509 Comments
User's avatar
Ken Davies's avatar

I hope this year’s better and Trump finally gets his just rewards.

Sanjeev's avatar

Some people are praying for fat dictator to have a fatal heart attack this year. Let's see if there is a god.

KS's avatar
Jan 1Edited

Check out the order of presidential succession before you wish!

You'd have to go all the way down the list, off its end, and down past most of the staff, to find a decent successor.

Carolyn Herz's avatar

Good point: JD Vance, Mike Johnson, Chuck Grassley, Marco Rubio....... A rogue's gallery of people who should never be president.

Marc Panaye's avatar

None of those will ever soil the Resolute desk.

Rena Stone's avatar

Didn't he steal the Resolute desk and ship it to MAL?

George Patterson's avatar

Probably. What you see on your screen is an imitation facade. it's only about 1/4" thick. And he cheated the woodworker out of his fee.

Dr. Iris St. John's avatar

I think he sold the desk to a cartel.

Ryan Collay's avatar

They would soil themselves if they were given the obligation!

David Getman Jr's avatar

I live in Iowa and it is difficult to believe chuck grassley is still alive

He looks like a Mummy and is one of the most despicable folk in DC

Winston Smith London Oceania's avatar

True, but none of them can command the MAGA cult - the only real source of their power.

Robert Kelly's avatar

But remember who JD actually works for. If Peter Thiel and the other tech bros can make Vance president they won't need MAGA rubes anymore. The best strategy is to do to Trump and Vance what was done to Nixon and Agnew: pick off the VP and then impeach Trump. Of course, first win the midterms and have a Democrat as Speaker.

Winston Smith London Oceania's avatar

The broligarchy only has as much power as we allow it to. They have the capital, but we have the masses. We can think of them collectively as our "Marie Antoinette" - and act accordingly.

Linda McCaughey's avatar

OOOOOOO---yes, please!!

Laurie's avatar

I think this is why we need the fat dictator to survive another year. Then he can go.

Linda McCaughey's avatar

If he should die inconveniently, we can make a skin suit out of him and put it on a tranquilized gorilla for public appearances, kind of like Silence of the Lambs.

David Getman Jr's avatar

yes indeed

makes perfect sense

We desperately need the Midterms

Meighan Corbett's avatar

I agree; if trump dies; MAGA will fracture.

Linda McCaughey's avatar

Without the Evil One, the cult will will vanish into noxious smoke and fumes....

Science Curmudgeon's avatar

If the House majority changes, the issue isn't quite as deep. The Speaker is third in line.

Cathy R's avatar

Yeah but who would be the Dem Speaker. Would have to be someone very strong with a plan to start to lead us to a much better country than what we had since Reagan.

Marliss Desens's avatar

What we need is a Speaker who is strategic, not one that cosplays "strength" for social media, which is what I fear too many people complaining about current leadership want. Let's focus on winning the House, and trying to win the Senate, and sort out leadership once we do.

Dirk  Faegre's avatar

We will just ‘exit’ them one at a time. One at a time. The trip starts with one exit at a time.

We’ll get there. Hope springs eternal.

Meighan Corbett's avatar

I dread Vance being in the WH. Free reign would be given to Project 2025. But he does have that pesky SEAsian wife and her three children (makes you doubt they are his too, with his comments) that will definitely be a career killer with P2025.

George Patterson's avatar

I don't think so. IMO, the Republicans in Congress wouldn't just do Vance's bidding, as they do Trump's. I believe they would frantically attempt to recover the power they used to have. They might even look for an excuse to impeach him.

Skian Dew's avatar

An admittedly theoretical possibility, but we should think big about our potential: With sufficiently large majorities in both the House and Senate, we could impeach the entire line of presidential succession, along with those serving in the Supreme Court who allowed themselves to be seated through Mitch McConnell's abuse of the rules.

After that...

Jack for President!

Andan Casamajor's avatar

Like all Tuxedo Cats, Jack's already dressed for his inauguration...😻

Leigh Hamilton's avatar

They aren't the "Jim Jones" of politics like Trump. No one is willing to murder their own children for any of them. Nah. They don't scare me.

Marliss Desens's avatar

And that is one reason it is imperative that Democrats win the House in the 2026 elections.

David Getman Jr's avatar

I just hope and pray that millions of folk understand the consequences

And vote accordingly

Attention scans can be faulty

And the Blob of Poisonous Goo keeps the news cycles full of Rot each and every day

Andan Casamajor's avatar

Succession has historically not gone well with personality cults. Pass the popcorn when the knives come out for Junior Dunce Vance...

ConnieW's avatar

But if we get congress back, impeach and convict, trump and Vance are out and the speaker of the house is in.

Chris Martin's avatar

I've long proposed a class action lawsuit against McDonalds because the Big Macs have failed at their one job.

Rena Stone's avatar

IKR? As the guys on Pod Save American are wont to say, praying for that "hamburger from heaven" (Though I'm not picky - also willing to take a chicken nugget from heaven as an alternative...)

David Getman Jr's avatar

One would think it would have taken its toll by now

CLS's avatar

There is at least a god in New York... Elise Stefanik is not running again.

Marliss Desens's avatar

That's because once Trump no longer found her useful, he crumpled her up like a tissue into which he had blown his nose and threw it out the window.

Steven Papell's avatar

You are bad! And yes, I have wished the same thing, but we should not go there.

4sq's avatar

It will have to be a complete takeover. VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!

and while I'm at it, EPSTEIN, EPSTEIN, EPSTEIN!

Martha Miller's avatar

I lost my faith in God when someone didn’t die of Covid.

Jeff V.'s avatar

I'm convinced the better outcome for the country is forced removal from office due to mental incapacitation (dementia). If he suddenly goes horizontal, the MAGAs will surely make him a martyr and search for someone similar. Alternatively, if he continues descending cognitively such that the GOP has no choice but to join dems in using the 25th Amendment, e.g., then most MAGAs will likely be forced to accept their god was defective and the GOP (anxious to avoid a blue wave in '26 and '28) will use the opportunity to end the very unpopular policies Trump has implemented.....i.e., a chance for the GOP to try and rebrand itself.

Laurie's avatar

And if the death is not public (e.g. a heart attack on TV), conspiracies will abound. We need to watch him continue to decay inside and out, all while more Epstein info comes out. That will be glorious to watch.

David Getman Jr's avatar

They certainly have his playbook memorized by now

There can't be another one alive

Can there

Richard Kiley's avatar

When the gods choose to punish us they merely answer our prayers

Ryan Collay's avatar

If you are waiting for the vengeful ‘Jewish God’ to take charge you may have a long wait…Far Side says it all, little nerdy boy is called by his Mom to dinner, “But Mom I was almost done!” And the flask starts spewing as he walks away.

If there was a god, Donny, and many, many others, would be crispy-critters.

No, she left it to us to solve our own problems, gave us free-will, brains (some), all the needed tools to live in paradise, a ‘pretty fucking nice planet’ as planets go!!!!

My God, does she have to do all the work! Clean up after he children too!

And her many minions have tried to help…community, beauty, love, resolve, and sex. Pretty cool when it comes right down to it but some want control and powers over all others.

They are sick people, need help, need a special place— I suggest Mars would work, they might learn something useful. Thanks Ursula!

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Jan 1
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Ryan Collay's avatar

You think we’ll send them food and water…? I’d agree but might not follow through…just saying respect and trust goes both ways.

suellen carman's avatar

A heart attack won't make anything better. Just different.

AC's avatar

I agree with Georgia. Hopefully this will be shown on TV and across all media, and serve as an example to others around the world who pursue the same horrible policies towards other human beings. The world only has a future if people take note of such behaviour and make their political leaders aware of it.

Dr. Iris St. John's avatar

Oddly enough, when I read your post I immediately had an image of Benito Mussolini hanging upside down in a village square. Can’t figure out why.

Rena Stone's avatar

huh, weird... ;)

Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

This administration has made me so bloody-minded. I'm anti-capital punishment, but I want to guillotine the lot of them.

Julie Stacker's avatar

Ken, You nailed it!

User's avatar
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Jan 1Edited
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Rena Stone's avatar

Also, I hope it's slow and clearly painful so that we have time to enjoy it! ;)

NANCY STELLMAN's avatar

Me also, Chuckle, Chuckle.

Comment removed
Jan 1
BTAM Master's avatar

I've accomplished something today!

Jennifer S.'s avatar

This is my favorite post of the new year so far. I'm with your cat. May your 2026 be happy not crappy.

Derelict's avatar

The cat definitely has the correct outlook.

Jenn Borgesen's avatar

And the cat said nothing ... Kinky Friedman.

PrincessKrapotkin's avatar

OMG, I haven’t seen a reference to Kinky in 40 years. 👍

Jenn Borgesen's avatar

Happy to oblige!

Kinky kept me sane during the early 2000s.

I Hate this Timeline's avatar

Tux cats are great. What is his name?

George Patterson's avatar

They are indeed. We have one with the traditional name of Figaro. We've regretted naming him that since he decided on regular serenades at dark-thirty each night.

John Camp's avatar

That cat looks like the Krugman family bodyguard.

parigot1950's avatar

Happy New Year from Paris!

I do not wish for Drumph to die from a heart attack.

I think he and his accomplices should be tried for all their crimes (which are many), and the trial must be seen to be fair. I have no doubt the verdicts will be harsh, as they should be, but they must be respected by honest, unprejudiced citizens.

That will be one of the first steps towards restoring the rule of law and democracy.

There will be many more (Abolishing Citizens United, reforming SCOTUS, rebuilding your public Education system, fixing your health financing and delivery, putting a stop to the egregious inequality that has festered since the Reagan years, making it impossible for oligarchs to control so much of the news...).

So Happy New Year and Good Luck!

BTAM Master's avatar

Merci! We will need lots of luck!

Larry Shaw's avatar

Don’t forget amending the Constitution to remove pardon power from the President. We can call it the Trump Amendment. He’ll like that!

Siri Bardarson's avatar

AND passing the Equal Rights Amendment…

Cathy R's avatar

Happy New Year from southeast Pennsylvania. An excellent plan!

Ruth Coleman's avatar

You are so very right and so trusting it makes me want to be you! Wish I could believe that much in the American people. Alas, won’t happen in my lifetime, but I’m not young so just maybe…

Pat Macpherson's avatar

Paul, thanks for all the Light you bring.

Jean Ann (null)'s avatar

Your cat’s expression says it all. Thank you for your good work this year🌟

Eric Greenwell's avatar

Amazing how a furry face can be so expressive.

CLS's avatar

If you really want expressive, look at the face of a Peregrin Falcon! (Though kitties are a close second!)

George Patterson's avatar

Any of the raptors have the same look, but the expression never changes with them.

Martha Miller's avatar

I knew you had to be a cat lover! All the best people are!

Steven Jennings's avatar

Happy New Year from Texas, hopefully with somewhat sane or better election results in November! Working on it.

Susan Borkowski's avatar

May this be the year we elevate our public consciousness out of this societal collapse we have been experiencing since T seized the scene.

Biron's avatar

Thank you M. Krugman for your very important work. Don’t lose faith in humanity. It’s because of you, Mme Richardson and the Atlantic that I personally don’t lose it. I am sorry that my English writing is not good enough to express all my gratitude. May the lights shine again on your country. From 🇨🇦

John Goodwin's avatar

I see much wisdom in the cat.

Lidia's avatar

Keep in keepin on, Paul. You're a voice in the wilderness aand we need it.

Goyo's avatar

Feliz año Paul.

Tim Voigt's avatar

Looks like the cat is doing all the heavy lifting…happy new year to us all and thanks for the use able intel!

Paul Delabastita's avatar

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar van Paul (Antwerpen)

solvay peterson's avatar

Happy 2026 to you!

Kitty time is the best time! Enjoy the purring!