dailykos--2020-12-06--Will Trump go down as the worst President ever? (He has some sadly strong competition)

As each day passes , Trump adds to an already impressive body of evidence arguing that he should be considered the worst president in U.S. history .
But , taking a dispassionate , long view , there are a small number of surprisingly strong contenders for this title .
This history call is depressingly closer than it should be .
So , let fellow political junkies , history nerds and interested readers consider and debate below whether Trump was worse than the following four presidents ( or other suggestions ) for the title of “ Worst President Ever.
” Any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Watergate — the first and only President to resign in disgrace and in the teeth of impeachment .
In terms of this debate , Nixon is a Rock Star — and his crimes go beyond the particulars .
Potentially no other modern figure is more responsible for the current state of disillusionment , cynicism and distrust in government .
He was that bad .
And he had egregious Vietnam War problems on top of all this .
: Nixon will always be a deserved contender , but personally I can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had too many other accomplishments , including : ( i ) establishing the Environmental Protection Agency , ( ii ) was the first President to visit the People ’ s Republic of China , ( iii ) signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile ( ABM ) Treaty with Russia , ( iv ) ended the military draft , ( v ) lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 , ( vi ) signed Title IX banning gender discrimination at colleges and universities , and ( vii ) began the first organized scientific “ war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elvis in the White House .
Trump has no comparable countervailing achievements .
In this debate , President Hoover is a true heavyweight .
As we all know , Hoover presided indifferently over , and exacerbated , the Great Depression .
Hoover ’ s mistakes were historically consequential .
It is really hard to beat this failed record .
In terms of this debate , the most interesting thing might be the obvious parallels between Hoover and Trump : Imagine a relatively successful businessman with no previous experience in elected office becoming president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , he authorizes a few modest construction projects , but not enough to overcome the crippling economic downturn that sets in a few months after his inauguration .
To deal with the hard times , he presides over a forced return of about half a million Mexican immigrants back across the border .
He then sets off a trade war by raising tariffs on thousands of imported items , to which Canada and several European countries retaliate by upping their own duties .
Trade and other international relations stall , the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segment of the Army rebels in the streets of Washington .
Oh , and the White House literally catches on fire .
: This is a really close match .
It is hard to equal ( much less exceed ) Hoover ’ s record with the Great Depression .
But .
.
.
Trump ’ s epic failure , and catastrophic , misguided and indifferent health and economic record , with Covid-19 is certainly in the ballpark , and its not over yet .
I ’ ll also note that , to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Trump ’ s attacks on democracy , undermining the free press , profiteering in office , public racism , and disruption of core governmental functions like the State Department , the FBI , intelligence communities , the Justice Department , and military command structures .
Nor did Hoover collude with foreign governments to interfere in our elections or seek to undermine the legitimacy of democratic elections .
Despite the unquestioned magnitude of the Great Depression , there is a reasonable argument that Trump wins the fight on points during the later rounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be cute about this .
I would really like input from others on this match-up .
Reaching back in history , we find probably the consensus title holder for Worst President Ever : Pres .
Andrew Johnson — although some would count # 4 below , and for somewhat similar reasons .
Andrew Johnson ( as VP ) became President upon the assassination of Abraham Lincoln .
How bad was Pres .
Johnson ?
Well , notably , he also seemed to share characteristics of our current challenger : The president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very difficult man to get along with .
He routinely called blacks inferior .
He bluntly stated that no matter how much progress they made , they must remain so .
He openly called critics disloyal , even treasonous .
He liberally threw insults like candy during public speeches .
He rudely ignored answers he didn ’ t like .
He regularly put other people into positions they didn ’ t want to be in , then blamed them when things went sour .
His own bodyguard later called him “ destined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ found it impossible to conciliate or temporize.
” He also was impeached , and escaped removal by 1 vote .
And , he was visibly drunk during his inauguration speech .
But , more seriously , it is hard to convey the enduring and violent damage done by Pres .
Johnson .
As one commentary sums it up : For the most part , historians view Andrew Johnson as the worst possible person to have served as President at the end of the American Civil War .
Because of his gross incompetence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the extent of public support for his policies , Johnson is judged as a great failure in making a satisfying and just peace .
He is viewed to have been a rigid , dictatorial racist who was unable to compromise or to accept a political reality at odds with his own ideas .
Instead of forging a compromise between Radical Republicans and moderates , his actions united the opposition against him .
His bullheaded opposition to the Freedmen 's Bureau Bill , the Civil Rights Act of 1866 , and the Fourteenth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority to effect further compromises favorable to his position .
In the end , Johnson did more to extend the period of national strife than he did to heal the wounds of war .
Most importantly , Johnson 's strong commitment to obstructing political and civil rights for blacks is principally responsible for the failure of Reconstruction to solve the race problem in the South and perhaps in America as well .
Johnson 's decision to support the return of the prewar social and economic system—except for slavery—cut short any hope of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a more far-reaching reform program in the South .
: Andrew Johnson has always been my personal choice for Worst President Ever , and I believe it is difficult for anyone to knock him off this perch .
We are talking about an accidental president — a sympathizer of the Confederacy who gained the presidency by a Confederate assassin ’ s bullet — who destroyed the opportunity and sacrifice earned in blood by his immediate successor and the greatest national military tragedy .
Phew !
I do n't like Trump , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failings .
.
.
but I think the title still belongs to Johnson .
Pres .
Buchanan is a sort of twin to Pres .
Johnson : the former criminally blundered his way into the Civil War and the latter criminally blundered his way out of it .
From just his Wikipedia page : When asked to rank the best and worst presidents , Buchanan is consistently placed among the worst .
Many consider him as the worst president in American history , for during his administration , the Union broke apart , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war threatened .
A 2017 C-Span survey ranked him the least effective U.S. president of all-time .
.
.
.
A 2006 poll of historians ranked Buchanan 's failure to prevent the Civil War as the worst mistake ever made by a sitting president .
Biographer Jean Baker is [ even ] less charitable to Buchanan : Americans have conveniently misled themselves about the presidency of James Buchanan , preferring to classify him as indecisive and inactive ...
In fact Buchanan 's failing during the crisis over the Union was not inactivity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a favoritism that bordered on disloyalty in an officer pledged to defend all the United States .
He was that most dangerous of chief executives , a stubborn , mistaken ideologue whose principles held no room for compromise .
His experience in government had only rendered him too self-confident to consider other views .
In his betrayal of the national trust , Buchanan came closer to committing treason than any other president in American history .
Notable quotes from Pres .
Buchanan include his inaugural speech comment that slavery is “ happily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importance '' and his State of the Union message denying any federal role in stopping slavery or averting a civil war : All for which the slave States have ever contended , is to be let alone and permitted to manage their domestic institutions in their own way .
As sovereign States , they , and they alone , are responsible before God and the world for the slavery existing among them .
For this the people of the North are not more responsible and have no more fight to interfere than with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
.
.
.
It is beyond the power of any president , no matter what may be his own political proclivities , to restore peace and harmony among the states .
Wisely limited and restrained as is his power under our Constitution and laws , he alone can accomplish but little for good or for evil on such a momentous question .
: As said above , Presidents Johnson and Buchanan have been the reigning champs of Worst Presidents Ever .
In terms of lasting damage and consequences , Pres .
Buchanan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly the worst President .
Cooling our current passions , it is tough to argue that Trump was worse , was more consequential , than Buchanan — whose failures directly and immediately contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War .
It is notable and important to recognize that Trump is in the debate for Worst President Ever .
It is also sobering and dispiriting to realize that he faces some really stiff competition for that dishonor .
For me , I remain with the belief that Johnson and Buchanan ( in whichever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 last spots .
I simply do n't know how you surpass their vile , catastrophic failures — measured in oppression , blood , misery and death .
But I do think Trump presently is the third worst president , and that says an awful lot .
I also think Trump is a uniquely bad and threatening president in that his failures are decidedly not ones of policy , ideology or failures of judgment .
Trump , maybe uniquely among presidents , is unfit , deranged and destructive in a self-interested , unstable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I would expect nothing less from a true number 3 .

As each day passes, Trump adds to an already impressive body of evidence arguing that he should be considered the worst president in U.S. history. But, taking a dispassionate, long view, there are a small number of surprisingly strong contenders for this title. This history call is depressingly closer than it should be.
So, let fellow political junkies, history nerds and interested readers consider and debate below whether Trump was worse than the following four presidents (or other suggestions) for the title of “Worst President Ever.”
1. Richard Nixon (1969-1974)
Any discussion on this topic has to include Mr. Watergate — the first and only President to resign in disgrace and in the teeth of impeachment. In terms of this debate, Nixon is a Rock Star — and his crimes go beyond the particulars. Potentially no other modern figure is more responsible for the current state of disillusionment, cynicism and distrust in government. He was that bad. And he had egregious Vietnam War problems on top of all this.
Conclusion : Nixon will always be a deserved contender, but personally I can’t put him at # 1 because he had too many other accomplishments, including: (i) establishing the Environmental Protection Agency, (ii) was the first President to visit the People’s Republic of China, (iii) signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty with Russia, (iv) ended the military draft, (v) lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, (vi) signed Title IX banning gender discrimination at colleges and universities, and (vii) began the first organized scientific “war on cancer.” He also met with Elvis in the White House. Trump has no comparable countervailing achievements.
2. Herbert Hoover (1921-1928)
In this debate, President Hoover is a true heavyweight.
As we all know, Hoover presided indifferently over, and exacerbated, the Great Depression. Hoover’s mistakes were historically consequential. It is really hard to beat this failed record. In terms of this debate, the most interesting thing might be the obvious parallels between Hoover and Trump:
Imagine a relatively successful businessman with no previous experience in elected office becoming president of the United States. While in office, he authorizes a few modest construction projects, but not enough to overcome the crippling economic downturn that sets in a few months after his inauguration. To deal with the hard times, he presides over a forced return of about half a million Mexican immigrants back across the border. He then sets off a trade war by raising tariffs on thousands of imported items, to which Canada and several European countries retaliate by upping their own duties. Trade and other international relations stall, the economy gets even worse, and even a segment of the Army rebels in the streets of Washington. Oh, and the White House literally catches on fire.
Conclusion : This is a really close match. It is hard to equal (much less exceed) Hoover’s record with the Great Depression. But . . . Trump’s epic failure, and catastrophic, misguided and indifferent health and economic record, with Covid-19 is certainly in the ballpark, and its not over yet. I’ll also note that, to my knowledge, Hoover does not share anything like Trump’s attacks on democracy, undermining the free press, profiteering in office, public racism, and disruption of core governmental functions like the State Department, the FBI, intelligence communities, the Justice Department, and military command structures. Nor did Hoover collude with foreign governments to interfere in our elections or seek to undermine the legitimacy of democratic elections. Despite the unquestioned magnitude of the Great Depression, there is a reasonable argument that Trump wins the fight on points during the later rounds. I don’t mean to be cute about this. I would really like input from others on this match-up.
3. Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)
Reaching back in history, we find probably the consensus title holder for Worst President Ever: Pres. Andrew Johnson — although some would count # 4 below, and for somewhat similar reasons. Andrew Johnson (as VP) became President upon the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. How bad was Pres. Johnson? Well, notably, he also seemed to share characteristics of our current challenger:
The president of the United States was both a racist and a very difficult man to get along with. He routinely called blacks inferior. He bluntly stated that no matter how much progress they made, they must remain so. He openly called critics disloyal, even treasonous. He liberally threw insults like candy during public speeches. He rudely ignored answers he didn’t like. He regularly put other people into positions they didn’t want to be in, then blamed them when things went sour. His own bodyguard later called him “destined to conflict,” a man who “found it impossible to conciliate or temporize.”
He also was impeached, and escaped removal by 1 vote. And, he was visibly drunk during his inauguration speech. But, more seriously, it is hard to convey the enduring and violent damage done by Pres. Johnson. As one commentary sums it up:
For the most part, historians view Andrew Johnson as the worst possible person to have served as President at the end of the American Civil War. Because of his gross incompetence in federal office and his incredible miscalculation of the extent of public support for his policies, Johnson is judged as a great failure in making a satisfying and just peace. He is viewed to have been a rigid, dictatorial racist who was unable to compromise or to accept a political reality at odds with his own ideas. Instead of forging a compromise between Radical Republicans and moderates, his actions united the opposition against him. His bullheaded opposition to the Freedmen's Bureau Bill, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and the Fourteenth Amendment eliminated all hope of using presidential authority to effect further compromises favorable to his position. In the end, Johnson did more to extend the period of national strife than he did to heal the wounds of war. Most importantly, Johnson's strong commitment to obstructing political and civil rights for blacks is principally responsible for the failure of Reconstruction to solve the race problem in the South and perhaps in America as well. Johnson's decision to support the return of the prewar social and economic system—except for slavery—cut short any hope of a redistribution of land to the freed people or a more far-reaching reform program in the South.
Conclusion : Andrew Johnson has always been my personal choice for Worst President Ever, and I believe it is difficult for anyone to knock him off this perch. We are talking about an accidental president — a sympathizer of the Confederacy who gained the presidency by a Confederate assassin’s bullet — who destroyed the opportunity and sacrifice earned in blood by his immediate successor and the greatest national military tragedy. Phew! I don't like Trump, and I don't want to minimize his failings . . . but I think the title still belongs to Johnson.
4. James Buchanan (1857-1861)
Pres. Buchanan is a sort of twin to Pres. Johnson: the former criminally blundered his way into the Civil War and the latter criminally blundered his way out of it.
From just his Wikipedia page:
When asked to rank the best and worst presidents, Buchanan is consistently placed among the worst. Many consider him as the worst president in American history, for during his administration, the Union broke apart, and when he left office, civil war threatened. A 2017 C-Span survey ranked him the least effective U.S. president of all-time . . . . A 2006 poll of historians ranked Buchanan's failure to prevent the Civil War as the worst mistake ever made by a sitting president. [. . . .] Biographer Jean Baker is [even] less charitable to Buchanan: Americans have conveniently misled themselves about the presidency of James Buchanan, preferring to classify him as indecisive and inactive...In fact Buchanan's failing during the crisis over the Union was not inactivity, but rather his partiality for the South, a favoritism that bordered on disloyalty in an officer pledged to defend all the United States. He was that most dangerous of chief executives, a stubborn, mistaken ideologue whose principles held no room for compromise. His experience in government had only rendered him too self-confident to consider other views. In his betrayal of the national trust, Buchanan came closer to committing treason than any other president in American history.
Notable quotes from Pres. Buchanan include his inaugural speech comment that slavery is “happily, a matter of but little practical importance" and his State of the Union message denying any federal role in stopping slavery or averting a civil war:
All for which the slave States have ever contended, is to be let alone and permitted to manage their domestic institutions in their own way. As sovereign States, they, and they alone, are responsible before God and the world for the slavery existing among them. For this the people of the North are not more responsible and have no more fight to interfere than with similar institutions in Russia or in Brazil. . . . It is beyond the power of any president, no matter what may be his own political proclivities, to restore peace and harmony among the states. Wisely limited and restrained as is his power under our Constitution and laws, he alone can accomplish but little for good or for evil on such a momentous question.
Conclusion : As said above, Presidents Johnson and Buchanan have been the reigning champs of Worst Presidents Ever. In terms of lasting damage and consequences, Pres. Buchanan is justifiably considered a historical train-wreck and possibly the worst President. Cooling our current passions, it is tough to argue that Trump was worse, was more consequential, than Buchanan — whose failures directly and immediately contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War.
Summary: It is notable and important to recognize that Trump is in the debate for Worst President Ever. It is also sobering and dispiriting to realize that he faces some really stiff competition for that dishonor. For me, I remain with the belief that Johnson and Buchanan (in whichever order) retain the number 1 and 2 last spots. I simply don't know how you surpass their vile, catastrophic failures — measured in oppression, blood, misery and death.
But I do think Trump presently is the third worst president, and that says an awful lot. I also think Trump is a uniquely bad and threatening president in that his failures are decidedly not ones of policy, ideology or failures of judgment. Trump, maybe uniquely among presidents, is unfit, deranged and destructive in a self-interested, unstable and demented way. He is unique, and I would expect nothing less from a true number 3.


dailykos--2020-12-07--Racism and White Men Without a College Degree

The beat poet Gregory Corso , one of my favorites , way back about 60 years or so , wrote the following : O this political air so heavy with the bells and motors of a slow night , and no place to rest but rain to walk—How it rings the Washington streets !
of big black cars , the shoulders of lobbyists caught under canopies and in doorways , and it rains , it will not let up , and meanwhile lame futurists weep into Spengler ’ s prophecy , will the world be over before the races blend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or let the world be done— About the same time , Corso was writing this , I was president of the Catholic Interracial Council .
The Council back then was one of the largest civil rights groups in the nation along with the NAACP .
The Urban League had just been formed .
The freedom riders , Selma , SNICC , and the Civil Rights Act were all in the future .
I convened one of the largest gatherings of civil rights leaders at the time for a conference of several days duration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next in order to reverse this shameful blot on our nation .
As the convener and chairman , I was the introductory speaker at the conference .
While preparing my notes for that speech and reviewing the prepared talks by other speakers at the conference , I was offended by the lengths they went to assure everyone that interracial love and marriage were off the table .
So , at the end of my talk to the 2500 attendees at the general session , I concluded with the message that we can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so sickens our nation if we insist that love and marriage continue to remain segregated .
We recently faced an election that some called perhaps the most consequential election of our times .
And , if you do not believe that racism was the primary underlying factor in the election and the most important , then you are missing the point .
Yes , climate change is an existential threat to humanity ’ s future , but it is racism and their support of racist political leaders that are being used by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political process in order to protect their interest and especially to maintain the value of their hydrocarbon reserves .
As Peter Grennel in the introduction to his study wrote : While it should be clear that racism has been encouraged , managed , and funded by a small group of wealthy men , an equally small group of ideologues , and owners of a few media companies , it has been directed primarily towards that large politically potent group , white males without a college education .
Although the voting power of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 presidential election , the political power of this cohort of the electorate has been decreasing steadily for the past decade or two .
Since 2016 the demographic group classified as “ whites without college degrees ” declined from 45 % of eligible voters to 415 , while whites with college degrees and people of color increased by more than 18 % ( Source : Brookings Institution/NPR analysis of 2020 Current Population Survey from U.S. Census Bureau ) “ Poorly educated white males are the first large socioeconomic group in America less educated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than their parents .
I even have heard of recent studies that indicate that they will not live as long as their parents as well .
Whether this last fact is a sad truth or this group is serving as the canary in the cage for society as a whole , I can not guess.
” “ I feel sad for these men ; deluded by their history of ascendency over women of their class and other minorities , lied to by their political and religious leaders and misused by their employers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever so slight social standing was theirs by right and not earned by effort . ''
“ In 2016 Presidential election they marched to the polls and elected someone who promised them he would tear down every government program that they believed encouraged those who threatened their tenuous social standing .
In return , they , perhaps unknowingly , agreed to cede control of the nation and the economy to those who would abandon them at the slightest evidence it would be to their advantage .
In return for these meager benefits and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbols and rituals such and flags and songs that they cling to as evidence of some misbegotten reality , they were willing to give up much of their freedom .
True , they now would be free from the competition of those they believed their inferiors who were being given unfair advantages .
In return , they seem to accept enslavement by those they were sure were their betters.
” While I see continued political manipulation of this cohort by those who have the most to gain from it , the erosion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until those who had the most to gain find another source that they can manipulate and deceive into supporting their thirst for power and wealth .
It is too bad really , at one time that cohort , white men without a college degree , were progressive heroes , the workers who walked the picket lines and died for protesting the denial of some of those rights we now call fundamental .
For progressives , they may have left us for the most part , but we can not leave them .

The beat poet Gregory Corso, one of my favorites, way back about 60 years or so, wrote the following:
O this political air so heavy with the bells and motors of a slow night, and no place to rest but rain to walk—How it rings the Washington streets! The umbrella’d congressmen; the rapping tires of big black cars, the shoulders of lobbyists caught under canopies and in doorways, and it rains, it will not let up, and meanwhile lame futurists weep into Spengler’s prophecy, will the world be over before the races blend color? All color must be one or let the world be done—
About the same time, Corso was writing this, I was president of the Catholic Interracial Council. The Council back then was one of the largest civil rights groups in the nation along with the NAACP. The Urban League had just been formed. The freedom riders, Selma, SNICC, and the Civil Rights Act were all in the future.
I convened one of the largest gatherings of civil rights leaders at the time for a conference of several days duration to discuss what we needed to do next in order to reverse this shameful blot on our nation. As the convener and chairman, I was the introductory speaker at the conference. While preparing my notes for that speech and reviewing the prepared talks by other speakers at the conference, I was offended by the lengths they went to assure everyone that interracial love and marriage were off the table. So, at the end of my talk to the 2500 attendees at the general session, I concluded with the message that we cannot hope to close the racial divide that so sickens our nation if we insist that love and marriage continue to remain segregated.
We recently faced an election that some called perhaps the most consequential election of our times. And, if you do not believe that racism was the primary underlying factor in the election and the most important, then you are missing the point. Yes, climate change is an existential threat to humanity’s future, but it is racism and their support of racist political leaders that are being used by the natural resources industry to maintain control of the political process in order to protect their interest and especially to maintain the value of their hydrocarbon reserves.
As Peter Grennel in the introduction to his study wrote:
“Racism and economic inequality have been embedded in our,society from America’s beginnings and are intimately linked. America’s political, economic, and social structures have been profoundly influenced by an insatiable urge to obtain wealth, from early settlers to the present. Together with an ultra-individualism and a predilection for beliefs not based on facts that Kurt Anderson has called ‘Fantasyland,’ and enhanced most recently under the regime pathologically narcissistic, authoritarian, psychopathic, and racist president, racism and inequality are directly responsible for today’s perilous conditions.” https://www.amazon.com/GREAT-EXPERIMENT-FREEDOM-RACISM-AMERICA-ebook/dp/B08FRSBTDB ). See also, ( https://trenzpruca.wordpress.com/2020/10/27/peter-on-top-the-great-experiment-freedom-greed-and-racism-in-america/
While it should be clear that racism has been encouraged, managed, and funded by a small group of wealthy men, an equally small group of ideologues, and owners of a few media companies, it has been directed primarily towards that large politically potent group, white males without a college education. Although the voting power of this group was effectively manipulated in the 2016 presidential election, the political power of this cohort of the electorate has been decreasing steadily for the past decade or two. Since 2016 the demographic group classified as “whites without college degrees” declined from 45% of eligible voters to 415, while whites with college degrees and people of color increased by more than 18% (Source: Brookings Institution/NPR analysis of 2020 Current Population Survey from U.S. Census Bureau)
About two years ago I wrote:
“Poorly educated white males are the first large socioeconomic group in America less educated and expected to do less well economically than their parents. I even have heard of recent studies that indicate that they will not live as long as their parents as well. Whether this last fact is a sad truth or this group is serving as the canary in the cage for society as a whole, I cannot guess.” “I feel sad for these men; deluded by their history of ascendency over women of their class and other minorities, lied to by their political and religious leaders and misused by their employers, they have been misled to believe their ever so slight social standing was theirs by right and not earned by effort." “In 2016 Presidential election they marched to the polls and elected someone who promised them he would tear down every government program that they believed encouraged those who threatened their tenuous social standing. In return, they, perhaps unknowingly, agreed to cede control of the nation and the economy to those who would abandon them at the slightest evidence it would be to their advantage. In return for these meager benefits and support for the psychological comfort of meaningless symbols and rituals such and flags and songs that they cling to as evidence of some misbegotten reality, they were willing to give up much of their freedom. True, they now would be free from the competition of those they believed their inferiors who were being given unfair advantages. In return, they seem to accept enslavement by those they were sure were their betters.” https://trenzpruca.wordpress.com/2018/09/13/poorly-educated-white-men-the-death-of-an-american-original/ )
While I see continued political manipulation of this cohort by those who have the most to gain from it, the erosion of their political power will inevitably continue, until those who had the most to gain find another source that they can manipulate and deceive into supporting their thirst for power and wealth. It is too bad really, at one time that cohort, white men without a college degree, were progressive heroes, the workers who walked the picket lines and died for protesting the denial of some of those rights we now call fundamental. For progressives, they may have left us for the most part, but we cannot leave them.


dailykos--2020-12-07--The Trump White House Departure Thene Song. A Parody

This actually started a couple of months ago in my fevered Black Irish mind .
At the time , I was writing yet another of my seeming endless sarcastic , caustic articles about His Lowness , and just by happenstance , I took the title of a rather famous song .
To be perfectly honest , that title tickled me pink .
I laughed my ass off when I wrote it , and it has been a source of occasional amusement for me ever since .
But in the increasingly placid days following the calling of the election , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no longer having to write with the desperation borne of the times we live in , it has stuck with me .
And just idly , over time , I have been trying to fill in some lines , and actually create an entire parody just from the title .
And I think I 've done it .
For those of you who do n't know what I 'm talking about , when you read what 's below , read it to the music of Sir Elton John 's Goodbye Yellow Brick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it as much as I 've enjoyed putting it togethe When are you going to leave ?
When are you going to scram We made our feelings clear in November , it 's time to go on the lam You know you ca n't con us forever , we finally closed down your game There is n't much left for you to do here , just slink off and learn to live with the SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME !
Shaaaaaaame , shAAAAAaaaaaaammmmmeeeee So , goodbye yellow slick toad .
With your half assed family group You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we finally dug up the poop Time to bail out of town now gang , hauling your criminal load We finally elected a President , and not a Yellow Slick TOOOOOOAAAAAAD ... Tooooaaaaad ... Toooooaaaadddd What do you think you 'll try next ?
Will you run for office again You 'll have to find a new news network , with anchors without a brain Maybe you 'll call old Mark Burnett .
A reality show you can nail I 'm thinking of something like Yellow 's the new orange , they 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jaaaaiiiiilllllll.Jaaaaaiiiiillllllllll .
So Goodbye Yellow Slick Toad , with your half assed family group You ca n't kid us any longer , we finally dug up the poop Time to bail out of town now gang , hauling your criminal load We finally elected a President , and not a Yellow Slick TOOOOOOAAAAADDDDDD ... Tooooaaaadddddd./Toooooaaaaaaddddd Follow me on Twitter at @ Realmurfster35

This actually started a couple of months ago in my fevered Black Irish mind. At the time, I was writing yet another of my seeming endless sarcastic, caustic articles about His Lowness, and just by happenstance, I took the title of a rather famous song.
To be perfectly honest, that title tickled me pink. I laughed my ass off when I wrote it, and it has been a source of occasional amusement for me ever since. But in the increasingly placid days following the calling of the election, with so much of the pressure off, and no longer having to write with the desperation borne of the times we live in, it has stuck with me. And just idly, over time, I have been trying to fill in some lines, and actually create an entire parody just from the title. And I think I've done it. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, when you read what's below, read it to the music of Sir Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed putting it togethe
Goodbye Yellow Slick Toad
When are you going to leave? When are you going to scram
We made our feelings clear in November, it's time to go on the lam
You know you can't con us forever, we finally closed down your game
There isn't much left for you to do here, just slink off and learn to live with the SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME! Shaaaaaaame, shAAAAAaaaaaaammmmmeeeee
So, goodbye yellow slick toad. With your half assed family group
You can't kid us any longer, we finally dug up the poop
Time to bail out of town now gang, hauling your criminal load
We finally elected a President, and not a Yellow Slick TOOOOOOAAAAAAD...Tooooaaaaad...Toooooaaaadddd
What do you think you'll try next? Will you run for office again
You'll have to find a new news network, with anchors without a brain
Maybe you'll call old Mark Burnett. A reality show you can nail
I'm thinking of something like Yellow's the new orange, they'll film it in the county JAAAAAIIIIIILLLLLL...Jaaaaiiiiilllllll.Jaaaaaiiiiillllllllll.
So Goodbye Yellow Slick Toad, with your half assed family group
You can't kid us any longer, we finally dug up the poop
Time to bail out of town now gang, hauling your criminal load
We finally elected a President, and not a Yellow Slick TOOOOOOAAAAADDDDDD...Tooooaaaadddddd./Toooooaaaaaaddddd
Follow me on Twitter at @Realmurfster35
Originally posted on Politizoo,m.com


dailykos--2020-12-08--The very short and highly selective memory of the Trump supporter

Throughout the Trump presidency , we have seen attempts by Trump supporters to portray Donald Trump as somehow being the victim of vitriol from his opponents at a level that has been unprecedented in presidential history .
The image at the top of this article is of a Facebook post that has been making the rounds in the month since the 2020 election , that follows this meme .
But it occurs to me , as I read that post , that Trump supporters seem to have a very short , and highly selective , memory .
The post above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we remember ” ( “ we ” being the roughly 74 million voters who voted for Trump ) .
So I thought I ’ d take a little time to respond with some of what the 81 million of us who voted for Biden remember .
I won ’ t bother going point by point , since some of the points in that post are either false or are such distortions of what actually happened that they aren ’ t worth responding to .
But I will respond to many of the points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how ridiculous this Trump-as-victim idea really is ( source stories are linked in the right-hand column ) : .
I could go on .
The point , Trump supporters , is this : Trump has been treated no worse than his predecessor .
And while any one of you might , individually , say that you personally idn ’ t do x or y , those of us on the left can say the same thing about any of the things listed in the Facebook post above .
There are , to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political spectrum .
Both sides have people that go too far in what they say and do .
But this business of pretending your side is all sweetness and light , and the other side is all evil and darkness is childish , utterly dishonest and even mendacious .
It needs to stop !

Throughout the Trump presidency, we have seen attempts by Trump supporters to portray Donald Trump as somehow being the victim of vitriol from his opponents at a level that has been unprecedented in presidential history. The image at the top of this article is of a Facebook post that has been making the rounds in the month since the 2020 election, that follows this meme. But it occurs to me, as I read that post, that Trump supporters seem to have a very short, and highly selective, memory. The post above goes on at length about what “we remember” (“we” being the roughly 74 million voters who voted for Trump). So I thought I’d take a little time to respond with some of what the 81 million of us who voted for Biden remember. I won’t bother going point by point, since some of the points in that post are either false or are such distortions of what actually happened that they aren’t worth responding to. But I will respond to many of the points made, just in order to illustrate how ridiculous this Trump-as-victim idea really is (source stories are linked in the right-hand column):.
I could go on. The point, Trump supporters, is this: Trump has been treated no worse than his predecessor. And while any one of you might, individually, say that you personally idn’t do x or y, those of us on the left can say the same thing about any of the things listed in the Facebook post above. There are, to be sure, hotheads on both ends of the political spectrum. Both sides have people that go too far in what they say and do. But this business of pretending your side is all sweetness and light, and the other side is all evil and darkness is childish, utterly dishonest and even mendacious. It needs to stop!


dailykos--2020-12-08--Lauren Boebert does Colorado proud. Gag. A Colorado State Open Thread for 12/6/2020.

The Colorado State Open Thread is for folks who would like to learn more , talk more , share more or just be more involved in our lovely state .
You ’ re all welcome to come read , comment and quite frankly , I ’ d love it if some multiples of you would like to author one of these weekly diaries .
This column is open to anyone — I just seem to be the one to pump life into it weekly ( or weakly ) .
It ’ s published most every Monday evening at or around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you ’ re available to contribute to this .
I don ’ t recall just where exactly I got this from , but I ’ m fairly sure it came from a Daily Kos diary .
The link to the original story came from Raw Story — www.rawstory.com/… .
Lauren Boebert , a far-right Colorado restaurant owner who encourages her employees to openly carry weapons , has asked Capitol Police about carrying her gun on Capitol grounds , her office told the Associated Press .
That ’ s allowed under a 1967 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although lawmakers may not bring weapons into the House chamber and other nearby areas .
In case you don ’ t remember , this woman ousted Republican Scott Tipton when he didn ’ t take her campaign seriously in the primary election for his Colorado Springs centered district .
She then went on to defeat Diane Mitsch Bush in the general election so she ’ s now the Representative for Colorado ’ s district # 3 .
As the clip says , she ’ s all about carrying guns in the workplace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting that restaurant in Castle Rock that opened for Mother ’ s Day and didn ’ t have people wear masks .
She isn ’ t necessarily the Qanon Queen of Qongress at the moment , Representative — Elect Marjorie Taylor Greene ( R-GA ) has that title , apparently , but she had an opinion on this — of course .
Per Representative Jared Huffman , a Democrat from California , Boebert and the other Congressmen and Senators are exempt from security screening and nobody checks them otherwise .
I wonder how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels about this .
On another note , in keeping with the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs voting Wednesday to remove cannabis from the list of the world ’ s most dangerous drugs , but leaving it on the overall list of Level 1 drugs , and the US House of Representatives going a bit farther ( but of course this is useless since it won ’ t pass the Senate ) Representative Doug Lamborn had this to lie : '' In Colorado , we have seen the devastating effects of marijuana .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ held churches , often down the street from schools , and our homeless population is growing by the day .
Even worse , our country is in the midst of a serious drug use crisis .
We can not pass extreme and unwise legislation that will only exacerbate this problem as well as infringe upon states ' rights .
The MORE Act opens the floodgates to marijuana cultivation , distribution , and sale across America .
`` Furthermore , this bill would retroactively expunge federal marijuana convictions , potentially leading to the early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not continue to allow bad actors and criminal organizations to exploit our nation 's addiction crisis or endanger our youth .
Even worse , the expanded use of marijuana amongst kids leads to extreme addiction rates and potentially long-term effects on the brain and mental health .
`` Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat majority are not governing on behalf of the American people .
With small businesses struggling and the American people in need of immediate targeted relief , Democrats are busy catering to the special interests of the marijuana industry instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the Paycheck Protection Program .
Speaker Pelosi can not be trusted to lead any longer .
She continuously puts her liberal priorities ahead of the American people .
It is past time for the House of Representatives to object to her leadership , take a stand , and once again work toward sensible legislation for the American people .
This legislation does not meet that standard . ''
I don ’ t think he and I live in the same state .
Oh , and btw , he recommends the movie “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive note , congratulations to Gitanjali Rao , age 15 , from Lone Tree , CO , on being named Time ’ s first ever “ Kid of the year ” .
If you go to Time ’ s website at time.com/… you can read the interview she had with Angelina Jolie for Time and I hope you come away as impressed as I am with the intelligence and inspirational messages of her and her four honorable mention co-honorees .
And with that , I know I ’ ve wasted my life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on in your world down below , whether you ’ re here in Colorado and wherever or whatever is on your mind .
The floor is yours .

The Colorado State Open Thread is for folks who would like to learn more, talk more, share more or just be more involved in our lovely state. You’re all welcome to come read, comment and quite frankly, I’d love it if some multiples of you would like to author one of these weekly diaries. This column is open to anyone — I just seem to be the one to pump life into it weekly (or weakly). It’s published most every Monday evening at or around 7PM Mountain time. Let me know if you’re available to contribute to this.
I don’t recall just where exactly I got this from, but I’m fairly sure it came from a Daily Kos diary. The link to the original story came from Raw Story — www.rawstory.com/….
Lauren Boebert, a far-right Colorado restaurant owner who encourages her employees to openly carry weapons, has asked Capitol Police about carrying her gun on Capitol grounds, her office told the Associated Press. --- That’s allowed under a 1967 regulation enacted in response to racial unrest, although lawmakers may not bring weapons into the House chamber and other nearby areas.
In case you don’t remember, this woman ousted Republican Scott Tipton when he didn’t take her campaign seriously in the primary election for his Colorado Springs centered district. She then went on to defeat Diane Mitsch Bush in the general election so she’s now the Representative for Colorado’s district #3. As the clip says, she’s all about carrying guns in the workplace. She was also one of those supporting that restaurant in Castle Rock that opened for Mother’s Day and didn’t have people wear masks.
She isn’t necessarily the Qanon Queen of Qongress at the moment, Representative — Elect Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has that title, apparently, but she had an opinion on this — of course.
“Not only do I support members of Congress carrying a firearm, I believe every American has that right,” said Rep.-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). “I will work every day to end ALL gun free zones.”
Per Representative Jared Huffman, a Democrat from California, Boebert and the other Congressmen and Senators are exempt from security screening and nobody checks them otherwise.
“Members could have a loaded AK47 sitting on their desk and no one would ever do anything about it,” Huffman said.
I wonder how newly installed Senator Mike Kelly of Arizona feels about this.
Colorado should be soooo proud.
---------------------------—
On another note, in keeping with the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs voting Wednesday to remove cannabis from the list of the world’s most dangerous drugs , but leaving it on the overall list of Level 1 drugs, and the US House of Representatives going a bit farther (but of course this is useless since it won’t pass the Senate) Representative Doug Lamborn had this to lie:


dailykos--2020-12-08--TODAY IS SAFE HARBOR DAY

TODAY IS SAFE HARBOR DAY

And they called Al Gore a poor loser because he actually asked for recounts in 4 Florida counties .
This @ @ @ @ @ stopped by dozens of men in Brooks Brothers suits , who gathered outside the election @ @ @ @ @ windows .
Good sportsmanship obviously means armed `` protesters '' gathering outside the Michigan SOS @ @ @ @ @ Stop the Steal '' because Michigan had had the temerity to actually count the votes @ @ @ @ @ carrying weapons does n't mean they were trying to intimidate anyone , does it ?
@ @ @ @ @ share !

And they called Al Gore a poor loser because he actually asked for recounts in 4 Florida counties. This show of poor sportsmanship was stopped by dozens of men in Brooks Brothers suits, who gathered outside the election counting offices and banged on windows. Good sportsmanship obviously means armed "protesters" gathering outside the Michigan SOS's home and yelling "Stop the Steal" because Michigan had had the temerity to actually count the votes. Just because they were carrying weapons doesn't mean they were trying to intimidate anyone, does it?
Be aware. And please share!


dailykos--2020-12-08--"The Charge of the Lie Brigade." With Apologies to Lord Tennyson

It ’ s the “ Charge of the Lie Brigade.
” With humble apologies to Lord Tennyson .
I originally used this in a comment for an article I wrote about Electoral College Safe Harbor .
Half a truth , half a truth , An alternative truth onward , All in the valley of Lies Rode the Trump minions .
“ Forward , the Lie Brigade !
“ Blame the media !
” he said : Into the valley of lies Rode the Trump minions .
“ Forward , the Lie Brigade !
” Was there an electoral college dismay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters knew On Covid Trump had blunder ’ d : Theirs not to make reply , Theirs not to reason why , Theirs but to do and lie : Into the valley of lies Rode the Trump minions .
Fact checks to right of them , Fact checks to left of them , Fact checks in front of them Blustered and thunder ’ d ; Storm ’ d at with truth and fact , Boldly they speak and tell , Into the jaws of Fact , Into the mouth of Hell Rode the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s unfair , Spinning as they spun in air , Alt-truthing the reporters there , Attacking media , while The world wonder ’ d : Why the lies and why the smoke How much more before they broke ; CNN and NBC Reel ’ d from the media stroke Shatter ’ d at court decisions .
Then they rode back , but not Not the Trump minions .
Fact checks to right of them , Fact checks to left of them , Fact checks behind them Blustered and thunder ’ d ; Storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Then Jenna Ellis and Giuliani fell , They that had lied so well Came thro ’ the jaws of Facts Into the mouth of Hell , All that was left of them , Left of the Trump minions .
When can their alt-facts fade ?
O the wild change of facts they made !
Facts are facts and not opinions .
Condemn the lies they made , Honor not the Lie Brigade , The dishonest Trump minions .

It’s the “Charge of the Lie Brigade.” With humble apologies to Lord Tennyson. I originally used this in a comment for an article I wrote about Electoral College Safe Harbor.
1.
Half a truth, half a truth,
An alternative truth onward,
All in the valley of Lies
Rode the Trump minions.
“Forward, the Lie Brigade!
“Blame the media!” he said:
Into the valley of lies
Rode the Trump minions.
2.
“Forward, the Lie Brigade!”
Was there an electoral college dismay’d?
Not tho’ the reporters knew
On Covid Trump had blunder’d:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and lie:
Into the valley of lies
Rode the Trump minions.
3.
Fact checks to right of them,
Fact checks to left of them,
Fact checks in front of them
Blustered and thunder’d;
Storm’d at with truth and fact,
Boldly they speak and tell,
Into the jaws of Fact,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the Trump minions.
4.
Spinning their alt-truth’s unfair,
Spinning as they spun in air,
Alt-truthing the reporters there,
Attacking media, while
The world wonder’d:
Why the lies and why the smoke
How much more before they broke;
CNN and NBC
Reel’d from the media stroke
Shatter’d at court decisions.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the Trump minions.
5.
Fact checks to right of them,
Fact checks to left of them,
Fact checks behind them
Blustered and thunder’d;
Storm’d at with truth and fact,
Then Jenna Ellis and Giuliani fell,
They that had lied so well
Came thro’ the jaws of Facts
Into the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of the Trump minions.
6.
When can their alt-facts fade?
O the wild change of facts they made!
Facts are facts and not opinions.
Condemn the lies they made,
Honor not the Lie Brigade,
The dishonest Trump minions.