GOP finally recognizes that health care bill is dead.

BREAKING: Republicans on Graham-Cassidy health care bill: "We don't have the votes." https://t.co/LHqq2AujL8

— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) September 26, 2017

Courtesy of NBC News:  

Short on votes and time, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is moving on from health care for now. 

Republican senators decided during their weekly conference lunch to not take a vote on a measure that was sure to go down in defeat with three senators explicitly against it and others wavering. 

“The decision was a joint one between Lindsey and Bill and the other two sponsors and also the leader that if the votes are not there, not to have the vote, but not to give up,” said Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., after leaving the lunch referring to the latest health care bill’s co-sponsors, Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Bill Cassidy, R-La. 

With no Democrats supporting the repeal of Obamacare, Senate Republicans could only lose the support of two of its 52-member caucus and still pass the bill. On Monday evening, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, became the third GOP senator to publicly oppose the measure, delivering a fatal blow to what was already a last-ditch effort. Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and John McCain, R-Ariz., had previously said that they were against the measure as well. 

The Graham-Cassidy legislation was the latest version of a series of efforts to partially repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, but none were able to find the 50 votes it needed for passage.

You know it just breaks the GOP's heart that they have failed once again to take healthcare away from millions of their fellow Americans.

Maybe they will get lucky on their way home from work today and run over a squirrel.

You know just so the day is not a total loss for them.

Democrats lose their final Senate race in Louisiana last night. And you know who gets the credit right?

Courtesy of the AP: 

Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy has denied Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana a fourth term, calling his Senate victory "the exclamation point" on midterm elections that put Republicans in charge on Capitol Hill for President Barack Obama's last two years in office. 

With nearly all votes counted, unofficial returns showed Cassidy with a commanding victory in Saturday's runoff as he ousted the last of the Senate's Deep South Democrats. In the South, Democrats will be left without a single U.S. senator or governor across nine states stretching from the Carolinas to Texas.

Of course this is just the latest win in a string of victories for the Republicans who essentially ran the board this election cycle.

The Republicans were able to convince the barely attentive voters that President Obama was an abject failure and slime any Democrat who had dared work with him to pass legislation. Resulting of course in the loss of several Senate and Congressional seats.

Landrieu was doomed from the very start.

However that is the factual explanation for what happened.

In Sarah Palin's world she done did it.

Yeah of course she was trying like crazy to get Bill Cassidy's conservative opponent Rob Maness elected up until the official November, at times even seeming to be blissfully unaware that he had no shot, but she showed up in that airport hangar for Cassidy (She even got all dressed up.), and  that is all she wants people to remember.

When the chips were down and her candidate was crushed like a ball of soggy wet tissue paper, she suddenly decided that Bill Cassidy was her guy all along and she went to work for him. Which in her case meant a Facebook post or two, and showing up in an airport hangar in her "trolling for men in bars" outfit.

I mean if she had not shown up to support Cassidy who knows whether he could have pulled off this victory or not? (Spoiler alert:  He would have.)

Sarah Palin thanks Louisiana for not laughing at her outfit, and gives a shout out to a few of the losers she endorsed this campaign season.

"Hi Mr. Cameraman, do you see me? Am I in focus? Of course I am, I'm a star."

Courtesy of Peggy Bundy's Facebook page: 

North Louisiana, it was so great to be back in Monroe! With your warm southern hospitality you sure made us feel right at home amidst the duck weather (Duck weather?) that arrived ahead of season! It's an exciting time here. America's eyes are wide open after this month's election, and those eyes are now focused on Louisiana. This sportsman's paradise is poised to send the final message to Barack Obama in the runoff election on December 6th. (And that lesson is that this new Senate will do absolutely nothing until they get replaced by Democrats.) Congressman Bill Cassidy is ready to serve in the U.S. Senate as a fighter for Louisiana, as opposed to Senator Mary Landrieu who has been a voice for Barack Obama (voting with him 97% of the time) and has virtually ignored good Louisianans’ concerns for so many years. The status quo has got to go; Louisiana deserves the best, and Dr. Bill Cassidy is the best candidate for this great state! (Which is certainly not what she was saying just a month ago: "Check out Congressman Cassidy's long liberal record".) It's so encouraging to see concerned Americans all across the country rally for the good doctor – including Louisiana's own Duck Commander, Phil Robertson! 

Never been prouder of Col. Rob Maness, a man of great character and commitment to serving our country. His efforts to unify the party behind Dr. Cassidy are truly admirable. (With the Colonel's bright future in public service, one can envision a future Cassidy/Maness team fighting for conservative principles in Washington.) 

Well sure if he kisses Cassidy's ass now then the Republicans might throw him a bone later. That is Politics 101. Remember the first thing you have to give up is any of that integrity crap.

And Zach Dasher  (Who? Oh yeah the Duck Dynasty Dipshit's cousin who recently lost his race. )is a bold, sharp leader with a beautiful family and shining future who has unified behind his former opponent, Dr. Ralph Abraham, for U.S. Congress. (And along with Rob Maness that makes two, count'em two, endorsees from one state that came up the loser in this election cycle. Gee, no wonder she's proud of Louisiana.) Dr. Abraham, another veteran, has a servant's heart with his "Pilots for Patients" service that provides free flights for patients far from medical care. Thank you to Dr. Abraham's great charity for letting us use their hangar for the Unity Rally yesterday. Todd felt right at home surrounded by all the aircraft and gear! 

Well more at home then he feels at home where he has to sleep on the couch and is not allowed to make eye contact.

Louisiana, your spirit inspires the rest of America; your great candidates bode so well for you on December 6th. (Oh gag me!) We'll cheer you on as you exercise your right to vote for these good guys. The USA needs them fighting for us all!

 - Sarah Palin

By the way apparently Palin suffered some kind of  "travel emergency" yesterday which these young ladies helped her resolve.

Thanks to the MAC ladies at the Pecanland Mall in Monroe, LA for helping out with a travel emergency! pic.twitter.com/8hYcCbGwLn
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) November 15, 2014

The only thing I can imagine is that her road kill wig must have awakened from its coma and jumped off her head, and these ladies surrounded it and wrestled it back onto Palin's dome before it could make good on its escape.

Just where is that hair school graduate when you need her?

Well whatever it was you know it must have been serious because Palin is standing with three African Americans and you know that must have made her break out in hives.

So THIS is how former reality stars/half term governors are dressing for political rallies this year. Update!

So this is how Palin dressed for Unity Rally part deux held in a luxury airplane hangar in Louisiana.

As you can see the candidate Bill Cassidy and Rob Maness decided to go with the non-street walker style of ensemble for the event.

You have to hand it to Palin, some people might be worried about what some people might think of them. But oh no, not her.

More photos here, and here.

Palin also posted this today.

 Just to rub my nose in it probably.

Update:

WTH?

Don't you hate it when Grandma breaks into the liquor cabinet?

Sarah Palin will be in a Louisiana airport hangar today and she wants EVERYBODY to know it!

Now you may have heard that there was this Unity Rally earlier this week that supported Bill Cassidy in his run off against Mary Landrieu.

Now that Rally featured a couple of political heavyweights like Senator David Vitter, Governor Bobby Jindal, and possible presidential candidate Senator Ran Paul.

However that rally got very little press coverage, and do you know why?

Because it did not have a Sarah Palin in attendance, that's why!

However as we speak she is glad handing with Louisiana voters, pressing the flesh with her cold unyielding flesh, and regurgitating word salad talking points faster than a Presto Salad Shooter.

And we know this because EVERY media outlet is telling us that it is happening.

Politico:

The 2008 vice presidential nominee plans to appear alongside Cassidy, “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson and defeated conservative Senate candidate Rob Maness at a GOP unity rally on Saturday afternoon in Monroe, according to a source familiar with the event. The Palin visit follows a Monday event with Maness, Cassidy and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in Baton Rouge. 

Palin supported Maness in the primary and predicted that the underdog candidate could shock the country and advance to the runoff. Ultimately, Maness garnered 14 percent of the vote as Cassidy and Landrieu advanced, a greater amount of support than Cassidy predicted during an interview in October. Cassidy will need some of Maness’s voters to turn out on Dec. 6 after finishing with 41 percent of the vote last week to Landrieu’s 42 percent.


CNN: 

Palin and Robertson will attend a GOP unity rally for Cassidy on Saturday afternoon in Monroe, Cassidy's spokesman confirmed. The story was first reported by Politico.

The New Star:  

Former Alaska governor and Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin will be in Monroe Saturday to campaign alongside U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge.

KTBS:  

Sarah Palin travels to Louisiana this weekend to rally with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bill Cassidy, as tea party backers line up for the GOP congressman in hopes of defeating Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu. 

There are a few others as well, but you get the point. 

In case you are wondering that is significantly more coverage than that original rally on Monday attracted. Which of course is why one invites a Sarah Palin to appear at an event designed to attract media attention and potential voters.

But the question to ask is why is this event getting so much attention, while the first one received very little? And the reason is not simply because it features a washed up politician and former reality show flop, along with a former roadie for the band ZZ Top. It is because Palin understands how to do self promotion.

Palin has been drawing attention to herself ever since her days as Miss Wasilla. ("Look I'm in a bathing suit. Ooh, watch me stroke my flute.")

Remember this was the woman who wore a pushup bra in order to get her way in Wasilla city council meetings.

So yes Palin understands how to attract attention to an event, and clearly her team went all in with getting the word out to the various national news agencies and local news outlets. (Can't have that first event, that she was not invited, to getting more attention now can we?)

Now will that attention result in votes for Bill Cassidy, or simply a handful of gawkers hoping to get a gander at the crazy lady who says stupid things on TV?

Well I think we all know the answer to that.

The Unity Rally to save face is a go. Repeat the Unity Rally to save face is a go.

Courtesy of Attention Seeking Annie's Facebook page:

 Looking forward to being back in northern Louisiana tomorrow as we unite behind our nominee Bill Cassidy as he faces Senator Mary Landrieu on the December 6th U.S. Senate runoff. Hope you can join Phil Robertson, Col. Rob Maness, Congressman Cassidy, myself and many other conservatives as we unite towards victory on December 6th! 

"Many other conservatives." Names to be provided later. On a need to know basis.

I am wondering if it is in Palin's contract that any event which uses her likeness for promotion, MUST only use one from between 2008 and 2009. Anything after that is probably a reason to stand them up in her mind.

Speaking of photos I wonder if the one that they chose for Phil Robertson is reflective of his feelings about being included in this hastily thrown together event?

"Wait, you want me when? And where?"

The whole thing is being held in a hangar at the Monroe Regional Airport in Louisiana. Which of course has class written all over it.

Besides that way Palin does not even have to miss her next flight.

Just a couple of photo-ops, and a short word salad infused speech, and she can catch the next plane out of there. 

I will be interested in learning about the attendance for this glorified barbecue.

Personally I will be surprised if the crowd is even comparable to the attendance from one of those stupid Kirk Cameron movies.

Well it looks like Sarah Palin is finally going to Louisiana to stump for what looks to be the "Unity Rally" part two.

Losing candidate Rob Maness and loser at everything Sarah Palin to be in Louisiana on November 15.

Courtesy of The Hill:  

Sarah Palin will travel to Louisiana this weekend to throw her weight behind Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who is seeking to finish off an impressive Republican midterm campaign cycle by taking out incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) 

Palin, Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson, and Tea Party Senate candidate Rob Maness, who challenged Cassidy in the general election, will be on hand for a Republican “unity rally” in Monroe on Saturday, according to a source familiar with the event.

Now it should be noted that THIS rally will be in Monroe, Louisiana and not at the Olde College Inn in  New Orleans as Palin originally stated last week.

As it turns out THAT rally already took place, with Palin nowhere to be seen.

But now we have this new "Unity Rally" sans any political heavyweights, though it DOES feature one of those Duck Dynasty Dipshits.

Gee you know I hate to be a cynic but it almost feels that this was quickly thrown together for some reason. Hmm, I wonder why?

The Hill also mentions Palin's lack of clairvoyant abilities:  

Maness had attacked Cassidy for months, saying he was a part of the problem in Washington, and Palin predicted a Maness victory over Cassidy as recently as late October, but both are now singing Cassidy’s praises.

But hey Joni Ernst won, so who cares how many Palin endorsees flamed out during the primaries and general elections, right?

So look perhaps Palin was wrong about which Unity Rally she was going to attend, I mean if they are all going to be called the "Unity Rally" that COULD prove a little confusing.

And perhaps she was also wrong in identifying which town or city it was being held in, but if you look at a map it turns out that Louisiana has a whole bunch of towns and cities so one could see how that could be confusing.

The point is that she is now attending a "Unity Rally" for Bill Cassidy, just like she said she was.

So she is not a liar dammit!