Occam's Razor

A few words on ole' Donnie Boy.  Earlier on this blog, I alluded to certain conspiracy-theories about Trump's candidacy.

But, the more I see and hear Mister Trump, something I have hitherto studiously avoided, since, oh, the 'eighties or so, the more I'm convinced that Trump is not just appealing to your crazy older relatives & in-laws, who marinate their brains in a steady intake of Fox News, Drudge, and AM talk-radio...Rather, he is them.  He is that crazy uncle who will start ranting on at the dinnertable about Saul Alinsky & Rules for Radicals, and then get angry and frustrated that everyone else is 'pretending' not to have a clue what the fuck he's talking about.

The difference is that your crazy uncle will likely end up in a mental institution, homeless, shooting up a movie-theatre, or, more likely, dead of an aneurysm, after angrily shouting at the 'Muslim interloper' on the teevee-set one time too many.  He doesn't have the self-confidence, the hubris, or, more importantly, the money and contacts to run for president.  Trump does.

Think about it.  An eccentric nearly seventy-year-old white man, who, never mind the right-wing media-bubble, factor as that is, has spent his whole life in a bubble of his own making, hobnobbing with only the richest*, the most famous, coming otherwise into contact only with the most expertly craven bootlickers and yes-men.  A man who stamps his name in massive capital letters on every property he touches, who refers to himself in the third person, who exaggerates his own wealth and accomplishments.  And who stokes publicly for years a fantasy about his running for president.  Only to end up here at the tail-end of 'the worst presidency ever', with apparently apocalyptic consequences if good decent-minded white folk can't take back the White House from the perverts and communists who have infiltrated it...to, er, make America great again, as it were.

If you were naïve enough to believe the ridiculous hyperbolic crap that come out of the likes of Fox News, if you heard the Republican base crying out for a messiah, and if you were Donald Trump, why wouldn't you run for president ?  He can afford it.  His ego is seemingly untouchable, and allows him to easily spin any loss as a victory, even to himself.  And if there were ever a time in a man's life, assuming Trump considers himself mortal, for a true legacy-moment, going on threescore years and ten is about it.  The man has nothing to lose.

Nothing.  Trump goes bankrupt, he wins.  Trump helps elect Hillary Clinton, he wins.  Trump destroys the GOP for generations, he wins.  Trump brings on the coming of the Antichrist, he wins.  Trump invites an alien invasion of Earth, he wins.  Trump always wins...even when he loses.

And the man would seem to be as utterly deluded as the right-wing Tea Partiers whose votes he would court.  Outside of the conspiracy-theories, it's the only thing that makes sense.  He just is that crazy.  Which, if he takes this all the way, could just be America's salvation.


For a reminder of Trump's background, pre-Apprentice, do yourself a favour and go watch Trump: What's the Deal?** (Don't be put off by the cheesy music by Queen in the opening credits.).  It's a pretty good window into the origins of and the person that is one Donald J Trump.


* In case you were wondering whether there were consequences to living in such a bubble generally: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/07/28/rich-people-surrounded-by-other-rich-people-think-america-is-richer-than-it-really-is/

** Also on YT, here.

The Big Boy Debates

G-d, those two debates could not have been more different.  Though, Kasich's unexpectedly strong performance aside, everyone behaved much as one might have expected, especially the more openly fascistic and theocratic candidates.  But, the main takeaway:

Bret Baier: Is there anyone on stage...who is unwilling tonight, to pledge your support to the eventual nominee of the Republican party, and pledge to not run an independent campaign against that person ?

{Donald Trump raises his hand}{Crowd boos}

Baier: Mister Trump...to be clear, you're standing on a Republican primary debate-stage, the place where the RNC will give the nominee the nod, and that experts say an independent run would almost certainly hand the race over to Democrats, and, likely, another Clinton.  You can't say tonight that you can make that pledge ?

Donald Trump: I cannot say, I have to respect the person that, if it's not me, the person that wins.  If I do win, and I'm leading by quite a bit, uh that's what I wanna do.  I can totally make that pledge if I'm the nominee, I will pledge I will not run as an independent, but...I'm y'know talkin' about a lot of leverage.  We wanna win, and we will win, but I wanna win as the Republican...I wanna run as the Republican nominee.

Baier: So tonight, you can't say, if another one of these...

{Rand Paul interrupts, heckles Trump}

Baier: ...Just to be clear, you can't make the...you're not gonna make the pledge tonight ?

Trump: I will not make the pledge at this time.

{Crowd claps/cheers}{Crowd boos}

Image: John Minchillo/AP

Links for Huckabee's comments & Trump's: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw8mwLZljz4&t=3m19s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRiy4YAwXlM

That Is All

DefundPlannedParenthoodSanctuaryCitiesHillaryClintonsEmailKatesLawISISCrossingtheMexicanBorderSellingFetalBodyPartsJadeHelmObamaTakingAwayYourGunsCreepingSocialismIRSPersecutingTheTeaPartyObamaIsNevilleChamberlainWorseThanSlaveryWorseThantheHolocaustDeathPanelsAmeroDemocratsBetrayingIsraelFomentingClassWarfareDenyingAmericanExceptionalismMostDangerousPlaceforaBlackBabyisintheWombVinceFosterSecuretheBorderFirstSoonPeoplesWillBeMarryingAnimalsCriminalizingChristianityFakeBirthCertificateSolyndraAcornReverendWrightBillAyersDemocratsaretheRealRacistsEricHolderGroundZeroMosqueSecretMuslimObamaAteDogsFastandFuriousVAScandalObamaPlanningIllegalThirdTermGroverNorquistisaMuslimSpyWhiteyTapeSecretFEMAReeducationCampsBlackPanthersResetButtonCommunityOrganizerSaulAlinskyObamaBowingSurrenderingtoIranLoveChildofMalcolmXMichelleObamaRuinedMySchoolLunchRulesforRadicalsWhyDoesObamaHateAmericaForcedtoMakeGayWeddingCakeWorstPresidentEverGlobalWarmingisaHoaxSupportingCubanDictatorsChristianNationStandwithIsraelWorsethanHitlerWhichSymbolKilledMoreBlackBabiesShariaLawinAmericaBadDealBenghazi!!!!!

Whew !

Fox News announced another change to its August 6 Republican presidential candidate forum on Tuesday, removing the requirement that candidates clear at least one percent in an average of national polls to qualify for the second-tier debate.

The change ensures that all 16 of the GOP's major declared presidential contenders will participate in one of the two primary debates Fox News is hosting next month. The top 10 candidates in an average of national polls will square off in a two-hour debate at 9 p.m. on August 6 (more than 10 candidates could qualify if there is a tie for 10th place.) The six who do not qualify for the debate will now automatically qualify for a separate one-hour event at 5 p.m.

"FOX News is expanding participation in the 5 PM/ET debate to all declared candidates whose names are consistently being offered to respondents in major national polls, as recognized by Fox News," the cable network's vice president, Michael Clemente, told Politico in a statement.

Well, that's a relief, if your name is Lindsey Graham, say.  Or, if you're a non-GOP-supporter, eager to see the Republicans beat up one another and dilute their support as much as possible.  Wonder what outlandish one-liners and would-be zingers the various candidates' teams will come up with to try to help them break out of the pack ?

American Exceptional Ignorance of American History via Bill O'Reilly & Fox News

First off, yes, Bill O'Reilly is a fascist asshole, and yes, many of the editions of this segment on his show are used via selective editing to promote the (vastly exaggerated, but not totally baseless) idea of widespread liberal bias on college-campuses.  That said, there is clearly a shocking degree of ignorance to be exposed, and...most, if not all, of these people are eligible to vote.

And no, it's not a one-off:

In what democracy would this level of ignorance be remotely acceptable ?...

...Er, one in which actual democracy wasn't remotely an actual goal of the political elites in the first place ?...

Megyn & Ann Take Apart the Lefty Media

Oh, and I almost forgot.

Wait for it...

The evil Marxist lefty news-media would...never...frame Ted Cruz in a halo like their hero Obama !


So I guess this photo, which I used three months back, was purely a product of my own imagination ?

Megyn & Ann were outraged at this messianic portrayal of Ted at the time, one might presume ?.....

Accepting, Learning, Adjusting...

With the Pope's recent encyclical, the right-wing in American (professional) politics have predictably gone bezerk, including supposedly Catholic politicians in the GOP, but I get the sense from Catholic and mainstream media that the laity are more or less taking it in their stride.  Seems like the overall attitude is okay, this isn't something we've traditionally focused on that much, but now that Il Papa's had his say, maybe it's time to learn a little more and find out how we can apply what he said to our lives...  Catholicism is inherently conservative of course, and quite slow to change as a result, but there's a difference between conservative and radical (which would be a more appropriate label for many political & religious groups in the West that misuse the former term).

The Catholic Church isn't the one desperately trying to prove that the Earth is six-thousand years old, or insisting that every word of the Bible must be interpreted literally.  For that we have various evangelical organisations, some of them every bit as extreme in their interpretations of the Book and how it must determine every aspect of human society as their Muslim equivalents in the Middle East.  But sometimes we, certainly I, forget that difference.  And then it comes as a surprise, though it probably shouldn't, when the message from the Church is a fairly moderate, even sensible one. *

* Wanted, really really wanted, to embed the full video, which said somewhat more, but guess FN's scripts & Blogger don't play nicely together...Grumble...  Full video here:http://video.foxnews.com/v/4311350106001/cardinal-donald-wuerl-on-popes-climate-change-message/?#sp=show-clips

Cue Heads Exploding from DC to LA

Guess the ole' Encylical is out now from the Pope that some Americans insist on calling 'Pope Frank.'*  And given that the Republicans were already freaking out calling him a Marxist and hinting at him being the antichrist** (thinking of Gutfeld and Michael Savage specifically, but no doubt, there's countless examples), who knows what new rhetoric they'll come up with now.  How dare he bring religion into politics in my country !  Well, for most of you...you already did that. Again and again and again...But anyways...


*Which is far less insulting than what they called his predecessor.

** Not than many haven't been doing exactly that for generations.

So We're Publishing Placeholders Now ?

This is an actual 'story' published by actual 'Fox News'.  Just look at the headline, and then read the content -- no wait, you can't.  Because there isn't any.  Jeb set to announce his run, Hillary said something over the weekend, then some random shit going on in the world.  And that's it.  Pure meaningless content-less click-bait:

Hillary Clinton versus Jeb Bush

By Clint HendersonPublished June 15, 2015 FoxNews.com

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks to supporters during a rally, Sunday, June 14, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. Seeking an army of volunteers, Clinton is trying to build an organizational edge in Iowa as some of her lesser-known Democratic rivals clamor for attention in the state that tripped up her first presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Jeb Bush set to announce he’s running for President today.

1500EDT -- Fmr FL Gov Jeb Bush announces his decision to run for President. Miami-Dade College - Kendall Campus, Miami, FL. LIVE

Hillary Clinton held her largest rally of her campaign for the Democratic nomination so far on Saturday on Roosevelt Island. Clinton making income inequality a huge part of her campaign. Clinton saying, “These Republicans trip over themselves by promising lower taxes for the wealthy and fewer rules for the biggest corporations without any regard on how that will make income inequality worse.”  She also said “I’m not running for some Americans, but for all Americans.”

Hillary also weighed in for the first time later that day on the big trade deal that failed in the House on Friday. She says Democrats’ concerns should be addressed, but didn’t say she’s support a final deal. Today she’s holding events in New Hampshire. Ed Henry reporting.

1000EDT -- Hillary Clinton participates in a forum with Granite Staters on early childhood education. Rochester, NH. POOL LIVE via LiveU

1115EDT approx -- Hillary Clinton hosts a launch party. Carter Hill Orchard, Concord, NH. LIVE

A woman accused of helping two escaped murderers will be in court today. She’s charged with supplying the men with tools to help them escape from the upstate New York jail. They’ve now been on the run for 10 days. Molly Line and Peter Doocy reporting.

Garrett Tenney reporting on the growing outbreak of Bird Flu devastating the Midwest.
Severe weather expected today across much of the country including thunderstorms, flash floods and more.

There were two horrific shark attacks in North Carolina. Two attacks on teenage swimmers within 90 minutes of each other on Oak Island. Both teens losing limbs. We’ll talk to a shark expert.

The U.S. military conducted airstrikes in Libya and may have killed an Al Qaeda leader who was behind an attack on a gas plant in Algeria that left 35 dead. Four members of a Libyan terror group linked to the Benghazi attacks may also have been killed.

The New York Times reporting the United States is sending major military equipment into several Eastern European countries considered under threat from an increasingly aggressive Russia. A Russia military leader today says it’s the most serious military escalation since the Cold War. The U.S. will sent heavy equipment to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Romania and Bulgaria.. and maybe Hungary.

Greece stocks continue to plunge.. down another 6% today on fears no deal on a bailout is imminent, and Greece could default. Amy Kellogg reporting. 

That's the whole thing minus the 'Sponsored Stories' & 'More from Fox News' crap.  Every time I think the news-media can't fall any further, they keep proving me wrong.  Even the Beeb's main news-page is turned to wall-to-wall clickbait-y garbage these days.  And they don't even need advertising.  They literally get to tax an entire population of sixty-four million or so on the basis of owning a television-set, and then pretty much use the money as they see fit.

Just what are we supposed to do with this garbage ?  You said Hillary Clinton versus Jeb Bush...So, are you going to compare their platforms, compare their respective campaigns, look at strengths and weaknesses, consider their history, including potential political baggage ?  You could even go with the obvious question of whether Americans want to create new presidential dynasties in the Bushes & the Clintons.  But, no.  Nothing.

I just clicked refresh...again...because there has to be more than this.  There Just Has To Be.

I'd almost settle for a meaningless cartoon.  In fact, to the Googlez, and...

There.  Cartoonist Blzeeez or whatever his name is just provided more insight into the election than fucking Fox News.  See it's all hip and relevant and shit because there's this teevee-show called Game of.....


Update:

Going on a week now, since Jeb!'s announcement, and still...nothing...Just vacuous meaningless shite.  Delete this garbage already, Fox !

In Defence of Dumbfuckery

Er, Digby...just why exactly would you assume the young lady in question is confusing  her 'pseudo-scandals' ?  And wait, is Watergate a 'pseudo-scandal' now or 'the greatest political scandal in American history' ?

Really, there's three questions to ask here:

1. Was Hillary involved in the Watergate hearings ?
2. Did Hillary lie at the Watergate hearings ?
3. Is a self-confessed fan of Ted Cruz likely to care about the actual facts regarding 1 or 2 if they support a current right-wing meme ?

We could answer our first question with a quick trip to Wikipedia, but hey, 'anyone can edit Wikipedia' right ?  (Well, sorta...)  So how about a reference to oh, I don't know...The William J. Clinton Presidential Library say ?

After graduating from Wellesley College in 1969, Hillary entered Yale Law School where she met Bill Clinton. In 1974, at the height of the Watergate scandal, Hillary worked on the staff assisting the House Judiciary Committee with its investigation of the Nixon administration.

So, yeah.

Hillary Rodham (center), a lawyer for the Rodino Committee and John Doar (left), chief counsel for the committee, bring impeachment charges against President Richard Nixon in the Judiciary Committee hearing room at the U.S. Capitol in 1974 in Washington.

Short answer to our second question is that no-one knows for sure except perhaps Hillary.  But it does seem to be quite the right-wing meme that Hillary was fired from the Watergate hearings by Jerry Zeifman for lying, based on an article by one Dan Calabrese.  Snopes calls it False, and says that in fact Mister Zeifman had no authority to fire her (...but would if he could...), but it does sound like his recollections on the subject over the years have been changeable.

And again in 1998, Zeifman was undeniably quoted in a Scripps Howard News Service article as confirming that not only did he not "fire" Hillary, but that it was not even within his power to do so:

Jerome Zeifman, chief Democratic counsel on the House Judiciary Committee in 1974 ... does not have flattering memories of Rodham's work on the committee. "If I had the power to fire her, I would have fired her," he said.

So, she wasn't actually fired, and we certainly can't prove she lied, but that's not really important, because one guy said she's a liar...and...we get to link Hillary's name in a negative way to another famous political scandal.  Which leads us to...

Pregunta número tres.  Well, who are you going to believe ?  Snopes ?  'The Liberal Media' ?
Or Daily Kos...sorry, Fox News, Hot Air, Breitbart, and Rush Limbaugh ?

I think you already know the answer to that.  And you know what, Amber *Liberty Girl* is free to believe what she wants, even if that's that Vince Foster was murdered to prevent him talking about a secret deal with the UN to take away everyone's guns and/or a secret lesbian tryst between Hillary and Janet Reno.  And she's young, so she may yet one day evolve out of the right-wing media bubble.

Give her a chance maybe ?  After all, I'm making an awful lot of assumptions about her political background (as is Digby) based on a quick perusal of her Twitter feed.  It may be that she just genuinely doesn't trust Auntie Hill.  I don't blame her for that if that's the score.  I don't either.