The Far Right Still Can't Work and Play Well with Others

 by Sunnyjane

I've been punked -- again.  I actually believed that we would have a couple days of Republican Tea Party sanity and I could write a post that didn't have to call out their idiocies.  Alas, such was not to be; there seems to be no end to it.  The Tea Party is still calling a lot of the shots -- they're like that adorable litter of puppies you brought home and didn't bother to discipline right from the beginning: for a while it's terribly amusing, and then they become snarling, snapping ankle-biters who destroy everything you hold dear. 

We might as well jump right in and see what they've been up to for the past week or so.

What in the Hell is Wrong with Kentucky Politicians?

Git yer muskets, boys, Obamacare and Same-Sex Marriage is a-comin' over the mountains!

At the risk of insulting otherwise normal Kentuckians, I must say you are bedeviled by the most peculiar politicians in the country -- and they're not all Republicans.  Mitch McConnell doesy-doed to the right to win the primary over Matt Bevin, and now he's doing the two-step back toward the middle -- well, as middle as McConnell can possibly go.  Obamacare has him confused, you see, because even though he has promised to rip out the country's first healthcare program root-and-branch, he understands that going on half a million Bluegrassers are feeling pretty A-OK about having affordable health insurance for the first time in their lives.  So, he's announced that while he's still going to do his garden surgery on the ACA, he'll be glad to leave Kynect -- the state's health exchange program -- alone because, after all, the two are not connected.  Now is Mitch stupid, or does he think the citizens of his state are stupid?  And then there's Rand Paul, who thinks the whole thing about keeping Kynect and repealing Obamacare is a technical question.  Democrat Alison Grimes, who wants to win McConnell's seat in the senate, keeps peeking around her hoop skirted petticoat to see which way the wind is blowing on the issue -- which is exactly what Mitchie and Randy want her to do.  Good Lord, Alison, don't bother to call them out on this idiocy by telling the voters that Paul and McConnell will take their healthcare away from them.   

But it doesn't end there.  Democratic Governor Steve Beshear is in court defending his state's decision to continue the ban on same-six marriage because -- wait for it -- same sex couples can't produce children and he's concerned that not having couples produce children will be detrimental to increasing the state's population.  What!  He governs one of the poorest states in the nation and he wants more of the same?      

Perhaps this, um, strangeness is due to the fact that Kentuckians live in a two-time-zone state; that might tend to make you sort of weird, I admit.

Here a Gun, There a Gun, Everywhere a Gun-Gun

But if you had Obamacare, your insurance might pay for a penis pump.

The narrow-minded -- and small-membered -- population in this country have gone off the freaking rails with their God-given right (huh?) to carry weapons of mass destruction in public.  They pay no attention to the adage of Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.  Folks trying to sip their lattes or scoff down their burritos have protested to the point that businesses in open-carry states have had to post signs on their doors saying Leave Your Penis Extender in Your Vehicle, Idiot.

After the latest shooting in California, Joni Ernst was asked if she would take down her gun-riddled campaign ads.  She responded to the effect that shooting six people was an unfortunate accident, but her ads proved that she's a Second Amendment advocate, so, NOPE, she would not take down those ads.

Joe Not-a-Joe-Not-a-Plumber puffed himself up and declared that his right to own a gun was more important that some dead kid.  He then doubled down on that and said guns were for hunting down politicians who would take away his freedoms; obviously another male idiot lacking muscle in the family-jewels department.

Some yahoo in Alabama decided he needed his handgun and two magazines of ammo to vote in a recent Republican (naturally) primary.  Since a church was acting as the polling place for said primary, there was a sign on the door that clearly stated that guns would not be allowed.  He protested.  To no avail.  A deputy was called.  Voter put his gun back in his truck.  He's going to complain.  So there!  Hmpf!

The NRA initially wrote on its blog page that carrying weapons around just for the attention it garnered its owners was weird.  In about two days they walked that back, blaming the confusion on a hapless staff member.   

There's a Pond in Texas That's Missing its Scum

Holmes and Cruz: Racist Comrades in Arms

If the mere sight of this individual doesn't make you want to hurl your cookies, you might want to seek professional counseling.  No, seriously. 

Because President Obama refused to negotiate on a House budget that would repeal the Affordable Care Act last year, Canadian Senator Senor Rafael Edward Cruz got himself in a snit and decided to shut down the United States government for seventeen days -- to the tune of about $24 BILLION.  He then refused to admit his prominent role in that fiasco, blaming Obama and Harry Reid.   Fast forward: Rafael Edward now is taking full credit for the shutdown, and believes that, because of his leadership, the shutdown is going to allow the Republicans to take over the Senate and increase their membership in the House.

Oh, he's also spewing the meme that because the Democrats are trying to get an amendment to override the Supreme Court's decision on campaign spending, that they're going to ban books and movies.  Yes, seriously!  

On the Lighter Side...

 A new study just released says that Americans learn more about the news from Stephen Colbert than they do from mainstream news channels.  What does that tell us?

Joni Ernst won the Republican primary election in Iowa.  Now she's one step closer to going  to Washington to shoot a hog and castrate Obamacare -- or something like that.  However, Steve Lonegan did not win in New Jersey, which couldn't have been a outcome time for him, given that he's a real loser.  Why, the last time he lost, he rudely pushed his wife's hand off his shoulder during his concession speech.  I guess that taught HER a lesson, by golly!

Don't touch me, bitch!

With their math teacher's help, sixth graders in Massachusetts have sent the Department of Education a bill for more than $1,600 as payment for being used as guinea pigs to test the Standard of Learning exams for a private company.  Now that's thinking, kids!

And speaking of guinea pigs, there's a home schooling expert who believes that sex education is a liberal plot to desensitize children to sex.  This leads to no bonding in marriage, which leads to unstable and broken marriages, and when that happens, they all vote Democratic.  Instead, she recommends letting kids see guinea pigs doing it, because you can't really see anything: You really couldn’t see anything because they’re big, furry little fuzzball things. I mean, that’s why there isn’t guinea pig porn movies.  (Pardon me, but you can't make this shit up.)

And speaking of sex, Pat Robertson believes that if your husband washes dishes, you owe him a roll in the hay.  No word on what you owe if he only puts the crockery in the dishwasher.

Good news!  If God tells him to, Herman Cain will run for president in 2016.  I guess Herb didn't get the text messages God sent him in 2012.

Some anti-gay Christian groups are refusing to accept mail with Harvey Milk postage stamps on it.  Well, that will certainly show those gays a thing or two!

Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time GOPer Terri Lynn Land, who's running for something or other in Michigan, became so flustered while being questioned by reporters that she exclaimed, I can't do this!   Ain't that a hoot?


End Note
  

New Jersey Special Election Results. Also: Debt Ceiling Raised - Disaster Averted

By Kathleen

By the time this post is published polls will have closed in the New Jersey Special Election. I'm obviously hoping that Cory Booker will defeat Sarah Palin backed Steve Lonegan because that could hopefully mean that Palin will crawl back into her hole and give us all a little respite from her shrill hatred. 

Already a disappointed Palin is drunk tweeting because an agreement has been reached by both parties in the Senate that the ceiling on the debt limit has been lifted and the shutdown will not continue. John Boehner, Speaker for the House of Representatives, has also confirmed that Republicans will not block the Senate agreement which will be voted on in the House later on this evening. The USA has been pulled back from the brink and Palin, Cruz and co. will be denied further thrills for a few months.

Comment by reader Pallotine:

"Here are the 18 senators, all Republicans, who voted against the final deal to end the shutdown and avert a debt default.

Republican Sens. Tom Coburn (Okla.), John Cornyn (Texas), Mike Crapo (Idaho), Ted Cruz (Texas), Mike Enzi (Wyo.), Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Dean Heller (Nev.), Ron Johnson (Wis.), Mike Lee (Utah), Rand Paul (Ky.), Pat Roberts (Kansas), Jim Risch (Idaho), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Tim Scott (S.C.), Jeff Sessions (Ala.), Richard Shelby (Ala.), Pat Toomey (Pa.), David Vitter (La.)"

Politico are publishing the results of the New Jersey election live: 

New Jersey Special Election results 

Good luck Mr Booker!

Sarah Palin campaigns for teabagger Steve Lonegan in New Jersey - "Boots on the Ground" report from New Egypt, NJ - UPDATE: Just 1000-1500 people attended the event - UPDATE 2: Sarah Palin, Senator Ted Cruz and Senator Mike Lee "protest" in Washington DC together against their own Government shutdown!

Sarah Palin, October 12, 2013 

(photos in this post by "Comeonpeople")

Guest post by Comeonpeople

Since the Lonegan Rally was only 45 miles away, I had to go.

The rally was at the New Egypt Speedway – such a famous NJ venue that it doesn’t even register on the GPS. I could not find it on the Garmin, so had to run back in the house and get directions off the computer. So, trip was delayed 15 minutes. The rally was not REALLY held at the New Egypt speedway….it was in the gravel entryway.

The Tea Party Express bus was stopped outside of the venue entrance and the crowd was gathered around. There were about 2000 people in attendance at most. The speedway stands hold 2k and the parking lots were full, so this is how I am calculating. (Plus my 13 year old said 2000 when asked to guestimate.)  I did not see any buses other than the TP bus. The speedway owners donated the space and it seems they did not want the liability of actually having the rally INSIDE their facility. We had to climb over the jazzies and wheelchairs and pop up seats to find a good spot – seriously. People were very disappointed in the space and everyone was yelling that they couldn’t see the speakers and yelling  “this is poorly run, this is a joke, get some milk crates to stand on.” The audio cut out early in the program and the eagle fell off the flagpole, but those were the only technical glitches.

It is hard to put into words the crazy that was there. The crowd was mostly older couples but there were also some families with young kids, many people with disabilities, several DS people with their parents and a lot of single scary looking men. Most were older folks though. The thought that the world will be a better place when these people are gone kept going through my head. They just eat up the propaganda and hate.  Most of the crowd seemed unhealthy and dirty and unkempt.  The People of Walmart on Parade. No wonder Palin seems glamorous to them.

I sent a picture of a man who was SMOKING in the crowd. Unbelievable. The older men were yelling at people to take their hats off during the national anthem, but were fine with second hand smoke in a crowd. This is a huge pet peeve on mine. Smoking in a crowd!!

The first speaker actually said “Welcome racists and anarchists.” My son asked me if the speaker really just said “welcome racists and anarchists??” Yessirree. The mayor of Newark said something about everyone being surprised NJ elected a Conservative Republican Governor and some of the crowd said  ”Cause we didn’t. ” When Levin was talking and saying disparaging remarks about Booker, from behind me came the voice of a little girl who sounded about 7 or 8 who said “I hate Cory Booker”. Tragic. Children learn what they live.

Lonegan spoke with his wife and a daughter on stage but it seems he knows this is a hopeless cause. He tried to get the crowd going, but it lacked belief. He also said he was going to make President Obama fall or something. It was so silly I  was tuning him out.  It was odd he spoke before Palin. maybe she was late.  Usually the candidate speaks last, right?

Palin was introduced as a governor, business woman and mother of 5 kids (lol). She got a nice welcome. I was next to a DS young man and his older dad and they were totally in awe of her. WHY are they so enamored, since Palin has done zero advocacy for special needs kids. Palin said, as she often does “I’m so happy I get to be here” which I always interpret as “I get to be here because I’m not locked in the looney bin right now”.

Palin had a ton of makeup on – it was visible from where we were, several yards back. She had on a shirt and vest and made a remark about coming down to NJ to thaw out. I thought she lives in Arizona and it can’t be that cold yet in Wasilla if she is there. It seems Toad was with her, as she kept referring to him, but from where we were standing he was not visible.  She was absolutely a nervous screecher at the beginning, but then she seemed to calm down. She had notes and the content, as usual, kept bouncing from one topic to the next. She was getting tripped up on New Egypt and New Jersey.

One of the Palin kids apparently googled a story for Sarah about a NJ woman from the revolutionary war who was the original mama grizzly. Or something. Palin made an ugly remark about Michele Obama’s video on healthy eating and exercising still being available during the shutdown because “god forbid we get chubby”. Umm, people in the audience were not only chubby, many were downright obese and very unhealthy. In fact, two older ladies near me were almost overcome from standing for two hours and had to keep sitting on their pullout chairs. Palin also made a comment about needing “Leaders, not Tweeters” and I think she said she wrote it on her palm so she wouldn’t forget it. She’s still recycling the same old jokes.

The weather became increasing cloudy as the event went on and it started drizzling when Sarah was screeching. I was hoping for a downpour. She did not speak for very long. She said she and Toad were going to Washington tomorrow for a rally. She mentioned that her PAC was paying for her trip.

I arrived 30 minutes before the scheduled start time, but there was already a crowd and some girl musician was playing god awful racist, treasonous songs that the crowd seemed to be familiar with. The best part about attending this event with my 13 year old son was catching his eye and just laughing internally at the crazy, together. I wish we had arrived 15 minutes earlier to get a better view. I had some signs I was going to flash in her face (tight abs, where is Tri-G’s birth certificate and I know you are not Tri-G’s birth mom)  – but we were not close enough. Maybe another time.

Thanks to my son for accompanying me. He learned a lot today! And thanks to my husband for letting me use his “good camera”.

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Many thanks to our reader Comeonpeople for this insightful "Boots on the Ground" report!

Here are more pictures which she shot at this event (click on all pictures to enlarge):

More screenshots from Sarah Palin's screech are included in this comment by annes_123.

Our reader "Caribou "PAYCUT" Barbie™" found the "pic of the day." See the slideshow with more pictures HERE (h/t honestingov).

Sarah's full screech in New Egypt can be watched here.

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UPDATE:

The website "NJ.com" posted an excellent photo of the crowd at this event - and as you can see, it really is nothing to write home about:

Erik Larsen, reporter for the Asbury Park Press in Ocean County, who live tweeted the event, estimated that there were 1000 people in the crowd (h/t BellPeppery):

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UPDATE 2:

Sarah Palin is very busy these days. Just having cashed in her usual outrageous speaking fee from the "Tea Party Express", the corporate-funded fake grassroots organisation, she is now in Washington DC together with Ted Cruz, protesting against the shutdown, for which the teabaggers are actually solely responsible. This very much reminds me of the old Nazi-tactic: We promise to get rid of the chaos we ourselves created. But will this strategy also work in the USA in the year 2013? Very doubtful.

America Blog reports:

As if the Republican party didn’t have enough troubles, Sarah Palin has now emerged as the new face of the GOP government shutdown.

Yes, there really is a God.

Palin joined GOP Tea Party Senator, and shutdown leader, Ted Cruz and other Tea Party supporters of the GOP’s shutdown of the federal government in a “million vet march” to protest the fact that the government has actually been shut down.

Point of fact: Neither Palin nor Cruz have actually served in the military, and both support the GOP government shutdown which closed the WWII memorial. But don’t let that get in the way of a good visual.

Palin on the shutdown earlier:

“Let government chill for a little bit.”

Palin said Republicans should not “fear some kind of government shutdown.” She then emphasized that Republicans must “stand firm,” “not blink,” and not “allow the media to drive this whole narrative” that a shutdown would be bad for Republicans.

Palin said that a shutdown would allow the American people to realize “how irrelevant the federal government could and should be in our lives.”

And now she’s leading a protest of the shutdown she supported. Adorable.

Here is a picture of Sarah Palin appearing together with Ted Cruz today in Washington DC:

From left to right: Senator Mike Lee (red tie), Sarah Palin (wig), 
Ted Cruz (brokeback mountain jacket, in honour of Peter Thiel, his favourite openly-gay billionaire backer)

"Million Vet March"...? Really?

As Kathleen pointed out in the comments:

Not to make too fine a point about it but surely a "million vet march" should have millions of vets marching and not a few thousand vets standing around. Just sayin'!

Well, more like thousands of "teabaggers", not "vets." In any case: Sarah Palin is not a vet, her husband is also not a vet, and Ted "Harvard/Princeton preferred" Cruz is definitely not a vet either. Let the "non-vets" lead the "vets." Yes, truly adorable!

No surprise: As Linda1961 explained in the comments, the march of the "real vets" will only be on Tuesday. Today was just the photo opportunity for the teabaggers.

One last comment: I actually did not believe that it would be possible that the teabaggers, who were already "politically dead", could bring the world to the brink of a global economic crisis. Unfortunately, "the world" never cared too much about the teabaggers, despite the fact that there always was a lot to discover.

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Another photo from today of "The Three Stooges" Sarah Palin, Mike Lee and Ted Cruz (h/t annettek):