The Insane Clown Congress — Thank You, Matt Taibbi

Wait — first, what the hell is this:

Actually, though I couldn’t bring myself to watch that debacle as it aired, I don’t really have to ask. That’s the man Rolling Stone contributor Matt Taibbi dubbed the Insane Clown President in his new book of the same name.

Apt description. And that’s also the kind of theater we’re going to have to endure after eight years with a president and first lady who made generous, gracious gestures like this:

The contrast is heart rending, isn’t it? But what scares me even more is that the Republicans who created this “decency gap” are scurrying around like headless chickens now, trying to figure out how to handle the monster they created.

They don’t know whether to kiss or kick his ass.

A few, like — gasp — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have called for investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election and, ostensibly, Trump’s ties to Russia. Astonishing. And admirable.

But as you may recall, a few notable ass kissers also floated a proposal that would have gutted the independent Office of Congressional Ethics. According to CNN:

The proposal would have barred the panel from reviewing any violation of criminal law by members of Congress, requiring that it turn over complaints instead to the House Ethics Committee or refer the matter to an appropriate federal law enforcement agency. The House Ethics Committee would also have the power to stop an investigation at any point and bars the ethics office from making any public statements about any matters or hiring any communications staff. And the ethics office would no longer be able to accept or investigate any anonymous reports of alleged wrongdoing by members of Congress.

Trump himself cried “foul” on that one, no doubt stunning Virginia Rep. Bob Goodlatte, author of the failed proposal, who was probably anticipating the myriad ethics violations his fearless leader would be accused of in the very near future.

He was right about that. But he needn’t have worried, because other brown nosed Republicans are taking a different and perhaps even more sinister, McCarthy-era approach: threatening to subpoena and investigate any public official who dares to question Trump’s judgement. Even it it’s their job to do just that.

Case in point, last week, Walter Shaub Jr., director of the Office of Government Ethics, painstakingly explained why Trump’s plan to hand over his business to his sons was “wholly inadequate” and would leave Trump open to charges of corruption.

“This is not a blind trust. It’s not even close,” Shaub told reporters. “The only thing it has in common with a blind trust is the label ‘trust,’” adding that “He’s going to be asking our men and women in uniform to risk their lives in conflicts around the world. So, no, I don’t think divestiture is too high a price to pay to be the president of the United States of America.”

Hours later, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, head of the House Oversight Committee, threatened to subpoena Shaub, if he refuses to participate in an official “come-to-Jesus” interview before his committee.

“Your agency’s mission is to provide clear ethics guidance, not engage in public relations,” Chaffetz insisted.

Problem being that Shaub did provide “clear ethics guidance” in that press conference. Lots of it, in terms even we laymen could readily understand. Thereby fulfilling the mission of his agency as stated by Chaffetz himself.

They just don’t know what to do with this Trump guy, pander to him or put up their dukes and defend the Constitution he’s threatening to rip to shreds on their watch. And they’re not getting any help from Trump’s fans, some of whom, when asked about his ties to Russia last week, asked, “What’s the big deal?”

Lord help us.

There’s a song from Duck Soup that’s been running through my head lately, which sums up Trump, in style and substance, rather neatly. It used to be funny. But in light of all of the above, I don’t laugh so loud when I hear Groucho sing, “If you think this country’s bad off now, just wait ’til I get through with it.”

Watch and weep.

Photo credit: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Creative Commons

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