Rump's Latino Con And Alt Right Anger

Yesterday, neo-fascist latino-basher Donald "Rump" Trump met with his own useful idiots Hispanic Advisory Council and assured them that he'll say anything to win  he was looking for a "humane and efficient" way of dealing with millons of undocumented immigrants. (ed.: No details on whether this meant putting chairs in the cattle cars or providing life jackets for those swimming back over the Rio Grande). Anyone thinking Rump has any clue as to what is "humane" should go back in the cave they've been living in.

Few, if any, latinos outside of that "council" of paid hacks believe Rump has any desire or plan to seek such a solution, but his rabid, white nationalist, Alt Right base is already steaming about his perceived flip-flop.  The changing tone highlights the schizophrenic nature of his new "management" team which is torn between the bullhorn (Breitbart nut Steve Bannon) and the dog whistle (shark-like spinner Kellyanne Conway). Some conservatives are smelling another Rump con, one that has already escaped the notice of our broken political media looking for a horse race:

As media scramble to figure out Trump's evolving position on immigration, remember he cares *only* about feeding his ego. Policy irrelevant.

— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) August 21, 2016

Rump will play this game as long as he has media dupes who won't ask him for particulars, and who won't mention that nothing in the Rethuglican / New Confederate / Stupid party's platform regarding immigration reform has changed.

BONUS:  Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog has more on this.

Great Moments In Republican Photo Ops (Message: We Care!)

Look, it's neo- fascist narcissist shitgibbon Donald "Rump" Trump doing his best to appear "presidential!" and ... caring.  This time, it's in flood- ravaged Louisiana, where (against the wishes of the state's Governor) he and running mate Mike "Dense" Pence dropped by to wave, give some tiny thumbs up, sign some Rump swag (!) and have their pictures taken unloading food water medical supplies Play Doh for all of 49 seconds, in their latest acts of selfless sacrifice. ("Mmmm, Play Doh... that'll stick to your ribs, kids!")

Here, kids. Make Gumby and Pokey out of this Play Doh and they'll rebuild your home. pic.twitter.com/LbaPkWuKCp

— Al Giordano (@AlGiordano) August 20, 2016

Reminds us of another act of selfless sacrifice by a Republican who just happened to be washing dishes that had already been washed, just in time for the cameras:

(Photo: Mary Altaffer, AP)

Saints, they are.

If you really want to help (photo op not included), go here (and thank you).

Sunday Reflection - "I Was Born Here"

“I think his words are very dangerous.  When these types of comments are made, no one thinks about how they really affect people. I’m African American. I don’t have another home to go to. My family was born here. I was born here. I’ve grown up in Jersey. All my family’s from Jersey. It’s like, well, where do we go?” --  Ibtihaj Muhammad, bronze medalist in the team sabre competition and the first American competing as a Muslim to win a medal in Olympics history, on neo- fascist hatemonger Donald "Rump" Trump's Islamophobic hate speech.  We're proud and fortunate to have people like Ms. Muhammad as fellow Americans. People like Donald Trump?  Not so much.

"What I Say Is What I Say"

The Clinton campaign's perfect rejoinder to neo-fascist liar Donald "Rump" Trump's cynical non- apology earlier this week. Keep hitting him hard.

Racist Sheriff Faces Criminal Contempt Charges

Federal District Judge Murray Snow is seeking criminal contempt charges for the notorious wingnut sheriff of Maricopa County, AZ, Joe "The Profiler" Arpaio for refusing to obey a court order in May to cease the profiling of latinos in his county. In referring the case to Federal prosecutors, Judge Snow wrote:

"There is also probable cause to believe that many if not all of the statements were made in an attempt to obstruct any inquiry into their further wrongdoing and negligence."

Thus, on top of violating the original order, the renegade sheriff also obstructed the investigation into whether he and his lieutenants were continuing to violate the order and gave false statements in the matter, resulting in the criminal contempt charge.

Arpaio, who spoke at the Rethuglican National Convention, and who vocally supports neo-fascist demagogue Donald "Rump" Trump, is also a "birther" who insists that President Obama is not a U.S. citizen. Some outside of Arizona may also know that Joe the Profiler adopted the practice of dressing his jail's inmates in pink underwear and housing them outside in tents in the hot Arizona climate. Perhaps now, he'll have an opportunity to wear those pink undies that he likes to humiliate his prisoners with.

Trump's Phony "Outreach" To African Americans

As our friend P.E.C. noted this morning in a comment, neo- fascist white nationalist Donald "Rump" Trump's recent ludicrous "outreach" to African American voters insults us all.  Beyond his insulting stereotyping, his claim that he'd be getting 95 percent support from African American voters after his "first term" [snicker], when he's polling at about 1 percent today, is yet another example of a huckster's campaign trapped in a bizarro bubble.

"What the hell do they have to lose?" by supporting him, Rump asked the lily- white  crowd in Dimondale, MI (Dimdale?).

How about this, for starters:

Trump to Blacks: "What the hell do you have to lose?" Um, the right to vote? "How the GOP Gutted Voting Rights"
https://t.co/85qEaxzh8O via

— John Aravosis (@aravosis) August 19, 2016

This is an African American voter base that has seen the first African American President viciously savaged and delegitimatized by Republicans (and chief Obama birther Rump) for the past 7- plus years; that, as the tweet above notes, has seen widespread Republican efforts to disenfranchise African American voters;  that has seen Rump and his white nationalist supporters demonize and threaten minority racial, ethnic and religious groups, and that can see the blatant racism of Rump supporters and surrogates everywhere.

These white Rump supporters, it's been shown, are not motivated by personal "economic anxiety." Rather, if you strip away the niceties, their motivation is "cultural/ racial anxiety," whether it relates to progress on African American rights, immigration, or the rights of Hispanic Americans, LGBT Americans, Muslim Americans, etc. They won't let Rump get too far off on this "kumbaya pivot" because it's not why they're supporting him, and he knows it:

Trump rally in MI:
American values!
*white people cheer*
Safety!
*cheer*
Winning!
*cheer*
Hillary's policies hurt African-Americans!
*....*

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) August 19, 2016

As we noted the other day, the recent Rump "pivots" on this and his no-pology "regrets, I have a few" speech are intended for gutless, party- first Republicans in search of cover to vote for him, and for the gullible, amoral media, desperate for the "presidential Trump" that they can make into a true competitor to Hillary Clinton (and, country be damned).

Today's Cartoon

(click on image to enlarge)



(Steve Sack, Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

Weekend Worn Down Music

The record heat in the eastern U.S. this summer, and the relentless battering of human decency inflicted by Trump's candidacy (including things you can't unsee), could have served as the inspiration for the title of this song by local (Arlington, VA) alternative rocker and pianist Rachael Yamagata, 2003's "Worn Me Down."  But, it's actually a song about unrequited love.  Hope your love is requited and that you have a weekend full of recharging.

Quote of the Day: Rump Reshuffle

“You can keep moving people in and out of the car, but so long as the drunk guy is driving it while blindfolded, the ride probably isn't going to get any smoother.” --an anonymous Virginia Republican speaking to Politic-ho in reference to the reshuffle in neo-fascist Donald "Rump" Trump's campaign management. Other Rethugs seem to share the same general sentiment. We would have expanded the metaphor to include some victims embedded in the car's grille, a near-empty tank, etc., but that'll do.

Today In Fine Art

Life size naked statues of neo-fascist narcissist Donald "Rump" Trump appeared yesterday in several cities thanks to an artist who goes by the name of Ginger. He explained that he conceived the idea after Rump mocked a reporter with disabilities. The multi-city sculpture project, named "The Emperor Has No Balls," depicts a flabby, frowning Rump with very small sex organs.

After the statue made its appearance in Union Square in New York City, the parks department had it removed, but released a hilarious double-entendre statement on the matter:

Re: the naked Trump statue — that statement from the NYC Parks Department is indeed real pic.twitter.com/IttBvtXXGy

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) August 18, 2016

Manafort Walks S.S. Rump's Plank

After the hiring of wingnut agitator Steve Bannon and Ann Coulter wannabe Kellyanne Conway by neo-fascist sociopath Donald "Rump" Trump, there was apparently no room left for Putin-friendly Paul Manafort on the S.S. Rump garbage scow.  He resigned today as Rump's failed campaign manager, following weeks of his candidate's out-of-control behavior which has resulted in falling poll numbers. Now the Alt Right crazies are in full control, but don't tell that to a Beltway media that's swooning over Rump's use of the teleprompter.

Manafort had been one of the leading cheerleaders for a resurgent Russia, and was for years on the payroll of the pro-Russian Ukranian leader Viktor Yanukovych, before he was overthrown by a popular, pro-Western uprising.  Those business dealings might have also been in violation of U.S. tax, money laundering and lobbying laws. Manafort was also alleged to have softened a plank in the Rethuglican platform that would have supported giving defensive arms to the new pro-Western Ukrainian government. While his departure removes a staunch supporter of Rump's flirtation with Russian dictator Putin, the Rump - Russia connection remains hidden as long as Rump refuses to release his taxes.

Trump's Teleprompter "Pivot"

There's been the predictable chatter in the shallows of the "mainstream media" over neo- fascist con artist Donald "Rump" Trump's stagy, staff- written expression of vague "regrets" in a speech yesterday in North Carolina.  Coming on the heels of the hiring of alt- right tax- dodging shitheel Steve Bannon as Trump's "campaign" CEO, it seemed to be a one- off to the anticipated ramping up of Trump's vicious rhetoric, and is contrary to Trump's own assertions earlier this week that he doesn't want to "pivot."

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog thinks this is an "anchor left, pivot right" moment that has all the hallmarks of a Bannon/ Breitbart/ Government Accountability Institute operation intended to soften up the "mainstream media" which has been longing for a "pivot" and a horserace election (fate of the country be damned).

Jonathan Capehart looks at Trump's recent speech on race relations in all- white West Bend, WI, as a similar tactic intended not so much to lure African Americans to his side, but to give "embarrassed white Republicans the thinnest of veils they need to vote for him."   (We might add, and the thinnest of veils for the "mainstream media" to treat him as a "normal" Republican candidate, like these two credulous children.)

In the meantime, one observer gauges the immediate effect of the North Carolina "regrets" speech:

Past 15 hours

Trump: Hillary has brain damage
Trump: I regret something
Trump: Immigrants are still bad

Guess which gets the media focus!

— John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) August 19, 2016

If you can find any Edward R. Murrows in our puerile, ADD media, please let us know.

BONUS:

Trump's new campaign people know the press has been dying for a comeback narrative and they are going to feed it. pic.twitter.com/LmBsTXLfq2

— Bob Schooley (@Rschooley) August 19, 2016

Tweet Of The Day - "She's With Me"

She's with me. pic.twitter.com/vHPMHMjFvV

— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) August 17, 2016

BTW, if you go to Sir Paul's TF, you'll see lots of disturbed (in more ways than one) Stormtrumpers who apparently find it surprising he might be endorsing Hillary Clinton (which he hasn't, so far). Being "poorly educated" f*cknuggets like their hero, it must have escaped their awesome powers of perception that Sir Paul endorsed President Obama for reelection in 2012.  (You know what's coming.)  Sad!

Clinton Ads Tout Her Economic Plan, Hit Trump On Taxes

We're Hackwhackers, and we approve these messages.

Saw this during prime time coverage of the Olympics yesterday:

Making our economy work for everyone starts by making sure those at the top pay their fair share in taxes.https://t.co/uDdkrzKL9O

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 3, 2016

And here's her latest ad hitting neo- fascist con artist Donald "Rump" Trump's refusal to release his tax returns:



More, please!

The Devil You Know Cartoon of the Day

(click to enlarge)

Hiring Steve Bannon, the scurrilous chief of the Breitbart sewer operation for your campaign's "CEO" should give neo-fascist demagogue Donald "Rump" Trump an additional boost with the alt-Right / white supremacists and anti-Semites. Just the shot in the arm that he needed.

It's only a matter of time before Republican-wired uber hack Mark Halperin tells us this is good news for McCain Rump.