The biggest story to break last night, Jared Kushner attempted to establish a "back channel" to secretly communicate with the Russians.

Courtesy of WaPo: 

Jared Kushner and Russia’s ambassador to Washington discussed the possibility of setting up a secret and secure communications channel between Trump’s transition team and the Kremlin, using Russian diplomatic facilities in an apparent move to shield their pre-inauguration discussions from monitoring, according to U.S. officials briefed on intelligence reports. 

Ambassador Sergey Kislyak reported to his superiors in Moscow that Kushner, son-in-law and confidant to then-President-elect Trump, made the proposal during a meeting on Dec. 1 or 2 at Trump Tower, according to intercepts of Russian communications that were reviewed by U.S. officials. Kislyak said Kushner suggested using Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States for the communications. 

The meeting also was attended by Michael Flynn, Trump’s first national security adviser. 

The White House disclosed the meeting only in March, playing down its significance. But people familiar with the matter say the FBI now considers the encounter, as well as another meeting Kushner had with a Russian banker, to be of investigative interest.

Gee, ya think?

When I first heard this news my first thought was, wait didn't we already hear this?

That's when I remembered a story from last month about Erik Prince, Betsy DeVos' brother, working to establish the same kind of back channel: 

The United Arab Emirates arranged a secret meeting in January between Blackwater founder Erik Prince and a Russian close to President Vladi­mir Putin as part of an apparent effort to establish a back-channel line of communication between Moscow and President-elect Donald Trump, according to U.S., European and Arab officials. 

According to the article the Prince meeting happened about a month or so after Kushner's meeting, which essentially proves that this was something that the Trump team really wanted to set up, and not some spur of the moment suggestion.

Now the question to ask yourself is why in the hell would a presidential transition team want so badly to set up a communication network, controlled by the Russians mind you, that would bypass our own intelligence gathering agencies?

Go ahead, try to think of a reason that does not make this group seem to be the Keystone Kops of Russian spies.

While you are contemplating that I should also inform you that a Russian oligarch with ties to Trump's former campaign manager is now seeking immunity from Congress:   

Oleg V. Deripaska, a Russian oligarch once close to President Trump’s former campaign manager, has offered to cooperate with congressional committees investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election, but lawmakers are unwilling to accept his conditions, according to congressional officials. 

Mr. Deripaska’s offer comes amid increased attention to his ties to Paul Manafort, who is one of several Trump associates under F.B.I. scrutiny for possible collusion with Russia during the presidential campaign. The two men did business together in the mid-2000s, when Mr. Manafort, a Republican operative, was also providing campaign advice to Kremlin-backed politicians in Ukraine. Their relationship subsequently soured and devolved into a lawsuit.

Like I said in an email to my friend yesterday, what we are seeing right now is no longer just smoke. This is clearly fire. 

And perhaps that is why the Senate Intelligence Committee is now requesting  ALL campaign documents that relate to Russia.

Trump's team skipped ethics course that teaches about laws, judicial appointments, and executive orders. Seriously, anybody surprised?

"Ah, we don't need it. Besides no one knows more about ethical behavior than I do. Believe me, no one."

Courtesy of Politico: 

President Donald Trump’s team rejected a course for senior White House staff, Cabinet nominees and other political appointees that would have provided training on leadership, ethics and management, according to documents obtained by POLITICO. 

The documents suggest the program could have better prepared officials for working within existing laws and executive orders, and provided guidance on how to navigate Senate confirmation for nominees and political appointees, how to deal with congressional and media scrutiny, and how to work with Congress and collaborate with agencies — some of the same issues that have become major stumbling blocks in the early days of the administration.

But the contract was never awarded because after the election the transition team shifted its priorities, according to a letter the General Services Administration sent to bidders such as the Partnership for Public Service. The program was expected to cost $1 million, the documents show. The contract-based training program was authorized in 2000, and the Obama and Bush transitions both received the training. 

“It has been determined that the requirements as defined in the RFQ do not accurately reflect the current needs of the Presidential Transition Team,” the GSA contracting officer, Matthew Gormley, wrote in the Jan. 10 letter.

Well this explains a lot.

I wonder if the course included direction to NOT select cabinet members compromised by a foreign intelligence agency?

Cause that might have been useful.

But to be fair WHY would the Trump transition team care to take a training on ethics when they had no intention of being ethical?

I mean that's just silly.

New Trump team strategy, hacks happen every election period and this one did not change the outcome.

Damn do I dislike this woman!

Courtesy of The Hill: 

Instead of focusing on the crux of the report — that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a multifaceted campaign aimed at helping Trump take the White House — members of the president-elect's team emphasized Russia's failure to actually disrupt the country's democracy and influence election results. 

Incoming Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said Sunday he thinks Trump accepts the findings of the intelligence community. 

"He is not denying that entities in Russia were behind this particular hacking campaign," Priebus told "Fox News Sunday." 

But, he alleged, that's not new. 

"It happens every election period," he said.

Okay that is simply not true.

But even if it were true it would not matter unless the people doing the hacking released that information out into the new media in order to benefit the candidate they wanted to win.

Here is more of Kellyanne's spin on this topic: 

She said foreign entities hacking the U.S. is not new and sought to pivot from discussing election meddling, alleging that under President Obama there have been hacks of the Department of Defense and Department of State. 

"Very concerning," she said of such cyber attacks on NBC's "Meet The Press," noting there was " very little punishment." Americans should know the country is "woefully unprepared for cybersecurity in the 21st century," she added. 

At the same time, she maintained that Russia's attempt to meddle in the presidential race had failed. 

"They did not succeed. They did not succeed to embarrassing this country on the world stage," she said. 

"They did not succeed in throwing the election to Donald Trump. That's very clear in this report."

As I have mentioned before that last part is not even mentioned in the report.

So to sum up the Trump team's talking points are, there is nothing new about this, it did not change the outcome of the election, and the news media is blowing this all out of proportion.

It may be a little challenging, but remember THESE are the REPUBLICANS, talking about RUSSIA.

Russia was the GOP's go to bogeyman for decades.

But now that they have actually undermined our democratic process we get, "Move on, nothing to see here."

And they are not alone, Trump voters seem to be in total agreement: 

“Sour grapes,” explained Bob Marino, 79, weighing in on the recent spycraft bombshell from the corner table of a local McDonald’s. 

“Sour grapes,” agreed Roger Noel, 65, sitting next to him. 

“Bunch of crybabies,” Reed Guidry, 64, offered from across the table. 

But Mr. Gubert came to a different conclusion. 

“If that’s what it took,” he said, “I’m glad they did it.”

And that is how America was taken over by a hostile foreign government boys and girls.

NOT after a long and destructive world war, but with a few simply hacks, a compliant media, and a complacent electorate. 

Trump transition team sends out list of things banned at the inauguration. Pretty much everything.

Welcome to Trump's America. Everything for me, and fuck everybody else.

Courtesy of Gizmodo:

Below is the complete list of things that are banned from the inauguration ceremony. Again, leave your drones at home. 

• Aerosols 
• Ammunition 
• Animals other than service/guide animals (What? No puppies? Fascist!)
  
• Backpacks and bags exceeding size restrictions (18” by 13” by 7”) 
• Bicycles 
• Balloons 
• Coolers 
• Drones and other unmanned aircraft systems 
• Explosives 
• Firearms (And yet this was the NRA's go to guy in 2016.)
  
• Glass, thermal, or metal containers 
• Laser pointers 
• Mace / Pepper spray 
• Packages 
• Selfie Sticks (Okay I hate these things too, but still this is supposed to be America.)
  
• Signs exceeding the size restrictions (20” x 3” x 1/4”) 
• Structures (No lemon aide stands kids!)
  
• Supports for signs and placards 
• Toy guns 
• Weapons of any kind 
• Any other items determined to be potential safety hazards 

And of course they close out the list with: “Any other items determined to be potential safety hazards.”

Well so much for Donald Trump the freedom president. 

They might as well just write a list with the words "Don't bring nothing" at the top.

Donald Trump congratulates himself for the consumer confidence that resulted from eight years of the Obama administration's hard work.

The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index for December surged nearly four points to 113.7, THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN MORE THAN 15 YEARS! Thanks Donald!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016

Seriously, who does this?

Not only did Trump rub one out to his own imagined awesomeness, he also bitched that President Obama was still acting like the President.

Doing my best to disregard the many inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks.Thought it was going to be a smooth transition - NOT!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016

To be clear all the President has done is to continue doing his job, apparently Trump wants him to STFU and let him just step in and start destroying the country even before he is sworn in.

The Trump transition team wants a list of State Department employees who worked on gender equality and ending violence against women. Gee, I wonder why?

Courtesy of NPR: 

President-elect Donald Trump's transition team has asked the State Department to list its workers who focus on gender equality and ending violence against women, in what's being seen as an echo of an earlier request for the Energy Department to list employees who work on climate change. 

In a brief email that was sent Wednesday morning, the Trump team asked the State Department's bureaus and offices to list any programs or activities that "promote gender equality, such as ending gender-based violence, promoting women's participation in economic and political spheres, entrepreneurship, etc." 

The email was acquired and published by The New York Times, which reports: 

"Although the wording of the memo is neutral and does not hint at any policy change, it rattled State Department employees, even those at senior levels. Some officials said they feared that the incoming Trump administration was trying to determine what programs were focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, though the memo did not refer to them." 

The team also asked the department offices to "note positions whose primary functions are to promote such issues" and to highlight any funds for the current financial year that are "already allocated to such programs and activities." 

Is it just me, or is every single new thing we learn about this administration more upsetting than the thing before?

I actually tried to imagine what possible reason the team could have for requesting this list if were NOT to do away with any work protecting women against violence or protecting them from gender bias, and I came up with nothing.

Targeting Energy Department employees for attempting to protect the planet, and now targeting State Department employees for attempting to protect women. All while talking about reentering a nuclear arms war.

Can it really get any worse than this?

Wait, don't answer that. I am afraid I already know the answer.

Kellyanne Conway chosen to be Donald Trump's White House counselor.

Courtesy of the Washington Post:

Kellyanne Conway, who served as Donald Trump’s campaign manager and as a senior adviser to the president-elect’s transition team, will join the White House as counselor to the president, Trump announced Thursday. 

“Kellyanne Conway has been a trusted adviser and strategist who played a crucial role in my victory,” Trump said in a statement. “She is a tireless and tenacious advocate of my agenda and has amazing insights on how to effectively communicate our message. I am pleased that she will be part of my senior team in the West Wing.” 

Conway, a veteran pollster and political strategist, became the first woman in history to manage a winning presidential campaign. The news release from Trump’s transition team stated that, because of Conway’s leadership, Trump’s victory “shattered the glass ceiling for women.”

I refer to Conway as the "Trump Whisperer" for her seeming ability to calm Trump down when he is agitated and even exert a little control over him at times.  I often think that she is the one keeps him off Twitter at times, or tweets damage control when he sneaks one past her.

However having said that she is truly a terribly nasty individual and if you have heard her go after Hillary Clinton or Trump's detractors you already know that for yourself.

That crack about "shattering the glass ceiling for women" is just an example of the kinds of vindictive statements that she is known to pepper throughout her interviews.

Obviously that one is directed at Hillary, but she is just as ugly when talking about any person who defies the will of her tubby, stubby fingered boss.

Is the Trump transition team targeting members of the Energy Department who are working to save the planet? Kinda looks like it.

Courtesy of WaPo:  

Donald Trump’s transition team has issued a list of 74 questions for the Energy Department, asking agency officials to identify which employees and contractors have worked on forging an international climate pact as well as domestic efforts to cut the nation’s carbon output. 

The questionnaire requests a list of those individuals who have taken part in international climate talks over the past five years and “which programs within DOE are essential to meeting the goals of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan.

”Trump and his team have vowed to dismantle specific aspects of Obama’s climate policies, and Trump has questioned the reality of climate change. The questionnaire, which one Energy Department official described as unusually “intrusive” and a matter for departmental lawyers, has raised concern that the Trump transition team is trying to figure out how to target the people, including civil servants, who have helped implement policies under Obama.

Well it appears that Muslims and Mexicans are not the only groups that Trump wants identified and rounded up. It is also any scientists or Energy Department employees who might not be on board with raping the planet and ushering in a global climate Armageddon.

I am almost afraid to wake up tomorrow to find out about the next terrifying thing that Donald Trump is planning for our country.

I know you are still upset about the election, but perhaps these Joe Biden memes might take a sting away a little.

"I left a Kenyan passport in your desk, just to fuck with him"
"Joe"
"Oh and a prayer rug in your bedroom. He's gonna lose it!"
"Dammit Joe" pic.twitter.com/mEWo91OLuA

— Josh (@jbillinson) November 11, 2016

Obama: Did you replace all the toiletries with travel size bottles?
Biden: He's got tiny hands Barack, I want him to feel welcome here pic.twitter.com/e7NRIZ43Ww

— Josh (@jbillinson) November 11, 2016

Biden: I just don't see what's wrong with a friendly bipartisan message
Obama: Joe, you spray painted "Tiny Hands Bitch" on the White House pic.twitter.com/ueiUTuZIlN

— Josh (@jbillinson) November 12, 2016

Biden: Ideally I'd like to include traps from all of the Home Alone movies, but we've only got two months so the Home Alone 2 plan is fine pic.twitter.com/iFkkJNmkvl

— Josh (@jbillinson) November 12, 2016

"Yes Mr. Trump, I took Joe's pocket knife away and we'll get you some new tires for that limo right away, but I can't make him say sorry" pic.twitter.com/wULtfJqu85

— Josh (@jbillinson) November 11, 2016

Biden: I think if we just leave a small-
Obama: No
Biden: Just a small Mouse Trap inspired-
Obama: No booby traps, Joe pic.twitter.com/qttZspBQDI

— Josh (@jbillinson) November 12, 2016

Biden: Hillary was saying they took the W's off the keyboards when Bush won!
Obama: Joe put-
Biden: I TOOK THE T'S, THEY CAN ONLY TYPE RUMP pic.twitter.com/D6Vh7Zu429

— Josh (@jbillinson) November 13, 2016

Yes, I realize they are childish and immature, I just don't care.

Donald Trump appointed a racist, xenophobic, anti-semite as his chief strategist. So he's off to a good start.

Courtesy of USA Today: 

Donald Trump's decision to make Stephen Bannon, former Breitbart News executive turned campaign CEO, his chief strategist and senior counselor in the White House was met with criticism. 

The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Bannon's appointment in a statement, calling him an "anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist and White nationalist alt-right extremist." The council pointed to the alt-right news website he used to run as proof of his views on Muslims and other minorities. 

In the statement, the council's executive director, Nihad Awad, said, "the appointment of Stephen Bannon as a top Trump administration strategist sends the disturbing message that anti-Muslim conspiracy theories and White nationalist ideology will be welcome in the White House."

Trump also appointed "Reince once and Priebus" as his Chief of Staff but that was really just to provide cover for what is sure to be a cabinet filled with an incredibly ill equipped group of internet trolls brought to life who would seem more at home crewing a pirate ship rather than providing counsel to the next, and perhaps final, president of the united states.

Remember before he was Trump's campaign strategist Bannon was Sarah Palin's biggest fan, which proves he just wants to sit back and watch the world burn.

His appointment also means that Trump will be getting all of his "news" from the Alt-Right controlled Breitbart, Alex Jones, and of course those voices in his head.

In short we are fucked!

We are also now learning that Trump was so ill-equipped to take this job that his first meeting with our current President left him shell shocked:  

During Trump's private meeting with President Barack Obama on Thursday, Trump "seemed surprised" by the scope of the president's responsibilities, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. 

Trump's aides were also apparently unaware that the entire staff of the president working in the White House's West Wing would need to be replaced, according to The Journal. 

Obama reportedly will spend more time counseling Trump about the presidency than most presidents do with their successors.

Wat in the hell did I get myself into?

But don't get your hopes up that Obama will be able to change Trump's perspective in a way that will stick for long, because the minute he is finished talking sense to him Stephen Bannon will return to whisper nastiness into his ear like Gríma Wormtongue did for King Theoden in The Lord of the Rings movies.

Here is a side by side comparison of Trump and Bannon's ideas for the country just to give this a little perspective.

Two quotes you need to read side by side.
1. From Trump
2. From Trump's chief strategist, Steve Bannon

Spread this widely. pic.twitter.com/lKMoDpMW0X

— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) November 14, 2016

Yeah, now try to get some sleep tonight.

President Obama meets with president-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office. (Does anybody else feel queasy?)

Not a mind reader, but I think I know what Obama is thinking.

Courtesy of CNN: 

The extraordinary meeting was a reflection of the swift and sudden change in the political mood between the frenzied last days of an election campaign and the reality of government and the transition of power between to administrations that follows. 

"My No. 1 priority in the next two months is to try to facilitate a transition that ensures our President-elect is successful," Obama said.

Obama told Trump: "If you succeed, the country succeeds," as the two men sat in high-backed chairs in front of the fireplace in the Oval Office. 

Trump thanked Obama for the meeting which he said had originally been scheduled for 10 minutes and went on for 90. 

"Mr President, it was a great honor being with you and I look forward to being with you many, many more times," Trump said, adding that he and Obama had spoken about some wonderful and difficult things and "some high-flying assets." 

It was not immediately clear about what he meant. 

The President-elect also said he would seek "counsel" from Obama. 

As the pool of reporters were led out, Trump told them several times that Obama was "a very good man."

Which I'm sure he followed with "You know, for a guy from Kenya."

Here is a little video of the meeting.

Personally I only see one President in this video, and it certainly is NOT the giant Oompa Loompa.

My President is a gracious and hopeful man, who is always working to get the best for the American people.

Mr. Putin's president is a hateful internet troll come to life, who will surely leave a path of destruction in his wake.