The Trump Administration

[Tim]

The Trump/SNL feud continues.

This is probably the best thing to happen to SNL in years.

Donald, it's just a TV show.  They're been making fun of U.S. politics for decades.

[BettyNewbie]

Oh, cry me a river. That skit was hilarious and spot-on. Orange Hitler needs to grow thicker skin.

[BettyNewbie]

Looks like the Oompa Loompa just lost yet ANOTHER inauguration performer:

The B-Street Band, a popular Bruce Springsteen cover group that's performed nearly 200 gigs a year since 1980, convened in the dressing room Sunday night before a typical late-afternoon gig at Bensalem, PA's Parx Casino.

Will Forte, the group's 63-year-old keyboardist, manager, agent and publicist, among other roles, was telling the band about the "thousands of emails from both sides" he had received after news broke that the group would be playing the Garden State Presidential Inaugural Gala on January 19th as part of Donald Trump's inauguration. "We're standing out in the storm right here," he told the band. "We gotta get out of the storm."

In the past few days, they had started to feel isolated because, as Forte says, "the story was so distorted." "There were misleading headlines like, 'Trump Hires B-Street Band,'" he says. "We felt like we were out on our own on an island."

If the B-Street Band pledge allegiance to anyone, it's Springsteen, who has repeatedly voiced his anger and disgust at the president-elect. (Forte half-jokingly said of the B-Street Band last week, "I don't even know if they have any politics.") Out of respect for their musical inspiration, they've decided to pull out of this week's event.

"We felt that we had to make it known that we didn't want to seem disrespectful, in any way, shape or form, to Bruce and his music and his band," Forte says. "I don't want to upset them. We owe everything to him and our gratitude and respect to the band is imperative above all else. It became clear to us that this wasn't working and we just had to do what we thought was the right thing to do and that was to pull out."

The group had played the gala twice before to little controversy for President Obama and signed a contract for this year's gig in 2013, long before the presidential nominees were decided. But this year was different.

"As time went by, the complexity of the situation became real immense and intense," Forte tells Rolling Stone. "The band was caught in a hurricane. We didn't see this coming, of course."

Springsteen never weighed in on the controversy, but Garry Tallent, the E Street Band's founding bassist, tweeted, in response to news of the B-Street band's appearance, "Please tell me this is more fake news. Or at least a joke." Steven Van Zandt, the group's outspoken guitarist, tweeted of the B-Street Band, "Nice guys. Met them. I wouldn't say right or wrong. Up to them. But it's naive to think one can separate Art and Politics. Art IS Politics."

Forte agrees. "All this stuff made it clear to us that this event is not worth it," he says. "It's just a job to us. We're just trying to hold up a contract. We're not trying to prove anything. We're just a fun band!

"When I started this band 37 years ago, it was only about performing and making people happy," he adds. "I never thought the distortion of what we do as a band would've been so intense. I wish it never would've happened. We would've never got involved in this if I knew how this would turn out. I would trade in all the support and publicity just to go back to where we were four months ago. I don't think they'll ever be a cover band of our size in the history of music that will get the attention of something this big."

Read More: www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bruce-springsteen-cover-band-drops-out-of-donald-trump-party-w461203


Springsteen's music would be completely inappropriate for this inauguration, anyways.  Many of his songs are angry protest songs about the plight of the working class, which goes against everything Orange Hitler represents.  Indeed, he's no fan of the Cheeto and was probably disgusted at the idea of even a cover band playing his music there.

At this point, it's probably time to just dial up Ted Nugent and Kid Rock and bring on the sleazy redneck rock.  Might be able to dig up a few other washed-up buttrockers from days of yore.  He could also look for bands that may appeal to his Neo-Nazi... oops, "Alt-Right" fanbase.

[Tim]

If this keeps up, the may as well cancel the whole thing.  Just quietly swear Trump into office and leave it at that.

Still, I'm sure there are some neo-Nazi and KKK bands that could use a few extra bucks, so you never know.

[BettyNewbie]

ROFL

Washington (CNN) -- Donald Trump will become president Friday with an approval rating of just 40%, according to a new CNN/ORC Poll, the lowest of any recent president and 44 points below that of President Barack Obama, the 44th president.

Following a tumultuous transition period, approval ratings for Trump's handling of the transition are more than 20 points below those for any of his three most recent predecessors. Obama took the oath in 2009 with an 84% approval rating, 67% approved of Clinton's transition as of late December 1992 and 61% approved of George W. Bush's transition just before he took office in January 2001.

Trump's wobbly handling of the presidential transition has left most Americans with growing doubts that the President-elect will be able to handle the job. About 53% say Trump's statements and actions since Election Day have made them less confident in his ability to handle the presidency, and the public is split evenly on whether Trump will be a good or poor president (48% on each side).

Read more: www.cnn.com/2017/01/17/politics/trump-administration-approval-inauguration/


Can you say "One Term President"?

[Tim]

If these numbers and indications are correct, then yes, I see a One Term President.

The question is, how much damage can he do in that one term.  Of course, there are the mid-term elections in 2018 to consider.  If the Democrats can get control of Congress, then they could knock the wind out of his sails.

[BettyNewbie]

The main thing that Democrats need to do is stop playing nice and trying to "reach across the aisle." The Rethugs are NEVER even going to listen to them, let alone compromise, and that's exactly what cost the Dems 2016, as well as the 2010 and 2014 midterms. If the GOP wants to play nasty, then you have to play nasty in return.

Some fresh leadership would also be helpful. Notice how the current crop of Rethugs are largely a different group from the ones who dominated the party in the 90s and even early 00s, while the same can't really be said for the Democrats. I mean, their 2016 candidate was a Clinton, for crying out loud. The party really needs to move out of the 90s and get some fresher, younger faces and ideas out there.

No question that the next four years will be painful, but maybe Orange Hitler is exactly what the Democrats need to clean house and give themselves a much-needed makeover.

[Tim]

The main thing that Democrats need to do is stop playing nice and trying to "reach across the aisle." The Rethugs are NEVER even going to listen to them, let alone compromise, and that's exactly what cost the Dems 2016, as well as the 2010 and 2014 midterms. If the GOP wants to play nasty, then you have to play nasty in return.

Yeah, I'm afraid that's the way it is down there.  The Dems are going to have to play it dirty if they are going to get anywhere.

Of course, it would help if the U.S. stopped using a system of government that was created in the 18th Century!

Some fresh leadership would also be helpful. Notice how the current crop of Rethugs are largely a different group from the ones who dominated the party in the 90s and even early 00s, while the same can't really be said for the Democrats. I mean, their 2016 candidate was a Clinton, for crying out loud. The party really needs to move out of the 90s and get some fresher, younger faces and ideas out there.

I agree.  Time to retire the baby boomers and start hiring younger people.  They are more in tune with the current generation than the baby boomers are.

No question that the next four years will be painful, but maybe Orange Hitler is exactly what the Democrats need to clean house and give themselves a much-needed makeover.

And I hope the the Democrats use this time to make those much needed changes.  If Orange Hitler flops as President, that will be their chance to come in and save the day.

[Squad 51]

Still strange that we in Europe can also watch this ceremony but still with comments, naturally. Still, several channels show this damn ceremony! You can't hide from it. *sighs*

[Tim]

Yeah, it all happens tomorrow.

Many have commented that the Democrats will be staying away.  Well, some Republicans are staying away too. 

[Melinda Halliwell]

Perhaps Trump will be a one hit wonder and only serve one term here's hoping and America will see sense and vote better next time.

I know he's pleased to be meeting our prime minister (Theresa May) and discuss brexit with her.

[BettyNewbie]

Whatever you do, do NOT attend the inauguration nor watch it on TV. The Nazi Oompa Loompa deserves as little attention and ratings as possible.

[Tim]

I don't think any of us, aside from you, Betty, live close enough to Washington D.C. to attend, even if we wanted too.

And no, I have no intention of watching it on TV either.

[BettyNewbie]

Today is the day that the US will swear in its next Fuhrer--er, President...





DON'T support the inauguration. Instead, follow and support any of the various protests that will be held this weekend. The Nazi Oompa Loompa doesn't deserve ANY recognition or legitimacy.

[adzpower]

Did you make that edit Betty? It actually looks real!