Your phrase for the day, the "Trump Slump."

Courtesy of Frommers:  

Though they may differ as to the wisdom of the move, the travel press and most travel experts are of one mind: They are currently drawing attention to an unintended consequence of the Trump-led efforts to stop many Muslims from coming to the U.S., pointing to a sharp drop in foreign tourism to our nation that imperils jobs and touristic income. 

It’s known as the “Trump Slump.” And I know of no reputable travel publication to deny it. 

Thus, the prestigious Travel Weekly magazine (as close to an “official” travel publication as they come) has set the decline in foreign tourism at 6.8%. And the fall-off is not limited to Muslim travelers, but also extends to all incoming foreign tourists. Apparently, an attack on one group of tourists is regarded as an assault on all. 

As far as travel by distinct religious groups, flight passengers from the seven Muslim-majority nations named by Trump were down by 80% in the last week of January and first week of February, according to Forward Keys, a well-known firm of travel statisticians. On the web, flight searches for trips heading to the U.S. out of all international locations was recently down by 17%. 

A drop of that magnitude, if continued, would reduce the value of foreign travel within the U.S. by billions of dollars. And the number of jobs supported by foreign tourists and their expenditures in the United States—and thus lost—would easily exceed hundreds of thousands of workers in hotels, restaurants, transportation, stores, tour operations, travel agencies, and the like. 

Apparently this is what the term MAGA means.

Literally everything this asshole touches turns to shit.

Donald Trump has screwed things up so badly in America that Canada will not even send their version of the Girl Scouts here.

And staying the fuck away from America.

Courtesy of CBC: 

Girl Guides of Canada has announced it will not be taking any trips to the United States in the near future, citing concerns about inclusivity. 

"While the United States is a frequent destination for Guiding trips, the ability of all our members to equally enter this country is currently uncertain," international commissioner Sharron Callahan and director of provincial operations Holly Thompson wrote in a joint advisory issued Monday afternoon. 

"This includes both trips that are over or under 72 hours and any travel that includes a connecting flight through an American airport," the advisory says. 

The statement does not directly mention — but appears to be a reaction to — the executive orders U. S. President Donald Trump has signed restricting travel to the United States.

Great, now we are a third world country where people are afraid to send their children. 

Aren't you proud?

Despite being "schlonged" by the Palin curse in Iowa it appears that Donald Trump has not yet learned his lesson. Update!

Courtesy of the Trump Rump Kisser-in-Chief's Facebook page:

Tonight = America wins, the permanent political class does not, and that is good! To restore Constitutional government the status quo has got to go; the Iowa caucus proves many Americans feel the same. The top three candidates, fueled by our independent, grassroots tea party movement, take 70% of the vote in this unique Iowa caucus. Now this healthy, hearty competition moves to NH, SC and beyond. Those of us proud to be on Team Trump thank Iowa supporters and look forward to forging ahead to make America great again with the candidate proving a record of success and strength that is so needed. The tangible Commonsense Conservative solutions requiring a doer, not a talker, will restore American exceptionalism. Onward and upward, America!

Oh so now she is officially on "Team Trump" is she?

Personally I think this is her official job.

As it turned out one Bernie Sanders supporter made an interesting observation about Palin's participation with Team Trump: 

I spotted Trump’s highest-profile surrogate, Sarah Palin, in Terminal A at the Minneapolis airport Sunday, waiting for Flight 3651 to Des Moines, a short flight on a very, very un-Trump-like plane. 

There were no first class seats. Cramped, not much legroom. Only water was served, and the seat belts weren’t coated in gold — more likely germs. Two seats across, maybe 20 rows. Cattle, compared with riding in Trump style.

Wow, seems kind of odd that a member of "Team Trump" has to schlepp herself across the country in a glorified cattle car while the rest of the team flies in style on Trump's private plane.

Don'tcha think?

As for Trump there is increasing evidence that his campaign is nothing more than a long con on the American people.

This courtesy of Salon: 

According to the report, Trump was approached two years ago by GOP operatives who wanted him to run for governor of New York. To their surprise, he declined but added that they would be useful when he ran for president. “I’m going to walk away with it and win outright,” Trump told the group, “I’m going to get in and all the polls are going to go crazy. I’m going to suck all the oxygen out of the room. I know how to work the media in a way that that they will never take the lights off of me.” 

Trump knew all along that his celebrity and media savvy were sufficient to support his campaign. Although they didn’t believe him, Trump told the Republicans in that room in 2013 that he would dominate the race without spending much on paid advertising. From the report: 

“’You can’t run for president on earned media,’ one attendee recalled telling Trump. The billionaire looked up, and paused for a long moment. ‘I think you’re wrong,’ Trump said. ‘Are you going to do all those little events at the Pizza Ranches?” another person asked, referring to the Iowa fast food franchises that are a staple of presidential campaign stops. ‘Maybe a little,’ Trump replied. ‘But it’s really about the power of the mass audience.’” 

Trump was right. The ability to control the narrative, to dominate the coverage, is all it takes. Trump’s amorality coupled with his gift for self-promotion has turned the Republican presidential race on its head. He’s made the race about him, and anytime he isn’t the main story, he lurches back into the headlines with an outrageous comment about women or Muslims or Mexicans or disabled people – anything to win the news cycle.

Well now it all makes sense.

Why wouldn't a phony grifter have the queen of phony grifters around to help him pull a fast one on the media and voters of this country?

Of course the answer to that question is because she is a politically poisonous albatross who destroys everything she touches.

Of course in this case that might not be a bad thing.

Update: Just in case anybody wants to argue that Palin is probably with Trump on his private plane now, and that the first flight was an anomaly.

Sarah Palin at Des Moines International Airport. Trump's plane was full, apparently. pic.twitter.com/ImhqMh6Qb8

— Brendan Bordelon (@BrendanBordelon) February 2, 2016

Nope. 

Travel agency uses Denmark's low birth rate as inspiration for some creative, and rather naughty advertisements.

Courtesy of the YouTube page: 

Spies Travel is joining forces with wannabe grandmas in the fight against Denmark's low birth rate. Introducing Spies Parent Purchase™: Send your child on an active holiday and get a grandchild.

Okay now THAT is pretty funny, and a not a little risque.

And the really inspired part is that it would also probably work.

A vacation where you are encouraged to have as much sex as possible. Don't know how you turn something like that down.

Now this makes me WANT to go flying. And I hate flying!

Living in Alaska means that every vacation or business trip I have ever gone on always involved an incredibly long and uncomfortable airplane trip out of the state.

I have no problem with the flying itself, but I HATE being cramped into one of those tiny ass airplane seats.  I am not all that tall, nor am I particularly large (Though my shoulders tend to invade the space of the person sitting next to me), however I constantly feel cramped and claustrophobic during these long plane trips.

For that reason it usually takes a rather significant vacation destination or event to get me out of Alaska these days. (The last one was Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Reason.)

However if I could fly while sitting in these luxurious seats on Virgin Atlantic, I think I would spend my days thinking up new and different places to go.

I mean seriously, on Alaska Air all you get are stale peanuts and a coke. If you're lucky.

Alaska politician refuses highly intrusive TSA patdown. Takes ferry home instead.

From Huffington Post:

An Alaska state lawmaker is making her way back to the state Capitol after refusing a pat-down search at a Seattle airport, a spokeswoman said.

Rep. Sharon Cissna underwent a body scan as she was preparing to leave Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Sunday and was then required to undergo the pat-down by Transportation Safety Administration officials, said Michelle Scannell, her chief of staff.

Scannell said the TSA called for the pat-down because the scan showed Cissna had had a mastectomy.

The TSA, on its website, says security officers "will need to see and touch your prosthetic device, cast or support brace as part of the screening process."

Scannell, in her statement, said Cissna was ordered to submit to a "very intrusive pat-down or leave the airport." She said Cissna, who had been in Seattle for medical treatment, was scheduled to return to Alaska via ferry.

All I have to say is good for her!  I think it is way past time we started to stand up for ourselves and to stop letting fear dictate that we all be treated as if we are common criminals.. 

We ALL want to feel safe when we fly the increasing unfriendly skies, but we should also be able to retain our dignity as well, and having a cancer survivor felt up like a drunken 18 year old at a frat party in front of her fellow passengers is humiliating and unnecessary.

It may take Rep. Cissna a little longer to get back to Alaska than she had planned, but at least she comes back knowing that she stood up for herself, and the thousands of others who have been too timid to say "No, means no!"