So Far, He's Off To A Good Start . . .

🚨BREAKING: Speaker Mike Johnson has announced that Congress will investigate Joe Biden’s pardons of his family members.

FAUCI TOO.
pic.twitter.com/KQsRIT9dmP

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 22, 2025

Reflections On The Inauguration: Trump 2.0

Now that a couple of days have passed, some reflections on the Inauguration:

Majestic setting: The Rotunda! It gave the whole event a proper and inspiring sense of majesty. 

Best opening prayer: Reverend Franklin Graham's stirring  plea to the Almighty was passionate, heartfelt and unabashedly Christian, invoking Jesus Christ Himself. By comparison, Cardinal Dolan's prayer was ordinary and mostly uninspired.

Overwhelming moment I: Christopher Macchio's operatic tenor delivering the stirring "O, America!" This was a masterstroke.

Overwhelming moment II: The US Naval Academy Glee Club marching in and delivering the classic "Battle Hymn of  The Republic." Lincoln was in the room!

Cutest moment: Vice President J. D. Vance's kids brought up to the podium to witness their dad take the oath. Precious!

Poignant moment: Vance's mother watching him take the oath while his wife, Usha, beaming with pride, held the Bible. 

Stunning entrance: Melania. No one can top her! 

Most intriguing: Barron. What did he say to Joe Biden?

Bumbler in chief: Seemingly clueless Chief Justice John Roberts rushed the presidential oath, beginning it before Melania had a chance to properly position the Bible as the Trump clan jockeyed for places. Putz!

Sourpuss: This was a tie between Kamala Harris, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton and it was in abundance during Trump's address. But we'll give the edge to Harris. She actually seemed to be in pain atg times.

Seemed to be enjoying it all: Interestingly enough,  Bill Clinton. He appeared to be relaxed, smiling, genuinely engaged, comfortable, even pleased. Bubba gets that this is theater, and he's on.

Lone wolf: Barack Obama, again! What's going on (or not going on) between him and Michelle? 

Big slob: John Fetterman. His failure to dress for the occasion (again!) is an insult to the institution, the nation, our storied history, everything and everyone! Disgusting!

Spectacular save: Carrie Underwood sang the National Anthem a capella after a technical glitch and delivered it with aplomb!

Beatific benediction: Rev. Lorenzo Sewell of Detroit roused the crowd as he channeled Dr. Martin Luther King on King Day with a peroration that reaches a breathtaking crescendo. Yowza!

Injustice? His Story Speaks Volumes!

This is Matthew Perna, he was a 37-year-old Penn State graduate who committed suicide by hanging after he was convicted over Jan. 6 for merely walking into the open door of the Capitol. He spent a total 14 minutes in the Capitol and never stepped outside of the red ropes.

He has been posthumously pardoned by President Trump.

Trump Issues Directive Ending FAA DEI Policy

01/21/25   MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

SUBJECT:       Keeping Americans Safe in Aviation Every day, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), within the U.S. Department of Transportation, oversees safety for more than 45,000 flights and 2.9 million airline passengers.  These Americans trust the FAA's public servants with their lives, and it is therefore imperative that they maintain a commitment to excellence and efficiency.   During the prior administration, however, the FAA betrayed its mission by elevating dangerous discrimination over excellence.  For example, prior to my Inauguration, the FAA Diversity and Inclusion website revealed that the prior administration sought to specifically recruit and hire individuals with serious infirmities that could impact the execution of their essential life-saving duties.   Illegal and discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring, including on the basis of race, sex, disability, or any other criteria other than the safety of airline passengers and overall job excellence, competency, and qualification, harms all Americans, who deserve to fly with confidence.  It also penalizes hard-working Americans who want to serve in the FAA but are unable to do so, as they lack a requisite disability or skin color.  FAA employees must hold the qualifications and have the ability to perform their jobs to the highest possible standard of excellence.   I hereby order the Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administrator to immediately return to non-discriminatory, merit-based hiring, as required by law.  All so-called DEI initiatives, including all dangerous preferencing policies or practices, shall immediately be rescinded in favor of hiring, promoting, and otherwise treating employees on the basis of individual capability, competence, achievement, and dedication.    The Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administrator shall review the past performance and performance standards of all individuals in critical safety positions and take all appropriate action to ensure that any individual who fails or has failed to demonstrate requisite capability is replaced by a high-capability individual that will ensure top-notch air safety and efficiency.

And It's Gonna Be Lots Of Fun, Too!

I promise the Trump Cake Sword Dance is the greatest one minute of all time 🤣🤣🤣
I love this man lol. pic.twitter.com/fO1nYDk7ct

— Ben Jiles (@BenSJiles) January 21, 2025

This Isn't Too Much To Ask For; Not Here, Not Now

Looking back on Inauguration Day, I once again find the need to send a message to my friends who may not be in much of a celebratory mood as President Trump begins his presidency.

While I deeply respect and honor all viewpoints, right now some prospective seems to be in order.  

When I was a kid in eighth grade, we had a teacher at our well-worn urban schoolhouse who was a prim and proper suburbanite and a staunch Republican. We knew her affiliation because during the hotly contested 1960 campaign she sported a Nixon button on her overcoat. Now, she never, ever expressed her political views in the classroom. That would have crossed a line and she always followed the rules. 

But after one of the closest elections in history was over and the results were in, a student asked her if she was disappointed at how things had turned out. "The election's over," she answered. "The people have spoken. Kennedy won. He's my president now," she added "and I respect him as the President of the United States and wish him well." 

I never forgot that. It impressed me. And not just because she was a good sport and recognized that the other team had won and her team lost. No, it impressed me because this was more than a game. This was democracy at work. This outcome had real consequences for all of us -- for our city, our state, for the nation and the world. It mattered in people's everyday lives. 

And she recognized this and she was acting as a good citizen. She was showing, as Benjamin Franklin said that there are times when "we must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." I know that times have changed. But, during a week like this, I really don't think that's too much to ask.

God Bless America!

Last Night, This Moment Was Positively Magical!

There’s no doubt about how stunning the gown looked on the statuesque First Lady of Slovenian origin

Melania remains one of the most beautiful First Ladies in the history of the United States 🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/aofopI2Lm3

— Mambo Italiano (@mamboitaliano__) January 21, 2025

A Truly Momentous Moment In American History!

 

Warm Wishes For Trump From The President Of Italy

Giorgia Meloni

@GiorgiaMeloni

Auguri di buon lavoro al Presidente

@realDonaldTrump

per l’inizio del suo nuovo mandato alla guida degli Stati Uniti d’America. Sono certa che l’amicizia tra le nostre Nazioni e i valori che ci uniscono continueranno a rafforzare la collaborazione tra Italia e USA, affrontando insieme le sfide globali e costruendo un futuro di prosperità e sicurezza per i nostri popoli. L’Italia sarà sempre impegnata nel consolidare il dialogo tra Stati Uniti ed Europa, quale pilastro essenziale per la stabilità e la crescita delle nostre comunità.

Best wishes to the President

@realDonaldTrump

for the beginning of his new mandate at the helm of the United States of America. I am certain that the friendship between our Nations and the values ​​that unite us will continue to strengthen the collaboration between Italy and the USA, facing global challenges together and building a future of prosperity and security for our peoples. Italy will always be committed to consolidating the dialogue between the United States and Europe, as an essential pillar for the stability and growth of our communities.

Now THIS Is A New Low, Even For Biden!

Four years ago, from Biden:

President-elect Joe Biden says he's concerned about reports that President Trump is considering a host of preemptive pardons for his adult children and lawyer Rudy Giuliani, as well as the possibility of one for himself . . .

Then, today, 15 minutes before leaving office, we get this: