The Buzz: As always, ‘the highest level of special’

President Trump went to Europe, and all we got was this balloon.

By Jon Bauer

Herald staff

With some notable exceptions, President Trump’s European Vacation dominated the headlines in the week that wasn’t:

We are not amused: Although insisting the relationship between the United States and United Kingdom was at the “highest level of special,” President Trump roiled the Brits with an interview in a London newspaper that criticized Prime Minister Teresa May, blamed London’s mayor for terrorism in his city and argued London was “losing its culture” because of immigration.

Following his departure, Queen Elizabeth II issued a proclamation that henceforth “highest level of special” would be used in place of “bolloxed up.”

My beautiful, my beautiful balloon: President Trump might have been a big “aggro” over a large balloon of a diapered-baby that resembled a snarling Trump and was flown above protests in London during the U.S. president’s visit. London Mayor Sadiq Khan defended his decision to issue a permit for the balloon, saying it wasn’t his job to censor speech or be the “arbiter of good taste.”

Following his departure, President Trump announced stiff tariffs on the export from the United Kingdom to the U.S. of “large, mean, satirical balloons that are very unfair and completely don’t look anything like me.”

Can it wait until Monday? Just days before President Trump was set to meet one-on-one with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a federal grand jury indictment alleged that 12 Russian military intelligence officers hacked into the Clinton presidential campaign and Democratic Party and released tens of thousands of stolen and politically damaging emails, a definitive allegation that Russia’s government meddled in the 2016 election.

“Donalt,” tweeted Putin to Trump. “Vood zis be bad time to tell you ve findink Hillary’s missink 3,000 emails?”

How much wood? House Speaker Paul Ryan, speaking at an event last week, described how a family of woodchucks had taken up residence in the Chevy Suburban he had parked at his mother’s home in Wisconsin and had eaten the SUV’s wiring, making it inoperable.

If you’re having difficulty mustering sympathy for the outgoing speaker, try this: For the words “woodchucks” and “Chevy Suburban” substitute, respectively, the words “Republicans” and “Congress.”

More than a couple of boobs involved: Prosecutors in Columbus, Ohio, have dropped charges against adult performer Stormy Daniels after she was arrested in a police “sting,” during which she rubbed the faces of undercover officers with her bare breasts during a performance at a strip club. The Columbus police chief, apologized and said the motivations of the arresting officers would be reviewed internally.

Lighten up, chief. It’s not like they asked Stormy to spank them with a rolled-up copy of Law Enforcement Monthly.

Jon Bauer: jbauer@heraldnet.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

RGB version
Editorial cartoons for Friday, April 19

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Snow dusts the treeline near Heather Lake Trailhead in the area of a disputed logging project on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, outside Verlot, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: Move ahead with state forests’ carbon credit sales

A judge clears a state program to set aside forestland and sell carbon credits for climate efforts.

Students make their way through a portion of a secure gate a fence at the front of Lakewood Elementary School on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. Fencing the entire campus is something that would hopefully be upgraded with fund from the levy. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Levies in two north county districts deserve support

Lakewood School District is seeking approval of two levies. Fire District 21 seeks a levy increase.

Schwab: Honestly, the lies are coming in thick and sticky

The week in fakery comes with the disturbing news that many say they believe the Trumpian lies.

If grizzlies return, should those areas be off-limits?

We’ve all seen the YouTube videos of how the Yellowstone man-beast encounters… Continue reading

Efforts to confront homelessness encouraging

Thanks to The Herald for its efforts to battle homelessness, along with… Continue reading

Comment: Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be, nor was the past

Nostalgia often puts too rosy a tint on the past. But it can be used to see the present more clearly.

A new apple variety, WA 64, has been developed by WSU's College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences. The college is taking suggestions on what to name the variety. (WSU)
Editorial: Apple-naming contest fun celebration of state icon

A new variety developed at WSU needs a name. But take a pass on suggesting Crispy McPinkface.

Liz Skinner, right, and Emma Titterness, both from Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County, speak with a man near the Silver Lake Safeway while conducting a point-in-time count Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Everett, Washington. The man, who had slept at that location the previous night, was provided some food and a warming kit after participating in the PIT survey. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: Among obstacles, hope to curb homelessness

Panelists from service providers and local officials discussed homelessness’ interwoven challenges.

FILE - In this photo taken Oct. 2, 2018, semi-automatic rifles fill a wall at a gun shop in Lynnwood, Wash. Gov. Jay Inslee is joining state Attorney General Bob Ferguson to propose limits to magazine capacity and a ban on the sale of assault weapons. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
Editorial: ‘History, tradition’ poor test for gun safety laws

Judge’s ruling against the state’s law on large-capacity gun clips is based on a problematic decision.

This combination of photos taken on Capitol Hill in Washington shows Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., on March 23, 2023, left, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., on Nov. 3, 2021. The two lawmakers from opposing parties are floating a new plan to protect the privacy of Americans' personal data. The draft legislation was announced Sunday, April 7, 2024, and would make privacy a consumer right and set new rules for companies that collect and transfer personal data. (AP Photo)
Editorial: Adopt federal rules on data privacy and rights

A bipartisan plan from Sen. Cantwell and Rep. McMorris Rodgers offers consumer protection online.

State needs to assure better rail service for Amtrak Cascades

The Puget Sound region’s population is expected to grow by 4 million… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.