By all means, whatever you do, don’t be uncivil to a Trump staffer.  We must all be nice to each other, right?

Yesterday, Newsweek published a story accusing Bernie voters of tipping the 2016 election to Trump.  It uses data from the 2016 Cooperative Congressional Election Survey, compiled by Political Wire, that showed that, indeed, 10% of Bernie primary voters went for Trump in the general. It then goes into a swing state analysis that showed that Trump’s winning margin was less than the Bernie’s voters who went for Trump.  The implication was clear – stubborn Bernie voters wrecked Hillary’s bid for the presidency.  How evil they were and inconsiderate of Hillary and all of her supporters.  Fair enough.

There was an interesting mention, though, of a few not insignificant details at the very end of the article…First, the 10% of Bernie voters that went for Trump paled in comparison to the TWENTY FIVE percent of Hillary voters who went for McCain in 2008 (hypocrisy, anyone?).  More important, and one that I hadn’t realized was so large, was that almost 30% of Bernie voters were actually self identified Republican or leaned Republican.  Conversely, Hillary only attracted about 6 or 7% of the same demographic.

So, was it Bernie and his evil bots who wrecked Hillary’s election, or was it actually the fact that Hillary failed to attract the same demographic that Bernie did?  Trump certainly attracted a wide demographic of support.  Bernie attracted a wide demographic of support.  Hillary simply did not.  So, should the headline of the Newsweek article have been BERNIE SANDERS VOTERS HELPED TRUMP WIN AND HERE’S PROOF,  or should it have been HILLARY CLINTON LOST BECAUSE SHE FAILED TO ATTRACT A WIDER DEMOGRAPHIC THAN TRUMP?

I know the answer, but Hillary’s supporters, and many in the party, still cling to the myth that Bernie wrecked her election.  The inconvenient truth is that the numbers are the numbers and they speak for themselves; this lesson must be learned by the Democratic party lest it have to re-learn it in 2020.

I’m not holding my breath.

Long before Cheeto Jesus became active in politics, I believed he was nothing but a snake oil salesman.  His reputation as a fraud in business, a lecher with women, a crass carnival barker and shameless promoter were well known.  I refused to watch his silly scripted “reality” shows, would change the channel when he was a guest on talk shows, and certainly wouldn’t frequent any of his businesses when in New York.  His campaign, and his subsequent infestation of the White House were and are simply appalling.  But yesterday?  In front of FORTY THOUSAND young boys at the Boy Scout Jamboree?  Donald Trump’s behavior was simply unacceptable.  Foul language, sarcastic, self-serving rhetoric, political and personal attacks were infused throughout his shameful performance.  My God, it was simply the worst of the worst.  How do you teach your child to be loyal, trustworthy, and honest when the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES exhibited NONE of these qualities?

For months I have tried to come up with a one word descriptor for this, this, thing.  The only word that comes to mind is shitbag. (Sorry, Momma)  This word is short and unambiguous.  I know it’s offensive to some, but I couldn’t be more offended than I am now.  New York Magazine has just posted a really good summary of the 14 inappropriate things Trump said in front of our nation’s youth.  It’s hard to read, but you need to do it.

If you voted for Donald Trump, read this; then find one of these in your house:

Then, look long and hard. YOUR guy is the problem.  YOUR guy is the “fake”.  YOUR guy is a disgusting misogynist pig who incites the worst behaviors in his supporters, embarrasses us daily on the world stage, is weirdly obsessed with himself, women’s appearance, and blood.  YOUR guy has singlehandedly turned the entire US government into a circus.

THIS is YOUR fault.  You can blame no one else.  Own it.

To those of us who have followed him for years, it was no surprise when Bill O’Reilly got the boot from Fox Noise yesterday as a growing stream of victims accusing him of sexual harassment overwhelmed the network.  After virtually all of its female anchors left, Roger Ailes was fired, and Fox’s payouts reached $13 million to Billo’s victims, the network finally took the step it should have taken years ago, but only after over 50 sponsors had pulled out.

Trevor Noah of the Daily Show described the whole sordid affair best.  Here ya’ go:

Amidst sexual harassment settlements and sponsors dropping like flies, Bill O’Reilly announced last night that he’s going on a long-planned vacation. Right. Looks like, after years of spewing nonsense and lies, Billo’s meal ticket just ran out. Will he come back?  If he goes the way of Glenn Beck, the answer is no.

Even at Fox Noise, when ratings and ad revenue cease to override the downside of keeping hate spewing bigots on national television, the spewers get the bum’s rush.

In case you’ve forgotten, here’s one of Billo’s all time career highlights: