9,999,950 "Patriot" No-Shows In D.C.

The blog Raw Story has had the most extensive coverage of the wingnut wingding that was supposed to have drawn "10 to 30 million patriots" to Washington, D.C. yesterday to make public idiots of themselves overthrow Osamabama's gubmint tyranny and install "tribunals" of right wingers to run the nation….all Constitutionally, of course.  Well, the "patriots" must have gotten lost on their way to D.C., because the turnout wasn't enough to fill a Cracker Barrel store.  Not to worry:  a twitter site has been set up to 'splain the massive flop:  #AmericanSpringexcuses.  It's hilarious.  Rachel Maddow also took a swing at the seditious saps on her program last night.

While we can mock the pathetic turnout and mindlessness of people who think they're defending the Constitution by overthrowing the Government elected under the Constitution, it's disturbing that this level of ignorance and rage has grown exponentially since America elected its first African-American president.  We can laugh, but we can't ignore.

(photo:  They'll need a smaller gubmint to overthrow)

Letters We Wish We'd Written Dept.

At the risk of perpetuating what the letter writer rightly skewers the once great Washington Post  Bezos Bugle for,  here's a Letter We Wish We'd Written anyway:

After more than three years as a Post subscriber, I think I finally understand the newspaper’s editorial policy: Someone prominent makes a statement, and, no matter how outrageous or false, it becomes a peg for a news article to hang on. 

Case in point: Karl Rove suggested that Hillary Rodham Clinton might have suffered brain damage in a fall she took in December 2012. Rove said she was in a hospital for 30 days (actually, three) and that when she emerged she wore “glasses that are only for people who have traumatic brain injury” (actually, they were her regular glasses).

Rather than treat this as the nonsense it was, The Post published a serious analysis asking whether Clinton’s age and health will be an issue in the 2016 presidential election [news, May 14]. Mind you, Clinton is not yet a candidate for that election. 

Rove must be delighted. Thanks to The Post, people are now discussing her age and health rather than why he continues to get a hearing in a serious newspaper. 

I can’t wait for the next two years to be over. 

Robert Rothman, Washington

Of course, the Bugle is not alone in catapulting Rove's nonsense to a national audience.  As Mr. Rothman notes, the media has already done Rove's job for him by getting people to talk about another non-issue.  It's a given by now that the "mainstream media" will continue to breathlessly report on any lie, smear, or crackpot conspiracy that someone, somewhere pulled out of their heinie -- the more outrageous, the better it seems.  (It's a lot more edgy than a report on global climate change;  who wants to hear about that again?!)  The same editorial "standards" that prompted the Bugle, CNN, etc., etc., to dissect Rove's patently absurd "diagnosis" operate every day in the ratings-obsessed, gutless,  "not my job to sort out the facts" (i.e., the "Chuck Todd maxim") newsrooms across the nation.  If you want to assign responsibility for the decline in American political discourse, look no further than that.

Weekend Song Bird

Normally, the song we'd bring you for the weekend would more likely be by The Byrds rather than... the birds.  But there are few creatures with as evocative and memorable a song as a wood thrush.  At some point, if you live in the United States east of the Great Plains, you might have heard the wood thrush on a summer stroll in the woods -- it's a sound that brings back memories of sun-dappled forests of childhood for us. We hope you enjoy the song, and your weekend.

Today's Dispatch From The Stupid...Er...Crazy Party - "Idaho, Do You?" Edition

Our regular fellow-banging-his-head "Dispatch..." gif got exhausted (brain trauma?) after watching the recent gubernatorial debate featuring four candidates for the Republican/ New Confederate/ Stupid/ Crazy Party nomination in Idaho.  The debate featured two representatives of the Republican base (the aptly named Harley Brown and Walt Bayes) and two politicians (Gov. Bruce "Proud Member of the Weasel Family" Otter and State Sen. Russ Fulcher). Rather than subject viewers to the entire 1-hour debate, this supercut version is lighting up the internet toobs:

Millions Haven't Descended on Washington Yet

As we noted yesterday ("Freaky Friday"), 10 to 30 million "patriots" were expected to descend on Washington, D.C. today to lynch President Obama take over the un-Constitutional government of B. Hussein Osamabama, or something.  We didn't notice any coverage in the lame stream media (the formerly great Washington Post Bezos Bugle didn't even notice the 10 to 30 million "patriots" in the Local D.C. section).  Ditto with all of the radio and TV channels.  So, what gives?  Hold on, we're getting some photos of the patriotic millions (via Raw Story):

OK, the guy with a cross is a good start.  Anything else?

We'll count the two in the middle as equivalent to four "patriots."  That's seven counting the guy with the cross.

Nonetheless, these "patriots" will be working up a ferocious appetite later -- especially the two in the middle, above -- because taking down the gubmint is hard work.  So we were worried, especially after we saw this tweet that made us even more concerned:

Hope overthrow gov't thing doesn't turn ugly at 5:00 when 30,000,000 "patriots" ready for dinner realize DC doesn't have a Cracker Barrel.
— Col. Morris Davis (@ColMorrisDavis) May 16, 2014

BONUS:  Charles Johnson has more pictures (and hilarious tweets) of Operation American Sproing! here.

Rethug Crime Blotter, I'm "OK" Edition

Former Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Chad Alexander was arrested on possession of cocaine and a controlled substance (oxycontin) without a prescription, after a traffic stop for driving erratically in Oklahoma City.  Next stop, rehab and redemption.

Alexander blamed his "drug dependency" on the stress of his lobbying job and "duties" associated with being a single father ("duties?" Is he being forced?).  Also, check out one of his lobbying clients:  The Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

(mugshot:  "Hey, boys and girls, this is your brain on drugs!")

Turdblossom's Sh*tty Diagnosis

The irrational fear of Hillary Clinton's possible candidacy for President in 2016 is rampant on the right.  The Rethuglican House Select Committee to Smear Hillary Clinton on Benghazi Benghazi! BENGHAZI!! is the primary attack vehicle on her tenure as Secretary of State.  Then we have the pond scum-level attacks that emanate from the likes of Karl "Turdblossom" Rove, the most recent being the nasty, false insinuation that she suffers brain damage from a concussion in 2012.  On The Colbert Report last night, Stephen Colbert delivered a hilarious smack down to Turdblossom's attempted smear.  Enjoy.

The Colbert Report
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Photo of the Day

President and Mrs. Obama, along with former Secretary of State Clinton and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, tour the new National September 11 Memorial Museum in New York, which was dedicated today.

(photo:  K. Lamarque, Reuters)

Some 'Splainin' Is In Order

There's a lot of finger pointing at the New York Times today, after its publisher Arthur Sultzberger, Jr. fired Editor Jill Abramson.  Reports indicate that Abramson was fired for making equal pay demands based on her predecessor's salary.  Sulzberger denies that was the reason for sacking Abramson, mentioning her management style in the newsroom.  If we were to bet, we'd believe Abramson's version, if only for the reason that the newsroom was shocked and dismayed at her dismissal.  Given the nature of the business involved, no one should be surprised if some additional details of the situation surrounding the firing leak out, and more ink is spilled.

UPDATE:  The evidence is mounting that Abramson's been paid far less than her predecessors for a decade.

Freaky Friday

We're reading reports that a collection of wingnuts and other assorted loons are planning a march into Washington, D.C. tomorrow to force President Obama, Vice President Biden, and the top Congressional leaders of both parties to resign.  No, this isn't an Onion story, although it belongs there.

Called "Operation American Spring" (get it?  American Spring / Arab Spring?), the organizers say they've called "10 million patriots" to march on D.C. to lynch the black guy in the White House restore Constitutional government.  Check out this excerpt from their website:

"Those with the principles of a West, Cruz, Dr. Ben Carson, Lee, DeMint, Paul, Gov Walker, Sessions, Gowdy, Jordan, should comprise a tribunal and assume positions of authority to convene investigations, recommend appropriate charges against politicians and government employees to the new U.S. Attorney General appointed by the new President."

It's interesting that all of the people whose "principles" they refer to are on the far, far right.  And where in the Constitution does it permit "tribunals" set up by a mob of angry, ignorant misfits to "assume positions of authority" to rule the U.S.?  What these crackpots are advocating is sedition and rebellion against a Government elected by the people under the terms of the Constitution that they lay claim to as "patriots."  Not to worry.  If the massive flop of last year's similar "Ride for the Constitution" redneck trucker rally was a preview, only a few dozen losers waving tea bagger signs and Confederate flags will show up.

Mid-Week Song

Legendary crooner Frank Sinatra died on this day in 1998 at the age of 82, after one of the most successful careers ever in music and film.  Here's one of his best known hits (best watched full screen).

The Water World Of Marco Rubio

Florida Senator and very thirsty man Marco "Glug Glug" Rubio stated earlier this week that there was nothing we could do about climate change, man made or not, contrary to overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary.  Ironically, the state he represents will be one of the most devastated with the rise of ocean levels resulting from melting polar ice caps and glaciers.  So, after some ridicule was thrown Glug Glug's way, he slightly clarified his ridiculous comment, only to say that yes, the climate was changing, but it always is and man's not responsible.  Or something.  The point is that Glug Glug has to appease the mouth breathing base of his increasingly anti-science party, while not completely alienating independent voters with patent nonsense about climate change.  Meanwhile, Florida's coast will be changing as a result of the climate, whether Glug Glug wants to face it or not.

(photo:  Glug Glug's solution to rising waters)

Tom Toles Twofer

(click to enlarge)

Which is why they've shifted to...

Disclaimer:  Results may vary (but not by much).

(Tom Toles, via gocomics.com)

Bush Alumni Week

The little shrubs are keeping busy:

- "Bush's brain" (an oxymoron if there ever was one) Karl "Turdblossom" Rove is up to his usual, sleazy, lying tricks, suggesting Hillary Clinton suffered a "traumatic brain injury" when she fell and hit her head last year.

- Bush speechwriter and current once great Washington Post Bezos Bugle pundit Michael "Mushroom Cloud" Gerson, is confoozed about the curious anti-science fever abounding in the land, without (as Charles P. Pierce points out) ever mentioning the word "Republican."

- Bush speechwriter and torture apologist Marc Thiessen (another Bezos Bugle hire, to its everlasting shame) is beating yet another Benghazi! dead horse:  where was Obama during the attack on the consulate?  Where would you have liked for him to have been, and what difference would that have made, you criminal asshat?

Why We Love Elizabeth Warren - Part Infinity

Here's an excerpt from Sen. Elizabeth Warren's blog on the Republicans' Benghazi! kangaroo court:

As a Senator, I take oversight seriously because it is powerfully important. But Trey Gowdy gives oversight a bad name. The House GOP is on a waste-of-time-and-resources witch hunt and fundraising sideshow, shamefully grasping for any straw to make President Obama, former Secretary Clinton, or Secretary Kerry look bad. This stunt does a disservice to those who serve our country abroad, and it distracts us from issues we should be taking up on behalf of the American people. 

With millions of people still out of work and millions more working full time yet still living below the poverty line, with students drowning in debt, with roads and bridges crumbling, is this really what the House Republicans are choosing to spend their time on? Even for guys who have so few solutions to offer that they have voted 54 times to repeal Obamacare, this is a new low.   

House Republicans are doing whatever they can to distract the American people from what's really going on in Washington – a rigged system that works great for those who have armies of lobbyists and lawyers but that leaves everyone else behind. A system in which Republicans protect tax breaks for billionaires while they block increases in the minimum wage for millions of people who work full time and live in poverty. A system in which Republicans give away billions of dollars in subsidies to Big Oil while making billions in profits off of our kids' student loans. 

It's wrong, and it's shameful.

We two Marylanders would gladly commit voter fraud to vote for this person.