Donald Trump’s transition team has already had one ‘Stalin-esque purge’

In case you haven’t noticed a bunch Republicans running around with their hair on fire, here’s what’s been happening with President-Elect Donald Trump’s transition, one week after his election: utter and total f—king chaos. For those of us paying attention to his quixotic and destructive campaign, it’s no surprise. So why are GOPers acting so surprised? I don’t know. Maybe they’re only now realizing that electing a pants-sh-tting temperamental toddler to the highest office in the land was a bad idea. There are about a million stories of how badly Trump’s transition has gone thus far (Week 1, remember), but Vanity Fair has a good summary here. Some highlights:

Chris Christie has been pushed out. That happened last week. Christie was head of the transition team, and Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law) had Christie demoted, because Kushner has always hated Christie. Mike Pence was brought in to head the transition team, except that it seems like Pence’s first order of business was literally burning everything to the ground – Christie had already spent months creating hundreds of shortlists for the 4,000 positions Trump will have to fill, and Pence, it seems, has thrown everything out and is now starting from scratch. Now that Pence is in charge, everything is devolving even further into chaos, and everyone is leaking and in-fighting.

The Stalin-esque Purge. Those aren’t my words. Those are the words of former congressman Mike Rogers, who resigned from the Trump transition team yesterday. Sources told NBC that Rogers actually got pushed out in a “Stalin-esque purge.” It will be the first of many, America.

Trump has turned the transition into a beauty pageant. Not really, but this is what VF writes: “Now, a group of ardent Trump loyalists—including Pence, Priebus, Bannon, Kushner, and Alabama senator Jeff Sessions—are steering the ship, Politico reports, each competing for influence as Trump seeks to complete his cabinet.” They’re all competing for Trump to declare them the prettiest transition member!

Some cabinet positions are already in the bag. Sort of. Rudy Giuliani is looking more like a sure thing for Secretary of State. Laura Ingraham will be press secretary. Sarah Palin for Interior. Trump is rewarding the people who were early supporters and long-time loyalists.

Corey Lewandowski is probably out though. Corey left his CNN job in a hurry once Trump won, and he reportedly wanted a position in Trump’s administration. But Jared Kushner – who seems to have a creepy amount of influence over his father-in-law – hates Corey and will not allow it. Reince Priebus apparently hates Lewandowski too.

The transition team didn’t show up for meetings. Members of the transition were supposed to get in-person briefings in Washington for DoD and DoE (Energy). Sources also say that Trump people have been asking Obama’s people to provide them with Republican names of who should fill their positions.

Ted Cruz for Attorney General. This made my blood run cold. Cruz is being “considered” for AG. Don’t do it, Trump! Please don’t do that.

[Paraphrased and sourced from VF, HuffPo & Bloomberg]

Meanwhile, all of this is happening while Trump literally hides out in Trump Tower. He’s been in Trump Tower ever since his day-long trip to Washington last Thursday, which is where Obama (literally) scared the sh-t out of him. I honestly think Trump hates everything about being president so far.

And finally, a conservative (neo-con, honestly) national security guy named Eliot A. Cohen tried to work with Trump’s national security team and he left after one meeting. He wrote an op-ed about it (complete with references to “palace coups” and “unquestioned loyalty”) and tweeted this:

And since Trump is a toddler, he had to tweet this last night:

Photos courtesy of Getty.

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300 Responses to “Donald Trump’s transition team has already had one ‘Stalin-esque purge’”

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  1. Shambles says:

    As I said over on the Ivanka post, if it didn’t directly affect the future of our country, it would be f*cking hilarious. You knew what you were getting 18 months ago, idiots.

    It is painfully clear that he had no intention of winning the presidency. It’s the saddest truth: the woman who literally spent her entire adult life preparing for the job, the most qualified candidate in history, lost to a rotting tangerine in a hairpiece who ran out of boredom and had no actual desire to win. Because reasons.

    • littlemissnaughty says:

      It’s a comedy. In the Ancient Greek sense of the term. I can’t keep up with this sh*t anymore, it’s like my brain has gone on strike. Sarah Palin? SARAH PALIN??? I also have a pretty decent amount of hate for Giuliani. And yeah, if it weren’t so sad and dangerous, I’d be laughing my butt off at the sheer insanity of this picks. Didn’t he want to drain the swamp? Instead he’s been snorkling through it to find the swampiest Republicans he can find near the bottom.

      No, he didn’t want to win. Now he has to work. I hope Obama leaves him high and dry but he probably won’t. Because he loves his country.

      • Chaine says:

        Sarah Palin last what, half a term as governor of Alaska, which probably consists purely of doling out oil industry subsidies and hunting licenses. How long will she last on a job that requires managing the land mass of half a continent and numerous outlying territories and all the native tribes?

      • Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

        The First Nation people are going to be royally fkd over by Palin. Its scary that she is going to be in a position of power – she’s just as petty and vengeful as Trump and the rest of them.

      • Fire Rabbit says:

        The WSJ is reporting they were completely unaware that they had to replace all the White House staff too. They actually thought they’d just continue using President Obama’s staff!

        It sounds like the most dangerous people have become Pence and this Kushner SIL – who has not been elected by the People of the USA for any position, anywhere, btw. Darth Preenius, COS, rounds out the triumvirate. Sounds like Trump himself may have already been pushed aside. Eventually the regime will sort this out, with the most reprehensible people controlling the government. And the rest of the GOP, even some resisting now, will just line up, lie down and let this country be driven into the ground. Hard times coming.

      • Rachel says:

        I agree with the Unicorn. Her appointment is another building block in the wall of depression, I’m desperately trying to climb over. Sweet mother of god! I just can’t even at this point.

      • mayamae says:

        I don’t know about the Palin appointment. I just can’t feel safe unless she’s in Wasilla keepin’ an eye on Russia.

      • vava says:

        Sarah Palin would be a terrible Secretary of Interior. Tied right up there with James Watt back in the early 1980s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_G._Watt

    • LadyMTL says:

      My brother and I were discussing this during a family dinner on Sunday (we’re Canadian, so have less to worry about but still…) He’s quite conservative and I’m very liberal, and we were both baffled by everything that’s happening. At one point we both burst out laughing, but it was like a desperate “oh my lord, what is going on here, did I wake up in an alternate universe? Stop the world, I want to get off” kind of laugh.

      I mean, Sarah freaking Palin with a cabinet position? Whaaaaat?

      • Cee says:

        LadyMLT – I’m also Liberal and my brother is Conservative and even he can’t explain Trump. He is baffled and angry.

      • denisemich says:

        Yesterday I spoke with a day one Trump supporter or should i say anti hillary. He was so interested in forcing his point preelection. Now he doesn’t want to own it at all. He admitted things are getting scary.

        The Apprentice was made for tv not for the Oval office. Without producers to hold the crap together the crazy is leaking all over the place.

        Finally, let’s be clear the complaints are coming from how Pence is running the transition. Which means the guy labeled stable process republican is behind the scenes just as dysfunctional if not worse than trump.

      • SP says:

        Hey, we may have something to worry about in the future – the conservatives are selecting their new leader and some terrible people are in the running. However, anyone can register as a conservative and vote in their leadership race. I have never voted Conservative in my life but I signed up so I can have a say in who runs their party.

      • mazzie says:

        Two words: Kellie Leitch.

      • Anners says:

        Kellie Leitch is evil incarnate. She terrifies me. (Strangely also a liberal with a conservative brother. Alas, while his eyes are a little opened, he hasn’t reached full scale revulsion. He’s going with the ‘let’s give trump some time’ normalization 💩)

      • PimmsCupInAPimpCup says:

        I’m a hybrid of liberal and conservative and “I” can’t explain him.

    • Cee says:

      Honestly this is what many women face daily. It’s unfair and I’m certain it will not change in my lifetime. Perhaps my granddaughters will have it easier.

      Also – this man will run America the way he ran Miss Universe.

      • Melly says:

        Exactly. This is the exaggerated version of what women deal with ALL THE TIME. Our grandkids will only have it easier if we work today to make that future happen.

    • Cerys says:

      You couldn’t make this stuff up. Everyday brings more and more nonsense from the Trump camp. It would be hilarious if it didn’t have such potentially serious consequences for so many.

      • Placebo says:

        I’m from Brazil so I know about crazy politics…I gotta ask: America, what have you done?😳😳

    • Miranda says:

      I said to someone the other day that this is like a real-life version of “The Producers.” Trump just wanted publicity and a title. No one, not even Trump himself and his staff, ever thought he would actually win the presidency, and now they have no idea what the hell they’re supposed to do. Did anyone else see the photos of Trump in his “war room” as the election results came in? He’s surrounded by this his family, who jumped up from their seats and were smiling and cheering, while Trump stays seated looking terrified. It was the same look he had on his face during his entire meeting with Obama (that pic of him staring at the ground while Obama looks right at him gives me life!). As Shambles said above, this would be hilarious if it weren’t happening in our country.

      And maybe I’m reading into this too much, but referring to his job candidates as “finalists” makes it sound like he still thinks he’s judging a beauty pageant.

      • Esmom says:

        “And maybe I’m reading into this too much, but referring to his job candidates as “finalists” makes it sound like he still thinks he’s a beauty pageant.”

        You and me both. Insane.

      • cindy says:

        “finalists”??????
        dear god. He really is going to run the presidency like reality TV show. How can this country survive 4 years of this???? Is this really happening? Not rhetorical questions…..

      • nicole says:

        Exactly what I thought, he thinks he still on his reality show, this whole thing is a complete nighthmare, I really feel sorry for you sensible and smart Americans who didnt vote for this, its awfull.

    • Incognita says:

      If it was a movie, it would be hilarious in the “this is so unrealistic I can’t even” sort of way. But even living on the other side of the world, I couldn’t laugh about it if I tried. As much as we like to poke fun at the US, this is just too much…

    • Annetommy says:

      I am hoping their vileness may be at least somewhat undermined by their incompetence.

    • Radley says:

      I’m baffled as to how Jared Kushner can be so openly hostile to Chris Christie and company, but not have a problem with Steve “too many Jews” Bannon. Jared Kushner is a practicing Jew. I mean, what kind of madness??? What is literally wrong with all these people but Jared in particular? Wow dude.

      • LadyMTL says:

        From what I heard on NBC last night, Kushner has it in for Christie because back in 2003-04 Christie had a hand in sending Kushner’s father to prison (some kind of white collar financial crime, I don’t remember all the details).

        Just goes to show you how mature and trustworthy the whole family is. Trump’s son-in-law has a father in prison, but yet HRC should be locked up? Sigh.

      • Lorelai says:

        @LadyMTL, it was white collar stuff – tax fraud, I think? But WORSE-

        Jared’s father set his brother-in-law up to be caught with a hooker to “get back at his sister” in some sort of squabble. It takes a very special kind of asshole to publicly humiliate a sibling in that way, IMO.

        They are horrible, petty little people. And despite this, supposedly Jared’s Dad is still “one of his most trusted advisors.”

        Basically they’re all in the White House in some revenge fantasy. You can’t make this stuff up!

      • Radley says:

        @ LadyMTL

        I know about that ax that Kushner is grinding with Christie. But still, there’s an anti-semite in the house. One who has had really terrible things to say about Jews. And that isn’t a problem for him? I’m still just baffled. But all of these people are a$$clowns who are gonna rip each other to shreds. It’s like the Legion of Doom.

    • Nicole says:

      It’s basically the Hunger Games come to life. Literally. The presidency will be a reality tv show and the cabinet is full of a bunch of unqualified temperamental idiots. The rest of the world is probably hiding their nukes and wondering the easiest way to slowly back away from the US (except Russia of course).

      I of course will be in training as a district 4 tribute when we inevitably slide into the dark days that begins any good dystopian novel.

      Good job America. I’m so glad I never underestimated the pure idiocy of people here.

      • Esmom says:

        It really is. I’m actually imagining them dividing the US into districts.

      • homeslice says:

        I may have to just stop reading everything and retreat into a hole. I’m hyperventilating daily…I can’t believe this is happening.

        Like I told some family members who voted for Cheeto Benito. I’m not upset a republican won (wouldn’t have been happy but…), I’m devastated a maniac won. Be clear people he is not a republican he is a buffoon, a carnival barker, a travesty to all that is good in America. I didn’t like GWB’s policies but I didn’t loathe the man and I didn’t find him to be an indecent POS. What we have now occupying the oval office is human garbage. I had a little glimmer of hope that perhaps Kushner and Ivanka being Jewish would help temper some of the hateful people Cheeto has on his team, but apparently not.

        I’m hopeful that Republicans with impeach Cheeto in a couple years, the country wakes the fuck up and votes D in the midterms and then we are only stuck with Pence until 2020.

      • Tiffany :) says:

        I thought this line summed it up well:
        “The president-elect is surrounding himself with mediocrities whose chief qualification seems to be unquestioning loyalty”

        “Mediocrities” indeed!

        https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/i-told-conservatives-to-work-for-trump-one-talk-with-his-team-changed-my-mind/2016/11/15/f02e1fac-ab7c-11e6-977a-1030f822fc35_story.html?utm_term=.832f8fa07cb7

      • Jessica says:

        I only know one house in our neighborhood with a Trump sign. I also have a JD from Georgetown so perhaps I’m just part of the liberal elite. We’re not all idiots.🙄

    • Tiffany :) says:

      I agree with every word, Shambles.

      Also, in 2004 when Chris Christie was a US Attorney, he prosecuted Ivanka’s father-in-law for tax evasion, witness tampering, etc. So they say that is why the Christie purge is happening, because of vengeance and Jared Kushner’s influence as Ivanka’s husband. I also have to think Christie might be headed for charges related to the Bridge lane closure debacle.

      I am really scared of the vengeful and retaliatory nature of all of the people involved here. Terrifying.

    • JRenee says:

      Sad to say, but agreed.

    • Louise177 says:

      When Trump won I told people that I wouldn’t be shocked if he quit early in his term. They thought no because of the power but maybe it will happen. Trump obviously cared about winning not what being President entailed. He has no clue. It’s so scary and laughable.

    • Corinne Hayes says:

      I couldn’t agree more! How disgraceful, shameful and embarrassing this election was in electing an ignoramus, a pathological liar, a racist, a fraud. a con artist with a comprehensive level of a 4th grader! Now, those who voted for this clown will suffer the consequences and as a result, we will to. His cabinet team, thus far, is so revolting that we can only hope that we will wake up from this nightmare and find that it was only a nightmare, but unfortunately, it was not! His kids are also his advisors along with his son-in-law who know nothing about foreign policy or domestic policy or really anything of consequence. If it weren’t so horribly dangerous, it would be laughable.

  2. anonymous says:

    what have you done america ?

    • Jenns says:

      As the popular vote indicates, we voted for Hillary Clinton.

    • Jennah says:

      I called The district offices of my congressmen and asked them to take a stand on White supremacist Bannon. (They have to talk to you if you call the district offices).

      Here’s a sample script – “I am a constituent from (insert location) and was wondering when (insert rep or senator name) was planning on releasing a statement condemning Steve Bannon, the white supremacist Donald Trump has appointed chief strategist.

      If they say the person is not planning on doing so say “I will call back tomorrow”

      Also planning on attending town hall meetings.

      • DavidBowie says:

        Thank you for posting this information. I’ll definitely call my congressmen’s offices.

      • lightpurple says:

        They are supposed to talk to you but that does not mean they will. Scott Brown’s district staff people would refuse to take names or transfer beyond the switchboard and would taunt and yell at callers.

        But yes, make the calls and if the staff treats you like Scott Brown’s staff did, ask for the Director of Constituent Services, file a complaint about the treatment you received AND deliver your message. Also, report any trouble you are having with a particular congressional representative to your entire congressional delegation. The MA congressional delegation got so fed up with Brown that they made him hire back Kennedy’s director of constituent services.

      • Patricia says:

        Thanks for sharing.
        I called both of my senators here in NJ and I was not alone, the very next day they released public statements against Bannon. I cried from happiness and relief that at least someone is listening.

        This will be our task now, for the next four years at least: monitor this presidency, speak up, make out voices heard, don’t back down and don’t accept what is unacceptable.

      • Jennah says:

        Thank you Lightpurple, your contributions on CB are so useful!

      • Lena says:

        If the staff refuses to talk to you or treats you impolitely, write down what they say exactly or if your state allows it, record it and go on social media with it.

      • LinaLamont says:

        @Jennah
        @DavidBowie
        @lightpurple
        @Patricia
        Thanks for the information.
        I think it would be helpful if you repost it in every relevant thread (for the next 4 years) :)Some people miss some threads/posts.
        I know I appreciate any information I’ve gotten on this site.

      • Sixer says:

        Also remember that civic engagement like this, especially when it is holding government to account, strengthens democratic institutions by making them respond and interact from the ground up instead of from the top down.

      • Melly says:

        If you need help finding your congress persons contact info:
        http://www.house.gov/htbin/findrep

      • Keaton says:

        Thanks for posting this.
        Great tip: Call the local (district) office.
        I had to search around on google to find the local phone number of my Congressman. I think they want to keep us from contacting them tbh.

        I doubt anyone will be able to stop Trump from appointing Bannon but I feel it’s super important that we get our voices out there regardless.

      • Evie says:

        Thank you Jennah and LightPurple for the helpful suggestions!!!

        If I have to sit through a Trump presidency, I’ll find comfort in being a gigantic pain in the a**.

      • Lightpurple says:

        Some other points: congressional reps will add you to their mailing and email lists, which is fine, it lets you know what they are doing. They can NOT add you to their fundraising lists. It is a flagrant ethics violation to use constituent services for fundraising.

        Contact your governor to put pressure on the congressional delegation.

        Contact House and Senate leaders on everything. If an issue you care about is in committee, contact any rep from your state who is on that committee and the committee chair and ranking members. Committee info is available at House.gov and Senate.gov. Be willing to testify at in-district congressional hearings.

      • QQ says:

        Thanks Jennah, Took 5 mins and did it, will be making all my friends conduct themselves accordingly

      • Tiny Martian says:

        Good job, Jennah. I really believe that being proactive is the only course to take right now.

        And from Obama’s mouth to his supporters’ ears:

        http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/obama-tells-his-supporters-get-over-your-post-election-stress-return#.WCxj2mKAE7I.mailto

      • Sadezilla says:

        Yes, thank you for the information. I just checked and my representative (Eleanor Holmes-Norton) signed a letter with the rest of the House Democrats asking Trump to rescind his appointment of Bannon. However, is there a snowball’s chance in hell he’ll listen to the House Democrats when he doesn’t even listen to his “trusted” advisors? I’m feeling very powerless right now.

        Going to look up town hall meetings in an attempt to cope…

      • Bethy says:

        I called too. Thank you for the info.

      • homeslice says:

        If you are on FB try and get an invite to Pantsuit Nation. A secret group. They are mobilizing everywhere across the country. Maybe the one good thing to come from this is that people are going to have to take a stand and not be complacent. I am one of those people that sat back happy to have President Obama in charge, because I truste him with the well being of our country. Well now, all bets are off, we need to act if we want our country back. I personally plan on getting involved in my community and donating as much as I can to groups who will push back on this regime…

      • hogtowngooner says:

        Yes Jennah.

        People, don’t just get mad. Get active and get involved. Apathy is how they will push their poisonous agenda.

      • Erica_V says:

        Thank you Jennah for this! Both of Rhode Island’s reps have spoken out firmly and definitively against the appointment of Bannon. Part of Jim Langevin’s statement

        “His rhetoric has targeted Jews, Muslims, women, members of the LGBTQ community, and all minorities, and that is just the beginning. We cannot let his behavior be normalized. It is unacceptable. And I will do everything I can to fight on behalf of all of you who are rightfully afraid of what message this sends to our nation.”

      • Karen says:

        Thank you – you just made that so much easier. Done!

      • Kate says:

        Jennah, thank you for posting this information, I contacted my rep and feel better for taking action.

        For anyone interested in additional steps to take, I found Nicholas Kristof’s recent NY Times article, ‘A 12-Step Program for Responding to President-Elect Trump’ both helpful and cathartic:

        http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/17/opinion/a-12-step-program-for-responding-to-president-elect-trump.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-left-region&region=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region

  3. Felice. says:

    *eye roll*

  4. Emily says:

    “…which is where Obama (literally) scared the sh-t out of him.” Is there a story here?

    • Shambles says:

      He told him that running the country takes more than holding Reich rallies and tweeting out legislation at 3 am

      • Belle Epoch says:

        Isn’t it CREEPY that Trump wants to hold “rallies”? This reminds me of a Fourth Reich. We don’t need rallies to assuage his insatiable ego.

        And isn’t it odd that he cannot leave Saruman’s Tower and has to live in his gilded cage instead of the WH?

        He really is just a big, learning disabled toddler throwing rocks at the other kids. Remember how the psychopath Omarisa said he has a Revenge List? That’s far more important to him than “creating jobs” etc.

    • HappyMom says:

      Yes. There was a story in the Wall Street Journal about “how surprised Trump was by the scope of the position” and the realization that the new administration has to hire an entirely staff-they don’t come with the WH. Do you need me to link it?

      • Emily says:

        Ah! Thank you both! I googled “Wall Street Journal scope” and found it. Can I admit that I was hoping that the word “literally” here actually meant “literally”? A good “Trump Just Sharted Himself” story would make my day.

    • SilverUnicorn says:

      Has anyone seen Michelle Obama’s pic while she’s holding a sign:
      “An immigrant has taken my job” lol
      It was on George’s Takei’s Twitter account.

      • ashipper says:

        I love the sentiment, but that’s not real. Plus, I don’t think Michelle is going to behave like that. If you already knew it wasn’t real, sorry for butting in.

      • SilverUnicorn says:

        I imagined it was not real, she’s too classy for that. It was funny nevertheless

  5. RussianBlueCat says:

    With all the influence Jared Kushner has over Donald, makes me wonder if he knows about some skeletons in his closet? He seems to be closer to Donald than his own sons

    • lipreng says:

      Donald’s own sons never struck me as being too bright.

    • Senaber says:

      Here’s something to explain this further- Chris Christie prosecuted kushners father for tax evasion, etc.

      • Kitten says:

        Yeah this should have been included in the article.

      • HK9 says:

        So Chris Christie did his job and Kushner’s still mad. Nice.

      • Cee says:

        Kushner is a Rich Boy and believes he is above it. Christie was doing his job.

      • Dani says:

        Kushner’s family is very beloved amongst the rich Jewish people in New Jersey. I was at a fund raiser held for Trump in Deal over the summer, where Kushner and Trump both spoke. They are rallied by multi millionaire real estate moguls like Cairy, Sutton, Hidary etc. who were all very friendly with father Kushner.

      • Miranda says:

        I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that Ivanka converted to Judaism (and is apparently serious about it), and yet Trump is taking advice from an anti-Semite like Steve Bannon, whose ex-wife claimed that he once said he didn’t want his kids going to school with Jews. WTF?

    • emilybyrd says:

      i bet donald’s sons are both yes men, jockeying for second place after ivanka (their dad’s favorite). i think trump likes that kushner sometimes voices strong opinions (isn’t afraid to be anti-christie, anti-lewandowski). heck, i’d probably trust/listen to somebody more if they didn’t always agree with me.

  6. SusanneToo says:

    Alabama Senator Massive Turd Jeff Sessions has had his nose up trump’s wrinkled a$$ for more than a year. He’s likely to be AG. He’s a RACIST, guys. Just google him. I’ve lived in both Texas and Alabama and their politicians are equally bad. And their citizens are equally stupid in voting against themselves and for monied interests.

    • BengalCat2000 says:

      I live in Alabama and can sadly attest to this. I send Jeff Sessions weekly letters sharing my rage and disgust over his policies. I’m probably on a list somewhere. I can’t believe any of this is real.

      • Pedro45 says:

        Thank you for fighting the good fight.

      • SusanneToo says:

        Hi, Bengal, I’m in the country just outside Mobile. What area are you in?

        PS. For anyone who doesn’t know, the weakening of the VRA is thanks to an a$$hat from Shelby County, the richest county in Alabama.

      • BengalCat2000 says:

        I’m in Tuscaloosa. Mobile is beautiful! There are some amazing beaches down in your neck of the woods!

      • SusanneToo says:

        I was at UA in ’64-’65 when T was a smallish town. I barely recognize it now. Used to see Vivian Malone around campus. And Joe Namath. Seems like ancient history in some ways.

      • Lama Bean says:

        My roots are in Birmingham!

      • Shambles says:

        I’m in West Georgia, I could be over the border in 15 minutes. Hello neighbors.

      • BengalCat2000 says:

        Its so nice to be surrounded by like minded fellow Southern Celebitches!!!

      • TeamAwesome says:

        Waving from Blount County, 40 minutes outside of Birmingham. I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone I’ve voted for at the local or state level actually get into office. That’s what it is like to be a blue dot in a sea of red.

        Jeff Sessions is a literal Shit Show.

      • Anastasia says:

        Shambles, I used to live in Columbus, GA and then Phenix City, AL.

        It’s a weird place. But gorgeous.

      • Frosty says:

        thank you for doing that BengalCat2000

    • lisa says:

      maybe we could save time and list who is NOT racist or sexist or homophobic in this horror movie of an administration

  7. aang says:

    I think the best we can hope for is continued chaos. Trump is so thin skinned everyone pisses him off eventually. So if his inner circle is a constant revolving door, nothing will get done and we can start again in 4 years without too much damage. Lord hear my prayer.

    • LittlestRoman says:

      This is my hope, too. May the screaming human Cheeto spend the next four years trying to figure out how to flush his own toilet and get nothing accomplished.

    • Erinn says:

      I’m hoping that one of these terrible ‘loyal’ folks make him angry enough that he destroys their career, to be honest.

    • HappyMom says:

      Perhaps. But it’s going to be a long, scary 4 years.

    • Jenns says:

      I said the same thing below. Total internal chaos and gridlock is the best case scenario here.

      However, a crisis will happen in the next four years. It could be domestic or international. And that is when things will get really ugly. How is Trump going to address another mass shooting or a terrorist attack?

    • Emily says:

      I see where you’re coming from, I do. But I fear that more chaos will, like his campaign, end in action, not gridlock. It looks like Obama has done a remarkable job in just calming him down. We need more of this.

      • swak says:

        But how long will he stay calm? Once Obama’s gone, who is going to keep him that way?

      • Christin says:

        But then his stiff-faced campaign manager / talking head goes on TV back-tracking (saying orangey was just trying to be nice to BO and did not mean the calmer, more reasonable things he said ON CAMERA).

    • lucy2 says:

      I’m kind of hoping for this too – If their staff is full of idiots and infighting, maybe they won’t get much done, and if they piss off regular Republicans, maybe they won’t be to quick to approve stuff he wants to do.
      I’m worried about what he does get through, but I have a feeling he is going to be incredibly ineffective, and will likely quit or get impeached before the term is up. And then we’ll have to worry about Pence in power.

    • Melly says:

      Continued chaos while Trump is in the white house is more dangerous then I think you realize. The world is an unstable place and the president has to make decisions with a level head. Chaos in the white house will have disastrous effects around the world.

    • Fire Rabbit says:

      +100,000,000.
      Yes. I think it’s best that things blow up right from the beginning too. Keep them weak and maybe we can get rid of them sooner. As a country we’ll still be in a stronger position from the Obama years and won’t be struggling under fascist laws and amendments and punitive, failing economic policies yet. Recovery would be possible. If they become entrenched it’s over. We’ll have lost our country forever.

  8. Zapp Brannigan says:

    Is he holding a swimsuit round before he decides who gets each position?

  9. Jenns says:

    “Now, a group of ardent Trump loyalists—including Pence, Priebus, Bannon, Kushner, and Alabama senator Jeff Sessions—are steering the ship, Politico reports, each competing for influence as Trump seeks to complete his cabinet.” They’re all competing for Trump to declare them the prettiest transition member!

    I knew this was going to happen. Everyone is going to try and influence a man who has the attention span of a gnat. This may work out in our favor though, because if his team is in total chaos, that means it’s less likely that he’ll get anything done.

    • Lightpurple says:

      Sadly, Paul Ryan is much more focused, has his act together, is intent on shoving his hateful, destructive agenda through Congress, and Trump will sign whatever Ryan and McConnell pass.

      • jetlagged says:

        Would it help at all to start calling Ryan’s office – even if you aren’t one of his constituents? If he has his own presidential aspirations, he might listen if enough people pointed out he looks like a tool when he pleads ignorance about how bad this Bannon guy is or how guilty by association all this makes him look? Or does he care about his precious agenda too much to give a crap about anything else?

      • Roisin says:

        Have you seen Paul Ryan lately…he’s giddy with excitement. He scares me almost more than the Trump team. He’s plotting…

    • Fire Rabbit says:

      Forget the pageants.
      It’s a frickin’ RL Game of Thrones.
      The Fiefdom States of America.
      If I weren’t so terrified I’d love to be a fly on those walls.

  10. trollontheloose says:

    “I’m the only one who knows who the finalists are”. when I saw the tweet I thought yep, this cretin is The Apprentice 2.0 except he’s the apprentice himself.. This show is a show i would rather it stays on tv. I actually would have been happy if he lost and was running Donald Tv and shows and books. That’s what i thought during the election. I thought he didn’t necessarily want to win he just wants a platform of subscribers a la Murdoch. it’s awful. Every bad decision is sending me wave of anger and resentment. I am mourning a certain freedom that is fading and though I never took anything for granted I think i did in some matters that today are threatened.

  11. Jezi says:

    Something happened between Chris Christie and Jared’s father. That’s why the bad blood. I have to research further but I believe Christie had him arrested. Not sure for what just yet but I’ll check back in with an update when I find out more.

    Edit: Here’s what I could find!

    “Christie’s relationship with Kushner dates to his time as New Jersey’s U.S. attorney under President George W. Bush. Back then, the International Business Times reported, Christie prosecuted his father Charles Kushner, using documents pried from the Kushner siblings’ bitter, sealed legal feud for control of their family’s real estate company.
    For whatever it’s worth, David Wildstein, who Christie fired over the bridgegate scandal worked for PolitickerNJ which Jared Kushner owns.”

  12. Aiobhan Targaryen says:

    As a proud resident of NJ, the only joy I am getting out of this is that Chris Christie has officially become a joke. He is not well liked in NJ nor in Washington and never will be.

    I personally think the only reason his pathetic behind was re-elected was because of Sandy. People cared more about getting their lives back together and did not have enough attention to pay to his bullying ways. Congratulations Chris, you just got played!!!!

    I am not surprised by him rewarding all his butt kissers with jobs, no matter if they are fit to do it or not. I should go troll some Trump supporters with this news because they keep saying they voted for change.. and yet this behavior is exactly what they kept saying they did not want.

    • lucy2 says:

      Jersey girl here too, I’m elated that for all his butt kissing, Christie has been given the boot. Here’s hoping he gets prosecuted for Bridgegate too.

      Funny how Trump’s “drained swamp” is filling up with a lot of the same old alligators.

      • Aiobhan Targaryen says:

        I am also hopeful that he gets convicted in Bridgegate. After hearing about what happened with Bridget Ann Kelly and Bill Baroni, I am anxiously waiting until I hear that Christie has been arrested for his part in what happened.

        But a part of me also thinks that he really will not be charged with anything because, as a former prosecutor, he probably covered his tracks too well for any real evidence to come out to bury him. Everyone who has already been convicted was expendable.

      • vava says:

        Yes, seeing Christie booted out is the ONLY good news lately.

    • Melly says:

      I’m not from Jersey, but years ago I kinda liked Christie. I didn’t know a lot about his policies but he seemed like a tough guy who was willing to work with democrats. Bipartisan politicians are rare so I mistakenly thought that he was one of the “good” republicans. The last 2ish years have really proved me wrong. Who would have thought that Christie would end up being Trump’s lapdog.

      • Aiobhan Targaryen says:

        So did I in the beginning. And then I saw him verbally attack a teacher (a woman no less) in public. The way that he went from zero to one hundred was a lot disconcerting and it only got worse from there.

        I can admit that he can turn on the charm and seem sincere- look up videos of him talking about his mother’s long fight with cigarette addiction. I actually felt that he was being sincere in his love for his mother and need to take a different approach to how addiction is seen and dealt with in this country, and maybe he was at that time. His temper and pettiness will always overshadow any good will I had towards him.

  13. Div says:

    I just want to thank Celebitchy (and Pajiba) for covering this situation. It is infuriating how so much of the media tries to ignore or normalize this situation. I understand why President Obama has to be cautious as he is still in office but the fact that Harry Reid (who is doing the most), Keith Ellison, Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren are the only ones going hard on Trump is disappointing.

    I was watching Anderson Cooper last night and was so disappointed to hear him pull the ole’ “well, Jared is Jewish so how can he anti semitic” and to have Glenn f*cking Beck be the voice of reason. Glenn read direct quotes in which the two main people who work under Bannon talk about “ethnic cleansing being a good thing, a European centric America, and more.” This is so ugly and scary. Trump also has Frank Gaffney on his transition team. Frank is so bad that an uber conservative group kicked him out. He believes that Obama secretly incorporated the Crescent in some logo and is Muslim, that Grover Norquist is a secret agent of the Muslim Brotherhood, and said Chris Christie was guilty of treason for appointing a Muslim-American to some post in New Jersey. He is a conspiracy nut of the highest order, on the level of Alex Jones.

    Edited: Cut off part of my long rant.

    • LAK says:

      Jared has written articles defending Donald on the point of anti-semitism.

      Also that star of David fiasco was approved or slipped unnoticed past Jared.

      It seems no one checks Donald or despite being an *orthodox Jew, Jared doesn’t really embrace his religion to extent where he thinks it affects his life.

      *He is apparently observant and strict about it.

      • Div says:

        @LAK

        A ton of Kushners came out and slammed Jared for that article. Jared is either willfully obtuse or just doesn’t care that Donald has hired a man who is listed as part of a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center in part because of his rampant anti-semitism. I feel like a lot of people are being willfully obtuse.

        AIPAC is reportedly privately furious about Bannon’s appointment but won’t say anything publicly and the ADL has come out swinging against Bannon. This is a man whose wife testified that he was horribly anti-semitic, who was in charge of Breitbart when it ran headlines calling Bill Kristol a “renegade Jew”, etc…

        Anyway, I copied this quote from an article because I thought it summed up the situation:
        “As our Naomi Zeveloff explained earlier this week, it’s possible to be Zionist and anti-Semitic at the same time. Some, like Bannon, see in Israel a (white) nationalist, anti-Arab country worth supporting — over there. Here, in America, they may accept, even respect, individual Jews, but their ideological aim is to cleanse the country of its multiculturalism and restore privilege to white Christian males.”

        Bannon is such a piece of shit who is careful enough to use just borderline language in public with a few slip ups like when he was recorded using homophobic language.. It’s the people who work directly under him that are the most telling imo..

      • EM says:

        I don’t think it’s being willfully obtuse. I think Jared thinks he can control and manipulate the situation so it isn’t putting on a fight. I think that the entire family thinks that Bannon helped get him elected and respect his tactics.

        Here’s the scary thing about Bannon – he has close ties to a lot of the survivalist and militia groups out there. If you go on their sites, these people are seriously armed – out arming some Police Departments. So imagine what will happen if Bannon continues the narrative that the others (all of us) are going to stop Trump from A, B, C. We can very well have these militia take up arms in support of the Trumps. I seriously think that “progressive groups/liberals” need to organize and begin arming themselves. I think most are the logical, cerebral kind of people and will lose against an armed zealot any day of the week.

    • LittlestRoman says:

      When I can find common ground with Glenn Beck, it is a sign to me that we are well and truly f*cked. I hope everyone enjoyed Medicare and Social Security while they lasted! Everyone has adequate retirement savings, right? I mean, it won’t matter once the stock market bottoms out, but who cares?

      • suze says:

        Lately I have been listening to Glenn Beck and nodding along, which means we have officially entered bizarro world.

      • vava says:

        I know, I never thought I’d agree with Beck on ANYTHING. This is truly getting bizarre.

    • HappyMom says:

      Yes-when Glenn Beck is the voice of reason we’re in big trouble.

      • Jennah says:

        Beck said he changed his mind about coming out against trump because he actually wanted to Be at peace with God when he died.

      • Div says:

        I was thinking the same thing….hell has frozen over.

        It amazes me that people think others are overreacting when half of his guys are listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center as being affiliated with hate groups. I can not understand how people aren’t more freaked out about Frank Gaffney, too.

      • Melly says:

        I watch an interview with Beck a couple of months ago and i was shocked that I was actually agreeing with him and he came across as incredibly reasonable. He even complemented Obama and apologized for being such an ass to him for so many years. I think I watched the whole interview with my mouth open and wondered if Hell now has a skating rink, because it has clearly frozen over.

        @Div the Trump people have already declared the Southern Poverty Law Center a leftist group with no credibility. That made me nauseous so I decided to start donating to them. They’ll clearly need all the support they can get in the next 4 years. If anyone is interested in donating, go here:
        https://donate.splcenter.org

      • Christin says:

        I watched him years ago, and he didn’t seem as rigid as he later became. Maybe he’s reverting to a more reasonable mindset?

      • Louisa says:

        @Melly – thank you. I hadn’t heard they had said that about SPLC. I’ve just made my donation. What an absolute nightmare.

      • HappyMom says:

        @Melly-thanks for linking that. They and Planned Parenthood got big donations from me the day after the election.

      • Kate says:

        @Melly – just to add that I also made a donation to SPLC today, as well as the ACLU.

    • Natalie S says:

      Anderson Cooper is disappointing the hell out of me. Journalists need to stop pretending they’re moderators on Crossfire and do their jobs.

      • nicole says:

        I agree, I used to love Anderson Cooper, but he is getting on my goat with the things he says, he really isnt a very good news reporter anymore, he really needs to waken up, I would rather have Don Lemon.

  14. Bex says:

    ‘Finalists’?! This moron thinks this is a reality TV show still.

  15. Jayna says:

    I feel sick and disgusted.

  16. rahrahrooey says:

    This has to be a prank. IT HAS TO BE!

  17. lipreng says:

    Fun fact. Chris Christie was U.S. Attorney for the state of NJ and responsible for putting Jared Kushner’s father in jail for several crimes including tax evasion & witness tampering.

  18. grabbyhands says:

    As I said yesterday, he has already lost control of the ship and now all the little monsters are fighting for supremacy to be the power behind the throne.

    It’s Shakespearean, really.

    But none of this is going to matter to the mouth breathers that voted for him-he can do no wrong. There is literally no reach to far for them to excuse or deflect blame for his actions and choice. Didn’t you know? Steve Bannon isn’t a racist-because there’s nothing wrong with being proud of being white after eight years of racist Barack Obama and anyway-you need to provide proof that he said racist stuff or you’re just a libtard spouting the liberal media koolaid, which is just stuff they made up. Also, there haven’t really been any hate crimes since Trump won-all of those things are either lies or done by liberal plants to make Trump look bad.

    These are actual things that people are saying.

  19. Giggs says:

    Ted Cruz is the worst!!! The hypocrisy and power grabbing is just disgusting. First trump publicly insults his wife, but now he’s here? I’m not shocked that self serving ass fell in line -QUICK TOO.

    • Christin says:

      And made a terrible claim about his father being involved in JFK’s death.

    • Annetommy says:

      Yes, how could you cozy up to a man who insulted your father like that? I guess hunger for power has no time for sentiment.

    • Giddy says:

      I can’t stand Cruz! However, much as I hate to say it, maybe AG would be the lesser of two evils, because the other position I saw him mentioned for is the Supreme Court! Cruz as a Supreme is a nightmare of mythic proportions since it is a lifetime appointment. I can see increasing my alcohol intake for four years, but not forever. The only bright spot is that at least he would be out of the Senate.

  20. Nancy says:

    Only he knows who the finalists are…still thinks he is running a beauty pageant. A week has gone by and the pain hasn’t lessened. In the past I have been unhappy with elections, hello George Bush, but never afraid for my children. What has happened to our country.

    • Kitten says:

      This is what so many people on the right are having trouble understanding. This transcends a mere difference in political ideology, this man is a lunatic, a raving monster who is hiring a slew of hateful bottom-feeders to run his presidency. It’s terrifying.

      • Sixer says:

        This is what I keep saying over here, Kitten! It’s not about Brexit any more. It’s not about Hillary or Bernie or any better Republican nominee any more. Sensible conservatives should forget their tribal wars with sensible liberals. Sensible liberals should forget their tribal wars with sensible conservatives. It’s all of us who are sensible vs armabloodygeddon.

      • Kitten says:

        EXACTLY, Sixer. Debating policy or ruminating over how the Democratic Party could have done things differently feels like a luxury at this point.

      • suze says:

        I am off Facebook now, and you know what drove me off the cliff? The “let’s give him a chance and unify” posts. From those trying to be “reasonable”.

        These are not ordinary times.

      • SilverUnicorn says:

        @Kitten @Sixer

        Agree with you!

      • Louisa says:

        @sixer – “It’s all of us who are sensible vs armabloodygeddon”. This is so right. One of my husband’s “friends” was gloating about Trump’s win and when my husband told him that this is a disaster for the country, he claimed that civil war was what was needed in this country and it was about time.
        I truly weep at the stupidity and ignorance of these people. And in fear for my 12 year old son.

      • Esmom says:

        suze, the same thing drove me off FB. Bunch of effing hypocrites with the “unity” crap.

      • Juls says:

        @Suze: I’m off of Facebook too. All those trolls that shouted me down and taunted me with hateful rhetoric any time I dared whisper any support for Hillary, called me terrible names, now want me to hold hands and unify with them. Um, excuse me but, no. To much at stake.
        @Louisa: I told same facebook people, when Trump gets his toddler feelings hurt and starts a war, they better be the first to raise their hands to go to the front lines or send their kids to war so mine can stay home because THEY asked for this and I vehemently opposed this nightmare. Response: *crickets*

      • Rhiley says:

        Just wanted to raise my hand in recognition of being off facebook. I haven’t completely deactivated my account because it is the primary way that I get news stories but have not posted since the day after the election in which I wrote a pretty long piece about my anger and disappointment and left it at that. I was a pretty regular poster too but I just can’t now.

      • Roisin says:

        Another one here who deactivated FB.

    • WeShallOvercomb says:

      @Nancy exactly. I didn’t care for John McCain or Mitt Romney’s policies or agenda, but I would not have been -ashamed- to have them in the White House. I wouldn’t have felt embarrassed to have either of them representing us on the world stage.

      I would have patiently waited out the four-to eight years and worked to defeat them – but I wouldn’t have woken up in a cold sweat the day after their election.

      This situation is an entirely different ballgame. This man and his minions are not safe for our country or society.

    • Kyrgios says:

      I’ve been afraid for a long time due to climate change and the knowledge that neoliberalis are going make life increasingly harder for average citizens. I don’t like where things are headed at all.

  21. LAK says:

    Why do you think Jared Krushner has a ‘creepy amount of influence’ over the Donald? Not being snarky. Have you read any profiles on Jared over the years? They are cut from the same business cloth and are on the same path to influence and power. Is it a case of Donald recognising a kindred business spirit or Jared following in Donald’s footsteps? Or both.

    http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a47697/jared-kushner-trump-campaign/

    And it is laughable to think Jared would work with Christie. The man jailed his father, Charles. It seems Jared never forgets or forgives.

    What you should find creepy is Ivanka finding a man who seems similar to her father. The old adage about marrying our parents……

    • Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

      Yes Jared is Trump 3.0 and with the firing of Christie showing just how nasty and ruthless he is. His father is also a nasty piece of work – trying to blackmail his OWN BROTHER. The Krushner and Trumps seem to be cut from the same rank cloth.

      This presidency is not going to end well for the world, particularly for the average Americans who will suffer the most. With the people being put in power civil liberties will be destroyed piece by piece, particularly if you are a woman or non white.

  22. Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

    Well, Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Trump is hiding is his tower while his followers fight to the death in his ‘coliseum’ for his favour – this is how Hitler ran things and look how that turned out for him.

    America is going to be run by a businessman who’s been declared bankrupt 5 times and is so far treating it like an episode of The Apprentice. Be warned he will run the country the same way he runs his businesses, criminally and with an iron fist.

  23. sara says:

    I think I may actually vomit. Trump is disgusting and #notmypresident

  24. Feebee says:

    So far the only woman considered has been for Department of the Interior. He knows that’s not short for Interior Decorating right?
    I’m putting my money on Bannon and Priebus strangling each other shortly after inauguration.
    I hope those who figure they’ll be too busy fighting to get anything done are correct.
    Either Melania sets a record for doing nothing as FLOTUS or their marriage doesn’t survive this. Donald has said putting the wife to work is one of the worst things you can do. God forbid she tries to talks about her work rather than all things Donald.

  25. robyn says:

    America has reached the bottom. Here’s some more scary stuff. Trump is associated with tabloids who support him and spread lies against reputable people … they even appear like regular news and sometimes target Trump just to seem authentic. But they are behind Trump 1000 percent. Now they are pushing a fight between Hillary and Bill supposedly saying he tried to stop her from blaming Comey for her loss. Of course, Comey is indeed in part to blame for her loss but Trump’s surrogates are already trying to change history. I can’t count on regular media anymore because I feel they too are responsible for letting this mess happen and normalizing Trump. They are not vigilant. Oddly enough, comedians found ways to express the travesty and it will be sites like CB we must depend on to hold Trump’s feet to the fire.

    • Kitten says:

      Like the National Enquirer who was paid off by Trump to bury the story about his 10 month affair with a Playboy model?

  26. HK9 says:

    This will implode in short order. If they’re arguing already, this administration will be shaky at best, at worst, someone will be pulling a coup every few months. Go to the library and pull out the civics books. You’ll all going to need to know the rules and the laws to make sure that those who fill the vacuum in power (and there will be ) are supposed to be there.

  27. Tiffany27 says:

    I cannot fu*king believe this is happening. His cabinet is literally a “Who’s Who” of the most ignorant and hate filled people in America. I’m trying so hard to be positive, but JFC this will be the longest 4 years. We may not live through this.

  28. IlsaLund says:

    Since we are all going to suffer the pain anyway of a Trump administration, then it may as well devolve into chaos and implode now. I never wish ill on anyone, but I hope this train derails and goes careening off a cliff into the deepest gorge available. Please let it all blow up.

    • Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

      If it implodes because of all the in fighting – who do u think will get punted up into the VP role? Krushner his son-in-law, am convinced thats going to happen. The first time Trump and Pence clash, Pence will get ‘fired’ and replaced with Jared. He’s being groomed for it.

      • IlsaLund says:

        The Vice President can’t technically be fired….he can be impeached, resign, die in office or get bumped up to President. Also, any new Vice President has to be approved by both houses of Congress.

        This shit show is just unreal.

    • HappyMom says:

      Right-but who’s going to suffer when this blows up? Our country and the world. There are scary, serious repercussions with these moronic whakadoos running the show.

    • JurisGal says:

      The media lockouts and wars have started already. Serves them right, they played to his celebrity and now he’s dumped them. I see that Tom Petty/Depp video in my head ” into the great wide open…”
      As much as I want to say those who voted for this deserve it, I can’t because those that did not vote for this will suffer too. I am terrified and resent ( yes, I know) resent how others act as if the fears and concerns of non-whites and women are overreactions. And the ” both sides” arguments are a joke,

  29. Ariel says:

    I’m just flat out scared.
    And the first trump voter in my life who acts surprised at how bad it is may get their tires slashed (kidding, but dead god I am seething with anger and bottomless fear for humanity)

    • IlsaLund says:

      I said yesterday that for the first time in my life, the future is clouded and feels dark & dangerous.

  30. Kiki says:

    I love it…. Trumpism is going to shit on America and they will be the laughing stocks again in this day and age. The rest of the world would just leave America be and move on. If they go into war with anyone lets say…. THE MIDDLE EAST. I am so sorry for America but I hope the rest of the powers like Sweden, Norway and rest of Europe especially Germany left USA in their own filth. And speaking of Economy, watch and see Donald Trump asking Vladimir Putin to borrow some money and they don’t will be expecting some rich RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRES digging away the US dollar.

    USA has voted, now you will have to take the burden.

    • Kitten says:

      I’m not sure why you felt the need to add “I’m so sorry for America” when the rest of your comment sounds downright gleeful about what’s happening here.

      • Kiki says:

        Oh @Kitten. You are sadly mistaken, I am being sarcastic…. I am not gleeful for America’s downfall. I am just sad for the people who are being ruined by Racist cabinet in the White House, and I say this because Donald Trump is making the American Dream a living nightmare. That’s what it is shit.

    • Sixer says:

      I dislike US foreign policy as much as anyone (and, as a Britisher, I dislike UK foreign policy as much as anyone).

      But this comment is outright offensive. REAL PEOPLE live in the United States, you know. REAL PEOPLE that you’ve just wished suffering on.

    • Lightpurple says:

      How does this help you? How does this help anyone?

    • SilverUnicorn says:

      Apart from offending Americans who are as good as any European or African or from another continent, it’s also deeply naive to think that Germany/France/Sweden and others won’t fall down together with USA. It’s a statement that highlights you ignore world history and politics.

      To quote part of the Brexiteers’ mantra “Fascism is back – get over it”

    • Shambles says:

      No.
      USA voted for Hillary Clinton. The electoral college went for Trump.
      And we are not “taking the burden.” We are fighting, and fighting like hell.

      • SilverUnicorn says:

        @Shambles

        ((HUGS)) you’re not alone in this. I know it’s not much of a material support, but many of us, everywhere, are with you.

      • Kiki says:

        That’s great for you. I hope you will keep fighting and make the rest of us proud.

    • Jaded says:

      What a misguided and cruel opinion that is. Do you realize that the U.S. spends over $30 billion yearly on global disaster relief? Trump will stop that and where will that leave the rest of the planet? You have to think globally when you make unutterably stupid comments like “leave the US in it’s own filth” because as chaotic and stupid as its politics seem right now, it is one of the most generous countries on earth and the awful results of a Trump presidency will reverberate not only within its borders but around the world.

    • Frosty says:

      this comment seems a bit myopic. And complaisant. The pendulum is moving and there’s a rightward trend in Europe as well — look at how well the Swedish Democrats did recently. Look at Front National, and the many other nationalistic parties throughout europe. The way I see it, it’s all a rejection of globalism, cosmopolitanism, “diversity”.

  31. OriginallyBlue says:

    I have to laugh to not cry. I feel so terrible for all the people who are going to be completely screwed over and hurt by this monster. This presidency is going to be a sh*t show. A bunch of people with no experience or a clue are going to be running things. Smh.

  32. IlsaLund says:

    And the spineless GOP Congress are all running around wearing Make America Great Again hates, reveling in their euphoria of having total control of government so they can now “fix” things (i.e., destroy social programs, increase military spending and run up massive deficits). All the while threatening Democrats that they better toe the line or else they’ll get blamed for obstructing Trump’s agenda and will therefore suffer the consequences in the 2018 mid term elections.

    And the Trumps will now start hawking those ridiculous hats and make a profit off them.

  33. Franny says:

    What a s****y manager he must be to not even have known that he’d have to hire his own staff. And then to publicly admit he didn’t know the scope of the job – the arrogance is breathtaking. Hasn’t he heard of faking it till you make it?

  34. BJ says:

    I read Ben Carson doesn’t want a position in the cabinet because he doesn’t have any political experience.What??

    He ran for president despite not having political experience.
    Trump has no political experience.
    This is like the Twilight Zone.

    • Esmom says:

      I read that, too, made me think Carson at least has gotten an iota of a clue.

      • Radley says:

        I think it was just a terrible excuse for wanting to swerve on what is clearly shaping up to be an unholy mess. Ben Carson is less batsh*t than Donald Trump. Let that sink in.

  35. Kaye says:

    I wonder if too much Schadenfreude can actually kill a person? If so, I’ll be on the critical list soon.

    • Jennah says:

      Thank you for this. I agree this is all important information and wish I could promote this comment, star it, get kaiser to put it at the top of the article, something so people take action.

      It’s all just as important as voting.

      • LinaLamont says:

        @ Jennah

        Pass it along to anyone and everyone who will listen. Post it wherever you can.

        Also, with her permission, include what @lightpurple offered:
        “They are supposed to talk to you but that does not mean they will. Scott Brown’s district staff people would refuse to take names or transfer beyond the switchboard and would taunt and yell at callers.

        But yes, make the calls and if the staff treats you like Scott Brown’s staff did, ask for the Director of Constituent Services, file a complaint about the treatment you received AND deliver your message. Also, report any trouble you are having with a particular congressional representative to your entire congressional delegation. The MA congressional delegation got so fed up with Brown that they made him hire back Kennedy’s director of constituent services.”

    • vava says:

      If the Democrats EVER take control of Congress again (big if, I know) I hope they use the opportunity to try to abolish the Electoral College once and for all. Go to a direct popular vote.

      Hell will probably freeze over first, though.

  36. robyn says:

    Reality check. Canadians are already impacted by the Trump win by having their mortgage rates go up. Thanks America. His plans worried financial markets about inflation and investors dumped bonds causing an interest rate hike. They should have dumped Trump. But now Canadian household have a bigger bill to pay and fewer first time buyers will be able to afford a home.

    • swak says:

      Question – is your mortgage rate a flexible rate? In other words – does it change/or could it change from year to year? My mortgage rate is fixed and therefore if I don’t refinance the rate will be the same until it is paid off. Luckily I just refinanced through HARP and my rate was cut in half & I took 8 years off the length of my loan. It sucks big time for new home owners if the rate is increasing that badly.

  37. SusanneToo says:

    Hillary must be alternating between laughing hysterically at the sh1tshow and crying for America.

    • Miranda says:

      Last Tues, when the election results were coming in and started pointing to Trump, my brother and I discussed Hillary’s (hypothetical) revenge, and we decided that the only thing to do is pull a Cersei Lannister move at the Inauguration.

  38. I'mScaredAsHell says:

    Can’t you just imagine him flying to an international meeting on Air Force, family entourage in tow to meet with heads of state on important global issues and then his incubus spawn use the opportunity to make business deals for the Trump empire. My Gawwdd….

    • Lightpurple says:

      And Paul Ryan ignoring all demands for an investigation

      • Christin says:

        What do you predict poorly aging, morphed Eddie Munster-Greg Brady (sorry – that’s all I see) will do when polls finally show no confidence in the president and the GOP? He seems to lean whichever way the wind blows.

      • Lacia Can says:

        Christin- you answered your own question. He’ll save his own skin first because that’s just the kind of unprincipled spineless weasel that he is. Sorry to weasels, who are so cute!

      • Lightpurple says:

        He’ll drink a gallon of water in one gulp, continue pretending, and find a group of scapegoats, as Reagan and Gingrich did before him.

      • mayamae says:

        Any hope I had in Ryan and the House putting up road blocks for Trump ended when they exited wearing “Make America Great Again” hats. Absolutely deflating.

    • LinaLamont says:

      Ivanka will have her MaryKay-Avon-Tupperware bag with her….full of her jewelry samples to shill.

  39. Macscore says:

    I just want to thank CB and all the commenters and posters here. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, and this site makes me realise I’m not alone. Seriously, seriously worried for the future. Last night I actually dreamt that future historians, somehow surviving in a Mordor-like landscape, were trying to figure out what the earth “pre-Trump” was like.
    I’m really trying to stay positive, project love and kindness to those whom I meet, but I can’t help feeling in my inner self that no good can come out of any of this at all. Looking at pictures of Obama and his family over the years makes me actually howl with grief, that things have come to this. Hold on tight, America, it’s going to get rough. (Sorry, nothing helpful here, I know).

  40. . says:

    He so wishes that Hillary would have won this whole thing.

  41. WeShallOvercomb says:

    I only have one thing to say about all this:

    HAHAHAHAHAHA!

    Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Why are we surprised by any of this? The nastiness, belligerence and nepotism of the campaign would only carry over to his transition and presidency. This is only the beginning folks – time to pull up a chair!

    “We are being told this is a Game of Thrones knife fight”….All the hand-wringing and it may turn out that Pres Trump will be his own undoing in the end.

    • Christin says:

      First of all, your screen name is hilarious. Your comment reminds me of the old adage about giving someone enough rope…

    • I Choose Me says:

      I can’t laugh because while the thought of them imploding gives me a delicious feeling of schadenfreude, it may not happen soon enough to prevent these greedy, power hungry asshats from enacting and or repealing policies that will hurt real people. I’m so worried for my American celebitches right now.

      On a lighter note, I am seriously digging your username.

  42. Mar says:

    Why would anyone want to be President? This is going to rip his family apart I am sure. Melania did NOT sign up for this!

    • Lightpurple says:

      Not really caring about Melania right now.

      • Macscore says:

        @lightpurple: totally. I could give a rat’s arse about that MOB (“Mother of Barron”); she knew damn well what she signed up for, and she’s been living it large, conniving with her husband’s “tax-exempt” status, claiming degrees she never earned at a university whose classes she attended for about five minutes, plagiarising the brilliance of _divine_ Michelle, doing _nothing whatsoever_ to use her wealth and privilege for the betterment of her fellow mankind, oh, the list is endless. An absolute effing disgrace.
        Let’s hope she reveals an ounce of humanity and distances herself pronto from this tsunami of sewage… nah.. that ain’t gonna happen… at the very least, then, I hope that she sues FOB/FOE/FOT (‘Father of Barron/Eric Jr/Tiffany’ take your pick) for something…anything… because that’s all they do.

  43. SusanneToo says:

    Gun stocks have fallen and prison stocks have risen since the election.

  44. Radley says:

    As someone pointed out on the news last night, “I’m the only one who knows…” implies there’s no vetting process in place. Sounds about right. What a sh*tshow.

  45. SMD says:

    Thank you all for the intelligent comments and truly helpful political action suggestions. At this point I feel impeachment is our only true option. Otherwise basic government services are going to cease. Real consequences people, this isn’t a show but the highest office in the country.

    • Angela says:

      I don’t see a Republican Congress moving toward impeachment.

      • Lightpurple says:

        If Trump doesn’t do as Ryan wants, he’ll throw him out in a heartbeat. But Trump will sign everything Ryan sends to his desk. And innocent people will die. Much to Ryan’s twisted delight

    • HappyMom says:

      Right-but then we’re stuck with Pence. Sounds like a Lose/Lose to me.

  46. vava says:

    https://hbr.org/2016/11/what-so-many-people-dont-get-about-the-u-s-working-class

    This is an important article to read. I know it’s a bit off-topic for this post, but I found it enlightening.

    • Kitten says:

      I read it on FB this morning and honestly, out of all the infuriating “think pieces” coming out about the working class, this was by far the best one and I think that’s because it was written by a woman.

      And that first comment underneath the article–SPOT-ON and what I’ve been saying since day one.

      • Sixer says:

        That was really interesting. Especially the parts about resentment of professionals but not wealth – that this isn’t commonly recognised is classic classism.

        Class is often the missing piece in the American intersectional puzzle, I find. Which, presumably, is why so many of the recent think pieces about it are so ill-informed. Separately, this side of the Pond, we’re miles behind on thinking about race because we’ve got this idea that since we didn’t have segregation or Jim Crow, we’re not that bad. We’re often in denial about how racist we actually are. We know about class though!

      • original kay says:

        The comments below keep changing as more are added. The last one was posted 2 minutes ago, just FYI that it might not be the comment you want referenced.

        Some of the comments are just scary. They are still, at the base of it, after the suppression of minorities in order to boost themselves. Still a division to feel better about their lives, rather than strength as a whole.

      • Kitten says:

        I’m just noticing a lot of cognitive dissonance with my liberal friends posting these op-ed pieces criticizing the Dem party for not doing enough to appeal to working class whites, and then in the next post railing against the DAPL pipeline.

        Well, the DAPL pipeline would directly benefit the white working class in the Midwest and farm states, people who are looking for economic redemption via new jobs. The Keystone Pipeline that Obama stopped will be back in action under Trump’s regime as will the Dakota Pipeline.
        So working class whites will be rewarded, but at the expense of the indigenous people and the environment.

        A Dem friend asked me if I think we should be concerned with a party that was once squarely in the pocket of the working class suddenly being a party of “elites” and at the risk of sounding like an “elite” I don’t really give a sh*t. We have women, minorities, the LGBTQ community…we have an expanding and diverse base and what’s wrong with that? The Republican Party wasn’t always the party of Religion and Racism, either, but it has gone through quite a makeover. Why isn’t the Democratic Party allowed to do the same?

        I didn’t see the Right scrambling to change their platform after Obama was elected a second term in order to appeal more to women? In fact, their entire party is largely devoted to taking away MY rights but I’m supposed to be worrying about working class white dudes?

        Maybe it’s just harder for me to cry tears for a segment of the population that was status quo for many, many years during a time when women and minorities had no political voice, no political power.

        EDIT: @ OriginalKay-I was referring to Jesse Clark’s comment (and the Rawstory link is worth reading as well) and thank you for pointing that out!

      • Kitten says:

        This was my full response to him (sorry it’s super-long):

        In order for me to answer your question, I would have to accept the premise that a decent portion of the white working class doesn’t see through Trump’s con, which I don’t. I do, however, recognize that this is what the GOP has been selling to working class whites since the Reagan years–the idea that Republicans care about them, that they are a party “for the people”, the downtrodden, the down-on-their luck folks.

        It’s also really important to note that this narrative is specifically about the WHITE working class and that’s noteworthy for a reason– because the GOP knew they wouldn’t be able to con working class blacks and other minorities so they never bothered to include them in the “disenfranchised” narrative that we so frequently saw during this election. Which is pretty ironic, when you consider the fact that blacks (and women) were quite literally disenfranchised at one point in our country’s history. In fact, I wish we could just flush the term “disenfranchised” as applied to white people down the shitter.

        But I digress…the GOP saw an opening to lure voters and as usual, they brilliantly capitalized on it.

        Additionally, I don’t believe that Trump’s successful campaign had anything to do with the working class marching out in droves to support Trump because mean lefties called them “stupid” or whatever. That’s just what the Republicans want us to believe because it’s a nicer and more heroic story than the reality that a sizable portion of people who voted for Trump are affluent white neo-isolationists suffering from racial anxiety. These are people who are hardly “disenfranchised” but rather beneficiaries of the rigged system that Trump pretends to rail against–and all the Robert Reich and Glenn Greenwald think pieces won’t change my mind about that.

        These are people who feel increasingly ignored as black voices, women’s voices, minority voices, LGBTQ voices etc become strong and powerful. These are people who feel their prominence, their power slipping away. These are people who are looking for someone to kiss their ass and tell them that they’re important. Enter Trump. He looks like them, he talks like them, he’s a businessman like them. Of course they will trust this guy–he’s just like them!

        Now that doesn’t mean that I don’t think the Dem party has work to do with appealing to white working class. But I think if the Dem party were smart, they would focus on rewarding and expanding their existing base, the constituents who have been steadily growing and will continue to grow as this country becomes more diverse and equality prevails—although it’s hard to talk about “diversity” given the incoming regime.

        And my source:
        http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/democrats-cant-abandon-white-working-class

      • Rhiley says:

        @Kitten: this is in response to your comment regarding the diversity of the Democratic Party and not giving a sh*t about liberal elitism- I conquer. I have read Hillbilly Elegy and I just read the wonderful article VaVa posted, and I amsitting here at lunch thinking, I get that people want their jobs and middle class lifestyle that their fathers had but if it means pushing a neo Jim Crow agenda and marginalizing minorities and overturning Roe v Wade, please, count me out. Because this is the problem Republicans have- they have an economic agenda and they have a social/moral agenda. When the economic agenda does not pan out the way they promised, and it won’t, they go after the civil liberties of other people. The working class should listen to GE commercials because they say a lot about the state of manufacturing in US. They want young people who can do the coding for them not angry white men with a chip on their shoulders who are willing to pound steel all day at 30 bucks an hour.

      • original kay says:

        Kitten absolutely everything you posted.

      • Sixer says:

        I don’t know if a British perspective on this will help – but in case it does, here’s a heavily edited version of a veritable essay I wrote after a massive argument elsewhere the other day.

        SIXER IS…

        … white working class from the very demographic getting so many column inches of late. My parents were (slowly) upwardly mobile and I got an elite education via scholarship, so I guess I am now posh middle class. But my entire childhood was spent in that demographic. Many of my relatives are still in it. It’s an essential part of my identity.

        BAD ELEMENTS OF THE WHITE WORKING CLASS

        During the 1980s and Thatcher/Reagan and the period of de-industrialisation, there were plenty of people in my neighbourhood voting Conservative and for this type ideology. They did that because they wanted to buy their council houses at a huge discount for their own profit and to stop black/brown families or single mothers of any hue getting to live in them. They likely voted for Brexit and Trump this year. They were selfish and racist and misogynist then and they are selfish and racist and misogynist now. Nobody should be pandering to these fluckers by appeasing only white economic anxiety. Bollocks to that. We should tell them to look at POC. They organised. In the US, for example, they set up Black Lives Matter and wrote an entire manifesto – two thirds of which, I might add, addresses white economic anxiety as much as their own.

        GOOD ELEMENTS OF THE WHITE WORKING CLASS

        It is not a racist, misogynist monolith. My parents aren’t racist or misogynist. My aunts and uncles aren’t. Their friends aren’t. The parents of my childhood friends aren’t. Yes, there are/were racists and misogynists in our community. But they didn’t define it. I was raised by a village of family and friends. These were the men and women who introduced me to Shelley and Orwell, who told me in no uncertain terms that the NHS could not have been founded without the labour of black immigrant women, who took me to see Linton Kwesi Johnson perform, who marched against apartheid, who organised in unions for workers rights. They didn’t need posh liberals to tell them about this stuff. Or posh liberals to explain it to their children (me). So I object to the presentation of the white working class as a lumpen proletariat that needs to be “managed” by their betters. It really cheeses me off and it impugns me, my family and all the people who had a hand in forming me.

        TO CONCLUDE…

        Oppose racism. Oppose misogyny. Doesn’t matter where the heck it comes from. Address economic anxiety for all. Do not suggest that WHITE economic anxiety is somehow SPECIAL. Because it isn’t.

      • Sixer says:

        PS: there was also a bit in there about not denigrating the parts of white working class culture that are not racist or misogynist. Because plenty of parts of white working class culture are neither of those things.

      • Kitten says:

        “Because this is the problem Republicans have- they have an economic agenda and they have a social/moral agenda. When the economic agenda does not pan out the way they promised, and it won’t, they go after the civil liberties of other people.”

        It was all I could do to not scream “YES!!!” when reading this in my quiet office. Yes yes yes, Rhiley, to everything you said.

        @Sixer-I always ALWAYS value your perspective, but it’s been particularly important to me lately because you have the insight of Brexit for added context.
        I know that everything you say is true but it’s difficult to avoid brushing certain groups with a broad stroke when discussing changing demographics and voting maps.

        I also grew up white working class, I mean SQUARELY working class. My parents are much more well off now then when they were raising us but my dad consistently votes Dem and neither of my parents are racist. Yet even in my political discussions with them I can feel this vast divide forming in terms of how they understand issues that they perceive to be belonging to the black community. It’s a strange subconscious othering that they do and even in terms of feminism, I hardly recognize my mom’s feminism as my own.

        All I know is that this election changed me. I’m not trying to co-opt the fear that PoC, minorities, the LGBTQ community is experiencing right now but…I just feel so angry on their behalf. I feel like white people failed massively and I’m having trouble feeling a ton of sympathy for us right now, regardless of our economic background.

        @Original Kay, Rhiley, Sixer — Thank you guys. I don’t know why I bother going on social media. This place is so much better ♥

      • Sixer says:

        Kitten – I think this is one slight difference between Trump and Brexit. Black Britons are almost entirely missing from the narrative of the frothing and extremist cohort of Brexiteers. The ire is xenophobic (Eastern European EU immigrants) and Islamophobic (Muslim refugees and Muslim Britons). It’s almost as though black Britons are having a window where these people accept them as British! Of course, I’m sure it’d go back to good old fashioned racism if they ever managed to socially cleanse all the Eastern Europeans and Muslims, so I’m not looking at it as a particular positive.

      • Sixer says:

        Long read but I love Gary Younge and you guys might be interested:

        http://www.theguardian.com/membership/2016/nov/16/how-trump-took-middletown-muncie-election

      • Louisa says:

        To everyone on this thread – THANK YOU! I no longer go on FB or any social media and this is the first place I come in the morning as I can’t bear to go anywhere right now. I am learning so much from you all. And I am getting no work done….

    • original kay says:

      Thank you for posting this. I read it, but need more time to think it all through. There is a lot of information there.
      I’ve bookmarked it for later re-reading.

  47. Izzy says:

    I have several friends who support Trump due to policy reasons. They are all now freaking out on FB about the fact that so far, nearly all the transition and cabinet appointments are insiders – far from “draining the swamp.”

    I don’t know what they expected. Trump has been a known con artist for decades – no business ethics whatsoever. Why did they expect any different now? They fell for the ultimate con. I have to be honest, I can’t even feel any sympathy for them. I am honestly laughing at them a bit. I’m crying too, because we’re all screwed, but at least the popular majority of voters saw through his BS.

    • Kaye says:

      I saw this on my Twitter feed: “‘I never dreamed that leopards would eat MY face,’ sobs the woman who voted for the Leopards Eating Peoples’ Faces party.”

    • Lightpurple says:

      I have no sympathy for them whatsoever. They chose this. They were quite happy, thrilled even, to vote to deprive me and millions of others of access to medically necessary health care.

      • mayamae says:

        I feel the same. I’m almost gleefully anticipating the fools who will mimic the days following Brexit, sobbing “But I didn’t think it would pass. I would vote differently today if I could.”

        The problem is, most of the Trump voters seem to have no self-awareness. I don’t see any regretful voters among my facebook friends. I anticipate all the blame of the disastrous transition will be put squarely on the Obama administration. It doesn’t matter that Trump’s transition team is ignoring signing the proper papers, and beginning the proper vetting. They’re completely consumed with infighting and revenge and enemies lists.

        I’m trying to comfort myself with the knowledge that he won’t last four years. He’s as paranoid and wrathful as Nixon, and he’s going to get caught. If he dodges that, he’s incapable of being faithful. He’s going to grab pus*y, and hopefully there’s a 10 out there willing to save a blue dress so we can impeach the SOB. Turn about is fair play, and all that. But then we get Pence, so I’m morose again.

      • EM says:

        I actually want them to fail and to fail spectacularly. Many of us will feel a lot of pain either way.

  48. SusanneToo says:

    There’s a wonderful, fascinating conversation with Ken Burns(I love that man)on today’s Diane Rehm Show. I highly recommend it, it’s worth your time.

  49. Triple Cardinal says:

    Sarah Palin for Interior?! Sarah “Drill-baby-drill!” Palin? Gawd, how awful. I can just see more kitchen faucets turning into torches even now, thanks to fracking.

    And how awful for Hillary, who, as of last night, won the popular vote by 1.152 million. With still more votes coming in from Democrat-rich Southern California.

    Repeat after me: the only reason Trump won–the ONLY reason–is because Hillary got eff-ed by the Electoral College. Period.

    • Kitten says:

      What’s hilarious? Ironic? F*cked up? about that is how many friends I have who voted third party because they were outraged with HRC’s pro-fracking policies.

      Sigh. Sorry I’m being so pissy today, guys, but I’ve about had it with extreme-left liberals who waste more time criticizing Dems than they do criticizing the GOP. My opinion of third party voters (and please keep in mind my BF is one of them) they are extremely well-versed on social issues but they really have no understanding of the intricacies of politics. It’s like they have the puzzle pieces laid out but don’t know how to put them together. Each piece is certainly important but the goal should be having a completed puzzle.
      The idealism, the lack of practicality, the nobility, the magnanimity doesn’t mean much when you’re going up against a political party as seasoned and well-organized as the GOP is.

      I want to add that extreme-left liberals are important, their voice matters, and it’s great to have them pushing the Dems to be more left of center, holding them accountable for their promises, etc. But they’re being crippled by their idealism and the Republicans are laughing at us right now as we fight amongst ourselves.

    • Jaded says:

      Lest we forget this word salad from Palin on climate change, here it is folks, ….

      “The science is kind of getting thrown out of the window in discussions about changes in the weather,” Palin said. “It’s something that our candidates should be talking about and giving us their view on and hopefully acknowledging that it needs to become in the science community less political. Otherwise, it leads us to believe that so many things then coming from the scientists could be bogus. If this is bogus, what else are they trying to tell us and control us around?”

      Remember when she went after Bill Nye for his balanced and educated opinion on climate change, and said he wasn’t a scientist?

      “Bill Nye is as much a scientist as I am,” Palin told the gathering. “He’s a kids’ show actor. He’s not a scientist.”

      Well Sarah, in fact Bill Nye Nye is respected worldwide for his efforts to promote scientific literacy, through his educational television series and a not-for-profit group that encourages critical investigation. He has also worked as a visiting professor at Cornell and an executive at the Planetary Society. If anyone knows anything about climate change, it’s Bill.

      And T-Rump wants her as Secretary of the Interior? Good luck with that. Between the two of them the entire country will be fracked into kingdom come.

  50. Lorelai says:

    This is the neverending sh!tshow from hell.

    The most reassuring thing I’ve read is that Rand Paul and John McCain have already said that under no circumstances will they confirm Giuliani for any Cabinet position. At least it’s *something*…

  51. Anastasia says:

    I still think there was something fishy about the election, and I rarely EVER think that about elections.

    Remember when Ted Cruz suddenly changed his opinion on Trump after months and months of literally LOATHING him? He knew. He knew he would win.

    I still wonder about Putin’s role.

    AND PALIN FOR SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR?? ARE YOU F*CKING KIDDING ME? Our poor environment. Our poor wildlife. What if she guts the national park system? I’ll be screaming at the top of my damn lungs.

    All I can hope for is that his administration is so damn chaotic that he can’t get anything done, and the Republican party truly does fracture, and he’s not voted into a second term.

    • Rhiley says:

      Isn’t it starting to seem that perhaps Steve Bannon has been in charge of this all along? I hate to write like this because I am no conspiracy theorist but it does seem like Bannon and Kushner have come together and played old man trump like the puppet he is. Kushner, who is known to be dim witted but calculating, wins a lot by having his father-in-law as president– top level security clearance, for one. Kushner also pushed for Pence to be VP pick. I think Kushner, a print news magazine owner, sold his soul to Steve Bannon, a fellow news guy, for power, and Bannon wins it all. He gets to put every yahoo he knows the left can’t stand into cabinet positions to weed them out. Jared Kushner and Steve Bannon are running the country now. Pence is in on it, for sure, but he doesn’t have the same level of power. One wrong move and he is out. It is nuts.

    • Lorelai says:

      I doubt Donald has a clue what the Secretary of the Interior even does. He probably never heard of it until yesterday.

      I read somewhere that his team views cabinet appointments as “lollipops to be handed out to loyal supporters and donors” – qualifications don’t seem to be on their radar at all.

      It is all one big, self-serving joke to these vindictive assholes.

  52. Kyrgios says:

    “I have a vague recollection of interview(s) in which Trump was asked if and when he would begin behaving in a “more presidential manner.” Of course, he didn’t, through the balance of the campaign. But, now I’ve seen him on TV congratulating Hillary on a hard-fought campaign. The question comes to mind as to whether this is his idea of being more presidential. And, I suppose that someone coached him on what he would be expected to say in conjunction with the transition to power. They all say the same shit once they have won the election. Donald is now in the club. He is presidential. He did not repeat his comment (made to Hillary) about putting her in jail.
    The thing about “draining the swamp” is from an old bumper sticker which stated, “It is difficult to remember your intention was to drain the swamp, when you are up to your ass in alligators.” There was not room on the sticker to note that your intention is likely to change, once you become an honorary alligator. Donald is becoming part of the problem. Watch him be absorbed into the system. Become accepted. Donald’s dream. Acceptance by the system that Sanders and Stein have explained well as being the root of the problems we face. We didn’t elect a candidate likely to “fix” anything. We voted to avoid the woman with a reputation for “fixing” everything. The media missed that? Ya think? It’s not all about the candidates people. Wake up, engage. You’ve been misled, again.”

  53. Bliss51 says:

    Laura Ingraham? The one that did the alleged Nazi salute at the Republican convention?

  54. Frosty says:

    Just read this about Stephen Bannon – apparently he was all up in gamergate too. You may know this, but it was news to me
    http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2016/11/steve-bannon-world-of-warcraft-gamergate.html#more

  55. Sheri says:

    Unfortunately the far right and the far left are two sides of the same coin. Both don’t want to listen or engage with the “other side” to fix the countries problems. Both sides have racists & and down right idiots that are so entrenched that they will not even consider what the other side has to say. The middle class is dying (and not just the white middle class). The USA is trillions in debt. There are no jobs that are decent paying anymore for those that are uneducated (and that is about 65% of the country). People were looking for an answer and they didn’t see it in Hillary. I don’t think they saw it in donald either but they were willing to take a risk because more of the same and they realized their country would have no money and be like south America soon. The dems need to talk about economic reform because without it there will be no jobs for anyone and who uses what bathroom based on gender identify won’t matter when there is no food in the grocery stories. As well it will be about white voters now for a long time as this year the minorities could have shown their power at the polls but didn’t . They only have themselves to blame. Now the dems will try to appeal to the white vote as they can’t count on the minority vote as they don’t come to the polls.

    • IlsaLund says:

      Ummm….where to begin. Interesting how the issue of voter suppression gets a footnote in this election. The GOP’s efforts to suppress minority voting was very successful in key swing states….so yeah, the minorities didn’t come to the polls like they should have and it’s their own fault because they were systematically blocked.

      And see the thing is, even when minorities do vote in numbers, they know that they’re still going to get screwed over because the concern is about those “working class white voters” and how tough the economy is on them. Well, let me tell you, the economy has been tough on everyone but the 1%. And minorities are hurting and suffering the effects of the rich getting rich while everyone else fights for the crumbs from the table, just like working class white folks. Thing is, most minorities don’t wear fricking blinders and can see big picture and know that this election was about a hole hell of a lot more than jobs for white folks.

  56. Elizabeth says:

    In that last photo, Trump looks like he’s been slapped with a sack of wet squirrels. If it weren’t so scary, this whole thing would be hilarious.

  57. Laura says:

    Trump’s presidency is going to be one epic gong-show…

    However, to those who are asserting that he is a hot-headed tool (which, he is) did you read about the latest news involving Clinton? Apparently she was a raging lunatic after she lost the election – swearing, throwing stuff at staff and trashing furniture. Interesting behaviour for someone that is constantly promoted as the “better” choice. She was and isn’t the better candidate…nor was/is Trump. Both candidates are crooks and morons of the highest order and it shall be fascinating to see how the next four years shake out for the USA.

    • robyn says:

      I suggest you check the source. These fake news stories are floating around online and Trump is pulling the strings. He is in league with so-called news organizations that help him out. He won the election with lies and I see he is still pulling the wool over your eyes. Any subject matter he feels threatened about he lies lies lies. Funny how this man can get away with whoopers.

    • mayamae says:

      Which is it? She’s either on death’s door, or she’s breaking furniture like the Hulk. Give me a break.

  58. JurisGal says:

    “Some cabinet positions are already in the bag. Sort of. Rudy Giuliani is looking more like a sure thing for Secretary of State. Laura Ingraham will be press secretary. Sarah Palin for Interior. Trump is rewarding the people who were early supporters and long-time loyalists.”

    No way will Palin or Cruz ( he is hated by his own party) be confirmed, Ingraham possibly. Giuliani is a maybe not.

  59. Syko says:

    Could I just make one request? On all the Trump articles, can we have a picture of puppies or kittens instead of his face? I am so f**king sick of his face.

    • robyn says:

      Making fun of his face or anyone’s face isn’t helping. People have to be vigilante and expose the lies. For example, Trump’s team is currently working very hard to discredit the protesters. They put someone in a protest group with a R*pe Melania sign to turn people against the protesters. You must be vigilant because letting these tricks and lies slip by helped turn the tide towards Trump.