Watching a little of the testimony from the president-elect’s nominees, what I witnessed can be summed up in three categories:
-Republican senators making speeches about how awful it is under Joe Biden to distract us from how awful it was under the president-elect. The questions that follow are do you agree with me?
-Democrat senators trying to make headway with some very poor nominees in my view, but failing to hit the mark.
-Nominees who brought their cans of white paint to whitewash their and their boss’ checkered pasts.
Truth be told, there are some reasonable candidates, but there are also more than a handful of “what were you thinking?” candidates. These folks need to be properly vetted and not allowed to compete for the “best sycophant” award.
Asking a politician not to be political is a pipe dream, but especially when they must acquiesce to their boss.
musingsofanoldfart 
Note to Readers: What I have shared with staff of several Republican senators and congress reps is we Americans need for them to do their jobs, especially with this president-elect. We must surround him with capable people, not those whose focus is being loyal to the president. When “yes people” surround bosses like this, too many bad decisions get out.
PS – An interesting quote from Moira Donegan from The Guardian today:
“In some ways, the secretary of Defense nomination of Pete Hegseth was always meant as a domination exercise, a way of making Senate Republicans humiliate themselves for Donald Trump’s approval.”
She goes onto say how unqualified Hegseth is for the job, but he is sure to pass based on this subservience to the president-elect.
IMO, ALL current actions and all those that will take place over the next four years will be …based on this subservience to the president-elect.
Nan, to your point, the three Republicans that voted against Mike Johnson were called off to the side and read the riot act and changed their minds. Keith
I’m not going to watch the inauguration. It all feels like a bad dream.
Mary, that is a given. It would make my stomach churn to watch a known traitor, felon, fraud, defamer and admitted serial sexual assaulter sworn in. It discredits American ideals. And, what do we gain for selling our soul? The person voted the worst president in US history by 154 historians. Keith
I just bought tickets for a 12:30 showing of The Last Showgirl for Monday—to be absolutely sure I don’t watch any of it!
Well done. Thank goodness for cable.
I want to be completely away from my TV for it.
PS – An easy prediction – he will say it is the biggest inauguration crowd ever. Take that to the bank.
I heard Kid Rock is playing at the inauguration, so I figure it’ll be good Karma to see his estranged ex-wife in her much-acclaimed new movie role.
Mary, sorry I missed that connection, so I had to look it up. I did not know they were married. Keith
I wonder how this will turn out… only within the first 6 months….
Erika, in six months, a couple of folks will have been fired and a couple will quit. Keith
I think so too, and others gladly bow, remove the trash and bury it.
Note to Readers II: Please check out Jill’s post on conservative pundit David Brooks’ editorial on the defensive risks facing the US and need for a much more qualified Defense Secretary than nominated.
https://jilldennison.com/2025/01/16/wrong-man-for-the-job/