History Is Calling!

 

The presidential horserace is rounding the curve into the final stretch now.  For the record, here are some video snapshots of what it's all about. There's no good reason for anyone of sound mind to be confused or unsure of what's at stake now: democracy with all its messes and successes, or a dictatorship of fools, frauds, and fanatics. 

The choice is yours, my fellow Americans.  But be careful, very careful, what you wish for.

[I sent the above video to M.P. overnight.  His reply was, "What a vile vulgar swine of a creature it is." and further unprintable remarks.]

 

Rachel says it's now or never to claim your place in history: 

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Trump Promises "You Won't Have to Vote Anymore" if He's Elected

Chilling words.  Of course he means what he says.  And Christianity has nothing to do with it.

 

His Christianist followers say we Democrats are inciting violence against Trump by saying mean things about him, like he's a dictator and a threat to democracy. 

As if that's just some ridiculous notion we dreamed up out of thin air. 

Listen to his words. Read His Lips. 

He is the golden idol of a massive cult, and his followers are chugging down the Kool-Aid. 

We just can't let American history end this way. 

Vote!  While you still can.

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Trae Crowder Rips Vance

Your Head Trucker doesn't necessarily agree with every word that comes out of Trae Crowder's rude, crude mouth - but what he says about his old drinking buddy J. D. is certainly noteworthy.  Funny, too.

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Rachel Maddow: Worst-Case Scenario

First, today's headline from the New York Daily News:

Cf. Trump's statement, January 23, 2016:
I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody 
and I wouldn’t lose voters.

Last night, Rachel Maddow, in typical melodramatic style, explored the damning implications of Saturday's indictment of Russian agent Maria Butina, in a segment worth watching:

Today's Chuckle: Roswell

New Yorker cartoon by Pat Byrnes;
click to enlarge.

Millions Flee Obamacare

As everyone knows, Obamacare starts open enrollment today, and House Assholes Republicans were unable to force its postponement in last-minute voting overnight. Consequently, the Interstates are jammed all across America today as tearful, angry, bewildered Tea Partiers desperately seek an escape route. Staff humorist Andy Borowitz reports on the wild scenes playing out across the country in the New Yorker - a must read:

Millions Flee Obamacare

Meanwhile, all you liberal sheeple, as we are so graciously known by the demented lemmings on the Right, can go enroll in a low-cost health care plan at HealthCare.gov right now - no matter where you live in the country. Even if your state has officially rejected Obamacare and all that goes with it, you can still get coverage. Even if, like me, you live in Bumfuck, Texas.

Horrifying, isn't it?

Related news: In his inimitable way, Jon Stuart skewers and roasts the intransigent Republicans who have now forced the federal government to shut down, with about a million employees out of work immediately, with no pay, and at a cost to the economy of billions of dollars in suspended government services.

I can't get the episode to embed properly, but go watch it here.

I say kudos to the President and the Democratic leadership for having the balls to stand up to the sorry bastards. We saw in the debt-ceiling crisis of 2011 that playing Mr. Nice Guy just doesn't work with these thugs. The one-year Obamacare delay is just a ruse - they will keep postponing every year from now till Kingdom Come if they get away with it this time.

Oh but don't worry - all your Congresspeeps continue to get paid their $174,000 annual salaries right on schedule, of course. And enjoy full coverage of their platinum-plated government-sponsored health care plans - totally free of charge.

What's wrong with this fucking picture?

Independence Day 2013

Cartoons from NPR.


Ya know fellas, your Head Trucker ain't no spring chicken anymore, and can't keep up with what all those crazy kids are doing these days. But over the weekend I ran across this number sung by some little girl who isn't half bad - she has a mature, powerful voice, and I think she should keep up with her singing, she might even make a career out of it one day.

And normally I don't like anyone messing around with the National Anthem - but I'll make an exception in this particular case, and I think you boys will like it too. Enjoy, and have a good one now, ya hear?




And then there's a voice from the past:

Excerpt from a letter by Thomas Jefferson, June 24, 1826, declining with regret an invitation to attend the 50th Independence Day celebrations in Washington, D. C. (spelling and capitalization as per the original):

may it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the Signal of arousing men to burst the chains, under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings & security of self-government. that form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion.

all eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. the general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view. the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of god. these are grounds of hope for others. for ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.

By a curious chance, Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, a few hours before his friend and fellow co-signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams.

From the National Archives via Andrew Sullivan.


Update, July 5:   Hey pardners, check out the fabulous light show at the Empire State Building last night:

Eternal Flame, Eternal Flake

And be advised: Santorum says he will invalidate the more than 150,000 same-sex marriages now existing if only he gets the chance.

Cartoon: Honk to David Mixner.

Republicans, We Need to Talk

Hilarious must-read:  Hunter over at Daily Kos pulls an intervention on the mega-crackhead Republican Party, explaining why they need non-conservatives' help:

We are the only thing that stands between you and your slow, sad slide into the fantasy world you've created, a world full of communists, an upside-down land where tax hikes become tax cuts and vice versa, every damn time, a land where a healthcare reform effort that was modeled on previous Republican pipe dreams is now the most horrible scary leftist thing you've ever heard of. You need someone to slap your face, good and hard, and say a national goddamn sales tax is not what Republicans are supposed to stand for, you dumbass. You need someone to grab you by the shoulder and ask you, are you sure you want to go home with this guy who, according to a bunch of other people, you probably shouldn't even be left alone with?

You need someone who will look at you, and look at Rick Perry, and look back to you and say really? Really, this is what you've been reduced to?

This is a long, long walk of shame you are on, my Republican friends, and there is a comically regressive 9-9-9 tax plan stuck to the bottom of your shoe, and everyone is looking at you with the sort of looks that say they don't know whether to just feel sorry for you or finally call someone to have you carted off for your own good. And we're thinking that maybe even if you end up with Mitt Romney, maybe that's not so bad: He doesn't love you, he doesn't respect you, hell, he barely even knows you, but at least we know he probably won't blow up your house for the insurance money. Well, we're pretty sure, anyway. Probably.

This is an intervention. Seek help. Seek a new savior. Hell, do anything: Just don't make us watch this anymore.

.
Cartoon:  Self-deprecate.com

Fundamentals

Whom do you trust to lead the country out of this economic hellhole? Check out Mark Fiore's animated political cartoon on the economic collapse and the Republican ticket's brilliance on this subject.