Just a brief reminder that the new site (angrystaffer.com) should be fully live early next week, hoping for Monday! Had some good questions as always, so let's get right to it:
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Let The Games Begin
If you aren't excited about today, you should be; we just turned a vitally-important corner in American politics. For the first time in two years -- and perhaps for the first time in his entire life --Donald Trump will be held accountable.
Nancy Pelosi absolutely nailed it in her speech this afternoon: "Two months ago, the American people spoke and demanded a new dawn. They called upon the beauty of our Constitution and system of checks and balances that protects our democracy, remembering that the legislative branch is coequal to the presidency and judiciary."
In two sentences, Pelosi artfully articulated the reality that is about to come crashing down upon Trump and his administration. For two years, Trump has been largely unchallenged; the GOP majority has been happy to abdicate their responsibility and let him run roughshod over societal norms, common decency, and political decorum. That changes today. For two years, it has been abundantly clear he only wanted to "Drain the Swamp" because he was bringing his own swamp-monsters and they needed new homes. This administration has been plagued with scandals that would have sunk most other presidencies, only to have the GOP provide cover and refuse to investigate them. That changes today. For two years, Trump, his cabinet, and his spokespeople have been able to do whatever they want with no risk of being held accountable, or called to testify in front of the American public. That changes today.
This is a great day for America, but it also marks the beginning of what I would expect to be a pretty tumultuous period in American politics. We have a malignant narcissist in the White House who is about to learn for the first time in his life that it's not all about him. One of my followers put it beautifully this morning, so I'm going to borrow a quote from them: "These past two years have been Trump's "Best Case" scenario. Crazy." Unfortunately, they're 100% correct. The batshit craziness we've seen so far probably pales in comparison to what's coming. All the tantrums he's thrown, mean tweets he's sent, people he's insulted? That's been while his party was in absolute power. He could do whatever he wanted; he just sucked at it, so he didn't really manage to do much of anything. Now he's going to have Pelosi smacking his tiny hands with the gavel (that he so kindly laid in her lap) every time he does something out of line.
If you missed Pelosi's interview with TODAY, you should check it out. She said it was an "open discussion" whether or not a sitting POTUS could be indicted. That's a pretty big hint from a long-time member of the Gang of Eight. She also said re: impeachment, "We have to wait and see what happens with the Mueller report. We shouldn't be impeaching for a political reason, and we shouldn't avoid impeachment for a political reason. So we'll just have to see how it comes." Well, we already know it's not going to end well for POTUS; who spends months preparing to counter a report that they expect to exonerate them? Trump knows what he did, and he knows Mueller knows. If you thought the last two years were bonkers, you should probably buckle up: it looks like it's going to get even sportier.
Going to keep this one short and just leave you with a little bit of hope: I firmly believe this is going to be Donald Trump's last year in office. We're about to witness a perfect storm of Justice passing directly over 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He is not going to be able to handle the barrage of subpoenas, real-time fact-checking and oversight, and the release of Mueller's report at the exact same time. He's not mentally equipped to handle even slight amounts of pushback; this is going to push him over the edge and he will either resign, or be crazy enough that even the GOP can't defend him anymore.
Nancy Pelosi absolutely nailed it in her speech this afternoon: "Two months ago, the American people spoke and demanded a new dawn. They called upon the beauty of our Constitution and system of checks and balances that protects our democracy, remembering that the legislative branch is coequal to the presidency and judiciary."
In two sentences, Pelosi artfully articulated the reality that is about to come crashing down upon Trump and his administration. For two years, Trump has been largely unchallenged; the GOP majority has been happy to abdicate their responsibility and let him run roughshod over societal norms, common decency, and political decorum. That changes today. For two years, it has been abundantly clear he only wanted to "Drain the Swamp" because he was bringing his own swamp-monsters and they needed new homes. This administration has been plagued with scandals that would have sunk most other presidencies, only to have the GOP provide cover and refuse to investigate them. That changes today. For two years, Trump, his cabinet, and his spokespeople have been able to do whatever they want with no risk of being held accountable, or called to testify in front of the American public. That changes today.
This is a great day for America, but it also marks the beginning of what I would expect to be a pretty tumultuous period in American politics. We have a malignant narcissist in the White House who is about to learn for the first time in his life that it's not all about him. One of my followers put it beautifully this morning, so I'm going to borrow a quote from them: "These past two years have been Trump's "Best Case" scenario. Crazy." Unfortunately, they're 100% correct. The batshit craziness we've seen so far probably pales in comparison to what's coming. All the tantrums he's thrown, mean tweets he's sent, people he's insulted? That's been while his party was in absolute power. He could do whatever he wanted; he just sucked at it, so he didn't really manage to do much of anything. Now he's going to have Pelosi smacking his tiny hands with the gavel (that he so kindly laid in her lap) every time he does something out of line.
If you missed Pelosi's interview with TODAY, you should check it out. She said it was an "open discussion" whether or not a sitting POTUS could be indicted. That's a pretty big hint from a long-time member of the Gang of Eight. She also said re: impeachment, "We have to wait and see what happens with the Mueller report. We shouldn't be impeaching for a political reason, and we shouldn't avoid impeachment for a political reason. So we'll just have to see how it comes." Well, we already know it's not going to end well for POTUS; who spends months preparing to counter a report that they expect to exonerate them? Trump knows what he did, and he knows Mueller knows. If you thought the last two years were bonkers, you should probably buckle up: it looks like it's going to get even sportier.
Going to keep this one short and just leave you with a little bit of hope: I firmly believe this is going to be Donald Trump's last year in office. We're about to witness a perfect storm of Justice passing directly over 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He is not going to be able to handle the barrage of subpoenas, real-time fact-checking and oversight, and the release of Mueller's report at the exact same time. He's not mentally equipped to handle even slight amounts of pushback; this is going to push him over the edge and he will either resign, or be crazy enough that even the GOP can't defend him anymore.
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Don't Count Romney Out Just Yet
Guys, I get it. I really do. At this point, it’s far easier to assume the furrowed-brows, deep concern, righteous Tweets, and even indignant Senate floor speeches are all just convenient political theater, followed by lining up like good soldiers and doing whatever POTUS wants. Why wouldn’t you feel that way? That’s exactly what we’ve all been shown by Jeff Flake and Susan Collins for the last two years, why would this “I believe 47% of Americans are entitled,” ultra-rich Mormon from Utah with a binder full of a women and a dog on top of his car be any different? I get it. I’m not asking you to become Mitt Romney’s biggest fan, but I am asking you to have a *little* faith; I firmly believe this *is* going to be different.
Of all the current GOP Senators, Romney is perhaps the best-poised to lead the anti-Trump charge. Even as a junior Senator, his job-security is ironclad; he won 65% of the vote in his Senate election in Utah, compared to the 45.9% Trump carried the state with in 2016. Romney is also 71 years old; he will be 77 at the end of his Senate term, so unless he is the primary option in 2020, he won’t have any Presidential aspirations. It’s also worth pointing out that Romney was more popular in a presidential election than Trump; Romney won 47.2% of the national vote against Obama in 2012. Donald Trump won 46.1% of the national vote against Hillary Clinton. This was before the Trump Russia scandal was public knowledge and prior to Trump’s approval rating hovering somewhere just above the toilet.
If I’m correct about Romney — and I think I am — he won’t be leading the GOP anywhere they don’t already want to go. I’ve said since the midterms that the GOP is souring on Trump. Almost to a man, his most ardent defenders slander him mercilessly behind closed doors. They don’t want to be known as the party of Trump, and Romney gives them a well-respected, establishment figure to rally behind. Politically, this really doesn’t matter to me, aside from getting rid of Trump faster. I’m done with the GOP, at least for the foreseeable future. The way they sold their souls for some SCOTUS picks and normalized Trump for two years is far too much for me to forgive anytime soon.
I’ve been tagged in the photo of Romney dining with Trump approximately 3,872 times in the last two days, and while I understand it looks bad, I don’t find it as disturbing as some of you. To borrow a common refrain: politics makes strange bedfellows. For better or worse, this is the way DC works. Bitter rivals often become tentative acquaintances — or even allies — after contentious elections. I didn’t vote for Romney in 2012, but I don’t believe he would have been a bad POTUS. If he weren’t running against Obama, he probably would have won. I also think he would have made a pretty good Secretary of State, or at least a far better one than we have thus far seen in the Trump administration. He’s no fan of Russia, going as far as to call them out as our number one geopolitical foe long before many realized the danger they posed. Now, as an incoming Senator, he’s done something no one else (who isn’t already leaving office) has, or will: he let Trump and the public know that he plans to be a check on his power. I think he will surprise many of you. Hell, I hope he will surprise many of you, and not just because I *really* don’t want to eat all the crow I know you’re prepared to serve me if he doesn’t. Do I expect him to come in and immediately start calls for impeachment or resignation? Or to vote against Trump’s agenda because he hates him? Of course not. But I do expect for him to be the most crucial voice for Justice on the GOP side when Mueller’s report is released. I firmly believe the rule of law Republicans will coalesce around Romney and he will be the catalyst for crossing the 20 vote impeachment threshold.
I've said it before, but it's important to say again: political differences shouldn't make any of us enemies. Remember, before I joined Twitter, I was a long-time just-right-of center-Republican who realized the GOP was leaving me behind. I believe most of you consider me an ally; it shouldn't be any different for the never-Trumpers or the first ones to publicly split from Trump and/or the official party line. When every vote matters, it's unwise to shun potential allies. This doesn't mean absolve them of all their sins, but we should all find a way to work together where we can. I honestly look forward to a time when we can again argue over the nuances of individual or party politics, but can we put that aside for now and save our country first?
Of all the current GOP Senators, Romney is perhaps the best-poised to lead the anti-Trump charge. Even as a junior Senator, his job-security is ironclad; he won 65% of the vote in his Senate election in Utah, compared to the 45.9% Trump carried the state with in 2016. Romney is also 71 years old; he will be 77 at the end of his Senate term, so unless he is the primary option in 2020, he won’t have any Presidential aspirations. It’s also worth pointing out that Romney was more popular in a presidential election than Trump; Romney won 47.2% of the national vote against Obama in 2012. Donald Trump won 46.1% of the national vote against Hillary Clinton. This was before the Trump Russia scandal was public knowledge and prior to Trump’s approval rating hovering somewhere just above the toilet.
If I’m correct about Romney — and I think I am — he won’t be leading the GOP anywhere they don’t already want to go. I’ve said since the midterms that the GOP is souring on Trump. Almost to a man, his most ardent defenders slander him mercilessly behind closed doors. They don’t want to be known as the party of Trump, and Romney gives them a well-respected, establishment figure to rally behind. Politically, this really doesn’t matter to me, aside from getting rid of Trump faster. I’m done with the GOP, at least for the foreseeable future. The way they sold their souls for some SCOTUS picks and normalized Trump for two years is far too much for me to forgive anytime soon.
I’ve been tagged in the photo of Romney dining with Trump approximately 3,872 times in the last two days, and while I understand it looks bad, I don’t find it as disturbing as some of you. To borrow a common refrain: politics makes strange bedfellows. For better or worse, this is the way DC works. Bitter rivals often become tentative acquaintances — or even allies — after contentious elections. I didn’t vote for Romney in 2012, but I don’t believe he would have been a bad POTUS. If he weren’t running against Obama, he probably would have won. I also think he would have made a pretty good Secretary of State, or at least a far better one than we have thus far seen in the Trump administration. He’s no fan of Russia, going as far as to call them out as our number one geopolitical foe long before many realized the danger they posed. Now, as an incoming Senator, he’s done something no one else (who isn’t already leaving office) has, or will: he let Trump and the public know that he plans to be a check on his power. I think he will surprise many of you. Hell, I hope he will surprise many of you, and not just because I *really* don’t want to eat all the crow I know you’re prepared to serve me if he doesn’t. Do I expect him to come in and immediately start calls for impeachment or resignation? Or to vote against Trump’s agenda because he hates him? Of course not. But I do expect for him to be the most crucial voice for Justice on the GOP side when Mueller’s report is released. I firmly believe the rule of law Republicans will coalesce around Romney and he will be the catalyst for crossing the 20 vote impeachment threshold.
I've said it before, but it's important to say again: political differences shouldn't make any of us enemies. Remember, before I joined Twitter, I was a long-time just-right-of center-Republican who realized the GOP was leaving me behind. I believe most of you consider me an ally; it shouldn't be any different for the never-Trumpers or the first ones to publicly split from Trump and/or the official party line. When every vote matters, it's unwise to shun potential allies. This doesn't mean absolve them of all their sins, but we should all find a way to work together where we can. I honestly look forward to a time when we can again argue over the nuances of individual or party politics, but can we put that aside for now and save our country first?
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Military Books You Should Read
Most of you who have followed me for awhile know I read. A. LOT. It's not an exaggeration to say that on average, I read between 1-3 books a week. You might ask how in the world I have time for that with work, a family, and my (somewhat extensive) Twitter habit? Easy! Sleep is overrated.
Someone commented on one of my posts this morning and asked which military books I would recommend. There's absolutely no way I could do such a question justice in 280 characters, or even a Twitter thread, so here we are! These are all books I've read and loved, are historically accurate, and more importantly, will teach you something whether you're a military enthusiast or someone who couldn't tell me the differences in an M4 and an AK-47:
Someone commented on one of my posts this morning and asked which military books I would recommend. There's absolutely no way I could do such a question justice in 280 characters, or even a Twitter thread, so here we are! These are all books I've read and loved, are historically accurate, and more importantly, will teach you something whether you're a military enthusiast or someone who couldn't tell me the differences in an M4 and an AK-47:
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