Rand Paul laments fact that it is hard to get anything done on immigration with everybody calling Donald Trump a racist.

Sen. @RandPaul: "You can't have immigration compromise if everybody's out there calling the president a racist." #MTP pic.twitter.com/2VW99zjER3

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 14, 2018

Courtesy of Mediaite: 

Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press this morning, the Kentucky lawmaker told host Chuck Todd that some people in the media have gone “completely bonkers” with “ad hominem” attacks on the president over his widely condemned remarks. Paul added that he wanted to see immigration reform but felt it was difficult if folks continue to criticize Trump. 

“You can’t have immigration compromise if everybody’s out there calling the president a racist,” Paul exclaimed. “They’re actually destroying the setting — and he’s a little bit of it — they’re destroying the setting in which anything meaningful can happen.”

You know he could tell Trump to stop being such a goddamn racist, instead of bitching about people acknowledging that fact on Meet the Press.

Donald Trump is a racist, and everybody knows it.

Which is why if there is any real progress made on immigration it will be made in spite of Donald Trump, not with Donald Trump's help.

A well known Democrat has been accused of sexual harassment so NOW Sarah Palin finally has something to say.

Sara Palin on sexual harassment: "I think a whole lot of people probably know I'm probably packing so I don't think there's a whole lot of people who would necessarily mess with me." pic.twitter.com/WqORpJ594P

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 16, 2017

Courtesy of The Hill: 

Sarah Palin (R) on Thursday condemned sexual harassment in the workplace, adding that she has not personally experienced it because people know she carries a weapon. 

An MSNBC reporter stopped the former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate in the Capitol, where she was meeting with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky). 

"I think a whole lot of people know I'm probably packing so I don't think there's a whole lot of people who would necessarily mess with me,” Palin said.

“I don’t mean to be lighthearted, this is a serious issue,” Palin continued. “It really stinks for women in the workplace that for too long, men have thought they can get away with that old-school thinking that it’s okay to belittle and harass women.”

Yeah, I actually do not think that Palin carries a pistol with her, nor do I really think she knows how to use one. at least from footage I have seen of her shooting in the past.

The reason that she never gets sexually harassed is because most men find her repugnant.

And when she was younger, like back when she served on the Wasilla Assembly, if somebody even looked at her she accused them of sexually harassing her. (I have heard several reports of that.)

Interesting, don't you think, that since Al Franken has been accused Palin finally has an opinion on workplace harassment.

I don't believe she said a word about Roy Moore or Donald Trump, but now......

The woman accusing Sen. Al Franken of sexual assault has spoken out following news of her allegations.

Check it... https://t.co/b57d5sdQXU

— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) November 16, 2017

And so it begins... https://t.co/tUYSktlfC3

— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) November 17, 2017

Have you seen this?

Didn't call the gesture what it is, but instead called it a "mock-groping":

What do you think? https://t.co/h08bpIyLsP

— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) November 17, 2017

Palin also weighed in on Kevin Spacey, Harvey Weinstein, and of course Bill Clinton, but has defended Sean Hannity over calls to boycott his show for his defense of Roy Moore.

Odd isn't it?

And it also almost exactly reflects the behavior of her former boyfriend Donald Trump.

The Al Frankenstien picture is really bad, speaks a thousand words. Where do his hands go in pictures 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 while she sleeps? .....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2017

Speaking of her ex, exactly WHY was Trump in Washington the other day anyhow?

I mean it could not simply be to see this guy, right?

Many thanks for the good wishes @SarahPalinUSA. Always great to visit with you! pic.twitter.com/Wdz0eApQno

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) November 16, 2017

Earlier I would have mocked the idea of Palin actually joining the Trump Administration in some way.

But now, not so much. 

Donald Trump directs today's Twitter tirade at John McCain.

John McCain never had any intention of voting for this Bill, which his Governor loves. He campaigned on Repeal & Replace. Let Arizona down!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

Arizona had a 116% increase in ObamaCare premiums last year, with deductibles very high. Chuck Schumer sold John McCain a bill of goods. Sad

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

Large Block Grants to States is a good thing to do. Better control & management. Great for Arizona. McCain let his best friend L.G. down!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

Okay that last one is a low blow.

Graham by the way did not seem to take it personally.

My friendship with @SenJohnMcCain is not based on how he votes but respect for how he’s lived his life and the person he is.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 22, 2017

Trump also sent out a tweet suggesting that Rand Paul might have a change of heart "for the good of the party," and another one suggesting that Lisa Murkowski "comes through." However I can find no evidence that either of those two things are true so I think this is just some early morning wishful thinking on Trump's part.

Like Jimmy Kimmel said there is no evidence that Trump has ever read this Graham-Cassidy bill, or has any idea what is in it.

He just wants to win, and he does not care if by doing so the American people lose.

Support surges for single payer health care.

Courtesy of The Hill: 

Single-payer healthcare is growingly increasingly popular in the United States, according to a Pew Research Center poll released Friday. 

33 percent of poll respondents said they favor a single-payer system, in which the government covers medical expenses with tax money, over the current system based on private insurance companies. 

That's an increase of five percentage points since January, and twelve points since single payer was polled in December 2015. 

60 percent of Americans who were surveyed said the federal government is responsible for providing healthcare coverage to all Americans, compared to 39 percent who said it was not the government’s job. 

The poll comes a day after Senate Republicans unveiled the first draft of their plan to repeal ObamaCare.

Like I have said before the Republicans may actually be inadvertently pushing this country toward single payer, and clearly the American people are ready for it.

Just the other day Rand Paul said, and I quote, "What I'd like to do is legalize inexpensive insurance, and you should be able to get insurance for $1 a day. I mean, you really should."

Well I have news for Mr. I Have a Squirrel Toupee, thirty dollar a month for insurance premiums would only be possible through a single payer system that every single American had signed onto. 

And the best way to do that is through a government program like Medicaid or Medicare.

So essentially the Republicans want single payer health care as well, they are just too stupid to realize it.

John McCain accuses Rand Paul of working for Vladimir Putin. More popcorn? Update!

Courtesy of CBS News:

The fireworks came as McCain spoke in support of a Senate unanimous consent request in support of Montenegro’s bid to join NATO. The libertarian-leaning Paul, who has often advocated for a less interventionist foreign policy, opposes the resolution. 

“You are achieving the objectives of Vladimir Putin...trying to dismember this small country which has already been the subject of an attempted coup,” McCain said, in an apparent reference to Paul.

McCain then asked that the resolution be passed unanimously, prompting an objection from Paul who then exited the room. McCain then reiterated his accusation. 

“I note the senator from Kentucky leaving the floor without justification or any rationale for the action he has just taken. That is really remarkable -- that a senator blocking a treaty that is supported by the overwhelming number, perhaps 98 at least of his colleagues, would come to the floor and object and walk away…The only conclusion you can draw when he walks away is he has no argument to be made. 

He has no justification for his objection to having a small nation be part of NATO that is under assault from the Russians. So, I repeat again, the senator from Kentucky is now working for Vladimir Putin.”

Damn!

Later Senator Paul made this statement on CBS News: 

“Currently, the United States has troops in dozens of countries and is actively fighting in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Yemen (with the occasional drone strike in Pakistan),” Paul wrote. “In addition, the United States is pledged to defend 28 countries in NATO. It is unwise to expand the monetary and military obligations of the United States given the burden of our $20 trillion debt.”

I don't know if it is a breach of Senate decorum to accuse a peer of working for the Russians or not, but with their puppet currently occupying the White House it DOES seem like a reasonable accusation to make.

Update: Rand Paul responds to McCain's statements:   

You know, I think he makes a really, really strong case for term limits. I think maybe he's past his prime; I think maybe he's gotten a little bit unhinged.

Oh yeah, I am definitely going to need some more popcorn. 

Rand Paul is out. Update: And Santorum too!

Courtesy of Politico: 

Rand Paul dropped out of the 2016 president race on Wednesday, short on cash and support, two days after finishing with under 5 percent in the Iowa caucuses — less than one quarter of the support his father had drawn four years earlier. 

You know I never understood what attracted the Ron Paul support, but whatever it was that he had it skipped a generation.

Rand Paul says some things that I like hearing from the GOP, such as putting an end to military intervention in other countries, and protecting our privacy here at home.

But then he says those other Rand Paul things, and that essentially erases any possible respect that most Americans might feel for him.

Now the only question to be asked is "Who's next?"

Update: Well I guess we know who's next.

Courtesy of the Washington Times:  

Rick Santorum has suspended his 2016 presidential bid, according to multiple media reports. 

Mr. Santorum will both leave the race and make an endorsement, likely making the announcement Wednesday night on Fox News’s “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren,” CNN reported.

Usually I don't typically get the chance to combine two candidates quitting the race in one post, but damn these guys are dropping like flies today!

Okay anybody want to predict the next one?

GOP presidential candidate Rand Paul (No seriously, he's still running.) celebrates Festivus, the fake holiday created for the comedy show Seinfeld, with the "Airing of Grievances."

Tap the video to read some of my most popular #Festivus tweets! #airingofgrievances https://t.co/w4qS3ibs2u

— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 24, 2015

Now first off the fact that Paul is tweeting this so close to the holiday that most of his constituents believe is constantly under attack might explain why he is sitting so low in the polls.

But secondly they are by no means the most irritated by his mentioning of Festivus.

THAT person is the man whose father invented the holiday, and then used it as a joke while working on the very popular sitcom Seinfeld, Dan O'Keefe: 

The "Seinfeld" writer who coined "Festivus" wants Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to stop tweeting about his beloved secular holiday. 

"I've been tweeting back at him," Dan O'Keefe told HuffPost Live on Wednesday. "I hate the guy. I think he's some sort of lizard that somehow crawled into a suit and somehow's been allowed into the senate."

You know Rand Paul DOES kind of look like a lizard if you really look at him. 

Maybe that is why he cannot grow real hair on his head.

Okay so once again it is time for yet another GOP debate. Get your booze, popcorn, and stress balls within arms reach and let's do this thing! Update!

The stage is set for the final #GOPDebate of 2015 https://t.co/X1KP0OgsxM via @CNNPolitics pic.twitter.com/QJoEWZF8he

— CNN (@CNN) December 15, 2015

Okay so tonight will be the fifth Republican debate, and as always Donald Trump is leading the field, but now he has not only Ben Carson but also Ted Cruz breathing down his puffy orange neck.

I really think that we are going to see some backstabbing and sucker punching, because there are a whole lot of presidential wannabes who are damn sick and tired of being left out of the conversation.

Here are a couple of links to get you started.

Politico claims to offer everything you need to know about the debate.

CNN has 7 things that you need to watch for.

The Hill let's us know that Trump might have done a little Sheldon Adelson ass kissing today.

 Rachel Maddow would like to know why CNN is lying about how Rand Paul made it to the main debate stage tonight. (Good question actually.)

And finally my favorite modern author Stephen King has an observation about Donald J. Trump.

As always I will be updating this post as things unfold, and Twittering my little fingers to the bone.

I imagine that much of this debate will center around terrorism and national security so expect there to be gallons of testosterone ejaculated onto stage and quite a lot of muy macho chest beating.

Oh joy.

Update: Oh looky looky.

 I think they're in the cheap seats.

Update 2: So of course these too got together.

 I bet they are arguing over who loves John McCain the most.

Update 3:

Getting tired. If @RandPaul does'nt mount his podium, rip off his wig to use as a loincloth, and attack @marcorubio then I'm out. #GOPDebate

— Gryphen 2009 (@Gryphen2009) December 16, 2015

I'm so beat I misspelled doesn't. 

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?

President Obama slams Republican presidential candidates over talk of "religious test" for Syrian refugees.

Courtesy of Buzzfeed: 

Toward the end of his press conference on Monday, President Obama became animated, sharply criticizing the idea that the United States should no longer accept refugees from Syria, or only accept Christians, as some including Ted Cruz have suggested. 

“When I hear folks say that, well, maybe we should just admit the Christians, but not the Muslims,” Obama said, “when I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be a religious test for which person who’s fleeing from a war-torn country is admitted, when some of those folks themselves come from families who benefited from protection when they were fleeing political persecution, that’s shameful.” 

“That’s not American,” he continued. “That’s not who we are. we don’t have religious tests to our compassion.”

I heard this in the morning, and I could not have been more proud of our President.

Here is just a sampling of what some of those running to replace him have been saying: 

In a letter to Ryan, Ben Carson -- the retired neurosurgeon and a Republican front-runner -- called for Congress to block funding for any programs "that seek to resettle refugees and/or migrants from Syria into the United States, effective immediately." 

"Until we can sort out the bad guys we must not be foolish," Carson said in a news conference in Nevada. 

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee similarly heaped pressure on Ryan, saying in a statement: "Speaker Ryan needs to make it clear that if the President won't stand to protect America from wholesale open borders, then Republicans will." 

"If Ryan will not lead and reject the importation of those fleeing the Middle East without assurances that we can separate refugees from terrorists, then Speaker Ryan needs to step down today and let someone else lead," Huckabee said. 

In addition, Govs. John Kasich and Bobby Jindal of Ohio and Louisiana, respectively, said they would work to keep refugees out of their states. 

And Sen. Rand Paul, another 2016 contender, introduced legislation that would block the United States from issuing visas to refugees from countries with a high risk of terrorism in an effort to "stop terrorists from walking in our front door."

And of course it was Jeb Bush who said we should only accept Christian Syrian refugees for right now. 

These assholes do not even deserve to the right to stand in the same room as our President much less replace him in the White House.

Rand Paul wants to debate Bernie Sanders. Oh please, please, please make this happen!

Courtesy of Truth in Media:  

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) posted a video clip on Facebook on Thursday from a live broadcast on the Iowa-based talk radio station WHO NewsRadio 1040 in which he can be seen challenging Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) to a debate. 

“We’ve been saying what a fun, dramatic, and informative debate it would be if Bernie Sanders and I could have an hour-long debate. Can you imagine? Debating over what rights are versus what obligations are and debating socialism versus capitalism,” said Sen. Paul. 

He continued, “See Bernie… he says, ‘Oh, I believe in a benign form of socialism, democratic socialism.’ But here’s the problem—if a majoritarian takes away your rights, it’s not any different or less bad than an authoritarian taking away your rights.”

Now this may seem a far fetched idea to some, but not if you remember that back in May Bernie offered to debate GOP candidates.

Personally I think that Paul is overestimating his debating skills if he thinks he has much of a chance with Sanders.

Bernie knows his stuff backwards and forwards, and I imagine that he would make short work of curly wig man.

However having said that I would LOVE to see this exchange.

I think it would be highly entertaining, and informative, and really could not hurt either of their chances at the nomination.

And what's more I think Rachel Maddow should moderate.

Or considering her past with Rand Paul is that a step too far?

What? Another GOP debate Open Thread?

It may not be the best way to get clicks, but to be completely honest I really wish I could skip this debate tonight.

However since this is a political blog, and it really DOES matter who the Republicans choose to lose against the infinitely superior Democratic candidate, I will suck it up and watch the entire two hours even if it kills me.

(You don't think it will kill me do you?)

Things to watch out for tonight are the following:

• Ben Carson making things worse for himself by trying to defend some of the batshit crazy things he has said.
• Marco Rubio baiting Jeb Bush into a battle of barbed comments, and possibly a slap fight. (OH please, oh please, oh please)
• Jeb Bush talking more about exactly HOW he would murder baby Hitler.
• Carly Fiorina trying desperately to fight the botox in her face to change expressions once in a while.
• Ted Cruz deciding midway through to announce that if he wins he is choosing Jesus as his running mate.
• Rand Paul to try and avert attention away from his hairpiece. (As usual.) 
• John Kasich to just stand there shaking his head in disgust.
• And of course Donald Trump to mention his poll numbers, his business acumen, and how much he hates the Chinese as often as possible.

Of course the REAL question of the evening is will the moderators even be allowed to do their jobs, since the GOP candidates seem to think that having to answer questions is an attack on their character?

I mean the entire evening could just be a lot of, "I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I think you are being a dick."

Gee what fun.

As usual I will be on Twitter, so you can follow me there.

And of course here on IM I will be periodically updating as the debate progresses.

So without further ado, LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Update: I am already having trouble concentrating.

@RandPaul is talking Don't look at the hairpiece, don't look at the hairpiece, don't look at the hairpiece. Damn too late! #GOPDebate

— Gryphen 2009 (@Gryphen2009) November 11, 2015

Third Republican Debate Open Thread. (If you haven't started drinking yet, you better start.)

What does the #GOPDebate look like at #CUBoulder? @JesseAPaul, @ItsMeSaraG, @joeybunch, @JonMurray are all on site. pic.twitter.com/iguLdkZW8U

— The Denver Post (@denverpost) October 28, 2015

Okay so as usual I will be posting witty, not so witty, and confusing remarks throughout the night, depending upon my level of inebriation.

I will also be posting remarks on Twitter so you can follow along there if you would like as well.

I expect that tonight that we will see some of the candidates desperately trying to get news coverage by attacking Donald Trump, saying something terribly ignorant that sounds like wisdom to their base, or perhaps setting themselves on fire. (I'm hoping for that last one. Rand Paul looks especially flammable.)

I have little doubt that since Hillary has now ground her heel into the temple of the House Benghazi Committee and made them cry uncle, that she will also be a favorite target.

Which of course only works in her favor.

So now that you have on your comfortable debate wearing sweatpants, and your bowl of popcorn at the ready, let's sit back and watch the show. (I have it on good authority that there will be clowns.)

Update: Wonkette is not impressed that you have to have cable in order to watch this debate:

Gotta love that Bristol Palin wedding reference.

Update 2: 

Nobody won the #GOPdebate undercard except for those who didn’t watch: https://t.co/WXcVD7GhbI pic.twitter.com/xbqyAEbl2h

— Slate (@Slate) October 29, 2015

Fortunately I missed most of it.

Update 3: Who  didn't see this coming?

Only way for moderators to control #GOPDebate is to have ability to cut off mics. This is bordering on mayhem at times.

— Connie Schultz (@ConnieSchultz) October 29, 2015

Gee I wonder why nothing gets done in Congress when Republicans have the majority?

Update 4: Some of my more inspired tweets.

Ask @tedcruz a question and he attacks the media. Now where did he learn that? #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/HjqGRw204F

— Gryphen 2009 (@Gryphen2009) October 29, 2015

It appears that @RandPaul did not allow his toupee to dry long enough after hosing it off before the #GOPDebate

— Gryphen 2009 (@Gryphen2009) October 29, 2015

The candidates are no longer listening to the moderators. Anarchy reigns! Just like if one of them actually won the presidency. #GOPDebate

— Gryphen 2009 (@Gryphen2009) October 29, 2015

Why is @ChrisChristie shouting at me? #GOPDebate

— Gryphen 2009 (@Gryphen2009) October 29, 2015

So yeah, I had a little fun.

Update 5: Hillary seems somewhat unimpressed with the GOP presidential candidates. 

#GOPdebate pic.twitter.com/rBT90JvCmM

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 29, 2015

Rand Paul holds a rally in his home state of Kentucky, and only 50 people show up. Ouch!

"Nobody is supporting me? It's the hair isn't it?"

Courtesy of the Lexington Herald-Leader: 

About 50 people came out on a rainy Saturday morning to see U.S. Sen. Rand Paul rally for Republican gubernatorial candidate Matt Bevin. 

Gathered in the basement of the Baptist Ministry Campus at Kentucky State University, the small crowd chanted "President Paul," welcoming the senator and presidential candidate and listening as the two Republicans heaped praise on each other after an awkward week. 

If that wasn't bad enough, and it really should be, the guy that appeared with Paul had earlier in the week inserted a small political shiv in between Paul's Thoracic vertebrae: 

Bevin made national headlines this week by saying during a debate hosted by Kentucky Sports Radio that his first choice for president had been Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and his second choice was Ben Carson. 

When host Matt Jones asked Bevin if he would endorse Paul, who is Kentucky's junior U.S. senator, Bevin said that Paul "would not be the first choice that I would make." 

However according to Paul that did not bother him too much because there are others who know him well also not supporting his bid for President:

Speaking to reporters after the event, Paul gamely downplayed any tension between him and Bevin, calling the gubernatorial candidate's remarks "immaterial" and acknowledging that there "are people who know me well" who aren't supporting his bid for the presidency. 

"You know what's funny about it in the last presidential poll in Kentucky I think I was leading with 20 percent of the vote," Paul said. "Which means 80 percent of the people aren't supporting me for president. But does that mean I don't think they don't support me as their U.S. Senator or don't support me personally? No, so we all have different opinions about who we'll vote for or who we'll support. And if you can't take that, you might as well not run for office." 

There has been some talk recently that Paul will be the next clown to jump out of the car.

After reading this I think that is a reasonable bet to make.

Republican Debate Open Thread.

Courtesy of CNN:  

Donald Trump will play the lead role in the second Republican presidential debate tonight -- but his rivals are jockeying to steal his spotlight. 

As the GOP's frontrunner, Trump will once again take center stage at CNN's debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. With Reagan's Air Force One as the backdrop, Trump will be flanked by retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has been increasingly eager to take on the combative businessman. 

Meanwhile, one newcomer to the prime-time debate -- Carly Fiorina -- seems poised and ready to take on Trump directly. 

With the Iowa caucuses less than five months away and pressure mounting for the middle-tier candidates, the CNN debate offers an opening for candidates to deliver a presidential performance -- and avoid getting lost in the Donald Trump show. But a misstep could damage their presidential prospects.

At this point as much as I wish I could avoid seeing this, there is really no way to tear your eyes away.

It is like a car crash on a busy highway. Only it never ends and in every car is somebody that you really would not mind seeing horribly disfigured.

Was that a terrible thing to say? It was wasn't it?

Boy Trump's Twitter finger is going to be aflying tonight! #GOPDebate

— Gryphen 2009 (@Gryphen2009) September 17, 2015

Everything is all about Trump. He is like a virus that has infected the GOP body, and all it can do is focus on fighting the spread of the disease.

Carly Fiorina's drop the mic moment. 

Fiorina: I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said http://t.co/n4zNt2afFe #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/NPBsOESYgc

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) September 17, 2015

I still don't like her though.

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?

Donald Trump goes after several of his GOP rivals but saves his most cutting remarks for Jeb Bush.

So last night Trump held a campaign rally in New Hampshire, and he did not hold back against his Republican rivals: 

The real estate mogul and reality TV star mocked Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) height, warned Carly Fiorina not to publicly challenge him, and jabbed at former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush over an early campaign stumble about whether he would invade Iraq. Trump singled out Paul, who in recent weeks has pledged to expose Trump’s past record supporting Democratic causes. “Rand, I’ve had you up to here,” Trump said, holding his hand halfway up his chest to indicate that’s how tall the Kentucky Republican stands.

Trump also claimed that Paul was "scamming" the people of Kentucky by running for president while also keeping a return to the Senate as his back up plan.

At one point saying: 

“Either run for Senate and do a good job or run for president. You don’t run for president and say if I don’t make it, I will become your senator reluctantly. If I were a good, strong Republican from Kentucky, I would run against him in a heartbeat.”

Trump also pretended that he would not attack a woman when referring to Carly Fiorina right before he launched this in her direction:  

“Carly was a little nasty to me,” Trump said. “Be careful, Carly. Be careful. But actually, I can’t say anything to her because she’s a woman and I don’t want to be accused of being tough on women.” 

“I promised I wouldn’t say that she ran Hewlett Packard into the ground,” Trump said. “I said I would not say it. That her stock value tanked. That she laid off tens of thousands of people and she got viciously fired. I said I would not say it. And that she then went out and ran against Barbara Boxer for senator of California, and it’s a race that should have been won and she lost in a landslide, and I said, I will not say that, ok? So I’m not going to say it.”

But when it came to Jeb Bush Trump did not bother to pretend that he was not going for the jugular:  

“The other day, I’m watching, and [Bush] said, ‘Well, we got Saddam Hussein out, didn’t we?’ ” Trump said. “I’m not a fan of Saddam Hussein, but he ran the place, and he had no weapons of mass destruction, and now instead of Saddam Hussein, we are far more brutal, we have ISIS and we will have Iran because they are already making deals.”

Trump followed that up with this:

“The Iraq War is a disaster for the Bushes. The last thing we need is another Bush,” Trump said. “Saddam Hussein, instead of him, you have ISIS, you have Iran taking over. You tell me, was it worth what we paid for?”

Okay I have to admit that I usually watch Trump with more than a small portion of disgust, but some of these things he was saying last night actually had me cheering him on a little.

Now don't get me wrong, I still think the man is a pig.

However I kind of like it when the GOP pigs start oinking at each other, and taking chunks out of each others hide.

GOP Presidential debate Open Thread. Update!

First off I want to bitch a little about the fact that I have to watch freaking Fox News in order to cover this debate.

I try very hard never to watch that shitty cable network unless you-know-who makes an appearance or I hear that one of the anchors in on the verge of a nervous breakdown. (I'm looking at you Glenn Beck.)

However, like it or not, Fox has the biggest political side show going right now, and no serious political pundit, blogger, or commentator would dare to miss it.

Personally I am hoping for some real fireworks tonight.

For instance maybe Donald Trump will demand to see Ben Carson's birth certificate, or Jeb Bush will call Trump an asshole again, or maybe Rand Pail will start quoting Alex Jones conspiracy theories right on the air.

Damn now THAT would be entertaining.

But we probably won't get that lucky. (We certainly didn't during the "Kid's Table" debate earlier today.)

Oh well, here I sit full of hope with my popcorn, my box of wine, and my fingers all limbered up.

And I can already smell the elephant shit so let's trot these clowns out and get this three ring started!

Update: Ideas for questions to be asked during the debate courtesy of Raw Story.

My favorite?

"Are you the father of Bristol Palin's baby?"

Hey, it's worth a shot.

Update 2: Okay well so far the take away from this debate is that Donald Trump does not like to debate.

The arrogant prick actually threatened Megyn Kelly for asking him about his attitude toward women, and then he went all off like a toddler on Chris Wallace for asking him about a bullshit claim he made about border security.

Update 3: The Washington Post has a running transcript here.

Fox announces the lineup for Thursday night's debate.

Courtesy of CNN

Courtesy of Fox News:

Fox News has announced the line-up for the prime-time Republican presidential debate this Thursday, and here's who qualified: 

Real estate magnate Donald Trump; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio; Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. 

 The roster of 10 candidates was determined based on an average of the five most recent national polls. Trump as expected made the cut, securing the top slot. Right behind him were Bush and Walker, who each have posted strong numbers in recent surveys. 

Those not included in this first debate, and who will show up for a "kid's table" debate that will come later.

Among those are former Texas Governor Rick Perry, Rick Santorum,  Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal; former HP head Carly Fiorina; South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham; former New York Gov. George Pataki; and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore.

So to be clear they left out of the first debate the runner up from last year and the only woman in the race. Well so much for political credibility and gender diversity folks.

Remember that in the book "The Loudest Voice in the Room" the author quoted Roger Ailes as saying that he wanted to pick the next President.

Now that may have been back in 2012, and we all know how that went, but this time he could finally get his way.

IF the Democrats do not come out in force to vote that is.

Personally I think that we will, especially after we spend the next year and half watching this clown car drunkenly careen from debate to debate leaving seltzer bottles, over sized shoes, and a path of destruction in their wake.

John McCain calls Hillary Clinton a "rock star," slams the Tea party, and disses Fox News. Well good for him!

Courtesy of the Examiner: 

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., isn't making many friends among the conservative wing of the Republican Party these days. In an interview published Tuesday at the New Republic, he slammed the Tea Party, called Fox News "schizophrenic" on certain issues and called Hillary Clinton a "rock star." 

He also said that in a presidential matchup between Hillary Clinton and Rand Paul, he would have a tough time deciding who to support. 

"I think she did a fine job," he said of Clinton's performance as Secretary of State despite the scandal surrounding the Benghazi terror attack. 

"She’s a rock star. She has, maybe not glamour, but certainly the aura of someone widely regarded throughout the world. I do think it is interesting that the issues where John Kerry is engaging is where Hillary Clinton did not engage in, that those decisions were left to the White House and the National Security Council," he added. 

"When Hillary Clinton versus Rand Paul occurs in 2016, I guess you are going to have to decide who to vote for, huh?" the New Republic asked McCain. 

"It’s gonna be a tough choice," he said, laughing.

But ole Johnny didn't stop there:

The Arizona Republican also took a swipe at Fox News, calling it "schizophrenic." 

"I saw a guy on 'Hannity,' maybe 'Huckabee,' and the guy said, 'You know, the Chinese are coming across our border, and they are going to commit cyber attacks,'” he said. "Honest to God!"

As usual McCain resisted the urge to criticize his former running mate Sarah Palin. but he did express disdain for the movement she helped to create:

"Many in this group didn’t come to power to get things done. They came to power to keep things from getting done," he said.

What is not mentioned in this article, but is in the original New Republic article is this kind of passive aggressive remark about Palin:

She held her own and, some people said, won a debate with the vice president. 

So "some people said" she won that debate, but McCain himself seems unconvinced. 

Yeah that's going to leave a mark.

You know if this were ANY OTHER Republican Senator making these remarks Palin would be firing up her ghostwriter right now in preparation for a venom laden Facebook retort.

But because this is John McCain........