Ted Cruz leads the conservative outrage over the Supreme Court decision to not weigh in on marriage equality which effectively legalizes it in five states, with more to follow.

So as you know yesterday the Supreme Court threw up its hands and said "no mas" allowing the lower court standings in favor of same sex marriage to stand.

This has caused the Right Wing to lose what is left of their collective minds.

And leading the charge is Ted Cruz. Here was his response according to Salon:

“The Supreme Court’s decision to let rulings by lower court judges stand that redefine marriage is both tragic and indefensible,” Cruz charged. Cruz proceeded to state that citizens should be able to vote on whether same-sex couples can get married. 

“This is judicial activism at its worst. The Constitution entrusts state legislatures, elected by the People, to define marriage consistent with the values and mores of their citizens,” Cruz’s statement read. “Unelected judges should not be imposing their policy preferences to subvert the considered judgments of democratically elected legislatures.” 

Accordingly, Cruz’s statement noted, he has introduced legislation that would allow states to ban same-sex marriage and to refuse to recognize same-sex unions performed elsewhere. Gay rights advocates have dubbed the bill the “’You’re Not Married Anymore’ Bill,” noting that it would sanction a patchwork of state laws pertaining to same-sex marriage and jeopardize couples’ rights as they travel from state to state.

That is in sharp contrast to another other potential  2016 presidential hopeful Scott Walker, who said this: 

"For us, it's over in Wisconsin," Walker said, according to the Associated Press. "The federal courts have ruled that this decision by this court of appeals decision is the law of the land and we will be upholding it."

I don't often agree with Scott Walker on anything, but he is making the smart play here.

However this morning I watched  Reince "Twice and" Prebus on MSNBC and he was essentially reiterating that the Republican position on marriage equality had not changed at that they were in support of fighting to keep it between one man and one woman.

I cannot begin to tell you how happy I would be if the Republicans started to bring this up for 2016, or even right now in 2014 for that matter.

Just ten years ago George Bush used his endorsement of a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage to win a second term in office, but today that same position would have a dramatically different effect.

If the Republicans decide to double down on this it will energize the liberal base like they cannot imagine and their chances of being elected even to a school board will be reduced to almost nothing.

So I for one REALLY hope that the Republicans are so myopic that they continue arguing against every citizen's right love who they want and to enjoy the same privileges enjoyed by every other American in this country. Becasue possibly the only thing more joyous than attending a gay wedding is defeating a homophobic asshole in an election.

The RNC brags about going after Democrats in red states like Alaska's Mark Begich, but, at least up here, their efforts are laughable.

Courtesy of ADN:  

The Republican National Committee announced Tuesday a fresh round in an expected torrent of campaign ads targeting Sen. Mark Begich and other Democrats for their part in the "lie of the year," an assurance that people could keep existing health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. 

The ad blast turned out to be more of a sprinkle. 

In Anchorage, a single radio ad aimed at Begich was set to air on a single station -- 650 KENI -- one time on Tuesday, according to a check of the political ad buys at the two major radio conglomerates in Anchorage. The total cost to the Republican National Committee for the Anchorage radio airtime? $30. 

In Fairbanks, the same ad is airing once on KFBX radio at a cost of $25, according to Begich's campaign. 

Republicans made a big deal over the ads anyway. On Tuesday, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus called a news conference in Washington, D.C., to pitch the campaign -- and the GOP's anti-Affordable Care Act message. 

The committee wouldn't say how much it was spending. 

Asked whether calling attention to an ad campaign that was so minimal was misleading, RNC spokesman Michael Short emailed an answer: "That is one of the most ridiculous questions I have ever fielded." He earlier called the Alaska ads in Fairbanks and Anchorage a "statewide" effort. 

Sorry it took me a couple of minutes to stop giggling before I could start writing this post. All better now.

Not to make excuses for the RNC or anything, but one can hardly blame them for not wanting to waste their money up here.

After all Begich's chances of being reelected improve right along with public opinion of Obamacare, which is apparently the only tool in the GOP toolkit this time around.

That plus the fact that the Alaska Republican party is essentially a train wreck these days, and that the Vaguely Bearded one is the most recognizable name running for the GOP nomination, would serve to make the RNC think long and hard before throwing their money away on a Senate campaign that they had no real shot at winning.

Hell the only thing that could frighten them away from our state any more is if Sarah Palin herself were to suddenly toss her wig into the ring.

MSNBC's Thomas Roberts delivers the smackdown to RNC Chairman Reince Prebus.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I really like Thomas Roberts.

I like that he always seems so cool and prepared during his interviews.

For the most part he is also very fair and respectful of his guests. But Prebus was being SUCH a douchebag that I don't think he deserved ANY respect from Roberts.

The video is a little hard to understand at times because Prebus constantly talks over Roberts and tries to bully him into submission.

In the end all Prebus accomplishes is making sure that the viewers know for a fact that the leadership of the GOP is just as immature and unqualified as the Teabaggers that are now running the show.

By the way listen to the end for a great final rejoinder from Roberts.

CNN's Hillary Clinton biopic is a no go.

It was the film that caused the Right Wing to rip their hair out in frustration, and the RNC chairman to state that there would not be a presidential debate on CNN if they went ahead with their plans to make it.

However as it turns out THAT was not enough to kill the movie. No that was achieved by Hillary Clinton herself.

This from the filmmaker himself courtesy of HuffPo:

I would have loved to explore all this. But when I approached people for interviews, I discovered that nobody, and I mean nobody, was interested in helping me make this film. Not Democrats, not Republicans -- and certainly nobody who works with the Clintons, wants access to the Clintons, or dreams of a position in a Hillary Clinton administration. Not even journalists who want access, which can easily be taken away. I even sensed potential difficulty in licensing archival footage from CBN (Pat Robertson) and from Fox. After approaching well over a hundred people, only two persons who had ever dealt with Mrs. Clinton would agree to an on-camera interview, and I suspected that even they would back out. 

This, of course, was the real consequence, and probably the real intent, of the announcements by the RNC, Philippe Reines, and David Brock. Neither political party wanted the film made. After painful reflection, I decided that I couldn't make a film of which I would be proud. And so I'm cancelling. (Not because of any pressure from CNN -- quite the contrary.) It's a victory for the Clintons, and for the money machines that both political parties have now become. But I don't think that it's a victory for the media, or for the American people. 

 I disagree that having this biopic made would constitute any "victory for the American people." As I have written before I really don't think that any movie about Hillary will sway voters one way or the other, but  I can certainly understand why the Clinton camp does not want all of those old stories dredged up right now, and why the RNC fears how THEY will be portrayed in any non-biased documentary.

To be honest I probably would not have watched in anyhow, nor will I watch the one made by NBC, assuming of course that they will have any more luck than CNN.

By the way, for the slow learners among us, it is very unlikely the Clinton's would have worked this had to kill this thing if Hillary was NOT running in 2016. I'm just saying.

RNC votes to ban NBC and CNN from hosting debates unless they refuse to broadcast Hillary Clinton programs.

Well my Republican friends, I believe I can see you shaking in fear from here.

Courtesy of Bloomberg:  

Republican Party leaders voted to prohibit 2016 presidential primary debate partnerships with NBC and CNN if the networks air planned programs highlighting Hillary Clinton. 

“These programming decisions are an attempt to show political favoritism and put a thumb on the scales for the next presidential election,” said a resolution approved today at a Republican National Committee meeting in Boston. 

Party Chairman Reince Priebus has called the shows free advertising for Clinton, who may become his party’s biggest hurdle to winning the White House. 

“A network that spends millions of dollars to spotlight Hillary Clinton is a network with an obvious bias,” he said to a standing ovation from the RNC members before the vote. “And that’s a network that won’t be hosting a single Republican primary debate.”

This is amazing!

Have you ever seen a major political party THIS terrified of a potential candidate from the other party before?

I mean EVER?

And if they are NOT going to broadcast their debates on NBC and CNN then who is ever going to see them?

Update: By the way the RNC may have a significant problem with the younger voters when it comes to Clinton. Even a Bush daughter recognizes that she has what it takes to be the President of the United States.

Barbara Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush, wants Hillary Clinton to run for president.

Oooh, THAT is going to make some of the rank and file of the party upset.

RNC goes all in as they use perception that Hillary is getting preferential treatment from NBC and CNN due to possible biopics to attempt to raise money. Oh, and they add a little Benghazi to spice it up.

Courtesy of HuffPo: 

The Republican National Committee on Sunday released an ad online attacking CNN and NBC for alleged media bias over their decision to produce documentaries about Hillary Clinton, a potential 2016 presidential contender. 

The RNC has threatened to end its partnership with the two networks in the hosting of 2016 GOP primary debates if they don't cancel plans for the Clinton documentaries. 

The ad includes footage from Clinton's testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the September 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, with a subtitle that reads, "Here's one clip they might 'forget' to show you." The footage covers Clinton's heated exchange with Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) as the then-secretary of state was questioned about the attack on a U.S. facility that resulted in the death of four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens. 

The RNC urges viewers to "Stop Media Bias" by signing its petition to "drop planned programming promoting Hillary Clinton."

Interestingly  enough the ad says NOTHING about the fact that Fox Television Studios has signed on to produce NBC's miniseries.

When asked about that this weekend Wretched Proboscis had this to say:  

“The big question for me, Candy, is, No. 1 , which company is putting it on the air, who’s doing the work. I’m not interested if they’re using the same caterer, or whether they all drink Diet Coke. I’m not boycotting Diane Lane,” Priebus said. “I’m going to boycott the company that puts the miniseries and the documentaries on the air for the American people to view.” 

CNN host Candy Crowley said she was talking about the people producing the series, but Priebus dismissed the report. 

“Some researcher at CNN or NBC worked for a few days to find some little connection somewhere down the road to bring something into this debate. I think it’s totally ridiculous and stupid,” Priebus said. “The fact is, what channel am I going to tune into to see the documentary and miniseries?” 

Damn look at this little shit contort himself to get out of answering that question honestly.

Hell no wonder these idiots in the GOP can shove heir heads up their own ass so easily and often.

Okay now can we all dispense with the idea that Hillary is not running?

Somehow I don't think the RNC would get this worked up if they believed for an instant that she weren't.

Fox TV Studios May Be Producing NBC’s Hillary Clinton Miniseries. Right Wing outrage in 3..2..never.

Courtesy of Mediaite:  

Remember how the Republican National Committee threatened NBC and CNN to call off their planned Hillary Clinton projects lest they not get any of the Republican primary debates in 2016? Well, if the RNC is serious about taking a stand, the party may end up limiting its debates to other networks, but mainly Fox News. There’s just one teensy, tiny, little problem: 

Fox Television Studios may be producing NBC’s Hillary miniseries. 

The New York Times broke the news late Friday, which will almost assuredly not be followed by threats to boycott debates on Fox. 

Leslie Oren, a spokesman for FTVS, as the studio is known, confirmed that NBC is in “the early stages” of discussions to bring the Fox unit in as the production company on the as yet unnamed mini-series, which will star Diane Lane as Mrs. Clinton. 

“There is no deal yet,” Ms. Oren said. But should a deal be completed, FTVS would become the distributor of the film internationally. FTVS is the production arm of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment group. 

Naturally, the argument here would be, “Fox News and Fox Entertainment are two completely different things! Don’t judge one for what the other is doing!”

Oh yeah, and that worked so well for NBC when THEY tried it. 

So it should be VERY entertaining to hear how "Rinse once and Prebus" responds to this little nugget of information. Don't you agree?

RNC Chairman, Reince Prebus, tells Morning Joe that he ONLY wants moderators that are "actually interested in the Republican Party and our nominees." Also considers doing debates on talk radio.

Courtesy of Mediaite:

After Priebus claimed that there was a porous division at best between NBC Entertainment, which is producing the Hillary miniseries, and NBC News/MSNBC, Brzezinski pointed out that he had no problem appearing on her MSNBC show. “My point is you expected an honest and fair conversation here, even though we’re a part of NBC,” she said. “You understand there’s a difference. 

“But I’m not going to have you moderate the Republican debate,” Priebus said. When Nicole Wallace asked why not, he continued, “Because you’re not actually interested in the future of the Republican Party and our nominees. That’s not a slam on you, Mika, but I have to choose moderators that are actually interested in the Republican Party and our nominees. It’s not going to be NBC, if they continue to go forward with this miniseries.”


So to be clear, Prebus only wants moderators who are Republicans.  Which begs the question "What kind of Republicans?"

Because let's face it, there are extreme differences within the Republican party. And a moderator who would be very understanding and sympathies toward Ted Cruz, is going to be muhc less so toward Chris Christie or Marco Rubio.

So if Prebus is really trying to find moderators who would be fair to all participants he would in fact be better served by members of the press who take their jobs seriously, and remain ABOVE partisanship, rather than members of Fox news or Breitbart's necrophiliac fan site.

Which by the way is what we have always expected from our moderators.

And by the way what happens to the eventual candidate when he reaches the general election and has to debate Hillary the Democratic candidate? After being treated with kid gloves, and having their ass kissed, how will they deal with a REAL journalist asking real questions?

And just in case you think that "Rinse Twice and Prebus" is merely upset about the Hillary documentary and will back off of this point eventually, here is where he said might be an appropriate venue for the GOP debates:   

“Chairman, what do you think about a talk radio debate, where maybe I get together with my buddy Sean Hannity and maybe a Mark Levin, and we interview some of the candidates?” Tantaros asked. “Because the base I think would like that.” 

“I actually think that’s a very good idea,” Priebus agreed. “I mean, there’s a lot of good people out there that can actually understand the base of the Republican Party, the primary voters.”

Talk radio?  THIS is the place where Prebus thinks his candidates will be protected from undue scrutiny?

Let's face it, this is NOT about the Hillary movie. This is clearly telegraphing conservative fear that once America gets a look at the clown car of candidates this year they will launch them off the stage.

Talk radio, the next thing he will suggest is that reporters send their questions via telegraph and then they will answered by carrier pigeon.

Reince Prebus says this of NBC and CNN if they don't refuse to broadcast Hillary movie, "If they want to air our debates, I don't care if they want to air it, they're just not to have anything to do with them."

I loved this part: "They're not going to moderate our candidates, and slice and dice our party, in front of the entire country."

You know I am pretty sure that the "slicing and dicing" of the party has come from within thanks to the Teabaggers, and NOT from CNN or NBC. But nice try.

Prebus also made it cleat that he only wants moderators who favor the Republican party to moderate their debates:

"I think 23 debates is ridiculous, but the second thing that is ridiculous is allowing moderators, who are not serving the best interests of the candidate and the party, to actually be the people deposing our people. And I think that’s totally wrong." 

So to be clear the chairman of the Republican party is so concerned with how badly his presidential candidates might come off that he ONLY wants those who are sympathetic to the conservative cause to moderate their debates.

So essentially they are going to be forced to hold all of their debates on Fox News and Right Wing radio.

Oh yeah that should really help with the whole "expanding the GOP base" idea.

CNN accuses Reince Preibus of premature excitation over news that Hillary comes first.

"Oh how cute. The RNC Chairman is already throwing a tantrum about me."

Courtesy of TPM: 

In letters to both CNN and NBC, Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus demanded that the networks drop their planned film productions of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or face losing their partnerships with the RNC for 2016 presidential primary debates. 

"If you have not agreed to pull this programming prior to the start of the RNC's Summer Meeting on August 14, I will seek a binding vote of the RNC stating that the committee will neither partner with you in 2016 primary debates nor sanction primary debates which you sponsor," Preibus wrote. 

While NBC News said it was not involved with their respective project, which is commissioned by NBC Entertainment, CNN's statement to the Huffington Post was much more confrontational: 

"CNN Films, a division of CNN Worldwide, commissioned a documentary about Hillary Clinton earlier this year. It is expected to premiere in 2014 with a theatrical run prior to airing on CNN. This documentary will be a non-fiction look at the life of a former First Lady and Secretary of State. Instead of making premature decisions about a project that is in the very early stages of development and months from completion, we would encourage the members of the Republican National Committee to reserve judgment until they know more. Should they decide not to participate in debates on CNN, we would find it curious, as limiting their debate participation seems to be the ultimate disservice to voters."

Aww is the RNC gonna stomp their feet and bang their head against the wall EVERY TIME somebody pays more attention to Hillary then they do them? Because that will be a lot of head banging.


You know somebody pointed out in the other thread on this topic that the whole reason the country is in the huge mess that it is right now, and the reason why millionaires and billionaires can essentially purchase elections, is because of another Hillary Clinton film from way back in 2008.

You all remember this right?

In January 2008, Citizens United, a nonprofit corporation, released a 90 minute documentary entitled Hillary: The Movie (hereinafter Hillary). The movie expressed opinions about whether then-senator Hillary Clinton, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, was fit for the presidency. Citizens United distributed the movie in theaters and on DVD, but also wanted to make it available through video-on-demand. It produced advertisements promoting the film and wanted to show them on broadcast and cable television. To pay for the video-on-demand distribution and the advertisements, Citizens United planned to use its general treasury funds.

That case went to the Supreme Court which resulted in the much reviled Citizen's United decision. 

I believe the phrase is "Hoist with your own petard." So if NOW the conservatives want to complain that the deck is stacked against them as they approach 2016, then they have to take responsibility for helping to stack that deck.

Or, they can take their ball and go home. After all WHY frighten away the voters with yet another clown car full of self injuring morons when we all know they don't stand a chance against Hillary anyway?

If CNN and NBC go forward with their Hillary Clinton film projects the RNC threatens to take their ball and go home.

Courtesy of Mediaite:  

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus sent letters to CNN and NBC Monday morning, informing them that their production of proposed Hillary Clinton film projects could lead to the Republican Party refusing to partner with them on 2016 presidential debates. 

Calling the networks’ actions “disturbing and disappointing,” Priebus warned that CNN’s “credibility as a supposedly unbiased news network will most certainly be jeopardized by the decision to show political favoritism” for Clinton, while “the credibility of NBC News, already damaged by the partisanship of MSNBC, will be further undermined by the actions of NBC Universal executives who have taken it upon themselves to produce an extended commercial for Secretary Clinton’s nascent campaign.”

God I am laughing so hard I can barely type this!

So to be clear, "Rinse once and Preibus" is threatening to NOT allow the GOP debates to happen on the most popular network in the country, and the only other cable news outlet, besides Fox, which will not have Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews doing the play by play?

And while this is happening Hillary will have movies about her showing up on a number of the networks, interviews on all the others, and political ads running 24/7?

And WHO is this supposed to hurt?

You know most of us still remember the never ending Republican debates from 2012.

By the end the only people still tuning in were family members, pundits, and bookies betting on which one would say the next incredibly stupid thing.

Let's face it the RNC needs NBC and CNN way more than THEY need the RNC.

Which begs the question, is there anybody in the GOP these days who is not a fucking toddler?

The day that you realize you are even too racist for the Republican party.

Courtesy of Chicago Tribune:  

A Downstate Illinois GOP county chairman resigned Thursday after likening former Miss America Erika Harold, who's challenging a sitting Republican congressman in next year’s primary election, to a "street walker" whose "pimps" were Democrats and moderate Republicans. 

Jim Allen of Farmersville, the chairman of the Montgomery County GOP, sent the resignation letter today to new Illinois Republican Chairman Jack Dorgan. Dorgan called Allen’s remarks “offensive and inappropriate.” 

Allen, who supports freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville, made his remarks in an e-mail to a supporter of Harold. She is the 2003 Miss America from Urbana and a former Chicago attorney. 

In the e-mail, which was later posted online, Allen referred to Harold as a “little queen” and the “love child” of the Democratic National Committee. Allen also wrote that after losing the 2014 March primary Harold would end up back in Chicago --- though he used a derogatory spelling --- “working for some law firm that needs to meet their quota for minority hires.” Harold is African American. 

Allen later acknowledged to the State Journal-Register of Springfield that his comments were “very inappropriate” and said he had apologized to Harold and her supporters. Allen was unavailable for comment today. 

But on Thursday, Allen submitted his resignation to state GOP officials after being urged to do so by National Republican Chairman Reince Priebus and by U.S. Rep. Davis. 

Priebus, who heads a political party actively seeking to improve its outreach to racial and ethnic groups following the 2012 elections, said “the astonishingly offensive views” expressed by Allen have no place in the party. “His behavior is inexcusable and must not be tolerated,” Priebus said.

You know I rarely have anything good to say about GOP Chairman "Reince Twice and Prebus," but good for him in telling this guy to hit the sticks.

The only problem in getting rid of the racists within the Republican party of course, is who would still be left?

Of course the evicted racists would always land on their feet and find a new home. After all aren't the Teabaggers always threatening to start a new party?

Perhaps even newly outed racist Paula Deen can find a new home there.