Sarah Palin is really pissy that liberals are not kowtowing to Cheeto Hitler.

From the dumbest part of the internet, Sarah Palin's website: 

Unhinged! 2016 Presidential Candidate Says UNTHINKABLE About Trump 

Sadly, we have seen the liberal left become absolutely unhinged following Donald Trump’s election victory. (It's funny how she confuses the word "unhinged" with "patriotic.")

Celebrities have threatened to leave America. Riots have erupted across the country. Politicians have tried to delegitimize Trump’s victory. The media has blamed the election results on Russia. (And your point?)

It has been a mess. 

The list of liberals who have said outrageous things about Trump seems to grow by the hour. (Actually there are a number of conservatives on this list as well.)


Then Palin references this tweet from Martin O'Malley.

Now is not the time for reconciliation. Dietrich Bonhoeffer didn't reconcile with the Nazis. MLK didn't reconcile with the KKK. Now we fight pic.twitter.com/BoQNl0on1N

— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) January 15, 2017

Seems perfectly reasonable to me.

Okay back to the bitching.

Embarrassing. 

Can’t we do a little better than that? (Yes we can, we are already organizing protests all over the country.)

Nothing Donald Trump has ever done is even remotely comparable to the Nazis. (Let's see, target one group of citizens as being the cause of all our problems, rallying white supremacists to follow him, having a private secret security force, attacking the press, using totalitarian language, yep nothing comparable to he Nazis.)


It’s foolish to even try to make the comparison. (Foolish = Patriotic.)

Martin O’Malley didn’t gain any traction in the 2016 race and statements like this are part of the reason why. 

No he lost because he was up against Hillary Clinton, the same Hillary Clinton that her candidate needed the Russian government and FBI's help to defeat.

You know after all of these years of arguing about preserving American values and standing up to authoritarianism you would think that Sarah Palin would be on the front line in fighting against Donald Trump, and his Russian puppeteer.

But instead, like many conservatives, she has allowed her partisanship to interfere with her patriotism.

Which of course is not surprising since that patriotism was completely false to begin with.

Highly respected pollster finds Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton leading among likely Iowa caucus goers.

Courtesy of Vox: 

The Iowa poll the political world has been eagerly awaiting is finally here — and it has great news for Donald Trump. 

On Saturday evening, Bloomberg Politics and the Des Moines Register released the results of their final Iowa caucus poll, which is conducted by by widely-respected pollster Ann Selzer and has been extremely accurate in recent years. 

For the Republican race, the poll found Trump in first among likely caucusgoers with 28 percent, Ted Cruz in second with 23 percent, and Marco Rubio in third with 15 percent. Ben Carson is in fourth with 10 percent, and no other candidate gets more than 5 percent support. 

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton is ahead with 45 percent among likely caucusgoers, followed by Bernie Sanders with 42 percent. Martin O'Malley is very far back, with just 3 percent.

According to Politico Selzer is the go to pollster in Iowa:

The poll, conducted by legendary Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer, has long been influential and accurate: Selzer’s surveys predicted victories by Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee in 2008, and foresaw Rick Santorum’s late surge in 2012.

Apparently the poll also demonstrated a slight surge for Trump, with no negative impact resulting from his skipping of the last Fox News debate, and a more secure hold on supporters for Hillary.

Well the caucuses are tomorrow, so I guess we will see how accurate these poll results are after the numbers come in.

Yep, it's time for yet another debate. This time it is the Democrats facing off in South Carolina.

Well as much as I am feeling all debated out now, I have to say that I am quite a bit more interested in this one than in the Republican debate.

After all one of THESE people will actually be our next President.

Not only that but I think that things are going to start heating up between Hillary and Bernie since they are now almost neck and neck in the first two primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Though nationally Hillary still leads by a large margin.

I would expect tonight's debate to include mentions of Iran, Obamacare, and Wall Street. I will assume that Bill's past infidelities and the much talked about by the Right Wing FBI investigation into Hillary's e-mails will not be touched upon.

As always I will be tweeting about the debate as it goes along, and you can follow me here.

Update:

Hillary Clinton: "90 people a day die from gun violence in our country. That's 33,000 people a year." #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/iFJz0n6f1d

— ABC News (@ABC) January 18, 2016

Debate Open Thread. Now it's the Democrat's turn. Update!

Courtesy of Newsweek: 

For the third Democratic presidential debate on ABC on Saturday, World News Tonight anchor David Muir and ABC Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz have the enviable job of watching Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and Martin O’Malley all more-or-less agree with each other. Since Clinton has announced her opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement and the Keystone XL Pipeline, her differences with her two rivals have been substantially muted.

Okay so this does not sound as if it will be as entertaining as the last few GOP debates, but that may NOT be true.

And while I understand that there will be fewer eyeballs glued to this, especially as it is coming so close to Christmas, I also know that IT is the more consequential debate because one of these people are actually going to end up as President of the United States.

Think of it as the difference between watching Downtown Abbey and the Housewives of Orange County. Sure it may not be as "Holy shit I can't believe that just happened!" entertaining, but it also will not make you want to take a shower to get the ick off afterward.

As usual I will be updating this post as new information is made available and to can follow my lively though slightly inebriated Twitter page here.

Update: Got that out of the way quickly.

Sanders: I apologize for the data breach. "This is not the type of campaign that we run" #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/Hye1Uq6jph

— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) December 20, 2015

Update 2: I think Marty done F'd up.

.@MartinOMalley goes after @BernieSanders and @HillaryClinton https://t.co/2uyOmzwGht pic.twitter.com/9KRkaUCqk0

— POLITICO (@politico) December 20, 2015

Update 3: Sounding presidential.

WATCH: @HillaryClinton: "If the United States does not lead, there is not another leader." #DemDebate https://t.co/bopP4YXeke

— ABC News (@ABC) December 20, 2015

Update 4: Hillary IS human.

Hillary shows up late https://t.co/TzYMsAJ25l

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) December 20, 2015

Scientists grade presidential candidate's knowledge about climate change. On Ted Cruz:"This individual understands less about science (and climate change) than the average kindergartner."

Courtesy of The Big Story: 

At the request of The Associated Press, eight climate and biological scientists graded for scientific accuracy what a dozen top candidates said in debates, interviews and tweets, using a 0 to 100 scale. 

To try to eliminate possible bias, the candidates' comments were stripped of names and given randomly generated numbers, so the professors would not know who made each statement they were grading. Also, the scientists who did the grading were chosen by professional scientific societies. 

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had the highest average score at 94. Three scientists did not assign former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley a score, saying his statements mostly were about policy, which they could not grade, instead of checkable science. 

Two used similar reasoning to skip grading New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and one did the same for businesswoman Carly Fiorina. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas had the lowest score, an average of 6. All eight put Cruz at the bottom of the class. 

"This individual understands less about science (and climate change) than the average kindergartner," Michael Mann, a Pennsylvania State University meteorology professor, wrote of Cruz's statements. "That sort of ignorance would be dangerous in a doorman, let alone a president."

Well they certainly had not problem pegging Ted Cruz.

The rest of the field rounded out like this:

Martin O'Malley: 91
Bernie Sanders: 87
Jeb!: 64
John Kasich: 47
Rand Paul: 48
Carly Fiorina: 38
Marco Rubio: 21
Donald Trump: 15
Ben Carson: 13
Ted Cruz: 6

Does anybody else find it especially interesting that the three candidates with the lowest scores are at the top of the polls in the GOP race?

Open Thread for tonight's Democratic Debate. Update!

Courtesy of NBC News: 

The terrorist attacks in Paris have dramatically changed the outlook and focus of Saturday night's Democratic presidential debate. And they could very well alter a Democratic race largely defined by economic and social issues. 

The debate, beginning at 9:00 pm ET and airing on CBS, will take place in the shadow of Friday's attacks, which killed at least 129 and left 352 others wounded according to French authorities. France has declared a state of emergency and ISIS has claimed responsibility for the deadliest attacks on the country since World War II. 

And it's shifted the focus for tonight's discussion, according to the debate sponsors. 

"Last night's attacks are a tragic example of the kind of challenges American presidents face in today's world and we intend to ask the candidates how they would confront the evolving threat of terrorism," said CBS News Washington Bureau Chief Chris Isham.

I think tonight's debate is going to be a rather somber affair in the wake of the recent tragedy in Paris.  And it will mean that the candidates will have to convince the American people that THEY have the qualities to lead this country and to keep us safe in what seems to be an increasingly dangerous world.

Last night batshit crazy Ann Coulter decided that the Paris attacks ensured Donald Trump's victory.

They can wait if they like until next November for the actual balloting, but Donald Trump was elected president tonight.

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) November 14, 2015

I imagine that is because ole Ann "Adam's Apple" Coulter believes that blowhards that puff out their chest and talk tough have what it takes to keep us safe.

Of course we all know better, and that every one of our three presidential hopefuls are heads and tails above the occupants of the GOP clown car when it comes to responding to terrorism, but tonight it is the Democratic candidate's opportunity to demonstrate that to the American people.

As usual I will update this thread as the evening progresses, and for more up to the minute updates you can visit my Twitter account here.

Update:

It's weird. None of the candidates think the answer to defeating terrorism is to say the magic words "radical Islam." #DemDebate

— Wonkette (@Wonkette) November 15, 2015

I liked this.

.@MartinOMalley bashes @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/2uyOmzwGht pic.twitter.com/vbfg7mCcLG

— POLITICO (@politico) November 15, 2015

Now @HillaryClinton is going all in on attacks against her GOP opponents. I guess she thinks this debate is won already. #DemDebate

— Gryphen 2009 (@Gryphen2009) November 15, 2015

Open thread for tonight's Democratic presidential forum hosted by Rachel Maddow.

Courtesy of Mediaite:  

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow is set to moderate the network’s only event in the Presidential primary season, a forum from Winthrop University in South Carolina. Deemed the “First in the South Presidential Forum”, tonight’s event will feature frontrunner Hillary Clinton, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.

I have to admit that I am looking forward to this almost more than I am the next Democratic debate.

I am a big fan of Rachel's and I fully expect her to ask tough yet fair questions of the candidates while also providing perhaps a little more showmanship than we have seen on debate stages so far this election cycle.

I think the only thing that might be better than watching Rachel Maddow grill the Democratic candidates, would be watching her grill the Republicans candidates, which I would actually cahnge out of my pajama bottoms and fly across the country to witness in person.

As always you can check my Twitter feed here, and of course I will update this post as things proceed forward.

@BernieSanders is so focused on his issues that it almost makes him seem manic sometimes. You know, in a good way. #RachelMaddow

— Gryphen 2009 (@Gryphen2009) November 7, 2015

@SenSanders on biggest misconception "People think I'm grumpy." Yep. #RachelMaddow

— Gryphen 2009 (@Gryphen2009) November 7, 2015

I actually really think it is that he is a socialist like Stalin, instead of a socialist like Lennon. John Lennon that is.

In the interest of bipartisanship let's see what the folks over at "Bad Lip Reading" did with the Democratic debate.

Damn I almost choked while laughing at that.

They have one for the August Republican debate as well, but for my money it is not quite as good.

Revisiting the best line from the Democratic Debate.

This is the line that is getting all of the buzz today, and well it should.

Many have interpreted that Bernie was too nice to Hillary by essentially dismissing the email "controversy" as a distraction.

However doing so was also great for Bernie because not only does it continue to reinforce his image as a policy driven candidate who does not stoop to smear tactics, but his campaign also managed to raise 1.3 million dollars off of a fundraising email containing that clip.

The guy is no dummy.

However I still think that the overall winner was Hillary.

What happens in Vegas...is I watch @HillaryClinton prove she's the most qualified candidate for POTUS. #ImWithHer pic.twitter.com/ax1d56Whwt

— Bill Clinton (@billclinton) October 14, 2015

Unsurprisingly her husband feels the same way.

Democratic Debate Open Thread. Update!

Okay so here we go guys, this is where politics gets serious.

Now I know it will not be anywhere near as entertaining as the GOP debates, but it WILL be more coherent.

I will update this post throughout the debate, and be drunk tweeting it as well. (That part will be somewhat less coherent but probably a little more entertaining.)

Here is a newly released "How to beat Clinton" memo from 2008 that was supposedly co-written by several of Barack Obama's close aides:

 As you can see many of the same arguments that were being used back then are resurfacing today.

Update: Bernie Sanders is causing a spike in searches for the word "Socialism."

Update: Best line of the night so far.

Bernie Sanders "The American people are stick and tired of hearing about your damn emails!" #DemDebate

— Gryphen 2009 (@Gryphen2009) October 14, 2015

Hillary and Bernie are BFFs now.

Update: For those who missed it.

Bernie and Hillary agree 'enough of the emails.' pic.twitter.com/Z9LJi47lnw

— POLITICO Video (@POLITICOvideo) October 14, 2015

Update: Really Hillary? You NEVER tried pot?

Really?

In the things you need to see category, I think John Oliver's hilarious and impassioned plea for anti-discrimination laws is at the top.

Courtesy of Yahoo News: 

On HBO’s “Last Week Tonight” Sunday, John Oliver called on the federal government to extend basic civil rights protections to the LGBT community because, as he put it, “There are still a number of ways to ruin a gay honeymoon.” 

In many states, Oliver noted, same-sex couples can get married and return to work only to find they’ve lost their jobs or housing because of it. 

“That’s clearly terrible,” he said. “The only possible reason you should be fired from your job after your wedding is if your theme was ‘Stolen Office Supplies.’” 

But discriminating against gay people is “surprisingly legal,” Oliver said. “In 31 states, people are at risk of being fired, evicted or refused service just because they are gay.”

Oliver also reached out to every single presidential candidate to ask them this:

"Would you support passage of a federal law or laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, specifically in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, and access to credit." 

Only four responded.

Lincoln Chafee, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O'Malley on the Democrats side all said yes they would support the legislation.

And Rand Paul's campaign only responded with an "We'll pass. Thanks."

Personally am a little disappointed that Hillary did not respond as I think this reaches a demographic that she is going to need going forward.

As for the rest of the candidates, well I think their silence is deafening don't you?

Well I may be relatively unimpressed with Martin O'Malley, but Sarah Palin certainly sees him as a threat. Update!

Courtesy of Panic Stricken Annie's Facebook page: 

Yet another anti-freedom politician jumps in the race today for POTUS.  As cool as he is with his rock 'n roll persona, this typical liberal's erroneous grasp of our Bill of Rights merely continues the strange and disastrous agenda of Barack Obama. Good to know he doesn't have much chance of winning. (And yet you felt the need to quickly dash out this Facebook post?) The democrats have greased the skids for their chosen one, despite the media games that play the public with various "competing" campaigns used for gamey distractions. 

With today's more-of-the-same distract-sphere – with the politician sounding exactly like all the others – don't you wonder if there are ANY good old fashioned Blue Dog democrats who can represent the left’s party in the 2016 race? I feel kind of bad for democrats who are as embarrassed about their party leaving them as some of us Republicans are about our own party when we hear the GOP talk a good game but dishonorably capitulate when given the majority power to stop Obama's nonsense. (Can you say "projection?")

By now, most of those ol' Reagan democrats have come to realize that it was the party of Lincoln and Reagan all these years fighting for and winning the abolishment of slavery, civil rights for all Americans, equal rights for women, free markets, individual liberty, constitutional protections, private sector job growth, and a sensible foreign policy rooted in peace through strength. (Yes well the Republican party of Abraham Lincoln is certainly NOT the Republican party of today. Today's Republican party is working hard undermine the civil rights of those unlike themselves, not fight for them.) For those who still identify as democrats, it’s quite easy to bid a deceptive party an overdue farewell. Just tell me what state you're a resident of, and I'll post links to your voter registration office. Click on it. There you can finally bust free of a party that’s long since abandoned you. I recommend then registering "independent," or the equivalent of, in your state. Your newfound sweet freedom will empower you!  (So to be clear Palin is trying to convince Democrats to leave their party. Does anybody else smell the sweet sweet smell of desperation?)

Here's just one reason to do it: abolishing your name from the liberal's roll chips away at the democrat party's foundation that actually supports un-American acts like this:

(Palin then links to an internal DOJ report dated January 4. 2013, that addressed the Newtown shooting and considered some options for preventing further incidents of that sort in the future. Apparently this is a reason for panic in Palin-land.)

This report ran in an old news cycle, but it remains relevant until a constitutional conservative leads our exceptional nation; for as long as the far left retains power via their numbers, the extent that they are willing to go to trample our Bill of Rights only grows. 

- Sarah Palin

As you can see Palin, and her ghostwriter, cannot even bear to mention O'Malley by name, but since he is the only one to have announced today it kind of narrows the choices. 

So my takeaway from this, beyond my abject surprise at how agitated O'Malley's announcement made Palin, is that she is losing her shit over the realization that the Republicans simply do NOT have anybody who can really take Hillary on.

Which I have to admit kind of makes my day.

Update:  Well this definitely makes me like O'Malley a bit more.

Good to hear from you after all these years, @SarahPalinUSA. There's still room in GOP primary for another entrant! https://t.co/AhjD8DNbOn

— Martin O'Malley (@GovernorOMalley) May 30, 2015

Looks like he can give as good as he gets.