Rigby acerbically writes in comments overnight thus, after some “archive / dumpster diving” — clearly (and thanks, man — that is a “hold your nose” kinda’ job!):

…By the way, I wish somebody would ask John about this post from 2014.

It sure is rich reading in 2025. Very rich indeed….

That is spot on.

These days, Trump purports to eviscerate the First Amendment, and the Fourteenth, and Hinderaker sees it as well-within “the muscular power”- of the Executive.

Mr. Obama tried to make sure that spending on health care would reach Americans in the deepest need of it, as plainly authorized by the Congress under the ACA of 2010 (or Obamacare, if you prefer)… and Hinderaker said it was the “gravest possible abuse” of his office. [Genuine Questions Dept.: is it party affiliation, or skin color, driving this flip-flop — or… both? You, gentle reader — may decide.]

It is fascinating that Mr. Obama won the first time (2008) with a landslide, in the popular vote, unseen in three decades. While this time (depending on whose figures one accepts, Trump won by a razor thin margin on the popular vote — or didn’t win at all. And we know he lost the popular vote in 2016 and 2020, according to John, himself). But Hinderaker sees Tangerine 2.0 as the purest embodiment of the democracy — but after 2012, once the GOP controlled Congress, Hinderaker barked on and on that we are a “republic” — and as such, we act only through our LEGISLATIVE representatives, not through the POTUS we elect. The POTUS he said then, was a mere care-taker of the laws the Congress had already passed. Fascinating, indeed.

And to be clear, Mr. Obama followed the process — complying with the APA at every step.

Trump? Not even a whiff of understanding that there are laws about administrative procedures, ones that must be completed, before taking away people’s benefits, or prior rights, at federal law. [And Trump is trying to abolish agencies created by Congress as independent of his branch (like the SEC, and Dept. of Education) — well beyond his reach. John thinks he can LAWFULLY do it — Putz.]

So yes — Rigby is right: Hinderaker is a malignant hypocrite. And probably worse — it likely had to do with the fact that Mr. Obama is his better (in every way — outscoring him soundly, while at Harvard Law), and is a man… of color.

Hilarious.