GOP = Grifting Our People

This is a really great clip from The Rachel Maddow Show from Monday night. In it, Rachel shines a light on several of the major players in Republican politics, particularly those involved in the 2012 election, and the various think tanks, conservative media outlets and other scam-riddled organizations. I mean, when the runner-up on the GOP side, Rick Santorum, is working for scam site World Nut Net Daily. And he's far from the only shill. Newt Gingrich has run several scams, and has run for president since then! Oy. . .

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Our Long National Nightmare is Over

Click to embiggen.

For at least the past year, and actually for the better part of the last two, we've had campaigns up and running for a Presidential election looming on the horizon. For most of that time, the election felt distant, and the early squabbles of the GOP primary fight felt way too early. Think back to those days: Donald Trump pretending he was going to run. Sarah Palin teasing her easily teased fans (for big bucks, it would seem). There was a whole clown car's worth of both declared and potential candidates. Early on, I started a graphic that added candidates as they either declared, or whose profiles rose to the point of serious discussion. I put a green check mark on those who officially threw their hats into the ring, and then a red X as they either dropped out, declined to run, or were defeated in the primary.

So, I decided to update my photo chart, with the entirely checked off list. Happily, there are no green check marks left to be found. Some of these people are so obscure, even I forget who they are!

And for the first time in a long time, we have a Monday without this looming event on our horizon. We have at least two years before we much have to think about 2016, except in the broad abstract. 2014 will come much sooner than that. But for now, our long national nightmare is over!

Newt Gingrich Admits He's Wrong

This is not something you see every day. And more than that, he calls all the rest of the right-wing prognosticators out too. Good for Newt. He's still a pig, but, you know. . .

Bad Lip Reading's Take on the First Debate

It's not quite as funny as the one with Newt Gingrich saying, "I went poo-poo in the egg salad, and, oh, Mary! Ohmigawrsh" but it's close!

What Happens in Vegas: Sheldon Adelson Might Be in Trouble

Sheldon Adelson is a Las Vegas gazillionaire who was actually kind of in trouble with his Sands/Venetian/Palazzo properties at the end of the Bush era. Since President Obama took over though--and I'm not saying one thing has to do with the other--Adelson has become a squillionaire. He's seriously in the pink.

But Shelley is decidedly unhappy with the Prez. So much so, that he bankrolled Newt Gingrich for months after his sell-by date. And now, he's pumping zillions into Mitt Romney's campaign. It all has something to do with Israel, which Adelson--being Jewish--is sort of in to. And Romney--being Mormon--is. . .I don't know. . .into because his evangelical supporters know is necessary for the end times, the Rapture, Jesus' return and Armageddon? I don't know, I'm an atheist. I can't keep all this religion shit straight.

Anyway, it would seem that one of the super-rich GOP sugar daddies is potentially into a spot of trouble. I has a sad.


[Excerpt]

Adelson. Ain't he a fashion plate? Image from Raw Story.

Justice Dept. probes Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp. on money laundering

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into whether Las Vegas Sands Corporation and several of its executives violated money-laundering laws, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Citing unnamed lawyers and other people involved in the matter, the newspaper said the probe was being conducted by the US attorney’s office in Los Angeles. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Sarah Silverman's Proposal to Sheldon Adelson (NSFW)

Image from Jewcy

As a Las Vegas resident for almost 18 years, I'm of course familiar with Sheldon Adelson, the rich dude who owns the Venetian. His name is big in town, as you'd expect. I knew that he was a conservative, and a bit eccentric. But I think for a while I had him confused with John Cleese's portrayal in Rat Race. Which means, I thought he was a harmless billionaire.

And then there was Newt. Adelson pretty much single-handedly kept Newt Gingrich in the Republican Primaries long past his expiration date. That's one guy (two if you count his wife) keeping a candidate in the race, through largesse. It's just odd. And now that Newton has bounced, Adelson is pumping money into supporting Mitt Romney. In this case, it isn't single-handed, but it could be. And it's all so puzzling. Before Obama was president, Adelson's holdings were hemorrhaging cash. In the last 3+ years, he's rebounded. Why does Obama scare him so? And should one guy have this much power?

Sarah Silverman has a proposition for Mr. Adelson. And being Sarah Silverman, she's not exactly ladylike about it. Or maybe she is, it depends upon your definition. But I will tell you that this us not safe for work. So, don't complain to me that it's dirty and tasteless. I just told you that.

Newt Gingrich's Case Against Mitt Romney

I know that traditionally "what happens in the primaries, stays in the primaries," in American politics. Of course, that was before YouTube, the Googles, and the internets in general. Everything is researchable, archived, and ready to be replayed or reposted. And when a former candidate made a case so plainly and so clearly, are you telling me it shouldn't be used?

Lately, Mitt Romney has been recycling the fiction that he's not a "career politician," but primarily a business man. I say to that first a) Really? Wasn't George W. Bush the last business man installed as President? How did that work out? and b) Really? What has been Mittens' job these past twelve years or so? But let's give this one to Newt (can you believe the names, Mitt and Newt?).

Mitt Romney's Bain History Trashed by. . .His Supporters!

It's pretty hard to to criticize President Obama for being critical of Mitt Romney's Bain Capital history, when Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, John Huntsman and Rick Perry did the very same thing. And in starker terms.

What if Newt Gingrich Won?

Brilliant illustration from Mother Jones.

This is of course not a serious post. I'm not asking if by some weird record-keeping anomaly that Newt Gingrich may have actually won the primary. Ha! No, what if--in an alternate timeline and/or reality (as in Fringe)--Newt won the Presidency? What would that look like? I think we can count ourselves fortunate that we will never, ever know. But what if?

[Excerpt]

Gingrich Wins! (An Alternative History)

Wolf Blitzer blinked, blinked again, and tried, for the fourth time, to read the script in front of him. The news had come across the wire just a few minutes earlier, and it still didn't seem real. More like a magical illusion, like the hologram projector they had unveiled in 2008 and then scrapped a week later. He had really liked that hologram projector. To hell with it, Wolf thought. Just tell them what you know. He took a long pause and looked into the camera. "We're watching this very closely," he said. . .

Read more at: Mother Jones

Remembering Newt: I'm Going to Be the Nominee!

No, Newtie himself may never have said those exact words, but it was pretty close. Though every other contender to the GOP throne got his day in the sun (except for Ron Paul), Gingrich was the only one whose ego wrote the check his ample butt couldn't cash: he really thought he was going to be the nominee. And he actually had two peaks, if you remember. That's how weak this field really was.

Newt is Going to Try Being Realistic

Maybe they can go into a his 'n' hers wig business?
Image from source, Politico.

No, if Newt Gingrich were going to take a realistic approach to his campaign, he would have quit weeks (months?) ago. He got a coda on his political career, one that was seemingly unsalvageable. And that says more about what kind of politician can thrive in today's Republican Party than it does about Gingrich as a candidate. I do understand--sort of--why Newt has held on this long. When it's over, it's really over. Sure, he might have a book or two left in him. Another sham "awards" program to scam gullible Republicans with.  Maybe he can go back to FOX "News" or failing that, CNN or something. But his career as a potential politician is over.


[Excerpt]


Newt Gingrich to look ‘realistically’ at campaign

Following his five-state shutout Tuesday night, Newt Gingrich sent the strongest signal yet that he’s nearing the end of his tottering campaign. “We’re going to look realistically at where we’re at,” Gingrich said at an election -night rally in North Carolina. “We are going to think carefully about how we can be the most helpful to this country. . .”

Read more: Politico

Mittens Cleans Up, Assured the Nomination

Image of Willard from source, HuffPo

Well, we've known it for a while. Though Newtie and Ron Paul have been hanging on by their fingernails, Mitt Romney is now assured the nomination, barring a political bombshell or something. The FReepers have pledged not to vote for him. It will be interesting to see if "FReeper" is as useless as "PUMA" was in the 2008 election. And it remains to be seen if anti-Obama hate will equal pro-Romney love.

[Excerpt]


Mitt Romney Sweeps GOP Primaries, Promises 'Better America' 

Mitt Romney laid claim to the fiercely contested Republican presidential nomination Tuesday night with a fistful of primary triumphs, then urged all who struggle in a shaky U.S. economy to "hold on a little longer, a better America begins tonight. . ."

Read more at: Huffington Post

Ron Paul Actually Won Iowa?

I guess this is a lesson: you can play by the rules as they are understood, or you can play by the rules as they are written. Something tells me that Mitt Romney's team is working overtime to sew up any straggling delegates.

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Newt Gingrich: Ban Gay Marriage in North Carolina

The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man The late Geraldine Ferraro
Newt Gingrich. From source, Raw Story

I'm no dummy. I'm aware that the constitutional amendment on the ballot in North Carolina to (doubly) ban same-sex marriage will probably pass. It isn't just the fact that these things have passed each time they were tried, and it isn't just the lies and fear mongering used to get them passed. It's just a gut feeling about the politics of North Carolina. I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

I'd be happier if we weren't--yet again--voting on a group of tax-paying citizens' civil rights. Something wholly un-American. I'd be happier if busy-bodies would quit proposing laws that only outlaw the rights of "others." When you have no stake in something, it is infinitely easier to vote against it. And I'd really like it, if that doughy pant-load, Newt Gingrich, would shut his blubbery pie-hole about any legislation to do with marriage. Not only is it brazenly hypocritical, he is an utterly irrelevant voice among a sea of them. His final political achievement is being a barnacle on Mitt Romney's ass. Who gives a flying crap what Gingrich thinks?

The bracketed comment is my own:

[Excerpt]


Gingrich calls on North Carolina to ban same sex marriage

[Gingrich dared to say, with no apparent recognition of the irony,] “Marriage between a man and a woman is at the heart of our civilization,” he said. “It’s a belief that is now under attack, yet it’s at the very core of defining who we are. That’s why I urge you to vote for the initiative right here in North Carolina. The chance to vote for a referendum to declare clearly that marriage is between a man and a woman. . .”

Read more at: Raw Story

Newt Gingrich Gets the Bad Lip Reading Treatment

Funniest one yet--particularly from about the mid-point on--and about time, since Newty ain't long for this contest.

Quote of the Day: Randi Rhodes on the Hawaii GOP Caucus

 "Hawaii holds its Republican caucuses today. Boy, there’s a jarring juxtaposition! You’re in paradise... and you’re at a Republican caucus. That’s like getting a root canal while you’re sitting in a Jacuzzi." 

--Radio goddess, Randi Rhodes

Newt Gingrich is Staying In the Race

Image from Forbes.

Newt Gingrich just said, "Mitt Romney is not inevitable." The irony of course is, the fact that Gingrich is staying in the race is actually good for Romney, by continuing to split the "Not Romney" vote. Egotistical, sure, but that was to be expected.

Newt Gingrich Sleeping on Camera

Shhhhhhh! Don't wake him! Oh, never mind. It's not like he's got any kind of chance. I'd like to say he's cute when he's asleep, but only if you think the old guy Muppets are cute.

A Word About Gas Prices

Newt Gingrich released a stream of lies, half-truths and twisted facts in his oddly triumphant failure speech on Super Tuesday. But it wasn't his twisting of the truth that bothered me. It was the truth, out of context. And that is, gas prices when President Obama took office on January 20, 2009.

Yeah, $1.61 gas lasted a long time, didn't it? Image from GasBuddy.com

Newt said gas prices were below $2 per gallon on Inauguration day, and he wasn't wrong. But he wasn't fair either. Because that was the nadir of gasoline prices during a very volatile time. During President Bush's last year, gasoline prices soared to--as yet--still unprecedented levels. The average price got as high as $4.12, and I personally paid over $4.65 in California in June of 2008.  But take a look at that chart. Gas prices plunged in a never before seen way. From north of $4 to below $2. It then hit an uptick at the end of December, 2008. The direction changed three weeks before Obama was inaugurated.

So, when you hear the line that gas was cheap, and "Obama's policies" made it go up, you can chalk some of that up to timing more than policies. No way did an Obama policies make gas go above $2 in his first three months. And in no way can you take January 2009's average gas price as some sort of baseline, or usual price. It just wasn't. Context is everything, but perception unfortunately often rules the day.

Conclusion: Newt knows all of this, but doesn't provide context because he thinks the people listening to him won't know the difference. That--to me--shows a contempt for his audience: us. I don't like that, do you?

Newt-mentum? Really?

Okay, choose one: a) False bravado, b) Lying just to keep sticking it to Romney, c) Lying in hopes to raise his future speaking fees and book advances, d) Delusions of grandeur.