The icy, icy heart of our 47th president
And, when will senators learn?
It’s hard to know where to begin with all the awful happenings in DC this week. But that’s the point, isn’t it? To “flood the zone” with so many terrible edicts that Americans can’t cope, so they tune out. Or they focus on only the worst of the worst moves, while somewhat less-awful ideas skate right through.
Let’s begin with President Trump’s first appearance in the White House press room in this second term. It was a truly appalling performance following the airplane collision in Washington. I’ve seen a lot, covered a lot and am rarely shocked. Trump’s appearance had me holding my head in my hands like the screaming kid from Home Alone. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing.
After sounding completely bored reading a prepared statement from his staff that supposedly expressed empathy and aimed for unity by droning, “In moments like this, the differences between Americans fade to nothing compared to the bonds of affection and loyalty that unite us all.” He then put the compassion script aside and blamed the crash on presidents Obama and Biden and on DEI. He had no evidence to make that claim. None. The black boxes hadn’t been recovered. Bodies were still being pulled out of the, as he called it, “that icy, icy Potomac. It was a cold, cold night. Cold water.” Thanks for emphasizing that for the victims’ families. What an unfeeling, insensitive thing to say. And to take advantage of the tragedy to try to score political points is a new low, even for Trump.
The only thing more “icy, icy” and “cold” than the Potomac River in January is the heart of the man sitting a few blocks away at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Never a bad time to criticize the media
When CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked Trump if he was getting ahead of himself by blaming DEI when he doesn’t even know the names of the people involved, Trump said no. Then, in a moment that’s sure to inspire the nation to come together at a time of mourning, snarked to Collins, “I think that’s not a very smart question. I’m surprised, coming from you.”
Such a small man.
Confirmation hearings are a farce
The good news, for Trump anyway, is that coverage of the aviation accident knocked off the news networks the confirmation hearings of the unqualified Kash Patel for FBI director and Tulsi Gabbard for National Security Director.
Folks, it’s time to give up on these Senate confirmation hearings. They are a complete sham.
Isn’t it obvious to everyone watching that these nominees will say anything to get approved? They will lie, they will obfuscate, they will dodge their past records and the truth – just to get in a position of power and wreak havoc on American government?
Republican senators should be ashamed of themselves for allowing nominees to lie to their faces. Let’s look at some recent evidence.
Remember when Brett Kavanaugh was up for confirmation for the Supreme Court? He told Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine that he was no threat to overturn Roe vs. Wade. According to notes Collins took, reported in this New York Times story, Kavanaugh said, he respected judicial precedent. “Roe is 45 years old, it has been reaffirmed many times, lots of people care about it a great deal, and I’ve tried to demonstrate I understand real-world consequences,” Kavanaugh said, adding, “I am a don’t-rock-the-boat kind of judge.”
Persuaded by his assurances, Collins supported Kavanaugh, who several years later voted to overturn Roe. Senator Collins told the Times, “I feel misled.”
Once burned, twice shy. At least Collins had the guts to vote against Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary. She showed courage and independence that is sorely lacking in Iowa’s Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst.
Grassley gets played. Again.
Trump is playing the elderly Grassley for a fool. Hours after Grassley voted aye on Hegseth last Friday night, Trump fired 17 inspectors general. Grassley loves inspectors general. They fit nicely into his self-image as a government watchdog. And Trump can’t fire them without giving written 30-day notice to Congress with specific reasons for the dismissal, which, or course, Trump ignored.
What did our all-powerful US Senator do about it? The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee? The most senior senator on Capitol Hill? Did he refuse to approve any nominees until Trump obeys the law? Did he hold a press conference demanding the president stop stealing Congressional power?
Nope. He wrote a letter. I’m sure Trump is quaking in his boots – once he stopped laughing after tossing Grassley’s letter into the trash. Grassley wrote letters to Trump during his first administration over the same issue of firing inspectors general – and as far as I know, Trump completely ignored them.
Let’s take bets right now on how Grassley votes on Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard. He will fall in line and do what his MAGA-fearing soul tells him to do.
We could all write Grassley letters of protest, but they’d end up in the same place as Grassley’s letters to Trump. Elections have consequences.
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Dave, your comments hit home and need to be shared with every American……and now we have the firing of FBI agents involved with J6 and the document scandal, along with President Musk forcing out the Treasury staff who safeguard citizen monies & payments. It is honestly not getting any better and our country is spiraling before our eyes. Ernst, Grassley, Nunn, along with all other Republicans, are being played and conned, as are those who voted for these inept representatives. I continue to write to these deplorables and anticipate their boiler plate nonsensical responses where they typically school me on “procedure”which is really entertaining since all procedures are being wiped out by their sacred leader, Trump! Keep up this great work, Dave. We appreciate you.
We need to keep writing our senators and representatives. Even though it may not change their vote they must know that we disagree with them. We need to encourage our similar minded friends to write also. It’s part of the way we fight back. After a few emails we might feel we can show up at their offices and complain. We need to start a movement. We can’t let these fools think we support their actions.