Yep, Betsy DeVos actually said it. We need guns in schools to protect from grizzlies.

Fenway Fran, a long, long, triple damn long patron of the World’s Most Dangerous Beauty Salon, Inc., sent me a picture of the Happy Birthday / Trump Survival Package that one of her grown daughters sent the other.

Now, that’s funny.

We’re gonna get through this, y’all.

I had a conversation with One-Of-Them who voted for You-Know-Who recently, and it quickly devolved into whether I had a job and paid taxes, the implication being if I’m not tired of carrying half the country around on my overburdened tax shoulders, I should be. My return was that I’ve worked for 40 years and Christians who ignore the love thy neighbor stuff in favor of a lower tax burden are missing the point. I mentioned my 80-something parents are both part of the fabled 47%. I was feeling around in the conversation for the racism, and it soon came out: “I’m talking about Muslim youth who want to come here on the dole while they study bomb making.”

Freddie Boom-Boom Washington DC?

You know, the story of angry brown people coming to kill your babies is running a little threadbare, of late. This idjit feels Taxed Enough Already because of a government demolitions work-study program for Muslim youths. Who knew? What do they call it? Fannie Mae Explode? Freddie Mac-10?

That’s apparently how we lost Pennsylvania: mouth breathers like this one frenzied into a lather by breathless bullshit pumped into their low-info bubble. And I’m coming to the conclusion that there’s nothing we’re going to be able to do about it. We can’t save these people from themselves. We have to save the rest of us from themselves, and hopefully the rising tide will lift all boats. If themselves drown, however, it will be by themselves’ own hands.

My parting shot was, “You can stand against the wall now, or be stood against it later, remember the Sinclair Lewis quote?”

Well, it turns out, neither did I, so well; (more…)

I have you some more names to add to the list of congresscritters not attending the Trump inauguration.

I live in Republican Pete Olson’s district.  Yeah, well, he’s never heard of you either. He is completely indistinguishable from his desk. Plus, he walks and talks funny. He got elected because Phil Gramm loves, loves, loves him.

I live less than 1/4 of a mile outside of Congressman Al Green’s district so ole Bubba and I adopted him, and he cheerfully adopted us back. We both talked to him last night and he was still undecided whether or not to attend the inauguration.  At 7:00 this morning Congressman Green called Don and said he has decided not to attend.

Here’s his press release:

“Today, we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; on Friday, President-elect Trump will be sworn-in. For some time, I have been hearing from many constituents with varying points of view on the question of whether I will attend the inauguration. My response is Dr. King was right when he indicated: On some issues ‘cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But, conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.’

“I will not attend the inauguration because conscience says it is the right thing to do.”

Then, an hour ago, Congressman Joaquin Castro announced that he will not attend.  His press release says …

“Every American should respect the office of the presidency and the fact that Donald Trump will be the 45th President of the United States. But winning an election does not mean a man can show contempt for millions of Americans and then expect those very people to celebrate him.

“I come from a family and a place, Texas, where respect is a fundamental value – respect for people regardless of what they look like, where they were born, or whether they share your view of the world. Donald Trump has shown an utter lack of respect for so many Americans. His attack on civil rights hero John Lewis is the latest example.

“I will not attend this year’s inauguration ceremony. However, I will be in Washington to greet constituents who are traveling to our nation’s capital for the proceedings. I respect their choice to attend.”

God Bless Texas today.

UPDATE: Congressman Lloyd Doggett (Corrected)—

I will not be attending the inauguration this Friday.

We are sending a message to Mr. Trump. Respect, like Pennsylvania Avenue, is a two-way street. Instead of uniting our country, his continued unprecedented, unpresidential actions are further dividing it. By repeatedly taking the lowest road, he is not showing respect for the highest office. We are in for a long struggle that must strategically utilize every nonviolent opposition tool available.

In a report that Cheeto Jesus and healthcare opponents will HATE, the Congressional Budget Office reported that if he and the Congress go ahead with their repeal vote that 18 million people will lose health insurance next year, and the premiums for everyone else would double over 10 years.

Happy New Year, ya’ll, and welcome to the new world of single party rule.  Washington, DC becomes Austin.  Ya’ll buckle up, now – Hold my beer, watch this!

Okay, so Monica Crowley and her word-stealing ways are out.  To be honest, I was kinda wondering if she wrote Melania’s convention speech.

Trump’s Cabinet

The pick for Labor Secretary, Andrew Puzder, is considering withdrawing because people are saying bad things about him.   Yeah, people just don’t realize that selling the economy with girls in bikinis might actually work.

And now it appears that Tom Price may have broken the law with his stock transactions.

So …

A new Quinnipiac poll indicates that only 30% approve of Trump’s overall cabinet choices. The hearings so far have only covered a handful of the cabinet picks. A number of controversial cabinet picks have yet to appear for confirmation.

Ben Carson won’t be able to find his way to the office and Marco Rubio may grow up to keep Jeff Sessions in the racist closet where he belongs.

Nobody can make a mess like Donald Trump.  Believe me.