weird - I unfollowed @potus too, my twitter page says I'm not following @potus and yet I'm still getting Trump's fucking tweets. what the hell?
posted by bluesky43 at 6:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by bluesky43 at 6:36 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
That'll buy him some time from the truly gullible but then what? In 2019 they will be asked, "Are you better off now then you were 4 years ago?"
And they'lll say yes because hey there's not an uppity black man and his uppity wife telling me what to do.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 6:38 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
And they'lll say yes because hey there's not an uppity black man and his uppity wife telling me what to do.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 6:38 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Encryption is your friend now.
Use strong passwords with an offline password manager.
No one is too small or beneath notice. He controls the NSA. Protect yourself, and all of us.
yeah, keeping your passwords secret is real important because the government can't just show up at the service provider with an NSL and do what they please
posted by indubitable at 6:39 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Use strong passwords with an offline password manager.
No one is too small or beneath notice. He controls the NSA. Protect yourself, and all of us.
yeah, keeping your passwords secret is real important because the government can't just show up at the service provider with an NSL and do what they please
posted by indubitable at 6:39 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
He's dancing to My Way. Guess he doesn't know the lyrics. Just the chorus counts I guess.
posted by Jalliah at 6:41 PM on January 20, 2017
This is super weird - I unfollowed @potus too, my twitter page says I'm not following @potus and yet I'm still getting Trump's fucking tweets. what the hell?
All @potus tweets are now Presidential Alerts, citizen.
posted by zippy at 6:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
All @potus tweets are now Presidential Alerts, citizen.
posted by zippy at 6:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
No ASL interpreters in a disability section at the presidential inauguration. ADA violation
posted by porn in the woods at 6:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [63 favorites]
posted by porn in the woods at 6:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [63 favorites]
From VOX, Trump’s executive order on Obamacare, explained by two health policy experts
posted by bluesky43 at 6:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 6:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Trump dancing with Melania to My Way is pretty cringe-inducing.
posted by carmicha at 6:42 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by carmicha at 6:42 PM on January 20, 2017
yeah, keeping your passwords secret is real important because the government can't just show up at the service provider with an NSL and do what they please
Encryption systems that don't trust the cloud server are a thing.
posted by jaduncan at 6:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Encryption systems that don't trust the cloud server are a thing.
posted by jaduncan at 6:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
yeah, keeping your passwords secret is real important because the government can't just show up at the service provider with an NSL and do what they please
Offline. Read the links. Lots of really smart and connected people have thought these things through and developed the tools. There's ways to protect yourself and everyone from all but the most individually targeted state sponsored attacks. Or you know, don't.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Offline. Read the links. Lots of really smart and connected people have thought these things through and developed the tools. There's ways to protect yourself and everyone from all but the most individually targeted state sponsored attacks. Or you know, don't.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
I've been leaning on this as a protest song and dirge. Two brave friends going to the protest in Boston tomorrow, and I love the updates from you folk going to DC. We all must fight in the small ways we can, the big ways, the medium ways. I refused to put the coverage on my TV's at the hotel bar today, and pissed off some very rich old men who seemed thrilled the shitstain is official.
We thought it was over, we thought a country that elected and re-elected Obama could not go retrograde. We were wrong, so now we have to fight in all the small ways and bigger ways we can.
I'll fight.
posted by vrakatar at 6:49 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
We thought it was over, we thought a country that elected and re-elected Obama could not go retrograde. We were wrong, so now we have to fight in all the small ways and bigger ways we can.
I'll fight.
posted by vrakatar at 6:49 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Coincidence or...
Lots of Corpse Flowers Bloomed in 2016 and Nobody Knows Why - The corpse flower takes ten years to build up enough energy to bloom, but mysteriously, dozens of them bloomed within weeks of each other in 2016
Amorphophallus titanum – which translates as "giant misshapen penis" – holds the record for the world's largest unbranched inflorescence (flowering structure). Hardly any of these plants exist in cultivation, and their blooms are rare and unpredictable, occurring fleetingly once every five to 10 years.
I'll keep my theories to myself for now.
posted by futz at 6:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
Lots of Corpse Flowers Bloomed in 2016 and Nobody Knows Why - The corpse flower takes ten years to build up enough energy to bloom, but mysteriously, dozens of them bloomed within weeks of each other in 2016
Amorphophallus titanum – which translates as "giant misshapen penis" – holds the record for the world's largest unbranched inflorescence (flowering structure). Hardly any of these plants exist in cultivation, and their blooms are rare and unpredictable, occurring fleetingly once every five to 10 years.
I'll keep my theories to myself for now.
posted by futz at 6:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
Encryption systems that don't trust the cloud server are a thing.
Changing your Twitter password isn't going to protect your account from changes made by anyone acting with administrative credentials.
posted by scalefree at 6:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Changing your Twitter password isn't going to protect your account from changes made by anyone acting with administrative credentials.
posted by scalefree at 6:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
> That, of course, is almost verbatim what people on the far right have been saying for 8 years. Both sides believe the other side stole their country. How do you get beyond that?
I would start by evaluating both claims and trying to decide if either of them have merit.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
I would start by evaluating both claims and trying to decide if either of them have merit.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
Guys should we be rude to Nazis
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [32 favorites]
In fact, the server should pretty much always be considered hostile/public. You can't really know the state of it, or of closed source code on the client side. Control what you can, and you won't be in the automated intelligence sweep. See also: Yahoo actually allowing intelligence services to search for keywords over all emails sent and recieved. I don't really care if I have a secure connection up to that server, eh?
End to end encryption with reasonably secure open source endpoints is the way to go.
posted by jaduncan at 6:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
End to end encryption with reasonably secure open source endpoints is the way to go.
posted by jaduncan at 6:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Are we not entertained?
posted by humanfont at 6:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 6:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I didn't watch the hoopla today.
Is America great again yet?
posted by key_of_z at 6:56 PM on January 20, 2017
Is America great again yet?
posted by key_of_z at 6:56 PM on January 20, 2017
I noticed that I was suddenly following Mike Pence, whom I had never followed before.
This morning I had a sign in my driveway that said "Reserved for Vice President". I stole that sign from work during the dotcom implosion; the company I worked for was bought, then sold, then spun off, then bought by a private equity firm that fired everyone but kept me on for months while they sold everything of value. I got used to parking in the vice president's spot, as he was fired first, so I stole his sign on my way out.
That sign collected dust in my parent's basement until sometime after Biden gave us the "this is a big fucking deal" moment. Since then I've moved it to three different houses, leaving it up in the driveway to make sure Joe Biden knows he welcome to drop in for a beer anytime. Because wouldn't that be a hoot?
It was a bummer to come home and see that sign, so I put it in the recycling bin.
posted by peeedro at 6:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
This morning I had a sign in my driveway that said "Reserved for Vice President". I stole that sign from work during the dotcom implosion; the company I worked for was bought, then sold, then spun off, then bought by a private equity firm that fired everyone but kept me on for months while they sold everything of value. I got used to parking in the vice president's spot, as he was fired first, so I stole his sign on my way out.
That sign collected dust in my parent's basement until sometime after Biden gave us the "this is a big fucking deal" moment. Since then I've moved it to three different houses, leaving it up in the driveway to make sure Joe Biden knows he welcome to drop in for a beer anytime. Because wouldn't that be a hoot?
It was a bummer to come home and see that sign, so I put it in the recycling bin.
posted by peeedro at 6:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
Report: 'Net neutrality' foe Ajit Pai is new FCC head
Pai has long maintained that the FCC under former chairman Thomas Wheeler had overstepped its bounds, suggesting that he would steer the agency in a direction more favorable to big phone and cable companies. In a December speech, he expressed confidence that the 2015 net neutrality rules would be undone and said the FCC needed to take a "weed whacker" to what he considered unnecessary regulations that hold back investment and innovation.
Consumer advocates have been concerned that a deregulation-minded FCC could potentially allow more huge mergers, overturn new protections for internet users and lead to higher costs for media and technology companies that rely on the internet to reach consumers.
Pai opposed online privacy regulations that force broadband providers to ask consumers for permission before using their data, saying they are more onerous than the requirements for internet companies like Google and Facebook.
Another fox potentially guarding the henhouse.
posted by futz at 6:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Pai has long maintained that the FCC under former chairman Thomas Wheeler had overstepped its bounds, suggesting that he would steer the agency in a direction more favorable to big phone and cable companies. In a December speech, he expressed confidence that the 2015 net neutrality rules would be undone and said the FCC needed to take a "weed whacker" to what he considered unnecessary regulations that hold back investment and innovation.
Consumer advocates have been concerned that a deregulation-minded FCC could potentially allow more huge mergers, overturn new protections for internet users and lead to higher costs for media and technology companies that rely on the internet to reach consumers.
Pai opposed online privacy regulations that force broadband providers to ask consumers for permission before using their data, saying they are more onerous than the requirements for internet companies like Google and Facebook.
Another fox potentially guarding the henhouse.
posted by futz at 6:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
"Obama left the country in a bad state, we are trying to fix it but you gotta understand, it takes time"
Simple response: eighty-how-many consecutive months of increased employment?
posted by notsnot at 6:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Simple response: eighty-how-many consecutive months of increased employment?
posted by notsnot at 6:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
This inauguration confirms that we are, in Star Trek terms, in the Mirror Universe.
posted by juiceCake at 6:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by juiceCake at 6:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Changing your Twitter password isn't going to protect your account from changes made by anyone acting with administrative credentials.
Point taken, we're all going to have to radically readjust our threat models. Doing that starts by knowing where to look to even know where your vulnerabilities are, and how much risk is reasonably worth taking steps to combat. Site unique passwords with a password manager is still a fundamental step.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:58 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Point taken, we're all going to have to radically readjust our threat models. Doing that starts by knowing where to look to even know where your vulnerabilities are, and how much risk is reasonably worth taking steps to combat. Site unique passwords with a password manager is still a fundamental step.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:58 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Huh. The New Yorker has set up a system for sending them anonymous tips.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
On threat models, it's worth noting that both the UK and US have new legislative powers that allow actively hacking entire classes of devices on the basis of class-based rather than individual warrants.
Yes, things are fundamentally different now. I might write a security guide for the reasonably technical MeFite and put it in Projects.
posted by jaduncan at 7:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [36 favorites]
Yes, things are fundamentally different now. I might write a security guide for the reasonably technical MeFite and put it in Projects.
posted by jaduncan at 7:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [36 favorites]
Been a long day. Finally turned it all off. That dance was the last I could handle.
Now watching Hidden Figures. I've been saving it for today.
posted by Jalliah at 7:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
I also wonder about a website with a security slider for how far people want to go, starting with the basics and adjusting further. Damnit, it looks like my contribution to the resistance might be more tech. I actually haven't seen a good site that rounds it all up, so maybe I'll have to make one.
posted by jaduncan at 7:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 7:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Women's march, I'm driving up to my alma mater Texas Womans University, joining up with some of the old girls, and joining the march in Denton. Today we mourn, tomorrow we start the resistance.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
On dancing to "My Way": nice intro for a "new beginning"
And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
yeah, we feel that way too.
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 7:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
yeah, we feel that way too.
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 7:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
I might write a security guide for the reasonably technical MeFite and put it in Projects.
Please do!
posted by petebest at 7:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Please do!
posted by petebest at 7:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Well NPS Twitter accounts have been told to stop.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 7:05 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 7:05 PM on January 20, 2017
I actually haven't seen a good site that rounds it all up, so maybe I'll have to make one.
Have you seen https://www.privacytools.io/ ? They've got all the tools in one place, although I think the explanations are lacking and definitely not non-tech friendly.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Have you seen https://www.privacytools.io/ ? They've got all the tools in one place, although I think the explanations are lacking and definitely not non-tech friendly.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Simple response: eighty-how-many consecutive months of increased employment?
"That's just fake info from the Demoncrats and their corrupt media."
We have been through all this before. Trump can demonstrably ruin his supporters' lives, and 2 years from now, they'll be saying they're better off, because he tells them so. They won't remember what things are actually like now because they don't want to. Hell, listen to the delusional stuff they say about how grateful they are that he was elected because "America was failing, and nobody was allowed even to say Merry Christmas in a Christian country!" (actual comment I heard on NPR today) They don't even care if he makes their lives better, just that he "pays attention to their concerns" and sticks it to the people they think are making life worse.
To refute his nonsense, you have to be talking to someone rational who listens and considers in good faith. If the person rejects the whole concept of argument, claims and support, logical rebuttal and refutation, counterargument, etc., you're wasting your fucking breath and energy.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:09 PM on January 20, 2017 [45 favorites]
"That's just fake info from the Demoncrats and their corrupt media."
We have been through all this before. Trump can demonstrably ruin his supporters' lives, and 2 years from now, they'll be saying they're better off, because he tells them so. They won't remember what things are actually like now because they don't want to. Hell, listen to the delusional stuff they say about how grateful they are that he was elected because "America was failing, and nobody was allowed even to say Merry Christmas in a Christian country!" (actual comment I heard on NPR today) They don't even care if he makes their lives better, just that he "pays attention to their concerns" and sticks it to the people they think are making life worse.
To refute his nonsense, you have to be talking to someone rational who listens and considers in good faith. If the person rejects the whole concept of argument, claims and support, logical rebuttal and refutation, counterargument, etc., you're wasting your fucking breath and energy.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:09 PM on January 20, 2017 [45 favorites]
Well NPS Twitter accounts have been told to stop.
NPS? A link would be helpful to understanding what you mean :)
posted by futz at 7:17 PM on January 20, 2017
NPS? A link would be helpful to understanding what you mean :)
posted by futz at 7:17 PM on January 20, 2017
BTW, the tax return petition is at 59k signatures in under half a day. Shouldn't be to hard to hit the threshold before his nightly twitter freakout.
posted by cmfletcher at 7:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 7:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
‘Get some jobs in here.’ Inauguration Day in ‘blue’ Ky. county that flipped for Trump
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:18 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:18 PM on January 20, 2017
Well NPS Twitter accounts have been told to stop.
The @DenaliNPS account has been deleted outright. Last week it was tweeting annual temperature averages. Even if it was a misinterpretation of the order from on high, there's something awful about losing something that's legally under the umbrella of federal archiving laws but done through a third-party service.
posted by holgate at 7:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
The @DenaliNPS account has been deleted outright. Last week it was tweeting annual temperature averages. Even if it was a misinterpretation of the order from on high, there's something awful about losing something that's legally under the umbrella of federal archiving laws but done through a third-party service.
posted by holgate at 7:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Each time I mention the IRC in here, I get a couple people memailing me to tell me they've donated.
On a serious note: thank you. Thank you, thank you. Your support continues to be tremendously encouraging.
On a less-serious note:
Uh, cortex, can I get special permission to mention the IRC in every single thread for the next 4 years?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
On a serious note: thank you. Thank you, thank you. Your support continues to be tremendously encouraging.
On a less-serious note:
Uh, cortex, can I get special permission to mention the IRC in every single thread for the next 4 years?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Also, I'm growing out my hair - I used to have that dapper styleblogger queer short sides cut but no more, because those fucking nazis wear it.
I haven't had that style in a while, but I guess there's no going back.
posted by bongo_x at 7:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I haven't had that style in a while, but I guess there's no going back.
posted by bongo_x at 7:21 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
"The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama Trump to be a one-term president."
-- Mitch McConnell, New Revised Version
posted by bryon at 7:23 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
-- Mitch McConnell, New Revised Version
posted by bryon at 7:23 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
holgate: The @DenaliNPS account has been deleted outright.
In an earlier election thread I predicted he'd rename Denali back to Mt. McKinley out of spite, to destroy every bit of Obama's legacy, because that's the kind of petty, hateful man he is. I still think he'll do that.
posted by bluecore at 7:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
In an earlier election thread I predicted he'd rename Denali back to Mt. McKinley out of spite, to destroy every bit of Obama's legacy, because that's the kind of petty, hateful man he is. I still think he'll do that.
posted by bluecore at 7:26 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
No ASL interpreters in a disability section at the presidential inauguration. ADA violation
This a Trump thing that could happen at an address or event where ASL interpreters are doing their jobs, interpreting in his line of sight:
TRUMP: I'm trying to to talk, and all I see is these people waving their hands. This is distracting, am I right?
*yells from crowd*
TRUMP: So - let's get 'em outta here. Get. 'Em. Outta. Here.
*crowd cheers*
I'm just leaving this here as a prediction.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
This a Trump thing that could happen at an address or event where ASL interpreters are doing their jobs, interpreting in his line of sight:
TRUMP: I'm trying to to talk, and all I see is these people waving their hands. This is distracting, am I right?
*yells from crowd*
TRUMP: So - let's get 'em outta here. Get. 'Em. Outta. Here.
*crowd cheers*
I'm just leaving this here as a prediction.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Argh. For a while right after the election, my brother and I (both political junkies) had a thing where it would hit us and we would pause in the middle of a thought and be like "oh god, I just realized again that Donald Trump got elected president; jesus fucking christ, I need a minute, hold on." Then after a few weeks, it happened once and we looked at each other and he said, "wow, this is just going to keep happening for the whole 4 years, isn't it?"
Yeah so anyway, reading that Charles Pierce piece I just got mine again for the day. Jesus fucking christ. Sigh.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 7:30 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Yeah so anyway, reading that Charles Pierce piece I just got mine again for the day. Jesus fucking christ. Sigh.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 7:30 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Have you seen https://www.privacytools.io/ ? They've got all the tools in one place, although I think the explanations are lacking and definitely not non-tech friendly.
I'm looking, and it's actually not bad (although I'm guessing it's not updated that often, it still recommends Knoppix and Cyanogenmod). I am more envisaging something that's aimed at someone who knows where to find the settings but isn't, say, going to be choosing to switch to Qubes as step 1 when a) Ubuntu is relatively secure and might actually work on their laptop and b) realistically, a lot of people want to know how to lock down OSX and Windows in step 1.
I also don't think privacytools.io is opinionated enough. It offers options at every stage rather than a quick guide. I have Thoughts here, but maybe we should memail about this?
posted by jaduncan at 7:30 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'm looking, and it's actually not bad (although I'm guessing it's not updated that often, it still recommends Knoppix and Cyanogenmod). I am more envisaging something that's aimed at someone who knows where to find the settings but isn't, say, going to be choosing to switch to Qubes as step 1 when a) Ubuntu is relatively secure and might actually work on their laptop and b) realistically, a lot of people want to know how to lock down OSX and Windows in step 1.
I also don't think privacytools.io is opinionated enough. It offers options at every stage rather than a quick guide. I have Thoughts here, but maybe we should memail about this?
posted by jaduncan at 7:30 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
'It's made in Vietnam!' At inauguration, origin of red Trump hats shocks many
One of the biggest cheers President Donald Trump received from supporters watching his inaugural address on Friday was his call to "buy American and hire American."
It was a moment rich in irony.
Many of those supporters were sporting Trump's trademark red "Make America Great Again" baseball caps that were made in China, Vietnam and Bangladesh.
...In his speech, Trump struck a fiery, protectionist tone.
"From this moment on, it's going to be America First," he said. "We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and hire American."
Except at Mar a Lago, his wineries, his hotels...
posted by futz at 7:35 PM on January 20, 2017 [45 favorites]
One of the biggest cheers President Donald Trump received from supporters watching his inaugural address on Friday was his call to "buy American and hire American."
It was a moment rich in irony.
Many of those supporters were sporting Trump's trademark red "Make America Great Again" baseball caps that were made in China, Vietnam and Bangladesh.
...In his speech, Trump struck a fiery, protectionist tone.
"From this moment on, it's going to be America First," he said. "We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and hire American."
Except at Mar a Lago, his wineries, his hotels...
posted by futz at 7:35 PM on January 20, 2017 [45 favorites]
"From this moment on, it's going to be America First," he said. "We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and hire American."
He has apparently actually turned his policymaking clock back to the 30s, given that the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. §§ 8301–8305) was passed in 1933 and is still in force.
posted by jaduncan at 7:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
He has apparently actually turned his policymaking clock back to the 30s, given that the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. §§ 8301–8305) was passed in 1933 and is still in force.
posted by jaduncan at 7:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Soon, it will be harder to unsubscribe from Trump's twitter account than it is to unsubscribe from Cat Facts.
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
The added problem is that Trump doesn't even supply facts.
posted by jaduncan at 7:43 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 7:43 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
uh oh. incoming cat facts. delete delete delete.
posted by futz at 7:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by futz at 7:44 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Thank you for subscribing to Trump Facts! Did you know that the sun is brighter than the moon because it's closer to Earth?
Type SUBSCRIBE to receive another Trump Fact!
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
Type SUBSCRIBE to receive another Trump Fact!
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
On The Propriety Of Punching Nazis, An FAQ (TL;DR: yes, you should punch Nazis).
posted by Pink Frost at 7:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by Pink Frost at 7:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
Seeing those unwanted Pence tweets was like finding Scientology pamphlets in my mailbox: yikes, how the hell did that get in here?!
posted by wenestvedt at 7:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 7:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
"From this moment on, it's going to be America First," he said. "We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and hire American."
He has apparently actually turned his policymaking clock back to the 30s, given that the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. §§ 8301–8305) was passed in 1933.
Lemme know when he's asking Americans to look for the union label.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
He has apparently actually turned his policymaking clock back to the 30s, given that the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. §§ 8301–8305) was passed in 1933.
Lemme know when he's asking Americans to look for the union label.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:48 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Unwanted Pence Tweets is *not* my new band name.
posted by uosuaq at 7:49 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 7:49 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
He has apparently actually turned his policymaking clock back to the 30s, given that the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. §§ 8301–8305) was passed in 1933 and is still in force.
I don't think he's just talking about Government purchases, though
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:50 PM on January 20, 2017
I don't think he's just talking about Government purchases, though
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:50 PM on January 20, 2017
Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above / Don't Pence me in / Let me ride through the wide open country that I love / Don't Pence me in....
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:50 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Unwanted Pencetweets sounds like something you need to put an ointment on.
posted by NorthernLite at 7:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by NorthernLite at 7:51 PM on January 20, 2017 [27 favorites]
Sorry, mandolin conspiracy...I understand "label", but what's a "union"?
posted by uosuaq at 7:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 7:52 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Lemme know when he's asking Americans to look for the union label.
Hard to believe that when I was growing up we saw those commercials all the time. As kids we knew the words.
posted by bongo_x at 7:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Hard to believe that when I was growing up we saw those commercials all the time. As kids we knew the words.
posted by bongo_x at 7:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
I don't think he's just talking about Government purchases, though
I think I heard something about regulation of purchases being Communism, but I'm sure it couldn't be the same set of people saying it.
posted by jaduncan at 7:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I think I heard something about regulation of purchases being Communism, but I'm sure it couldn't be the same set of people saying it.
posted by jaduncan at 7:56 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
That story on the caps talks about street vendors, and of course that's going to test the conservative bring-jobs-home types who get given a free-market choice between "buy American" and "pay $10 less"; those apparently includes GOP members of Congress.
posted by holgate at 7:57 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by holgate at 7:57 PM on January 20, 2017
Is it okay to find satisfaction with a Nazi getting punched in the face? Or does that make me bad person.
Did you ever watch Downfall? It's a weird experience, because terrible things are happening to the characters you're following so it should feel sort of like a low dose of Grave of the Fireflies but instead my honest reaction to these calamities is YEAH SUCK IT YOU FUCKERS because... Nazis.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Did you ever watch Downfall? It's a weird experience, because terrible things are happening to the characters you're following so it should feel sort of like a low dose of Grave of the Fireflies but instead my honest reaction to these calamities is YEAH SUCK IT YOU FUCKERS because... Nazis.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
I felt like crap today, run down, flu-like symptoms. Just real garbage. Now a rational person might say that I probably had a mild flu.
But the last time I felt like this? September 9th and 10th, 2001. Coincidence? You be the judge.
posted by Justinian at 8:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
But the last time I felt like this? September 9th and 10th, 2001. Coincidence? You be the judge.
posted by Justinian at 8:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
I only know those "union label" ads from watching the Star Wars Holiday Special. Thanks, George Lucas!
posted by EarBucket at 8:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by EarBucket at 8:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
> Huh. The New Yorker has set up a system for sending them anonymous tips.
Maybe they can finally solve the mystery of the corpse in the library.
posted by guiseroom at 8:10 PM on January 20, 2017
Maybe they can finally solve the mystery of the corpse in the library.
posted by guiseroom at 8:10 PM on January 20, 2017
Apparently Gabe the Dog (on Metafilter: 1, 2, 3) could not bear the prospect of a T. Rump administration. He sloughed off this mortal coil yesterday.
posted by dhens at 8:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by dhens at 8:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump asks an inaugural ball crowd if he should "keep the Twitter going?" Because "the enemies keep saying" it's terrible
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Really, none of those folks with the hats saw the commercials the Clinton campaign was running every fourteen minutes pointing out that all his tacky clothes are manufactured overseas? It only occurs to them to look into it a couple months after they've elected this awful, tacky person? Take a fucking interest maybe.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 8:14 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Sing Or Swim at 8:14 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Alabama found guilty of racial gerrymandering
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the state of Alabama engaged in unconstitutional racial gerrymandering in at least 12 districts in order to preserve a Republican supermajority. The ruling is a victory for the state’s Legislative Black Caucus, which has been fighting in court for years against voting maps that intentionally limit the voting power of African Americans by packing them into as few oddly-shaped districts as possible.
The decision, which came down on the day Donald Trump took the presidential oath of office, calls on Alabama to re-draw 12 districts that were drawn “predominantly” based on race. These districts are all currently represented by Democrats, and 10 out of 12 by Black Democrats.
!!!
posted by futz at 8:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [54 favorites]
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the state of Alabama engaged in unconstitutional racial gerrymandering in at least 12 districts in order to preserve a Republican supermajority. The ruling is a victory for the state’s Legislative Black Caucus, which has been fighting in court for years against voting maps that intentionally limit the voting power of African Americans by packing them into as few oddly-shaped districts as possible.
The decision, which came down on the day Donald Trump took the presidential oath of office, calls on Alabama to re-draw 12 districts that were drawn “predominantly” based on race. These districts are all currently represented by Democrats, and 10 out of 12 by Black Democrats.
!!!
posted by futz at 8:15 PM on January 20, 2017 [54 favorites]
He just can't stop talking about enemies. Like, I've never seen someone in power in this country so starkly divide the world into friends and enemies as rigid categories. And that's frightening.
posted by zachlipton at 8:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 8:16 PM on January 20, 2017 [28 favorites]
He just can't stop talking about enemies. Like, I've never seen someone in power in this country so starkly divide the world into friends and enemies as rigid categories. And that's frightening.
Indeed: Watching Thousands March In His Honor Unlocks Deeper, Darker Corner Of Trump’s Psyche (The Onion):
At press time, an even darker chamber of Trump’s innermost being had reportedly been stirred into action after he was saluted by hundreds of military personnel.
posted by dhens at 8:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Indeed: Watching Thousands March In His Honor Unlocks Deeper, Darker Corner Of Trump’s Psyche (The Onion):
At press time, an even darker chamber of Trump’s innermost being had reportedly been stirred into action after he was saluted by hundreds of military personnel.
posted by dhens at 8:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Buzzfeed: This Farmer Brought Along Two Alpacas And A Llama To Protest The Inauguration
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:20 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:20 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
He just can't stop talking about enemies. Like, I've never seen someone in power in this country so starkly divide the world into friends and enemies as rigid categories. And that's frightening.
In unrelated news:
posted by jaduncan at 8:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
In unrelated news:
Splitting (also called black-and-white thinking or all-or-nothing thinking) is the failure in a person's thinking to bring together the dichotomy of both positive and negative qualities of the self and others into a cohesive, realistic whole. It is a common defense mechanism used by many people.[1] The individual tends to think in extremes (i.e., an individual's actions and motivations are all good or all bad with no middle ground).Some smart people might be saying it, I'd imagine. Not jaduncan. I'm...I'm John Barron.
The concept of splitting was developed by Ronald Fairbairn in his formulation of object relations theory;[2] it begins as the inability of the infant to combine the fulfilling aspects of the parents (the good object) and their unresponsive aspects (the unsatisfying object) into the same individuals, instead seeing the good and bad as separate. In psychoanalytic theory this functions as a defense mechanism.
[...]
People matching the diagnostic criteria for narcissistic personality disorder also use splitting as a central defence mechanism. Most often the narcissist does this as an attempt to stabilize their sense of self positivity in order to preserve their self-esteem, by perceiving themselves as purely upright or admirable and others who do not conform to their will or values as purely wicked or contemptible. Given "the narcissist's perverse sense of entitlement and splitting ... [s]he can be equally geared, psychologically and practically, towards the promotion and towards the demise of a certain collectively beneficial project".[13]
The cognitive habit of splitting also implies the use of other related defence mechanisms, namely idealization and devaluation, which are preventive attitudes or reactions to narcissistic rage and narcissistic injury.[11]
posted by jaduncan at 8:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [23 favorites]
Alexandra Petri, WaPo: Donald Trump’s inauguration was a Gothic nightmare
There are only three college guys in Trump hats, but you see them everywhere you look. They are taking a selfie. You are in it, too. No matter how you twist, you always wind up in it.
In the picture you are smiling, but you are not smiling.
They were the ones in all the pictures on election night, and now they are here, wearing their red hats, smiling broadly. Their faces are always the same. They have white teeth and pale skin and bushy, definite eyebrows. Do not let them take another selfie. If they take another selfie with you, your soul will be lost and you will have to travel into a world of their imagining and become their plaything.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
There are only three college guys in Trump hats, but you see them everywhere you look. They are taking a selfie. You are in it, too. No matter how you twist, you always wind up in it.
In the picture you are smiling, but you are not smiling.
They were the ones in all the pictures on election night, and now they are here, wearing their red hats, smiling broadly. Their faces are always the same. They have white teeth and pale skin and bushy, definite eyebrows. Do not let them take another selfie. If they take another selfie with you, your soul will be lost and you will have to travel into a world of their imagining and become their plaything.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]
He just can't stop talking about enemies. Like, I've never seen someone in power in this country so starkly divide the world into friends and enemies as rigid categories. And that's frightening.
And in this case, "enemies" equates to 54% of American citizens who didn't vote for him.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
And in this case, "enemies" equates to 54% of American citizens who didn't vote for him.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
Oh god I thought we were just kidding about Trump putting his gold shit all over the place in the Oval Office. He did it already. Does he not understand how camp and low-class it looks? I know he doesn't. But how?
posted by Justinian at 8:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 8:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
If you unfollowed the @POTUS account last night/this a.m., you might want to check. It appears many of us are magically following again.
I'm in the UK, have never followed @POTUS, and yet I just had to unfollow the account.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 8:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
I'm in the UK, have never followed @POTUS, and yet I just had to unfollow the account.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 8:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Does he not understand how camp and low-class it looks? I know he doesn't. But how?
With regard to fashion and decor, is there anything he does understand? He uses clear tape on the back of his ties, for heaven's sake.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
With regard to fashion and decor, is there anything he does understand? He uses clear tape on the back of his ties, for heaven's sake.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
The only new "gold shit" I see in the Oval Office photos are the curtains, everything else was there when Obama left. Considering that the MLK statue was still in the office, I assume Trump hasn't started deciding on decor yet.
(As an aside, Obama also had golden curtains during parts of his presidency)
posted by ymgve at 8:34 PM on January 20, 2017
(As an aside, Obama also had golden curtains during parts of his presidency)
posted by ymgve at 8:34 PM on January 20, 2017
Mattis sent a message to the Dept. of Defense. Note the phrases I emphasized.
Message to the Department of Defense from Secretary of Defense James Mattis
Press Operations
Release No: NR-020-17
Jan. 20, 2017
***
It’s good to be back and I’m grateful to serve alongside you as Secretary of Defense.
Together with the Intelligence Community we are the sentinels and guardians of our nation. We need only look to you, the uniformed and civilian members of the Department and your families, to see the fundamental unity of our country. You represent an America committed to the common good; an America that is never complacent about defending its freedoms; and an America that remains a steady beacon of hope for all mankind.
Every action we take will be designed to ensure our military is ready to fight today and in the future. Recognizing that no nation is secure without friends, we will work with the State Department to strengthen our alliances. Further, we are devoted to gaining full value from every taxpayer dollar spent on defense, thereby earning the trust of Congress and the American people.
I am confident you will do your part. I pledge to you I’ll do my best as your Secretary.
MATTIS SENDS
posted by bluecore at 8:35 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
Message to the Department of Defense from Secretary of Defense James Mattis
Press Operations
Release No: NR-020-17
Jan. 20, 2017
***
It’s good to be back and I’m grateful to serve alongside you as Secretary of Defense.
Together with the Intelligence Community we are the sentinels and guardians of our nation. We need only look to you, the uniformed and civilian members of the Department and your families, to see the fundamental unity of our country. You represent an America committed to the common good; an America that is never complacent about defending its freedoms; and an America that remains a steady beacon of hope for all mankind.
Every action we take will be designed to ensure our military is ready to fight today and in the future. Recognizing that no nation is secure without friends, we will work with the State Department to strengthen our alliances. Further, we are devoted to gaining full value from every taxpayer dollar spent on defense, thereby earning the trust of Congress and the American people.
I am confident you will do your part. I pledge to you I’ll do my best as your Secretary.
MATTIS SENDS
posted by bluecore at 8:35 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
NPR did make one good point this morning - Trump has been making the same noises about the state of America since the 1980s. Also their funding sources are quite diverse.
Then why is their coverage so terrible??
posted by great_radio at 19:36 on January 20
Their ethos seems to be to provide all sides of an issue evenly, the better to let the audience make their own conclusions and judgements. Also ratings, and keeping a diverse range of funding sources.
Also, eponysterical, hee.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:36 PM on January 20, 2017
Then why is their coverage so terrible??
posted by great_radio at 19:36 on January 20
Their ethos seems to be to provide all sides of an issue evenly, the better to let the audience make their own conclusions and judgements. Also ratings, and keeping a diverse range of funding sources.
Also, eponysterical, hee.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:36 PM on January 20, 2017
I'm in the UK, have never followed @POTUS, and yet I just had to unfollow the account
Not unsettling at all. This is day one...
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Not unsettling at all. This is day one...
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:37 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Compare this image of Obama leaving the Oval Office for the last time with this image of Trump signing his first executive orders - the only major changes so far seem to be the curtains, removal of the carpet, and a new presidential chair.
posted by ymgve at 8:38 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ymgve at 8:38 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Interior Department banned from Twitter after retweets on crowd and White House website
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:40 PM on January 20, 2017 [6 favorites]
Turns out Republicans aren't immune to being hacked after all. Not even in the Age of Trump. That's quite a list.
posted by scalefree at 8:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 8:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
With the pictures of Trump signing executive orders, it's telling that even the minimal nods to diversity he displayed in the campaign are gone. When it's actually time to get down to governing in the Oval Office, he's just surrounded by a group of white men.
posted by zachlipton at 8:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 8:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
There's a committee that has approval over certain aspects of White House decoration. Well, until there isn't, and it all goes Gilded Dictator Chic.
posted by holgate at 8:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by holgate at 8:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Alexandra Petri, WaPo: Donald Trump’s inauguration was a Gothic nightmare
What a wonderfully demented article.
"Everyone looks like they are in 'The Sound of Music,' but not the right part."
posted by bibliowench at 8:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
What a wonderfully demented article.
"Everyone looks like they are in 'The Sound of Music,' but not the right part."
posted by bibliowench at 8:45 PM on January 20, 2017 [21 favorites]
A reminder of better times (currently on repeat).
posted by girasoli at 8:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by girasoli at 8:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Milo Yiannopoulos is speaking at the University of Washington tonight, with tons of protests, Seattle Times is reporting that one person has been shot.
posted by skycrashesdown at 8:55 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by skycrashesdown at 8:55 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
A reminder of better times (currently on repeat).
See also: First Black First Lady (real banger!)
posted by dhens at 9:02 PM on January 20, 2017
See also: First Black First Lady (real banger!)
posted by dhens at 9:02 PM on January 20, 2017
I am worried about posting fake news but I see a few folks saying that the Spanish translation option on wh.gov is gone.
posted by futz at 9:02 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by futz at 9:02 PM on January 20, 2017
Yiannopoulos returns to stage, says he thinks the show should go on. "if we don't continue, they have won." Crowd cheers, stands.
Part of me wonders if he was told it was a pro-Milo supporter that got shot. He's a cynical grifter, but I wouldn't think dumb enough about being that to just carry on with that statement if it was an anti-Milo victim and a pro-Milo shooter.
"Lynn Thompson @lthompsontimes
Trump supporters in Make America Great again shouting "Two genders!" to chants of "transgender welcome here."
Unusually, I don't have any evens.
posted by jaduncan at 9:03 PM on January 20, 2017
Part of me wonders if he was told it was a pro-Milo supporter that got shot. He's a cynical grifter, but I wouldn't think dumb enough about being that to just carry on with that statement if it was an anti-Milo victim and a pro-Milo shooter.
"Lynn Thompson @lthompsontimes
Trump supporters in Make America Great again shouting "Two genders!" to chants of "transgender welcome here."
Unusually, I don't have any evens.
posted by jaduncan at 9:03 PM on January 20, 2017
Remember when GamerGate was just misogynist authoritarians who didn't leave their parents' basements?
Those were good times, weren't they?
posted by Yowser at 9:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
Those were good times, weren't they?
posted by Yowser at 9:04 PM on January 20, 2017 [15 favorites]
futz: It's pretty easy to confirm. Whitehouse.gov en espanol.
posted by Justinian at 9:04 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by Justinian at 9:04 PM on January 20, 2017
“Man… first the Fat Boys break up, and now this.”
hold each other in the Light my friends!
posted by Divine_Wino at 9:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
hold each other in the Light my friends!
posted by Divine_Wino at 9:07 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
He has this just absolutely miserable scowl on his face.
Found it. The tweet it was attached to was unnecessarily rude to Melania but that scowl almost makes it all worth it. Almost.
posted by scalefree at 9:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
Found it. The tweet it was attached to was unnecessarily rude to Melania but that scowl almost makes it all worth it. Almost.
posted by scalefree at 9:10 PM on January 20, 2017 [10 favorites]
What a wonderfully demented article.
Petri and the Graun's Marina Hyde are cousins in spirit. They've honed in on the way that you have to go proper absurdist in order to do justice to it all.
posted by holgate at 9:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Petri and the Graun's Marina Hyde are cousins in spirit. They've honed in on the way that you have to go proper absurdist in order to do justice to it all.
posted by holgate at 9:11 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Melancholia.
posted by holgate at 9:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by holgate at 9:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump's new business venture: GOLD SHOWER — Let It Rain Over Me
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:13 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:13 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm not alone in being scared sick, right?
Because I just got home from work, aka a very special la la land where nothing is bad or wrong, and now I'm coming to terms with reality and I am very, very scared of it
posted by Hermione Granger at 9:14 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Because I just got home from work, aka a very special la la land where nothing is bad or wrong, and now I'm coming to terms with reality and I am very, very scared of it
posted by Hermione Granger at 9:14 PM on January 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
To clarify on my GamerGate statement (while Milo flamed), I know of a Twitch streamer. He lives at home at 27, and volunteers for his filthy rich fathers' hockey rink. His dad had a rather impressive collection of expensive cars.
He doesn't have a real job, but made a piddling off of Twitch back in 2014.He whines on Twitter about bike lanes and transit.
He started a Trump fundraiser despite being Canadian. He replies to Canadian media berating them for questioning how health Trump's presidency will be. He used Pick Up Artist language, and calls people cucks.
This is the new normal for rich, spoiled white little shitbags.
posted by Yowser at 9:14 PM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
He doesn't have a real job, but made a piddling off of Twitch back in 2014.He whines on Twitter about bike lanes and transit.
He started a Trump fundraiser despite being Canadian. He replies to Canadian media berating them for questioning how health Trump's presidency will be. He used Pick Up Artist language, and calls people cucks.
This is the new normal for rich, spoiled white little shitbags.
posted by Yowser at 9:14 PM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
So Tony Orlando is performing, but no Dawn? Was Trump the final blow that broke up the group?
posted by boilermonster at 9:16 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by boilermonster at 9:16 PM on January 20, 2017
Those were good times, weren't they?
Not for the people they persecuted, no. Not for Zoe Quinn and Anita Sarkeesian and Brianna Wu, no. There's been a certain amount of talk about how Zuckerberg has been doing a quasi-campaign tour of places, which you could possibly read as a kind of atonement, but going back upthread to the essential Stoppard line, there was a moment where he and Jack Dorsey could have stopped this. We saw this shit coming, and it casts a shadow over the trolly "well, California's popular vote doesn't count" argument, because liberal VC-driven, stock market dependent tech California decided that its bottom line and pursuit of "engagement" metrics and naive attitude towards freedom of speech on private platforms allowed actual fucking Nazis to do actual fucking Nazi shit.
posted by holgate at 9:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
Not for the people they persecuted, no. Not for Zoe Quinn and Anita Sarkeesian and Brianna Wu, no. There's been a certain amount of talk about how Zuckerberg has been doing a quasi-campaign tour of places, which you could possibly read as a kind of atonement, but going back upthread to the essential Stoppard line, there was a moment where he and Jack Dorsey could have stopped this. We saw this shit coming, and it casts a shadow over the trolly "well, California's popular vote doesn't count" argument, because liberal VC-driven, stock market dependent tech California decided that its bottom line and pursuit of "engagement" metrics and naive attitude towards freedom of speech on private platforms allowed actual fucking Nazis to do actual fucking Nazi shit.
posted by holgate at 9:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [29 favorites]
And that's not a jab at you, Yowser: it's that we were in a position of dubious privilege to see it all in its earliest vile incarnation.
posted by holgate at 9:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by holgate at 9:25 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
tumblr wisdom: my friend just texted me “it’s not acceptable that trump feels good about himself and you don’t” and i think it’s the most motivational thing i’ve ever read
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:27 PM on January 20, 2017 [53 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:27 PM on January 20, 2017 [53 favorites]
Can I just say I'm really disturbed at the level of narcissism here?
posted by scalefree at 9:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 9:28 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Can I just say I'm really disturbed at the level of narcissism here?
to say nothing about the bold faced lie of him sweeping to victory on his first attempt.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 9:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
to say nothing about the bold faced lie of him sweeping to victory on his first attempt.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 9:31 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
All of it is just so insane. I think he's slipped the bounds of his humanity or at least thinks he has. It's just so creepy it has to be his copywriting.
posted by scalefree at 9:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by scalefree at 9:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
"Obama left the country in a bad state, we are trying to fix it but you gotta understand, it takes time"
jobs (blue) vs full employment (red)
Real GDP per capita never been higher.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=crsd shows national debt (less that held by Fed and SSA etc) has been held to ~60% of GDP since 2010, largely thanks to the GOP Congress slow-rolling the executive with the shutdown games and sequester BS.
This is truly a nation of children. I want to say something else quite vulgar here, but I'll hold my tongue.
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 9:38 PM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
jobs (blue) vs full employment (red)
Real GDP per capita never been higher.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=crsd shows national debt (less that held by Fed and SSA etc) has been held to ~60% of GDP since 2010, largely thanks to the GOP Congress slow-rolling the executive with the shutdown games and sequester BS.
This is truly a nation of children. I want to say something else quite vulgar here, but I'll hold my tongue.
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 9:38 PM on January 20, 2017 [30 favorites]
From the you are not alone, friends, files:
My friend is heading from BC to USA today and reports she was nervous to cross the border for the first time in her life...But then the ferry was full of women in pink hats and she felt better.
Meanwhile women's march causes wool shortage in Victoria, BC
posted by chapps at 9:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
My friend is heading from BC to USA today and reports she was nervous to cross the border for the first time in her life...But then the ferry was full of women in pink hats and she felt better.
Meanwhile women's march causes wool shortage in Victoria, BC
posted by chapps at 9:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [14 favorites]
Pence's official portrait is even worse, somehow
posted by theodolite at 9:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by theodolite at 9:41 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
We all hate these, but we love them.
Metafilter: It's just so creepy it has to be his copywriting.
posted by notyou at 9:41 PM on January 20, 2017
Metafilter: It's just so creepy it has to be his copywriting.
posted by notyou at 9:41 PM on January 20, 2017
It looks like Madame Tussaud's first try
posted by theodolite at 9:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 9:42 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
Pence's WH bio says he was born in 1959, which means he should have graduated from high school in 1977. And yet it also says he "set off" to college in 1981, which is actually his expected graduation year. So what was he doing during the intervening four years?
posted by carmicha at 9:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 9:47 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Mike Pence always looks like he's wearing the face of the last person he killed.
posted by bibliowench at 9:49 PM on January 20, 2017 [79 favorites]
posted by bibliowench at 9:49 PM on January 20, 2017 [79 favorites]
Wikipedia says Pence graduated from Columbus North High School in 1977. He earned a BA degree in history from Hanover College in 1981, and a JD degree from the Indiana University's Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis in 1986.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:51 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:51 PM on January 20, 2017
that gray-domed paste eater can't be 6 years younger than me.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 9:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 9:53 PM on January 20, 2017 [13 favorites]
Wikipedia says Pence graduated from Columbus North High School in 1977. He earned a BA degree in history from Hanover College in 1981
So his official bio is wrong. Great.
posted by carmicha at 9:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
So his official bio is wrong. Great.
posted by carmicha at 9:54 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
thread: I don't care how many different songs you set Richard Spencer being punched to, I'll laugh at every one.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:55 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:55 PM on January 20, 2017 [17 favorites]
So what was he doing during the intervening four years?
it's difficult to get yrrr head around as it involves highly complex subquantal physics, but I'm pretty sure these four years cover the "time" he spent in the future pulling all the cosmic strings necessary for all of this mad shit to happen
posted by philip-random at 9:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
it's difficult to get yrrr head around as it involves highly complex subquantal physics, but I'm pretty sure these four years cover the "time" he spent in the future pulling all the cosmic strings necessary for all of this mad shit to happen
posted by philip-random at 9:57 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Can I just say I'm really disturbed at the level of narcissism here?
Really? No one is going to "Metafilter:" this?
posted by bongo_x at 9:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Really? No one is going to "Metafilter:" this?
posted by bongo_x at 9:59 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
um, this baker is accusing them of plagiarizing the cake he made for the Obama 2012 inauguration.
posted by zachlipton at 10:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 10:01 PM on January 20, 2017 [22 favorites]
Metafilter: Really? No one is going to "Metafilter:" this?
posted by sporkwort at 10:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [42 favorites]
posted by sporkwort at 10:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [42 favorites]
I hope you all know how gross and insulting all this speculation appears to non-traditional college students.
Some people take more than 4 years to finish high school.
Some people take time off after high school, whether to save money or help with the family business or whatever else.
Some people - a lot of people - take more than 4 years to finish college, even among those who go to college (which is far less than a majority). Or less than 4 years, if they have to skip some distributional credits and leave early, again to help out with the family business or whatever else.
Mike Pence isn't evil because he had a non-traditional college career - he's evil because he's a homophobic, misogynist pig who wants to impose those viewpoints on the entire country.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 10:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [47 favorites]
Some people take more than 4 years to finish high school.
Some people take time off after high school, whether to save money or help with the family business or whatever else.
Some people - a lot of people - take more than 4 years to finish college, even among those who go to college (which is far less than a majority). Or less than 4 years, if they have to skip some distributional credits and leave early, again to help out with the family business or whatever else.
Mike Pence isn't evil because he had a non-traditional college career - he's evil because he's a homophobic, misogynist pig who wants to impose those viewpoints on the entire country.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 10:03 PM on January 20, 2017 [47 favorites]
Already Trump has signed something to change Obamacare, though details are fuzzy.
Oh well, I'm sure old age is overrated.
: (
posted by Beholder at 10:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh well, I'm sure old age is overrated.
: (
posted by Beholder at 10:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
The cake is a lie.
posted by carmicha at 10:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 10:05 PM on January 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
Mike Pence isn't evil because he had a non-traditional college career - he's evil because he's a homophobic, misogynist pig who wants to impose those viewpoints on the entire country.
Except that he DID have a traditional college career. His own bio is wrong.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
Except that he DID have a traditional college career. His own bio is wrong.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [9 favorites]
The toad has landed.
posted by bongo_x at 10:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 10:06 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
I hope you all know how gross and insulting all this speculation appears to non-traditional college students.
Some people take more than 4 years to finish high school.
Some people take time off after high school, whether to save money or help with the family business or whatever else.
Some people - a lot of people - take more than 4 years to finish college, even among those who go to college (which is far less than a majority). Or less than 4 years, if they have to skip some distributional credits and leave early, again to help out with the family business or whatever else.
Mike Pence isn't evil because he had a non-traditional college career - he's evil because he's a homophobic, misogynist pig who wants to impose those viewpoints on the entire country.
I was simply asking what he was doing because it's interesting. Reread my comment and I don't think you'll find any evidence of me maligning non-traditional students or claiming a non-linear academic career makes Pence evil.
posted by carmicha at 10:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Some people take more than 4 years to finish high school.
Some people take time off after high school, whether to save money or help with the family business or whatever else.
Some people - a lot of people - take more than 4 years to finish college, even among those who go to college (which is far less than a majority). Or less than 4 years, if they have to skip some distributional credits and leave early, again to help out with the family business or whatever else.
Mike Pence isn't evil because he had a non-traditional college career - he's evil because he's a homophobic, misogynist pig who wants to impose those viewpoints on the entire country.
I was simply asking what he was doing because it's interesting. Reread my comment and I don't think you'll find any evidence of me maligning non-traditional students or claiming a non-linear academic career makes Pence evil.
posted by carmicha at 10:08 PM on January 20, 2017 [11 favorites]
Non traditional college student here. I laughed at the shoddiness of the Administration's copywriting, not that Pence took a couple extra years to get there. Or didn't. Whatever. But.
posted by notyou at 10:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by notyou at 10:18 PM on January 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Justinian:
futz: It's pretty easy to confirm. Whitehouse.gov en espanol.
So I should explain a bit. I have a major issue giving a site clicks if I am strongly opposed to what the site or a person directly related to the site stands for. I know that it is a government website in this case but I will continue to go out of my way to avoid it by googling a bunch to to confirm through other sources.
I know logically that my non click doesn't matter but when donnie brags tomorrow or next week about the 'unpresidented' number of hits 'his' website got, I get a tiny amount of satisfaction that I wasn't one of them.
I know that it is odd but it's ingrained at this point.
posted by futz at 10:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
futz: It's pretty easy to confirm. Whitehouse.gov en espanol.
So I should explain a bit. I have a major issue giving a site clicks if I am strongly opposed to what the site or a person directly related to the site stands for. I know that it is a government website in this case but I will continue to go out of my way to avoid it by googling a bunch to to confirm through other sources.
I know logically that my non click doesn't matter but when donnie brags tomorrow or next week about the 'unpresidented' number of hits 'his' website got, I get a tiny amount of satisfaction that I wasn't one of them.
I know that it is odd but it's ingrained at this point.
posted by futz at 10:19 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Um, this baker is accusing them of plagiarizing the cake he made for the Obama 2012 inauguration.
Seems to be true (the 2013 cake is showing up in articles at NPR, Eater, some cake site, etc., and that's definitely not Obama on the right of the baker's tweet or in the wider angle NY Times photo.) Seriously, no grift is too petty for the incoming administration.
posted by ubersturm at 10:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
Seems to be true (the 2013 cake is showing up in articles at NPR, Eater, some cake site, etc., and that's definitely not Obama on the right of the baker's tweet or in the wider angle NY Times photo.) Seriously, no grift is too petty for the incoming administration.
posted by ubersturm at 10:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
#MILO's cameraman assaulted b4 the shooting at the University of #Washington. #Antifa Protestors wielded sharpened sticks & baseball bats
posted by porn in the woods at 10:23 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by porn in the woods at 10:23 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Seeing Milo's cronies get what they deserve brings me so much pleasure. He is an evil man who surrounds himself with sycophants (witness how his cameraman has forgotten the first rule of videotaping-don't talk)
posted by Yowser at 10:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Yowser at 10:33 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
Can I just say I'm really disturbed at the level of narcissism here?
It's more a dictator-style hagiography. You can play the exciting new "Trump (USA) or Kim family member (DPRK)" game at home whenever you want:
It's more a dictator-style hagiography. You can play the exciting new "Trump (USA) or Kim family member (DPRK)" game at home whenever you want:
According to his biography, he first picked up a golf club in 1994, at ******'s only golf course, and shot a 38-under par round that included no fewer than 11 holes in one. Satisfied with his performance, he reportedly immediately declared his retirement from the sport.posted by jaduncan at 10:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
An accomplished author, ******* has authored over fourteen bestsellers and his first book, ********, in addition to being the #1 book of the year, is considered a ****** classic.
He is said to have owned at least 17 opulent mansions.
Likewise, his entry into politics and public service resulted in the Presidential victory in, miraculously, his first ever run for office.
A personality evaluation report on him, compiled by psychiatrists suggested that the "big six" group of personality disorders - sadistic, paranoid, antisocial, narcissistic, schizoid and schizotypal - which were shared by dictators Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Saddam Hussein were also dominant in ********.
In fairness, regarding the plagiarized cake, fault probably lies with whatever baker the inaugural ball organizers hired, and not Trump or his team. Even if they told the baker to "Make one just like this," the responsible artist would refuse.
posted by carmicha at 10:55 PM on January 20, 2017
posted by carmicha at 10:55 PM on January 20, 2017
So Meredith bakes then?
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:12 PM on January 20, 2017 [19 favorites]
I suspect Trump will become bored by the Presidency by Monday.
posted by mazola at 11:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by mazola at 11:22 PM on January 20, 2017 [5 favorites]
FWIW
Andrew Cuomo to Widen Access to Free Abortion and Contraception
Gonna get me one of these.
posted by saysthis at 11:32 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Andrew Cuomo to Widen Access to Free Abortion and Contraception
Gonna get me one of these.
posted by saysthis at 11:32 PM on January 20, 2017 [12 favorites]
Mattis can actually perfom either role.
posted by jaduncan at 11:39 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 11:39 PM on January 20, 2017 [2 favorites]
Andrew Cuomo to Widen Access to Free Abortion and Contraception
That'll be it, won't it, devolution of power to states. Healthcare and civil society on the coasts, and forced pregnancies (and I don't know, regular truck processions) elsewhere... (Who was it that speculated that some states might secede, and/or there'd be a civil war? Someone did, maybe on truthdig or something...)
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
That'll be it, won't it, devolution of power to states. Healthcare and civil society on the coasts, and forced pregnancies (and I don't know, regular truck processions) elsewhere... (Who was it that speculated that some states might secede, and/or there'd be a civil war? Someone did, maybe on truthdig or something...)
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:46 PM on January 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I was at work at the aged care home and consequently unable to watch this suspicious occasion unfold. Today was Movie Morn and we watched an old Brit comedy, which was enjoyed by all who remained awake. The title, "Too Many Crooks", comes back to me as I read ... this ... t..h..r..e..a..d. And I think Well, that's on-topic, you should post that.
Yes I'm intoxicated, why do you ask?
posted by valetta at 12:07 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Yes I'm intoxicated, why do you ask?
posted by valetta at 12:07 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Speaking of Marina Hyde, she captures the mixture of surreal and belligerent well here.
“Now arrives the hour of action.” It arrives for the media, too, especially the ones who marked time in the buildup by asking: “Will we see a new Donald Trump out there today?” Guys, there is one Donald Trump, there is one speech. There is no fault with your set. President Trump’s demeanour was so openly populist and bullish that it seemed primarily designed to provide portentous establishing footage for future documentaries with titles like Dark Star Rising, or The Gathering Storm.
posted by o seasons o castles at 12:12 AM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
“Now arrives the hour of action.” It arrives for the media, too, especially the ones who marked time in the buildup by asking: “Will we see a new Donald Trump out there today?” Guys, there is one Donald Trump, there is one speech. There is no fault with your set. President Trump’s demeanour was so openly populist and bullish that it seemed primarily designed to provide portentous establishing footage for future documentaries with titles like Dark Star Rising, or The Gathering Storm.
posted by o seasons o castles at 12:12 AM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
The folks who have experience with tyrants keep telling us to listen to what the tyrant says. That's it. So simple. The Wall. The Tariffs. The Carbon. The No ACA. There's no code. Nothing to parse. No politician speak to prism. That's all there is. Why can't we beat it?
posted by notyou at 12:20 AM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by notyou at 12:20 AM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
Started watching the Netflix version of A Series of Unfortunate Events ... and I'm reminded:
Patrick Warburton for President.
posted by philip-random at 12:21 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Patrick Warburton for President.
posted by philip-random at 12:21 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Am I understanding this right - did Milo pat himself on the back for carrying on his speech after one of his supporters shot one of the protesters? Profile in courage right there.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:43 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:43 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
Couldn't march myself due to aforementioned work but here are a couple of links to ABC News coverage of the Women's March in Sydney and other Oz and NZ cities. Mostly pictures.
posted by valetta at 1:05 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by valetta at 1:05 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
FYI: If you were following POTUS on twitter and intentionally unfollowed when Trump took over the account, check to make sure you are still not following. Because apparently twitter took it upon itself to automatically re-follow that account for many users (myself included).
posted by Atom Eyes at 1:06 AM on January 21, 2017
posted by Atom Eyes at 1:06 AM on January 21, 2017
Dear God. We can already see what will happen to the peaceful resistance. A 25-year old man who protested at University of Washington because they hosted hate-machine Milo was shot by a 50-year old gun nut and is now in critical condition at Harborview.
This is not normal. It should not be normal, but it will become normal very quickly as we realize they have the guns, they have no morals, and they have no qualms about taking us out for challenging their rule.
posted by SakuraK at 4:08 PM on January 21
[1 favorite +] [!]
As it was in the civil rights movement, the strikes of the unionization movement, the fight against slavery, Apartheid, the Indian independence movement, and all the rest of the battles we won. We, the good guys, the ones who want freedom and decency for all people. Make no mistake about what we're up against, and the level of heroism and courage it will take to fight them.
The melodramatic tone is justified. We know exactly what works already. Let's do this.
posted by saysthis at 1:21 AM on January 21, 2017 [43 favorites]
This is not normal. It should not be normal, but it will become normal very quickly as we realize they have the guns, they have no morals, and they have no qualms about taking us out for challenging their rule.
posted by SakuraK at 4:08 PM on January 21
[1 favorite +] [!]
As it was in the civil rights movement, the strikes of the unionization movement, the fight against slavery, Apartheid, the Indian independence movement, and all the rest of the battles we won. We, the good guys, the ones who want freedom and decency for all people. Make no mistake about what we're up against, and the level of heroism and courage it will take to fight them.
The melodramatic tone is justified. We know exactly what works already. Let's do this.
posted by saysthis at 1:21 AM on January 21, 2017 [43 favorites]
I missed the Wellington NZ women's march, but I made it to the Love Trumps Hate meetup afterwards. A friend who was on the march figured a crowd of 5-600, I'd estimate about 3-400 at the meetup when I got there. Oh, the bottom picture in Valetta's link is a photo from Wellington, I saw those women. [Love Trumps Hate was a bit weird because they tried to cover everything, so some good speeches about reproductive health, refugees and stuff, but then a teachers' union speech that was basically about NZ policy, not the US].
posted by Pink Frost at 1:32 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Pink Frost at 1:32 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
That's okay if your NZ rally focused on NZ. We're happy to give you an excuse to get together and meanwhile, you do you, and we'll do us, and we'll all do something together.
posted by notyou at 1:37 AM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by notyou at 1:37 AM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
[That said, we had American-Kiwi speakers who were explicitly talking about the US, one of whom was explaining the situation with Planned Parenthood there, and encouraging us to donate to PP - things were certainly being brought back to Trump/the US]
posted by Pink Frost at 1:47 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Pink Frost at 1:47 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
It’s rainin’ across the nation.
Across the country,
the sky is concrete.
Green shoots rise up
and wrestle for life
among people divided.
posted by maurreen at 3:14 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Across the country,
the sky is concrete.
Green shoots rise up
and wrestle for life
among people divided.
posted by maurreen at 3:14 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
I've already seen the "Trump supporters couldn't attend the inauguration because they have jobs" thing on Facebook. My response:
Trump campaigned on how all the jobs were gone, and how he was going to bring them all back.
Supposedly all the people who voted for him were poor people forgotten about, who had no jobs.
If they had no jobs, surely they could have attended.
If they did have jobs, then surely Trump's claim of the American economy being in shambles with everyone out of work was horseshit, right?
So far, they haven't written back.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [58 favorites]
Trump campaigned on how all the jobs were gone, and how he was going to bring them all back.
Supposedly all the people who voted for him were poor people forgotten about, who had no jobs.
If they had no jobs, surely they could have attended.
If they did have jobs, then surely Trump's claim of the American economy being in shambles with everyone out of work was horseshit, right?
So far, they haven't written back.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [58 favorites]
I've already seen the "Trump supporters couldn't attend the inauguration because they have jobs" thing on Facebook. My responaw:
Mine was just "THANKS OBAMA."
I haven't heard back yet either.
posted by Etrigan at 3:56 AM on January 21, 2017 [58 favorites]
Mine was just "THANKS OBAMA."
I haven't heard back yet either.
posted by Etrigan at 3:56 AM on January 21, 2017 [58 favorites]
um, this baker is accusing them of plagiarizing the cake he made for the Obama 2012 inauguration.
Maybe we'll get lucky and Trump will plagarize his way to Obama's third term.
posted by Talez at 4:40 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Maybe we'll get lucky and Trump will plagarize his way to Obama's third term.
posted by Talez at 4:40 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
In contrast with the America First policy being peddled by some Republicans (Cruz, Rubio and candidate Dognald) since 2016 (at least) quote by Thomas Jefferson-"Peace And Friendship With All Mankind Is Our Wisest Policy And I Wish We May Be Permitted To Pursue It" Bonus: John F. Kennedy-"Domestic policy can only defeat us; foreign policy can kill us"
posted by cynicalidealist at 4:47 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by cynicalidealist at 4:47 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Edinburgh march organiser is apparently combining it with celebrating her 17th birthday.
Radio interview
Someone over from Glasgow, presumably...
posted by Buntix at 4:48 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Radio interview
Someone over from Glasgow, presumably...
posted by Buntix at 4:48 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
um, this baker is accusing them of plagiarizing the cake he made for the Obama 2012 inauguration.
Maybe we'll get lucky and Trump will plagarize his way to Obama's third term.
White person doing the same thing as a black person and getting all the credit? I can't think of anything more American.
posted by Etrigan at 4:51 AM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
Maybe we'll get lucky and Trump will plagarize his way to Obama's third term.
White person doing the same thing as a black person and getting all the credit? I can't think of anything more American.
posted by Etrigan at 4:51 AM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
That'll be it, won't it, devolution of power to states. Healthcare and civil society on the coasts, and forced pregnancies (and I don't know, regular truck processions) elsewhere... (Who was it that speculated that some states might secede, and/or there'd be a civil war? Someone did, maybe on truthdig or something...)
I've speculated that one way it could lead is not so much official succession but yes more power to the states but more the evolution to a modern version of city-states.
posted by Jalliah at 4:51 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've speculated that one way it could lead is not so much official succession but yes more power to the states but more the evolution to a modern version of city-states.
posted by Jalliah at 4:51 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump's and Pence's official portrait photos, if that's what they are, look as though they're lit for TV. They look like video frame grabs.
posted by emelenjr at 4:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by emelenjr at 4:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Maybe we'll get lucky and Trump will plagarize his way to Obama's third term.
Nah, Trump's more the sort to plagarize from Hollywood.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:54 AM on January 21, 2017
Nah, Trump's more the sort to plagarize from Hollywood.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:54 AM on January 21, 2017
White person doing the same thing as a black person and getting all the credit? I can't think of anything more American.
I honestly don't care if it's Trumpcare or Obamacare. As long as poor people get insurance and don't die it could be called Hitlercare for all I give a shit.
posted by Talez at 4:55 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
I honestly don't care if it's Trumpcare or Obamacare. As long as poor people get insurance and don't die it could be called Hitlercare for all I give a shit.
posted by Talez at 4:55 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
mea culpa - my link about plagarizing frrom Hollywood is apparently hoax news my bad
although admit it Trump plagarizing THE BEE MOVIE for his inaugural speech is just the kind of thing he'd do
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:57 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
although admit it Trump plagarizing THE BEE MOVIE for his inaugural speech is just the kind of thing he'd do
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:57 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Donald Trump's first official visit in Paris.
posted by elgilito at 5:04 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by elgilito at 5:04 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
bongo_x: "Lemme know when he's asking Americans to look for the union label.
Hard to believe that when I was growing up we saw those commercials all the time. As kids we knew the words."
It was common enough that SNL did a parody of it.
posted by octothorpe at 5:17 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Hard to believe that when I was growing up we saw those commercials all the time. As kids we knew the words."
It was common enough that SNL did a parody of it.
posted by octothorpe at 5:17 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
I know a lot of people are donating to Planned Parenthood and I think that is wonderful - I just want to also point out the National Network of Abortion Funds as another organization that is helping women, and that will likely need more support with government increasing its attacks on Roe v. Wade.
posted by hilaryjade at 5:18 AM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by hilaryjade at 5:18 AM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
I've speculated that one way it could lead is not so much official succession but yes more power to the states but more the evolution to a modern version of city-states.
That's an interesting theory. The thing is, so many states that have large, largely democratic/left leaning cities have, just through sheer geographical distribution, very, very conservative state governments. I mean, you've got a perfect example in Illinois, where the sheer numbers of people in Chicago almost guarantee its electoral votes will be for the democratic candidate, yet the state house is usually controlled by people from districts down state. States rights wouldn't necessarily be good for a lone outpost like Chicago.
Continuing in the Midwest, I mean, Christ, Wisconsin. Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, liberal as hell, but just not big enough to sway the state against the cancer that is Walker.
Or Michigan, where the right control the state government, and have, through the outright subversion of democracy that is the emergency manager, essentially crippled any left leaning and/or non-white city (which usually means the same thing).
The city state thing (that I'm starting to see more and more talk of), or even States Rights as a "good" thing, really would require something like California, where the number of large, liberal cities would cover enough ground, and take up enough space in the state government to make a difference. Honestly, the states is where the republicans are Vikings. They've been working at shoring up power in state houses, city councils, school boards, you name it. I think they'd love it if the left suddenly tries to make states rights a thing.
posted by Ghidorah at 5:33 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
That's an interesting theory. The thing is, so many states that have large, largely democratic/left leaning cities have, just through sheer geographical distribution, very, very conservative state governments. I mean, you've got a perfect example in Illinois, where the sheer numbers of people in Chicago almost guarantee its electoral votes will be for the democratic candidate, yet the state house is usually controlled by people from districts down state. States rights wouldn't necessarily be good for a lone outpost like Chicago.
Continuing in the Midwest, I mean, Christ, Wisconsin. Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, liberal as hell, but just not big enough to sway the state against the cancer that is Walker.
Or Michigan, where the right control the state government, and have, through the outright subversion of democracy that is the emergency manager, essentially crippled any left leaning and/or non-white city (which usually means the same thing).
The city state thing (that I'm starting to see more and more talk of), or even States Rights as a "good" thing, really would require something like California, where the number of large, liberal cities would cover enough ground, and take up enough space in the state government to make a difference. Honestly, the states is where the republicans are Vikings. They've been working at shoring up power in state houses, city councils, school boards, you name it. I think they'd love it if the left suddenly tries to make states rights a thing.
posted by Ghidorah at 5:33 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
I made a Reddit account, but I couldn't find enough trolls to battle, so I made a new Facebook account (no way am I brave enough to do this under my real, female name) and started following Breitbart, Milo Yiannoupolos, Rush Limbaugh, and Fox News. The comments on their posts are just a rich mine of uncontested falsehoods. I've started contesting! It's kind of fun, since these are all strangers and I'm not using my real name I can say how I really feel... (Oh crap, am I turning into one of them? Must try to remember my manners, even when I'm annonymous.)
Anyway, if anyone wants to join me in tilting at windmills, send me a memail and our alter egos can be friends!
posted by OnceUponATime at 5:36 AM on January 21, 2017 [35 favorites]
Anyway, if anyone wants to join me in tilting at windmills, send me a memail and our alter egos can be friends!
posted by OnceUponATime at 5:36 AM on January 21, 2017 [35 favorites]
New song from Tim Heidecker: Richard Spencer
posted by porn in the woods at 5:41 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by porn in the woods at 5:41 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Whole metro car cheers as this woman walks in #WomensMarch
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:42 AM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:42 AM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
Don't know if this was posted in the last 1100 comments, but I saw this image on b3ta comparing the Trump and Obama crowds which made me smile grimly. [fake]
posted by Hal Mumkin at 5:42 AM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Hal Mumkin at 5:42 AM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
"Because apparently twitter took it upon itself to automatically re-follow that account for many users (myself included)."
Twitter Insists It Isn’t Making Everyone Follow @POTUS
tldr: a technical glitch, no rly
posted by klarck at 5:47 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Twitter Insists It Isn’t Making Everyone Follow @POTUS
tldr: a technical glitch, no rly
posted by klarck at 5:47 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
If I'm reading the stats right, Obama's personal Twitter has more than twice as many followers as POTUS and realdonaldtrump combined.
Is the pope in Rome or Avignon?
posted by Devonian at 5:48 AM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
Is the pope in Rome or Avignon?
posted by Devonian at 5:48 AM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
Securing a travel iPhone
Wanted to share this link since there was some discussion earlier about security, and since many of us will be taking an iPhone on marches today. This is a fairly comprehensive checklist, some of it won't be necessary, but it's good to know what your options are in iOS.
posted by honestcoyote at 6:07 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Wanted to share this link since there was some discussion earlier about security, and since many of us will be taking an iPhone on marches today. This is a fairly comprehensive checklist, some of it won't be necessary, but it's good to know what your options are in iOS.
posted by honestcoyote at 6:07 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
The city state thing (that I'm starting to see more and more talk of), or even States Rights as a "good" thing, really would require something like California, where the number of large, liberal cities would cover enough ground, and take up enough space in the state government to make a difference. Honestly, the states is where the republicans are Vikings. They've been working at shoring up power in state houses, city councils, school boards, you name it. I think they'd love it if the left suddenly tries to make states rights a thing.
I don't see the potential in that it's a purpose based campaign with such an end. It's more about battles for power based on single issues that end up leading to such an end state. For instance I can see the seeds of it in the whole issue of Sanctuary Cities where the cities themselves have declared that they aren't going to follow dictates on high regarding immigration and have said our city is 'safe space' so to speak. So what happens in the situation where a more Republican based Statehouse is in conflict with cities in their State on such matters?
In more normal circumstances I wouldn't see this going anywhere but this election has led to even more division and resentment between cities and more rural areas. The political will that would have to be there to back up such measures is increasing. Things aren't normal anymore and what can end up happening in times like this is pre-conceived notions tend to fall away and new notions can take hold.
I completely agree about California. I can see them being a nucleus for this sort of thing. Healthcare is another issue. California has just passed something about single payer (don't know much detail) but if they go ahead an attempt to do their own thing that's a big deal. They have the economic clout to back up what they want to do.
I'm not suggesting that any of this sort of thinking will lead anywhere or be successful. It's just that I see the potential for such conflicts between 'cities' and their States. New York is another one because of it's economic clout.
posted by Jalliah at 6:08 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
I don't see the potential in that it's a purpose based campaign with such an end. It's more about battles for power based on single issues that end up leading to such an end state. For instance I can see the seeds of it in the whole issue of Sanctuary Cities where the cities themselves have declared that they aren't going to follow dictates on high regarding immigration and have said our city is 'safe space' so to speak. So what happens in the situation where a more Republican based Statehouse is in conflict with cities in their State on such matters?
In more normal circumstances I wouldn't see this going anywhere but this election has led to even more division and resentment between cities and more rural areas. The political will that would have to be there to back up such measures is increasing. Things aren't normal anymore and what can end up happening in times like this is pre-conceived notions tend to fall away and new notions can take hold.
I completely agree about California. I can see them being a nucleus for this sort of thing. Healthcare is another issue. California has just passed something about single payer (don't know much detail) but if they go ahead an attempt to do their own thing that's a big deal. They have the economic clout to back up what they want to do.
I'm not suggesting that any of this sort of thinking will lead anywhere or be successful. It's just that I see the potential for such conflicts between 'cities' and their States. New York is another one because of it's economic clout.
posted by Jalliah at 6:08 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
And on another note I'm watching MSNBC right now and they are covering the protest. They are interviewing people, women, and it is just so inspiring and 'good'. Such a contrast from yesterday.
This is the America that I know and love.
Go protesters go. THIS IS AMAZING.
posted by Jalliah at 6:13 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
This is the America that I know and love.
Go protesters go. THIS IS AMAZING.
posted by Jalliah at 6:13 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Oh and the reporters and even the hosts have a different energy today. It's noticeable. More positive and some look downright happy.
posted by Jalliah at 6:17 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Jalliah at 6:17 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh my god they are fucking shameless.
@Duff_Goldman: The cake on the left is the one I made for President Obama's inauguration 4 years ago. The one on the right is Trumps. I didn't make it. 🤔
On preview, thanks Jalliah, I haven't turned on the TV news nsince election night but it's good to see some national coverage as I get ready for the March here in L.A.
On preview preview, nope, not if they're going to show Trump supporters. Not today. Goodbye MSNBC.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:18 AM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
@Duff_Goldman: The cake on the left is the one I made for President Obama's inauguration 4 years ago. The one on the right is Trumps. I didn't make it. 🤔
On preview, thanks Jalliah, I haven't turned on the TV news nsince election night but it's good to see some national coverage as I get ready for the March here in L.A.
On preview preview, nope, not if they're going to show Trump supporters. Not today. Goodbye MSNBC.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:18 AM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Oh and the reporters and even the hosts have a different energy today. It's noticeable. More positive and some look downright happy.
The dogs bark and the caravan moves on.
Don't get too happy just because large numbers of people are on the Mall today. He's still president.
posted by ocschwar at 6:20 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
The dogs bark and the caravan moves on.
Don't get too happy just because large numbers of people are on the Mall today. He's still president.
posted by ocschwar at 6:20 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
I don't think there is much of a risk of anyone here getting too happy. But thanks for your concern.
posted by Too-Ticky at 6:21 AM on January 21, 2017 [42 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 6:21 AM on January 21, 2017 [42 favorites]
WSJ: Miller and Bannon wrote the inauguration speech (duh)
How many white nationalists can you fit at a concierge desk?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:26 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
How many white nationalists can you fit at a concierge desk?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:26 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Yes he is still President. Oh well. I guess people should just sit back and shrug cause it won't make him 'not President'.
posted by Jalliah at 6:29 AM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
How many white nationalists can you fit at a concierge desk?
You know if you're trying to make a joke you could have just written "white nationalists".
posted by Talez at 6:34 AM on January 21, 2017
You know if you're trying to make a joke you could have just written "white nationalists".
posted by Talez at 6:34 AM on January 21, 2017
Trump’s executive order on Obamacare: "For now, the executive order hasn’t changed anything. Reading between the lines, however, it may signal that Trump has no interest in trying to make the ACA work while Congress debates repeal."
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:37 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:37 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Sign at the march today: "Congratulations America, you just married Steff from Pretty in Pink"
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:45 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:45 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
We've no way of knowing where the presidential orders come from, though. Trump hasn't got a hope in hell of understanding that document, and he's not going to be available (physically or mentally) to ask what he thought he was doing when he signed it. He could have been told anything.
Must dust off my notes from my Kremlinology 101 lectures.
posted by Devonian at 6:46 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Must dust off my notes from my Kremlinology 101 lectures.
posted by Devonian at 6:46 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Just back from the Sister March protest here in Edinburgh. It was wonderful, a bright blue sky and thousands of people crowding the road into the American consulate. Very glad we went. And Police Scotland were there in a very low-key way, mingling with the crowd, all in soft hats and high-vis vests, which was very encouraging. We stand with you, here in Scotland.
posted by Happy Dave at 6:48 AM on January 21, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by Happy Dave at 6:48 AM on January 21, 2017 [43 favorites]
@Duff_Goldman: The cake on the left is the one I made for President Obama's inauguration 4 years ago. The one on the right is Trumps. I didn't make it. 🤔
So, we are saying that the cake is a lie?
posted by dannyboybell at 6:49 AM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
So, we are saying that the cake is a lie?
posted by dannyboybell at 6:49 AM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
Are you sure about this? There was a similar claim in this thread or the prior one but the link provided was to a bill from 2015 which went nowhere. I would love this to be true though.
No not sure. Just going by what I read here.
posted by Jalliah at 6:50 AM on January 21, 2017
No not sure. Just going by what I read here.
posted by Jalliah at 6:50 AM on January 21, 2017
Balloon Juice quotes NYMag's Rebecca Traister:
posted by Gelatin at 6:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
]he media’s treatment of the march has been so fretful that you’d be forgiven for thinking that this grass-roots demonstration of hundreds of thousands on behalf of women’s rights is an example of feminism in crisis and disarray.Hey, remember when the Republicans who still believed George W. Bush had done a good job rebranded themselves as the Tea Party with a flood of corporate backing money and the media treated them as a fascinating uprising of populist conservative sentiment?
posted by Gelatin at 6:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
It's more about battles for power based on single issues that end up leading to such an end state. For instance I can see the seeds of it in the whole issue of Sanctuary Cities where the cities themselves have declared that they aren't going to follow dictates on high regarding immigration and have said our city is 'safe space' so to speak. So what happens in the situation where a more Republican based Statehouse is in conflict with cities in their State on such matters?
Case in point Charlotte passes a LGBT rights bill and the state in direct response passes the infamous Bathroom Bill. Furthermore the state legislators told us they were going to repeal the unpopular bill in the recent "emergency session " provisionally upon Charlotte nullifying their bill. Charlotte caved and the state did not follow through.
Few things have made me madder than discussing the article about the Trump caps with my husband-- not at him, but the topic. Implied in the article is the idea that given a choice between buying the "Official" (made in America) cap for $35 and the vendors' cheap (made elsewhere) caps for $20-- most of Trump's supporters are going to buy cheaper.
The Left has been shouting "Buy Union" "Buy Local" "Boycott WlaMart" for how many years? How many times have I told my (Trump supporting) in-laws "I do not shop at WalMart, please do not give me any gift cards because they import everything, they do not pay local taxes, they do not treat their workers well" only to be met with, "But everything is cheaper." The documentary "The High Cost of Low Price" came out in 2005 laying it all out for anyone not paying attention and in direct response the Right made shopping at WalMart an American ideal all wrapped up in the flag. I have zero faith that "Buy American" is going to mean anything at all because over and over we have seen "Freedom!" really means "I'm going to do what is best for me and fuck everybody else."
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:56 AM on January 21, 2017 [49 favorites]
Case in point Charlotte passes a LGBT rights bill and the state in direct response passes the infamous Bathroom Bill. Furthermore the state legislators told us they were going to repeal the unpopular bill in the recent "emergency session " provisionally upon Charlotte nullifying their bill. Charlotte caved and the state did not follow through.
Few things have made me madder than discussing the article about the Trump caps with my husband-- not at him, but the topic. Implied in the article is the idea that given a choice between buying the "Official" (made in America) cap for $35 and the vendors' cheap (made elsewhere) caps for $20-- most of Trump's supporters are going to buy cheaper.
The Left has been shouting "Buy Union" "Buy Local" "Boycott WlaMart" for how many years? How many times have I told my (Trump supporting) in-laws "I do not shop at WalMart, please do not give me any gift cards because they import everything, they do not pay local taxes, they do not treat their workers well" only to be met with, "But everything is cheaper." The documentary "The High Cost of Low Price" came out in 2005 laying it all out for anyone not paying attention and in direct response the Right made shopping at WalMart an American ideal all wrapped up in the flag. I have zero faith that "Buy American" is going to mean anything at all because over and over we have seen "Freedom!" really means "I'm going to do what is best for me and fuck everybody else."
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:56 AM on January 21, 2017 [49 favorites]
D'oh! Somebody already made that joke. Sorry, carmicha.
posted by dannyboybell at 7:00 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by dannyboybell at 7:00 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Left has been shouting "Buy Union" "Buy Local" "Boycott WlaMart" for how many years?
Well, I'll give Accused Child Rapist and Serial Sexual Predator Donald Trump this, he *DID* tell us to support American Union Workers and Boycott Walmart until they only sell American products.
posted by mikelieman at 7:02 AM on January 21, 2017
Well, I'll give Accused Child Rapist and Serial Sexual Predator Donald Trump this, he *DID* tell us to support American Union Workers and Boycott Walmart until they only sell American products.
posted by mikelieman at 7:02 AM on January 21, 2017
Lindsey Graham just walked into the NARAL pre-march breakfast at Tortilla Coast, looked terrified and walked out.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:03 AM on January 21, 2017 [28 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:03 AM on January 21, 2017 [28 favorites]
If you couldn't get out to march but want to see lots of women in pussy hats and great signs, Daniel Dale on twitter has you covered. So far my favorite is the guy with a sign hanging from his neck "I'm with Her" and arrows pointing in all direction.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:05 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:05 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Thing that never happens on Metro: overcrowded train pulls into station, and people waiting on platform cheer instead of groan #WomensMarch
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:05 AM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:05 AM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
Case in point Charlotte passes a LGBT rights bill and the state in direct response passes the infamous Bathroom Bill. Furthermore the state legislators told us they were going to repeal the unpopular bill in the recent "emergency session " provisionally upon Charlotte nullifying their bill. Charlotte caved and the state did not follow through.
Yes exactly. Perfect example. Can't believe I zoned and didn't think about this. In this case the city caved. But what happens when cities decide not to cave? That's what I see the potential for happening. These sorts of political battles.
posted by Jalliah at 7:10 AM on January 21, 2017
Yes exactly. Perfect example. Can't believe I zoned and didn't think about this. In this case the city caved. But what happens when cities decide not to cave? That's what I see the potential for happening. These sorts of political battles.
posted by Jalliah at 7:10 AM on January 21, 2017
Charles Brotman, the 89-year-old inauguration announcer benched by Team Trump, is introducing the first musical act at the march. Excellent.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:12 AM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:12 AM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
The Onion Departing Bo Obama Lands K Street Lobbyist Position Click for the cute dog picture.
Well, I'll give Accused Child Rapist and Serial Sexual Predator Donald Trump this, he *DID* tell us to support American Union Workers and Boycott Walmart until they only sell American products.
While continuing to wear/use/sell items made overseas. As does his wife, as does Ivanka. Maybe we should boycott them? (Not a serious question because because I don't intend to ever buy anything associated with their family if I can help it.) He is exactly what I meant when I said that they have no intention at all to make any sacrifice. Trump just applied for foreign worker visas this month for god's sake.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:13 AM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Well, I'll give Accused Child Rapist and Serial Sexual Predator Donald Trump this, he *DID* tell us to support American Union Workers and Boycott Walmart until they only sell American products.
While continuing to wear/use/sell items made overseas. As does his wife, as does Ivanka. Maybe we should boycott them? (Not a serious question because because I don't intend to ever buy anything associated with their family if I can help it.) He is exactly what I meant when I said that they have no intention at all to make any sacrifice. Trump just applied for foreign worker visas this month for god's sake.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:13 AM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
The Prayer Service is on in the background. I'm all why in the hell are they playing God Save the Queen? I realize that it must not be but it sounds weird to my Canadian ear.
posted by Jalliah at 7:34 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Live feed from Washington not affiliated with fascist corporate fuckwads.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 7:38 AM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 7:38 AM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Probably My Country Tis of Thee, which has the same melody as God Save The Queen.
posted by zutalors! at 7:39 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 7:39 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Same tune, different words - 'My Country, Tis Of Thee'. More than a few great American patriotic songs are, shall we say, from less revolutionary sources sprung.
posted by Devonian at 7:40 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 7:40 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm all why in the hell are they playing God Save the Queen?
My Country, 'Tis of Thee misappropriated God Save the Queen.
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
Because then it'd be Charles and fuck that!
God save The Queen!
posted by Talez at 7:40 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
My Country, 'Tis of Thee misappropriated God Save the Queen.
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
Because then it'd be Charles and fuck that!
God save The Queen!
posted by Talez at 7:40 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
National Mall live cam.
Lots of people.
posted by Jalliah at 7:40 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's a ponderous Hanoverian dirge, whatever. Britain's real national anthem is Bohemian Rhapsody.
posted by Devonian at 7:45 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 7:45 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Probably My Country Tis of Thee, which has the same melody as God Save The Queen.
Darn it. I was hoping maybe she had gone to the Women's March.
posted by nubs at 7:46 AM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Darn it. I was hoping maybe she had gone to the Women's March.
posted by nubs at 7:46 AM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
The UN's Ethics Office tells all staff that attending #WomensMarch "may be viewed as incompatible" with their jobs.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:46 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:46 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Is there a better live feed than the one on their Facebook link? It keeps crashing on me.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:49 AM on January 21, 2017
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:49 AM on January 21, 2017
Or buffering on me, rather.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:49 AM on January 21, 2017
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:49 AM on January 21, 2017
National Mall live cam.
Wow, just hordes of people streaming in non-stop.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Wow, just hordes of people streaming in non-stop.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
The UN's Ethics Office tells all staff that attending #WomensMarch "may be viewed as incompatible" with their jobs.
Walter Sobchak is in charge of the UN's Ethics Office? Because they're not wrong, they're just assholes.
posted by Talez at 7:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Walter Sobchak is in charge of the UN's Ethics Office? Because they're not wrong, they're just assholes.
posted by Talez at 7:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
But yes, the UN should absolutely be discouraging its staff from engaging in the domestic politics of ANY country even when it's an absolutely worthy (and what should be an apolitical) cause.
posted by Talez at 7:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Talez at 7:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Oh, Here Is Everyone. Great photos of the massive crowds on (and trying to get on) the Metro to get to the March.
Apparently crowds of people in Northern Virginia have given up and are walking into the city across the bridges.
posted by argonauta at 7:54 AM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
Apparently crowds of people in Northern Virginia have given up and are walking into the city across the bridges.
posted by argonauta at 7:54 AM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
That FHA reduction thing is such a kick in the nuts. (I'm not sure it would have helped up us, but our re-finance is up in the air because there are lots of people that have the same name as me)
Was thinking about this overnight....why was killing that fee such an important thing that it had to be done immediately upon Trump's swearing in? It's not like that was a major campaign plank ala "Kill Obamacare!" and etc.
Who was whispering into Trump's ear, and had the exec order ready to sign on this?
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:54 AM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
Was thinking about this overnight....why was killing that fee such an important thing that it had to be done immediately upon Trump's swearing in? It's not like that was a major campaign plank ala "Kill Obamacare!" and etc.
Who was whispering into Trump's ear, and had the exec order ready to sign on this?
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:54 AM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
Is there a better live feed than the one on their Facebook link? It keeps crashing on me.
It's on CSPAN. https://www.c-span.org/video/?422332-1/womens-march-washington-protests-new-trump-administration (Requires Flash)
posted by dnash at 7:54 AM on January 21, 2017
It's on CSPAN. https://www.c-span.org/video/?422332-1/womens-march-washington-protests-new-trump-administration (Requires Flash)
posted by dnash at 7:54 AM on January 21, 2017
But yes, the UN should absolutely be discouraging its staff from engaging in the domestic politics of ANY country even when it's an absolutely worthy (and what should be an apolitical) cause.
I'm fine with any person exercising their First Amendment rights, whomever employs them, whatever their nationality.
posted by mikelieman at 7:54 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm fine with any person exercising their First Amendment rights, whomever employs them, whatever their nationality.
posted by mikelieman at 7:54 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
MSNBC livestream is stable, if you have cable/sat.
Heading to the Los Angeles march shortly.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:54 AM on January 21, 2017
Heading to the Los Angeles march shortly.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:54 AM on January 21, 2017
I'd be happier, I think, if EVERYONE exercised them, though..
posted by mikelieman at 7:54 AM on January 21, 2017
posted by mikelieman at 7:54 AM on January 21, 2017
Wow, just hordes of people streaming in non-stop.
I wish there was the same straight down view as yesterday. Hard to get a crowd comparison because the perspective is different.
posted by Jalliah at 7:55 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
I wish there was the same straight down view as yesterday. Hard to get a crowd comparison because the perspective is different.
posted by Jalliah at 7:55 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
See, THEY have a sign language interpreter. In a pussy hat.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:56 AM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:56 AM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
( Regarding mortgage fee reduction )
Was thinking about this overnight....why was killing that fee such an important thing that it had to be done immediately upon Trump's swearing in? It's not like that was a major campaign plank ala "Kill Obamacare!" and etc.
Accused Child Rapist and Serial Sexual Predator Donald J. Trump is likely underwater with his financing, and since he's a horrible debtor ( take off you're hat when I'm telling you what to do, you horrible debtor! ) he's going to do what he's told, when he's told to do it. Or they'll call in the overdue payments, and crash his cash flow.
When's the last time a sitting president declared bankruptcy?
posted by mikelieman at 7:57 AM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
Was thinking about this overnight....why was killing that fee such an important thing that it had to be done immediately upon Trump's swearing in? It's not like that was a major campaign plank ala "Kill Obamacare!" and etc.
Accused Child Rapist and Serial Sexual Predator Donald J. Trump is likely underwater with his financing, and since he's a horrible debtor ( take off you're hat when I'm telling you what to do, you horrible debtor! ) he's going to do what he's told, when he's told to do it. Or they'll call in the overdue payments, and crash his cash flow.
When's the last time a sitting president declared bankruptcy?
posted by mikelieman at 7:57 AM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
I'm fine with any person exercising their First Amendment rights, whomever employs them, whatever their nationality.
When a person's job is "when you go into someone's house don't shit on their rug" and they go and shit on someone's rug, even in their free time, they're technically exercising their First Amendment rights but it's quite clearly incompatible with their job.
posted by Talez at 7:58 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
When a person's job is "when you go into someone's house don't shit on their rug" and they go and shit on someone's rug, even in their free time, they're technically exercising their First Amendment rights but it's quite clearly incompatible with their job.
posted by Talez at 7:58 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
i don't understand why you wouldn't just use the YouTube feed provided by the Women's March on Washington?
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 8:00 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 8:00 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
i don't understand why you wouldn't just use the YouTube feed provided by the Women's March on Washington?
That's the one that was on Facebook that kept buffering on me. CSPan is working.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:03 AM on January 21, 2017
That's the one that was on Facebook that kept buffering on me. CSPan is working.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:03 AM on January 21, 2017
And I just saw a cool sign -
"make facts great again"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:04 AM on January 21, 2017 [28 favorites]
"make facts great again"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:04 AM on January 21, 2017 [28 favorites]
Metafilter march post from earlier this week: "We march for Harriet Tubman, Sylvia Riviera, Barbara Jordan, Audre Lorde"
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:05 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:05 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Melanie Campbell called Donald "The Other Guy".
Maybe TOG could become a term for Donald?
posted by Talez at 8:05 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Maybe TOG could become a term for Donald?
posted by Talez at 8:05 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Who was whispering into Trump's ear, and had the exec order ready to sign on this?
Wall St. always gets its way, especially in a Republican administration. Undercutting the FHA's ability to give favorable terms drives borrowers to private bank loans instead.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:12 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
Wall St. always gets its way, especially in a Republican administration. Undercutting the FHA's ability to give favorable terms drives borrowers to private bank loans instead.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:12 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
I had an odd thought walking the dogs this morning: has anyone tried to use the Third Amendment (no quartering of soldiers) to smash abortion restrictions?
posted by notsnot at 8:12 AM on January 21, 2017
posted by notsnot at 8:12 AM on January 21, 2017
Spotted near Women's March: Shirts with the Gadsden snake twisted into a uterus
posted by Talez at 8:16 AM on January 21, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by Talez at 8:16 AM on January 21, 2017 [27 favorites]
So many pussy hats in the crowd.
posted by Talez at 8:16 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Talez at 8:16 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yesterday the block where I live in DC was surrounded by Humvees and National Guardsmen (something we did not have here for either Obama inauguration) and the helicopters made a continuous racket. I saw only a small handful of people headed to the inauguration.
For the past three hours this morning, hundreds, perhaps over a thousand, folks with signs and pink knitted hats have walked past my home in cheerful processions, headed to the march from RFK stadium bus parking. This makes me hopeful. (I'm staying home to cook for marchers BTW)
posted by exogenous at 8:24 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
For the past three hours this morning, hundreds, perhaps over a thousand, folks with signs and pink knitted hats have walked past my home in cheerful processions, headed to the march from RFK stadium bus parking. This makes me hopeful. (I'm staying home to cook for marchers BTW)
posted by exogenous at 8:24 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
Michael Moore doing his best Trump impression with a '49ers cap and pointing out the size of the crowd.
posted by Talez at 8:24 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Talez at 8:24 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hahahaha, I just watched Michael Moore tear up a copy of the Washington Post while that was streaming on the Post's website.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:25 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:25 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
From the Independent live blog
Organisers estimate that more than 2.5 million people are now taking part in more than 600 marches around the globe.posted by Buntix at 8:33 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
@phil_lewis_: An hour wait to get on the train in DC!
posted by Room 641-A at 8:33 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 8:33 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Spotted on Twitter, a sign with a picture of The Cat In The Hat on it:
"I do not like you down my shirt.
I do not like you up my skirt.
I do not like you near my rump.
I do not like you, Mr. Trump!"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:34 AM on January 21, 2017 [94 favorites]
"I do not like you down my shirt.
I do not like you up my skirt.
I do not like you near my rump.
I do not like you, Mr. Trump!"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:34 AM on January 21, 2017 [94 favorites]
And from the Grauniad
posted by Buntix at 8:37 AM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
Just in from Reuters, Washington subway reports 275,000 trips as of 11am today in comparison with 193,000 on inauguration daySeems entirely probably the protest is going to massively eclipse the inauguration in numbers.
posted by Buntix at 8:37 AM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
Erm, the National Mall cam just got creepy: it stopped filming and showed an empty mall, and then when I hit refresh it wanted to know my gender.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:43 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:43 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
(snerk. I guess Michael Moore was rambling on too long because they just sent Ashley Judd out to cut him off.)
posted by dnash at 8:43 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by dnash at 8:43 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
For just a second now, the number of new comments was exactly 666 in my browser. How appropriate.
posted by me & my monkey at 8:44 AM on January 21, 2017
posted by me & my monkey at 8:44 AM on January 21, 2017
Ashley Judd is shredding the powers that be. She's KILLING it!!!!!
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 8:46 AM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 8:46 AM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
they just sent Ashley Judd out to cut him off.
Pretty sure that was planned.
posted by Rykey at 8:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Pretty sure that was planned.
posted by Rykey at 8:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Zahra Billoo! Fucking amazing woman, so glad she's speaking.
posted by E. Whitehall at 8:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by E. Whitehall at 8:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Mrs. W and I are at the San Pancho, Mexico Marcha de Mujeres. Photos later.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:55 AM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:55 AM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
@Duff_Goldman: The cake on the left is the one I made for President Obama's inauguration 4 years ago. The one on the right is Trumps. I didn't make it. 🤔
Let them eat plagiarized cake!
posted by srboisvert at 8:56 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Let them eat plagiarized cake!
posted by srboisvert at 8:56 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
this is as patriotic as I've felt in a long time
posted by porn in the woods at 9:06 AM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by porn in the woods at 9:06 AM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump
I am honered to serve you, the great American People, as your 45th President of the United States!
The very first sentence of my dissertation's final draft had a glaring typo, so I feel for the guy given it's his first tweet from the throne. It's unfortunate that the man himself does not know what he feels.
ETA: he deleted it. Sad!
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:10 AM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
I am honered to serve you, the great American People, as your 45th President of the United States!
The very first sentence of my dissertation's final draft had a glaring typo, so I feel for the guy given it's his first tweet from the throne. It's unfortunate that the man himself does not know what he feels.
ETA: he deleted it. Sad!
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:10 AM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
"I'm honered"? LOLOLO I think his boner got mixed up in there.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:12 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:12 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
AP is now claiming 500,000 at the DC March.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:18 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:18 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Perhaps he's stoned? "The definition of a honer is a fine-grained hard stone that is used to sharpen tools. A hard stone that you sharpen your knife or ax on is an example of a honer."
AP is now claiming 500,000 at the DC March.
See, I told you...
posted by Devonian at 9:21 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
AP is now claiming 500,000 at the DC March.
See, I told you...
posted by Devonian at 9:21 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
The size of the march crowd in Chicago has grown so large that the actual marching portion of the event has had to be canceled.
WGN TV has a live aerial video of Grant Park. It's amazing.
posted by dnash at 9:22 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
WGN TV has a live aerial video of Grant Park. It's amazing.
posted by dnash at 9:22 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
Update from DC. DO NOT try to get to the march starting point. It is standing room only from the start of the mall cross streets over.
Info from someone that looks like an organizer: fill the march route in reverse, then at 1pm we all face the monument and begin marching.
It's THAT packed.
posted by Slackermagee at 9:32 AM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
Info from someone that looks like an organizer: fill the march route in reverse, then at 1pm we all face the monument and begin marching.
It's THAT packed.
posted by Slackermagee at 9:32 AM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
Seems like either the 500K number must be an underestimate, or the 900K being claimed for yesterday must be over.
If the metro trip count can be taken as at least a roughly indicative proxy (which may not be the case, but it doesn't seem completely unreasonable) and factoring in that yesterday was a weekday which the metro authority seem to be implying would be busier anyway on their twitter...
posted by Buntix at 9:33 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
If the metro trip count can be taken as at least a roughly indicative proxy (which may not be the case, but it doesn't seem completely unreasonable) and factoring in that yesterday was a weekday which the metro authority seem to be implying would be busier anyway on their twitter...
Metro Ridership as of 11am: 275k. For comparison, that's more than 8x a normal Sat & even busier than most weekdays....then there seems to be a fairly large margin of error somewhere...
posted by Buntix at 9:33 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
There's some really amazing signs up at this Slate article (will be updated throughout the day.)
posted by threeturtles at 9:35 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by threeturtles at 9:35 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
Pro tip: banners on stages are most effective when unfurled such that their messages can be read.
posted by Rykey at 9:37 AM on January 21, 2017
posted by Rykey at 9:37 AM on January 21, 2017
Wearing my Lying Cat shirt today. Lying Cat, for those of you who don't know, is a character from Saga. She knows when somebody is lying and tells them to their face.
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:38 AM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:38 AM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Another wonderful sign:
"Super callous fragile ego, Trump you are atrocious"
posted by bibliowench at 9:38 AM on January 21, 2017 [63 favorites]
"Super callous fragile ego, Trump you are atrocious"
posted by bibliowench at 9:38 AM on January 21, 2017 [63 favorites]
I've bowed out of most election-related threads because of the hopelessness, but I'm here for the joy. If you are at a march, please post your pics! I love them.
posted by likeatoaster at 9:39 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by likeatoaster at 9:39 AM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
fairness, regarding the plagiarized cake,
...guys, I understand we are in "bitch eating crackers" mode on Trump, but if we are now claiming that cakes are copyrighted intellectual property in order to punch him in the nose, we are beyond reaching and into the realm of the ridiculous.
It's not like we're at critical shortage for fucked up shit Trump's done or going to do or anything.
posted by corb at 9:41 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
...guys, I understand we are in "bitch eating crackers" mode on Trump, but if we are now claiming that cakes are copyrighted intellectual property in order to punch him in the nose, we are beyond reaching and into the realm of the ridiculous.
It's not like we're at critical shortage for fucked up shit Trump's done or going to do or anything.
posted by corb at 9:41 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
One I'm loving:
At least the Lannisters paid their debts
posted by XtinaS at 9:41 AM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
At least the Lannisters paid their debts
posted by XtinaS at 9:41 AM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
Plagiarism isn't a claim of copyright violation, it's a claim of lazy-ass appropriation of other people's work. Which is pretty fucking on-brand for Trump.
posted by cortex at 9:43 AM on January 21, 2017 [60 favorites]
posted by cortex at 9:43 AM on January 21, 2017 [60 favorites]
I love the one of Batman slapping Trump and saying STOP TWEETING.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:44 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:44 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Also, I participated in the Disability March, in case anyone else wants to join or just read stories.
posted by threeturtles at 9:44 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by threeturtles at 9:44 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
but if we are now claiming that cakes are copyrighted intellectual property in order to punch him in the nose, we are beyond reaching and into the realm of the ridiculous.
On the other hand, how bankrupt does your imagination have to be before you can't think of a design for a cake to celebrate what is probably the most impressive accomplishment you'll ever achieve? Cake!
It's not just the cake, it's that the cake is such a perfect symbol of a hollow, hollow man.
The cake is the lie.
posted by bibliowench at 9:45 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
On the other hand, how bankrupt does your imagination have to be before you can't think of a design for a cake to celebrate what is probably the most impressive accomplishment you'll ever achieve? Cake!
It's not just the cake, it's that the cake is such a perfect symbol of a hollow, hollow man.
The cake is the lie.
posted by bibliowench at 9:45 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
Or FFS, if you liked the cake design so much, just hire Duff again!
posted by TwoStride at 9:46 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 9:46 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Tammy Duckworth wore her "Don't F with Me" jacket!
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:49 AM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:49 AM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Tammy Duckworth and her "Don't F With Me" jacket... yeah.
posted by wallabear at 9:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by wallabear at 9:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Ashley Judd did a great reading of Nina Donovan's poem.
What would it take to be the largest gathering of women in history? I guess roughly 50% of the largest gathering of people, unless we're going to limit it to majority-female events.
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 9:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
What would it take to be the largest gathering of women in history? I guess roughly 50% of the largest gathering of people, unless we're going to limit it to majority-female events.
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 9:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
...guys, I understand we are in "bitch eating crackers" mode on Trump, but if we are now claiming that cakes are copyrighted intellectual property in order to punch him in the nose, we are beyond reaching and into the realm of the ridiculous.
It is carelessness combined with a superior attitude. We know that Trump took an intense hands-on approach to the Inaugural luncheon to the point of choosing tablecloths yet he chose to have an exact replica of Obama's cake designed specifically for Obama. Yeah in the end small potatoes but it shows either a callous disregard for the original designer's intent (who was celebrating Obama) or a lack of time to figure out something else or sheer ignorance (maybe someone thought this was an official design for all Inaugural cakes.)
Imagine going to the effort and expense of having a special cake designed for your wedding only to go to someone else's wedding and they have copied your cake. Maybe not a huge deal but somewhat irritating.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
It is carelessness combined with a superior attitude. We know that Trump took an intense hands-on approach to the Inaugural luncheon to the point of choosing tablecloths yet he chose to have an exact replica of Obama's cake designed specifically for Obama. Yeah in the end small potatoes but it shows either a callous disregard for the original designer's intent (who was celebrating Obama) or a lack of time to figure out something else or sheer ignorance (maybe someone thought this was an official design for all Inaugural cakes.)
Imagine going to the effort and expense of having a special cake designed for your wedding only to go to someone else's wedding and they have copied your cake. Maybe not a huge deal but somewhat irritating.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
I know four different women who went from Tucson to DC to march today. I say different because they aren't friends/didn't go together. I'm sure there are more from Tucson of course but I am admiring my friends.
I was skeptical about the pussy hats here on Metafilter but I really like the visual impact they give the pictures of the marches, and I admire all the handwork and love that went into them. I hope they continue to be a visual symbol of women's power and impact.
I'd side-eyeing a lot of the concern trolling here and elsewhere about "these women" marching and then doing nothing else. Look to your own activism, friends, and save your judgement for the sexual abuser in chief and his corrupt cronies.
posted by Squeak Attack at 9:56 AM on January 21, 2017 [42 favorites]
I was skeptical about the pussy hats here on Metafilter but I really like the visual impact they give the pictures of the marches, and I admire all the handwork and love that went into them. I hope they continue to be a visual symbol of women's power and impact.
I'd side-eyeing a lot of the concern trolling here and elsewhere about "these women" marching and then doing nothing else. Look to your own activism, friends, and save your judgement for the sexual abuser in chief and his corrupt cronies.
posted by Squeak Attack at 9:56 AM on January 21, 2017 [42 favorites]
From the Slate link: I'm loving the "Sex Offenders can't Live in Government Housing" above a drawing of the White House which is a double whammy-- both pointing out his icky past and underlining the "One Rule for the Rich/One Rule for the Poor" hypocrisy.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:59 AM on January 21, 2017 [40 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:59 AM on January 21, 2017 [40 favorites]
I haven't said much in a good minute, because life gets in the way. These women and men and people are so inspiring.
I'm stuck at work. I have friends at marches in DC and Raleigh and ILM. I'm so proud of them and all of these MeFites participating.
I donated to Planned Parenthood; they helped me get my copper IUD in 2009 when I couldn't find anyone else to place it (due to the old and WRONG idea that people who haven't had children can't have an IUD inserted). It's not a lot of money.
Now I have a wonderful GYN who is amazing and keeps me healthy and has promised to get me in her office immediately if something changes regarding contraception access. She's anti-Trump and pro-women, and so is my GP, and so is my therapist (who is marching in DC with his wife!); they have promised to keep my health safe and help me through the next 4 years.
I've had a lot of conversations the past few days, about fear and feminism and humanism and civil rights. How thankful I am that my parents (despite all of their faults) did one major thing right; and that is to teach me that ALL people are to be respected and cared for and that women and people of color and all belief systems have a right to a happy and healthy life, and that we should all be treated equally.
We're Stronger Together.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 9:59 AM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
I'm stuck at work. I have friends at marches in DC and Raleigh and ILM. I'm so proud of them and all of these MeFites participating.
I donated to Planned Parenthood; they helped me get my copper IUD in 2009 when I couldn't find anyone else to place it (due to the old and WRONG idea that people who haven't had children can't have an IUD inserted). It's not a lot of money.
Now I have a wonderful GYN who is amazing and keeps me healthy and has promised to get me in her office immediately if something changes regarding contraception access. She's anti-Trump and pro-women, and so is my GP, and so is my therapist (who is marching in DC with his wife!); they have promised to keep my health safe and help me through the next 4 years.
I've had a lot of conversations the past few days, about fear and feminism and humanism and civil rights. How thankful I am that my parents (despite all of their faults) did one major thing right; and that is to teach me that ALL people are to be respected and cared for and that women and people of color and all belief systems have a right to a happy and healthy life, and that we should all be treated equally.
We're Stronger Together.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 9:59 AM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
SOPHIE CRUZ 2044
posted by Rykey at 10:02 AM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Rykey at 10:02 AM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
The Independent Women's march: Women hate Donald Trump so much they are even marching against him in Antarctica
I feel like I should be embarrassed as an American to have elected such a horrible man yet simultaneously I am relieved that the whole world is siding with those of us who hate him.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:09 AM on January 21, 2017 [47 favorites]
I feel like I should be embarrassed as an American to have elected such a horrible man yet simultaneously I am relieved that the whole world is siding with those of us who hate him.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:09 AM on January 21, 2017 [47 favorites]
Re: the cake, he took that Obama inauguration photo and tried to pass it off as his own, too. It's the same greedy corrupt entitled lazy above-the-law ethics-less audacity that characterizes his whole campaign and administration. And it is dangerous.
posted by argonauta at 10:12 AM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by argonauta at 10:12 AM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
Today on Facebook, the Cognitive Dissonance Olympics! What will be the preferred BS given to hand wave way how many more people are at the protests than came to the inauguration? Which MLK quotes will white people take out of context to criticize the marches? Tune in to the Cognitive Dissonance Olympics and find out! Be there as that uncle who questioned Obama's birth certificate for two years talks about the importance of recognizing the legitimacy of the President. See as your aunt who called Michelle Obama an ape talks about the importance of being classy to the First Lady!
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:16 AM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:16 AM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
Yeah, if there's anything weird about this cake discussion it's that there's even a single person who sees that side by side and doesn't think it's pretty shitty. Is this like, copyright lawsuit territory? Of course not -- but it's still a pretty shitty thing to do.
You can laugh if you want, but cake decorating is an artistic endeavor, and just like we'd think it was shitty if Trump hired a painter to paint an inauguration painting that was like a 99% copy of one Obama had commissioned, we're going to think it's shitty that Trump hired a cake decorator to duplicate the exact design that was made custom for Obama by another artist.
posted by tocts at 10:17 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
You can laugh if you want, but cake decorating is an artistic endeavor, and just like we'd think it was shitty if Trump hired a painter to paint an inauguration painting that was like a 99% copy of one Obama had commissioned, we're going to think it's shitty that Trump hired a cake decorator to duplicate the exact design that was made custom for Obama by another artist.
posted by tocts at 10:17 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
BIG crowd at the march in Charleston, SC!!
posted by rabbitrabbit at 10:18 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 10:18 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
"Billionaire??? But he can't afford a good haircut!??! Suspicious."
"Will swap 1 Trump for 10,000 refugees"
The cake story just got more interesting. It was filled with Styrofoam.
WaPo Trump’s inaugural cake was commissioned to look exactly like Obama’s, baker says
"Will swap 1 Trump for 10,000 refugees"
The cake story just got more interesting. It was filled with Styrofoam.
WaPo Trump’s inaugural cake was commissioned to look exactly like Obama’s, baker says
“They came to us a couple of weeks ago, which is pretty last minute, and said ‘We have a photo that we would like to replicate,'” MacIsaac told The Washington Post by phone. Her bakery tried to encourage the client to use the photo as “inspiration,” as they do with many others, she said.On the other hand the Obama cake was completely edible
“They said, ‘Nope, they want this exact cake. It’s perfect.’ And we said, great,” MacIsaac said.[...]“It’s just a Styrofoam cake. It’s not for eating,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting it to be seen on TV.”
Goldman described his cake for Obama to The Post in great detail then: The five-foot-tall, 50-pound cake was meant to pay special homage to the nation’s armed forces, with seals of the five branches military. The different tiers would each be of different flavors, from red velvet to pumpkin-chocolate chip.posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:21 AM on January 21, 2017 [66 favorites]
What is up with Trump's weird obsession with wanting to have exactly what Obama had?
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 10:26 AM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 10:26 AM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
One day into his presidency, and styrofoam cake pretty much sums it up.
posted by wallabear at 10:26 AM on January 21, 2017 [80 favorites]
posted by wallabear at 10:26 AM on January 21, 2017 [80 favorites]
If you are at a march, please post your pics! I love them.
My TINN, and more from Rome.
posted by progosk at 10:27 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
My TINN, and more from Rome.
posted by progosk at 10:27 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
What is up with Trump's weird obsession with wanting to have exactly what Obama had?
He craves adoration and respect. That's always been out of reach for him, so he's emptily mimicking the same motions and expecting the same result.
posted by mochapickle at 10:28 AM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Let them eat cake!
posted by standardasparagus at 10:28 AM on January 21, 2017
posted by standardasparagus at 10:28 AM on January 21, 2017
I am against punching neo-nazis / genocidal shitheads.
The German communists in the Weimar era got into that pissing match with the real Nazis, and ended up in SS-run concentration camps within 10 years.
Tactically it feels good perhaps, but strategically it is a major, major mistake.
You don't win elections with punches.
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 10:29 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
The German communists in the Weimar era got into that pissing match with the real Nazis, and ended up in SS-run concentration camps within 10 years.
Tactically it feels good perhaps, but strategically it is a major, major mistake.
You don't win elections with punches.
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 10:29 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
What is up with Trump's weird obsession with wanting to have exactly what Obama had?
Oh god, he's going to hire Russian prostitutes to pee on the cake, isn't he? That's why he didn't want to pay for actual cake.
posted by bibliowench at 10:30 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
Oh god, he's going to hire Russian prostitutes to pee on the cake, isn't he? That's why he didn't want to pay for actual cake.
posted by bibliowench at 10:30 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
The patriarchy is noticing. Michael Flynn Jr.'s tweet: What victory? Women already have equal rights, and YES equal pay in this country. What MORE do you want? Free mani/pedis? #WomensMarch
Lame. Some woman needs to step up and teach this man how to throw shade since he is too weak to do it himself.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:31 AM on January 21, 2017 [27 favorites]
Lame. Some woman needs to step up and teach this man how to throw shade since he is too weak to do it himself.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:31 AM on January 21, 2017 [27 favorites]
President Trump’s demeanour was so openly populist and bullish that it seemed primarily designed to provide portentous establishing footage for future documentaries with titles like Dark Star Rising, or The Gathering Storm.
I am 100% certain that there will be a bestselling book about Trump's relationship with Putin titled Useful Idiot.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:32 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
I am 100% certain that there will be a bestselling book about Trump's relationship with Putin titled Useful Idiot.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:32 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Big crowd for Savannah, GA, in not one, but two, of the city squares. Trump may not know that he bit off more than he can chew.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:32 AM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:32 AM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Shia LaBeouf has launched a livestream outside of the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens. It will last for four years.
He will not divide us.
posted by Surely This at 10:33 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
He will not divide us.
posted by Surely This at 10:33 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
What is up with Trump's weird obsession with wanting to have exactly what Obama had?
And of fake props. The unlabeled binders full of "company documents"; the posed "writing my speech" paper.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 10:33 AM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
And of fake props. The unlabeled binders full of "company documents"; the posed "writing my speech" paper.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 10:33 AM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
A relative reports that they're 700 strong lining 95 through Kennebunk ME.
posted by ezust at 10:33 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by ezust at 10:33 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
I am against punching neo-nazis / genocidal shitheads.
The German communists in the Weimar era got into that pissing match with the real Nazis, and ended up in SS-run concentration camps within 10 years.
"don't punch Nazis or they will genocide you" is a fascinating philosophy of resistance.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:34 AM on January 21, 2017 [82 favorites]
The German communists in the Weimar era got into that pissing match with the real Nazis, and ended up in SS-run concentration camps within 10 years.
"don't punch Nazis or they will genocide you" is a fascinating philosophy of resistance.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:34 AM on January 21, 2017 [82 favorites]
It's true, you can't punch all the Nazis, but it's pretty funny to punch a few. They shouldn't feel safe walking down the street until everyone else does, and they've been walking a little too tall lately.
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 10:34 AM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 10:34 AM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
March now filtering onto 14th NW from Independence, Madison, Jefferson, and Constitution. Only Indepence was planned afaik.
posted by Slackermagee at 10:34 AM on January 21, 2017
posted by Slackermagee at 10:34 AM on January 21, 2017
One day into his presidency, and styrofoam cake pretty much sums it up.
posted by wallabear at 1:26 PM on January 21 [−] Favorite added! [!]
That and a tweet that said he was "honered."
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:35 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by wallabear at 1:26 PM on January 21 [−] Favorite added! [!]
That and a tweet that said he was "honered."
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:35 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
I am against punching neo-nazis / genocidal shitheads.
Though this has been duked out above, Pink Frost's FAQ seems most.. on the nose regarding this issue.
posted by progosk at 10:35 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Though this has been duked out above, Pink Frost's FAQ seems most.. on the nose regarding this issue.
posted by progosk at 10:35 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
The patriarchy is noticing. Michael Flynn Jr.'s tweet: What victory? Women already have equal rights, and YES equal pay in this country. What MORE do you want? Free mani/pedis? #WomensMarch
I think a bit of lightly rewritten Anatole France is called for: "The law, in its majestic equality, forbids men as well as women to seek to terminate their pregnancy."
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:36 AM on January 21, 2017 [33 favorites]
I think a bit of lightly rewritten Anatole France is called for: "The law, in its majestic equality, forbids men as well as women to seek to terminate their pregnancy."
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:36 AM on January 21, 2017 [33 favorites]
Why aren't they marching in DC yet? Little less conversation, little more action if you please?
posted by slipthought at 10:38 AM on January 21, 2017
posted by slipthought at 10:38 AM on January 21, 2017
Turnout is well over the expected 40,000 in Denver. Some are saying close to 100,000. Overhead photo.
posted by audi alteram partem at 10:40 AM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by audi alteram partem at 10:40 AM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
Imagine going to the effort and expense of having a special cake designed for your wedding only to go to someone else's wedding and they have copied your cake. Maybe not a huge deal but somewhat irritating.
I think that's exactly why this doesn't make sense to me. When I was getting married and tried to dip my toe into community wedding websites, this "Take a photo from Pinterest and take it to your baker" / "Take a photo of nice hair to your stylist" / what have you seemed pretty standard.
I mean definitely less creative, but I'd rather Trump spent less time designing cakes and more time learning Civics 101.
posted by corb at 10:40 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
I think that's exactly why this doesn't make sense to me. When I was getting married and tried to dip my toe into community wedding websites, this "Take a photo from Pinterest and take it to your baker" / "Take a photo of nice hair to your stylist" / what have you seemed pretty standard.
I mean definitely less creative, but I'd rather Trump spent less time designing cakes and more time learning Civics 101.
posted by corb at 10:40 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Here's the direct youtube link to the woman's march, by the women's march:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XC9hTrX9oNk
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 10:41 AM on January 21, 2017
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 10:41 AM on January 21, 2017
This little girl has a subtle message for Trump (and she has my heart.)
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:41 AM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:41 AM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
What is up with Trump's weird obsession with wanting to have exactly what Obama had?
Dignity? Intelligence broad and deep? Awesome oratory skills? An understanding of international relations and diplomacy? A track record of working for communities and families? Respect for women, LGBT people, and people with disabilities? Concern for racial equality? Personal integrity?
We should be so lucky.
posted by Rykey at 10:41 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Dignity? Intelligence broad and deep? Awesome oratory skills? An understanding of international relations and diplomacy? A track record of working for communities and families? Respect for women, LGBT people, and people with disabilities? Concern for racial equality? Personal integrity?
We should be so lucky.
posted by Rykey at 10:41 AM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Metafilter: they'd better remember it's not just all marching!
March: *talks about how it's not all just marching*
Metafilter: why aren't they marching yet?
posted by E. Whitehall at 10:42 AM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
March: *talks about how it's not all just marching*
Metafilter: why aren't they marching yet?
posted by E. Whitehall at 10:42 AM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
Over 2,000 at the march in Syracuse NY.
posted by maurice at 10:42 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by maurice at 10:42 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
They are marching, Slipthought, but it is really backed up.
Independence was backfilling ALONG the route, overflow on surrounding parallel streets.
I think every estimate is way off.
posted by Slackermagee at 10:42 AM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Independence was backfilling ALONG the route, overflow on surrounding parallel streets.
I think every estimate is way off.
posted by Slackermagee at 10:42 AM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
I mean definitely less creative, but I'd rather Trump spent less time designing cakes and more time learning Civics 101.
He's an adult and can do both! There is time in his day to learn civics and choose a cake.
And here's the thing: You and I both know that he will do neither.
posted by FJT at 10:43 AM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
He's an adult and can do both! There is time in his day to learn civics and choose a cake.
And here's the thing: You and I both know that he will do neither.
posted by FJT at 10:43 AM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
This is as amazing. It's like watching the DNC but with more voices. I'd love to sit hear and listen all day. Every day, if I could hear this strength and love...what could we all accomplish? What could we be moved to do?
posted by sara is disenchanted at 10:46 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by sara is disenchanted at 10:46 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
"don't punch Nazis or they will genocide you" is a fascinating philosophy of resistance.
nazis and shitheads in general get their power by winning elections.
violence is a game the right wants to play.
https://twitter.com/johnroderick/status/822730573231730688
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 10:47 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
nazis and shitheads in general get their power by winning elections.
violence is a game the right wants to play.
https://twitter.com/johnroderick/status/822730573231730688
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 10:47 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
He's an adult and can do both!
I am not sure any portion of this sentence is true, much as I wish it were.
posted by corb at 10:48 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
I am not sure any portion of this sentence is true, much as I wish it were.
posted by corb at 10:48 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yesterday my Facebook and Twitter feeds were gruelling and heartrending to read. Today they are inspiring and delightful.
posted by orange swan at 10:49 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by orange swan at 10:49 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
I mean definitely less creative, but I'd rather Trump spent less time designing cakes and more time learning Civics 101.
And I would rather he spent ZERO time choosing cakes and tablecloths and gold drapes but that seems to be the man we elected. He is far more interested in choosing props than he is in filling up vacancies and reading his Daily Briefings and figuring out his actual policies.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:49 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
And I would rather he spent ZERO time choosing cakes and tablecloths and gold drapes but that seems to be the man we elected. He is far more interested in choosing props than he is in filling up vacancies and reading his Daily Briefings and figuring out his actual policies.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:49 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Canadians traveling to Women's March denied US entry after sharing plans
After telling border agents their plans to march, group’s cars were searched and phones examined, and each person was fingerprinted and had their photo taken
posted by futz at 10:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
After telling border agents their plans to march, group’s cars were searched and phones examined, and each person was fingerprinted and had their photo taken
posted by futz at 10:50 AM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
These final speakers are tearing me up. "Tearing" in both senses of the word.
posted by wallabear at 10:53 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by wallabear at 10:53 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
FTA I just liked:
The group was brought in for secondary processing, where the border agent asked about their political views, Decunha told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. “The first thing he asked us point blank is, ‘Are you anti- or pro-Trump?’”
He described the experience – particularly the questions he fielded about his political beliefs – as concerning. “It felt like, if we had been pro-Trump, we would have absolutely been allowed entry.”
posted by futz at 10:54 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
The group was brought in for secondary processing, where the border agent asked about their political views, Decunha told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. “The first thing he asked us point blank is, ‘Are you anti- or pro-Trump?’”
He described the experience – particularly the questions he fielded about his political beliefs – as concerning. “It felt like, if we had been pro-Trump, we would have absolutely been allowed entry.”
posted by futz at 10:54 AM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
Mod note: One deleted. Seriously folks, not going into the case in favor of literally punching people.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:55 AM on January 21, 2017
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:55 AM on January 21, 2017
I missed the edit window, but I'll pretend it was an intended pun.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 11:02 AM on January 21, 2017
posted by sara is disenchanted at 11:02 AM on January 21, 2017
WaPo Justice Department opinion backs Trump on hiring of son-in-law
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:03 AM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
President Trump’s decision to appoint his son-in-law as a senior adviser did not violate a federal anti-nepotism law, the Department of Justice found in a formal legal opinion issued Saturday.So I don't really understand this. President Kennedy hires his brother so Congress passes legislation that prohibits the Executive Branch from hiring relatives. But it does not apply to a President. Was it poorly written or did they just not have the authority to pass legislation controlling the Executive Branch?
The 14-page opinion, written by a more than 20-year veteran of the department who had been honored by former attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr., concluded that the president has special hiring authority that overrides a federal law that forbids executive branch officials from employing family members.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:03 AM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
futz, two of our friends who live in the Eastern Townships tried to cross the border to attend the march two days ago. They were turned back as well.
I was having tea with a couple of women late this morning after the march here in Kingston. When I related this, one of them said, "Well, why didn't they lie?" "You shouldn't fucking have to," was my response.
This makes me uneasy, obv. I know Trump has Mexico in his crosshairs, but I am sure our turn is coming too.
posted by Kitteh at 11:04 AM on January 21, 2017 [30 favorites]
I was having tea with a couple of women late this morning after the march here in Kingston. When I related this, one of them said, "Well, why didn't they lie?" "You shouldn't fucking have to," was my response.
This makes me uneasy, obv. I know Trump has Mexico in his crosshairs, but I am sure our turn is coming too.
posted by Kitteh at 11:04 AM on January 21, 2017 [30 favorites]
He craves adoration and respect. That's always been out of reach for him, so he's emptily mimicking the same motions and expecting the same result.
Hmm. While I know the concept is to some extent problematic, the cargo cult comes to mind -- both relating to the phenomenon of Trumpism and to the personal schema of President, uh. The man, himself.
posted by tivalasvegas at 11:06 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Hmm. While I know the concept is to some extent problematic, the cargo cult comes to mind -- both relating to the phenomenon of Trumpism and to the personal schema of President, uh. The man, himself.
posted by tivalasvegas at 11:06 AM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
I just got back from the march in Toronto (I only had time to dash over, walk from one subway stop to the next and then run back to work during my lunch hour). I have no idea how many people were there, but it must be thousands. The crowd at Queen's Park reached all the way down to College St.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:07 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:07 AM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Over 2,000 at the march in Syracuse NY.
Just got back from Ithaca. We may have topped that.
posted by waitingtoderail at 11:10 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Just got back from Ithaca. We may have topped that.
posted by waitingtoderail at 11:10 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
LIVE UPDATES: Women's March on Chicago Says Crowd Too Big to March, Estimated 250,000 Attend
-- At least 75,000 were expected to be part of the march, organizers said. But estimated numbers grew to roughly 250,000 as groups descended on the rally site at Columbus and Jackson, they revealed.
dnash mentioned this above. I just wanted to post numbers.
posted by futz at 11:11 AM on January 21, 2017 [28 favorites]
-- At least 75,000 were expected to be part of the march, organizers said. But estimated numbers grew to roughly 250,000 as groups descended on the rally site at Columbus and Jackson, they revealed.
dnash mentioned this above. I just wanted to post numbers.
posted by futz at 11:11 AM on January 21, 2017 [28 favorites]
Chicago marched. Instead of one route, people from the rally point went down 3 streets (that I could see) slowly merging on intended route a block from the planned destination. We left right before that final merge, but from the train, we could see the blocks around the federal building were full.
Communication was limited, so I have no idea how much of that was part of the official plan, but the route made sense to me.
posted by bindr at 11:12 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Communication was limited, so I have no idea how much of that was part of the official plan, but the route made sense to me.
posted by bindr at 11:12 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh! I just found my new slogan: Move forward with us or get out of our way It's from Val Demings, US Rep from Florida's 10th Congressional District
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:14 AM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:14 AM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
Dumped inaugural parade announcer attends women's march
Brotman had been the announcer for the inaugural parades since 1957.
He instead announced the organizers of the National Women's March on Washington.
"I have announced the presidential inaugural parade, which the crowed here are much larger than at the parade," he said. "Today I've got a new job and I am tickled to have that job. It's my honor to welcome the national organizers for the National Women's March on Washington."
"The impossible is now taking place," he added.
awesome.
posted by futz at 11:18 AM on January 21, 2017 [69 favorites]
Brotman had been the announcer for the inaugural parades since 1957.
He instead announced the organizers of the National Women's March on Washington.
"I have announced the presidential inaugural parade, which the crowed here are much larger than at the parade," he said. "Today I've got a new job and I am tickled to have that job. It's my honor to welcome the national organizers for the National Women's March on Washington."
"The impossible is now taking place," he added.
awesome.
posted by futz at 11:18 AM on January 21, 2017 [69 favorites]
Thousands march in West Palm Beach, just a few miles from Mar-a-Lago.
posted by gatorae at 11:19 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 11:19 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Politico Trump's first full day: Prayer, bowling, and a visit to the CIA
Amid the pomp and circumstance, though, disorganization continued at the White House.posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:21 AM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
Some of the White House’s press wranglers continued using personal email addresses because their official ones had yet to be set up, and there was confusion as to whether or not the prayer service was open to the press (it was). And Trump’s plans for the day, usually disseminated directly to the media, were instead blasted out on Twitter by press secretary Sean Spicer. [my bold]
continued using personal email addresses
Lock them up!
posted by Slothrup at 11:24 AM on January 21, 2017 [46 favorites]
Lock them up!
posted by Slothrup at 11:24 AM on January 21, 2017 [46 favorites]
politico dropped that line without comment.
They blow where the money takes them.
posted by Yowser at 11:26 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
They blow where the money takes them.
posted by Yowser at 11:26 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Shout out to needlewomen
I'm so angry I stitched this just so I could stab something 3000 times.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:26 AM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
I'm so angry I stitched this just so I could stab something 3000 times.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:26 AM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
National Mall livecam to watch people crossing the mall to Constitution. Lots and lots and lots of people.
posted by persona at 11:29 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by persona at 11:29 AM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
I am honered to serve you. . .
People think that Trump misspelled honored, but what really happened is that he left the space out from between two words.
I am hone red to serve you. . .
He is talking of sharp bloody knives. It's a cookbook!
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:34 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
People think that Trump misspelled honored, but what really happened is that he left the space out from between two words.
I am hone red to serve you. . .
He is talking of sharp bloody knives. It's a cookbook!
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:34 AM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
I just got back from "marching" in NYC [there is hardly any walking going on]. I only lasted a few hours because it was exhausting to be on my feet for so long, literally not moving, and there was a LOT of pushing going on, mostly by men. But overall, it was a really great experience. I really hope that everyone out there today is still with us a week and a month and a year from now.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:36 AM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:36 AM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
He craves adoration and respect. That's always been out of reach for him, so he's emptily mimicking the same motions and expecting the same result.
It's already been mentioned, but shit...he really is our first cargo cult president, isn't he? I'm looking forward to the replacement for Obamacare that's built entirely out of bamboo and palm fronds.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 11:37 AM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
It's already been mentioned, but shit...he really is our first cargo cult president, isn't he? I'm looking forward to the replacement for Obamacare that's built entirely out of bamboo and palm fronds.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 11:37 AM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
And Politico did not mention that the Department of Housing and Urban Development suspended the Obama administration's planned reduction of mortgage insurance premium rates. That seems like a pretty big deal yet I'm not seeing a lot of coverage of it.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:37 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:37 AM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
I mean definitely less creative, but I'd rather Trump spent less time designing cakes and more time learning Civics 101.
I would hope that the President of the United States could get it together just the tiniest bit required to hire someone competent enough to order a cake that wasn't literally a hollow shell copy of the last President's cake.
But he can't.
posted by bongo_x at 11:42 AM on January 21, 2017 [28 favorites]
I would hope that the President of the United States could get it together just the tiniest bit required to hire someone competent enough to order a cake that wasn't literally a hollow shell copy of the last President's cake.
But he can't.
posted by bongo_x at 11:42 AM on January 21, 2017 [28 favorites]
@consentino: "Imagine being so despised that people are marching outdoors in *Antartica* to protest you."
posted by Coventry at 11:43 AM on January 21, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 11:43 AM on January 21, 2017 [43 favorites]
@PatrickSvitek .@TedCruz speculates some inauguration protesters "may be paid protesters by George Soros or others."
Of course it could not be just a grassroots protest by women, minorities, handicapped, LGBTQ, and others AROUND THE FUCKIN WORLD who feel threatened by a Trump Presidency.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:44 AM on January 21, 2017 [50 favorites]
Of course it could not be just a grassroots protest by women, minorities, handicapped, LGBTQ, and others AROUND THE FUCKIN WORLD who feel threatened by a Trump Presidency.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:44 AM on January 21, 2017 [50 favorites]
The revolting Piers Morgan tweets something stupid about organizing a "men's" march. Josh Marshall from TPM shows how to burn: Bro that was yesterday, hardly anybody turned out.
posted by vac2003 at 11:48 AM on January 21, 2017 [118 favorites]
posted by vac2003 at 11:48 AM on January 21, 2017 [118 favorites]
LOL, MSNBC just carried Madonna screaming "Fuck you" at the DC rally.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:51 AM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:51 AM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
@GovMikeHuckabee
To all the women marchers....if truly concerned re women's rights --head to the Saudi Embassy; they could use the message!
mike, no
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:51 AM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
To all the women marchers....if truly concerned re women's rights --head to the Saudi Embassy; they could use the message!
mike, no
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:51 AM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Madonna @ Women's March : "To those who say this march won't add up to anything... fuck you. Fuck. You."
posted by Rykey at 11:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [30 favorites]
posted by Rykey at 11:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [30 favorites]
This starts off glorious and ends in vileness. I couldn't get through the second video clip.
Woman interrupts Alex Jones’ tirade: ‘You actually have liquor on your breath’
“You actually have liquor on your breath,” the woman said, as Jones’ eyes widened.
“He has liquor on his breath,” she repeated while turing to address the camera.
“Are you a Puritan?” Jones asked, smiling uncomfortably.
“No, I’m just amazed that you’re doing your job with liquor on your breath,” she shot back, suggesting that she needed alcohol to have the “guts” to do his job.
“I got too many guts, baby,” Jones countered with a dumb smile, which seem to hide an inner panic.
“You’re drunk — while you’re reporting…” the woman pressed.
posted by futz at 11:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [64 favorites]
Woman interrupts Alex Jones’ tirade: ‘You actually have liquor on your breath’
“You actually have liquor on your breath,” the woman said, as Jones’ eyes widened.
“He has liquor on his breath,” she repeated while turing to address the camera.
“Are you a Puritan?” Jones asked, smiling uncomfortably.
“No, I’m just amazed that you’re doing your job with liquor on your breath,” she shot back, suggesting that she needed alcohol to have the “guts” to do his job.
“I got too many guts, baby,” Jones countered with a dumb smile, which seem to hide an inner panic.
“You’re drunk — while you’re reporting…” the woman pressed.
posted by futz at 11:52 AM on January 21, 2017 [64 favorites]
To go back to the sad not-exactly-a-cake, it is true that this is not the worst that the new administration will do or try to do. I want to look at this from the angle of the original cake's creator, though. He makes his living from his original designs. To have someone blatantly copy his work for another public occasion can diminish his future income, partially dependent on the ability to provide an original design for his cakes.
The onus for this mess is partly on the tranition people, however far up that goes, for asking for a copy of another's work, but also on the ersatz cake maker for deliberately copying another person's work. People rightly condemn plagiarism, demean fraudulent works of art, pay large sums of money for copying musical works without permission, on and on. This, while smaller in scale, matters. It matters artistically and financially to the original artist, and it should matter to all people. It's another example of this administration assuming that laws are for other people and ethics don't even make the long list of daily concerns. And, agreed with above posters: this family has an unhealthy devotion to either copying or demeaning the Obama family. Psychiatrists could have a field day if they ever had access to this family in order to perform the necessary exams.
The point of this is that, to paraphrase FJT's comment, we are adults, and as simple a matter as this may seem, we can concern ourselves with it as well as with the myriad other more major concerns. It does matter, for the original cake artist here and for the other people with whom this administration deals.
posted by Silverstone at 11:55 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
The onus for this mess is partly on the tranition people, however far up that goes, for asking for a copy of another's work, but also on the ersatz cake maker for deliberately copying another person's work. People rightly condemn plagiarism, demean fraudulent works of art, pay large sums of money for copying musical works without permission, on and on. This, while smaller in scale, matters. It matters artistically and financially to the original artist, and it should matter to all people. It's another example of this administration assuming that laws are for other people and ethics don't even make the long list of daily concerns. And, agreed with above posters: this family has an unhealthy devotion to either copying or demeaning the Obama family. Psychiatrists could have a field day if they ever had access to this family in order to perform the necessary exams.
The point of this is that, to paraphrase FJT's comment, we are adults, and as simple a matter as this may seem, we can concern ourselves with it as well as with the myriad other more major concerns. It does matter, for the original cake artist here and for the other people with whom this administration deals.
posted by Silverstone at 11:55 AM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
I don't care about the cake as a cake.
I care about the attitude that it displays.
posted by Too-Ticky at 11:58 AM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
I care about the attitude that it displays.
posted by Too-Ticky at 11:58 AM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
Metafilter: We were out of beans, so we decided to overthink this plate of styrofoam cake.
posted by Coventry at 11:59 AM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 11:59 AM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
but also on the ersatz cake maker for deliberately copying another person's work
Yeah, but then they outed them and donated profits to the the Human Rights Campaign
posted by slipthought at 11:59 AM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
Yeah, but then they outed them and donated profits to the the Human Rights Campaign
posted by slipthought at 11:59 AM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
Michael Flynn Jr.'s tweet: What victory? Women already have equal rights, and YES equal pay in this country. What MORE do you want? Free mani/pedis? #WomensMarch
@GovMikeHuckabee
To all the women marchers....if truly concerned re women's rights --head to the Saudi Embassy; they could use the message!
Um, guys, making gross sexist remarks and telling women what they ought to be doing? Not just in general but today? Go ahead, keep digging; I'm sure it will make the hole shallower.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [61 favorites]
@GovMikeHuckabee
To all the women marchers....if truly concerned re women's rights --head to the Saudi Embassy; they could use the message!
Um, guys, making gross sexist remarks and telling women what they ought to be doing? Not just in general but today? Go ahead, keep digging; I'm sure it will make the hole shallower.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [61 favorites]
Surprised the cake wasn't made in China.
posted by bongo_x at 12:02 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 12:02 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Why aren't they marching in DC yet? Little less conversation, little more action if you please?
We just got back, had to leave early because my wife works tonight. People were marching down Constitution and up 14th and 7th streets. There were people lining the entire length of the mall, literally standing wall to wall along the entire official parade route. We didn't even make it to the speeches, the amount of overflow turnout was physically blocking the organizers from "marching". It's not so much of a "march" as an occupation of he entire planned route
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
We just got back, had to leave early because my wife works tonight. People were marching down Constitution and up 14th and 7th streets. There were people lining the entire length of the mall, literally standing wall to wall along the entire official parade route. We didn't even make it to the speeches, the amount of overflow turnout was physically blocking the organizers from "marching". It's not so much of a "march" as an occupation of he entire planned route
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
Oh my god, it's finally happened! I have an annoying tendency to (good-naturedly) bust out this legendary Lily Tomlin clip whenever people get kind of, um, stuck on a topic -- like, say, the emails -- and gnaw on it ad nauseam.
And today it's actually directly relevant to the specific derail du jour!
What a time to be alive -- thank you, MetaFilter!
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
And today it's actually directly relevant to the specific derail du jour!
What a time to be alive -- thank you, MetaFilter!
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Marches are awesome, I hope Trump is watching CNN and fuming
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Michael Flynn Jr.'s tweet: What victory? Women already have equal rights, and YES equal pay in this country. What MORE do you want? Free mani/pedis? #WomensMarch
I can't say for sure, but there's a pretty good chance that Michael "Women already have equal rights" Flynn has literally never worked for a woman in his entire life.
posted by Etrigan at 12:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
I can't say for sure, but there's a pretty good chance that Michael "Women already have equal rights" Flynn has literally never worked for a woman in his entire life.
posted by Etrigan at 12:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
i was at the st. paul women's march. where do i pick up my check from soros?
posted by localhuman at 12:13 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by localhuman at 12:13 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
I believe the president is at the CIA today. Hopefully having his ass handed to him.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:14 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:14 PM on January 21, 2017
Boise going all out to prove that the relative turnout compared to the inauguration isn't due to the weather
posted by Buntix at 12:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by Buntix at 12:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
Um, guys, making gross sexist remarks and telling women what they ought to be doing? Not just in general but today? Go ahead, keep digging; I'm sure it will make the hole shallower.
"Dig up, stupid!"
posted by Talez at 12:20 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
"Dig up, stupid!"
posted by Talez at 12:20 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
I believe the president is at the CIA today. Hopefully having his ass handed to him.
A friend suggested that they should leave him alone in a darkened room showing the Zapruder film.
posted by Devonian at 12:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
Update: Ithaca, NY estimates 10,000 people at the march. The population of Ithaca is 30,000.
posted by waitingtoderail at 12:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [56 favorites]
posted by waitingtoderail at 12:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [56 favorites]
@PatrickSvitek .@TedCruz speculates some inauguration protesters "may be paid protesters by George Soros or others."
This is the one line of attack cannot backfire on Trump.
posted by srboisvert at 12:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
This is the one line of attack cannot backfire on Trump.
posted by srboisvert at 12:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
> A friend suggested that they should leave him alone in a darkened room showing the Zapruder film.
Same scene, but from a different angle.
posted by mrzarquon at 12:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
Same scene, but from a different angle.
posted by mrzarquon at 12:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
Hopefully having his ass handed to him.
If the naughties are anything to go by, they will keep leaking embarrassing information about him while he uses his leadership status to slowly grind them into pulp.
posted by Coventry at 12:26 PM on January 21, 2017
If the naughties are anything to go by, they will keep leaking embarrassing information about him while he uses his leadership status to slowly grind them into pulp.
posted by Coventry at 12:26 PM on January 21, 2017
So I don't really understand this. President Kennedy hires his brother so Congress passes legislation that prohibits the Executive Branch from hiring relatives. But it does not apply to a President. Was it poorly written or did they just not have the authority to pass legislation controlling the Executive Branch?
The important distinction is cabinet member vs White House staff. Bobby Kennedy was Attorney General which is now prohibited under the anti-nepotism laws. Kushner on the other hand is being appointed to the White House staff which aren't part of an executive agency and more a personal staff.
posted by Talez at 12:27 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
The important distinction is cabinet member vs White House staff. Bobby Kennedy was Attorney General which is now prohibited under the anti-nepotism laws. Kushner on the other hand is being appointed to the White House staff which aren't part of an executive agency and more a personal staff.
posted by Talez at 12:27 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
There's this recurring theme from the right where it seems they truly cannot believe in the reality of a majority of people disagreeing with them. Like, it's unsourced so I can't fully confirm it but Josh Marshall of TPM retweeted a comment that Ted Cruz is suggesting today's marchers are hired actors paid by George Soros. This seems to happen every time there's some huge gathering of liberal/progressives - the right calls it all fake, and evokes some boogeyman, often Soros.
Or, along that line, a Trump campaign staffer is whining on Twitter that only Trump supporters are "everyday Americans" and therefore couldn't afford $1000/night to come to DC, as an excuse for the difference in crowd sizes. As if the hundreds of thousands of people today are all, what, millionaires who jetted in on private Cesnas?
It's also like how they say every mass shooting that's happened is a "false flag" stunt. Because of course right wing gun nuts can never do anything violent or wrong?
So everything the left does is "fake," "staged," "not real Americans," "hired illegal immigrants." Can't possibly be real? But who staged a fake "speech writing" picture. Lied about who wrote the speech. Ordered a fake cake. Wants to hide the photo proof of how few people came to his parade. Says one thing in his speeches, does another in his actions.
I mean, they wonder why progressives tend to insult their intelligence, but at every turn they actively choose to disbelieve the reality in front of them.
posted by dnash at 12:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [97 favorites]
Or, along that line, a Trump campaign staffer is whining on Twitter that only Trump supporters are "everyday Americans" and therefore couldn't afford $1000/night to come to DC, as an excuse for the difference in crowd sizes. As if the hundreds of thousands of people today are all, what, millionaires who jetted in on private Cesnas?
It's also like how they say every mass shooting that's happened is a "false flag" stunt. Because of course right wing gun nuts can never do anything violent or wrong?
So everything the left does is "fake," "staged," "not real Americans," "hired illegal immigrants." Can't possibly be real? But who staged a fake "speech writing" picture. Lied about who wrote the speech. Ordered a fake cake. Wants to hide the photo proof of how few people came to his parade. Says one thing in his speeches, does another in his actions.
I mean, they wonder why progressives tend to insult their intelligence, but at every turn they actively choose to disbelieve the reality in front of them.
posted by dnash at 12:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [97 favorites]
Also, we shook John Kerry's hand. His dog seems nice.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [33 favorites]
Trump just said when he was young, we were always "winning things."
I am not sure how young he means. Korea? Vietnam?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
I am not sure how young he means. Korea? Vietnam?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
Just got back from the Champaign-Urbana March- the crowd was estimated at 5,000, more than 10 times what the organizers had initially been planning for. It was wonderful to hear a strong emphasis on intersectionality from the speakers, as well.
posted by Deutscheben at 12:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by Deutscheben at 12:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
A friend suggested that they should leave him alone in a darkened room showing the Zapruder film.
He's not smart enough to get the message
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
He's not smart enough to get the message
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump is also claiming there were 1.5 million people at his inauguration, and also, it wasn't raining.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Via Dean Sabatino, I give you...
Can I Punch Nazis?
posted by adamgreenfield at 12:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Can I Punch Nazis?
posted by adamgreenfield at 12:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
So I don't really understand this. President Kennedy hires his brother so Congress passes legislation that prohibits the Executive Branch from hiring relatives. But it does not apply to a President. Was it poorly written or did they just not have the authority to pass legislation controlling the Executive Branch?
Employee agrees with what new boss wants.
The justice department has been giving presidents custom made rulings to cover over illegalities since at least the Iraq war if not before.
posted by srboisvert at 12:34 PM on January 21, 2017
Employee agrees with what new boss wants.
The justice department has been giving presidents custom made rulings to cover over illegalities since at least the Iraq war if not before.
posted by srboisvert at 12:34 PM on January 21, 2017
Trump speaking just now: We're gonna get rid of columns [why]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:36 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:36 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Link is borked, adamgreefield.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 12:37 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 12:37 PM on January 21, 2017
Oof, the CIA speech. That guy is a disaster.
posted by notyou at 12:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by notyou at 12:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Not sure what happened there, Johny Wallflower. It should work now. (Of course, you already knew the answer.)
posted by adamgreenfield at 12:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by adamgreenfield at 12:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
So as millions take to the streets against him, Trump is ranting to the CIA about his media coverage, blasting a reporter, and complaining the media didn't show his crowds. TO THE CIA!
What the hell is wrong with him?
posted by zachlipton at 12:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
What the hell is wrong with him?
posted by zachlipton at 12:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
He only has a couple topics he's even capable of speaking about, all from the campaign or media.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
What the hell is wrong with him?
... everything?
posted by Archelaus at 12:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [39 favorites]
... everything?
posted by Archelaus at 12:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [39 favorites]
Trump speaking just now: We're gonna get rid of columns
Link?
posted by Rykey at 12:44 PM on January 21, 2017
Link?
posted by Rykey at 12:44 PM on January 21, 2017
Trump speaking just now: We're gonna get rid of columns [why]
Context? Column writers? Columns out the front of the White House? Columns for the Sega Genesis?
posted by Talez at 12:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Context? Column writers? Columns out the front of the White House? Columns for the Sega Genesis?
posted by Talez at 12:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Oh, I don't hold out much hope for the structural integrity of the Lincoln Memorial if they do that.
posted by Grangousier at 12:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Grangousier at 12:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Portland, Maine reporting. Local paper is reporting 10,000 people at our march, which is about 1/6 the population of the city. Another several thousand in Augusta. Amazing day.
posted by anastasiav at 12:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by anastasiav at 12:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
Good thing the CIA has no way to verify the sizes of crowds in open public spaces
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 12:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 12:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Where are you all watching this CIA speech?
posted by adamgreenfield at 12:48 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by adamgreenfield at 12:48 PM on January 21, 2017
Trump speaking just now: We're gonna get rid of columns [why]
Context? Column writers? Columns out the front of the White House? Columns for the Sega Genesis?
In a room full of spooks who, if there is a pee tape, have definitely seen it, he decided to slam the architecture and design
Of the room
I think
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Context? Column writers? Columns out the front of the White House? Columns for the Sega Genesis?
In a room full of spooks who, if there is a pee tape, have definitely seen it, he decided to slam the architecture and design
Of the room
I think
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
MSNBC and I think CNN and others were all streaming the CIA speech.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:49 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:49 PM on January 21, 2017
The applause and laughter at the Trump CIA speech is incredibly forced and strained and inauthentic, particularly the laughter. It's incredibly chilling. He's packing the crowd with his goons.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Trump to the CIA: "I have a running war with the media. They are among the most dishonest human beings on earth." The audience cheered.
Did he pack this CIA speech with his sycophants, or is this a legit reaction? Because...
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Did he pack this CIA speech with his sycophants, or is this a legit reaction? Because...
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Did he pack this CIA speech with his sycophants, or is this a legit reaction? Because...
He has so far, why would he stop now?
posted by Talez at 12:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
He has so far, why would he stop now?
posted by Talez at 12:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yeah, the loooooong bouts of cheering are alarming to say the least.
posted by futz at 12:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by futz at 12:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Cheers zabuni.
posted by adamgreenfield at 12:53 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by adamgreenfield at 12:53 PM on January 21, 2017
At least some of the men who surround and work with Trump are going to get a masterclass in emotional labour and working to prop up an aggressively incompetent boss.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
Five bucks says he meant to say fifth column, but couldn't remember what number it was.
posted by corb at 12:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [51 favorites]
posted by corb at 12:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [51 favorites]
His own staff is cheering. The CIA staff sitting in front are pretty stone faced.
Pool: "Color from the CNN Producer: the persons who are directly in front of Trump have not shown any reaction...to his remarks."
More from CNN Prod per pool: "...the persons who are on the side...are the ones clapping and reacting. We do not know who these people are."
posted by PenDevil at 12:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [58 favorites]
Pool: "Color from the CNN Producer: the persons who are directly in front of Trump have not shown any reaction...to his remarks."
More from CNN Prod per pool: "...the persons who are on the side...are the ones clapping and reacting. We do not know who these people are."
posted by PenDevil at 12:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [58 favorites]
Sycophants, shit, I think there might be a laugh track.
posted by box at 12:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by box at 12:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
@ZekeJMiller
Trump on Iraq: “We should have kept the oil. Maybe we’ll have another chance.”
posted by Existential Dread at 12:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump on Iraq: “We should have kept the oil. Maybe we’ll have another chance.”
posted by Existential Dread at 12:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Link to Trump's remarks after CIA meeting.
posted by Rykey at 12:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Rykey at 12:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Donald Trump confuses French translators with mixed-up speeches
'Trump’s vocabulary is limited, his syntax is broken; he repeats the same phrases over and over'
posted by futz at 12:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
'Trump’s vocabulary is limited, his syntax is broken; he repeats the same phrases over and over'
posted by futz at 12:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
Trump on Iraq: “We should have kept the oil. Maybe we’ll have another chance.”
Yeah:
posted by zachlipton at 12:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [37 favorites]
Yeah:
Everybody who voted for Trump because they thought he was less hawkish than Clinton is a fool.--@HeerJeet
posted by zachlipton at 12:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [37 favorites]
Love a nasty woman flight attendant 👏 Starting our wknd of amazing women because we can't give up!
posted by porn in the woods at 1:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by porn in the woods at 1:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
There is soooo much shade in this introduction, starting with but not at all limited to "women and men of the intelligence community."
posted by adamgreenfield at 1:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by adamgreenfield at 1:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
At the CIA speech: "And then they say, 'Is Donald Trump an intellectual?' Trust me, I'm like a smart person."
It got a small laugh.
posted by box at 1:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
It got a small laugh.
posted by box at 1:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
My understanding was the group he was speaking to was 300 handpicked people representing the CIA. Who knows how they were picked or how they were prepped.
I'm waiting for a transcript because according to twitter Trump said God stopped the rain for his speech.
In other news every city they are reporting bigger crowds than expected, in some cases double.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm waiting for a transcript because according to twitter Trump said God stopped the rain for his speech.
In other news every city they are reporting bigger crowds than expected, in some cases double.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
At the CIA speech: "And then they say, 'Is Donald Trump an intellectual?' Trust me, I'm like a smart person."
"I'm smart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm smart and I want respect! "
Good grief, we're in for President Fredo Corleone.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
"I'm smart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm smart and I want respect! "
Good grief, we're in for President Fredo Corleone.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
"Like a smart person" in that both smart and dumb people eat and shit. Resemblance ends there.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:03 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:03 PM on January 21, 2017
The terrifying possibility is that he actually believes there were 1M-1.5M people there yesterday and the media all conspired to cover it up.
posted by zachlipton at 1:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Fucking hell. I just cannot believe the shit that comes out of this orange person's mouth. Please, please let us see you simply explode from crazy.
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 1:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 1:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Of course while everyone moralised about punching neo-nazis, my cousin was shot while protesting a Milo event.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 1:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [76 favorites]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 1:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [76 favorites]
Oh shit space hobo, so sorry, best wishes going your cousin's way over at Harborview.
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 1:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 1:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
I wasn't able to go to a march today, but the views of the marchers and the speeches have heartened me greatly. I saw a woman at the grocery store, wearing a pink pussy hat, here, in the middle of Trumpland, and it was so uplifting. Thank you, all the people who went to the marches.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 1:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 1:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
Press Sec. Sean Spicer will be giving a statement at 4:30pm ET (23 minutes from now)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:07 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:07 PM on January 21, 2017
Shit, rum-soaked space hobo, I've been thinking about that all day. I'm really upset that President Cauce allowed the event to go forward, considering the hate speech Milo spews and the violence that has plagued his events. I hope they catch the fucker that did that, and I hope there's a public accounting for this shit.
posted by Existential Dread at 1:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by Existential Dread at 1:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
Pfft. Fuck Sean Spicer. Probably some bullshit.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:08 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:08 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
But it's official bullshit now. Always pay attention to official bullshit so you can shoot it down.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
- The @POTUS banner changed. "Hooray".
cirhosis: and they've tweeted... a not quite in focus picture.
Because they don't have a frickin' photographer yet. CNN, January 21, 2017: 2:09 PM ET -- Trump team closing in on White House photographer who worked with Bushes
So until then, anyone with a smart device is the photographer. You're welcome, USA, Team _rump, saving you money again.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
cirhosis: and they've tweeted... a not quite in focus picture.
Because they don't have a frickin' photographer yet. CNN, January 21, 2017: 2:09 PM ET -- Trump team closing in on White House photographer who worked with Bushes
So until then, anyone with a smart device is the photographer. You're welcome, USA, Team _rump, saving you money again.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Latest estimate I've seen is 5 to 6 million people around the world coming out to protest against HIM! That's got to be sobering. But perhaps he will never know or believe the truth of it.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
I'm so sorry to hear it was your cousin, rum-soaked space hobo. I was worried about it all night, and my thoughts are with your family.
posted by zachlipton at 1:13 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:13 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Trump team closing in on White House photographer who worked with Bushes
lol why does this headline make it sound like a manhunt where trump's posse of bloodhound-wielding marshals is gonna drag her back in chains
posted by poffin boffin at 1:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [29 favorites]
lol why does this headline make it sound like a manhunt where trump's posse of bloodhound-wielding marshals is gonna drag her back in chains
posted by poffin boffin at 1:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [29 favorites]
In other news every city they are reporting bigger crowds than expected, in some cases double.
Double, hell, Denver's reporting 5-10 times the expected number.
posted by Gygesringtone at 1:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Double, hell, Denver's reporting 5-10 times the expected number.
posted by Gygesringtone at 1:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Let them eat cake!
Let them eat styrofoam!
posted by justso at 1:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Let them eat styrofoam!
posted by justso at 1:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Mike Memoli: Ahead of 4:30 @PressSec statement, a clue as to topic: photo of inauguration crowd
posted by sporkwort at 1:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by sporkwort at 1:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump's historical revisionism kills me. "This gigantic military-industrial complex, this unprecedented intelligence network with its covert operations, this 70-year political push to force the world into line with the USA's interests... you guys are missing the point. You actually want to exert America's will, flex our muscle, play hardball, see. You should have tried to kill terrorists. You're just not ruthless and brutal enough with our enemies and those unfortunate enough to live in the same country as them. Once we start getting tough—which I'll be the first president in history to do—these problems will be solved." [fake]
posted by Rykey at 1:23 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Rykey at 1:23 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
"We had a massive field of people, you saw that, packed. I get up this morning, I turn on one of the networks, and they show an empty field.
I said, 'Wait a minute, I made a speech. I looked out. The field was--it looked like a million, a million-and-a-half people.' They showed a field where there were practically nobody standing there.
And they said 'Donald Trump did not draw well.'
I said, 'I... it was... almost raining.' The rain should've scared 'em away, but God looked down and he said, 'We're not gonna let it rain on your speech.' Fact, I, when I first started I said 'oh, no.' First line, I hit, got hit, by a couple of drops. And I said, 'oh, this is, this is too bad, but we'll go right through it.'
But the truth is that it stopped immediately. It was amazing. And then it became really sunny. Then I walked off, and it poured, right after I left. It poured."
Argues with the television, receives personal messages from God. And it goes on like this.
posted by box at 1:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [35 favorites]
I said, 'Wait a minute, I made a speech. I looked out. The field was--it looked like a million, a million-and-a-half people.' They showed a field where there were practically nobody standing there.
And they said 'Donald Trump did not draw well.'
I said, 'I... it was... almost raining.' The rain should've scared 'em away, but God looked down and he said, 'We're not gonna let it rain on your speech.' Fact, I, when I first started I said 'oh, no.' First line, I hit, got hit, by a couple of drops. And I said, 'oh, this is, this is too bad, but we'll go right through it.'
But the truth is that it stopped immediately. It was amazing. And then it became really sunny. Then I walked off, and it poured, right after I left. It poured."
Argues with the television, receives personal messages from God. And it goes on like this.
posted by box at 1:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [35 favorites]
Buzzfeed's Jason Leopold with an outline of Trump's speech to the CIA indicates deep paranoia and detatchment from reality.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [27 favorites]
Mike Memoli: Ahead of 4:30 @PressSec statement, a clue as to topic: photo of inauguration crowd.
How much pettier could you possibly be? And the answer is none — none more pettier.
posted by adamgreenfield at 1:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
How much pettier could you possibly be? And the answer is none — none more pettier.
posted by adamgreenfield at 1:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
Hey all, I've been lurking in these threads until now, but I'm at the protest in Seattle so here's a field report:
Traffic coming into Seattle is terrible. The crowds are huge. The mood is upbeat. In the two hours I've been here I've witnessed zero acts of violence. Restaurants along the protest route are getting a lot of business.
posted by shponglespore at 1:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [33 favorites]
Traffic coming into Seattle is terrible. The crowds are huge. The mood is upbeat. In the two hours I've been here I've witnessed zero acts of violence. Restaurants along the protest route are getting a lot of business.
posted by shponglespore at 1:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [33 favorites]
Mike Memoli: Ahead of 4:30 @PressSec statement, a clue as to topic: photo of inauguration crowd
You appear to be upset.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 1:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
You appear to be upset.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 1:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
The difference between the Obama and the Trump Inaugurations
posted by newpotato at 1:29 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by newpotato at 1:29 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
This goes beyond pettiness and into insanity. It's insane. It's FUCKING INSANE.
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
"The generals are wonderful. The fighting is wonderful."
scrambled eggs for brains.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 1:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
scrambled eggs for brains.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 1:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
The conservatives on my FB feed seem to be genuinely baffled as to why the march is happening at all.
posted by piglord at 1:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by piglord at 1:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Trump is not insane. He has built his entire life on LIES. They're just getting more laughably obvious.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
They were always laughably obvious. It's just that now he's always on camera, so it's becoming more apparent to everyone, instead of just those who dealt with him regularly.
posted by Archelaus at 1:37 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Archelaus at 1:37 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's kind of weird that Trump went to the CIA despite the delay in Pompeo's confirmation.
posted by Coventry at 1:38 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by Coventry at 1:38 PM on January 21, 2017
Jeez, I leave C-Span on to go do some chores, elated by what I've seen. I come back and the FUCKING PRESIDENT is bitching about the crowd size at his inauguration? Like it's a conspiracy?
I don't have enough faces or palms.
posted by wallabear at 1:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
I don't have enough faces or palms.
posted by wallabear at 1:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
One astonishing detail, as Rep. Schiff's statement points out is that he gave the CIA remarks while standing in front of the agency's memorial wall of stars. He went there and had a campaign rally with cheering and lies about the size of his crowds standing in front of a memorial.
It is a bit weird watching how surprised reporters are that he's lying about the crowd size. He did that on a near-daily basis during the campaign.
posted by zachlipton at 1:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [33 favorites]
It is a bit weird watching how surprised reporters are that he's lying about the crowd size. He did that on a near-daily basis during the campaign.
posted by zachlipton at 1:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [33 favorites]
Trump tells CIA employees he may invade Iraq to take their oil (includes video).
He is totally fucking deranged.
posted by homunculus at 1:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
He is totally fucking deranged.
posted by homunculus at 1:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
On the streets, American democracy is as healthy as its ever been. In the halls of power, it's Rome during the reign of Caligula.
posted by homunculus at 1:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [30 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 1:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [30 favorites]
FUCKING PRESIDENT is bitching about the crowd size at his inauguration? Like it's a conspiracy?
"we caught 'em in a big one this time." he must have been trying to convince himself, because the world has seen the aerial images, and a blind lobotomized baboon could see the truth.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 1:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
"we caught 'em in a big one this time." he must have been trying to convince himself, because the world has seen the aerial images, and a blind lobotomized baboon could see the truth.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 1:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Originally Trump was protected by actual wealth. Then, as reality TV star, his buffoonery was enjoyed by those who chose to watch, not all of whom admired him. But now, everyone has to watch, whether they want to or not, and whether they are entertained or not. So what was once tolerable or even an asset, the sincere lying and the serious clowning, is now a liability. Too bad he had to be elected President of the United States to reach that turning point.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 1:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 1:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
Didn't he say he was going to take the weekend off? Is this his hobby, too?
posted by Grangousier at 1:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Grangousier at 1:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
it's more that everything else outside of frantic and feverish self aggrandizement is his hobby
posted by poffin boffin at 1:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 1:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
In fairness to Trump, he may have meant he’s thinking of invading Syria and taking their oil fields.
posted by homunculus at 1:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 1:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
FUCKING PRESIDENT is bitching about the crowd size at his inauguration?
He's bitching that the entire world is not backing up his raging delusion. Which, I have to admit, is even stranger than I thought this weekend would be.
posted by Squeak Attack at 1:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
He's bitching that the entire world is not backing up his raging delusion. Which, I have to admit, is even stranger than I thought this weekend would be.
posted by Squeak Attack at 1:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
Just back from the march in Denver. Crowds down there are insane - at one point, leaving to come back, I could see a column of marchers completely filling the street a block over in two directions. Mellowest large crowd I've ever been in. The line for the bus down from Boulder was all the way around the block from the time we got there to the time we left.
It's a start.
posted by brennen at 1:49 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
It's a start.
posted by brennen at 1:49 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
> Too bad he had to be elected President of the United States to reach that turning point.
Can we rename the Peter Principle? Because we're probably never going to have a better (i.e. worse) example of it than Trump.
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Can we rename the Peter Principle? Because we're probably never going to have a better (i.e. worse) example of it than Trump.
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Tried to watch the CIA speech, had maybe 5-7 minutes left when I had to shut it off as the urge to vomit was rising. a million and a half people? sun came out? personal message from god? another chance to take all the oil? great fighting? his personal great direction to the generals to increase the effectiveness of the US military? Looks like Fearless Leader could give Baghdad Bob lessons in willful denial of reality. Pence beforehand wasn't really any better, other than speaking in complete sentences.
posted by Enturbulated at 1:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Enturbulated at 1:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Didn't he say he was going to take the weekend off? Is this his hobby, too?
It's an emergency. People are questioning the size of hishands crowd.
posted by sporkwort at 1:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
It's an emergency. People are questioning the size of his
posted by sporkwort at 1:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
My current roommate is a software developer, and just told me he's seen that the Trump team is even re-using the Drupal platform developed by the Obama team.
I was torn; I thought I might go to the march in NYC today, and even made noises about hooking up with some friends, but I have been utterly beat. I took two naps this afternoon already.
I'm seeing all the pictures, especially ones from people I know who went out to New York or down to DC, and feeling like i should have sucked it up and tried to go; but I also know that this is not the only one day of fighting, and that there's a long fight ahead and there is going to be a need for more people to come along later, and so I'll rest up and join the next round.
Y'all out on the March today were like Aragorn and Haldir at Helm's Deep. I suppose that puts me in with the Rohirrim and Gandalf, and I think I'm okay with that.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:51 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
I was torn; I thought I might go to the march in NYC today, and even made noises about hooking up with some friends, but I have been utterly beat. I took two naps this afternoon already.
I'm seeing all the pictures, especially ones from people I know who went out to New York or down to DC, and feeling like i should have sucked it up and tried to go; but I also know that this is not the only one day of fighting, and that there's a long fight ahead and there is going to be a need for more people to come along later, and so I'll rest up and join the next round.
Y'all out on the March today were like Aragorn and Haldir at Helm's Deep. I suppose that puts me in with the Rohirrim and Gandalf, and I think I'm okay with that.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:51 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
There's this recurring theme from the right where it seems they truly cannot believe in the reality of a majority of people disagreeing with them. Like, it's unsourced so I can't fully confirm it but Josh Marshall of TPM retweeted a comment that Ted Cruz is suggesting today's marchers are hired actors paid by George Soros.
I'm pretty sure most of the powerful people who are spreading these lies are fully aware they're lies. They will say anything they can to discredit and weaken the opposition. They will say that not only are these paid protesters, but they are also violent and destructive because hey, a few people out of millions were violent and destructive. They will say these protesters have no idea what they're even protesting because whoever they interviewed wasn't able to express his/her thoughts brilliantly when suddenly being filmed.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there too ready to believe this because shit like this is all they listen to. The world those people live in is totally different from the world experienced by the protesters, and people like Ted Cruz know that too.
posted by wondermouse at 1:51 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
I'm pretty sure most of the powerful people who are spreading these lies are fully aware they're lies. They will say anything they can to discredit and weaken the opposition. They will say that not only are these paid protesters, but they are also violent and destructive because hey, a few people out of millions were violent and destructive. They will say these protesters have no idea what they're even protesting because whoever they interviewed wasn't able to express his/her thoughts brilliantly when suddenly being filmed.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there too ready to believe this because shit like this is all they listen to. The world those people live in is totally different from the world experienced by the protesters, and people like Ted Cruz know that too.
posted by wondermouse at 1:51 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
I was at the D.C. March from 11-4 and the crowds were indeed big enough to prevent marching. Lots of wonderfully creative signs, and a general feeling of solidarity. Even law enforcement was being helpful.
Posting from my phone; I'll add more notes tonight if I think of anything.
posted by Leslie Knope at 1:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
Posting from my phone; I'll add more notes tonight if I think of anything.
posted by Leslie Knope at 1:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
Jim Acosta: WH has set up crowd size pics in briefing room
posted by PenDevil at 1:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 1:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Spouse has suggested I should take a suggestion from the Lemony Snicket "Look Away" theme song.
But I can't! I won't!
posted by slipthought at 1:53 PM on January 21, 2017
But I can't! I won't!
posted by slipthought at 1:53 PM on January 21, 2017
Speaking of willful delusion, check out Conrad Black's latest mash note to the Trump that somehow only he can see and hear.
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
@bitteranagram: CIA dude: "Uh, Mr. President, we actually get along pretty well with the media. They repeat everything we tell them."
posted by Coventry at 1:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 1:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there too ready to believe this because shit like this is all they listen to. The world those people live in is totally different from the world experienced by the protesters, and people like Ted Cruz know that too.
You know the old "How did Nixon win when nobody I know voted for him?!" joke? That's reality for millions of people, except substitute "being a human being possessed of empathy" for "voting for Nixon".
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
You know the old "How did Nixon win when nobody I know voted for him?!" joke? That's reality for millions of people, except substitute "being a human being possessed of empathy" for "voting for Nixon".
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
[and on a more positive note] ... while it pales in comparison to turnouts at the various protest rallies and marches, it does me some small amount of good to see the signature counts continue to rise on the white house petitions page. ~150k signatures on the first now, would be absolutely lovely to see it continue to rise and provoke any sort of a visible response.
posted by Enturbulated at 1:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Enturbulated at 1:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Jim Acosta: WH has set up crowd size pics in briefing room
Sun Tzu: "If your adversary is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him."
For all the people who say public protest is meaningless, this seems to have put a weed up his ass.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [111 favorites]
Sun Tzu: "If your adversary is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him."
For all the people who say public protest is meaningless, this seems to have put a weed up his ass.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [111 favorites]
Jim Acosta just reported that the pics have been taken down.
posted by winna at 1:58 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by winna at 1:58 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Haya! Jared Kushner's brother, Joshua, showed up at the women's march.
posted by zachlipton at 1:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
The pics weren't taken down. They were on large TV screens that now just have the White House logo. The TVs were set up for some sort of reason.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:00 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:00 PM on January 21, 2017
Jim Acosta just reported that the pics have been taken down.
It would not surprise me if there was a power struggle going on right now off-stage over the damn pictures
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
It would not surprise me if there was a power struggle going on right now off-stage over the damn pictures
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Is it possible they are just keeping all those reporters in there to keep them from reporting what's actually happening outside?
"Just because you are paranoid..." and all that. My mind hurts.
posted by metasav at 2:03 PM on January 21, 2017
"Just because you are paranoid..." and all that. My mind hurts.
posted by metasav at 2:03 PM on January 21, 2017
Watching and listening to him whine about the crowd size at his inaugural is just surreal. He's such a deeply weird and creepily self-absorbed person.
posted by octothorpe at 2:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 2:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
While wandering around slightly seedy websites, I got this Russian casino pop-up, which celebrates _rump's inauguration with some creative photoshopping of crown on his head. (SFW, screenshot hosted on Imgur)
I don't imagine Obama ever got the same treatment in Russia, or anywhere for that matter. I could be mistaken, it's a big world.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
I don't imagine Obama ever got the same treatment in Russia, or anywhere for that matter. I could be mistaken, it's a big world.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Conrad Black's latest mash note
Convicted felon Conrad Black, to be precise.
posted by hangashore at 2:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Convicted felon Conrad Black, to be precise.
posted by hangashore at 2:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Listening to the news today about the various marches has been a real shot in the arm, and not a day too soon.
posted by uosuaq at 2:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 2:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
octothorpe: Watching and listening to him whine about the crowd size at his inaugural is just surreal. He's such a deeply weird and creepily self-absorbed person.
The more time he spends thinking and talking about himself, the less time he has to do damage to the country. Of course, his cabinet picks and the policies he signs will do that work for him, but I'm taking any small joys I can these days.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
The more time he spends thinking and talking about himself, the less time he has to do damage to the country. Of course, his cabinet picks and the policies he signs will do that work for him, but I'm taking any small joys I can these days.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
In fairness to Trump, he may have meant he’s thinking of invading Syria and taking their oil fields.
I've warned before: I think Iran is the target. He trashed the Iran deal the whole election, talks about our Strait of Hormuz scuffles with them, and has stacked the cabinet with people itching to go anti-Muslim. Add in hardliners in Israel pushing for a war with Iran, and we've got a powder keg on our hands. Especially so if there are hardened bunkers he's told can't be breached with normal bombs and suddenly he has an excuse to use tactical nukes. We all know he'd be excited to be in the history books as the second President in history to use nukes, that he thinks that's something to brag about. Trump using his speech to the CIA to whine about the media is completely absurd, but him fantasizing out loud about war terrifies me.
Oh, and as much as I think Mattis is one of the few rational, informed adults in the cabinet who could be a moderating influence on Trump, it's rumored the thing he and Obama clashed about was Mattis's willingness to go war with Iran.
Treacherous waters ahead.
posted by bluecore at 2:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
I've warned before: I think Iran is the target. He trashed the Iran deal the whole election, talks about our Strait of Hormuz scuffles with them, and has stacked the cabinet with people itching to go anti-Muslim. Add in hardliners in Israel pushing for a war with Iran, and we've got a powder keg on our hands. Especially so if there are hardened bunkers he's told can't be breached with normal bombs and suddenly he has an excuse to use tactical nukes. We all know he'd be excited to be in the history books as the second President in history to use nukes, that he thinks that's something to brag about. Trump using his speech to the CIA to whine about the media is completely absurd, but him fantasizing out loud about war terrifies me.
Oh, and as much as I think Mattis is one of the few rational, informed adults in the cabinet who could be a moderating influence on Trump, it's rumored the thing he and Obama clashed about was Mattis's willingness to go war with Iran.
Treacherous waters ahead.
posted by bluecore at 2:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
Austin march was 50000 people and Wendy Davis was main speaker. Lots of positive energy.
posted by jclarkin at 2:11 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by jclarkin at 2:11 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
While wandering around slightly seedy websites, I got this Russian casino pop-up, which celebrates _rump's inauguration.
Donald Trump inauguration—Vladimir Putin supporters hold all-night party and joke 'Washington will be ours': Amid reports of Russian 'Trumpomania', the party is also expected to involve the showing of portraits of Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Marine Le Pen
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Donald Trump inauguration—Vladimir Putin supporters hold all-night party and joke 'Washington will be ours': Amid reports of Russian 'Trumpomania', the party is also expected to involve the showing of portraits of Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Marine Le Pen
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
homunculus: On the streets, American democracy is as healthy as its ever been. In the halls of power, it's Rome during the reign of Caligula.
That's not how Democracy works. Well, that's not how a representative republic works. If the elected officials are not in line with the wishes of their constituents at large, aren't we closer to an oligarchy?
posted by filthy light thief at 2:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
That's not how Democracy works. Well, that's not how a representative republic works. If the elected officials are not in line with the wishes of their constituents at large, aren't we closer to an oligarchy?
posted by filthy light thief at 2:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Came in to say we didn't make it to the march in Montpelier, VT. Three exits on the highway were closed (in both directions) because there simply was no room on surface roads.
But here's a bit of the march in Palmer, AK. (Link to a facebook video - didn't find anything more public, sorry.)
posted by merelyglib at 2:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
But here's a bit of the march in Palmer, AK. (Link to a facebook video - didn't find anything more public, sorry.)
posted by merelyglib at 2:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Woman on MSNBC being interviewed saying she doesn't know what anyone is marching for today.
SMH.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
SMH.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
I was at the DC Women's March, and spent 90 minutes at the NGA East near the Mall waiting for friends to show up. And endless stream of pink hats and hilarious signs. The number that showed up was completely beyond expectations, massive positive energy. At some point with the entire mall covered, the crowd started to move west towards the White House, or at least 14th, along the entire width of the Mall from Independence to Constitution. My friends and I followed it while trying to cut north (we had edged south, trying to see some screens at some point), but eventually decided to try to break off. We went up 12th, past the Trump Hotel, which was receiving a good bit of protesting, people leaving their signs there and just generally flipping off the building. So much positive energy, cheering, inclusivity.
posted by X-Himy at 2:16 PM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by X-Himy at 2:16 PM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
Sean Spicer's press statement now pushed another 10 minutes (it was pushed five minutes about five minutes ago). That will put it at least an hour late.
posted by zachlipton at 2:21 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by zachlipton at 2:21 PM on January 21, 2017
Double, hell, Denver's reporting 5-10 times the expected number.
Yeah, Chicago was officially expecting 50k and got a staggering estimated 250k - as many people as were at the inauguration yesterday, and this is a single city's protest march. The reports I've been seeing suggest that many cities similarly exceeded expectations. (Also, reports in Chicago may suggest that only thousands actually marched; while the march portion of the event was officially cancelled, a huge number of people weren't even close enough to hear that (cellphone service went very spotty too, so I couldn't confirm the cancellation until we'd already marched halfway to the destination point). I'd bet that at least as many people marched through the city as were originally expected to attend.) The CTA was overwhelmed, the unexpected turnout resulted in a fair amount of confusion, but everyone reacted with good grace, and man, the entire thing was so positive and diverse and inclusive and hopeful compared to the apocalyptic rhetoric and empty pomp of yesterday's main event. I really hope that people (me included) can figure out how to use this as a springboard for more action.
posted by ubersturm at 2:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
Yeah, Chicago was officially expecting 50k and got a staggering estimated 250k - as many people as were at the inauguration yesterday, and this is a single city's protest march. The reports I've been seeing suggest that many cities similarly exceeded expectations. (Also, reports in Chicago may suggest that only thousands actually marched; while the march portion of the event was officially cancelled, a huge number of people weren't even close enough to hear that (cellphone service went very spotty too, so I couldn't confirm the cancellation until we'd already marched halfway to the destination point). I'd bet that at least as many people marched through the city as were originally expected to attend.) The CTA was overwhelmed, the unexpected turnout resulted in a fair amount of confusion, but everyone reacted with good grace, and man, the entire thing was so positive and diverse and inclusive and hopeful compared to the apocalyptic rhetoric and empty pomp of yesterday's main event. I really hope that people (me included) can figure out how to use this as a springboard for more action.
posted by ubersturm at 2:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
Taking that long to get After Effects working?
posted by carsondial at 2:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by carsondial at 2:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
I shared this a few months ago, and I think it's still a valid explanation of Donald Trump, especially in the past few days.
Politico (Oct 2015): How Norman Vincent Peale Taught Donald Trump to Worship Himself
Politico (Oct 2015): How Norman Vincent Peale Taught Donald Trump to Worship Himself
The magnate’s biographer [Gwenda Blair] explains the spiritual guide behind his relentless self-confidence.posted by ZeusHumms at 2:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Known as “God’s salesman,” Peale merged worldliness and godliness to produce an easy-to-follow theology that preached self-confidence as a life philosophy. Critics called him a con man, described his church as a cult, and said his simple-minded approach shut off genuine thinking or insight. But Peale’s outlook, promoted through his radio shows, newspaper columns and articles, and through Guideposts, his monthly digest of inspirational messages, fit perfectly into the Trump family culture of never hesitating to bend the rules, doing whatever it took to win, and never, ever giving up.
“Believe in yourself!” Peale’s book begins. “Have faith in your abilities!” He then outlines 10 rules to overcome “inadequacy attitudes” and “build up confidence in your powers.” Rule one: “formulate and staple indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding,” “hold this picture tenaciously,” and always refer to it “no matter how badly things seem to be going at the moment.”
Subsequent rules tell the reader to avoid “fear thoughts,” “never think of yourself as failing,” summon up a positive thought whenever “a negative thought concerning your personal powers comes to mind,” “depreciate every so-called obstacle,” and “make a true estimate of your own ability, then raise it 10 per cent.”
Trump to the CIA: "I have a running war with the media. They are among the most dishonest human beings on earth." The audience cheered.
pretty disrespectful that his first official communication with the CIA is to show up where they work and tell them someone else does their job better than they do
posted by indubitable at 2:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
pretty disrespectful that his first official communication with the CIA is to show up where they work and tell them someone else does their job better than they do
posted by indubitable at 2:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
There was a little thing in the sleepy town of Ypsilanti, MI
Dwarfed, of course, by the march in Ann Arbor. ^_^
posted by JoeXIII007 at 2:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Dwarfed, of course, by the march in Ann Arbor. ^_^
posted by JoeXIII007 at 2:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Montpelier, VT had maybe 12k, they're guessing now. They had to close all the highway on/offramps because there was simply no room on surface roads.
posted by merelyglib at 2:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by merelyglib at 2:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Woman on MSNBC being interviewed saying she doesn't know what anyone is marching for today.
For what it's worth, my elderly father said the same thing this morning. "Why are they protesting? He hasn't done anything yet."
And he's the RATIONAL parent.
posted by delfin at 2:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
For what it's worth, my elderly father said the same thing this morning. "Why are they protesting? He hasn't done anything yet."
And he's the RATIONAL parent.
posted by delfin at 2:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
I didn't go myself as I'm in a wheelchair and I was afraid of getting squished, but Asheville NC was expecting about 3,000 marchers and 7,000-10,000 showed up. I wish I had been there.
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 2:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 2:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
Some photos from the rally area (not the march itself, as I was working a merch table) in Phoenix. Early numbers suggest around 20,000 people in attendance, compared to the around 5,000 expected, but that may be a conservative estimate.
It was cold (for Phoenix) and windy, but sunny, early in the day, but turned overcast and rainy later on. People here don't really do weather, so this turnout is especially impressive. It was also perfectly peaceful and orderly, as even local law enforcement agreed. (There were surprisingly few cops around for a crowd that size, which made me happy.)
Among the speakers was our new county Recorder (in charge of running elections), who announced his goal of increasing registered voters from 2.2 to 3 million during his four-year term. Suck it, folks looking to take advantage of the gutted VRA.
Expect us.
posted by Superplin at 2:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
It was cold (for Phoenix) and windy, but sunny, early in the day, but turned overcast and rainy later on. People here don't really do weather, so this turnout is especially impressive. It was also perfectly peaceful and orderly, as even local law enforcement agreed. (There were surprisingly few cops around for a crowd that size, which made me happy.)
Among the speakers was our new county Recorder (in charge of running elections), who announced his goal of increasing registered voters from 2.2 to 3 million during his four-year term. Suck it, folks looking to take advantage of the gutted VRA.
Expect us.
posted by Superplin at 2:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
There is a small bitter part of me that is suddenly thinking: "I just wish all the people who turned out to march today had turned out to vote in November."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
From the Los Angeles Times: The Los Angeles Police Department was working on a crowd estimate but said the march drew 500,000 people, the largest since 2006's immigration march.
I gave up after 2 1/2 hours standing and slowly walking when the march had moved two blocks from Pershing Square. It turns out the crowd was too large to go on the planned march from Pershing Square to City Hall but nobody told us that. It was nice day out after a depressing two months.
posted by rdr at 2:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
I gave up after 2 1/2 hours standing and slowly walking when the march had moved two blocks from Pershing Square. It turns out the crowd was too large to go on the planned march from Pershing Square to City Hall but nobody told us that. It was nice day out after a depressing two months.
posted by rdr at 2:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
DNC Statement on Trump's Visit to the CIA:
After he finished ranting about crowd sizes on the National Mall, I hope President Trump sat down for an interview with the CIA to help with their investigation into his team's possible collusion with the Kremlin to wn the election. Next, he can sit down with the FBI who have sought warrants to monitor his team for the same reason.posted by zachlipton at 2:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [28 favorites]
There is a small bitter part of me that is suddenly thinking: "I just wish all the people who turned out to march today had turned out to vote in November."
We did. Hillary Clinton won the popular by basically three million of our votes.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [107 favorites]
We did. Hillary Clinton won the popular by basically three million of our votes.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [107 favorites]
25,000 out in Pittsburgh today. Not me as I had class but my wife and lots of friends and neighbors were out.
posted by octothorpe at 2:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 2:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
Not only did I vote, I voted 2 weeks early, and so did my husband.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 2:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 2:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Famously conservative Colorado Springs expected 500, then maaaaybe twice that. We had thousands. And this was just the people who didn't go to one in Denver.
posted by mochapickle at 2:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 2:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
I'm looking forward to the replacement for Obamacare that's built entirely out of bamboo and palm fronds.
No no no, this is the 21st century. It will be made of styrofoam and just as functional as a health plan as Trump's cake is as a cake.
posted by Bringer Tom at 2:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
No no no, this is the 21st century. It will be made of styrofoam and just as functional as a health plan as Trump's cake is as a cake.
posted by Bringer Tom at 2:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
We're back from the march in Indianapolis. It was an amazing experience. A warm, sunny day in January -- symbolically appropriate given the dismal rain on Trump's parade -- and thousands of loyal Americans joined in solidarity, love, and sister- and brotherhood. Republicans are on notice that they are opposed by a majority that, unlike the Reagan years, will not be cowed into silence and acquiescence.
posted by Gelatin at 2:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Gelatin at 2:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
And if you've got anyone in your life who's dismissive of anti-Trump protests in countries other than the U.S., those are countries that have a lot to worry about as the ascendance of Trump has been a "Yes we can!" moment for their own home-grown facists and racists:
Marine Le Pen wasted no time in proclaiming 2017 as the year of far-right awakening in Europe.
“We are living through the end of one world, and the birth of another,” Ms. Le Pen, the leader of France’s National Front party, told a cheering gathering of members of European right-wing parties on Saturday in this Rhine River city to chart a joint path to success in elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany this year.
“In 2016, the Anglo-Saxon world woke up,” Ms. Le Pen said. “In 2017, I am sure that it will be the year of the Continental peoples rising up.”
The triumph of anti-Europeans in Britain and Donald J. Trump in the United States has galvanized the Continent’s far-right parties...
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
Marine Le Pen wasted no time in proclaiming 2017 as the year of far-right awakening in Europe.
“We are living through the end of one world, and the birth of another,” Ms. Le Pen, the leader of France’s National Front party, told a cheering gathering of members of European right-wing parties on Saturday in this Rhine River city to chart a joint path to success in elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany this year.
“In 2016, the Anglo-Saxon world woke up,” Ms. Le Pen said. “In 2017, I am sure that it will be the year of the Continental peoples rising up.”
The triumph of anti-Europeans in Britain and Donald J. Trump in the United States has galvanized the Continent’s far-right parties...
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
Sean Spicer: Twitter is mean :-<
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sean Spicer is live, and starting with a rant about how the press has covered the administration so far.
posted by zachlipton at 2:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Spicer complaining about the "false reporting" about Zeke Miller's MLK, Jr. mistake, and saying that the photographs of the inauguration were framed incorrectly to "minimize" the number of people. Also, hundreds of thousands of people were prevented from being on the Mall. "No one had numbers, because the Park service does not put them out."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
A half-million in LA alone, a quarter-million in Chicago? 5th Ave at Trump Tower is jammed for blocks. Tens of thousands in Denver and dozens of other cities. Boise! for crying out loud. Cities around the world. I'm just floored.
posted by wallabear at 2:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by wallabear at 2:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
Sean Spicer is Baghdad Bob.
posted by Yowser at 2:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by Yowser at 2:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
Holy shit, is this real life? This is all whining about the crowd estimates. This is... surreal.
posted by Justinian at 2:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
Calls out press for "false reporting:" the claim the MLK bust was removed (it was an honest mistake because the bust was behind a door and an agent, and a correction was promptly issued), and "photos intentionally framed in a way to minimize the enormous support that had gathered on the national mall." He's claiming the coverings on the grass made the crowd look smaller and that all the numbers were bogus (same for counting protesters today).
This is nuts.
posted by zachlipton at 2:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
This is nuts.
posted by zachlipton at 2:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Wow, this press briefing...good God.
posted by uosuaq at 2:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 2:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Blaming crowd sizes on heightened Mall security relative to earlier inaugurations.
posted by Coventry at 2:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 2:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
fuck this whiny little grub
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
He really views his job as telling the press how they must cover him, not, you know, providing information.
posted by zachlipton at 2:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Now now now, no need to malign grubs.
posted by merelyglib at 2:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by merelyglib at 2:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
BEFORE I GET TO THE NEWS OF THE DAY I WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW THE PHENOMENON OF SHRINKAGE... I WAS IN THE POOL!!
posted by angrybear at 2:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [50 favorites]
posted by angrybear at 2:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [50 favorites]
WHO THE FUCK CARES Sean? Sure it's the media's fault no-one showed up to watch the Cheeto be sworn in.
posted by wallabear at 2:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by wallabear at 2:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
DJT will take his message "directly to the people." This is just the continued ramp-up to banning and punishing journalist access.
He took no questions.
posted by mochapickle at 2:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
He took no questions.
posted by mochapickle at 2:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
and off he goes. what strength he projected.
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
That was it? Bitching about oh never fucking mind sheesh
posted by wallabear at 2:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by wallabear at 2:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
A system where simply by moving to a city you surrender most of your political voice is not a system that can survive in a world that is increasingly urban. And that system is baked so deeply into our Constitution I don't think it can ever be fixed.
I have been wondering how much this disparity is based on the number of Representatives, which, if memory serves me correctly, is established by Congress, not the Constitution. And the law establishing the number of representatives at 435 is more than a century old, from when the United States was a different nation in many ways.
The problem is that the limited number of Representatives means that they represent different numbers of people, with urban representatives obviously taking on far more constituents.
This system seems contrary to the spirit of the Constitution -- it's the Senate, not the House, that is designed to dilute representation by land mass. If the number of Representatives was set to be proportional to the smallest congressional district -- that is, the state with the smallest population -- it seems to me that urban areas -- and, therefore, Democrats -- would gain much more representation.
Which is, of course, why Republicans would never allow it.
posted by Gelatin at 2:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
I have been wondering how much this disparity is based on the number of Representatives, which, if memory serves me correctly, is established by Congress, not the Constitution. And the law establishing the number of representatives at 435 is more than a century old, from when the United States was a different nation in many ways.
The problem is that the limited number of Representatives means that they represent different numbers of people, with urban representatives obviously taking on far more constituents.
This system seems contrary to the spirit of the Constitution -- it's the Senate, not the House, that is designed to dilute representation by land mass. If the number of Representatives was set to be proportional to the smallest congressional district -- that is, the state with the smallest population -- it seems to me that urban areas -- and, therefore, Democrats -- would gain much more representation.
Which is, of course, why Republicans would never allow it.
posted by Gelatin at 2:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
He kept the press waiting for an hour and a quarter for that?
What in the fuck?
posted by Talez at 2:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
What in the fuck?
posted by Talez at 2:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
Wow. This isn't a briefing, it's a tantrum.
posted by Devonian at 2:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 2:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
He also just called Peña Nieto a Prime Minister. That is wrong. He is a President.
posted by zachlipton at 2:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
My local news anchor's face looked like Jon Stewart's after they switched back from a clip. "He said something about the Prime Minister of Mexico, which is a position I don't think exists."
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 2:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [56 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 2:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [56 favorites]
That plaintive "Sean? Women's march?!" at the end...
posted by Coventry at 2:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 2:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Blaming crowd sizes on heightened Mall security relative to earlier inaugurations.
Mmm. Unlike the inauguration of that whathisname guy who was getting 30 death threats a day on a light day.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Mmm. Unlike the inauguration of that whathisname guy who was getting 30 death threats a day on a light day.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Spicer was not happy to be there and his frenzied discomfort will be a small pleasure of this new dark age
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
SNL had better have a field day with this.
posted by ZeusHumms at 2:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 2:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
I am literally shaking my head with my mouth dropped open watching Spicer... what was that? Oh my God ...
posted by bookmammal at 2:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by bookmammal at 2:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
New favorite sign spotted on Twitter, held by a cute but mad-looking little girl:
"TRUMP EATS FARTS"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
"TRUMP EATS FARTS"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
Can SNL put this in with 5.5 hours to go? Good luck!
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Obama's Anger Interpreter was funnier.
posted by Devonian at 2:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 2:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Yeah given the lengthy delay of this statement, I can only imagine there were heated arguments about what Spicer would say. Of course, since this is what won out, what the heck was the even worse version?
posted by zachlipton at 2:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [23 favorites]
Keep pushing people, he's going to crack.
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 2:51 PM on January 21, 2017 [68 favorites]
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 2:51 PM on January 21, 2017 [68 favorites]
orwellian. truly orwellian. "if the white grass cover hadn't been there, you would have seen the million and a half people" (paraphrasing). that makes no sense at all. 2+2=5. put my head in a cage with a rat!
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 2:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [30 favorites]
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 2:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [30 favorites]
I feel bad for Sean. He's so excited about his new job that when he was trying to say "Mexico's President Peña Nieto" the excited voice inside his head kept repeating "I'm Minister of Propaganda! I'm Minister of Propaganda!" and it came out wrong.
posted by nickmark at 2:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by nickmark at 2:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
since this is what won out, what the heck was the even worse version?
I think this was the worse version. This was like a polished version of what Trump would say.
posted by Coventry at 2:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
I think this was the worse version. This was like a polished version of what Trump would say.
posted by Coventry at 2:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
There is a small bitter part of me that is suddenly thinking: "I just wish all the people who turned out to march today had turned out to vote in November."
I'd be inclined to believe that they did, and quite a healthy proportion of them campaigned their hearts out for Clinton, and are so shocked and appalled and enraged by the results, and by the emboldening of those who would target the vulnerable, to say THIS SHIT WILL NOT STAND. So they're not the people to be bitter at, they're the ones you'll be fighting alongside.
posted by hangashore at 2:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [45 favorites]
I'd be inclined to believe that they did, and quite a healthy proportion of them campaigned their hearts out for Clinton, and are so shocked and appalled and enraged by the results, and by the emboldening of those who would target the vulnerable, to say THIS SHIT WILL NOT STAND. So they're not the people to be bitter at, they're the ones you'll be fighting alongside.
posted by hangashore at 2:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [45 favorites]
The worst part was when he said "This is what you should be writing and covering" as if he has any damn right.
posted by zachlipton at 2:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
I stand by my earlier statement regarding Spicer and bullshit.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Maybe behind the scenes they'd come up with a non-insane presser and Spicer just Leeroy Jenkins'ed it
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Of course, since this is what won out, what the heck was the even worse version?
i dunno about "worse" so much as there's probably still a contingent of staffers who think it might be nice if White House pressers were at least kinda about something other than whining. . . .
posted by soundguy99 at 2:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
i dunno about "worse" so much as there's probably still a contingent of staffers who think it might be nice if White House pressers were at least kinda about something other than whining. . . .
posted by soundguy99 at 2:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Speaking of Mexican presidents, in this case a former one, Vicente Fox is at it again on Twitter:
Today over 500K women united in a single heartbeat. Yesterday, you couldn't even summon half of it. This was clear all over the world.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [93 favorites]
Today over 500K women united in a single heartbeat. Yesterday, you couldn't even summon half of it. This was clear all over the world.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [93 favorites]
This is called a statement you're told to make by the President. And you know the President is watching.
When Ari Fleischer critiques your press conference.....
posted by zabuni at 2:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
When Ari Fleischer critiques your press conference.....
posted by zabuni at 2:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Ari Fleischer just described it as: "This is called a statement you're told to make by the President. And you know the President is watching."
I also like how he started by saying every single number about crowd sizes is completely bogus and wrong because the numbers don't exist, and then he started giving numbers.
posted by zachlipton at 2:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
I also like how he started by saying every single number about crowd sizes is completely bogus and wrong because the numbers don't exist, and then he started giving numbers.
posted by zachlipton at 2:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
Can SNL put this in with 5.5 hours to go? Good luck!
The beauty of it is that it doesn't even need to go through the writers' room...just hand off the presser transcript to the cast and let them have at it.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
The beauty of it is that it doesn't even need to go through the writers' room...just hand off the presser transcript to the cast and let them have at it.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Minneapolis expected 20k, had 60k. And that was when it was 40 degrees and drizzling.
posted by dinty_moore at 2:58 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by dinty_moore at 2:58 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
No doubt I'll regret saying this but I'm feeling so hopeful right now that his downfall will come before his Reichstag fire has a chance even to be kindled.
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 2:58 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 2:58 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Craig Silverman is right. Most reports will ridicule Spicer, but all the Facebook posts will be all "DESTORYED the lying media." They're just going to keep playing to their base.
posted by zachlipton at 3:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh, I don't hold out much hope for the structural integrity of the Lincoln Memorial if they do that.
posted by Grangousier at 3:46 PM on January 21 [7 favorites −] Favorite added! [!]
Shhh...no one tell him about the structural columns in the basement.
posted by Preserver at 3:04 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by Grangousier at 3:46 PM on January 21 [7 favorites −] Favorite added! [!]
Shhh...no one tell him about the structural columns in the basement.
posted by Preserver at 3:04 PM on January 21, 2017
MSNBC pointed out that last night Spicer tweeted "Apology accepted" to Miller regarding the MLK bust contretemps... but today he described that episode as "irresponsible and reckless."
posted by carmicha at 3:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 3:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
I thought maybe the remark about eliminating the columns was Trumpian word salad for the bizspeak trope about eliminating silos.
posted by carmicha at 3:08 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by carmicha at 3:08 PM on January 21, 2017
carmicha: No, his mind alighted on a topic he actually has some expertise in, architecture, and he stayed there too long because it was comfortable.
posted by Coventry at 3:11 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Coventry at 3:11 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
I was pretty excited to see so many friends marching via Facebook posts, and then I went far enough back to see someone else post "Happy Nobama day everyone!" and I unfriended them in a kneejerk reaction. Part of me want to have a dialog with that person, but maybe for another day.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 3:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Of course while everyone moralised about punching neo-nazis, my cousin was shot while protesting a Milo event.
I'm so sorry - everyone I know was talking about it - they would all send best wishes if they knew that you were a mefite/person-at-the-place-Frowner-spends-all-the-time. Everyone was totally horrified. If there is a fund raiser for medical expenses (or legal expenses to support the prosecution of that fucker) I hope you will link it, or if there's another way to help. We are all hoping that your cousin recovers fully and soon.
posted by Frowner at 3:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
I'm so sorry - everyone I know was talking about it - they would all send best wishes if they knew that you were a mefite/person-at-the-place-Frowner-spends-all-the-time. Everyone was totally horrified. If there is a fund raiser for medical expenses (or legal expenses to support the prosecution of that fucker) I hope you will link it, or if there's another way to help. We are all hoping that your cousin recovers fully and soon.
posted by Frowner at 3:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
Some analysis of the president's official portrait at the photography blog PetaPixel. Whoever the anonymous photographer was, s/he didn't seem to know how to work the settings on the 10 year old Canon used to take it.
posted by octothorpe at 3:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 3:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
American workers urged to "keep punching" & smack Nazis in the face every day
posted by porn in the woods at 3:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by porn in the woods at 3:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Well Spicer threw himself on the sword nicely. Instead of talking about the rallies cable news now talks about the dumb shit he spewed in his first White House press briefing.
posted by Talez at 3:17 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Talez at 3:17 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
I tried to watch Greta Van Sustern (spelled incorrectly? don't care). She's like, "but what if the media did get the crowd sizes wrong?" She shouldn't be on MSNBC.
And on CNN (Smerconnish wants everyone to give donnie a chance) that Barrak dude (inaugural chair) telling complete fucking falsehoods.
posted by futz at 3:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
And on CNN (Smerconnish wants everyone to give donnie a chance) that Barrak dude (inaugural chair) telling complete fucking falsehoods.
posted by futz at 3:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Some analysis of the president's official portrait at the photography blog PetaPixel. Whoever the anonymous photographer was, s/he didn't seem to know how to work the settings on the 10 year old Canon used to take it.
ISO 640 on a camera from 2007? Is this a sick joke?
posted by zachlipton at 3:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
ISO 640 on a camera from 2007? Is this a sick joke?
posted by zachlipton at 3:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Seems like they'd at least get Meredith a newer camera.
posted by mochapickle at 3:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 3:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
President of major country has tantrum by proxy over some bullshit to knock major anti-president event out of the news.
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Many thanks to everyone who expressed support for my cousin. I'm still trying to get straight stories about it from my family in the area, but it seems the trauma centre there is top-notch and they did some good work. Everybody there has somebody right now, so I'm optimistic.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [59 favorites]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [59 favorites]
Trump said "God stopped the rain" during his speech. You can look back on this thread and see that it was raining. He's literally a weather denier.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [52 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [52 favorites]
No one in my family has ever been to a march before but my wife brought our 13 year old to D.C. with two friends and I brought her six year old brother to the NYC march. Chanted, made signs , stood for three hour on second avenue and 49th street without moving.
Iike so many we were not pressured, we were drawn to participate.
It was a great reminder that people who think more like me are in he majority in this country and how much I love my city.
posted by shothotbot at 3:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
Iike so many we were not pressured, we were drawn to participate.
It was a great reminder that people who think more like me are in he majority in this country and how much I love my city.
posted by shothotbot at 3:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
Whatever words Donald makes with his puckered mouthhole seem to me the aural equivalent of a Rohrschach test administered under strobe lighting whilst riding the spinning teacup ride at a carnival. They're never enlightening or interesting. They never tell me anything meaningful that I can't know already by his past actions. And giving them my attention just leaves me disoriented and sick. I can only suppose that to some people they are hypnotic somehow. Otherwise I just don't understand the fascination with attempts to parse them.
On the other hand, if anybody actually gains by listening to him, then my hat is off to them. I simply can't.
posted by perspicio at 3:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
On the other hand, if anybody actually gains by listening to him, then my hat is off to them. I simply can't.
posted by perspicio at 3:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Just got home from the march in Raleigh, where I walked and cheered and shouted and sang with 17,000 of my sisters and brothers.
Apparently (judging by the number of pledge forms they created) the organizers were expecting something closer to 3-5,000.
Way to overperform, Triangle women!!
posted by Dorinda at 3:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
Apparently (judging by the number of pledge forms they created) the organizers were expecting something closer to 3-5,000.
Way to overperform, Triangle women!!
posted by Dorinda at 3:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
New favorite sign spotted on Twitter, held by a cute but mad-looking little girl:
"TRUMP EATS FARTS"
Presumably there isn't anyone on the planet who doesn't now know that 'to trump' is actually UK slang for farting...
Earlier, when looking up variations of the phrase 'all hat, no cattle' [for a reply to the cake thing, not posted] I discovered 'all fart, no poo'. Which, whilst perfect in many ways, I also didn't post as my inner pedant pointed out that there is poo, so much poo, an entire campaign of poo, we are about to be up to our ankles in poo -- arse over tit as the punchline goes.
Still, today was very not poo.
posted by Buntix at 3:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
"TRUMP EATS FARTS"
Presumably there isn't anyone on the planet who doesn't now know that 'to trump' is actually UK slang for farting...
Earlier, when looking up variations of the phrase 'all hat, no cattle' [for a reply to the cake thing, not posted] I discovered 'all fart, no poo'. Which, whilst perfect in many ways, I also didn't post as my inner pedant pointed out that there is poo, so much poo, an entire campaign of poo, we are about to be up to our ankles in poo -- arse over tit as the punchline goes.
Still, today was very not poo.
posted by Buntix at 3:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
octothorpe: Some analysis of the president's official portrait at the photography blog PetaPixel.
At a very basic level, the only thing in focus is his face. The US flag pin on his lapel isn't even in focus. Then there's the fact that his hair isn't evenly combed, so his hair color looks super fake.
Can he get it replaced once he picks a more qualified photographer? Would he then replace that portrait when he fires that photographer for making him look un-presidential?
posted by filthy light thief at 3:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
At a very basic level, the only thing in focus is his face. The US flag pin on his lapel isn't even in focus. Then there's the fact that his hair isn't evenly combed, so his hair color looks super fake.
Can he get it replaced once he picks a more qualified photographer? Would he then replace that portrait when he fires that photographer for making him look un-presidential?
posted by filthy light thief at 3:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Historically, messing up the God-emperor's portrait is a capital offense.
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
RobotVoodooPower: Trump said "God stopped the rain" during his speech. You can look back on this thread and see that it was raining. He's literally a weather denier.
I think the general understanding is that he is an unreliable narrator. Or a reality denier.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
I think the general understanding is that he is an unreliable narrator. Or a reality denier.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
At a very basic level, the only thing in focus is his face. The US flag pin on his lapel isn't even in focus.
If you expand the full picture you can see that even his whole face isn't in focus, mostly just his nose. And because they're pushing an old sensor hard, there's a ton of ugly digital noise and there are some weird lens aberrations between his shoulders and the fake Whitehouse (Bluehouse?) backdrop.
posted by octothorpe at 3:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you expand the full picture you can see that even his whole face isn't in focus, mostly just his nose. And because they're pushing an old sensor hard, there's a ton of ugly digital noise and there are some weird lens aberrations between his shoulders and the fake Whitehouse (Bluehouse?) backdrop.
posted by octothorpe at 3:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just want someone to sit him down, someone that, if he doesn't respect (because I doubt he knows the concept), someone who can at least scare home enough to listen. This mythical someone would say something along the lines of, going back to the idea of ethics and learning his job:
History is going to be brutal, Trump. History will show how you pandered, how you emboldened racism, exploited and divided, lied while campaigning, and upon winning, immediately went back on nearly every promise you made, loading your cabinet with what could only be called cronies and robber barons. This is how history will see the beginning of your administration. It doesn't have to be how they see the end of your administration. You have time, learn the rules. Read about former presidents, ask for advice from them, not your son-in-law, your sons, or your racist-in-chief. You have four years ahead of you to improve on a start that has exceeded our worst nightmares. While some might think this is rock bottom, we all know you can do worse. What we are asking you is to be better. There is still time, but not as much as you think.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:34 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
History is going to be brutal, Trump. History will show how you pandered, how you emboldened racism, exploited and divided, lied while campaigning, and upon winning, immediately went back on nearly every promise you made, loading your cabinet with what could only be called cronies and robber barons. This is how history will see the beginning of your administration. It doesn't have to be how they see the end of your administration. You have time, learn the rules. Read about former presidents, ask for advice from them, not your son-in-law, your sons, or your racist-in-chief. You have four years ahead of you to improve on a start that has exceeded our worst nightmares. While some might think this is rock bottom, we all know you can do worse. What we are asking you is to be better. There is still time, but not as much as you think.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:34 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
Starting to think the real apocalypse pool should be whether trump is going to bring it about via
* Sinister conspiracy
* Greed and narcissism
* Sheer insanely unadulterated incompetence (big world, tiny hands, petty mind)
posted by Buntix at 3:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
* Sinister conspiracy
* Greed and narcissism
* Sheer insanely unadulterated incompetence (big world, tiny hands, petty mind)
posted by Buntix at 3:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Photos taken with old cameras by nonprofessionals. Styrofoam cakes. 600+ positions unfilled. A President and staff who are talking about the crowd at inauguration rather than about policy.
Is it me or is this a cargo cult presidency?
posted by mmoncur at 3:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
Is it me or is this a cargo cult presidency?
posted by mmoncur at 3:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
This made me cry: Japanese-American woman at Los Angeles rally.
posted by bluecore at 3:36 PM on January 21, 2017 [67 favorites]
posted by bluecore at 3:36 PM on January 21, 2017 [67 favorites]
Starting to think the real apocalypse pool should be whether trump is going to bring it about via
* Sinister conspiracy
* Greed and narcissism
* Sheer insanely unadulterated incompetence (big world, tiny hands, petty mind)
I HAZ ANSWER
posted by lalochezia at 3:37 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
This mythical someone would say something along the lines of, going back to the idea of ethics and learning his job:
History is going to be brutal, Trump.
This only works if he actually understands that other people exist and that there will be a time when he does not.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:37 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
History is going to be brutal, Trump.
This only works if he actually understands that other people exist and that there will be a time when he does not.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:37 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Former CIA Dir Brennan is deeply saddened and angered at Trump's despicable display of self-aggrandizement in front of CIA's Memorial Wall of Agency heroes. Brennan says that Trump should be ashamed of himself--@nick_shapiro
posted by zachlipton at 3:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [37 favorites]
Is it me or is this a cargo cult presidency?
Wearing the same clothes, using the same words, why isn't everyone respecting us?
posted by ODiV at 3:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Wearing the same clothes, using the same words, why isn't everyone respecting us?
posted by ODiV at 3:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Next tweet from Luntz: "I got red paint thrown on me and called a "fascist MF'er" by a protester here. The @Marriott let it happen."
Christ, at what Marriott Elite Rewards Member level do they offer personal security protection?
posted by tonycpsu at 3:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
Christ, at what Marriott Elite Rewards Member level do they offer personal security protection?
posted by tonycpsu at 3:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
Just got home from the march and it was inspiring. My mind kept thinking "what's next?"
What resources or out there for someone who is trying to learn how to be politically active? How do you keep track of bills or who your reps are?
posted by gofargogo at 3:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
What resources or out there for someone who is trying to learn how to be politically active? How do you keep track of bills or who your reps are?
posted by gofargogo at 3:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
The Women's March here in Edinburgh was organized on Facebook by a 16-year-old starting a couple of weeks ago. She began it expecting about 30 people would show up. There were more than 2,000 of us there.
posted by kyrademon at 3:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [85 favorites]
posted by kyrademon at 3:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [85 favorites]
Trump speech is classic narcissistic injury territory.
The cognitive leaps and jumps, removal of clearly documented reality, announcing the conspiracy against him.
It isn't about anyone but him, there is no focus, he is in sheer mental illness panic.
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
The cognitive leaps and jumps, removal of clearly documented reality, announcing the conspiracy against him.
It isn't about anyone but him, there is no focus, he is in sheer mental illness panic.
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
They are a pox on the republic.
but then i would be in agreement with president spincterface. much confuse. many paradox.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 3:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
but then i would be in agreement with president spincterface. much confuse. many paradox.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 3:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
"What resources or out there for someone who is trying to learn how to be politically active? How do you keep track of bills or who your reps are?"
My rep is quite anti-Trump so just being on her mailing list mostly does it for me! But I've also joined the facebook group for the local Pantsuit Nation/Women's March/Progressive Ladies, which more than 50% of my friends are already in so it's kind a a fun coffee klatch to start with, but they post all the events and actions and put out the calls. I am leaning on them.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 3:49 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
My rep is quite anti-Trump so just being on her mailing list mostly does it for me! But I've also joined the facebook group for the local Pantsuit Nation/Women's March/Progressive Ladies, which more than 50% of my friends are already in so it's kind a a fun coffee klatch to start with, but they post all the events and actions and put out the calls. I am leaning on them.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 3:49 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Wow. There must have been a million and a half reporters at Spicer's press briefing.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 3:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 3:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
Next tweet from Luntz: "I got red paint thrown on me and called a "fascist MF'er" by a protester here. The @Marriott let it happen."
I will buy this mefite a beer.
posted by srboisvert at 3:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
I will buy this mefite a beer.
posted by srboisvert at 3:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
Next tweet from Luntz: "I got red paint thrown on me and called a "fascist MF'er" by a protester here. The @Marriott let it happen."
Note: He didn't deny being a fascist.
posted by Talez at 3:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
Note: He didn't deny being a fascist.
posted by Talez at 3:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
Narcissists aren't big on introspection, but they can experience embarrassment and shame. It's one of the few levers available to influence them. But when invoked for something already done, it tends to produce a retaliatory response.
A better result (i.e. deterrence) can sometimes be effected when invoking the specter of shame for something that is intended but not yet done.
posted by perspicio at 3:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
A better result (i.e. deterrence) can sometimes be effected when invoking the specter of shame for something that is intended but not yet done.
posted by perspicio at 3:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
I feel bad for Sean.
No
Well, no, of course not really, but sometimes a little artistic license helps set things up.
posted by nickmark at 3:55 PM on January 21, 2017
No
Well, no, of course not really, but sometimes a little artistic license helps set things up.
posted by nickmark at 3:55 PM on January 21, 2017
On Punching Nazis.
Popehat instablocked me on the twitterz for commenting about the prevalence of "committing violence against nazis just normalizes violence committed by nazis" takes around the web today. That violence has already been fucking normalized.
4. In embracing a norm that sucker-punching Nazis is acceptable, remember that you live in a nation of imbeciles that loves calling people Nazis. Also bear in mind that certain aspects of our culture — modern academic culture, for instance — encourages people to think that you're a Nazi if you eat veal or disagree with them about the minimum wage.
I'm....not sure this makes any sense? Black bloc protesters aren't running around punching 'feminazis' or grammar nazis, and neither are the alt-right. If the alt-right is going to punch people, it's not because it was made acceptable to punch nazis, it's because they want to punch people. And I don't see academics punching anyone.
5. By the way, right now there are tons of people right now who would welcome an emerging social norm that it's acceptable to punch, say, Black Lives Matter protesters. I know Nazis aren't remotely comparable. You do too. They disagree. And you've handed them the rhetorical tools to defend themselves, and handed the broader populace an excuse to look away. Well done.
I believe this already happens. See any Trump rally, for instance.
posted by Existential Dread at 3:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
Popehat instablocked me on the twitterz for commenting about the prevalence of "committing violence against nazis just normalizes violence committed by nazis" takes around the web today. That violence has already been fucking normalized.
4. In embracing a norm that sucker-punching Nazis is acceptable, remember that you live in a nation of imbeciles that loves calling people Nazis. Also bear in mind that certain aspects of our culture — modern academic culture, for instance — encourages people to think that you're a Nazi if you eat veal or disagree with them about the minimum wage.
I'm....not sure this makes any sense? Black bloc protesters aren't running around punching 'feminazis' or grammar nazis, and neither are the alt-right. If the alt-right is going to punch people, it's not because it was made acceptable to punch nazis, it's because they want to punch people. And I don't see academics punching anyone.
5. By the way, right now there are tons of people right now who would welcome an emerging social norm that it's acceptable to punch, say, Black Lives Matter protesters. I know Nazis aren't remotely comparable. You do too. They disagree. And you've handed them the rhetorical tools to defend themselves, and handed the broader populace an excuse to look away. Well done.
I believe this already happens. See any Trump rally, for instance.
posted by Existential Dread at 3:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
Cuomo says New York will continue to require insurers to provide no cost medically necessary abortion and contraceptives.
It's heartening to see states going on the offensive about defending healthcare.
posted by Talez at 3:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [55 favorites]
It's heartening to see states going on the offensive about defending healthcare.
posted by Talez at 3:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [55 favorites]
On the metro back to Shady Grove. Y'all, that was bonkers. I can't even describe how bonkers. Any pictures you have seen of this event I guarantee are not doing it justice as far as scale. I have never seen so many people in one place in my life, and we joked the whole time about how lawful good everyone was, like stereotypical bleeding heart liberal hilarious.
Gofargogo, if you have a Republican senator, memail me about the Tuesdays With Toomey (our R senator) effort here in PA. I would love this particular form of action to go national. It's very tangible, very doable even for people without a lot of free time, and very press friendly.
posted by soren_lorensen at 3:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [60 favorites]
Gofargogo, if you have a Republican senator, memail me about the Tuesdays With Toomey (our R senator) effort here in PA. I would love this particular form of action to go national. It's very tangible, very doable even for people without a lot of free time, and very press friendly.
posted by soren_lorensen at 3:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [60 favorites]
Wouldn't the official photograph be a TIFF (or at least a PNG)?
posted by Yowser at 4:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Yowser at 4:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
I feel like Picard in that Star Trek episode.
THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS.
So many of our fellow countrymen are apparently okay with saying there are five...
posted by Justinian at 4:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [27 favorites]
THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS.
So many of our fellow countrymen are apparently okay with saying there are five...
posted by Justinian at 4:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [27 favorites]
5. By the way, right now there are tons of people right now who would welcome an emerging social norm that it's acceptable to punch, say, Black Lives Matter protesters. I know Nazis aren't remotely comparable. You do too. They disagree. And you've handed them the rhetorical tools to defend themselves, and handed the broader populace an excuse to look away. Well done.
Has he heard of Jo Cox? Because the fucking Nazis aren't just punching us, they are killing us. Already. And Jo Cox was a peaceful, middle-aged white woman (which shouldn't matter, but you know what I mean). If Nazis want to attack BLM, I'm pretty sure they're going to do it no matter what.
posted by Pink Frost at 4:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [46 favorites]
Has he heard of Jo Cox? Because the fucking Nazis aren't just punching us, they are killing us. Already. And Jo Cox was a peaceful, middle-aged white woman (which shouldn't matter, but you know what I mean). If Nazis want to attack BLM, I'm pretty sure they're going to do it no matter what.
posted by Pink Frost at 4:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [46 favorites]
Eight years of Obama bending over backwards to compromise with Republicans while maintaining the utmost grace and decorum and diplomacy in everything he did ended with them stealing a Supreme Court seat and then the presidency. Anyone still making the argument that we've just got to maintain the moral high ground and set a good example, and the radical right will follow suit, is frankly delusional at this point.
It's time to worry less about the optics of our resistance and worry more about whether we're winning.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 4:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [115 favorites]
It's time to worry less about the optics of our resistance and worry more about whether we're winning.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 4:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [115 favorites]
No doubt I'll regret saying this but I'm feeling so hopeful right now that his downfall will come before his Reichstag fire has a chance even to be kindled.
remember what a total fucking farce the W administration was right up until 9/11?
posted by indubitable at 4:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
remember what a total fucking farce the W administration was right up until 9/11?
posted by indubitable at 4:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
can we please collectively move on from the nazi punching thing already for the love of little green apples
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
omfg lmao at Frank Luntz right now: "Marriott Marquis lobby is full of drunk, angry protesters harassing paying customers."
Click through to see the terrifying scene!
Wait he wasn't kidding? The folks sitting quietly with a few children are the drunk rioters?
posted by Lord_Pall at 4:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Click through to see the terrifying scene!
Wait he wasn't kidding? The folks sitting quietly with a few children are the drunk rioters?
posted by Lord_Pall at 4:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
In embracing a norm that sucker-punching Nazis is acceptable, remember that you live in a nation of imbeciles that loves calling people Nazis.
When somebody punches a grammar nazi, I'll entertain this discussion, but, since it has literally never happened, for the moment it is concern trolling that I will not engage.
posted by maxsparber at 4:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
When somebody punches a grammar nazi, I'll entertain this discussion, but, since it has literally never happened, for the moment it is concern trolling that I will not engage.
posted by maxsparber at 4:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Just got home from the march and it was inspiring. My mind kept thinking "what's next?"
What resources or out there for someone who is trying to learn how to be politically active? How do you keep track of bills or who your reps are?
posted by gofargogo at 11:43 AM on January 22 [1 favorite −] Favorite added! [!]
Memail :D
posted by supercrayon at 4:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
What resources or out there for someone who is trying to learn how to be politically active? How do you keep track of bills or who your reps are?
posted by gofargogo at 11:43 AM on January 22 [1 favorite −] Favorite added! [!]
Memail :D
posted by supercrayon at 4:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
very big, very pink
And you can't see it in that video because the museum buildings are in the way, but the Mall is similarly covered in people, as are all the streets feeding into the area. We never even made it to Independence ave, and we got there at 11 a.m.
posted by soren_lorensen at 4:05 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
And you can't see it in that video because the museum buildings are in the way, but the Mall is similarly covered in people, as are all the streets feeding into the area. We never even made it to Independence ave, and we got there at 11 a.m.
posted by soren_lorensen at 4:05 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
"I got red paint thrown on me and called a "fascist MF'er" by a protester here.
Heh.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 4:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
Heh.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 4:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
One of my good friends in Raleigh posted a video snippet of the march from her office building on Facebook and as of a few minutes ago it had SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND views and has been embedded in a Slate article. You can hear her son talking in the clip.
She said she spent all afternoon moderating Facebook comments (mostly good but a few negative). She's internet famous!
posted by freecellwizard at 4:08 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
She said she spent all afternoon moderating Facebook comments (mostly good but a few negative). She's internet famous!
posted by freecellwizard at 4:08 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
@wmata Metro ridership as of 4 p.m. = >597k with heavy crowds entering the system at all downtown stations. #wmata
4pm yesterday was 368,000 according to another tweeter.
11am yesterday 193,000
11am today 275,000.
bigly.
posted by futz at 4:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
4pm yesterday was 368,000 according to another tweeter.
11am yesterday 193,000
11am today 275,000.
bigly.
posted by futz at 4:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
Good work quonsar II!
posted by SyraCarol at 4:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by SyraCarol at 4:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Even the AP has had enough of TOG's shit.
BREAKING: President Donald Trump accuses media of lying about inauguration crowds, wrongly says crowd reached Washington monument.posted by Talez at 4:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [48 favorites]
Just came back from a march of more than 7,000 people in Albany. I haven't felt that good since I walked down to the polling place and cast a vote for HRC. And at least this time I can go to bed still feeling good.
posted by dis_integration at 4:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 4:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
So many of our fellow countrymen are apparently okay with saying there are five...
Giddily proud, even. Cardassians tell it like it is!
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
Giddily proud, even. Cardassians tell it like it is!
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
Apropos Popehat deploring the breakdown in social norms exemplified by punching Spencer. Reliance on social norms will never protect us (wearing my atheist Jewbag hat here). And for the most part, social norms seem awfully malleable when it comes to police violence, or excusing white terrorists, for example. So I'm not buying civility for Nazis as a method of obtaining civility for me. That's not how this world works.
Or as a friend of mine commented, "I don't know. Punching Nazis seems the cornerstone of healthy social norms."
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 4:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [38 favorites]
Or as a friend of mine commented, "I don't know. Punching Nazis seems the cornerstone of healthy social norms."
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 4:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [38 favorites]
The rowdy argument the left has been having today re: Nazi punching is about a much bigger topic than whether it's okay to laugh at Richard Spencer getting clocked in the noggin. I don't think it's a distraction, I think it's actually the core issue we've been edging up to for the past couple weeks, and it's an important one.
The current administration is signaling that they absolutely plan to govern without the consent of the people. If we're dealing with a government and a radicalized minority who don't care about the norms of democracy, who don't give a shit about the fact that the majority of Americans don't agree with them, whose solution to defeat at the ballot box is to restrict or remove the vote... eventually the people's only recourse will be violence or submission.
The conversation we're having now is about negotiating where the line is that peaceful resistance is no longer enough. For some people, it's emboldened Nazis out on the street, recruiting. Others disagree, but I think it is important to ask them to consider where their line is. If their neighbors and friends are being threatened, when is the point that they'll stop calling for courteous debate and start fighting? Because if there is no line, they're not actually on our side.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 4:17 PM on January 21, 2017 [89 favorites]
The current administration is signaling that they absolutely plan to govern without the consent of the people. If we're dealing with a government and a radicalized minority who don't care about the norms of democracy, who don't give a shit about the fact that the majority of Americans don't agree with them, whose solution to defeat at the ballot box is to restrict or remove the vote... eventually the people's only recourse will be violence or submission.
The conversation we're having now is about negotiating where the line is that peaceful resistance is no longer enough. For some people, it's emboldened Nazis out on the street, recruiting. Others disagree, but I think it is important to ask them to consider where their line is. If their neighbors and friends are being threatened, when is the point that they'll stop calling for courteous debate and start fighting? Because if there is no line, they're not actually on our side.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 4:17 PM on January 21, 2017 [89 favorites]
Punching Nazis is as American as Apple Pie.
posted by Justinian at 4:17 PM on January 21, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:17 PM on January 21, 2017 [29 favorites]
Boston was expecting 80,000... estimates are that the crowd was 100,000-125,000.
posted by TwoStride at 4:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 4:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
At the march here in Auckland we were meant to stay on the footpath, but the crowd was so big we wound up just taking over Queen street and marching right up the road. I helped direct traffic and then approached an organizer asking should we get the police out to give us a hand? She told me the police had been informed ahead of time about the march and had said they weren't worried about it getting out of hand because "women are safe". If that statement, and the subsequent peaceful, joyful, empowering, giving no fucks, rule breaking march doesn't encapsulate in a nutshell everything that's been going on in the last 48 hours I don't know what does. Women are not safe, women are powerful.
posted by supercrayon at 4:21 PM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by supercrayon at 4:21 PM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
"I love naps but I stay woke"
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
I was at the Indianapolis rally, too---an uplifting, tremendous gathering of thousands (also more than expected!) where speaker after speaker emphasized the need to shift that energy to action. I hope we follow through.
Plus it was cathartic to yell directly at Pence's former statehouse. I went home and pounded our "Pence Must Go! (Your rights could be next)" sign back in the yard.
posted by percolatrix at 4:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Plus it was cathartic to yell directly at Pence's former statehouse. I went home and pounded our "Pence Must Go! (Your rights could be next)" sign back in the yard.
posted by percolatrix at 4:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Participated in the Women's March here in Austin today, and it was one of the best things I have ever been part of.
So many strong women, so many great allies. My daughter (10) made her own "Dump Trump" poster with the poop emoji for Mr. President's head and started a call-and-response chant of "Show me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!" Saw a lot of great handmade signs, and the crowd was incredibly diverse. You could have chosen any random group of 10 people from the march and gotten a nice cross-section of American citizenry.
And it was so wonderful to be reminded so vividly that I'm not alone in resisting Trump, Pence, Ryan, and McConnell at the national level and the Governor and Lt. Governor and state legislature on a local level. If Republicans think the inauguration marked the end of fight, they've got another think coming.
posted by lord_wolf at 4:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
So many strong women, so many great allies. My daughter (10) made her own "Dump Trump" poster with the poop emoji for Mr. President's head and started a call-and-response chant of "Show me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!" Saw a lot of great handmade signs, and the crowd was incredibly diverse. You could have chosen any random group of 10 people from the march and gotten a nice cross-section of American citizenry.
And it was so wonderful to be reminded so vividly that I'm not alone in resisting Trump, Pence, Ryan, and McConnell at the national level and the Governor and Lt. Governor and state legislature on a local level. If Republicans think the inauguration marked the end of fight, they've got another think coming.
posted by lord_wolf at 4:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
I'm waiting for a reporter to ask Spicer something along the lines of, "Hey Sean? Is this really what you're going to talk about? You don't have something better to talk about other than complain about your inadequacies?"
posted by X-Himy at 4:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by X-Himy at 4:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Anchorage Alaska had about 2000+, I think. There was a more than a foot of snow on the ground and we've been having a blizzard all day. It was a good march!
posted by kerf at 4:29 PM on January 21, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by kerf at 4:29 PM on January 21, 2017 [43 favorites]
...when is the point that they'll stop calling for courteous debate and start fighting?
It's not actually fighting to sucker-punch someone on camera while they're doing a perfectly good job discrediting themselves. That's just self-defeating hostility.
posted by Coventry at 4:29 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's not actually fighting to sucker-punch someone on camera while they're doing a perfectly good job discrediting themselves. That's just self-defeating hostility.
posted by Coventry at 4:29 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
On the plus side, a Nazi got punched in the face.
posted by Justinian at 4:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [77 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [77 favorites]
I'm waiting for a reporter to ask Spicer something along the lines of, "Hey Sean? Is this really what you're going to talk about? You don't have something better to talk about other than complain about your inadequacies?"
Spicer would actually have to take questions. Apparently thats not a thing now.
posted by Justinian at 4:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Spicer would actually have to take questions. Apparently thats not a thing now.
posted by Justinian at 4:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Talez: "Even the AP has had enough of TOG's shit.
Nice. More of this please, media.
posted by octothorpe at 4:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
BREAKING: President Donald Trump accuses media of lying about inauguration crowds, wrongly says crowd reached Washington monument.
Nice. More of this please, media.
posted by octothorpe at 4:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
I already posted in MeTa, but just chiming in here as well to report that the Houston march had a great energy! Not as big as some others - this one was late in getting off the ground - but there were around 22,000 people there, more than double what the police were expecting.
The "I believe in science" side of my sign got some good comments.
I saw a number of pussy-hats, but the trio near us on the march ended up taking theirs off and plopping them on top of their signs. With pretty decent humidity and temperatures in the 70's, it was a bit warm for knitted headwear.
posted by Salieri at 4:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
The "I believe in science" side of my sign got some good comments.
I saw a number of pussy-hats, but the trio near us on the march ended up taking theirs off and plopping them on top of their signs. With pretty decent humidity and temperatures in the 70's, it was a bit warm for knitted headwear.
posted by Salieri at 4:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
I just scared a Nazi into blocking me on Facebook. He had posted comment about Richard Spencer on a Jewish Facebook page, saying most actual Nazis consider him soft on Jews. His image was one of those horrific antisemtic hook nose illustrations.
Oh, I'm going to enjoy blocking you so much, I am going to savor it, I wrote.
First, I am going to report your profile to Facebook, I said, and did.
Now that I have done that, I am going to go through your Facebook page and report individual posts, I said, and did.
Now I am going to go through your Disqus account and report comments there, I said, and did.
Now I am going to block you, I said, and discovered I had already been blocked.
So it you're looking for tactics that work, that was a very satisfying one.
posted by maxsparber at 4:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [107 favorites]
Oh, I'm going to enjoy blocking you so much, I am going to savor it, I wrote.
First, I am going to report your profile to Facebook, I said, and did.
Now that I have done that, I am going to go through your Facebook page and report individual posts, I said, and did.
Now I am going to go through your Disqus account and report comments there, I said, and did.
Now I am going to block you, I said, and discovered I had already been blocked.
So it you're looking for tactics that work, that was a very satisfying one.
posted by maxsparber at 4:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [107 favorites]
It's not actually fighting to sucker-punch someone on camera while they're doing a perfectly good job discrediting themselves.
Spencer and people like him have discredited themselves on camera all the way to the Oval Office.
No Platform.
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Spencer and people like him have discredited themselves on camera all the way to the Oval Office.
No Platform.
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
About ten minutes before the presser kicked off (and about an hour after it had been supposed to), a staffer poked her head around the door and said 'Thank you for your patience' to the assembled hacks. I suspect that relied on facts not in evidence.
So now we know Trump will, for whatever reason, make up huge lies as President, just as he did as candidate. From day 1, on the most ridiculous of points, and one must assume on the most important as well. I'd love to know how the GOP bigwigs are taking this, and what they're saying when asked by journos - are they, too, going to fall in line with 'the press are the most dishonest people on the planet' and refuse to talk except via Twitter? Trump has probably forgotten, if he ever knew, that a very great deal of journalism revolves around professional relationships of considerable standing, and he won't be able to turn those off by dictat.
I hope the inevitable denouement comes before Trump fucks up in a truly horrible and unfixeable way, because you cannot run a democracy like a fantasist dictator. Vide Nixon - It will not work: something will break. It better be him.
posted by Devonian at 4:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
So now we know Trump will, for whatever reason, make up huge lies as President, just as he did as candidate. From day 1, on the most ridiculous of points, and one must assume on the most important as well. I'd love to know how the GOP bigwigs are taking this, and what they're saying when asked by journos - are they, too, going to fall in line with 'the press are the most dishonest people on the planet' and refuse to talk except via Twitter? Trump has probably forgotten, if he ever knew, that a very great deal of journalism revolves around professional relationships of considerable standing, and he won't be able to turn those off by dictat.
I hope the inevitable denouement comes before Trump fucks up in a truly horrible and unfixeable way, because you cannot run a democracy like a fantasist dictator. Vide Nixon - It will not work: something will break. It better be him.
posted by Devonian at 4:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
Just got home from the march in Raleigh, where I walked and cheered and shouted and sang with 17,000 of my sisters and brothers.
Husband and I were there too! What a tonic. I haven't felt this hopeful in months.
posted by GrammarMoses at 4:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
Husband and I were there too! What a tonic. I haven't felt this hopeful in months.
posted by GrammarMoses at 4:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
It's not actually fighting to sucker-punch someone on camera while they're doing a perfectly good job discrediting themselves.
He was literally being asked about his button. Stories about him have been fashion stories.
The press is failing here.
posted by maxsparber at 4:36 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
He was literally being asked about his button. Stories about him have been fashion stories.
The press is failing here.
posted by maxsparber at 4:36 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
In re protest violence, touching upon nazi-punching but also about shootings: I think that groups need to organize so that women (and femme people generally) are doing more of the front-line/de-escalation/confrontation work. What I have seen at protests over the years is that the kind of men who come to protests to hassle protesters get far more into it with other men, especially younger men - it becomes a manliness competition and tends to escalate. This is even worse when the protesters themselves are playing into it, which I have seen.
It is a lot harder for these guys to escalate things when they're facing women and older people in particular - I'm not saying that they back down, but it's harder for them to escalate, because their own misogyny and macho attitude makes it harder for them to move toward violence in public.
The deal with violence - it's a tactical thing, not a hard and fast rule. Punching nazis is great when it's mediagenic and you can get away with it. If there's going to be large, long-term protests going on, we also need strategies to cool people out day after day, to de-escalate confrontation.
Richard Spencer is a famous nazi asshole. Making him look dumb and feeble on television is good. Getting into an endless succession of violent clashes with low-ranking average assholes is going to be intensely counterproducive - it will discourage people who can't be in violent situations from participating, it will get wearing, it will be bad media and we will lose as often as we win.
Movement people need training and shared conversations around physical confrontation. We can certainly deal with divisions over the whole "can you break a bank window" question, or the "can you punch a specific nazi in this specific situation" question, but I feel like we need to be on the same page as much as possible about not turning this all into one big slugfest. And the main reason for that is that we will lose.
posted by Frowner at 4:37 PM on January 21, 2017 [77 favorites]
It is a lot harder for these guys to escalate things when they're facing women and older people in particular - I'm not saying that they back down, but it's harder for them to escalate, because their own misogyny and macho attitude makes it harder for them to move toward violence in public.
The deal with violence - it's a tactical thing, not a hard and fast rule. Punching nazis is great when it's mediagenic and you can get away with it. If there's going to be large, long-term protests going on, we also need strategies to cool people out day after day, to de-escalate confrontation.
Richard Spencer is a famous nazi asshole. Making him look dumb and feeble on television is good. Getting into an endless succession of violent clashes with low-ranking average assholes is going to be intensely counterproducive - it will discourage people who can't be in violent situations from participating, it will get wearing, it will be bad media and we will lose as often as we win.
Movement people need training and shared conversations around physical confrontation. We can certainly deal with divisions over the whole "can you break a bank window" question, or the "can you punch a specific nazi in this specific situation" question, but I feel like we need to be on the same page as much as possible about not turning this all into one big slugfest. And the main reason for that is that we will lose.
posted by Frowner at 4:37 PM on January 21, 2017 [77 favorites]
No Platform.
No platform! No platform! You're the platform!
posted by Talez at 4:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
No platform! No platform! You're the platform!
posted by Talez at 4:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
The Women's March website expected 6,000 to 7,000 to arrive at the Oklahoma state capitol. Two local stations said it was more like 12,000. The 10:30 march was delayed a half hour just to get everyone in from the parking areas.
It was very... Caucasian. But we did have representation from the African-American, Latino and Native American communities. We had signs supporting rights for GLBTQ, Muslims, immigrants, etc. We had people of different ages and different abilities. We had a Deaf translator on stage (yeah!) We had families, and adult groups. It was very uplifting.
Helicopter video showed the crowd around noon, in front of the capitol building, listening to more speeches. It was still impressive, but fewer than the mass of people that marched down Lincoln Blvd. and back.
posted by TrishaU at 4:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
It was very... Caucasian. But we did have representation from the African-American, Latino and Native American communities. We had signs supporting rights for GLBTQ, Muslims, immigrants, etc. We had people of different ages and different abilities. We had a Deaf translator on stage (yeah!) We had families, and adult groups. It was very uplifting.
Helicopter video showed the crowd around noon, in front of the capitol building, listening to more speeches. It was still impressive, but fewer than the mass of people that marched down Lincoln Blvd. and back.
posted by TrishaU at 4:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
We took our kids down to the St. Louis march and one of our nine-year-old twin girls started calling out chants she'd heard from other protesters or seen on signs: "Black lives still matter! No justice, no peace! White silence costs lives!" A few people around us started repeating each chant after she called it out, and pretty soon she was leading chants for our section of the march for about an hour.
Picture a little third-grader in a Hello Kitty hat, bellowing at the top of her lungs "KEEP YOUR TINY HANDS OFF OUR RIGHTS!" She became a minor sensation; people started clustering around, taking video of her, and at one point a guy handed her a megaphone. She had the time of her life, and I don't think I've ever seen anything so glorious.
posted by EarBucket at 4:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [215 favorites]
Picture a little third-grader in a Hello Kitty hat, bellowing at the top of her lungs "KEEP YOUR TINY HANDS OFF OUR RIGHTS!" She became a minor sensation; people started clustering around, taking video of her, and at one point a guy handed her a megaphone. She had the time of her life, and I don't think I've ever seen anything so glorious.
posted by EarBucket at 4:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [215 favorites]
Here are my photos
Go Angrycat! You go, girl! Thank you!
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 4:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Go Angrycat! You go, girl! Thank you!
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 4:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
The Minnesota march was largely white too, but when I was there they did a good job of putting women of color in front of the crowds, including a representative from Black Lives Matter and Puerto Rican/Minnesotan singer Maria Isa.
I'm trying to throw my support behind women of color as much as I can. I mean, I feel like they already do a lot of the work here, and the least thing I can do is try to be a one-man support network for them, even if most of what I can do is try to amplify their voices on Twitter and push money at their campaigns.
posted by maxsparber at 4:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
I'm trying to throw my support behind women of color as much as I can. I mean, I feel like they already do a lot of the work here, and the least thing I can do is try to be a one-man support network for them, even if most of what I can do is try to amplify their voices on Twitter and push money at their campaigns.
posted by maxsparber at 4:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
That Spicer press conference went from zero to Downfall parody way faster than I would have expected.
posted by srboisvert at 4:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [39 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 4:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [39 favorites]
I am hopeful that the women of color who stayed home today accept our apology for not showing up in the past, and hopefully we can all march together next time.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:48 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
1782: E pluribus unum
2017: Because I Said So, That's Why
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:49 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
2017: Because I Said So, That's Why
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:49 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
So President Pussygrabber is confronted by angry women, and his immediate response is to deny everything and go completely on the defensive over size issues.
IT WAS RAINING! SHRINKAGE!
posted by delfin at 4:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
IT WAS RAINING! SHRINKAGE!
posted by delfin at 4:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
LAST DAY AT THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION
posted by Talez at 4:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [40 favorites]
Gupta gave a passionate speech about the importance of their jobs. (“I think our work has been simply transformative at a time when civil rights was front and center in the country,” she said.) She thanked everyone for their hard work, then concluded, “When I came in, I was asked by my bosses to push hard, and to make the most out of the time that I had. And I feel like we have not wasted a minute. But my ask of you today is that I need you to keep pushing. Even when it’s hard, I need every single one of you to keep pushing, because there are too many people in this country who are depending on us.”The country salutes you, Vanita Gupta.
posted by Talez at 4:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [40 favorites]
All fired up, ready to go!
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 4:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 4:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
The NYC march was awesome. This is not Trump's America.
posted by prefpara at 4:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by prefpara at 4:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
I just want someone to sit him down, someone that, if he doesn't respect (because I doubt he knows the concept), someone who can at least scare home enough to listen.
His mother passed away in 2000.
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
His mother passed away in 2000.
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
White House removes QVC reference from Melania Trump bio
posted by joedan at 4:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by joedan at 4:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Sign seen at the Seattle march:
OMG
GOP
WTF
I LOLed.
posted by isthmus at 4:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [35 favorites]
OMG
GOP
WTF
I LOLed.
posted by isthmus at 4:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [35 favorites]
Maybe we should do this marching thing every weekend?
posted by srboisvert at 4:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 4:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
So ended up having to go out so couldn't watch as things happened. Knew that I would be able to easily catch up here. Decided to turn on MSNBC something I usually don't watch and especially not Chris Matthews. So far it's all about the marches and talking about the marches. Talking to hosts and commentators was there. I'm surprised at how positive it is and how much they are showing. Even Matthews has been positive. I'm actually a bit shocked because after so many years I'm used to the particular way that some of these mainstream outlets cover these things. Like there might be some coverage and somewhat dismissive and then they move on. At least on this show this is not happening. It's how as activist you want your marches covered. And Matthews is interviewing lots of woman. It's good to see.
And even better I knew about Trump's 1.5 million crowds and the Spicer press and my take was that they were actually making fun of the ridiculousness of the claims.
They also covered the CIA presser for a segment and it was not positive for Trump at all.
Metafilter has the best coverage of course.
posted by Jalliah at 4:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
I marched in Atlanta today - the first time I have ever done such a thing. It was awesome. I just checked and the police are estimating we had 60,000. The organizers were predicting 10,000. Also, I love you guys! I haven't commented, but have obsessively read these election and post election threads and you all have been my lifeline. Thank you.
posted by mkim at 5:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [38 favorites]
posted by mkim at 5:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [38 favorites]
The difference between the Left and the Right:
The Left - Is it really a good thing to punch Nazis? Yes, they want most of us to die, and they would kill us if they could, but surely we're better than this? Perhaps its not the most effective tactic and it may alienate potential supporters. Plus who can say how it will play in the press?
The Right - This man bragged about sexual assault? VOTE FOR HIM AS PRESIDENT!
posted by Justinian at 5:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [61 favorites]
The Left - Is it really a good thing to punch Nazis? Yes, they want most of us to die, and they would kill us if they could, but surely we're better than this? Perhaps its not the most effective tactic and it may alienate potential supporters. Plus who can say how it will play in the press?
The Right - This man bragged about sexual assault? VOTE FOR HIM AS PRESIDENT!
posted by Justinian at 5:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [61 favorites]
Metafilter: Metafilter has the best coverage of course.
posted by zakur at 5:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by zakur at 5:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Chris Mathews after commercial lead in "Millions hit the streets'. They're actually covering what happened as is still happening accurately.
I'm boggling.
posted by Jalliah at 5:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
What Trump’s whiter, less academic Cabinet says about race and class in America
-- As his Cabinet nominees were grilled by the Senate on the eve of his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump declared that “We have by far the highest IQ of any Cabinet ever assembled!”
-- As a whole, Trump’s picks to lead the nation’s government agencies have fewer advanced degrees than any first-term Cabinet in at least 24 years.
-- A third of the nominees in Trump’s 15-member executive team hold only a bachelor’s degree. A quarter obtained up to a master’s degree, and 40 percent achieved a law or medical degree. No one has a doctorate. Compare that to President Obama’s original Cabinet, which conservatives derided for being stacked with intellectual elites: Only two members held a bachelor’s degree alone. A third stopped their educations at a master’s degree, and more than half held doctorates, medical or law degrees — often from the nation’s most prestigious universities.
-- Certainly, education comes in many of forms. For some of Trump's nominees, what they lack in classroom education has been made up for in relevant career experience. But there's something uniquely important about schooling — it's supposed to be America's great equalizer, the traditional gateway to the higher levels of society. At least for people of color.
Article contains much more info/comparisons etc.
posted by futz at 5:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
-- As his Cabinet nominees were grilled by the Senate on the eve of his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump declared that “We have by far the highest IQ of any Cabinet ever assembled!”
-- As a whole, Trump’s picks to lead the nation’s government agencies have fewer advanced degrees than any first-term Cabinet in at least 24 years.
-- A third of the nominees in Trump’s 15-member executive team hold only a bachelor’s degree. A quarter obtained up to a master’s degree, and 40 percent achieved a law or medical degree. No one has a doctorate. Compare that to President Obama’s original Cabinet, which conservatives derided for being stacked with intellectual elites: Only two members held a bachelor’s degree alone. A third stopped their educations at a master’s degree, and more than half held doctorates, medical or law degrees — often from the nation’s most prestigious universities.
-- Certainly, education comes in many of forms. For some of Trump's nominees, what they lack in classroom education has been made up for in relevant career experience. But there's something uniquely important about schooling — it's supposed to be America's great equalizer, the traditional gateway to the higher levels of society. At least for people of color.
Article contains much more info/comparisons etc.
posted by futz at 5:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Frowner: In re protest violence, touching upon nazi-punching but also about shootings: I think that groups need to organize so that women (and femme people generally) are doing more of the front-line/de-escalation/confrontation work. What I have seen at protests over the years is that the kind of men who come to protests to hassle protesters get far more into it with other men, especially younger men - it becomes a manliness competition and tends to escalate. This is even worse when the protesters themselves are playing into it, which I have seen.
It is a lot harder for these guys to escalate things when they're facing women and older people in particular - I'm not saying that they back down, but it's harder for them to escalate, because their own misogyny and macho attitude makes it harder for them to move toward violence in public.
...
Movement people need training and shared conversations around physical confrontation. We can certainly deal with divisions over the whole "can you break a bank window" question, or the "can you punch a specific nazi in this specific situation" question, but I feel like we need to be on the same page as much as possible about not turning this all into one big slugfest. And the main reason for that is that we will lose.
QFMFT.
posted by perspicio at 5:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
It is a lot harder for these guys to escalate things when they're facing women and older people in particular - I'm not saying that they back down, but it's harder for them to escalate, because their own misogyny and macho attitude makes it harder for them to move toward violence in public.
...
Movement people need training and shared conversations around physical confrontation. We can certainly deal with divisions over the whole "can you break a bank window" question, or the "can you punch a specific nazi in this specific situation" question, but I feel like we need to be on the same page as much as possible about not turning this all into one big slugfest. And the main reason for that is that we will lose.
QFMFT.
posted by perspicio at 5:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Bill Kristol @BillKristolWhen Bill Kristol is calling you an embarassment you know Spicer dun goofed.
It is embarrassing, as an American, to watch this briefing by Sean Spicer from the podium at the White House. Not the RNC. The White House.
posted by Talez at 5:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [58 favorites]
Representing Oakland, CA here! Here's the message sent out by the city:
posted by cman at 5:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
About 60,000 people peacefully marched in Oakland today; no arrests were made. The events have now concluded. #OaklandWomensMarchI saw much of it. There were at least 3 motley marching bands. Great crowd!
posted by cman at 5:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
Bill Kristol is going to get himself banned from state sponsored television FOX and OANN with these halfway reasonable statements.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Portland, Oregon had a march with an estimated 100,000! In the pouring down rain! I feel less depressed after being part of such an amazing event. And of course thanks to Metafilter.
posted by WordCannon at 5:08 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by WordCannon at 5:08 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
can we please collectively move on from the nazi punching thing already for the love of little green apples
no
not until every nazi has been punched
i will punch them until my punching arm is tired and then i will outsource my punching to full-time punching interns who will receive excellent wages and healthcare for their important work
posted by poffin boffin at 5:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [92 favorites]
no
not until every nazi has been punched
i will punch them until my punching arm is tired and then i will outsource my punching to full-time punching interns who will receive excellent wages and healthcare for their important work
posted by poffin boffin at 5:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [92 favorites]
New favorite sign I just saw from facebook: "Enough snowflakes can cause an avalanche"
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
New favorite sign I just saw from facebook: "Enough snowflakes can cause an avalanche"
Mine was "Donald Trump uses Comic Sans!"
posted by Talez at 5:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
Mine was "Donald Trump uses Comic Sans!"
posted by Talez at 5:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
Personally, I'd like to see if a hugging machine can change a Nazi ( Daily Mail article ). I was going to suggest that other people give the hugs, but then I remembered hands and grabbing.
posted by ZeusHumms at 5:12 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by ZeusHumms at 5:12 PM on January 21, 2017
Hey if anyone out there is engaging the Inauguartion Truthers (yes it's a thing now, Trumpers are pissed right now), who say that the pics being shown are taken before it and thus before everyone was there so FAKE here is a good replay. PBS has put up a time lapse of the mall from yesterday. I wonder why they felt the desire to put this out there? Hmmm
Youtube timelapse.
posted by Jalliah at 5:16 PM on January 21, 2017 [45 favorites]
Kind of odd anecdote.
I went to the same highschool as Richard Spencer (St. Marks in Dallas). When I was a senior he was a freshman.
Apparently I got into a big fistfight with him while I was there. My brother reminded me of this over the holidays.
I offer this as a side anecdote, not as a value judgement on pro/con punching him as an adult.
But it might explain why he hates jews so much. (sorry)
On a more positive note, his class from St. Marks has raised a crapton of money to show that they aren't a bunch of nazi pricks.
posted by Lord_Pall at 5:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [180 favorites]
I went to the same highschool as Richard Spencer (St. Marks in Dallas). When I was a senior he was a freshman.
Apparently I got into a big fistfight with him while I was there. My brother reminded me of this over the holidays.
I offer this as a side anecdote, not as a value judgement on pro/con punching him as an adult.
But it might explain why he hates jews so much. (sorry)
On a more positive note, his class from St. Marks has raised a crapton of money to show that they aren't a bunch of nazi pricks.
posted by Lord_Pall at 5:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [180 favorites]
I don't use favorites much, LP, but you get one. I'm not saying its for punching a Nazi in the face because that would be uncouth, but I'm not not saying that.
posted by Justinian at 5:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 5:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
Well I remember him being an ass, but not a nazi.
posted by Lord_Pall at 5:23 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Lord_Pall at 5:23 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Warning autoplay but the video made me cry. Looks like it was put together by Time.
A nice collection of other pics from all over.
These Aerial Views of Women’s Marches From Across the Globe Are Breathtaking
posted by Jalliah at 5:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [23 favorites]
Trump can probably produce whatever Photoshop-cloned-crowd pics he wants, say: these are the REAL pics, the dishonest media put out fake pics, and his followers will take it as the word of God.
posted by thelonius at 5:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 5:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
But it might explain why he hates jews so much. (sorry)
I suppose it is possible he hates Jews because a Jew once beat him.
But he publicly hate Jews because not enough of us have beat him up.
posted by maxsparber at 5:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [47 favorites]
I suppose it is possible he hates Jews because a Jew once beat him.
But he publicly hate Jews because not enough of us have beat him up.
posted by maxsparber at 5:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [47 favorites]
These Aerial Views of Women’s Marches From Across the Globe Are Breathtaking
Liberalism might yet be saved by women while men just fuck up it having a temper tantrum.
posted by Talez at 5:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
Liberalism might yet be saved by women while men just fuck up it having a temper tantrum.
posted by Talez at 5:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
I think fisticuffs were exchanged, but it wasn't a victory type situation. I was a weenie in high school.
Come to think of it, I might be a weenie as an adult, but it's not as much of a handicap nowadays.
posted by Lord_Pall at 5:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Come to think of it, I might be a weenie as an adult, but it's not as much of a handicap nowadays.
posted by Lord_Pall at 5:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
@wikileaks Size of DC #WomensMarch today & ongoing flak by Dem-press, Soros, CIA, etc, show Trump in for Korea-like protests
They're not even trying anymore...
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
They're not even trying anymore...
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
President Trump's hands are the "largest hands to ever exist, period." - Sean Spicer
posted by porn in the woods at 5:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by porn in the woods at 5:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
#spicerfacts on Twitter is pretty fantastic.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
President Trump's hands are the "largest hands to ever exist, period." - Sean Spicer
Wait till they see the Trump monument next to the Washington monument. You know how it goes. If the monument is small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there will be no problem. I guarantee.
posted by Talez at 5:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Wait till they see the Trump monument next to the Washington monument. You know how it goes. If the monument is small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there will be no problem. I guarantee.
posted by Talez at 5:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm loving people that are claiming that this is Soros paying millions of marchers all around the world.
posted by Jalliah at 5:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
...engaging the Inauguration Truthers...
Therein lies madness. There is no arguing with any kind of truther because they know the truth. They are not swayed by any facts or "evidence" that contradicts their truth.
I speak from years of experience arguing with creationists and other loons on Usenet, and I now wish I had spent that time on more productive pursuits.
posted by zakur at 5:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
Therein lies madness. There is no arguing with any kind of truther because they know the truth. They are not swayed by any facts or "evidence" that contradicts their truth.
I speak from years of experience arguing with creationists and other loons on Usenet, and I now wish I had spent that time on more productive pursuits.
posted by zakur at 5:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
Yeah, Soros really splashed out!
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:34 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:34 PM on January 21, 2017
Breaking: Fmr CIA Director Brennan "deeply angered and saddened" at President Trump's speech at Memorial Wall
posted by porn in the woods at 5:34 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by porn in the woods at 5:34 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
Yeah, Soros really splashed out!
Cheap fucker never paid me even a shilling for all that shilling.
posted by Talez at 5:36 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Cheap fucker never paid me even a shilling for all that shilling.
posted by Talez at 5:36 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Vancouver! Hometown of my heart represents!
Lots of old friends went as well as few pussy hats knitted by my Sis. She couldn't go because she was sick so she wore her pussy hat to the doctor.
posted by Jalliah at 5:37 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Nielsen ratings, first term inaugurations:
Trump: 20.1
Obama: 25.5
GWB: 20.8
Clinton: 24.5
GHWB: 20.0
Reagan: 37.4
Carter: 31.5
Nixon: 33.5
AHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Nielsen families paid off by Soros too!
posted by Talez at 5:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
Trump: 20.1
Obama: 25.5
GWB: 20.8
Clinton: 24.5
GHWB: 20.0
Reagan: 37.4
Carter: 31.5
Nixon: 33.5
AHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Nielsen families paid off by Soros too!
posted by Talez at 5:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
Months too late and after overtly campaigning on behalf of Trump, CNN has apparently decided to fact check statements made by Trump surrogates before airing them live:
FYI, CNN made a conscious choice not to show the @PressSec statement live. The decision was to monitor the statement & then report on it.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [58 favorites]
FYI, CNN made a conscious choice not to show the @PressSec statement live. The decision was to monitor the statement & then report on it.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [58 favorites]
Addendum about Spencer - He was more than just an ass in school. He was that classic bully. Smarmy and just fucking mean. Not a big pushy physical style bullying, but the needling and insulting kind.
It makes perfect sense that he'd gravitate to the online fuckwad style of organization. It allows him to be the exact kind of chicken shit bully he's been his entire life, without fear of reprisals.
Without making any sort of value judgement, If getting punched in public makes him think before he opens his mouth to spout vileness, well that's a tiny positive.
posted by Lord_Pall at 5:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
It makes perfect sense that he'd gravitate to the online fuckwad style of organization. It allows him to be the exact kind of chicken shit bully he's been his entire life, without fear of reprisals.
Without making any sort of value judgement, If getting punched in public makes him think before he opens his mouth to spout vileness, well that's a tiny positive.
posted by Lord_Pall at 5:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf vs Sean Spicer: Who wore it better?
posted by 0xFCAF at 5:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by 0xFCAF at 5:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
Nazis ain't gonna punch themselves
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [35 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [35 favorites]
Be sure to tune in to FOX News tomorrow to watch Baghdad Bob present the prestigious Ron Ziegler Excellence in Briefing Award to Mr. Sean Spicer!
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 5:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 5:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
he chose to have an exact replica of Obama's cake designed specifically for Obama
I'm pretty sure he wanted a copy of Obama's cake so he could pretend it actually was Obama's cake when he cut it with a saber.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:45 PM on January 21, 2017
Following up on TD's comment, here's Kerry at the march.
posted by Talez at 5:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Talez at 5:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
My favorite sign I've seen today was "We want a leader not a creepy tweeter."
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
I think that groups need to organize so that women (and femme people generally) are doing more of the front-line/de-escalation/confrontation work.
holy shit I never thought I would see people openly calling for the return of chicks up front. I respect you and usually agree with you but I'll take a police baton or an ally's boot to the face when and if I choose to put myself in its way. and I will choose. but not because some group shoves me up there because my blood plays better on television.
groups need to organize so that women are doing the ORGANIZING. the fucking organizing, not the being organized. useful hands, not useful tools. that worked really well today, I thought.
It is a lot harder for these guys to escalate things when they're facing women and older people in particular - I'm not saying that they back down, but it's harder for them to escalate, because their own misogyny and macho attitude makes it harder for them to move toward violence in public.
Anybody who wants to make the cold-blooded decision to get their heads broken because they're counting on it turning the tide of sympathy when everybody watches it on the news has my tentative respect but I am getting the sick horrors at the idea any woman might be convinced by arguments like this that of course a man won't hit her, and certainly not in public. where have these people lived. just for a gratuitously inflammatory example, rachel corrie is not my hero and doesn't have to be for me to observe that being a young woman out in front didn't save her pretty face.
posted by queenofbithynia at 5:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [33 favorites]
holy shit I never thought I would see people openly calling for the return of chicks up front. I respect you and usually agree with you but I'll take a police baton or an ally's boot to the face when and if I choose to put myself in its way. and I will choose. but not because some group shoves me up there because my blood plays better on television.
groups need to organize so that women are doing the ORGANIZING. the fucking organizing, not the being organized. useful hands, not useful tools. that worked really well today, I thought.
It is a lot harder for these guys to escalate things when they're facing women and older people in particular - I'm not saying that they back down, but it's harder for them to escalate, because their own misogyny and macho attitude makes it harder for them to move toward violence in public.
Anybody who wants to make the cold-blooded decision to get their heads broken because they're counting on it turning the tide of sympathy when everybody watches it on the news has my tentative respect but I am getting the sick horrors at the idea any woman might be convinced by arguments like this that of course a man won't hit her, and certainly not in public. where have these people lived. just for a gratuitously inflammatory example, rachel corrie is not my hero and doesn't have to be for me to observe that being a young woman out in front didn't save her pretty face.
posted by queenofbithynia at 5:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [33 favorites]
Ok, the composition of this picture from the march did crack me up. That lollipop is perfect.
posted by TwoStride at 5:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 5:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
Nobody knows for sure whether the Capitol dome can unscrew and turn into a spaceship, period. #SpicerFacts
Jar Jar Binks is the most beloved character in the Star Wars universe. Period.
"Guacamole is supposed to have peas in it. Period."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Jar Jar Binks is the most beloved character in the Star Wars universe. Period.
"Guacamole is supposed to have peas in it. Period."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
President Trump's hands are the "largest hands to ever exist, period." - Sean Spicer
Some months ago I read that there's a Trump hand print on a plaque on some building somewhere, and that someone measured it. The hand print measured 7.5" long. I measured one of my own hands to get a basis of comparison, and found that my hands are 7.5" long. (I'm female and 5'5" to Trump's 6'2", so yes, his hands really are on the small side for his height.) Now every time I look at my hands I keep thinking they're the same size as Trump's. This is not a thought I enjoy having when I'm, er, performing various kinds of self-care.
posted by orange swan at 5:51 PM on January 21, 2017 [43 favorites]
Some months ago I read that there's a Trump hand print on a plaque on some building somewhere, and that someone measured it. The hand print measured 7.5" long. I measured one of my own hands to get a basis of comparison, and found that my hands are 7.5" long. (I'm female and 5'5" to Trump's 6'2", so yes, his hands really are on the small side for his height.) Now every time I look at my hands I keep thinking they're the same size as Trump's. This is not a thought I enjoy having when I'm, er, performing various kinds of self-care.
posted by orange swan at 5:51 PM on January 21, 2017 [43 favorites]
This is not a thought I enjoy having when I'm, er, performing various kinds of self-care.
posted by orange swan
Eponyscarredforlife.
posted by howfar at 5:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [48 favorites]
posted by orange swan
Eponyscarredforlife.
posted by howfar at 5:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [48 favorites]
Was at Topeka today, with my niece and her friends. Estimated 4,000 people present. I was expecting maybe 2k at most. Just a wonderful, warm day with beautiful, determined people. I know the next four years are going to be a brutal slog, but today gives me a lot of hope.
posted by honestcoyote at 5:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by honestcoyote at 5:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
The Neilsen ratings from the source, with historical comparisons.
posted by tivalasvegas at 5:53 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by tivalasvegas at 5:53 PM on January 21, 2017
The Trump flaks on Anderson Cooper right now are unfuckingbelievable. Trump decided to make the crowd numbers his Thing Of The Day, had his press Secretary baldly lie about it at great length, and now the flaks are all like "omg why are we taking about this why do you caaarrreee." Yo, ask your fearless leader, he's the one that can't stop taking about it.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
Even Breitbart won't defend Richard Spencer AFAIK, even though they now write MILO in all caps as if he's a deity (seriously).
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Some months ago I read that there's a Trump hand print on a plaque on some building somewhere, and that someone measured it. The hand print measured 7.5" long. I measured one of my own hands to get a basis of comparison, and found that my hands are 7.5" long.
From wrist to tip of the middle finger?
posted by ocschwar at 5:57 PM on January 21, 2017
Anybody who wants to make the cold-blooded decision to get their heads broken because they're counting on it turning the tide of sympathy when everybody watches it on the news has my tentative respect but I am getting the sick horrors at the idea any woman would be naive enough to believe that of course a man won't hit her, and certainly not in public. where have these people lived. just for a gratuitously inflammatory example, rachel corrie is not my hero and doesn't have to be for me to observe that being a young woman out in front didn't save her pretty face.
I wouldn't advocate doing it to anyone. Everyone, woman or man has to make the decision for themselves. It can be effective though. No naivety involved. On several occasions when facing off neo-nazi's and their supporters, us women made the choice to stand right in front of them an face them down because we knew it would bug them and what it would look like if they did more then yell and scream. . And yes we all knew that we had the potential to get our faces punched. The cops were there so there was some semblence of safety. Still though it was tense at times.
posted by Jalliah at 5:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
I wouldn't advocate doing it to anyone. Everyone, woman or man has to make the decision for themselves. It can be effective though. No naivety involved. On several occasions when facing off neo-nazi's and their supporters, us women made the choice to stand right in front of them an face them down because we knew it would bug them and what it would look like if they did more then yell and scream. . And yes we all knew that we had the potential to get our faces punched. The cops were there so there was some semblence of safety. Still though it was tense at times.
posted by Jalliah at 5:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Watching CNN as well. Earlier, the woman in pink (haven't seen her name displayed yet) bemoaned the fact that the Women's March didn't invite Kellyanne Conway to speak, and thus should not be called a "Women's March". Ugh.
posted by birdheist at 5:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by birdheist at 5:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Trump book riddled with falsehoods will no longer be sold by the National History Museum
posted by zakur at 5:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by zakur at 5:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
From wrist to tip of the middle finger?
Yes, see for yourself.
posted by peeedro at 6:00 PM on January 21, 2017
Yes, see for yourself.
posted by peeedro at 6:00 PM on January 21, 2017
Even Breitbart won't defend Richard Spencer AFAIK,
Breitbart try to maintain a veneer of plausible deniability to racism. Their attitude is that they can't help it if Facts™ are racist.
posted by Talez at 6:01 PM on January 21, 2017
Breitbart try to maintain a veneer of plausible deniability to racism. Their attitude is that they can't help it if Facts™ are racist.
posted by Talez at 6:01 PM on January 21, 2017
From wrist to tip of the middle finger?
The article didn't say, but I assumed it meant from the bottom of the palm to the tip of the middle finger. After all, if you were pressing your hand into freshly poured concrete, that would be the extent of the print.
But seriously people, and especially women, don't measure your hands to compare them to Trump's. I have paid dearly for an idle moment of curiosity.
posted by orange swan at 6:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
The article didn't say, but I assumed it meant from the bottom of the palm to the tip of the middle finger. After all, if you were pressing your hand into freshly poured concrete, that would be the extent of the print.
But seriously people, and especially women, don't measure your hands to compare them to Trump's. I have paid dearly for an idle moment of curiosity.
posted by orange swan at 6:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Earlier, the woman in pink (haven't seen her name displayed yet) bemoaned the fact that the Women's March didn't invite Kellyanne Conway to speak, and thus should not be called a "Women's March".
nazis angry that eichmann not invited to speak at the opening of the holocaust memorial
posted by poffin boffin at 6:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
nazis angry that eichmann not invited to speak at the opening of the holocaust memorial
posted by poffin boffin at 6:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
From wrist to tip of middle finger. "According to science, Trump’s hands are smaller than 85 percent of all men."
Revealed at Madame Tussauds: Donald Trump's Actual Hand Size
posted by kirkaracha at 6:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Revealed at Madame Tussauds: Donald Trump's Actual Hand Size
posted by kirkaracha at 6:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Favorite things today:
Seeing the size of the marches.
Watching Trump go nuts over it.
Watching someone coldcock the shit out of Dick Spencer.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:05 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
Seeing the size of the marches.
Watching Trump go nuts over it.
Watching someone coldcock the shit out of Dick Spencer.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:05 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
Hand size is such a wierd thing to be vain about. The variability is pretty low, like 1.5" or something over 4 standard deviations. This site says: Multiply your height (in inches) by (.10 for women and .11 for men) it will equal the length of your hand in inches (from wrist to the tip of your middle finger) For me at 6'5, avg hand size would be 8.7", and my actual measurement is 8" almost exactly. Proportionally I guess I have the same (or maybe smaller!) hands as Trump. This thought has literally never crossed my mind until I specifically sought it out right now. Hell, I can palm a standard size basketball. But you better believe I'm going to mention this next time I talk to my mom as the real reason she wasted 5 years of lessons and I still never learned to play the piano.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:05 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:05 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Correction: Breitbart won't touch the Nazi-punching stuff. But they simultaneously claim Spencer is an alt-right founder while berating NPR for daring to link Breitbart to white nationalism.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Brian Williams starts by saying that "We're going to take a look at, that by any standard of measurement, at what as been a remarkable day across this country from Washington to the west and really, started as remarkable day around the world. "
posted by Jalliah at 6:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Jalliah at 6:10 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
holy shit I never thought I would see people openly calling for the return of chicks up front. I respect you and usually agree with you but I'll take a police baton or an ally's boot to the face when and if I choose to put myself in its way. and I will choose. but not because some group shoves me up there because my blood plays better on television.
I think we're envisioning really different protest situations, and that may be the problem.
Yesterday I went to a march where a bunch of women de-escalated something and ran off a jerky dude who was harassing people. This wasn't because they'd been manipulated into being in front (it didn't happen in front, it happened in the middle) but because those women stepped up to interact with the guy.
Whereas by contrast, I've seen many, many protest situations where there will be some asshole, and either he'll be getting a charge out of macho-ing it up with the dudes at a protest or the dudes at the protest will try to muscle him off to one side, making things worse. I've been virtually shoved aside, actually, by dudes in this situation, because it was time for the man-off.
Admittedly, part of the solution here is for men to commit to better behavior, but I also think that militant women usually just have more practice and more commitment to de-escalation/driving people off without it turning into violence/etc. I am almost always happier and more secure in women-led marches - not because women never hit or push but because IME because of women's experiences in the world, on average women organizers have more ingrained and useful experience, and on average, if they're hitting or pushing it's because that's the best option more than because of vanity or socialization that they should be hitting or pushing.
To me, it's about letting women lead, not about someone shoving women to the front. In a lot of protest situations, men are automatically allowed to lead and it can get super macho and people take dumb chances because no one wants to back down.
The whole idea is to create a protest situation where no one is bleeding on television.
KKK, nazis, etc like to come on really macho and manly. I've been around a number of protests where they've been run off, and the most successful ones have been the ones where there was the least macho confrontation. The only one I know that really went horribly pear-shaped was also the only one where the plan was pretty much physical confrontation and not much else. That one was incredibly shitty and shattered a lot of relationships because the street-fighting angle ended up putting some of the attendees of color at risk.
So to clarify - yes, I genuinely feel that when young straight men dominate event leadership, that makes events more likely to escalate, and I feel that this is because of how patriarchy teaches people to behave. I think women should be leadership in these situations all the way.
posted by Frowner at 6:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [55 favorites]
I think we're envisioning really different protest situations, and that may be the problem.
Yesterday I went to a march where a bunch of women de-escalated something and ran off a jerky dude who was harassing people. This wasn't because they'd been manipulated into being in front (it didn't happen in front, it happened in the middle) but because those women stepped up to interact with the guy.
Whereas by contrast, I've seen many, many protest situations where there will be some asshole, and either he'll be getting a charge out of macho-ing it up with the dudes at a protest or the dudes at the protest will try to muscle him off to one side, making things worse. I've been virtually shoved aside, actually, by dudes in this situation, because it was time for the man-off.
Admittedly, part of the solution here is for men to commit to better behavior, but I also think that militant women usually just have more practice and more commitment to de-escalation/driving people off without it turning into violence/etc. I am almost always happier and more secure in women-led marches - not because women never hit or push but because IME because of women's experiences in the world, on average women organizers have more ingrained and useful experience, and on average, if they're hitting or pushing it's because that's the best option more than because of vanity or socialization that they should be hitting or pushing.
To me, it's about letting women lead, not about someone shoving women to the front. In a lot of protest situations, men are automatically allowed to lead and it can get super macho and people take dumb chances because no one wants to back down.
The whole idea is to create a protest situation where no one is bleeding on television.
KKK, nazis, etc like to come on really macho and manly. I've been around a number of protests where they've been run off, and the most successful ones have been the ones where there was the least macho confrontation. The only one I know that really went horribly pear-shaped was also the only one where the plan was pretty much physical confrontation and not much else. That one was incredibly shitty and shattered a lot of relationships because the street-fighting angle ended up putting some of the attendees of color at risk.
So to clarify - yes, I genuinely feel that when young straight men dominate event leadership, that makes events more likely to escalate, and I feel that this is because of how patriarchy teaches people to behave. I think women should be leadership in these situations all the way.
posted by Frowner at 6:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [55 favorites]
These Aerial Views of Women’s Marches From Across the Globe Are Breathtaking
Thanks for the link. Here's a rooftop vid of the rally portion of the DC March (no drone zone).
posted by longdaysjourney at 6:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
Thanks for the link. Here's a rooftop vid of the rally portion of the DC March (no drone zone).
posted by longdaysjourney at 6:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
> 'Women's March didn't invite Kellyanne Conway to speak, and thus should not be called a "Women's March"'
Ugh indeed. But maybe she was confused by Samantha Bee's honouring Conway in "The Great Feminists in Feminism Herstory Hall of Lady Fame." [shade, sarcasm, parody]
posted by porpoise at 6:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Ugh indeed. But maybe she was confused by Samantha Bee's honouring Conway in "The Great Feminists in Feminism Herstory Hall of Lady Fame." [shade, sarcasm, parody]
posted by porpoise at 6:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
The terrifying possibility is that he actually believes there were 1M-1.5M people there yesterday and the media all conspired to cover it up.
He almost definitely does. This is exactly the kind of thing that will make him the most defensive and the most deluded because it's a direct challenge to his narcissistic ego. He WILL continue to talk about it because it's vital to his sense of self that he believes the crowds were huge and talking about it, lying about it in public, helps to reinforce his own belief in what he is saying.
Do not for a moment forget that personality disordered people live mostly in a world of their own creation. Delusional beliefs are not rare for them, although they tend to be harder to spot than, say, the delusions of someone suffering from schizophrenia. They are just divorced from reality enough to support their own beliefs. But given the choice between believing the evidence of their own eyes and ears or believing a delusional lie they will break for the lie every time, especially when the issue is personal or challenging to them. This is a mechanism that a lot of people have as evidenced by how hard it is to convince people they are wrong. But someone with a personality disorder takes this to a pathological and often dangerous level.
So if you ever wonder: Is he lying or does he really believe that? The answer is both. He is lying to protect his own delusions and is he repeats the lie enough he will believe it.
posted by threeturtles at 6:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [51 favorites]
He almost definitely does. This is exactly the kind of thing that will make him the most defensive and the most deluded because it's a direct challenge to his narcissistic ego. He WILL continue to talk about it because it's vital to his sense of self that he believes the crowds were huge and talking about it, lying about it in public, helps to reinforce his own belief in what he is saying.
Do not for a moment forget that personality disordered people live mostly in a world of their own creation. Delusional beliefs are not rare for them, although they tend to be harder to spot than, say, the delusions of someone suffering from schizophrenia. They are just divorced from reality enough to support their own beliefs. But given the choice between believing the evidence of their own eyes and ears or believing a delusional lie they will break for the lie every time, especially when the issue is personal or challenging to them. This is a mechanism that a lot of people have as evidenced by how hard it is to convince people they are wrong. But someone with a personality disorder takes this to a pathological and often dangerous level.
So if you ever wonder: Is he lying or does he really believe that? The answer is both. He is lying to protect his own delusions and is he repeats the lie enough he will believe it.
posted by threeturtles at 6:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [51 favorites]
Jesus Christ, Brian Williams just asked Maxine Waters (and someone asked Michael Moore earlier), "Where were all these people on November 8?"
Excuse me, you innumerate asshat, they were all in polling booths voting for Clinton, which is why she got nearly 3 million more votes than Trump.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [76 favorites]
Excuse me, you innumerate asshat, they were all in polling booths voting for Clinton, which is why she got nearly 3 million more votes than Trump.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [76 favorites]
Trump on Iraq: “We should have kept the oil. Maybe we’ll have another chance.”
posted by Existential Dread at 3:57 PM on January 21
Both eponysterical and eponysterrifying.
I'd like to take a moment to address the topic of address. I believe (check me on this if I'm wrong, please), the correct form of the man of the hour is:
Alleged billionaire and President of the United States of America, Donald John Trump.
Until he releases his tax returns for full independent scrutiny, that is.
posted by tilde at 6:16 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hand size is such a wierd thing to be vain about.
It ain't the hand size he's being vain about.
posted by Etrigan at 6:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
It ain't the hand size he's being vain about.
posted by Etrigan at 6:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf vs Sean Spicer: Who wore it better?
No one remembers poor Kevin Bacon.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
No one remembers poor Kevin Bacon.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Excuse me, you innumerate asshat, they were all in polling booths voting for Clinton, which is why she got nearly 3 million more votes than Trump.
I'm going to give him a break for that, for going on to say that this may be recording breaking for the number of people on the street on a given day. Maybe not seen since the Vietnam war.
No idea if this is true, but it sounds good. And if Donald and Co. starts hearing that it's going to sting even more then it has already.
posted by Jalliah at 6:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm going to give him a break for that, for going on to say that this may be recording breaking for the number of people on the street on a given day. Maybe not seen since the Vietnam war.
No idea if this is true, but it sounds good. And if Donald and Co. starts hearing that it's going to sting even more then it has already.
posted by Jalliah at 6:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
It ain't the hand size he's being vain about.
he hasn't talked about his penis since that one time on national television at a republican debate
so i guess that's a bridge so far that even he has to resort to thinly veiled euphemism
posted by indubitable at 6:20 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
he hasn't talked about his penis since that one time on national television at a republican debate
so i guess that's a bridge so far that even he has to resort to thinly veiled euphemism
posted by indubitable at 6:20 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also, on the "women leading marches" thing: that shouldn't mean "all women are in front no matter where they want to be, all women are responsible for dealing with interlopers no matter how they feel or where their skillset is"; it's "let's not assume that straight men should be leading all the marches and dealing with all the confrontations; let's consciously create space for women to do those things, and let's follow the lead of women instead of assuming that if there's a dude, that's the person who is in charge".
posted by Frowner at 6:21 PM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 6:21 PM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
thinly veiled euphemism
are you suggesting that it is thin too? ;)
posted by futz at 6:23 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
are you suggesting that it is thin too? ;)
posted by futz at 6:23 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Hand size is such a wierd thing to be vain about.
NOBODY LOOK! NOBODY LOOK! NOBODY LOOK! NOBODY LOOK!
posted by dirigibleman at 6:26 PM on January 21, 2017
NOBODY LOOK! NOBODY LOOK! NOBODY LOOK! NOBODY LOOK!
posted by dirigibleman at 6:26 PM on January 21, 2017
10 gifs that will make you feel better about inauguration day.
posted by Justinian at 6:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 6:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
Women's March is not trending at all on my facebook page. huh.
posted by srboisvert at 6:27 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 6:27 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
A huge turnout and the police say no arrests made at women's march in DC.
posted by TwoStride at 6:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 6:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
CNN Headline: White House press secretary attacks media for accurately reporting inauguration crowds
posted by octothorpe at 6:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [76 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 6:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [76 favorites]
Hey all. I just realized that Spicer may be Trumps new tweeter.
"Spicer get in there right now at say this! Now do it now" His impromtu presser today sounded whole like things Trump would want to tweet.
posted by Jalliah at 6:29 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
And now MSNBC is talking explaining what gaslighting is. And how that's what it looks like Trump is doing. The reporter just said it's tactic that was used in Nazi Germany. Just said they lied, and lied brazenly.
Is this a new thing?
posted by Jalliah at 6:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [60 favorites]
Is this a new thing?
posted by Jalliah at 6:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [60 favorites]
Jesus that CNN Spicer article is like Onion level comedy but it's all true. Please please please let this be the new way.
And fuck them for not treating this bullshit this way all along
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
And fuck them for not treating this bullshit this way all along
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
It is a lot harder for these guys to escalate things when they're facing women and older people in particular - I'm not saying that they back down, but it's harder for them to escalate, because their own misogyny and macho attitude makes it harder for them to move toward violence in public.
This is true, in my experience. I have, on many occasions, relied on the unwillingness of men to get violent with a woman in public. I have even gone so far as to punch a large man who was being violent to people smaller than him in a crowd. When my husband and I get into situations that might turn hairy, he backs off and I'm the one who gets assertive and aggressive. It causes just enough confusion in a certain type of macho dude to pause the automatic impulse to violence. I mean, there's also a chance you will get hit, but I'm generally willing to take a punch if necessary. The only time THAT's actually happened to me is when a woman punched me.
posted by threeturtles at 6:34 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
This is true, in my experience. I have, on many occasions, relied on the unwillingness of men to get violent with a woman in public. I have even gone so far as to punch a large man who was being violent to people smaller than him in a crowd. When my husband and I get into situations that might turn hairy, he backs off and I'm the one who gets assertive and aggressive. It causes just enough confusion in a certain type of macho dude to pause the automatic impulse to violence. I mean, there's also a chance you will get hit, but I'm generally willing to take a punch if necessary. The only time THAT's actually happened to me is when a woman punched me.
posted by threeturtles at 6:34 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Make The Crowd Size Great Again
posted by porn in the woods at 6:34 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by porn in the woods at 6:34 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
NYT: With False Claims, Trump Attacks Media on Turnout and Intelligence Rift
It's about fucking time all of these lapdogs started doing their damn job.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [54 favorites]
It's about fucking time all of these lapdogs started doing their damn job.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [54 favorites]
And holy shit. Now talking about the change in media rhetoric seems to be changing and how it has to change. Call a spade a spade and use the right words instead of what they usually do and be more polite. Media has to be Trump's foil and call it like it is.
posted by Jalliah at 6:36 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
White House press secretary attacks media for accurately reporting inauguration crowds
Nice job CNN! The story's not the content of the lie, the story is the fact that the government spokesperson blatantly lied about a pointless detail and then attacked the people who were telling the truth.
You may now take two Tivalasvegas Kernels of Respect (tm) out of this jar as your reward for committing this act of basic journalistic integrity.
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:37 PM on January 21, 2017 [62 favorites]
Nice job CNN! The story's not the content of the lie, the story is the fact that the government spokesperson blatantly lied about a pointless detail and then attacked the people who were telling the truth.
You may now take two Tivalasvegas Kernels of Respect (tm) out of this jar as your reward for committing this act of basic journalistic integrity.
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:37 PM on January 21, 2017 [62 favorites]
It's not just about how weird and pathetic it is to complain about the crowd size - he's continuing to set the precedent of what's to come:
Trump's real war isn't with crowd size
This, along with much else Spicer said, was plainly untrue. But there’s a strategy at work here. The Trump administration is creating a baseline expectation among its loyalists that they can’t trust anything said by the media. The spat over crowd size is a low-stakes, semi-comic dispute, but the groundwork is being laid for much more consequential debates over what is, and isn’t, true.
Delegitimizing the institutions that might report inconvenient or damaging facts about the president is strategic for an administration that has made a slew of impossible promises and takes office amid a cloud of ethics concerns and potential scandals.
It also gives the new administration a convenient scapegoat for their continued struggles with public opinion, and their potential future struggles with reality. This kind of “dishonesty from the media,” Spicer said, is making it hard “to bring our country together.” It’s not difficult to imagine the Trump administration disputing bad jobs numbers in the future, or claiming their Obamacare replacement covers everyone when it actually throws millions off insurance.
posted by windbox at 6:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [44 favorites]
Trump's real war isn't with crowd size
This, along with much else Spicer said, was plainly untrue. But there’s a strategy at work here. The Trump administration is creating a baseline expectation among its loyalists that they can’t trust anything said by the media. The spat over crowd size is a low-stakes, semi-comic dispute, but the groundwork is being laid for much more consequential debates over what is, and isn’t, true.
Delegitimizing the institutions that might report inconvenient or damaging facts about the president is strategic for an administration that has made a slew of impossible promises and takes office amid a cloud of ethics concerns and potential scandals.
It also gives the new administration a convenient scapegoat for their continued struggles with public opinion, and their potential future struggles with reality. This kind of “dishonesty from the media,” Spicer said, is making it hard “to bring our country together.” It’s not difficult to imagine the Trump administration disputing bad jobs numbers in the future, or claiming their Obamacare replacement covers everyone when it actually throws millions off insurance.
posted by windbox at 6:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [44 favorites]
MSNBC they've been saying Trump and Co. are lying. They are using the L word.
posted by bongo_x at 6:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 6:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
Let's not give the media too much credit for doing their jobs
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
From same @PressSec stmt:
1:36 in: “No one had numbers.”
2:25 in: “This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period.
posted by porn in the woods at 6:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
1:36 in: “No one had numbers.”
2:25 in: “This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period.
posted by porn in the woods at 6:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
MSNBC they've been saying Trump and Co. are lying. They are using the L word.
And said what they are doing is a tactic used by Nazi Germany!
posted by Jalliah at 6:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
And said what they are doing is a tactic used by Nazi Germany!
posted by Jalliah at 6:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
MSNBC they've been saying Trump and Co. are lying. They are using the L word.
The night crew is. Scarborough comes on at 7am.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
The night crew is. Scarborough comes on at 7am.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Now let's hope they remember to keep doing this when they're not the ones being attacked.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
I'm on my phone so no linky, but dcist.com has a round-up of all the Spencer-punching clips that creative people have set to music. They're all heartwarming and wonderful, but the one set to the Raiders main theme is like ... I dunno ... Indy's craggy smile just for you.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by octobersurprise at 6:40 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Let's not give the media too much credit for doing their jobs
It's not credit. It's surprise that they're finally doing it.
posted by Jalliah at 6:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
It's not credit. It's surprise that they're finally doing it.
posted by Jalliah at 6:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
NYT: With False Claims, Trump Attacks Media on Turnout and Intelligence Rift
It's about fucking time all of these lapdogs started doing their damn job.
Prepping for impeachment to bring on Pence
posted by tilde at 6:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Someone is keeping track and it seems like 1% of the population marched today.
posted by shothotbot at 6:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by shothotbot at 6:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
It is great that everyone is trolling Trump these days. Means they smell blood in the water. Nobody seems to think he's a threat. Everyone wants to score points off him before he goes down. And the more he is humiliated, the less he looks like the alpha male his followers elected him to be. They will turn on him. I don't think he'll make it through a year in office, if we keep up the pressure.
posted by OnceUponATime at 6:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by OnceUponATime at 6:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
Let's not give the media too much credit for doing their jobs
Look, I only gave CNN two measly respect-kernels
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
Look, I only gave CNN two measly respect-kernels
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
I'm on my phone so no linky, but dcist.com has a round-up of all the Spencer-punching clips that creative people have set to music.
Be the punching Nazis in the face you want to see in the world
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Be the punching Nazis in the face you want to see in the world
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
My favorite sign: So bad, even introverts are here.
posted by gatorae at 6:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [80 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 6:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [80 favorites]
Daniel Dale: The Star is going to create a master running list of every Trump false claim. I'll post it in a couple days.
I'm only tracking things Trump himself says or writes. Including Spicer, Conway and the gang would actually kill me.
posted by srboisvert at 6:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
I'm only tracking things Trump himself says or writes. Including Spicer, Conway and the gang would actually kill me.
posted by srboisvert at 6:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
A Scene from the D.C. Women’s March: As a woman with a Trump scarf on climbed into the backseat of a black Suburban — her driver standing by her side, eagerly waiting for her to sit down so he could close the door — she kept lunging out the vehicle to give her commentary on the scene around her. She was clearly disgusted by the marchers surrounding her car. At one point, the woman in the Suburban said to a passerby:
“If you people had jobs, you wouldn’t be out here doing this mess.”
As this happened, another woman walked by and, without pausing to look at the Chevrolet Suburbanite, said:
“Bitch, it’s Saturday.”
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:49 PM on January 21, 2017 [173 favorites]
“If you people had jobs, you wouldn’t be out here doing this mess.”
As this happened, another woman walked by and, without pausing to look at the Chevrolet Suburbanite, said:
“Bitch, it’s Saturday.”
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:49 PM on January 21, 2017 [173 favorites]
Donald Trump Wore Scotch Tape on His Tie for His Inauguration
posted by kirkaracha at 6:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 6:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
I've avoided watching anything political on the TV or online (mostly) since Friday morning. Partially because of a strong dislike of both seeing and hearing the new POTUS, partially because of strangers being weird online and resisting the temptation to respond unpleasantly on an already super weird day, partially because of the sadness of the now and a much better then (the very last link in the post I admit to including solely because I was there, somewhere a long way off in the distance of that Chicago crowd, but there never the less) but also because it was a really bright and sunny day - reminding, oddly, of the morning after the Brexit vote here.
So I had a good long walk of several hours to the local agricultural college university - they do fish and chips on a Friday dinner time. And it was a pleasant walk, with nature and birds (even in January) and sheep and cows. Also swans which I like but only from a distance (long story about once getting into a fight and losing as a child). But I got there well in time for dinner and without incident, and myself and the pleasant cashier with the mischievous smile did our now standard flirting-but-not-flirting thing, and the food was really good, and I didn't move for a long time, a protective, academic feeling, to be sitting and eating in a university dining hall while looking out of the huge glass window that forms one end, across the campus with people moving around, advancing their knowledge, advancing the sum total of human knowledge.
And the sounds were good as well; the quiet murmur of undergraduates and postgraduates eating, discussing lectures and assignments, explaining academic things to each other and revision for forthcoming exams. In the background, the sound system played the local radio station at a pleasantly low level.
Until the hourly news summary came on at 6pm (1pm Eastern US time) and they played clips of the new POTUS taking the oath. Even at a low level the sound jarred, and students and staff alike were obviously unhappy; a request was made to change the station or shut it off. And I realized that, unless I moved back to a Scottish island with a small population, did not take a TV or a radio, changed my employment so I wasn't needing to be constantly online and basically just relied on the mobile library for my knowledge and reading, then it was going to be impossible to avoid him on a regular basis - even a continent away.
And I also realized, and hearing the new POTUS just reminds, that despite never meeting them or being within about several hundred yards of them in real life, I was going to almost physically painfully miss, am already missing, Barack and Michelle.
posted by Wordshore at 6:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
So I had a good long walk of several hours to the local agricultural college university - they do fish and chips on a Friday dinner time. And it was a pleasant walk, with nature and birds (even in January) and sheep and cows. Also swans which I like but only from a distance (long story about once getting into a fight and losing as a child). But I got there well in time for dinner and without incident, and myself and the pleasant cashier with the mischievous smile did our now standard flirting-but-not-flirting thing, and the food was really good, and I didn't move for a long time, a protective, academic feeling, to be sitting and eating in a university dining hall while looking out of the huge glass window that forms one end, across the campus with people moving around, advancing their knowledge, advancing the sum total of human knowledge.
And the sounds were good as well; the quiet murmur of undergraduates and postgraduates eating, discussing lectures and assignments, explaining academic things to each other and revision for forthcoming exams. In the background, the sound system played the local radio station at a pleasantly low level.
Until the hourly news summary came on at 6pm (1pm Eastern US time) and they played clips of the new POTUS taking the oath. Even at a low level the sound jarred, and students and staff alike were obviously unhappy; a request was made to change the station or shut it off. And I realized that, unless I moved back to a Scottish island with a small population, did not take a TV or a radio, changed my employment so I wasn't needing to be constantly online and basically just relied on the mobile library for my knowledge and reading, then it was going to be impossible to avoid him on a regular basis - even a continent away.
And I also realized, and hearing the new POTUS just reminds, that despite never meeting them or being within about several hundred yards of them in real life, I was going to almost physically painfully miss, am already missing, Barack and Michelle.
posted by Wordshore at 6:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
Dare I say it? Is this where we TAKE THE FEDORA BACK?
posted by valkane at 6:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by valkane at 6:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
I feel so thankful for everyone who marched, but at this moment I'm feeling especially thankful for the marches outside of the U.S. I fear this country is going to be increasingly politically isolated (as the daughter of a narcissist, I know how it goes when the head of the household/country acts this way) so it means so much to me to see people in other countries standing up with us. So, thank you! You give me hope and encouragement to keep fighting.
posted by mcduff at 6:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by mcduff at 6:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [34 favorites]
Barrack Jr., the inaugural planner, is on CNN really doubling down on all of the reasons why the attendance was down. It's pretty amazing. It's such a 'he doth protest too much' situation.
Apparently there were hundreds of thousands of people unable to access the mall and also unable to attend the parade. (shrug)
posted by birdheist at 6:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Apparently there were hundreds of thousands of people unable to access the mall and also unable to attend the parade. (shrug)
posted by birdheist at 6:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Donald Trump Wore Scotch Tape on His Tie for His Inauguration
Again?! After the Internet mercilessly mocked him for this in the past? Are we sure that the tape didn't fall from his hair nest?
posted by futz at 6:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Again?! After the Internet mercilessly mocked him for this in the past? Are we sure that the tape didn't fall from his hair nest?
posted by futz at 6:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Good chants at the DC March:
Hands too small!
Can't build the wall!
We will not
Go away
Welcome to your first day
We need a leader, not a creepy tweeter
posted by heyforfour at 6:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [23 favorites]
Hands too small!
Can't build the wall!
We will not
Go away
Welcome to your first day
We need a leader, not a creepy tweeter
posted by heyforfour at 6:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [23 favorites]
So he clearly just owns the one red tie, right?
I guess all the money he saves on ties--and a tie pin or two--goes to his fake prop fund of notepads and cakes...
posted by TwoStride at 6:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
I guess all the money he saves on ties--and a tie pin or two--goes to his fake prop fund of notepads and cakes...
posted by TwoStride at 6:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
I marched in St. Paul today. They were expecting 20,000. Police estimated the crowd as 100,000! It was so empowering. Women of all ages, including a woman who breastfed her infant while marching, and surprisingly many older women. Lots of men there too. Saw a sign on a stroller: "this baby would make a better president." Also: "if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor" and "When do women get a turn at deciding men's rights?" Also a J.K. Rowling quote that really hit home for me: "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."
posted by a fish out of water at 6:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [42 favorites]
posted by a fish out of water at 6:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [42 favorites]
The dude probably has an entire baseball team worth of idiosyncratic superstitions and I suspect the tie-tape is part of that somehow.
posted by theodolite at 6:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 6:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Apparently there were hundreds of thousands of people unable to access the mall and also unable to attend the parade
I live here, I was out doing shit yesterday, and it wasn't crowded. I obviously didnt try to drive into the city, but there weren't hordes of people lined up at metro stations because of poor train scheduling by WMATA - like there were for the Colbert/Stewart rally, or otherwise prevented from going into the city. The parking lots were underfilled from a normal weekday. I didn't get any metro alerts on my phone like I did today and do for snow days. Locals didn't notice a damn thing different except downtown streets closed off and a few more ass holes in red trucker hats. I did drive through on Thursday night, literally 12 hours beforehand, and it was dead. The friends I was out with had 20 people staying at their house, all here for Saturday. The bar we were at was lightly filled, all with regular looking DC people, no MAGA hats in sight.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:02 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
I live here, I was out doing shit yesterday, and it wasn't crowded. I obviously didnt try to drive into the city, but there weren't hordes of people lined up at metro stations because of poor train scheduling by WMATA - like there were for the Colbert/Stewart rally, or otherwise prevented from going into the city. The parking lots were underfilled from a normal weekday. I didn't get any metro alerts on my phone like I did today and do for snow days. Locals didn't notice a damn thing different except downtown streets closed off and a few more ass holes in red trucker hats. I did drive through on Thursday night, literally 12 hours beforehand, and it was dead. The friends I was out with had 20 people staying at their house, all here for Saturday. The bar we were at was lightly filled, all with regular looking DC people, no MAGA hats in sight.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:02 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
This video of women singing together during the Washington march is inspiring. Apparently, they never met in person before the march.
posted by nonspecialist at 7:05 PM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by nonspecialist at 7:05 PM on January 21, 2017 [36 favorites]
Colbert was on it last night with the length of his tie.
posted by peeedro at 7:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by peeedro at 7:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's so bizarre that they even care about the attendance reports. In any sane world this should be about the 1001st thing that a new presidential administration would be worrying about.
posted by octothorpe at 7:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 7:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
I made a very last-minute sign to mount on my bag while I rode near the march today (taking a bike onto the march route would have been trouble—I skirted the edges and smiled at about 750,000 people).
posted by carsonb at 7:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by carsonb at 7:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
The National Park Service seems to be allowed to use Twitter again.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:08 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:08 PM on January 21, 2017
A live cam from The National Mall in Washington, D.C., captured the size of the crowd during the inauguration Friday, and during Saturday's women's march.
The images below — captured by an EarthCam atop the Washington Monument — show the crowds on the National Mall during the inaugural address of President Donald Trump on Jan. 20, 2017 (left) and around 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time during the Women’s March on Washington the following day (right). Drag the slider to compare for yourself.
posted by futz at 7:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
The images below — captured by an EarthCam atop the Washington Monument — show the crowds on the National Mall during the inaugural address of President Donald Trump on Jan. 20, 2017 (left) and around 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time during the Women’s March on Washington the following day (right). Drag the slider to compare for yourself.
posted by futz at 7:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
The difference is staggering.
posted by futz at 7:13 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by futz at 7:13 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Don't think I've seen it posted here yet: Google Doc with crowd estimates - on the low end, 3.2 million people today across the US!
posted by too bad you're not me at 7:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by too bad you're not me at 7:14 PM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
Tallahassee had 10,000-15,000 marchers. It was pouring rain for a lot of it. I saw people there that I've known for years, with their kids, whom I never had seen at any kind of political event or protest or anything ever. There was zero violence.
posted by Cookiebastard at 7:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 7:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
It's so bizarre that they even care about the attendance reports.
They don't really care - they're just playing to their supporters and setting the new standard: don't trust anything the media or journalists are saying, no matter the evidence.
Oh, they say inauguration turnout was weak? They're lying and completely biased. Jobs numbers are down? More lies, the jobs numbers are actually amazing. Millions of uninsured? Conflicts of interest? Lying media is out to get us again. They're conspiring to make us look bad, you see, because we are succeeding when all the coastal liberal eilitist haters didn't think we could do it.
I wish I could find the absurdity of it funny but I'm struggling.
posted by windbox at 7:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
They don't really care - they're just playing to their supporters and setting the new standard: don't trust anything the media or journalists are saying, no matter the evidence.
Oh, they say inauguration turnout was weak? They're lying and completely biased. Jobs numbers are down? More lies, the jobs numbers are actually amazing. Millions of uninsured? Conflicts of interest? Lying media is out to get us again. They're conspiring to make us look bad, you see, because we are succeeding when all the coastal liberal eilitist haters didn't think we could do it.
I wish I could find the absurdity of it funny but I'm struggling.
posted by windbox at 7:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
Google Doc with crowd estimates
I just want to personally go and hug each and every one of the people who were the lone marcher in their location.
Chesapeake Bay, MD: here's a hug!
Conover, WI: a hug for you!
Crestone, CO: you too!
Gila, NM: hug!
Pence (!), WI: you get a hug and a high five!
posted by mcduff at 7:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [55 favorites]
I just want to personally go and hug each and every one of the people who were the lone marcher in their location.
Chesapeake Bay, MD: here's a hug!
Conover, WI: a hug for you!
Crestone, CO: you too!
Gila, NM: hug!
Pence (!), WI: you get a hug and a high five!
posted by mcduff at 7:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [55 favorites]
This was only the first day. The first day. And its already a fiasco.
posted by Justinian at 7:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 7:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
Chesapeake Bay, MD: here's a hug!
Forget the hug, throw 'em a PFD already
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:23 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Forget the hug, throw 'em a PFD already
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:23 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Even Time.
President Trump Accused the Media of Lying About His Inauguration Crowd Size. He’s Wrong
Addressing employees at CIA headquarters in Virginia, Trump wrongly said the crowd had stretched all the way to the Washington Monument in the middle of the National Mall.
Photos taken of the Mall on Friday showed large swaths of empty space compared to Barack Obama’s inauguration eight years ago.
posted by Jalliah at 7:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
President Trump Accused the Media of Lying About His Inauguration Crowd Size. He’s Wrong
Addressing employees at CIA headquarters in Virginia, Trump wrongly said the crowd had stretched all the way to the Washington Monument in the middle of the National Mall.
Photos taken of the Mall on Friday showed large swaths of empty space compared to Barack Obama’s inauguration eight years ago.
posted by Jalliah at 7:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
So I'm on the cusp of a major move, and I have much to do, and all of my time is important. But today was the Women's March, so even though I couldn't participate directly, I had the live stream going while I worked. Well, it turns out I couldn't just have it on as background. I kept finding myself glued to the feed. And then this thread. And then I'd tear myself away, but pretty soon I'd be back. Singing along to Ella's Song. Clicking through to all the fantastic photos and videos of millions of women and men and girls and boys all around the world, gathering and reveling in hope and strength and dignity and defiance. Sharing all the goodness with the non-MeFites in my life.
I didn't get nearly as much done today as I intended.
But, y'all, I just noticed: My evens jar is full.
posted by perspicio at 7:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [44 favorites]
I didn't get nearly as much done today as I intended.
But, y'all, I just noticed: My evens jar is full.
posted by perspicio at 7:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [44 favorites]
Rooftop view of today's crowd. I think we're done here.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:27 PM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:27 PM on January 21, 2017 [20 favorites]
Trump said "God stopped the rain" during his speech. You can look back on this thread and see that it was raining. He's literally a weather denier.
Maybe he was scared of the piss jokes. He did put a giant white mattress cover over parts of the National Mall...
posted by futz at 7:27 PM on January 21, 2017
Maybe he was scared of the piss jokes. He did put a giant white mattress cover over parts of the National Mall...
posted by futz at 7:27 PM on January 21, 2017
They don't really care
I have to strongly disagree. Trump is narcissist and has shown over and over, throughout his life that he cares about things like this. He is obsessed with things like ratings and shows of people loving his greatness. He gets petty and vindictive when this doesn't happen.
posted by Jalliah at 7:27 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
I have to strongly disagree. Trump is narcissist and has shown over and over, throughout his life that he cares about things like this. He is obsessed with things like ratings and shows of people loving his greatness. He gets petty and vindictive when this doesn't happen.
posted by Jalliah at 7:27 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
Hours behind the thread (again) but just want to give all of you a great big wallabear hug. You all made my day, and I thank you.
Feeling a bit schmoopy here
posted by wallabear at 7:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
Feeling a bit schmoopy here
posted by wallabear at 7:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
I do wonder if this will give the congress reps any pause in their pursuit of their agenda. I know that they are grateful for gerrymandering but it is a sloping edge. I really will want to see if Medicare and Social Security are really the third rail or not. Traditionally, mid-terms are brutal and here is hoping for a supreme beat down of the GOP. Nuke it from space level of beat down because they will not learn otherwise.
posted by jadepearl at 7:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by jadepearl at 7:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
I marched today in Ann Arbor. 11,000 people!
posted by sevenofspades at 7:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by sevenofspades at 7:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
I think we're done here.
I wish that were true. Today was just the pep rally before beginning a long and ugly fight. But it may have been the boost that many people needed to keep them in the fight.
Someone is keeping track and it seems like 1% of the population marched today.
Someone should come up with a design along the lines of "proud to be part of the other 1%."
posted by Candleman at 7:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
I wish that were true. Today was just the pep rally before beginning a long and ugly fight. But it may have been the boost that many people needed to keep them in the fight.
Someone is keeping track and it seems like 1% of the population marched today.
Someone should come up with a design along the lines of "proud to be part of the other 1%."
posted by Candleman at 7:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
Y'all. Has Sean Spicer always been a pale shade of orange with a hint of white raccoon eye going on? Seriously, I don't recall ever seeing his face before, as I decided several months ago not to actually gaze upon these people if at all possible, so I don't know if how he looked today is how he has always looked. But, like... does the President-suspect make all senior staff use the tanning bed? Is the tanning bed actually a pod?
posted by palomar at 7:36 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by palomar at 7:36 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Donald Trump Wore Scotch Tape on His Tie for His Inauguration
Just when you think he can't go any lower.
posted by bongo_x at 7:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Just when you think he can't go any lower.
posted by bongo_x at 7:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
I love that NYT had to call a guy in England to make this call.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also, regarding a conversation on Trump's hand size upthread, I think we should all make paper cut-outs of our hand prints and mail them to the White House en masse.
What would this accomplish? I don't know. Would the reaction be satisfying? Likely so.
posted by sevenofspades at 7:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
What would this accomplish? I don't know. Would the reaction be satisfying? Likely so.
posted by sevenofspades at 7:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Seattle was amazing! Indigenous women up front, 130,000 strong, 80,000 more than expected. Took us four hours to walk three and a half miles, and apparently the last of the crowd got to the Seattle Center an hour after we did, a full five hours after the march started. It was heartening to see so many people!
posted by gc at 7:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by gc at 7:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [21 favorites]
Trump Named Honorary Russian Cossack
Shit just goes beyond parody.
posted by Talez at 7:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Shit just goes beyond parody.
posted by Talez at 7:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Adding up the numbers in the Women's Marches today
750,000 in Los Angeles alone
400,000 in NYC but I think that's an underestimate as 3 avenues and numerous streets were full of people
250,000 in Chicago
200,000 in Seattle.
175,000 in Boston
500,000 in Washington DC
100,000 in Denver
100,000 in Portland
100,000 in St. Paul, Minnesota
70,000 in Oakland
40,000 in San Francisco
10,000 in St. Louis
60,000 in Atlanta
50,000 in Philadelphia
50,000 in Austin
36,000 in Arizona
27,000 in Florida
20,000 in Houston
17,000 in Raleigh
15,000 in Mont Pelier, Vermont
15,000 in Nashville
5000 in Boise, Idaho
6000 in Atlanta
6000 in Trenton, NJ
5000 approx in Dallas
5000 in Indianapolis, Indiana
7000 in Little Rock, Arkansas
3000 in Memphis
3,000 in Albuquerque
6,000 people in Santa Fe
1000 in Fargo, North Dakota
1000 in Northampton, Massachusetts
1000 in Providence
1000 in Iowa City
1000 in Portsmouth, Maine, approx
2000 in Park city Utah, approx
100 in Bennington, Vermont
Is that 2,938,100 approximately in the USA? (math impaired)
Then in hundreds of smaller towns and cities in every state in America, hundreds to thousands gathered.
Around the world, in some of the cities there were officially
100,000 in London
2000 in Auckland, New Zealand
80,000 in Paris
10,000 in Sydney
3000 in Athens
2000 in Edinburgh
1000 in Stockholm
1000 in San Miguel, Mexico
1000 in Copenhagen, approx
1000 in Berlin
500 in Rome
Not to mention about 28 in Antarctica
That's 201,500 in just those cities worldwide
Is that about 3,139,700?
A world record for marches?
posted by nickyskye at 7:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [23 favorites]
750,000 in Los Angeles alone
400,000 in NYC but I think that's an underestimate as 3 avenues and numerous streets were full of people
250,000 in Chicago
200,000 in Seattle.
175,000 in Boston
500,000 in Washington DC
100,000 in Denver
100,000 in Portland
100,000 in St. Paul, Minnesota
70,000 in Oakland
40,000 in San Francisco
10,000 in St. Louis
60,000 in Atlanta
50,000 in Philadelphia
50,000 in Austin
36,000 in Arizona
27,000 in Florida
20,000 in Houston
17,000 in Raleigh
15,000 in Mont Pelier, Vermont
15,000 in Nashville
5000 in Boise, Idaho
6000 in Atlanta
6000 in Trenton, NJ
5000 approx in Dallas
5000 in Indianapolis, Indiana
7000 in Little Rock, Arkansas
3000 in Memphis
3,000 in Albuquerque
6,000 people in Santa Fe
1000 in Fargo, North Dakota
1000 in Northampton, Massachusetts
1000 in Providence
1000 in Iowa City
1000 in Portsmouth, Maine, approx
2000 in Park city Utah, approx
100 in Bennington, Vermont
Is that 2,938,100 approximately in the USA? (math impaired)
Then in hundreds of smaller towns and cities in every state in America, hundreds to thousands gathered.
Around the world, in some of the cities there were officially
100,000 in London
2000 in Auckland, New Zealand
80,000 in Paris
10,000 in Sydney
3000 in Athens
2000 in Edinburgh
1000 in Stockholm
1000 in San Miguel, Mexico
1000 in Copenhagen, approx
1000 in Berlin
500 in Rome
Not to mention about 28 in Antarctica
That's 201,500 in just those cities worldwide
Is that about 3,139,700?
A world record for marches?
posted by nickyskye at 7:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [23 favorites]
https://www.gofundme.com/buy-sean-spicer-a-suit-that-fits
posted by porn in the woods at 7:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by porn in the woods at 7:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
2018: Vote all of them out.
Every Republican should be put on notice.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
Every Republican should be put on notice.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
Nicky, you're missing a few. As I pointed out upthread, for example, Ithaca, NY had 10,000. Someone else mentioned Syracuse had 2000+. This was massive.
posted by waitingtoderail at 7:49 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by waitingtoderail at 7:49 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Apparently there were hundreds of thousands of people unable to access the mall and also unable to attend the parade
Look, okay, we were downtown on Inauguration Day, trying to get to the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture. We couldn't make it in to the museum itself because of the security, but I can tell you flat out that we did get within the security perimeter to the Mall with zero problems and having seen multiple checkpoints. The lines for checkpoints were short--took us about ten minutes to cross one, and we waited in a longer line for the damn Holocaust Museum when we gave up on being able to find a point across the barricades.
But there were no people standing in our way to speak of, only barricades and security officers. I mean, there were a smattering here and there, but not enough to keep us walking at whatever speed and stride length we chose, without having to even measure our paces in the way that I am always used to doing when I walk in a city. At one point, we actually became confused trying to get out of the security area in the hopes of using the subway to cross the parade path, and wound up on the police side of the barricades--because there were so few people that we couldn't tell which end was supposed to be which. We had to be gently escorted out when a police officer noticed us and asked what we were doing in a restricted area, and then upon hearing that we didn't know it was restricted he sort of huffed and gently led us over to an exit. It seemed to have been used before, which suggested we weren't the only lost one. There were more police than spectators, which was a little frightening.
Through all this we could hear the cars of the usurper's parade behind us. We were there right as he was. And there were. no. people. trying to get in. As far as I could tell, the numbers of MAGA hats and pussy hats were even about equal in DC that day. There were plenty of people around the security check points; indeed, I felt awkward and uncomfortable standing in line to get through them, even though I didn't want to be there for the march itself. There were many more people walking around the Mall who had no interest in getting in.
posted by sciatrix at 7:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [35 favorites]
Look, okay, we were downtown on Inauguration Day, trying to get to the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture. We couldn't make it in to the museum itself because of the security, but I can tell you flat out that we did get within the security perimeter to the Mall with zero problems and having seen multiple checkpoints. The lines for checkpoints were short--took us about ten minutes to cross one, and we waited in a longer line for the damn Holocaust Museum when we gave up on being able to find a point across the barricades.
But there were no people standing in our way to speak of, only barricades and security officers. I mean, there were a smattering here and there, but not enough to keep us walking at whatever speed and stride length we chose, without having to even measure our paces in the way that I am always used to doing when I walk in a city. At one point, we actually became confused trying to get out of the security area in the hopes of using the subway to cross the parade path, and wound up on the police side of the barricades--because there were so few people that we couldn't tell which end was supposed to be which. We had to be gently escorted out when a police officer noticed us and asked what we were doing in a restricted area, and then upon hearing that we didn't know it was restricted he sort of huffed and gently led us over to an exit. It seemed to have been used before, which suggested we weren't the only lost one. There were more police than spectators, which was a little frightening.
Through all this we could hear the cars of the usurper's parade behind us. We were there right as he was. And there were. no. people. trying to get in. As far as I could tell, the numbers of MAGA hats and pussy hats were even about equal in DC that day. There were plenty of people around the security check points; indeed, I felt awkward and uncomfortable standing in line to get through them, even though I didn't want to be there for the march itself. There were many more people walking around the Mall who had no interest in getting in.
posted by sciatrix at 7:50 PM on January 21, 2017 [35 favorites]
Every Republican should be put on notice.
Everyone up for re-election in 2018 should be put on notice. Regardless of party.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
Everyone up for re-election in 2018 should be put on notice. Regardless of party.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
Plus 377 people in Palmer, Alaska, and 2,200 in Anchorage!
posted by isthmus at 7:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by isthmus at 7:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Pictures of the San Pancho, Mexico march, as promised. A couple hundred people, mostly anglos, lots of good feeling, townspeople's reactions ranged from laughter to bemusement. Decent speechifyin' and some good music.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
sciatrix, the people that couldn't get there were not from security or political obstruction. They were standing in line for the metro in the burbs.
posted by cmfletcher at 7:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by cmfletcher at 7:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
People from the Helena, Montana march are saying they had about 10,000. A healthy 1% of the state.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:56 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
The conversation we're having now is about negotiating where the line is that peaceful resistance is no longer enough. For some people, it's emboldened Nazis out on the street, recruiting. Others disagree, but I think it is important to ask them to consider where their line is.
I think this is a really important question, and everyone should be figuring this out for themselves right now.
posted by corb at 7:58 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
I think this is a really important question, and everyone should be figuring this out for themselves right now.
posted by corb at 7:58 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
roomthreeseventeen, the first thing I'll be looking is a list of who boycotted inauguration. My worthless rep, Steny Hoyer, attended.
posted by wintermind at 7:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by wintermind at 7:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
So our little Shabbat-friendly branch of the NYC march ended up bringing an estimated 1000 people from 30 congregations... I can't remember the last time I was thrilled to be unable to walk through midtown because of all the other walkers.
Just called my mom and found out that my siblings also marched, in Seattle and in Alaska - so amazing to have been able to be a part of this.
posted by Mchelly at 8:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
Just called my mom and found out that my siblings also marched, in Seattle and in Alaska - so amazing to have been able to be a part of this.
posted by Mchelly at 8:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
Yeah, my point was more that they were claiming security kept them out earlier, and that was bullshit. The Metro actually was pretty empty too; we got a late start to the day because we spent a huge chunk of our morning working out where the hell we were going next and finding a more stable place to stay the rest of the weekend. I think we got on the Metro about.... oh, probably about 11am, and it was no more crowded than it had been the previous day. I saw no lines outside Metro stations on our way in, and it was very easy to catch a train.
Bullshit, President Usurper. Bullshit.
posted by sciatrix at 8:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Bullshit, President Usurper. Bullshit.
posted by sciatrix at 8:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
sciatrix, the people that couldn't get there were not from security or political obstruction. They were standing in line for the metro in the burbs
A lot more managed to get into town today, so....???
posted by Sys Rq at 8:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
A lot more managed to get into town today, so....???
posted by Sys Rq at 8:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
sciatrix, the people that couldn't get there were not from security or political obstruction. They were standing in line for the metro in the burbs.
I haven't see a shred of evidence of this either. The park and ride lots were half full. More people take the metro on any given Tuesday morning without issue.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
I haven't see a shred of evidence of this either. The park and ride lots were half full. More people take the metro on any given Tuesday morning without issue.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Add 7,000 to the tally for us here in Albany NY.
posted by mrgoat at 8:02 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by mrgoat at 8:02 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
The end of O'donell's show on MSNBC just made me cry. I hope somebody uploads it. They did a montage of scenes from today with many clips of speakers. It was very powerful
posted by Jalliah at 8:02 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Jalliah at 8:02 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm actually giddy from the overall turnout. I haven't hoped in a long while. As a professional geographer, I'm wondering which march site has the highest per capita turnout. I'm pleased to see that over a 100,000 people turned out in St. Paul, where I lived for a few years.
posted by mollweide at 8:02 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by mollweide at 8:02 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Even Politico is getting snarky: On Day 2, Trump sticks to media bashing and boasting
posted by octothorpe at 8:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 8:04 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Do you have a cite on that, cmfletcher? Metro was running a normal weekday schedule, Federal employees in the District were off of work, and WMATA ridership totals weren't remarkable. I'm not trying to be argumentative, I just haven't heard this discussed.
posted by wintermind at 8:05 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by wintermind at 8:05 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
OMG hahahaha I just realized Trump and his team are Wes Mantooth in Anchorman! "Our numbers are shitty but but but but but..."
I guess I'll have to take your word for it.
posted by supercrayon at 8:05 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
I guess I'll have to take your word for it.
posted by supercrayon at 8:05 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Do you have a cite on that, cmfletcher? Metro was running a normal weekday schedule, Federal employees in the District were off of work, and WMATA ridership totals weren't remarkable. I'm not trying to be argumentative, I just haven't heard this discussed.
I think there is mix up what days are being talked about. Yesterday there was no issue. Today there was.
posted by Jalliah at 8:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think there is mix up what days are being talked about. Yesterday there was no issue. Today there was.
posted by Jalliah at 8:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Just got back from the women's march in San Francisco. No clue how many people turned out, but the march from first person arriving at the finish point to the last apparently ran close to two hours. And we did it in the rain.
posted by zachlipton at 8:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 8:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Technically not a sign, but this puppet (which looks like the work of in the heart of the beast, but don't know for sure) helped to start off the St Paul march, right behind a group of Aztec dancers.
posted by dinty_moore at 8:08 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by dinty_moore at 8:08 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
the first thing I'll be looking is a list of who boycotted inauguration. My worthless rep, Steny Hoyer, attended.
Here's a map (source: Kos) with links to lists. I presume it's fairly accurate, though it doesn't indicate they've updated since the morning of 1/20.
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:08 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Here's a map (source: Kos) with links to lists. I presume it's fairly accurate, though it doesn't indicate they've updated since the morning of 1/20.
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:08 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh, yes, today was a mess. Maybe there was a crossing of wires.
posted by wintermind at 8:08 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by wintermind at 8:08 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
One of the most striking moments of 1989 was when Nicolae Ceausescu of Romania realized that his number was up. He was speaking to a large crowd when suddenly he hears boos and shouting. His look of bewilderment is palpable. I like to think Trump will have a similar moment one day. The action starts at about 2' 30" in this YouTube clip.
posted by vac2003 at 8:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by vac2003 at 8:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
I think there is mix up what days are being talked about. Yesterday there was no issue. Today there was.
Oh today was a complete clusterfuck. And WMATA was running trains every 5 mins, which is NOT NORMAL for a Saturday, they're usually every 20 due to service cuts, more if you're unlucky and there's track work in your way. We came in on the yellow line at around 1140am, it took 35mins to go 5 stops, and they wouldn't offload at Lenfant or Archives because the platforms were already dangerously overcrowded. We exited at Gallery Place and walked down 7th Street to the mall, where it was pretty much impossible to get further than Constitution Ave because the streets were completely packed with bodies.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:11 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Oh today was a complete clusterfuck. And WMATA was running trains every 5 mins, which is NOT NORMAL for a Saturday, they're usually every 20 due to service cuts, more if you're unlucky and there's track work in your way. We came in on the yellow line at around 1140am, it took 35mins to go 5 stops, and they wouldn't offload at Lenfant or Archives because the platforms were already dangerously overcrowded. We exited at Gallery Place and walked down 7th Street to the mall, where it was pretty much impossible to get further than Constitution Ave because the streets were completely packed with bodies.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:11 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Trump Goes to CIA to Attack Media, Lie About Crowd Size, and Suggest Stealing Iraq’s Oil
-- Trump said he chose to make a visit to the CIA his first public event because the media had created the false impression that Trump was in a “feud” with U.S. intelligence agencies. On Saturday, Trump attempted to embrace the intelligence community by delivering a campaign pep rally short on facts and long on vitriol.
-- At times, Trump’s remarks veered into political territory unfamiliar to an agency that prides itself on remaining above the partisan fray. He attacked the media, bragged about his election, and bizarrely claimed huge crowds on inauguration day.
-- Trump claimed between 1 and 1.5 million attended the inauguration; estimates put it closer to 250,000 attendees.
-- He repeatedly referenced the magnitude of his election victory. “Probably almost everybody in this room voted for me,” Trump said. “We’re all on the same wavelength, folks!”
-- At one point, Trump regurgitated parts of his stump speech about how the United States “should have kept the oil” after invading Iraq. “Maybe we’ll have another chance,” he added. Aside from being physically impossible to sequester billions of barrels of underground oil, that would constitute a breach of international law. U.S. troops are currently embedded with forces of the country that Trump suggested again invading.
And regarding his odd comment about columns:
Speaking in the lobby of the CIA before a crowd of about 300 agency employees — who’d entered a raffle to be able to attend — Trump seemed to cherish his role as a real estate developer more than neophyte commander in chief. He told the group they would need a bigger room for his next visit, and that they should lose Langley’s unsightly columns.
“Maybe it will be built by somebody who knows how to build, and we won’t have columns!” Trump declared.
[I know that this is a long comment but I think that it a good snapshot of what happened at the CIA today. They did leave out the cheering by donnie's staff and I'd like more info about that.]
A CT scan of my brain right now: Vuvuzelas.
posted by futz at 8:13 PM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
-- Trump said he chose to make a visit to the CIA his first public event because the media had created the false impression that Trump was in a “feud” with U.S. intelligence agencies. On Saturday, Trump attempted to embrace the intelligence community by delivering a campaign pep rally short on facts and long on vitriol.
-- At times, Trump’s remarks veered into political territory unfamiliar to an agency that prides itself on remaining above the partisan fray. He attacked the media, bragged about his election, and bizarrely claimed huge crowds on inauguration day.
-- Trump claimed between 1 and 1.5 million attended the inauguration; estimates put it closer to 250,000 attendees.
-- He repeatedly referenced the magnitude of his election victory. “Probably almost everybody in this room voted for me,” Trump said. “We’re all on the same wavelength, folks!”
-- At one point, Trump regurgitated parts of his stump speech about how the United States “should have kept the oil” after invading Iraq. “Maybe we’ll have another chance,” he added. Aside from being physically impossible to sequester billions of barrels of underground oil, that would constitute a breach of international law. U.S. troops are currently embedded with forces of the country that Trump suggested again invading.
And regarding his odd comment about columns:
Speaking in the lobby of the CIA before a crowd of about 300 agency employees — who’d entered a raffle to be able to attend — Trump seemed to cherish his role as a real estate developer more than neophyte commander in chief. He told the group they would need a bigger room for his next visit, and that they should lose Langley’s unsightly columns.
“Maybe it will be built by somebody who knows how to build, and we won’t have columns!” Trump declared.
[I know that this is a long comment but I think that it a good snapshot of what happened at the CIA today. They did leave out the cheering by donnie's staff and I'd like more info about that.]
A CT scan of my brain right now: Vuvuzelas.
posted by futz at 8:13 PM on January 21, 2017 [41 favorites]
Barrack Jr., the inaugural planner, is on CNN really doubling down on all of the reasons why the attendance was down. It's pretty amazing. It's such a 'he doth protest too much' situation.
Apparently there were hundreds of thousands of people unable to access the mall and also unable to attend the parade. (shrug)
"The photos were wrong. The numbers were wrong and there's no way to know them. The numbers were huge. Besides people had a hard time getting there. Besides they were afraid of rioting. Besides the media faked the ratings. Also, the background made it hard to see the people in the foreground in the photos. And the photos were taken at the wrong times. People had a hard time finding the Lincoln Memorial. Many of my supporters thought the capital was in Washington the state. Also, my supporters are small people - real Americans are tiny - so it looks like a smaller crowd. Also, fuck you." [fakish]
posted by Joey Michaels at 8:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
Apparently there were hundreds of thousands of people unable to access the mall and also unable to attend the parade. (shrug)
"The photos were wrong. The numbers were wrong and there's no way to know them. The numbers were huge. Besides people had a hard time getting there. Besides they were afraid of rioting. Besides the media faked the ratings. Also, the background made it hard to see the people in the foreground in the photos. And the photos were taken at the wrong times. People had a hard time finding the Lincoln Memorial. Many of my supporters thought the capital was in Washington the state. Also, my supporters are small people - real Americans are tiny - so it looks like a smaller crowd. Also, fuck you." [fakish]
posted by Joey Michaels at 8:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
You don't have to be pro-Trump to get really tired of the focus on
trump's hands
trump's skin shade
trump's suits
trump's hair
trump's tie tape
spicer's suits
spicer's skin shade
a bunch more I can't remember
It's the type of thing that makes it seem like certain critiques of liberals are quite true, and in any other context metafilter collectively would be ashamed of this focus on style and critique of human bodies. I won't await the explanation of how this is completely different, because it's punching up, etc. (In fact I won't await anything because I'm uncomfortable posting this here, shy enough to check out after expressing an opinion.)
But it's still very distracting, not to mention played out as humor. I have had (minor) body image issues that relate to some of these critiques and every time I read snark about it I am reminded of them. To be honest, I really hate it. I know we're deep in a thread on one website, yes, but this nonsense is all over the place. There is so much substantive stuff to talk about, I just don't get it.
posted by sylvanshine at 8:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
trump's hands
trump's skin shade
trump's suits
trump's hair
trump's tie tape
spicer's suits
spicer's skin shade
a bunch more I can't remember
It's the type of thing that makes it seem like certain critiques of liberals are quite true, and in any other context metafilter collectively would be ashamed of this focus on style and critique of human bodies. I won't await the explanation of how this is completely different, because it's punching up, etc. (In fact I won't await anything because I'm uncomfortable posting this here, shy enough to check out after expressing an opinion.)
But it's still very distracting, not to mention played out as humor. I have had (minor) body image issues that relate to some of these critiques and every time I read snark about it I am reminded of them. To be honest, I really hate it. I know we're deep in a thread on one website, yes, but this nonsense is all over the place. There is so much substantive stuff to talk about, I just don't get it.
posted by sylvanshine at 8:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [26 favorites]
Yeah, today we rolled up at Shady Grove (end of the red line) at 8:30ish AM and then proceeded to stand in line outside of the station for approximately 90 minutes. I mean, it was fine, they were handling the crowd control really well (and I am super glad I purchased my fare card in advance), it was just that there were so! many! people! The train itself was fairly comfy until we got to around Bethesda and then it was a sardine tin pretty much instantly and remained thus the rest of the way to Gallery Place.
We also didn't make it any closer to the actual rally area than Jefferson Dr. (the road that runs on the other side of the museums from Independence). We made a bad call (along with a squillion other people) and sort of wound up self-kettled at the Native American Museum. But then everyone just went "fuck it" and marched in the general direction of the White House, and that was grand.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:16 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
We also didn't make it any closer to the actual rally area than Jefferson Dr. (the road that runs on the other side of the museums from Independence). We made a bad call (along with a squillion other people) and sort of wound up self-kettled at the Native American Museum. But then everyone just went "fuck it" and marched in the general direction of the White House, and that was grand.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:16 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
I love Michelle.
Michelle Obama said goodbye with grace (and a little side-eye): Mallick
The departing first lady did everything right during Donald Trump’s inauguration Friday — while throwing delicate, beauteous, almost imperceptible shade.
This left out the side-eye she gave him right after the speech when he shook her had and walked by though.
posted by Jalliah at 8:17 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Fair enough, I don't have anything beyond anecdotal twitter stories of people saying, fuck the wait for a metro we'll walk.
My own experience in philly was a weekend transit schedule with a single track of the el through center city for some reason. I met a ton of awesome people who waited in line with cranky kids but fought it out. It wouldn't surprise me to know some of them said we have to cut out.
posted by cmfletcher at 8:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
My own experience in philly was a weekend transit schedule with a single track of the el through center city for some reason. I met a ton of awesome people who waited in line with cranky kids but fought it out. It wouldn't surprise me to know some of them said we have to cut out.
posted by cmfletcher at 8:19 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's the type of thing that makes it seem like certain critiques of liberals are quite true, and in any other context metafilter collectively would be ashamed of this focus on style and critique of human bodies.
While I mostly agree with you, particularly with regard to Trump's physical appearance itself, I disagree on the stuff about his clothes/suits. The President is not just Head of Government, he is Head of State and a symbol, and his clothes are part of that. Pointing out that Trump mostly looks like he's wearing off-the-rack ill-fitting suits that, frankly, look like garbage is perfectly appropriate. And not unimportant. Certainly far less important than all the other ways in which he is a disaster but it's not completely trivial either.
Symbols are important. The President is a symbol as well as an office.
posted by Justinian at 8:21 PM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
While I mostly agree with you, particularly with regard to Trump's physical appearance itself, I disagree on the stuff about his clothes/suits. The President is not just Head of Government, he is Head of State and a symbol, and his clothes are part of that. Pointing out that Trump mostly looks like he's wearing off-the-rack ill-fitting suits that, frankly, look like garbage is perfectly appropriate. And not unimportant. Certainly far less important than all the other ways in which he is a disaster but it's not completely trivial either.
Symbols are important. The President is a symbol as well as an office.
posted by Justinian at 8:21 PM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
We were at the march in Austin today. (Thank you Holt Photo!) Pretty good turnout, estimated 40-50 thousand. It was an amazingly positive crowd. Much larger than the space could really accommodate. From the overhead shots, it looks really small. But from the ground, when you've waited nearly an hour, thinking you'd hit the tail end of the crowd and be able to bail out if necessary because your 3-year-old daughter can't hold her LOVE sign up anymore, and the crowd waiting to go isn't any smaller or thinner, it kind of dawns on you just how many people there are.
It was great.
posted by rp at 8:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
It was great.
posted by rp at 8:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
SNL has a ton of material to work with. Wonder if their current trajectory will change now that it is pres.
posted by futz at 8:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by futz at 8:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
CNN is showing all of Trumps tweets, on screen, of him attacking the IC and showing how what he did today was total BS and insulting. They saying, look he full of it, it's all here on the public record of his tweets.
Guy trys to pivot and Lemon says "Look just answer my question directly and then you can pivot"
posted by Jalliah at 8:23 PM on January 21, 2017 [25 favorites]
While I mostly agree with you, particularly with regard to Trump's physical appearance itself, I disagree on the stuff about his clothes/suits. The President is not just Head of Government, he is Head of State and a symbol, and his clothes are part of that. Pointing out that Trump mostly looks like he's wearing off-the-rack ill-fitting suits that, frankly, look like garbage is perfectly appropriate. And not unimportant. Certainly far less important than all the other ways in which he is a disaster but it's not completely trivial either.
Symbols are important. The President is a symbol as well as an office.
I also think that part of it is the guy is vain as vain can be and people know it. So it's a pushing button thing as well.
posted by Jalliah at 8:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
Symbols are important. The President is a symbol as well as an office.
I also think that part of it is the guy is vain as vain can be and people know it. So it's a pushing button thing as well.
posted by Jalliah at 8:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [19 favorites]
Fair enough, I don't have anything beyond anecdotal twitter stories of people saying, fuck the wait for a metro we'll walk.
We certainly said this after the march was sort of dispersing slowly--when nonasuch and my spouse and I decided to head for a local comics shop to sit and snack and get off our feet, for example, we didn't even try to fuck with the metro and we walked three miles to get where we were going. (After the march was "done" people were gleefully continuing to sing, chant, and generally take over the whole area to the point that we didn't see any cars functionally moving for 2.5 of those miles.)
But not so much beforehand. We came in from Glenmont at about 7:30a and the crowds were already massing--our train was about 70-80% filled just from there--but otherwise the metros seemed to be running fairly smoothly without a ton of lines waiting unless you had no metro card at all. We even had to refill ours and it went fairly smoothly.
posted by sciatrix at 8:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
We certainly said this after the march was sort of dispersing slowly--when nonasuch and my spouse and I decided to head for a local comics shop to sit and snack and get off our feet, for example, we didn't even try to fuck with the metro and we walked three miles to get where we were going. (After the march was "done" people were gleefully continuing to sing, chant, and generally take over the whole area to the point that we didn't see any cars functionally moving for 2.5 of those miles.)
But not so much beforehand. We came in from Glenmont at about 7:30a and the crowds were already massing--our train was about 70-80% filled just from there--but otherwise the metros seemed to be running fairly smoothly without a ton of lines waiting unless you had no metro card at all. We even had to refill ours and it went fairly smoothly.
posted by sciatrix at 8:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Colorado Springs newspaper reporting 7,000! 500-1,000 were expected.
posted by mochapickle at 8:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 8:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
Yeah, so, I didn't bring up Spicer's orange face/white eyes as a cutesy way to slam Trump. I'm genuinely asking, is today's face the way he's always looked? Because if not, then it makes me wonder if adopting Trump's sartorial choices might be a thing WH staff will start to do in order to curry favor with the boss.
No need to obliquely call me liberal trash because I asked a question.
posted by palomar at 8:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
No need to obliquely call me liberal trash because I asked a question.
posted by palomar at 8:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
The Oakland march was marvelous, but more of a saunter for much of it because it was so crowded. Whiter than I had hoped, but not without diversity. I loved the mix of the crowd regardless: lots of old white East Bay hippies, lots of young families, and young kids. So great, so inspiring.
posted by suelac at 8:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by suelac at 8:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump needs to delegitimize the media because he needs to delegitimize facts.
The Trump administration is creating a baseline expectation among its loyalists that they can’t trust anything said by the media. The spat over crowd size is a low-stakes, semi-comic dispute, but the groundwork is being laid for much more consequential debates over what is, and isn’t, true.
posted by nickyskye at 8:35 PM on January 21, 2017 [29 favorites]
Well, this brought me to tears: What if this darkness isn't the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb?
posted by Mchelly at 8:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 8:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
Is anyone else really enjoying the Richard Spencer punching set to music all over YouTube?
posted by corb at 8:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by corb at 8:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [14 favorites]
"I know a thing or two about marching. Don't let anybody turn you around."
“Thank you, John,” the crowd chanted.
Someone yelled “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he replied.
posted by petebest at 8:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
“Thank you, John,” the crowd chanted.
Someone yelled “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he replied.
posted by petebest at 8:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
Trump needs to delegitimize the media because he needs to delegitimize facts the truth.
Because the only "Great" he can deliver to America is Another Great Depression, and he has to somehow indoctrinate some part of the American people into loving it.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Because the only "Great" he can deliver to America is Another Great Depression, and he has to somehow indoctrinate some part of the American people into loving it.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump Named Honorary Russian Cossack
нет кукол. нет кукол. вы кукольный.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:42 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
For all your Commemorative Nazi-punching T-shirt needs.
posted by threeturtles at 8:43 PM on January 21, 2017
posted by threeturtles at 8:43 PM on January 21, 2017
Can he get it replaced once he picks a more qualified photographer? Would he then replace that portrait when he fires that photographer for making him look un-presidential?
If it's any consolation, you can be sure the photographer was not paid.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
If it's any consolation, you can be sure the photographer was not paid.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
I dragged my young daughters to the march in Ottawa today. (~8k people, organizers expected 500.) It was amazing. My kids wanted to understand every sign, were amazed to run into their school principal. What a tonic after the depressing spectacle of Trump undercutting so many of the lessons we try to pass on to them, and what a delight to see my kids go from anger and stress to wanting to be prime minister again in the space of a few hours.
posted by ~ at 8:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by ~ at 8:44 PM on January 21, 2017 [23 favorites]
The NY Times have decided to look deep within themselves and found they actually do have a backbone.
They finally realized that they're the ones that buy ink by the barrel and they don't have to put up with Trump's shit anymore. Let's hope it continues.
posted by Talez at 8:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [37 favorites]
They finally realized that they're the ones that buy ink by the barrel and they don't have to put up with Trump's shit anymore. Let's hope it continues.
posted by Talez at 8:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [37 favorites]
I think the NYT might be figuring out how to cover the new administration:
WASHINGTON — President Trump used his first full day in office on Saturday to unleash a remarkably bitter attack on the news media, falsely accusing journalists of both inventing a rift between him and intelligence agencies and deliberately understating the size of his inauguration crowd.
In a visit to the Central Intelligence Agency designed to showcase his support for the intelligence community, Mr. Trump ignored his own repeated public statements criticizing the intelligence community, a group he compared to Nazis just over a week ago.
He also called journalists “among the most dishonest human beings on earth,” and he said that up to 1.5 million people had attended his inauguration, a claim that photographs disproved.
Later, at the White House, he dispatched Sean Spicer, the press secretary, to the briefing room in the West Wing, where he delivered a scolding to reporters and made a series of false statements.
posted by neroli at 8:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [50 favorites]
WASHINGTON — President Trump used his first full day in office on Saturday to unleash a remarkably bitter attack on the news media, falsely accusing journalists of both inventing a rift between him and intelligence agencies and deliberately understating the size of his inauguration crowd.
In a visit to the Central Intelligence Agency designed to showcase his support for the intelligence community, Mr. Trump ignored his own repeated public statements criticizing the intelligence community, a group he compared to Nazis just over a week ago.
He also called journalists “among the most dishonest human beings on earth,” and he said that up to 1.5 million people had attended his inauguration, a claim that photographs disproved.
Later, at the White House, he dispatched Sean Spicer, the press secretary, to the briefing room in the West Wing, where he delivered a scolding to reporters and made a series of false statements.
posted by neroli at 8:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [50 favorites]
The deletion of the tweet raised questions about whether Trump can do that now that he’s president or whether getting rid of a tweet would violate the Presidential Records Act that requires all communications from or received by the president to be preserved.
posted by futz at 8:45 PM on January 21, 2017 [55 favorites]
Trump said "God stopped the rain" during his speech. You can look back on this thread and see that it was raining. He's literally a weather denier.
"Dr. Dunning, Dr. Kruger – I believe you both know His Majesty King Canute."
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
"Dr. Dunning, Dr. Kruger – I believe you both know His Majesty King Canute."
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Surprised to see the Dallas Stars making a jumbotron joke about the inauguration crowd.
posted by gladly at 8:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [44 favorites]
posted by gladly at 8:47 PM on January 21, 2017 [44 favorites]
The NY Times have decided to look deep within themselves and found they actually do have a backbone.
They finally realized that they're the ones that buy ink by the barrel and they don't have to put up with Trump's shit anymore
It's going to take a LOT, LOT more than a couple L word headlines to make up for their decision to flog the Comey letter for the last 10 days of the election while at the same time sitting on the Trump-Russia dossier and associated FBI investigation. They're culpable in his election. Their actions now are starting over from zero. It's the absolute minimum they could do at this point.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:51 PM on January 21, 2017 [63 favorites]
They finally realized that they're the ones that buy ink by the barrel and they don't have to put up with Trump's shit anymore
It's going to take a LOT, LOT more than a couple L word headlines to make up for their decision to flog the Comey letter for the last 10 days of the election while at the same time sitting on the Trump-Russia dossier and associated FBI investigation. They're culpable in his election. Their actions now are starting over from zero. It's the absolute minimum they could do at this point.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:51 PM on January 21, 2017 [63 favorites]
There is so much substantive stuff to talk about, I just don't get it.
Unfortunately, most people don't vote based on substantive stuff. So talking about it is good, yes, and worth doing, but it can't be the only route of resistance.
Trump's appeal to a FUCK of a lot of people - whether they paid any attention to his supposed policies & plans or not, maybe especially if they didn't - is the air of authority and command he invokes. He's the only one who tells the truth, he decides who's fired, he's gonna drain the swamp, kick out the corrupt Washington establishment, make industrial jobs appear out of thin air, blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda. It's not just a cult of personality, it's a cult of personality that requires him to be "strong". There's a reason one of Charles Pierce's nicknames for him is "He, Trump."
Poking holes in the authority of demagogues by mockery is effective, and the hope is every time he goes on Twitter to whine about some bullshit (especially if the mainstream media calls him out on it), more and more of the people who casually or reflexively or reluctantly voted for him will see him as the weak narcissist he really is, and will come to despise him.
in any other context metafilter collectively would be ashamed of this focus on style and critique of human bodies.
Context matters. A lot. "Punching up" vs. "punching down" isn't just some vague social justice concept divorced from reality, it describes how people interact with each other in important ways. So:
Is it OK to punch somebody? In most contexts, of course not.
It it OK to punch a Nazi? Hell yes.
Is it OK to mock someone's appearance? In most contexts, of course not.
Is it OK to mock the appearance of the fascist demagogue who's gonna attempt to rule the US? Hell, yes.
This is not hypocrisy, this is understanding that different situations require different responses.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [80 favorites]
Unfortunately, most people don't vote based on substantive stuff. So talking about it is good, yes, and worth doing, but it can't be the only route of resistance.
Trump's appeal to a FUCK of a lot of people - whether they paid any attention to his supposed policies & plans or not, maybe especially if they didn't - is the air of authority and command he invokes. He's the only one who tells the truth, he decides who's fired, he's gonna drain the swamp, kick out the corrupt Washington establishment, make industrial jobs appear out of thin air, blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda. It's not just a cult of personality, it's a cult of personality that requires him to be "strong". There's a reason one of Charles Pierce's nicknames for him is "He, Trump."
Poking holes in the authority of demagogues by mockery is effective, and the hope is every time he goes on Twitter to whine about some bullshit (especially if the mainstream media calls him out on it), more and more of the people who casually or reflexively or reluctantly voted for him will see him as the weak narcissist he really is, and will come to despise him.
in any other context metafilter collectively would be ashamed of this focus on style and critique of human bodies.
Context matters. A lot. "Punching up" vs. "punching down" isn't just some vague social justice concept divorced from reality, it describes how people interact with each other in important ways. So:
Is it OK to punch somebody? In most contexts, of course not.
It it OK to punch a Nazi? Hell yes.
Is it OK to mock someone's appearance? In most contexts, of course not.
Is it OK to mock the appearance of the fascist demagogue who's gonna attempt to rule the US? Hell, yes.
This is not hypocrisy, this is understanding that different situations require different responses.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [80 favorites]
Margaret Atwood tweets from Toronto Women's March. And gives shout-outs to references to Handmaid's Tale brought on placards to various marches. (A nice photo, also, when she joins Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General of Canada, and author Susan Swan).
posted by chapps at 8:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by chapps at 8:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
I'm looking forward to the first time Spicer takes questions with great anticipation. The more of a trainwreck this becomes and the faster it does so the more of Trump's agenda we can hope might be stopped.
posted by Justinian at 8:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Justinian at 8:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Around 15,000 people in Vancouver today! Favourite sign: Think Outside My Box!
posted by just_ducky at 8:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by just_ducky at 8:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
Also, while I didn't make it out there, add 15,000 in Cleveland to the Women's March totals.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by soundguy99 at 8:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
There were 75k+ marchers today in Madison, Wisconsin, including me and Mr. Gerstle and our four kids. I have not felt that kind of hope since before the election. There are a lot of us and we are pissed and we are all watching, together.
posted by gerstle at 8:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by gerstle at 8:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
I also think that part of it is the guy is vain as vain can be and people know it. So it's a pushing button thing as well.
unless you believe that Trump is personally reading this thread (he's not), all you're doing is pushing the buttons of people here with similar body image issues.
posted by indubitable at 8:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
unless you believe that Trump is personally reading this thread (he's not), all you're doing is pushing the buttons of people here with similar body image issues.
posted by indubitable at 8:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
I agree that it is terrible when the press doesn't do their job, but telling truth to power when that power is very powerful, delusional and vengeful is genuine courage. Trump can perform actions to hurt the parent companies of the NYT or CNN.
The first to stand up to a tyrant tends to take the brunt. (I consider Alger Hiss to be innocent.)
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
The first to stand up to a tyrant tends to take the brunt. (I consider Alger Hiss to be innocent.)
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Margaret Atwood tweets from Toronto Women's March. And gives shout-outs to references to Handmaid's Tale brought on placards to various marches. (A nice photo, also, when she joins Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General of Canad, and author Susan Swan).
Has anyone mentioned that Melania's inauguration day day dress looks like a template for the uniform for commanders' wives? High-necked, powder blue, gloves?
posted by mochapickle at 8:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
Has anyone mentioned that Melania's inauguration day day dress looks like a template for the uniform for commanders' wives? High-necked, powder blue, gloves?
posted by mochapickle at 8:57 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
Dare to dream big I guess:
And there wasn’t enough violence to suit Tom Massey, 32, of Philadelphia.posted by peeedro at 9:00 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
“I think there should have been more violence yesterday,” said Massey, who was among those arrested. Asked if he participated in the violence, Massey replied, “There were some rocks thrown.” He said that he hopes next time, demonstrations will be “more successful. I’ll get to punch a Nazi. I didn’t get to do that yesterday. The police stopped me.”
SNL cold open was harsh. It was Putin talking to America. Funny not funny. Imagine Trump when he see this. Wow. No pulling of punches in this one.
You tube link
posted by Jalliah at 9:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
#notallsmallhandedpeople
Is it ok to mock hitler? Yes
Is it ok to mock donald trump? unreservedly Yes.
You reap what you sow. I feel not one iota or twinge of guilt.
posted by futz at 9:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Is it ok to mock hitler? Yes
Is it ok to mock donald trump? unreservedly Yes.
You reap what you sow. I feel not one iota or twinge of guilt.
posted by futz at 9:01 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Follow up to the University of Washington shooting, a message from President Ana Mari Cauce. I recognize the difficult position this event placed her, but there's a difference between political disagreement and the straight up hate speech that Milo delivers. Her final paragraph makes reference to "passionately expressed views," and I feel that our free speech rights are strong enough to deny the Milos and Dicky Spencers of the world venues in which to preach hate.
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
You have likely heard by now about the events in Red Square on the Seattle campus last night in conjunction with protests against a talk by Milo Yiannopoulos — protests which were then joined by a large group coming from demonstrations downtown. I want to say very clearly: Violence has no place at our University and in our communities. It is heartbreaking that a man was shot and others assaulted during what should have been peaceful demonstrations. The gunshot victim is currently hospitalized, and we fervently hope for his full recovery.
The violence that occurred is a betrayal of all those who sought to exercise their right to peaceful protest or to attend the event. The right to peaceful protest is every bit as sacrosanct as the right to speak. A suspect in the shooting turned himself in to UWPD late last night, and police are continuing their investigation. No other suspects in the shooting are being sought, but I encourage anyone with information about this or other incidents of related violence to contact the police immediately.
In the weeks leading up to the event, I received calls and emails from many who wanted this event canceled, some of which cited the potential for disruption and conflict. My team and I consulted extensively with UWPD and Seattle Police beforehand, and while no credible threats were received, I gave serious consideration to the calls and emails and consulted with legal scholars and the UW division of the Attorney General's Office.
So why did I allow the event to go on? First, there is the legal right of our student groups to invite speakers, even a controversial one whose message is anathema to many, including me. We are bound by the law. But beyond that, canceling the event would have sent the message that a risk of disruption or conflict can be used to overwhelm our rights. That would empower those on the extremes willing to resort to such tactics. And while canceling this event would have meant canceling a speech by someone whose views I personally find repulsive, the next time it could be a speaker whose views are more in line with mine, but anathema to someone else. Then there would be silence, with all the real discussion happening underground where arguments could not be examined, or critiqued openly.
Earlier this week I wrote to our community about the power of peaceful protest and political action. In a democracy, those are the instruments of true change, because in addition to violence being morally wrong, it begets more violence and weakens the causes of those who resort to it.
We should be deeply grateful to everyone who practiced nonviolence and to all those who worked so hard to maintain the safety of our community and campus. And there were many events throughout the day in many corners of our University that created spaces for speakers to engage our community in discourse on a range of topics — from health care, to diversity, to the power of resistance. This night did not define our day or our community.
Here and across our country, yesterday showed us that our nation is fraught with deep divisions. But even as we are united in our pain after last night, I also hope we are united in our resolve to make the world safer and better. The UW must be a place where passionately expressed views can be aired, where we can argue about our differences in a manner that is respectful and informed, and where we also look for, and find, common ground. We all need that, especially now.
posted by Existential Dread at 9:02 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
You have likely heard by now about the events in Red Square on the Seattle campus last night in conjunction with protests against a talk by Milo Yiannopoulos — protests which were then joined by a large group coming from demonstrations downtown. I want to say very clearly: Violence has no place at our University and in our communities. It is heartbreaking that a man was shot and others assaulted during what should have been peaceful demonstrations. The gunshot victim is currently hospitalized, and we fervently hope for his full recovery.
The violence that occurred is a betrayal of all those who sought to exercise their right to peaceful protest or to attend the event. The right to peaceful protest is every bit as sacrosanct as the right to speak. A suspect in the shooting turned himself in to UWPD late last night, and police are continuing their investigation. No other suspects in the shooting are being sought, but I encourage anyone with information about this or other incidents of related violence to contact the police immediately.
In the weeks leading up to the event, I received calls and emails from many who wanted this event canceled, some of which cited the potential for disruption and conflict. My team and I consulted extensively with UWPD and Seattle Police beforehand, and while no credible threats were received, I gave serious consideration to the calls and emails and consulted with legal scholars and the UW division of the Attorney General's Office.
So why did I allow the event to go on? First, there is the legal right of our student groups to invite speakers, even a controversial one whose message is anathema to many, including me. We are bound by the law. But beyond that, canceling the event would have sent the message that a risk of disruption or conflict can be used to overwhelm our rights. That would empower those on the extremes willing to resort to such tactics. And while canceling this event would have meant canceling a speech by someone whose views I personally find repulsive, the next time it could be a speaker whose views are more in line with mine, but anathema to someone else. Then there would be silence, with all the real discussion happening underground where arguments could not be examined, or critiqued openly.
Earlier this week I wrote to our community about the power of peaceful protest and political action. In a democracy, those are the instruments of true change, because in addition to violence being morally wrong, it begets more violence and weakens the causes of those who resort to it.
We should be deeply grateful to everyone who practiced nonviolence and to all those who worked so hard to maintain the safety of our community and campus. And there were many events throughout the day in many corners of our University that created spaces for speakers to engage our community in discourse on a range of topics — from health care, to diversity, to the power of resistance. This night did not define our day or our community.
Here and across our country, yesterday showed us that our nation is fraught with deep divisions. But even as we are united in our pain after last night, I also hope we are united in our resolve to make the world safer and better. The UW must be a place where passionately expressed views can be aired, where we can argue about our differences in a manner that is respectful and informed, and where we also look for, and find, common ground. We all need that, especially now.
posted by Existential Dread at 9:02 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
Ithaca's been mentioned a couple of times already, but I'm going to specifically flag our mayor, Svante Myrick, as an up-and-comer to watch. Here's something he posted to Facebook while sharing someone else's photo:
"30,000 people live in our City and 10,000 people marched through it today.
Incredible stories and powerful speeches.
I received a thousand hugs and our Police Department made zero arrests.
Thanks to the women behind the Women's March on Ithaca for an incredible event."
(Facebook troll comment: "Imagine if they all produced something instead of protesting something that you are worried about?"
Mayor responds: "Yeah, then we might have the strongest economy in upstate NY. Oh, right...")
He was asked to make a speech, and here's the reported quote: "No, I'm not speaking. This march is for and by women."
Democrats don't have a deep bench? Just you watch.
posted by RedOrGreen at 9:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [93 favorites]
"30,000 people live in our City and 10,000 people marched through it today.
Incredible stories and powerful speeches.
I received a thousand hugs and our Police Department made zero arrests.
Thanks to the women behind the Women's March on Ithaca for an incredible event."
(Facebook troll comment: "Imagine if they all produced something instead of protesting something that you are worried about?"
Mayor responds: "Yeah, then we might have the strongest economy in upstate NY. Oh, right...")
He was asked to make a speech, and here's the reported quote: "No, I'm not speaking. This march is for and by women."
Democrats don't have a deep bench? Just you watch.
posted by RedOrGreen at 9:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [93 favorites]
It's not just petty shit like the crowd numbers. Trump's lying and potential spread to the government itself is amazingly dangerous:
We are about to learn how much we rely on the government for reliable information about everything. The government has, until now, been the gold standard for basic information -- jobs, public health, crime, science. On the health of the economy alone, the government is the keeper of most of the major statistics. Will they continue to be reliable? The government keeps statistics on national crime trends and, particularly important in this environment, on hate crimes. Will hate crime data continue to be reliable? Will it even be collected, analyzed and released? While we rightfully been fret about climate policy, we also rely on government data for climate research. It needs to be unimpeachable. I could go on all night, but you get the idea. We're an information-driven society that depends the USG's data objectivity and reliability. If we're entering a brave new world of government assault on consensus reality, that will have far-reaching consequences not yet obvious. Several responses to this thread note gov stats often unreliable, and I agree. But neither have they been infowar cannon fodder at scale.
We could add, jobs created monthly, number of insured people, hell, even US casualties. Nothing this administration says can be taken at face value, and it's career civil servants responsible for producing these numbers, already a target. Even beyond the domestic, if this administration quickly burns through any and all credibility on basic facts, it won't just be the domestic media and liberals in the US, our international allies won't be able to rely on anything the administration promises, and there will come a time when an international response comes down to the Trump administration's claims vs. Russia, or China, or North Korea, or ISIS.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [79 favorites]
We are about to learn how much we rely on the government for reliable information about everything. The government has, until now, been the gold standard for basic information -- jobs, public health, crime, science. On the health of the economy alone, the government is the keeper of most of the major statistics. Will they continue to be reliable? The government keeps statistics on national crime trends and, particularly important in this environment, on hate crimes. Will hate crime data continue to be reliable? Will it even be collected, analyzed and released? While we rightfully been fret about climate policy, we also rely on government data for climate research. It needs to be unimpeachable. I could go on all night, but you get the idea. We're an information-driven society that depends the USG's data objectivity and reliability. If we're entering a brave new world of government assault on consensus reality, that will have far-reaching consequences not yet obvious. Several responses to this thread note gov stats often unreliable, and I agree. But neither have they been infowar cannon fodder at scale.
We could add, jobs created monthly, number of insured people, hell, even US casualties. Nothing this administration says can be taken at face value, and it's career civil servants responsible for producing these numbers, already a target. Even beyond the domestic, if this administration quickly burns through any and all credibility on basic facts, it won't just be the domestic media and liberals in the US, our international allies won't be able to rely on anything the administration promises, and there will come a time when an international response comes down to the Trump administration's claims vs. Russia, or China, or North Korea, or ISIS.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [79 favorites]
I'm actually giddy from the overall turnout. I haven't hoped in a long while. As a professional geographer, I'm wondering which march site has the highest per capita turnout. I'm pleased to see that over a 100,000 people turned out in St. Paul, where I lived for a few years.
That may have been the one I went to, in Montpelier, Vermont. The official police estimate was 15,000-20,000 in a town with a population of 7,855. Apparently the police had to close the exits from the interstate into the town, there just wasn't room for any more vehicles.
To be fair, this was essentially the only march in Vermont, so it was a much smaller fraction of the state total of 600,000 people. But still around 3% of the population of the entire damn state, and did I mention that lots of people simply weren't able to get in?
posted by Tsuga at 9:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
That may have been the one I went to, in Montpelier, Vermont. The official police estimate was 15,000-20,000 in a town with a population of 7,855. Apparently the police had to close the exits from the interstate into the town, there just wasn't room for any more vehicles.
To be fair, this was essentially the only march in Vermont, so it was a much smaller fraction of the state total of 600,000 people. But still around 3% of the population of the entire damn state, and did I mention that lots of people simply weren't able to get in?
posted by Tsuga at 9:06 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Is anyone else really enjoying the Richard Spencer punching set to music all over YouTube?
i've been watching all day, i will never stop
posted by poffin boffin at 9:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
i've been watching all day, i will never stop
posted by poffin boffin at 9:09 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
Trump said "God stopped the rain"
This is high on my list of most frightening things he's said. He believes he's God's chosen one. This is as bad as when Bush II: The Bushening suggested he regularly had conversations with God.
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
This is high on my list of most frightening things he's said. He believes he's God's chosen one. This is as bad as when Bush II: The Bushening suggested he regularly had conversations with God.
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
SNL cold open was harsh. It was Putin talking to America. Funny not funny. Imagine Trump when he see this. Wow. No pulling of punches in this one.
I have to wonder if they added that little bit in the background at the end.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
I have to wonder if they added that little bit in the background at the end.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Thanks RedOrGreen. Svante Myrick is the kind of politician who gives me a lot of hope in our bench, and I can't wait to see that guy in front of an [even] bigger crowd.
posted by zachlipton at 9:13 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 9:13 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
I normally think SNL is pretty lame but that cold open is going to easily slide under trumpie's thinest of skin. Cackles with glee.
posted by futz at 9:17 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by futz at 9:17 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
SNL cold open was harsh. It was Putin talking to America. Funny not funny. Imagine Trump when he see this. Wow. No pulling of punches in this one.
The devil horns were a nice touch.
posted by dirigibleman at 9:18 PM on January 21, 2017
The devil horns were a nice touch.
posted by dirigibleman at 9:18 PM on January 21, 2017
SNL cold open was harsh.
This video has been removed by the user. Sorry about that.
posted by valkane at 9:21 PM on January 21, 2017
This video has been removed by the user. Sorry about that.
posted by valkane at 9:21 PM on January 21, 2017
I just loved the Kellyanne Conway as Roxie Hart from Chicago musical number. : )
posted by SisterHavana at 9:21 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by SisterHavana at 9:21 PM on January 21, 2017 [6 favorites]
Regret I have only one favourite to give for Mchelly's link to Valarie Kaur's "What if this darkness isn't the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb?" speech. Bone-deep soul-shaking awesome.
"What does the midwife tell us?posted by valetta at 9:22 PM on January 21, 2017 [23 favorites]
Breathe.
Then push!"
I thought his monologue was really good.
Aziz Ansari Tackles Trump in 'SNL' Monologue: "Yesterday Trump Was Inaugurated, Today an Entire Gender Protested Against Him."
"Change comes from large groups of angry people, and if day one [of Trump's presidency] is any indication you are part of the largest group of angry people I’ve ever seen."
posted by Jalliah at 9:24 PM on January 21, 2017 [24 favorites]
One interesting bit from the NYT story:
posted by zachlipton at 9:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [27 favorites]
But most of his remarks were devoted to attacking the news media. And Mr. Spicer picked up the theme later in the day in the White House briefing room. But his appearance, according to the sources, went too far, in Mr. Trump’s opinion.If this is the thanks he's going to get for looking so utterly ridiculous on the bosses orders, I sincerely hope Spicer is rethinking his life choices.
posted by zachlipton at 9:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [27 favorites]
And here I was being all proud and shit of the Washington Post because this story used the term "falsely claimed" at least three times when I read it this afternoon; that language has been removed:
Trump wages war against the media as demonstrators protest his presidency
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
Trump wages war against the media as demonstrators protest his presidency
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:26 PM on January 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
This video has been removed by the user. Sorry about that
Here's another link.
SNL Putin cold open
posted by Jalliah at 9:27 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
Here's another link.
SNL Putin cold open
posted by Jalliah at 9:27 PM on January 21, 2017 [13 favorites]
NYT pictures of the Women's March in various locations - so inspiring to scroll through!
posted by hilaryjade at 9:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by hilaryjade at 9:30 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Way up there someone remarked this will be a test if time travel is possible, supposing a T-100 would materialise and slap Trump's tiny hand off the bible.
But I've just listened to Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero, and it may as well be the Hamilton of the future describing current events.
Proof Trent Reznor is from the future.
posted by adept256 at 9:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
But I've just listened to Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero, and it may as well be the Hamilton of the future describing current events.
Proof Trent Reznor is from the future.
posted by adept256 at 9:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Saw a girl at the Tucson march, she looked to be about 10 or so years old, holding a sign: "Don't worry, I got this. Future president 2052."
posted by azpenguin at 9:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [47 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 9:32 PM on January 21, 2017 [47 favorites]
I don't see it listed yet, but San Diego had 40,000 marchers. Another 20,000 in Orange County, California, as well.
posted by zenzicube at 9:34 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by zenzicube at 9:34 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
15,000 in Tucson. I've never seen anything like this here.
posted by azpenguin at 9:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 9:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
Is anyone else really enjoying the Richard Spencer punching set to music all over YouTube?
So many great ones, but I think this one's my favorite.
posted by SisterHavana at 9:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
So many great ones, but I think this one's my favorite.
posted by SisterHavana at 9:38 PM on January 21, 2017 [22 favorites]
Regret I have only one favourite to give for Mchelly's link to Valarie Kaur's "What if this darkness isn't the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb?" speech. Bone-deep soul-shaking awesome.
"What does the midwife tell us?
Breathe.
Then push!"
Me too, Valetta, me too. Moved to tears, and watching it again. And possibly adopting it as my mantra for the next four years.....darkness of the womb, gives me hope to hold.
posted by Gyre,Gimble,Wabe, Esq. at 9:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
"What does the midwife tell us?
Breathe.
Then push!"
Me too, Valetta, me too. Moved to tears, and watching it again. And possibly adopting it as my mantra for the next four years.....darkness of the womb, gives me hope to hold.
posted by Gyre,Gimble,Wabe, Esq. at 9:43 PM on January 21, 2017 [9 favorites]
Metafilter! I thought of you all today marching in Denver, where I handed out all my signs within two minutes and then laughed in amazement at any hope I had of running into anyone I knew in the mass of people crowded around Civic Center Park - and I knew several dozen people marching, pretty sure. But there were just so many of us. And so calm, for a crowd. Two favorite moments: when we turned a corner with a bunch of construction workers working in an almost finished building, and realized flights above us one guy in a vest was waving, cheering... and dancing around with his own sign that said PEACE and a tiny American flag. And then seeing multiple versions of Colorado's most heinous insult: TRUMP SKIS IN JEANS.
posted by deludingmyself at 9:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by deludingmyself at 9:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
10,000 in Reno, NV. Proud of our Biggest Little City's Biggest Little Finger to DJT.
posted by stolyarova at 9:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by stolyarova at 9:46 PM on January 21, 2017 [16 favorites]
So many great ones, but I think this one's my favorite.
Thank you! That's one so good I hope someone loops it so I can watch it forever.
posted by corb at 9:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Thank you! That's one so good I hope someone loops it so I can watch it forever.
posted by corb at 9:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Denver's NYT picture fails to convey our massive turnout. I know I needed this. Who's up for another?
posted by polyhedron at 9:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by polyhedron at 9:54 PM on January 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Well, little San Luis Obispo (city population 45K, county 270K) brought out an estimated 7000 marchers under cloudy skies following heavy rains yesterday (there are parts of major highways near here still being cleared of mudslides, so getting to the march wasn't always easy). 90 miles down the coast, Santa Barbara got about another 7000 (and that city's population is twice SLO's and the county is over 420K). Any time we can outclass (proportionately) SB is a good day in SLOtown.
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:55 PM on January 21, 2017 [12 favorites]
> NYT pictures of the Women's March in various locations - so inspiring to scroll through!
Oh my god. I managed to hold things together at the Portland rally today and reading most of the news coverage, but the sign the young lady in the purple hat is holding in this picture from Fairbanks made me lose it. And there are so many more like her.
If I'm ever feeling like I'm slacking on calling reps / trying to resist this, I'm going to think about her.
posted by tonycpsu at 9:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
Oh my god. I managed to hold things together at the Portland rally today and reading most of the news coverage, but the sign the young lady in the purple hat is holding in this picture from Fairbanks made me lose it. And there are so many more like her.
If I'm ever feeling like I'm slacking on calling reps / trying to resist this, I'm going to think about her.
posted by tonycpsu at 9:59 PM on January 21, 2017 [32 favorites]
This is high on my list of most frightening things he's said. He believes he's God's chosen one.
No, he doesn't. He wants the dumbfucks who voted for him to think so, but he doesn't.
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [23 favorites]
No, he doesn't. He wants the dumbfucks who voted for him to think so, but he doesn't.
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [23 favorites]
Recognizing that no nation is secure without friends, we will work with the State Department to strengthen our alliances.
The Trump Transition didn't finish its homework and the State Department can't go on field trips: "Given our presidential inauguration and the immediate demands of the transition, a delegation from Washington will not be attending the Astana conference,"
25th Amendment already.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 10:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
The Trump Transition didn't finish its homework and the State Department can't go on field trips: "Given our presidential inauguration and the immediate demands of the transition, a delegation from Washington will not be attending the Astana conference,"
25th Amendment already.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 10:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Yes, how do we keep this going, once Monday morning comes, and the Monday morning after that, as we have to get our kids to school and go to work? That's the question.
posted by Windopaene at 10:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 10:07 PM on January 21, 2017 [15 favorites]
Windopaene, I'm really hoping that a lot of cities take up the mantle of Rev. Barber and North Carolina's Moral Mondays. I'm hoping for Saturday marches myself as I don't live in a state capital, but Stand up Saturdays (insert cleverer slogan here) where we march/gather/meet on, say, a particular issue or state or national bill that needs to be highlighted. As we can see from these incredible numbers, a lot of us are ready to get to work and we need to keep up the momentum through the 2018 election and beyond.
posted by not that mimi at 10:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by not that mimi at 10:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
3000 in Memphis
I covered the march in Memphis today. The organizers told me they had originally planned for 300. Yesterday, they were estimating 3,000 would attend. As we watched the protestors roll out from the courthouse, the director of the march told me she thought 3,000 was a gross underestimation. Later, a cop told me they were estimating 6,000. Tonight, the official Memphis Women' March twitter account said 9,000. I don't have much experience at estimating crowds, but I did time the passage of the march at the beginning of the route: 22 minutes from vanguard to rearguard, shoulder to shoulder across a four-lane street. I would put my personal estimate on the high side of 6,000.
posted by vibrotronica at 10:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
I covered the march in Memphis today. The organizers told me they had originally planned for 300. Yesterday, they were estimating 3,000 would attend. As we watched the protestors roll out from the courthouse, the director of the march told me she thought 3,000 was a gross underestimation. Later, a cop told me they were estimating 6,000. Tonight, the official Memphis Women' March twitter account said 9,000. I don't have much experience at estimating crowds, but I did time the passage of the march at the beginning of the route: 22 minutes from vanguard to rearguard, shoulder to shoulder across a four-lane street. I would put my personal estimate on the high side of 6,000.
posted by vibrotronica at 10:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [17 favorites]
Found the earlier version of the Post story that used the harsher language:
Trump, in CIA visit, attacks media for coverage of his inaugural crowds
Bowdlerized version, which added coverage of the "press conference:"
Trump wages war against the media as demonstrators protest his presidency
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:16 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump, in CIA visit, attacks media for coverage of his inaugural crowds
Bowdlerized version, which added coverage of the "press conference:"
Trump wages war against the media as demonstrators protest his presidency
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:16 PM on January 21, 2017 [4 favorites]
Yes, how do we keep this going, once Monday morning comes, and the Monday morning after that, as we have to get our kids to school and go to work? That's the question.
Oh, don't worry about that. After all, with Trump as president, how long could you possibly have schools and jobs to go to?
posted by Sys Rq at 10:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Oh, don't worry about that. After all, with Trump as president, how long could you possibly have schools and jobs to go to?
posted by Sys Rq at 10:18 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
OTOH, Chris Cillizza did produce this annotated version of the "press conference."
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:20 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:20 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Is it ok to mock donald trump? unreservedly Yes.
Goddamn right. And we're not mocking the size of his hands, we're mocking his ridiculous insecurity about the size of his hands. He's been in a running feud with Graydon Carter since Carter dubbed him a "short-fingered vulgarian" 30 years ago. Trump still sends Carter tear sheets from magazines with pictures of his hands circled in gold Sharpie.
He's a grown-ass man, supposedly a billionaire, and president of the United States. He should say, "Who cares how big you think my hands are, I'm the most powerful man in the world." Better yet, he shouldn't say that, he should just think it.
Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." Trump is a small and petty man.
Lincoln also said, "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power." Uh oh.
Trump's suits are also fair game because they reveal his con game and hypocrisy. He says "America first" and "Buy American and hire American " but his suits, ties, and many other products are made in other countries. He denigrated China throughout the campaign but some of his shirts and ties are made there. He always claims his products are the highest quality but his suits are ill-fitting and the ties apparently need to be taped together.
These issues go to the core of who he is and it's imperative we mock him.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [78 favorites]
SNL ended with Cecily Strong and Sasheer Zamata serenading President Obama with "To Sir, with Love" and I am having some feelings.
Me too. Apropos, bittersweet, and heartfelt all at once.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
Me too. Apropos, bittersweet, and heartfelt all at once.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:28 PM on January 21, 2017 [1 favorite]
You guys, this is probably a Metatalk comment, but this section of the thread has made me feel SO MUCH BETTER. I was feeling almost as down as I did immediately after the election, for a significant part of this week. But all your postings of pics and links and outpouring of hope..... inhale/exhale - I am stuck in Trumpland - but even here we had a decent turnout (for us - tiny, aging population state). I love you guys. Thank you.
posted by Gyre,Gimble,Wabe, Esq. at 10:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [30 favorites]
posted by Gyre,Gimble,Wabe, Esq. at 10:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [30 favorites]
I am not sure if anyone posted this yet, but Jezebel posted a bunch of great signs form the protests today, and the comments from the article have a lot of greats, too.
posted by annsunny at 10:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by annsunny at 10:33 PM on January 21, 2017 [7 favorites]
"Carter dubbed him a "short-fingered vulgarian" 30 years ago. Trump still sends Carter tear sheets from magazines with pictures of his hands circled in gold Sharpie."
The "short-fingered" is the part he's mad about in that insult?!
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:34 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
The "short-fingered" is the part he's mad about in that insult?!
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:34 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Well, probably only because he thought "vulgarian" was some sort of bird of prey.
posted by holborne at 10:37 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by holborne at 10:37 PM on January 21, 2017 [18 favorites]
Mediaite commented on the To Sir With Love segment, and has a video of it.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:39 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
I have very bad words I want to say about the women on the panel talking about Women's March on Anderson Coopers show tonight.
posted by Jalliah at 10:41 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
Updated numbers of those who marched today:
3,025,543 approximate total in the USA
285,128 approximate total in cities worldwide
Approximate total, USA and other countries combined: 3,308,671
Some of the official numbers of the marches around the globe today.
750,000 in Los Angeles alone
400,000 in NYC but I think that's an underestimate
250,000 in Chicago
200,000 in Seattle.
175,000 in Boston
500,000 in Washington DC
100,000 in Denver
100,000 in Portland
100,000 in St. Paul, Minnesota
75,000 in Madison, Wisconsin
70,000 in Oakland
40,000 in San Francisco
40,000 San Diego
10,000 in Syracuse, NY
60,000 in Atlanta
50,000 in Philadelphia
50,000 in Austin
36,000 in Arizona
27,000 in Florida
20,000 in Houston
20,000 in Orange County, California
17,000 in Raleigh
15,000 in Cleveland, Ohio
20,000 in Montpelier, Vermont
10,000 in Reno, Nevada
15,000 in Nashville
7000 in Albany,NY
7000 in Colorado Springs
5000 in Boise, Idaho
6000 in Atlanta
6000 in Trenton, NJ
5000 approx in Dallas
5000 in Indianapolis, Indiana
7000 in Little Rock, Arkansas
9000 in Memphis
3,000 in Albuquerque
6,000 people in Santa Fe
2000 in Syracuse, NY
2,200 in Anchorage, Alaska
1000 in Fargo, North Dakota
1000 in Northampton, Massachusetts
1000 in Providence
1000 in Iowa City
1000 in Portsmouth, Maine, approx
2000 in Park city Utah, approx
377 people in Palmer, Alaska
100 in Bennington, Vermont
Then in hundreds of smaller towns and cities in every state in America, hundreds to thousands gathered.
Longville, MN (pop 200), 66 people showed up for #womensmarch
Around the world, in some of the cities there were officially:
100,000 in London
2000 in Auckland, New Zealand
80,000 in Paris
60,000in Toronto, Canada
15,000 in Vancouver, Canada
10,000 in Sydney
8000 in Ottowa, Canada
3000 in Athens
2000 in Edinburgh
1000 in Stockholm
1000 in San Miguel, Mexico
1000 in Copenhagen, approx
1000 in Berlin
600 in Tokyo
500 in Rome
And 28 in Antarctica!
posted by nickyskye at 10:51 PM on January 21, 2017 [29 favorites]
3,025,543 approximate total in the USA
285,128 approximate total in cities worldwide
Approximate total, USA and other countries combined: 3,308,671
Some of the official numbers of the marches around the globe today.
750,000 in Los Angeles alone
400,000 in NYC but I think that's an underestimate
250,000 in Chicago
200,000 in Seattle.
175,000 in Boston
500,000 in Washington DC
100,000 in Denver
100,000 in Portland
100,000 in St. Paul, Minnesota
75,000 in Madison, Wisconsin
70,000 in Oakland
40,000 in San Francisco
40,000 San Diego
10,000 in Syracuse, NY
60,000 in Atlanta
50,000 in Philadelphia
50,000 in Austin
36,000 in Arizona
27,000 in Florida
20,000 in Houston
20,000 in Orange County, California
17,000 in Raleigh
15,000 in Cleveland, Ohio
20,000 in Montpelier, Vermont
10,000 in Reno, Nevada
15,000 in Nashville
7000 in Albany,NY
7000 in Colorado Springs
5000 in Boise, Idaho
6000 in Atlanta
6000 in Trenton, NJ
5000 approx in Dallas
5000 in Indianapolis, Indiana
7000 in Little Rock, Arkansas
9000 in Memphis
3,000 in Albuquerque
6,000 people in Santa Fe
2000 in Syracuse, NY
2,200 in Anchorage, Alaska
1000 in Fargo, North Dakota
1000 in Northampton, Massachusetts
1000 in Providence
1000 in Iowa City
1000 in Portsmouth, Maine, approx
2000 in Park city Utah, approx
377 people in Palmer, Alaska
100 in Bennington, Vermont
Then in hundreds of smaller towns and cities in every state in America, hundreds to thousands gathered.
Longville, MN (pop 200), 66 people showed up for #womensmarch
Around the world, in some of the cities there were officially:
100,000 in London
2000 in Auckland, New Zealand
80,000 in Paris
60,000in Toronto, Canada
15,000 in Vancouver, Canada
10,000 in Sydney
8000 in Ottowa, Canada
3000 in Athens
2000 in Edinburgh
1000 in Stockholm
1000 in San Miguel, Mexico
1000 in Copenhagen, approx
1000 in Berlin
600 in Tokyo
500 in Rome
And 28 in Antarctica!
posted by nickyskye at 10:51 PM on January 21, 2017 [29 favorites]
Long day (inc. travel) at the beautiful, energizing March in Ann Arbor (at least 5000 attendees), and then home to have fun tweeting about it and mocking trumpspicer.
Then watched some figure skating & topped it off with SNL. IOW the best mood I've been in in ages. Bonus: Little ol music theatre nut/KateMcKinnon fan/politics junkie moigiven this gift. (Catch it til link is pulled.)
posted by NorthernLite at 10:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Then watched some figure skating & topped it off with SNL. IOW the best mood I've been in in ages. Bonus: Little ol music theatre nut/KateMcKinnon fan/politics junkie moigiven this gift. (Catch it til link is pulled.)
posted by NorthernLite at 10:52 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
Posting Mchelly's link again because it's amazing. And now I don't feel like I need to say those bad words.
posted by Jalliah at 10:53 PM on January 21, 2017 [11 favorites]
3,000 peole turned out in Yakima, Washington! This is the 'Red' part of Washington State.
The best part, besides knowing so many came, was the honks and cheers from cars in Yakima Avenue and from people on the sidewalks. I've never felt better about Yakima!
This was a historically big march for here.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 11:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
The best part, besides knowing so many came, was the honks and cheers from cars in Yakima Avenue and from people on the sidewalks. I've never felt better about Yakima!
This was a historically big march for here.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 11:03 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
3000 in Memphis
I covered the march in Memphis today. The organizers told me they had originally planned for 300. Yesterday, they were estimating 3,000 would attend. As we watched the protestors roll out from the courthouse, the director of the march told me she thought 3,000 was a gross underestimation. Later, a cop told me they were estimating 6,000. Tonight, the official Memphis Women' March twitter account said 9,000. I don't have much experience at estimating crowds, but I did time the passage of the march at the beginning of the route: 22 minutes from vanguard to rearguard, shoulder to shoulder across a four-lane street. I would put my personal estimate on the high side of 6,000.
In my experience, cop crowd estimates of peaceful protests run small and estimates of protests which turn ugly run higher.
So with a peaceful march or rally if the cops say 6,000 assume 7,000 to 9,000.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 11:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
I covered the march in Memphis today. The organizers told me they had originally planned for 300. Yesterday, they were estimating 3,000 would attend. As we watched the protestors roll out from the courthouse, the director of the march told me she thought 3,000 was a gross underestimation. Later, a cop told me they were estimating 6,000. Tonight, the official Memphis Women' March twitter account said 9,000. I don't have much experience at estimating crowds, but I did time the passage of the march at the beginning of the route: 22 minutes from vanguard to rearguard, shoulder to shoulder across a four-lane street. I would put my personal estimate on the high side of 6,000.
In my experience, cop crowd estimates of peaceful protests run small and estimates of protests which turn ugly run higher.
So with a peaceful march or rally if the cops say 6,000 assume 7,000 to 9,000.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 11:12 PM on January 21, 2017 [8 favorites]
Bonus: Little ol music theatre nut/KateMcKinnon fan/politics junkie moi given this gift. (Catch it til link is pulled.)
SO GOOD. I've gotta watch that again.
posted by mochapickle at 11:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
SO GOOD. I've gotta watch that again.
posted by mochapickle at 11:15 PM on January 21, 2017 [2 favorites]
nobody,not even the rain(which he alsolies about),has such small handsposted by kirkaracha at 11:25 PM on January 21, 2017 [10 favorites]
This is interesting;
https://swingleft.org
The idea, I think, is to find out where the nearest possible swing district is to you so that you can become involved in the next election. If people around the country do it then it shifts the numbers and tries to overcome gerrymandering.
posted by bongo_x at 11:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
https://swingleft.org
The idea, I think, is to find out where the nearest possible swing district is to you so that you can become involved in the next election. If people around the country do it then it shifts the numbers and tries to overcome gerrymandering.
posted by bongo_x at 11:31 PM on January 21, 2017 [31 favorites]
Today has given me more hope than ever than fascism will not take root in this country.
posted by Automocar at 12:04 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Automocar at 12:04 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
Whoa. The number is more like 4,721,500 to over 5 million marched. 673 sister marches on all 7 continents.
posted by nickyskye at 12:06 AM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by nickyskye at 12:06 AM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
A Conversation with 'Mike Hot-Pence,' the VP's Sexy Gay Impersonator
I caught up with Pannell, 51, in D.C. on Friday during a brief moment of downtime in an Inauguration Weekend schedule that included fundraising for the Obama Foundation, attending the Women's March, and hosting Planned Parenthood's Pink Ball. Mike Hot-Pence is now in high demand, but back in the fall when a friend first suggested he dress up as Pence for Halloween, Pannell was reluctant.posted by kirkaracha at 12:12 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
If anyone's still trying to do a global total, we had close to 5,000 in Dublin, Ireland yesterday and good numbers elsewhere around the country.
Some pictures (all Twitter links): 'Respect my existence or expect my resistance' / 'Immigrants! We get the job done', crowd shots in Dublin, Galway, including Binx the protest cat, at City Hall in Belfast and solidarity from Tipperary.
posted by o seasons o castles at 12:15 AM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
Some pictures (all Twitter links): 'Respect my existence or expect my resistance' / 'Immigrants! We get the job done', crowd shots in Dublin, Galway, including Binx the protest cat, at City Hall in Belfast and solidarity from Tipperary.
posted by o seasons o castles at 12:15 AM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
Don't goad people into punching Nazis unless you will protect them when the Nazis punch back, I guess.
posted by dmh at 12:34 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by dmh at 12:34 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
Donald Trump Escapes FEC Punishment Over Paid Actors at Presidential Announcement
-- His campaign would later admit paying $12,000, but given the "modest" amount, the FEC is exercising discretion and dismissing a complaint he violated reporting rules.
-- Trump's then campaign manager Corey Lewandowski denied paying anyone to attend the event and said that he had never of Extra Mile or Gotham Government Relations, the two companies that THR reported were involved in putting out a casting call for people to attend the event.
-- Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., then admitted paying Gotham $12,000 on Oct. 8, 2015. Gotham reported to the FCC it hired Extra Mile as a subcontractor to provide support at Trump's announcement. Still, this doesn't settle the issue because of the allegation that Trump may have accepted prohibited or excessive contributions from the two companies involved with hiring the actors.
blah. Blah blah
-- ...Thus, Gotham's apparent extension of credit to the Committee for the services rendered at the June candidacy announcement may constitute an excessive or prohibited contribution, and the Committee failed to report the amount it owed Gotham as a debt."
But then...
"However," the report continued, "because of the seemingly modest amount at issue, we recommend that the Commission exercise its prosecutorial discretion and dismiss the allegation ..."
That's just what the FEC has done, quietly announcing its decision to close the file on the complaint on the eve of Trump's inauguration.
Lies. On day one. Gets caught but continues to lie. Isn't held accountable by a government agency. Continues to lie and lie and lie throughout his campaign. Media does not hold him accountable. Has been blatently lying since his election. Media refuses to use the word "lie".
Media gets blasted by trumpie again and suddenly grows a vertebra. One building block of a spine. I'd love to be wrong but my prediction is that he will summon a reporter or reporters for another off the record or similar restrictions to his tower/winter home/oval office show off session and they will run salivating to kiss his ring.
prove me wrong media. until then fuck off. todays backlash exposed a vertebra, not a spine.
posted by futz at 12:36 AM on January 22, 2017 [55 favorites]
-- His campaign would later admit paying $12,000, but given the "modest" amount, the FEC is exercising discretion and dismissing a complaint he violated reporting rules.
-- Trump's then campaign manager Corey Lewandowski denied paying anyone to attend the event and said that he had never of Extra Mile or Gotham Government Relations, the two companies that THR reported were involved in putting out a casting call for people to attend the event.
-- Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., then admitted paying Gotham $12,000 on Oct. 8, 2015. Gotham reported to the FCC it hired Extra Mile as a subcontractor to provide support at Trump's announcement. Still, this doesn't settle the issue because of the allegation that Trump may have accepted prohibited or excessive contributions from the two companies involved with hiring the actors.
blah. Blah blah
-- ...Thus, Gotham's apparent extension of credit to the Committee for the services rendered at the June candidacy announcement may constitute an excessive or prohibited contribution, and the Committee failed to report the amount it owed Gotham as a debt."
But then...
"However," the report continued, "because of the seemingly modest amount at issue, we recommend that the Commission exercise its prosecutorial discretion and dismiss the allegation ..."
That's just what the FEC has done, quietly announcing its decision to close the file on the complaint on the eve of Trump's inauguration.
Lies. On day one. Gets caught but continues to lie. Isn't held accountable by a government agency. Continues to lie and lie and lie throughout his campaign. Media does not hold him accountable. Has been blatently lying since his election. Media refuses to use the word "lie".
Media gets blasted by trumpie again and suddenly grows a vertebra. One building block of a spine. I'd love to be wrong but my prediction is that he will summon a reporter or reporters for another off the record or similar restrictions to his tower/winter home/oval office show off session and they will run salivating to kiss his ring.
prove me wrong media. until then fuck off. todays backlash exposed a vertebra, not a spine.
posted by futz at 12:36 AM on January 22, 2017 [55 favorites]
I wonder if the shifting tide of sentiment (in the news and otherwise) is due to the situation having more narrative resonance. There's not a lot of stories about campaigning against a fascist candidate, but there's plenty about resisting a fascist government. Now that we actually have a corrupt ruler, people can see themselves as the plucky rebels. During the campaign, the media wanted to get attention by playing up an evenly-matched contest between two sides; now they want to get attention by being the intrepid reporters fearlessly exposing the government's lies.
posted by NMcCoy at 12:53 AM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by NMcCoy at 12:53 AM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
There's also that a huge number of people were convinced that Trump would act differently once he won, because that's what normal people would do. They are so dumb and delusional they think they can just keep doing the campaign, which not even the hardcore supporters want.
posted by bongo_x at 1:00 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 1:00 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
Loved the NYT collection of Women's March pics from around the world. NBC has some more.
posted by valetta at 1:10 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by valetta at 1:10 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
The difference between Obama and Trump in two short videos
Donald Trump: pig.
posted by valetta at 1:41 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
Donald Trump: pig.
posted by valetta at 1:41 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm starting to get the impression Donald Trump may not be a very good person.
posted by Justinian at 1:48 AM on January 22, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:48 AM on January 22, 2017 [22 favorites]
Couple of signs from San Francisco:
Another Nasty Woman
Does This Dick Make My Rights Look Bigger?
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 1:54 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
Another Nasty Woman
Does This Dick Make My Rights Look Bigger?
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 1:54 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
I was just wondering this last few days if anyone has noticed if he ever seems to interact nicely with his family members, aside from Ivanka. I've seen a lot of pictures of them very focused on one another, but I can't recall seeing him looking lovingly at any of his wives (maybe Ivana?), or his other children, especially the little one. Mostly I see him sitting grimly beside Melania, or completely ignoring Marla, like all his affection is reserved entirely for Ivanka.
On a similar note, does the man have any interests or hobbies? Does he enjoy anything, aside from the obvious being evil/showing off stuff we already know? I've seen a picture of him playing golf, maybe he likes to play sports?
posted by glitter at 1:55 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
On a similar note, does the man have any interests or hobbies? Does he enjoy anything, aside from the obvious being evil/showing off stuff we already know? I've seen a picture of him playing golf, maybe he likes to play sports?
posted by glitter at 1:55 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
Today is the first day since the election that I've felt like I wasn't dead inside. We're not the only ones feeling it either.
Below is a quote taken from the OP from a forum on another side of the internet that I sometimes drop in on to see how they're dealing with reality. It's full of unsavories who would be right at home on 4chan or /r/the_donald (conservatives outnumber liberals about 8 to 1). If you oppose Trump and don't want to #MAGA, you're a no-good LIEberal cuck or diddler (or both!). They only care about one thing: Winning.
These husks of once compassionate conservative human beings revel in the despair of the losers—characterized as "melting"—and think we're all overweight, unattractive, unemployed societal leeches living on borrowed time and their dime. No wonder we have so much time to protest.
It bothers the hell out of me that democrats have already forgotten they lost. They have completely forgotten about their vomiting session that was November 8th and have completely regrouped from the humiliation, sensing their party has the upper hand again. How the hell does someone move on from that? They shouldn't have the newfound strength to speak out again using the same trite phrases of campaign season. They should have stayed crushed a lot longer.
They won but they don't feel like winners.
posted by guiseroom at 2:02 AM on January 22, 2017 [84 favorites]
Below is a quote taken from the OP from a forum on another side of the internet that I sometimes drop in on to see how they're dealing with reality. It's full of unsavories who would be right at home on 4chan or /r/the_donald (conservatives outnumber liberals about 8 to 1). If you oppose Trump and don't want to #MAGA, you're a no-good LIEberal cuck or diddler (or both!). They only care about one thing: Winning.
These husks of once compassionate conservative human beings revel in the despair of the losers—characterized as "melting"—and think we're all overweight, unattractive, unemployed societal leeches living on borrowed time and their dime. No wonder we have so much time to protest.
It bothers the hell out of me that democrats have already forgotten they lost. They have completely forgotten about their vomiting session that was November 8th and have completely regrouped from the humiliation, sensing their party has the upper hand again. How the hell does someone move on from that? They shouldn't have the newfound strength to speak out again using the same trite phrases of campaign season. They should have stayed crushed a lot longer.
They won but they don't feel like winners.
posted by guiseroom at 2:02 AM on January 22, 2017 [84 favorites]
They won but they don't feel like winners.
The Silent Majority didn't materialise.
posted by threetwentytwo at 2:23 AM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
The Silent Majority didn't materialise.
posted by threetwentytwo at 2:23 AM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
They won but they don't feel like winners.
Trump is the embodiment of this. He's won. He's the CEO of Everything. But Everything isn't doing what he tells it. It keeps answering back. No respect. So he must beat it into submission. It's his only move, and he is watching it not work, and he has no others. Where is the subservient fear?
The dog has caught the car, but it can't open the door and even if it did, its little legs couldn't reach the pedals and the little paws couldn't grasp the steering wheel. Yap yap yap.
posted by Devonian at 2:24 AM on January 22, 2017 [72 favorites]
Trump is the embodiment of this. He's won. He's the CEO of Everything. But Everything isn't doing what he tells it. It keeps answering back. No respect. So he must beat it into submission. It's his only move, and he is watching it not work, and he has no others. Where is the subservient fear?
The dog has caught the car, but it can't open the door and even if it did, its little legs couldn't reach the pedals and the little paws couldn't grasp the steering wheel. Yap yap yap.
posted by Devonian at 2:24 AM on January 22, 2017 [72 favorites]
Did angrycat make the Atlantic?
Someone even made a papier-mâché vagina dentata.
posted by stonepharisee at 2:35 AM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
Someone even made a papier-mâché vagina dentata.
posted by stonepharisee at 2:35 AM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
The Silent Majority didn't materialise.
Well it sure did yesterday.
posted by adamgreenfield at 2:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [15 favorites]
Well it sure did yesterday.
posted by adamgreenfield at 2:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [15 favorites]
3000 people marched in Amsterdam. I haven't found numbers for Den Haag and Roermond yet. But it seems prudent to estimate a total 5000 for the Netherlands.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
Ready to Fight: Emergency Call with MoveOn.org, Indivisible, and Working Families Party
Sunday, January 22, 8 p.m. ET (7 CT/6 MT/5 PT)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:41 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
Sunday, January 22, 8 p.m. ET (7 CT/6 MT/5 PT)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:41 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
The first Freedom Works rally. The claims proffered by Dick Armey were of a million to a million and a half people turn out. But that was an obvious exaggeration. I went back and checked the CSPAN coverage to gauge things based on current events (you can see the entire crowd at the very beginning). There were maybe a third of the people as during the Pence / Trump swearing. So maybe 90 000 people, but there was also a second event happening on a different section of the mall the same day so it could be less.
I had forgotten that two of the named key organizers (or perhaps better called employees or maybe more accurately puppets), were VP Mike Pence (yes the one who if he learned something new would probably forget some function like blinking) and Tom Price (the insider trader of medical stocks nominated to head Health and Human Services) ... wondered how he got a nod into the Trump assemblage.
So inflating numbers and then being indignant when call on them, and then releasing footage of an entirely different rally and claiming it as their own or presenting select crowd shots as proof they are victims of a media cover up ... the order of the day.
posted by phoque at 3:56 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
I had forgotten that two of the named key organizers (or perhaps better called employees or maybe more accurately puppets), were VP Mike Pence (yes the one who if he learned something new would probably forget some function like blinking) and Tom Price (the insider trader of medical stocks nominated to head Health and Human Services) ... wondered how he got a nod into the Trump assemblage.
So inflating numbers and then being indignant when call on them, and then releasing footage of an entirely different rally and claiming it as their own or presenting select crowd shots as proof they are victims of a media cover up ... the order of the day.
posted by phoque at 3:56 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
I keep hearing "we don't want your tiny hands, anywhere near our underpants" to the beat of Was Not Was, Everybody Walk the Dinosaur
posted by stonepharisee at 4:33 AM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 4:33 AM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
Commentary (and awesome scarf) from Ian McKellan
[any errors almost certainly from my transcription, not the original]
posted by Buntix at 4:35 AM on January 22, 2017 [28 favorites]
The Woman's March in London was the longest I have been on. Unlike most demonstrations it was not commandeered by any one group with its identical posters.
The Women and their allies had devised their own visual protests, hand-written and improvised at home, expressing their personal reaction to the new President, whose name in schoolyard English means "to break wind" appropriately.
The placard of Sir Patrick, by the was, was not my own - I found it at the end of the March in Trafalgar Square. But there were hundreds of others, including the other three here.
President Breaking Wind has impacted us all; and personally. Some like him, think they can identify with him, believe him because they've seen him on television perhaps and think the billionaire and his billionaire team are truly their friends. The rest of us, including the majority of voters in USA, see through the charade: after all, the schtick is not exactly subtle. But he's riled us, got under our skin, making us angry and despairing that he should have got through to the final of his show and turned democracy into a tv/twitter spectacular.
What will happen? No doubt his believers will soon be disillusioned. The rest of us cannot let him reign unchallenged. The Marches worldwide were a good beginning. Some who fear him say "give the man a chance". OK - he's started by removing LGBTQ people, climate change and state funding of the arts from the POTUS's website. He's had his chance.
[any errors almost certainly from my transcription, not the original]
posted by Buntix at 4:35 AM on January 22, 2017 [28 favorites]
Another documentary: Donald Trump: What's the Deal
posted by Buntix at 4:51 AM on January 22, 2017
Donald Trump is one of the richest and most famous men in America, but on what foundation has his success been built? From accusations of harassment to repeated flirtations with bankruptcy, his very public business career has been one of artifice and intrigue; a Machiavellian performance played out before the American media. Originally produced in 1991, “Donald Trump: What's the Deal?” investigates the unscrupulous reality behind this most public of figures. Swaggering and assured, exaggerated statements have become Trump's trademark, making him as much a celebrity as a businessman; a poster boy for American capitalism. This air of cocky invincibility has, however, repeatedly hidden a questionable and often duplicitous business approach. Ignoring the facade, this remarkable and revealing documentary exposes the unsavory truth of the self-professed 'People's Billionaire'.There's a trailer, but the documentary itself is PPV (£2.49).
posted by Buntix at 4:51 AM on January 22, 2017
Yes, how do we keep this going, once Monday morning comes, and the Monday morning after that, as we have to get our kids to school and go to work? That's the question.
We call our representatives. Every week, or every day if we can. We pay attention to what bills have been introduced, and then we just call Congress and tell them what we think.
That's a big thing. Especially when you consider that there was this Congressional Aide who said after eleciton day that just ten calls to a representative on a certain issue made them think "wow, this is a big deal". Imagine what ten thousand calls would do to them.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:05 AM on January 22, 2017 [31 favorites]
We call our representatives. Every week, or every day if we can. We pay attention to what bills have been introduced, and then we just call Congress and tell them what we think.
That's a big thing. Especially when you consider that there was this Congressional Aide who said after eleciton day that just ten calls to a representative on a certain issue made them think "wow, this is a big deal". Imagine what ten thousand calls would do to them.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:05 AM on January 22, 2017 [31 favorites]
Posting Mchelly's link again because it's amazing.
Just wow. Please watch!
posted by progosk at 5:05 AM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
Just wow. Please watch!
posted by progosk at 5:05 AM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
Mike Rogers has introduced the American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2017 which quits the UN.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:05 AM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:05 AM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
Mike Rogers has introduced the American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2017 which quits the UN.
Yup. That'd be a good first thing to call your representative about.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:25 AM on January 22, 2017 [23 favorites]
Yup. That'd be a good first thing to call your representative about.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:25 AM on January 22, 2017 [23 favorites]
To add to the tally, some New Hampshire march rally figures:
3000 in Portsmouth
5000 in Concord
400 in tiny Lancaster way up north
posted by schoolgirl report at 5:27 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
3000 in Portsmouth
5000 in Concord
400 in tiny Lancaster way up north
posted by schoolgirl report at 5:27 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
Mike Rogers has introduced the American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2017 which quits the UN.
A move that could lead to the creation of (minus) 25,000 new American jobs!
There seems to be no limit to the amount of shoot-footing the R's will go to in order to sate their xenophobia...
posted by Buntix at 5:28 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
A move that could lead to the creation of (minus) 25,000 new American jobs!
There seems to be no limit to the amount of shoot-footing the R's will go to in order to sate their xenophobia...
posted by Buntix at 5:28 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
We call our representatives. Every week, or every day if we can. We pay attention to what bills have been introduced, and then we just call Congress and tell them what we think.
These times are really bringing home to me the fact that because I live in DC I have no (voting) representatives to call - and not only bc Jason Chaffetz the slime has our local laws in his sights. I've seen mixed messages in earlier comments about whether it helps to call representatives when you don't live in their district. Does it? Is there a good way to target it? How else can DC residents help on national issues?
posted by Cocodrillo at 5:45 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
These times are really bringing home to me the fact that because I live in DC I have no (voting) representatives to call - and not only bc Jason Chaffetz the slime has our local laws in his sights. I've seen mixed messages in earlier comments about whether it helps to call representatives when you don't live in their district. Does it? Is there a good way to target it? How else can DC residents help on national issues?
posted by Cocodrillo at 5:45 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
Mike Rogers has introduced the American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2017 which quits the UN.
They might as well call it the "Chinese Hegemony Act of 2017".
posted by Talez at 5:49 AM on January 22, 2017 [19 favorites]
They might as well call it the "Chinese Hegemony Act of 2017".
posted by Talez at 5:49 AM on January 22, 2017 [19 favorites]
Garry Kasparov: Obvious lies serve a purpose for an administration. They watch who challenges them and who loyally repeats them. The people must watch, too.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:53 AM on January 22, 2017 [65 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:53 AM on January 22, 2017 [65 favorites]
From:
"Obama's crowd was small. Trump's crowd was huge but far away"posted by Buntix at 5:57 AM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
Ah, well, this may not be totally kosher but the reps don't check very thoroughly past zip code and maybe an address in case you, like me, have three fucking Congressional districts in your zip code. If it were me, I'd pick a friend or family member's address to adopt, memorize it, and treat it as your own for the purpose of watching state and federal politics.
If you want mine, drop me a MeMail. My actual Dem rep is the only one who bothers to check addresses, so I have been gleefully harassing the Republicans in my zip code too while I'm at it. Or you could ask the Sister District project to set you up with an ally. I don't like the idea of everyone calling all the reps, but if they won't assign you one, I think that gives you the right to pick whoever seems best.
posted by sciatrix at 6:00 AM on January 22, 2017 [17 favorites]
If you want mine, drop me a MeMail. My actual Dem rep is the only one who bothers to check addresses, so I have been gleefully harassing the Republicans in my zip code too while I'm at it. Or you could ask the Sister District project to set you up with an ally. I don't like the idea of everyone calling all the reps, but if they won't assign you one, I think that gives you the right to pick whoever seems best.
posted by sciatrix at 6:00 AM on January 22, 2017 [17 favorites]
We had more than 25k here in St Petersburg and it might have been more like 30k+
I complain a lot about Florida but yesterday I was proud to live here. Now, how we keep the momentum moving forward is the big question but I'm not so pessimistic about the future.
posted by photoslob at 6:04 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
I complain a lot about Florida but yesterday I was proud to live here. Now, how we keep the momentum moving forward is the big question but I'm not so pessimistic about the future.
posted by photoslob at 6:04 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
Mike Rogers has introduced the American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2017 which quits the UN.
Tell me this has a mathematical chance of zero of progressing.
posted by Devonian at 6:19 AM on January 22, 2017
Mike Rogers introduced a similar bill back in 2015 that went nowhere. Who knows what happens if the president backs the idea, though. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr1205
posted by birdheist at 6:22 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by birdheist at 6:22 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump, 7:46am:Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.
@realDonaldTrump, 4 minutes ago: Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.
posted by damayanti at 6:27 AM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump, 4 minutes ago: Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.
posted by damayanti at 6:27 AM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
he's gonna want a cookie now for that second tweet.
posted by localhuman at 6:29 AM on January 22, 2017 [28 favorites]
posted by localhuman at 6:29 AM on January 22, 2017 [28 favorites]
He was definitely coached on the second tweet. His twitter-related behavioral patterns have not changed since becoming the single most powerful living (ostensible) human.
also from this morning:
@realDonaldTrump
Had a great meeting at CIA Headquarters yesterday, packed house, paid great respect to Wall , long standing ovations, amazing people. WIN!
Wow, television ratings just out: 31 million people watched the Inauguration, 11 million more than the very good ratings from 4 years ago!
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:32 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
also from this morning:
@realDonaldTrump
Had a great meeting at CIA Headquarters yesterday, packed house, paid great respect to Wall , long standing ovations, amazing people. WIN!
Wow, television ratings just out: 31 million people watched the Inauguration, 11 million more than the very good ratings from 4 years ago!
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:32 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's unlikely that the Senate would ever allow such a bill to make it through. If for no other reason than the role we play at the UN vetoing resolutions that would negatively affect Israel.
posted by dis_integration at 6:33 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 6:33 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
$20 says that second tweet was posted by staffer. Check iPhone tweets (staff) vs. Android ( 🍊).
posted by leotrotsky at 6:34 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 6:34 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
Wow, television ratings just out: 31 million people watched the Inauguration, 11 million more than the very good ratings from 4 years ago!
TV ratings: Trump inauguration sinks 18 percent from Obama's in 2009
posted by Etrigan at 6:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
TV ratings: Trump inauguration sinks 18 percent from Obama's in 2009
posted by Etrigan at 6:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
The regime has released an official statement on yesterday's march. Ready for it? No? Well neither is civilization. Statement in full:
"It's a shame that the March for Life, which estimates the same number of marchers in DC (650,000 in 2013) and will be happening next Friday, will not get anywhere near the same amount of coverage that this march got — and those pro-life members were NOT welcome at the Women’s March. The organizers noted that their platform is pro-choice and they revoked partnership status’ from pro-life groups."
"Madonna, who was one of the celebrities headlining the march, was quoted saying “Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House” — comments like these are absolutely unacceptable and had they been said about President Obama, the mainstream media would be in an uproar."
"The Trump administration welcomes a robust discussion regarding the critical issues facing America’s women and families."
To review: mewling false victimization, pre-emptive complaining about how shitty their anti-human-rights march is going to be, whining about Madonna being mean. Expect more of this tone.
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:43 AM on January 22, 2017 [37 favorites]
"It's a shame that the March for Life, which estimates the same number of marchers in DC (650,000 in 2013) and will be happening next Friday, will not get anywhere near the same amount of coverage that this march got — and those pro-life members were NOT welcome at the Women’s March. The organizers noted that their platform is pro-choice and they revoked partnership status’ from pro-life groups."
"Madonna, who was one of the celebrities headlining the march, was quoted saying “Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House” — comments like these are absolutely unacceptable and had they been said about President Obama, the mainstream media would be in an uproar."
"The Trump administration welcomes a robust discussion regarding the critical issues facing America’s women and families."
To review: mewling false victimization, pre-emptive complaining about how shitty their anti-human-rights march is going to be, whining about Madonna being mean. Expect more of this tone.
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:43 AM on January 22, 2017 [37 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump, 7:46am:Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.
Three million people marched, Donnie, and those three million people gave Hillary the victory in the popular vote, Can you see the connection?
posted by Devonian at 6:43 AM on January 22, 2017 [60 favorites]
The march's organizers are saying there were 26,000 in Des Moines. I have no idea where they got that number, and I didn't think the crowd seemed that big, but that seems to be the number that people are using, because the police say they can't accurately estimate a crowd that large. So I would file Des Moines under "too many people for the cops to count." There was also a much-smaller march in Iowa City (estimates of about 1000 people), which is actually kind of impressive, because my understanding is that the Iowa City march was pretty much spontaneous, with basically no real organization other than someone making a Facebook event. The atmosphere in Des Moines was really positive. Lots of passing cars honked approvingly, as did lots of passing city buses and one fire engine. The new, all-Republican state government is planning a Wisconsin-style assault on public employees' bargaining rights and benefits, and I think that firefighters and bus drivers are really, really clear about who exactly is in their corner right now.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:47 AM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
Mike Rogers introduced a similar bill back in 2015 that went nowhere. Who knows what happens if the president backs the idea, though.This seems to be a problem for Republicans in my state: they've made a habit of proposing batshit things to give red-meat to their base, and they didn't focus on the fact that now those totally unhinged bills could actually become law. Now they're going to have to figure out how to explain to the base why they're not actually going to pass those bills, some of which are clearly terrible, terrible policy.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:47 AM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
leotrotsky: "$20 says that second tweet was posted by staffer. Check iPhone tweets (staff) vs. Android ( 🍊)."
The secret service took away his private phone on Friday.
posted by octothorpe at 6:50 AM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
The secret service took away his private phone on Friday.
posted by octothorpe at 6:50 AM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
I keep hearing about how pro-life women weren't "invited." Hey guess what? People heard about the marches and showed up--nobody worried about "invitations." I think what they mean is no one invited pro-life leaders equal time to address the crowds which is not to hard to understand when you remember that it was in part a protest about preserving rights over our bodies.
So am I invited to their protest? Are any pro-choice leaders invited to speak?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:54 AM on January 22, 2017 [60 favorites]
So am I invited to their protest? Are any pro-choice leaders invited to speak?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:54 AM on January 22, 2017 [60 favorites]
Think I'll make a request through the Freedom Of Information Act-
oh
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:54 AM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
oh
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:54 AM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
Kellyann Conway tells @chucktodd Sean Spicer was offering "alternative facts" not falsehoods #alternativefacts
So they're admitting their strategy is just straight up disinformation, not even pretending otherwise.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:55 AM on January 22, 2017 [71 favorites]
So they're admitting their strategy is just straight up disinformation, not even pretending otherwise.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:55 AM on January 22, 2017 [71 favorites]
Celebs hurt cause badly.
He's been watching that clip of Madonna at the DC rally that FOX keeps running, "I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House"?
EDIT: lot
posted by Mister Bijou at 6:56 AM on January 22, 2017
He's been watching that clip of Madonna at the DC rally that FOX keeps running, "I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House"?
EDIT: lot
posted by Mister Bijou at 6:56 AM on January 22, 2017
Kellyann Conway tells @chucktodd Sean Spicer was offering "alternative facts" not falsehoods #alternativefacts
I'll be calling him "Baghdad Sean" from here on out, k?
posted by mikelieman at 6:58 AM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
I'll be calling him "Baghdad Sean" from here on out, k?
posted by mikelieman at 6:58 AM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
If I've missed someone using this term here I apologize, but a Facebook friend just described the Trump administration as the Turd Reich and I about choked to death on breakfast laughing.
posted by chris24 at 7:01 AM on January 22, 2017 [88 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 7:01 AM on January 22, 2017 [88 favorites]
That the President uses his office to call out individual female celebrities pretty much justifies the march.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:02 AM on January 22, 2017 [63 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:02 AM on January 22, 2017 [63 favorites]
I was in Boston yesterday and it was amazing!
Tried to take the commuter rail in but, despite the MBTA adding cars to the regularly scheduled weekend runs, the train was full by the time it got to our station and didn't even stop. The crowd started scrambling for ways to get to the city and two lovely strangers in pussy hats and I hitched a ride from a gentleman from Vermont driving a Prius (how dangerous could he possibly be??). We headed in towards Alewife and when route 2 devolved into gridlock women, families, teenagers, everyone! started streaming out of the cars on the highway and walking to the T station. (Schadenfreude moment of the day goes to the glee with which the pedestrians were flipping off the very very angry woman stuck in traffic in a car with an Obummer bumper sticker.) Hats and signs, everyone singing already, and the T employees waving us in,"it's free! Get on the trains!"
I've never seen so many people. By the time I had to leave to catch the commuter rail home around 3, we hadn't marched because there was nowhere to march to. Streets were packed, the Common was packed, the weather was beautiful, and everyone was having a good time.
It's the calmest I've felt since November 9th.
Girls to the front!
posted by lydhre at 7:03 AM on January 22, 2017 [38 favorites]
Tried to take the commuter rail in but, despite the MBTA adding cars to the regularly scheduled weekend runs, the train was full by the time it got to our station and didn't even stop. The crowd started scrambling for ways to get to the city and two lovely strangers in pussy hats and I hitched a ride from a gentleman from Vermont driving a Prius (how dangerous could he possibly be??). We headed in towards Alewife and when route 2 devolved into gridlock women, families, teenagers, everyone! started streaming out of the cars on the highway and walking to the T station. (Schadenfreude moment of the day goes to the glee with which the pedestrians were flipping off the very very angry woman stuck in traffic in a car with an Obummer bumper sticker.) Hats and signs, everyone singing already, and the T employees waving us in,"it's free! Get on the trains!"
I've never seen so many people. By the time I had to leave to catch the commuter rail home around 3, we hadn't marched because there was nowhere to march to. Streets were packed, the Common was packed, the weather was beautiful, and everyone was having a good time.
It's the calmest I've felt since November 9th.
Girls to the front!
posted by lydhre at 7:03 AM on January 22, 2017 [38 favorites]
The 650K figure for the 2013 March for Life seems like it may possibly be a bit dubious.
posted by Buntix at 7:05 AM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Buntix at 7:05 AM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
1. Bring staffers to speech prepped to respond enthusiastically.
2. Give batshit speech which is greeted with stony silence by audience and wild applause by own staff.
3. Tweet about "long, standing ovations."
The question now is does he believe this shit or is he trying to create his own reality and are we going to do about it?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:06 AM on January 22, 2017 [15 favorites]
2. Give batshit speech which is greeted with stony silence by audience and wild applause by own staff.
3. Tweet about "long, standing ovations."
The question now is does he believe this shit or is he trying to create his own reality and are we going to do about it?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:06 AM on January 22, 2017 [15 favorites]
"It Depends on what the meaning of the word is is"
posted by slipthought at 7:08 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by slipthought at 7:08 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
@TerryMoran:
"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." --George Orwell, 1984
posted by chris24 at 7:11 AM on January 22, 2017 [76 favorites]
"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." --George Orwell, 1984
posted by chris24 at 7:11 AM on January 22, 2017 [76 favorites]
I worry that the FCC will go after CNN, MSNBC, etc. for broadcasting the Madonna F-Bombs, for which fines are $500K apiece. That's even though I'm pretty sure that precedent, perhaps because of an incident with Cher at a rewards program, forgives networks when live broadcasts inadvertently include such speech. But the NFL network was worried enough about obvious lip-readable expletives (I'm looking at you, Tom Brady) that they tried to crack down, so...
When Madonna made her "blow up the White House" remark, I cringed over the hay to be made. We need discipline to avoid own goals like that.
posted by carmicha at 7:11 AM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
When Madonna made her "blow up the White House" remark, I cringed over the hay to be made. We need discipline to avoid own goals like that.
posted by carmicha at 7:11 AM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
The hotel my friends were staying at was a weird combo of women's marchers and altright chucklefucks (way more former than latter). The latter were identifiable by their identical haircuts. Seriously, was there a memo?
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:15 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:15 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
$20 says that second tweet was posted by staffer. Check iPhone tweets (staff) vs. Android ( 🍊).
The recent tweets all showed up on Gawker's @RealRealDonaldTrump account, so maybe he has a sekrit fone hidden behind the toilet.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:15 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
The recent tweets all showed up on Gawker's @RealRealDonaldTrump account, so maybe he has a sekrit fone hidden behind the toilet.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:15 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
The recent tweets all showed up on Gawker's @RealRealDonaldTrump account, so maybe he has a sekrit fone hidden behind the toilet.
It's also possible that someone on his staff now uses a secured android phone. I don't think we can rely on the android/iphone distinction as proof that His Trumpness was tiny-fingering the onscreen keyboard himself.
posted by dis_integration at 7:21 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's also possible that someone on his staff now uses a secured android phone. I don't think we can rely on the android/iphone distinction as proof that His Trumpness was tiny-fingering the onscreen keyboard himself.
posted by dis_integration at 7:21 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
Protest sign:
What do we want?
Evidence-based science.
When do we want it?
After peer-review.
posted by Coventry at 7:22 AM on January 22, 2017 [84 favorites]
What do we want?
Evidence-based science.
When do we want it?
After peer-review.
posted by Coventry at 7:22 AM on January 22, 2017 [84 favorites]
I worry that the FCC will go after CNN, MSNBC, etc. for broadcasting the Madonna F-Bombs, for which fines are $500K apiece.
Of all the things Im worried about, this comes in roughly 19,890,346th, right after "I hope Ted Turner got a good deal on that stylish mustache trim"
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:22 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
Of all the things Im worried about, this comes in roughly 19,890,346th, right after "I hope Ted Turner got a good deal on that stylish mustache trim"
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:22 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
The last 3 tweets from @realDonaldTrump have been from Twitter for Android, while the only 3 tweets from @POTUS are all from Twitter for iPhone
posted by localhuman at 7:23 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by localhuman at 7:23 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
My favorite chants from the Sister March in NYC yesterday:
We want a leader, not a creepy Tweeter
Trump, you're fired, you big orange liar
posted by holborne at 7:25 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
We want a leader, not a creepy Tweeter
Trump, you're fired, you big orange liar
posted by holborne at 7:25 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
Trump's been in office for less than two days but it seems like it's been months already.
posted by octothorpe at 7:27 AM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 7:27 AM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
10,000 Strong at the Women's March on Ithaca yesterday!
posted by The_Auditor at 7:28 AM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by The_Auditor at 7:28 AM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
When Madonna made her "blow up the White House" remark,
I'd have preferred she hadn't said that and I'd prefer people didn't say things like that. But actual GOP legislators have said worse things and Trump has said worse things. So I'm shrugging it off and if someone wants to make a big deal out it, then let's, I say.
(As someone tweeted "Madonna has already dropped a few bombs in her career." (Kidding! Love you Maggs!))
posted by octobersurprise at 7:29 AM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
I'd have preferred she hadn't said that and I'd prefer people didn't say things like that. But actual GOP legislators have said worse things and Trump has said worse things. So I'm shrugging it off and if someone wants to make a big deal out it, then let's, I say.
(As someone tweeted "Madonna has already dropped a few bombs in her career." (Kidding! Love you Maggs!))
posted by octobersurprise at 7:29 AM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
I am so glad that the marches happened in multiple places. They can dispute the numbers that protested in Washington,DC, but they can't dispute that people protested all across America in big cities and small towns. I have yet to see a definitive list. And whoever came up with the idea of the pussy hats needs to be lauded for their brilliance because boy do they make the pictures stand out and easy to identify.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:29 AM on January 22, 2017 [35 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:29 AM on January 22, 2017 [35 favorites]
So now we know Trump will, for whatever reason, make up huge lies as President, just as he did as candidate. From day 1, on the most ridiculous of points, and one must assume on the most important as well. I'd love to know how the GOP bigwigs are taking this, and what they're saying when asked by journos - are they, too, going to fall in line with 'the press are the most dishonest people on the planet' and refuse to talk except via Twitter?
Of course they'll fall in line. Republicans have been working the refs with their phony "liberal media" schtick as far back as I can remember, and that goes back to Watergate.
They need to lie, because the facts are not on their side.
posted by Gelatin at 7:31 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
Of course they'll fall in line. Republicans have been working the refs with their phony "liberal media" schtick as far back as I can remember, and that goes back to Watergate.
They need to lie, because the facts are not on their side.
posted by Gelatin at 7:31 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'd have preferred she hadn't said that and I'd prefer people didn't say things like that. But actual GOP legislators have said worse things and Trump has said worse things.
Remember when Trump daydreamed about Hillary's assassination by his own supporters in front of adoring crowds?
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:32 AM on January 22, 2017 [89 favorites]
Remember when Trump daydreamed about Hillary's assassination by his own supporters in front of adoring crowds?
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:32 AM on January 22, 2017 [89 favorites]
Definitive list of ALL protests? Dunno about that, but there is a good run down of major cities and their numbers, posted twice to this thread so far.
posted by agregoli at 7:32 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by agregoli at 7:32 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
And whoever came up with the idea of the pussy hats needs to be lauded for their brilliance because boy do they make the pictures stand out and easy to identify.Krista Suh and Jayna Zweiman came up with the idea, and Kat Coyle, who owns the Little Knittery yarn shop in L.A., designed the original pussyhat pattern. Laud away!
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:35 AM on January 22, 2017 [44 favorites]
I know that, I've read every comment. That's why I said a definitive list-- preferably one published by the media because I think that's a hugely important part of the protest story that needs to be told.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:38 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:38 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
The list above is a great start, but it's missing some big ones in the Midwest: estimated 26,000 in Des Moines, 12,000 to 14,000 people in Omaha, etc. And I actually think it's important that the final list include those, to make the point that this was truly a nation-wide movement and not just a thing in big cities on the coasts.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:41 AM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:41 AM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
does he believe this shit or is he trying to create his own reality
It's been obvious for many years that Trump practices the Norman Vincent Peale strain of positive thinking that does not allow for self-doubt or any admission of weakness or failure. He has always acted as if he is certain he is the smartest, richest, most powerful, and most etc. person in the room no matter who else is in the room. I think this started as a deliberate affectation from his sales and persuasion training, but it's turned into a dangerously addictive habit for him and he has spent his life surrounded by people who enable this delusion by schmoozing him.
On the one hand he now really is one of the most powerful people in the world but on the other he is now surrounded by people who keep telling him stuff he's expected to do and that his ideas are wrong and that things he wants to do are blocked by political opposition, sometimes from his own supposed party. So it is on one hand the ultimate validation of his positive thinking reality creation, but on the other it has to be constantly frustrating as it turns out Presidenting isn't as much fun as he thought it would be and people keep balking him.
posted by Bringer Tom at 7:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
It's been obvious for many years that Trump practices the Norman Vincent Peale strain of positive thinking that does not allow for self-doubt or any admission of weakness or failure. He has always acted as if he is certain he is the smartest, richest, most powerful, and most etc. person in the room no matter who else is in the room. I think this started as a deliberate affectation from his sales and persuasion training, but it's turned into a dangerously addictive habit for him and he has spent his life surrounded by people who enable this delusion by schmoozing him.
On the one hand he now really is one of the most powerful people in the world but on the other he is now surrounded by people who keep telling him stuff he's expected to do and that his ideas are wrong and that things he wants to do are blocked by political opposition, sometimes from his own supposed party. So it is on one hand the ultimate validation of his positive thinking reality creation, but on the other it has to be constantly frustrating as it turns out Presidenting isn't as much fun as he thought it would be and people keep balking him.
posted by Bringer Tom at 7:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
The map here https://www.womensmarch.com/sisters-1/ has 606 of them listed. There is also a written list, but it seems to be incomplete (e.g. only one of the 15 in UK is listed).
It would presumably be possible to parse a full list out of the source code for the map widget: https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v2/event_campaign/womens-march-on-america?format=js&source=widget&style=full
although, it seems like the info aught to be around somewhere, possibly only an https://actionnetwork.org/ page.
posted by Buntix at 7:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
It would presumably be possible to parse a full list out of the source code for the map widget: https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v2/event_campaign/womens-march-on-america?format=js&source=widget&style=full
although, it seems like the info aught to be around somewhere, possibly only an https://actionnetwork.org/ page.
posted by Buntix at 7:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
ed: ignore the above, there seems to be a better list here: https://www.womensmarch.com/sisters.
673 in total and ~ 4,797,500 peeps.
posted by Buntix at 7:44 AM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
673 in total and ~ 4,797,500 peeps.
posted by Buntix at 7:44 AM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
Fair enough. The amount of double and triple linking and commenting of some of the same info informed my comment.
posted by agregoli at 7:46 AM on January 22, 2017
posted by agregoli at 7:46 AM on January 22, 2017
My favorite slogans I've seen on signs in today's round-up of pictures so far:
"I'm about ready to go low now" and "I'll see all you nice white ladies at the next Black Lives Matter rally, right?"
Meanwhile, KellyAnne trying to make "alternative facts" a thing is seriously freaking me out.
posted by TwoStride at 7:53 AM on January 22, 2017 [22 favorites]
"I'm about ready to go low now" and "I'll see all you nice white ladies at the next Black Lives Matter rally, right?"
Meanwhile, KellyAnne trying to make "alternative facts" a thing is seriously freaking me out.
posted by TwoStride at 7:53 AM on January 22, 2017 [22 favorites]
It's 9:55 am CST and I just hit my favorites limit for the day. Ha!!
Assume all my favorites go to the millions -- millions -- of protestors everywhere.
posted by TrishaU at 7:56 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
Assume all my favorites go to the millions -- millions -- of protestors everywhere.
posted by TrishaU at 7:56 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
Alt-facts?
posted by peeedro at 7:59 AM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 7:59 AM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm not too thrilled about how they're trying to make 'alt-left' a thing, either.
posted by box at 8:00 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by box at 8:00 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
Fuck alt-left. That's not happening. We are not letting that false-equivalence bullshit happen. There is no alt-right. There are neo-Nazis. There is no leftist equivalent to neo-Nazis, because people on the left are not Nazis.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:02 AM on January 22, 2017 [64 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:02 AM on January 22, 2017 [64 favorites]
Can Saturday Night Live possibly wait two weeks for another show?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:04 AM on January 22, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:04 AM on January 22, 2017
The closest thing to an alt-left I've seen are a few remnant bernie-or-busters who spend all day posting Russia Today stories about pizzagate and how the world will be better off with the USA's "America First" philosophy. I'm comfortable just calling them Alt-Right.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:07 AM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:07 AM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
There is no alt-right. There are neo-Nazis.
It's political correctness gone mad is what it is, I remember when you used to be able to call a fascist a fascist...
posted by Buntix at 8:11 AM on January 22, 2017 [38 favorites]
It's political correctness gone mad is what it is, I remember when you used to be able to call a fascist a fascist...
posted by Buntix at 8:11 AM on January 22, 2017 [38 favorites]
So the bad news for us was that our bus returned this morning to find that the majority of our cars had smashed windows. Very little seemed to have been taken, but it was pouring rain in Atlanta, so our stuff is wet. The irony: Although most of us live in John Lewis's "Terrible" 5th district, we parked in the Georgia 6th, Tom Price's (gerrymandered for rich white people) district, Trump's HHS nominee. When is Tom Price going to do something about the terrible crime in his district? (probably not soon since he's going to prison for insider trading).
posted by hydropsyche at 8:13 AM on January 22, 2017 [104 favorites]
posted by hydropsyche at 8:13 AM on January 22, 2017 [104 favorites]
Sounds like a good reason for everyone to call Tom Price's district office.
posted by puddledork at 8:30 AM on January 22, 2017 [37 favorites]
posted by puddledork at 8:30 AM on January 22, 2017 [37 favorites]
I worry that the FCC will go after CNN, MSNBC, etc.
The FCC cannot go after anyone who doesn't broadcast. CNN could have nonstop F-bombs if they thought it would help their ratings. Unless the rules have changed and I didn't notice, the FCC only has jurisdiction over broadcast stations because of airwaves being in public trust. That's why broadcast doesn't get full First Amendment protections.
Most basic cable stations try to follow decency guidelines, which roughly match that of broadcast, for all sorts of reasons, but they don't have to.
posted by honestcoyote at 8:31 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
The FCC cannot go after anyone who doesn't broadcast. CNN could have nonstop F-bombs if they thought it would help their ratings. Unless the rules have changed and I didn't notice, the FCC only has jurisdiction over broadcast stations because of airwaves being in public trust. That's why broadcast doesn't get full First Amendment protections.
Most basic cable stations try to follow decency guidelines, which roughly match that of broadcast, for all sorts of reasons, but they don't have to.
posted by honestcoyote at 8:31 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
"Alternative Facts" is so Orwellian, I just can't
posted by saul wright at 8:35 AM on January 22, 2017 [48 favorites]
posted by saul wright at 8:35 AM on January 22, 2017 [48 favorites]
E.J. Dionne is on MSNBC's AM Joy, talking about how the losers of today's football games might benefit from using alternative facts to get to the Super Bowl. :)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:41 AM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:41 AM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
Today's effort to channel frustration, which may become my FB banner: Resist.
posted by carmicha at 8:45 AM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 8:45 AM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
Peter's Choice - I asked my student why he voted for Trump. The answer was thoughtful, smart, and terrifying.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:46 AM on January 22, 2017 [49 favorites]
"We all live out in the wilderness, either in the middle of a forest or on a farm," he wrote. "Some people cannot leave their homes during times of unfortunate weather. Many still dry clothes by hanging them on wires with clothespins outside. These people are nowhere near the top, or even the middle, of any hierarchy. These people are scraping the bottom of the barrel, and they, seemingly, have nothing to benefit from maintaining the system of order that keeps them at the bottom." His county ended up going about 70 percent for Trump.The deliberate, white supremacist lies about Reconstruction (mentioned at the end) are extremely wide-spread. They used to be common fodder right here on MetaFilter too.
...
According to the 2010 census, the median household income in Peter's county is a little more than $45,000. By comparison, Detroit's is about $27,000 and Chicago's (with a higher cost of living) is just under $49,000. The poverty rate is 17.5 percent in the county and 7.6 percent in Peter's little town, compared with Chicago's 22.7 percent. The unemployment rate has hovered around 4 percent.
The town isn't rich, to be sure. But it's also not on the "bottom." Oklahoma on the whole has been rather dynamic economically: Real GDP growth was 2.8 percent in 2014—down from 4.3 percent in 2013, but well above the 2.2 percent nationally. The same was true of other Trump bastions like Texas (5.2 percent growth) and West Virginia (5.1 percent).
Peter, though, perceives the region's economic history as a simple tale of desolation and disappointment. "Everyone around was poor, including the churches," he wrote, "and charities were nowhere near (this wasn't a city, after all), so more people had to use some sort of government assistance. Taxes went up [as] the help became more widespread."
He was just calling it like he saw it. But it's striking how much a bright, inquisitive, public-spirited guy can take for granted that just is not so. \
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:46 AM on January 22, 2017 [49 favorites]
Catch it before the Post removes the adverb: Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway says White House press secretary presented ‘alternative facts’
Kellyanne Conway, a senior aide to President Trump, said Sunday that the White House press secretary had presented “alternative facts” on Saturday when he falsely stated that Trump’s swearing-in ceremony drew “the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration.”
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:50 AM on January 22, 2017 [19 favorites]
Kellyanne Conway, a senior aide to President Trump, said Sunday that the White House press secretary had presented “alternative facts” on Saturday when he falsely stated that Trump’s swearing-in ceremony drew “the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration.”
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:50 AM on January 22, 2017 [19 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump, 4 minutes ago: Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.
Twitter stats:
hallmark: new word
democracy: used six times, four of which were attacks on democrats
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:52 AM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Twitter stats:
hallmark: new word
democracy: used six times, four of which were attacks on democrats
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:52 AM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
@joshrogin: .@KellyannePolls: "It's really time for [Trump] to put in his own security and intelligence community."
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:58 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:58 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
WaPo: Trump won’t release his tax returns because people don’t care, top adviser says
If I worked at the IRS I hope I would be willing to leak the returns and take the jail time. I can't think of anything that would be more patriotic.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:03 AM on January 22, 2017 [60 favorites]
If I worked at the IRS I hope I would be willing to leak the returns and take the jail time. I can't think of anything that would be more patriotic.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:03 AM on January 22, 2017 [60 favorites]
The next three times someone says to you "Why didn't these marchers vote?" -- please use the opportunity to talk about voter disenfranchisement. Even though the question is disingenuous, it can be a place to start talking about this important issue. (Also, some marchers were under 18, some marchers have to work on Tuesdays and some marchers aren't yet citizens. Some have been disenfranchises in other ways.)
posted by puddledork at 9:03 AM on January 22, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by puddledork at 9:03 AM on January 22, 2017 [26 favorites]
The next three times someone says to you "Why didn't these marchers vote?" -- please use the opportunity to talk about voter disenfranchisement. Even though the question is disingenuous, it can be a place to start talking about this important issue. (Also, some marchers were under 18, some marchers have to work on Tuesdays and some marchers aren't yet citizens. Some have been disenfranchises in other ways.)
All good, but probably, they did vote. Sorry/not sorry to repeat the obvious: Clinton won the popular vote. In some states where she lost, she got more votes than Obama. I know you probably know, puddledork, but it came as a surprise to several family members at the lunch we had today. I also told them about voter disenfranchisement, don't worry.
I was at the leftist end of the table and a lot of leftists blame Clinton, which would be all fine and well, if it didn't lead to their disregarding important facts.
posted by mumimor at 9:11 AM on January 22, 2017 [23 favorites]
All good, but probably, they did vote. Sorry/not sorry to repeat the obvious: Clinton won the popular vote. In some states where she lost, she got more votes than Obama. I know you probably know, puddledork, but it came as a surprise to several family members at the lunch we had today. I also told them about voter disenfranchisement, don't worry.
I was at the leftist end of the table and a lot of leftists blame Clinton, which would be all fine and well, if it didn't lead to their disregarding important facts.
posted by mumimor at 9:11 AM on January 22, 2017 [23 favorites]
There is lots to be said about how rural poverty and urban poverty are radically different.
Things have different costs and different consequences and not in the way city people think. Time is allocated differently, and help is dispersed in different ways.
Land prices and housing prices are cheaper, but septic systems, well water and lawn care are higher. Transportation requires more gas and self reliance, and not all services are located near by.
For example people in IL who are disabled in rural counties, there is literally one DRS office per 5 or so counties. If your newly blind or newly disabled getting services takes a long time and is very infrequent.
There is less choice overall. So when the school is underfunded, the day care looses its license, the local store is cash only and doesn't take SNAP, that's it. You can't use it or you do and hope the consequences are small.
It is overwhelming. I don't think the success of Trump is actually nessisarily reflective of the specific problems rural communities face, but rural versus city poverty is dramatically different and a systemic issue with few good answers or policy.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:12 AM on January 22, 2017 [17 favorites]
Things have different costs and different consequences and not in the way city people think. Time is allocated differently, and help is dispersed in different ways.
Land prices and housing prices are cheaper, but septic systems, well water and lawn care are higher. Transportation requires more gas and self reliance, and not all services are located near by.
For example people in IL who are disabled in rural counties, there is literally one DRS office per 5 or so counties. If your newly blind or newly disabled getting services takes a long time and is very infrequent.
There is less choice overall. So when the school is underfunded, the day care looses its license, the local store is cash only and doesn't take SNAP, that's it. You can't use it or you do and hope the consequences are small.
It is overwhelming. I don't think the success of Trump is actually nessisarily reflective of the specific problems rural communities face, but rural versus city poverty is dramatically different and a systemic issue with few good answers or policy.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:12 AM on January 22, 2017 [17 favorites]
Sure, why not.
@joshrogin:
.@KellyannePolls: "It's really time for [Trump] to put in his own security and intelligence community." What? @ThisWeekABC
posted by chris24 at 9:15 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
@joshrogin:
.@KellyannePolls: "It's really time for [Trump] to put in his own security and intelligence community." What? @ThisWeekABC
posted by chris24 at 9:15 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
N.Y. to expand access to free abortion, contraception
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York will strengthen existing regulations to require health insurers to provide free coverage for contraception and "medically necessary" abortions, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday.
The move comes in response to potential cuts to reproductive-health coverage through the Affordable Care Act by the new Republican-led Congress and President Donald Trump.
posted by Jalliah at 9:17 AM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York will strengthen existing regulations to require health insurers to provide free coverage for contraception and "medically necessary" abortions, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday.
The move comes in response to potential cuts to reproductive-health coverage through the Affordable Care Act by the new Republican-led Congress and President Donald Trump.
posted by Jalliah at 9:17 AM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
McCain, Graham say they will support Tillerson
Never Trump, standing proud and tall
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:19 AM on January 22, 2017 [47 favorites]
Never Trump, standing proud and tall
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:19 AM on January 22, 2017 [47 favorites]
I imagine telling the CIA you want to replace them is the start to some bad movie where a patriotic spy does patriotism violently.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:19 AM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:19 AM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
AlexiaSky makes really good points - and add to that most social service agencies are run out of cities, and can't help people much who own their own land. You can pay someone's rent way easier than their mortgage payment.
posted by corb at 9:19 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by corb at 9:19 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
I worry that the FCC will go after CNN, MSNBC, etc.
They don't - that's months of free promotion for them.
posted by petebest at 9:19 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
They don't - that's months of free promotion for them.
posted by petebest at 9:19 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
If I worked at the IRS I hope I would be willing to leak the returns and take the jail time.
I bet those returns disappeared into a super secret vault no later than 9:01 on November 9th. Everyone knows the reprisals would be swift and brutal and (ironically) totally indiscriminatory if they leaked.
posted by Etrigan at 9:22 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
I bet those returns disappeared into a super secret vault no later than 9:01 on November 9th. Everyone knows the reprisals would be swift and brutal and (ironically) totally indiscriminatory if they leaked.
posted by Etrigan at 9:22 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Question: a friend just asked if I'd read about a bill was introduced on the 3rd to pull the U.S. out of the U.N.? I'm trying to find information in the news about it, but I'm pretty much only seeing extreme right-wing forums discussing it at all. It looks like the same bill has popped up every few years since 2009 and fizzled out each time, but this year is kind of different... did I completely miss all reporting and calls to action on this??
posted by Ornate Rocksnail at 9:23 AM on January 22, 2017
posted by Ornate Rocksnail at 9:23 AM on January 22, 2017
I think that's a really good point, AlexiaSky, but I also think that we do a piss-poor job explaining exactly how Trumpian policies are going to hurt rural areas. Take, for instance, school choice. There's a big new proposal in my state to initiate "school choice," which in practice would mostly mean taking money away from public schools and giving it to parents who home school, because there aren't a lot of private schools in most parts of my state. I went to an organizing meeting last week, and there was a representative from a very rural part of my state there. We were talking about the school choice proposal, and someone very tentatively raised her hand and said "wouldn't that hurt rural districts the most? I mean, at least in cities, we know there always will be public schools, even if they lose some funds. But if enough people pull themselves out of a rural public school, it will have to close down and consolidate, right?" And the guy from the rural district was literally bouncing up and down on his feet at that. He was like "yes! Yes! That's what I keep trying to explain to people! Nothing kills a small town like losing its elementary school. Who wants to raise kids in a town where there's no school and your kindergartner has to spend an hour on the bus each way getting to a big consolidated school in the nearest big town? School choice is bad for you, but it will kill our communities. We need to explain that to people!" And I feel like we don't, because the people who do the explaining generally don't even think about how things will affect small towns and rural areas.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:25 AM on January 22, 2017 [67 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:25 AM on January 22, 2017 [67 favorites]
Glenn Carle, a former CIA operative, just said n MSNBC of Trump's ISIS statements in his CIA speech, "Let's be clear. Those are all stupid statements."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:25 AM on January 22, 2017 [62 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:25 AM on January 22, 2017 [62 favorites]
The Atlantic begins reverse-engineering Trump's tax returns through crowdsourcing, FEC filings
We made this public: converting these disclosures from wieldy PDFs into a Google spreadsheet to make them more readily accessible to readers and the press. The data can be found and downloaded here.
posted by petebest at 9:30 AM on January 22, 2017 [54 favorites]
We made this public: converting these disclosures from wieldy PDFs into a Google spreadsheet to make them more readily accessible to readers and the press. The data can be found and downloaded here.
posted by petebest at 9:30 AM on January 22, 2017 [54 favorites]
a friend just asked if I'd read about a bill was introduced on the 3rd to pull the U.S. out of the U.N.?
That's just hitting my Facebook feed this morning too. And I do feel like I've heard of this kind of bill happening before as a token effort, but in this atmosphere there seems reason to raise some alarm.
posted by dnash at 9:30 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
That's just hitting my Facebook feed this morning too. And I do feel like I've heard of this kind of bill happening before as a token effort, but in this atmosphere there seems reason to raise some alarm.
posted by dnash at 9:30 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
@IsraelHatzolah
BREAKING: PM Netanyahu says he'll announce major West Bank territory expansion soon.
Their phone call wasn't supposed to start for another hour...
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:31 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
BREAKING: PM Netanyahu says he'll announce major West Bank territory expansion soon.
Their phone call wasn't supposed to start for another hour...
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:31 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
Glenn Carle, a former CIA operative, just said n MSNBC of Trump's ISIS statements in his CIA speech, "Let's be clear. Those are all stupid statements."
Donald's CIA presser is a textbook example of someone thinking they're being all tricky and pulling off a brilliant bit of PR and optics when all it does it make everything worse, in the worst of ways.
I have to wonder if they still think it's brilliant and that they fooled them all or if now at least some are going 'Why did this not work like we thought it would? I don't get it."
posted by Jalliah at 9:36 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
Donald's CIA presser is a textbook example of someone thinking they're being all tricky and pulling off a brilliant bit of PR and optics when all it does it make everything worse, in the worst of ways.
I have to wonder if they still think it's brilliant and that they fooled them all or if now at least some are going 'Why did this not work like we thought it would? I don't get it."
posted by Jalliah at 9:36 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
Crowd-counting experts (*shrug*) cited by NYT: Women's March was three times bigger than the Inauguration
posted by petebest at 9:40 AM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by petebest at 9:40 AM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
Protest sign seen on Twitter:
Melania If You Need Help Burn a Candle in the North Tower
posted by zakur at 9:40 AM on January 22, 2017 [43 favorites]
Melania If You Need Help Burn a Candle in the North Tower
posted by zakur at 9:40 AM on January 22, 2017 [43 favorites]
Brief story: my aunt lives outside of Ashville, NC. She's got two children and a disabled husband who recovered from cancer but left some major respiratory issues and caused some brain damage. So he doesn't work and she is a manager at chain store in the city. The well pump went out.
It cost 5,000 dollars to replace which came from her mother who is in her 80s. They went without water for two weeks because finding people who replace well pumps isn't easy.
They won't put her husband on medicare or disability because of some unknown reason. Her job stability is poor especially with the flexibility she needs for taking care if her husband who needs transportation to and from appointments, has frequent hospitalizations due to respiratory problems, and two kids who aren't old enough to watch themselves. Trash service is too expensive, so they have to haul their own trash, which doesn't happen as often as it should because between two kids, a retail job, a disabled husband, food and transportation time it is hard to get it done.
Another one: my. Mom's disabled and lives on her own in unincorportated area, so relies on septic tank. It imploded so sewage was just accumulating in the backyard for quite awhile until she could gather the money to get it fixed. I sware, years later it still smells like poop when it rains. She can't drive after dark, and shouldn't drive at all, but can't walk far and there is no public transit. So she drives during the day taking great pains to be home before dark, and relies on church friends for anything else. As she gets older she is more isolated. My brother helps when he can.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
It cost 5,000 dollars to replace which came from her mother who is in her 80s. They went without water for two weeks because finding people who replace well pumps isn't easy.
They won't put her husband on medicare or disability because of some unknown reason. Her job stability is poor especially with the flexibility she needs for taking care if her husband who needs transportation to and from appointments, has frequent hospitalizations due to respiratory problems, and two kids who aren't old enough to watch themselves. Trash service is too expensive, so they have to haul their own trash, which doesn't happen as often as it should because between two kids, a retail job, a disabled husband, food and transportation time it is hard to get it done.
Another one: my. Mom's disabled and lives on her own in unincorportated area, so relies on septic tank. It imploded so sewage was just accumulating in the backyard for quite awhile until she could gather the money to get it fixed. I sware, years later it still smells like poop when it rains. She can't drive after dark, and shouldn't drive at all, but can't walk far and there is no public transit. So she drives during the day taking great pains to be home before dark, and relies on church friends for anything else. As she gets older she is more isolated. My brother helps when he can.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
" I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW I'M SO BEHIND YOU, AND I KNOW MAYBE SOMETIMES YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN WHAT YOU WANTED, AND YOU GET SO MUCH BACKING, YOU SAY, PLEASE DON'T GIVE US SO MUCH BACKING. MR. PRESIDENT, PLEASE, WE DON'T NEED THAT MUCH BACKING BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT AND I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM KNOWS IT. " (pardon the caps, copied from CSPAN transcript)
creepy. incoherent. how can this guy not self-destruct?
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 9:46 AM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
creepy. incoherent. how can this guy not self-destruct?
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 9:46 AM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
Donald's CIA presser is a textbook example of someone thinking they're being all tricky and pulling off a brilliant bit of PR and optics when all it does it make everything worse, in the worst of ways.
I have to wonder if they still think it's brilliant and that they fooled them all or if now at least some are going 'Why did this not work like we thought it would? I don't get it."
posted by Jalliah at 1:36 AM on January 23 [+] [!]
What worries me is that it's not blundering. The conspiracy theorist in me says the CIA press conference and the Spicer follow-up ([insert something about being out of evens]) are precursors to a crackdown backed with violence. Even utterly narcissistic and insane gets more credit than that. The man's a billionaire conman, and even if the billionaire part of that isn't true, even just to accomplish that on paper requires a smidgen of acumen at manipulating people. He conned his way into becoming president FFS. Dude ain't stupid.
I'm scared one of these days he's gonna open his mouth, and a machine gun barrel will slide out and kill everyone in the room.
I pray I'm wrong.
posted by saysthis at 9:46 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
I have to wonder if they still think it's brilliant and that they fooled them all or if now at least some are going 'Why did this not work like we thought it would? I don't get it."
posted by Jalliah at 1:36 AM on January 23 [+] [!]
What worries me is that it's not blundering. The conspiracy theorist in me says the CIA press conference and the Spicer follow-up ([insert something about being out of evens]) are precursors to a crackdown backed with violence. Even utterly narcissistic and insane gets more credit than that. The man's a billionaire conman, and even if the billionaire part of that isn't true, even just to accomplish that on paper requires a smidgen of acumen at manipulating people. He conned his way into becoming president FFS. Dude ain't stupid.
I'm scared one of these days he's gonna open his mouth, and a machine gun barrel will slide out and kill everyone in the room.
I pray I'm wrong.
posted by saysthis at 9:46 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
Rural poverty isn't an excuse to vote for the people who have only ever offered bootstraps and tax cuts for billionaires as the solutions to rural poverty.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:47 AM on January 22, 2017 [38 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:47 AM on January 22, 2017 [38 favorites]
They won't put her husband on medicare or disability because of some unknown reason.
A lot of times the reason is that the paperwork isn't filled out correctly, or is missing something, or clerical error, or red tape. We need MORE people in government helping to clear these applications. not less.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:48 AM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
A lot of times the reason is that the paperwork isn't filled out correctly, or is missing something, or clerical error, or red tape. We need MORE people in government helping to clear these applications. not less.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:48 AM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
Melania If You Need Help Burn a Candle in the North Tower
Having binge-watched all of GoT over the holidays, I now feel like Captain America.
posted by entropicamericana at 9:50 AM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
Having binge-watched all of GoT over the holidays, I now feel like Captain America.
posted by entropicamericana at 9:50 AM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
@wikileaks: Trump's breach of promise over the release of his tax returns is even more gratuitous than Clinton concealing her Goldman Sachs transcripts.
(eye-roll)
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:51 AM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
(eye-roll)
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:51 AM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
@joshrogin: .@KellyannePolls: "It's really time for [Trump] to put in his own security and intelligence community."
Well, that quote is goddam chilling. It feels only slightly less chilling in the context of the whole interview in This Week with George Stephanopoulos, but maybe that's because the context is so chilling in general.
At least SNL has figured out that behind the sycophancy is psychopathic ambition: "And when the world goes up in flames, at least I'll know they knew my name. … Conway!"
I have to wonder if they still think it's brilliant and that they fooled them all or if now at least some are going 'Why did this not work like we thought it would? I don't get it."
Trump is the Dunning-Kruger president, it bears reiterating.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:51 AM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
Well, that quote is goddam chilling. It feels only slightly less chilling in the context of the whole interview in This Week with George Stephanopoulos, but maybe that's because the context is so chilling in general.
CONWAY: The president went to the intelligence community yesterday to establish good relationships with them. And we had over 1,000 requests to attend. We could only accommodate a few hundred.Note besides the usual unsubstantiated claims ("over 1,000 requests to attend") and transparent exaggerations ("the intelligence community that we saw on their feet yesterday"), there is the constant demand from Team Donald that he must be shown respect (to repeat, shades of Fredo Corleone).
He will be back. He got a standing ovation. And it’s really time for him to put in his own security intelligence community. We really would prefer the intelligence community that is going out the door to be much more respectful toward the president and his vision in moving forward.
We're not really thrilled with the leaks that have come out with the last several weeks or months. And we think in the interest of keeping us all safe, George, that the intelligence community that we saw on their feet yesterday, welcoming President Trump for his rousing speech, is the one that we look forward to working with.
At least SNL has figured out that behind the sycophancy is psychopathic ambition: "And when the world goes up in flames, at least I'll know they knew my name. … Conway!"
I have to wonder if they still think it's brilliant and that they fooled them all or if now at least some are going 'Why did this not work like we thought it would? I don't get it."
Trump is the Dunning-Kruger president, it bears reiterating.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:51 AM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
89 Badass Feminist Signs at the March
Good words but click for the art. My favorite part of all so far has been the hand-made quality to everything.
Favorite sign so far.
posted by petebest at 9:52 AM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
Good words but click for the art. My favorite part of all so far has been the hand-made quality to everything.
Favorite sign so far.
posted by petebest at 9:52 AM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
Question: a friend just asked if I'd read about a bill was introduced on the 3rd to pull the U.S. out of the U.N.? I'm trying to find information in the news about it, but I'm pretty much only seeing extreme right-wing forums discussing it at all. It looks like the same bill has popped up every few years since 2009 and fizzled out each time, but this year is kind of different... did I completely miss all reporting and calls to action on this??
Normally a bill like this would be slapped down in committee returned with a polite note effectively saying "don't be a fucking idiot and stop wasting our time with this symbolic bullshit that we can't pass". Now the bill could most certainly pass. Amended to a reconciliation bill (since leaving the UN would save the US quite a bit of scratch) you could bypass the filibuster.
It's not likely but it's no longer as impossible as it was.
posted by Talez at 9:53 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
Normally a bill like this would be slapped down in committee returned with a polite note effectively saying "don't be a fucking idiot and stop wasting our time with this symbolic bullshit that we can't pass". Now the bill could most certainly pass. Amended to a reconciliation bill (since leaving the UN would save the US quite a bit of scratch) you could bypass the filibuster.
It's not likely but it's no longer as impossible as it was.
posted by Talez at 9:53 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
Crowd-counting experts (*shrug*) cited by NYT: Women's March was three times bigger than the Inauguration
According to the Washington Metro,
Twice the turnout seems reasonable, three times entirely possible.
posted by Buntix at 9:55 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
According to the Washington Metro,
Metro tweeted Sunday that 1,001,616 trips were taken on the rail system on Saturday, the day of the Women's March on Washington.Not yet been able to find any good figures for approx. numbers on a normal weekday and Saturday. (For the LA metro Saturday has about 70% of weekday traffic). There are other factors, such as Fedaral workers having the day off on the 20th, potentially lower tourist and shopping traffic on 21st due to people avoiding the protests, plus possible significantly lower figures on the 21st due to the system being over capacity and people having to find other transport. Overall I would guess a net positive impact in the protest to inauguration ratio.
Metro spokesman Dan Stessel had said that on Friday, the day of Donald Trump's inauguration, just over 570,000 trips were taken on the rail system.
Twice the turnout seems reasonable, three times entirely possible.
posted by Buntix at 9:55 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
Five fingers or four?
posted by Mister Bijou at 9:59 AM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
...For it was Groucho Marx who asked, in the 1933 classic Duck Soup, “Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?”Sean Spicer is a Groucho Marxist, asking us not to believe our own eyes
posted by Mister Bijou at 9:59 AM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
Another:
"Why do people say, 'Grow some balls'? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you want to be tough, grow a vagina." --Betty White
posted by petebest at 10:01 AM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
"Why do people say, 'Grow some balls'? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you want to be tough, grow a vagina." --Betty White
posted by petebest at 10:01 AM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
So what's the best strategy to remind career journalists that have to fit statements into 140 characters not to perform stenography? Ask them to add a Unicode symbol for "maybe disinfo"?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 10:02 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 10:02 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
for his rousing speech
2+2=5
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 10:03 AM on January 22, 2017
2+2=5
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 10:03 AM on January 22, 2017
(and I guess this was occasionally an issue under Obama, but not quite at this scale)
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 10:03 AM on January 22, 2017
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 10:03 AM on January 22, 2017
I think ≠ would work just fine on twitter.
posted by AlexiaSky at 10:05 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 10:05 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
Just got off the phone with my 97 year old New Deal Democrat grandmother. She watched news coverage of the march in St. Louis and is FIRED UP. I didn't even bring it up, she did, and that's all she wanted to talk about. That, and how awful Tinkles is. And I can't say I blame her. She was 20 when World War II started. She's seen the rise of fascism before, and I know if she were younger she'd be fighting too.
posted by gc at 10:08 AM on January 22, 2017 [48 favorites]
posted by gc at 10:08 AM on January 22, 2017 [48 favorites]
So what's the best strategy to remind career journalists that have to fit statements into 140 characters
A link to the actual article where they describe the statements as false. Twitter shouldn't constrain basic journalism.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:09 AM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
A link to the actual article where they describe the statements as false. Twitter shouldn't constrain basic journalism.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:09 AM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
BREAKING: PM Netanyahu says he'll announce major West Bank territory expansion soon.
What, the rest of it?
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:09 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
What, the rest of it?
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:09 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
TINKLES!!
posted by petebest at 10:09 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by petebest at 10:09 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
Every day we will wake up to discover something is missing. Yesterday it was a Leader. Today it's numbers. Tomorrow it's facts. One day it may be Freedom.
posted by guiseroom at 10:10 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 10:10 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
So I thought my FB feed was pretty much void of Conservative viewpoints. I thought most were gone by now because FB is mostly my nice liberal, family cat and kid picture bubble. Not today. A few, all American, have popped up and decided that they need to post things about Libs and Dems being crybabies and don't they realize they lost? articles and videos all coming from right-wing sources.
While annoying this indicates to me that what happened yesterday rattled them and they noticed. This is a good thing.
Oh and the video I've seen posted three times is of a African American vet calling people cry babies.
Now I wonder why they using this? No actually I don't wonder at all. Look everyone! He's a vet! And a black guy! And even he thinks it's ridiculous! We win!
I also usually don't bother replying to these sorts of posts I block or hide and move on. Today every single one is getting a comment about Democracy not starting and ending at a voting booth. TLDR: version No you deal with it.
posted by Jalliah at 10:12 AM on January 22, 2017 [23 favorites]
A link to the actual article where they describe the statements as false.
But sometimes there isn't an article that proves a statement false, yet. This gets back to the English language needing a verb tense for "someone wants this to be a true statement".
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 10:14 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
But sometimes there isn't an article that proves a statement false, yet. This gets back to the English language needing a verb tense for "someone wants this to be a true statement".
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 10:14 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
people having to find other transport
Or having it prearranged. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) arranged buses from Silver Spring. My mother and several visiting members of our extended family took buses arranged by mom's temple. It seems like there were a lot of organizations other than WMATA delivering people to the protest.
posted by jackbishop at 10:17 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Or having it prearranged. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) arranged buses from Silver Spring. My mother and several visiting members of our extended family took buses arranged by mom's temple. It seems like there were a lot of organizations other than WMATA delivering people to the protest.
posted by jackbishop at 10:17 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Here's an attempt at a comprehensive list of marches + attendance (with sources) in progress.
GoogleNumbers
posted by kimdog at 10:20 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
GoogleNumbers
posted by kimdog at 10:20 AM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
What worries me is that it's not blundering. The conspiracy theorist in me says the CIA press conference and the Spicer follow-up ([insert something about being out of evens]) are precursors to a crackdown backed with violence. Even utterly narcissistic and insane gets more credit than that. The man's a billionaire conman, and even if the billionaire part of that isn't true, even just to accomplish that on paper requires a smidgen of acumen at manipulating people. He conned his way into becoming president FFS. Dude ain't stupid.
I'm scared one of these days he's gonna open his mouth, and a machine gun barrel will slide out and kill everyone in the room.
I pray I'm wrong.
No dude ain't totally stupid. He has had some 'success' in the milleu that he has lived. He's 'smart' in that context. What he does has worked in that context. This is a whole other ball game now where whether he thinks it should be or not. The world, the big bad world does not work like one of his business deals. It does not work like his 100 employee Trump org that he's been able to rule like a king. I'm not convinced that he has the ability to take his type of 'smarts' to the level he is now and have things work like he thinks they should.
posted by Jalliah at 10:24 AM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
I'm scared one of these days he's gonna open his mouth, and a machine gun barrel will slide out and kill everyone in the room.
I pray I'm wrong.
No dude ain't totally stupid. He has had some 'success' in the milleu that he has lived. He's 'smart' in that context. What he does has worked in that context. This is a whole other ball game now where whether he thinks it should be or not. The world, the big bad world does not work like one of his business deals. It does not work like his 100 employee Trump org that he's been able to rule like a king. I'm not convinced that he has the ability to take his type of 'smarts' to the level he is now and have things work like he thinks they should.
posted by Jalliah at 10:24 AM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
A budding revolutionary in the Women's March yesterday.
posted by nickyskye at 10:29 AM on January 22, 2017 [53 favorites]
posted by nickyskye at 10:29 AM on January 22, 2017 [53 favorites]
TFW your man crush breaks your heart.
@wikileaks:
Trump's breach of promise over the release of his tax returns is even more gratuitous than Clinton concealing her Goldman Sachs transcripts.
posted by chris24 at 10:33 AM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
@wikileaks:
Trump's breach of promise over the release of his tax returns is even more gratuitous than Clinton concealing her Goldman Sachs transcripts.
posted by chris24 at 10:33 AM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
A budding revolutionary in the Women's March yesterday.
I just died from cuteness. Hands down my favourite sign now.
posted by Jalliah at 10:34 AM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
I just died from cuteness. Hands down my favourite sign now.
posted by Jalliah at 10:34 AM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
a verb tense for "someone wants this to be a true statement".
Trumpery: statements made in the indicative counterfactual.
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:34 AM on January 22, 2017 [25 favorites]
Trumpery: statements made in the indicative counterfactual.
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:34 AM on January 22, 2017 [25 favorites]
The question now is does he believe this shit or is he trying to create his own reality and are we going to do about it?
It's the full-on, personality-disordered culmination of the neoconservative power fantasies that set the course of the Bush administration:
"[Rove] said that guys like me were 'in what we call the reality-based community,' which he defined as people who 'believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.' I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. 'That's not the way the world really works anymore.' He continued, 'We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality—judiciously, as you will—we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors … and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.' " -Ron Suskind
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 10:41 AM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
It's the full-on, personality-disordered culmination of the neoconservative power fantasies that set the course of the Bush administration:
"[Rove] said that guys like me were 'in what we call the reality-based community,' which he defined as people who 'believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.' I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. 'That's not the way the world really works anymore.' He continued, 'We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality—judiciously, as you will—we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors … and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.' " -Ron Suskind
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 10:41 AM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
@wikileaks:
Trump's breach of promise over the release of his tax returns is even more gratuitous than Clinton concealing her Goldman Sachs transcripts.
Failing to disclose levels of tax fraud beyond reason, and crushing debts owed to the Russian mob and China as part of a wider scam to slither into the POTUS chair . . . Text of speech to bankers . . . hmmmmm . . . Well, ya just might have a point there Jules. Mmm. Just might have the barest, almost imperceptible slight of a point there.
Have a cookie.
posted by petebest at 10:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump's breach of promise over the release of his tax returns is even more gratuitous than Clinton concealing her Goldman Sachs transcripts.
Failing to disclose levels of tax fraud beyond reason, and crushing debts owed to the Russian mob and China as part of a wider scam to slither into the POTUS chair . . . Text of speech to bankers . . . hmmmmm . . . Well, ya just might have a point there Jules. Mmm. Just might have the barest, almost imperceptible slight of a point there.
Have a cookie.
posted by petebest at 10:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just posted on my wall a list of essentially Fake - news sites run by Makedonian seljak teen-aged Trolls and said 'It's nice to notice that my friends both on the left and the right persist in sharing these worthless sites. Just stop it!
Next is going to be a comparison of Biblical and Shari'a law with a quiz to see which of my right wing Christian FB friends even know the difference. I will offer to share their bigot memes if they get the quiz right.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 10:47 AM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
Next is going to be a comparison of Biblical and Shari'a law with a quiz to see which of my right wing Christian FB friends even know the difference. I will offer to share their bigot memes if they get the quiz right.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 10:47 AM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
Trump inauguration rabbi attacked with antisemitic hate speech
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:54 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:54 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
This is good. This is really good. Sunday Paper. Huge headlines and pictures. People see these things just walking by newstands. No reading necessary. Also good that this is what is headlining, on a Sunday right after the Inauguration. Thunder has been stolen/taken back (depending on perspective)
On Sunday front pages, women around the country come ‘out in force’
posted by Jalliah at 10:55 AM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
Breach of promise? It is hard to take when you find out he's just not that into you.
posted by ckape at 10:57 AM on January 22, 2017
posted by ckape at 10:57 AM on January 22, 2017
If for no other reason than the role we play at the UN vetoing resolutions that would negatively affect Israel.
Nevertheless looney tunes like Michelle Bachman have threatened to start their own U.N. and kick them out of Manhattan because of the recent anti-Israel UN resolution, and some of Trump's statements sound vaguely like these kinds of noises. (BTW wasn't Bibi supposed to release some "evidence" re: Obama's involvement?)
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 11:06 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Nevertheless looney tunes like Michelle Bachman have threatened to start their own U.N. and kick them out of Manhattan because of the recent anti-Israel UN resolution, and some of Trump's statements sound vaguely like these kinds of noises. (BTW wasn't Bibi supposed to release some "evidence" re: Obama's involvement?)
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 11:06 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump inauguration rabbi attacked with antisemitic hate speech
Those tweets are vile and should be condemmed from the rooftops: separately from other issues. Sadly, it's pretty standard Jpost conflation-by-association of anti-semitic ravings of scum with more legitimate criticism:
Direct quote from the same Jpost article about antisemitic hate speech.
His participation in the ceremony was protested in change.org petition posted by a Los Angeles businesswoman, Myra Stark. The petition read “Hier is the head of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, named for the heroic Nazi-hunter, and the Museum of Tolerance — normalizing Trump with his participation will turn these organizations into a mockery and be a shame on the Jewish name forever,” read the petition. “Apparently, Hier thinks it is acceptable to legitimize and collaborate with a political figure who the KKK is literally marching in the streets to celebrate.”
posted by lalochezia at 11:08 AM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
It looks like the Seattle shooter is scrambling for a self-defence case, and claiming the victim was "some kind of white supremacist". I just want to make the record clear here that Josh has long been a dedicated anti-fascist (down to the very tattoos on his arms!) and he comes from a family of passive resistance: his father was a conscientious objector to the Vietnam war who served as a battlefield medic. Josh may cut his hair short and wear a leather jacket, but he's acted against white supremacy in ways most of us have merely talked.
I just spoke on the phone with his mother (who is a nurse, and had good perspective on his condition) and he is young, strong, and recovering. They're going to do more surgery to close things up soon (modern surgery for this kind of trauma apparently is a game of fixing what you see and letting what you didn't see show itself before you close up), and he is perhaps more eager than the doctors and surgeons would like to get back into the fray.
I am not a fan of lineage and bloodlines as any sort of indication of moral character (after all, look at the people who hold that sort of thing up to the light) but I will confess a sense of pride that I can count this man among my extended relations.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 11:12 AM on January 22, 2017 [129 favorites]
I just spoke on the phone with his mother (who is a nurse, and had good perspective on his condition) and he is young, strong, and recovering. They're going to do more surgery to close things up soon (modern surgery for this kind of trauma apparently is a game of fixing what you see and letting what you didn't see show itself before you close up), and he is perhaps more eager than the doctors and surgeons would like to get back into the fray.
I am not a fan of lineage and bloodlines as any sort of indication of moral character (after all, look at the people who hold that sort of thing up to the light) but I will confess a sense of pride that I can count this man among my extended relations.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 11:12 AM on January 22, 2017 [129 favorites]
We made this public: converting these disclosures from wieldy PDFs into a Google spreadsheet to make them more readily accessible to readers and the press. The data can be found and downloaded here.
Without comment, an excerpt:
Trump Marks Mattress LLC
posted by Sys Rq at 11:12 AM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
Without comment, an excerpt:
Trump Marks Mattress LLC
posted by Sys Rq at 11:12 AM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
rum-soaked space hobo
Thank you for the information about you're cousin. If I ever come up against this narrative I will full on counter it.
I'm glad that he's doing better and looks like he's going to be okay.
You and your family take care.
posted by Jalliah at 11:22 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
Thank you for the information about you're cousin. If I ever come up against this narrative I will full on counter it.
I'm glad that he's doing better and looks like he's going to be okay.
You and your family take care.
posted by Jalliah at 11:22 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
Meanwhile, KellyAnne trying to make "alternative facts" a thing is seriously freaking me out.
I think we can agree that KellyAnne Conway is differently truthful.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:24 AM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
I think we can agree that KellyAnne Conway is differently truthful.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:24 AM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
If I ever come up against this narrative I will full on counter it.
Once they try to co-op the terminology, prepare to be told that you're just giving them the "Alternative Facts"
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:26 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Once they try to co-op the terminology, prepare to be told that you're just giving them the "Alternative Facts"
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:26 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Thanks so much for the update, space hobo. My mom had heard vague reports about the UW shooting when I spoke to her last night and I was able to fill in the details for her based entirely on your reports in this thread. I'm thankful to have you as a source. I'm glad he's getting good care and seems to be recovering. We're thinking about him on the Eastside.
posted by potrzebie at 11:28 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by potrzebie at 11:28 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
rum-soaked space hobo, thank you for the update. It's a relief to hear your cousin's recovering.
Meanwhile in tiny token actions, I'm having an unusually cheerful field day counter-trolling the trolls on the Denver Women's March Facebook page after getting enthusiastically inspired by this tweet yesterday. I've been reusing that messaging and iterating on it with what I can only call a ferocious glee:
"Gosh, I didn't know right wing men cared so much about women's rights in the middle east. You boys should plan your own protest!"
"Yawn. Boring. Sorry your weekend wasn't 1/100th as exciting as ours."
"Awww, did millions of women exercising our first amendment rights hurt your feelings? Go back to your MRA forums, you're boring us here."
"Yawn. 0/10. It looks like you didn't do any of the reading for this weekend's democracy pop quiz."
But really, telling them they're boring everyone is so very satisfying. Facebook has so very many yawn stickers. I had no idea.
posted by deludingmyself at 11:30 AM on January 22, 2017 [22 favorites]
Meanwhile in tiny token actions, I'm having an unusually cheerful field day counter-trolling the trolls on the Denver Women's March Facebook page after getting enthusiastically inspired by this tweet yesterday. I've been reusing that messaging and iterating on it with what I can only call a ferocious glee:
"Gosh, I didn't know right wing men cared so much about women's rights in the middle east. You boys should plan your own protest!"
"Yawn. Boring. Sorry your weekend wasn't 1/100th as exciting as ours."
"Awww, did millions of women exercising our first amendment rights hurt your feelings? Go back to your MRA forums, you're boring us here."
"Yawn. 0/10. It looks like you didn't do any of the reading for this weekend's democracy pop quiz."
But really, telling them they're boring everyone is so very satisfying. Facebook has so very many yawn stickers. I had no idea.
posted by deludingmyself at 11:30 AM on January 22, 2017 [22 favorites]
Trump’s new press secretary is in a five-year running feud with Dippin’ Dots [real]
"Astronaut ice cream is the ice cream of the future, period." [fake]
posted by tonycpsu at 11:33 AM on January 22, 2017 [26 favorites]
"Astronaut ice cream is the ice cream of the future, period." [fake]
posted by tonycpsu at 11:33 AM on January 22, 2017 [26 favorites]
Hey, I wonder what Kellyanne Conway had to say about Trump telling lies back last April:
posted by zachlipton at 11:34 AM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
Conway: Trump's “False” Accusations About The Cruz Campaign Show “The Danger Of Just Saying Things That Aren't True." Conway rebuked Trump for lobbing “personal insults at somebody’s wife” as well as for his accusations that Cruz was “committing a felony and breaking a law,” adding that such a comment reveals “the danger of just saying things that aren’t true.” From the April 6 edition of CNN’s Erin Burnett OutfrontThere's also that time she said Trump should "be transparent" and release his tax returns.
posted by zachlipton at 11:34 AM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
Once they try to co-op the terminology, prepare to be told that you're just giving them the "Alternative Facts"
Oh that's already been happening this morning on other issues. I'm not so sure how far this 'alternative facts' thing is going to go for them as a useful tool beyond the diehard base that's locked in. In social media it's already been turned back at them. Sorta opposite of what happened with 'fake news'.
posted by Jalliah at 11:34 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh that's already been happening this morning on other issues. I'm not so sure how far this 'alternative facts' thing is going to go for them as a useful tool beyond the diehard base that's locked in. In social media it's already been turned back at them. Sorta opposite of what happened with 'fake news'.
posted by Jalliah at 11:34 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
chris24: @wikileaks: Trump's breach of promise over the release of his tax returns is even more gratuitous than Clinton concealing her Goldman Sachs transcripts.
We all know it's BULLSHIT that Wikileaks suddenly cares about Trump's taxes, even though they never mentioned them before the election. What, you didn't notice he'd broken the promise on Nov. 7th, Julian?
But we need to call out what they're doing: Wikileaks succeeded in influencing the election in part because it had built up credibility with left-leaning voters with the earlier Iraq War leaks before pivoting to destroying Clinton. Don't forget, the day the Access Hollywood tape leaked, several hours later they started dripping out Podesta's emails even though they'd had them for some time - like they'd held them in reserve to counter anything bad for Trump. But they've squandered a lot of that goodwill, so now they have to build up the facade again for 2020 with these piddly tweets that will do nothing now that he's elected. Hell, I wouldn't even be sure if I leaked Trump's taxes to them they wouldn't low key inform the Trump camp who the leaker is in exchange for vowing not to charge Assange.
posted by bluecore at 11:38 AM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
We all know it's BULLSHIT that Wikileaks suddenly cares about Trump's taxes, even though they never mentioned them before the election. What, you didn't notice he'd broken the promise on Nov. 7th, Julian?
But we need to call out what they're doing: Wikileaks succeeded in influencing the election in part because it had built up credibility with left-leaning voters with the earlier Iraq War leaks before pivoting to destroying Clinton. Don't forget, the day the Access Hollywood tape leaked, several hours later they started dripping out Podesta's emails even though they'd had them for some time - like they'd held them in reserve to counter anything bad for Trump. But they've squandered a lot of that goodwill, so now they have to build up the facade again for 2020 with these piddly tweets that will do nothing now that he's elected. Hell, I wouldn't even be sure if I leaked Trump's taxes to them they wouldn't low key inform the Trump camp who the leaker is in exchange for vowing not to charge Assange.
posted by bluecore at 11:38 AM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
Donald Trump in ‘beginning stages’ of plan to relocate US Israeli embassy to Jerusalem, White House confirms
His press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters on Sunday: "We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject."
An Israeli news outlet earlier reported an anonymous source as saying the announcement on America's embassy moving from Tel Aviv would be made on Monday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to speak with Mr Trump by telephone on Sunday evening.
posted by futz at 11:39 AM on January 22, 2017
His press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters on Sunday: "We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject."
An Israeli news outlet earlier reported an anonymous source as saying the announcement on America's embassy moving from Tel Aviv would be made on Monday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to speak with Mr Trump by telephone on Sunday evening.
posted by futz at 11:39 AM on January 22, 2017
But really, telling them they're boring everyone is so very satisfying. Facebook has so very many yawn stickers. I had no idea.
Have you been seeing variations of 'This was totally sexist. I thought you liberals are against sexism' or "It doesn't count because not all women were invited. Why wasn't Conway there?'
posted by Jalliah at 11:39 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Have you been seeing variations of 'This was totally sexist. I thought you liberals are against sexism' or "It doesn't count because not all women were invited. Why wasn't Conway there?'
posted by Jalliah at 11:39 AM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think we can agree that KellyAnne Conway is differently truthful.
As evidenced by the organic bovine-sourced fertilizer she's so generous with.
posted by Rykey at 11:40 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
As evidenced by the organic bovine-sourced fertilizer she's so generous with.
posted by Rykey at 11:40 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
Opening the swearing-in ceremony for White House staff being broadcast right now Trump appeared to hold up the succession letter from Obama and described it as though it's a novel thing, apparently not realizing that every president sends such a letter to his successor, and smugly announced "and we won't even tell the press what's in it!"
posted by XMLicious at 11:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 11:42 AM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
Can someone explain the why they want to move the Israeli embassy. Who wants this and why? I'm assuming that this is something that Donald is getting from somewhere other then himself. Which President is doing this?
posted by Jalliah at 11:43 AM on January 22, 2017
Have you been seeing variations of 'This was totally sexist. I thought you liberals are against sexism' or "It doesn't count because not all women were invited. Why wasn't Conway there?'
No, although a few posts from pro-lifers about the march not inviting them (links to Ana Navarro were quickly provided), and a few more nuanced concerns from trans women feeling understandably mixed about a whole day of pussy everything messaging. I feel for folks, there. But you guys, I got this great picture of a woman almost skipping down 14th Street in Denver shaking a sign that said "UPPITY TRANS WOMAN" and grinning from ear to ear, and every time I look at it it makes me even happier.
posted by deludingmyself at 11:44 AM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
No, although a few posts from pro-lifers about the march not inviting them (links to Ana Navarro were quickly provided), and a few more nuanced concerns from trans women feeling understandably mixed about a whole day of pussy everything messaging. I feel for folks, there. But you guys, I got this great picture of a woman almost skipping down 14th Street in Denver shaking a sign that said "UPPITY TRANS WOMAN" and grinning from ear to ear, and every time I look at it it makes me even happier.
posted by deludingmyself at 11:44 AM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
chris24: @wikileaks: Trump's breach of promise over the release of his tax returns is even more gratuitous than Clinton concealing her Goldman Sachs transcripts.
We all know it's BULLSHIT that Wikileaks suddenly cares about Trump's taxes, even though they never mentioned them before the election. What, you didn't notice he'd broken the promise on Nov. 7th, Julian?
Maybe this is too speculative, but it might also be Putin's way of reminding Trump that even while he was elected POTUS, he is still a puppet on a string.
posted by mumimor at 11:45 AM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
We all know it's BULLSHIT that Wikileaks suddenly cares about Trump's taxes, even though they never mentioned them before the election. What, you didn't notice he'd broken the promise on Nov. 7th, Julian?
Maybe this is too speculative, but it might also be Putin's way of reminding Trump that even while he was elected POTUS, he is still a puppet on a string.
posted by mumimor at 11:45 AM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
Jalliah, this wikipedia article seems to give a decent background on the topic. Jerusalem Embassy Act
posted by polyhedron at 11:47 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by polyhedron at 11:47 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
Jalilah: my understanding is that this is a way to force a one-state solution in Israel. Something that may or may not be required by certain evangelical eschatologies. (This is sourced from discussions with a family member).
Also what the other posters said.
posted by birdheist at 11:49 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also what the other posters said.
posted by birdheist at 11:49 AM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
Can someone explain the why they want to move the Israeli embassy. Who wants this and why? I'm assuming that this is something that Donald is getting from somewhere other then himself. Which President is doing this?
tl;dr: Middle finger to the arabs. Current US administration supports Israel giving the middle finger to the arabs.
posted by Talez at 11:49 AM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
tl;dr: Middle finger to the arabs. Current US administration supports Israel giving the middle finger to the arabs.
posted by Talez at 11:49 AM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
So. Trump has denied having small hands, a small inauguration crowd and a small penis. I think we all know what's going on here.
Yes. We do.
We know Trump. It's OK. But it's not normal to still be so insecure at 70 years of age.
posted by Effigy2000 at 11:50 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
Yes. We do.
We know Trump. It's OK. But it's not normal to still be so insecure at 70 years of age.
posted by Effigy2000 at 11:50 AM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
I certainly hope the Republicans will pursue any American deaths in Jerusalem with the persistence and tireless vigor that they pursued Benghazi.
posted by Talez at 11:53 AM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Talez at 11:53 AM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
The move of the embassy to Jerusalem will be followed by the final annexation of the remaining Palestinian territories and the permanent establishment of apartheid in Israel. I can't help but think that Iran will react poorly to this and that we will react poorly to Iran.
posted by dis_integration at 11:54 AM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 11:54 AM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
That all being said, I'm pretty sure only David Friedman, and some red shirt marines and consular staff will be working out of Jerusalem at least to begin with.
posted by Talez at 11:56 AM on January 22, 2017
posted by Talez at 11:56 AM on January 22, 2017
"It doesn't count because not all women were invited. Why wasn't Conway there?'
Oh, she was totally invited. For some reason she just didn't want to speak at the huge rally filled with people who hate her boss's guts and would have booed her off the stage, though. [fake]
posted by Rykey at 11:59 AM on January 22, 2017
Oh, she was totally invited. For some reason she just didn't want to speak at the huge rally filled with people who hate her boss's guts and would have booed her off the stage, though. [fake]
posted by Rykey at 11:59 AM on January 22, 2017
CIA officers give mixed reviews of Trump’s strange visit
"A former division chief said: 'It was good that he came, but it came across as very political. He didn’t understand his audience, which is the most apolitical crowd in Washington.' This former official’s first reaction was that 'it was so inappropriate, what he said and where he said it.' But later, after surveying a range of colleagues, he said that the reaction overall was 'a mix of cautious gratitude and bemused acceptance, along with disappointment and worse.' "
Subtext.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:03 PM on January 22, 2017 [30 favorites]
"A former division chief said: 'It was good that he came, but it came across as very political. He didn’t understand his audience, which is the most apolitical crowd in Washington.' This former official’s first reaction was that 'it was so inappropriate, what he said and where he said it.' But later, after surveying a range of colleagues, he said that the reaction overall was 'a mix of cautious gratitude and bemused acceptance, along with disappointment and worse.' "
Subtext.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:03 PM on January 22, 2017 [30 favorites]
How Norman Vincent Peale Taught Donald Trump to Worship Himself [...] "make a true estimate of your own ability, then raise it 10 per cent."
Now I get it. He initiated a recursive algorithm without a termination condition.
posted by painquale at 12:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [37 favorites]
Now I get it. He initiated a recursive algorithm without a termination condition.
posted by painquale at 12:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [37 favorites]
But you guys, I got this great picture of a woman almost skipping down 14th Street in Denver shaking a sign that said "UPPITY TRANS WOMAN" and grinning from ear to ear, and every time I look at it it makes me even happier.
We saw a similar lady with a similar sign skipping and dancing down the streets of DC. She had the most rhapsodic look of joy on her face. We grinned like fools at her and I can't remember but we might have cheered; either way, she was so euphoric I don't know if she heard us. I don't remember most of what she looked like, but I remember that joy.
I hope to live long enough to be part of something else that invokes joy like that again some day.
posted by sciatrix at 12:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [15 favorites]
We saw a similar lady with a similar sign skipping and dancing down the streets of DC. She had the most rhapsodic look of joy on her face. We grinned like fools at her and I can't remember but we might have cheered; either way, she was so euphoric I don't know if she heard us. I don't remember most of what she looked like, but I remember that joy.
I hope to live long enough to be part of something else that invokes joy like that again some day.
posted by sciatrix at 12:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [15 favorites]
Trump special counselor Michael "I've never been to Prague" Cohen wants to know if the handmade pussy hats were made in the US.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:05 PM on January 22, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:05 PM on January 22, 2017 [32 favorites]
Well, Mr. Cohen, ain't I an American? Because I was frantically finishing a hat through almost the whole rally, since my planned lazy day of Inauguration Day knitting mysteriously failed to materialize, and I hope that counts as American enough to them....
posted by sciatrix at 12:09 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by sciatrix at 12:09 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
I don't know how to knit so I didn't have a hat. True Americans would have had tremendous stands at the marches, peddling their beautiful hats to the masses. Missed business opportunity! Sad!
posted by lydhre at 12:16 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by lydhre at 12:16 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Thanks for the embassy move explanation everyone who replied.
So we now have this admin fostering the seeds of direct conflict in Eastern Europe (and by proxy Europe), Israel and area, Iraq again (wtf?) and China and area. Guess all we need now is South America and Africa though Israel would like include parts of Northern Africa.
Fun times.
posted by Jalliah at 12:17 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Israel approves settlement homes following Trump inauguration - BBC News
posted by schmod at 12:18 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by schmod at 12:18 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
Armando Iannucci, creator of Veep and The Thick of It, writes an open letter to Trump. Lots of great stuff in there but here's probably my favourite paragraph.
"And that rigged election: you had evidence the election was rigged against you and you were going to lose, and then, when you won it fair and square, you had proof you would have won it even more fairly and squarely had it not been rigged against you so you couldn’t win so bigly. And now they say the Russians rigged the election, and you say the election wasn’t rigged, it was never rigged, and you’ve been saying for months: it was never rigged."
posted by Effigy2000 at 12:22 PM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
"And that rigged election: you had evidence the election was rigged against you and you were going to lose, and then, when you won it fair and square, you had proof you would have won it even more fairly and squarely had it not been rigged against you so you couldn’t win so bigly. And now they say the Russians rigged the election, and you say the election wasn’t rigged, it was never rigged, and you’ve been saying for months: it was never rigged."
posted by Effigy2000 at 12:22 PM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
Well, Mr. Cohen, ain't I an American? Because I was frantically finishing a hat through almost the whole rally, since my planned lazy day of Inauguration Day knitting mysteriously failed to materialize, and I hope that counts as American enough to them....
I just told him they weren't made in America. Everyone took overseas trips, knit super fast in hotel rooms and came back.
posted by Jalliah at 12:22 PM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
I just told him they weren't made in America. Everyone took overseas trips, knit super fast in hotel rooms and came back.
posted by Jalliah at 12:22 PM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
How Norman Vincent Peale Taught Donald Trump to Worship Himself [...] "make a true estimate of your own ability, then raise it 10 per cent."
Now I get it. He initiated a recursive algorithm without a termination condition.
Those things usually eat up all the resources until the system freezes.
posted by ZeusHumms at 12:24 PM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
Now I get it. He initiated a recursive algorithm without a termination condition.
Those things usually eat up all the resources until the system freezes.
posted by ZeusHumms at 12:24 PM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
Add knitters to the list people that this admin has disparaged. Dude, seriously you don't want to piss off knitters.
posted by Jalliah at 12:25 PM on January 22, 2017 [40 favorites]
posted by Jalliah at 12:25 PM on January 22, 2017 [40 favorites]
Roger Angell on the inauguration and the Women's March: "I wondered if I could imagine Donald Trump himself marching in such company and losing himself in a great multitude—a dot in the photo, full of conviction and hope. I couldn’t see it. I couldn’t find him anywhere."
posted by gladly at 12:29 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by gladly at 12:29 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
Little Denton, tx, home of Texas Woman's university, fielded an estimated 2500 people, with a strong contingent of ladies of certain age, many in our alma mater colors.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 12:29 PM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 12:29 PM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
Women’s March Was Second-Busiest Day In History Of Washington, D.C., Metro
The Washington, D.C., metro system saw its second-busiest day ever Saturday when hundreds of thousands of people turned out for the Women’s March.
People took 1,001,613 rides Saturday, according to NBC4. For President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009, the metro system had its highest ridership, with 1.12 million trips.
The count was significantly lower on Friday, the day President Donald Trump held his inauguration festivities. There were approximately 600,000 trips that day.
Spin on that Spicer
posted by futz at 12:30 PM on January 22, 2017 [25 favorites]
The Washington, D.C., metro system saw its second-busiest day ever Saturday when hundreds of thousands of people turned out for the Women’s March.
People took 1,001,613 rides Saturday, according to NBC4. For President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009, the metro system had its highest ridership, with 1.12 million trips.
The count was significantly lower on Friday, the day President Donald Trump held his inauguration festivities. There were approximately 600,000 trips that day.
Spin on that Spicer
posted by futz at 12:30 PM on January 22, 2017 [25 favorites]
with a strong contingent of ladies of certain age
I recently learned that Granarchists are a thing that exists. The grey bloc...
posted by Buntix at 12:38 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
I recently learned that Granarchists are a thing that exists. The grey bloc...
posted by Buntix at 12:38 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
a verb tense for "someone wants this to be a true statement".
Present regressive: Used to indicate a falsehood that is treated as true in order to justify the speaker's actions or beliefs.
posted by Tsuga at 12:38 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Present regressive: Used to indicate a falsehood that is treated as true in order to justify the speaker's actions or beliefs.
posted by Tsuga at 12:38 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
I believe we should look at Jack Kirby, the creator of Captain America, and what he thought about punching Nazis. (And as we all know, his birth name was Jacob Kurtzburg, and his parents were Austrian Jews. I suspect he had very strong feelings on the matter.)
posted by mephron at 12:39 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by mephron at 12:39 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
The count was significantly lower on Friday, the day President Donald Trump held his inauguration festivities. There were approximately 600,000 trips that day.
i mean it's no secret that Trump voters hate the grand nazi communist conspiracy that is mass transit. they probably just all got to the mall in their milsurp APCs or whatever it is suburban republicans are driving these days.
posted by indubitable at 12:39 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
i mean it's no secret that Trump voters hate the grand nazi communist conspiracy that is mass transit. they probably just all got to the mall in their milsurp APCs or whatever it is suburban republicans are driving these days.
posted by indubitable at 12:39 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
@foxmaxfox:
Okay this is a note posted at my grandma's retirement community, apparently 50 people came and her 101 y/o friend marched too, I'm melting
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:40 PM on January 22, 2017 [42 favorites]
Okay this is a note posted at my grandma's retirement community, apparently 50 people came and her 101 y/o friend marched too, I'm melting
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:40 PM on January 22, 2017 [42 favorites]
I certainly hope the Republicans will pursue any American deaths in Jerusalem with the persistence and tireless vigor that they pursued Benghazi.
This has been my response to anyone bringing up the proposed embassy move to Jerusalem, particularly after the recent threat to cut critical security & construction funds in half till it's done. Interesting that my conservative relatives, who wouldn't shut up about Benghazi, don't care and can't see the hypocrisy.
If they keep this up, I wouldn't be surprised if State starts to see a lot of very vocal resignations. Career FSOs, like the career CIA agents mentioned up thread, really do pride themselves on being non-political and having a strong sense of duty - but eventually many are going to say it's just not worth it anymore. Why should they put their necks on the line?
posted by photo guy at 12:44 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
This has been my response to anyone bringing up the proposed embassy move to Jerusalem, particularly after the recent threat to cut critical security & construction funds in half till it's done. Interesting that my conservative relatives, who wouldn't shut up about Benghazi, don't care and can't see the hypocrisy.
If they keep this up, I wouldn't be surprised if State starts to see a lot of very vocal resignations. Career FSOs, like the career CIA agents mentioned up thread, really do pride themselves on being non-political and having a strong sense of duty - but eventually many are going to say it's just not worth it anymore. Why should they put their necks on the line?
posted by photo guy at 12:44 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
There is a women's march thread added this morning, for those who may have missed it.
posted by slipthought at 12:45 PM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by slipthought at 12:45 PM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
Merriam-Webster throwing shade Conway's way.
As another reader tweeted: When the dictionary is trolling you, you might want to reconsider everything in your life.
posted by zakur at 12:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [29 favorites]
As another reader tweeted: When the dictionary is trolling you, you might want to reconsider everything in your life.
posted by zakur at 12:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [29 favorites]
Worth noting: Metro ran a rush-hour schedule the entire day during Obama's first inauguration.
Yesterday, they only added a few extra trains to accommodate the Women's March, having lowballed the estimates for the number of people who were going to attend (like everybody else did). There were some very long waits, and very crowded trains.
There's no doubt in my mind that more people tried to use Metro yesterday than during Obama's first inauguration. The attendance for the march was truly spectacular.
posted by schmod at 12:53 PM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
Yesterday, they only added a few extra trains to accommodate the Women's March, having lowballed the estimates for the number of people who were going to attend (like everybody else did). There were some very long waits, and very crowded trains.
There's no doubt in my mind that more people tried to use Metro yesterday than during Obama's first inauguration. The attendance for the march was truly spectacular.
posted by schmod at 12:53 PM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
One of my favorite directors personally smacked down a neo-Nazi on Twitter. As much as I've been let down by certain public figures this year and the last, it feels good when so many other people whose work I admire are on the right side.
It was great to see how well the marches went. It gives me hope to see so many different people from so many different walks of life lining up to fight this. We are many and we are powerful and we need to fight like hell in 2018 and 2020 and before.
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 1:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
It was great to see how well the marches went. It gives me hope to see so many different people from so many different walks of life lining up to fight this. We are many and we are powerful and we need to fight like hell in 2018 and 2020 and before.
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 1:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
Crowd follows Pat McCrory down Washington alley shouting ‘shame’
A video posted on Facebook appears to show North Carolina’s former governor, Pat McCrory, and Fox Business Network broadcaster Lou Dobbs being followed down a Washington alley as a group of people shout “shame” and “antigay bigot.” Some stronger language is used as well.
more of this please.
posted by futz at 1:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [35 favorites]
A video posted on Facebook appears to show North Carolina’s former governor, Pat McCrory, and Fox Business Network broadcaster Lou Dobbs being followed down a Washington alley as a group of people shout “shame” and “antigay bigot.” Some stronger language is used as well.
more of this please.
posted by futz at 1:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [35 favorites]
Would you trust the veracity of any Trump-releated documents leaked by Wikileaks at this point?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 1:08 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 1:08 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
Trump's inauguration - Leaked Invitation
posted by porn in the woods at 1:10 PM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by porn in the woods at 1:10 PM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
Now I get it. He initiated a recursive algorithm without a termination condition.
Those things usually eat up all the resources until the system freezes.
This is the end state of income inequality. At the moment we are almost out of virtual memory.
posted by srboisvert at 1:12 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
Those things usually eat up all the resources until the system freezes.
This is the end state of income inequality. At the moment we are almost out of virtual memory.
posted by srboisvert at 1:12 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
Gramma's community center Women's March note, as linked above by r317, image only, befreed of its twitshackles because it's too beautiful for twitter.
posted by petebest at 1:20 PM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by petebest at 1:20 PM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
And the cycle is complete:
posted by zachlipton at 1:27 PM on January 22, 2017 [36 favorites]
At a reception in the White Housea short time ago, according to the pool report, President Trump spotted FBI Director Comey and called out to him. Comey came over to Trump to shake his hand and then gave Trump a hug before shaking the Vice President's hand.Is it time for that regularly scheduled scream now?
"He's become more famous than me," said Trump.
posted by zachlipton at 1:27 PM on January 22, 2017 [36 favorites]
And now they say the Russians rigged the election, and you say the election wasn’t rigged, it was never rigged, and you’ve been saying for months: it was never rigged."
Yeah he says contrary things on a minute-by-minute basis, because his brain is not functioning within manufacturer's suggested guidelines. He's not well. He's significantly incapacitated as regards cognitive function and is unable to faithfully discharge the duties of his office.
We have to talk about it sooner rather than later. Houston, we have a bit of a problem. There's a demented man in charge of the nuclear order. Please advise, over.
posted by petebest at 1:27 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
Yeah he says contrary things on a minute-by-minute basis, because his brain is not functioning within manufacturer's suggested guidelines. He's not well. He's significantly incapacitated as regards cognitive function and is unable to faithfully discharge the duties of his office.
We have to talk about it sooner rather than later. Houston, we have a bit of a problem. There's a demented man in charge of the nuclear order. Please advise, over.
posted by petebest at 1:27 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
That Alaska video is fantastic. I somehow got cold watching it even though the joy in the crowd was so heartening. This march has been so many orders of magnitude (Pop Pop!) above anything the MAGAtrogs have done.
So inspiring, like, an intake of critically needed air. Thank you marchers.
posted by petebest at 1:37 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
So inspiring, like, an intake of critically needed air. Thank you marchers.
posted by petebest at 1:37 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
Spitbull, that is now my favorite of all the march videos I've seen anywhere. Thank you so much for posting it!
posted by Kat Allison at 1:38 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Kat Allison at 1:38 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
It wasn’t just liberal enclaves. Women’s marches drew surprising numbers in red states and small towns, too
Ashley Donnert was unsure what to expect Saturday before she arrived for the Women’s March in Wichita, Kan. And she was a bit nervous; in her deep-red home state, where pro-Trump slogans and merchandise are a common sight, she is largely outnumbered in her objection to President Trump.
What she found were hundreds, if not thousands, of smiling marchers, chanting as they carried homemade signs demanding equal rights for women and protesting the president.
Pics and videos at the end of the article of various marches.
posted by futz at 1:38 PM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
Ashley Donnert was unsure what to expect Saturday before she arrived for the Women’s March in Wichita, Kan. And she was a bit nervous; in her deep-red home state, where pro-Trump slogans and merchandise are a common sight, she is largely outnumbered in her objection to President Trump.
What she found were hundreds, if not thousands, of smiling marchers, chanting as they carried homemade signs demanding equal rights for women and protesting the president.
Pics and videos at the end of the article of various marches.
posted by futz at 1:38 PM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
Of course while everyone moralised about punching neo-nazis, my cousin was shot while protesting a Milo event.
Friend of mine knows your cousin. Sounds like it was some kind of mistaken identity, they thought he was a neo-Nazi. Which still doesn't excuse shooting people even if he was.
posted by scalefree at 1:41 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Friend of mine knows your cousin. Sounds like it was some kind of mistaken identity, they thought he was a neo-Nazi. Which still doesn't excuse shooting people even if he was.
posted by scalefree at 1:41 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
We have to talk about it sooner rather than later. Houston, we have a bit of a problem. There's a demented man in charge of the nuclear order. Please advise, over.
posted by octobersurprise at 1:43 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
LOL. A former rather senior defense intel person sends: "You HAVE read the 25th Amendment, right Rick? Today was exhibit A."(Found a Dick-punching clip I like even better than the Indy one: spread the word around ...)
— Rick Wilson @TheRickWilson
posted by octobersurprise at 1:43 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
If you have access to Twitter, #fakeBettyWhiteFacts is pretty awesome.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:46 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:46 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
If they keep this up, I wouldn't be surprised if State starts to see a lot of very vocal resignations. Career FSOs, like the career CIA agents mentioned up thread, really do pride themselves on being non-political and having a strong sense of duty - but eventually many are going to say it's just not worth it anymore. Why should they put their necks on the line?
The problem with this is they'll be replaced by Trump loyalists. And then he will have his own Alt-Intelligence Community in fact rather than aspiration. Career people need to stay and do what they can, as long as they can. Getting out leaves the door open to the brownshirts.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:47 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
The problem with this is they'll be replaced by Trump loyalists. And then he will have his own Alt-Intelligence Community in fact rather than aspiration. Career people need to stay and do what they can, as long as they can. Getting out leaves the door open to the brownshirts.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:47 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
During the election season we often wondered who a left-leaning Trump figure might be and whether anyone would support them. Beppe Grillo, the leader of the Italian Five Star Movement is one such asshole politician.
Former comedian, self-declared populist, anti-EU, anti-establishment, authoritarian within the party and its members, social media campaigner, and exactly as infuriating as you'd imagine. Has dominated Italian politics since 2009, as the loudest voice if not the most powerful.
And now this leftist, environmentalist, all-policians-are-corrupt-drain-the-swamper is saying that the world needs "strong men" like Putin and Trump to lead it. Of course.
I guess big egos lean authoritarian no matter the political background.
posted by lydhre at 1:57 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
Former comedian, self-declared populist, anti-EU, anti-establishment, authoritarian within the party and its members, social media campaigner, and exactly as infuriating as you'd imagine. Has dominated Italian politics since 2009, as the loudest voice if not the most powerful.
And now this leftist, environmentalist, all-policians-are-corrupt-drain-the-swamper is saying that the world needs "strong men" like Putin and Trump to lead it. Of course.
I guess big egos lean authoritarian no matter the political background.
posted by lydhre at 1:57 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
President Trump and a room full of people clapping for James Comey (video)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:58 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:58 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm pretty tempted to knit two pussy hats and send them to Melania and Ivanka.
posted by carmicha at 2:07 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 2:07 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
America first, The Netherlands second.
posted by Omon Ra at 2:10 PM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Omon Ra at 2:10 PM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
I'm pretty tempted to knit two pussy hats and send them to Melania and Ivanka.
Don't forget Tiffany.
posted by SisterHavana at 2:10 PM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
Don't forget Tiffany.
posted by SisterHavana at 2:10 PM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
Fuck Comey. He knows very well what he did. He got what he wanted, and he's wriggling away scot-free like the traitorous worm he is.
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 2:14 PM on January 22, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 2:14 PM on January 22, 2017 [29 favorites]
Chuck Todd gets a lot of flak in these parts but he clearly had it up to here with Conway on Meet the Press. Things are off to a rocky start in Trump's America.
posted by Justinian at 2:16 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:16 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
Trump’s new press secretary is in a five-year running feud with Dippin’ Dots [real]
Oh my fucking god, this administration is fractally bizarre. Every time I think I've run out of "WHAT THE FUCK", there's another layer just underneath it that is exactly as "WHAT THE FUCK" as before.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:20 PM on January 22, 2017 [47 favorites]
Oh my fucking god, this administration is fractally bizarre. Every time I think I've run out of "WHAT THE FUCK", there's another layer just underneath it that is exactly as "WHAT THE FUCK" as before.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:20 PM on January 22, 2017 [47 favorites]
It's the type of thing that makes it seem like certain critiques of liberals are quite true, and in any other context metafilter collectively would be ashamed of this focus on style and critique of human bodies.
Ive been thinking hard about this lately and even though I agree comedy and satire can be effective weapons against our enemies the critiques of Trumps physical characteristics feels petty at best and crass at worst. Shits and giggles time is over. I feel like many Americans didn't take Trump seriously and that played right into the republicans hands. It's time to get serious because satire isn't going to save us.
posted by photoslob at 2:21 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Ive been thinking hard about this lately and even though I agree comedy and satire can be effective weapons against our enemies the critiques of Trumps physical characteristics feels petty at best and crass at worst. Shits and giggles time is over. I feel like many Americans didn't take Trump seriously and that played right into the republicans hands. It's time to get serious because satire isn't going to save us.
posted by photoslob at 2:21 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
So! I was at the un-nauguration, then the march.
Facts!
Jan 20 - got to Union Station, wandered down to Columbus Circle. Red line trains were mostly empty, as was the station. Far more protesters than supporters. Got a few good photos with Michele Pred in front of the chiseled model riot police. Wandered around the back of the Capitol, circled around to watch crowds disperse. Even when they started coming out there were more protesters than supporters.
Jan 21 - Holy cow. There were a lot of people around yesterday, although we're far enough up the red line to squeeze on the second train that came. People were cheering every time a full train pulled into the station. We decided to walk from Judiciary Square after missing Union Station due to glee and inattention. Crowds and pink hats everywhere.
We were at the NARAL thing at Tortilla Coast when Lindsey Graham apparently walked in/ducked out (sidenote I've never liked that place and we ended up heading down to Mr. Henry's instead).
Everywhere we went people were wearing pink hats and glee. The mall was more crowded than I've ever seen it except during the Obama inauguration. Literally too packed to move for big sections. Amazing positive energy. Far more children than I've ever seen at a protest. Even the cops were into it. Other than the occasional confused kid in a MAGA hat (of which I saw four or five), the only Trump gear I saw was the two young South Asian women in Trump hats waving at us all and blowing kisses, and a bunch of ironic re-appropriation.
Oof. Now we just have to keep showing up, every. single. day.
posted by aspersioncast at 2:23 PM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
Facts!
Jan 20 - got to Union Station, wandered down to Columbus Circle. Red line trains were mostly empty, as was the station. Far more protesters than supporters. Got a few good photos with Michele Pred in front of the chiseled model riot police. Wandered around the back of the Capitol, circled around to watch crowds disperse. Even when they started coming out there were more protesters than supporters.
Jan 21 - Holy cow. There were a lot of people around yesterday, although we're far enough up the red line to squeeze on the second train that came. People were cheering every time a full train pulled into the station. We decided to walk from Judiciary Square after missing Union Station due to glee and inattention. Crowds and pink hats everywhere.
We were at the NARAL thing at Tortilla Coast when Lindsey Graham apparently walked in/ducked out (sidenote I've never liked that place and we ended up heading down to Mr. Henry's instead).
Everywhere we went people were wearing pink hats and glee. The mall was more crowded than I've ever seen it except during the Obama inauguration. Literally too packed to move for big sections. Amazing positive energy. Far more children than I've ever seen at a protest. Even the cops were into it. Other than the occasional confused kid in a MAGA hat (of which I saw four or five), the only Trump gear I saw was the two young South Asian women in Trump hats waving at us all and blowing kisses, and a bunch of ironic re-appropriation.
Oof. Now we just have to keep showing up, every. single. day.
posted by aspersioncast at 2:23 PM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
Don't forget Tiffany.
Everybody forgetsPoland Tiffany. Hey, did she sing? I, ah, didn't watch.
posted by petebest at 2:26 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Everybody forgets
posted by petebest at 2:26 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is the best analysis I've seen yet of Trump's apparently delusional press strategy this weekend, by an anonymous former administration official and given to an independent journalist on Twitter:
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:27 PM on January 22, 2017 [115 favorites]
If you are puzzled by the bizarre "press conference" put on by the White House press secretary this evening (angrily claiming that Trump's inauguration had the largest audience in history, accusing them of faking photos and lying about attendance), let me help explain it. This spectacle served three purposes:And by best, I mean most troubling in its implications. A White House media strategy is transitioning from Trump's campaigning as a combination of deploying "alternative facts" and "fake news", Trump's preemptively poisoning language (e.g. repeatedly calling his critics "dishonest" and "lying"), and dividing everyone from the electorate to government employees as either supporters or opponents, with no in-between. That McCarthyite brand of demagoguery is horrifying in a president but unsurprising from Roy Cohn's protégé.1. Establishing a norm with the press: they will be told things that are obviously wrong and they will have no opportunity to ask question.s. That way, they will be grateful if they get anything more at any press conference. This is the PR equivalent of "negging," the odiou pick-up practice of a particular kind of horrible person (e.g., Donald Trump).This is laying important groundwork for the months ahead. If Trump's White House is willing to lie about something as obviously, unquestionably fake as this, just imagine what else they'll lie about. In particular, things that the public cannot possibly verify the truth of. It's gonna get real bad.
2. Increasing the separation between Trump's base (1/3 of the population) from everybody else (the remaining 2/3). By being told something that is obviously wrong--that there is no evidence for and all evidence against, that anybody with eyes can see is wrong--they are forced to pick whether they are going to believe Trump or their lying eyes. The gamble here--likely to pay off--is that they will believe Trump. This means that they will regard media outlets that report the truth as "fake news" (because otherwise they'd be forced to confront their cognitive dissonance.)
3. Creating a sense of uncertainty about whether facts are knowable, among a certain chunk of the population (which is taking a page from the Kremlin, for whom this is their preferred disinformation tactic). A third of the population will say "clearly the White House is lying," a third will say "if Trump says it, it must be true," and the remaining third will say "gosh, I guess this is unknowable." The idea isn't to convince these people of untrue things, it's to fatigue them, so that they will stay out of the political process entirely, regarding the truth as just too difficult to determine.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:27 PM on January 22, 2017 [115 favorites]
The thing about Make America Great Again is that it's arguable whether or not it ever has been Great. But things like yesterday's protests show that some of us at least want to Make America Good.
posted by delfin at 2:27 PM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by delfin at 2:27 PM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
This is laying important groundwork for the months ahead. If Trump's White House is willing to lie about something as obviously, unquestionably fake as this, just imagine what else they'll lie about.
Hypothetically, this is where the news media would come in, busting metaphorical heads and taking names.
Metaphorical Chuck Todd would have pictures and official counts (and official counters standing by to weigh in) but the crux of the biscuit would be to bellow "WHY ARE YOU LYING KELLYANNE?! CAN YOU NOT SPEAK THRUTHFULLY FOR ONCE WHEN YOU ARE PROVEN WRONG AT EVERY CONCEIVABLE POINT?! ADMIT IT! SAY IT! SEAN SPICER LIED TO EVERYONE DELIBERATELY AND TERRIBLY! ADMIT IT!
we'll be right back"
But instead he'll whine and fuss and that will be Democracy's defense.
Well, that and millions of kickass women.
posted by petebest at 2:40 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
Hypothetically, this is where the news media would come in, busting metaphorical heads and taking names.
Metaphorical Chuck Todd would have pictures and official counts (and official counters standing by to weigh in) but the crux of the biscuit would be to bellow "WHY ARE YOU LYING KELLYANNE?! CAN YOU NOT SPEAK THRUTHFULLY FOR ONCE WHEN YOU ARE PROVEN WRONG AT EVERY CONCEIVABLE POINT?! ADMIT IT! SAY IT! SEAN SPICER LIED TO EVERYONE DELIBERATELY AND TERRIBLY! ADMIT IT!
we'll be right back"
But instead he'll whine and fuss and that will be Democracy's defense.
Well, that and millions of kickass women.
posted by petebest at 2:40 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
Metaphorical Chuck Todd would have pictures and official counts (and official counters standing by to weigh in) but the crux of the biscuit would be to bellow "WHY ARE YOU LYING KELLYANNE?! CAN YOU NOT SPEAK THRUTHFULLY FOR ONCE WHEN YOU ARE PROVEN WRONG AT EVERY CONCEIVABLE POINT?! ADMIT IT! SAY IT! SEAN SPICER LIED TO EVERYONE DELIBERATELY AND TERRIBLY! ADMIT IT!
we'll be right back"
But instead he'll whine and fuss and that will be Democracy's defense.
He got pretty close to doing the first thing with her this morning.
posted by Jalliah at 2:44 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
we'll be right back"
But instead he'll whine and fuss and that will be Democracy's defense.
He got pretty close to doing the first thing with her this morning.
posted by Jalliah at 2:44 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
I think we need to find a way to combat and counter the disinformation tactic, since it's obviously here to stay and has the potential to do a lot of damage, and we can't count on the media to confront it.
It's a frustratingly effective strategy, and it's why debating hucksters often plays into their hands no matter how well you argue or how much blatantly true evidence you have on your side. It's less about convincing people of their argument and more about spectacle and muddying the waters. That sort of thing is why a qualified scientist can debate a creationist and huge swathes of the audience will come away thinking the creationist won - they don't have or are willfully ignorant to the knowledge needed to understand why the creationist's claims are steaming bull, and they can make things sound good to an outsider even as they lie through their teeth and bend the truth like a balloon animal.
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 2:45 PM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
It's a frustratingly effective strategy, and it's why debating hucksters often plays into their hands no matter how well you argue or how much blatantly true evidence you have on your side. It's less about convincing people of their argument and more about spectacle and muddying the waters. That sort of thing is why a qualified scientist can debate a creationist and huge swathes of the audience will come away thinking the creationist won - they don't have or are willfully ignorant to the knowledge needed to understand why the creationist's claims are steaming bull, and they can make things sound good to an outsider even as they lie through their teeth and bend the truth like a balloon animal.
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 2:45 PM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
I thought Chuck Todd was pretty good. Firmly told her she was lying, without being "overly dramatic" as he was being accused of, wrongly. I would have lost my shit.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:48 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:48 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
and dividing everyone from the electorate to government employees as either supporters or opponents, with no in-between.
If there is organised intent behind it all (not a fan of jumping to conspiracy theories, but at the same time, conspiracies are a thing that do happen) then it seems possible that Trump is essentially (knowingly or otherwise) a wrecking ball aimed smack dab into the middle of the structures of civil society and governance. He is going to destroy it, whether through incompetence [all those unfilled roles, and he can't even marshal the resources of the most powerful country on the earth to make an original, edible, cake] or strategy.
He's already appointed a lot of those at the end of the follow-the-money trail, so they win either way. Even if he does get impeached then the damage will most probably have been done ...in a shock doctrine/disaster capitalism way: break the system, privatise the system. When was the last time anything other than a failing bank was nationalised?
In a way it doesn't matter if there is a conspiracy or just a critical mass of greedy numpty fuckwits, the end result is the same.
posted by Buntix at 2:48 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
If there is organised intent behind it all (not a fan of jumping to conspiracy theories, but at the same time, conspiracies are a thing that do happen) then it seems possible that Trump is essentially (knowingly or otherwise) a wrecking ball aimed smack dab into the middle of the structures of civil society and governance. He is going to destroy it, whether through incompetence [all those unfilled roles, and he can't even marshal the resources of the most powerful country on the earth to make an original, edible, cake] or strategy.
He's already appointed a lot of those at the end of the follow-the-money trail, so they win either way. Even if he does get impeached then the damage will most probably have been done ...in a shock doctrine/disaster capitalism way: break the system, privatise the system. When was the last time anything other than a failing bank was nationalised?
In a way it doesn't matter if there is a conspiracy or just a critical mass of greedy numpty fuckwits, the end result is the same.
posted by Buntix at 2:48 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
Sometimes I do wonder whether it would be more effective if instead of refuting what are clearly lies, the talking heads would just perfect the Jim-looks-to-camera reaction from the Office.
posted by Mchelly at 2:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 2:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
What would be a hell of a statement is if the press would boycott the next press briefing.
posted by slipthought at 2:55 PM on January 22, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by slipthought at 2:55 PM on January 22, 2017 [19 favorites]
Leaving only the Fake Press to cover the briefing and give Badgag Bob high fives? Not a good idea.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:02 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:02 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
Disinformation is something the right has been utilizing for a long time. For long term consequences, just look at public health.
The number of people I hear of being told not to use their families toilet because they have HIV or not to share a drink is astounding. One person is too much, but I hear it over and over.
We see it in vaccinations, we see it in STD testing and in women's health.
It will literally take decades to undo.
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
The number of people I hear of being told not to use their families toilet because they have HIV or not to share a drink is astounding. One person is too much, but I hear it over and over.
We see it in vaccinations, we see it in STD testing and in women's health.
It will literally take decades to undo.
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
Margaret Sullivan nails it: The traditional way of reporting on a president is dead. And Trump’s press secretary killed it.
White House press briefings are “access journalism,” in which official statements — achieved by closeness to the source — are taken at face value and breathlessly reported as news. And that is over. Dead.posted by zachlipton at 3:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [68 favorites]
Spicer’s statement should be seen for what it is: Remarks made over the casket at the funeral of access journalism.
As Jessica Huseman of ProPublica put it: “Journalists aren’t going to get answers from Spicer. We are going to get answers by digging. By getting our hands dirty. So let’s all do that.”
Spicer is taking questions from the podium tomorrow. I'm making popcorn.
posted by Justinian at 3:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 3:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
Oh God. It's going to make Josh Lyman and The Secret Plan To Fight Inflation look like a masterpiece of media management, isn't it?
posted by Major Clanger at 3:11 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Major Clanger at 3:11 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
Please delete if this is already linked above. Yes, H.R 183 "American Sovereignty Restoration Act 2017" was introduced January 3 by Mike Rogers (R - Alabama) & basically wants to repeal the United Nations Participation Act of 1945. PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATORS ON THIS.
posted by yoga at 3:12 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by yoga at 3:12 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
Margaret Sullivan:
posted by schmod at 3:15 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Somebody has to be the grown-up in the room. We’ve just been reminded of who it won’t be.Well. Probably not The Times.
posted by schmod at 3:15 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Foreign Payments to Trump Firms Violate Constitution, Suit Will Claim
posted by zachlipton at 3:15 PM on January 22, 2017 [54 favorites]
A team of prominent constitutional scholars, Supreme Court litigators and former White House ethics lawyers intends to file a lawsuit Monday morning alleging that President Trump is violating the Constitution by allowing his hotels and other business operations to accept payments from foreign governments.The folks behind this are a hell of a legal team, including Lawrence Tribe, Deepak Gupta, and former ethics counsel from both the Bush and Obama administrations.
posted by zachlipton at 3:15 PM on January 22, 2017 [54 favorites]
Trump sent Spicer out to give statement yesterday, a longtime Trump adviser says, but afterwards Trump said "he was terrible."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:16 PM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:16 PM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
I hope Trump goes through Press Secretaries like Spinal Tap through drummers.
posted by Justinian at 3:17 PM on January 22, 2017 [68 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 3:17 PM on January 22, 2017 [68 favorites]
I will say that this lawsuit by CREW seems to have (though far be it for me to contradict such scholars) some pretty serious standing problems, though other groups are trying to find a DC-area hotel that could serve as a plaintiff, where it might be easier to demonstrate injury.
posted by zachlipton at 3:17 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:17 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'd like to just see the press call the lies lies right there in the press conference. Just say "So that is official white house lie?" after every single statement. When asking questions just say "So what is the official white house lie?"
posted by srboisvert at 3:19 PM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 3:19 PM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
I hope Trump goes through Press Secretaries like Spinal Tap through drummers.
I don't. I hope he sticks with the guy who even he thinks is terrible (I don't know why he would, but then I don't know why he does anything he does). New people would just muddy the waters and encourage the "let's give this new pick the benefit of the doubt" deference and softballing by the press.
posted by Rykey at 3:25 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
I don't. I hope he sticks with the guy who even he thinks is terrible (I don't know why he would, but then I don't know why he does anything he does). New people would just muddy the waters and encourage the "let's give this new pick the benefit of the doubt" deference and softballing by the press.
posted by Rykey at 3:25 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
Random DC March experiences:
1) My friend said her hands were cold to us; immediately, a random woman near her handed her gloves.
2) On the drive down, we talked about just how trying to stay informed about what is going on is like a full time job. So overwhelming and daunting (and depressing and scary) to stay informed.
3) Waiting on the Metro platform back to our hotel (~9pm, a mix of marchers and others), a middle-aged man in spandex pants dropped to the ground and did a set of pushups. Five minutes later, a woman in nondescript pants in her 60s dropped to the ground and did TWICE as many pushups to the screams and woos of the entire station. It was incredible.
Was really hoping to meet some MeFis, but it was of course incredibly crowded. Next time.
posted by armacy at 3:25 PM on January 22, 2017 [33 favorites]
1) My friend said her hands were cold to us; immediately, a random woman near her handed her gloves.
2) On the drive down, we talked about just how trying to stay informed about what is going on is like a full time job. So overwhelming and daunting (and depressing and scary) to stay informed.
3) Waiting on the Metro platform back to our hotel (~9pm, a mix of marchers and others), a middle-aged man in spandex pants dropped to the ground and did a set of pushups. Five minutes later, a woman in nondescript pants in her 60s dropped to the ground and did TWICE as many pushups to the screams and woos of the entire station. It was incredible.
Was really hoping to meet some MeFis, but it was of course incredibly crowded. Next time.
posted by armacy at 3:25 PM on January 22, 2017 [33 favorites]
Trump sent Spicer out to give statement yesterday, a longtime Trump adviser says, but afterwards Trump said "he was terrible."
As always, the subtext in the Trump White House's version of Kremlinology is more interesting that the leak itself. If it's authorized, then Trump dispatched a trusted loyalist to distance himself from Spicer's disastrous presser, throwing him under a bus. If not, then someone in Trump's circle decided to shiv Spicer (and not necessarily as a direct attack against him - look at who Spicer's allies are, e.g. Reince Priebus). Either explanation is compatible with Trump's MO. He's just as capable of choosing scapegoats from his staff as promoting friction among them to keep himself on top.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:27 PM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
As always, the subtext in the Trump White House's version of Kremlinology is more interesting that the leak itself. If it's authorized, then Trump dispatched a trusted loyalist to distance himself from Spicer's disastrous presser, throwing him under a bus. If not, then someone in Trump's circle decided to shiv Spicer (and not necessarily as a direct attack against him - look at who Spicer's allies are, e.g. Reince Priebus). Either explanation is compatible with Trump's MO. He's just as capable of choosing scapegoats from his staff as promoting friction among them to keep himself on top.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:27 PM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
Trump sent Spicer out to give statement yesterday, a longtime Trump adviser says, but afterwards Trump said "he was terrible."
As I've mentioned here too many times, I was raised by a narcissist. This is familiar behavior. My prediction is that he will burn through staff at a ridiculous rate. The only ones who stay will be frightened and cowed (e.g., Meredith) or mendacious and narcissistic (e.g., Bannon). This, of course, will create a horribly dysfunctional environment.
My hope is that it will mean little gets done. My fear is that the Bannons on the staff will learn to manipulate Trump (and, if you don't have any emotions of your own, narcissists can be remarkable easy to manipulate) to their own aims -- as Putin has.
posted by mcduff at 3:28 PM on January 22, 2017 [29 favorites]
As I've mentioned here too many times, I was raised by a narcissist. This is familiar behavior. My prediction is that he will burn through staff at a ridiculous rate. The only ones who stay will be frightened and cowed (e.g., Meredith) or mendacious and narcissistic (e.g., Bannon). This, of course, will create a horribly dysfunctional environment.
My hope is that it will mean little gets done. My fear is that the Bannons on the staff will learn to manipulate Trump (and, if you don't have any emotions of your own, narcissists can be remarkable easy to manipulate) to their own aims -- as Putin has.
posted by mcduff at 3:28 PM on January 22, 2017 [29 favorites]
WH Press Secretary Spicer's media grudge began in college (con: Daily Mail. pro: "Sean Sphincter.")
posted by argonauta at 3:32 PM on January 22, 2017
posted by argonauta at 3:32 PM on January 22, 2017
Oh my god. I really hope at some point during Spicer's tenure, some cable news chyron "accidentally" refers to him as 'White House Press Secretary Sean Sphincter.'
posted by sporkwort at 3:36 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by sporkwort at 3:36 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
My prediction is that he will burn through staff at a ridiculous rate.
I'm also waiting for this, it's exactly what happened during the primaries. My only fear is that nothing will stick to the dead-eyed Kellyanne Conway.
posted by Room 641-A at 3:41 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm also waiting for this, it's exactly what happened during the primaries. My only fear is that nothing will stick to the dead-eyed Kellyanne Conway.
posted by Room 641-A at 3:41 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
glitter: http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/lessons-from-playing-golf-with-trump
Apparently he's quite a good golfer, and his golf courses are well-regarded and among the better run businesses he owns, likely because he actually knows and cares about golf. He also lies about his golfing scores, quelle surprise.
posted by nnethercote at 3:46 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
Apparently he's quite a good golfer, and his golf courses are well-regarded and among the better run businesses he owns, likely because he actually knows and cares about golf. He also lies about his golfing scores, quelle surprise.
posted by nnethercote at 3:46 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
More on my cousin:
The latest update I found on the Seattle shooting is that The IWW are raising funds to help pay for his medical care.
There are more details of the events on Friday in this official release from the IWW GDC, which states that he was actively working to de-escalate a conflict when the shots were fired.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:53 PM on January 22, 2017 [25 favorites]
The latest update I found on the Seattle shooting is that The IWW are raising funds to help pay for his medical care.
There are more details of the events on Friday in this official release from the IWW GDC, which states that he was actively working to de-escalate a conflict when the shots were fired.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 3:53 PM on January 22, 2017 [25 favorites]
If you are here (and even if you're not), please also remember that DC is a progressive, largely-minority city with no congressional representation and high vulnerability to congressional meddling. Some unscrupulous people who claim to believe in "local control" have already indicated that they want to overturn the laws the people and elected representatives of this city have passed, something Congress has the legal ability to do. We are right here and very vulnerable and I am very afraid that this city is going to be punished for being liberal and voting against the incoming administration, one full of petty vindictiveness. They're going to fuck with us because they can, because they're powerful and cruel and we're vulnerable and progressive and right here and defenseless.
I have been saying this here for MONTHS. And here we are not even a week into the new administration, they're coming for our locally-enacted gun laws and they're coming for our ability to self-fund abortions. HR 7, Section 309 [pdf link]: Any reference to funds appropriated by Federal law shall be treated as including any amounts within the budget of the District of Columbia that have been approved by an Act of Congress pursuant to section 446 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act (or any applicable successor Federal law).
You see that? Our local district budget is getting lumped in with Federal funds. You need to call your senators and representatives and ask them to lift the DC ban, because despite paying some of the highest taxes in the country, we do not have anyone to vote on our behalf in the legislature. Yes, taxation without representation didn't end with the Revolutionary War, it happens in your nation's capital. Agitate for us. Fight for us. We're doing everything we can but we cannot do it alone.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 3:56 PM on January 22, 2017 [49 favorites]
I have been saying this here for MONTHS. And here we are not even a week into the new administration, they're coming for our locally-enacted gun laws and they're coming for our ability to self-fund abortions. HR 7, Section 309 [pdf link]: Any reference to funds appropriated by Federal law shall be treated as including any amounts within the budget of the District of Columbia that have been approved by an Act of Congress pursuant to section 446 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act (or any applicable successor Federal law).
You see that? Our local district budget is getting lumped in with Federal funds. You need to call your senators and representatives and ask them to lift the DC ban, because despite paying some of the highest taxes in the country, we do not have anyone to vote on our behalf in the legislature. Yes, taxation without representation didn't end with the Revolutionary War, it happens in your nation's capital. Agitate for us. Fight for us. We're doing everything we can but we cannot do it alone.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 3:56 PM on January 22, 2017 [49 favorites]
Cocodrillo: my understanding is that calling someone who isn't your representative is of little value, but I could be wrong. Check out http://indivisibleguide.com/ for much more detail about what actions are and are not valuable.
posted by nnethercote at 4:01 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by nnethercote at 4:01 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is a 20-year-old video of Kellyanne Conway doing a comedy routine and singing in a feather boa
posted by porn in the woods at 4:03 PM on January 22, 2017
posted by porn in the woods at 4:03 PM on January 22, 2017
Fuck her, she doesn't deserve feel good humanizing treatment.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:05 PM on January 22, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:05 PM on January 22, 2017 [21 favorites]
Also: if you are or have any contact with the people behind the various daily/weekly resistance action emails and newsletters, please ask them to include District rights! There are a lot of folks out there who may be unaware of our situation, and every phone call helps!
posted by everybody had matching towels at 4:09 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by everybody had matching towels at 4:09 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
This is a thought-provoking piece: How to Culture Jam a Populist in Four Easy Steps
Populism can only survive amid polarization. It works through caricature, through the unending vilification of a cartoonish enemy. Pro tip: you’re the enemy. Yes, you, with the Starbucks cup. Trump needs you to be the enemy just like all religions need a demon. As a scapegoat. “But facts!”, you’ll say, missing the point entirely.posted by threeturtles at 4:13 PM on January 22, 2017 [36 favorites]
What? 20-year-old Kellyanne Conway did outdoor porn?
This is how fake news starts.
posted by zakur at 4:22 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
This is how fake news starts.
posted by zakur at 4:22 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
So SNL was right on that musical, then?
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:24 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:24 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Gregg Popovich is the man calling out Trump again. Worth reading the link for his comments. And Steve Kerr getting in the act mocking Spicer.
Gregg Popovich on Donald Trump: Can't believe anything he says
@anthonyVslater
Steve Kerr on his in unmemorable, short Magic career: "Sean Spicer will be talking about my career any second. 14,000 points." [video]
posted by chris24 at 4:32 PM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
Gregg Popovich on Donald Trump: Can't believe anything he says
Twenty-one seasons of coaching the San Antonio Spurs have given Gregg Popovich a wealth of experience in dealing with the media. So much, in fact, that he believes newly-sworn-in President Donald Trump can learn a thing or two from him.
"I want to be totally vanilla, whether someone says something great or something bad [about me]," Popovich said before the Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers met Saturday night. "You can't let that affect you. We have somebody in office right now who should take that lesson."
Popovich went on to devote nearly half of his 14-minute media session to describing his disdain for Trump, who was inaugurated Friday.
@anthonyVslater
Steve Kerr on his in unmemorable, short Magic career: "Sean Spicer will be talking about my career any second. 14,000 points." [video]
posted by chris24 at 4:32 PM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
This is a thought-provoking piece: How to Culture Jam a Populist in Four Easy Steps
It's really hard to be patient when people are dying or killing themselves because this is a world that no longer wants them. It takes a lot of strength to not want to knock the block off the people who are causing this situation. I know that I will do exactly zero good for any reason except for satisfaction of some primal notion of vengeance but it still lingers in the back of my mind and I just try to rise above it.
It's entirely fucked up. The sooner we solve this the better. I'll just have to be better about reaching out to people, about helping more people this time around, and hope that enough people also help and that it's enough to make this world a better place.
posted by Talez at 4:35 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
But if you want to be part of the solution, the road ahead is clear: Recognize you’re the enemy they need; show concern, not contempt, for the wounds of those that brought Trump to power; by all means be patient with democracy and struggle relentlessly to free yourself from the shackles of the caricature the populists have drawn of you.Wow this brings me such conflict. One of the things about being a white male aged 18-49 is that I can play by these rules because I'm set. I'm a power broker and I hold all the cards. I don't experience the systemic racism and bigotry that permeates the system so I can easily forgive and empathize because, well, what beef does a Trump supporter have with me personally. They only have a beef with some caricature they've built up in their head of my kind. I can fake being his kind but a black woman can't do that in a million years.
It’s a tall order. But the alternative is worse. Believe me, I know: I’m from Venezuela.
It's really hard to be patient when people are dying or killing themselves because this is a world that no longer wants them. It takes a lot of strength to not want to knock the block off the people who are causing this situation. I know that I will do exactly zero good for any reason except for satisfaction of some primal notion of vengeance but it still lingers in the back of my mind and I just try to rise above it.
It's entirely fucked up. The sooner we solve this the better. I'll just have to be better about reaching out to people, about helping more people this time around, and hope that enough people also help and that it's enough to make this world a better place.
posted by Talez at 4:35 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
Even small town Alabama...
@bobocek
A smaller #WomensMarch in Mentone, Alabama. About 50 people in a town of 360, not too bad. [pic]
Another pic.
posted by chris24 at 4:41 PM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
@bobocek
A smaller #WomensMarch in Mentone, Alabama. About 50 people in a town of 360, not too bad. [pic]
Another pic.
posted by chris24 at 4:41 PM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
NBA coaches are killing it since his election. The NBA is by far the most progressive major sports league, compare with the NFL, where the overlap between fans and Trump voters probably approaches 80%. There'd be major backlash for an NFL coach saying the same things as Pop and Kerr.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:46 PM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:46 PM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
Don't forget about Stan Van Gundy.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/11/09/1595029/-Detroit-Pistons-coach-Van-Gundy-calls-Trump-brazenly-racist-and-misogynistic-and-a-lot-more
posted by birdheist at 4:51 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/11/09/1595029/-Detroit-Pistons-coach-Van-Gundy-calls-Trump-brazenly-racist-and-misogynistic-and-a-lot-more
posted by birdheist at 4:51 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
The Trump administration still hasn't spoken to Germany.
Pretty clear they're prioritizing relations with right wing populist challengers in Europe, and freezing out contact with the EU and non-rightwing elected governments. This should go well.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:52 PM on January 22, 2017 [27 favorites]
Pretty clear they're prioritizing relations with right wing populist challengers in Europe, and freezing out contact with the EU and non-rightwing elected governments. This should go well.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:52 PM on January 22, 2017 [27 favorites]
Since we briefly mentioned Pete Souza Friday, some great images to make you miss the last 8 years even more.
TIME: The Photos We Loved: President Obama Through Pete Souza’s Lens
posted by chris24 at 4:56 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
TIME: The Photos We Loved: President Obama Through Pete Souza’s Lens
posted by chris24 at 4:56 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
How should legitimate news outlets handle this? Jay Rosen says "Send the Interns" (among other cogent points).
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:23 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:23 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm listening in on this call sponsored by MoveOn.org right now (live stream at the link) - it seems to be largely a recap of the Indivisible Guide strategy but I was promised pointers for a day of action on Tuesday to show up in person at my senator's local office and ask her to resist cabinet picks. (Posting immediately in case anyone else wants to listen, since I am a slow comment typer - elaboration to come)
posted by sunset in snow country at 5:34 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by sunset in snow country at 5:34 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
Send a laptop, tell Spicer "It has a webcam, we're recording, proceed" and have it light up different colors with each statement. Green = "True," Red = "Alternative Fact," Paisley = "Wut."
posted by delfin at 5:37 PM on January 22, 2017
posted by delfin at 5:37 PM on January 22, 2017
I'm on the call as well. There's a lot of good stuff, although I'm disappointed that they seem to be surprised and disappointed that a lot of people can't travel to a Congressional office on a Tuesday.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:38 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:38 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
I start my new job on Tuesday and could not get to Elizabeth Warren's office. On the bright side, I've been assigned to the social media committee for my local Indivisible group, so...yay?
posted by pxe2000 at 5:43 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by pxe2000 at 5:43 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
OK. So I'm thinking of asking my coworkers if any of them would like to take a lunch hour with me on Tuesday to go down to DiFi's office for this. My coworkers organized an activism group just after the election, but I'm unsure how much activism has actually taken place. I've been going nuts calling elected officials (I checked my call logs; 47 calls since election day!), but I offhandedly asked the coworker who seemed the most gung-ho who her representative was, several days after we started a group to call our representatives (which hasn't met yet), and she didn't know. Maybe they are doing other things, but I think I'm getting pretty good at this stuff and I want to make it as easy as possible for them to join me. It's a big ask, but I'm hoping people are fired up after the Women's March and will be ready for something big.
(Yeah, their surprise at people not being able to click the "commit" button immediately was weird! I plan to go, but I ain't clicking yes until they tell me what I'm supposed to do there)
posted by sunset in snow country at 5:43 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
(Yeah, their surprise at people not being able to click the "commit" button immediately was weird! I plan to go, but I ain't clicking yes until they tell me what I'm supposed to do there)
posted by sunset in snow country at 5:43 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump struggles to shake his erratic campaign habits
"The truth of the matter is he had a successful inauguration with a respectful crowd. The transition of power went off without a hitch. His supporters were amiable by and large," said Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian. "But then he can never let go and stop watching cable TV. Now he's off to the worst start of a presidency in a very long time."posted by kirkaracha at 5:45 PM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
I understand what to do at a Congressional office, but it would take most of my lunch hour just to get there one way.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:46 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:46 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
WSJ: U.S. Eyes Michael Flynn’s Links to Russia (copy/paste headline into Google to bypass paywall if needed)
Flynn was sworn in today as National Security Advisor.
posted by zachlipton at 5:51 PM on January 22, 2017 [35 favorites]
A key issue in the investigation is a series of telephone calls Mr. Flynn made to Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the U.S., on Dec. 29. That day, the Obama administration announced sanctions and other measures against Russia in retaliation for its alleged use of cyberattacks to interfere with the 2016 U.S. election. U.S. intelligence officials have said Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the hacks on Democratic Party officials to try to harm Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid.This would seem to confirm that Flynn is the fourth of the four campaign/administration people who are subjects of the investigation, as predicted.
Officials also have examined earlier conversations between Mr. Flynn and Russian figures, the people familiar with the matter said. Russia has previously denied involvement in election-related hacking.
Flynn was sworn in today as National Security Advisor.
posted by zachlipton at 5:51 PM on January 22, 2017 [35 favorites]
So we're 56 hours into the Trump administration and U.S. intelligence officials are investigating the president's National Security Adviser. (cite)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:58 PM on January 22, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:58 PM on January 22, 2017 [31 favorites]
Also, I hardly get involved in comment threads with people I KNOW on Facebook, let alone randos, but I HAD to comment on a photo on our local Women's March page of a woman with a sign with this quote from the Prophet Muhammad: "The best of you are those who are best to women." Some awful person had already commented saying that it was "just dumb, LOL" and concern trolling about gay rights. I commented and said "This Japanese American supports Muslim Americans, ignore the haters!", and a couple hours later the woman in the photo came in to thank people for the positive comments and support. She linked to an article about a mosque in Davis that was vandalized (windows smashed, bacon on the door handles) last night while we were marching, and she offered to answer questions via DM about how to support the Muslim community. So, I messaged her! Seems like a small thing, but this is so out of character for me and my Facebook use, and it feels like the Women's March is connecting people and fueling activism beyond the day of the march itself.
posted by sunset in snow country at 6:01 PM on January 22, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by sunset in snow country at 6:01 PM on January 22, 2017 [25 favorites]
Well, allegedly investigating. One of those supposed to be investigating is James "Benedict" Comey, seen today knoodling and blowing kisses to Trump after violating every rule of law and decency to throw the election to him. So all those investigations should be taken with a massive grain of salt. The IC, or at least the FBI, thinks it has its' man, Russia or no Russia. Apparently official Republicans from top to bottom, including much of our security state, happily signed the rest of us up to be a Russian client state because Benghazi, or #AllLivesMatter, or something.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:03 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:03 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh hey, I just noticed that the "We're his problem now" Google spreadsheet has been replaced with a new website: The 65. Thought I'd let everyone know.
posted by obliquity of the ecliptic at 6:05 PM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by obliquity of the ecliptic at 6:05 PM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
Can someone explain the why they want to move the Israeli embassy. Who wants this and why?
Israel wants it, because every other country gets to have embassies in its seat of government, and the reasons for not doing it are basically (a) long-outdated State Department policy of making Jerusalem+environs an "international city"; and (b) because of a fear that Arab countries will pitch a fit. Having the US embassy in Tel Aviv is stupid and a pain because the Israeli government actually is in Jerusalem and this sideshow means that diplomats need to keep driving back and forth. It isn't a major major thing though, even for Israel: it's mostly symbolic, and there are far more pressing things on Israel's mind. E.g., the war in Syria, and its effects on the Israeli ability to contain Hezbollah.
The real question is why the USA should want to move it. I happen to think that the reasons for keeping the embassy in Tel Aviv are outdated and colonialist. The USA should act with dignity, and stand by its friends, and moving the embassy doesn't actually hurt anyone. But it's a pretty trivial matter and it shouldn't even be on a list of the top fifty foreign policy issues. There are real crises in the world today, some of which the US is responsible for, others of which it could usefully help resolve. So why make a big deal of this? I presume it's only because Jared Kushner mentioned it to Trump, and Trump is an idiot, and this sounds like something that a real dealmaker could do when other people are too chicken. Or whatever.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:06 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Israel wants it, because every other country gets to have embassies in its seat of government, and the reasons for not doing it are basically (a) long-outdated State Department policy of making Jerusalem+environs an "international city"; and (b) because of a fear that Arab countries will pitch a fit. Having the US embassy in Tel Aviv is stupid and a pain because the Israeli government actually is in Jerusalem and this sideshow means that diplomats need to keep driving back and forth. It isn't a major major thing though, even for Israel: it's mostly symbolic, and there are far more pressing things on Israel's mind. E.g., the war in Syria, and its effects on the Israeli ability to contain Hezbollah.
The real question is why the USA should want to move it. I happen to think that the reasons for keeping the embassy in Tel Aviv are outdated and colonialist. The USA should act with dignity, and stand by its friends, and moving the embassy doesn't actually hurt anyone. But it's a pretty trivial matter and it shouldn't even be on a list of the top fifty foreign policy issues. There are real crises in the world today, some of which the US is responsible for, others of which it could usefully help resolve. So why make a big deal of this? I presume it's only because Jared Kushner mentioned it to Trump, and Trump is an idiot, and this sounds like something that a real dealmaker could do when other people are too chicken. Or whatever.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:06 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
The media is STILL not getting how to deal with this, and I don't understand why since this has been happening for months. When Trump and his crew lies, the media cover the lie. "OMG he is lying! Let's get a surrogate to defend his lie, and we'll have others who point out that its a lie, and talk about it for 15 minutes on each show for the entire day." No. no no no no no no no. THIS IS WHAT TRUMP WANTS. When he does over-the-top bullshit like this, the question the media needs to ask is "What is he trying to distract us from?"
Yes, the lie itself is important for all of the Orwellian reasons we have already discussed, but it is not the ONLY story; it is a bone that he is throwing to the media wolves so they can gnaw on it while terrible shit is happening on the other side of the room while they are distracted. Trump's adminisration has to be covered by saying "Trump's press secretary lied about his crowd size. His statement is plainly refuted by pictures [show pictures.] This lie is so strange and easily disproven, that we are not going to discuss it further. In other news, American intelligence agencies have intercepted communications and financial transactions as part of a broad investigation into possible links between Russia and associates of the president-elect. "
This scenario is going to repeat itself every fucking time there is bad news that comes out about him. We've shown him that all he has to do is insult John Lewis and the media entirely loses its focus.
posted by gatorae at 6:06 PM on January 22, 2017 [33 favorites]
Yes, the lie itself is important for all of the Orwellian reasons we have already discussed, but it is not the ONLY story; it is a bone that he is throwing to the media wolves so they can gnaw on it while terrible shit is happening on the other side of the room while they are distracted. Trump's adminisration has to be covered by saying "Trump's press secretary lied about his crowd size. His statement is plainly refuted by pictures [show pictures.] This lie is so strange and easily disproven, that we are not going to discuss it further. In other news, American intelligence agencies have intercepted communications and financial transactions as part of a broad investigation into possible links between Russia and associates of the president-elect. "
This scenario is going to repeat itself every fucking time there is bad news that comes out about him. We've shown him that all he has to do is insult John Lewis and the media entirely loses its focus.
posted by gatorae at 6:06 PM on January 22, 2017 [33 favorites]
I have a hunch that Trump's self-aggrandizement in front of a wall dedicated to honoring their deceased colleagues, after calling them Nazis, probably didn't endear him to the CIA.
posted by zachlipton at 6:06 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 6:06 PM on January 22, 2017 [8 favorites]
Pink Floyd's Animals is my official soundtrack for the day.
Roger Waters sent you a little something. (full-screen recommended)
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:13 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
Roger Waters sent you a little something. (full-screen recommended)
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:13 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
The key lesson I'm drawing for the last 48 hours is that, terrible and destructive though he is, Trump is also the weakest link in the new Republican empire. Foreign policy aside, a large proportion of Trump's capacity for domestic destruction is simply via signing the bills Ryan and McConnell ram through Congress as they attempt to dismantle Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the non-military discretionary budget, and existing civil liberty and minority protections. But what we've already learned is that Trump is a huge liability in this -- both erratic, and deeply unpopular. The question then is how we leverage his huge unpopularity to stop or modify the killer bills before they make it onto his desk. He may not care about (or understand) how approval and reelection work, but the members of Congress sure do. The faster and more tightly they can be tied to the sinking ship of Trump, the more hope we have for stopping the armada of legislative disasters that currently have no one but Trump himself standing in their way.
posted by chortly at 6:15 PM on January 22, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by chortly at 6:15 PM on January 22, 2017 [19 favorites]
Let's say Trump is gone tomorrow - like he just decides to fly to Moscow and spend hours declining years with prostitutes and uppers. If he was gone, would that in any way obviate our slide into fascism? Would Pence be able to be as effective a demagogue or is this whole scheme predicated on Donald?
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:18 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:18 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
'Put up the picture again': Chris Wallace uses photos to confront Trump chief of staff over false crowd-size claims
"Take a look at those pictures," Wallace continued, putting up the pictures of Obama's 2009 inauguration and Trump's on Friday. "Which one is bigger?"
"You're also not saying that that picture was taken before he was even speaking," Priebus replied.
"I was there, I was there on the mall," Wallace interjected.
"I was there too, Chris," Priebus said.
Wallace dubbed the conversation "ridiculous," but when Priebus insisted that crowds stretched from the congressional steps to the Washington Monument, Wallace urged his producers to "put up the picture again."
"You can keep putting the picture up, wait a second. I could take an aerial picture right now, Chris, and I can say, 'Look at the difference. If you're not comparing apples to apples, it doesn't matter," Priebus replied.
"It really isn't about crowd size. What it's about is honesty in the media," Priebus said.
(Where have we heard "it's about ethics in journalism" before? Fucking Gamergate was the foul particle the alt-right pearl formed around and it's now it's in the very genetics of the orthodoxy of the regime.)
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:20 PM on January 22, 2017 [58 favorites]
"Take a look at those pictures," Wallace continued, putting up the pictures of Obama's 2009 inauguration and Trump's on Friday. "Which one is bigger?"
"You're also not saying that that picture was taken before he was even speaking," Priebus replied.
"I was there, I was there on the mall," Wallace interjected.
"I was there too, Chris," Priebus said.
Wallace dubbed the conversation "ridiculous," but when Priebus insisted that crowds stretched from the congressional steps to the Washington Monument, Wallace urged his producers to "put up the picture again."
"You can keep putting the picture up, wait a second. I could take an aerial picture right now, Chris, and I can say, 'Look at the difference. If you're not comparing apples to apples, it doesn't matter," Priebus replied.
"It really isn't about crowd size. What it's about is honesty in the media," Priebus said.
(Where have we heard "it's about ethics in journalism" before? Fucking Gamergate was the foul particle the alt-right pearl formed around and it's now it's in the very genetics of the orthodoxy of the regime.)
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:20 PM on January 22, 2017 [58 favorites]
roomthreeseventeen: There's a lot of good stuff, although I'm disappointed that they seem to be surprised and disappointed that a lot of people can't travel to a Congressional office on a Tuesday.
That annoyed the hell out of me. If we as progressives are for working people, don't practice the casual elitism of shaming people who can't pop over to a Congressional office on a weekday.
Otherwise I thought the call was okay, nothing earth shattering. I'll be sharing my notes with friends, though.
posted by Superplin at 6:21 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
That annoyed the hell out of me. If we as progressives are for working people, don't practice the casual elitism of shaming people who can't pop over to a Congressional office on a weekday.
Otherwise I thought the call was okay, nothing earth shattering. I'll be sharing my notes with friends, though.
posted by Superplin at 6:21 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
Sngh. Sngh. Sngh:
Trump’s inaugural cake was commissioned to look exactly like Obama’s, baker says
Don't miss the baker's Instagram about it:
Trump’s inaugural cake was commissioned to look exactly like Obama’s, baker says
Don't miss the baker's Instagram about it:
Excited to share the cake we got to make for one of last night's inaugural balls. While we most love creating original designs, when we are asked to replicate someone else's work we are thrilled when it is a masterpiece like this one. @duff_goldman originally created this for Obama's inauguration 4 years ago and this years committee commissioned us to re-create it. Best part is all the profits are being donated to @humanrightscampaign, one of our favorite charities who we have loved working with over the years. Because basic human rights are something every man, woman and child~ straight, gay or the rainbow in between~ deserve!posted by Joe in Australia at 6:23 PM on January 22, 2017 [18 favorites]
Oh, and all but about 5% was styrofoam. Figures.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:24 PM on January 22, 2017
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:24 PM on January 22, 2017
No country has an embassy in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is not recognised as the capital of Israel by any member of the EU. Nor is it by the UN. Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem is considered a violation of international law. There are plenty of reasons for not moving the US embassy to Jerusalem. (At least not until the Israeli government ceases building settlements and withdraws from the occupied territories and comes to an agreement on Palestinian statehood, which it looks like they're never going to do.)
posted by Pseudonymous Cognomen at 6:25 PM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by Pseudonymous Cognomen at 6:25 PM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
CTL-F STYROFOAM FOR PREVIOUS SNARKAGE
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:26 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:26 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
FelliniBlank: "Pink Floyd's Animals is my official soundtrack for the day.
Roger Waters sent you a little something. (full-screen recommended)"
Heh, I love the FB commenters who want Waters to stay out of politics as if they hadn't listened to anything he's written over the last 45 years.
posted by octothorpe at 6:28 PM on January 22, 2017 [17 favorites]
Roger Waters sent you a little something. (full-screen recommended)"
Heh, I love the FB commenters who want Waters to stay out of politics as if they hadn't listened to anything he's written over the last 45 years.
posted by octothorpe at 6:28 PM on January 22, 2017 [17 favorites]
There are plenty of reasons for not moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.
But what about the job creation that accompanies all that private security looking after one apartheid loving asshole of an ambassador in a now volatile situation? That's exactly the platform Trump ran on!
posted by Talez at 6:29 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
But what about the job creation that accompanies all that private security looking after one apartheid loving asshole of an ambassador in a now volatile situation? That's exactly the platform Trump ran on!
posted by Talez at 6:29 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
If he was gone, would that in any way obviate our slide into fascism?
Trump's cult of personality is definitely driving a lot of the worst behavior, Jeb! surely wouldn't have had the same effect on say, the altright feeling emboldened. But Democratic weakness is still there, all things equal (Comey and Russia included), Hilary loses to any Republican candidate if she lost to fucking Trump. Removing Trump would stop some of the norm erosion, probably. That's probably all. There's a lot more work to do rebuilding the party from the bottom even if he keels over tomorrow.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:32 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump's cult of personality is definitely driving a lot of the worst behavior, Jeb! surely wouldn't have had the same effect on say, the altright feeling emboldened. But Democratic weakness is still there, all things equal (Comey and Russia included), Hilary loses to any Republican candidate if she lost to fucking Trump. Removing Trump would stop some of the norm erosion, probably. That's probably all. There's a lot more work to do rebuilding the party from the bottom even if he keels over tomorrow.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:32 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
I find this strangely hypnotic. I just zoned out on it.
The Trumps at the Lincoln memorial.
posted by Jalliah at 6:32 PM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
Hey, is the image used by Waters at 8m41s in from Mathowie's guns ---> dildos project?
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:35 PM on January 22, 2017
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:35 PM on January 22, 2017
"It really isn't about crowd size. What it's about is honesty in the media," Priebus said.
How could anyone with a pulse not come back with "No, it's about honesty in the Trump administration"?
posted by thelonius at 6:37 PM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
How could anyone with a pulse not come back with "No, it's about honesty in the Trump administration"?
posted by thelonius at 6:37 PM on January 22, 2017 [11 favorites]
and this sounds like something that a real dealmaker could do when other people are too chicken. Or whatever.
Expect a lot of this sort of thing from Trumpistan. He actually just pissed off a lot of people, he just doesn't know it yet and likely won't care when he finds out. But its a small thing with big symbolic value that makes him look like a bold actor, so WIN!!!!!
posted by Bringer Tom at 6:37 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Expect a lot of this sort of thing from Trumpistan. He actually just pissed off a lot of people, he just doesn't know it yet and likely won't care when he finds out. But its a small thing with big symbolic value that makes him look like a bold actor, so WIN!!!!!
posted by Bringer Tom at 6:37 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
We've been doing the Tuesdays thing here in PA for the past few weeks (it started in Philly). If you can't go, send a letter with someone who is going. That's what I've been doing, since January is a very busy month for me at work and I don't work downtown so I'd need to take a long lunch. I will go next month at least once, but I can't be a regular. I am a regular letter-sender-alonger, though (and I do some moderate tech and admin stuff for the local leaders).
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:37 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:37 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
The MoveOn conference call linked by roomthreeseventeen upthread is wrapping up right now, and it was fucking fantastic.
Tonight's main takeaway:
Every Tuesday in the first 100 days of Trump's term, people across the country will be visiting their Senators' offices to tell them to reject that week's bit of bullshit (this week: Stop the Swamp Cabinet—you can see how to join up with others in your area who are going).
I'm super stoked to be riding the momentum of yesterday's marches thanks to efforts like these. Thanks!
posted by Rykey at 6:38 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
Tonight's main takeaway:
Every Tuesday in the first 100 days of Trump's term, people across the country will be visiting their Senators' offices to tell them to reject that week's bit of bullshit (this week: Stop the Swamp Cabinet—you can see how to join up with others in your area who are going).
I'm super stoked to be riding the momentum of yesterday's marches thanks to efforts like these. Thanks!
posted by Rykey at 6:38 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
A Rob-Ford-Beat Reporter’s Advice to the Scribes Covering Donald Trump (Toronto Star) Its broad points are: 1. Lack of shame is a political stun gun; 2. Don’t count on your competitors; 3. Being blackballed has its benefits; 4. Don’t get sucked into “war” games; and 5. Video or it didn’t happen.
It's also a reminder that while international Trumpists would like to imply his victory is part of a global swing to right-wing populism, he has a lot in common with recent past examples, such as Rob Ford, Hugo Chavez, and Silvio Berlusconi.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:41 PM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
It's also a reminder that while international Trumpists would like to imply his victory is part of a global swing to right-wing populism, he has a lot in common with recent past examples, such as Rob Ford, Hugo Chavez, and Silvio Berlusconi.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:41 PM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
Every Tuesday in the first 100 days of Trump's term, people across the country will be visiting their Senators' offices to tell them to reject that week's bit of bullshitI'm genuinely curious about who can even do that.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:42 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
After seeing that video, I've never been prouder to be a Floyd fan.
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 6:47 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by thedarksideofprocyon at 6:47 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm genuinely curious about who can even do that.
Retirees, for starters.
posted by perspicio at 6:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
Retirees, for starters.
posted by perspicio at 6:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
> I'm pretty tempted to knit two pussy hats and send them to Melania and Ivanka.
Don't forget Tiffany.
Hell, I'd send one to Barron too.
....And - know what I was saying upthread about calling your representatives lots? Calling them and telling them "actually, contrary to what Trump thinks, I DO care about what's in his tax return" may achieve something as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
Don't forget Tiffany.
Hell, I'd send one to Barron too.
....And - know what I was saying upthread about calling your representatives lots? Calling them and telling them "actually, contrary to what Trump thinks, I DO care about what's in his tax return" may achieve something as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
>This is the best analysis I've seen yet of Trump's apparently delusional press strategy this weekend, by an anonymous former administration official and given to an independent journalist on Twitter:
you know, at least when people claimed whatever Obama was doing was 11-dimensional chess, it was halfway plausible, given the man's obvious intelligence. this just seems like a fancier version of Scott Adams proclaiming Trump a "master persuader".
posted by indubitable at 6:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
you know, at least when people claimed whatever Obama was doing was 11-dimensional chess, it was halfway plausible, given the man's obvious intelligence. this just seems like a fancier version of Scott Adams proclaiming Trump a "master persuader".
posted by indubitable at 6:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm genuinely curious about who can even do that
They mean the local offices. So anyone who lives in the cities and towns where there are local offices (our rep has six offices statewide, usually located in downtown or central business districts, so people visit on their lunch hours).
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:50 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
They mean the local offices. So anyone who lives in the cities and towns where there are local offices (our rep has six offices statewide, usually located in downtown or central business districts, so people visit on their lunch hours).
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:50 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
soren_lorensen, even if they Do mean that, do people even get an hour for lunch anymore? And if they do, you need to factor in transportation back and forth. Like I said above, with an hour, I'd get most of the way there before I'd have to go back to work. The entire bit about videotaping and meeting with people, there's just no time for most people to do that.
I appreciate everything these folks are doing. But we need to be more creative and realistic.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:54 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
I appreciate everything these folks are doing. But we need to be more creative and realistic.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:54 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
> I'm genuinely curious about who can even do that.
I got laid off last week and have oodles of free time but I promised my depression that we'd stay in bed all day and rewatch Battlestar Galactica pantslessly.
posted by guiseroom at 6:58 PM on January 22, 2017 [42 favorites]
I got laid off last week and have oodles of free time but I promised my depression that we'd stay in bed all day and rewatch Battlestar Galactica pantslessly.
posted by guiseroom at 6:58 PM on January 22, 2017 [42 favorites]
Roger Waters sent you a little something. (full-screen recommended)"
That makes even me love Roger Waters a little bit.
I think the most important thing is to remember this day.
Saturday was hope and rebellions are built on hope.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:03 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
That makes even me love Roger Waters a little bit.
I think the most important thing is to remember this day.
Saturday was hope and rebellions are built on hope.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:03 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
So anyone who lives in the cities and towns where there are local offices (our rep has six offices statewide, usually located in downtown or central business districts, so people visit on their lunch hours).It would take me about an hour to get to the nearest office of either of my senators. I can't take a two-hour lunch break.
I'm a little concerned that they're taking the idea of co-opting the Tea Party playbook a little too literally and not focusing on the demographic differences between Tea Party supporters and Trump resisters. I think that fewer of us are retired, and getting to a senator's office on a weekday is not feasible for a lot of working people.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:08 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
> I'm pretty tempted to knit two pussy hats and send them to Melania and Ivanka.
Don't forget Tiffany.
Hell, I'd send one to Barron too.
I think there should be a national campaign to send Trump and other prominent Deplorables tiny orange penis hats.
i.e., Dickhead hats.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:11 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Don't forget Tiffany.
Hell, I'd send one to Barron too.
I think there should be a national campaign to send Trump and other prominent Deplorables tiny orange penis hats.
i.e., Dickhead hats.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:11 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm bummed that they seem to have communicated that this is the only thing anyone should concentrate on doing. It's one thing that has been happening here in PA (Philly terminally gets 100+ people showing up, we've had around 40 each time in Pittsburgh) and there are people who can go do it and people who can't (I can't usually because I work in another part of town) and people who can't have other things we can work on doing. This was sort of a grassroots thing here where a few women just started showing up and it snowballed. It's kind of turned into a bit if political theatre because they never actually let anyone in the building at the Philly office. Here in Pittsburgh they usually don't but we've got a slot for five people to go up this week. Those people who actually go in (between zero and a few people, usually zero) are prearranged volunteers, everyone else will stand around outside for a bit, have a photo op, and those who have to get back to work go back to work.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:17 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:17 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
I also attended the MoveOn call. I'm in the same boat as many of you in that I can't take 2 hours off work to go downtown and drop by my senators' offices (I can barely get away to make a phone call and have been calling after hours and leaving voice mail instead). The trainers did mention at the end that the week of Feb. 20-24 is one where members of Congress are likely to have local events in the evenings and on weekends. There also be a lot of these types of events in the summer. And some MOCs in my area, notably the Republican reps, have conference calls rather than town halls (they learned from the Tea Party and try to avoid meeting their constituents face to face). Other reps might do the same, which could be more accessible for some folks.
posted by zenzicube at 7:20 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zenzicube at 7:20 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also, there are a lot of liberal retired people. A lot. There were vast numbers of grannies at the march in D.C., and I think a lot of them haven't been very politically active for a long time, but they are activated now. This isn't a youngs vs. olds thing. If we've got retired folks on our side, good. Give them marching orders.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:21 PM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:21 PM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
I've also noticed a lot of retired folks, especially women, in the various activist groups that have sprung up in my area. Many are taking leadership positions.
posted by zenzicube at 7:23 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by zenzicube at 7:23 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
I can't go on Tuesday either, and I thought it was really short notice too, but seriously, this is where the left gets it wrong and the right laugh from atop their steamrollers. You start where you're at, invite everybody to join you, take who's able and willing to show up, and move ahead. Then you do it again, and again, and again, until something gives. If other people have better ideas, they do theirs and see you at their rally (or not), but what you don't do is wait for conditions and allies to be perfect to act.
If Bush hadn't invaded Iraq, and the Tea Party hadn't taken their party by storm, and Trump wasn't President, we could chalk up this kind of quibbling to ignorance. But he did, and they did, and he is, so we need to notice how they succeeded and get out of our own way sometimes.
posted by Rykey at 7:23 PM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
If Bush hadn't invaded Iraq, and the Tea Party hadn't taken their party by storm, and Trump wasn't President, we could chalk up this kind of quibbling to ignorance. But he did, and they did, and he is, so we need to notice how they succeeded and get out of our own way sometimes.
posted by Rykey at 7:23 PM on January 22, 2017 [24 favorites]
*and by "terminally gets" I mean "usually gets." I shouldn't phone post.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:24 PM on January 22, 2017
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:24 PM on January 22, 2017
Rocky First Weekend for Trump Troubles Even His Top Aides
Mr. Trump grew increasingly angry on Inauguration Day after reading a series of Twitter messages pointing out that the size of his inaugural crowd did not rival that of Mr. Obama’s in 2009. But he spent his Friday night in a whirlwind of celebration and affirmation. When he awoke on Saturday morning, after his first night in the executive mansion, the glow was gone, several people close to him said, and the new president was filled anew with a sense of injury.posted by octothorpe at 7:40 PM on January 22, 2017 [36 favorites]
Whoever it is in the White House who is leaking, keep it up good sir or madam. You likely have loathsome politics but in this you are doing God's work.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:44 PM on January 22, 2017 [53 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:44 PM on January 22, 2017 [53 favorites]
As another person on the Indivisible/MoveOn call (while driving to my lab on a Sunday night and then trying to listen and do science at the same time - hard!) I think overall the narrow focus on getting facetime with representatives and catching it on camera is a net good, because that's where we need to mobilize our most mobile (here meaning: most able to get to offices) people first. I'd like to see further action on building out structures to amplify local actions, and I shot them a question to that effect. Maybe a retired constituent is the best person around to organize groups to go to an office every week, but other people can plug in the gaps on issues research, keeping track of where a senator is when, recording events, editing together footage and then amplifying that out to the press/social media. I think one especially candid admission by the Indivisible writers is that as ex campaign strategists, they only know what they saw - they're not experts in the community organization required to get a disparate group of angry Tea Partiers into their offices - they just know that once you show up regularly, it works.
posted by deludingmyself at 7:53 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by deludingmyself at 7:53 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
I am mostly a stay at home mom, so a couple of weeks ago, I went with 5 other SAHMs, one retiree, and one person whose work situation I didn't ask about, but who doesn't have kids, to both of our Senator's local offices during the middle of a Tuesday to talk about the vetting process of the nominees. We brought signed copies of McConnell's 2009 letter to Harry Reid. A few kids came with us too. We filled Senator Gardner's (R-CO) entire little entryway behind the heavy locked/buzz-for-entry door and eventually his staffer came out from behind the plexiglass partition that separated her desk from the entryway and she chatted with us and was pleasant and made sure we had written our names and zip codes on the letter we brought. Things were much more casual (office on street level, door not locked, open floor plan) at Senator Bennet's (D-CO) office a few blocks away and I tried not to read too much into the differences between their offices. I recognize that the middle of the day on a weekday precludes a lot of people, but it isn't just retired conservatives who can go at those times. There are also progressives available to make visits. On fairly short notice, we had 8 of us show up and we're going to Rep Lamborn's office this week. It's not perfect, but it's also not nothing.
posted by danielleh at 7:56 PM on January 22, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by danielleh at 7:56 PM on January 22, 2017 [43 favorites]
Thanks, deludingmyself and soren_lorensen - I was put off by the snark on the call as well (I have no car AND I don't live anywhere near anyone's office, as well as working 8-5), but your perspectives help me understand the point behind it.
Still not the most constructive response to the news that ONLY a third of the callers were at that moment able to commit to doing this thing day after tmw, but at least now I understand the reasoning behind the method, for which I am grateful.
posted by you must supply a verb at 8:01 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
Still not the most constructive response to the news that ONLY a third of the callers were at that moment able to commit to doing this thing day after tmw, but at least now I understand the reasoning behind the method, for which I am grateful.
posted by you must supply a verb at 8:01 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's a hell of a lot more than nothing, danielleh. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And it doesn't need to be more perfect. It just needs to keep happening, more and more. And I get the feeling it will.
posted by perspicio at 8:02 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by perspicio at 8:02 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
A lot of the folks who are able to do the ground work while the rest of us are working may need tech support behind the scenes. My group uses Slack to organize, which people sometimes need help with, and I maintain a Google sheet to keep track of everyone who comes (they sends me pictures of the paper sign in sheets) with various pivot tables and formulae in it so that an email list and attendance statistics can be easily got at by the leaders (who are very not tech savvy). I do all this remotely, I've never met these folks in person. It's a way I can contribute even though I usually can't show up myself.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:03 PM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:03 PM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
*and by "terminally gets" I mean "usually gets." I shouldn't phone post.
Nah, your phone is a stupid liar phone and should be reprimanded.
Or is your phone channeling Spicer?! "This is what you should be writing and covering". dun dun dun...
posted by futz at 8:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Nah, your phone is a stupid liar phone and should be reprimanded.
Or is your phone channeling Spicer?! "This is what you should be writing and covering". dun dun dun...
posted by futz at 8:04 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Still not the most constructive response to the news that ONLY a third of the callers were at that moment able to commit to doing this thing day after tmw
Yeah, agreed. One of the other call leaders tried to reframe this in the tail end Q&A and say that they were all actually amazed at the fact that 8,000 people now had committed, and I was all "OK, I get you're trying to walk it back, but don't act like you guys didn't say you were disappointed earlier."
posted by deludingmyself at 8:07 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
Yeah, agreed. One of the other call leaders tried to reframe this in the tail end Q&A and say that they were all actually amazed at the fact that 8,000 people now had committed, and I was all "OK, I get you're trying to walk it back, but don't act like you guys didn't say you were disappointed earlier."
posted by deludingmyself at 8:07 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
Yeah, agreed. One of the other call leaders tried to reframe this in the tail end Q&A and say that they were all actually amazed at the fact that 8,000 people now had committed, and I was all "OK, I get you're trying to walk it back, but don't act like you guys didn't say you were disappointed earlier." Still. Perfect as the enemy of the good and all that.
I totally agree with everyone commenting on the cluelessness evidenced in the call based on your reports. Do you guys think that folks will let them know how off-putting this was? fyi, I was not on the call.
posted by futz at 8:17 PM on January 22, 2017
I totally agree with everyone commenting on the cluelessness evidenced in the call based on your reports. Do you guys think that folks will let them know how off-putting this was? fyi, I was not on the call.
posted by futz at 8:17 PM on January 22, 2017
Whoever it is in the White House who is leaking, keep it up good sir or madam. You likely have loathsome politics but in this you are doing God's work.
There has been inside information like this that came out through his whole campaign. All if it really negative stuff like is so I find it hard to conceive that it is condoned. Who in the hell is doing this? I can't see stuff like this not causing people on the inside to try to find out who. They can't be happy knowing someone is doing this. Yet it's still happening so whoever it is is still there. It's weird. Maybe it's multiple people? So they can't get a handle on it? Dunno but it's very, very strange.
posted by Jalliah at 8:17 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
There has been inside information like this that came out through his whole campaign. All if it really negative stuff like is so I find it hard to conceive that it is condoned. Who in the hell is doing this? I can't see stuff like this not causing people on the inside to try to find out who. They can't be happy knowing someone is doing this. Yet it's still happening so whoever it is is still there. It's weird. Maybe it's multiple people? So they can't get a handle on it? Dunno but it's very, very strange.
posted by Jalliah at 8:17 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
Honestly, MoveOn has kinda sucked for a while. Their own role in Hillary's defeat (they supported Bernie) is the snake swallowing its tail: Trump's campaign relied on the reality that much of the country never "moved on" from Clinton-hatred and culture wars. Plenty of the Bernie Bros were all about repeating the same old crap from the 90s 'vast right wing conspiracy.'
MoveOn failed, and they should start funding new organizations or go back to flying toasters.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:26 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
MoveOn failed, and they should start funding new organizations or go back to flying toasters.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:26 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
At Trump's CIA visit, some of the audience burst into cheers at some of Trump's statements. Was it ever confirmed whether some of the audience was brought by Trump? (Some initial reports said not all that crowd in front of the star wall was CIA employees.)
posted by sacre_bleu at 8:27 PM on January 22, 2017
posted by sacre_bleu at 8:27 PM on January 22, 2017
Later reports indicated that he apparently brought his own cheering section with him. See, for instance:
Pool reports later clarified that the attendants who were cheering and clapping when Mr Trump spoke were not CIA staffers but people who accompanied Mr Trump to the briefing.posted by zachlipton at 8:31 PM on January 22, 2017 [22 favorites]
Aha yes also referenced here "The people cheering at the CIA came with Trump. He brings his own Greek chorus with him. Hubris."
posted by sacre_bleu at 8:32 PM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by sacre_bleu at 8:32 PM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
@KatyTur -- some staffers applauded the more political lines, senior leadership was silent and poker faced.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:34 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:34 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
MoveOn failed,
I'd add that they weren't able to stop W. Nor effectively counter the Swift Boating of Kerry, which as it turns out was another preparatory skirmish for the Trumpening.
Obama was something new in his own right, MoveOn has had zero success persuading anyone to do what it says on the label.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:35 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'd add that they weren't able to stop W. Nor effectively counter the Swift Boating of Kerry, which as it turns out was another preparatory skirmish for the Trumpening.
Obama was something new in his own right, MoveOn has had zero success persuading anyone to do what it says on the label.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:35 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
At Trump's CIA visit, some of the audience burst into cheers at some of Trump's statements.
Both CNN & MSNBC reported yesterday that the hoopla and laughter was from trump staff that lined the sides of the room.
On preview, snuffleupagus has it.
posted by futz at 8:36 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Both CNN & MSNBC reported yesterday that the hoopla and laughter was from trump staff that lined the sides of the room.
On preview, snuffleupagus has it.
posted by futz at 8:36 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
What kind of U.S. president goes to events with his own cheering section, primed for the applause lines? Is there a precedent in American history for this? (Serious question.) Cause this is mainlining Governor William J. Le Petomane from Blazing Saddles something fierce.
posted by sacre_bleu at 8:36 PM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by sacre_bleu at 8:36 PM on January 22, 2017 [16 favorites]
Trump is going to try to control the news and stonewall the media, but one thing that's becoming very clear already is that the American public does not trust this administration to be truthful at all. I think that Trump is going to make enough enemies that there are going to be some pretty devastating leaks as time goes on. I'm also waiting to see what happens down the line if the GOP feels that Trump is threatening their ability to keep a congressional majority. If they stick with him, the voter backlash could be historic. If they shun him or even impeach him, the GOP is going to have a hell of a time getting the Trumpians back in the fold.
posted by azpenguin at 8:37 PM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 8:37 PM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
I'm sure that's one reason why Trump went there on a Saturday. So most of the actual employees wouldn't be there.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:39 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 8:39 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
Politico: One person who frequently talks to Trump said aides have to push back privately against his worst impulses in the White House, like the news conference idea, and have to control information that may infuriate him. He gets bored and likes to watch TV, this person said, so it is important to minimize that.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:40 PM on January 22, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:40 PM on January 22, 2017 [26 favorites]
Amd the media needs to pint this out each and every time, at the start of any segment that includes a paid cheering section.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:42 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 8:42 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
He gets bored
man, i wish i had extra time to sit around being bored. seems like a pretty relaxing job.
posted by localhuman at 8:45 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
man, i wish i had extra time to sit around being bored. seems like a pretty relaxing job.
posted by localhuman at 8:45 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
That NYT article quotes a disappointed Trump supporter:
> “This is going to go downhill quickly if it’s not changed, and that’s not good for any of us.”
And I sadly have to agree - I won't even be able to enjoy the delicious schadenfreude as I die in a nuclear fire.
posted by RedOrGreen at 8:48 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
> “This is going to go downhill quickly if it’s not changed, and that’s not good for any of us.”
And I sadly have to agree - I won't even be able to enjoy the delicious schadenfreude as I die in a nuclear fire.
posted by RedOrGreen at 8:48 PM on January 22, 2017 [4 favorites]
BTW -- @PressSec: the first official Trump Administration press briefing will be tomorrow at 1:30pm
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:48 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:48 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
Thinking about it a little more. Perhaps some of leaks are happening as a result of the different power struggles that are still likely occurring in his camp. In the NYT article it said that Trump ended up siding with the aides that wanted to attack and Spicer, so the anti-attack, anti-Spicer people leak. What we may be seeing are some power and 'who is going to control Trump' games being played out in public.
posted by Jalliah at 8:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
A lot of the folks who are able to do the ground work while the rest of us are working may need tech support behind the scenes. My group uses Slack to organize, which people sometimes need help with, and I maintain a Google sheet to keep track of everyone who comes (they sends me pictures of the paper sign in sheets) with various pivot tables and formulae in it so that an email list and attendance statistics can be easily got at by the leaders (who are very not tech savvy). I do all this remotely, I've never met these folks in person. It's a way I can contribute even though I usually can't show up myself.
Have you come across any good information sources for tech support specifically geared to the needs of activist groups? It would be really cool to have a quickstart guide for the basics and a mailing list or other central source of information to share news and new tools and tactics for small activist groups. I love the idea of a set of simple, teachable best practices using free tools that's easily accessible to any group. And if you start seeing a lot of that stuff implemented on the ground level it becomes that much easier to get different groups to coordinate and help each other without having to rely on big activist orgs driving things from the top down to get significant numbers.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:55 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
Have you come across any good information sources for tech support specifically geared to the needs of activist groups? It would be really cool to have a quickstart guide for the basics and a mailing list or other central source of information to share news and new tools and tactics for small activist groups. I love the idea of a set of simple, teachable best practices using free tools that's easily accessible to any group. And if you start seeing a lot of that stuff implemented on the ground level it becomes that much easier to get different groups to coordinate and help each other without having to rely on big activist orgs driving things from the top down to get significant numbers.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:55 PM on January 22, 2017 [14 favorites]
BTW -- @PressSec: the first official Trump Administration press briefing will be tomorrow at 1:30pm
Lol. So the weekend was just practice and the official official administration starts Monday. No do-overs in global politics you dangerously ignorant fucks.
posted by futz at 9:01 PM on January 22, 2017 [15 favorites]
BTW -- @PressSec: the first official Trump Administration press briefing will be tomorrow at 1:30pm
SS: Welcome to our first official press briefing.
NBC: Um, you had your first press briefing on Saturday.
SS: This is our first official press briefing, period!
CBS: But we were here on Saturday..?
SS: No you weren't. Fake news!
ABC: I think we were. There is a video.
SS: That is an alternative video. This is a real press briefing.
[fake, but probably just prescient]
posted by gatorae at 9:01 PM on January 22, 2017 [37 favorites]
SS: Welcome to our first official press briefing.
NBC: Um, you had your first press briefing on Saturday.
SS: This is our first official press briefing, period!
CBS: But we were here on Saturday..?
SS: No you weren't. Fake news!
ABC: I think we were. There is a video.
SS: That is an alternative video. This is a real press briefing.
[fake, but probably just prescient]
posted by gatorae at 9:01 PM on January 22, 2017 [37 favorites]
"The people cheering at the CIA came with Trump. He brings his own Greek chorus with him. Hubris."
Somebody needs to review their Sophocles. A Greek chorus isn't a cheering section; if Trump had one, it'd probably comment on his hubris.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:05 PM on January 22, 2017 [41 favorites]
Somebody needs to review their Sophocles. A Greek chorus isn't a cheering section; if Trump had one, it'd probably comment on his hubris.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:05 PM on January 22, 2017 [41 favorites]
@pattonoswalt:
Dear #WomensMarch organizers: please organize a #TrumpTaxesMarch for April 15th. I am happy to help. We all are.
posted by chris24 at 9:06 PM on January 22, 2017 [30 favorites]
Dear #WomensMarch organizers: please organize a #TrumpTaxesMarch for April 15th. I am happy to help. We all are.
posted by chris24 at 9:06 PM on January 22, 2017 [30 favorites]
I've been pretty busy, and haven't really had time until now (and still don't, really), but I wanted to say, I spent most of Friday night and Saturday (inauguration time in Japan) trying not to cry (failing occasionally). Saturday night, I left work and had intended to self-medicate with beer and ice cream. Two things happened: one, I found Ben & Jerry's caramel cookie, and two, I started to see news about the marches. I came into this weekend utterly crushed, and I came out of it somehow much better. I don't want to say my hope is restored, because 11/8/16 is pretty much the day I decided I was done with hope, but damn, the pictures of the marches, the pink hats, the nazis being punched, (and the ice cream) were pretty much the perfect medicine. There are still tears, but the tears are coming from a completely different feeling now. I want to let myself be hopeful, but I think I'm a good long way from that, still. But goddamn, it's nice to feel good about something again.
posted by Ghidorah at 9:07 PM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by Ghidorah at 9:07 PM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
That NYT article quotes a disappointed Trump supporter:
Jared Kushner in that photo: the face you make when you're Jewish and your new co-worker is a Nazi
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 9:15 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
Jared Kushner in that photo: the face you make when you're Jewish and your new co-worker is a Nazi
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 9:15 PM on January 22, 2017 [5 favorites]
Can anyone tell me, will there be a lawsuit from all the hotels in Washington D.C., and possible elsewhere, against the Trump Hotels? There is an obvious problem, is there not, with competition? He has not divested, his name is on all kinds of things, he is now president.
posted by Belle O'Cosity at 9:27 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Belle O'Cosity at 9:27 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
What we may be seeing are some power and 'who is going to control Trump' games being played out in public.
Trump is a vindictive blank slate of idiocy, these power games are the new normal. He has no direction of his own other than his own self-aggrandizement, he doesn't actually give two fucks about any given policy, with the possible exception of nuking someone. It's a pit of vipers vying for the blessing and attention of an amoral narcissist, we're going to be governed by his capricious whims and the backstabbing of various factions trying to gain his momentary approval for the next four years.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:34 PM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
Trump is a vindictive blank slate of idiocy, these power games are the new normal. He has no direction of his own other than his own self-aggrandizement, he doesn't actually give two fucks about any given policy, with the possible exception of nuking someone. It's a pit of vipers vying for the blessing and attention of an amoral narcissist, we're going to be governed by his capricious whims and the backstabbing of various factions trying to gain his momentary approval for the next four years.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:34 PM on January 22, 2017 [20 favorites]
https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/posts/1445206565491935
Robert Reich has a conversation that spells out what everyone except Trump and some Republican voters already know.
posted by bongo_x at 9:43 PM on January 22, 2017 [22 favorites]
Robert Reich has a conversation that spells out what everyone except Trump and some Republican voters already know.
posted by bongo_x at 9:43 PM on January 22, 2017 [22 favorites]
*sigh* Just got off the phone with my Republican mother. She brought up that my relatives were marching, so I admitted I'd gone to one too. Why didn't I tell her? Uh, because you're a Republican? Uh....well, why don't we give him a chance, he hasn't done anything yet, this health care thing isn't going to affect YOU, is it?
*headdesks*
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [17 favorites]
*headdesks*
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [17 favorites]
CREW has already filed a complaint with the GSA regarding the hotel. Questions of standing for a lawsuit there are going to be interesting, given that it's a government property.
Robert Reich has a conversation that spells out what everyone except Trump and some Republican voters already know.
If that really is the plan (and I don't know if it's a plan, just that it's a way for shameless people to build a narrative around their shamelessness) then Pence and Ryan and McConnell go down on that ship. You don't get a fucking mulligan for fucking over the entire country.
posted by holgate at 9:53 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
Robert Reich has a conversation that spells out what everyone except Trump and some Republican voters already know.
If that really is the plan (and I don't know if it's a plan, just that it's a way for shameless people to build a narrative around their shamelessness) then Pence and Ryan and McConnell go down on that ship. You don't get a fucking mulligan for fucking over the entire country.
posted by holgate at 9:53 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
Can anyone tell me, will there be a lawsuit from all the hotels in Washington D.C., and possible elsewhere, against the Trump Hotels? There is an obvious problem, is there not, with competition? He has not divested, his name is on all kinds of things, he is now president.
That is precisely the subject matter of the suit to be filed by CREW.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:55 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
That is precisely the subject matter of the suit to be filed by CREW.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:55 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
Michael "I've never been to Prague" Cohen wants to know if the handmade pussy hats were made in the US.
Like I said previously, I doubt he was doing skullduggery in Prague because he's demonstrably as thick as pigshit.
posted by holgate at 10:05 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
Like I said previously, I doubt he was doing skullduggery in Prague because he's demonstrably as thick as pigshit.
posted by holgate at 10:05 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
I don't see the Republicans impeaching Trump until after 2018 if at all. They can't afford to alienate the Trump/Nazi/whatever base in too many districts. They would primary the shit out of anyone who impeached him.
posted by gatorae at 10:06 PM on January 22, 2017
posted by gatorae at 10:06 PM on January 22, 2017
This is all Fantasy Island stuff anyway. If there are Republicans who believe that pre-existing institutional processes will save their arses by replacing the psychopath with a human-shaped template of the GOP id, then they are smoking the nasty stuff. If it gets that bad, it will get bad in extra-constitutional ways.
posted by holgate at 10:14 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by holgate at 10:14 PM on January 22, 2017 [6 favorites]
If there are Republicans who believe that pre-existing institutional processes will save their arses by replacing the psychopath with a human-shaped template of the GOP id, ...
I hope that they try only to discover that their party banned ALL pre-existing conditions of any type, health, political, or otherwise.
posted by futz at 10:33 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
I hope that they try only to discover that their party banned ALL pre-existing conditions of any type, health, political, or otherwise.
posted by futz at 10:33 PM on January 22, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've said it before but I don't think Donald is going anywhere. He's our president now and the only way through the next four years for us is fighting every inch of the way.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:40 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:40 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
By the way, we're currently without ambassadors in every country right?
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:46 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:46 PM on January 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
I've always thought that was their plan. People are not loyal to Trump, no one, but are loyal to the GOP. When the party says Trump was to blame most people will be on board. They will turn on Trump in a heartbeat, and then it will be "let's all move forward with reconciliation now" and pretense at trying to be reasonable, painting Liberals as being vindictive after "we were all fooled".
He won't make it a year.
posted by bongo_x at 10:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
He won't make it a year.
posted by bongo_x at 10:49 PM on January 22, 2017 [7 favorites]
I don't see the Republicans impeaching Trump until after 2018 if at all. They can't afford to alienate the Trump/Nazi/whatever base in too many districts. They would primary the shit out of anyone who impeached him.
I don't understand why I'm not hearing people talking about trying to rally decent, non-fascist Republicans, even in solid-R districts, to run primary challenges against Trump sycophants. He came out on top of a crowded Presidential primary with a tepid plurality, and then got barely over a quarter of the eligible population to vote for him. Are there not a bunch of districts with enough centrist, anti-Trump Republicans to hold their respective congressperson's feet to the fire with the threat of a primary fight? (In such districts, might it even make some sense for leftists to change their registration for primary-voting purposes?)
In 2018 I feel like the usual centrist swing voters won't take much convincing to break hard against Trump after he's had two years to fuck things up, and meanwhile the hardcore shithead base he's managed to energize is already showing signs of disillusionment after day 1 and are pretty unlikely to show up for downticket races on his indirect behalf. Mid-terms are typically low turnout on both sides, but with the opportunity to impeach Donald Trump in the offing isn't this likely to be an atypical example?
I feel like there must be some flaw in my thinking here since I see nobody else talking this way, but I don't see what it is. Do people really think that after two years of "governance" Trump's going to retain the loyalties of all the idiots he hoodwinked into voting for him? And that those people are going to come out and vote in congressional races? And that it's not going to be painfully obvious to everyone else that impeachment is the only sane path?
posted by contraption at 10:51 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
I don't understand why I'm not hearing people talking about trying to rally decent, non-fascist Republicans, even in solid-R districts, to run primary challenges against Trump sycophants. He came out on top of a crowded Presidential primary with a tepid plurality, and then got barely over a quarter of the eligible population to vote for him. Are there not a bunch of districts with enough centrist, anti-Trump Republicans to hold their respective congressperson's feet to the fire with the threat of a primary fight? (In such districts, might it even make some sense for leftists to change their registration for primary-voting purposes?)
In 2018 I feel like the usual centrist swing voters won't take much convincing to break hard against Trump after he's had two years to fuck things up, and meanwhile the hardcore shithead base he's managed to energize is already showing signs of disillusionment after day 1 and are pretty unlikely to show up for downticket races on his indirect behalf. Mid-terms are typically low turnout on both sides, but with the opportunity to impeach Donald Trump in the offing isn't this likely to be an atypical example?
I feel like there must be some flaw in my thinking here since I see nobody else talking this way, but I don't see what it is. Do people really think that after two years of "governance" Trump's going to retain the loyalties of all the idiots he hoodwinked into voting for him? And that those people are going to come out and vote in congressional races? And that it's not going to be painfully obvious to everyone else that impeachment is the only sane path?
posted by contraption at 10:51 PM on January 22, 2017 [3 favorites]
Do people really think that after two years of "governance" Trump's going to retain the loyalties of all the idiots he hoodwinked into voting for him?
Most of them? I certainly think so. It's been shown that cognitively, when presented with evidence that one of your deeply held beliefs is wrong, you do not change your belief but rather reject the evidence and dig in even deeper. The majority of Trump voters will never admit they were hoodwinked; they will believe they were somehow betrayed by liberals, elites, muslims, mexicans, blacks, jews, centrist republicans, the illuminati, or some combination of the above.
posted by Justinian at 10:55 PM on January 22, 2017 [26 favorites]
Most of them? I certainly think so. It's been shown that cognitively, when presented with evidence that one of your deeply held beliefs is wrong, you do not change your belief but rather reject the evidence and dig in even deeper. The majority of Trump voters will never admit they were hoodwinked; they will believe they were somehow betrayed by liberals, elites, muslims, mexicans, blacks, jews, centrist republicans, the illuminati, or some combination of the above.
posted by Justinian at 10:55 PM on January 22, 2017 [26 favorites]
Him: They’ll get as much as they want – tax cuts galore, deregulation, military buildup, slash all those poverty programs, and then get to work on Social Security and Medicare – and blame him. And he’s such a fool he’ll want to take credit for everything.
Me: And then what?
[...]
Him: So the moment Trump does something really dumb – steps over the line – violates the law in a big stupid clumsy way … and you know he will ...
Me: They impeach him?
Him: You bet. They pull the trigger.
Even two years is too late if they get all this done first. And the only way to stop them is to hang the Trump anchor around their necks immediately, tank their internal approval polls, and make them run for their lives. We have to get everyone thinking in terms of the "Trump Congress," and how all of them together are going to cut Social Security and Medicare and drag us into another war and betray us to the Russians and pee on our beds and all the rest. Make sure he's stuck to them so tight they can't wait even two years to cut him loose. And then gum everything up as long as possible.
posted by chortly at 11:02 PM on January 22, 2017 [31 favorites]
Me: And then what?
[...]
Him: So the moment Trump does something really dumb – steps over the line – violates the law in a big stupid clumsy way … and you know he will ...
Me: They impeach him?
Him: You bet. They pull the trigger.
Even two years is too late if they get all this done first. And the only way to stop them is to hang the Trump anchor around their necks immediately, tank their internal approval polls, and make them run for their lives. We have to get everyone thinking in terms of the "Trump Congress," and how all of them together are going to cut Social Security and Medicare and drag us into another war and betray us to the Russians and pee on our beds and all the rest. Make sure he's stuck to them so tight they can't wait even two years to cut him loose. And then gum everything up as long as possible.
posted by chortly at 11:02 PM on January 22, 2017 [31 favorites]
It's not the most important thing happening, but like this guy I can't get over these pictures of Trump leaving his wife behind and walking off.
https://twitter.com/MarcSnetiker/status/823397030240190464
posted by bongo_x at 11:02 PM on January 22, 2017 [38 favorites]
https://twitter.com/MarcSnetiker/status/823397030240190464
posted by bongo_x at 11:02 PM on January 22, 2017 [38 favorites]
> We have to get everyone thinking in terms of the "Trump Congress," and how all of them together are going to cut Social Security and Medicare and drag us into another war and betray us to the Russians and pee on our beds and all the rest. Make sure he's stuck to them so tight they can't wait even two years to cut him loose. And then gum everything up as long as possible.
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Which reminds me of something that's been bugging me -- why the hell haven't they held the DNC chair elections already? Sanders, Warren, Ellison, Pelosi, and even to some extent Schumer have been saying the right things, but there seems to be no coherent strategy, because none of these people (nor anyone else) can claim to speak with authority on behalf of the entire Democratic caucus.
We're fortunate right now to have the administration distracted by crowd size estimates, but every Heritage Foundation pipe dream has a piece of legislation in the 115th Congress, because Congressional Republicans know how the game is played. The one substantive thing Democrats can do vs. a unified GOP caucus is play the messaging game, but the party has no leader who can make sure they speak with one voice in the most effective way possible. I don't know that this is precisely why we're not hearing a louder message from them -- maybe the press just isn't covering them -- but having someone in charge of the party apparatus now would be super.
posted by tonycpsu at 11:13 PM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Which reminds me of something that's been bugging me -- why the hell haven't they held the DNC chair elections already? Sanders, Warren, Ellison, Pelosi, and even to some extent Schumer have been saying the right things, but there seems to be no coherent strategy, because none of these people (nor anyone else) can claim to speak with authority on behalf of the entire Democratic caucus.
We're fortunate right now to have the administration distracted by crowd size estimates, but every Heritage Foundation pipe dream has a piece of legislation in the 115th Congress, because Congressional Republicans know how the game is played. The one substantive thing Democrats can do vs. a unified GOP caucus is play the messaging game, but the party has no leader who can make sure they speak with one voice in the most effective way possible. I don't know that this is precisely why we're not hearing a louder message from them -- maybe the press just isn't covering them -- but having someone in charge of the party apparatus now would be super.
posted by tonycpsu at 11:13 PM on January 22, 2017 [13 favorites]
By the way, we're currently without ambassadors in every country right?
Career ambassadors are still there in countries where the US has deemed it important to have a career foreign service officer leading the mission (e.g. Colombia and Brazil). In other countries, there are career chargés d'affaires holding the fort. What you should look for is whether any countries get switched from "career level" to "political level" going forward. That sometimes happens when a country is deemed politically stable enough to have a non-career appointee: for instance, the Argentinian mission became a political appointment in 2009. But who knows this time around? (And again, Obama had the chance to end this practice in 2009, as a power exclusive to the presidency, and didn't.)
posted by holgate at 11:26 PM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
Career ambassadors are still there in countries where the US has deemed it important to have a career foreign service officer leading the mission (e.g. Colombia and Brazil). In other countries, there are career chargés d'affaires holding the fort. What you should look for is whether any countries get switched from "career level" to "political level" going forward. That sometimes happens when a country is deemed politically stable enough to have a non-career appointee: for instance, the Argentinian mission became a political appointment in 2009. But who knows this time around? (And again, Obama had the chance to end this practice in 2009, as a power exclusive to the presidency, and didn't.)
posted by holgate at 11:26 PM on January 22, 2017 [10 favorites]
I don't understand why I'm not hearing people talking about trying to rally decent, non-fascist Republicans, even in solid-R districts, to run primary challenges against Trump sycophants.
The Brand New Congress group, founded by some former members of the Sanders campaign to coordinate candidates in every 2018 race, says that they're interested in working with Republican candidates too.
posted by XMLicious at 11:29 PM on January 22, 2017 [9 favorites]
I'm genuinely curious about who can even do that.
Stay-at-home moms. That's who HAS been doing it already in Houston, that I'm aware of. Also the self-employed and the disabled and retired. Sometimes students, or people who work retail or restaurant jobs. I mean, no, it's not everyone, but there area lot of people in the world who have rotating or revolving schedules.
posted by threeturtles at 11:45 PM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
Stay-at-home moms. That's who HAS been doing it already in Houston, that I'm aware of. Also the self-employed and the disabled and retired. Sometimes students, or people who work retail or restaurant jobs. I mean, no, it's not everyone, but there area lot of people in the world who have rotating or revolving schedules.
posted by threeturtles at 11:45 PM on January 22, 2017 [12 favorites]
It's not the most important thing happening, but like this guy I can't get over these pictures of Trump leaving his wife behind and walking off.
Similarly telling: this video of Trump and then Obama greeting Bob & Liddy Dole in quick succession.
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:04 AM on January 23, 2017 [33 favorites]
Similarly telling: this video of Trump and then Obama greeting Bob & Liddy Dole in quick succession.
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:04 AM on January 23, 2017 [33 favorites]
Given Trump's apparent fear about what the public might find in his tax returns, in addition to worrying about Russia pulling his strings, we should also probably be concerned with his tax preparers pulling his strings. What happens if all these separate people with black mail material start to demand opposing things from him?
posted by wobumingbai at 1:15 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by wobumingbai at 1:15 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Alternative facts, yes. Alternative cakes, no. The exciting adventures of Trump's inauguration cake First Dog on the Moon is right, why would anyone plagiarize a cake??? It makes no sense at all.
All the other stuff happening is serious and worrying, but also to be expected. Whoever imagined Trump would be sobered by the office is delusional. Whoever imagined there was a secret plan for actually governing America was a fool. We knew the lies would continue. Lying about the size of the crowd is simultaneously sad and hilarious and I can believe the theory that they are negging and gas lighting the press and America.
But WHY COPY THE CAKE??????
posted by mumimor at 1:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
All the other stuff happening is serious and worrying, but also to be expected. Whoever imagined Trump would be sobered by the office is delusional. Whoever imagined there was a secret plan for actually governing America was a fool. We knew the lies would continue. Lying about the size of the crowd is simultaneously sad and hilarious and I can believe the theory that they are negging and gas lighting the press and America.
But WHY COPY THE CAKE??????
posted by mumimor at 1:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
During the election season we often wondered who a left-leaning Trump figure might be and whether anyone would support them. [...] I guess big egos lean authoritarian no matter the political background.
I'd say Hugo Chavez' leftist Bolivarism is another demonstration of this, lydhre, as per How to Culture Jam a Populist in Four Easy Steps, posted by threeturtles above.
Now [Grillo] is saying that the world needs "strong men" like Putin and Trump to lead it.
Worse, actually: the quote is from an interview to a French magazine, and now he's trying to deny it, claiming a translation error. (Also, his recent attempt to switch the M5S' EU alliance from Farage's camp to Verhofstadt's Liberal group backfired, and again showed an opaque kind of opportunism. Stay tuned for more M5S hijinks...)
posted by progosk at 1:36 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'd say Hugo Chavez' leftist Bolivarism is another demonstration of this, lydhre, as per How to Culture Jam a Populist in Four Easy Steps, posted by threeturtles above.
Now [Grillo] is saying that the world needs "strong men" like Putin and Trump to lead it.
Worse, actually: the quote is from an interview to a French magazine, and now he's trying to deny it, claiming a translation error. (Also, his recent attempt to switch the M5S' EU alliance from Farage's camp to Verhofstadt's Liberal group backfired, and again showed an opaque kind of opportunism. Stay tuned for more M5S hijinks...)
posted by progosk at 1:36 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
somebody at the DC march screamed "SAVE MELANIA"
FWIW, she went into that marriage voluntarily and with open eyes, and she probably got what she wanted. But seeing those videos of him ignoring her while entering the White House, him clumsily "dancing" with her, her all Stepford Wifey at the inauguration, it was impossible not to feel a tiny bit sorry for her.
posted by mumimor at 1:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
Rocky First Weekend for Trump Troubles Even His Top Aides
The first 100 d'ohs of the Trump administration. [I offer this headline free of charge]
posted by srboisvert at 1:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
The first 100 d'ohs of the Trump administration. [I offer this headline free of charge]
posted by srboisvert at 1:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
But WHY COPY THE CAKE??????
To get people as confused as possible so that they start attributing pictures from Obama's highly popular and attended inaugurations with his less successful effort.
posted by ckape at 1:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
To get people as confused as possible so that they start attributing pictures from Obama's highly popular and attended inaugurations with his less successful effort.
posted by ckape at 1:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
The White House Official Propagandatrix and Alternative Facts are my new username and sock-puppet respectively.
posted by Thella at 2:05 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Thella at 2:05 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
It serves TrumpCo for them to make endless claims about their superiority: biggest crowd, bestest cake, largest hands etc because their own people are buoyed and energised by it, and they won't even listen when there's a response pointing out the lies. A better tactic is to pre-emptively announce unflattering things about TrumpCo, instead of waiting for them to set the topic, and then meekly "well, actually..." after the fact, because no-one listens to the correction, the lie has already taken up real estate in their brains.
posted by glitter at 2:13 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by glitter at 2:13 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
By the way, we're currently without ambassadors in every country right?
The only upside to Trump appointing ambassadors promptly would be that there would be that many fewer assholes in the United States.
posted by srboisvert at 2:38 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
The only upside to Trump appointing ambassadors promptly would be that there would be that many fewer assholes in the United States.
posted by srboisvert at 2:38 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
But WHY COPY THE CAKE??????
Because they have no idea what do. They have not read the manual. They just try to copy off the successful student:
"Oh shit, we need an 'Inauguration Cake'!"
"Just google it and then get one of the interns to make one, can't be that difficult."
If Obama had stumbled while walking up to take the oath, I am 100% sure Trump would have, too, because his staff thinks that "apparently, that's the way things are done".
posted by PontifexPrimus at 2:44 AM on January 23, 2017 [18 favorites]
Because they have no idea what do. They have not read the manual. They just try to copy off the successful student:
"Oh shit, we need an 'Inauguration Cake'!"
"Just google it and then get one of the interns to make one, can't be that difficult."
If Obama had stumbled while walking up to take the oath, I am 100% sure Trump would have, too, because his staff thinks that "apparently, that's the way things are done".
posted by PontifexPrimus at 2:44 AM on January 23, 2017 [18 favorites]
Regarding who can show up at congresspeople's offices on Tuesdays:
I've joined the group Tuesdays with Toomey at Senator Toomey's Philadelphia office for the past three weeks. I work for myself and live in the city so I have some flexibility in my schedule. The group has been growing and had over 100 people last week. It appears to be a mix of stay-at-home parents and their kids, people of retirement age, and people who work nearby.
I wasn't on the call last night so I can't speak to it. But I will say that it really doesn't take a huge number of people to bring attention to a protest like this. We've had press coverage at every gathering I've attended. And, for the past three weeks (the group started with just a few people two months ago), Toomey's staffers have locked us out of the building and disconnected their phones while we are there. Two weeks ago the police were called (I believe by Toomey's office) and were also there last week. The police stand around and seem to range from disinterested to supportive. In fact, one officer "negotiates" the hand off of the letters we bring. Which, in itself, is an asburd sort of theater that plays well for the press.
Do I think those of us in opposition to the administration should rely solely on events that happen during the work day? No. But I think as a movement we are at our most effective when we engage and resist in a large number of ways. It's good to offer lots of different sorts of opportunities.
posted by mcduff at 3:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [33 favorites]
I've joined the group Tuesdays with Toomey at Senator Toomey's Philadelphia office for the past three weeks. I work for myself and live in the city so I have some flexibility in my schedule. The group has been growing and had over 100 people last week. It appears to be a mix of stay-at-home parents and their kids, people of retirement age, and people who work nearby.
I wasn't on the call last night so I can't speak to it. But I will say that it really doesn't take a huge number of people to bring attention to a protest like this. We've had press coverage at every gathering I've attended. And, for the past three weeks (the group started with just a few people two months ago), Toomey's staffers have locked us out of the building and disconnected their phones while we are there. Two weeks ago the police were called (I believe by Toomey's office) and were also there last week. The police stand around and seem to range from disinterested to supportive. In fact, one officer "negotiates" the hand off of the letters we bring. Which, in itself, is an asburd sort of theater that plays well for the press.
Do I think those of us in opposition to the administration should rely solely on events that happen during the work day? No. But I think as a movement we are at our most effective when we engage and resist in a large number of ways. It's good to offer lots of different sorts of opportunities.
posted by mcduff at 3:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [33 favorites]
what everyone except Trump and some Republican voters already know.
They got a bear by the tail.
When Nixon finally resigned instead of facing impeachment, he was humiliated enough that he didn't try to burn the place down on the way out. Also, Ford was not an ideologue and had no designs on power. The GOP needed a bland, establishment Republican to calm everyone down after the Nixon horrorshow. Seems optimistic of the GOP to think Pence can just take the reins from Trump and find any kind of traction with a constituency that voted for a fire-breathing populist.
Like, if they really do impeach Trump at the first opportunity, great! I'm all for it! Where do I sign and do you need any help? But it's going to be a monumental shitshow, going down kicking and screaming, and the fallout doesn't exactly favor the party in power. I get the feeling a weasely theocrat without a mandate isn't going to cut it.
posted by krinklyfig at 3:38 AM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
They got a bear by the tail.
When Nixon finally resigned instead of facing impeachment, he was humiliated enough that he didn't try to burn the place down on the way out. Also, Ford was not an ideologue and had no designs on power. The GOP needed a bland, establishment Republican to calm everyone down after the Nixon horrorshow. Seems optimistic of the GOP to think Pence can just take the reins from Trump and find any kind of traction with a constituency that voted for a fire-breathing populist.
Like, if they really do impeach Trump at the first opportunity, great! I'm all for it! Where do I sign and do you need any help? But it's going to be a monumental shitshow, going down kicking and screaming, and the fallout doesn't exactly favor the party in power. I get the feeling a weasely theocrat without a mandate isn't going to cut it.
posted by krinklyfig at 3:38 AM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
Burhanistan: "I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing trump age rapidly."
One possibility
posted by exogenous at 3:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [18 favorites]
One possibility
posted by exogenous at 3:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [18 favorites]
I don't understand why I'm not hearing people talking about trying to rally decent, non-fascist Republicans, even in solid-R districts, to run primary challenges against Trump sycophants.
Indeed. Gerrymandered districts be damned, we're 651 days away from the mid-term elections.
posted by snuffleupagus at 4:30 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Indeed. Gerrymandered districts be damned, we're 651 days away from the mid-term elections.
posted by snuffleupagus at 4:30 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
I don't understand why I'm not hearing people talking about trying to rally decent, non-fascist Republicans, even in solid-R districts, to run primary challenges against Trump sycophants.
Mostly because it doesn't have a lot of exciting updates? This is where I'm spending most of my energy right now, but there's not much to talk about except "attended another boring meeting, convinced another influencer, got another candidate."
posted by corb at 4:36 AM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
Mostly because it doesn't have a lot of exciting updates? This is where I'm spending most of my energy right now, but there's not much to talk about except "attended another boring meeting, convinced another influencer, got another candidate."
posted by corb at 4:36 AM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
I don't understand why I'm not hearing people talking about trying to rally decent, non-fascist Republicans, even in solid-R districts, to run primary challenges against Trump sycophants.
Well, if there is one thing this election has shown, it is that there is a severe shortage of decent, non-fascist Republicans with a spine, both among the politicians and the electorate.
I was thinking about the situation in the 30's, where conservative politicians across the fascist countries aided and abetted the rise of Mussolini, Franco, and Hitler. Even in countries where conservative politicians stood against fascism, there were pro-fascist movements within the various conservative parties.
posted by mumimor at 4:36 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Roger Waters sent you a little something. (full-screen recommended)
Crumbs chief, will you look at the crowd at that gig: that's gotta be a least a million, million and half people there...
posted by Buntix at 4:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Crumbs chief, will you look at the crowd at that gig: that's gotta be a least a million, million and half people there...
posted by Buntix at 4:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
But what about the men? Our newspapers of record are on it:
Washington Post: At the Women’s March, it’s the men who mattered most. Here’s why*
New York Times: How Vital Are Women? This Town Found Out as They Left to March
*The post later changed the headline to "Men Mattered too"
posted by octothorpe at 4:42 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Washington Post: At the Women’s March, it’s the men who mattered most. Here’s why*
New York Times: How Vital Are Women? This Town Found Out as They Left to March
*The post later changed the headline to "Men Mattered too"
posted by octothorpe at 4:42 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Crumbs chief, will you look at the crowd at that gig: that's gotta be a least a million, million and half people there...
Spicer will shortly announced that the Waters concert was in fact attended by 25 people and a burro and the rest was Floyd's usual smoke and mirrors.
posted by snuffleupagus at 4:42 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Spicer will shortly announced that the Waters concert was in fact attended by 25 people and a burro and the rest was Floyd's usual smoke and mirrors.
posted by snuffleupagus at 4:42 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Here's the link to the actual WaPo article, not to a Twitter post about it: At the Women’s March, the men mattered, too
posted by Too-Ticky at 4:52 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 4:52 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump’s Health Plan Would Convert Medicaid to Block Grants, Aide Says
@JamilSmith: Think about who block granting would hurt. New moms, because births thin out the money to be distributed. Seniors with increasing bills. You could argue block granting to states in lieu of Medicaid should be re-termed "medical rationing." It is lazy and cruel governance.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [20 favorites]
@JamilSmith: Think about who block granting would hurt. New moms, because births thin out the money to be distributed. Seniors with increasing bills. You could argue block granting to states in lieu of Medicaid should be re-termed "medical rationing." It is lazy and cruel governance.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [20 favorites]
More on The Cake Is A Lie-gate:
WaPo: Trump’s inaugural cake was commissioned to look exactly like Obama’s, baker says
The two takeaways, for me:
[Baker] MacIsaac declined to state her political affiliation but said her bakery began planning how it would donate its proceeds from the Trump inaugural cake to charity. The baker and her staff chose the Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit that advocates for equal treatment of the LGBT community — and that has declared Trump “unfit for the presidency.”
MacIsaac said the attention caught her by surprise partly because, per the order, the Trump cake was intended to be more of a prop: All but a three-inch slice at the bottom was inedible.
“It’s just a Stryofoam cake. It’s not for eating,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting it to be seen on TV.”
posted by Room 641-A at 4:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
WaPo: Trump’s inaugural cake was commissioned to look exactly like Obama’s, baker says
The two takeaways, for me:
[Baker] MacIsaac declined to state her political affiliation but said her bakery began planning how it would donate its proceeds from the Trump inaugural cake to charity. The baker and her staff chose the Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit that advocates for equal treatment of the LGBT community — and that has declared Trump “unfit for the presidency.”
MacIsaac said the attention caught her by surprise partly because, per the order, the Trump cake was intended to be more of a prop: All but a three-inch slice at the bottom was inedible.
“It’s just a Stryofoam cake. It’s not for eating,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting it to be seen on TV.”
posted by Room 641-A at 4:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
Trump's first executive action today will be to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, per sources
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Considering the TPP is intended to be a check on China, you would think that Trump would be in favour of it. Is there anything in the TPP that is detrimental to Russia?
posted by PenDevil at 5:14 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by PenDevil at 5:14 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
TPP was officially this election's Big Bad, so this is probably the least shocked and surpassed I will be for the next four years.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:19 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:19 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
FWIW, she went into that marriage voluntarily and with open eyes, and she probably got what she wanted. But seeing those videos of him ignoring her while entering the White House, him clumsily "dancing" with her, her all Stepford Wifey at the inauguration, it was impossible not to feel a tiny bit sorry for her.
I didn't feel sorry for her at all. She chose that. She's been on record talking that birtherist trash. Every sad feel she has she deserves and more.
posted by winna at 5:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [19 favorites]
I didn't feel sorry for her at all. She chose that. She's been on record talking that birtherist trash. Every sad feel she has she deserves and more.
posted by winna at 5:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [19 favorites]
Compare and Contrast: Trump and Obama husband-and-wife couples. (Single Twitter pic).
posted by PontifexPrimus at 5:27 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by PontifexPrimus at 5:27 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
I don't want to sound impatient, but how much more obvious does this need to be?
The TPP, like any trade deal, would legally commit the signatories to a set of norms and standards that would constrain them from acting unilaterally with disregard for the others.
It's as though people still don't understand what corrupt power is, or they still refuse to accept that this is it.
posted by perspicio at 5:27 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
The TPP, like any trade deal, would legally commit the signatories to a set of norms and standards that would constrain them from acting unilaterally with disregard for the others.
It's as though people still don't understand what corrupt power is, or they still refuse to accept that this is it.
posted by perspicio at 5:27 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Perhaps media could stop giving credit to Conway or Spicer and attribute their statements to "official sources".
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:30 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:30 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
The truthalternative fact about the inauguration crowd (Nordpress.be).
posted by elgilito at 5:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by elgilito at 5:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's as though people still don't understand what corrupt power is
It's similar to polio/measles/etc., and vaccine 'truthers'. People who have the privilege not to have the real problem impact their lives, do not grasp the profundity of how deeply badly it could be, and in fact is, for others.
posted by Dashy at 5:40 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
It's similar to polio/measles/etc., and vaccine 'truthers'. People who have the privilege not to have the real problem impact their lives, do not grasp the profundity of how deeply badly it could be, and in fact is, for others.
posted by Dashy at 5:40 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
...this health care thing isn't going to affect YOU, is it?
This Is what is so fatiguing to me. Why do I have to explain that even though I may not be too affected by ACA repeal I am worried about all who are? Is "heartless" and "selfish" the Republican default? My same family members who don't want taxes to ensure anyone else is fed, sheltered and healthy are also church-going folks.
I seem to spend a lot of time saying "That doesn't sound like what I remember the Bible saying."
posted by hilaryjade at 5:43 AM on January 23, 2017 [28 favorites]
This Is what is so fatiguing to me. Why do I have to explain that even though I may not be too affected by ACA repeal I am worried about all who are? Is "heartless" and "selfish" the Republican default? My same family members who don't want taxes to ensure anyone else is fed, sheltered and healthy are also church-going folks.
I seem to spend a lot of time saying "That doesn't sound like what I remember the Bible saying."
posted by hilaryjade at 5:43 AM on January 23, 2017 [28 favorites]
With the cake: Trump is too mean even to share his inauguration cake. Of course it's a styrofoam cake - not like he'd ever give anyone except his immediate family (if they were good), special favorites and world fascist leaders perfectly good cake.
posted by Frowner at 5:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 5:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Is "heartless" and "selfish" the Republican default? My same family members who don't want taxes to ensure anyone else is fed, sheltered and healthy are also church-going folks.
The central unspoken tenet of modern conservatism is that it's better for nine people to go without than for one person to get something they don't deserve. A corollary is that most people are lazy shitbags, so there's definitely going to be that one person who gets something they don't deserve, so there's no sense in trying.
posted by Etrigan at 5:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [29 favorites]
The central unspoken tenet of modern conservatism is that it's better for nine people to go without than for one person to get something they don't deserve. A corollary is that most people are lazy shitbags, so there's definitely going to be that one person who gets something they don't deserve, so there's no sense in trying.
posted by Etrigan at 5:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [29 favorites]
Why do I have to explain that even though I may not be too affected by ACA repeal I am worried about all who are? Is "heartless" and "selfish" the Republican default?
No, that's not what that means, though it's not exactly much more flattering. When they say that, what they are essentially saying is that they don't take you seriously politically, they don't think you're really motivated much in serious ways by political values or morals, they see you essentially as a political child. As such, there are puzzled why you would be fighting for something that doesn't affect you.
There is this actually not-great but super fucking tempting Republican thought, where a lot of Republicans think that liberals are people who simply haven't grown up yet. Who haven't participated in the duties and markers of adulthood, and so should just be petted and humored until they grow into their ultimate Republican chrysalis when they get married and buy a house.
While I think there's a lot of truth to the idea that people tend to get more fiscally conservative the more they're invested in the existing system, i.e. with property and success, it's still a real problem to assume that all liberals are simply baby Republicans who just don't know it yet. Particularly because the Republican Party has filled itself up with a lot of other bullshit that goes far beyond just lower property taxes.
posted by corb at 5:57 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
No, that's not what that means, though it's not exactly much more flattering. When they say that, what they are essentially saying is that they don't take you seriously politically, they don't think you're really motivated much in serious ways by political values or morals, they see you essentially as a political child. As such, there are puzzled why you would be fighting for something that doesn't affect you.
There is this actually not-great but super fucking tempting Republican thought, where a lot of Republicans think that liberals are people who simply haven't grown up yet. Who haven't participated in the duties and markers of adulthood, and so should just be petted and humored until they grow into their ultimate Republican chrysalis when they get married and buy a house.
While I think there's a lot of truth to the idea that people tend to get more fiscally conservative the more they're invested in the existing system, i.e. with property and success, it's still a real problem to assume that all liberals are simply baby Republicans who just don't know it yet. Particularly because the Republican Party has filled itself up with a lot of other bullshit that goes far beyond just lower property taxes.
posted by corb at 5:57 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
With the cake: Trump is too mean even to share his inauguration cake. Of course it's a styrofoam cake - not like he'd ever give anyone except his immediate family (if they were good), special favorites and world fascist leaders perfectly good cake.
But aren't prop cakes like this pretty common? You cut a little cake to get the party started and then servers bring out slices of sheet cake from the kitchen for everyone so that you don't have to spend 3 hours cutting a cake before everyone gets a piece?
posted by dis_integration at 5:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
But aren't prop cakes like this pretty common? You cut a little cake to get the party started and then servers bring out slices of sheet cake from the kitchen for everyone so that you don't have to spend 3 hours cutting a cake before everyone gets a piece?
posted by dis_integration at 5:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
For example, if you're a good Republican who believes that people get more conservative as they get more successful, get married, and buy a house together and have kids, you should be all for gay marriage and adoption.* In a world where you weren't doing a bunch of other motherfucking shit, that could mean a lot of new gay Republicans.
*You should be for it on humanitarian grounds anyway, I'm just saying it doesn't even make sense from a purely practical standpoint.
posted by corb at 6:02 AM on January 23, 2017 [23 favorites]
*You should be for it on humanitarian grounds anyway, I'm just saying it doesn't even make sense from a purely practical standpoint.
posted by corb at 6:02 AM on January 23, 2017 [23 favorites]
There is this actually not-great but super fucking tempting Republican thought, where a lot of Republicans think that liberals are people who simply haven't grown up yet. Who haven't participated in the duties and markers of adulthood, and so should just be petted and humored until they grow into their ultimate Republican chrysalis when they get married and buy a house.
This isn't a just a Republican thing it's conservative thing. When younger, so many times, when talking with someone with a conservative viewpoint the end result was dismissal and some variation on 'Oh you'll understand when you live a little. You'll come around once you become a real adult.' It went beyond a general, you're young so don't know things yet, attitude that some older people have.
And while my views have definitely evolved, I'm much more pragmatic then idealistic now, no conservative enlightenment is occurring.
posted by Jalliah at 6:05 AM on January 23, 2017 [29 favorites]
This isn't a just a Republican thing it's conservative thing. When younger, so many times, when talking with someone with a conservative viewpoint the end result was dismissal and some variation on 'Oh you'll understand when you live a little. You'll come around once you become a real adult.' It went beyond a general, you're young so don't know things yet, attitude that some older people have.
And while my views have definitely evolved, I'm much more pragmatic then idealistic now, no conservative enlightenment is occurring.
posted by Jalliah at 6:05 AM on January 23, 2017 [29 favorites]
Just tried calling Senator Bill Nelson's office and I got an "all circuits are busy now" message.
I feel sorry for the poor staffers answering phones today.
EDIT: and his VM is full....
posted by photoslob at 6:06 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
I feel sorry for the poor staffers answering phones today.
EDIT: and his VM is full....
posted by photoslob at 6:06 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
//While I think there's a lot of truth to the idea that people tend to get more fiscally conservative the more they're invested in the existing system, i.e. with property and success,//
I don't think fiscal conservatism and liberal social policies are mutually exclusive. A healthy population that can go to a doctor when they are sick doesn't spend 10X as much at the ER 2 weeks later, and can work and generate tax revenue because they are healthy.
Republican policies are driven by the short term interests of their corporate donors that are calling the shots. Insurance companies don't want to insure people that actually need medical care. The fossil fuel industry wants to keep making billions every year, etc.
posted by COD at 6:07 AM on January 23, 2017 [30 favorites]
I don't think fiscal conservatism and liberal social policies are mutually exclusive. A healthy population that can go to a doctor when they are sick doesn't spend 10X as much at the ER 2 weeks later, and can work and generate tax revenue because they are healthy.
Republican policies are driven by the short term interests of their corporate donors that are calling the shots. Insurance companies don't want to insure people that actually need medical care. The fossil fuel industry wants to keep making billions every year, etc.
posted by COD at 6:07 AM on January 23, 2017 [30 favorites]
Have you come across any good information sources for tech support specifically geared to the needs of activist groups?
Not really, but I am far from an expert. Honestly Google Docs/Sheets/Forms seems to be getting used a lot, and that's what I'm using right now. I tried to spin something up on AirTable, but I'm a) not knowledgeable enough about the nuts and bolts of databases and b) not happy with their forms options (this was hopefully going to be a solution for people to self-register themselves at actions but that didn't seem possible with the off-the-shelf forms at AirTable). The latter was kind of the app killer there, though for other types of groups it might be a good solution.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:11 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Not really, but I am far from an expert. Honestly Google Docs/Sheets/Forms seems to be getting used a lot, and that's what I'm using right now. I tried to spin something up on AirTable, but I'm a) not knowledgeable enough about the nuts and bolts of databases and b) not happy with their forms options (this was hopefully going to be a solution for people to self-register themselves at actions but that didn't seem possible with the off-the-shelf forms at AirTable). The latter was kind of the app killer there, though for other types of groups it might be a good solution.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:11 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
...this health care thing isn't going to affect YOU, is it?
This Is what is so fatiguing to me. Why do I have to explain that even though I may not be too affected by ACA repeal I am worried about all who are? Is "heartless" and "selfish" the Republican default? My same family members who don't want taxes to ensure anyone else is fed, sheltered and healthy are also church-going folks.
Oh, it will affect you.
The insurance companies are likely going to return to denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. Lifetime caps are probably coming back. They will be able to cancel coverage on sick people again. This is what life was like before the ACA. Oh, and kicking all of those people out of the risk pool is going to mean everyone's rates will go up. But wait, there's more! If you take coverage away from 20 million plus people, how are they going to pay for care? Answer: they won't. So they'll show up at the ER when they need care. But it goes beyond that. 20 million people created quite the demand and the supply was going up to meet it. See all those urgent care centers and big new wings on hospitals? A lot of medical personnel are going to be out of work. It affects everyone who isn't rich enough to self fund their care.
posted by azpenguin at 6:13 AM on January 23, 2017 [51 favorites]
This Is what is so fatiguing to me. Why do I have to explain that even though I may not be too affected by ACA repeal I am worried about all who are? Is "heartless" and "selfish" the Republican default? My same family members who don't want taxes to ensure anyone else is fed, sheltered and healthy are also church-going folks.
Oh, it will affect you.
The insurance companies are likely going to return to denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. Lifetime caps are probably coming back. They will be able to cancel coverage on sick people again. This is what life was like before the ACA. Oh, and kicking all of those people out of the risk pool is going to mean everyone's rates will go up. But wait, there's more! If you take coverage away from 20 million plus people, how are they going to pay for care? Answer: they won't. So they'll show up at the ER when they need care. But it goes beyond that. 20 million people created quite the demand and the supply was going up to meet it. See all those urgent care centers and big new wings on hospitals? A lot of medical personnel are going to be out of work. It affects everyone who isn't rich enough to self fund their care.
posted by azpenguin at 6:13 AM on January 23, 2017 [51 favorites]
I've gotten more liberal as I've gotten older because now I've lived long enough to see the outcomes modern conservative policies lead to, and the motivations behind them.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [87 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [87 favorites]
I don't think fiscal conservatism and liberal social policies are mutually exclusive. A healthy population that can go to a doctor when they are sick doesn't spend 10X as much at the ER 2 weeks later, and can work and generate tax revenue because they are healthy.
This is interesting because from my viewpoint I would not see this as an aspect of fiscal conservatism. It's just something that makes sense because of basic math.
This is more pragmatism and what makes sense beyond any sort of social or moral reasoning.
Spend more now, save more later.
posted by Jalliah at 6:17 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
I just signed up for the Stop the #SwampCabinet thing tomorrow here in Chicago. I haven't made nearly enough calls about these fuckers, and I've been pretty irritated with Dick Durbin's complacency in general, so I'm kind of excited to go visit his office and be irritated in person.
(I almost chickened out when MoveOn's sign up page asked for my address and phone number, but thankfully, you can just leave those blank.)
(I also almost chickened out after some folks came in here like, this is so last minute, who possibly has that kind of free time on a Tuesday, MoveOn sucks, bla bla bla... But like, we just had a quarter million people here marching the other day. I'm sure I'm not the only one without a 9-5 at the moment.)
posted by gueneverey at 6:20 AM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
(I almost chickened out when MoveOn's sign up page asked for my address and phone number, but thankfully, you can just leave those blank.)
(I also almost chickened out after some folks came in here like, this is so last minute, who possibly has that kind of free time on a Tuesday, MoveOn sucks, bla bla bla... But like, we just had a quarter million people here marching the other day. I'm sure I'm not the only one without a 9-5 at the moment.)
posted by gueneverey at 6:20 AM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
It's worth doing if you have the time! My point was that MoveOn's tin ear is nothing new (and that I'd like to see their organizing & fundraising pipeline redirected to support new formations). Don't let that discourage you from doing something independently worthwhile under their banner.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
I think there are cords that pull people in both directions as they get older. I have become more liberal for two reasons. One is that I merely seem more liberal because the U.S. shifted on me. I am a moderate by 1970s, 1980s standards. Secondly, as I've grown older I've seen the limits of the law and order society. One of the best examples of this is the Central Park Five. It seems to me that the right lives in a perpetual hysteria: whatever is the new "Reefer Madness."
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [26 favorites]
The Trump couple photos are simultaneously sad and hilarious, but I fear that the social media ridicule will lead to our thin-skinned narcissist of a leader ordering Melania to be more affectionate to him in public. After all, everyone knows he is a yuge fan of torture.
posted by zakur at 6:27 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zakur at 6:27 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Have you come across any good information sources for tech support specifically geared to the needs of activist groups?
It's probably a bit out of date, and a mixed bag, but I was building a twitter list of geekly activist resources. The list was because we (my company) had actually been planning on building a modular platform to serve as a nice flexible (and free) toolkit for alternative (worker managed, etc.) businesses and community/activist groups. Initially starting with local-food hubs as an alternative to food banks. Unfortunately that was when a client stiffed us on the ~£100 grand they owed and that we had been planning on funding the project with.
(bitter, moi?).
posted by Buntix at 6:28 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's probably a bit out of date, and a mixed bag, but I was building a twitter list of geekly activist resources. The list was because we (my company) had actually been planning on building a modular platform to serve as a nice flexible (and free) toolkit for alternative (worker managed, etc.) businesses and community/activist groups. Initially starting with local-food hubs as an alternative to food banks. Unfortunately that was when a client stiffed us on the ~£100 grand they owed and that we had been planning on funding the project with.
(bitter, moi?).
posted by Buntix at 6:28 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
a client stiffed us on the ~£100 grand they owed
Congratulations, you got Trumped.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:29 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Congratulations, you got Trumped.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:29 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
I've gotten more liberal as I've gotten older because now I've lived long enough to see the outcomes modern conservative policies lead to, and the motivations behind them.
"When Republicans are in the driver's seat, things go to hell" is my experience. What's fascinating is the way the rhetoric never changes- conservatives love to talk about how fiscally responsible they are and how good they are for the economy, and never mind that the only economic outcomes they seem capable of creating are massive deficits and economic slowdowns.
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:31 AM on January 23, 2017 [40 favorites]
"When Republicans are in the driver's seat, things go to hell" is my experience. What's fascinating is the way the rhetoric never changes- conservatives love to talk about how fiscally responsible they are and how good they are for the economy, and never mind that the only economic outcomes they seem capable of creating are massive deficits and economic slowdowns.
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:31 AM on January 23, 2017 [40 favorites]
"...until they grow into their ultimate Republican chrysalis when they get married and buy a house."
The old quip I remember goes something like "people vote D to earn enough to vote R."
posted by klarck at 6:35 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
The old quip I remember goes something like "people vote D to earn enough to vote R."
posted by klarck at 6:35 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
The other old saw goes something like 'if you're not liberal when you're young, you have no heart; and if you don't become more conservative as you age, you have no brain.'
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:36 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:36 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Which would make sense if sociopathy and an inability to recognize patterns or do basic math were characteristics of the aging process.
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:37 AM on January 23, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:37 AM on January 23, 2017 [41 favorites]
Congratulations, you got Trumped.
The client in question does actually use language in a remarkably similar way to Trump, suspect there's the same sort of entitled narcissism going on.
Having looked through the list, there's nothing obvious that springs out as being directly applicable. The site the Woman's March organisers use may be though: https://actionnetwork.org/
posted by Buntix at 6:38 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
The client in question does actually use language in a remarkably similar way to Trump, suspect there's the same sort of entitled narcissism going on.
Having looked through the list, there's nothing obvious that springs out as being directly applicable. The site the Woman's March organisers use may be though: https://actionnetwork.org/
posted by Buntix at 6:38 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
What's fascinating is the way the rhetoric never changes- conservatives love to talk about how fiscally responsible they are and how good they are for the economy, and never mind that the only economic outcomes they seem capable of creating are massive deficits and economic slowdowns.
That's only because those people weren't true conservatives. Reducing taxes to 35%? Pff. That's not low enough. Every true conservative knows it needs to be lower. They cut the welfare rolls in half? Still too many people getting rich off my labor.
And that's why Trump won't destroy the Republican Party. If he loses 538-0 in 2020 because unemployment is at 35%, Ted Cruz will be right there in 2024 saying that it was because Trump wasn't a true conservative, and huge swaths of the country will believe it.
posted by Etrigan at 6:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
That's only because those people weren't true conservatives. Reducing taxes to 35%? Pff. That's not low enough. Every true conservative knows it needs to be lower. They cut the welfare rolls in half? Still too many people getting rich off my labor.
And that's why Trump won't destroy the Republican Party. If he loses 538-0 in 2020 because unemployment is at 35%, Ted Cruz will be right there in 2024 saying that it was because Trump wasn't a true conservative, and huge swaths of the country will believe it.
posted by Etrigan at 6:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
#SCOTUS won't review challenge to Texas voter ID law, which was struck down by CA5 for discriminatory effect (cite)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:40 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:40 AM on January 23, 2017
#SCOTUS won't review challenge to Texas voter ID law, which was struck down by CA5 for discriminatory effect
Does that mean that it remains struck down, or did someone above CA5 reinstate it?
posted by Etrigan at 6:42 AM on January 23, 2017
Does that mean that it remains struck down, or did someone above CA5 reinstate it?
posted by Etrigan at 6:42 AM on January 23, 2017
I've gotten more liberal as I've gotten older because now I've lived long enough to see the outcomes modern conservative policies lead to, and the motivations behind them.
Ditto. Particularly when talking about the more libertarian-leaning side, there's an awful lot of "good in theory [thus interesting to the young/inexperienced], never works out in practice" going on there.
posted by tocts at 6:42 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
Ditto. Particularly when talking about the more libertarian-leaning side, there's an awful lot of "good in theory [thus interesting to the young/inexperienced], never works out in practice" going on there.
posted by tocts at 6:42 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
#SCOTUS won't review challenge to Texas voter ID law, which was struck down by CA5 for discriminatory effect
Does that mean that it remains struck down, or did someone above CA5 reinstate it?
It's not quite that final:
Chief files statement respecting denial of cert in Texas voter ID. Says discrim purpose claim interlocutory now. Can bring again when final.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:43 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Does that mean that it remains struck down, or did someone above CA5 reinstate it?
It's not quite that final:
Chief files statement respecting denial of cert in Texas voter ID. Says discrim purpose claim interlocutory now. Can bring again when final.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:43 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Reuters Business @ReutersBiz
MORE: Trump tells manufacturing executives that companies that move abroad will face major border tax on products coming into U.S.
Begun the trade war has...
posted by Talez at 6:44 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
MORE: Trump tells manufacturing executives that companies that move abroad will face major border tax on products coming into U.S.
Begun the trade war has...
posted by Talez at 6:44 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump was just in a televised meeting with a bunch of CEOs. HE said he'll cut regulations by 75% and that taxes will be cut "massively." I may have misunderstood but it sounds like if a company thinks about leaving the US, and decides to stay (or maybe if they already left but want to come back?), then they will not have to pay taxes at all anymore...? And if they leave then they'll have yuge taxes. He is impossible to follow but that was my impression from his blather.
posted by gatorae at 6:45 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 6:45 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Upon thinking about it, a primary difference between young liberal me and older liberal me is tempering my views with a better understanding of the money aspect of whatever it is. We have to figure out how to pay for it and maybe something is less possible because of the financial aspect.
This isn't conservatism though. It's just the reality of how the world works and there are many different way to look at and work the money aspect.
Maybe to some it might seem like going more conservative because of the myth that conservatives are the ones that care about and are better with money. Which of course is utter BS.
posted by Jalliah at 6:47 AM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
I've gotten way way more liberal as I've gotten older (er, I started out libertarian for a hot second, and it's all been down hill from there). At this rate, I will be in the jungle with Maoist guerrillas by the time I'm 60.
Okay, here is the thing I've been thinking about, which is related. I am monumentally privileged and lucky. My student loans are paid off, my health insurance is pretty good and through my employer, my kid is healthy and neurotypical (quirky, but NT). I've been blessed with good physical and mental health, as has my husband, as has most of my extended family. I own my home, I have a car. I'm not wealthy, but we do fine. We want for nothing. Both sets of aging parents are fully set with health care and pensions and can take care of their own needs. I'm white as fuck, cisgender and in a straight marriage. Outside of nuclear Armageddon or fucking with my livelihood (higher education), I probably won't be touched personally too much by all this.
AND I AM SICK TO FUCKING DEATH OF OTHER PEOPLE IN MY POSITION JUST SHRUGGING AND WONDERING WHY I'M SO UPSET. And when I get capslock angry like that, I want to do something about it because I am basically Hermione Granger. I have all of this privilege just sitting around here, going to waste. I give money, I give time, I do my best to amplify marginalized voices and show up for justice, but I have been wondering if there is any possible way for me to go mano a mano with the people who are just like me except they apparently lack empathy. Is there any way I can use my "Hey, I"m just like you! Let's chat about this, person who automatically feels affinity for me because we share skin tone and socioeconomic status!" powers for good here? I mean, I do not actually know personally anyone who openly has expressed that opinion because liberal bubble but can I like, adopt some people? Be their pen pal? I don't mean people who are open racists because nah but the people who are like "what's the big deal, it won't effect me, my life is fine" in the media are driving me around a fucking bend. I want to do a, like, "I have a heart, AMA."
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:49 AM on January 23, 2017 [67 favorites]
Okay, here is the thing I've been thinking about, which is related. I am monumentally privileged and lucky. My student loans are paid off, my health insurance is pretty good and through my employer, my kid is healthy and neurotypical (quirky, but NT). I've been blessed with good physical and mental health, as has my husband, as has most of my extended family. I own my home, I have a car. I'm not wealthy, but we do fine. We want for nothing. Both sets of aging parents are fully set with health care and pensions and can take care of their own needs. I'm white as fuck, cisgender and in a straight marriage. Outside of nuclear Armageddon or fucking with my livelihood (higher education), I probably won't be touched personally too much by all this.
AND I AM SICK TO FUCKING DEATH OF OTHER PEOPLE IN MY POSITION JUST SHRUGGING AND WONDERING WHY I'M SO UPSET. And when I get capslock angry like that, I want to do something about it because I am basically Hermione Granger. I have all of this privilege just sitting around here, going to waste. I give money, I give time, I do my best to amplify marginalized voices and show up for justice, but I have been wondering if there is any possible way for me to go mano a mano with the people who are just like me except they apparently lack empathy. Is there any way I can use my "Hey, I"m just like you! Let's chat about this, person who automatically feels affinity for me because we share skin tone and socioeconomic status!" powers for good here? I mean, I do not actually know personally anyone who openly has expressed that opinion because liberal bubble but can I like, adopt some people? Be their pen pal? I don't mean people who are open racists because nah but the people who are like "what's the big deal, it won't effect me, my life is fine" in the media are driving me around a fucking bend. I want to do a, like, "I have a heart, AMA."
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:49 AM on January 23, 2017 [67 favorites]
And all the executives (who know a huckster when they see one) smiled and nodded just enough that he won't twitterbomb them at 3 tomorrow morning and went back to their offices and kept doing exactly what they were going to do, knowing full well that Congress will never pass such a tax. A few remembered to send a note to their PR departments to send out a press release touting their decision to not move a bunch of jobs overseas that were never going to go overseas, but are moving to an RTW state where they're paying about a third of what the union people were making, and they're getting a ten-year tax break from the new county to do it.
posted by Etrigan at 6:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 6:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [20 favorites]
HE said he'll cut regulations by 75%
Does he think there's a yuge knob in the Oval Office that can just decrease regulation?
I mean I guess there is but not like that
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:51 AM on January 23, 2017 [37 favorites]
Does he think there's a yuge knob in the Oval Office that can just decrease regulation?
I mean I guess there is but not like that
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:51 AM on January 23, 2017 [37 favorites]
75% less regulations in the future? Or he thinks he's going to repeal 75% of existing regulations? Dirty air and child labor!
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
All he has to do is stop enforcing regulations and let it be known that he will. Or enforce selectively.
posted by kingless at 6:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by kingless at 6:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
I want to walk middle class folks who plan on Medicare taking care of them in old age through Medicare/Medicaid nursing homes. There are tons, ususally in every city. Not the fancy rich, or the special end of life insurance care, but a regular underfunded , understaffed nursing home.
This is how your gonna die if you vote Republican and are lucky enough to live to old age, mf.
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [23 favorites]
This is how your gonna die if you vote Republican and are lucky enough to live to old age, mf.
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [23 favorites]
Does he think there's a big knob in the Oval Office that can just decrease regulation?
One of the three other Presidents told him that he was going to decrease regulations. He would agree because he hates them. Regulations tell him what he can or cannot do and that's unacceptable so of course they are all bad. They probably talked about a percentage he could talk about. They need to send him off with really easy talking points. No need to get into what regulations or why just need the number for optics.
I expect this number wasn't 75%. The agreed up percentage was likely less but with Trumpflation it is now bigger. He does this with everything.
posted by Jalliah at 6:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
One of the three other Presidents told him that he was going to decrease regulations. He would agree because he hates them. Regulations tell him what he can or cannot do and that's unacceptable so of course they are all bad. They probably talked about a percentage he could talk about. They need to send him off with really easy talking points. No need to get into what regulations or why just need the number for optics.
I expect this number wasn't 75%. The agreed up percentage was likely less but with Trumpflation it is now bigger. He does this with everything.
posted by Jalliah at 6:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
We should start taking bets on the props used at today's press conference. Madonna's discography?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yeah, he said he would cut (presumably all current, not future) regulation by "75%... maybe more!"
posted by gatorae at 7:00 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by gatorae at 7:00 AM on January 23, 2017
Which would make sense if sociopathy and an inability to recognize patterns or do basic math were characteristics of the aging process
Unfortunately, mental decline is part of the aging process and it tends to go hand in hand with a desire for simple answers and authoritarianism, which is what the Republicans and Trump deliver.
posted by Candleman at 7:07 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Unfortunately, mental decline is part of the aging process and it tends to go hand in hand with a desire for simple answers and authoritarianism, which is what the Republicans and Trump deliver.
posted by Candleman at 7:07 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's the same thing with his stupid tariff talk. 35% tariffs is just insane. It's economically unhinged. 'But you know talking about tariffs in the 1-5% range sounds puny, those are small numbers. (even though 5% would make economists gasp) Weak If I'm gonna do tariffs it's got to be a bigger number!'
So we get this 35% talk.
Size matters to Donald. It all has to be bigger and better and the best in the entire world.
Which is why he spent his first day stewing about crowd size and having his show get sidelined by a bunch of women in hugely more numbers then showed up at his thing.
posted by Jalliah at 7:08 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
You know, I think Trump should start his own intelligence service. He could call it the Knowledge Gathering Bureau or by some such acronym.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:08 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:08 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
The agents of the Knowledge Gathering Bureau could be called Stalwart Statisticians!
posted by Tevin at 7:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by Tevin at 7:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
AIA. Alt-Intelligence Agency
posted by ian1977 at 7:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ian1977 at 7:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
List of corporate execs meeting at the WH this morning with Pres Trump
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:14 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:14 AM on January 23, 2017
I look forward to the GAO, OMB, IG, Census Bureau, BEA, BLS, ERS, NASS, NCHS, NIST, NSF, NWS and the USEIA's cost-saving integration into the new Factual Services Bureau. Great deal in the works on a server-farm formerly used by Livejournal but moved overseas! Sad!
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Without Medicaid or Medicare, you're not even going to get a shitty nursing home. You're just going to die. Possibly after bankrupting your spouse and/or family first. Possibly without any kind of pain relief, so better hope for the aneurysm not the Alzheimers.
I mean, that will change the country's demographics more quickly where Boomers are concerned, but I'm pretty sure your average Boomer Trump voter didn't have that in mind.
posted by emjaybee at 7:19 AM on January 23, 2017 [14 favorites]
I mean, that will change the country's demographics more quickly where Boomers are concerned, but I'm pretty sure your average Boomer Trump voter didn't have that in mind.
posted by emjaybee at 7:19 AM on January 23, 2017 [14 favorites]
soren_lorensen: I've gotten way way more liberal as I've gotten older
I hear you. While I appreciated Aziz Ansari's monologe where he talked about "change coming from large groups of angry people," I was about to shout at him "but POLITICIANS MAKE THE LAWS! AND THE SUPREME COURT DEFINES WHAT IS LEGAL! AND THOSE ARE VERY SMALL GROUPS!" But I was watching the clip on my wife's phone over her shoulder, and I figured she wouldn't appreciate me shouting in her ear. And Aziz wasn't there to actually listen to me. So I shout here, on the internet, in all caps.
Related anecdote: I paid the New Yorker $6 for 12 months of digital access in part because the Facebook-sourced link included the flag "SuperLiberal" or something that. "You got me, New Yorker, you got me."
posted by filthy light thief at 7:20 AM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
I hear you. While I appreciated Aziz Ansari's monologe where he talked about "change coming from large groups of angry people," I was about to shout at him "but POLITICIANS MAKE THE LAWS! AND THE SUPREME COURT DEFINES WHAT IS LEGAL! AND THOSE ARE VERY SMALL GROUPS!" But I was watching the clip on my wife's phone over her shoulder, and I figured she wouldn't appreciate me shouting in her ear. And Aziz wasn't there to actually listen to me. So I shout here, on the internet, in all caps.
Related anecdote: I paid the New Yorker $6 for 12 months of digital access in part because the Facebook-sourced link included the flag "SuperLiberal" or something that. "You got me, New Yorker, you got me."
posted by filthy light thief at 7:20 AM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
FYI, here are the locations that the so-called "pro-life" movement is planning to rally on February 11. All pussy hats welcome to counter-protest.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:23 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:23 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
You know, I think Trump should start his own intelligence service. He could call it...
The Ministry of Peace concerns itself with war, the Ministry of Truth with lies, the Ministry of Love with torture and the Ministry of Plenty with starvation.
posted by prefpara at 7:23 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
The Ministry of Peace concerns itself with war, the Ministry of Truth with lies, the Ministry of Love with torture and the Ministry of Plenty with starvation.
posted by prefpara at 7:23 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'd love to know which 25% of regulations he considers worth keeping. Or maybe companies can choose?? Like, "We'll let ourselves off the hook for chemical spills, hostile workplaces, unpaid overtime, and reckless hazardous waste transport, but we still won't do business with North Korea and we won't use radium in our baby products. DEAL!"
posted by argonauta at 7:24 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by argonauta at 7:24 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm starting a new part-time tomorrow, and in a few weeks I'm starting a second part-time job. I will be calling my MoCs at lunch, and I'd love to find other people with whom to make these calls. If you're in Brighton MA or in Boston's South End, MeMail me and let me know.
posted by pxe2000 at 7:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by pxe2000 at 7:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Talez: Begun the trade war has...
So, _rump says all these things, but how much is in his tiny hands? Answering my own question with a quick Google search: quite a bit (New York Times, Sept. 19, 2016 - warning: pre-election article, mentions that Hillary could still become president). By simply following the rules in place to back out of trade deals, which starts with a "notice of intent" type announcement, he could change a lot quite quickly.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
So, _rump says all these things, but how much is in his tiny hands? Answering my own question with a quick Google search: quite a bit (New York Times, Sept. 19, 2016 - warning: pre-election article, mentions that Hillary could still become president). By simply following the rules in place to back out of trade deals, which starts with a "notice of intent" type announcement, he could change a lot quite quickly.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
In terms of nursing home care, liberal policies never have actually taken hold. It is a dark and dreary place. If you have benefits in IL, all but 30 dollars goes to the nursing home . You get 30 for anything you want or need (like your own shampoo for instance). Generally if you are citizen you will get Medicaid for nursing home care and some hospital is going to send you away because dying in the streets is bad PR.
posted by AlexiaSky at 7:27 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by AlexiaSky at 7:27 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
zachlipton: Trump on Iraq: “We should have kept the oil. Maybe we’ll have another chance.”
Yeah:
He still wants to fight for what's ours. He wants to keep our oil (which happens to be under a foreign country).
posted by filthy light thief at 7:31 AM on January 23, 2017
Yeah:
Everybody who voted for Trump because they thought he was less hawkish than Clinton is a fool.
He still wants to fight for what's ours. He wants to keep our oil (which happens to be under a foreign country).
posted by filthy light thief at 7:31 AM on January 23, 2017
Generally if you are citizen you will get Medicaid for nursing home care and some hospital is going to send you away because dying in the streets is bad PR.
Then the state goes after your estate for Medicaid bills after you die. Just a reminder that the estate tax was never truly repealed and the 1% will still screw you even when you think you've won a battle.
posted by Talez at 7:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Then the state goes after your estate for Medicaid bills after you die. Just a reminder that the estate tax was never truly repealed and the 1% will still screw you even when you think you've won a battle.
posted by Talez at 7:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Nursing homes are indeed dark and dreary if you don't have family who is wiling or able to supplement some money for extra quality of life. My great-grandmother used her $30/month for a phone in her room so she could contact the outside world (because no, that isn't included in your $x,xxx per month cost). Our family picked up the cost of new clothes, dental work, toiletries, etc. It would be terrible if someone didn't have family to help out since Medicaid definitely provides only the absolute bare minimum a person needs to survive. Not live in a happy or meaningful sense, but to just not die. But that is the point here - the Republicans want to take that away so that people will literally just die.
posted by gatorae at 7:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 7:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
There is nothing inherently funny about small penises.
(However, the insecurity of blundering bloviators can be funny.)
posted by Too-Ticky at 7:36 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
(However, the insecurity of blundering bloviators can be funny.)
posted by Too-Ticky at 7:36 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
After going on the Sunday Morning talk shows to declare that Trump would never release his tax returns because the American people don't care, she has gone on twitter this to clarify that
On taxes, answers (& repeated questions) are same from campaign: POTUS is under audit and will not release until that is completed. #nonewsposted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:37 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
somebody at the DC march screamed "SAVE MELANIA"
Fuck Melania. She has agency. She sicced Trump's legions on Julia Ioffe after she wrote a profile on Melania for GQ and said Julia provoked the anti-Semitic death threats she received. She plagiarized Michelle's speech. She's a Trump through and through.
posted by chris24 at 7:38 AM on January 23, 2017 [45 favorites]
Fuck Melania. She has agency. She sicced Trump's legions on Julia Ioffe after she wrote a profile on Melania for GQ and said Julia provoked the anti-Semitic death threats she received. She plagiarized Michelle's speech. She's a Trump through and through.
posted by chris24 at 7:38 AM on January 23, 2017 [45 favorites]
Ah, now they're trying out "#nonews" to see whether that gets picked up.
posted by Etrigan at 7:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 7:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
She's a Trump through and through.
100%. Trump himself sees his family members as parts of his own body and Melania has shown herself to be more than happy to take up the role of an organ. Minor role or not, I have no sympathy for Trump's thymus gland.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:42 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
100%. Trump himself sees his family members as parts of his own body and Melania has shown herself to be more than happy to take up the role of an organ. Minor role or not, I have no sympathy for Trump's thymus gland.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:42 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
I mean, a fixation on size is commonly joked about having to do with compensating for something. I wouldn't be surprised, given that he's a short-fingered vulgarian, that he also tends to go about life half-cocked.
No, remember he assured the world during the primary that there was no issue in that department.
*shudder*
Joking aside. He's a narcissist. He appears to have issues with his Dad and living up to some warped expectation. And he wants the adoration and respect of those he considers his equals and has spent his life in a competition of his own making in the quest to do so. That's all you need to explain it.
posted by Jalliah at 7:49 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
No, remember he assured the world during the primary that there was no issue in that department.
*shudder*
Joking aside. He's a narcissist. He appears to have issues with his Dad and living up to some warped expectation. And he wants the adoration and respect of those he considers his equals and has spent his life in a competition of his own making in the quest to do so. That's all you need to explain it.
posted by Jalliah at 7:49 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
If you were one of the people who got excited that Rubio would continue going after Tillerson, sorry to say he's yanked the football away from you once again: Rubio announces support for Trump secretary of state nominee Tillerson
posted by zombieflanders at 7:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 7:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
And here's Melania pushing birtherism in 2011.
posted by chris24 at 7:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 7:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
About the Copy-Cake, yes, Styrofoam is often used for ornate cakes because it is easier to decorate a stable base and it is cheaper. However, it is worth noting that the original cake was baked with 5 different flavored, fully edible layers in part because the baker wanted to do his best to show his love for his new POTUS. No doubt the copy-cake was styrafoam because it was the cheapest option and because no one cared about pleasing the guests. All surface, no substance will be the watchword of the new administration.
With all the talk the copy-cake has generated, I'm surprised how little coverage Melania's "Jackie-inspired" dress is getting. Make no mistake-- this is the Pinterest Presidency because they will put as little effort into their displays as possible. Remember the stories about how Trump Tower is all surface marble and gold but shoddily made? Yeah, that. NYTimes
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
With all the talk the copy-cake has generated, I'm surprised how little coverage Melania's "Jackie-inspired" dress is getting. Make no mistake-- this is the Pinterest Presidency because they will put as little effort into their displays as possible. Remember the stories about how Trump Tower is all surface marble and gold but shoddily made? Yeah, that. NYTimes
Mrs. Trump has said that she looks to Mrs. Kennedy as a role model, and at least as far as her image goes, it seems she is taking that literally.This side-by-side comparison is pretty striking. This tells me that Melania is a bit fearful of her new position and wants to play it as safe as possible. What could be more safe than playing at being Jackie Kennedy and it dovetails nicely with Trump's desire to return America back 50 years.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm horrified about Rubio as a constituent, but since this is all clearly going to hell in a handbasket anyway, at least it is now 100% unquestionable that the entire Republican party is complicit in this disaster. It isn't loony Tea Party renegades, but the whole leadership. Tillerson would have been an easy one to say "Ehhh, in light of this Russia stuff we need to put up some resistance for show so that it at least looks like we care about our country." Nope. They don't give a shit.
posted by gatorae at 7:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 7:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [22 favorites]
All you nice white ladies will be at the next Black Lives Matter March, right?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:57 AM on January 23, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:57 AM on January 23, 2017 [23 favorites]
Madam, you are no Jackie Kennedy.
posted by ian1977 at 7:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 7:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
If you were one of the people who got excited that Rubio would continue going after Tillerson, sorry to say he's yanked the football away from you once again: Rubio announces support for Trump secretary of state nominee Tillerson
Called this in the moment. Not a single Republican Senator will vote against one single nominee. NeverTrump was never a real movement, it was a total and complete farce from the very first moment. All Republicans are Trump, that's an undeniable fact. There's not one single millimeter of daylight between Trump and any Republican member of Congress. Pretending otherwise is playing Trump's game, and the same game that McCain has been playing for decades.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [21 favorites]
Called this in the moment. Not a single Republican Senator will vote against one single nominee. NeverTrump was never a real movement, it was a total and complete farce from the very first moment. All Republicans are Trump, that's an undeniable fact. There's not one single millimeter of daylight between Trump and any Republican member of Congress. Pretending otherwise is playing Trump's game, and the same game that McCain has been playing for decades.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [21 favorites]
Now the DoD is subtweeting Donny.
@DeptofDefense:
Social media postings sometimes provide an important window into a person’s #mentalhealth. Know what to look for. http://go.usa.gov/x9yVB
posted by chris24 at 7:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [77 favorites]
@DeptofDefense:
Social media postings sometimes provide an important window into a person’s #mentalhealth. Know what to look for. http://go.usa.gov/x9yVB
posted by chris24 at 7:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [77 favorites]
China taking the reigns to counter the forces of isolationism vs globalization is gonna be weird.
Senior Chinese diplomat: China will assume world leadership if needed
BEIJING — China does not want world leadership but could be forced to assume that role if others step back from that position, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Monday, after US President Donald Trump pledged to put "America first" in his first speech.
Zhang Jun, the director-general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's international economics department, made the comments during a briefing with foreign journalists to discuss President Xi Jinping's visit to Switzerland last week.
Topping the bill at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Xi portrayed China as the leader of a globalized world where only international cooperation could solve the big problems.
Speaking days before Trump assumed the presidency, Xi also urged countries to resist isolationism, signaling Beijing's desire to play a bigger role on the global stage.
Elaborating on that theme, Zhang said China had no intention of seeking global leadership.
"If anyone were to say China is playing a leadership role in the world, I would say it's not China rushing to the front but rather the front-runners have stepped back, leaving the place to China," Zhang said.
posted by Jalliah at 8:01 AM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
Senior Chinese diplomat: China will assume world leadership if needed
BEIJING — China does not want world leadership but could be forced to assume that role if others step back from that position, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Monday, after US President Donald Trump pledged to put "America first" in his first speech.
Zhang Jun, the director-general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's international economics department, made the comments during a briefing with foreign journalists to discuss President Xi Jinping's visit to Switzerland last week.
Topping the bill at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Xi portrayed China as the leader of a globalized world where only international cooperation could solve the big problems.
Speaking days before Trump assumed the presidency, Xi also urged countries to resist isolationism, signaling Beijing's desire to play a bigger role on the global stage.
Elaborating on that theme, Zhang said China had no intention of seeking global leadership.
"If anyone were to say China is playing a leadership role in the world, I would say it's not China rushing to the front but rather the front-runners have stepped back, leaving the place to China," Zhang said.
posted by Jalliah at 8:01 AM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
NeverTrump was never a real movement, it was a total and complete farce from the very first moment.
#nevertrump was because he would lose, not because he would govern badly.
posted by Etrigan at 8:01 AM on January 23, 2017 [28 favorites]
#nevertrump was because he would lose, not because he would govern badly.
posted by Etrigan at 8:01 AM on January 23, 2017 [28 favorites]
Now the DoD is subtweeting Donny.
@DeptofDefense:
Social media postings sometimes provide an important window into a person’s #mentalhealth. Know what to look for. http://go.usa.gov/x9yVB
Holy shit. My evens, I need more evens.
posted by Jalliah at 8:04 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
@DeptofDefense:
Social media postings sometimes provide an important window into a person’s #mentalhealth. Know what to look for. http://go.usa.gov/x9yVB
Holy shit. My evens, I need more evens.
posted by Jalliah at 8:04 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
DoD troll, you made my Monday.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:05 AM on January 23, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:05 AM on January 23, 2017 [27 favorites]
Okay I am dumb on the twitters. Subtweeted? Like responded to Trumps tweet? I saw the link and it looked like a suicide prevention article? How is it related to trump?
posted by ian1977 at 8:06 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by ian1977 at 8:06 AM on January 23, 2017
azpenguin Yes, I know - it affects all of us if the ACA is repealed. My Republican relatives don't seem able to think beyond the idea that today, this very day that we are having the conversation, the effects on me personally would not be visible.
I'm always pointing out that relying on my employer for insurance leaves me out in the cold if my employment ends but they seem to have some problems with forward-thinking.
posted by hilaryjade at 8:06 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm always pointing out that relying on my employer for insurance leaves me out in the cold if my employment ends but they seem to have some problems with forward-thinking.
posted by hilaryjade at 8:06 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Subtweeting is a term for when you tweet about someone without directly mentioning them, kinda like throwing shade in the twitter world.
posted by DynamiteToast at 8:07 AM on January 23, 2017 [28 favorites]
posted by DynamiteToast at 8:07 AM on January 23, 2017 [28 favorites]
A sub tweet is when you insult someone on the down low by either 1) not naming them directly 2) not including their twitter handle in the message. This is a very low key example of a sub tweet.
posted by Tevin at 8:07 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Tevin at 8:07 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
thanks dynamitetoast. so it is not directly linked to Trump in any real way...just a 'read between the lines' sort of insult?
posted by ian1977 at 8:08 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ian1977 at 8:08 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Subtweeting is a term for when you tweet about someone without directly mentioning them, kinda like throwing shade in the twitter world.
It becomes even more clear how this had to be done on purpose when you look at their posting history. If they were regularly posting things like this that would be one thing. They're not.
posted by Jalliah at 8:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
It becomes even more clear how this had to be done on purpose when you look at their posting history. If they were regularly posting things like this that would be one thing. They're not.
posted by Jalliah at 8:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
thanks dynamitetoast. so it is not directly linked to Trump in any real way...just a 'read between the lines' sort of insult?
Yes. Insult with plausible deniability.
posted by Jalliah at 8:11 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Yes. Insult with plausible deniability.
posted by Jalliah at 8:11 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
But seeing those videos of him ignoring her while entering the White House, him clumsily 'dancing' with her, her all Stepford Wifey at the inauguration, it was impossible not to feel a tiny bit sorry for her.
Maybe this will help: Can't take credit for finding this, but here's @MELANIATRUMP pushing @realdonaldtrump's birtherism in 2011.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:15 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
I will be calling my MoCs at lunch, and I'd love to find other people with whom to make these calls.
I've been thinking of organizing group calls too in my area. Seems to be a low-barrier, easy way to feel like you're actually doing something, and I think a lot of people are inspired and energized by Saturday's marches, so I'm thinking the iron is hot right now.
People seem to be most hesitant about exactly what to say, so I'm thinking someplace quiet with a dry erase board (on which a script, phone numbers, and issues of the day/week are written) would work nicely. Snacks are usually good incentives too, and they make for an extra friendly atmosphere.
Any links to tips on organizing this sort of thing would be welcome.
posted by Rykey at 8:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
I've been thinking of organizing group calls too in my area. Seems to be a low-barrier, easy way to feel like you're actually doing something, and I think a lot of people are inspired and energized by Saturday's marches, so I'm thinking the iron is hot right now.
People seem to be most hesitant about exactly what to say, so I'm thinking someplace quiet with a dry erase board (on which a script, phone numbers, and issues of the day/week are written) would work nicely. Snacks are usually good incentives too, and they make for an extra friendly atmosphere.
Any links to tips on organizing this sort of thing would be welcome.
posted by Rykey at 8:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
Melania and Ivanka are bad people. This isnt hard.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:17 AM on January 23, 2017 [38 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:17 AM on January 23, 2017 [38 favorites]
And even if it's just a perfectly innocent tweet, the fact that people immediately, thought of Trump and went to OMG totally shading the President because of it's relevance is also something.
posted by Jalliah at 8:18 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Jalliah at 8:18 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
Yep, read betweeen the lines. Basically, the DoD just said "Tweets often show someone's unhinged. Ring any bells?"
posted by chris24 at 8:19 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 8:19 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
My Republican relatives don't seem able to think beyond the idea that today, this very day that we are having the conversation, the effects on me personally would not be visible.
"He's only been President for one day, he hasn't taken anything from you yet, why are you protesting???"
Yo, if someone comes to your front door, knocks on it and says "Hey fyi, in 20 minutes I'm going to come back here and punch you in your face", do you a) Hang out in your doorway for 20 minutes whistling dixie because hey, nothing has even happened yet or b) call the cops and tell them to come quick, someone is going to punch you in the face soon?
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
"He's only been President for one day, he hasn't taken anything from you yet, why are you protesting???"
Yo, if someone comes to your front door, knocks on it and says "Hey fyi, in 20 minutes I'm going to come back here and punch you in your face", do you a) Hang out in your doorway for 20 minutes whistling dixie because hey, nothing has even happened yet or b) call the cops and tell them to come quick, someone is going to punch you in the face soon?
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
Subtweeting is a term for...
One thing about this whole disaster, I am finally learning about Twitter.
posted by Coventry at 8:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
One thing about this whole disaster, I am finally learning about Twitter.
posted by Coventry at 8:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
Yes. Insult with plausible deniability.
Mmmrph. I can't help thinking of the CIA man in Apocalypse Now: "Insult...with extreme prejudice."
posted by adamgreenfield at 8:22 AM on January 23, 2017
Mmmrph. I can't help thinking of the CIA man in Apocalypse Now: "Insult...with extreme prejudice."
posted by adamgreenfield at 8:22 AM on January 23, 2017
I dont really want to learn about twitter. Another thing I blame trump for. :(
i do like bird rights activist and hannibal at the zoo tho.
posted by ian1977 at 8:24 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
i do like bird rights activist and hannibal at the zoo tho.
posted by ian1977 at 8:24 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
@LambdaLegal
Here are some fun alternative facts for you on this autumnal Friday morning...
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:25 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Here are some fun alternative facts for you on this autumnal Friday morning...
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:25 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Just called Sen Tillis' Raleigh office for a change. Got right through. I gave extended reasons for my wish that he vote No on Sessions, No on DeVos, and No on Repeal/Replace but I'm pretty sure I heard ticking sounds that indicated he was just checking boxes. Probably could have just said "No on these three things" and had the same reaction. I'm sort of tempting to ask next time, "Does it really matter what I think?" because I think the answer is "No."
Meanwhile, Giuliani is being a dick. According to the Daily Caller: "Giuliani: 500,000 Women Who Marched Against Trump Didn’t Even Know What They Were Protesting." Love how he got a double whammy in there, "There weren't that many, and they are so empty-headed they didn't know what they were doing."
kinda like throwing shade in the twitter world.
Speaking of throwing shade, watch this Bishop change how he holds his staff so he doesn't have to shake hands with Trump.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [47 favorites]
Meanwhile, Giuliani is being a dick. According to the Daily Caller: "Giuliani: 500,000 Women Who Marched Against Trump Didn’t Even Know What They Were Protesting." Love how he got a double whammy in there, "There weren't that many, and they are so empty-headed they didn't know what they were doing."
“They do have some real issues, but most of the people I saw in Washington, and even the ones here in New York because I got back in time, I’m not even sure they know what they’re [protesting],” Giuliani said on “Fox and Friends” Monday. “They’re not protesting any one thing. It’s not as if we’re protesting Roe v. Wade. It’s a whole, ‘Something’s bad about Trump.'”
“Whatever that’s supposed to be.”
kinda like throwing shade in the twitter world.
Speaking of throwing shade, watch this Bishop change how he holds his staff so he doesn't have to shake hands with Trump.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [47 favorites]
Regarding the DoD tweet, it is pegged to an actual article that was published last Thursday and was written by an Actual medical doctor for consumption by the military audience. That's a lot of plausible deniability/innocent coincidence i.e. this is just mere marketing for content on the website dodlive.mil. Evidence for the "throwing shade" side would be that the twitter account appears selective in what they promote from the dodlive.mil website.
posted by mmascolino at 8:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by mmascolino at 8:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
Speaking of throwing shade, watch this Bishop change how he holds his staff so he doesn't have to shake hands with Trump.
page doesn't exist for me
posted by Jalliah at 8:28 AM on January 23, 2017
page doesn't exist for me
posted by Jalliah at 8:28 AM on January 23, 2017
page doesn't exist for me
There is a typo in the url...remove the trailing "http://"
posted by mmascolino at 8:29 AM on January 23, 2017
There is a typo in the url...remove the trailing "http://"
posted by mmascolino at 8:29 AM on January 23, 2017
"If anyone were to say China is playing a leadership role in the world, I would say it's not China rushing to the front but rather the front-runners have stepped back, leaving the place to China," Zhang said.
CALLED IT!
Wait until they announce the yuan trading bloc encompassing much of Africa, Latin America, poorer parts of SE Asia, and, if they play their cards right, Australia.
posted by Talez at 8:31 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
CALLED IT!
Wait until they announce the yuan trading bloc encompassing much of Africa, Latin America, poorer parts of SE Asia, and, if they play their cards right, Australia.
posted by Talez at 8:31 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
Speaking of throwing shade, watch this Bishop change how he holds his staff so he doesn't have to shake hands with Trump.
He just totally ignored him too. Doesn't look like he even looked at him as he walked by.
posted by Jalliah at 8:32 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
Speaking of throwing shade, watch this Bishop change how he holds his staff so he doesn't have to shake hands with Trump.
The Diocese of Nah, Man.
posted by Etrigan at 8:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [49 favorites]
The Diocese of Nah, Man.
posted by Etrigan at 8:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [49 favorites]
The only thing that would have been better would have been the old 'handshake? psyche! hair smoothening'
posted by ian1977 at 8:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 8:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
What's the context for the bishop thing? Is that just Trump attending a church service?
posted by Rykey at 8:37 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by Rykey at 8:37 AM on January 23, 2017
I'm thinking that pushing the Madonna thing is on the paid Russia propaganda agenda today. Start of the shift briefing, ' your quota must be 50% Madonna today. You have 12 hours. Now go'
It's popping up in the stupidest and most unrelated places.
posted by Jalliah at 8:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
What's the context for the bishop thing? Is that just Trump attending a church service?
Interfaith Inaugural Prayer Service
posted by zakur at 8:40 AM on January 23, 2017
Interfaith Inaugural Prayer Service
posted by zakur at 8:40 AM on January 23, 2017
What's the context for the bishop thing? Is that just Trump attending a church service?
National Prayer Service that was on Saturday morning.
posted by Jalliah at 8:40 AM on January 23, 2017
I'm also sad to say there seems to be limited fallout at the University of Washington from the protests and shooting at Milo's event on Friday night. President Cauce issued a statement (which I posted above) which on further reflection feels to me like CYA for the university as a whole, particularly this line:
And while canceling this event would have meant canceling a speech by someone whose views I personally find repulsive, the next time it could be a speaker whose views are more in line with mine, but anathema to someone else.
Milo's speech specifically targets marginalized groups and individuals for ridicule, harassment, and abuse. I think it can safely be rejected without endangering the robust exchange of ideas free speech should protect. I suspect the university was simply trying to forestall lawsuits from deep-pocketed conservative groups, which depresses me.
posted by Existential Dread at 8:48 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
And while canceling this event would have meant canceling a speech by someone whose views I personally find repulsive, the next time it could be a speaker whose views are more in line with mine, but anathema to someone else.
Milo's speech specifically targets marginalized groups and individuals for ridicule, harassment, and abuse. I think it can safely be rejected without endangering the robust exchange of ideas free speech should protect. I suspect the university was simply trying to forestall lawsuits from deep-pocketed conservative groups, which depresses me.
posted by Existential Dread at 8:48 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
That's not a bishop, it's a verger (lay person that basically is the MC for the service) -- I think.
It's definitely a verger's rod and not a bishop's staff, at least; which means dude is probably (like me) an Episcopalian furious at our Church's craven submission to Trumpist normalization.
That prayer service, if it's the one I think it is, was at St. John's Episcopal which is the traditional "Church of Presidents" right across from the WH. And they allowed some Southern Baptist / evangelical / whatever anti-gay, anti-Muslim bigot to preach in the pulpit of an Episcopal church.
I'm glad someone's throwing shade because our bishops have been shamefully, loudly silent aside from their usual mumblings about "civility" and "national unity" and "the Episcopal Church's traditional role in national life" blah blah bullshit.
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [24 favorites]
It's definitely a verger's rod and not a bishop's staff, at least; which means dude is probably (like me) an Episcopalian furious at our Church's craven submission to Trumpist normalization.
That prayer service, if it's the one I think it is, was at St. John's Episcopal which is the traditional "Church of Presidents" right across from the WH. And they allowed some Southern Baptist / evangelical / whatever anti-gay, anti-Muslim bigot to preach in the pulpit of an Episcopal church.
I'm glad someone's throwing shade because our bishops have been shamefully, loudly silent aside from their usual mumblings about "civility" and "national unity" and "the Episcopal Church's traditional role in national life" blah blah bullshit.
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [24 favorites]
I don't think fiscal conservatism and liberal social policies are mutually exclusive. A healthy population that can go to a doctor when they are sick doesn't spend 10X as much at the ER 2 weeks later, and can work and generate tax revenue because they are healthy.
Somewhere along the line people developed the idea that fiscal responsibility was fiscal conservatism. It isn't.
Fiscal conservatism is the minimal government model - low taxes, low spending, low debt. In effect it is calling for the wild west 'you are on own' bootstrap model. It is also a unicorn.
Fiscal responsibility is the pragmatic approach that most people believe in. Spend the money well and without corruption. Most of the developed nations in the world have followed this model.
posted by srboisvert at 8:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [32 favorites]
Somewhere along the line people developed the idea that fiscal responsibility was fiscal conservatism. It isn't.
Fiscal conservatism is the minimal government model - low taxes, low spending, low debt. In effect it is calling for the wild west 'you are on own' bootstrap model. It is also a unicorn.
Fiscal responsibility is the pragmatic approach that most people believe in. Spend the money well and without corruption. Most of the developed nations in the world have followed this model.
posted by srboisvert at 8:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [32 favorites]
Pope Francis warns against electing right-wing populists: ‘Hitler did not steal power’
posted by Room 641-A at 8:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 8:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [18 favorites]
Oh hey things are moving fast (via Jennifer Jacobs of Bloomberg).
NEW: Trump just signed 3 executive orders: 1. Withdrawal from TPP 2. Fed'l hiring freeze except military 3. Limit abortion funding overseas.posted by maudlin at 8:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
Is there any way I can use my "Hey, I"m just like you! Let's chat about this, person who automatically feels affinity for me because we share skin tone and socioeconomic status!" powers for good here?
The obvious one is to run for local office or get involved with a candidate. You'll probably fail but you will at least have a platform from which you can, hopefully, change some minds.
posted by VTX at 8:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
The obvious one is to run for local office or get involved with a candidate. You'll probably fail but you will at least have a platform from which you can, hopefully, change some minds.
posted by VTX at 8:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Pope Francis warns against electing right-wing populists: ‘Hitler did not steal power’
Will Trump steal another move out of Duterte's playbook, and go head-to-head with the Vatican?
posted by progosk at 9:03 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Will Trump steal another move out of Duterte's playbook, and go head-to-head with the Vatican?
posted by progosk at 9:03 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Umm so yeah. This is the latest DOD tweet.
Helping hands. A @VermontAirGuard & Senegalese urologist team with a Moroccan intern for surgery during a medical exercise in Senegal.
This can't be a coincidence right?
posted by Jalliah at 9:05 AM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
Milo's speech specifically targets marginalized groups and individuals for ridicule, harassment, and abuse. I think it can safely be rejected without endangering the robust exchange of ideas free speech should protect. I suspect the university was simply trying to forestall lawsuits from deep-pocketed conservative groups, which depresses me.
It's a public university which means Doe applies. The Supreme Court has held that the university has a legitimate interest in preventing harassment but restricting free speech is not one of the methods that can be used to advance that interest.
posted by Talez at 9:06 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's a public university which means Doe applies. The Supreme Court has held that the university has a legitimate interest in preventing harassment but restricting free speech is not one of the methods that can be used to advance that interest.
posted by Talez at 9:06 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm thinking that pushing the Madonna thing is on the paid Russia propaganda agenda today.
Yep. Current distraction in the 24-hour hate cycle.
I really wish they'd pay less attention to the White House comment and focus on the clip of her telling Trump to suck a dick
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:09 AM on January 23, 2017
Yep. Current distraction in the 24-hour hate cycle.
I really wish they'd pay less attention to the White House comment and focus on the clip of her telling Trump to suck a dick
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:09 AM on January 23, 2017
No doubt the copy-cake was styrafoam because it was the cheapest option and because no one cared about pleasing the guests. All surface, no substance will be the watchword of the new administration.
The guests were the Armed Forces, for whom this is standard.
He just put a total hiring freeze, can we lay off CakeGate already?
posted by corb at 9:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
The guests were the Armed Forces, for whom this is standard.
He just put a total hiring freeze, can we lay off CakeGate already?
posted by corb at 9:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Wasn't the hiring freeze expected? It's not a surprise.
posted by Jalliah at 9:12 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
he Supreme Court has held that the university has a legitimate interest in preventing harassment but restricting free speech is not one of the methods that can be used to advance that interest.
Are you talking about Doe v. University of Michigan? The decision was largely based on vagueness and overbreadth, not on some absolutist position that no speech may ever be limited in the interest of preventing harrassment.
If colleges wanted to ban Milo because he targets specific students in his speeches, I cannot see how this would violate Doe. It is neither vague nor overbroad.
posted by maxsparber at 9:13 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Are you talking about Doe v. University of Michigan? The decision was largely based on vagueness and overbreadth, not on some absolutist position that no speech may ever be limited in the interest of preventing harrassment.
If colleges wanted to ban Milo because he targets specific students in his speeches, I cannot see how this would violate Doe. It is neither vague nor overbroad.
posted by maxsparber at 9:13 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Yeah, I am not surprised. This is red meat conservatism that even my mom is probably secretly applauding. Conservatives are convinced that government jobs are just wasteful paper pushing and the people who hold them aren't, like, real people who also deserve a well-paying job.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:14 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:14 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
> Wasn't the hiring freeze expected? It's not a surprise.
We'd do well to permanently set our measurements for "surprise" to "deviations from what would have been the policies of Hillary Clinton." It's no surprise that Trump and the rest of the GOP are burning down government, but we should still be very worried about it, and not let distractions like the cake and the dumb things he says take our eye off the ball.
posted by tonycpsu at 9:15 AM on January 23, 2017 [16 favorites]
We'd do well to permanently set our measurements for "surprise" to "deviations from what would have been the policies of Hillary Clinton." It's no surprise that Trump and the rest of the GOP are burning down government, but we should still be very worried about it, and not let distractions like the cake and the dumb things he says take our eye off the ball.
posted by tonycpsu at 9:15 AM on January 23, 2017 [16 favorites]
Wait until they announce the yuan trading bloc encompassing much of Africa, Latin America, poorer parts of SE Asia, and, if they play their cards right, Australia.
Interesting suggestion. As it is, China is Australia's largest trading partner by far. Our exports to it are about $83 billion, a third of our total and roughly equal to the next four destinations combined. And the same for our imports - $45 billion, again roughly equal to the next four sources combined. [source] We have strong historical and cultural ties to Europe and the USA, but from a pragmatic perspective we're geographically and economically much closer to China.
So there's another thing for Trump to fsck up.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Interesting suggestion. As it is, China is Australia's largest trading partner by far. Our exports to it are about $83 billion, a third of our total and roughly equal to the next four destinations combined. And the same for our imports - $45 billion, again roughly equal to the next four sources combined. [source] We have strong historical and cultural ties to Europe and the USA, but from a pragmatic perspective we're geographically and economically much closer to China.
So there's another thing for Trump to fsck up.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:16 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
This is where I'm spending most of my energy right now, but there's not much to talk about except "attended another boring meeting, convinced another influencer, got another candidate."
Hi corb, I'd love to hear some kind of an update on this. Do you have any rough idea of the number of candidates gotten? Is there anything a bunch of liberals could do to assist? I've got traditionally-Republican friends and family who are distraught over Trump and might be receptive, is there anything I can send them?
posted by contraption at 9:16 AM on January 23, 2017
Hi corb, I'd love to hear some kind of an update on this. Do you have any rough idea of the number of candidates gotten? Is there anything a bunch of liberals could do to assist? I've got traditionally-Republican friends and family who are distraught over Trump and might be receptive, is there anything I can send them?
posted by contraption at 9:16 AM on January 23, 2017
He just put a total hiring freeze, can we lay off CakeGate already?
Can we lay off the idea that our fellow MeFites are only capable of being mad about a single thing at a time already?
posted by Etrigan at 9:17 AM on January 23, 2017 [48 favorites]
Can we lay off the idea that our fellow MeFites are only capable of being mad about a single thing at a time already?
posted by Etrigan at 9:17 AM on January 23, 2017 [48 favorites]
This can't be a coincidence right?
When the National Parks Dept had their Twitter account returned this is what they tweeted:
We regret the mistaken RTs from our account yesterday and look forward to continuing to share the beauty and history of our parks with you
I like to think that the DoD said to the Parks Dept, Don't worry, buddy, we've got your back.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:17 AM on January 23, 2017 [22 favorites]
When the National Parks Dept had their Twitter account returned this is what they tweeted:
We regret the mistaken RTs from our account yesterday and look forward to continuing to share the beauty and history of our parks with you
I like to think that the DoD said to the Parks Dept, Don't worry, buddy, we've got your back.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:17 AM on January 23, 2017 [22 favorites]
On the bright side, the Mercer legacy might be insecure. Trump’s biggest donors consider abandoning new political arm. Everyone's fighting with everyone these days.
posted by zachlipton at 9:17 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 9:17 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
We'd do well to permanently set our measurements for "surprise" to "deviations from what would have been the policies of Hillary Clinton." It's no surprise that Trump and the rest of the GOP are burning down government, but we should still be very worried about it, and not let distractions like the cake and the dumb things he says keep our eye off the ball.
I get this. It's just that in this particular forum I don't see why people can't do both or all things. It's a general discussion about what's going on out there.
posted by Jalliah at 9:18 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
I get this. It's just that in this particular forum I don't see why people can't do both or all things. It's a general discussion about what's going on out there.
posted by Jalliah at 9:18 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
So I saw a tweet that settled the Nazi-punching debate once and for all:
"It wasn't a Nazi getting punched in the head, it was an alternative hug."
posted by TwoStride at 9:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [61 favorites]
"It wasn't a Nazi getting punched in the head, it was an alternative hug."
posted by TwoStride at 9:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [61 favorites]
Wait until they announce the yuan trading bloc encompassing much of Africa, Latin America, poorer parts of SE Asia, and, if they play their cards right, Australia.
Canada is getting itself in on the action. The first steps of a Free Trade Agreement start next month.
posted by Jalliah at 9:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Canada is getting itself in on the action. The first steps of a Free Trade Agreement start next month.
posted by Jalliah at 9:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trumpists on my FB page are posting rants about Saturday's marches which end with concern trolls about how participants should really be concerned about oppressed women in umpteen other countries. So far no one has responded to my standard reply, which is: To your points about the horrors that affect women in other countries, wouldn't it be great if you and other Trump supporters who are concerned about them set up systems to help, e.g., by raising money, promoting awareness, donating time, expertise and material support, etc.? I'd help, and so might others across the political spectrum, which might advance understanding. What's the plan and how do I get involved? Crickets.
posted by carmicha at 9:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 9:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [31 favorites]
The hiring freeze is dumb on every level. Agencies will still hire, but they'll be hiring contractor positions for what would've been done by the agency. There's zero cost savings.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:23 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:23 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
Ugh, the Federal hiring freeze, so predictable, and so misguided. They never think about it affecting places like the Smithsonian, National Park Service ... and on and on, till services get affected and then people complain about government employees not doing their job, so let's eliminate the agency. It is a vicious cycle ... fewer staff ... less ability to do the job ... more complaints ... more negative criticism/views of Federal employees as lazy do nothings. The Federal employees I know work damn hard, and when your own "big boss" (i.e. the President) has no respect for you and what you do it is soul crushing.
Also, seems like a good thread to put this: Fact Check: Science And The Trump Administration.
posted by gudrun at 9:23 AM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
Also, seems like a good thread to put this: Fact Check: Science And The Trump Administration.
posted by gudrun at 9:23 AM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
It's kinda ironic to freeze federal hiring before he's hired/appointed everyone that will be in his administration...
posted by DynamiteToast at 9:25 AM on January 23, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by DynamiteToast at 9:25 AM on January 23, 2017 [16 favorites]
The hiring freeze is dumb on every level. Agencies will still hire, but they'll be hiring contractor positions for what would've been done by the agency. There's zero cost savings.
Less than zero, and more money will be going to the companies that provide those contractors.
posted by Etrigan at 9:25 AM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
Less than zero, and more money will be going to the companies that provide those contractors.
posted by Etrigan at 9:25 AM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
Well, the whole point of this stuff is to "privatize" government functions - meaning, set it up so that private companies charge the government more to do a worse job with worse working conditions than if the government did it. You can see this, for instance, in the process of dismantling the NHS. Costs often actually go up with this stuff, but that's okay because it's money going into the pockets of various cronies.
posted by Frowner at 9:27 AM on January 23, 2017 [44 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 9:27 AM on January 23, 2017 [44 favorites]
We are being forced to eat a horrible dinner of solid crap--the cake is just cake; it's light and it goes down easily. You can always skip it.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:28 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:28 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
It wasn't a Nazi getting punched in the head, it was an alternative hug.
An alt-hug for an alt-thug.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:29 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
NYC people FYI: January's Tipsy Political Round Table at UCB features Sopan Deb, Jess McIntosh (you know, Jess from the Clinton campaign who sent all the emails and texts), and Erin Gloria Ryan of The Daily Beast. $7 in the East Village, 8pm tonight.
I have a slight Sopan Deb obsession so I'd definitely be there if it wasn't, you know, 2,500 miles away.
And now, this, from Rep. Ted Lieu:
I have a slight Sopan Deb obsession so I'd definitely be there if it wasn't, you know, 2,500 miles away.
And now, this, from Rep. Ted Lieu:
Was charged $2.99 for coffee listed at $2.59. That's why I have trust issues. Oh, and the fact that @seanspicer at #WhiteHouse makes shit upFinally, this from CBS: Sources say Trump's CIA visit made relations with intel community worse:
Authorities are also pushing back against the perception that the CIA workforce was cheering for the president. They say the first three rows in front of the president were largely made up of supporters of Mr. Trump’s campaign.posted by zachlipton at 9:31 AM on January 23, 2017 [21 favorites]
An official with knowledge of the make-up of the crowd says that there were about 40 people who’d been invited by the Trump, Mike Pence and Rep. Mike Pompeo teams. The Trump team expected Rep. Pompeo, R-Kansas, to be sworn in during the event as the next CIA director, but the vote to confirm him was delayed on Friday by Senate Democrats. Also sitting in the first several rows in front of the president was the CIA’s senior leadership, which was not cheering the remarks.
Less than zero, and more money will be going to the companies that provide those contractors.
That has always has and always will be the point of hobbling the bureaucracy.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 9:31 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
That has always has and always will be the point of hobbling the bureaucracy.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 9:31 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
Well, the whole point of this stuff is to "privatize" government functions - meaning, set it up so that private companies charge the government more to do a worse job with worse working conditions than if the government did it.
And since conditions are worse, people are less satisfied with them. Middle-class voters move away and use private services instead, so the lobby for improving public facilities dwindles away. People often call some public services "middle class welfare", but in my experience the only way to retain public services is to make them appeal to middle-income voters.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:32 AM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
And since conditions are worse, people are less satisfied with them. Middle-class voters move away and use private services instead, so the lobby for improving public facilities dwindles away. People often call some public services "middle class welfare", but in my experience the only way to retain public services is to make them appeal to middle-income voters.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:32 AM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
Also hiring contractors means there are no pension or health benefits.
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 9:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
Also hiring contractors means there are no pension or health benefits.
Don't worry, the next thing is coming after those for federal employees too
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
Don't worry, the next thing is coming after those for federal employees too
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
I've gotten more liberal as I've gotten older because now I've lived long enough to see the outcomes modern conservative policies lead to, and the motivations behind them.
QFT. I was never conservative, but I did bloody well take civics, and Republicans from Newt Gingrich through George W. Bush and his cabal and now into the current Insane Clown Posse (no offense to my juggalo friends) have driven me further into the liberal camp.
If it's to be solely a liberal tenet that policy should be data driven and based on achieving the maximum good for the most people -- even if a few billionaires have to pay fractionally more in taxes -- then so be it. Republican policies simply do not work -- at least not as they're sold. They're extremely effective at transferring more of the nation's wealth to the 1%, but that. is. it.
posted by Gelatin at 9:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
QFT. I was never conservative, but I did bloody well take civics, and Republicans from Newt Gingrich through George W. Bush and his cabal and now into the current Insane Clown Posse (no offense to my juggalo friends) have driven me further into the liberal camp.
If it's to be solely a liberal tenet that policy should be data driven and based on achieving the maximum good for the most people -- even if a few billionaires have to pay fractionally more in taxes -- then so be it. Republican policies simply do not work -- at least not as they're sold. They're extremely effective at transferring more of the nation's wealth to the 1%, but that. is. it.
posted by Gelatin at 9:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
The obvious one is to run for local office or get involved with a candidate.
And to canvas in poor, white areas on economic issues.
posted by Coventry at 9:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
And to canvas in poor, white areas on economic issues.
posted by Coventry at 9:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Seeing hints of Russian propaganda outlets starting to undermine Trump
This could explain why Wikileaks is suddenly interested in Trump's tax returns.
posted by joedan at 9:49 AM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
This could explain why Wikileaks is suddenly interested in Trump's tax returns.
posted by joedan at 9:49 AM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
75% less regulations in the future? Or he thinks he's going to repeal 75% of existing regulations? Dirty air and child labor!
not to mention dirty children and laboring for air.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 9:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
not to mention dirty children and laboring for air.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 9:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
NEW: Trump just signed 3 executive orders: 1. Withdrawal from TPP 2. Fed'l hiring freeze except military 3. Limit abortion funding overseas.
If you're not up on #3, the "global gag rule," the Miami Herald threw together a little explainer.
posted by zachlipton at 9:52 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
If you're not up on #3, the "global gag rule," the Miami Herald threw together a little explainer.
posted by zachlipton at 9:52 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Um, a hiring freeze doesn't mean agencies suddenly have more money appropriated to them for contractors. At least in my agency, the last (years-long) hiring freeze meant zero increase in contractor support. It just meant that we all had more work to do. As the workload became more intense as people retired or left, more and more people left the office, and we were working longer hours (as in, some people working 600+ straight days, no weekends off, often staying at the office until midnight, etc.). The longer the freeze continued, the worse it got and the faster people left. The people who stayed were those who 1) really care about the mission, 2) have made their careers here and are hanging on because they don't want to start over somewhere else, or 3) can't/won't get hired in the private sector for whatever reason. I think we lost more than 20% of my office.
And this for a job that, by the way, pays us about half what we would be making in the private sector for an equally prestigious position. The "overpaid, lazy government employee" is about as true a stereotype as "welfare queen," at least in my professional field.
posted by alligatorpear at 9:52 AM on January 23, 2017 [60 favorites]
And this for a job that, by the way, pays us about half what we would be making in the private sector for an equally prestigious position. The "overpaid, lazy government employee" is about as true a stereotype as "welfare queen," at least in my professional field.
posted by alligatorpear at 9:52 AM on January 23, 2017 [60 favorites]
Sometimes I say things with a tone that I feel sounds dismissive or condescending, and I apologize if that is the case with this comment. It certainly is not my intent.
Generally speaking, two of the giant functions of the government are to collect money (taxes), and to spend that money. No matter who is in charge, a great deal of money has to be collected, and a great deal of money has to be spent. Democrats -- generally speaking -- like to collect more of the money from rich people. Republicans like to collect more of the money from people who are poor. This is done not only through tax rates, but also through what things are taxed in the first place. To be fair, I don't think Republicans want all the tax revenue to come from poor people. They want a greater percentage of revenue to come from poor people than it does right now. And I think that most people know this. Simply put: democrats want to tax the rich more, republicans want to tax the poor more (which they typically phrase by saying they want to tax the rich less).
The spending component is the part that I think most people do not understand. Democrats want to give more of that revenue to people who are poor. Most people understand that (welfare-type programs, etc.). Republicans want to give more of that revenue to rich people. This is done through awarding contracts (10 million to government employees might go to 200 people averaging 50 thousand dollars each; 10 million to a contractor might go 4 million to the person or people who own the company and 120 people making 50 thousand dollars each). The people who get rich off the contracts (the ones making that 4 million in my hypothetical) then donate generously to the Republican party. The 200 people making 50 thousand might want to donate to the Democratic party, but it is not as easy for them to do because they have less money. So the Democratic 10 million dollar plan through the government yields some amount of political donations, but the Republican 10 million dollar plan through a private contractor yields a great deal more in political donations.
The general public needs to understand that privatization actually means taking money from poor/working class and giving it to the rich.
posted by flarbuse at 9:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [40 favorites]
Generally speaking, two of the giant functions of the government are to collect money (taxes), and to spend that money. No matter who is in charge, a great deal of money has to be collected, and a great deal of money has to be spent. Democrats -- generally speaking -- like to collect more of the money from rich people. Republicans like to collect more of the money from people who are poor. This is done not only through tax rates, but also through what things are taxed in the first place. To be fair, I don't think Republicans want all the tax revenue to come from poor people. They want a greater percentage of revenue to come from poor people than it does right now. And I think that most people know this. Simply put: democrats want to tax the rich more, republicans want to tax the poor more (which they typically phrase by saying they want to tax the rich less).
The spending component is the part that I think most people do not understand. Democrats want to give more of that revenue to people who are poor. Most people understand that (welfare-type programs, etc.). Republicans want to give more of that revenue to rich people. This is done through awarding contracts (10 million to government employees might go to 200 people averaging 50 thousand dollars each; 10 million to a contractor might go 4 million to the person or people who own the company and 120 people making 50 thousand dollars each). The people who get rich off the contracts (the ones making that 4 million in my hypothetical) then donate generously to the Republican party. The 200 people making 50 thousand might want to donate to the Democratic party, but it is not as easy for them to do because they have less money. So the Democratic 10 million dollar plan through the government yields some amount of political donations, but the Republican 10 million dollar plan through a private contractor yields a great deal more in political donations.
The general public needs to understand that privatization actually means taking money from poor/working class and giving it to the rich.
posted by flarbuse at 9:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [40 favorites]
More from Ted Lieu: Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) has issued the following statement on President Trump’s continual violation of Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution of the United States of America. Today, a group of former White House ethics lawyers and Supreme Court litigators are launching a lawsuit alleging that Trump is in violation of the Constitution by allowing his hotel and other businesses to accept payments from foreign governments.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [25 favorites]
I wonder what this hiring freeze means for the Park Service, as a LOT of their positions are seasonal and temporary. What happens to the positions that were up for hiring as they prepare to staff up for the busy seasons? You can't just hire contractors to fill most of these roles. For example, if you have backcountry ranger, you need someone who is fit enough to hike long distances over demanding terrain, and who is able to be self-sufficient in the middle of nowhere, possibly for days at a time. What about wildland firefighters? And so on.
posted by azpenguin at 9:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 9:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
I wonder what this hiring freeze means for the Park Service, as a LOT of their positions are seasonal and temporary.
You have now put 300 percent of the thought into this that the entire current staff of the White House did.
posted by Etrigan at 10:01 AM on January 23, 2017 [86 favorites]
You have now put 300 percent of the thought into this that the entire current staff of the White House did.
posted by Etrigan at 10:01 AM on January 23, 2017 [86 favorites]
Also hiring contractors means there are no pension or health benefits.
Not necessarily: plenty of contracting firms have decent benefits (although they're not as good as regular federal benefits).
The problem is that hiring contractors to do the work of federal employees is (1) inefficient: it costs something like 30% more to do the same work; (2) results in taking money away from the projects the agencies are running to spend the money on contractors, because you cannot use the staffing budget on contractors; (3) often results in a violation of federal contracting law, because personal services contracts are generally forbidden.
Also, contractors are often, as contractors, unable to or forbidden from doing many of the jobs of a federal employee -- such as negotiating contracts or overseeing a contract. So they are also less useful.
And as alligatorpear noted above, the end result is overworked federal staff getting much less work done and being blamed for being lazy--in part because the money available for them to do their work is being siphoned away on private-sector contractors.
posted by suelac at 10:02 AM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
Not necessarily: plenty of contracting firms have decent benefits (although they're not as good as regular federal benefits).
The problem is that hiring contractors to do the work of federal employees is (1) inefficient: it costs something like 30% more to do the same work; (2) results in taking money away from the projects the agencies are running to spend the money on contractors, because you cannot use the staffing budget on contractors; (3) often results in a violation of federal contracting law, because personal services contracts are generally forbidden.
Also, contractors are often, as contractors, unable to or forbidden from doing many of the jobs of a federal employee -- such as negotiating contracts or overseeing a contract. So they are also less useful.
And as alligatorpear noted above, the end result is overworked federal staff getting much less work done and being blamed for being lazy--in part because the money available for them to do their work is being siphoned away on private-sector contractors.
posted by suelac at 10:02 AM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
I wonder what this hiring freeze means for the Park Service, as a LOT of their positions are seasonal and temporary.
You have now put 300 percent of the thought into this that the entire current staff of the White House did.
Which is just "SAD!" as Hair Furor himself would say.
I'm getting a permit app ready for June in the Grand Canyon. It's not like 6 million people a year visit there so staff shortages won't hurt anything. Oh, wait...
posted by azpenguin at 10:03 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
You have now put 300 percent of the thought into this that the entire current staff of the White House did.
Which is just "SAD!" as Hair Furor himself would say.
I'm getting a permit app ready for June in the Grand Canyon. It's not like 6 million people a year visit there so staff shortages won't hurt anything. Oh, wait...
posted by azpenguin at 10:03 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
Kellyanne Conway yesterday: "The White House response is that he's not going to release his tax returns."
And today: "On taxes, answers (& repeated questions) are same from campaign: POTUS is under audit and will not release until that is completed."
posted by kirkaracha at 10:03 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
And today: "On taxes, answers (& repeated questions) are same from campaign: POTUS is under audit and will not release until that is completed."
posted by kirkaracha at 10:03 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
I should add: it's also really hard to get contractor staff who actually know the work well enough to be nearly as good as federal employees. We have had some nightmarish experiences with contractors providing staff who haven't the foggiest.
posted by suelac at 10:05 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by suelac at 10:05 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Regarding hiring freezes and the increased burden on staff, coupled with a lack of additional funds for contractors, eventually leading to resignations and the ensuing vicious circle...
I agree that it often starts out that way. But often times, after a year or so of that (next budget cycle), there begin to be mechanisms for skirting the rules, especially if failure to get everything done jeopardizes funding or creates legal liability or political vulnerability. Sometimes it's getting certain positions deemed "essential," and sometimes it's via contractors. Sometimes a "revenue neutral" fig leaf is created if the budget now has room thanks to the departure of the exhausted and frustrated. Savvy agencies set up open ended contracts for just this purpose.
posted by carmicha at 10:05 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
I agree that it often starts out that way. But often times, after a year or so of that (next budget cycle), there begin to be mechanisms for skirting the rules, especially if failure to get everything done jeopardizes funding or creates legal liability or political vulnerability. Sometimes it's getting certain positions deemed "essential," and sometimes it's via contractors. Sometimes a "revenue neutral" fig leaf is created if the budget now has room thanks to the departure of the exhausted and frustrated. Savvy agencies set up open ended contracts for just this purpose.
posted by carmicha at 10:05 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
On getting paid, anyone else remember that POTUS pledged to work for free and not draw a salary?
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:07 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:07 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
I wonder what this hiring freeze means for the Park Service, as a LOT of their positions are seasonal and temporary.
They're going to sell off all federal land, so the problem will solve itself!
posted by dirigibleman at 10:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
They're going to sell off all federal land, so the problem will solve itself!
posted by dirigibleman at 10:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
I wished to lived in a world with enough protections that federal workers could just up and leave.
posted by AlexiaSky at 10:13 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 10:13 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
On getting paid, anyone else remember that POTUS pledged to work for free and not draw a salary?
Like so many of his other great ideas, that's not strictly legal.
posted by Etrigan at 10:13 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Like so many of his other great ideas, that's not strictly legal.
posted by Etrigan at 10:13 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
zachlipton: On the bright side, the Mercer legacy might be insecure. Trump’s biggest donors consider abandoning new political arm. Everyone's fighting with everyone these days.
Infighting is great, but the article had something that upset me, even though I should have expected it to be A Thing:
posted by filthy light thief at 10:15 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
Infighting is great, but the article had something that upset me, even though I should have expected it to be A Thing:
The chaos surrounding the outside group and the potential for the creation of multiple vehicles that would drive Trump’s message is drawing comparisons to the disorder that characterized the cluster of super PACs created to support Cruz’s campaign, one of which was controlled by the Mercers. The unique structure, by which individual donors or donor families were allotted a super PAC, was intended to ease donor angst over how their money would be spent by granting them control over it.Super donors get Super PACs. How are super PACs good for democracy again? It sounds more like a return to high court politics, with influential families battling among themselves, with everyone else serving as their pawns to move and territory to claim or destroy.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:15 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
I heard that if the president does something, it can't be illegal.
posted by Coventry at 10:15 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 10:15 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
Vann r. Newkirk (Atlantic) posted a thread about punching Nazis. He already has "journalists" from the Daily Caller asking him the hard-hitting questions .
So basically prepare for a ripple of "would it be okay if a radical Imam got punched"
posted by windbox at 10:17 AM on January 23, 2017
So basically prepare for a ripple of "would it be okay if a radical Imam got punched"
posted by windbox at 10:17 AM on January 23, 2017
Would you trust the veracity of any Trump-releated documents leaked by the Trump admin at this point?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 10:20 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 10:20 AM on January 23, 2017
"My lord, is that legal?" -Ryul Paan
"I will make it legal." -Darth Biglious, probably
posted by entropicamericana at 10:20 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
"I will make it legal." -Darth Biglious, probably
posted by entropicamericana at 10:20 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
The not taking a salary thing really bugs me (it is, of course, just about down there with plagiarized cake on the priority list, but I can be mad at many things at once). He's accepted a job. That job comes with a set rate of pay. He should receive it. He's not doing this out of some kind of magnanimous gesture where we're all supposed to be thankful to him for his service. It's not a volunteer position, and allowing him to out opt of parts of the job is a bad precedent.
If he wants to donate it back to the Treasury (even just the after-tax amount if he wants to continue to be the world's cheapest billionaire), then fine, but this is an actual job, not a favor he's doing for us.
posted by zachlipton at 10:24 AM on January 23, 2017 [16 favorites]
If he wants to donate it back to the Treasury (even just the after-tax amount if he wants to continue to be the world's cheapest billionaire), then fine, but this is an actual job, not a favor he's doing for us.
posted by zachlipton at 10:24 AM on January 23, 2017 [16 favorites]
Rich people don't use parks--they have private islands and country estates.
One thing that never seems to concern people is taking people out of public service means adding to competition for jobs in the private sector. Also the words "private contractor" means somebody is now making a profit whereas the government is not in the business of making a profit.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [14 favorites]
One thing that never seems to concern people is taking people out of public service means adding to competition for jobs in the private sector. Also the words "private contractor" means somebody is now making a profit whereas the government is not in the business of making a profit.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [14 favorites]
flarbuse: The general public needs to understand that privatization actually means taking money from poor/working class and giving it to the rich.
I think that would be best presented in a PSA or something. Or, as is my weird dream, these types of scenarios get worked into movies as background for something else. "Tammy, can you come out for drinks with us tonight?" "No, sorry - federal hiring freeze, so I'm working twice as hard for the same pay, just so some contractors can sort of do the job that my co-workers used to do. Anyway, let's try for this weekend. I'll really need a break by then." (I also dream about city/urban planning organizations funding increased depictions of Big City Life as normal and not scary, because increased urban densities bring a number of benefits, when supported by infrastructure, but I digress.)
posted by filthy light thief at 10:27 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
I think that would be best presented in a PSA or something. Or, as is my weird dream, these types of scenarios get worked into movies as background for something else. "Tammy, can you come out for drinks with us tonight?" "No, sorry - federal hiring freeze, so I'm working twice as hard for the same pay, just so some contractors can sort of do the job that my co-workers used to do. Anyway, let's try for this weekend. I'll really need a break by then." (I also dream about city/urban planning organizations funding increased depictions of Big City Life as normal and not scary, because increased urban densities bring a number of benefits, when supported by infrastructure, but I digress.)
posted by filthy light thief at 10:27 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Rocky First Weekend for Trump Troubles Even His Top Aides
The first 100 d'ohs of the Trump administration. [I offer this headline free of charge]
Gizmodo summarized the article in a post: Report: Your Mean Tweets Upset Donald Trump on His Special Day. Maybe it can be further summarized in a children's book; "Baby D and the horrible, no good, very bad inauguration".
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:29 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
The first 100 d'ohs of the Trump administration. [I offer this headline free of charge]
Gizmodo summarized the article in a post: Report: Your Mean Tweets Upset Donald Trump on His Special Day. Maybe it can be further summarized in a children's book; "Baby D and the horrible, no good, very bad inauguration".
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:29 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
Oh to be a fly on the wall...
Just had a warm & cordial call w US SecDef Mattis. His first call, a testament to the excellent defence relationship between our nations.1/2
Secretary of Defense Mattis and I agreed to meet in person very soon. 2/2
(Harjit Sajjan is Canada's Minister of National Defence)
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:29 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Just had a warm & cordial call w US SecDef Mattis. His first call, a testament to the excellent defence relationship between our nations.1/2
Secretary of Defense Mattis and I agreed to meet in person very soon. 2/2
(Harjit Sajjan is Canada's Minister of National Defence)
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:29 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Missed this one back in August. What happens when you tie your career to Donald Trump? Ask Sean Spicer in a few months. Turns out Sean Spicer is worse than we thought:
(h/t: The Whelk)
posted by zachlipton at 10:30 AM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
But all you really need to know can be seen in the mouth. This is where Spicer’s talent and nervous energy meet. Watch it open wide enough to inhale his phone as he yells at an editor. Behold its versatility, as he at once chastises Trump for calling Mexicans rapists and murderers while also lauding him for calling attention to the issue of illegal immigration. Even when he is not speaking, it works on overdrive, churning through pieces of Orbit cinnamon gum, which he chews and swallows whole. Notwithstanding his line of work, the man just can’t stand a gross-feeling mouth.This is not normal.
“Two and a half packs by noon,” said Spicer. “I talked to my doctor about it, he said it’s no problem.”
(h/t: The Whelk)
posted by zachlipton at 10:30 AM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
Oh, and speaking of Sean Spicer, press briefing in two minutes.
posted by zachlipton at 10:30 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by zachlipton at 10:30 AM on January 23, 2017
While I appreciated Aziz Ansari's monologe where he talked about "change coming from large groups of angry people," I was about to shout at him "but POLITICIANS MAKE THE LAWS! AND THE SUPREME COURT DEFINES WHAT IS LEGAL! AND THOSE ARE VERY SMALL GROUPS!"
I think Aziz's point was that our big group was big enough to exert influence on that small group, if we wanted to.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:31 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
I think Aziz's point was that our big group was big enough to exert influence on that small group, if we wanted to.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:31 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
AlexiaSky: I wished to lived in a world with enough protections that federal workers could just up and leave.
I have joked on occasion that my small group of colleagues should just quit our state jobs all together, then form a consulting firm to get paid for what we do now, but at market rate vs. our pay that never goes up, because it's hard to get qualified people into this job and keep them - I've been involved with the interviewing process, I know the range of people who apply. (Seriously, no cost of living adjustments, no chance for advancement because we're all "advanced" already -- apparently the state formed a group to investigate what it would take to keep young people from leaving, and the instant answer was "pay them better, and include cost of living adjustments if nothing else." Then those asking the question said "OK, what else could we do?")
posted by filthy light thief at 10:32 AM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
I have joked on occasion that my small group of colleagues should just quit our state jobs all together, then form a consulting firm to get paid for what we do now, but at market rate vs. our pay that never goes up, because it's hard to get qualified people into this job and keep them - I've been involved with the interviewing process, I know the range of people who apply. (Seriously, no cost of living adjustments, no chance for advancement because we're all "advanced" already -- apparently the state formed a group to investigate what it would take to keep young people from leaving, and the instant answer was "pay them better, and include cost of living adjustments if nothing else." Then those asking the question said "OK, what else could we do?")
posted by filthy light thief at 10:32 AM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
Ok I could have sworn I heard it on the feed and Twitter now confirms. Someone was whistling Springtime for Hitler in the White House Briefing Room.
posted by zachlipton at 10:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [69 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 10:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [69 favorites]
Looks like the White House public comment line (202-456-1414) has been taken down, replaced by a message telling you to leave a comment online or via Facebook. I called and checked for myself, and, yup. Just another erosion, I guess.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 10:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by OverlappingElvis at 10:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [16 favorites]
Pence Calls His Wife 'Mother'
“Mother, Mother, who prepared our meal this evening?”posted by kirkaracha at 10:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [37 favorites]
The legislators looked at one another, speaking with their eyes: He just called his wife “Mother.”
Maybe it was a joke, the legislator reasoned. But a few minutes later, Pence shouted again.
“Mother, Mother, whose china are we eating on?”
Mother Pence went on a long discourse about where the china was from. A little later, the legislators stumbled out, wondering what was weirder: Pence’s inability to make conversation, or calling his wife “Mother” in the second decade of the 21st century.
Oh, and speaking of Sean Spicer, press briefing in two minutes.
So we have another 75 minutes?
posted by Talez at 10:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
So we have another 75 minutes?
posted by Talez at 10:33 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
The plan to defeat ISIS: Russia has received coordinates of Daesh targets in Al-Bab, Aleppo Province, from the US via the 'direct line,' the Russian Defense Minsitry said Monday.
posted by Coventry at 10:38 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Coventry at 10:38 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
“Two and a half packs by noon,” said Spicer. “I talked to my doctor about it, he said it’s no problem.”
This is not normal.
Orbit contains sorbitol, I believe.
Sorbitol in sufficient quantity has a laxative effect.
So...
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
This is not normal.
Orbit contains sorbitol, I believe.
Sorbitol in sufficient quantity has a laxative effect.
So...
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
calling his wife “Mother” in the second decade of the 21st century
From what I've observed around fundamentalist Christian types, this is not at all uncommon.
posted by slipthought at 10:40 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
From what I've observed around fundamentalist Christian types, this is not at all uncommon.
posted by slipthought at 10:40 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
Explains the delay of the first press briefing at least...
posted by birdheist at 10:40 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by birdheist at 10:40 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
(Harjit Sajjan is Canada's Minister of National Defence)
The big flap up here right now isn't over mutual defence; it's the fact that Trump is moving pretty quick on trade, to the point that Kushner is rumoured to be coming here (to Calgary) tomorrow to meet with the federal cabinet during their two-day retreat.
posted by nubs at 10:41 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
The big flap up here right now isn't over mutual defence; it's the fact that Trump is moving pretty quick on trade, to the point that Kushner is rumoured to be coming here (to Calgary) tomorrow to meet with the federal cabinet during their two-day retreat.
posted by nubs at 10:41 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
> calling his wife “Mother” in the second decade of the 21st century.
That is creepy as fuck.
posted by suelac at 10:41 AM on January 23, 2017 [14 favorites]
That is creepy as fuck.
posted by suelac at 10:41 AM on January 23, 2017 [14 favorites]
So...
given Saturday's performance, we should consider it a PED.
posted by cmfletcher at 10:42 AM on January 23, 2017
given Saturday's performance, we should consider it a PED.
posted by cmfletcher at 10:42 AM on January 23, 2017
“Mother, Mother, who prepared our meal this evening?”
“Mother, Mother, whose china are we eating on?”
maybe he just really likes Tracy Bonham
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:43 AM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
“Mother, Mother, whose china are we eating on?”
maybe he just really likes Tracy Bonham
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:43 AM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
calling his wife “Mother” in the second decade of the 21st century
From what I've observed around fundamentalist Christian types, this is not at all uncommon.
It makes sense -- Pence doesn't think of women as individuals with names, so he's just referring to her by her god-given function. Like his kids, Politically Convenient Servicemember, Eventual Incubator Of A Soldier Against Heathenism, and Eventual Incubator of A Soldier Against Miscegenation.
posted by Etrigan at 10:44 AM on January 23, 2017 [42 favorites]
From what I've observed around fundamentalist Christian types, this is not at all uncommon.
It makes sense -- Pence doesn't think of women as individuals with names, so he's just referring to her by her god-given function. Like his kids, Politically Convenient Servicemember, Eventual Incubator Of A Soldier Against Heathenism, and Eventual Incubator of A Soldier Against Miscegenation.
posted by Etrigan at 10:44 AM on January 23, 2017 [42 favorites]
Oh wow is Sean Spicer on the phone?
posted by OverlappingElvis at 10:44 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by OverlappingElvis at 10:44 AM on January 23, 2017
Of course his mouth feels weird, he's licking DJT's ass all day.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:46 AM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:46 AM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
I will never not feel like it's weird for husband and wife to call each other "mother" and "father" like that but, yeah, it's something I've encountered personally a few times in general conservative family settings.
posted by cortex at 10:47 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by cortex at 10:47 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
maybe he just really likes Tracy Bonham
Or he's totally misquoting Pink Floyd.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:47 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Or he's totally misquoting Pink Floyd.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:47 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Kushner is rumoured to be coming here (to Calgary) tomorrow to meet with the federal cabinet
How do you even take a meeting like this seriously? Do you just nod along and forget about it? Do you record it all just in case? Do you try to get some sort of start to negotiations going with no idea if all your time is being wasted?
posted by ODiV at 10:47 AM on January 23, 2017
How do you even take a meeting like this seriously? Do you just nod along and forget about it? Do you record it all just in case? Do you try to get some sort of start to negotiations going with no idea if all your time is being wasted?
posted by ODiV at 10:47 AM on January 23, 2017
Even creepier, some families consider this a term of endearment.
posted by mochapickle at 10:48 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 10:48 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Press briefing: starts 14 minutes late. A joke, which fell very flat, about Josh Earnest being voted most popular press secretary by press corps, Spicer emailed him to reassure him his title would be secure for at least a few more days.
I'm not liveposting everything, but will shout if I hear anything choice.
posted by zachlipton at 10:48 AM on January 23, 2017
I'm not liveposting everything, but will shout if I hear anything choice.
posted by zachlipton at 10:48 AM on January 23, 2017
Mike Pence is actually Ruprecht from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, you heard it here first.
posted by entropicamericana at 10:48 AM on January 23, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 10:48 AM on January 23, 2017 [18 favorites]
maybe he just really likes Tracy Bonham
C'mon. Danzig OBVI.
posted by adamgreenfield at 10:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
C'mon. Danzig OBVI.
posted by adamgreenfield at 10:50 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
Or he's totally misquoting Pink Floyd.
Now imagine him saying it like Glenn Danzig. That's why everyone stopped and looked.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 10:51 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Now imagine him saying it like Glenn Danzig. That's why everyone stopped and looked.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 10:51 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
My parents called each other "ma" and "pa" as a matter of course, which isn't quite the same thing but maybe related somehow. It was a term of endearment, but I didn't (and don't) consider it creepy. We might have been conservative in some ways, but we damn well voted Democratic tickets.
posted by Mothlight at 10:51 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Mothlight at 10:51 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Mike Pence is actually Ruprecht from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, you heard it here first.
(runs around in circles banging a spoon against a pot) INDIANA INDIANA INDIANA INDIANA INDIANA INDIANA
posted by Servo5678 at 10:51 AM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
(runs around in circles banging a spoon against a pot) INDIANA INDIANA INDIANA INDIANA INDIANA INDIANA
posted by Servo5678 at 10:51 AM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
MSNBC's "Breaking News:" thing on the screen says "TRUMP WHITE HOUSE HOLDS FIRST BRIEFING." So we are just going along with Saturday not happening. Don't believe your eyes and ears.
posted by gatorae at 10:52 AM on January 23, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 10:52 AM on January 23, 2017 [29 favorites]
I have joked on occasion that my small group of colleagues should just quit our state jobs all together, then form a consulting firm to get paid for what we do now, but at market rate vs. our pay that never goes up,
I worked a state-funded (but not directly state-employed) job where we were horribly overworked and constantly criticized for not getting enough done. Until the 5 people in my position all quit at the same time. (Two of us got other jobs at another agency, the rest said they wouldn't stay without us.) So they suddenly had massive amounts of work to get done on deadline and they ended up paying us time and a half to do that work after hours and on weekends. Because if it didn't get done they would lose their government contract.
If they had simply hired enough people to do the work in the first place, and didn't treat them like crap, they wouldn't have had literally every person who knew how to do the job quit at once.
posted by threeturtles at 10:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
I worked a state-funded (but not directly state-employed) job where we were horribly overworked and constantly criticized for not getting enough done. Until the 5 people in my position all quit at the same time. (Two of us got other jobs at another agency, the rest said they wouldn't stay without us.) So they suddenly had massive amounts of work to get done on deadline and they ended up paying us time and a half to do that work after hours and on weekends. Because if it didn't get done they would lose their government contract.
If they had simply hired enough people to do the work in the first place, and didn't treat them like crap, they wouldn't have had literally every person who knew how to do the job quit at once.
posted by threeturtles at 10:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
My grandpa referred to my grandma as "Mother." He was quite a bit older than Pence, obviously.
posted by EarBucket at 10:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by EarBucket at 10:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Four "Skype" seats. Right Side Broadcasting must be thrilled.
posted by Talez at 10:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Talez at 10:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Spicer announces four "Skype" seats for the briefing room.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:54 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:54 AM on January 23, 2017
"Democrats need to stop playing politics with the core functions of government and confirm the President's unquestionably qualified nominees."
posted by Coventry at 10:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Coventry at 10:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Spicer is announcing the briefing room will soon have four "Skype seats" to allow journalists from farther away to participate. Which doesn't seem like a horrible idea, unless and until it's used as a way to shove in another Jeff Gannon.
posted by zachlipton at 10:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 10:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
"Skype Seats"= State Media
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
LOL, the first question is about the wall.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:55 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:55 AM on January 23, 2017
His second question went to Christian Broadcasting Network. Didn't catch to the first one went to, but it was "when will he build the wall?"
posted by zachlipton at 10:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 10:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
"Democrats need to stop playing politics with the core functions of government and confirm the President's unquestionably qualified nominees."
cut to Merrick Garland in the Phantom Zone
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [44 favorites]
cut to Merrick Garland in the Phantom Zone
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [44 favorites]
That's nothing. I refer to Pence as "mother...." every time I speak about him.
posted by Floydd at 10:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by Floydd at 10:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [25 favorites]
Didn't catch to the first one went to, but it was "when will he build the wall?"
NY Post
posted by melissasaurus at 10:57 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
NY Post
posted by melissasaurus at 10:57 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's always the IT folks' fault when the content isn't written.
Story of my life. Any copywriters out there want to start a consulting firm with this IT guy? Pretty sure would-be clients need you more than they need me.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 10:57 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
Story of my life. Any copywriters out there want to start a consulting firm with this IT guy? Pretty sure would-be clients need you more than they need me.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 10:57 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
New York Post gets first question
Later he calls out another reporter's name without even looking up. He got it wrong. She corrected him.
posted by zakur at 10:57 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Later he calls out another reporter's name without even looking up. He got it wrong. She corrected him.
posted by zakur at 10:57 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Alex Press in Jacobin: The Rich Can't Save Us
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 10:58 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 10:58 AM on January 23, 2017
Wait, I missed the pro-life funding thing, both domestic and overseas. What was that?
posted by mochapickle at 10:58 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by mochapickle at 10:58 AM on January 23, 2017
Ok, Univision asking about the White House Spanish website and what's going on with DACA. Spicer says they did a lot of work on the website for day 1 and they're continuing to build it out, "we've got the IT folks working overtime right now" (not promising a Spanish site though). Re DACA, the President will prioritize those with criminal records, then will "continue to work through the entire number of folks that are here illegally." But the focus is on people with criminal records right now.
posted by zachlipton at 10:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 10:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
3 of first 4 questions go to conservative media. He's clearly calling names off a list.
posted by zakur at 10:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by zakur at 10:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [21 favorites]
Why can't someone ask a real question like: "can you tell us what an alternative fact is, and if the White House believes in alternative facts, how can we ever trust a single word that comes out of your mouth?"
posted by zachlipton at 11:00 AM on January 23, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:00 AM on January 23, 2017 [19 favorites]
Somebody needs to ask him about Dippin' Dots.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 11:00 AM on January 23, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 11:00 AM on January 23, 2017 [20 favorites]
His second question went to Christian Broadcasting Network.
oh god
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:00 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
oh god
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:00 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
Does anyone have video of the "Springtime for Hitler" whistler?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:00 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:00 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
US military officials have 'flatly denied' any coordination with Russia to the New York Times [Twitter], in response to the Defense Ministry statements, which is interesting.
They're presuming the White House would consult them.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:01 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
They're presuming the White House would consult them.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:01 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Does anyone have video of the "Springtime for Hitler" whistler?
Haven't seen video and C-SPAN doesn't let me go backwards while the stream is live. It should be about 1:31pm ET in the feed if anyone is searching for it.
posted by zachlipton at 11:02 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Haven't seen video and C-SPAN doesn't let me go backwards while the stream is live. It should be about 1:31pm ET in the feed if anyone is searching for it.
posted by zachlipton at 11:02 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
OverlappingElvis: Looks like the White House public comment line (202-456-1414) has been taken down, replaced by a message telling you to leave a comment online or via Facebook. I called and checked for myself, and, yup. Just another erosion, I guess.
And by "erosion" you mean "efficiency," right? To be honest, I'm only half joking - thinking of fielding a lot of calls sounds like more work than fielding on-line comments, but I also recognize that not everyone has internet access, whereas a phone number is largely more accessible (though if it were really accessible, it would be an 800 number, so there is never a chance of a toll to the caller).
posted by filthy light thief at 11:02 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
And by "erosion" you mean "efficiency," right? To be honest, I'm only half joking - thinking of fielding a lot of calls sounds like more work than fielding on-line comments, but I also recognize that not everyone has internet access, whereas a phone number is largely more accessible (though if it were really accessible, it would be an 800 number, so there is never a chance of a toll to the caller).
posted by filthy light thief at 11:02 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh hey:
That's looking at the federal civilian workforce as a share of the total civilian non-farm workforce. It's a record low.
posted by zachlipton at 11:04 AM on January 23, 2017 [24 favorites]
Spicer says there's been a "dramatic expansion of the federal workforce in recent years." This is unequivocally false.--@_cingraham
That's looking at the federal civilian workforce as a share of the total civilian non-farm workforce. It's a record low.
posted by zachlipton at 11:04 AM on January 23, 2017 [24 favorites]
They mean they've been hiring more theater majors.
posted by Etrigan at 11:05 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 11:05 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
thinking of fielding a lot of calls sounds like more work than fielding on-line comments,
But we have the technology to turn those calls into text if dealing with them is such a big issue.
posted by drezdn at 11:05 AM on January 23, 2017
But we have the technology to turn those calls into text if dealing with them is such a big issue.
posted by drezdn at 11:05 AM on January 23, 2017
No response to question about Russia/US cooperation on ISIS.
posted by Coventry at 11:05 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by Coventry at 11:05 AM on January 23, 2017
What I'm hearing from that is that they'll have at least four people who won't need to pass any clearance requirements to get into the White House proper, making it hard to vet and track who is actually participating.
Which sounds exactly like what you'd do if you wanted another Jeff Gannon, but without daily access logs to give away the game.
Why would you think the Skype participant would be from Amerika?
Just another backdoor to Putin, clearly.
posted by Dashy at 11:06 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Which sounds exactly like what you'd do if you wanted another Jeff Gannon, but without daily access logs to give away the game.
Why would you think the Skype participant would be from Amerika?
Just another backdoor to Putin, clearly.
posted by Dashy at 11:06 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
They mean they've been hiring more theater majors.
Oh, thank God. My degree wasn't a waste!
posted by maxsparber at 11:06 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Oh, thank God. My degree wasn't a waste!
posted by maxsparber at 11:06 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Wait, I missed the pro-life funding thing, both domestic and overseas. What was that?
Trump reinstates ban on US funds promoting abortion overseas (The Hill, 1/23/2017)
posted by filthy light thief at 11:07 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
Trump reinstates ban on US funds promoting abortion overseas (The Hill, 1/23/2017)
President Trump on Monday morning signed an executive order blocking foreign aid or federal funding for international nongovernmental organizations that provide or "promote" abortions.A bad thing, but not an unexpected bad thing.
The order comes one day after the 44th anniversary of the Roe V. Wade Supreme Court ruling that made abortion legal, and days before the annual "March for Life" in Washington on Jan. 27.
The so-called Mexico City policy, established by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1984, blocks federal funding for international family planning charities that provide abortions or "promote" the procedure by providing patients with information about it, including by offering referrals to abortion providers.
Referred to by critics as the "global gag rule", the policy has been subjected to a game of political football over the years, with Democratic presidents rescinding the policy once in office and Republican presidents then reinstating it.
President Obama rescinded the policy when he took office in 2009.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:07 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
They mean they've been hiring more theater majors.
Oh, thank God. My degree wasn't a waste!
This was an actual slur in our last federal election...
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:08 AM on January 23, 2017
Oh, thank God. My degree wasn't a waste!
This was an actual slur in our last federal election...
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:08 AM on January 23, 2017
"Is it your intention to always tell the truth from that podium?"
"Sometimes we may disagree on the facts."
posted by Coventry at 11:09 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
"Sometimes we may disagree on the facts."
posted by Coventry at 11:09 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
Reporter straight up asks Spicer if he would ever willingly lie to the American people.
Spicer circles and never says yes or no.
posted by mochapickle at 11:09 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
Spicer circles and never says yes or no.
posted by mochapickle at 11:09 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
Spicer now answering a quesiton about the truth by saying the press gets things wrong.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Here we go: Jonathan Karl "is it your intention to always tell the truth from this podium?" Spicer says yes, "our intention is never to lie to you" but says sometimes we can disagree on the facts. And then he bashes the press because sometimes they are wrong and publish corrections, says the same applies to him. "If we make a mistake, I'll do our best to correct it...it's a two-way street, there are many mistakes the media makes all the time."
"Do you have any corrections you'd like to make" about Saturday?
Damn, someone has a spine.
posted by zachlipton at 11:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [88 favorites]
"Do you have any corrections you'd like to make" about Saturday?
Damn, someone has a spine.
posted by zachlipton at 11:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [88 favorites]
squirm, ye wee grublet
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:10 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
This was an actual slur in our last federal election...
It will be again; O'Leary is already selling "Make Trudeau a Drama Teacher again" hats.
posted by nubs at 11:11 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
It will be again; O'Leary is already selling "Make Trudeau a Drama Teacher again" hats.
posted by nubs at 11:11 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Etrigan: They mean they've been hiring more theater majors.
maxsparber: Oh, thank God. My degree wasn't a waste!
I know you're joking, but just in case you want to bring your wooden shoes to Washington: So, you want to work in the Trump administration (WaPo, November 11, 2016)
[And I saw that article with a suitable overlay ad: "Drive for Uber!"]
posted by filthy light thief at 11:11 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
maxsparber: Oh, thank God. My degree wasn't a waste!
I know you're joking, but just in case you want to bring your wooden shoes to Washington: So, you want to work in the Trump administration (WaPo, November 11, 2016)
[And I saw that article with a suitable overlay ad: "Drive for Uber!"]
posted by filthy light thief at 11:11 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sometimes we may disagree on the facts.
I think he actually said 'disagree with the facts,' which was probably just a small flub -- but a telling one.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:11 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
I think he actually said 'disagree with the facts,' which was probably just a small flub -- but a telling one.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:11 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
These journalists are going to have figure out that the old rules don't work anymore and who they're actually dealing with
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:14 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:14 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Jonathan Karl is an American hero. Spicer is now circling the drain, arguing back, just blustering and being a real loser.
posted by prefpara at 11:14 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by prefpara at 11:14 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
"If we make a mistake, I'll do our best to correct it...it's a two-way street, there are many mistakes the media makes all the time."
There seems to be at least one sort of nazi they aren't concerned about annoying...
posted by Buntix at 11:15 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
There seems to be at least one sort of nazi they aren't concerned about annoying...
posted by Buntix at 11:15 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Spicer deflects, returns to MLK Bust-gate, for which the journalist had long since posted a correction.
posted by mochapickle at 11:15 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by mochapickle at 11:15 AM on January 23, 2017
Just wanna shout out that I have assembled a group of ***12*** coworkers willing to come to DiFi's office with me at lunch tomorrow. (I'm anticipating the actual number will be 8-10 as people get busy with work and bail, but that's still twice as many as I had hoped to gather.) It's nearly a mile walk to her office and it's a busy time at work right now, so I'm actually gobsmacked that so many people are willing to go with me on this. I think it helped that I made it really easy for them (I said "I'll do 90% of the talking but please choose one nominee you are especially opposed to and be prepared to mention why"). Probably also helped that people are fired up after the marches.
I feel a little bad that I inadvertently touched off a discussion about how this strategy isn't useful because people can't make it to district offices. I don't expect anyone else to do it for me, but I'm a young, fit person with no obligations except my job, who works within a mile of my senator's district office, so to my mind, I have an obligation to show up for the people who have kids and work three jobs and live in Turlock or where the hell ever, just as I hope those people are talking to their Republican neighbors (who are about as accessible for me in San Francisco as Senator Feinstein's office is for them). We all do what we can, but a strategy isn't bad because not everyone can carry it out. We need lots of strategies.
And, to that point: We are going to be hand delivering letters from people who can't make it, so if you are from California and would like me to deliver a letter to Senator Feinstein for you, memail me!
posted by sunset in snow country at 11:15 AM on January 23, 2017 [37 favorites]
I feel a little bad that I inadvertently touched off a discussion about how this strategy isn't useful because people can't make it to district offices. I don't expect anyone else to do it for me, but I'm a young, fit person with no obligations except my job, who works within a mile of my senator's district office, so to my mind, I have an obligation to show up for the people who have kids and work three jobs and live in Turlock or where the hell ever, just as I hope those people are talking to their Republican neighbors (who are about as accessible for me in San Francisco as Senator Feinstein's office is for them). We all do what we can, but a strategy isn't bad because not everyone can carry it out. We need lots of strategies.
And, to that point: We are going to be hand delivering letters from people who can't make it, so if you are from California and would like me to deliver a letter to Senator Feinstein for you, memail me!
posted by sunset in snow country at 11:15 AM on January 23, 2017 [37 favorites]
taking a question from One America News Network (OANN), a righter-than-foxnews cable station.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:17 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:17 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
SS is relying on the throngs of cheering people at the CIA on Saturday to say that there is no beef, everything is a -ok, it's just that jerk politico Brennan who has a problem with Trump.
posted by gatorae at 11:19 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by gatorae at 11:19 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Spicer thinks he's doing well.
posted by mochapickle at 11:19 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 11:19 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
He's actually doing about as well as he could hope to. And that's a really bad sign for him.
posted by azpenguin at 11:20 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by azpenguin at 11:20 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
He's certainly doing better than he did on the w/e.
posted by Coventry at 11:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Coventry at 11:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is how it's going to be now: the White House is going to give completely false information and refuse to issue corrections, while excoriating reporters who make the smallest mistakes and promptly issue corrections and go to great lengths to try to walk back the error. Zeke Miller does not deserve to be thrown under the bus here, and Spicer even accepted Miller's apology publicly.
posted by zachlipton at 11:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:21 AM on January 23, 2017 [20 favorites]
Supposedly the cheering people at the CIA were the Trump staffers that were in the first three rows.
An official said the visit “made relations with the intelligence community worse” and described the visit as “uncomfortable.”posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 11:23 AM on January 23, 2017 [16 favorites]
Authorities are also pushing back against the perception that the CIA workforce was cheering for the president. They say the first three rows in front of the president were largely made up of supporters of Mr. Trump’s campaign.
Spicer is coming across as profoundly out of his league.
posted by prefpara at 11:23 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by prefpara at 11:23 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
taking a question from One America News Network (OANN), a righter-than-foxnews cable station.
OANN is what would've been TrumpTV had he lost.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
OANN is what would've been TrumpTV had he lost.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Paraphrasing Spicer: Statistics are dumb. Anecdotes are good.
posted by diogenes at 11:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 11:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
Spicer was asked simply what the unemployment rate is. He's instead gone on a long rant that has gone to questioning why numbers matter at all when we should be fighting for people.
posted by zachlipton at 11:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:26 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
Today I am grateful that my otherwise conservative parents called each other by their first names like human people with lives beyond their parental roles. That was not even something I had thought to be glad for, so thanks, Pence.
Spicer has a chewing gum addiction, huh. I would have assumed a heavy day-drinking habit was necessary to deal with that job.
posted by emjaybee at 11:28 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Spicer has a chewing gum addiction, huh. I would have assumed a heavy day-drinking habit was necessary to deal with that job.
posted by emjaybee at 11:28 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
"Employment isn't for people, it's for corporations!" (Fake)
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:28 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:28 AM on January 23, 2017
One America News Network (OANN), a righter-than-foxnews cable station.
And yet, they're even wronger-than-foxnews. #condundrum
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:28 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
And yet, they're even wronger-than-foxnews. #condundrum
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:28 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
The President that incites crowds to jeer at reporters has a "healthy respect for the First Amendment"
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 11:30 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 11:30 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
taking a question from One America News Network (OANN), a righter-than-foxnews cable station.
OANN is what would've been TrumpTV had he lost.
And yet, they're even wronger-than-foxnews. #condundrum
More like One Nation America News, amirite?
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:31 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
OANN is what would've been TrumpTV had he lost.
And yet, they're even wronger-than-foxnews. #condundrum
More like One Nation America News, amirite?
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:31 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
Spicer says he doesn't see that massive Saturday protest as any different than the small groups of people who usually demonstrate in the capitol.
posted by mochapickle at 11:32 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 11:32 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Spicer says he doesn't see that massive Saturday protest as any different than the small groups of people who usually demonstrate in the capitol.
Sure, in the sense that $50 and $3 million are both sums of money.
posted by kate blank at 11:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [35 favorites]
Sure, in the sense that $50 and $3 million are both sums of money.
posted by kate blank at 11:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [35 favorites]
Spicer says Trump has left his businesses.
(But does not confirm there's documentation of such, as the journalist asked for....)
posted by mochapickle at 11:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
(But does not confirm there's documentation of such, as the journalist asked for....)
posted by mochapickle at 11:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
So I'm Googling around, trying to find conservative towns, so I can read their local daily newspaper. Most don't seem to have one. Would more knowledgeable people say this is so? Then where do they get their state or nation news from, radio or tv?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:34 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:34 AM on January 23, 2017
It's the 300000ths principle : 300000 women's opinions count for that of one man.
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:34 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Sounds like we need to go march again.
Spicer also just said "I believe we have" when asked about releasing documents showing he's left his businesses. This appears to be false, and we know he has not filed paperwork to actually resign in various states.
posted by zachlipton at 11:35 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
Spicer also just said "I believe we have" when asked about releasing documents showing he's left his businesses. This appears to be false, and we know he has not filed paperwork to actually resign in various states.
posted by zachlipton at 11:35 AM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
Commits to defending international waters from territorial encroachment by China. Whoof.
posted by Coventry at 11:35 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 11:35 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Spicer was asked simply what the unemployment rate is.
"4.7 percent in December 2016 from a nine-year low of 4.6 percent in the previous month." Something to remember when Trump starts bragging about all the jobs he's brought back.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:35 AM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
Spicer says Trump has left his businesses.
In response to a question of whether/when they will release paperwork proving it. No answer on the paperwork part.
posted by melissasaurus at 11:35 AM on January 23, 2017
In response to a question of whether/when they will release paperwork proving it. No answer on the paperwork part.
posted by melissasaurus at 11:35 AM on January 23, 2017
From twitter
i have not eaten
the plums
that were in the freezer
i am not
covered
in plum juice
forgive me
i disagree
that the plums
are even gone
posted by Rumple at 11:36 AM on January 23, 2017 [64 favorites]
i have not eaten
the plums
that were in the freezer
i am not
covered
in plum juice
forgive me
i disagree
that the plums
are even gone
posted by Rumple at 11:36 AM on January 23, 2017 [64 favorites]
Spicer says Trump has left his businesses.
Depending on your definition of every word in that sentence of course.
posted by diogenes at 11:37 AM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
Depending on your definition of every word in that sentence of course.
posted by diogenes at 11:37 AM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
Brandon Blatcher: We're a pretty conservative town. Here's our local newspaper. It's a weekly paper, though. I'd say most people around here either get their news from the Omaha newspaper, or just FoxNews.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 11:37 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 11:37 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
No answer on the paperwork part.
He claimed they've already released the paperwork.
posted by Coventry at 11:37 AM on January 23, 2017
He claimed they've already released the paperwork.
posted by Coventry at 11:37 AM on January 23, 2017
Then where do they get their state or nation news from, radio or tv?
WBFK Live Local Eyewitness On Your Side News Team. Which is why affiliate owners like Sinclair that centralise operations and issue edicts on how to handle national politics matter more than cablenews.
posted by holgate at 11:37 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
WBFK Live Local Eyewitness On Your Side News Team. Which is why affiliate owners like Sinclair that centralise operations and issue edicts on how to handle national politics matter more than cablenews.
posted by holgate at 11:37 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Spicer says Trump has left his businesses.
Depending on your definition of every word in that sentence of course.
Judging by the amount of cinnamon gum he says he eats each day, I think the first word is accurate.
posted by Etrigan at 11:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Depending on your definition of every word in that sentence of course.
Judging by the amount of cinnamon gum he says he eats each day, I think the first word is accurate.
posted by Etrigan at 11:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
prefpara: Spicer is coming across as profoundly out of his league.
So he's in good company with the rest of the _rump people - wholly unprepared for the jobs that they've taken, likely with the ungrounded and unfounded expectation that it's not all that hard.
diogenes: Paraphrasing Spicer: Statistics are dumb. Anecdotes are good.
Good job, fore-runner of the Post Truth* President. You are smoothing the path for the Angry Orange.
* I was, and really am still, angry at that phrase, but it's generally defined as "appealing to emotion instead of facts" - you know, like the arguments of a toddler. It's like denying the sky is blue, or your suit is wet from the rain that is currently falling on you - those are FACTS. You can't be "post" fact because there is no spectrum in "truth" and "fact," definitely not one where you can go beyond the end point. Let's be honest here, you're anti-reality. Yes, you're now king of the unicorn kingdom, and everyone loves you, now gie me back my language and definitions. /rant
posted by filthy light thief at 11:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
So he's in good company with the rest of the _rump people - wholly unprepared for the jobs that they've taken, likely with the ungrounded and unfounded expectation that it's not all that hard.
diogenes: Paraphrasing Spicer: Statistics are dumb. Anecdotes are good.
Good job, fore-runner of the Post Truth* President. You are smoothing the path for the Angry Orange.
* I was, and really am still, angry at that phrase, but it's generally defined as "appealing to emotion instead of facts" - you know, like the arguments of a toddler. It's like denying the sky is blue, or your suit is wet from the rain that is currently falling on you - those are FACTS. You can't be "post" fact because there is no spectrum in "truth" and "fact," definitely not one where you can go beyond the end point. Let's be honest here, you're anti-reality. Yes, you're now king of the unicorn kingdom, and everyone loves you, now gie me back my language and definitions. /rant
posted by filthy light thief at 11:39 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Totally dodged a question about the relationship to Taiwan.
posted by Coventry at 11:41 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Coventry at 11:41 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
the question the media [and everyone else] needs to ask is "What is he trying to distract us from
I cannot favorite this enough or bold this harder because it is THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. We have got to get better at looking around the noise, because the shit is going down in the wings, guys.
posted by yoga at 11:42 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
I cannot favorite this enough or bold this harder because it is THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. We have got to get better at looking around the noise, because the shit is going down in the wings, guys.
posted by yoga at 11:42 AM on January 23, 2017 [34 favorites]
SS also allowed as how they might inadvertently provide incorrect information out of an interest in informing the American people about fast-moving situations as quickly as possible, which would then later need to be updated and corrected. BENNNGHAAAAZZZIIII!!!!!!!
posted by carmicha at 11:43 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 11:43 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Brandon Blatcher: So I'm Googling around, trying to find conservative towns, so I can read their local daily newspaper. Most don't seem to have one. Would more knowledgeable people say this is so? Then where do they get their state or nation news from, radio or tv?In my experience (living in a red part of a blue state): primary news source is Fox News, supplemented by talk radio. Further, they believe that these sources are reputable and certainly not propaganda, and thus all secondary sources (for fact-checking purposes) are therefore suspect if they do not agree with these.
posted by ragtag at 11:44 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Social Security! President will talk with Ryan/McConnell; has been clear on preserving/protecting these programs.
Infrastructure! Reveals continued obsession with airports.
Am I missing something re: the airport thing? I'm much more worried about failing bridges, and yet whenever infrastructure comes up, the DJT camp immediately goes to airports.
posted by mochapickle at 11:45 AM on January 23, 2017
Infrastructure! Reveals continued obsession with airports.
Am I missing something re: the airport thing? I'm much more worried about failing bridges, and yet whenever infrastructure comes up, the DJT camp immediately goes to airports.
posted by mochapickle at 11:45 AM on January 23, 2017
"I didn't say 'largest audience in person,' I said 'total largest audienced... in person and around the globe."
posted by Coventry at 11:45 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 11:45 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Am I missing something re: the airport thing? I'm much more worried about failing bridges, and yet whenever infrastructure comes up, the DJT camp immediately goes to airports.
More opportunity for graft and skimming with airports.
posted by Etrigan at 11:46 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
More opportunity for graft and skimming with airports.
posted by Etrigan at 11:46 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
WBFK Live Local Eyewitness On Your Side News Team
I'm a big fan of their Stormtracker First Alert Live Local Doppler 9000 HD Weather On The 1s reports.
posted by Servo5678 at 11:46 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm a big fan of their Stormtracker First Alert Live Local Doppler 9000 HD Weather On The 1s reports.
posted by Servo5678 at 11:46 AM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
mochapickle: this is because Trump doesn't travel by mere car. Only planes and helicopters. This is, obviously, how anyone important travels. Who needs bridges?
posted by INFJ at 11:47 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by INFJ at 11:47 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
i will give you so many plums
you'll say,
'Please, Mr. President,
please don't give us so many plums,
please, Mr. President,
we're begging you,'
but still i will give you more plums
and then i will tell melania
pass the goose liver pate
make america fat again
so delicious
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:47 AM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
you'll say,
'Please, Mr. President,
please don't give us so many plums,
please, Mr. President,
we're begging you,'
but still i will give you more plums
and then i will tell melania
pass the goose liver pate
make america fat again
so delicious
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:47 AM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
So I'm Googling around, trying to find conservative towns, so I can read their local daily newspaper. Most don't seem to have one. Would more knowledgeable people say this is so? Then where do they get their state or nation news from, radio or tv?
Myrtle Beach is the Sun News -- here is their web presence. Though I think the vast majority of people here just watch Fox News.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 11:48 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Myrtle Beach is the Sun News -- here is their web presence. Though I think the vast majority of people here just watch Fox News.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 11:48 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
thank christ he's getting a significant number of CIA/crowdsizegate questions.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:48 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:48 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Nice catch on not buying the 'front row' note.
posted by birdheist at 11:49 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by birdheist at 11:49 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Infrastructure! Reveals continued obsession with airports.
His entire infrastructure point was about the impact on commerce and trucking/shipping companies. No inkling of a concern for e.g., water safety or bridges or anything else that might impact the lives of actual human beings.
posted by melissasaurus at 11:51 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
His entire infrastructure point was about the impact on commerce and trucking/shipping companies. No inkling of a concern for e.g., water safety or bridges or anything else that might impact the lives of actual human beings.
posted by melissasaurus at 11:51 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
I listened to the damned tape, and it sounded like a small group of very loud people close to a strategically placed microphone. It was not the low rumble of a crowd of hundreds laughing and cheering in unision. Bringing fake cheering people to the CIA seems like a colossally dangerous move. Quadrupling down on it is just.. yikes.
posted by gatorae at 11:51 AM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 11:51 AM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
Serious gaslighting, now. "Shut up about my lies, what about the way you've abused Trump?"
posted by Coventry at 11:52 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 11:52 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Donald Trump Is Becoming an Authoritarian Leader Before Our Very Eyes
Apropos of the BS coming from Spicer right now, the article touches on its deeper significance:
"The purpose of the Trump administration’s lies is not necessarily to deceive, but to separate the believers from the disbelievers—for the purpose of rewarding the former and punishing the latter. As chess champion Garry Kasparov, an expert in authoritarianism as an outspoken opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, tweeted on Saturday:
'Obvious lies serve a purpose for an administration. They watch who challenges them and who loyally repeats them. The people must watch, too.'"
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [46 favorites]
Apropos of the BS coming from Spicer right now, the article touches on its deeper significance:
"The purpose of the Trump administration’s lies is not necessarily to deceive, but to separate the believers from the disbelievers—for the purpose of rewarding the former and punishing the latter. As chess champion Garry Kasparov, an expert in authoritarianism as an outspoken opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, tweeted on Saturday:
'Obvious lies serve a purpose for an administration. They watch who challenges them and who loyally repeats them. The people must watch, too.'"
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [46 favorites]
Just walked through Red Square at UW. Everything seems pretty much undisturbed, but if you look closely you can see the residue of blue paint spattered around, and someone placed a large cardboard box down in the middle with the message (roughly paraphrased) "A friend and comrade was shot trying to deescalate a fight."
The student paper has a pretty decent article detailing the events.
posted by Existential Dread at 11:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
The student paper has a pretty decent article detailing the events.
posted by Existential Dread at 11:53 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
My cackles are frightening the cats.
posted by slipthought at 11:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by slipthought at 11:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Poor, demoralized President Trump.
posted by Coventry at 11:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 11:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
"Shut up about my lies, what about the way you've abused Trump?"
This shit just pisses me off. This.. "ignore x, deflect problem back on the asker." shit. THIS IS WHAT THE ABUSIVE PERSON IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP DOES. ARGH ##%@#R%@#$!!!
posted by INFJ at 11:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [21 favorites]
This shit just pisses me off. This.. "ignore x, deflect problem back on the asker." shit. THIS IS WHAT THE ABUSIVE PERSON IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP DOES. ARGH ##%@#R%@#$!!!
posted by INFJ at 11:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [21 favorites]
This is NUTS
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Pretty clunky pivot to underestimating Trump's chances during the campaign. Probably practiced it this morning and was worried he wouldn't get a chance to use it.
posted by klarck at 11:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by klarck at 11:54 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
So.. why did he bring up all of this stuff at the CIA headquarters?
posted by birdheist at 11:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by birdheist at 11:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Colorado Springs Gazette has a weekday circulation of 60K+. But like everywhere, there's a ton of Fox News and talk radio. In the surrounding areas (up in the mountains, east on the plains), there's more conservative talk radio than any other kind of station.
posted by mochapickle at 11:55 AM on January 23, 2017
posted by mochapickle at 11:55 AM on January 23, 2017
These people have such thin skins it's astonishing. Their answer is always "we won, so deal with it," yet they don't act like winners.
posted by zachlipton at 11:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
Donald Trump Is Becoming an Authoritarian Leader Before Our Very Eyes
"Is Becoming"?
lol - where you been, New Republic?
posted by Squeak Attack at 11:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
"Is Becoming"?
lol - where you been, New Republic?
posted by Squeak Attack at 11:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Spicer has spent the last 5 minutes whining that the "default narrative" of the Trump administration in the media is "negative", which I can't wait for Fox News to cover favorably tonight.
posted by DynamiteToast at 11:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by DynamiteToast at 11:55 AM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
That incredible speech about how mean the media is deserves some stirring ID4 music behind it
posted by theodolite at 11:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 11:56 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
How long can Spicer go on about how demoralizing it is to see people criticize the lies about crowd size? He says that it's mean of the media to point out that the size was not quite so epic as people who have no training in estimating the size of large crowds thought it was from the podium. What a bizarre rant.
"Sometimes we'll make mistakes, I promise you that." [real]
posted by vathek at 11:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
"Sometimes we'll make mistakes, I promise you that." [real]
posted by vathek at 11:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
These people have such thin skins it's astonishing. Their answer is always "we won, so deal with it," yet they don't act like winners.
Yeah, maybe that's it. This whole line of answering is weird. I don't know if "ignore the haters" is quite it, but I think there's some sort of inspiration Facebook meme Spicer could benefit from hanging in his office.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 11:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yeah, maybe that's it. This whole line of answering is weird. I don't know if "ignore the haters" is quite it, but I think there's some sort of inspiration Facebook meme Spicer could benefit from hanging in his office.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 11:58 AM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Can someone get a Kickstarter going to pay the salary of any reporter who gets fired for yelling "ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME HERE" during one of these press conferences?
posted by Etrigan at 11:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [35 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 11:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [35 favorites]
Refuses to commit to staying out of Iraq or refrain from "taking back the oil."
posted by Coventry at 11:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 11:59 AM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Spicer says Trump has left his businesses.
∪
i have not eaten
the plums
His businesses quite literally have his name above the door; even if he divests they are still going to be 'his'. Which is where the plums come in, and the kicking of (him, in, the).
I'm willing to bet several good shillings that if his businesses (that he has absolutely nothing to do with anymore, honest, guv) start to suffer losses from legitimate protest based activity, then he is going to melt down in a way that will make Chernobyl look like accidentally spending too long on the tanning bed with those ping pong ball eye things on.
posted by Buntix at 12:00 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
∪
i have not eaten
the plums
His businesses quite literally have his name above the door; even if he divests they are still going to be 'his'. Which is where the plums come in, and the kicking of (him, in, the).
I'm willing to bet several good shillings that if his businesses (that he has absolutely nothing to do with anymore, honest, guv) start to suffer losses from legitimate protest based activity, then he is going to melt down in a way that will make Chernobyl look like accidentally spending too long on the tanning bed with those ping pong ball eye things on.
posted by Buntix at 12:00 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Please stop using "SS." It's ambiguous and has unfortunate connotations.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:00 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by kirkaracha at 12:00 PM on January 23, 2017
Well that was, er, something.
Going to be interesting when the fact check pieces come out.
posted by zachlipton at 12:03 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Going to be interesting when the fact check pieces come out.
posted by zachlipton at 12:03 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
So much for "I'll be here as long as you want"
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 12:03 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 12:03 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
Meh, I used to have a legible signature before becoming an adult and having to sign hundreds of things. I think buying our first house, with all of the legal things and forms and whatnots, was the death of my signature. Now it's just a scribble.
posted by Fleebnork at 12:04 PM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Fleebnork at 12:04 PM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
Yo @POTUS even I know to stay away from the notifications section on twitter. Shit will drive you crazy, lead the country and let them hate
When Johnny Manziel is trying to talk you down from self-destructive stupidity, you really need to take a look in the mirror.
posted by Etrigan at 12:05 PM on January 23, 2017 [24 favorites]
When Johnny Manziel is trying to talk you down from self-destructive stupidity, you really need to take a look in the mirror.
posted by Etrigan at 12:05 PM on January 23, 2017 [24 favorites]
In my experience (living in a red part of a blue state): primary news source is Fox News, supplemented by talk radio.
Those are the intelligentsia. Most people get their news at this point from facebook posts or the dude at the gas station.
posted by winna at 12:05 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Those are the intelligentsia. Most people get their news at this point from facebook posts or the dude at the gas station.
posted by winna at 12:05 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Yeah, my signature is worse than Trump's. It became embarrassingly bad over time, and now there's no turning back.
posted by diogenes at 12:06 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by diogenes at 12:06 PM on January 23, 2017
WBFK Live Local Eyewitness On Your Side News Team. Which is why affiliate owners like Sinclair that centralise operations and issue edicts on how to handle national politics matter more than cablenews.
Sinclair in particular is evil and needs to be broken up. When the station I worked at was bought out by them, I knew about the Swiftboat bullshit they pulled, but actually working there it sunk in how deeply their conservative agenda saturates the company. From little things like slipping in frequent, consistent digs at the ACA to employees during open enrollment informational meetings for the company healthcare plans, to big things like the pressure my news director got to not cover a Republican politician when the story looked bad for him (all verbal pressure over the phone, no paper trail, natch). There was even talk back then of building out a national news network using the digital subchannels in their markets, so basically an OTA version of Fox News, taking that propaganda horseshit to a whole new market of people who don't have cable. Nasty company. And if you're in the US odds are good they own a station in your market.
posted by jason_steakums at 12:06 PM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
Sinclair in particular is evil and needs to be broken up. When the station I worked at was bought out by them, I knew about the Swiftboat bullshit they pulled, but actually working there it sunk in how deeply their conservative agenda saturates the company. From little things like slipping in frequent, consistent digs at the ACA to employees during open enrollment informational meetings for the company healthcare plans, to big things like the pressure my news director got to not cover a Republican politician when the story looked bad for him (all verbal pressure over the phone, no paper trail, natch). There was even talk back then of building out a national news network using the digital subchannels in their markets, so basically an OTA version of Fox News, taking that propaganda horseshit to a whole new market of people who don't have cable. Nasty company. And if you're in the US odds are good they own a station in your market.
posted by jason_steakums at 12:06 PM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
watching him go on about how "maybe we make mistakes sometimes but we aren't wrong all the time and we're not the worst in the world and it's not fair to make us out to be the bad guy because we're not perfect but dang it we're doing what's best for you" was really something. Word for word that could have come out of my abusive narcissist mother's mouth. Thanks Sean, now I have vinegary stress-sweat.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:07 PM on January 23, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:07 PM on January 23, 2017 [25 favorites]
So:
-no question on whether Flynn is under federal investigation
-no question on Trump's birtherism in relation to how criticism of the President demoralizes the administration
posted by melissasaurus at 12:07 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
-no question on whether Flynn is under federal investigation
-no question on Trump's birtherism in relation to how criticism of the President demoralizes the administration
posted by melissasaurus at 12:07 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
Going to be interesting when the fact check pieces come out.
We're going to need a new phrase to replace "fact check" in our new post-fact era. Maybe "supposition opining"?
posted by diogenes at 12:07 PM on January 23, 2017
We're going to need a new phrase to replace "fact check" in our new post-fact era. Maybe "supposition opining"?
posted by diogenes at 12:07 PM on January 23, 2017
I have had actual pieces of official paperwork returned to me because my signature is so bad, and bad in a different way each time I sign something so the signatures don't match.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:08 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:08 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Going to be interesting when the fact check pieces come out.
We're going to need a new phrase to replace "fact check" in our new post-fact era. Maybe "supposition opining"?
For every fact-check, there will be an alternative-fact-check. So what we need is an "Objective Reality Report".
posted by dis_integration at 12:09 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
We're going to need a new phrase to replace "fact check" in our new post-fact era. Maybe "supposition opining"?
For every fact-check, there will be an alternative-fact-check. So what we need is an "Objective Reality Report".
posted by dis_integration at 12:09 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
I love that Mara Liasson just asked him what the unemployment rate was and he couldn't answer. That was a smart, great question.
posted by DynamiteToast at 12:09 PM on January 23, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by DynamiteToast at 12:09 PM on January 23, 2017 [33 favorites]
-no question on whether Flynn is under federal investigation
Seriously, how does that not come up?
posted by diogenes at 12:10 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Seriously, how does that not come up?
posted by diogenes at 12:10 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Not sure what the source for this is, but apparently Paul Ryan plans changes for private equity policy.
- Change the treatment of carried interest from capital gains to ordinary income
- Eliminate corporate interest deductions
- Lower the corporate tax rate
- Full CapEx expensing
Number one can't be right. That would result in rich people paying the same rate as I do.
posted by diogenes at 12:13 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 12:13 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
MSNBC's "Breaking News:" thing on the screen says "TRUMP WHITE HOUSE HOLDS FIRST BRIEFING." So we are just going along with Saturday not happening. Don't believe your eyes and ears.
CNN too. Both Andrea Mitchell and Jake Tapper made a point to hastily say that this was the first briefing that Spicer took questions but the takeaway will be what the banner said: FIRST BRIEFING.
posted by futz at 12:13 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
CNN too. Both Andrea Mitchell and Jake Tapper made a point to hastily say that this was the first briefing that Spicer took questions but the takeaway will be what the banner said: FIRST BRIEFING.
posted by futz at 12:13 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
I love that Mara Liasson just asked him what the unemployment rate was and he couldn't answer. That was a smart, great question.
Yeah, that was a great trap to make Spicer look dumb. He couldn't say the correct number without calling out Trump for using a silly number.
posted by diogenes at 12:14 PM on January 23, 2017 [21 favorites]
Yeah, that was a great trap to make Spicer look dumb. He couldn't say the correct number without calling out Trump for using a silly number.
posted by diogenes at 12:14 PM on January 23, 2017 [21 favorites]
Yeah, my signature is worse than Trump's. It became embarrassingly bad over time, and now there's no turning back.
My signature looks like a demoralized worm. There is no long any indication that there might be letters involved. If Trump's signature is a richter scale, mine is a patient about to flatline.
I can sign things in a way that is legible if I abandon cursive. Indeed, when I've signed autographs, I tend to write in a sort of stylized printed text, much like the one I used to write the names of rock bands on my notebooks in high school.
no question on Trump's birtherism in relation to how criticism of the President demoralizes the administration
With a follow-up regarding why the Obama team never complained about being demoralized by criticism.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:15 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
My signature looks like a demoralized worm. There is no long any indication that there might be letters involved. If Trump's signature is a richter scale, mine is a patient about to flatline.
I can sign things in a way that is legible if I abandon cursive. Indeed, when I've signed autographs, I tend to write in a sort of stylized printed text, much like the one I used to write the names of rock bands on my notebooks in high school.
no question on Trump's birtherism in relation to how criticism of the President demoralizes the administration
With a follow-up regarding why the Obama team never complained about being demoralized by criticism.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:15 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
Shorter Sean Spicer:
Media, baby...
I think you hurt our head real bad...
We're dizzy...
I think we need a doctor...
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:15 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Media, baby...
I think you hurt our head real bad...
We're dizzy...
I think we need a doctor...
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:15 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
kirkaracha: "4.7 percent in December 2016 from a nine-year low of 4.6 percent in the previous month." Something to remember when Trump starts bragging about all the jobs he's brought back.
Also: while hardly a secret, is not nearly as widely known as it should be. The U.S. economy performs much better when a Democrat is president than when a Republican is.
Bonus fact: The Abortion Rate Has Fallen 13% Under [Obama]
Also: while hardly a secret, is not nearly as widely known as it should be. The U.S. economy performs much better when a Democrat is president than when a Republican is.
The analysis considered a 64-year period beginning with President Harry Truman and ending with President Barack Obama. In all, that takes in the complete presidencies of seven complete Democratic terms and nine Republican terms.GDP is higher, unemployment is lower, incomes raise, as does the stock market, and "The report found that the country was more likely to be in recession while a Republican president was in office." But the one notable exception to the Democratic advantage on economic indicators, the authors said, was inflation. On that count, “the economy fares about equally well under presidents of either party.”
Bonus fact: The Abortion Rate Has Fallen 13% Under [Obama]
While the study did not specifically investigate reasons for the decline, the authors note that the study period (2008-2011) predates the major surge in state-level abortion restrictions that started during the 2011 legislative session, and that many provisions did not go into effect until late 2011 or even later.posted by filthy light thief at 12:16 PM on January 23, 2017 [33 favorites]
Not sure what the source for this is, but apparently Paul Ryan plans changes for private equity policy.
This is a trick. He'll include some proposals to close rich people loopholes to get headlines, which will be promptly stripped out of the final budget.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:16 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
This is a trick. He'll include some proposals to close rich people loopholes to get headlines, which will be promptly stripped out of the final budget.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:16 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
-no question on whether Flynn is under federal investigation
Seriously, how does that not come up?
Because the name of the game the Trump camp plays is MISDIRECTION, and the press corps has yet to catch on. Look at these petty, inconsequential things (crowd size, lies about crowd size, bickering about who's telling lies about crowd size) instead of anything important.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:16 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
Seriously, how does that not come up?
Because the name of the game the Trump camp plays is MISDIRECTION, and the press corps has yet to catch on. Look at these petty, inconsequential things (crowd size, lies about crowd size, bickering about who's telling lies about crowd size) instead of anything important.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:16 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
Flynn did come up a bit. Spicer said Flynn only made two calls to the Russian Ambassador on sanctions day, while press reports say it was five. And I believe Spicer said Trump wouldn't interfere in any kind of investigation.
posted by zachlipton at 12:22 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 12:22 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
4.7 percent in December 2016 from a nine-year low of 4.6 percent in the previous month.
You and your numbers. I just talked to a random guy who lost his job, and it doesn't feel like 4.7% to him! (sarcasm)
posted by diogenes at 12:24 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
You and your numbers. I just talked to a random guy who lost his job, and it doesn't feel like 4.7% to him! (sarcasm)
posted by diogenes at 12:24 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
I think one bit that could have some sticking power was Spicer dismissing the Women's March. A little more of that and we're just going to have to do it again (preferably on a day when it's not raining thanks; I feel like I'm still damp).
posted by zachlipton at 12:24 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 12:24 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
I hope my 401K still feels nice in 4 years
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 12:25 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 12:25 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
So I'm Googling around, trying to find conservative towns, so I can read their local daily newspaper. Most don't seem to have one. Would more knowledgeable people say this is so? Then where do they get their state or nation news from, radio or tv?
They read the paper of the nearest larger town or small city with a paper. Neither of the towns closest to me have papers, there is a small one in a town one county over or a larger, better one for the small city in the town in another neighboring county. Mostly people get their news from TV, even when that means they're watching the news for a city 100 miles away that has little relevance to their life. This is why someone here at one point mentioned that rural people tend to think cities are plagued with crime, because they watch the local news and that's their only interaction with the cities near them.
posted by threeturtles at 12:25 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
They read the paper of the nearest larger town or small city with a paper. Neither of the towns closest to me have papers, there is a small one in a town one county over or a larger, better one for the small city in the town in another neighboring county. Mostly people get their news from TV, even when that means they're watching the news for a city 100 miles away that has little relevance to their life. This is why someone here at one point mentioned that rural people tend to think cities are plagued with crime, because they watch the local news and that's their only interaction with the cities near them.
posted by threeturtles at 12:25 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
Flynn came up -- someone asked about the phone calls on sanctions day. Another question was asked about whether Trump has spoken to intel agencies about the Russia investigation (broadly, not in reference to Flynn) and whether he would be ordering them to stop/slow it down. There was no question about whether Flynn is currently under investigation.
posted by melissasaurus at 12:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by melissasaurus at 12:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
winna: Those are the intelligentsia. Most people get their news at this point from facebook posts or the dude at the gas station.You're assuming there's internet access out here. I myself make do with a cell hotspot.
posted by ragtag at 12:27 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
You guys, if we have to ask Sean about each individual person in the Administration who's under investigation or indictment by name, these briefings are going to take forfuckingever.
posted by Etrigan at 12:27 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 12:27 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Poll: Trump’s opening weekend gets lowest approval of modern era
Never forget how unpopular he is. If the regime doesn't have a lot of competence and luck soon, that number isn't gonna go up.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:28 PM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
Never forget how unpopular he is. If the regime doesn't have a lot of competence and luck soon, that number isn't gonna go up.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:28 PM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
zachlipton: I think one bit that could have some sticking power was Spicer dismissing the Women's March. A little more of that and we're just going to have to do it again (preferably on a day when it's not raining thanks; I feel like I'm still damp).
I won't delve there, but in talking this morning, a co-worker said that he looked all over Fox News' website for information on the Women's Marches and only found a reference to the Washington, D.C. march. Similarly, another co-worker who actually went to D.C. said she came across people who were there for the inauguration and had no idea that the Women's March was the next day.
I say this not to dismiss the marches, but point out that people can still be oblivious, especially when their news sources of choice don't report on these events.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:28 PM on January 23, 2017 [22 favorites]
I won't delve there, but in talking this morning, a co-worker said that he looked all over Fox News' website for information on the Women's Marches and only found a reference to the Washington, D.C. march. Similarly, another co-worker who actually went to D.C. said she came across people who were there for the inauguration and had no idea that the Women's March was the next day.
I say this not to dismiss the marches, but point out that people can still be oblivious, especially when their news sources of choice don't report on these events.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:28 PM on January 23, 2017 [22 favorites]
If the regime doesn't have a lot of competence and luck soon
One of those definitely isn't going to happen.
posted by diogenes at 12:29 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
One of those definitely isn't going to happen.
posted by diogenes at 12:29 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Are we still trusting polls? Joking, but not joking.
Also, we'll see what happens in 2 year with the mid-term elections, and if any of the _rump stain can spread to the GOP folks who are running for (re)election. Maybe a brand new congress isn't so far fetched (I'll hope and work for this).
posted by filthy light thief at 12:32 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Also, we'll see what happens in 2 year with the mid-term elections, and if any of the _rump stain can spread to the GOP folks who are running for (re)election. Maybe a brand new congress isn't so far fetched (I'll hope and work for this).
posted by filthy light thief at 12:32 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Are we still trusting polls? Joking, but not joking.
Polls are still real and pretty accurate (1.8% off in the election).
We have to cleave to truth where it still exists. The other road leads to madness.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:34 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
Polls are still real and pretty accurate (1.8% off in the election).
We have to cleave to truth where it still exists. The other road leads to madness.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:34 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
Etrigan: You guys, if we have to ask Sean about each individual person in the Administration who's under investigation or indictment by name, these briefings are going to take forfuckingever.
Perhaps we could speed things up with a posterboard with a list of everyone under the administration and highlight the people who are under investigation or indictment. Actually, this would be awesome, and you could keep highlighting the board in real time as more people are under investigation.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:35 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Perhaps we could speed things up with a posterboard with a list of everyone under the administration and highlight the people who are under investigation or indictment. Actually, this would be awesome, and you could keep highlighting the board in real time as more people are under investigation.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:35 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Pence Calls His Wife 'Mother' that kirkaracha linked above is from a much longer Rolling Stone article posted today.
The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
I barely got through it without throwing my computer at the wall at least 10 times. It is a tour through the carnage (heh) that he wrought.
A small example:
Pence fought against the pro-choice movement with vigor rare even by right-wing standards, introducing a bill to de-fund Planned Parenthood year after year he was in the House. The death of a woman after taking an abortion pill led Pence to the House floor, where he spoke favorably of Lex Cornelia, a collection of ancient Roman laws, including one detailing how providers of abortion potions were sentenced to work in the mines.
His agenda was so radical that exactly zero of Pence's bills became law. But he'd laid down markers that would be appreciated by the hard right who vote in presidential primaries.
posted by futz at 12:35 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
I barely got through it without throwing my computer at the wall at least 10 times. It is a tour through the carnage (heh) that he wrought.
A small example:
Pence fought against the pro-choice movement with vigor rare even by right-wing standards, introducing a bill to de-fund Planned Parenthood year after year he was in the House. The death of a woman after taking an abortion pill led Pence to the House floor, where he spoke favorably of Lex Cornelia, a collection of ancient Roman laws, including one detailing how providers of abortion potions were sentenced to work in the mines.
His agenda was so radical that exactly zero of Pence's bills became law. But he'd laid down markers that would be appreciated by the hard right who vote in presidential primaries.
posted by futz at 12:35 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
preferably on a day when it's not raining thanks; I feel like I'm still damp
I've seen references online in some diverse places to an effort to get momentum behind April 15th -- tax day. The theme would be "we do so care about your taxes".
posted by anastasiav at 12:35 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
I've seen references online in some diverse places to an effort to get momentum behind April 15th -- tax day. The theme would be "we do so care about your taxes".
posted by anastasiav at 12:35 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
I found this link with a livestream of the presser, but no "Springtime for Hitler," so my friends think I'm making it up. Damn.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:36 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:36 PM on January 23, 2017
by the time he does release his taxes how will we know they aren't scrubbed squeaky ?
posted by ian1977 at 12:37 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ian1977 at 12:37 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Why do you think they'd not be scrubbed squeaky clean by now?
posted by INFJ at 12:41 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by INFJ at 12:41 PM on January 23, 2017
It would be pretty easy (if money is no object) to scrub his returns. His tax lawyer is a partner at the "Russia law firm of the year." Any return the Trump team willing releases (or "leaks" through a friend like Assange) cannot be trusted.
posted by melissasaurus at 12:44 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by melissasaurus at 12:44 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Why do you think they'd not be scrubbed squeaky clean by now?
Cuz he'd release them then? I dunno.
posted by ian1977 at 12:44 PM on January 23, 2017
Cuz he'd release them then? I dunno.
posted by ian1977 at 12:44 PM on January 23, 2017
Never forget how unpopular he is. If the regime doesn't have a lot of competence and luck soon, that number isn't gonna go up.
The flip side of that is that expectations are set very low. I fear that if the next four years are anything less than a complete trainwreck, the press will tout it as a success for the administration.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 12:46 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
The flip side of that is that expectations are set very low. I fear that if the next four years are anything less than a complete trainwreck, the press will tout it as a success for the administration.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 12:46 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
spoke favorably of Lex Cornelia, a collection of ancient Roman laws, including one detailing how providers of abortion potions were sentenced to work in the mines.
The lex Cornelia de sicariis et veneficis is about (among other things) poisons and poisoning, not abortion and abortifacients. The Romans were perfectly okay with abortion, and Roman law condoned outright infanticide by abandonment and exposure to the elements.
posted by jedicus at 12:47 PM on January 23, 2017 [26 favorites]
The lex Cornelia de sicariis et veneficis is about (among other things) poisons and poisoning, not abortion and abortifacients. The Romans were perfectly okay with abortion, and Roman law condoned outright infanticide by abandonment and exposure to the elements.
posted by jedicus at 12:47 PM on January 23, 2017 [26 favorites]
Why do you think they'd not be scrubbed squeaky clean by now?
Unless he gets some sort of job in government then he isn't going to be able to scrub the tax returns he's already submitted...
posted by Buntix at 12:48 PM on January 23, 2017
Unless he gets some sort of job in government then he isn't going to be able to scrub the tax returns he's already submitted...
posted by Buntix at 12:48 PM on January 23, 2017
Unless he gets some sort of job in government then he isn't going to be able to scrub the tax returns he's already submitted...
We can safely assume he'll be extensively using Form 1040X to issue "corrections" to his prior tax returns before choosing to release them, if that ever does happen.
posted by 0xFCAF at 12:51 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
We can safely assume he'll be extensively using Form 1040X to issue "corrections" to his prior tax returns before choosing to release them, if that ever does happen.
posted by 0xFCAF at 12:51 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
That Patton Oswalt tweet from earlier is not sitting well with me. On the one hand, yes, I absolutely agree, a march on April 15 with the focus of demanding Trump's tax returns is a great idea. On the other hand, it would have been so much better if Patton hadn't tweeted at the organizers of the Women's March to do the work for that protest, too.
Come the fuck on, folks.
posted by palomar at 12:53 PM on January 23, 2017 [18 favorites]
Come the fuck on, folks.
posted by palomar at 12:53 PM on January 23, 2017 [18 favorites]
Unless he gets some sort of job in government then he isn't going to be able to scrub the tax returns he's already submitted...
So the IRS is incapable of corruption then?
posted by ian1977 at 12:55 PM on January 23, 2017
So the IRS is incapable of corruption then?
posted by ian1977 at 12:55 PM on January 23, 2017
I used to have a job, way back in the last administration, where I had to monitor the daily WH/Pentagon/State Department briefings. Not to say that Jay Carney/Josh Earnest and company were stone cold and unreadable 100% of the time, but I always got a sense that they knew how to stay cool, calm, and collected -- especially when it came to the art of performing mental gymnastics in front of journalists. Because these briefings aren't necessarily about getting questions answered or keeping anyone in the loop: they are performative acts.
That being said, I'm astonished that Spicer got so damn flustered, and he wasn't even CLOSE to getting the skewering he deserved. It's like he had nothing up his sleeve to deflect attention and run the clock. Even the slimy, "let me just call on reporters from 'safe' conservative outlets" trick didn't seem to cut it.
But you can't tell me this ratfucker administration isn't prepared to handle the press corps on a daily basis. It looks like their strategy is to pretend to play by the old rules, then flip the table over once they realize they can't win at that particular game.
And if today is any indication, I think that tipping point won't be that far off.
posted by otenba at 12:55 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
That being said, I'm astonished that Spicer got so damn flustered, and he wasn't even CLOSE to getting the skewering he deserved. It's like he had nothing up his sleeve to deflect attention and run the clock. Even the slimy, "let me just call on reporters from 'safe' conservative outlets" trick didn't seem to cut it.
But you can't tell me this ratfucker administration isn't prepared to handle the press corps on a daily basis. It looks like their strategy is to pretend to play by the old rules, then flip the table over once they realize they can't win at that particular game.
And if today is any indication, I think that tipping point won't be that far off.
posted by otenba at 12:55 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
CDC abruptly cancels long-planned conference on climate change and health
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:56 PM on January 23, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:56 PM on January 23, 2017 [27 favorites]
I didn't see the Patton Oswalt one, I saw the one from Beau Willimon which doesn't ask anyone in particular to do the work.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 12:56 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by rabbitrabbit at 12:56 PM on January 23, 2017
Poll: Trump’s opening weekend gets lowest approval of modern era
If this shitshow were a movie it'd be direct to the dollar theater next week.
posted by octobersurprise at 12:58 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
If this shitshow were a movie it'd be direct to the dollar theater next week.
posted by octobersurprise at 12:58 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Regarding presidential approval levels, they generally only go up in two circumstances: an economic boom, or war/terrorism. Remember that Bush was considered fairly mild, unpopular and harmless at around this time in 2001. Given how approval works and how unpopular Trump already is, my guess is that only path to serious fascism right now is a massive terrorist attack. So one of the many, many subtopics we should be thinking through is what our strategy should be in that (hopefully unlikely) eventuality. But if Trump has taught us nothing, is that we have to game out the low-probability disasters ahead of time and devote at least some of our resources accordingly.
posted by chortly at 1:01 PM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by chortly at 1:01 PM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
Regarding presidential approval levels, they generally only go up in two circumstances: an economic boom, or war/terrorism.
Yup, unfortunately item two would fall into the "luck" category for Trump.
posted by diogenes at 1:04 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yup, unfortunately item two would fall into the "luck" category for Trump.
posted by diogenes at 1:04 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
I've reported on Putin - here are my tips for journalists dealing with Trump, by Alexey Kovalev.
"First of all: don’t get distracted "
posted by Rumple at 1:05 PM on January 23, 2017 [16 favorites]
"First of all: don’t get distracted "
posted by Rumple at 1:05 PM on January 23, 2017 [16 favorites]
Given how approval works and how unpopular Trump already is, my guess is that only path to serious fascism right now is a massive terrorist attack.
We also can't overlook the certainty that a federal response as drastic as (or worse than) the one for 9/11 would be provoked under Trump after a much less damaging attack than 9/11. 3 more San Bernardinos or 1 more Orlando would probably do it. That's not to say the regime will succeed at doing what they will try to do, but they will try.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:06 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
We also can't overlook the certainty that a federal response as drastic as (or worse than) the one for 9/11 would be provoked under Trump after a much less damaging attack than 9/11. 3 more San Bernardinos or 1 more Orlando would probably do it. That's not to say the regime will succeed at doing what they will try to do, but they will try.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:06 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
chortly: "Regarding presidential approval levels, they generally only go up in two circumstances: an economic boom, or war/terrorism."
Just in case anyone's forgotten, please take a look at this Gallup chart of George W. Bush's approval ratings.
posted by mhum at 1:09 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Just in case anyone's forgotten, please take a look at this Gallup chart of George W. Bush's approval ratings.
posted by mhum at 1:09 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Sean Spicer makes Mike McClintock look like CJ Craig.
posted by Tevin at 1:10 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Tevin at 1:10 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
Yeah, it will take very, very little for Trump to go into police state mode. The odds of there not being an event to trigger it are essentially zero.
posted by diogenes at 1:12 PM on January 23, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 1:12 PM on January 23, 2017 [19 favorites]
Re: Patton Oswalt tweet. He can't spend too much time organizing the April 15th march. He's busy playing TV's Son of TV's Frank on the MST3K revival...
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:19 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:19 PM on January 23, 2017
Hasn't filming wrapped on MST3K?
posted by birdheist at 1:20 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by birdheist at 1:20 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
We also can't overlook the certainty that a federal response as drastic as (or worse than) the one for 9/11 would be provoked under Trump after a much less damaging attack than 9/11.
Sure -- we can probably expect patriot-act-level stuff under any circumstances. But as I've been arguing here, the main constraint on Republican dominance right now is actually Trump's unpopularity. With full control and a year of 80% approval after a massive attack, they could do much, much more than the sorts of post-9/11 stuff we have seen before. I don't know that that's all that likely, and definitely don't want to distract from the higher-probability disasters more certainly looming. But if they can do patriot-act level stuff now, somebody needs to spend some time gaming out what can happen with 80% approval, and how to stop it, unfun and hopefully wasteful though such strategizing may be.
posted by chortly at 1:22 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Sure -- we can probably expect patriot-act-level stuff under any circumstances. But as I've been arguing here, the main constraint on Republican dominance right now is actually Trump's unpopularity. With full control and a year of 80% approval after a massive attack, they could do much, much more than the sorts of post-9/11 stuff we have seen before. I don't know that that's all that likely, and definitely don't want to distract from the higher-probability disasters more certainly looming. But if they can do patriot-act level stuff now, somebody needs to spend some time gaming out what can happen with 80% approval, and how to stop it, unfun and hopefully wasteful though such strategizing may be.
posted by chortly at 1:22 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
If there is a major terrorist event during Trump's watch, our second response (after helping everyone we can who is impacted) should be "see, the world has become more dangerous because of Trump and the Republicans." Hit them on this again and again. Fuck this "come together behind the President" stuff and go all in on "this is the fucking President's fault."
With a bitter little whiff of "we told you so" behind our eyes but not on our lips.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:25 PM on January 23, 2017 [28 favorites]
With a bitter little whiff of "we told you so" behind our eyes but not on our lips.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:25 PM on January 23, 2017 [28 favorites]
On the other hand, it would have been so much better if Patton hadn't tweeted at the organizers of the Women's March to do the work for that protest, too.
I get what you're saying, and it's definitely a valid point. On the other, other hand, if you want a successful protest, you want the best of the best. It doesn't hurt to ask the organizers of the biggest protest in US history. Clearly they're pretty good at it.
posted by Roommate at 1:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
I get what you're saying, and it's definitely a valid point. On the other, other hand, if you want a successful protest, you want the best of the best. It doesn't hurt to ask the organizers of the biggest protest in US history. Clearly they're pretty good at it.
posted by Roommate at 1:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
Mike Pence is actually Ruprecht from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, you heard it here first.
"Why is the cork on the fork?" "To prevent him from hurting himself. And others."
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
"Why is the cork on the fork?" "To prevent him from hurting himself. And others."
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Re: Patton Oswalt tweet. He can't spend too much time organizing the April 15th march. He's busy playing TV's Son of TV's Frank on the MST3K revival...
I unfollowed him a while ago. There is this weird cult of Oswalt that I fail to understand, and I remain irritated as hell by his big "rape jokes aren't funny" essay which failed to mentioned that hundreds of women -- including fellow women in comedy -- had already come to that conclusion. And they he went and made a rape joke, like, a week later.
He just seems like a typical male gasbag, supremely confident in the importance of his own utterances while oblivious to the fact that he just repeated what the women next to him said five minutes ago, and only too happy to be given credit for it.
It's no surprise that he's asking women to organize this march for him. He's the human embodiment of our emotional labor thread.
posted by maxsparber at 1:29 PM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
I unfollowed him a while ago. There is this weird cult of Oswalt that I fail to understand, and I remain irritated as hell by his big "rape jokes aren't funny" essay which failed to mentioned that hundreds of women -- including fellow women in comedy -- had already come to that conclusion. And they he went and made a rape joke, like, a week later.
He just seems like a typical male gasbag, supremely confident in the importance of his own utterances while oblivious to the fact that he just repeated what the women next to him said five minutes ago, and only too happy to be given credit for it.
It's no surprise that he's asking women to organize this march for him. He's the human embodiment of our emotional labor thread.
posted by maxsparber at 1:29 PM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
Sean Spicer gave the opposition, the resistence a nice big gift today, all wrapped up with a nice pretty bow.
He officially, from the WH told us that speculation of Trumps insecurities are true. We aren't wrong. That he gets demoralized by what people do and say that he deems negative. That bad press and media get to him. We knew. He made it official and on record. The President 'officially' thinks he's special snowflake. The distraction thing aside, we now have confirmation, that the President is distracted by all of it just as much as they are trying to distract.
posted by Jalliah at 1:30 PM on January 23, 2017 [51 favorites]
He officially, from the WH told us that speculation of Trumps insecurities are true. We aren't wrong. That he gets demoralized by what people do and say that he deems negative. That bad press and media get to him. We knew. He made it official and on record. The President 'officially' thinks he's special snowflake. The distraction thing aside, we now have confirmation, that the President is distracted by all of it just as much as they are trying to distract.
posted by Jalliah at 1:30 PM on January 23, 2017 [51 favorites]
Speaking of terrorism and nightmare Trump scenarios, I was just remarking to a friend about how there's a giant residential tower with his name on it in Manila and another pair in Pune, India. And, I'm assuming that these aren't defended and/or security-hardened like, say, an embassy or military base would be. If I were a terrorist group looking to provoke a reaction from the US -- and if there's one thing we know about Trump is that he simply cannot restrain from over-reacting to provocation -- this is where I would look first.
posted by mhum at 1:30 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by mhum at 1:30 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Have you seen his signature?
I know graphology isn't, if you want to get technical about it, real, but I've seen less scary signatures on the Urbain Grandier pact
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:33 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
I know graphology isn't, if you want to get technical about it, real, but I've seen less scary signatures on the Urbain Grandier pact
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:33 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
(my MST3K line was mostly a joke, but I'll bet, as one of the show's most familiar participants, he'll be heavily involved in the promotion campaign)
I think it will be EXTREMELY important to point out what a massive mistake "supporting the President" was after 9/11. And as mhum noted, Trump's foreign properties look like the prime targets, and there is no way anybody (including the American military) will share his outrage over attacks on them.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:36 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
I think it will be EXTREMELY important to point out what a massive mistake "supporting the President" was after 9/11. And as mhum noted, Trump's foreign properties look like the prime targets, and there is no way anybody (including the American military) will share his outrage over attacks on them.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:36 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
If there is a major terrorist event during Trump's watch, our second response (after helping everyone we can who is impacted) should be ... "this is the fucking President's fault."
I agree and have long thought our biggest error on 9/12 was not pinning the whole thing immediately on Bush. That was understandable, given how traumatic it all was, but that's why we need to strategize ahead of time on these things to lay the groundwork. At this point, bipartisanship and coming together is a trap waiting to spring on us, not something to be aspired to.
posted by chortly at 1:37 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
I agree and have long thought our biggest error on 9/12 was not pinning the whole thing immediately on Bush. That was understandable, given how traumatic it all was, but that's why we need to strategize ahead of time on these things to lay the groundwork. At this point, bipartisanship and coming together is a trap waiting to spring on us, not something to be aspired to.
posted by chortly at 1:37 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
I get what you're saying, and it's definitely a valid point. On the other, other hand, if you want a successful protest, you want the best of the best. It doesn't hurt to ask the organizers of the biggest protest in US history. Clearly they're pretty good at it.
So... ask them for help, instead of telling them you'll help once they get started. Which is what he basically did. Which is fucking gross. Hey, laydeeeez, couldn't be bothered to do this myself, why don't you do it so I can play along once it gets fun? Classic labor off-loading (emotional, physical, and intellectual), and I'm not fucking here for it.
posted by palomar at 1:38 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
So... ask them for help, instead of telling them you'll help once they get started. Which is what he basically did. Which is fucking gross. Hey, laydeeeez, couldn't be bothered to do this myself, why don't you do it so I can play along once it gets fun? Classic labor off-loading (emotional, physical, and intellectual), and I'm not fucking here for it.
posted by palomar at 1:38 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
our second response (after helping everyone we can who is impacted) should be ... "this is the fucking President's fault."
The best way to ensure in the present day that this would be a sustainable position after a terrorist attack is to emphasize the culpability of the Bush administration for 9/11. Not enough people know the details of how they shut down the Clinton administration's effective counter-terrorism program.
posted by Coventry at 1:42 PM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
The best way to ensure in the present day that this would be a sustainable position after a terrorist attack is to emphasize the culpability of the Bush administration for 9/11. Not enough people know the details of how they shut down the Clinton administration's effective counter-terrorism program.
posted by Coventry at 1:42 PM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
And the Brand New Congress campaign needs a parallel effort from the Honestly Never Trump Republicans to primary as many GOP congresscritters as possible with challenges from good people (and I know they're out there). If the Trumpsters are unpopular enough, we could even get a few RINOs back from extinction and into Congress.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:45 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:45 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
The best way to ensure in the present day that this would be a sustainable position after a terrorist attack is to emphasize the culpability of the Bush administration for 9/11.
The good news is that has already said this.
posted by peeedro at 1:47 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
The good news is that has already said this.
posted by peeedro at 1:47 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump's Inauguration Day will now be a national holiday.
posted by Tevin at 1:48 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Tevin at 1:48 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Not enough people know the details of how they shut down the Clinton administration's effective counter-terrorism program.
Or why. In his last year as VP, Al Gore's biggest official job when he wasn't running for his boss's job was heading a commission on improving our terrorism protection, and its proposals were immediately trash-canned by Bush Jr. for the simple reason that they had Gore's name on them. That's why one of my strongest unprovable beliefs is that 9/11 would never have happened if Gore had won.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:52 PM on January 23, 2017 [20 favorites]
Or why. In his last year as VP, Al Gore's biggest official job when he wasn't running for his boss's job was heading a commission on improving our terrorism protection, and its proposals were immediately trash-canned by Bush Jr. for the simple reason that they had Gore's name on them. That's why one of my strongest unprovable beliefs is that 9/11 would never have happened if Gore had won.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:52 PM on January 23, 2017 [20 favorites]
House Dems have sent a letter requesting info on how the GSA is addressing Trump’s "apparent breach of the Old Post Office lease agreement". [tweet with image of letter]
posted by melissasaurus at 1:55 PM on January 23, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by melissasaurus at 1:55 PM on January 23, 2017 [29 favorites]
Listening to the CIA nomination via c-span in another tab to my senator Wyden and I keep hearing him (maybe I'm wrong?) say "madam president." I get so sad hearing that T_______T Sunny out right now... I should take a walk.
posted by one teak forest at 1:55 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by one teak forest at 1:55 PM on January 23, 2017
Trump's Inauguration Day will now be a national holiday.
Not really.
In one of his first acts as president, Donald Trump declared the day of his inauguration to be “National Day of Patriotic Devotion.”It's gross, but I don't see how it's substantially grosser than Bush's or Obama's proclamations.
...
In 2009, President Obama declared the day of his inauguration a “Day of Renewal and Reconciliation.” In 2001, President George W. Bush declared his inauguration a “National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving.”
posted by kirkaracha at 1:56 PM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
Even when [Spicer] is not speaking, it works on overdrive, churning through pieces of Orbit cinnamon gum, which he chews and swallows whole.
Orbit? ORBIT GUM, YOU SAY? Let the nicknaming begin.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:57 PM on January 23, 2017
Orbit? ORBIT GUM, YOU SAY? Let the nicknaming begin.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:57 PM on January 23, 2017
Ah, OK, sorry for sensationalizing.
It's grosser to me because "Patriotic Devotion" just sounds so ... Margaret Atwood-ian.
posted by Tevin at 1:58 PM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
It's grosser to me because "Patriotic Devotion" just sounds so ... Margaret Atwood-ian.
posted by Tevin at 1:58 PM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
So can Metafilter get in on this "Skype seats" business and ask questions at briefings? Because we must have as much readership as some random right-wing blog, right?
posted by zachlipton at 2:00 PM on January 23, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:00 PM on January 23, 2017 [29 favorites]
It's grosser to me because "Patriotic Devotion" just sounds so ... Margaret Atwood-ian.
I thought it was Putinesque, myself.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:01 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
I thought it was Putinesque, myself.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:01 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
I actually think the Skype seat thing would be a cool idea if it weren't going to be horribly abused.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:02 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:02 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
That's why one of my strongest unprovable beliefs is that 9/11 would never have happened if Gore had won.
Thinking about it some more, it actually seems pretty unlikely that Trump is going to repeat this particular mistake. Terrorism is very much at the top of his mind, and likely to stay there.
A major terrorist attack still seems very likely, because Trump is so threatening to so many people. But it probably won't happen as a result of neglecting CT programs. So bringing it back to 9/11 likely won't help with the "My country, drunk or sober" attitude an attack will elicit.
posted by Coventry at 2:02 PM on January 23, 2017
Thinking about it some more, it actually seems pretty unlikely that Trump is going to repeat this particular mistake. Terrorism is very much at the top of his mind, and likely to stay there.
A major terrorist attack still seems very likely, because Trump is so threatening to so many people. But it probably won't happen as a result of neglecting CT programs. So bringing it back to 9/11 likely won't help with the "My country, drunk or sober" attitude an attack will elicit.
posted by Coventry at 2:02 PM on January 23, 2017
So can Metafilter get in on this "Skype seats" business and ask questions at briefings? Because we must have as much readership as some random right-wing blog, right?
I vote #1 Quidnunc Kid for Senior Metafilter White House Correspondent.
posted by deludingmyself at 2:02 PM on January 23, 2017 [26 favorites]
I vote #1 Quidnunc Kid for Senior Metafilter White House Correspondent.
posted by deludingmyself at 2:02 PM on January 23, 2017 [26 favorites]
Company That Relies on NAFTA and Supports the GOP Suddenly Regretting Both Decisions
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:03 PM on January 23, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:03 PM on January 23, 2017 [14 favorites]
1. So in a decade or so or whenever he is dead I guess the the Day of Patriotic Devotion will be when we all go and take a poop on Dear Leader's grave?
2. In preparation for this moment we should probably refer to pooping as taking a moment of Patriotic Devotion.
posted by Artw at 2:07 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
2. In preparation for this moment we should probably refer to pooping as taking a moment of Patriotic Devotion.
posted by Artw at 2:07 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2010:
"The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."McConnell today:
"The first thing we have to do is move beyond this 'us and them' mentality that has so often characterized the last 8 years."posted by zakur at 2:07 PM on January 23, 2017 [62 favorites]
Company That Relies on NAFTA and Supports the GOP Suddenly Regretting Both Decisions
OK, I'll just take 15 mins of schadenfreude. Then I'll get back to real life..
posted by mumimor at 2:09 PM on January 23, 2017
OK, I'll just take 15 mins of schadenfreude. Then I'll get back to real life..
posted by mumimor at 2:09 PM on January 23, 2017
Thinking about it some more, it actually seems pretty unlikely that Trump is going to repeat this particular mistake. Terrorism is very much at the top of his mind, and likely to stay there.
Well, except for the fact that he can't be fucking bothered to care about or pay attention to intelligence briefings .
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:10 PM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
Well, except for the fact that he can't be fucking bothered to care about or pay attention to intelligence briefings .
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:10 PM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
Also, consider how much he trusts the CIA right now.
posted by dinty_moore at 2:10 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by dinty_moore at 2:10 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Company That Relies on NAFTA and Supports the GOP Suddenly Regretting Both Decisions
img src="nelsonmuntzhaha.gif"
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:12 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
img src="nelsonmuntzhaha.gif"
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:12 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
An interesting study on a fake news "vaccination" technique that could come in handy these days.
Unfortunately, looking at modern propaganda methods you can see that some people turned this "vaccine" into an ideological bioweapon long before this study was ever proposed, but on the plus side that means its weaponization isn't a new threat.
posted by jason_steakums at 2:16 PM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
Researchers found those who saw only the facts about climate change were quite likely, irrespective of political affiliation, to move toward believing in the scientific consensus. Those who were shown only the misinformation were inclined to move away from scientific beliefs. Participants who saw the accurate data followed by fake news had very little change in opinion, the two competing sets of data cancelling each other out.We know how the Trump camp bullshits, and if this study is accurate, shouting Trumpian propaganda methods from the rooftops could actually inoculate people against them. Really it's a pretty common sense solution, but it's great to see data backing it up, and extremely heartening to see an effect on the scale of a single interaction with someone as opposed to the "teach critical thinking skills in school to prepare people for misinformation" approach, which is of course effective and important, but takes years to implement and leaves out anyone who is no longer in school.
Two groups among the participants, chosen randomly, were given two separate doses of “vaccines.” One was a general warning that some groups tried to mislead the public by talking about disagreement among scientists on climate change. The other was a detailed breakdown of such claims by the Oregon Global Warming Petition Project, explaining how the signatories were fraudulent (Charles Darwin and members of the Spice Girls are among them) and how less than 1 percent actually had a background in climate science.
It was seen that the groups so inoculated showed a marked shift in opinion toward believing in climate change, and its human cause.
Unfortunately, looking at modern propaganda methods you can see that some people turned this "vaccine" into an ideological bioweapon long before this study was ever proposed, but on the plus side that means its weaponization isn't a new threat.
posted by jason_steakums at 2:16 PM on January 23, 2017 [12 favorites]
I was totally hearing sen. Wyden wrong; now hearing "mister." I'm sorry, senator! sigh. I probably need a nap too.
posted by one teak forest at 2:20 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by one teak forest at 2:20 PM on January 23, 2017
Anyone have bets on when Trump starts wearing a military uniform? I think it'll take a year at least but after reading about the parade Trump wanted (with tanks in NY and DC) maybe it will be quicker than that?
posted by asteria at 2:23 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by asteria at 2:23 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Dippin' Dots CEO tries to make peace with Sean Spicer
p.s. In the Senate, you address whoever is the presiding officer (which is typically delegated to someone or another during most normal sessions) as Mr. President or Madame President, depending on their gender. The President in that case is describing whoever is presiding over the Senate at that moment, not the President of the United States.
posted by zachlipton at 2:25 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
p.s. In the Senate, you address whoever is the presiding officer (which is typically delegated to someone or another during most normal sessions) as Mr. President or Madame President, depending on their gender. The President in that case is describing whoever is presiding over the Senate at that moment, not the President of the United States.
posted by zachlipton at 2:25 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Anyone have bets on when Trump starts wearing a military uniform?
dear god, he's going to try to transform into Muammar Gaddafi, isn't he
posted by Existential Dread at 2:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
dear god, he's going to try to transform into Muammar Gaddafi, isn't he
posted by Existential Dread at 2:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Anyone have bets on when Trump starts wearing a military uniform? I think it'll take a year at least but after reading about the parade Trump wanted (with tanks in NY and DC) maybe it will be quicker than that?
imagine a chinese-made nazi uniform with a too-long, scotch-taped necktie flapping in your face, forever.
posted by entropicamericana at 2:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [26 favorites]
imagine a chinese-made nazi uniform with a too-long, scotch-taped necktie flapping in your face, forever.
posted by entropicamericana at 2:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [26 favorites]
An interesting study on a fake news "vaccination" technique
The actual paper, in case anyone's interested.
Hard to believe stuff like this anymore until it's replicated, though.
posted by Coventry at 2:27 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
The actual paper, in case anyone's interested.
Hard to believe stuff like this anymore until it's replicated, though.
posted by Coventry at 2:27 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
You know, I thought of T*ump and I thought of Gaddafi's ignominious end, today, and there is a reason those thoughts came to me.
posted by stonepharisee at 2:27 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by stonepharisee at 2:27 PM on January 23, 2017
Former Executive Director of Anti-Immigrant Hate Group FAIR Joins Trump Administration: Julie Kirchner, the former executive director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), has been named chief of staff at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the largest federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Since its founding in 1979, FAIR has push an agenda centered on a complete moratorium on all immigration to the United States and defined by vicious attacks on non-white immigrants. Its founder was white nationalist John Tanton, an avowed eugenicist who created the modern anti-immigrant movement in the United States.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:30 PM on January 23, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:30 PM on January 23, 2017 [19 favorites]
Anyone have bets on when Trump starts wearing a military uniform?
I'm waiting for the statue building to begin, like Assad and Hussein.
posted by peeedro at 2:31 PM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm waiting for the statue building to begin, like Assad and Hussein.
posted by peeedro at 2:31 PM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
imagine a chinese-made nazi uniform with a too-long, scotch-taped necktie flapping in your face, forever.
The Daily Show has a mock-up for you.
posted by zakur at 2:31 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Daily Show has a mock-up for you.
posted by zakur at 2:31 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Infrastructure! Reveals continued obsession with airports.
Am I missing something re: the airport thing? I'm much more worried about failing bridges, and yet whenever infrastructure comes up, the DJT camp immediately goes to airports.
What You Need to Know About Donald Trump’s $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan (Fortune, Dec. 22, 2016)
Also, not all infrastructure is supported by tolls and fees to the users. Airports generally are, at least the major airports. But then you have my world: roads. People are used to "free" roads, and tolling only make sense on major roads with heavy use. So this "plan" turns its back on people in low-density areas. Rural areas, jobs-poor areas, where access to infrastructure is a key part to keeping or bringing new jobs. Heck, here in New Mexico, two major distributors are driving 50 miles farther because the state routes that are shorter are in such poor shape that it's actually faster and more reliable (and does less damage to vehicles) to travel farther. _rump doesn't care about those roads, and he won't bring funding for those regions.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:33 PM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
Am I missing something re: the airport thing? I'm much more worried about failing bridges, and yet whenever infrastructure comes up, the DJT camp immediately goes to airports.
What You Need to Know About Donald Trump’s $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan (Fortune, Dec. 22, 2016)
Private companies will not simply bank-roll and build our infrastructure, but own it, incentivized by massive tax credits, worth 82% of the down payments. With $167 billion in private investment, the $1 trillion plan does not hit taxpayers, the authors claim, because the tax credits would be offset by new revenue from the economic stimulus created.Emphasis mine.
The plan has a tidy, circular sort of logic to it. Still, it’s seen its fair share of criticism. The 82% tax credit, for example, means that savvy investors can suddenly own and collect tolls on a very expensive road after putting up relatively little in real dollars. Ronald Klain, who oversaw President Obama’s infrastructure act, has called it “a massive corporate welfare plan for contractors.” There’s also a wariness of private sector creep and incentivizing profit seeking from places where logic holds profit should not be sought. Doctors in a privatized hospital might perform unnecessary surgeries to improve the bottom line, so how might contractors installing pipes for water, say, try to come out ahead? A road or a bridge can always add a toll, but for plenty of basic infrastructure, the path to profit is far more opaque.
Also, not all infrastructure is supported by tolls and fees to the users. Airports generally are, at least the major airports. But then you have my world: roads. People are used to "free" roads, and tolling only make sense on major roads with heavy use. So this "plan" turns its back on people in low-density areas. Rural areas, jobs-poor areas, where access to infrastructure is a key part to keeping or bringing new jobs. Heck, here in New Mexico, two major distributors are driving 50 miles farther because the state routes that are shorter are in such poor shape that it's actually faster and more reliable (and does less damage to vehicles) to travel farther. _rump doesn't care about those roads, and he won't bring funding for those regions.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:33 PM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
Ok, after some effort, I've found it. Pop to 3:36 in the NYT YouTube video of the briefing. You'll hear Springtime for Hitler. It was a little clearer on the C-SPAN feed, but it's clearly there.
posted by zachlipton at 2:40 PM on January 23, 2017 [54 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:40 PM on January 23, 2017 [54 favorites]
zachlipton, you are a LOVELY PERSON.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:42 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:42 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
It'll be great. Each stretch of road controlled by different independent toll collectors. Just like the Holy Roman Empire during the time of the Hohenstaufen emperors: total gridlock as countless tiny fiefdoms levy tolls and taxes at their borders and you end up broke if you travel further than a few dozen miles.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 2:42 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Hairy Lobster at 2:42 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Anyone have bets on when Trump starts wearing a military uniform?
My guess is that Kellyanne's inaugural outfit was supposed to be that uniform.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 2:44 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
My guess is that Kellyanne's inaugural outfit was supposed to be that uniform.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 2:44 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
People are used to "free" roads, and tolling only make sense on major roads with heavy use. So this "plan" turns its back on people in low-density areas.
On the other hand, they can leave funding for public roads the same but spend more money on the typically Republican areas by spending less on major roads in typically Democrat areas by making those privately owned toll roads (with a little aid of eminent domain seizures, I'm sure).
posted by Candleman at 2:47 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
On the other hand, they can leave funding for public roads the same but spend more money on the typically Republican areas by spending less on major roads in typically Democrat areas by making those privately owned toll roads (with a little aid of eminent domain seizures, I'm sure).
posted by Candleman at 2:47 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
My guess is that Kellyanne's inaugural outfit was supposed to be that uniform
So they'll all be dressing up as anime nazis?
posted by Artw at 2:48 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
So they'll all be dressing up as anime nazis?
posted by Artw at 2:48 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
In case anyone wants a quick dose of schadenfreude (or just anger), Are You Sorry Yet is collecting tweets and posts showing Popular Vote Loser in Chief voter remorse...
posted by TwoStride at 2:49 PM on January 23, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 2:49 PM on January 23, 2017 [16 favorites]
So they'll all be dressing up as anime nazis?
say what you will about the alt-right, they got their branding down
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:52 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
say what you will about the alt-right, they got their branding down
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:52 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
IMO, Trump is right about American infrastructure. It is really surprising when you come in from abroad to the richest country in the world, and everything sucks. Obviously, Trump knows more about airports than about trains, but it is not as if he is totally ignorant here. He has probably landed in airports which were clean, simple and easy to navigate, and left them to travel in limos on well-maintained highways. He wouldn't have taken public transportation, but most countries have excellent commutes from the airports into the cities. Even so-called third world countries. The US stands out in a bad way.
Sadly, the idea that government is responsible for infrastructure is loosing everywhere. All countries are privatizing airports, rail systems and roads, in spite of experience and knowledge. I wish this was different, but in this case Trump is not entirely off. What he doesn't realize, and maybe most politicians don't realize, is that all those great privatized services are based on public plans, and some are public services disguised as private companies.
posted by mumimor at 2:56 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
Sadly, the idea that government is responsible for infrastructure is loosing everywhere. All countries are privatizing airports, rail systems and roads, in spite of experience and knowledge. I wish this was different, but in this case Trump is not entirely off. What he doesn't realize, and maybe most politicians don't realize, is that all those great privatized services are based on public plans, and some are public services disguised as private companies.
posted by mumimor at 2:56 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
It seems the local papers are finally speaking to my cousin's friends and acquaintances as character witnesses. It's good to see this crowd showing up to defend him, and it's notable that his tattoos (which I mentioned earlier) became a point in that story as well.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 2:57 PM on January 23, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 2:57 PM on January 23, 2017 [36 favorites]
This National Day of Patriotic Devotion is cool, and all, but I'd rather they just double the chocolate ration again.
posted by Coventry at 2:59 PM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 2:59 PM on January 23, 2017 [17 favorites]
Agreed mumimor. It is kinda like we rested on the laurels of our post WW2 infrastructure improvements and now skimp cuz its not cool to spend money.
posted by ian1977 at 3:02 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 3:02 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Are You Sorry Yet is collecting tweets and posts showing Popular Vote Loser in Chief voter remorse...
the schadenfreude is about the only thing that will keep me going me through the next four years
posted by entropicamericana at 3:04 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
the schadenfreude is about the only thing that will keep me going me through the next four years
posted by entropicamericana at 3:04 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Agreed mumimor. It is kinda like we rested on the laurels of our post WW2 infrastructure improvements and now skimp cuz its not cool to spend money.
Oh it is cool to spend money, just not on the greater good that benefits the people.
(not singling you out ian1977 & mumimor, i understand what what you both meant)
posted by futz at 3:08 PM on January 23, 2017
Oh it is cool to spend money, just not on the greater good that benefits the people.
(not singling you out ian1977 & mumimor, i understand what what you both meant)
posted by futz at 3:08 PM on January 23, 2017
I liked Conway's outfit. I don't care. Yes, she's evil. But I liked it.
posted by Justinian at 3:11 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 3:11 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
What he doesn't realize, and maybe most politicians don't realize, is that all those great privatized services are based on public plans, and some are public services disguised as private companies.
No, that's intentional. They know exactly what theyre doing. Profits are privatized and public goods and infrastructure sold off, while maintenance and depreciation costs are left to the taxpayers along with replacement long-term risks. Only the costs are socialized, that's the whole plan.
Trump's "infrastructure" plan won't be anything like what you'd picture an infrastructure plan to be, you know, the government spending money and building shit. It will at best be things like PPPs with profit guaranteed to the crony managers while taxpayers squeezed and left holding the bag when the deal turns sour; and at worst will be outright looting of federal properties sold off to the lowest bidder favored by Trump and valued at 0$ lost to the public.
Everything with Republicans is a fraud on the public. Look for the catch, it's always there.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:12 PM on January 23, 2017 [22 favorites]
No, that's intentional. They know exactly what theyre doing. Profits are privatized and public goods and infrastructure sold off, while maintenance and depreciation costs are left to the taxpayers along with replacement long-term risks. Only the costs are socialized, that's the whole plan.
Trump's "infrastructure" plan won't be anything like what you'd picture an infrastructure plan to be, you know, the government spending money and building shit. It will at best be things like PPPs with profit guaranteed to the crony managers while taxpayers squeezed and left holding the bag when the deal turns sour; and at worst will be outright looting of federal properties sold off to the lowest bidder favored by Trump and valued at 0$ lost to the public.
Everything with Republicans is a fraud on the public. Look for the catch, it's always there.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:12 PM on January 23, 2017 [22 favorites]
Everything with Republicans is a fraud on the public. Look for the catch, it's always there.
They really do resemble nothing so much as those guys on late night TV who sell you get-rich-quick schemes, or "prosperity gospel" televangelists. The only one who gets rich is the scammer, the mark gets played and votes against his own self interest because of some promise of a better life that never materializes.
posted by cell divide at 3:17 PM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
They really do resemble nothing so much as those guys on late night TV who sell you get-rich-quick schemes, or "prosperity gospel" televangelists. The only one who gets rich is the scammer, the mark gets played and votes against his own self interest because of some promise of a better life that never materializes.
posted by cell divide at 3:17 PM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
I liked Conway's outfit.
Ah, good, I'm not the only one. I thought my notorious lack of fashion sense must be biting me again.
posted by Coventry at 3:20 PM on January 23, 2017
Ah, good, I'm not the only one. I thought my notorious lack of fashion sense must be biting me again.
posted by Coventry at 3:20 PM on January 23, 2017
Trump is right about American infrastructure.
It's a good thing that he's here to save us from the Democrats.
I'm sorry, but no points will be awarded to the team that deliberately creates or exacerbates a problem if they make some attempt to fix it when they're on top.
Obama probably should have tried tackling it before health care but he tried again and again and again to work on the infrastructure of the country and every time the Republicans prevented it with leering grins on their faces.
posted by Candleman at 3:20 PM on January 23, 2017 [30 favorites]
It's a good thing that he's here to save us from the Democrats.
I'm sorry, but no points will be awarded to the team that deliberately creates or exacerbates a problem if they make some attempt to fix it when they're on top.
Obama probably should have tried tackling it before health care but he tried again and again and again to work on the infrastructure of the country and every time the Republicans prevented it with leering grins on their faces.
posted by Candleman at 3:20 PM on January 23, 2017 [30 favorites]
I liked Conway's outfit. I don't care. Yes, she's evil. But I liked it.
This is why I always stay out of fashion AskMes
posted by ominous_paws at 3:21 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is why I always stay out of fashion AskMes
posted by ominous_paws at 3:21 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Just to be clear, it was awful
posted by ominous_paws at 3:23 PM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by ominous_paws at 3:23 PM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
Trump's "infrastructure" plan won't be anything like what you'd picture an infrastructure plan to be, you know, the government spending money and building shit. It will at best be things like PPPs with profit guaranteed to the crony managers while taxpayers squeezed and left holding the bag when the deal turns sour; and at worst will be outright looting of federal properties sold off to the lowest bidder favored by Trump and valued at 0$ lost to the public.
Oh yes, that is exactly what I imagine will happen. It's just that his basic argument is true, unlike so many other of his claims. The USA is not generally a wasteland, and generally, jobs are being created and the economy is growing. Generally, Americans who were poor are finding better jobs and better lives. There is less crime. During the Obama administration, there have been less teen pregnancies. Most of what Trumps says is a lie. But it is a truth that American infrastructure is not up to date. As Candleman so clearly demonstrates, the Republicans are to blame. Just as they are to blame for the similarly faulted American healthcare system, which I noted Conway addressed in her rambling, lying excuse for the weird press conference.
posted by mumimor at 3:24 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Oh yes, that is exactly what I imagine will happen. It's just that his basic argument is true, unlike so many other of his claims. The USA is not generally a wasteland, and generally, jobs are being created and the economy is growing. Generally, Americans who were poor are finding better jobs and better lives. There is less crime. During the Obama administration, there have been less teen pregnancies. Most of what Trumps says is a lie. But it is a truth that American infrastructure is not up to date. As Candleman so clearly demonstrates, the Republicans are to blame. Just as they are to blame for the similarly faulted American healthcare system, which I noted Conway addressed in her rambling, lying excuse for the weird press conference.
posted by mumimor at 3:24 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
It was a cartoonish outfit; which fit perfectly in with what the ceremony should have been.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:24 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:24 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
They really do resemble nothing so much as those guys on late night TV who sell you get-rich-quick schemes, or "prosperity gospel" televangelists.
Resemble those guys? They are those guys. I'm on my phone so no link, but there have been plenty of long-form stories about the many connections between mail-order scammers and the right wing's most prominent leaders. And his own personal pastor Rev. White is all over the prosperity gospel fraud. It's grifters all the way down.
posted by tonycpsu at 3:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
Resemble those guys? They are those guys. I'm on my phone so no link, but there have been plenty of long-form stories about the many connections between mail-order scammers and the right wing's most prominent leaders. And his own personal pastor Rev. White is all over the prosperity gospel fraud. It's grifters all the way down.
posted by tonycpsu at 3:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
Well I believe de gustibus non est disputandum and when the chips are down, fashion is not the measure of a person and is certainly the furthest thing to make a moral judgement about, and women are going to get heckled for their choices no matter what they look like.
But Coventry, Justinian, you're sick.
PERVERTS
posted by tel3path at 3:27 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
But Coventry, Justinian, you're sick.
PERVERTS
posted by tel3path at 3:27 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Yeah she looked like a toddlers fever dream version of a mashup of Joan Cusack's look in Working Girl and Sgt Pepper with a dash of captain kangaroo. Except the toddler only had 3 crayons.
posted by ian1977 at 3:29 PM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 3:29 PM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
I liked Conway's outfit. I don't care. Yes, she's evil. But I liked it.
A few more pouch belts and we're talking mid-90s Liefeld superhero territory. Perhaps appealing to that millenial 90s nostalgia?
posted by Existential Dread at 3:29 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
A few more pouch belts and we're talking mid-90s Liefeld superhero territory. Perhaps appealing to that millenial 90s nostalgia?
posted by Existential Dread at 3:29 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
Also there were cat faces.
posted by Justinian at 3:30 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 3:30 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Greenpeace is following around Marco Rubio with a human spine (or model thereof) since he must have left his at home.
posted by zachlipton at 3:30 PM on January 23, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:30 PM on January 23, 2017 [41 favorites]
The treasury secretary literally is a subprime foreclosure baron. They're the late night hucksters after taking a shot a Bane juice straight to aorta.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:31 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:31 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Kellyanne Conway's Inaugural Outfit: Patriots Mascot or Trump Revolution Uniform?
yet another reason to hate the Patriots
posted by TwoStride at 3:32 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
yet another reason to hate the Patriots
posted by TwoStride at 3:32 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Holy wow, what a day. Snow Crash wasn't supposed to be a manual.
posted by LooseFilter at 3:35 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by LooseFilter at 3:35 PM on January 23, 2017 [8 favorites]
Also there were cat faces.
holy shit, there were
mess with the cat, you get the clops
posted by Existential Dread at 3:35 PM on January 23, 2017
holy shit, there were
mess with the cat, you get the clops
posted by Existential Dread at 3:35 PM on January 23, 2017
State Dept apology for past LGBT discrimination gone from website.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:37 PM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:37 PM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
Merkel advisors say Germany has 'given up' on Donald Trump acting like a President
“None of us here believe that anymore,” one of the Chancellor’s advisers told Handelsblatt. “The Americans, and the world, will get the Trump they elected.”
German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said after Friday’s inaugaration that Germany might need a new economic strategy geared towards Asia if the US government imposes protectionist policies.
...“He means it extremely seriously,” said Mr Gabriel. “What we heard today were high nationalistic tones.”
President Trump has been critical of the European Union, labelling it “a vehicle for Germany”, and said the UK was “so smart” following the Brexit vote.
And he emphasised his enthusiasm for the “special relationship” between the UK and the US, reportedly even referring to Prime Minister Theresa May as “my Maggie”.
My Maggie. Not sure that rings true but who knows. maybe someone more knowledgable him suggested that Theresa May could be his Maggie and then had to explain what that meant.
posted by futz at 3:39 PM on January 23, 2017 [20 favorites]
“None of us here believe that anymore,” one of the Chancellor’s advisers told Handelsblatt. “The Americans, and the world, will get the Trump they elected.”
German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said after Friday’s inaugaration that Germany might need a new economic strategy geared towards Asia if the US government imposes protectionist policies.
...“He means it extremely seriously,” said Mr Gabriel. “What we heard today were high nationalistic tones.”
President Trump has been critical of the European Union, labelling it “a vehicle for Germany”, and said the UK was “so smart” following the Brexit vote.
And he emphasised his enthusiasm for the “special relationship” between the UK and the US, reportedly even referring to Prime Minister Theresa May as “my Maggie”.
My Maggie. Not sure that rings true but who knows. maybe someone more knowledgable him suggested that Theresa May could be his Maggie and then had to explain what that meant.
posted by futz at 3:39 PM on January 23, 2017 [20 favorites]
Conway's outfit got worn firstest by Die Antwoort.
posted by soundguy99 at 3:40 PM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by soundguy99 at 3:40 PM on January 23, 2017 [15 favorites]
But it is a truth that American infrastructure is not up to date.
When Obama took office I wanted him to do a WPA-style infrastructure program that would've given jobs to people who needed them and fixed things that needed fixing.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:42 PM on January 23, 2017 [22 favorites]
Bring back the CCC!
I was up at the north shore of Lake Superior and saw some AWESOME projects that the CCC did back in the 40s. It was awe inspiring actually.
posted by ian1977 at 3:45 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
I was up at the north shore of Lake Superior and saw some AWESOME projects that the CCC did back in the 40s. It was awe inspiring actually.
posted by ian1977 at 3:45 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
(I don't want trump to bring back the CCC tho. He'd just have then build that stupid fucking wall)
2020. CCC.
posted by ian1977 at 3:46 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
2020. CCC.
posted by ian1977 at 3:46 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Obama did invest money into infrastructure that needed fixing as part of economic stimulus. IIRC, he got attacked by Republicans for it.
posted by drezdn at 3:49 PM on January 23, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 3:49 PM on January 23, 2017 [32 favorites]
So, so many awe-inspiring CCC/WPA or otherwise FDR three letter federal org projects all across the country. Here's a searchable list!
posted by notyou at 3:50 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by notyou at 3:50 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
please god let us make a new post
posted by XtinaS at 3:52 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by XtinaS at 3:52 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
I can make a new post.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:53 PM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:53 PM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
If relations break down between Trump & Congress enough for him to mint a trillion dollar coin or three, we'll probably see something like a CCC.
posted by Coventry at 3:54 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by Coventry at 3:54 PM on January 23, 2017
a trillion dollar coin or three,
Say, that island has freedom written all over it!
Sir? That's...Cuba.
Cuba, eh? Take 'er down, Smithers!
posted by Existential Dread at 3:57 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Say, that island has freedom written all over it!
Sir? That's...Cuba.
Cuba, eh? Take 'er down, Smithers!
posted by Existential Dread at 3:57 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Former Executive Director of Anti-Immigrant Hate Group FAIR Joins Trump Administration: Julie Kirchner, the former executive director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), has been named chief of staff at U.S. Customs and Border Protection...
posted by roomthreeseventeen
That actually made me sick to my stomach. fuck everything.
From The Fucking Article:
Dan Stein, FAIR’s longtime president, has complained that today’s immigrants are engaged in “competitive breeding” to diminish the America’s white majority and campaigned to repeal a 1965 immigration law that ended racial quotas that restricted immigration to Europeans. He also served as editorial adviser for The Social Contract, a nativist hate journal Tanton (Founder of FAIR) publishes.
In an interview with Tucker Carlson in 1997, Stein stated, “Should we be subsidizing people with low IQs to have as many children as possible, and not subsidizing those with high ones?"
I am really not trying to be dramatic. I may throw up.
posted by futz at 3:59 PM on January 23, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen
That actually made me sick to my stomach. fuck everything.
From The Fucking Article:
Dan Stein, FAIR’s longtime president, has complained that today’s immigrants are engaged in “competitive breeding” to diminish the America’s white majority and campaigned to repeal a 1965 immigration law that ended racial quotas that restricted immigration to Europeans. He also served as editorial adviser for The Social Contract, a nativist hate journal Tanton (Founder of FAIR) publishes.
In an interview with Tucker Carlson in 1997, Stein stated, “Should we be subsidizing people with low IQs to have as many children as possible, and not subsidizing those with high ones?"
I am really not trying to be dramatic. I may throw up.
posted by futz at 3:59 PM on January 23, 2017 [29 favorites]
and not subsidizing those with high ones?"
Sounds like he wants to pay rich people to have babies. That works about right when you test it against the "Republicans want to take money from the poor and give it to the rich." Maybe they could come up with a new baby tax. Every pack of disposable diapers costs 5 cents more and that money goes into the pockets of anyone making $250,000 or more who promises to have a baby. I know money is not an indicator of brains but I don't trust that Republicans know that.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:06 PM on January 23, 2017
Sounds like he wants to pay rich people to have babies. That works about right when you test it against the "Republicans want to take money from the poor and give it to the rich." Maybe they could come up with a new baby tax. Every pack of disposable diapers costs 5 cents more and that money goes into the pockets of anyone making $250,000 or more who promises to have a baby. I know money is not an indicator of brains but I don't trust that Republicans know that.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:06 PM on January 23, 2017
I liked Conway's outfit. I don't care. Yes, she's evil. But I liked it.
I like the part when she was fighting Austin Powers and her hat turned out to be a weapon.
posted by bongo_x at 4:08 PM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
I like the part when she was fighting Austin Powers and her hat turned out to be a weapon.
posted by bongo_x at 4:08 PM on January 23, 2017 [11 favorites]
The CCC gave my grandfather a job during the Depression when things in foothills of the Smokies were even more dire than usual. The CCC is the only reason my family didn't starve to death 40 years before I was even born. When I lost my job in the 2008 crash, I wished there had been a CCC for me to fall back on.
posted by vibrotronica at 4:09 PM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by vibrotronica at 4:09 PM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
Obama's Promises (Washington Post)
Note how many of them weren’t fulfilled due to being roadblocked by Republicans.
· Congress declined to create the Community College to Career Fund that Obama proposed, which would have fulfilled this promise.
· Despite Obama's advocacy, the EFCA was unable to pass when the 2010 midterm elections gave Republicans control of the House.
· Congress stymied Obama's efforts to close the most significant corporate loopholes, such as making corporate inversion favorable, though the Treasury Department has made a bit of progress.
· While Obama occasionally met with congressional leaders, such a group was never institutionalized, and he pursued military action without congressional input.
· Congress didn't pass an immigration reform bill, and the Supreme Court deadlocked over Obama's executive order to prevent deportations, so little progress has been made.
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:13 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
Note how many of them weren’t fulfilled due to being roadblocked by Republicans.
· Congress declined to create the Community College to Career Fund that Obama proposed, which would have fulfilled this promise.
· Despite Obama's advocacy, the EFCA was unable to pass when the 2010 midterm elections gave Republicans control of the House.
· Congress stymied Obama's efforts to close the most significant corporate loopholes, such as making corporate inversion favorable, though the Treasury Department has made a bit of progress.
· While Obama occasionally met with congressional leaders, such a group was never institutionalized, and he pursued military action without congressional input.
· Congress didn't pass an immigration reform bill, and the Supreme Court deadlocked over Obama's executive order to prevent deportations, so little progress has been made.
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:13 PM on January 23, 2017 [10 favorites]
Looking for a Spanish version of WhiteHouse.gov? No existe — todaviaposted by kirkaracha at 4:13 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
I hope we don't actually get a CCC. Surely infrastructure improvements aren't as labor-intensive as they were in the 30s. But a Civil Coding Corps or something would be nice. Basic income for extremely basic but so far unautomated intellectual labor.
posted by Coventry at 4:14 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 4:14 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
That would be amazing, roomthreeseventeen. I can barely type in the comment box any more, the page is so hyooj.
posted by XtinaS at 4:15 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by XtinaS at 4:15 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is interesting;
https://swingleft.org
The idea, I think, is to find out where the nearest possible swing district is to you so that you can become involved in the next election. If people around the country do it then it shifts the numbers and tries to overcome gerrymandering.
posted by bongo_x at 2:31 AM on January 22
I put my zip code in out of curiosity and it told me my district was Republican controlled by a guy I've never heard of. My district is represented by a staunch Democrat, David Price. I just figured bad data and didn't take much notice. Turns out it is scammy.
Daily Kos Swing Left Is Not To Be Trusted As A Progressive Resource
https://swingleft.org
The idea, I think, is to find out where the nearest possible swing district is to you so that you can become involved in the next election. If people around the country do it then it shifts the numbers and tries to overcome gerrymandering.
posted by bongo_x at 2:31 AM on January 22
I put my zip code in out of curiosity and it told me my district was Republican controlled by a guy I've never heard of. My district is represented by a staunch Democrat, David Price. I just figured bad data and didn't take much notice. Turns out it is scammy.
Daily Kos Swing Left Is Not To Be Trusted As A Progressive Resource
In addition to the incorrect information being given to people who give away their information to sign up on the website, the people behind the website are Ramin Hedayati and Josh Krafchin. I had sent them a message on Facebook asking who they were since the website does not list people on staff or who started the website.posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:19 PM on January 23, 2017 [67 favorites]
Josh Krafchin recently left his marketing website, Clever Zebo, with his Russian partner, Igor Belogolovsky. Then he started up @swingleftorg, which has been collecting over 100,000 email addresses and information of progressive activists. This website is not affiliated with any traditional Democratic groups or organizations.
Good catch Gravy!
posted by futz at 4:20 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by futz at 4:20 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
This website is not affiliated with any traditional Democratic groups or organizations.
yeah... take the high road? fuck that...
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 4:21 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
yeah... take the high road? fuck that...
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 4:21 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sounds like he wants to pay rich people to have babies. That works about right when you test it against the "Republicans want to take money from the poor and give it to the rich." Maybe they could come up with a new baby tax. Every pack of disposable diapers costs 5 cents more and that money goes into the pockets of anyone making $250,000 or more who promises to have a baby. I know money is not an indicator of brains but I don't trust that Republicans know that.
Could we maybe talk him into funding birth control instead? haha no they'd totally be on board with forced sterilizations that is the good old fashioned eugenicist way.
sob
posted by emjaybee at 4:22 PM on January 23, 2017
Could we maybe talk him into funding birth control instead? haha no they'd totally be on board with forced sterilizations that is the good old fashioned eugenicist way.
sob
posted by emjaybee at 4:22 PM on January 23, 2017
One other thing about infrastructure investment... It actually was a better investment in 2009 when the economy was bad because prices would be lower. While that doesn't mean it shouldn't be done now, it definitely should have been done then.
posted by drezdn at 4:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 4:26 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Is it a new post day already?
At 3280+ comments? Heck yes. o_O
posted by XtinaS at 4:27 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
At 3280+ comments? Heck yes. o_O
posted by XtinaS at 4:27 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
One other thing about infrastructure investment... It actually was a better investment in 2009
But a major part of Republican Strategy was to use their power to prevent Obama from fully fixing the economy, then blame him for breaking it. And it worked.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:31 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
But a major part of Republican Strategy was to use their power to prevent Obama from fully fixing the economy, then blame him for breaking it. And it worked.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:31 PM on January 23, 2017 [5 favorites]
Daily Kos Swing Left Is Not To Be Trusted As A Progressive Resource
My gut said to wait and see, but I didn't listen...
posted by bongo_x at 4:31 PM on January 23, 2017
My gut said to wait and see, but I didn't listen...
posted by bongo_x at 4:31 PM on January 23, 2017
And a big part of the stimulus was projects that could be started right away, because the purpose was to pump money into the economy, rather than a well-planned campaign of infrastructure investment. Plenty of worthy projects weren't funded because they weren't all pre-planned and shovel ready at the time. It was an assorted hodgepodge of projects selected by timing, not national need. A real infrastructure program, one not devoted to giving all our infrastructure away to private investors, would have been structured totally differently.
posted by zachlipton at 4:34 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:34 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
Ugh... I'm kind of freaked out by the fake resources and data collection. I was dumb and gave my info to swingleft as well as whoever was collecting people's info as a "headcount" after the Women's March. (Really should have listened to my gut on that one; swingleft didn't ring the same alarm bells.) I guess they don't really have enough info to be dangerous but wtf? I've signed up for lots of useful activism tools and can probably stop now, but it sucks that they're sowing that distrust.
posted by sunset in snow country at 4:43 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by sunset in snow country at 4:43 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm kind of freaked out by the fake resources and data collection.
Swingleft got an email address that several million people probably have and a zip code (that isn't where I actually live). If this is data harvesting it seems pretty weak, they don't even ask for anything. So far I'm not ready to assign malice.
posted by bongo_x at 4:55 PM on January 23, 2017
Swingleft got an email address that several million people probably have and a zip code (that isn't where I actually live). If this is data harvesting it seems pretty weak, they don't even ask for anything. So far I'm not ready to assign malice.
posted by bongo_x at 4:55 PM on January 23, 2017
So far I'm not ready to assign malice.
the historical downfall of the left.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 4:56 PM on January 23, 2017 [24 favorites]
the historical downfall of the left.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 4:56 PM on January 23, 2017 [24 favorites]
I was more nervous about signing the White House petitions honestly, but fuck it. Come get me.
posted by bongo_x at 4:56 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 4:56 PM on January 23, 2017 [9 favorites]
From Facebook:
I was moved by the Women's Marches around the country (and world). And I was glad to hear that they were all "peaceful" and there were no arrests.posted by chris24 at 5:28 PM on January 23, 2017 [40 favorites]
You know why there were no arrests? Because PR-wise, it was a march that would be attended by mostly white women. And in a world that doesn't protect women much, when it chooses to, it is white women it protects. If the marches were mostly Black and brown women, police would be emboldened to break them up, throw tear gas into the crowds, and be physical. How do we know? The BLM protests and marches, where the only things people had were their bodies and those were considered weapons. Ferguson. Baltimore. Chicago. Militarized police always showed up. LOOK AT STANDING ROCK.
White women and white bodies can hold space on streets and shut down cities "peacefully" because they are allowed to. Black and brown people who march are assaulted by cops, and in Trump's law and order administration, this will only get worse.
Remember that you as a white person are walking in a body of privilege. You didn't show up before but you can show up now. NOW. When the next Sandra Bland, Aiyana Stanley-Jones, Rekia Boyd, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner etc etc etc happens, you better come out. We will need you to show up again and again, in these numbers.
In more local news, MN Governor Mark Dayton just collapsed in the middle of the State of the State. He's a good governor, please keep him in your thoughts.
posted by triggerfinger at 5:51 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by triggerfinger at 5:51 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
Ayup. I was talking just this afternoon about that white privilege with another young white woman I met at the Electoral College protests, who also went to DC this weekend. Then we both went and joined our local Facebook chapter for Black Lives Matters and pledged to show up and get boots on the ground to help silence the with our presence the next time we were needed, because that seemed like the natural thing to do.
There's a Blue Lives Matter sign on my street. I ought to go out and get a sign to provide some balance, too.
posted by sciatrix at 6:03 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
There's a Blue Lives Matter sign on my street. I ought to go out and get a sign to provide some balance, too.
posted by sciatrix at 6:03 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Running Man (the movie) was set in 2017... Just saying.
posted by johnpowell at 6:04 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by johnpowell at 6:04 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
I saw some ads during one of the NFL blowouts, where people were basically trying to "hide from the man" as a reality TV show...
Seemed apropo.
posted by Windopaene at 6:18 PM on January 23, 2017
Seemed apropo.
posted by Windopaene at 6:18 PM on January 23, 2017
I liked Conway's outfit. I don't care. Yes, she's evil. But I liked it.
eh, it's no hugo boss
posted by poffin boffin at 6:24 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
eh, it's no hugo boss
posted by poffin boffin at 6:24 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
Hugo Apprentice?
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:39 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:39 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
I saw a picture of someone else wearing the same dress and it wasn’t quite as horrible without the Paddington hat, matchy-match gloves, and ugly-ass shoes. Still horrible, though.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:39 PM on January 23, 2017
posted by kirkaracha at 6:39 PM on January 23, 2017
I liked Conway's outfit. I don't care. Yes, she's evil. But I liked it.
One thing the actual Nazis figured out early was how to dress sharp.
posted by Bringer Tom at 8:08 PM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
One thing the actual Nazis figured out early was how to dress sharp.
posted by Bringer Tom at 8:08 PM on January 23, 2017 [6 favorites]
The Times going with Lie in the headline is great. Now they only have about a million minus one things to make up for.
Trump Repeats Lie About Popular Vote in Meeting With Lawmakers
posted by chris24 at 8:38 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
Trump Repeats Lie About Popular Vote in Meeting With Lawmakers
posted by chris24 at 8:38 PM on January 23, 2017 [7 favorites]
Trump Repeats Lie About Popular Vote in Meeting With Lawmakers
I have seen the word LIE a lot since 1/20. Thank you media and you better keep it up. Still not happy about the media saying that today was the first press briefing. Like chris24 said, there is much to atone for.
posted by futz at 8:43 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
I have seen the word LIE a lot since 1/20. Thank you media and you better keep it up. Still not happy about the media saying that today was the first press briefing. Like chris24 said, there is much to atone for.
posted by futz at 8:43 PM on January 23, 2017 [3 favorites]
There are still stragglers at the end of the previous thread. Send lifeboats!
posted by RedOrGreen at 9:09 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by RedOrGreen at 9:09 PM on January 23, 2017 [4 favorites]
But we need to call out what they're doing: Wikileaks succeeded in influencing the election in part because it had built up credibility with left-leaning voters with the earlier Iraq War leaks before pivoting to destroying Clinton.
Or perhaps things like the Pied Piper idea shows any destruction was self-inflicted?
posted by rough ashlar at 9:23 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
Or perhaps things like the Pied Piper idea shows any destruction was self-inflicted?
posted by rough ashlar at 9:23 PM on January 23, 2017 [1 favorite]
There are still stragglers at the end of the previous thread.
Has anybody seen Tehhund lately?
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:29 PM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
Has anybody seen Tehhund lately?
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:29 PM on January 23, 2017 [13 favorites]
No lifeboats for anybody who won't stop relitigating the primaries!
posted by zachlipton at 9:31 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 9:31 PM on January 23, 2017 [2 favorites]
I know this thread is running out of puff, but I found footage of my cousin de-escalating a fight just as it started for anyone who still doubts his role in the Seattle protest.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:58 AM on January 24, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 12:58 AM on January 24, 2017 [9 favorites]
psssst. We're over here.
But but.. that post doesn't have the election2016 tag.. that's what my bookmark is saved to..
posted by INFJ at 6:10 AM on January 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
But but.. that post doesn't have the election2016 tag.. that's what my bookmark is saved to..
posted by INFJ at 6:10 AM on January 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
And finally, the shooter has been identified as a Milo supporter who sought approval from him. My cousin has been named in the press, and he has issued the following statement:
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 9:30 AM on January 24, 2017 [28 favorites]
Lippek said Dukes attended the event “in order to resist Mr. Yiannopoulos’ message through principled protest.”I remain proud to be able to call this man my kin, however arbitrary that may be.
“He is aware that there are many conflicting narratives circulating about what occurred that night,” Lippek said in a statement released Monday evening. “My client wishes to express his empathy for the person who shot him. He hopes to engage in constructive dialogue with that person, in order to de-escalate and provide a community-based response to this violence.”
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 9:30 AM on January 24, 2017 [28 favorites]
I'm pretty pissed about the whole thing, still. President Cauce has been firm in her stance that this is a free speech issue, but a Milo supporter has been identified as the shooter. I think she needs to acknowledge and comment on the fact that she and the College Republicans invited this to our campus.
posted by Existential Dread at 9:42 AM on January 24, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Existential Dread at 9:42 AM on January 24, 2017 [11 favorites]
Hey Seattle Times, you obviously have the name of the shooter. Tell us. You told us the name of the one shot despite the fact that you acknowledge the risk of harassment, you mewling excuse for bird cage liner.
posted by Yowser at 10:52 AM on January 24, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Yowser at 10:52 AM on January 24, 2017 [6 favorites]
Seriously. "The Seattle Times is not naming the man because he has not been charged with a crime." Uh, he brought a gun onto a weapon-free campus and fired it into someone. That defense doesn't really hold water.
posted by Existential Dread at 11:06 AM on January 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Existential Dread at 11:06 AM on January 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
That article seems pretty free with its pronouns and it's making it hard to parse - are they saying that the guy who first fired projectile tear gas was also the one subsequently shot, or that the shooter first shot tear gas and then switched to a firearm?
posted by corb at 11:09 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by corb at 11:09 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
The shooter claimed self defence. Police here are just like police in the rest of America when it comes to giving a free pass to shooters on dubious self defence claims if the victim isn't the sort they approve of.
posted by Artw at 11:11 AM on January 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:11 AM on January 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
Police gonna police; we have to step up pressure on prosecutors to follow the law on these things. I don't know what the exact law is like in Washington but here in Virginia you cannot claim self defense if you were in the process of committing a crime. The most clear example of how this works would be if you were robbing a store. You cannot shoot someone because they fought back while you were mugging them.
Not that this can't be taken to obnoxious punish-the-wrong-kind behavior; here in Virginia this supposedly (according to our instructors, but it's possibly apocryphal) resulted in a self defense claim being denied for a man because he was in bed with the wife when the husband came in and threatened them with a firearm. Adultery being illegal in Virginia (at the time? this is a while ago and I'm not sure if such laws were impacted by Lawrence v Texas), you see.
But if this person committed a felony by bringing a firearm onto campus then he should not get to claim self-defense. We need to keep the pressure up to make sure the law is enforced as the law, not only when it plays along with the John Wayne tough-guy feels of the never-back-down crowd.
posted by phearlez at 11:31 AM on January 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Not that this can't be taken to obnoxious punish-the-wrong-kind behavior; here in Virginia this supposedly (according to our instructors, but it's possibly apocryphal) resulted in a self defense claim being denied for a man because he was in bed with the wife when the husband came in and threatened them with a firearm. Adultery being illegal in Virginia (at the time? this is a while ago and I'm not sure if such laws were impacted by Lawrence v Texas), you see.
But if this person committed a felony by bringing a firearm onto campus then he should not get to claim self-defense. We need to keep the pressure up to make sure the law is enforced as the law, not only when it plays along with the John Wayne tough-guy feels of the never-back-down crowd.
posted by phearlez at 11:31 AM on January 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
I don't care what "side" the shooter was on, they fucked up and they fucked up bad. And I'm furious that they have basically enabled the doxxing of the victim. This is unbelievable.
posted by Yowser at 11:32 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Yowser at 11:32 AM on January 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Late to the party, but that DailyKos article was bullshit. Some bad data, and the founder once worked with a guy with a Russian name? That's not evidence, that's profiling. I really don't want to see the left fall into profiling eastern Europeans the way the right does for Muslims (or more accurately, anyone of Middle-eastern ancestry).
posted by gofargogo at 12:08 PM on January 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by gofargogo at 12:08 PM on January 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
That update is still kind of bullshit. What the hell?
posted by bongo_x at 10:53 PM on January 25, 2017
posted by bongo_x at 10:53 PM on January 25, 2017
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posted by PenDevil at 3:05 AM on January 20, 2017 [16 favorites]