Three moments from FormerGuy that stay with me, after the jump …..
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In this space, I seldom write about direct politics …. others with more knowledge, time and organizational experience do it much better. Yet as we reach the 100-day mark of the Biden/Harris administration, I’m ready to reflect on three moments from FormerGuy that have a particular hold on me.
The first two are not his most outrageous statements, nor the most consequential … and the third was made in private (and not revealed until much later). As such, most reading this will come up with different examples than me. Cool beans, and feel free to list your own in the comments. Most of his most horrific appearances were him doing things he already said he would do, or were unsurprising.
Here are just one schmuck’s thoughts.
One — the televised Cabinet meeting introductions
This goes back to June 12th, 2017 — five months after Inauguration — when FormerGuy convened his first full Cabinet meeting in public, before the cameras and microphones. Yet all that took place in public (before the cameras and microphones were shooed out-of-the-room) were his opening remarks and statements from his minions.
FormerGuy spoke of how no president had accomplished more than him in such a short time …. although he did allow that perhaps FDR (during the Depression) might have. The GOP congress had not enacted anything of substance, of course. Yet this was routine, par-for-the-course banter from him.
It was what followed that made me cringe …. the Cabinet/other key post members could simply have done what they were asked: to state their name and position and (perhaps) goals. Instead, they added fawning tributes best summed up as:
Three stand out (though not nearly the most fawning examples):
(Jeff Sessions) — “Mr. President, it’s great to be here and celebrate this group ……….... and it’s an honor to be able to serve you”.
Of course, three months earlier he had recused himself (due to lying to Congress) from any investigation of the 2016 campaign, leading to Bob Mueller. The day after this Cabinet meeting he testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee: further earning the wrath of DJT, forced-out after the 2018 midterm elections.
(Reince Priebus) — “Mr. President, we thank you for the opportunity and the blessing that you’ve given us to serve your agenda.”
The Chief-of-Staff was blessed to last in that post …. another six weeks, and in his “resignation” letter picked-up where he had left off: "It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve this President and our country. I want to thank the President for giving me this very special opportunity. I will continue to serve as a strong supporter of the President's agenda and policies”.
(Jim Mattis) — “Mr. President, it’s an honor to represent the men and women of the Department of Defense. We are grateful for the sacrifices our people are making in order to strengthen our military, so our diplomats always negotiate from a position of strength. Thank you”.
But for the two-word ending, Mattis was the lone hold-out on praising Dear Leader (albeit, having the troops to cite made it a bit easier).
If you are still unfamiliar with all of this ….. here is the evidence.
Two — the promised revival of coal jobs
Part of the construct of “economic anxiety” label was that Trump Digs Coaland“We are going to put the miners back to work.” To be sure, that promise was not the only reason residents of coal country voted for him — one former miner said, “It was Trump’s personality and background that made (him) believe he was presidential material” — yet it surely played some sort of role.
That this revival did not happen— indeed, the decline has continued — needs little more mention here. What irked me about this (in particular) was the catering to one man: the coal magnate Bob Murray. He was given a chance to present a wish list for the end of as much industry regulation as possible, to accompany the generic corporate tax cuts he would also be receiving. How Don Blankenship was sentenced to a year in jail (while Murray was not charged for a Utah mine collapse he tried to blame on an earthquake) baffles me.
Alas, I cannot locate a video of this ….. yet I recall seeing on TV a joint public appearance with Murray and then-President Trump, where he was boasting about all the jobs that were going to be coming back ... when Murray felt compelled to add, “Well, I don’t know about that”. All I was able to find was him admitting (on Fox Business) that it was not possible to do it (not even FormerGuy).
Sure enough: in October 2019, Murray Energy filed for bankruptcy— and the following year, Bob Murray filed for black lung benefits (after fighting safety regulations aimed at reducing that very debilitating disease) — before his death last October at the age of eighty.
The reason why I cite this … is because it taps into a more general gripe of mine: that in order to create more jobs, a right-wing grab bag must be implemented. Tax cuts, eliminate safety regulations, institute tariffs, jawboning (and if you can add deep social spending cuts as well, even better). Companies want to hire, we’re told ... but due to bone-crushing taxation and "economic uncertainty” ... they can’t.
Again, I cannot locate this …. but there is a quote from a CEO, which (I believe) was the former head of Alcoa, the late Paul O’Neill who — as George W’s first Treasury Secretary — became a thorn in his side. (Also, unlike Murray, he made worker safety a priority in his corporate life). It went (something) like this:
Companies only add new hires when the existing workforce can no longer provide the goods and/or services to meet demand.
If a company’s demand is (relatively) stable, a tax cut will boost profits … so why incur additional payroll? I recall more than one US Senator complaining about corporate welfare, saying that if you went down that road: it had to be tied to employment, with clawbacks essential. Otherwise, stock buybacks, financing an offshoring program and executive compensation is more attractive. Here’s hoping that Wisconsin governor Tony Evers was able to win enough Foxconn clawbacks.
I have little expectations this reality will sink-in ….. but I can dream, can’t I?
Three — the recorded Woodward interview on Covid-19
When reports of the incoming pandemic started to resonate in early 2020, I was certain that FormerGuy didn’t have the intellectual capacity to understand this. I also suspected he already latched-on to a snake-oil sales pitch (such as hydroxychloroquine) or an item he had a financial stake in. (Or, all of the above).
And then …. this audiotape with Bob Woodward.
I have nothing to add to that …. except this.
Had FormerGuy handled Covid in even a mediocre way (rejecting lockdowns, yet asking people to wear masks and socially distance) and had a simple, medium-size Infrastructure Plan passed … mercifully, I don’t have to ponder what mighta been.
Let’s close with this aptly-named 1970 instrumental by Traffic — and feel free to add any remarks from last night’s address, or the first 100 Days.
Now, on to Top Comments:
From eyesoars:
In the diary by AKALib about Rudy’s troubles— I already noted this in yesterday's Top Comments, but there are so many good comments onthis diary, which itself is quite entertaining, that I feel compelled to note this again.
From trespekes:
In the front-page story on the GOP response to the Biden address — this is such a witty comment (and right on target) made by mmacDE that I'd like to recommend it as a Top Comment!
From FishOutofWater:
In the diary on racism by mohistory2— this comment by commaist on the impact of racism on the white community and the disintegration of the white extended family in America is something everyone here should ponder. It’s that insightful.
Highlighted by artofhelp:
In the front-page story about Nancy Pelosi daring the GOP to vote against the forthcoming infrastructure packages — a great short barrage of key items (made by Missourilefty) and I would love to see these points made by Democratic leadership.
And from Ed Tracey, your faithful correspondent this evening ........
In the diary by Angela Marx about the recuperation of Sara R from cancer surgery — her sister reports from Catnip Manor … with gratitude.
TOP PHOTOSApril 28th, 2021
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And lastly: yesterday's Top Mojo - mega-mojo to the intrepid mik ...... who rescued this feature from oblivion:
4) Even historians are enjoying the moment — by AKALib +1115) Dirt joke - by AKALib +1076) The landscaping jokes will keep coming ... by AKALib +1067) [image] by Major Kong +10012) Biden’s deft political jujitsu - by AKALib +8413) aka HARPA or ARPA-H. Let’s do it. by AKALib +80