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?

Right Wing claims it was Rachel Maddow, not Sarah Palin, who got Martin Bashir fired. Maddow calls BS on that accusation.

"I'm sorry, I did what?"

It looks like the attempts to damage the credibility of MSNBC has taken a new tack. Now the MSNBC hosts are being accused of eating their young.

This courtesy of National Review Online: 

Sources say it is Maddow rather than Phil Griffin who provides MSNBC’s editorial direction, and that she also holds considerable sway over personnel decisions. “I know I’m never going to get freakin’ talking points from Phil,” Maddow told The New Yorker last year. “Can you imagine? Like, what would they be?” 

Behind her back, colleagues call her “the queen,” a not so subtle suggestion that Maddow gets what Maddow wants. And what she wants is a network filled with young wonks such as Chris Hayes, Ezra Klein, Alex Wagner, and Harris-Perry, whose highbrow intellectualism can, she hopes, push the Democratic party, and the country, to the left. On Twitter, Harris-Perry’s show proudly uses the hashtag #nerdland. Alex Wagner’s move to the 4 p.m. hour, where Bashir’s show once aired, has Maddow’s fingerprints on it. 

Griffin, who came of age as a sports producer at CNN and then as a booker on the Today show, is, according to a former colleague, “utterly non-ideological.” “He makes decisions,” says the former colleague, “based on 30-day trailing numbers” and lacks a strategic vision. Maddow, who came aboard in 2008, has filled the ideological void. “Alec Baldwin and Martin were outliers; they weren’t part of her inner circle,” says a television insider. “Bashir’s contract was up, he was twisting in the wind when this happened, and he was out of sync with Rachel’s ideology.” 

First I am not at all convinced that Phil Griffin is "utterly non-ideological," there are plenty who believe he is fairly Right Wing but keeps that under wraps in order to run a mostly Left leaning cable show.

As for this "scoop" the writer is Eliana Johnson who was once a producer for Fox News, and now works for this Right Wing rag.

The Fox News vendetta against MSNBC is well documented and I doubt there are very many on the Right who would not like to see them go down in flames. So recognizing that reality, WHO exactly on the MSNBC staff would be giving up dirt on Rachel Maddow?

Yeah, my thoughts exactly.

As for Rachel, she wasted no time in refuting this conservative fantasy: 

“This is categorically false,” Rachel Maddow said. “I have never had any role in any management decision at MSNBC. Any source who says otherwise is wrong.”

You know when I think of integrity it is Rachel Maddow's face I see.

Number one this does not sound like her, and number two if it WERE she would simply stay silent about it. NOT lie. 

NO if anybody is responsible for the firing of Martin Bashir, it is Sarah Palin and the flying monkeys on the Right Wing fringe. Oh, and Phil Griffin of course.

(H/T to Politicususa.)

Sarah Palin gives an interview to Right Wing rag Newsbusters that seems modified to make her seem smarter.

So just a little while ago I noticed a post on the Christmas Ho's Facebook page about a recent interview with Newsbusters. And my first thought was "Hell I don't have to post about this, it's almost Christmas!"

But then I gave the article a quick perusal just to assure myself it was the same old tired crap she has been vomiting forth for weeks now, and something just seemed off.

Like this response to this quote in her book, “An angry atheist with a lawyer is one of the most powerful persons in America:”

 PALIN: This takes a little explaining about how our rights are normally protected, about why and who can sue a city, county or school. I go into this deeply in the book, but here’s the bird’s eye view. 

Normally, a person can’t sue a public entity for a violation of constitutional rights unless he or she has a concrete injury. In other words, someone would have to show how the action of the public institution harmed his legally protected interests. For example, if you’re told not to speak, your right to free speech is violated. If you’re prohibited from holding a Bible study, your right to free exercise of religion has been compromised. In these examples, the power of the state is forcing you into silence or subjection. 

But there’s a double standard at work. If someone is offended by a religious expression or speech in a public setting, then courts have allowed that offended person to sue -- even if they weren’t censored, made to pray, or coerced into compliance with a different belief system, and even when they have a right to speak out and try to change public policy. Not only can people sue over hurt feelings, many times they’ve won. 

This means people can silence their fellow citizens for no other reason than the fact that they were offended. This should stop. 

Okay when this did this lunatic go to law school?

So it dawns on me that one of two things has happened. Either Newsbusters sent her the questions ahead of time, and she had her ghostwriter answer them after doing research. Or the interviewer took her crazed word salad and added some editorial Prozac to it to make it seem rational.

My money's on the first one, as the Palin camp probably wants to convince interviewers she is not a dipshit. (Too late.)

However what is crystal clear is that Palin did NOT answer these questions without a substantial amount of help.

So let's see if she had enough help to make her seem reasonably coherent throughout the entire interview shall we?

Here was her response to a question about a portion of her book in which she identifies her favorite scene of Linus reciting from Luke 2 8-14 during the "A Charlie Brown Christmas:" 

PALIN: Mostly, I love when Linus recites the Scripture from the book of Luke, explaining to Charlie “what Christmas is all about.” It packs a punch. When he gets to the words “Fear not,” I love how he drops his blanket. It’s almost like he realized where his true security rests. 

But then to a simple followup question as to when she first noticed that scene she says this:  

PALIN: To be honest, I’d seen it many times before – just like you had – without noticing that part. I think sometimes different parts of movies or books jump out at you during different times of life. This is a pretty scary time in our nation’s history, so I guess it makes sense that this would jump off the screen a little more vibrantly than it would’ve back when I watched it in previous years.

Seriously? That is perhaps one of the most iconic moments in the special (Along with the ugly little tree that suddenly turns beautiful when everybody pitches in to decorate it.), how could a self proclaimed Christian have not had it "jump off the screen" during their first few viewings?

I noticed it and I am an Atheist since around the age of seven.

That struck me as more than a little weird.

Then Palin is asked about this quote, “Atheism’s track record makes the Spanish Inquisition seem like Disneyland by comparison.”

Palin mentions a book she "read" by Christoper Hitchens' brother Peter, about the supposed moral collapse he saw in Russia with the closing of the churches. She (Her ghostwriter) then made this statement:

The history of the twentieth century is a sad compendium of atheism’s murderous track record – from Mao’s China to Pol Pot’s Cambodia and on and on. But we can go back even further in history to the French Revolution, which I also mentioned in the book. The Jacobins hated traditional Christianity and openly persecuted the Catholic Church. They imprisoned and murdered priests and nuns who wouldn’t be puppets for the state. They demolished or closed churches. At one point they were even changing the street names to remove references to the saints! As I wrote in “Good Tidings and Great Joy,” their hatred of Christianity didn’t lead to utopia. It led to the guillotine. 

What her ghostwriter fails to recognize however is that the French Revolution was, in part, a response to the corruption of the Catholic church and to its influence over the French nobility.

The anger toward religion was also fanned by Christian opposition to the Enlightenment and had been instrumental in the imprisonment, torture, and beheadings of those identified as Atheists or who spoke out against the church.

There were atrocities on both sides, however first blood was not drawn by the irreligious.

Of course when you are pimping a book defending Christmas and Christians against the scourge of atheism it doesn't pay to tell both sides now does it?

She was also questioned about her response to the Marti Bashir comments:

PALIN: I was out on my book tour meeting some amazing and inspiring Americans when this crap hit the fan, so I had more positive things on my mind than what another far left liberal spewed about me. Got to be honest though, I felt MSNBC’s tacit agreement with Bashir’s call to action encouraging that physical attack was downright gross and enormously demeaning. I hate, hate, hate that such an attack could have ever been punishment for any slave during that blight on America’s historical record. I’m so sorry for that chapter in a new nation’s life. 

Yeah right.

On the Megyn Kelly Santa Claus ethnicity brouhaha:

PALIN: Honestly, I’ve never given it much thought. I didn’t know Santa’s race was a controversial topic. 

On the fact that Kelly's comments received more media attention than did Bashir's:  

PALIN: If that turns out to be true, then I think that reflects skewed priorities. It’s just bizarre. I mean, seriously? We’re going to get all “outrageously outraged” over the supposed racial makeup of a mythical figure? 

Must be killing her to realize that people care more about that "mythical figure" than they do about her.  Though come to think of it she is just about as mythologized as St. Nick these days.

After reading through all of this I am dead certain that Palin had substantial help with the questions and undoubtedly received them in the mail well in advance of publication.

That's okay though, even with careful editing and research she still comes off as historically ignorant, self centered, and a person who continually plays the victim.

Besides if ever anybody thinks she might be getting any smarter, just wait for an actual TV interview and you can see the stupidity in all its brain cell killing glory.

Homophobia and ignorance converge on the Sean Hannity Show, featuring Sarah Palin resplendent in camouflage clothing and hypocrisy soaked hair piece. Update!

Hannity does the set up which includes a whitewashing of Duck Dynasty patriarch, Phil Robertson's remarks. Once the raw meat is deemed sufficiently bloodied, they release the Palin!

Hannity: "That looks like a Duck Dynasty camo shirt. Is that it?"

Palin: "Uh we wear camo up here everyday and it's funny that, ironically, I was wearing camo this morning when your producer called to ask if I'd be on the show. And I'm like 'Sure, and I'll keep my same clothes on if you don't mind.'" (So those are Palin's camouflage PJ's? Ewww!)

Hannity then asks for Palin's thought on the controversy. (I bet she starts with it being all about "freedom.")

Palin: "Well it's all about freedom. Free speech, ya know so many American families have spilt blood and treasure to guarantee Phil Robertson's, and everybody else's right to voice their personal opinions (Except YOU Martin Bashir!), and once that freedom is lost Sean, everything is lost in our country. Now, A&E they were absolute quacks on this one, the marketing department there, here they had just recently rolled out their new slogan from their marketing department. And it's 'Be original.' Well that translates, with A&E's marketing department today into, 'Be stupid.' 

"To get rid of the most popular patriarch on television today...uh I tell ya there are other networks that would just nab these guys up in a heartbeat. A&E really screwed up on this one."

Hannity then goes on to claim to be a fan of the show and that the reason it is popular is because they talk about religion. (And here I thought it had something to do with ducks.) Finally asking "Doesn't this have a lot to do with religion?"

Palin: "Well you know, they're not in your face though which I think is so refreshing. (Yeah, for instance THEY are not trying to sell a book attacking atheists and suggesting that only Christians can enjoy Christmas.) You know they talk about tradition, they live out traditional Judeo-Christian ethics, that our nation is founded upon. And I think that is, not only refreshing, but it's..it's ...uh..inspiring and empowering for the rest of America to be emboldened and to say "Hey, if they can do it, and be so popular, and not as mocked and criticized perhaps, until now, as others have been then maybe the rest of us can do it too.' And that's got to strengthen our country. And it's going to strengthen those who are elected to protect our freedoms. (Wait, the Duck Dynasty guy was protecting America's freedoms? By appearing on a reality show?) Hopefully it will make them acknowledge how important our foundation of freedom is and they'll do something about it." 

(So to be clear what the crazy person is saying is that Robertson's homophobic rant should be ignored because his appearances on Duck Dynasty serve as a model to politicians that THEY can also push their religious beliefs down the throats of the American people? WTF?)

Hannity then does his job of turning the attention back to Palin, and what a poor victim SHE has been of attacks from the Left. And pointing out that she did not call for boycotts against Bill Maher or Martin Bashir for their comments. (No she just fired up the paint chip eaters and let THEM do her dirty work.)

Palin: "No, because I am a freedom of speech kind of gal." (At this point I ironically look over at my letter from Thomas Van Flein threatening to sue me if I did not retract everything from my Splitsville post back in August of 2009. All of which turned out to be true by the way.) "I'll tell ya I got a lot of e-mails this morning on this one with A&E, where a friend, in fact a friend of mine that happens to be gay, she e-mailed me to say she is outraged at A&E for the hypocrisy here for the things they air on their program that she finds offensive, yet A&E doesn't fire a star or somebody involved in their programming based on what they've said, but they would when it comes to Phil on Duck Dynasty. And this friend, she said that she would boycott A&E, and that network, (DO you hear that A&E? Sarah Palin's only gay friend is no longer going to be watching your shows. That'll learn ya!)and um she's not the only one, I've received many many e-mails from people saying 'You know why give them our money, our eyes, ears, our resources?' There are other channels out there to be watching?"

(So to be clear, Sarah Palin's VAST group of gay supporters are going to stop watching A&E over this situation. I cannot almost hear the executives tremble from here.)

Hannity brings the subject back to the fact that Robertson was simply defending his right as a Christian to call out the sinners, and asks Palin if she agrees that many Christians share his views on homosexuality.

Palin: "Well what Phil was saying in..eh..he was reciting a part of the Gospel. The liberal Left must feel that the Gospel then is insulting and offensive. Because Phil was just repeating what is in the Bible. And what Phil went on to say was that all sins are equal, and we all sin (Some more than others, right Sarah?), so we all need a savior. And I say that at this time, this Christmas season, now is the time where, like the three wise men, we can seek that savior, we can find that savior ,and then our problems will be solved. That's what Phil was saying." (Well as a member of the Liberal Left I found almost all of that offensive, as well as historically, rationally,  and even Biblically inaccurate.)

Hannity then asks if Palin thinks that Americans, whom he seems to believe think like both he and Palin do, will rise up in support of Duck Dynasty the way they did for the owner of Chick-fil-A?

PALIN: "Absolutely! You're going to see people wearing their camo. You're going to see people wearing their red, white and blue bandanas and be out there with their duck calls and everything else, as this manifestation of support for a family that is traditional and strong and they circle the wagons when times are tough and -- and -- that is so Americana. And it's patriotic. It's beautiful. (Camo and duck calls are beautiful? Maybe in Wasilla!) It's part of the heart of America. And we all need to be out there promoting and protecting the heart of America. We can do that by showing support for Duck Dynasty." (So to be clear kids, protecting the reality show Duck Dynasty is JUST like putting on a uniform and fighting for your country.)

Hannity then asks about some of the other A&E programs, and suggests that though conservatives might find them offensive they do not demand that they be removed. (Apparently Hannity is unaware of the activities of the American Family Association, and other religious groups that regularly demand that programming be changed and threaten boycotts.)

PALIN: "Yes, my reaction to A&E, again, is their new slogan, "Be original," does translate into "Be stupid" because if they have such a hypocritical view of what is acceptable and not acceptable, well, that is going to offend the majority of Americans."

"Bottom line, Sean, is A&E has chosen to marginalize and tried to stifle the freedom of someone who is filled with faith in the Gospel, that being Phil from "Duck Dynasty." And Americans -- we're smart enough to understand what's going on here. We're also smart enough to understand that we do not have to promote and give business to a network like that, if we, you know, don't believe in the action that they just took. And A&E is going to feel it."

Damn that is a lot of hypocrisy for this early on a Friday morning!

Somewhere I have to believe that Martin Bashir is shaking his head in disbelief and muttering, "She really is insane isn't she?"

Yes Martin, she is!

Update: In reference to Palin's love for free speech and her contention that she would never respond as GLAAD did in response to Phil Roberston's words, let me present the SarahPAC letter calling for Martin Bashir to be fired.

Update 2: Here is another Phil Robertson anti-gay rant in case we were not convinced by the first one:

The most inflammatory section of his attack on the lives of gay people is when he quotes the full passage of Romans 1:26-32 which is often used as an example for Christian opposition to homosexuality. 

Verse 29 begins, 'They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents and they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.' 

Oh yeah, gotta love that free speech. 

Final image of the day.

Sarah Palin ads another scalp to her belt as Martin Bashir resigns.

Courtesy of the Hollywood Reporter:  

Martin Bashir is leaving MSNBC, effective immediately. After his Nov. 15 remarks about former Alaska governor Sarah Palin sparked lingering criticism from the media and conservatives alike, he announced Wednesday that he's stepping away from his job of the last three years. 

"After making an on-air apology, I asked for permission to take some additional time out around the Thanksgiving holiday," said Bashir in a statement released to The Hollywood Reporter. "Upon further reflection, and after meeting with the president of MSNBC, I have tendered my resignation. It is my sincere hope that all of my colleagues, at this special network, will be allowed to focus on the issues that matter without the distraction of myself or my ill-judged comments. I deeply regret what was said, will endeavor to work hard at making constructive contributions in the future and will always have a deep appreciation for our viewers - who are the smartest, most compassionate and discerning of all television audiences. I would also wish to express deepest gratitude to my immediate colleagues, and our contributors, all of whom have given so much of themselves to our broadcast." 

His departure leaves a hole in the cable news network's 4 p.m. hour. A MSNBC rep could not immediately confirm what the network would be doing with the vacancy in the long term, but Joy-Ann Reid will continuing pinch-hitting since Bashir departed for the Thanksgiving holiday. A permanent replacement is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. 

As for MSNBC topper Phil Griffin, the network president released his own statement crediting Bashir with the decision. "Martin Bashir resigned today, effective immediately," he said. "I understand his decision and I thank him for three great years with MSNBC. Martin is a good man and respected colleague - we wish him only the best." (Baldwin's departure came with a joint statement calling it a "mutual parting.") 

Goddammit! I hate it when that bitch wins!

You know it took me awhile to warm up to Bashir, but I really started to like him. He was witty, had a great accent, and never seemed hesitant about really taking it to the obstructionists in Washington.

Usually Palin's flying monkeys fail to take down their target, as demonstrated by their ineffectiveness against me, David Letterman, Andrew Sullivan, Bill Maher, Katie Couric, etc,. etc. etc.

However it only takes one perceived win like this to get her tribe of paint chip eating dipshits to think that she has real power to destroy those who speak out against her. Which in my mind means that those of us who are left need to really ratchet up the criticisms.

Let's do it for Martin!

Sarah Palin appears on Fox News to play the victim over comments by MSNBC's Martin Bashir, to attack Obamacare, and to convince somebody to buy her damn book!

Click one of the protruding knobs to see video.

Chris Wallace starts off asking Palin about Obamacare. (Spoiler alert: She hates it!)

"Well certainly the roll out itself, and a malfunctioning website isn't the problem. The problem is Obamacare itself is the problem, you know a road toward socialized medicine that is unaffordable, and unasked for, and unpopular, is not workable, that's the problem. People want Obamacare scrapped, I think at this point Chris we don't even care if the website gets up and running, it's just going to prove to be an invitation find out..uh..more problems as to Obamacare as a whole....

At this point the tape kind of skips and you see Wallace posing the next question, as if somebody decided Palin had rambled enough and were trying to keep the craziness to a minimum.

Wallace then asked Wonder Boobies if she thought Obamcare was the tipping point that undermined the President's entire approach to government

"I do, Thank goodness people are awakened from their slumber, thinking that it's okay for government to deceive us in thinking that they can, they can give us free stuff. Their ain't no such thing as a free lunch, and people have opened their eyes now, understanding that 'oh Tea Party patriots they were right' when they said that this big government policy crammed down our throat called Obama-pare (I swear that is what she said.) its not good for America. And people have awakened and realized that the Tea Party was right, and hmm they may be right on a couple of other issues too. So yeah that's a tipping point, people are awake now."

Wallace then suggests that it is a problem for Republicans that Obamacare will eventually cover 30 million uninsured Americans whereas the most recent GOP plan would only cover 3 million. And asks Palin if she does not agree that the Republicans need to do better.

"Oh, I am one to question, I am one to question those numbers. 30 million more people will receive health care coverage under Obamacare? I question it, one I don't believe a doggone thing coming out of Washington D.C. anymore and isn't that a sad state of affairs when a normal American has to be so cynical of what government (Normal American?), and government reports, are telling us. Even if it is a nonpartisan report. Chris no, once that employer mandate kicks in, after the new year begins, next year..employer mandate..that's going to kick more and more people off private sector health care coverage that they had, at least up til now, been able to enjoy, and been able to afford. There will be fewer people being covered under a sensible, doctor-patient relationship centered health care program under Obamacare than what we see today I guarantee you that." (So in a nutshell, Palin is saying, "Facts, I don't need no stinking facts! I know what I know when I know it.")


Wallace simply lets that huge truckload of BS sit there as he moves onto another topic, essentially destroying any credibility he has a journalist, and asks her about the new Senate rule change. (The "Nuclear Option.") Essentially asking her if she thinks that any President should have the right to name their team, unless a candidate is "wildly outside the mainstream?"

"Well there are a lot of wildly outside the mainstream nominees and pals of Barack Obama that he wants to see help him usher in an agenda to transform America, so that's one thing that Congress has done right. And that is to oppose some of these nominees.

(Really? So this is okay?)

Replaced previous graphic identifying nominees to this one. More accurate.

(I bet she wouldn't say that if this were a Republican. Or a white guy.)

As for this rule, change that some people are calling the nuclear option, I guarantee this week, Thanksgiving dinner, people sitting around their tables, we're not going to be talking about the president's blessing, the thwarting of a balance of power in Congress with new Senate rules called the nuclear option.People are going to be talking about our failed big government policies that will bankrupt this country. So this distraction, this new talking point in the media and with Congress, with senators and with the president blessing this action, it's a distraction and it's a lot of, you know, double standard and Democrat hypocrisy because just a few years ago, they were so anti, anti-nuclear option. They were against any thought of Republicans ever considering changing these rules. And yet now, you know, it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. So American people, they don't care about distractions like that. They're not in that inside baseball Senate rule stuff. They want government to be back on our side. They want it to get out of our lives and in order to do that we need those who will not fundamentally transform America but will fundamentally restore what's right about America. We do that by having good judicial nominees and nominees in these regulatory agencies and elsewhere. So, this new rule change, it stinks." (I'm sorry, what?)


This is when Wallace finally broaches the subject of Bahir's comments on MSNBC.

"That's funny, because Bashir has invoked the analogy of slavery also. The definition of slavery is to be beholden to a master. And we will be beholden when that note is due, when we have taken from our children and our grandchildren and borrowed from China and other foreign countries in order to pay for our wants today. So we will be beholden to another master at some point here when that note's due. As for the -- you know ,the networks condoning those types of statements, because there's been no punishment of the fella who said these words, that's hypocrisy. That's a given, though, when a conservative woman says something that they're -- they take offense, they usually just kind of pooh-pooh it, laugh it off; it's no big deal. But as for personally taking shots like that, Chris, everybody in life takes shots. You have a decision to make when you take a shot. Are you going to become bitter or better? In a case like this, you know, I don't have to accept his words, his vile, evil comments, so they don't have to affect me. I move on. And I charge forth. (Oh yeah, she is known for that.) However, if Mr. Bashir or anybody else in this media elite bubble that they put themselves in were to attack someone who is defenseless, like a vulnerable child, who does not have that podium, that microphone that God has blessed me to be able to express my opinion, if they don't have that type of platform to defend themselves -- well, if you want to see a mama grizzly get riled up and slap that person down, then you come after a vulnerable child. In this case, he didn't come after a vulnerable child. I can defend myself and, you know, I can take it" ( I assume she is daring somebody to attack Trig so that she can defend him and garner more sympathy. What an odd thing to interject into this statement.)

Wallace then plays Bashir's apology and asks the Wonder Twins if she accepts it.

"Well, that's the executive hypocrisy that is so prevalent in that media elite bubble, where it depends on the target of the vile rants that it doesn't depend on what their rant itself actually is. And conservative women are a target of them. As for the apologies, well, obviously, you know, who am I to not accept an apology? Everyone must humble themselves and accept that offer to, you know, of apology. (This part really makes me wish that Bashir had not caved in and apologized to the skank.) But as for the apologies, too, next time that they want to say such a thing and then get the attention that they were seeking after they've said it, and then they want to call and apologize to me in private, I'd like them to go through, say, Todd first or one of my children first. Leave the message with them. Hear what they have to say about it and then they can come to me." (So she wants to have her apologies screened before accepting them? What is she afraid of?)


This is the point where apparently Wallace is contractually obligated to let  the "Ghost of Christmas suck ass" to pimp her book.

Wallace: " Governor, you say there is a link between faith and freedom. Explain what you mean." (Why do these idiots continue to call this quitter "Governor?")

"It's an inherent link, and our Founders knew that. They said that our government is -- our Constitution for our government is written for a religious and world people, meaning you have to have a strong foundation of faith, believing in something greater than self and not be so selfish. Otherwise, our Constitution isn't going to do any good. There's no need to follow a Constitution or a rule of law if you don't have that foundation. (Actually you do, it's called avoiding prison and it is a MUCH bigger deterrent to criminal behavior than the idea of hell or heaven.) So, it's very, very important that we protect the heart of Christmas, which then will protect the heart of America. And it's been a wonderful book tour; 21 cities thus far. (And each one resulting in the book falling further and further down the Amazon list of best sellers. As of this post it is now down to 358. If this keeps up it will be in the dollar bin before the last stop of her book tour.) And it is all about good tidings and great joy and amazing, amazing, inspiring, energetic people we've met along the trail, love them. And it's a good book."

Wallace then asks what is wrong with  businesses wishing people "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas?"

"Well, there's not a doggone thing that's wrong with saying "Happy Holidays." It's like I say before Christmas, "Happy Hanukkah." After Christmas, you can say "Happy Kwanzaa." But as for Christmas itself, Jesus is the reason for the season. And Christ is the foundation of Christmas. So, to have a double standard, try to be applied to say, well, you just can't say "Merry Christmas" or invoke God or Bethlehem or an angel when anything spiritual when it comes to actually that day, December 25th, Christmas, otherwise somebody may take offense, it's a double standard, more hypocrisy, more nonsense, and I'm just saying no, we're going to protect the heart of Christmas because Christ is what it's all about."

"Well, there's not a doggone thing that's wrong with saying "Happy Holidays." I'm sorry, I'm confused.  Is she saying that there is NOTHING wrong with saying "Happy Holidays" or is she insisting that the only appropriate greeting is "Merry Christmas?" 

Or is she saying that there should be no rule prohibiting shopkeepers from saying "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays" which of course has never been anything of the sort? Does anybody else's head hurt?

You know if you are going to have an entire book ghostwritten for you on the subject, perhaps you should actually know just what in the hell you are talking about.

Oh right, this is a Sarah Palin book.

My bad.

Sarah Palin to address Martin Bashir comments tomorrow on Fox. Blood Libel comments, take two.

Courtesy of Mediaite:  

Sarah Palin will address the controversial comments made by about her by MSNBC’s Martin Bashir for the first time on the November 24th edition of Fox News Sunday. Fox News’ Chris Wallace is also expected to interview Palin about the Affordable Care Act and her new book Good Tidings and Great Joy: Protecting the Heart of Christmas. 

After Palin made her own controversial remarks comparing America’s debt crisis to “slavery,” Bashir delivered a monologue on his MSNBC program in which he suggested that, in order to truly understand the horrors of slavery, someone should defecate into Palin’s mouth. Bashir later apologized, but, despite continued outrage from Palin’s defenders, MSNBC did not take any disciplinary action against the host. 

Palin evidently decided to grant Wallace the first interview on the matter after Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly revealed on Wednesday night that she had turned down his invitation to discuss the matter on The O’Reilly Factor.

Trashed by Bashir, slammed by O'Reilly, and pissed off at NBC, oh you just KNOW this is going to be good television!

It never fails to amaze me that there can be THAT mush vitriol and hate packed in such an emaciated frame.

 I have seen insects with thicker legs than those.

Sarah Palin sells little over 20,000 books in first week of highly promoted book tour. Update!

Photo courtesy of Facebook

This according to the Drudge Report:

BOOK SALES RACE, WEEK 11/17/13: RUSH LIMBAUGH 'BRAVE' REMAINS #1 WITH 52,463 SOLD [300,400 SINCE RELEASE]... O'REILLY 'JESUS' IN SECOND AFTER SCANNING 49,069 [645,976]... MORE... KRAUTHAMMER 'MATTER' TAKES SHOW WITH 40,598 [131,713]... DUCK DYNASTY 'SI-COLOGY' 26,934 [347,811]... DORIS GOODWIN 'THEODORE' 22,268 [47,571]... PALIN 'GREAT' OPENS WITH 20,157 (Note that the other authors listed are on their second, third, and sometimes fourth week of publication. Not their first.)

Gee even after subjecting herself to interviews on the Today Show, CNN, and USA Today she still cannot convince anyone outside of her rapidly shrinking group of supporters. (For context it should be noted that "Going Rogue" sold in excess of 2 million books, most of which were sold in the first few weeks.)

Also keep in mind that the sales for these conservative books are artificially padded through the use of bulk sales to conservative groups who then give them away with donations or subscription to their periodicals or websites. So the question to ask is, are they still doing that for Palin? Or are they doing it in a far less aggressive fashion due to her fading popularity?

By the by, I think that THIS, and not the Bashir controversy, is the main reason why Palin is taking back her invitation to have Matt Lauer fly up to Alaska to interview her.

Or perhaps it was HE who determined that it was a waste of his time, and NBC resources, to fly all the way to Alaska to interview a has been who is no longer relevant to anything or anybody.

Update: As if to illustrate Palin's diminished popularity, here is Bill O'Reilly telling Howard Kurtz that Palin is too afraid to come on his program:

BILL O'REILLY: Let's just be frank here. You want to be frank, Howard? You want to be honest? Sarah Palin won't do this program. She won't come on the program because she doesn't want to mix it up. She doesn't. She wants to give a speech, and nobody gives speeches here. Okay? So she doesn't come on. We invited her on tonight. You're here instead. But I don't begrudge Sarah Palin that. She can come on. She doesn't come on, she does come on, whatever she wants to do. Okay? Fine.

You know when the top rated host of the Right Wing cable news station/Republican propaganda machine that once employed you, feels he can slam you like this, you are essentially finished. 

Martin Bashir's apology to Sarah Palin.

Whether you support Bashir, and his right to make the comment that he did, or not one at least has to recognize that his apology seems heartfelt.

Of course there are many who have said much worse, and have never offered an apology. (I'm thinking of a certain half term governor whose rhetoric has inspired rampant racism and may have been connected to at least one attempted assassination.

Bashir may have taken his frustration with the Tundra Turd a bit too far, but I think many of us have little difficulty understanding what drove him to those lengths.

Martin Bashir suggests that Sarah Palin should be punished, as slaves were once punished, for minimizing slavery. Right Wing goes ballistic in response.

Courtesy of Progressive Populist: 

“It will be like slavery,” Bashir repeated. “Given her well-established reputation as a world class idiot, it’s hardly surprising that she should choose to mention slavery in a way that is abominable to anyone who knows anything about its barbaric history.” 

Bashir then discussed the barbaric history of slavery, specifically a first-person account from a man named Thomas Thistlewood, who kept a diary about the horrible treatment and discipline of the slaves he and his family owned. Bashir says, “In 1756, he records that a slave named Darby ‘catched eating kanes had him well flogged and pickled, then made Hector, another slave, s-h-i-t in his mouth.’” 

Bashir concluded by saying, “When Mrs. Palin invokes slavery, she doesn’t just prove her rank ignorance. She confirms if anyone truly qualified for a dose of discipline from Thomas Thistlewood, she would be the outstanding candidate.” 

In other words, Palin deserves to have her mouth s-h-i-t in.

You know usually Bashir is fairly controlled in his take downs of the Right Wing and Republican party, but I guess some people are just too disgusting for him to treat with respect.

However as others have pointed out, considering how much shit pours out of Palin's maw, she would probably not even notice a little extra added in from another source.

Well as you can imagine this has caused the Right Wing bloggers and news sites to, if you will pardon the pun, lose their shit.

Martin Bashir on Palin's rage filled WHCD tweet: "These comments mark her miserable decline from hopelessly mindless Vice Presidential candidate to now, a near non-entity." Now that is gold!

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There were a lot of these verbal spankings on MSNBC yesterday but this is my favorite.

And if THAT was not satisfying enough, then Vanity Fair will gladly take up the slack: 

Sarah Palin did not attend the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner this weekend, nor did she attend any after- or pre-parties. Was it because she was not invited? Because she is a largely irrelevant bore whose existence, frankly, we had completely forgotten until about 30 minutes ago? No. Her reasons are far braver and laudatory than “was forgotten”: she did not attend because she is Taking A Stand. “That #WHCD was pathetic,” she tweeted on Saturday. “The rest of America is out there working our asses off while these DC assclowns throw themselves a #nerdprom.” Related: don’t miss the slide show and party recap from this year’s Bloomberg/Vanity Fair fête. 

At this point, we would be remiss not to point out Palin’s own previous participation in W.H.C.A. weekend. Back in 2011, when Palin was just a workin’ mom tryin’a roll up ’er sleeves and turn a profit from her one-seasoned T.L.C. reality show, she not only attended the Bloomberg/Vanity Fair party but was, as your blogger pointed out at the time, “the very first guest to arrive, stopping by 25 minutes before the party officially began.” What could possibly account for this? Was the “rest of America” not “working their asses off” then? Or are they only now “working their asses off” because their reality shows were canceled, too?

Hey, she WANTED to get noticed. Well now she's been noticed.

Happy crazy lady?

Ann Coulter suggests murder of Meghan McCain, after MSNBC's Martin Bashir asks if it takes gun violence in the family to persuade lawmakers to support new gun laws.

 Courtesy of Raw Story:
In a column published on Thursday, conservative pundit Ann Coulter joked that the killing of politicians’ children should “start with Meghan McCain.” 

Earlier this week, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MA) told MSNBC host Martin Bashir that he was sensitive to the need for more gun control because his nephew had been shot and killed several years ago. 

Bashir suggested that members of Congress should not have to experience the death of a family member to understand that gun violence was a problem. 

“But Congressman, is that what needs to happen to move these senators to stop threatening a filibuster?” Bashir asked. “Is that really what needs to happen? That you need to have a member of your family killed in order for you to do what the American people want you to do?” 

Conservative websites interpreted Bashir’s statement to mean that he was advocating the murder of politicians’ family members. And on Thursday, Coulter decided it would be funny to suggest the daughter of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) should be the first to die. 

“MSNBC’s Martin Bashir suggested that Republican senators need to have a member of their families killed for them to support the Democrats’ gun proposals,” Coulter wrote. “Let’s start with Meghan McCain!”

This one is almost too over the top to believe. WTF?

You know the ironic thing is that the Right Wing news outlets tried to smear the Left Wing by totally misrepresenting Bashir's statement  in order to infer that he was making a threat against the children of lawmaker's and then Coulter just comes right out and does that very thing.

Not only does she identify herself as a truly disgusting human being (She IS still considered a human right?), but she also destroys the poorly constructed argument being made by her side of the aisle.

And this did not escape her target's attention either.

Apparently Ann Coulter made a joke about me being killed in a recent column. I should expect nothing less but disgusted regardless.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) April 11, 2013

My father is a very famous politician. My family gets a lot of threats. Joking about me being killed really isn't funny or appropriate.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) April 11, 2013

A little perspective this morning. People like ann coulter are part of the past and only live to spread hate and negativity. I literally
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) April 11, 2013

Ann Coulter, just when you think the Right Wing has hit bottom, she always manages to dig at least one shovelful deeper.

MSNBC's Martin Bashir celebrates the concession of Teabagger Allen West.

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It may seem somewhat spiteful to take such glee in Allen West's long overdue concession, but let's fact it the guy totally deserves it!

I have been fairly liberal with my usage of the term "douchebag" but if ANYBODY deserves the label it is this ginormous asshole.

Martin Bashir: "Listen to what one adult, with the mental age of three, decided to toss out last night."

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I actually had a different post written for this slot, but after I saw this, and so MANY of you sent me a link as well, I decided perhaps IT was the best way to close out our day.

"Someone should send THOSE words to the three year old in Alaska."

 Could NOT have said it better myself.

Steve Schmidt schools Sarah Palin on the stupidity of bringing Reverend Wright into the political arena.

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Martin Bashir speaking of Palin: "Did she, ever say to you, or John McCain, that she wanted to use the Reverend Wright against Barack Obama?"

Schmidt: "Well she did Martin, she did all the time, and I think something that is important to understand here, is that this was John McCain's decision. John McCain ran for President of the United States. John McCain won his party's nomination. It was his call. John McCain said absolutely not, under no circumstances, do I want to light this fuse, do I want to inject the poison of race into this campaign. It was the right thing for John McCain to do. It was the right thing POLITICALLY for John McCain to do. And most everybody who disagreed with that decision understood that it was John McCain's right to make the decision and got in line with it."

With ONE notable exception of course.  Clearly Palin NEVER got in line with McCain's decision, and continues to THIS DAY to try and resurrect the Reverend Wright issue in order to discredit Barack Obama, who now has over three years as President under his belt, making the Reverend Wright issue even less relevant as a determination of his character today than it was back in 2008.

An opinion by the way that Steve Schmidt confirms with no equivocation.

Maritin Bahir: "And yet Steve, many on the Right say that he might not have lost that election if he'd used Jeremiah Wright."

Schmidt: "Yeah, well that's dumb!"

Do you hear that Sarah? That's dumb!

Tomorrow I have a rather interesting tidbit to share about John McCain's campaign manager that might make many of you see him in an entirely different light. Stay tuned.

Martin Bashir tries to get to the bottom of the Sarah Palin/Christine O'Donnell kerfuffle in Iowa.

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I tell you every time I see one of these Teabaggers on television it is like they just got snatched away making barely coherent anti-government rants on YouTube, dressed in an ill fitting suit, and plopped down on a chair in the MSNBC studios.

This guy Judson Phillips is clearly ill prepared to defend the Teabaggers against Bashir's rather pointed questioning, and his contention that "The Tea Party lives by the words of Martin Luther King, we judge people by the content of their character not the color of their skin," is laugh out loud ridiculous.

It is also worth noting that he essentially admits that Palin's people refused to have her participate as long as O'Donnell was included in the line up of speakers. And as all of the people who visit this blog are already aware, when they say "Palin's people" that really means the Grizzled Mama herself.

Palin does not trust ANYBODY to make decisions on her behalf.  Even Todd had to ask her what to do about me when I showed up at the book signing event in Anchorage.

MSNBC host Martin Bashir finds way to silence the Palin-bots. Sadly won't work for everyone.

Courtesy of Mediaite:

Comparing his work as host of Martin Bashir to that of the network’s primetime stars, like Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell, Bashir’s quick to concede he’s still learning. “It’s a challenge to find a voice, but also to do it in a way that consistent to me,” he told Mediaite. “I’m really more of a listener than a shrieker.” 

 He may be known as a genteel listener, but that’s not to say he’s a pushover when temperatures get hot. When Bashir delivered a commentary on Sarah Palin’s on-again, off-again bus tour, suggesting the motive behind it all was money, Palin’s supporters unleashed a torrent of criticism–and a few lightly veiled threats. “It was extraordinary. I had people literally leaving messages (late at night),” he told us, describing some of calls as unsettling in their tone and content. “Extremely offensive language and saying things about me personally. They said they knew where my family lived.” 

 Bashir, in keeping with his character, pondered the passion behind the threats before deciding what to do. “I’m an outsider, but I can tell you it’s a privilege to work in this country. So much of America is special and exceptional. And the implication of people who were (calling) was that because I was criticizing a quasi-politician, I was criticizing the country…that I was in some way implying comtempt or disrespect for this nation.” 

 Bashir made the decision to respond by going on his program and showing viewers his green card. “I am, in fact, a legal, permanent resident of the United States,” he said, holding the green card in his hand. “And I’m well on my way to becoming a citizen of this great country.” 

 It was a unique moment and a revealing one. It also put an end to the phone calls. “It was something. To be perfectly honest, it silenced everybody.” And for Bashir, it was not a moment manufactured for television–but a response that came from his heart. “I’m not someone who hates this country. I’ve grown to love this nation.”

I don't think that it is too much of a stretch to say that there is little doubt that Martin Bashir loves this country MUCH more than Sarah Palin ever could.

Sarah Palin is a spoiled little girl who uses the language of the patriot to manipulate people into supporting her, and lining her pockets with cash. Bashir is a man who was born elsewhere and was drawn to this country by the freedoms that many of its people take for granted.

His awesome smackdown of the Palin-bots almost makes me wish I had a green card to wave around when they come after me.

Frank Bailey on Martin Bashir.

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Okay now THAT was much better!