Al Franken endorses Hillary Clinton in 2016, though at first he did not realize he was doing that.



(Franken's somewhat clumsy endorsement comes at the 7:25 mark, but really the whole interview is worth a listen.)

Courtesy of HuffPo:  

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, even if he didn't realize it at first. 

"I think that Hillary would make a great president. I haven't announced that I am supporting her, but -- does this count? I guess? Maybe this counts," Franken said in an interview with MSNBC on Tuesday. 

When asked if he felt he needed to see other potential candidates before endorsing Clinton, who has yet to declare she's running, Franken said he's ready for her to make a move. 

"I think that I’m ready for Hillary," Franken said. "I think that we've not had someone this experienced, this tough, and she's very, very impressive."

I think that right now Franken is my favorite member of the Senate. 

Mostly because I think we are on the same wavelength most of the time. 

Though arguably he is a tad wittier. 


Sarah Palin thanks Louisiana for not laughing at her outfit, and gives a shout out to a few of the losers she endorsed this campaign season.


"Hi Mr. Cameraman, do you see me? Am I in focus? Of course I am, I'm a star."
Courtesy of Peggy Bundy's Facebook page: 

North Louisiana, it was so great to be back in Monroe! With your warm southern hospitality you sure made us feel right at home amidst the duck weather (Duck weather?) that arrived ahead of season! It's an exciting time here. America's eyes are wide open after this month's election, and those eyes are now focused on Louisiana. This sportsman's paradise is poised to send the final message to Barack Obama in the runoff election on December 6th. (And that lesson is that this new Senate will do absolutely nothing until they get replaced by Democrats.) Congressman Bill Cassidy is ready to serve in the U.S. Senate as a fighter for Louisiana, as opposed to Senator Mary Landrieu who has been a voice for Barack Obama (voting with him 97% of the time) and has virtually ignored good Louisianans’ concerns for so many years. The status quo has got to go; Louisiana deserves the best, and Dr. Bill Cassidy is the best candidate for this great state! (Which is certainly not what she was saying just a month ago: "Check out Congressman Cassidy's long liberal record".) It's so encouraging to see concerned Americans all across the country rally for the good doctor – including Louisiana's own Duck Commander, Phil Robertson! 

Never been prouder of Col. Rob Maness, a man of great character and commitment to serving our country. His efforts to unify the party behind Dr. Cassidy are truly admirable. (With the Colonel's bright future in public service, one can envision a future Cassidy/Maness team fighting for conservative principles in Washington.) 

Well sure if he kisses Cassidy's ass now then the Republicans might throw him a bone later. That is Politics 101. Remember the first thing you have to give up is any of that integrity crap.

And Zach Dasher  (Who? Oh yeah the Duck Dynasty Dipshit's cousin who recently lost his race. )is a bold, sharp leader with a beautiful family and shining future who has unified behind his former opponent, Dr. Ralph Abraham, for U.S. Congress. (And along with Rob Maness that makes two, count'em two, endorsees from one state that came up the loser in this election cycle. Gee, no wonder she's proud of Louisiana.) Dr. Abraham, another veteran, has a servant's heart with his "Pilots for Patients" service that provides free flights for patients far from medical care. Thank you to Dr. Abraham's great charity for letting us use their hangar for the Unity Rally yesterday. Todd felt right at home surrounded by all the aircraft and gear! 

Well more at home then he feels at home where he has to sleep on the couch and is not allowed to make eye contact.

Louisiana, your spirit inspires the rest of America; your great candidates bode so well for you on December 6th. (Oh gag me!) We'll cheer you on as you exercise your right to vote for these good guys. The USA needs them fighting for us all!

 - Sarah Palin

By the way apparently Palin suffered some kind of  "travel emergency" yesterday which these young ladies helped her resolve.

The only thing I can imagine is that her road kill wig must have awakened from its coma and jumped off her head, and these ladies surrounded it and wrestled it back onto Palin's dome before it could make good on its escape.

Just where is that hair school graduate when you need her?

Well whatever it was you know it must have been serious because Palin is standing with three African Americans and you know that must have made her break out in hives.


Alaska has a new Governor!


Sean Parnell out, Bill Walker in.
Courtesy of Alaska Dispatch:

Independent gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker maintained his lead after thousands of additional votes were counted Friday, leading the Associated Press to declare the race for Walker over Republican Gov. Sean Parnell. 

Walker, running with Democrat Byron Mallott on an independent ticket, held a narrow advantage for the entire race starting on election night Nov. 4. 

At the end of the counting on Friday, Walker led by 4,634 votes or 1.7 percent, with about 270,000 total votes counted. 

The ticket is expected to become the state's first non-party team to win a gubernatorial race. 

I have to admit that this is not nearly as satisfying for me as I hoped it would be. And that is for the simple reason that Sarah Palin also endorsed Walker in this race over her former Lt. Governor, Sean Parnell.

I cannot remember a time when Sarah Palin and I both wanted the same candidate to win an election, and not that one has done exactly that it fills me with concern.

No matter how you look at it Bill Walker is the superior choice to Sean Parnell. However is he a good choice for Alaska?

Walker is a strong supporter of public education, against the Pebble Mine, and for allowing the expansion of Medicaid.  He also advocated the increase in minimum wage and is by all accounts a much more reasonable person than Parnell ever was on anything.

Still, did Sarah Palin endorse him simply because she is the quintessential mean girl punishing her former friend after he dismantled her tax on oil companies? Or is Bill Walker her candidate of choice even if he had NOT been running against Parnell?

It was reported that Todd was sitting with Walker's family during a recent debate, so it certainly appears that they are chummy.

All of which makes me want to keep the celebratory champagne on ice until I get a better idea of exactly who we just elected to run our state.


For some reason that political pole dancer Sarah Palin is grinding up against Louisiana's Rob Maness again.


So that ad appeared on Palin's Facebook page again followed by this:

 Here's a man of true grit and a servant's heart who knows full well when road kill needs to go. Our government must have the values we see in Col. Rob Maness to function properly. I hope Louisianans will send him to Washington because he’s the real deal – heck he fixes his own truck and he’ll do the same in Washington to fix the broken machine there!

Palin then links to an article over at Real Clear Politics, which quotes her as saying:

“Like a gator in the swamp, Col. Rob Maness may have been seen as sharply lurking, but is now ready to pounce,” Palin said in the statement. “It is time. This is the election that will be the shocker on Tuesday.”

What?

The Real Clear Politics article then goes on to say this:  

According to the latest RealClearPolitics average of polls, Maness (9 percent) is trailing far behind Landrieu (38 percent) and Cassidy (33.8 percent) in Louisiana’s “jungle primary” system, in which all candidates appear on the same general election ballot, regardless of party. 

If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote on Tuesday -- a scenario that appears likely -- the top two finishers will square off in a Dec. 6 runoff. 

So once again, to be clear, Maness has NO shot at winning this election in November, or in being one of the two candidates who will  face off again in December.

So as I have mentioned before I simply do not get WHY Palin is so hell bent on promoting this guy well past his sell by date. She has promoted plenty of other candidates, but never it seems with this much aggression, especially when he has virtually NO chance of winning.

Which begs the question, what's in it for her?

And to be honest her fawning is getting kind of ludicrous.  If she were a household dog, she would be humping this guy's leg 24/7.

Even for a Palin, that is pretty pathetic.


In other 2014 voter news, Senator Mark Begich and Kentucky's Alison Lundergan Grimes receive important endorsements.


First up it's Mark Begich who recently received the very influential Alaska Federation of Natives endorsement:

The resolutions included an endorsement of Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, who is seeking to be re-elected Nov. 4, and an endorsement of the so-called “unity” ticket of independent gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker and his running mate, Democrat Byron Mallott. 

As you see the Walker/Mallott ticket also got an endorsement which might help to balance out the endorsement from the Wasilla Wendigo. 

To understand the importance of the AFN support, there are many who believe that it was they who were instrumental in helping Lisa Murkowski win against Joe Miller in 2010.

However they are not 100% behind the liberal agenda:  

The AFN delegates also approved a resolution in opposition to a ballot measure that would legalize and regulate recreational marijuana in Alaska.

That may seem counter intuitive until you realize how overwhelming of a problem substance abuse is in rural villages.  It is not at all surprising that they are officially against the measure.


Now let's take a look at Kentucky where Alison Lundergan Grimes received some very good news yesterday: 

Two major Kentucky newspapers have endorsed Alison Lundergan Grimes for Senate over incumbent Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R). 

The Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader both ran editorials Sunday in support of the Democrat, who currently serves as Kentucky's Secretary of State. 

In its endorsement, the Courier-Journal's editorial board praised Grimes' stance on issues like the minimum wage and early childhood education, while accusing McConnell of "lacking a vision for Kentucky." 

The Lexington Herald-Leader's endorsement strongly rebukes McConnell, who the editorial board says has "repeatedly hurt the country to advance his political strategy." 

"The Senate may never recover from the bitter paralysis McConnell has inflicted through record filibusters that allow his minority to rule by obstruction," reads the editorial. "He poses as a champion of the right to criticize the government, but it's really his rich buddies' right to buy the government that he champions." 

"If McConnell had a better record, he would not have to argue for six more years by obsessively linking Grimes to Obama, who will be gone in two years no matter what," the editorial continues.

Damn, that's going to leave a mark.

The most recent polls show McConnell still with a six points lead. But who knows, with this kind of support Grimes might just pull this off.

I have my fingers crossed for both of these races. If we can not only hold onto the Senate but also kick McConnell to the curb this may usher in a whole new era of bipartisanship moving forward.

I know, I'm a dreamer.


Okay I'm sorry but Sarah Palin is DEFINITELY trying to sabotage the Bill Walker/Byron Mallott campaign.


I early made the case, in a somewhat tongue in cheek manner, that Palin had now realized that her endorsements were the kiss of death and THAT was why she was endorsing Bill Walker instead of her former Lt. Governor Sean Parnell.

Yes there are various reasons why she is no longer seeing eye to eye with Parnell, but to endorse his opponent is a rather huge step guaranteed to gin up controversy, and to ultimately help the Parnell campaign. (NOBODY dislikes this woman more than we do.)

However yesterday I think Palin removed any doubt, at least in my eyes, that she is working against Bill Walker and not for him.

Here is her Facebook post from yesterday: 

Alaska Wins With Independence; 

Stepping Aside for the Greater Good Our family is proud to support Bill Walker to lead Alaska! Bill Walker, Byron Mallott, and their families joined with ours and other Alaskans in Todd’s airplane hangar this week in a show of true Alaskan support, complete with a potlatch brimming with salmon, moose, and caribou hors d’oeuvres. Life-long Alaskans Bill and Byron have proven that they truly have our state’s heart and believe in putting Alaska first and ignoring status quo politics that get in the way of Alaska’s destiny. This is refreshing and productive, and Alaska wins when Team Walker wins! This unity ticket came about when winners of their respective primary races selflessly stepped aside for the sake of Alaska! This is rarely done in politics and proves that this strong independent ticket represents an Alaskan-sized heart, putting people over party machine politics and Alaskans over egos. (Now remember Walker is a former Republican, now running as an Independent. And Mallott is the Democrat who won his party's nomination. Neither one of these are the uber-conservative tea party types that Palin typically aligns herself with.)

Bill’s blue collar history and professional experience in practicing law fit perfectly with policies to move our state forward by developing our abundant natural resources. He and Byron are proven fiscal conservatives who know state government’s recent practice of deficit spending will halt development and make us dependent on a dysfunctional federal government. (While Walker/Mallot are in favor of protecting Alaska's sovereignty (All Alaskan politicians have to say that.) They are not anti-government types and have no problem working with the federal government. In fact once elected Walker intends to allow the Obamacare Medicaid expansion that Parnell adamantly fought against.)

The Last Frontier’s destiny as the nation’s leader in energy development, which will lead to Alaskan independence while helping secure our union, can only be fulfilled with decisive leadership that puts our residents first. The ability to move us forward by empowering a thriving private sector takes unifying action. Too many long-awaited projects and challenges – like the National Guard scandal – are made worse because of indecisive leadership, and that’s debilitating. We can’t afford to put development on the back burner while other states and nations surpass our opportunities, and we can’t sweep ethics problems under the table. (Okay now using the National Guard scandal against Parnell is perfectly reasonable for Walker, but it freaking started under the Palin administration. SHE was the one to first turn a blind eye. As a matter of fact there is a new political ad featuring Parnell's wife that makes that case.)

Unfortunately, in desperation to halt Team Walker’s momentum, lies are running rampant. Sadly, one such lie is about their faith. Don’t believe the million dollar Outside money ads perpetuating misrepresentations; just ask the guys themselves where they stand. For example, on the issue of respecting a culture of life, a pro-family group is grossly misrepresenting Bill’s position. He is unapologetically pro-life. Groups, individuals, and incumbent politicians telling you otherwise are untruthful, and that says everything about their character. Shame on people who know better and are in positions to counter lies but turn a blind eye instead. This kind of politics of personal destruction is why our country is hurting; adding to the pain are attempts here in Alaska to destroy a good man. Participants in this do not deserve your support. (Bringing up the fact that Walker is pro-life is NOT going to do him any favors with the Democrats and Independents he needs to win this election, and that is why it is not mentioned on his site. By bringing this up now all Palin is doing is making those who are firmly on Walker's side reevaluate their decision. And it will certainly NOT bring one Parnell voter over to Walker's side and she knows it!)

I’m proud of the ethics reform my administration ushered in, and I know Bill and Byron will re-start and build on that with an independent spirit beholden only to the people of Alaska, not to any political party. Nothing’s been handed to these guys. They’ve worked alongside us all over the state in true Alaskan spirit and know the value of a good job. They want that for every Alaskan family! So our diverse family, enjoying years of connections with both candidates, take a stand for Bill and Byron’s unity team. It’s time to get our state back on track to fiscal discipline so we can grow with the surplus Alaska had enjoyed under my administration. (See? She is essentially saying that Walker and Mallott will continue the work started by HER administration. She might as well have hired a contract killer and put a hit out on them instead. Same result.)

Please support Walker/Mallott on November 4th. Alaska First! It’s time. 

- Sarah Palin 

And there you have it.

There is NO way that Palin does not know what this will do to Bill Walker and his campaign.

By the way if she is so gung-ho about giving out endorsements in Alaska, then where is Dan Sullivan's?

No, she knows exactly what she is doing.


I think Sarah Palin has come to realize that her endorsement is the kiss of death. Or less likely, she and I are supporting the same candidate.


Courtesy of ADN:

Former Gov. Sarah Palin has endorsed gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker. 

The endorsement came at a reception hosted by Palin Tuesday night in which she told about 100 guests that she supports Walker and his running mate, Byron Mallott, because she trusts them to responsibly develop Alaska’s resources for the maximum benefit of the state’s residents, said a release from the Walker-Mallott campaign. 

"Last night my family, along with Byron and Toni Mallott, and our campaign staff attended a reception hosted by Todd and Sarah Palin at their lakeside property in Wasilla,” said Walker in a press release sent Wednesday.

Okay seriously what in the hell is Walker doing associating with this poisonous family?

I'M supporting Bill Walker. Sarah Palin and I can;t be for the same guy, that is one of the signs of the Apocalypse!

This has to be some kind of sabotage.

I mean are we to believe that Palin would publicly come out in support of the guy running against her former Lt. Governor, and the guy she chose to replace her after she quit to avoid prosecution? 

Unless it's because she knows that by doing so she will sabotage the Walker candidacy and help Parnell to win again.

THAT'S got to be it!

Oooh she's a tricky one.

But hey, do you know what Parnell could do to demonstrate his anger at her betrayal? He could start releasing some of those redacted state e-mails of hers, un-redacted, and perhaps supplement them with some juicy behind the scenes information that we have not yet been made aware of.

I mean I'm still voting for Walker, but it would go along way toward persuading me to stop putting pins in my "Captain Zero" voodoo doll.


Sarah Palin continues that dopey endorsee thingy.


Things are getting down to wire in this election cycle so Palin is clearly trying to make sure that she gets her name out there as often as possible before news outlets shift their focus back to actual news.

So Yesterday Palin once again started beating her worn out drumset on behalf of Pat Roberts, currently fighting to retain his Senate seat in Kansas.

Of course unlike Rob Maness in Louisiana, Roberts actually has a shot here.

Here was her ghostwritten pitch:  

So what do you call an “independent” candidate who has donated thousands to Obama, Reid, and Hillary? An “independent” candidate who is pro-amnesty and supports Obamacare? You call that candidate a liberal Democrat. And that could explain why in Kansas “independent” candidate Greg Orman has won the support of the George Soros family. Greg Orman will attend a high dollar fundraiser not in Kansas, but in New York City hosted by Jonathan Soros who has donated over $3.7 million to liberal causes over the years. 

Kansas knows better – they know Pat Roberts. I travelled to Independence, Kansas, a few weeks ago to support Senator Roberts. In Independence they know a bit about what being independent means, and they know Greg Orman is far from it. He is beholden to liberal special interests and DC politicians like Harry Reid. I’m encouraged to see Senator Roberts rising in the polls as more and more Kansans tune into this race. Kansans, Pat Roberts has fought hard for you; send him back to the Senate to keep up that fight!

Wow! George Soros has spent over 3.7 million on liberal causes over a number of years? I think that the Koch brothers have already spent more than that just in Alaska.  (By the way if you want to learn just how silly it is to compare the spending of the Koch brothers to George Soros, you can start by clicking here.)

Palin then links to a video she pulled out from the murky depths of the Sarah Palin Channel, to show her support for Roberts, though oddly enough it ends up being all about her.

The video starts with Roberts calling Palin a "courageous grassroots Republican" and from there shows video of them  hugging with a voice over from Roberts, "Have you ever seen a Mama Grizzly dressed as a wildcat?"

There is footage of the two of them handing out pancakes to that group of 250 supporters that we talked about earlier. However the remainder of the video, while it DOES show Pat Roberts a few times, is really all about Sarah Palin.

There are numerous images of her shaking hands and giving out autographs, while attendees gush about her honesty, trustworthiness, and family values. (Hang on I almost gagged there for a second.)

In the end it is yet another example of self promotion, paid for by the idiots who contribute to SarahPAC, the handful of subscribers to the Sarah Palin Channel, and of course the Koch brothers. 


Sarah Palin's endorsees are a colorful bunch, with numerous skeletons in their closets. But Arizona's Doug Ducey may take the cake.


So as we all know Palin endorsed former Cold Stone CEO and current Arizona State Treasurer, Doug Ducey, for Governor and lo and behold he actually won.

Not only that but the polls show that Ducey has a substantial lead on his Democratic challenger.

And that is important because Palin's win/loss record has been rather underwhelming.

It really does look like smooth sailing for Ducey. I mean I cannot imagine what might trip him up at this point.

I'm sorry, did you say his family has ties to organized crime?

Courtesy of Phoenix New Times: 

According to newspaper accounts and public records from various court and congressional hearings, four of Ducey's relatives in an Italian-American family called Scott (anglicized from Scotti) were involved in illegal gambling in Ohio. 

Family members ran after-hours gambling clubs and participated in bookmaking, numbers-running, extortion, loan-sharking, and other lucrative illicit activities from the 1920s through the 1980s. 

The candidate's maternal grandfather, William Scott (a.k.a. Bill Scotti), was a convicted bookmaker who partnered with members of the Detroit mob. 

His son Billy Scott, Ducey's uncle, was a high-profile sports bookmaker in Toledo who did time in federal prison in Arizona before fleeing to the Caribbean island of Antigua, where he became an online gambling kingpin. 

Uncle Billy returned to the United States in 2012 to plead guilty in federal court to international money laundering and illegal Internet wagering. 

Ducey's great uncle Tony Paul Scott (a.k.a. Neufio Scott), his grandfather's brother, was among Toledo's "most legendary racketeers" and one of the "elders of the loosely knit Toledo crime family," according to the Toledo Blade, the city's daily newspaper. 

During his long life, Tony Paul was arrested numerous times, incarcerated for illegal gambling and highway robbery, and eventually stripped of his U.S. citizenship, though he was allowed to remain in this country until his death in 1993. 

These sins of the state treasurer's fascinating bloodline have remained unknown to the general public. Until now.

Okay, now that might leave a mark.

But then again which Republican politician is NOT in some way connected with organized crime?

P.S. The Ducey campaign has now addressed these allegations:  

Ducey's campaign forwarded this statement, from his spokeswoman who asked that I use her full Italian-American name, Melissa Mazzella DeLaney: 

"In the United States of America and in the State of Arizona, people know you and judge you based on your life, the way you have lived it and your accomplishments, not on the actions of relatives from previous generations. The New Times correctly reported that the information about past family members does not touch Doug Ducey's life or career. This has been a tough campaign where both candidates have had their careers vetted, which is entirely appropriate when seeking a very high office. Doug trusts the voters of Arizona to make decisions based on the life he has led and his vision to create greater opportunities as the next governor." 

I asked DeLaney whether Ducey got any of his start-up funds from any of the four relatives mentioned in the article or as a result of criminal activity. Her answer: "No, absolutely not."

So as you see Ducey did not deny that the connections exist, but simply stated that they have nothing to do with his life, or his success in business. 

In other words, "Fugeddabout it."

You know as I was reading thorough all of this I have to admit that I once again flashed on my past conversations with Shailey Tripp, who was the one who first mentioned Todd's connection to gambling and prostitution.

Two enterprises, by the way, that also often have ties to organized crime.

I'm just saying.


 

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