The October surprises are coming faster than usual this year...

It's entirely on message for this week that it would end with the announcement that the current couple living in the White House have both tested positive for COVID-19 (which will be known in future histories of 2020 as the #TrumpVirus).

Monday morning saw the detailed exposé of Trump's taxes in the print edition The New York Times (released online on Sunday), in which we learned that he paid $750/year in federal income taxes in the years when he wasn't paying absolutely nothing.

Tuesday night saw Trump's self-immolation at the first Presidential debate, a debate that will be remembered for his constant interruptions, his complete lack of empathy for Beau Biden, his mask-free family flouting debate rules, his sweaty orange complexion, and especially for his telling the Proud Boys to "Stand Back and Stand By" when asked if he would denounce those violent white supremacists. 

Wednesday saw the online release of the results of a five-month investigation from the Times' Magazine about the depth and breadth of Trump's "Voter Fraud" lies and how they fit into a continuing GOP project of voter suppression, which now seems to be Trump's only remaining election strategy.

Thursday night saw the release of a recording of First Lady Melania Trump saying "Who gives a fuck about Christmas stuff and decoration" and "they said 'Oh, what about the children that they were separated?' Give me a fucking break." Melania's war on Christmas and refugee children got approximately ten seconds of media attention before the news broke that Trump's closest aide Hope Hicks had tested positive for #TrumpVirus after spending all week traveling in close contact with her boss to the debate and Trump superspreader rallies.

Friday morning we woke up to the news that the POTUS and FLOTUS were positive for the virus named after them, which leads to our True Blue Liberal poll question of the day.

POLL:
Which of these other blockbuster stories of the week is Trump most happy to distract us from with his #TrumpVirus announcement?

— True Blue Liberal - #BidenHarris2020 (@TrueBlueLiberal) October 2, 2020

Merry Christmas.

But I have a Christmas query:

If @realDonaldTrump had been elected mayor of Bethlehem in the year 1 B.C. on an anti-immigrant platform, would he have kept Joseph and Mary from having their #AnchorBaby in his town?

Xenophobia is the real #WarOnChristmas.

— True Blue Liberal (@TrueBlueLiberal) December 18, 2017

I have nothing to add to the "War On Christmas" question that I didn't already say when this blog was brand new in December 2004: "Put the X back in Xmas."

Donald Trump's 5-hour-long Christmas (NOT HOLIDAY!) Yule Log Video

Via Comedy Central's The Daily Show.

The TBL Tweet of the Day for 12/8/2016

The trueblueliberal.org tweet of the day for today came from @LOLGOP, summing up the ridiculousness of the #WarOnChristmas and that messy intersection where militant anti-political-correctness meets right-wing conspiracy insanity, all in just slightly under 140 characters.

Trump supporters are so cheery now that they can freely say "Merry Christmas!" and "Sandy Hook was staged by child actors!" to anyone.

— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) December 8, 2016

(There may be a gap in picking a #TBLTweetOfTheDay for the next few days, but I'm sure that Donald Trump won't do or say anything idiotic between now and next Tuesday, will he?)

Frontline Feline Foot Soldiers in our Liberal War On Christmas

• War On Christmas Snowflake Ornament
• War On Christmas Round Ornament

• Proud Soldier in the War On Christmas 1" button
• Proud Soldier in the War On Christmas 2.25" button
• Proud Soldier in the War On Christmas 3.5" button
• 10 Pack of 1" War On Christmas buttons
• 10 Pack of 2.25" War On Christmas buttons

Another #WarOnChristmas Post

Fitting with the current commercial season, this War on Christmas post is of a totally mercenary nature. Here are new products for proud soldiers in our great liberal War on Christmas to display on their clothes and holiday trees:

• War On Christmas Snowflake Ornament
• War On Christmas Round Ornament

• Proud Soldier in the War On Christmas 1" button
• Proud Soldier in the War On Christmas 2.25" button
• Proud Soldier in the War On Christmas 3.5" button
• 10 Pack of 1" War On Christmas buttons
• 10 Pack of 2.25" War On Christmas buttons

Put the X back in Xmas

Did it ever occur to anyone that it's called "politically correct" because it is correct?
Now we have the next wedge issue -- the alleged recent public disappearance of the politically incorrect religious greeting of "Merry Christmas". Will this win as many votes in the red states as the vital issues of gay marriage and the mention of God in the Pledge of Allegiance, oh, and non-existent flag burnings, and Willie Horton? Wedge issues are insidious, because if you ignore them as insignificant (which, of course, they are), they do their damage like they did in 2004, under the radar, and if you confront them directly you're a Christ-hating Bible-and- Flag-burning liberal. But you know what, I'm almost 50 years old, I was raised a Lutheran and I have a son going to a Catholic school and I HAVE NEVER HEARD THE WORDS "Merry Christmas" SAID TO STRANGERS IN STORES and I would never say "Merry Christmas" to someone if I were unsure of his or her religion. Maybe it's because I've always lived in the vicinity of a major city (NY, Philadelphia & LA) and I've always known people of other religions (or no religion), but it is simply RUDE to use the words "Merry Christmas" indiscriminately in a multi-cultural society, which, proudly and luckily, the United States of America has been, and will continue to be despite the current theocrats occupying the District of Columbia. Maybe in some rural red states where a shared Christianity is taken for granted, "Merry Christmas" has been the norm (as in that AWFUL movie, "Christmas with the Kranks"), but where I'm from, it's been incorrect for decades.

On the other hand, I'll be happy to wish you all Season's Greetings, and a very Happy New Year,
True Blue Liberal