Morning Joe goes off on Donald Trump and the Republicans party for making him their candidate.

Courtesy of HuffPo: 

On Monday, “Morning Joe” host Mika Brzezinski asked if Trump’s remarks were racist. 

“It’s completely racist,” co-host Joe Scarborough replied. “Here you have a guy that is from Indiana. From Indiana! I think his family, if I’m not mistaken, had been in the country of America longer than Trump’s grandmother.” 

Scarborough went on to criticize Republicans who are endorsing Trump, saying it’s wrong for them to denounce Trump’s latest comments while ignoring his call to ban Muslims from entering the United States. 

“They can’t be morally outraged this week when they knew what he was doing last week,” Scarborough said.

I NEVER watch Morning Joe anymore, but I have to admit it really tickles me when I see Scarborough losing his shit while being confronted with what the Republican party has become.

I remember having the same sense of vindication while watching him respond to the news that McCain had chosen Sarah Palin as his running mate back in 2008.

As it turns out Scarborough is far from the only Republican suffering buyer's remorse over Donald Trump:

Courtesy of the Washington Post: 

A growing number of Republican lawmakers and strategists fear that Donald Trump’s hostile remarks about minorities and his un­or­tho­dox strategy have imperiled his campaign at the end of a five-week head start on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton that they hoped would fortify him heading into the general election.

So the question to ask is are they just NOW noticing that Trump is a racist, or are they just now upset because now that it threatens to damage his chances in the general election?

And if does no appear that Trump is planning on tamping things down:  

An embattled Donald Trump urgently rallied his most visible supporters to defend his attacks on a federal judge's Mexican ancestry during a conference call on Monday in which he ordered them to question the judge's credibility and impugn reporters as racists. 

"We will overcome," Trump said, according to two supporters who were on the call and requested anonymity to share their notes with Bloomberg Politics. "And I’ve always won and I’m going to continue to win. And that’s the way it is.

Well okay then.

In other Trump news is appears that there really is not much to the Donald Trump campaign for President.

Courtesy of MSNBC:

Donald Trump is a candidate without a campaign – and it’s becoming a serious problem. Republicans working to elect Trump describe a bare-bones effort debilitated by infighting, a lack of staff to carry out basic functions, minimal coordination with allies and a message that’s prisoner to Trump’s momentary whims. “Bottom line, you can hire all the top people in the world, but to what end? Trump does what he wants,” a source close to the campaign said. 

Okay so should we bother to bet on how many votes Hilary Clinton will beat Donald Trump by in the November election? Or should we bet on whether or not Trump even makes it to the general election?

I am seriously unsure.

You might want to say good-bye to some of your favorite MSNBC shows.

Here is a letter from the president of MSNBC Phil Griffin courtesy of Mediaite: 

Team, 

I’m writing to share a number of changes we’re making as we build a new daytime lineup with the best live, breaking news coverage on television. 

As of this Friday, “The Cycle,” “Now with Alex Wagner” and “The Ed Show” will air their final shows. 

Alex Wagner will stay with MSNBC and play a key role in our political coverage as we head into the 2016 election. And Ari Melber will continue in his role as Chief Legal Correspondent. But we will be parting ways with some friends – Ed Schultz, Krystal Ball, Abby Huntsman and Toure will be leaving MSNBC. Please join me in thanking them for their numerous contributions over the past several years, and in wishing them great success. 

Beginning in a few weeks, Chuck Todd will bring his unmatched brand of political insight and analysis back to MSNBC with a daily one-hour program. That show will air weekdays at 5pm. 

I know you read press reports last week speculating about these changes. I hope you can understand that we were not able to confirm at that point because we had not yet finalized many of the decisions I’m sharing with you today, and we hadn’t yet spoken directly with the people involved. 

In the coming weeks, as we complete our plans to create a new look and flow for our dayside programming, our 3pm to 6pm hours will begin the pivot towards live, breaking news coverage – with interim hosts from among our very talented ranks. And then, in September, we’ll unveil a 9am to 5pm schedule driven by dynamic coverage of breaking news events that are shaping the day. 

Change can be hard. There’s no doubt it’s been a difficult time, but we have exciting opportunities ahead. 

Phil

Okay somebody needs to explain to me why Alex Wagner loses her spot but Al Sharpton retains his?

I mean I don't have anything against Sharpton, except of course for his constant mispronunciations and intermittent speech patterns, but Wagner is the far superior host.

As for The Cycle, I am surprised that crappy thing is still on the air, though I really do like Krystal Ball. (And if you are going for eye candy alone it is kind of hard to beat Abby Huntsman.)

However the truly disturbing part of this memo is the announcement that the despicable Chuck Todd is returning to the MSNBC lineup. His hosting of MTP has completely changed my Sunday morning TV watching routine, and  I am far from happy to see his return to my favorite cable news network.

If Phil Griffin wants to get serious about saving this network he needs to swallow his pride and hire Keith Olbermann back. And while he's at it does Martin Bashir still need a job?

Boy wouldn't that piss off the conservatives?

MSNBC cancels Ronan Farrow show. Well its' about damn time!

Courtesy of The Wrap:  

MSNBC’s daytime changes continued Thursday with the cancellation of “Ronan Farrow Daily,” an MSNBC spokesperson confirmed to TheWrap. 

Farrow’s program was mired with poor ratings since its premiere one year ago. His show’s axing comes on the same day the program which follows him—”The Reid Report” hosted by Joy Reid—was also canceled.

Okay well I feel badly for Reid who I thought did a reasonable job, but I am ecstatic that Farrow is off the air.

Full disclosure even though MSNBC is my go to news source most of the time, there are a few hosts that I can only take in small portions.

One is Joe Scarborough who I rarely see because his show is over by 5 AM Alaska time. So I only see a portion of his show if something particularly newsworthy happened.

Which is rare these days.

I also can only handle Chris Matthews and Al Sharpton in small doses.

Matthews because he is an arrogant windbag, that seems sometimes to be leaning a little to Libertarian for my tastes, and Sharpton because he has a god awful time reading from the teleprompter, and it drives me nuts.

But only Farrow will force me to change the channel to literally anything else.

That has sometimes included changing the channel to Fox News, so you KNOW he must really bother me.

I cannot even put my finger on what it is exactly. But something about him repels me in a way that few television talking heads ever have.

Hell I would rather sit through Sean Hannity talking shit about the President, then watch Ronan Farrow report on how Obamacare is improving health care in this country.

I am also pleased with who will replace Farrow and Reid: 

The network will move “Way Too Early” host Thomas Roberts to the 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. timeslot, where he’ll host a news show. 

Now see I really like Roberts and thought his talents were wasted as part of the Morning Joe fraternity.

The guy is smart, quick witted, and always very professional.

So I look forward to the debut of his new show.

The article goes on to say that Farrow will host a series of interview specials, but I can assure you I will not watch one of them. Not one.

Just in case there are some Palin-bots have not become completely disgusted with their queen since Sunday, this ought to do it.

Yeah it's one thing to hang on Alec Baldwin, but to act all girly and flirty around Al Sharpton...I just don't think she walks away unscathed from that.

As for liberals I really found her touching his face to be incredibly disrespectful. As was her play kicking and punching him.

And I agree with Reverend Al. If Palin ran in 2016 it would be just about the best thing ever for political pundits and cable news hosts.

But of course. she never will.

Here are a few images of Palin's orange palm, left over from applying self tanner and forgetting to wash her hands immediately afterward.

After using self tanner, always, ALWAYS, wash your hands immediately. Sarah Palin must have missed the memo... pic.twitter.com/EbjlQ3l1CP
— Ashley Codianni (@AshleyCodianni) February 17, 2015

Gosh she's so real. Right Palin-bots?

So apparently with national media coverage Sarah Palin has no problem hanging out with liberals and the Hollywood elite. Update!

Sarah Palin at last night's SNL Anniversary show.

I know what you're thinking. Where have I seen that dress before?

Bristol Palin 2011 White House Correspondence Dinner

Oh, that's right. (Dammit where are those stylists from the McCain campaign when you need them?)

Not that Palin did not bring her OWN stylist.

Okay that kind of makes sense now.

While at the event Palin could not resist the draw of the limelight.

On the red carpet with Sarah Palin at the 40th anniversary of Saturday Night Live #SNL40 pic.twitter.com/dzYD4gdRwD
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) February 16, 2015

No matter who she had to share it with.

Uh, guys? https://t.co/6uz9jeBhb4
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) February 16, 2015

No I mean seriously. Didn't matter.

(Did she just rub something up against Baldwin's leg?)

She even deigned to talk to the "gasp" liberal media:

Sarah Palin appeared alongside Alec Baldwin in an interview with NBC's Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie on the red carpet at the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special at Rockefeller Plaza on Sunday. 

"Did you all come together," Guthrie asked. 

"Yeah," Palin jokingly said. 

"Oh, yeah," Baldwin said. "We've been partying all weekend. We just flew in from Alaska." 

"You have more fun doing this show than just about anything else you could possibly do. And you make strange bedfellows here. Don't you darling," Baldwin said to Palin. 

"I still really love your brother even more," Palin said as Baldwin attempted to hug her. 

"Of course you do," Baldwin responded. 

"Governor Palin, at the height of the presidential race you came here and did a cameo that had to be one of your favorite moments of the campaign?," Guthrie asked. (Who's this "Governor" Savannah Guthrie keeps addressing?)

"I mean if this is indicative of the campaign, it was the most fun moment of the campaign. Yes," Palin said. 

"What was the reaction on the street after you made that appearance?" Lauer inquired. 

"It was great," Palin said. "It was like, gosh, yeah, you have got to have a sense of humor. Yeah. It's not like the persona that it maybe is portrayed or characterized for you out there. So, yeah, and this is an iconic moment, you know, this is, the most, I think intelligent, and entertaining comedic minds in America all in one place," Palin said.

Is this the part where I feign surprise that Sarah Palin is a giant hypocrite?  Because it's really a little early in the morning for that.

You know what they say, once a media whore, ALWAYS a media whore.

Update: You know it had to have happened. Here's Palin joking about a 2016 run.

In interview Sarah Palin takes shots at Hilary Clinton and talks about something called a "Convention of States." Oh she's up to something!

Bolling starts off by asking how conservatives can fight back against the fact that their "freedom and liberty are under siege." Which I assume to mean that they are finally being called out on their bullshit, and pissed off about it.

"You know on the national level we make sure that we're electing candidates who will promise to pay whatever price it's going to take to protect our Constitution, Then on a state level I think it's very important that we find candidates, and elect them, who would be willing to call for a convention of states if need be, because that is the way, that is the tool, that the people have to rein in government, is a convention of states.  (A "convention of states" by the way is something apparently outlined in Article V of the Constitution, which would allow a convention of states to amend the Constitution. This is the newest conservative brainchild, to be used as an effort to obstruct the Obama administration agenda. Is anybody else hearing Dixie playing in the background?)

Bolling then asks Palin which amendment she thought was most under attack.

"You know I would agree with Rand, he said that that first amendment, it..it..starts there, If we're not able to express the will of the people then government will take over, will grow, will continue to do what it is doing today. The problems that we see today start at the top. We have a President who doesn't understand, or chooses to disrespect, our Constitution, those rights, the rule of law, the separation of powers, all those things that we learned in elementary school about how our nation was formed, and why it is the most exceptional nation on the earth because of that Constitution. Our President has set a tone in this nation that kind of says 'Eh, you know it is going to be a select, elitist crew of guys that are gonna run the show instead of we the people.'"

The Bolling asked Palin about her remark that Hillary Clinton should run in 2016.

“I said it’s fine if she ran, I didn’t say it’s fine if she won. I tell ya we don’t need, you know, more of the blue blood you know..uh..no. We need new energy! We need new people in there, who again will understand what the Constitution has done to create this great country. Not those who would choose to seek constitutional changes, amendments that are NOT the will of the people. That they would amend themselves by just seizing power from the people. So no, we need new people in there.” 

Okay I am confused. On the one hand Palin is endorsing this "convention of states" whose purpose is to amend the Constitution, yet she then claims that it is Hillary who would seek constitutional changes by "seizing power," when one would assume she would have then been elected to the White House by "we the people."

And exactly when has Hillary EVER talked about amending the Constitution?

Palin then goes on to take a shot at Al Sharpton over his activism, but since she is appearing in that PSA with Jon Stewart, avoids any criticism of him and instead pimps the cause that they joined forces to work on.

As Palin interviews goes this was mostly just the same old shit, different day.

However that convention of states is a whole new wrinkle, and one that we better keep an eye on.

I have said before that I would not put it past these Right Wing lunatics to start another civil war, and this feels very much like one more step closer to that terrible eventuality.

"

Al Sharpton rejoices in the fact that Sarah Palin is now Ted Cruz's most vocal cheerleader. Update!

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Best line from the discussion in my opinion came from Krystal Ball:

"She and Ted Cruz are a match made in heaven. Because they are both motivated by their own selfish interest in publicity and in fame. Neither one of them is any more conservative than the people who are denouncing them, but they both are more selfish and less interested in governance. All they want is for all the media attention to go to them."

I could not have said it better.

Update: Steve Schmidt was on Hardball yesterday. Here is what he had to add:

For the last couple of years, we've had this wing of the party running roughshod over the rest of the party, tossing out terms like RINO, saying we're going to purge the moderates out of the party, that, you know, it's all of the people that she's attacking in her statement. We've lost five U.S. Senate seats over the last two election cycles and fundamentally we need Republicans whether they're running for president, whether they're in the leadership of the Congress to stand up against a lot of this asininity. 

You finally see it with Ted Cruz, maybe he was the one that has gone a bridge too far. And as we come up against a potential default, potential government shutdown, wise people understand the political consequences for the Republican party. Maybe we'll start seeing our elected leaders stop being intimidated by this nonsense, have the nerve, have the guts to stand up and say enough is enough, this isn't what the Republican party's about. To fight to take conservatism's good name back from the freak show that's been running wild for four years and I have deep regret in my part, certainly, in initiating [it]. But it's time for Republicans to again embrace what made us successful in the past, which is a party that has solutions to the problems that face the country.

Yes Ted Cruz is the most visible example of the Palinization of the Republican party. A hyper partisan, take no prisoners group of ideologues who have little interest in progress, and are concerned solely with making money, attracting a ton of attention, and pushing a selfish agenda.

No wonder Palin supports Cruz, he is like her long lost brother. A Hispanic brother, born in Canada, and educated at Harvard. Well, you know, besides that part.

Al Sharpton hosts panel to discuss the latest Zimmerman 911 call incident.

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Okay so the lawyer says that Zimmerman had a gun, but the police did not find one?

So what is this, bad police work, or did Zimmerman get somebody to take his gun and hide it for him before they arrived.

I am very interested to know what that I-Pad recorded and if THAT was why Zimmerman tried so hard to destroy it.

Al Sharpton compares the "big dogs" on either side of the Obamacare debate. Bill Clinton vs....Sarah Palin?

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"I'm sure that the Republicans have someone of equal stature in their corner, right?"

Gotta love that!

By the way Wonkette reminds us that yesterday marked our five year anniversary of mocking Sarah Palin: 

It all started back on Aug. 29, 2008, when John McCain was all, “Hey ladies who wanted Hillary but did not get Hillary, here is another lady who also has a vagina, maybe you will vote for her instead even though she is nothing like Hillary except that she also has a vagina! Go mavericks!” 

It did not take the basement-dwelling bloggers very long — like, oh, maybe six seconds — to be all, “Hey, John, did you mean to pick that governor of Alaska, what is in the middle of an ethics investigation?” 

And then, about six seconds after that, we found out that Palin was going to be a grandma, which did not seem possible because Palin had always taught her children to abstain from the sexytime until they had a proper hillbilly wedding, and none of them had hillbilly wedding’d yet, so how could any of them possibly be pregnant unless it was immaculate conception maybe, like Jesus, except no, it turns out it was just drunken out-of-wedlock, going-to-hell “fuckin’ redneck” sextyime. However, with a reality TV show about how she’s just like any normal high school dropout teen mom and a book tour about how awful glad she is that she “chose life” after she “chose to get knocked up,” Bristol has revirginized herself and is now free to lecture the president on why every child deserves a mother and a father unless the father is Levi Johnston, so we can just strike all that stuff from the record. 

Then there was the most excellent interview with Charlie Gibson, where she explained how she would “perhaps” do war to Russia, about which she is an expert because she can see it from her house. (Okay, okay, she did not say she can see it from her house — that was a Saturday Night Live skit — but she DID basically say she knows all about them thar Ruskies because you can see Russia from Alaska, which is dumb enough for us. 

And then there was that gotcha journalism interview with Katie Couric, where Katie totally tricked Palin into being an illiterate idiot. 

It all went downhill from there, of course. 

Ahh, good times!

Has it been five years already? Boy, time sure flies when your saving your country from a lunatic, right?

George Zimmerman's legal problems may be far from over.

Courtesy of the Washington Times:  

He is now a free man after a six-woman jury found him not guilty, putting an end to one of the most racially charged trials in recent U.S. history. There remain, however, those who think justice was not served and want the federal government to intervene. 

“They will make a choice about whether they will pursue criminal civil rights charges. … There is reason to be concerned that race was a factor in why [Mr. Zimmerman] targeted young Trayvon,” said NAACP President Benjamin Jealous during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” program Sunday. “It’s important, just as we all put our faith in this justice system in Florida and in the jury, that we let the justice system run its course. There will be a federal civil rights phase. We are putting our faith in that system.” 

The NAACP also has begun to circulate a petition calling on the federal government to act. 

A federal review of the case already is underway, the Justice Department reiterated Sunday. Officials first announced an investigation into Trayvon’s death last year. 

“Experienced federal prosecutors will determine whether the evidence reveals a prosecutable violation of any of the limited federal criminal civil rights statutes without our jurisdiction, and whether federal prosecution is appropriate,” the agency said. 

The Rev. Al Sharpton, an MSNBC talk-show host and a former Democratic presidential primary hopeful, said Sunday that he, along with the Martin family, recently met with a U.S. attorney to discuss the case and push for action. 

The prosecutors made a huge mistake in keeping race out of the trial, when there was every indication that race was the only reason that young Trayvon lost his life that night.

I think that there is very little doubt that Zimmerman would have reacted completely differently if Trayvon had been a seventeen year old  boy with blonde hair and blue eyes. So as far as I am concerned the Reverend Al and the NAACP are on the righteous path of seeking justice for the Martin family.

And I hope that the  DOJ sees it that way as well.

Ted Nugent goes after Democrats for destroying his people. You know, black people.

"No this hand gesture has NO relation as to why I own so many guns."

In Nugen'ts latest crayon drawing that he submitted to Wing Nut Daily he makes the following claim:

Barack Obama, the guy who received roughly 93 percent of black American votes, is the clear and present engineer of the destruction of black America. 

Yes because becoming the first black presidential role model,  reforming health care which will help African Americans get health care coverage for the first time, and working to repair the economy is SO bad for black people in this country.

But wait there's more:

It was a damnable lie when Vice President Biden stated at a campaign rally attended by many black Americans last fall that if the country elected Republicans they would “put y’all back in chains.” What a disgrace and clown Vice President Biden is. He’s a national embarrassment. 

The truth is that the Democratic Party has been the engineer of the destruction of black Americans, and everyone knows it except the very people who need to know it the most – black Americans. 

The turbo-destruction will continue for black Americans until they realize that dirty Democrat politicians are their true enemy, not their salvation. Fortunately, some are beginning to embrace this self-evident truth. 

I am not sure what "turbo-destruction" is, but it sounds like a word a ten year old boy comes up with to describe something he really does not understand very well.

"Ooh that movie I just watched was a rocket inspired epic slam dunk of a film all covered in awesome sauce!"

But what can you expect from a national embarrassment who projects that title onto one of the most beloved Vice Presidents in history?

Nugent then goes full retard by making up a number of superlatives in order to describe the influence of black musicians on that horrible racket that HE makes on stage.

Indeed, the tapestry of black America is rich and vibrant. I don’t celebrate Black History Month. I celebrate it every day, as my very black-inspired musical dreams could not have been successful were it not for black Americans. 

My fire-breathing musical career was literally launched by black musical thundergods such as Bo Diddly, Little Richard, James Brown, Wilson Picket, Sam & Dave, Albert King, BB King, Freddie King, the mighty Funk Brothers, and the epitome of Rock ‘n’ Roll Gods, the master, Chuck Berry. The music these gentlemen created gave birth to my music and all great, moving, soulful music. We owe it all to them. 

By the way some of the ways that Nugent has celebrated Black History everyday is by once suggesting that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson were "lisping ebonic-mumbo jumbo," and comparing gun owners to Rosa Parks.  Because you know NOTHING says I am down with the African American community quite like making fun of civil rights icons.

As for that whole Bo Diddly, Little Richard, and Wilson Picket being "thundergods" I would like to point out that not only is the ACTUAL thunder god a lily white Norse guy..

...but that the MAJORITY of African Americans today don't even know who Ted Nugent is. And if they do, they know him for being a crazed pro-gun lunatic, and have little idea that he even plays music, never mind that he believes himself to be a paler version of B.B. King or Chuck Berry.

Let's face it if the Republicans are going to use Ted Nugent as their diplomat in reaching out to African American voters, they might as well forget getting any support from them EVER!

I have to assume that Nugent took this task on because the conservatives could not get ex-KKK leader David Duke to return their phone calls.

(H/T to Media Matters.)

MSNBC gives Sarah Palin a little too much credit in my opinion.

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"So she's wielding power, but avoiding actual responsibilities. Perhaps that's what she's wanted all along." I don't agree with much of what Sharpton says in this segment, but I certainly do agree with this assessment.

Palin has always wanted to be taken seriously without having to try very hard, AND without risking the chance of being revealed as a lightweight phony who is tragically unqualified for whatever she is attempting to pass herself off as these days. Be that as a good mother, a political pundit, or a serious candidate for office.

I am not at all thrilled to see ANYBODY taking Palin even remotely seriously, especially my favorite news organization, and I appreciate that Dana Milbank put things into perspective.

Look, Palin is going to make a correct choice once in awhile, it is just the law of averages, but that certainly does not mean that HER endorsement had much to do with Fischer's upset, nor does it mean ANYTHING in the upcoming election against Bob Kerrey.

As it so happens Fischer was the least known candidate, with the least amount of baggage, much like Palin herself was when SHE was elected Governor of Alaska.  And we all know how that worked out.

Palin may be riding high right now, having accidentally stumbled onto a winning endorsement this time, but considering Palin's track record this high is unlikely to last very long.

That reminds me, just how is Christine O'Donnell these days?

Al Sharpton expresses amazement that Sarah Palin is calling for the vetting of President Obama.

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Yep the woman is a joke.  A very BAD joke.

Al Sharpton expresses his opinion of Sarah Palin being compared to him in recent Politico article.

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I love that Sharpton says that he has a lot more on his mind than Sarah Palin.

By the way I disagree with John Heilemann's discomfort with the GOP establishment ostracizing Palin and essentially pushing her out of their clique.  Sarah Palin has done that exact same thing to enumerable people over her lifetime and as they say, "payback is a bitch." So I feel zero sympathy for Palin while watching her get a taste of her own medicine.

Sharpton's remarks about Palin having been on the inside and now finding herself on the outs is certainly supported by the new ABC poll.

As you can see though she still has a fairly impressive 58% approval rating, her unfavorable rating is by far the highest one among the potential GOP candidates.  And this is a poll of Republicans!

On Sarah Palin: "Basically her job now is to play the victim of the liberal media."

I was sent this by two other contributors, but the first place I saw it was over at Progressive Alaska so my hat tip must go to my friend Phil Munger.

By the way, the quote used in the  title of this post can be found around the 8:19 mark of this embed.