As it turns out the Trump inauguration was attended by a number of Kremlin connected Russians. Including that lawyer who promised dirt on Hillary during the Trump Tower meeting.

Here's Rinat Akhmetshin and Natalia Veselnitskaya at party honoring Trump's inauguration hosted by Dana Rohrabacher. https://t.co/qNiEuBz5xc pic.twitter.com/FeobqMEboO

— Rosalind Helderman (@PostRoz) January 21, 2018

Courtesy of WaPo: 

The Washington Post identified at least half a dozen politically connected Russians who were in Washington on Inauguration Day — including some whose presence has not been previously reported. Among them was Viktor Vekselberg, a tycoon who is closely aligned with Putin’s government. 

Another was Natalia Veselnitskaya , the Russian lawyer whose June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower with Donald Trump Jr. has become a focus of the Russia investigation. She attended a black-tie inaugural party hosted by the campaign committee of Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), according to an associate who accompanied her. 

Other Russian inaugural guests included Boris Titov, a politician and business advocate who is running for president of Russia with the Kremlin’s blessing. 

Like other VIPs in town that weekend, many flocked to the lobby of the Trump International Hotel, where some encountered fellow Russian associates with surprise.

In case you are wondering if this is actually unusual, the answer is yes, yes it is:  

Michael McFaul, who served as ambassador to Russia under Obama, said he did not recall prominent Russian visitors at Obama’s 2009 events. “It’s strange,” McFaul, the director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford, said of the number of influential Russians in attendance last year.

Well it seems only fair that they get to party with the president that their money, funneled through the NRA, helped to elect.

The inauguration was also celebrated in Russia, and the Russian embassy here in America tweeted this:

Happy #InaugurationDay2017!#Diplophoto Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC#Фотомир Мемориал Линкольна, Вашингтон pic.twitter.com/KiD9DFZmYU

— Russia in USA 🇷🇺 (@RusEmbUSA) January 20, 2017

But don't forget this whole Russia investigation is a Democratic hoax meant to undermine the Donald Trump presidency.

Right?

Barack Obama has not communicated with Donald Trump since the inauguration. Anybody surprised?

Courtesy of CNN: 

A year since they last met, President Donald Trump and his predecessor Barack Obama haven't spoken, the first time in decades two successive presidents have avoided communicating in the 12 months after handing off power. 

Ties between presidents -- if not always friendly -- are usually at least existent. That Trump and Obama have avoided each other speaks to the unprecedented nature of the current White House, and the lingering animosity between two men who openly sparred during 2016's presidential campaign. 

Trump hasn't shied away from blasting decisions Obama made during his tenure, and has steadily chipped away at key pieces of Obama's legacy like the Paris climate accord and the Affordable Care Act. He's also launched personal attacks, falsely claiming that Obama ordered the phones tapped at Trump Tower or that Obama failed to call family members of slain US servicemen. 

Obama, meanwhile, has reserved his criticism of Trump for policy matters. On the rare occasions he's spoken publicly over the past year, he's made only veiled references to the current Oval Office occupant. 

The last time they spoke, Trump and Obama were standing on the East Front of the US Capitol as an idling military helicopter stood nearby. Moments after Trump was inaugurated, Obama appeared loose and smiling, his post-presidency life about to begin.

Apparently Obama left the traditional note for his successor in the Oval Office, but when Trump tried to reach out to thank him Obama was unavailable, and that was his last attempt.

There is really nothing about this report that should necessarily surprise anyone, because seriously how could Obama engage in a productive manner with the guy who continues to vilify him even a year after the election, and who seems determined to wipe every one of his accomplishments out of the history books.

And by the way I do not think that Obama is the only former president from who Trump feels he does not need to seek advice.

I also doubt very seriously that he has ever reached out to George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, or Bill Clinton.

In Trump's opinion he does not need to rely on the advice from anyone, because he, and only HE, knows what should be done.

And that boys and girls is how America got all fucked up.

Jury acquits six inaugural day protesters of all charges.

Courtesy of Think Progress:

None of the six men and women facing felony charges tied to an anti-Trump Inauguration Day protest committed a crime, jurors decided Thursday. 

The six defendants had faced seven charges each. The jury returned 42 separate not-guilty verdicts. 

The charges — conspiracy to riot, engaging in a riot, and five counts of criminal property destruction — came despite the government’s acknowledgement that it has no evidence any of these half-dozen people engaged in violent personal action that day. It was in effect a legal argument they were as guilty as those who had actually smashed a window, because they chose to show up in black and stay with the group as it moved through the city. 

The verdict resolves only the first handful of cases in the sweeping felony prosecutions of black-clad marchers rounded up in downtown Washington, D.C., last January. Hundreds more face similar charges.

This was the beginning of Trump's attempt to America into a police state, and it fell flat on its face.

And the prosecution's overreach was apparent at the very outset.

One defense attorney compared the government’s case here to prosecuting everyone who happened to be wearing the same jersey at a football game because one group of fans in matching garb started a fight. 

“The law makes clear that you can be present while others are rioting, and you don’t have to leave,” Steve McCool, who defended Oliver Harris in the case, said in his closing argument. “Think about where we would be if they could simply call protesters criminals.”

McCool also reminded jurors of evidence of political bias among some key police officers involved both in managing events on Inauguration Day and in investigating the hundreds arrested that afternoon. Key video in the case was provided by James O’Keefe’s notoriously dishonest Project Veritas group, prompting McCool to invoke the specter of right-wing revenge against left-wing anti-Trump protesters.

Oh look, another abject failure by James O'Keefe.

How many is that now? 

So that is one for the 1st Amendment, and zero for Donald Trump's attempt to undermine our constitution.

Now they should just drop the charges against the other protesters and save the taxpayer money to prosecute real criminals.

President Obama's Inauguration Day letter to Donald Trump will make you miss him more than ever.

Here is the full letter courtesy of CNN:  

Dear Mr. President - 

Congratulations on a remarkable run. Millions have placed their hopes in you, and all of us, regardless of party, should hope for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure. 

This is a unique office, without a clear blueprint for success, so I don't know that any advice from me will be particularly helpful. Still, let me offer a few reflections from the past 8 years. 

First, we've both been blessed, in different ways, with great good fortune. Not everyone is so lucky. It's up to us to do everything we can (to) build more ladders of success for every child and family that's willing to work hard. 

Second, American leadership in this world really is indispensable. It's up to us, through action and example, to sustain the international order that's expanded steadily since the end of the Cold War, and upon which our own wealth and safety depend. 

Third, we are just temporary occupants of this office. That makes us guardians of those democratic institutions and traditions -- like rule of law, separation of powers, equal protection and civil liberties -- that our forebears fought and bled for. Regardless of the push and pull of daily politics, it's up to us to leave those instruments of our democracy at least as strong as we found them. 

And finally, take time, in the rush of events and responsibilities, for friends and family. They'll get you through the inevitable rough patches. 

Michelle and I wish you and Melania the very best as you embark on this great adventure, and know that we stand ready to help in any ways which we can. 

Good luck and Godspeed, 

BO

Jesus Christ, that made me choke up.

Is that normal or am I becoming some sappy old guy who breaks down during sentimental car advertisements and seeing people greeting loved ones at the airport?

I would like to point out that it appears that Trump ignored every piece of advice that President Obama gave him except maybe the last part about family and friends.

Which should not be at all surprising since Trump treats everything that Obama touched as if it has competent presidential cooties for something.

Of course the sad part is that if Trump had possessed the intelligence to embrace that advice his presidency would be in much better shape.

Donald Trump apparently demanded an investigation using taxpayer money to prove that his inauguration was bigger than Obama's.

@POTUS Obama inauguration photos on the left, Trump on the right--'nuff said: pic.twitter.com/7DIUYNLYoW

— Vilmos Nagy (@PunjabNagy) March 8, 2017

Courtesy of Share Blue:  

Donald Trump and his allies triggered an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General that ended up proving, at taxpayers’ expense, that he is not nearly as popular as former President Barack Obama. 

After Trump’s sparsely attended inauguration, he and his team put on a full-court press to prove that it was the most attended inauguration event in Washington history. The claim was the focus of press secretary Sean Spicer’s first briefing, during which he infamously claimed, “This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period.”

Now the Inspector General has released its findings after it received a complaint, which alleged that National Park Service employees had been instructed to alter official records on crowd sizes. The complaint also insinuated that public relations employees of the service had leaked the details of calls between Trump and the acting director of the park service about his disappointing crowd size. 

Unfortunately for team Trump, the Inspector General’s investigation came up empty. 

“We did not find evidence to substantiate any of these allegations.” The report further indicates, “All of the witnesses we interviewed denied that the NAMA official instructed staff to alter records for the inauguration or to remove crowd size information. We also found no evidence that the public affairs employees released any information to the media about the President’s phone call.” 

The facts of the case remain the same as they were on the day Trump was sworn in: There were more people at Obama’s inauguration. Period.

Unbelievable!

This idiot just cannot let things go.

Don't forget he also spearheaded the search for the park service employee who first pointed out that his crowds were significantly smaller than President Obama's.

Here we are over six months into this debacle called the Trump presidency and due to his vast and debilitating insecurities we are STILL talking about the inauguration crowd size.

This is going to be a long four years. 

Donald Trump personally involved in hunt for park service employee that pointed out small inaugural crowd size.

Courtesy of CBS: 

Newly inaugurated President Donald Trump was "directly involved" in the search for the person who, using the official National Park Service account, retweeted side-by-side comparisons of the crowds at Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration ceremony and former President Barack Obama's 2009 ceremony, CBS News has confirmed. 

The retweet was deleted soon after it was posted and the Twitter accounts of the National Park Service and other U.S. Interior Department agencies were briefly shut down. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told CBS News two days later in an email that the White House neither demanded the retweet be taken down, nor ordered the Interior Department accounts to be suspended. 

But emails released by the National Park Service in response to a Freedom of Information Act request reveal that the new president was "concerned" about the retweet. 

"Obviously, this has become a very sensitive issue, especially since the President has gotten directly involved and contacted Acting Director Mike Reynolds concerned about one of the images that was retweeted," wrote Tim Cash, Chief of Digital Strategy at the National Park Service in a Jan. 21 email to Shaun Cavanaugh, the agency's Chief Information Security Officer.

You know if this idiot's skin were any thinner you could take his x-ray by holding him up in front of a bright light.

And his inability to let things go, or to take the high road, should terrify every person living in the country that he supposed to be leading.

George W. Bush's take on the Trump inauguration: “That was some weird shit.”

Courtesy of New York Magazine: 

Following Trump’s short and dire speech, Bush departed the scene and never offered public comment on the ceremony. 

But, according to three people who were present, Bush gave a brief assessment of Trump’s inaugural after leaving the dais: “That was some weird shit.” All three heard him say it. 

A spokesman for Bush declined to comment.

"Declined to comment" is political speak for "Yep."

I still hate him of course, but that is still a pretty accurate summation.

Keith Olbermann lists the 50 craziest things done by Donald Trump since his inauguration.

I swear even five of these would be enough to destroy the career of any other politician.

Donald Trump actually pressured the director of the National Park Service to provide photographic evidence that his inaugural was too bigger than Obama's.

Courtesy of the Washington Post:  

On the morning after Donald Trump’s inauguration, acting National Park Service director Michael T. Reynolds received an extraordinary summons: The new president wanted to talk to him. 

In a Saturday phone call, Trump personally ordered Reynolds to produce additional photographs of the previous day’s crowds on the Mall, according to three individuals who have knowledge of the conversation. The president believed that the photos might prove that the media had lied in reporting that attendance had been no better than average. 

Trump also expressed anger over a retweet sent from the agency’s account, in which side-by-side photographs showed far fewer people at his swearing-in than had shown up to see Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009. 

According to one account, Reynolds had been contacted by the White House and given a phone number to call. When he dialed it, he was told to hold for the president. 

For Trump, who sees himself and his achievements in superlative terms, the inauguration’s crowd size has been a source of grievance that he appears unable to put behind him. It is a measure of his fixation on the issue that he would devote part of his first morning in office to it — and that he would take out his frustrations on an acting Park Service director.

Hey, hey Donnie. We understand.

Some guys simply don't measure up to the other guys.

It's nothing to be ashamed of.

You know some people compensate by being nicer people, or more attentive to their loved ones.

And some men compensate by buying huge yachts.

Putting their name on giant phallic shaped objects.

Being ostentatious with their wealth.

And of course arguing that it is bigger than it looks.

By the way it really would not have mattered if this Park Service director HAD sent Trump pictures.

As this time lapse video shows, his inaugural crowds were NEVER as impressive as Obama's in 2009.

Let's face it Donnie, you are just not the man that President Obama was, and still is today.

Inaugural day Bad Lip Reading is the break from news about Donald Trump that we all need today.

The only problem with Bad Lip Reading taking on Donald Trump is that the crazy things they make him say are almost saner than the ACTUAL things that he says on his own.

Donald Trump's inaugural polling shows him with the lowest numbers in the history of the poll.

Courtesy of Gallup:

President Donald Trump is the first elected president in Gallup's polling history to receive an initial job approval rating below the majority level. He starts his term in office with 45% of Americans approving of the way he is handling his new job, 45% disapproving and 10% yet to form an opinion. Trump now holds the record for the lowest initial job approval rating as well as the highest initial disapproval rating in Gallup surveys dating back to Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Trump's inaugural approval rating is not much lower than the 51% recorded for George H.W. Bush in 1989 as well as for Ronald Reagan in 1981, but his disapproval rating is substantially higher than theirs. Whereas 45% disapprove of Trump, only 6% disapproved of the elder Bush and 13% disapproved of Reagan.

By contrast President Obama polled at 68% approval at the beginning of HIS presidency. 

Low inaugural TV ratings, small inaugural crowds, and now low polling numbers.

I swear the only huge numbers associated with Trump's inauguration were the record breaking crowds who came out to protest it the next day. 

In Sean Spicer's second press briefing he complains that the press is hurting his boss's little fee fees.

So here is that exchange between the reporter and Sean Spicer courtesy of the Washington Post: 

Journalist: Getting back to Saturday at the CIA and your statement here at the podium. Why make this crowd side issue -- or crowd size issue something to talk about at all? I mean, why get into it? Did it bother the president that much that he felt that you needed to come out here and straighten that out for us? And why did he choose the CIA as the venue to talk about that? 

Spicer:Look, I think that one of the things that happened, Jim, was he kept hearing about this rift that existed. 

He talked about it a couple of weeks ago at his briefing about how proud he is and how much he respects the intelligence community. And I think when he walked into that and he saw it, he wanted to make sure that people knew that what you're hearing on television or in reports about this rift -- I -- I have the utmost respect for you, I honor your service, I'm proud of what you're doing and the sacrifices that you're making. 

And I think that he wanted them to know that you see and hear all of this stuff on T.V. about this rift that so-called exists and clearly it doesn't matter; like, don't believe what you're hearing, know that I -- I -- I have a tremendous amount of respect for you, I appreciate everything that you are doing. 

And I think that's why he wanted to do it is to make sure that they understand they heard first hand how much he respects them. How much he wanted to dispel the myth that there was a "rift." 

Journalist:But -- but in terms of the crowd size issue, why bring that up at the CIA? And why did you come out Saturday afternoon to talk about that? Did he tell you, Sean, I'm upset about this, I want you to come out and -- 

Spicer: No, I'm not going to get into conversations that I have with the president. But I will tell you that it's not -- it's not just about a crowd size. It's about this constant -- you know, he's not going to run. Then if he runs, he's going to drop out. Then if he runs, he can't win, there's no way he can win Pennsylvania, there's no way he can win Michigan. 

Spicer: Then, if won, it's oh, well he(ph) -- there is this constant theme to undercut the enormous support that he has. And I think that it's just unbelievably frustrating when you're continually told it's not big enough, it's not good enough, you can't win.

 Journalist: And -- and if I may --

Spicer: Hold on -- because I -- I think it's important. He's gone out there and defied the odds over and over and over again. And he keeps getting told what he can't do by this narrative that's out there. And he exceeds it every single time. And I think there's an overall frustration when you -- when you turn on the television over and over again and get told that there's this narrative that you didn't win. You weren't going to run. You can't pick up this state. 

That's not -- you know, that's a fool's errand to go to Pennsylvania. Why is he in Michigan? How silly, they'll never vote for a him. A Republican hasn't won that state since '88. And then he goes and he does it and then what's the next narrative? Well, it must have been because of this. He didn't win that. And then people aren't attending anything or John Lewis is the first person to skip his inauguration. Not true. 

And over and over again, the MLK bust. (What is with these assholes and that MLK bust? The reporter apologized for making that mistake, but these guys simply CANNOT leave it alone.) I think over and over again there's this constant attempt to undermine his credibility and the movement that he represents. And it's frustrating for not just him, but I think so many of us that are trying to work to get this message out. And so I mentioned this to John, part of this is a two- way street. We want to have a healthy dialogue, not just with you but the American people because he's fighting for jobs, he's fighting to make this country safer. 

But when you're constantly getting told that can't be true, we doubt that you can do this, this won't happen, and that's the narrative when you turn on television every single day, it's a little frustrating. 

And I think that for those people around him, his senior team especially, but so many of the other folks that are either here in the administration, that gave up their time during the transition, they left a job to work for three or four weeks because they are so committed to having his nominees get through, it's a little demoralizing to turn on the TV day after day and hear, can't do this, this guy's not going to get confirmed, not way they're going to go through. Journalist: But isn't that just part of the conversation that happens in Washington... 

Spicer: No, it's not. I think... 

Journalist: ... in D.C., that comes from being president of the United States and working at the White House? 

Spicer: No. No, look, I've been doing this a long time, you've been doing this too. I've never seen it like this, Jim, (Was he unconscious during the Obama presidency?) I've never -- and again, I'm not looking to go back and forth, but you're asking for an explanation. And I think that it's important to understand, that whether it's the president himself, the vice president, the senior team, the volunteers or the people who are out there just in America that voted for him or walked the streets or put up a sign, that to constantly be told no, no, no and watch him go yes, yes, yes every time and to come up to the next hurdle and see someone put a block up gets a little frustrating. And I think that we are -- and so, you see this historic thing. And he stands there at the Capitol and I was not that close but, you know, on the platform, and you look out and all your -- it's an amazing view. And it's just so many people who got in long lines, who had to go around all this different stuff to get in. And that was for the first time that we did have to go through fencing that far out. And then to hear, "Well, look at this shot," and it's not -- "It wasn't that big." It's a little demoralizing because when you're sitting there and you're looking out and you're in awe of just how awesome that view is and how many people are there and you go back and you turn on the television and you see shots of comparing this and that. And then you look at the stuff that's happening.

Do you believe that shit?

Remember this is the press secretary for the guy who led the charge in calling our last President illegitimate and forced him to show his fucking birth certificate.

How fucking demoralizing do you think that was for President Obama to have to prove to Donald Trump and the Right Wing that he was even allowed to be the President?

Not only that but literally EVER SINGLE THING Obama tried to do was met with a wall of resistance that would not even consider what he was proposing and both hated it and argued against it before he could even propose it. 

So for Trump, and his own personal Baghdad Bob, to come out sobbing about unfair treatment by the press, that is beyond pathetic.

Earlier in the press conference Spicer also defended his lie about more people watching Trump's inauguration than ANY other inauguration, by pivoting to include online viewership which apparently cannot be tracked.

That is two press briefings, and two times this administration outright lied about facts and bitched about how they were being treated by the press.

Apparently this is the new normal.

It's not fair to suggest that only the Russians are really pleased with Trump's presidency. The racists are pretty over the moon as well.

We did it! Congratulation Donald J. Trump President of the United States of America!

— David Duke (@DrDavidDuke) January 20, 2017

 Courtesy of The Hill:  

David Duke, a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, took credit for President Donald Trump’s victory moments after his Inauguration. “We did it! Congratulation to Donald J. Trump President of the United States of America!” Duke tweeted.

The Russians are excited about Trump's presidency.

The racists are excited about the Trump presidency.

The deplorables are excited about the Trump presidency.

What is wrong with the rest of us?

You know besides all that patriotism and critical thinking skills I mean.

The Tweeter-in-Chief strikes again.

Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017

Actually Pussy-grabber I would actually imagine that the vast majority of the participants in the protest DID vote.

However without a doubt there are a lot of people in the country who did not recognize the importance of this election, who are now kicking themselves.

Perhaps some of them showed up as well.

Wow, television ratings just out: 31 million people watched the Inauguration, 11 million more than the very good ratings from 4 years ago!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017

Of course Trump would be quick to brag about this. However he clearly does not understand how inaugural TV ratings work.

Here let The Hollywood Reporter explain this to you Donnie:

Wall-to-wall coverage of the extensive festivities reached an average 30.6 million total viewers across the 12 broadcast and cable networks that went live for much of the day. That's 18 percent down from the nearly 38 million viewers who watched President Barack Obama being sworn in as No. 44 in 2009.

Topping 2009 was a lofty goal, but beating the most recent inauguration was easy. Second-term festivities, quite predictably, never have as much appeal as the first go around. And 2013 saw Obama average 20.6 million viewers. (That was the most for a second swearing-in since Bill Clinton's in 1997.) First-term comparisons are considerably more competitive. The 2009 inauguration saw an average 37.8 million viewers watch between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, with an estimated 25.5 percent of U.S. households watching. Ronald Reagan, the last entertainer turned politician to take the highest office, did so with 41.8 million viewers tuned in — and a whopping 37.4 percent of households.

In other words if Trump wants to do an apples to apples comparison he needs to wait until his second inauguration.  (Assuming of course that he is not impeached during his first term.)

Just to drive the point home Nielsen shows that his TV numbers were the second worst in first term inaugural history. Just ahead of George H. W. Bush.

Not a lot of bragging rights there Donnie.

At this point it appears that somebody a little less thin skinned seems to have grabbed control of Trump's Twitter account.

Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017

Sure he does.

Of course this makes little difference since we all know that just as soon as Trump finds his phone he will tweet something completely un-presidential to remind the country how unfit he is for the job.

In his very first press briefing Trump press secretary, Sean "Baghdad Bob" Spicer, lies about inaugural crowd size and attacks the press.

H-o-l-y shit!

Courtesy of TPM: 

5:39 PM: After a delay of about an hour we appear to be moments away from what is expected to be a White House statement on the crowd size issue. 

5:40 PM: Spicer complaining about MLK bust and giving various excuses why the inaugural crowd was much bigger than anyone said. 

5:41 PM: Spicer claims crowd was the largest crowd ever to witness a presidential inauguration. 

5:43 PM: Spicer is basically in primal scream mode now. 

5:46 PM: Verbatim quote: "This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration. Period. Both in person and around the globe."

This lunatic literally used his very first interaction with reporters as the official press secretary to scream lies at them.

This was NOT the first time those floor coverings had been used, they were also used during Obama's 2013 inauguration.

There were NO magnetometers used.

And there were more metro rides during Obama's inauguration in 2013, than on the day of Trump's. (Also don't forget that a number of those rides on the 20th were actually protesters.) (Source.)

So THIS is how the Trump administration begins.

By the way Kellyanne Conway had this exchange with Chuck Todd on Meet the Press today:

"Alternative facts are not facts. They are falsehoods," Chuck Todd tells Pres. Trump's counselor Kellyanne Conway this morning. WATCH: pic.twitter.com/Ao005dQ13r

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 22, 2017

Damn, this is going to be a long four years!

Hey, remember when we thought THIS guy would be the worst president we would ever have?

Rain poncho 1: Dubya 0 pic.twitter.com/aD8AFcAl6i

— Mark Zohar (@markzohar) January 20, 2017

Don't get me wrong, he was absolutely terrible.

However by comparison he seems almost comical and inept.

Well it appears that Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz is still going to be a huge asshole.

So pleased she is not the President. I thanked her for her service and wished her luck. The investigation continues.

A photo posted by Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) on Jan 20, 2017 at 12:31pm PST

Courtesy of CNN: 

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee that has investigated Hillary Clinton's actions as secretary of state, including her private email server, shook hands with the former Democratic presidential nominee Friday. 

But on Instagram, the Utah Republican -- Jasoninthehouse -- wasn't nearly as diplomatic. 

"So pleased she is not the President," Chaffetz wrote. "The investigation continues."

Jesus, what purpose does this even serve at this point?

They launched investigation after investigation against her before and during the campaign, and found nothing actionable, and yet they want to continue wasting taxpayer money to hound her until when?

Until she breathes her last?

You know I have always said that one of the main reasons that Hillary Clinton deserved our support during the primary and general election was because she frightened the Republicans to their core.

So much so that many of them were willing to ignore Russian interference so long as it helped to defeat her.

This only underlines that fact.

Yesterday we mourned, today we protest. Update!

THIS IS WHAT a plane full of women who are ready to resist the Trump agenda LOOKS LIKE pic.twitter.com/jqLPNE9VOh

— ann friedman (@annfriedman) January 20, 2017

Courtesy of Vox:

The Women’s March on Washington on Saturday is set to be huge, drawing more charter bus permit applications than the actual Inauguration Day — of President Donald Trump — it’s protesting and more than 220,000 committing to going on Facebook. 

In fact, the protests look to be so big that currently airplanes full of women are flying to Washington, DC, to join the demonstrations.

Estimates are that the number of anti-Trump protesters today are going to far outnumber the people who showed up for yesterday's inauguration.

Speaking of yesterday's inauguration, get a load of this:

#Inauguration crowd size? The difference in pictures. pic.twitter.com/SulfzccOyc

— Dan Gross (@DanJGross) January 20, 2017

Trump is so embarrassed by this that he has ordered the Interior Department (Who provided the side by side comparison.) to stop tweeting.

By the way these "Sister Marches," as they have been named , are already underway here in America and in other places like Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Big cheers on 7th street at the enormous crowd gets its first look down the hill at the even bigger crowd in the mall. #WomensMarch pic.twitter.com/aXGZRlOL7s

— James West (@jameswest2010) January 21, 2017

Up here in Alaska we have several of these planned all OVER the state, with the one in Anchorage starting around 10"30 AM our time.

 People have been asking what they can do, well this is a great start.

In fact I worked all of yesterday to find a way to attend the Anchorage march myself, but work responsibilities are unfortunately going to keep me close to home.

However I will continue to cover today's protests and to spread the word for this and other protests to come.

Remember, they might be able to stifle the Interior Department, but they can't shut us all up.

And they have only just begun to hear our voices raised in protest.

P.S. By the way, men are perfectly welcome to these "Sister Marches" as well, as the great Nick Offerman explains quite eloquently to jerkwad extreme Piers Morgan.

Update: Take a look at this.

Per @womensmarch organizers, they're increasing today's turnout estimates to 500,000 participants. Be patient & kind! #WomensMarch

— Deputy Mayor Donahue (@SafeDC) January 21, 2017

I have not yet seen reliable estimates on the inauguration crowd size but I would not at all be surprised if this march had already exceeded it.

And that does not even count the marches happening around the world.

Update 2: Another woman offers her support.

Thanks for standing, speaking & marching for our values @womensmarch. Important as ever. I truly believe we're always Stronger Together.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 21, 2017

The People's President.

Update 3: Women's March in Anchorage.

#WomensMarch in #Alaska pic.twitter.com/bspvBvZMAr

— Julia O'Malley (@julia_omalley) January 21, 2017

That is a damn fine turnout considering the weather.

But what can I say? You just can't keep strong women down, now can you?

Inaugural protests turn violent as Americans express their fear and loathing of Donald Trump.

Courtesy of ABC News: 

Protesters registered their rage against the new president Friday in a chaotic confrontation with police who used pepper spray and stun grenades in a melee just blocks from Donald Trump's inaugural parade route. Scores were arrested for trashing property and attacking officers. 

Several spirited demonstrations unfolded peacefully at various security checkpoints near the Capitol as police helped ticket-holders get through to the inaugural ceremony. Signs read, "Resist Trump Climate Justice Now," ''Let Freedom Ring," ''Free Palestine." 

But about a mile from the National Mall, police gave chase to a group of about 100 protesters who smashed the windows of downtown businesses including a Starbucks, a Bank of America and a McDonald's as they denounced capitalism and Trump. Police in riot gear used pepper spray from large canisters and eventually cordoned off protesters at 12th and L streets in northwest Washington. 

The confrontation began an hour before Trump took the oath of office and escalated several hours later as the crowd of protesters swelled to more than 1,000, some wearing gas masks and with arms chained together inside PVC pipe. One said the demonstrators were "bringing in the cavalry."

Some of the protesters called the police "pigs" which I think is unfair and even threw rocks and bricks at them.

I don't condone the violent behavior, and the police are only trying to do their jobs, however I can certainly empathize with what these people feeling.

However acting like this makes it too way for the MSM to dismiss ALL of the protesters at mere thugs or anarchists. 

The best protest signs from the Inauguration of Donald Trump: https://t.co/8TSkmPeYpm pic.twitter.com/ZlruK6I9mA

— Slate (@Slate) January 20, 2017

And that's not fair because by contrast there were a number of very peaceful, well mannered protests happening all over Washington.

Well actually all over the world.

More Than 150 Trump Protest Banners Are Being Dropped Over Bridges Across The Worldhttps://t.co/hElNdsQUxr pic.twitter.com/UN7mNROC7h

— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) January 20, 2017

Interestingly enough the big crowds seem to be the ones protesting Donald Trump's inauguration, rather than celebrating it as this tweet from MSNBC reporter Katy Tur demonstrates.

Parade route from Capital to WH. Entire stands empty. Crowd thin. pic.twitter.com/7AcpJkBO8O

— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) January 20, 2017

Oh that is going to make tiny hands unhappy.

Apparently the orange tinted pussy grabber had big plans to make today's parade compete with the best parades ever held......in a fascist dictatorship.

Courtesy of The Hill:

Donald Trump’s inauguration team wanted to show off the U.S. military during inauguration weekend and even suggested including tanks and missile launchers in his inaugural parade, The Huffington Post reported Thursday. 

“They were legit thinking Red Square/North Korea-style parade,” an inauguration team source told The Huffington Post, referring to massive military parades in Moscow and Pyongyang that are often interpreted as displays of aggression. 

According to the report, the military shot down the request because of concerns about how it would look to have tanks and missile launchers in the parade, as well as the possible damage the tanks, which can weigh over 100,000 pounds, would do to the roads. 

“I could absolutely see structural support being a reason [not to use tanks],” a Department of Defense official told The Huffington Post. “D.C. is built on a swamp to begin with.” 

Trump did manage to get five military jets to do a flyover, but I heard they refused his requests to bomb the protesters.

Okay I made that last part up.

Or did I?

Personally I am boycotting all television coverage of this black day in history, which as you all know is really hard for me because I am a news junkie and because....well the blog.

Though there was one person who managed to shame me a little for hiding my head in the sand today.

The people's president is a class act. https://t.co/TXd8x17dBG

— Gryphen 2009 (@Gryphen2009) January 20, 2017

So tough, so courageous, so dedicated to her responsibilities.

Damn she would have made a hell of a President!

Update: Apparently Trump's deplorables chanted "Lock her up" when they saw Hillary and Bill.

Fucking assholes!

For all of you still wondering if Sarah Palin will be attending Trump's inauguration, that would be a big fat NOPE.

Sorry, no room at the inn for losers.

Courtesy of Sarah Palin's newest cry for attention:

Friends have asked if I’m traveling South for the inauguration; I’m opting to join millions of you catching it on tv instead… I mean really, how could I miss all this! 

Palin follows this post up with several shots of family members out enjoying the winter weather.

None of her however.

Okay first off we are going through quite a cold snap up here and most of us would sell our mothers for a chance to fly anywhere warmer right now.

Secondly you KNOW she is dying to go and stand next to her candidate while soaking up all of the attention.

Thirdly Trump is freaked out at the lack of potential attendees and has been looking high and low for more people to show up to this inauguration, even going to far as to give out commemorative ticketes on Facebook.

So the only real possible she could possibly have for not going is that Donald Trump simply does NOT fucking want her there.

Poor Sarah, she has been waving her saggy poms poms on his behalf for months now, telling just about anybody who will listen that he is the best thing since sliced bread, and it seems he never even notices.

Ah who am I kidding?

I love it!