HEADS SOMEPLACE OTHER THAN IN THIS GAME…SPLIFFICATED?

The presumptive GOP presidential candidate, Donald J. Trump, is still catching flak for his posting of the video on Truth Social, of a pickup truck’s tailgate with the image of President Biden hog-tied, gagged, and lying in the bed of the truck, in his continuing subtle hints of violence against his detractors. Michael Steele, former chair of the RNC, warned of what’s to come with the cast of characters Trump is assembling for his return to the presidency and a return to power. Steele says, “All hell’s gonna break loose. This is all in and the team will be out and about enforcing a strategy that will take no prisoners and I don’t think people really appreciate exactly what we are going to be in for.” The former president is reportedly talking to Corey Lewandowski and Paul Manafort who advised him in his 2016 campaign, in addition to campaign consultant Roger Stone who earned a pardon from Trump upon his exit from the Oval Office in 2021. Steele chides Democrats who are “still walking around with their heads someplace other than in this game,” despite the fact that The Don has told us exactly what he wants to do in his second term where he will declare his absolute power. Roger Stone has been a frequent visitor to Mar-a-Lago, as has Paul Manafort who is expected to set up rules control of the GOP convention to ensure a smooth flow with no slippages, or unwanted nominations and controversies.

The state of Ohio threatens to hog-tie Biden with a conflict in the late scheduling of the Democratic Party convention on August 19. According to Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, a state statute requires certification of candidates nominated by party conventions by August 7, which would be on or before the ninetieth day before the day of the general election. LaRose failed to mention that the RNC in 2020 held its nominating convention in late August of that year in the letter sent to his state’s Democratic Party which read, “I am left to conclude that the Democratic National Committee must either move up its nominating convention, or the Ohio General Assembly must act by May 9, 2024 to create an exception to this statutory requirement.” In a recent opinion piece, Secretary LaRose criticized “cravenly partisan” officials who sought to keep Trump off their state ballots for inciting the J6 insurrection in DC, and warning that the US Supreme Court’s overruling of the Colorado’s Supreme Court’s attempt to disqualify Trump from that state’s ballot did not go far enough because it still allows secretaries of state to block candidates. He wrote, “Fortunately, the US Supreme Court put its foot down on the abuses of authority, but the matter remains unresolved as it relates to non-federal candidates.” The Biden-Harris campaign reports, “We’re monitoring the situation in Ohio and we’re confident that Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states.”

In his radio interview with conservative host Hugh Hewitt, Trump insinuated that Biden uses cocaine, referring to the president’s State of the Union speech when he delivered a notable, fiery message to the nation and before Congress. Trump accused Biden of being “higher than a kite,” and called for him to be “drug-tested” before he will even consider having a debate prior to the election. A baggie of cocaine was discovered in a heavily-trafficked area at the White House last year, and Trump is pointing fingers at both Hunter and his dad as the culprits, though the Secret Service found no evidence linking it to anyone. Hewitt asked Trump if he believes Biden is open to a debate, to which he replied, “I don’t think so, but I hope he does…I think something is going on there, because he was all jacked up at the start of the SOU speech, and did a poor job, and by the end, he was fading fast. There’s something going on there. I want a drug test.” Biden has said that a debate would depend on the former president’s “behavior,” recalling that Trump also asked for a Biden drug test prior to their debates in 2020. RNC chair, Lara Trump, said on Newsmax, “Joe Biden needs to be asked multiple questions about a whole host of different things going on in this country and around the world. He has a lot of answers to give the American people. I can only assume he doesn’t have the answers to the questions that he will be asked.”

Trump continues to rail against his legal troubles, particularly after the New York judge scheduled his hush money trial to start on April 15, and in spite of his efforts to postpone the case. His characterization of the scheduling is “election interference” that should not be allowed during a campaign season. Calling the cases against him “ridiculous” and “a shame,” he said, “I don’t know how you can have a trial that’s going on right in the middle of an election. Not fair. It’s not fair at all,” as he blamed President Biden, with no evidence, for pushing the trials forward while taking away as much money as possible from the campaign funds. Trump maintains he has “no problem testifying” in a trial, even as it’s being appealed by his attorneys. Reporters asked if a conviction would derail his reelection bid, with the former president suggesting it could have a positive effect. “It could also make me more popular, because the people know it’s a scam,” which brought forth a Biden campaign statement calling Trump “weak and desperate.” Biden campaign spokesperson, James Singer, commented, “His campaign can’t raise money, he is uninterested in campaigning outside his country club, and every time he opens his mouth, he pushes moderate and suburban voters away with his dangerous agenda. America deserves better than a feeble, confused, and tired Donald Trump.”

MAGA propagandist, Charlie Kirk, of Turning Point USA, refusing to admit that women can think for themselves, has an interesting theory on why young women tend to vote Democratic …birth control pills cause brain damage! To a crowd at a recent church event streamed on Rumble, the far-right web site, he claims the pill “increases depression, anxiety…and suicidal ideation. It creates very angry and bitter young ladies and young women which manifests itself into a political party that is the bitter party. I mean, the Democrat Party is all about ‘bring us your bitterness and, you know, we’ll give you free stuff.” This from a MAGAt whose entire pitch is bitterness! Research shows that the pill affects half a percent, or 1 in 200 women, so Kirk’s bad math demonstrates why he dropped out of community college…sorry, Charlie, your figures are nothing but a MAGA lie! However, these same lies are a part of a disinformation campaign financed by billionaire Peter Thiel, whose teams of messengers falsely claim that hormonal birth control “tricked our bodies into dysfunction and pain,” which according to doctors, is precipitating a health care crisis in fearful women now seeking valid medical advice. MAGA leaders don’t care for birth control as it gives women freedom and opportunities…or as ‘Kinky’ Friedman’s song asserts, “Get your biscuits in the oven and your buns in bed!” Kirk and his cohorts are only recapping a typical right-wing deceit of being chivalrous, with the underlying message being that women don’t have the mental capacity to handle freedom, and male control would make them happy.

The angry male population realizes that they have a hard sell, politically and legally, so to hide their sadism, it’s touted as “protecting women” from health risks. The fake science rule book used for decades regarding abortion, with mandatory waiting periods and fallacious claims for ‘medically necessary restrictions’ is mostly fabricated nonsense, but anti-choice advocates are not giving up on their “alternative facts.” US Supreme Court MAGA mouthpieces, Alito and Thomas, are digging into the Victorian Era legislation of the Comstock Act, an 1873 anti-sex law that was never repealed and hasn’t been enforced in decades. Revival of this law is being loudly bandied about in right-wing circles, as a way for a re-elected Donald Trump to unilaterally ban abortion without having too ask GOP congress members to take an unpopular vote to ban abortion. This all-encompassing act ignores details regarding health and safety, as it bans abortion and many aspects of human sexuality from contraception to nudes in art, and forbids shipment of every “obscene, lewd, lasciviousness, indecent, filthy, vile article, matter, thing, device, or substance.” All sex education was outlawed, even for married couples…and no sharing of information! So long Michaelangelo, James Joyce and Anais Nin!

Misogynist Anthony Comstock, responsible for the Act, operated in the same mode as Charlie Kirk does at present. Comstock liked to brag about how many women he had driven to suicide in prosecuting them for aiding others to get reproductive health care or explaining the mechanics of sex to newlyweds; indeed, he gloried in his claim that he had forced 15 women to take their lives within the first five years of the bill’s existence. MAGAts are hesitant to give Comstock much glory, instead expressing a false concern about imaginary damage caused by the pill taken by women who are too dim-witted to be trusted to make rational decisions. Right wingers want women to be punished, which reflects their fears that women are managing quite well with freedom and equality in reality. Male fear and anger is being borne out in the streets of New York City with women being punched in the face at random, an alarming occurrence which may or not be coordinated assaults. The assailants are men of varying races and ages, the victims mostly young and attractive who were just going about their business, talking to friends, reading books or viewing their cell phones. And that may be the impetus for the attack: the angry man is indignant that he isn’t the subject of the woman’s gaze, so he gives her no choice but to look at him, in fear…how dare she concentrate on something apart from his wonderfulness! Simply a tidal wave unleashed by Donald Trump and his MAGA base! MAGA misogynists are having a hissy fit as they attempt to recapture male dominance, but the fear is that women aren’t buckling under to the bullying as they are supposed to do…women owe them nothing for their maleness! This male aggressiveness is pathetic and scary, a last gasp of macho men who are unable to justify their sexism except through thuggish behavior…and women aren’t knuckling under.

On the Palmer Report, Bocha Blue writes that the Trump campaign team is rattled that the female electorate cannot stand Donald Trump, and their candidate continues to make himself even more repulsive, discarding any chance he has to make changes. A recent Quinnipiac poll shows that female voters are crumbling away from the former president, with almost 60% favoring Biden. In the 2020 election, Biden got 55% of the women’s vote, so we are seeking a shift, in all likelihood, from attitudes over abortion and IVF. Blue sees Trump’s support falling even further as the New York criminal trial exposes (so to speak) the Don’s reported liaison with porn star, Stormy Daniels, after Melania had just given birth to Barron. The campaign team fears that further erosion may occur with Evangelical women who won’t be happy about his infidelity…naah, that ain’t gonna happen…the Orange Messiah must have a reasonable explanation? He is making his misogynistic situation even worse by attacking Fani Willis, E. Jean Carroll and Letitia James as his bullying continues on Truth Social, prompting Blue to say, “He might as well be wearing a t-shirt that says, ‘Women Don’t Matter To Me.’” In his arrogance, Trump is ignoring his advisors which may cost him dearly in November…yep, keep chasing those women…away!

And speaking of turned-off females, Melania Trump turned up at a campaign fundraiser in Palm Beach at the home of billionaire John Paulson on Saturday after being a no-show at a Friday event where she was to receive a “Child Advocacy Award.” Her husband accepted the award on her behalf. Some weighed in with their observations that she was “checking the clock”a and had little interest in being at the Saturday event, looking as if “she’s in a hostage video. Blink twice if you need help.” Mike Sington, Senior Executive at NBCUniversal, posted a photo of the Trump couple, writing, “Melania Trump looks thrilled as ever to be with Donald Trump at his fundraiser in Florida last night.” This marks the second public appearance by the former first-lady on the campaign trail, which reportedly raked in over $50M for the Trump coffers. “It took three Democrat presidents to raise $25M, and one president to raise over $50M, Donald J. Trump,” said spokesperson Danielle Alvarez in her statement afterwards. Around 100 wealthy guests showed, paying $250,000 each to be on the “host committee” and up to $824,000 each to serve as “chairman” and earning a seat at Trump’s table at dinner. No word from the fly on the wall who was busy eating ketchup, with no concern about helping his bottom line or protecting democracy.

Luckily, Lauren Boebert wasn’t invited to the fundraiser, and she may be short-changed for all future events after her behavior at a December event headlined by Trump, according to CNN. The servers refused to“bring her any more alcohol” as she had obviously been “over-served,” as in blitzed, tanked, whiffed, or splifficated. Her attempts to take selfies with Trump finally caused his security detail to intervene, telling her to knock it off. CNN’s Kasie Hunt reported, “This is how it went down and I want to remind viewers here that this came a few months after she got in trouble and had to apologize for her conduct at a Denver theater performance of Beetlejuice, getting kicked out for vaping and being loud, all on security footage. There was much than vaping!” MAGATs seem to have lost control of this woman…look on the good side, perhaps.

Dateline March 18, 2024

NUCLEAR CODES AND RAGIN’ BEDLAM IN THE PIT OF FIRE

‘Ragin’ Cajun’ James Carville is still undoubtedly dodging the slings and arrows of Democratic Party honchos, and women in particular. In a recent not-politically correct interview with New York Times columnist, Maureen Dowd, the freewheeling, outspoken Democratic strategist declared that “preachy females” are driving some men from the Democratic side who feel they aren’t being acknowledged by the feminine, ‘woke’ messaging. Carville feels the condescension is telling men “Don’t drink beer, watch football, or eat hamburgers…but eat your peas.” He takes offense that “party elites” are putting too much emphasis on the power of women, in particular women of color, in deciding election outcomes…“well, 48% of voters are males…where’s the consideration?” He has concern about the electorate pointing to President Biden’s age and the low approval ratings, but he has nothing but praise for the incumbent, saying, “He is tenacious, has had a real life, and doesn’t have an iota of elitism. When I look at these polling numbers, it’s like walking in on your grandma naked. You can’t get that image out of your mind.” Carville is noted for his marriage to the Republican assistant and consultant to President George W. Bush and VP Dick Cheney, Mary Matalin, who founded Threshold Editions, a conservative publishing imprint of Simon and Schuster. Matalin is currently on the syndicated radio show, Both Sides Now with Huffington and Matalin, aired on 120 stations each weekend. A couple of preachy women, without question.

Pundits are theorizing which major party presidential campaign will be hurt most by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. since he has now chosen Nicole Shanahan as his third-party  running mate. Shanahan is an unknown, but her selection will now allow Kennedy to be placed on the ballot in those states that require a complete ticket for ballot access. There will be much legal maneuvering and signature-gathering in other states to qualify for the ballot, a time-consuming and expensive process, but Shanahan’s wealth will undoubtedly be a factor as they go forward. She has spent extravagantly on Kennedy’s campaign already, footing the bill for the much-criticized Super Bowl ad that used JFK’s imagery from the 1960 presidential campaign. So far, only the states of Utah, New Hampshire and Hawaii will have RFK, Jr. on their ballots, and the 15,000 signatures he collected in Nevada may be for nought, since he didn’t have a VP candidate’s name on the filing document…back to square one according to the Nevada secretary of state. This doesn’t seem to show the sort of diligence and efficiency needed in a presidential administration, and Aldous J. Pennyfarthing asks, “How will he navigate his inevitable first-term measles crisis if he can’t even get his ballot signatures right? You can’t mix the measles kids with the polio kids…It would be medieval medical malpractice. And bedlam. Let’s not forget bedlam.”

St. Patrick’s Day saw the beginning of Biden’s counteroffensive with a photo-op picturing dozens of the Kennedy clan with the president to show their support. RFK, Jr. has downplayed his family’s passionate support for Joe Biden, saying that only a small percentage of his kin think he’s an irresponsible threat to democracy and the health of every last human being on the planet, according to Pennyfarthing. In an interview with Chris Cuomo, Kennedy claimed the photo showed only a small percentage of the family, and they are smiling only because they got to visit the White House, a visit facilitated by him he added, taking credit where none is warranted.

Running mate Shanahan is an East Bay philanthropist and patent attorney, described by Kennedy as a “brilliant scientist” and a “fierce warrior mom,” and his choice was made, in part, for her ability to “identify abuses in our government,” saying she has been “battle-tested” and “overcame every daunting obstacle” to achieve “the American dream.” One of her ‘obstacles’ was her five-year marriage to Google co-founder, Sergey Brin, reportedly severed after her affair with Elon Musk, but which left her with a hefty portfolio of investments, now benefitting Kennedy’s ailing campaign for the foreseeable future. Not to be discounted is the MAGA-backed bankrolling of the campaign for Trump’s advantage. Super PAC, Clear Choice, is attempting to expose ties to Trumpism, including videos of Kennedy saying he’s “proud” that Trump “likes” him, while showing his advocacy of conspiracy theories, his opposition to vaccines, and a history of anti-Black, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-Semitic remarks. Matt Bennett, of public affairs group Third Way, says, “RFK, Jr. and Nicole Shanahan have only one chance of seeing the inside of the Oval Office: if Trump wins and invites them in to say ‘thank you.'”

Chris Devine, co-author of the book ‘Do Running Mates Matter?’ said the choice of Shanahan “is not a pick that bodes well for his campaign. This was an opportunity for him to demonstrate that he could pull together an experienced team with broad appeal, and he hasn’t done that.” Democrats worry that Shanahan will attract some voters because she is a young 38 years old, and a bi-racial woman. She is described as having vague, eccentric political ideas, having bounced from support of Marianne Williamson to Pete Buttigieg to Joe Biden in 2020, and initially criticized Kennedy when he announced his candidacy. She once told The New York Times, “I do think that the increase of vaccine-related injuries is very alarming, and I do think we need to understand the screening mechanisms.” Aldous J. Pennyfarthing is eagerly awaiting word on whether Nicole Shanahan has all her shots.

The big news splash of Easter Week was provided by Mr. Trump when he launched an ad campaign for his newest grift…selling Bibles! Even though his dorky Truth Social going public netted him close to $4B…on paper, at least…he keeps coming up with goofy marketing ideas. His Bible is unique, in that it features Lee Greenwood’s patriotic anthem, ‘God Bless the USA,’ plus copies of the US Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence…and as Hunter writes on Daily Kos, if YOUR Bible doesn’t have those attributes, “you’re probably going straight to Hell, because Jesus isn’t going to put up with it.” This Christian Nationalist-themed book goes for $60 and includes a special note emphasizing that “GodBlessTheUSABible.com is not owned, managed or controlled by Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization, CIC Ventures LLC or any of their respective principals or affiliates.” It’s a bit shady but it doesn’t say that Trump is NOT getting a portions of the proceeds, but using his name, likeness and image is never free for anyone. Hunter says, “You could give this guy all the money in the world, and he’d still be staring into the camera, droning out a Krusty the Clown-level endorsement of a Trump-branded steak, or bottled water or godawful shoes.” The ballyhooed “handwritten” chorus of Greenwood’s hit song may be written in Sharpie, so beware!

The Bible rollout was timed for Easter, though buyers will have a four to six week wait due to “high order volume.” Public responses have called the Trump endorsement “sacrilege,” “heresy,” and “borderline offensive” while citing lessons from the Bible that suggest taking advantage of people’s faith for money should be condemned. Originally, the ‘GBTUSA’ Bible was published in 2021, with HarperCollins passing on the chance to be publisher. EliteSource Pro, is the current marketing company, which has yet to comment. The media was quick to jump on this rollout: on The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon joked that Trump’s Bible venture is like former VP Pence trying to sell the erotic novel, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey;‘ MSNBC’S Nicolle Wallace said, “This is also a fraud. I mean, if he were selling waterbeds or condoms, fine.” Wallace then pulled up a 2015 clip in which Trump refused to name a verse from his “favorite book,” and claimed that he liked the Old and New Testaments “probably equal.” Wallace’s guest commentator, Democratic strategist, Basil Smikle, questioned how in one breath the Bible could be Trump’s favorite book and in another, he’s keeping “speeches of Adolf Hitler on his bedside.” “Probably equal!” Wallace declares.

Smikle observes that this Bible hawking “mimics the behavior of a televangelist,” and those in his political base are funding his lifestyle…not sending him to the White House, but to the golf course. Trump’s niece, Mary, tweeted that, “He’s never prayed in his life…if that were a real Bible, it would burst into a ball of flame.” Joy Behar of The View commented, “The last time he was on his knees, he was picking up a french fry.” Saturday Night Live’s cold open, with James Austin Johnson playing Trump, noted, “It’s Easter…the time of year when I compare myself to Jesus Christ. That’s just the thing I do now and people seem to be okay with it. I’m gonna keep doing it. And if you think that this is a bad look, imagine how weird it would be if I started selling Bibles. Well, I’m selling Bibles, this beautiful Bible made from 100% Bible.” Johnson ended the bit with the Lord’s Prayer: “Our father who are in heaven. Hallowed, beep, beep, beep, bing, bing, bing bong, trespass, daily bread…” SNL’s Weekend Update co-anchor, Colin Jost, commented, “This Bible is mostly the same, but Trump’s version ends with Jesus’ disciples storming Jerusalem to overturn the results of the crucifixion.” Jost made note that Lee Greenwood’s ‘God Bless the USA’ lyrics were included, “And, I assume, God’s letter of resignation.” And, The Borowitz Report divulges that the first printing of Trump’s Bible hit a snag when it was found to include stolen nuclear codes, the error appearing in the book of Genesis, where Noah starts shouting random numbers for no reason as he loads animals into the ark. Borowitz reports, “Trump is furious that he has to take the nuclear codes out of the Bible…it’s the only part he’s read.”