My favorite caption for this photo.

A picture of a group of people who all voted for Hillary Clinton. pic.twitter.com/cky6f1Rk2M

— Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) April 22, 2018

I saw this picture posted repeatedly on the internet after the funeral of Barbara Bush, but this caption was the one that made be LOL.

Mostly because we know it's true. 

Barbara Bush has died.

Courtesy of the NYT: 

Barbara Bush, the widely admired wife of one president and the fiercely loyal mother of another, died Tuesday evening at her home in Houston. She was 92.

On Sunday, the office of her husband, former President George Bush, issued a statement saying that after consulting her family and her doctors, Mrs. Bush had “decided not to seek additional medical treatment and will instead focus on comfort care.” 

The Bushes had celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in January, making them the longest-married couple in presidential history. 

Mrs. Bush had been hospitalized with pneumonia in December 2013. She underwent surgery for a perforated ulcer in 2008 and had heart surgery four months later.

It is always sad when somebody dies, but at 92 you certainly cannot say that Barbara Bush did not live a long and full life.

I have a lot of very strong feelings about the Bush family, I think only Laura Bush gets somewhat of a pass.

Barbara Bush was by all accounts a very hard woman, and one who was difficult to please.

In fact impressing his mother was one of the reasons given for George W. Bush wanting to invade Iraq and finish the job that his father, in his eyes, failed to accomplish.

How is that for a legacy?

Update: Probably need to add these.

Our statement on the passing of Former First Lady Barbara Bush: pic.twitter.com/MhTVYCL9Nj

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 18, 2018

Barbara Bush was a remarkable woman. She had grit & grace, brains & beauty. She was fierce & feisty in support of her family & friends, her country & her causes. She showed us what an honest, vibrant, full life looks like. Hillary and I mourn her passing and bless her memory.

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) April 17, 2018

Warm and generous.

And then there was this:

.@FLOTUS Melania and I join the Nation in celebrating the life of Barbara Bush: pic.twitter.com/4NzyjxqAFM

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018

Just what every First Lady hopes for when they die.

A form letter from the current occupant of the White House that does not contain a shred of humanity.

So classy.

Barack Obama's retrospective job approval rating is 63%.

Courtesy of Gallup: 

Barack Obama's legacy appears to be on the right track, as 63% of Americans in hindsight say they approve of the way he handled his job. Gallup's first measure of Obama's retrospective job approval rating places him behind only John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan among the 10 most recent presidents. Richard Nixon is rated worst today for how he handled his job, with 28% approving.

Actually whoever typed this up made a mistake as George H. Bush is also rated higher than Obama by a point, which I find unacceptable.

I am also not pleased to see Jimmy Carter so far down the list, and Reagan at the top, as I do not believe this factually represents their contributions to this country.

I will say I fully expect that Obama's rating will only rise in the years to come, and that I would not be surprised if at some point he gave Ronnie a run for his money.

Both George Bush's admit in new book that neither of them voted for Donald Trump, and one of them even voted for Hillary.

Courtesy of Newsweek:  

Both former President Bushes had choice words for current President Donald Trump in a new book scheduled to be published later this month, with the elder Bush reportedly calling the billionaire commander-in-chief a “blowhard” and flatly stating he does not “like” him. 

Presidents George Bush and George W. Bush, the 41st and 43rd top executives respectively, spoke to author Mark K. Updegrove for the book “The Last Republicans.” It detailed the relationship between the father-and-son presidents and how they were fretful of what Trump had done to the Republican Party. 

Furthermore, both ex-presidents admitted they did not vote for Trump. The elder Bush pulled the lever for Democrat Hillary Clinton while the younger told Updegrove he voted for “none of the above.” 

“I don’t like him,” George Bush said in May 2016 according to a The New York Times on Saturday. “I don’t know much about him, but I know he’s a blowhard. And I’m not too excited about him being a leader.

I can't say I am terribly surprised by this as Trump was a complete dick to Jeb during the primaries, and that must have certainly rubbed members of his family the wrong way.

Nothing will ever make up for George W. taking this country into unnecessary wars that cost the lives of hundreds of thousand, if not millions of innocent people.

However it would have at least demonstrated some character if he would have had the guts to vote for Hillary Clinton outright, instead of allowing Trump to get even one extra vote.

Co-writer of the book "Game Change" admits to sexual harassment, Sarah Palin can barely contain her excitement.

Courtesy of CNN: 

Veteran journalist Mark Halperin sexually harassed women while he was in a powerful position at ABC News, according to five women who shared their previously undisclosed accounts with CNN and others who did not experience the alleged harassment personally, but were aware of it. 

"During this period, I did pursue relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me," Halperin said in a statement to CNN Wednesday night. "I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain. For that, I am deeply sorry and I apologize. Under the circumstances, I'm going to take a step back from my day-to-day work while I properly deal with this situation." 

MSNBC, where Halperin makes frequent appearances on "Morning Joe," said early Thursday that Halperin would leave his roles at that network and as an analyst at NBC News. 

"We find the story and the allegations very troubling," MSNBC said in a statement. "Mark Halperin is leaving his role as a contributor until the questions around his past conduct are fully understood."

I have to admit that this one really surprised me.

I've watched Halperin on multiple cable news shows and he always seemed dull as dishwater.

The guy has such a flat affect, that I almost believed him to be sexually ambiguous.

Of course Halperin is most famous as the author, along with John Heilemann, of the book "Game Change," which was turned into an HBO film starring Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin,so you know what that means.

"Finally. Talk about a true game change. Mark Halperin is one of the most unethical and dishonest men in America,... https://t.co/SZcG4SqInA

— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) October 26, 2017

Yep, you know she could not resist.

"Most unethical and dishonest men in America." Funny, that sounds like somebody else, somebody who I believe Sarah Palin continues to support.

Now I have no intention of defending Mark Halperin, what he did was wrong. But at least we can give him some credit for admitting it and taking some responsibility.

That is certainly better than  other, similarly accused men have done recently.

Speaking of sexual harassers taking responsibility, check out who was also outed.

Courtesy of NPR: 

Former President George H.W. Bush has acknowledged touching multiple women inappropriately in what his spokesman called "patt[ing] women's rears in what he intended to be a good-natured manner."

Yep nothing says "good-natured manner" like patting a woman on the ass when she has not invited you to do so.

I think this is just the beginning, and in the weeks to come there are going to be hundreds of these allegations against a number of famous, and infamous, men.

Hell there was already an entire book written about Todd Palin.

Well it's pretty easy to see why Trump did not join those five former presidents at that hurricane fundraiser last night.

.@realDonaldTrump-This is what a REAL president looks like—listen to the crowd roar for @BarackObama#AMJoy #Resistpic.twitter.com/b2VBRcUNDO

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) October 22, 2017

Listen to that crowd.

That is the sound of overwhelming support.

Here is more courtesy of Politico:  

With the American flag as a backdrop and surrounded by Texas A&M University singing cadets, all five living former presidents stood on stage together in College Station, Texas, on Saturday night to kick off a benefit concert to help raise money for hurricane victims. 

President Donald Trump was not in attendance, but a video of his remarks played.

Former presidents Clinton, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Barack Obama all attended. 

"All of us on this stage here tonight could not be prouder of the response of Americans," Obama said. "When they see their neighbors, and their friends, when they see strangers in need, Americans step up. And as heartbreaking as the tragedies that took place here in Texas and in Florida, in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have been, but what we've also seen is the spirit of America at its best." 

In the six weeks since the campaign began, more than $31 million has been raised from some 80,000 contributors, according to David Jones, chief executive of the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation.

Man, this photo. pic.twitter.com/q9TQ6iIA5G

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 22, 2017

There is at least one of these men who I actively despise, and two who are very close to the end of their time on earth. And yet I would gladly chose ANY of them over the traitorous POS currently residing in the people's house.

And did you hear that applause for Barack Obama?

That is the kind of enthusiasm we need to harness for the Democrat's next presidential candidate.

While Donald Trump goes golfing for the 74th time since his inauguration, 5 former president's show up to raise money for hurricane relief.

Courtesy of CNN: 

Members of an exclusive club are making a rare joint appearance Saturday. 

All five living former US presidents will take part in a benefit concert in Texas to raise money for hurricane relief efforts, while President Donald Trump will appear in a taped video message to the concertgoers, the White House announced Saturday. 

Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter will attend Saturday night's event, named "Deep From the Heart: The One America Appeal," at Reed Arena at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Apparently Trump is going to send a video message, but that is really all he can do right now as he is dealing with more important matters.

Per pool, Trump has arrived at Trump Nat'l Golf Club in VA.

This is his 74th day at a golf club, 94th day at a Trump property as president.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 21, 2017

Priorities.

However the men who took their jobs seriously are showing up to help their fellow Americans whose lives have been devastated by these recent disasters.

The concert won't be the first time the former presidents have joined forces. 

After Hurricane Harvey struck Texas in September, all five started the "One America Appeal" charity effort and filmed a video urging citizens to help out amid the devastating flooding. 

They have since resumed the effort in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

As Americans, we lift each other up. I’m proud to be a part of this night. Hope you’ll tune in. https://t.co/FZLWfNBLw5 https://t.co/Mv6Kg2ZwMZ

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) October 21, 2017

I am long past hoping that Trump is capable of learning on the job, but just maybe he can be shamed into actually doing his job by the example set by these men.

I mean at this point anything is worth a try. 

Former presidents band together to participate in concert to raise money for victims of the numerous hurricanes.

Courtesy of CNN:

All five living former US presidents will participate in a benefit concert to raise money for hurricane relief efforts in Texas later this month, the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation announced today. 

Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter will appear at Reed Arena at Texas A&M University on October 21 for the "Deep From the Heart: The One America Appeal" concert. 

The event will also feature rock and country musicians including ALABAMA, the Gatlin Brothers, Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, Sam Moore, Yolanda Adams, Cassadee Pope and Stephanie Quayle. Country music artist Lee Greenwood will emcee the event.

"The 43rd President and I, and our distinguished colleagues in this 'One America Appeal,' are very grateful to these wonderful performers -- some of them old friends, some of them new -- for giving their time and talent to help the urgent cause of hurricane recovery in Texas, Florida and the Caribbean," President George H.W. Bush said in a statement. "It's important that those affected by these devastating storms know that, even if the path to recovery feels like a road that goes on forever, we're with them for the long haul."

I have to admit when I first read this I thought they were only raising money for the folks in Texas that were victimized by the hurricanes, but a closer reading revealed that they are raising money for ALL of the hurricane victims, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Can you even believe that we are living in a time when one concert is being put on to raise money for the victims of back to back hurricanes?

And people say climate change is not real.

All I can say is that it is certainly a good thing that we have all of these ex-presidents around to provide some leadership in this area, because the idiot currently in the White House has no fucking idea what he is doing.

Five former presidents band together to help raise money for Puerto Rico. Because somebody has to do something.

Courtesy of WSVN:

All five living former presidents are joining forces on a fundraising campaign to help with hurricane recovery for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama have launched the One America Appeal campaign, allowing donors to help with relief efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. 

Organizers say a special restricted account has been established through the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation to collect and quickly distribute donations. Officials say “100 cents out of every dollar” donated will help hurricane victims.

I can only imagine what the conversations between these former presidents must be like. 

I would think there would be a lot of shaking their heads in disbelief and real concern for the future of the country.

A whimsical moment.

So much bad news these days, a little of this is certainly a welcome respite.

Donald Trump has the lowest approval ratings of any other president elected since World War 2.

Courtesy of Gallup:

Donald Trump averaged 41% job approval during his first quarter as president, 14 percentage points lower than any other president in Gallup's polling history. Bill Clinton had the previous low mark of 55%. The average first-quarter rating among post-World War II presidents elected to their first term is 61%, with John Kennedy's 74% the highest.

You know I so want to celebrate this, but the fact is that this asshole represents all of us now so unfortunately this is also a reflection on the entire country. 

God I hate Vladimir Putin right now.

Just a room full of folks voting for Hillary Clinton.

Yes I know that we do not officially know who W. is voting for, but then again I think we do.

What's more if Ronald Reagan were still alive he would be getting a ride to the polls to cast his vote for Clinton right along with them.

Will George H.W. Bush vote for Hillary Clinton in the election? Yeah, quite possibly.

Courtesy of Politico:  

Former President George H.W. Bush is bucking his party's presidential nominee and plans to vote for Hillary Clinton in November, according to a member of another famous political family, the Kennedys. 

Bush, 92, had intended to stay silent on the White House race between Clinton and Donald Trump, a sign in and of itself of his distaste for the GOP nominee. But his preference for the wife of his own successor, President Bill Clinton, nonetheless became known to a wider audience thanks to Kathleen Hartington Kennedy Townsend, the former Maryland lieutenant governor and daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy. 

On Monday, Townsend posted a picture on her Facebook page shaking hands next to the former president and this caption: "The President told me he’s voting for Hillary!!” 

Asked about Townsend’s post, George H.W. Bush spokesman Jim McGrath in an email replied, "The vote President Bush will cast as a private citizen in some 50 days will be just that: a private vote cast in some 50 days. He is not commenting on the presidential race in the interim."

Yep, no denial.

Personally I have no problem believing that Poppy Bush is going to vote for Hillary.

He has said that he thinks of Bill Clinton as another son, and his dislike of Donald Trump is well known.

Not to mention that he is a REAL Republican who respects and understands how the government works, it is inconceivable to think that he would cast a vote for Cheeto Jesus.

I actually think that it is very likely that the entire Bush clan, including George W., Jeb, Barbara, Laura, the two daughters, and a number of others in the family will ALL vote for Hillary.

And seriously, who could blame them?

Good advice.

Now see I am one of those people who cannot even begin to understand how somebody comes to support Donald Trump.

I find no part of his personality to be authentic.

I find that virtually everything that he says to be untrue.

And I find that his out sized ego cries out that he is overcompensating for some deficiency or another.

Simply put he is a dangerous and unpredictable fellow, and clearly these five recognize that as well.

Both George Bush's refuse to weigh in on 2016 presidential race.

Courtesy of Yahoo News:  

The Bush family is keeping quiet on the 2016 presidential election. 

Neither of the former presidents – George H.W. Bush or his son George W. Bush – will endorse a candidate for presidency – including Donald Trump – PEOPLE confirms. 

"President Bush has no plans to participate in or comment on the presidential campaign," Bush Jr.'s personal aide Freddy Ford told PEOPLE about the younger of the two. 

Meanwhile, Bush Sr. will also steer clear of the ongoing race for the White House. 

The article goes on to explain that George W. has endorsed candidates in the last five elections since he left office, but not this time around. It is also reported that they will both skip the convention.

Gee, I wonder why?

In other news John McCain has said outright that Donald Trump hurts his chances at reelection:

Publicly, John McCain insists Donald Trump will have a negligible effect on his campaign for reelection. But behind closed doors at a fundraiser in Arizona last month, the Republican senator and two-time presidential hopeful offered a far more dire assessment to his supporters. 

“If Donald Trump is at the top of the ticket, here in Arizona, with over 30 percent of the vote being the Hispanic vote, no doubt that this may be the race of my life,” McCain said, according to a recording of the event obtained by POLITICO. “If you listen or watch Hispanic media in the state and in the country, you will see that it is all anti-Trump. The Hispanic community is roused and angry in a way that I've never seen in 30 years.” 

I cannot say that I have an ounce of sympathy for the Bushes, The helped to create this beast and now they are afraid to get near it, nor for John McCain since he was the one who opened the door to a candidate like Trump with his introduction of Sarah Palin onto the national stage.

Watching them step away from the GOP presidential candidate whose supporters their policy decisions and anti-Washington rhetoric helped to inflame is more than a little
satisfying.

Terrifying to be sure, but also a little satisfying. 

Whyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!

This may be the best photo from Mrs. Reagan's funeral. pic.twitter.com/kX1WZP9mwi

— David Chalian (@DavidChalian) March 14, 2016

Okay for those who have not already been traumatized by this picture, it was taken during Nancy Reagan's funeral and has been bandied about as a sweet moment of bipartisanship during a turbulent election cycle.

But that is certainly NOT how liberals see it.

What we see is our potential Democrat candidate, already dealing with very high negatives in the polls, embracing our version of the devil himself.

Now I understand that since Bill and George H. started hanging out together to do humanitarian missions around the world, that the Clinton and Bush families became quite cozy.

I guess in some ways that is rather sweet, in that good for humanity kind of way.

However in NO way does that forgive Hillary allowing a picture like this to be taken.

No, no, no, fucking no!

Remember how I talked about unforced errors in a previous post?

Yeah, well this is what I was talking about.

Do you want a Donald Trump presidency? Because this is how you get a Donald Trump presidency.

Update: Okay after reading through some of your responses there is a chance I might have, you know slightly overreacted to this picture.

Maybe.

However I am still of the opinion that Hillary should keep a certain distance between herself and George W. Bush. Remember there are a lot of people still trying to decide between her and Bernie Sanders, and this certainly does her no favors in that regard.

I think I would have been okay if this had been a hug between Hillary and George H. Bush, Barbara Bush, or even Jeb Bush.

But in my mind the only person worse for her to be associated with is Dick Cheney, who by the way praised her as Secretary of State back in 2011.

Hillary is already being called neocon and a warmonger. Her detractors should be denied any more weapons for their arsenal if she intends to win.

Here's a wake up call to anybody who still thinks that Jeb! is not a Bush through and through.

Source

Jesus, just looking at that kick starts MY PTSD.

I am not at all sure I could survive another Bush presidency.

Or a Cruz presidency, or a Trump presidency, or a Rubio presidency, or a.....hell let's just keep the whole lot of them out of the White House why don't we?

George H. Bush calls Dick Cheney "Arrogant" and "Iron ass." Oh now it's on!

Courtesy of The Guardian: 

Former US president George HW Bush has hit out at Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, two of the most senior figures in his son’s administration, labelling them too “hardline” and “arrogant” in their handling of the 11 September attacks. 

A new biography of the 41st president – Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey Of George Herbert Walker Bush – reveals that Bush Sr held Cheney and Rumsfeld responsible for the hawkish stance that “hurt” his son’s administration, Fox News reported on Wednesday. 

“The reaction [to 9/11], what to do about the Middle East. Just iron-ass. His seeming knuckling under to the real hard-charging guys who want to fight about everything, use force to get our way in the Middle East,” Bush told Meacham in the book, which is due to be published next week.

Of course Papa Bush does not extend the same criticism to his son:  

“He’s my son, he did his best and I’m for him. It’s that simple an equation.”

Well what did you expect?

Still Bush senior coming out against Cheney, Rumsfeld, and the response to 9-11 is huge.

And it comes at a rather inopportune time for Darth Cheney as there is a resolution about to be introduced to the Senate to honor the former VP and war criminal:  

Starting in December, the likeness of former Vice President Dick Cheney will grace the U.S. Capitol, in accordance with a Senate tradition honoring former vice presidents. 

The Huffington Post was tipped off by a Senate resolution "authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for the unveiling of the marble bust of Vice President Richard Cheney on December 3, 2015."

Yeah well they better plan on having around the clock security because I CANNOT imagine a more likely target for vandalism than a bust of Dick Cheney.

Personally my all time favorite fantasy is seeing Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, Rove, and Wolfowitz all marched off in chains to serve out the rest of their lives on a federal penitentiary as war criminals.

Jeb Bush: "I love my dad. I'd kill for him. I'd go to prison for him." Wait, what?

"Hey did you say something about my dad? You want a piece of this?"

Courtesy of Real Clear Politics:  

Jeb Bush borders on creepy talking about how much he cares for his father, who, luckily, "is no longer watching CSI" because he is following the election campaign so closely. "I'd go to prison for him because, I love him so much. Thankfully I haven't had the need to do that." 

JEB BUSH: I love my dad. I'd kill for him. I'd go to prison for him because, I love him so much. Thankfully I haven't had the need to do that. 

Now if you are anything like me your first response to hearing tough talk like this from Jeb! is to snort derisively.

After all Bush is one of those over privileged marshmallow types who get a bloody nose when they stand up to quickly. And he would undoubtedly be laying in a pool of his own blood before noon on his first day of prison.

However then I remember that his ex-alcoholic brother, who will from this day forward be referred to as the "smart Bush," invaded an entire country, murdering thousands of innocent people, because he believed it's leader "Tried to kill my dad!"

Jeb! is so intent on showing how tough he is that in a recent interview with Bloomberg he actually said this:

"They don't know me. They don't know me," Bush told Bloomberg. "I eat nails when I wake up, then I have breakfast."

What the fuckity, fuck, fuck does that even mean?

I can almost see the body-bags coming home with American service men and women in them if Bush is ever elected President.

So at this point I would almost rather see Trump or Carson win this nomination, and ultimately lose to Hillary, than to allow this Bush, or ANY Bush, get even that close to winning the election.

Holy crap, is this family insane!

"I know how to do this because, yes, I am a Bush." Jeb Bush said that about foreign policy. Right out loud in front of everybody.

"I probably shouldn't have said that."

Courtesy of TPM:  

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) on Friday night touted his role as a member of the Bush family while discussing how he would improve the United States' relationship with other countries as president. 

"Name a country in the world where our relationship is better today than the day that Hillary of Clinton became secretary of state," Bush said during a speech at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference in Michigan, according to CNN. 

Bush said that the U.S. might have a better relationship with Iran, Cuba and Burma, but said that ties with countries in the Middle East and Israel have worsened under the Obama administration. The former governor said that he would improve relations with other countries as president. 

"I know how to do this because, yes, I am a Bush," he said, according to CNN. "I happened to see two really good presidents develop relationships with other countries."

How can anyone be this disconnected from reality? 

Under his brother's administration Americans had to pretend to be Canadian just to travel overseas.

The only countries that seemed to like us better were Israel, because Netanyahu is just as big of a hawk as Dick Cheney, and Saudi Arabia, who loved us so much that they sent fifteen of their people over to help Bush start the war with Iraq that he wanted. 

You know when this whole 2016 campaign thing first started I was convinced that in the end it would be Hillary versus Jeb!

Now I don't know what to think.

From now on my go to answer will be, "Beats the hell out of me."