US Presidential Contenders

[Rusty Edge]

On the road with satellite radio, mostly MSNBC and CNN today.

A lot of chatter about the [Sleezebag]-Ryan summit. I found it amusing that the Ohio senator who had endorsed [Sleezebag] and was criticizing Ryan for not doing more to embrace him said he wouldn't take the VP slot if offered. Yeah, there's a lot of that going around...

Rudi Juliani

[Rusty Edge]

 Rudi is pro [Sleezebag], but says that his Muslim policy is in clear violation of the first amendment.

That Ohio senator I mentioned said he had no idea what [Sleezebag] meant when he said he would renegotiate the national debt. Odd for an Ohio senator to support [Sleezebag] anyway, considering the voters there gave him a double digit defeat and he got zero delegates.

A pro [Sleezebag] congressman, also critical of Ryan, certainly distanced himself from Trumps remarks about the gov. never defaulting, he'd simply order the Treasury to print more money...

I guess Ryan is supposed to just embrace him and run the other way the way they are. We're not so sure that Ryan might not step down as Speaker. His wife didn't want him to take the job in the first place. Thing is, he takes the job and the party and his oath of office to the Constitution seriously. 

[Sleezebag] has never held elected office, so whatever he says is much like whatever  a radio talk show host says- whatever crosses his mind, and the more controversial, the better.

It's hard to reconcile that. Really hard.
-------------------------------

The other topic today was Mitt Romney renewing his call for [Sleezebag] to release some tax returns from a year before the ones under audit. He claims there has to be a bombshell in there, possibly even something criminal.

My wife, who used to be a Chief Accounting Officer for a multi-billion dollar company says she doubts even she could understand [Sleezebag]'s tax returns. It would take a tax accountant with multi-billion experience. ( Yes, there is specialization among CPAs ).

Rather than get into a discussion of what [Sleezebag]'s tax returns might reveal, I'd likje to touch on another point-

The political analysts were saying that Romney was putting a knife in [Sleezebag]'s back, making the same point as Hillary, now that [Sleezebag] is the presumptive nominee, and there are no Republican contenders left to carry this torch. He should put differences aside now.

Really?

Apparently they forgot that Romney articulated the "Never [Sleezebag]" strategy. Maybe they don't know the meaning of the word "never". Or why.

To use /the Leader's 2nd favorite word ( after his own last name) -
If [Sleezebag] is the nominee it would be a "disaster" for the GOP. If [Sleezebag] is the president it would be "disaster" for our country.

When you believe that, as Romney, me, my wife, the voters of Ohio, Utah, and Wisconsin do, it's hard to remain silent.

[Buster's Uncle]

Yes.

[Rusty Edge]

I know that The Leader has been having problems with his rallies. It seems that no sooner do they select new theme music, than the artist/songwriter politely asks them not to use it anymore. But I've come up with a rockin' song, and I'm pretty sure the artists won't object to it's use at [Sleezebag] Rallies.

Cult of Personality by Living Color

Look into my eyes
What do you see ? The cult of personality.
I know your anger
I know your dreams


I've been everything you want to be.
I'm the cult of personality like Mussolini and Kennedy.
I'm the cult of personality
The cult of personality


The cult of personality.


Neon lights a Nobel Prize

Where the mirror speaks the reflection lies.
You don't have to follow me
Only you can set me free.


I sell the things you need to be
I'm the smiling face on your T.V. -
I'm the cult of personality.
I exploit you
Still you love me
I tell you one and one makes three.
I'm the cult of personality
Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi.
I'm the cult of personality
The cult of personality


The cult of personality.

Neon lights a Nobel Prize


Where the mirror speaks the reflection lies.
You don't have to follow me
Only you can set me free.


You gave me fortune
You gave me fame


You gave me power in your God's name.
I'm every person you need to be
I'm the cult of personality.
I'm the cult of
I'm the cult of
I'm the cult of
I'm the cult of


I'm the cult of
I'm the cult of
I'm the cult of


I'm the cult of personality !

---------------------------------------------------------
My take on the Ryan-[Sleezebag] summit-

Ryan described [Sleezebag] as "genuine" , which makes me think that Ryan got sold. Genuine people don't need to use the phrases "trust me" and "believe me" as punctuation for their paragraphs.
Their consistent conduct and veracity make that unnecessary.

[Sleezebag] must have affirmed the Constitution. He must have declined to change his tone.

 [Sleezebag] is at heart, flexible, and about himself. He is running against Washington. He has promised to leave Social Security untouched. Ryan is about party, policy, and core principals. He is a leader in Washington. He wants to reform Social Security to keep it viable for his mother. I can only see them reconciling temporarily.


-------------------------------------------

In the post-Journalism era of American Politics, maybe a lot of conventional wisdom is out.

It used to be-

* You could count on the press to crucify a candidate, even if they only phrased something badly. They were constantly building somebody up just so they could take them down and have a horse race story to justify the travel and coverage.

*You needed a party organization to get out the vote. [Sleezebag] seems to think he can do that with social media. Maybe he's right.

*You need a party to get on the ballot in all 50 states, and for fundraising. Well, maybe you still do.
But then again, with social media you can send the people to the petition carrier now, rather than having the volunteer do the leg work. You can register people at rallies. You can fund raise online.

* You need a party to nurture and support new talent and get them experienced and tested  at lower levels of government so that they are qualified for more important offices. Well, maybe.  Apparently people don't think elected government or military experience is a requirement any more.

Whether the [Sleezebag] approach is sustainable, or for that matter, successful, remains to be seen.

[Buster's Uncle]

post-Journalism era of American Politics

That's a rather brilliant turn of phrase, sir, something for which you seem to have a gift.

[Rusty Edge]

Thanks.

I don't suppose you'll hear that phrase on TV.

[Buster's Uncle]

If enough people start using it, you will hear it on the 'news' - they have no shame.

[Rusty Edge]

I feel sorry for Paul Ryan.

He's taking heat nationally for not doing more to unify the party behind [Sleezebag].

Here at the home of Never [Sleezebag], never still means never, and he's taking heat for moving closer to a guy considered unqualified by both experience and demeanor for the Oval Office and the nuclear launch codes that come with it.

------------------------
What Ryan did do was to acknowledge [Sleezebag] and the people who followed him into the party, crediting them for making a difference and transforming the party.

Hillary hasn't been that magnanimous. So I picked a new theme song for the Sanders campaign, just to remind her that if she doesn't acknowledge them and adopt some of their views, they still have an option to continue to oppose her, the first Democratic presidential candidate endorsed by the NeoCons. "Green, Green" by the New Christie Minstrels.

Green, green,
 It's green they say,
 On the far side of the hill.
 Green, green,
 I'm going away to where
 The grass is greener still.

 A-well, I told my mama
 On the day I was born,
 Don't you cry
 When you see I'm gone.

 You know there ain't no woman
 Gonna settle me down.
 I just gotta be traveling on,
 A-singing...

 [Chorus:]

 Nah, there ain't nobody
 In this whole wide world
 Gonna tell me how to spend my time.
 I'm just a good loving rambling man,
 Say, buddy, can you spare me a dime?
 Hear me crying, it's a...

 [Chorus:]

 Yeah, I don't care
 When the sun goes down,
 Where I lay my weary head.
 Green, green valley or rocky road,
 It's there I'm gonna make my bed.
 Easy, now...

 [Chorus:]

 Everybody, I wanna hear it now...

 [Chorus:]

[Rusty Edge]

Well, just so that she doesn't feel left out, I have selected a theme song for Hillary, too. One that displays her disdain for [Sleezebag], and expresses her long-suffering. "We will Rock You / We Are the Champions" by Queen.

Buddy you're a boy make a big noise
 Playin' in the street gonna be a big man some day
 You got mud on yo' face
 You big disgrace
 Kickin' your can all over the place
 Singin'

We will we will rock you
 We will we will rock you

Buddy you're a young man hard man
 Shouting in the street gonna take on the world some day
 You got blood on yo' face
 You big disgrace
 Wavin' your banner all over the place

We will we will rock you
 Sing it
 We will we will rock you

Buddy you're an old man poor man
 Pleadin' with your eyes gonna make
 You some peace some day
 You got mud on your face
 Big disgrace
 Somebody betta put you back into your place

We will we will rock you
 Sing it
 We will we will rock you
 Everybody
 We will we will rock you
 We will we will rock you
 Alright

I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand
Kicked in my face
But I've come through


And we mean to go on and on and on and on


We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting
Till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions of the World


I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune
And everything that goes with it
I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge before
The whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose

And we mean to go on and on and on and on


We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting
Till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions of the World


We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting
Till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions

[Trenacker]

From the looks of it, Ryan and most other Republican pols (John McCain is one good example) have determined that the wind is blowing in a Trumperly direction. Rather than risk being evicted from office by angry [Sleezebag] voters who will treat withheld endorsements like the infamous "Christie-Obama hugfest," Ryan opted for a sham sit-down to give the appearance of having taken a courageous stand, then threw in with The Donald for reasons of self-preservation. His decisions gives the green light to hitch up to the [Sleezebag] Train™ without further hand-wringing.

This is a tragedy. Even while I am not, in fact, a conservative any longer, I have always identified as a Republican. I no longer see anything redeeming in that party. Not when their nominee is an enthusiastic promoter of political violence, a crude bigot, and a raving conspiracy theorist who questions the value of post-World War II liberal-democratic security architecture.

[Rusty Edge]

The voters in Ryan's district are #Never [Sleezebag].
He's pretty safe.

I think he's trying to walk a line to protect the House Majority. He just passed up another opportunity to endorse [Sleezebag] at the Wisconsin GOP convention.

I certainly agree this is a tragedy, but I'm hoping the Libertarians get some traction out of it.

[Buster's Uncle]

I'm rather rooting for the Libertarians myself.

Ben Carson: Former GOP Candidate Names Potential Vice President Nominees for Donald T rump

Carson, who is part of T rump's vice presidential search committee, named Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio and Chris Christie as potentials for the role to The Washington Post.

Not nearly so moronic a list as one might have feared, with a glaring exception.  -And I'd tend to guess only Christie wants the nod, if some of the others might reluctantly accept.

I think Mrs. Palin has figured out she's done with real politics.  There's signs she doesn't even want to be reactionary Oprah anymore, and doesn't know WHAT to do with the opportunities fame has brought.  She's making bank with the aimless speaking engagement career, anyway, and probably doesn't think it needs fixing.

[Rusty Edge]

WOW!

I thought that Cruz, Kasich, and Rubio were pretty clear about not wanting the job.

Of course, The Real George Bush was rather emphatic about not believing in Voodoo economics, and not wanting to be Veep.

But in the long run, he wanted to be POTUS all of his life, and he had to decide what would advance him towards that goal.


Even so, I can't imagine Cruz giving up his power in the senate, OR making Heidi stand on the same platform with The Donald. Cruz and [Sleezebag] started out on friendly terms, but they didn't end up that way. While it used to be unheard of to refuse the presidential candidate, a lot of people have already turned down [Sleezebag] this year.

[Buster's Uncle]

I am surprised that one. single. sane. (adult - you can see where a few 13 year-old boys might like his "style") person voted for that son of unmarried "people" for so much as dogcatcher.

Make up the rest; it's too obvious to bother typing out.

[Dale]

Okay so ha ha ha.  Very funny, we got punked.  You punked the World with this [Sleezebag] and Hillary circus but now you're scaring us.

Please finish the joke and come out with the REAL contenders for Pres.