Power brokers who could lead all-out "Stop Trump" push have either held back (Club, Chamber, Xroads) or gone other way (Fox, Rush, Falwell)
— Alex Burns (@alexburnsNYT) January 18, 2016
Olivia Nuzzi, at the Daily Beast, “Sarah Palin Backs Donald Trump, Murders Irony”:
… Dressed in a black overcoat and blue tie, the GOP frontrunner walked onstage at Iowa State University and gripped the lectern stamped with his name. “Wow, look at the press out there! They must think that a big event’s gonna happen today,” he said. “Wow! That’s a lot—it’s like the Academy Awards!”…
Trump persists because he defies parody. He, like Palin, is in on the joke that is his public persona. The difference is he’s better at telling it than any lowly scribe or comedian. And he tells it not with a device as obvious as self-deprecation but with subtlety in his every decision, minor or Yuge, in his official capacity as The Frontrunner for the Republican Presidential Nomination. Which is where Palin comes in…
As surreal as Tuesday’s performance felt at times, it was guided by a certain logic. Even Palin, who flailed her sequined arms in the air for the crowd, equal parts pep and menace in her voice, sounded a nuanced battle cry. “You ready for a commander and chief who will do their job and go kick ISIS ass?” she screamed at one point.
But then she explained her plight, and the plight of all Trump true believers.
“Trump’s candidacy: It has exposed not just that tragic ramifications of that betrayal of the transformation of our country, but too, he has exposed the complicity on both sides of the aisle that has enabled it, OK?” she said. “He’s been able to tear the veil off this idea of the system, how the system really works.”…
“Funny, haha—not funny,” she said, seemingly out of nowhere. “But now what they’re doing is whaling on Trump and his Trumpeters, ‘Well, they’re not conservative enough’—Oh my goodness gracious, what the heck would the establishment know about conservatism?”
She said she, Trump, and those like them were “right-winging, bitter-clinging, proud clingers of our guns, our god, and our religions, and our Constitution.”
“Doggone right we’re angry,” she said. “Justifiably so!”…
Palin's PAC fundraising off her Trump endorsement: "In order to get Sarah to political events…we need your help to fundraise for her travel"
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) January 20, 2016
Ed Kilgore, in NYMag, explains “The Inevitability of Palin’s Endorsement of Trump”:
Notwithstanding the howls of pain and rage from supporters of Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin’s decision to endorse Donald Trump for president makes perfect sense when you think about what she has distinctively represented in the Republican Party. Yes, she’s a “conservative” in the sense of standing for maximum confrontation with Democrats and constantly accusing the party Establishment of acts of betrayal. But no, there’s nothing particularly ideological — or, for that matter, intellectual — about her approach to politics or issues. She represents almost perfectly the passion and resentment of grassroots cultural-issues activists…
… In a very real sense, she was the authentic representative of those local right-to-life activists — disproportionately women — who had staffed countless GOP campaigns and gotten little in return (this was before the 2010 midterm elections began to produce serious anti-choice gains in the states) other than the thinly disguised contempt of Beltway Republicans. And after 2008 she generated a sort of perpetual motion machine in which her fans loved her precisely for the mockery she so reliably inspired…
…[I]n many respects, the Trump campaign is the presidential campaign Palin herself might have aspired to run if she had the money and energy to do so. Her famous disregard for wonky facts and historical context is but a shadow of Trump’s. His facility with the big and effective lie can’t quite match Palin’s, who after all convinced many millions of people in a Facebook post that the Affordable Care Act authorized “death panels.” And both of them, of course, exemplify the demagogue’s zest for flouting standards of respectable discourse and playing the table-turning triumphant victim/conqueror of privileged elites.
Conservatism for both Trump and Palin simply supplies the raw material of politics and a preassembled group of aggrieved white people ready to follow anyone purporting to protect hard-earned threatened privileges, whether it’s Social Security and Medicare benefits or religious hegemony. So it’s natural Palin would gravitate to Trump rather than Cruz, who’s a professional ideologue but a mere amateur demagogue. The endorser and the endorsee were meant for each other.
.
Why the Trump-Palin pairing is perfect, from "All the Truth Is Out." pic.twitter.com/7iCIxqpW9q
— Matt Bai (@mattbai) January 20, 2016
And yet… there’s another famous GOP Lady Icon also just endorsed Der Trumpenfuhrer…
Palin got all the attention, but another conservative woman who endorsed Trump might actually move more Iowa votes https://t.co/kr80fQogOl
— Jon Ward (@jonward11) January 20, 2016
… [Veteran Iowa political organizer Steve Scheffler] said that it was the support for Trump from 91-year-old conservative organizer Phyllis Schlafly that is “the one that has kind of turned some heads.”
For older conservative caucus-goers, it was Schlafly’s glowing praise for Trump that signaled to those who have followed her over the last few decades that “maybe it’s safe for them to go ahead and support Trump.”
“It gives them a comfort level,” Scheffler said…
Raise your hands, all who weren’t sure the old battleaxe was still alive, or at least still as compos mentis as she’s ever been.
Baud
It seems like the GOP realizes it’s Trump or Cruz and has chosen Trump.
I can’t actually blame them.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: If I had to make that choice, I’d choose the same. Thank pasta I don’t have to.
(My brain hurts, just chatted with HP because my blu-ray RW drive won’t read install cd-roms.)
Baud
@BillinGlendaleCA:
After all, Trump is the only one of the two who’s constitutionally eligible. ;-)
David *Born in the USA* Koch
Lil Marco is pounding Rafael Eduardo Cruz as Canadian and ….. wait for it… as French in a hilarious new commercial playing in heavy circulation in NH
Gawd, I love the smell of fratricide in the morning…. smells like victory.
debbie
Colbert did a great bit last night on Sarah Palin.
It started off with him saying that before impersonating Palin endorsing everyone, he’d need a Taser to shock the part of his brain that understands sentence structure.
The clip is 7+ minutes well spent.
MattF
@Baud: Yeah, Bob Dole actually prefers Trump. That surprised me a bit at first– but, after all, Dole was Senate Majority Leader, and Cruz…
David *Born in the USA* Koch
I thinks these guys are resigned to the fact that Trump will win the nomination and they’re now fighting over who will come in 2nd because they believe coming in 2nd will catapult them to the nomination in 2020 (gop has often nominated runner-ups).
BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: LOD had another HLS prof on saying not only is it not settled law, his research shows that Failgunner Ted isn’t eligible.
David *Born in the USA* Koch
Who can forget when Trump brought the Emmy Awards to tears with a special speech to the Academy.
Baud
@BillinGlendaleCA:
As long as conservatives have five seats on the Supreme Court, he’s eligible.
Raven
@BillinGlendaleCA: I wonder if it is software? I got a bluray burner/ reader for my Mac and I have to use toast to burn data discs.
Sherparick
Probably the appeal of Sarah Palin to the 27% is a mystery that is lost on us who are not part of the tribe. But Steve M at “No More Mister Nice Blog” I think translated what they hear when she and Trump ramble on that we, not regular watchers of Fox or listeners to Rush, don’t hear:
“….Here’s the formula: Take half a dozen ten-minute Fox or talk radio segments. Boil each one down to the takeaway bullet point. String these multiple bullet points together. Now you’ve made one Sarah Palin sentence:
“Tell me, is this conservative? GOP majorities handing over a blank check to fund Obamacare and Planned Parenthood and illegal immigration that competes for your jobs, and turning safety nets into hammocks, and all these new Democrat voters that are going to be coming on over border as we keep the borders open, and bequeathing our children millions in new debt, and refusing to fight back for our solvency, and our sovereignty, even though that’s why we elected them and sent them as a majority to DC.”
So few words, so many grievances! In a way, it’s artful. Except for the awful draftsmanship, it’s compressed like a Gilbert and Sullivan patter song, or a Bosch canvas….” http://nomoremister.blogspot.com/2016/01/palin-plays-nothing-but-hits.html
David *Born in the USA* Koch
A round trip ticket from Alaska to Boston is only $455.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Raven: The tech, who was pretty good, suggested a system reset as the next step. If that didn’t work, they’d replace the drive. We were working on the issue for about 1 1/2 hours and made significant progress(it’ll read music cd’s and dvd’s; i don’t have any blu-ray).
Cermet
Anyone who thinks the Inferior court and the foaming at the mouth, utterly insane skin head scalia won’t refuse to follow a dead constitution and claim (surprise) that it should be read in the modern sense of the word as a living document is also nuts. Cruz, if nominated, will easily win approval from the inferior court – the liberals will use the modern interpretation and so will the right wing loons led by the criminally insane scalia.
BillinGlendaleCA
@David *Born in the USA* Koch: Gota add in bail money for the Palins.
Chris
It wasn’t lack of money or energy. Palin didn’t run for president because Palin is fucking lazy and doesn’t want either the responsibilities or the work. She’d rather go on being the Kardashian reality show of Fox News than work for a living.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Chris: Kim Kardashian was thinking of running for mayor of my fine city. She liked her chances due to the large Armenian population of the city. A couple of problems with that plan: First, she didn’t actually live in the city; Second, we don’t elect a mayor(the title rotates among city council members) and third, even the Armenians here expect you to actually take the job very seriously.
WereBear
I’ve thought for a while that Trump will pick his VP reality show style. It would be YOOOOGE.
And really, who’s to stop him? Once you accept Trump in all his glory, you’ve already tossed away the tradition rulebook.
MomSense
WBUR just interviewed a group of Independent voters in NH. Oh my.
JPL
@MomSense: Should I start looking for property in Canada?
BillinGlendaleCA
@JPL: Hmmm, the wife has family in Canada.
Sherparick
As Alicublog says, they may be putting us all in camps within a year, but in the meantime one simply has to pass the popcorn and enjoy the Schadenfreude as Conservative heads explode as the “mole people” take over:
http://alicublog.blogspot.com/2016/01/seven-come-eleven-snake-eyes-watching.html
“….UPDATE 2. OK, here’s the line of the day, and possibly the decade, from former CNN correspondent Erick Erickson:
Sarah Palin gives Trump legitimacy.
They’ll be putting us in camps soon enough, but for the time being this is really fucking funny.
UPDATE 3. National Review’s David French is upset that his fellow conservatives are piling on his wife’s former meal ticket:
“I’m not saying she’s beyond criticism or that one should support Trump because of her endorsement.. but perhaps we should consider that the combination of her personal relationship with Trump, her personal experience suffering from years of the most vicious and personal attacks directed at any current or former politician in the United States, and her deep convictions regarding policy priorities for the next president have led her to this decision. In other words, she’s not simply hunting for headlines — she’s doing what she thinks is best for the country she loves.”
You can almost see the looks of incredulity on readers’ faces, ratcheting from bemusement on “personal relationship with Trump” to squinting disbelief on “suffering” to gaping incredulity on “deep convictions” until finally, at “best for the country she loves,” they explode in laughter. Well, everybody gotta eat.”
David *Born in the USA* Koch
@WereBear: Trump is already vetting Gary Busey, Meatload, Geraldo, and Ambassador Dennis Rodman for the Veep slot. Gotta admit it’s going to be tough choice.
GregB
Sarah Palin blamed President Obama for her son’s alleged act of domestic violence. Has she blamed President Obama for Bristol’s pregnancy yet?
I predict that the rightwing will be calling winter storm Jonas Obama’s Katrina.
Baud
@JPL:
The Kenyan really did drive everyone insane.
BillinGlendaleCA
@David *Born in the USA* Koch: I guess Omarosa’s out since she worked for Hilz.
MomSense
@JPL:
Maybe we need to buy a compound in Canada. We can call it Jackal Village.
BillinGlendaleCA
@GregB:
The latest one or both?
David *Born in the USA* Koch
I was trying to change the channel to Comedy Central and mistakenly hit CNN and they had Trump on savaging Cruz literally screaming he’s “Canadian” 20 times in 30 seconds. And then Cruz came on and started calling Trump a “liberal”.
It was more chaotic and hilarious than the Marx Bros in “A Night at the Opera”.
ahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahaahahahah
blueskies
@Chris: Lazy = lack of energy
WereBear
Having read that fascinating Storify on attending a Trump rally, and hearing Palin speak after a long time not having too… I see the appeal of both of them.
Their public speech actually mirrors the Wingnut thought processes.
GregB
@MomSense:
As I live in NH, I am afraid to ask what they said.
Though I did overhear yesterday that many of the rightwing faithful are convinced that Hilary is going to be indicted before the election.
Snarki, child of Loki
Palin’s gotta get the griftin’ while the griftin’s good, you betcha.
Baud
@GregB: That’s what they are told by their news sources. When it doesn’t happen, they’ll claim cover-up.
It’s Solyndra all over again, man.
David *Born in the USA* Koch
@GregB: that a meme going on hate radio. and people of that ilk believe everything they hear on the radio, no matter how ridiculous
Patricia Kayden
@Baud: Which is perfect because Secretary Clinton (or even Senator Sanders) should easily be able to defeat Trump. Trump may be a hero to Rightwingers but I’m sure people on our side see him for the loudmouth bigot he is. He will not be in the White House unless he paints his house white.
Face
So thrice-married Trump is “conservative” to Phyllis and her ilk? So these are the Family Values(TM-GOPOnly) theyre always shrieking about?
Baud
@Patricia Kayden:
I’m not so sure about the easily part. But I’m anti-complacency.
Germy
@GregB:
I’m confused here. She says it’s PTSD from his service? Didn’t he get into trouble with the law before he enlisted? Wasn’t it the reason he enlisted (or was told to enlist by his parents)? Wan’t he a troublemaker before he ever set foot in the service? And if so, isn’t her claim an insult to all vets who are really suffering from PTSD?
Patricia Kayden
@David *Born in the USA* Koch: The Republican Convention should be a hoot this year. If it looks like it’s going to be chaotic, I may even watch just to point, laugh and shake my head in disdain. It will truly be a gathering of The Clowns.
WereBear
@Face: Not only that, Phyllis moved to DC somewhere in the mid-70’s and I don’t know if she and her husband have been in the same state since…
Baud
@Germy:
Your are applying logic to a Sarah Palin statement. Minus ten points from Gryffindor.
Germy
Open thread:
I’d like to take this opportunity to air my grievance with the organization that is the first letter of the alphabet three times. Once a year, they send me a bill and four shiny new cards (one for me, and one for each family member) so that if there is a car breakdown, a towtruck will arrive promptly.
This year, one of the cards they sent has a blank spot where the emergency number is supposed to be. The other three cards has the number, but the one with my wife’s name has NO FUCKING EMERGENCY NUMBER ON IT TO CALL. If I hadn’t caught that, I can imagine my wife having engine trouble some cold night, taking her card out of her purse, and having NO IDEA WHO TO CALL.
So I will spend most of this morning on the phone trying to resolve this, I suspect.
Also, they have a new service: If your battery dies, they will come and replace it on the spot! Sounds good, right? Except two years ago, my wife couldn’t start her car (she was miles from our home). Called the… Club … and a tow truck guy came, jump started the battery, got it running again, but told her she definitely needed a new battery, and offered to replace it (for of course a not-insubstantial fee). She declined, drove home. We took the car to our regular mechanic and he said the battery was fine.
bemused
@Sherparick:
Wingnut Remix!
Matt McIrvin
@Sherparick: I’ve seen the left version of that kind of rant: it’s the spiraling Everything Is Awful wail, and you see it two-thirds of the way down on political blog comment threads.
Not from former vice-presidential nominees.
Germy
@WereBear: Remember the Dowager’s line on Downton Abbey?
“I know several couples who are perfectly happy – haven’t spoken in years.”
PurpleGirl
@Germy: Yes, Track Palin was in trouble before he entered the Army. And yes, there was the feeling that it was the Army or else possibly jail for him. He may indeed now have PTSD but he has a troubled background. All of her children have troubled backgrounds and it’s up to her to own up to her lack of parenting skills.
Germy
@PurpleGirl:
As should Todd. Supposed to be a male role model for his son.
PurpleGirl
@Germy: Agreed.
Germy
BillinGlendaleCA
@Germy:
Yes.
Yes.
Yes, though I’ve heard it was a judge.
Yes.
And yes, a real insult.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Germy: I have the number for the (first letter of the alphabet 3 times) in my contact list.
ETA: I should check to make sure the number’s current.
Germy
@BillinGlendaleCA: I like having it on my wife’s card, as well. I paid for it.
I worry about her. What if her phone is dead, and she needs to use someone else’s phone, or a pay phone (if any still exist). What if she can’t reach me?
I just don’t feel like playing phone tag today with that organization
BillinGlendaleCA
@Germy: Fair enough.
NotMax
It’s the underlying frenzied lynch mob mentality which is the most disturbing and soul-rattling. That’s beyond playing with dynamite, that’s juggling flasks of nitroglycerine while riding a rollercoaster.
FlipYrWhig
I know these things tend to be based on feelings and perceptions rather than on actuality, but why does Trump (and now Palin) keep trotting out this line about Obama mistreating veterans? Is this still the VA story from a few years back that Jon Stewart kept hammering?
MattF
@NotMax: Yeah, but it’s a living.
Docg
The takeaway for me was the look on Trump’s face as as Sarah Plainly Tall kept speaking. I thought he was going to call in his goons to get her off the stage. Sharing a stage with Palin was in effect his first presidential hire and it was an inglorious clusterfuck. Trump dispatched her to Oklahoma, negating her scheduled next appearance with him in Iowa. For someone who dismisses his lack of knowledge and experience by saying he will “hire smart people” this episode does not bode well.
MomSense
@GregB:
One guy likes Trump, even though he doesn’t agree with everything he says, because he is going to “stir the pot”. Then there is the woman who likes Rubio because he is young and we need “new blood”. Talk of securing our southern border. One would think the northern border would be more of a concern in NH.
40% of voters in NH are undeclared/independent.
Gin & Tonic
@MomSense:
And 50% are below average.
MattF
@Germy: That’s scammy. But it’s also true that electrical problems in cars can be hard to diagnose. A good garage will decline to replace a battery unless they can take it out and test it.
Peale
@Germy: why should anyone take her word for it that track has ptsd? I served my country and now every shitty thing that i do is because I was a real true patriot. fuck Track and his poor judgement.
danielx
@Cermet:
Ah, you’ve noticed – Fat Tony uses whatever interpretation suits the case. If original intent provides the point he needs, every word and clause as written are sacred. If not, well then, current conditions and modern circumstances require a certain amount of divination of the Founding Fathers’ intentions.
gvg
I imagine Palin doesn’t really know anything about what PTSD is and how to treat it. She likes blaming “other” people for anything anyway. Track apparently threatened to kill himself in the latest incident, which is better than threatening others and that would be pretty common in a domestic violence incident but it’s not a sign everything is alright with him. I would hope he is getting services, as I hope anyone would and especially expect services for vets.
Obama of course didn’t start that stupid war and tried to get us out as fast as possible. Princess grifter is too irresponsible to acknowledge her party is directly responsible for many veteran’s problems.
Botsplainer
@Face:
For Family Value Christian Conservatives, it matters not what you do, but instead what you say (they’re very pharisaic that way). For instance, Rush Limbaugh could be caught by police (the arrest on video) naked with his nose buried in the cocaine-filled asscrack of a dead rent boy, and they’d still defend him while saying “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven”.
There is a joke that has a sad aspect of truth:
JPL
@PurpleGirl: I blame Obama
personal responsibility is for the rest of us.
Germy
What must be going through Mitt Romney’s mind right now? Early in the campaign season, he was fired up and ready to go, and then took a meeting with Jeb, who convinced him of the hopelessness of trying to run against the inevitability that was JebForPresident Inc.
And now he sees all this bullshit?
bjacques
@Sherparick: I have a cousin on Facebook who posted like that when I challenged one of her Tea party assertions.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Chris Hayes retweeted this:
Did Ron Fournier actually google a picture of Obama looking out a plane window to argue that Flint is Obama’s Katrina, so he could cry both sides? He has the picture on his twitter feed, I”m not gonna bother with his column, because Fournier
Botsplainer
@MomSense:
There is a distressing demographic that isn’t small that likes to vote for “not a typical politician” or “to shake things up”.
MomSense
@Gin & Tonic:
I’d like to see the Venn diagram on that.
Did any of our B-J lawyers weigh in on the grand jury never voting in the Tamir Rice case?
danielx
@Docg:
If there’s anything a narcissist resents, it’s sharing the stage with another narcissist.
MomSense
@Botsplainer:
It’s also such a weaselly way to distance yourself from the racist and fascist things that are central to Trump’s campaign to just say that you don’t agree with everything. I wish the interviewer had followed up and asked him if he was referring to the rounding up and deporting of all muslims or taxing hedge fund guys.
GregB
@MomSense:
The Canadian border is very porous and there is a big problem with maple syrup and meat pie smuggling.
By the way, it is funny how the wingnut mind turns on a dime without any irony, For the longest time everything had to be prefaced with how America is the greatest place forever and ever.
Now their mantra is America sucks, the worst, we’re losers.
Why do they hate America? Oh yeah, their President is an African-American.
Litlebritdifrnt
@Germy: According to a tweet I saw yesterday he never saw combat. There is no combat endorsement on his DD214.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
That’s depressing. Trump’s strength, like Perot’s, for that matter like Reagan’s, is that people find politics confusing and platitudes like this let them off the thinking hook.
Amir Khalid
@Germy:
Even if the awesomeness of Jeb! isn’t so awesome after all, Mitt would still not have been the Republican party base’s man — not with this iteration of the party base, anyway. The base wants an out-and-proud expression of its prejudices. It wants to hear trash talk. Mitt is too reserved in manner for all that. The Donald would have flattened Mitt like he’s done to all the other establishment candidates.
Vhh
@BillinGlendaleCA: LOD?
Gimlet
via Media Matters
O’REILLY (HOST): And finally, The Factor tip of the day: the damage of embracing the socialism train. In life, anything worthwhile is difficult. If you want to achieve, you will suffer. Period.
But the socialist philosophy ignores that truism. It is based on entitlement that we all have a right to live in a certain way. To get specific things given to us.
That is a false narrative that damages human beings and weakens countries because it robs of incentive. It robs you of incentive to reach your full potential.
MomSense
@GregB:
There is no consistency to the wingnut thinking. I can’t even figure out what half the conspiracy theories are about. They don’t make any sense.
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I also read the comment section under the Robert Reich article at huffpo. Not exactly reassuring.
rikyrah
Good Morning, Everyone:)
It was 23 degrees this morning…YES!!
Zinsky
A politician turned reality TV show star endorses a reality TV show star turned politician. We have entered Bizarroland!
Germy
@Litlebritdifrnt:
That there really is an insult to all vets, then. I was actually wondering about that; whether he saw actually combat or not. Perhaps the PTSD is the result of being told what to do during basic training.
Why is it every new thing I learn about the Palins and about Trump makes me loathe them more?
Germy
@Amir Khalid:
Would have been fun to watch, you have to admit.
rikyrah
THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 1/20/16
Snyder e-mails missing key year in Flint toxic water disaster
Rachel Maddow reports on the release of hundreds of pages of e-mails from Michigan Governor Rick Snyder that show the Snyder administration’s awakening to the Flint toxic water crisis, but points out that key decisions about Flint’s water supply happened in 2013, which is not part of the e-mail release
Bobby Thomson
@BillinGlendaleCA: he’s wrong, but what do you expect from a safety school?
Chris
@Gimlet:
It used to be a founding principle of this country that the simple fact of being human meant all of us were entitled to certain things. Even if you don’t agree on what these things were. It’s where the whole notion of “rights” comes from.
hueyplong
Is it noteworthy that the actual endorsements we’re seeing are from people other than actual or former GOP officeholders (except for Lindsey Graham, about whom no one cares)? It’s Glenn Beck for Cruz, Schlafly and Palin* for Trump.
Guys like Dole say they would prefer Trump to Cruz, but it seems like they’re not yet endorsing Trump, they’re still just knocking down Cruz to try to get someone else into second place. I think the articles about choosing between the two leaders are still premature, and assume that once the first two states are done, the GOP (if there still is such a thing) will put serious pressure on the other candidates to get into a room and pick one guy the “establishment” can back, with promises of this perk or that to the ones not chosen. As of today, you can’t blame those others for playing chicken a little longer.
The only part of this that’s pure joy instead of a mixture of Schadenfreude and fear is the revelation of just how bitterly hated Cruz is. For some reason that gives me hope, even if their hatred is just personal and not born of love of country.
* Palin has spent a lot more time as a reality show host/Fox talking head than she ever did as a governor, so she’s pretty easy to lump in with the Schaflys and Becks.
rikyrah
Latest GOP NH Polling:
the latest poll of Republican voters in the Granite State from CNN, WMUR, and the University of New Hampshire.
1. Donald Trump: 34% (up from 32% in early December)
2. Ted Cruz: 14% (up from 6%)
3. Jeb Bush: 10% (up from 8%)
3. Marco Rubio: 10% (down from 14%)
5. Chris Christie: 6% (down from 9%)
5. John Kasich: 6% (down from 7%)
5. Rand Paul: 6% (up from 2%)
SFAW
@danielx:
Almost: he uses whatever “reason(s)” he wants to justify his decision, said decision being a political one, designed to attain a certain result, generally aimed at fucking over the liberals etc. Lately, if his “reason(s)” bear(s) any resemblance to the Constitution — original intent or otherwise — it is merely coincidence.
He may not have been that way when he was first appointed, but these days (i.e., for the last 15+ years), he’s about as intellectually dishonest a Justice as there has been.
Interviewer: “Justice Scalia, can you explain why you voted to more-or-less rescind the right of free speech for everyone except corporations?”
Scalia: “Listen, asshole, Article IX CLEARLY states that all bitskos shall be potrzebie, so what’s your problem?”
Eric U.
@Sherparick: that’s what I always thought when listening to Glen Beck, his hyperactive rants only mean something reasonable to the initiated. It’s not that the audience is ignorant, it’s that they have assimilated so much misinformation that these sorts of rants actually make sense to them. Of course, you see things like that with any set of true believers, but since other ideologies in the U.S. don’t have a propaganda channel in every medium, this sort of thing isn’t available to us.
I just heard “fast and furious” again yesterday. I was a little surprised
ThresherK
@JPL: I can teach you everything you need to know about Canadian Football* and the Monteal Expos** you need to know to pass as a native.
*”It’s okay, but Toronto deserves an NFL team.”
**”Screw Jeffrey Loria; sourry about my outburst, eh?”
Chris
@Eric U.:
Political conversations between conservatives have always reminded me of conversations between myself and fellow Star Wars expanded universe nerds (or whatever your nerd entertainment of choice is). Everything makes sense if you’ve delved into that universe enough to know what everything means. To everyone else, it’s just gibberish.
The problem in their case is that they think the fictional universe is real.
rikyrah
Luvvie goes in on Stacey Dash:
Dear Stacey Dash, Who Knew Clueless Was a Biopic?
Awesomely Luvvie — January 21, 2016
I have chilled on writing ex-actress and current Faux News mouthpiece Stacey Dash a sternly-worded letter for years, as I verbally chin-checked Raven-Symone. So this is overdue. Besides, so many of y’all asked me to that I was afraid that if I didn’t, you might pitch a tent on my eLawn (aka my Facebook page) until I did.
She has tried it FOR REAL.
………………………………………………………
You know how folks talk about the “Great White Hope?” You’re the Great Black Disappointment, because every single time you open your mouth, stupidity falls out. You burp idiocy. And it’s either you’re doing it on purpose to troll us OR you were the prototype for the Child Left Behind that Dubya tried to save.
I do not understand how one person could be so out of touch that they’re a caricature of coon. Some of the things you’ve been saying in these last 5 years are so imbecilic that I’m pretty sure you’re the long lost niece of Uncle Ruckus. Self-hate is a summagoat, and you are swimming in it.
bjacques
How did I end up in FYWP jail? I didn’t have any links or refer to products or services that enable certain activities.
Anyhoo, The Return of Teh Sarah provides an excuse to resurrect this classic episode of Graham Norton from 7-1/2 years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOdN2e5woVs
TG Chicago
Regarding the tweet at the top, I guess you could say the US Chamber of Commerce has “held back”, but they don’t typically endorse candidates, and the CEO has come out against Trump, so they’re not holding back all that much.
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-12-09/trump-will-lose-u-s-chamber-of-commerce-president-says
They also did ads in Iowa, as mentioned in the thread under that tweet.
catclub
@BillinGlendaleCA: I think if you asked some of them:
“Name one bad thing in the world, that is not Obama’s fault.” They would draw a blank.
WereBear
I give his judgement a D-.
a different chris
Sound familiar?
rikyrah
About the FLINT Water Criminal Enterprise
I will not get past the information that in OCTOBER 2014…
The General Motors Corporation…
STOPPED USING THE FLINT WATER BECAUSE IT WAS HURTING THEIR CAR PARTS.
And, these muthaphuckas are gonna pretend that the water would be fit for HUMAN consumption?
Baud
Question for the handy: I’m trying to locate a gas leak in my snow thrower. I’ve taken it apart so I can see the fuel line, but how do I locate the leak without ruining the engine?
JPL
@Baud: Very carefully.
Baud
@JPL: Oh man, I’m screwed then.
Gin & Tonic
@Baud: You’re a big-shot Presidential candidate. Have one of the interns do it. Have another one shovel the snow.
Baud
@Gin & Tonic: I consider you guys my interns/future cabinet secretaries. Unfortunately, there are some downsides to being a virtual candidate, such as when physical labor is needed.
Paul in KY
@PurpleGirl: He probably has PTSD from growing up in that crazy house.
OzarkHillbilly
@Baud: Take a propane torch and fan it along the gas line from tank to carb. The leak will become apparent when it catches fire. Then go out and buy a new snow blower.
rikyrah
LANSING, Mich. — A top aide to Michigan’s governor referred to people raising questions about the quality of Flint’s water as an “anti-everything group.” Other critics were accused of turning complaints about water into a “political football.” And worrisome findings about lead by a concerned pediatrician were dismissed as “data,” in quotes.
That view of how the administration of Gov. Rick Snyder initially dealt with the water crisis in the poverty-stricken, black-majority city of Flint emerged from 274 pages of emails, made public by the governor on Wednesday.
The correspondence records mounting complaints by the public and elected officials, as well as growing irritation by state officials over the reluctance to accept their assurances.
It was not until late in 2015, after months of complaints, that state officials finally conceded what critics had been contending: that Flint was in the midst of a major public health emergency, as tap water pouring into families’ homes contained enough lead to show up in the blood of dozens of people in the city. Even small amounts of lead could cause lasting health and developmental problems in children.
Chris
@Baud: @Baud:
If you’re elected, I want peace on earth, goodwill towards men.
Matt McIrvin
@FlipYrWhig: I think it’s some vague combination of the VA story, and that Facebook meme about how Obama wanted to give free stuff to Syrian refugees while homeless veterans slept on the street. I think the latter is the full and complete origin of the notion that Obama somehow caused veteran homelessness (rather than greatly reducing it, as in reality).
MattF
@WereBear: Well, the obvious CEO-to-be told him ‘No’, so that was that.
Baud
@Chris: I give it careful thought. Maybe form a committee to look into it.
rikyrah
Flint is a CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE
with malice, and forethought..
THEY POISONED AN AMERICAN CITY.
Paul in KY
@Baud: Just replace the gas line.
Amir Khalid
@rikyrah:
Are the city still dunning people to pay for the poisoned water?
boatboy_srq
@Sherparick: Wait. Planned Parenthood competes for our jobs? I thought that Planned Parenthood was the reason there weren’t enough domestic workers so all those service-sector jobs were going to immigrants in the first place…
OzarkHillbilly
@Chris: You must be some kinda hippie.
Iowa Old Lady
@rikyrah: It’s almost impossible for me to believe that there might be no criminal charges.
Also, there’s a sign that gets posted in manufacturing plants (assuming there’s a union presence): If you think safety is expensive, try having an accident.
SiubhanDuinne
@MattF:
I initially read that as “oblivious.” Which also works.
Sherparick
@David *Born in the USA* Koch: In this time of need, what this country, and particularly the Republican Party, needs is the leadership that only Rufus T. Firefly can provide. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_Soup_%281933_film%29
Groucho must be wishing he could return from dead right now.
Mike J
@boatboy_srq: Planned Parenthood is The Man. The one who is keeping everyone down. Conspiracy theorists on both sides agree, so it must be true!
I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet
@Baud: I would try a couple of things:
1) The leak is most likely at a connection. Try to inspect the ends of the (rubber?) line to see if there are cracks.
2) Look for excessive dirt buildup along the line. Dust and dirt will get stuck where the line is wet.
3) If you don’t see anything there, the line may be split.
It may be hard to determine anything that way, though.
I would take it out to your driveway, have a fire extinguisher (or a bucket of water and a cup ) near by, start it and be ready to quickly turn it off. Look for drips.
I had a 1974 Ford Galaxie that had the gas line rust out (the previous owner stored road salt in the trunk and the bag leaked…). I came out one morning and saw a puddle of gas in front of the left rear wheel. I managed to replace the line without much difficulty (using some steel brake line and some small rubber hoses with hose clamps), but it was an exciting exercise.
Gas is obviously flammable, but it’s not that bad – it needs a spark or open flame. People spill gas on lawn mower engines every weekend without causing fires. You should be OK looking for the leak while it’s running, but do be careful and be prepared if a fire does catch.
Good luck!
Cheers,
Scott.
(No warranty provided or implied.)
danielx
@Baud:
If you can, pull the gas line off. Then blow compressed air through it – canned air to clean keyboards etc will work fine. Then run water through to see if it leaks anywhere, bend it back and forth and such. If it does, get a new gas line, problem solved. If not, probably a leak somewhere in the carb, possibly gasket. Also – just occurred to me – there may be a sort of button thingy on the bottom of the carb that allows you to drain gas from it at the end of the season (you DO run the tank dry at the end of the season, right?). If it’s gotten stuck, it would constantly leak/drain gas from the carburetor.
If none of these, I’m blank – take it to a repair place; it’s better than getting blown to shit from gas leaking onto a hot engine. Pity you’re not around here, my bro-in-law teaches small engine repair to 4-H classes. One of those guys who can fix anything mechanical or engine related….
Paul in KY
@Amir Khalid: Good question! No one there should pay anything for poisoned water.
BubbaDave
@rikyrah:
Holy crap I need a cigarette now and I’ve never smoked. (Also, remind me never ever to make Luvvie angry at me– I’m pretty sure once she was finished flaying me I’d be mistaken for a ground chuck spill.)
raven
@I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet: Also there is a very sort run of gas line on most of those. Check to see if the float bowl is seated properly and that the gasket in functioning.
gelfling545
@Germy: I should think it would be a result of his upbringing more than his military service.
MazeDancer
@debbie:
Thanks for the Colbert does Palin clip. Very, very funny.
Palin does have a kind of hip-hop scatter-patter to her wack-o-rama. Trump, also, too, speaks more for the rhythm and emotional hits than any kind of context or sensible content. Maybe they’ll do a duet?
Germy
the PBS snooze hour actually did an in-depth story on the flint water crisis. While the networks (and my local news) rush through it quickly and make it sound like there was lead in the water at the source, the PBS team actually explained the water corroded pipes. They said federal law requires adding an anti-corrosive to the water, before it reaches peoples’ pipes, a law they ignored. I didn’t know about anti-corrosives being added to water.
I hope my city does it, because my pipes are OLD.
rikyrah
PHUCK.OUTTA.HERE!!!!
Send him a gallon of Flint drinking water and dare him to drink it.
…………………………….
Why some Michigan politicians say the Flint water crisis is a hoax
By Peter Holley January 20 at 4:40 PM
Even as authorities are still advising residents in Flint, Mich., not to drink or bathe in city’s tap water, leaving thousands to rely on bottled water to survive, some of the state’s prominent political voices think Flint’s water crisis may be exaggerated.
Foremost among them is Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson (R), who voiced skepticism about the severity of the crisis during an appearance before the Detroit Economic Club luncheon Tuesday, according to the Detroit Free Press.
“I don’t think we should say or use words anymore like Flint’s been poisoned,” Patterson told reporters, according to Fox affiliate WJBK. “Because I don’t think that’s accurate.”
[…]
Despite what many see as definitive evidence of a crisis, Patterson told the station he changed his mind after hearing a radio interview with Bill Ballenger, a well-known Republican political analyst, former state lawmaker and Flint resident, who said he was offering “the other side” of the story.
“Let’s wait and see what the facts show,” Patterson urged.
In the interview cited by Patterson, Ballenger said his own blood tests hadn’t revealed elevated levels of lead and he wondered whether the crisis was a hoax, according to the Free Press. He argued that the crisis was instead perpetuated by politicians and members of the media “with an ax to grind.”
“I’ve been using words like, ‘Flint’s been poisoned’ and I won’t use that anymore because I think the jury is out,” he added.
According to the World Health Organization, “lead affects children’s brain development resulting in reduced intelligence quotient (IQ), behavioral changes such as shortening of attention span and increased antisocial behavior, and reduced educational attainment. Lead exposure also causes anemia, hypertension, renal impairment, immunotoxicity and toxicity to the reproductive organs. The neurological and behavioral effects of lead are believed to be irreversible.”
Capri
@Germy: A friend of my son has the premium AAA service, which gives you 100 miles of free towing in addition to some other perks not available with the standard. His car broke down in New Jersey and he had it towed back to Indiana in 100 mile segments.
Baud
@I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet:
@danielx:
Thanks. I assumed the problem was the line, but if it’s the carburetor, I’m out of luck. It’s a little old, and I haven’t used it in years.
JPL
@MazeDancer: Colbert made more sense than Palin did, though.
Germy
@MazeDancer:
The part where she said “One year from now, ex-president Obama packs up his teleprompter and his selfie stick and his greek columns” What the heck was that in reference to? Are greek columns a dirty hippie thing? Did Obama have a team of contractors install them in the oval office? There must be a reference I’m missing here…
@Capri:
Unfortunately not in our budget. I called the organization and explained the problem with the “don’t call us” card, and the young lady was polite and helpful; said we’d receive a new card in two weeks. I am cautiously optimistic, but we’ll see in two weeks.
Germy
@Baud: Someone at LawyersGunsMoneyBlog was saying he hasn’t used his snowblower in years. He said during a heavy snow, he instead goes out very often and pushes the snow away with a shovel. Rather than waiting for the storm to end, and having to shovel two feet of heavy snow, he goes out frequently and pushes small amounts.
I have a snowblower from 1972 that my father left me. It was working fine up until last year. Motor still runs, but no snow flies out of it. I’ll try it again this winter, but I hate to part with it if it won’t work.
Also, are you really running expecting to be president, or is this just a campaign designed to get your message out and push Bernie more to the left? I’ll contribute either way.
Amir Khalid
@Germy:
If I recall correctly, there were Greek columns decorating the convention stage on which Obama gave his speech accepting the nomination in 2008.
Baud
@Germy: That’s what I have done, and it’s plan B if I can’t get this to work.
dmsilev
@Germy: I speak wingnut.
“Greek columns” is a reference to the Democratic National Convention when Obama was officially nominated for President. The stage dressing included some columns on either side, presumably as a visual framing device, and the right-wing nut jobs decided that this was a manifestation of Obama’s hubris, except that none of them could spell either ‘manifestation’ or ‘hubris’, so they substituted loud grunting and hissing noises instead.
dogwood
@Germy:
Don’t you remember the shit Obama took for the columns on the stage at his 2008 acceptance speech in Denver? She’s just reviving the golden oldies.
Germy
@Amir Khalid: Ahh! I knew there had to be a story somewhere. Greek columns! How dare here? A Real American would have used square unfinished particle-board wood planks. He should have called my contractor.
Matt McIrvin
@Germy: It’s a reference to the backdrop used in the 2008 Democratic Convention, which had classical-looking columns in it. Wingnuts for some reason had a conniption over this, I think because they were trying to draw some kind of dotted line between Greek columns and Greece’s financial troubles, which in their minds come from having a social-democratic welfare state. With maybe a bit of Obama-as-pointy-headed-elitist/Obama-as-egomaniac in there as well. Hardly anyone remembered the episode two days after the convention ended except for people deep in the fever swamps, so it’s understandable that normal people would find this incomprehensible.
amk
@Baud:
soap bubble solution?
MazeDancer
@Germy:
Mr. Obama’s 2008 Democratic Convention acceptance speech was at Invesco Field, giving a much larger audience capacity for attendance. That large audience welcomed Mr. Obama with a 2.5 minute ovation. The stage set there had some columns.
GOP seized upon the stage set to create another “horrible black guy is uppity” code phrase: “Greek columns.”
Germy
@dogwood: Right after the election, I remember tuning out the wingnut responses, because I didn’t want to dampen my joy.
@dmsilev: What a petty thing for them to be outraged about. Shows how little they had to work with. Imagine if Obama said or did (or if his family said or did) half the shit the Palins or Bushes do?
amk
@MazeDancer:
For all that stupid how the hopey-changey workin’ for ya mocking, the tundra twit doesn’t seem to get that it worked out great for him.
Matt McIrvin
@Germy: Last winter I finally broke down and bought a small electric snowthrower. It was the last one I could find anywhere, and, besides, I had no desire to buy some gasoline-powered behemoth really built for Boston winters, because maintaining small internal combustion engines is one of my least favorite things in the world.
It’s not really adequate for deep snowfalls, but even with those it cuts down the time required to clear stuff out a little bit. And since it’s this dumb little electric thing that trails a cord, it’s quite light to haul around.
The whole idea of pushing the snow around a few inches at a time is nice, but not really applicable to my situation, because the big problem for me is always clearing away the bank of compacted snow that the plows deposit at the bottom of my driveway and in front of my mailbox. This can easily be two or three feet tall even if the actual snowfall is much smaller than that.
Schlemazel
@Germy:
That is great advice, I’ll ask my boss if I can go home every hour to push snow off my driveway and if I can stay home on days I was up every hour all night long pushing snow off the driveway.
My guess is he is the ‘lawyer’ part of LG&M and/or lives in a place that only gets occasional snows.
MomSense
@Germy:
I have blizzard biceps!
Germy
@Matt McIrvin:
that’s my problem as well. I can get three inches of snow, but there’ll be a two-foot wall of wet, compacted snow at the end of my driveway.
@Schlemazel:
Yes, it is hilariously impractical for anyone who doesn’t get home until after the snow has fallen. Might be a good solution for a senior citizen who has no friendly helpful neighbors.
I saw a segment on ABC news a few nights ago. Old man, age 103, shovels his neighbors driveway every time it snows. A real hero; nice to see him get some recognition for it.
dogwood
I guess I’m most fascinated by the inability of Republicans overall to be embarrassed by what’s going on. During the George W years there were some instances when liberal bloggers and commenters embarrassed me. When you are motivated by pure hatred, you are likely to make a fool of yourself. People who require so much from politicians yet demand so little from themselves are not to be taken seriously.
Germy
@MomSense: I have one of those “ergonomic” shovels with the weird, bent curve to it. It’s lasted decades. I decided to buy a second one, just to have a backup in case it broke. So I bought a tough-looking metal one (not ergonomic) and I hate it, because it’s so heavy that even if you lift it empty, it’s heavier than the old shovel full of snow.
After two years, the new, expensive one has a crack on the handle. I expect one or two more shoveling sessions the handle will break off completely. Meanwhile the old one is still fine.
Why is everything I buy nowadays such complete garbage? I have garden tools my parents bought in the 1960s. I took them to be sharpened, and the guy was so thrilled to see their quality. And my parents were poor; they didn’t spend a lot of money on them.
Bobby Thomson
@Germy: the outdoor backdrop at the 2008!Denver convention had faux Greek columns. Drudge flogged the uppitiness of it, the usual suspects on the “left” tut tutted, and the right said it was proof Barry was a dictator.
Joey Maloney
@BillinGlendaleCA: Plus Bristol’s next baby shower.
Fair Economist
@Peale:
He had Sarah Palin as a mother. OF COURSE he has PTSD.
Mike J
@Baud: Drain the gas from the snow thrower. Pour it over the snow. Light it. You’ve just removed one step from the snow removal equation.
Amir Khalid
I wonder if Balloon Juice’s Bernistas have seen this yet. It’s only one poll, but still …
Schlemazel
@Mike J:
I like the way you think, do you, perchance, have a newsletter I could subscribe to?
Davis X. Machina
@Matt McIrvin: I’ve got similar — electric, 10″ vertical, 24″ wide — in exurban Maine. Short driveway, so one 50′ cord is enough. It’ll even do the plow berm, if you take it in bites, and are patient. I’ve managed 20-inchers with it.
My neighbor has a two-stage gas-powered behemoth that cost more than my kids’ first cars… for the same length driveway.
MomSense
@Germy:
I think they intentionally make things now that break down so we all have to go out and buy more. The problem with the metal shovels is that the snow sticks to it so I find that half the snow in the shovel is the same snow from the first scoop. I don’t use the metal shovels anymore. I’m a lighter shovel load, more scoops kind of shoveler.
Ksmiami
@rikyrah: In China or Japan, Snyder would be offered the bullet or the sword. In Michigan, he accomplished nothing of substance as governor, poisoned a generation and needs to resign yesterday.
Germy
@MomSense:
Are you getting hit with this latest storm? If so, good luck and stay safe!
Origuy
@Baud: Same way you find a leak in an air mattress. Get a feather and run it slowly along the gas line. Make sure you’re in a windless area. Where the feather moves, there’s your leak.
Germy
@Origuy:
Baud! Our nation’s first Fluffer In Chief.
Amir Khalid
Shovelling snow from the driveway is something we tropical folk typically don’t have occasion to do. It doesn’t sound like fun.
Brachiator
The Daily News wins with the best Trump/Palin headline:
“I’m With Stupid!”
New York values….
Peale
@rikyrah: Flint is a phalse phlag operation?
Schlemazel
@Amir Khalid:
All I can say for it is it beats typhoons!
Baud
@Germy:
I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be the first.
Schlemazel
@MomSense:
Life on the tundra has led to me acquiring an arsenal of snow shovels, each with its own special use.
I have the bent handle small one for the steps and little walkway. Then there is the scoop that I use push snow – never lift this as it is a heavy metal job and a nifty plastic thing called “snow shoo”. that one has a plastic bucket about 3 feet across the front opening, 3 feet in length and 8 inches deep. The handle is like a shopping cart so the whole thing is designed to just shove large amounts of snow to a place you can tip it on its side, no lifting ever. but I also have a gas snow blower because ther are times you need the heavy artillery.
Heliopause
Everybody in the media are being rather blase about it, but if the recent reporting is true and the GOP Establishment is coming around to Trump that’s the biggest political story of my adult lifetime, hands down. From Bozo the Racist Clown to Our Standard-bearer in a matter of weeks. Really quite astonishing when you think about it.
Paul in KY
@Amir Khalid: It would be like shoveling light sand.
Amir Khalid
@Schlemazel:
We don’t get the really big typhoons in Malaysia. The Peninsula has Sumatra between it and the main body of the Indian Ocean. (This also protected us almost completely from the 2004 tsunami.) Sabah and Sarawak have most of Borneo between them and the South Pacific. The South China Sea, well-surrounded by islands and the Asian mainland, is too small for a big typhoon to develop there.
FlipYrWhig
@Heliopause: That’s how much they hate Ted Cruz.
Brachiator
@Fair Economist:
Palin Talkin Stupid Disorder
catclub
@Amir Khalid:
So far. Wait till it warms up a lot more.
Bobby Thomson
@Heliopause: I never thought the establishment seriously opposed him. He’s bringing in new voters.
And if he really were an anti-establishment candidate this would be the kiss of death. He’s not. He’s a “mine is bigger” candidate.
catclub
@amk: He rides AirForce 1, Generals salute him,
anyone he calls will take his calls.
It has worked out fantastically for him.
Schlemazel
@Amir Khalid:
That is good for you, I didn’t know that & just assumed the whole area was at risk; not a great risk but the occasional bashing.
If you have never dealt with snow it is hard to explain. There is light & fluffy and that is not that hard to clear because it is light and fluffy. There is wet and stick, thats the worst as it is heavy and tends not to get off the shovel well so if you are lifting it you will have a sore back, shoulders and arms by the end.
Schlemazel
@Brachiator:
That is going on FB right now!
THANKS!
Bobby Thomson
@Amir Khalid: on the other hand, Conor Dilan reveals his bias when he claims “several major polls” had Sanders winning Iowa “recently.” There were only two, one of them was Aaargh, and they’re both at least 11 days old.
Heliopause
Scene: TV Executive’s office, one year ago. A knock on the door.
Exec: Come in.
Psychic: Hello, I am the Amazing Crusto and I am a genuine psychic.
Exec: OK, pitch me your idea.
Psychic: On my show I will predict future events with uncanny accuracy.
Exec: Give me an example. What will be the big news story one year from today?
Psychic: [Deep in thought] One year from today Donald Trump will be the leader of the Republican primary and Sarah Palin will be by his side…
Exec: Oh, for God’s sake! {Physically tosses him from the office] Friggin’ charlatans!
sukabi
@Germy: yes, yes, yes and yes. Never take responsibility for something you can blame on Obama. Seems to be the Republican way.
Cckids
@debbie: The Daily Show opened with a very funny Palin bit as well. “She can’t just appear; someone has to summon her!”
Cckids
Grrr. Trying the link again. Damn phone. If not working, try Comedy Central’s site. It’s well worth it.
Mike J
@Heliopause: William Gibson has often complained about the difficulty of writing science fiction in a world where reality is much more “unrealistic” than he is allowed to be.
Paul in KY
@Brachiator: Or Palin Thinking Stupid Disorder…
Shell
@Ksmiami:
These are the results when you elect someone who promises to run government “like a business.”
catclub
@Shell: That does sound like George Bush’s qualifications. The MBA president.
Does Snyder have an MBA?
poisoned a generation (of Iraqis).
Kay
Sorry to be such a snob but they’re both rude and gross. I don’t know when being a horrible, rude, mean-spirited person became acceptable and even desirable but the two of them together on that stage was too much.
Can we have some standards? She doesn’t make any sense. None. You would avoid her if you knew her and saw her at the grocery store. You all know you would :)
catclub
Is there any analysis like this for different GOP candidates? By the conservatives?
besides Ted Nugent for SecDef and John Bolton for SOS?
Calouste
@Origuy: There’s a easier way to do that. Get a bowl with water and a bit of dish soap. Coat the line in it and you will see bubbles where the leak is.
Calouste
@Mike J: Terry Pratchett said that he started writing the Discworld novels because he wanted to do something more connected to reality than his job as a spokesperson for a nuclear power plant.
Calouste
@catclub: Would have been easy to do that analysis for Jeb! just bring in everyone from the Bush I and Bush II administrations who still have a pulse.
catclub
@Calouste: Yep, you are correct. Same people would come in if Rubio gets elected.
Cruz? No idea/ Dominionists. Trump? Really no idea. Kasich – Bush I alums? Christie – NJ gang?
Brachiator
@catclub:
Of course there is. Journalists and others have noted the neo-cons and former Bush Administration morons who have advised or done debate prep for the various GOP presidential candidates.
ETA: and some of this is idle chatter. Obama picked up a lot of Clinton Administration people. Not so much a new Obama gang. So who is part of the current entourage might not say much.
ksmiami
@Shell: particularly a crap-a** business like Gateway computers. As I said before GOP governance = DEATH
trollhattan
@Schlemazel:
I do so hope that having all that snow-relocating equipment means you don’t have to bother with lawn equipment. Otherwise, double-jeopardy is invoked.
trollhattan
@Brachiator:
I was going with pre-traumatic stress disorder but I prefer yours.
J R in WV
@Amir Khalid:
When I was a kid, my folks had a nice house at the end of a ridge overlooking the small town we lived in.
The road up to the hilltop was steep and curvy, and then our driveway took off uphill from the road. It was so steep it was years before I would ride my bike down it, fearing that if it got away from me I would be killed when I broke the sound barrier.
When I was 10 or so, my dad introduced me to Mr. Snow Shovel. Sometimes I could get away with shoveling two ruts, if I got the distance apart right, and if the snow wasn’t so deep the cars would drag on the pile. But, really, my brother (4 years younger) and I enjoyed shoveling the driveway, and parking space. It was something you could accomplish that was obvious, didn’t take 4 years!! and was a big help to the folks.
Plus we could throw snow on each other without doing much damage. Now I have over a half mile of road on the farm, and a tractor to grade the snow off the road.
We’re expecting a real winter storm tomorrow and Saturday. Here’s the Weather Underground forecast:
We went to the store today after the dual dentist appointments, and got potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, meats, bread (from the bakery, not from the store!) cold cuts (sliced Tuscan Turkey and Baby Swiss) beer, fruit-flavored soda, all kinds of provisions for staying home for a week. I built a fire yesterday in the wood stove, just to make sure it still worked as expected, check!
We always have a power outage if anyone does, and being in a neighborhood with 5 families, we are usually last to get back onto the grid. So you prepare for that. Sounds like winter may be here… wish us luck!