Not Watching the Inaugural
A list of alternatives
By Bruce Watson
On Monday, to the distant hum of the Founding Fathers spinning in their graves, the presidential inauguration will be held at the Capitol. You know WHO will be sworn in, though you may not know why, let alone what this says about Truth, Justice, and “the American Way.” But with democracy’s alarm bells tolling at noon, do you know what else you could be watching? Here are some options.
1. Watch “The Young and the Restless.” This long-running CBS soap airs at 12:30 p.m. EST, an ideal alternative to the president’s inaugural tirade. In today’s episode: Victor vows to protect Nikki at all costs, Nick searches for Sharon, and Phyllis strikes a deal with Billy.
2. Watch re-runs of “The West Wing” — With Jimmy Carter gone, President Jed Bartlett is the last, best hope for a president you can watch without reaching for your passport.
3. Watch your wallet. Once Trump’s “universal tariffs” kick in, prices will climb throughout the universe. And your wallet — or purse or nearest rathole — will be the safest place to keep what’s left of your money.
4. Watch “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” This 1939 Jimmy Stewart classic will remind you that American politics has always been up for sale, but that a decent politician can made a difference. Or so we believed in 1939. “Just get up off the ground, that's all I ask. Get up there with that lady that's up on top of this Capitol dome, that lady that stands for liberty. Take a look at this country through her eyes if you really want to see something. . .”
5. Watch the World Wrestling Federation. Watch every last body slam and testosterone spurt. Consider it a preview of the next four years.
6. Watch the birds outside your window. Hope is still the thing with feathers.
7. Watch JFK’s inaugural speech on Youtube. Try not to get weepy.
8. Watch “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Following “The Young and the Restless,” this soap will air just as the president begins signing executive orders and earthquakes rattle the Left Coast. In today’s episode: Steffy reveals her plan to take Forrester from Hope and Carter but warns Eric and Taylor to “back off.”
9. Watch FOX News spin the inaug — nahhhh! On second thought. . .
10. Watch Austrailian Open Tennis! Men’s and Women’s Fourth Round Coverage begins at 11 a.m. and continues right through to Trump’s first insults from the Oval Office.
11. Watch these children. They are the future, not Him.
12. Watch “Lincoln.” The 2012 Steven Spielberg movie, with a Lincolnesque Daniel Day Lewis, presents “the better angels of our nature.”
13. Watch MAGA’s signature “great again” show, “Andy of Mayberry.” In today’s episode — and every episode — Andy faces some quaint small town kerfuffle, Barney gets oddly upset, and Aunt Bee is worried about Opie. Was this a great country, or what?
14. Watch the Dow Jones. Business as usual.
15. When all is said and done, when the inauguration, inaugural lunch, and inaugural balls are finished, watch your ass. It’s a jungle out there.
This is happening tonight!
Emotions are running high as the inauguration approaches, but nobody keeps us calm like Heather Cox Richardson! She is joining us to help put things into perspective and remind us that small groups of people can change history—so let’s get started. Spend Inauguration Eve with Heather and your friends at Red Wine & Blue.
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Admit I got a couple laughs out of the list! I'm going to be working in my pottery studio, doing some cooking and listening to my audio book. I'm completely tuning out until maybe Rachel. The doom gets to me if I turn on the news. It's back to beginning the work to poke our electeds into doing the right thing on Tuesday.