The Former Guy

Posted on by under Biden's Staff Picks, Bits 'n Pieces, Environmental Issues, Law and justice, Political commentary

I took a brief hiatus yesterday … my sanity depended on it.  But today I return … renewed, refreshed, and …. Oh heck, it’s all a lie. Who do I think I’m kidding?  I am neither renewed nor refreshed … I am, rather, exhausted and depressed, but for better or for worse, I am back with my usual … um … bit of ‘tude.

Trump is now “the former guy”

Remember January 20th, 2017 when President Obama left the White House, attended the inauguration of Donald Trump, and then was rarely in the news?  His time in the limelight was over, it was time to pass the baton, and move on with his life.  That is as it should be, folks.  So why the Sam Hell is Donald Trump’s face continually splattered over every media site, and his every word published ad nauseam?

It is time to step away from Donald Trump, my friends.  It is time for the media to focus on today’s reality, not yesterday’s lies.  I call on the press to stop … cease and desist … before they make the same mistake they made in 2016 of giving him so much free airtime that ultimately he was seen as something he wasn’t:  human.  A few days ago, Biden chose not to refer to Trump by name, and called him ‘the former guy’.  I suggest that become his new moniker … it suggests his current irrelevance, and that is what is needed right now if this nation stands a chance of healing.  He has no meaning to us, is naught but a private citizen like you and I.  I hope to be writing about the charges, both federal and state, against him over the coming year, but that’s about all I care about regarding him or his activities or rhetoric.

I and other bloggers have focused on the attacks of January 6th, incited and financed by the former guy, and the related impeachment trial, in hopes he would be held accountable for his actions for once.  The impeachment is over, the Republican Party is forever stained for their refusal to hold him accountable, and no, we won’t forget … ever.  However, it’s time now to realize that the former guy is no longer relevant to our lives, and focus on what is happening in our government, in the world today.  The former guy is history, he is boring for he is a broken record with only 5 phrases on his track.  A recent survey, taken 3 days after the pathetic impeachment vote, claims that 54% of republicans plan to back Trump as a presidential candidate in 2024.  Okay, fine, wonderful, but the election is not for another three-and-a-half years, some 45 months from now. There is work being done by the Biden administration that is far more important than what the former guy does or says.  And frankly, I think the squirrel on my back porch has as much chance of winning in 2024 as Trump.  So, let’s put the ugly man aside, leave him to languish in his fancy digs or rot in prison, and let us focus more on the things that matter in our lives.

Joe Biden brings to our government fresh blood, people who are intelligent, educated, and knowledgeable in their fields, and he brings policies that will make positive contributions to our lives, our health, and our environment.

The Biden cabinet

To date, seven of President Biden’s nominations for cabinet positions have been confirmed, most by a significant majority:

  • Tony Blinken, Secretary of State, was confirmed on January 26th by a vote of 78-22
  • Janet Yellen, Secretary of Treasury, was confirmed on January 25th by a vote of 84-15
  • Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense, was confirmed on January 22nd by a vote of 93-2
  • Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation, was confirmed on February 2nd by a vote of 86-13
  • Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs, was confirmed on January 27th by a vote of 87-7
  • Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, was confirmed on February 2nd by a vote of 56-43
  • Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, was confirmed on January 20th by a vote of 84-10

Next week, confirmation hearings are scheduled for …

  • Merrick Garland, Attorney General, February 22-23
  • Debra Haaland, Secretary of the Interior, February 23
  • Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services, February 23

The Biden cabinet is coming together nicely, and I’m pleased that there has been no significant disruption in the process, apart from the time spent in the impeachment trial.  Every one of these people have the background, education and experience to handle the job, unlike their counterparts in the previous administration.  I don’t foresee a problem with the confirmations of Garland, Haaland, or Becerra, though I could always be overlooking something.  After all, it was me who declared 5 years ago that the former guy didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the presidency.  Sigh.  Sooner of later I’ve got to be right … right?

38 thoughts on “The Former Guy”

  3. Jill, try and focus on the fact we have an engaged, working, rational, intelligent, compassionate, PROFESSIONAL cabinet. A PROFESSIONAL in the White House……the one-who-shall-not-be-named is gone, obsolete and soon to be arraigned.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Exactly, my friend! It’s sometimes difficult to tear our eyes away from the train wreck and focus on the new highway being built, but it’s what we must do. Though I will continue to cover the lawsuits against the former guy, for I have high hopes of him finally paying for his perfidy.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. The former guy needs to be in the spotlight and the press needs something to keep viewers and readers engaged. Unfortunately, that means the former guy will get the air and print time he thrives. I wish everyone would ignore him, but he has become the influencer-in-chief to Republicans. I always knew, and expressed it multiple times on my blog, that the former guy would not quietly slink away into the night.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Like you, I knew he wasn’t going to leave quietly. But, I think in his eyes, the greatest punishment would be to be ignored. He’s a pompous ass who thrives on seeing his name and his ugly mug on television, the Internet, and in the news. Even negative reporting is still attention and he lives for attention. So, I think this constant, daily coverage is detrimental, keeping his name and face front and center keeps his base riled. Send him quietly into that good night, report on it when he’s charged, indicted, tried, convicted, and imprisoned, but don’t highlight his foolish acts and rhetoric. Just my opinion, of course, but I think there’s a great danger in keeping him at the forefront of people’s minds.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Dear Jill, to answer ur question – our mainstream/ social media has devolved into infotainment news, bottom line Trump sells. You are correct, we must stop THINKING about this former guy and focus on Biden’s policies.
    Otherwise we’re only keeping Trump relevant unnecessarily, which is counter productive to our psyche and health.
    Be well ❤

    Like

  6. Jill, thanks. It is nice to see competence and compassion back in the White House. It is nice to see that every hour of the day need not be involved with what he-who-shall-not-be-named said or tweeted. I often heard that the Queen of Hearts former president would hire good people to make up for his shortcomings. He did hire a few, but many turned him down. His reputation as a boss was not unknown. But, many of the few he did hire, left or were forced out. The Queen of Hearts is a hard person to keep satisfied. Keith

    Liked by 1 person

  7. I don’t know, Jill, I think the former guy still gives him some relevance. Why not the latter guy. Latter has no relevance when not preceded by a former, and repuglycans will have no idea what it even means.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. I read Mitch laughed at the nasty remarks “the former guy” made about him recently. That’s a beginning. I agree that the news organizations mention him too much. I know they think a lot of people want to hear about him, but those people probably tune in to Fox News anyway. I thought it was great Biden didn’t mention him even when he was asked about it by Anderson Cooper. CNN is the main news channel to do that and they need to bite their tongues. —- Suzanne

    Liked by 2 people

    • That’s what I’ve heard, too. But then, Mitch won’t be up for re-election until 2026, by which time the former guy should be long gone, either in prison, a grave, or into obscurity. You’re right … that’s the problem … people thrive on gossipy, bloody, violent news, and the former guy fulfills all three of those. Biden’s a wise man and he knows that the sooner we put the former guy behind us, the sooner this nation can begin to heal and work together. I fully agree about CNN … ’tis why I don’t often use them as a source, though I do like some of their personas, such as Anderson Cooper.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. You already know my worries about Garland while Moscow Mitch is out there with his big stick to hold up proceedings. I’d really like to be wrong (as I usually am) and am happy to admit it.It’ll be good to have someone in place as Health and Human Services.
    Cwtch

    Liked by 3 people

    • Yes, and I’m holding my breath, hoping you’re wrong, but at the same time realizing that you may very well be right. I guess we’ll find out come March 1st, when the vote is supposed to be taken.
      Cwtch

      Liked by 1 person

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