The Left-Cheek Ass Clown for December, 2025

Christmas is over for another year. The gifts have been exchanged, the family dinners eaten, and the gaslights turned up by an unfit and delusional leader desperate to cast the light of fantasy on his reckless destruction of a once proud country. I hate to be a downer, but this is where we are as 2025 draws to a close and a season once characterized by happiness and love sinks into a swamp of concern for an uncertain future.

It's also the last chance this year to present an Ass Clown award.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Readers, it's time to heap dishonor on

The Left-Cheek Ass Clown for December, 2025

and the tinfoil and toilet paper crown goes to

The Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches of the Federal Government

As all Americans - at least, those who were awake during civics classes - know, the Constitution divides the government of the United States into three independent branches: the Legislative, which makes the laws; the Executive, which ensures the laws are "faithfully executed;" and the Judicial, which interprets the laws. A major feature of this structure is what we once knew as the separation of powers, which ensured that each of the three branches would serve as a check on the powers of the others, preventing any branch from becoming too powerful at the expense of the people.

But that was then, and this is now.

Today's America is headed by Der Furor and those who believe in the theory of the "unitary executive," which gives the President complete and unchecked authority over the Executive Branch, including Cabinet departments and independent agencies established by law and organizationally located within the Executive Branch. "Unitary Executive" is what the Founders would have understood to be a "king." It is clear that Der Furor is a man utterly convinced of his own infallibility and the surpassing perfection of his opinions; coupled with the unitary executive theory and the support of the billionaire class, he represents the worst nightmare of The Founders - the sort of king they had just managed to get rid of.

Today's Congress is a cowering, spineless version of the robust Legislative Branch envisioned by the Founders as a coequal partner in government. Under the "leadership" of the Republican majority and in shivering fear of Der Furor and his angry MAGAts, Congress has abdicated virtually all of its responsibilities assigned under Section II of the Constitution to a president singularly unfit to wield them, and has used its power only in the service of big business, the ultra-wealthy, and Der Furor's thirst for revenge against those he believes have wronged him. 

The Supreme Court, dominated by an extremely conservative majority, has consistently ruled in favor of Der Furor, even to the point of granting him 

"... absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts."  (Trump v United States, July 2, 2025) 

The court has also eaten away at abortion rights, voting rights, freedom of speech, and religious freedoms* at a pace all but unmatched since the founding of the republic. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Readers, our final Ass Clown Award for 2025 is presented - individually and collectively - to the three branches of our federal government. At the rate Der Furor and his enablers are going, there will only be a need for one branch - The Supreme Executive - before long.

Before we go, an update on voting for the 2025 Ass Clown of the Year:

In fifth place with 200 votes - Congressional Republicans;

In fourth place with 211 votes - Nick "alpha male" Adams;

In third and second place (a tie) with 300 votes - Der Furor and Pete Hegseth (as a set) and Der Furor's Enablers; and,

In first place with 325 votes - Der Furor.

Have a good day, and come back tomorrow for Cartoon Saturday. You probably need something to laugh at after today's award and the prospect of three more years of neo-fascistic lunacy.

More thoughts then.

Bilbo

* Unless, of course, you're a conservative, evangelical "Christian," which seems to be the only officially recognized and approved religion under the current regime.