September 16: On This Day In 2019
First, two quick comments:
A friend asked last week "Yeah, but which policies of Trump's did you disagree with?" Too many to choose from. But, does seeming to intentionally slow the USPS, so you can win an election, count? Here at OTDI, we talked about this last month. Trump's staffer promised not to slow it before the '20 election, but that didn't cover '24. So, as of yesterday, Trump has started trying to reap the "benefits" of his own 2020 scheme. According to the NYT, Trump argued: “The United States Postal Service has admitted that it is a poorly run mess that is experiencing mail loss and delays at a level never seen before. With this being the FACT, how can we possibly be expected to allow or trust the U.S. Postal Service to run the 2024 Presidential Election?” Of course, this is no surprise, given Trump seemingly tried to make this happen.
Not every OTDI needs be policy-focused. Gotta have some variety. So, today's OTDI reveals a different side of Trump.
Who doesn’t like Mariano Rivera? OTDI 2019, Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Yankees’ legendary closer. The PMoF is the nation’s highest civilian honor, so it’s a privilege of our president to be able to bestow it upon those who have done legendary things for our citizens. Many of Trump’s recipients seemed worthy, but there were others that one might consider… questionable. It's supposed to go to those who have done a great service for our nation; Trump gave it to those who have done a great service for HIM.
These are the people Trump proclaims are the best of our best?:
You did everything you could to thwart the investigation into Russia's election interference And you may very well have participated in the Trump-Ukraine Scandal? And you’re so thin-skinned that you’ve filed at least 11 defamation lawsuits, for ~$1 billion, against U.S. news orgs which you feel maligned the awful job you did while in Congress? Well then Devin Nunes, you get my Presidential Medal of Freedom!
Rush Limbaugh, are you blamed for creating a new form of angry speechifying which has helped degrade American political discourse? Come on down and collect your medal!
Jim Jordan, you were one of my staunchest defenders when I got impeached…both for extorting a foreign government and for attempting a coup against the USA…sure, let’s see how this trinket looks around your neck too!
(Although Cleveland Plain Dealer board member Victor Ruiz noted in '20: “Jim Jordan is an accomplice to the… violent insurrection that occurred this past week…He has done a disservice to our country and his name should not be mentioned with the likes of Thurgood Marshall, Cesar Chavez and Maya Angelou.” “I can hardly think of anyone less deserving of the Medal of Freedom than Jim Jordan, one of the seditious lawmakers who blocked a peaceful transition of power,” added fellow board member Lisa Garvin.)
And, seriously, if you’re one of my very largest campaign contributors, and you pledged to support my campaign to the tune of $90 million? You get one too, baby! Obvi!
Btw, credit to Dolly Parton, Bill Belichick, Tony Fauci -- among others -- who refused the chance to share a stage with Donald Trump and accept an award from him.
Last month’s update: Trump yet again showed his disdain for the soldiers who protect us and give their lives for the nation. He claimed the PMoF was equivalent to the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is given to military heroes. "It's actually much better because everyone gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, they're soldiers. They're either in very bad shape because they've been hit so many times by bullets or they are dead.”
Reward yourself by Diving Deeper
CBS told us about Marino Rivera
FOX is pleased about Jim Jordan's award
The Washington Post and LA Times summarize how his Medal choices are a reflection of his, shall we say, unique values:
The Cleveland Plain Dealer's quotes
Last month’s horror
Jordan pic: Gage Skidmore; Nunes, Limbaugh pics: White House
On This Day In The Trump Administration: Trump botches Presidential Medal of Freedom