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January 20, 2021 06:37 AM UTC

Inauguration Day 2021 Open Thread

  • 67 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: Via The Washington Post:

The Washington Post (1/20/21)

—–

In with the new.

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67 thoughts on “Inauguration Day 2021 Open Thread”

  2. Feels like the country has been constipated for four years and is about to take an enormous Trdump. I don't care how many flushes it takes for him to go down, just as long as he goes down.

     

  3. The Flag is out on this special day that seems to have taken an eternity to arrive.  God Bless Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.  God Bless America!!!!

  5. Legal analysts on CNN last night confidently opined that Trump could have pardoned himself and his kids without disclosing this.  If he or his kids are subsequently indicted by a federal prosecutor, he could invoke these pardons.  Of course a self pardon might be unconstitutional, but probably not pardons of his kids.

    1. I do believe that CNN would definitely go for ‘rubbing it in’ if it was too late for Trump to pardon himself and his kids, by then telling him “of course you could have done it.”

      I can’t stand Trump, but that doesn’t mean I have to like CNN either. They are biased. These days its against Trump. It used to be bias for Bush/Cheney back when they seemed unbeatable. They gladly publish fake news, as long as its provided by an unnamed but high-ranking source. Or do we need to discuss again Iraq and WMDs? Or Lou Dobbs telling everyone that Enron was the greatest thing ever?

      1. I read somewhere (sorry, no link) that Trump was advised by his lawyer that in order to be pardoned, he would have to name the crime to which the pardon applies. This could provide a road map for prosecutors to pursue other charges. 

      2. Sorry, Lurker, but Dobbs can't be part of your criticism of CNN. He decamped long ago for Fixed News where they don't even try to conceal their right-wing bias.

    2. The legal consensus seems to be that a pardon can be issued and not publicly disclosed until needed by, say Trump's children.  But, it's thought to be risky (e.g., was it actually signed and properly executed, etc.)  John Dean, Glenn Kirschner and Lawrence O'Donnell seem to think it's possible.  Neal Katyal and Laurence Tribe think it's constitutionally dubious, but you can't be sure.  (Katyal and Tribe are much more authoritative than the others.)  

  6. Ok, a moment of silence please. I want everyone to remember the Mueller Report. To remember that while so many claimed it said nothing, it did actually recommend Trump for prosecution, Obstruction of Justice IIRC, but the 1973 Nixon Rule says the DOJ can not prosecute a sitting President.

    As of today, that no longer applies.

    And, BTW, doesn’t seem insane to have a rule that was put in place by the last President who used thugs and criminals in the political process to hang on to power at all costs. Surely any rule put into place by Richard Nixon the year before he resigned as he fought off impeachment and special prosecutors is suspect just by association?

    I like “No One Is Above the Law” much better. Cleaner, simpler, with even a wiff of justice.

    1. The merits for deferring legal proceedings probably stems from frivolous lawsuits.  If racists in the Republican Party could have sued Obama and tie up his time defending himself then there would have been eleventy bazillion of them filed.  It gets sticky if you have to start deciding which charges are frivolous.  Not saying it can't be done but you have other issues you now need to consider.

      1. No, because Presidents can be and have been sued while in office (Jones v. Clinton, and trump has a few pending).  The presidency definitely delays and hampers some proceedings in civil cases, but the suits can be filed.  The DOJ rule, on the other hand, forbids indictment of a sitting president.  It is a ridiculous "rule," and anti-constitutional to its core.  But the policy is still in place, it just doesn't protect former potus 45 anymore.  Time to see what the grand juries have in store for lil donny!  

  7. Elvis Evils have left the building . . .

    . . . but not before unleashing his Kushner/Miller/Pompeo cabal of misfit demons and flying monkeys to continue to remotely lobby squeeze the Grahams and Hawleys and Cruzes, etc. on his behalf . . .

    “We will be back, in some form.” . . .

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2021/01/20/trump-revokes-lobbying-ban-he-signed-at-the-beginning-of-his-presidency/?sh=793ad2b144b9

    “”Hey @realCheetoliniPoutenscheme, now that you’ve just lost the president*’s office, whadaya’ gonna’ do with all those $200M-plus simoleons you just raised?? . . .”

    Impeachment: It’s not just for sending a message anymore!! . . .

  8. Amy Klobuchar can’t stop grinning as she introduces the P and VP electeds, and families. 
     

    I guess I’m glad that they are having the Inauguration outside on the balcony. It does help to erase the images from two weeks ago. 

    1. Meh. It's all passive voice "mistakes were made" bullshit. Not once does MM call out by name any of the enablers in his own party. If he can blame it all on Trump, then once Trump is gone MM can continue to be his shithole self with no accountability for any of the last 4 years, much less the last 2 months.

      1. That is a given — he's a pragmatic hypocritical ultra-cynic. We're doing Moscow Mitch and the GOP a huge favor removing the Sword of Damocles from above their heads. 

        Hopefully, we aren't also paving the way for the next corrupt pseudo-religious dictator-wannabe to run for the office in 2024.

        1. That will depend, I think, upon the level of retribution that is visited upon McConnell and his cronies. The Yammie Pie was an insane child in a world full of truly heartless monsters like McConnell, Cruz, Blunt, Thune, Inhofe, and the rest of the criminal syndicate that employed the Trump family to cripple our democracy. 

          We best not let them get away with it. America has a right to defend itself from enemies foreign and domestic. At this moment, I can see no greater threat than that posed by the Republican blight in our government that would have given us over to totalitarianism. 

          Those elected officials who have betrayed their oath to the Constitution, should be rejected at the polls. They need to be exposed…repeatedly and relentlessly until the voters next opportunity to remove them from our body politic.

          We will never heal until they are repudiated and removed from office.

           

          1. They all did a fairly simple calculation before deciding to stick with the votes to object: their seats are safe and are probably safer due to their vote.

            How Gerrymandering Will Protect Republicans Who Challenged the Election

            Of the 139 House Republicans who voted to object to Mr. Biden’s Electoral College victory, 85 come from states in which Republicans will control all levers of the redistricting process this year. An additional 28 represent districts drawn by Republicans in 2011 without Democratic input in states where the G.O.P. still holds majorities in state legislative chambers.

              1. "a change in attitude among Republicans……" Begin with The Lincoln Project, Republicans for the Rule of Law, The Bulwark dot com, Republicans Voters Against Trump, others.

                Given the closeness of the final vote tallies in AZ, WI, GA, there is a reasonable chance that anti-Trump Republicans helped to put Biden over the top.

                 

                1. Given the closeness of those votes, there’s also a reasonable chance certainty that pro-Ttump Republicans brought that awful fool as perilously close as he got . . .

                  . . . miles and miles and miles to go.

                  And, you may be right, but Duke’s not wrong . . .

                  . . . just sayin’.

                  1. CHB will always defend the Republican party…and Republicanism generally. The inherent racism in Republican politics was the key to Trumps’ ascension in the Republican party. The GOP owns the Orange Destruction and they should be made to wear his sorry carcass around their necks until they repent…and sin no more.

                    I don’t blame CHB for his frantic scramble into defense mode when the truth about the GOPs’ culpability in the Treason of Trump becomes the discussion topic.. The guilt must be almost unbearable.😉

                    1. Nice try at projection, Duke. You can pick up your nice parting gifts when you leave.

                      I’m not “frantically scrambling” about anything. 

                      “the inherent racism in Republican politics”  John McCain was a racist? Who knew? 

                      “the guilt must be almost unbearable” What guilt? I was a Never-Trumper from 2015 on.

                      If I was in your shoes, Duke, I’d stop clowning around and begin working to get either a better Republican or a Dem elected in 3rd District next year. Like it or not, Lauren Boebert is all yours.

                      Addendum: in a thread before Christmas, Duke, you were criticizing Repeal & Replace for being “dismissive.” Now you criticize me for the same thing. But it’s the “pot calling the kettle black,” Duke. You’re dismissive of anyone who doesn’t share your narrow, tunnel vision, view of the world. Sad, you weren’t like this when we met in person decades ago.

                    2. Dismissiveness becomes you, CHB. It goes with your arrogance so well.

                      John McCain does not reflect todays’ GOP, and you know that…and it may not look like “frantically scrambling” to you, but it does to me. Your knee jerk reaction to any criticism of the GOP gives you away.

                      The racism that runs through the underpinnings of the “conservative” coalition isn’t something I made up. The confederate flag is the giveaway there.

                      Oh…and how many people of color assaulted the seat of American democracy in the name of the Republican president? Your “Never Trumper” claim does not absolve you. Your party created the Malign President, not the other way around.

                      Mitch will sink the GOP, now that it has been crippled.

                      I will give you props for the pivot to Calamity Jane, though. It really highlights that trick you conservatives do whereby you accuse others of your own mistake. Projection? F’reals?

                      Lauren Boebert is MY problem?

                      That is TOO,TOO funny.

                    3. @CHB..

                      You are completely without credibility. You hide your identity for a reason. I presume it is so you can be a hypocritical scold, never addressing the facts or the subject of discussion.

                      If I am less agreeable than I used to be, it is from dealing with far too many “conservatives” like you. As far as I know…you and I have never met, but judging by the horseshit you peddle here…I am not inclined to share your airspace.

                      Scott McInnis tried the same shit. He claimed he knew me in a hate letter to the GJ FreePress. I had never met him.

                      You are just an anonymous troll on a blog. Your words mean nothing.

                2. CHB, the GOP-led organizations you list did help to defeat $rump- no doubt about that. I suspect that unaffiliated voters swung to Dem candidates, more than Republicans did- but analysts like 538 will be picking at that data for years. Personally, I like a multiple party system. Dialectical discourse makes ideas better. 
                   

                  You will encounter less hostility on this blog for Republicans when you cease to bash progressive politicians and policies, and stop telling Dems to stay in the center so as not to alienate voters like yourself. AOC, Sanders, etc, are here to stay because their constituents want them to– accept it and move on. Similarly, progressives on this blog aren’t shutting up no matter how much contempt you shovel our way. Argue against ideas and policies- don’t trash people. That applies equally to extreme lefties like dustpuppy. 

                  A) It isn’t your party- air out the Trumpstench in your own base if you want to make America better.

                  B) Dems, including Biden, know what they’re doing. Progressive goals like the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, affordable college and guaranteed income are popular with Dem and Dem-leaning voters.

                  The sweet spot for moderate politicos these days is to cultivate an image of being centrist- to never say the S word (socialist) without contempt, to swear loyalty to the corporate institutions of the party, like the DSCC and the DCCC. If they do this well, they can implement progressive policies under the radar. 
                  Hickenlooper is one of this group- time will tell if he will promote law that slows climate change and accelerates financial reform at the expense of his corporate donors. I think it depends how much pressure Colorado voters apply. 

                  In sum, let Dems wrangle the crowd in our own Big Tent- your own party needs more reasonable folk like yourself. 

                  1. @kwtree: I really don't care about the "hostility" you reference. It comes from just a few.

                    If you want to encounter real hostility, try a return to Red State, or try P.J. Media. You said you left Red State because you got blocked. I've been blocked on P.J., but that covers only the persons who don't want to hear other thoughts. It doesn't cover the entire site.

              2. The Senate will approve its own version of the For the People Act, and President Biden * will sign it.

                * Pols, I’m missing the color options you used to have. That needed red, white and blue in a larger font. 

      2. But mm gave those remarks, addressing the chair of the Senate, while cruz crud was sitting in it. No doubt to whom the remarks were directed. hawley was lucky that it wasn't his turn to be in the barrel.

        The remarks were not a turning point for mm, just another illumination of his cravenness. He's now used dump for everything he was worth and tremendous cost for the country …. but not for ole mm.

    2. If Mitch really means it he can vote to convict and urge other Senators to do the same. We will see, but I believe his answer will be oh Trump is indeed very bad, but we need to move on and heal or some other such bullshit like that.

      1. Dunno if you caught Tim Snyder's most recent NYT op-ed "The American Abyss" where he characterized the recently passed stage of political players as either gamers or breakers. 

        Dump was a breaker. And while we all watched aghast as dump was breaking, mm and the other gamers were busy gaming the courts, taxes, environment, etc. Dump didn't even want to sign the tax cut that he takes credit for now as his major accomplishment. He thought that it was too big and would keep him from cutting the deficit in half like he promised. Do you remember that? Dump the breaker got gamed too.

        Anyway, while dump was breaking mm was gaming and now that mm has exhausted all usefulness that dump ever had for mm's gaming and he has lost the majority he may well throw dump to the side of the road and vote to convict. Ruthless he is.

        He has bigger games to play now.

      2. Mitch's vote (and advice to his fellow GOP senators) will depend on his judgement about how likely Trump is to try (or at least threaten) to run again.  He wants him gone as much as anyone, but if he doesn't pose a threat to other candidates, and thinks the Trump base will stick with the GOP, then sure, he'll vote against conviction, but proclaim the need to forgive and forget that the Republican Party is a continuing threat to our democracy.

        Trump will be a constant source of noise, the only question is, will he have to buy his own bullhorn, or will the right-wing media still pay attention?

  11. Man, the groveling and ass-kissing must have been epic for Bannon to get this pardon out of Trump.  But Trump probably should have waited for the check to clear before announcing this as a done deal.

  12. The Orange King is gone. Deposed by the American people. But .. do not think he is done hurting others. He will never forgive us, and will spend the rest of his life spewing poison and trying to get even.

    I believe it is vital that he and his enablers are punished appropriately for their sedition.

    The events of the last several weeks must NEVER be repeated. Swift and stern justice is necessary. Not only to stymie the Trump crime family from a reprise, but to send a clear message to the world.

    The people of America still grant the government built upon our constitution, the consent to govern us. President Biden will succeed.

    Just now listening to Lady Gaga… Wow!

    1. It made me tear up, Duke. I’m a mush, though. And a die-hard patriot.  I always mean every word when I say the Pledge.

      Jennifer Lopez also hit it out of the park with her “Justicia para todos!” add-in to “This Land is Your Land”.

      2. Woody Guthrie had multiple versus for his classic song. Which one’s they picked, and which ones they censored, might make an interesting study?

        I’m not a fan of modern pop music, so my gut reaction is couldn’t they get someone else to sing it? But Pete Seeger is dead. Arlo Guthrie is still alive, I believe, but he had white hair and was getting up there last time I saw him and that was a quite awhile back. And plus, Biden probably hated “Alice’s Restaurant” back in the early 70’s. Biden got five draft deferments, and later adopted Reagan’s Stab-In-The-Back line that our glorious military only lost the war because the American people stabbed them in the back.

        “If America’s soul becomes totally poisoned, part of the autopsy must read “Vietnam.”” — Dr. ML King, Jr, “Beyond Vietnam”

      3. Woody Guthrie used to sing that song and played on a guitar which had “This Machine Kills Fascists” written on it in big letters. I don’t suppose J. Lopez honored this tradition by having on a T-shirt while she sang?

        Wonder which verses they used? Woody had multiple versions, and as a traveling folk musician in the Depression, was quite capable of whipping up a new verse based on what he’d recently seen.

        Did they use this verse …
        “As I went walking I saw a sign there,
        And on the sign it said “No Trespassing.”
        But on the other side it didn’t say nothing.
        That side was made for you and me”

      4. Tears of joy from me kwtree.  I thought the entire ceremony starting with the flags as tribute to the fallen was well crafted and executed.  Hats off to all the participants from Garth Brooks and J Lo to the rapper/poet and speech writers.  Wonderful to see competent people say and do inspiring things.  Hopefully it foreshadows more competent things to come.

    2. “The events of the last several weeks must NEVER be repeated. Swift and stern justice is necessary.”

      One thing we know from history is that appeasing violent, right-wing authoritarian regimes never works. They only see it as weakness. Either democracy in America is defended by swift and stern justice, or it will be gone in this decade.

    3. The last time I saw Lady Gaga sing the National Anthem was when the Broncos won the Superbowl, and I dare say it was the best singing of the National Anthem I had ever heard.  That was a happy day too, but not nearly as much as this one !

        1. Sharing Lady Gaga singing the national anthem today with my 11 year old daughter was sublime.  She's all Biden/Harris, and I was always very careful about letting her make choices like that for herself without any undue influence.  Good girl ! 

  13. I’m spending my morning catching up on Seth Meyers episodes I’ve missed. Rep. Boebert and Buck both get feature rolls in his clips.

    The day after yet another impeachment of a criminal President protected by Republicans, he starts a string by saying McConnnell has backpedaled from his earlier leaks that he might impeach Trump to now saying “He wants to hear the arguments”.

    Meyers takes this rather large opening and asks “What arguments does he want to hear?”, and then runs clips of Republican Reps Jordan, Buck, Gaetz, Boebert, and in the finale, big-send-off, finish, Rep Marjorie Green of Q’Anon.

    You just see such a list of luminaries and spiritual leaders, and you feel so honored that CO is represented by such fine mental logicians as illustrated by Buck in his rant about what DiNiro and Madonna said about his sacred President …. as if this somehow excuses storming the Capitol to overthrow democracy and leading to 5 deaths. And we are the only state to get not one, but TWO such mentions for Outstanding Wing-Nuttiness in that episode of Closing Look.

  14. The stink is fading.  But the Haz-mat teams will be busy for years eradicating Trumpstink from our system.  And the stain on our national honor will never go away.

    Trump stinks.

    Great God Almighty, Trump still stinks!

    But all America, Crook-a-Lago excepted, is now upwind of the tyrant clown.

  15. Broad speculation of how soon there will be indictments for Trump or members of the family. 

    I hope they wait until next Monday, NOT jumping into the joyous news cycle stories of the inaugurations, the new Senators and Senate leadership, the initial set of policy announcements from the Biden Administration, and any other news of the world.

    1. I would see the numerous stories of indictments as adding to the joy but it WOULD be total overload.

      So, yes, let's pace ourselves but don't give hannity, graham, carlson, ingraham, dobbs, etc a chance to open their yaps.

      1. Coming after Garth Brooks sang a gospel song Acapella no less.  The hip hop influence was strong in that one and she was the connection to youth.  She was double awesome.

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