Tag Archives: Trump

A Very Merry Unshutdown to you!

“You say eether and I say eyether
You say neether and I say nyther
Eether, eyether, neether, nyther
Let’s call the whole thing off!”

– “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off”

I’ve considered writing about this whole shutdown thing for – what is it – 30 some odd days now.  CNN had a handy timer right down to the second, cause they are useful that way. I’m pretty sure most of the world knows how stupid we are by now, but just in case our government shut down for 35 days because well . . . here’s a quick summary:

Trump blarts, “We need a wall cause caravans and criminals and my red hats are mad I didn’t do it yet.”

Rest of Gov’t, “No big deal. You haven’t accomplished anything you promised. Have a hamburger and sign this saying you won’t shut down the government because you didn’t get millions for your petty little pointless project.”

Trump, “Okey dokey, oh lookie Fox News.”

Fox News, “Blah blah Trump is a wiener for signing yadda yadda.”

Trump, “I am NOT a wiener!  No sign!  Want wall!”

Democrats: Nope.

Government shuts down.

white rent

 

Ah, right, that’s it.  But don’t worry, they said.  It’s temporary.  Even if it’s right before Christmas.  I mean – who needs a government?  We get anarchy with government anyway, so let’s call the whole thing off!

Now it was up to the Democrats, or rather Nancy Pelosi with the rest of the Democrats staring at their newspapers, to try to negotiate a deal with Trump.  The first meeting went like this:

Trump: Am I getting my wall?

Pelosi: No.

Trump stomps out.

35 days later . . .

Yeah, so maybe not so much fun.  Turns out we do need a government for a few minor things to get done like:

Paying 800,000 government workers. (Billionaire Republican Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says “They should just take out a loan”.  Or maybe sell one of their yachts, Wilbur?  “How about making a deal with the grocery store to pay later?”, dumbs Trump.  Yes, he really did say that.)

Keeping poor people alive through programs like Food Stamps and WIC. (What poor people?  Ask your neighbors for help!  Like that government worker guy next door!)

Ironically, security for stuff other than the Mexican border like TSA, the Coast Guard, the FBI (they do stuff other than investigate you, Trump):

govt shutdown

Everything checks out here!

But good news, a few days ago the government reopened (expect the news on time, none of the time on the Alice network) but only for a few weeks.  Fox News continues to say that Trump got a great deal.  After all, the government opened back up after over a month, and he didn’t get a wall.  Or anything else.  So since this was such a success, it only makes sense that he would ask for exactly the same thing in a few weeks.

I think I can guess what Nancy’s answer will be.  But what is our answer?  How are we going to stop this ridiculous gridlock in our political system?  Maybe we should ask our mother country, the Brits!  They’d know.

brexit please work

Nevermind.

~ Alice

Happy Birthday, Amuurica

Today is the day Americans, or North Americans anyway, celebrate independence from England.  I’ve said this before, but I don’t know if there’s ever been a year to my recollection when it’s been more true.  England has to be celebrating independence from us.

There goes the country . . .

Still, all I had to do was look at a newspaper yesterday to see that we still have reasons to celebrate, though we’ve done our best to bury them lately.  For one thing, we aren’t embroiled in a civil war.  No army has beaten down our houses, murdered us, and forced our children to fight.  That is real and happening in the Sudan right now.  I’m not just talking about teenagers here, but little children.

But there is no time for the Sudan – Trump tweeted again!  And it was a stinker, whew.  The latest was a video of him superimposed over a wrestler.  Because we all know he’s in shape.  And he’s beating the crap out of another wrestler, labeled CNN (fake news!)  Goody!  Nothing like literally showing violence toward the news media just days before we celebrate the fact that we have free press in this country.  We also have democratic elections with the exception of the Russian hacking that is becoming more apparent by the day, and the gerrymandering that politicians, especially Republican ones, use to their advantage.

Here’s a clip not just of the juvenile tweet (I’m so happy he has this kind of time on his hands to make videos like this) but also of the reaction of one of his advisors.  Yes, he applies suction fast enough, but as the video points out, he can’t hide his immediate reaction which is priceless.  Just imagine what the other countries think of us now!  By the way guys, I am not with him!

Our mighty president has finally gone far enough that even the Republicans, who up till now have been pretty spineless about disciplining him, have spoken up.  Trumpy again insulted a woman based on appearance, saying Mika Brzezinski, co-host of Morning Joe, was bleeding from plastic surgery.  She hasn’t had plastic surgery, but even if she had, who the hell says that?  I mean, besides someone used to bullying everyone around him to get his way?  Certainly not a president.  Several high ranking government officials from both parties have said essentially “For God’s sake, you’re killing us here, please grow up.”

The worst thing is that with Trump being such an imbecile, people are distracted from some very serious issues today, including healthcare.  Obama helped put the idea that healthcare is a RIGHT into peoples’ heads, as it should be.  Those people murdered in the Sudan?  That was during war.  Throwing people off of health insurance is effectively murder as well.  Poor children can die without medical care.  They can lose their parents or grandparents young.  And everyone needs health insurance because you never know when you could get hit with something out of the blue.  Cancer, Heart Disease, and Mental Illness, all of which require costly treatment, don’t send you warning letters years ahead of time.  And even if you are always healthy, you still need to pay into health insurance because that is how they pay for the truly sick people.  Just like how you pay into Social Security because elderly people who raised you need care now.  You might have heard it before – it’s called being a Christian, or simply a decent human being.

Food and medical care? But that baby’s poor! Get a job, Jesus!

My title isn’t an accidental typo.  I’m spelling phonetically, like the man in the commercial for red, white and blue pancakes who claims in a dramatic slur that they taste like “Amuuurica.” Credits to the nostalgia critic for finding this gem.  I am crying tears of patriotism.

I’m not sure what America tastes like, but these days it might have a slightly bitter taste.  Best drown it down with some beer.  The right kind of beer of course.

“Nothing says ‘America’ like an ice-cold can of mass-produced beer.” – USA Today

Drink while you try to figure out what the heck Google means with their 4th of July salute.

Are the animals trying to declare their independence from us too, or what?  Either way, have a good holiday even if you don’t celebrate.  My house celebrated Canada Day because it sounds nice up there, except for the cold.  We could cuddle with your Prime Minister.  Oh, wait, that’s not very patriotic . . . Happy 4th!

~Alice

 

 

New coping method: morbid humor

I was feeling a little down and maybe a teensy bit scared what with the country supposedly electing a giant orange cheeto racist sexist xenophobic highly dangerous manbaby to office.  Then, bit by bit, I started letting myself watch political comedy.  It’s where I get most of my news because at least they deliver it with less of a blow.

Well as much as possible as one can do that.

Anyway, I realized that I didn’t have to just hide in my blanket fort.  That’s not because things are all better now.  It’s not because everything is going to be okay.  It’s because you have to survive somehow, and I’ve survived quite a few unfunny things including chronic illness, depression, and anxiety with humor.  My post about my pneumonia got some of the best responses ever.  I was hilarious in my suffering.  Okay, not so much at the time. But when you look at life, there is madness, there is cruelty, but there is also that hope and love crap, and there is always a certain degree of the absolute ridiculous.  We live in Wonderland, now more than ever.

Alice meets Trump and Pence.

Alice meets Trump and Pence.

You might be asking “But, Alice, how can you call the crappery he is dishing out humorous?  He wants to register Muslims!  He wants to reverse all progress on civil rights!  He influences people to write “Trump” on Starbucks cups!”  Some people have talked about how to handle this.  Donate to a planned parenting clinic, or a support center for gay rights, or whatever other thing he’s planning on destroying in the next few years.  And that’s a good thing, but for me, I want something that gives people like our president-elect more of a kick in the . . . pants.

More on that in a bit.  I watched a clip of the Late Show, where Stephen Colbert, like so many of the rest of us, possibly even like Trump himself, is trying to make sense of what just happened.  No one knows, but the good thing is that while some of the stuff Trump wants to do, or at least is not opposed to doing, is truly horrible, there is quite a bit that is truly stupid, and as you know, I like to laugh at stupid people.

Stop being mean, Alice, stop ittttt!

Stop being mean, Alice, stop ittttt!

Here’s just a few:

Twitter:  The dufus is still tweeting.  And his tweets are just as intellectual as ever.  Like in response to the protests in the street, there was “Unfair.”  When a reporter asked one of his representatives why he was still tweeting, the man replied “Because it relaxes him.”  Right.  Ever thought of giving him a puzzle?  Maybe cookies and juice?  A nice long nap?  No?  Okay let him tweet.

Alone time: Trump tried to sneak out for a private dinner, avoiding the reporters. This would have been easier without the line of secret service cars running along with him.  You know how you wanted to be in the spotlight?  Now you are!  Every single second!  Enjoy!

Starbucks: Trump supporters, unhappy that the CEO of Starbucks endorsed Hillary Clinton, have decided to tell Starbucks employees to write “Trump” on their cups by way of protest.  Yes, you heard right. They are boycotting a coffee house by buying more overpriced coffee.  Nevermind the complete logic gap, what I find most amusing is that there are still Trump supporters.  I have something to say to these very confused people.

Psst: You won.  You can stop now.

What they don’t seem to realize is that, like when Obama was elected, people must eventually accept the peaceful transfer of power.  But they don’t have to enjoy it, and they don’t have to be nice about it either.  Yes, throwing bottles and lighting things on fire are not good, but for the most part, the protests have been peaceful. And there is more than one way to protest.  As Trevor Noah of The Daily Show said, while we cannot block this idiot, we can troll him.

Welcome to Hades, troll!

Welcome to Hades, troll!

And troll we will.  After one comedy show, I saw this comment, and I think it is awesome.

“The jokes are better now than they were for the last three months. Trump’s Presidency is going to be one hilarious moment after another until will all die.”

Think of it like a water slide.  There are going to be lots of twists and turns and you’re gonna hit some obstacles like say giant razor blades, but you don’t know when they are coming because you can’t see too far ahead, and you don’t want to, so you might as well enjoy the ride while you can.  And as far as the fear that Trump raises in people, fear I do not laugh at, I have this to say.

Trump wants all Muslims to register?  Here’s the plan.  It’s so simple, that I wish I had thought of it.  We all register Muslim.  Every one of us.  Of course we aren’t all really Muslim, but let him figure out which ones are which, and see how well that goes.  Even Megyn Kelly was freaked out about the idea of basing a registry of a group of people off the freaking Japanese Internment camps.  Same lady who argued that Santa and Jesus were white!.  If she’s freaked out, then a lot of other people are going to be as well.

This Megyn.  She's already regretting so many life choices.

This Megyn. She’s already regretting so many life choices.

That up there – registering as Muslim to protect other Muslims, is not a hashtag.  It’s an action.  And there are more actions you can take.  Remember how I mentioned you could donate to threatened organizations like Planned Parenthood or the Human Rights Campaign?  You totally should donate – even if it’s a dollar – and then, just like the Starbucks people, you should donate in someone else’s name.

Like Trump.  Or Pence.  Or anybody else you want.  They’ll get a thank you card in the mail. And won’t they be pleased!  You can even do this for your alt-right friends and family at Christmas, though I recommend not actually being there when the gift arrives.  Remember many of these people have guns.

So we aren’t helpless here.  We are in an awful situation, but we are not helpless.  And to those who are most at risk, they do not have to be alone. Because we are America.  And we can stand together to protect those who need it.  But don’t forget to get your jollies in at the same time.

Trump and Pence and their cronies are going to make a lot of people they hate very happy this year.

~Alice

I Can’t Take It Anymore: Timeline Part Two

Welcome back to the year of . . . Fun, Fun, Fun.  And Hell.  Let’s see if we can get through this timeline of politics and a few other things.  I might have missed a war or two.  I’m stopping before November because I’m not sure if we will actually survive it, and why waste a post?  Here we go!

Don't you just love presidential debates?

Don’t you just love presidential debates?

March 2016

North Caroline debates about the big issues – like who goes to what potty.

Ben Carson wakes up slightly and realizes he’s still in the Republican presidential race.  He drops out – onto the floor probably.

We also lose Marco Rubio, so I will sadly no longer get to use the “Marco Polo” joke anymore.

“Let me put it plainly, if we Republicans choose Donald Trump as our nominee, the prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished” –  Quote by Mitt “Mittens” Romney.  Mitt Romney is making sense now.  Be afraid.

April 2016

Sanders and Hillary go head to head in debate.  People hit the deck in case of blood spurts.

Trump continues to act like an rabid chimp throwing poo.  Naturally he starts winning major states.

Cruz names Carly “standing witchface” Fiorina as his VP.  She takes a dive off the stage.  Great times.

May 2016

Six days after picking a VP, Cruz drops out of the race.  A day later, Kasich (you know, that guy) drops out too.

This leaves only Trump in the race. Other countries are looking at us like “I am so not hanging out with you anymore, U.S.”

Breaking Report: Cute kittens continue to be born, filmed on youtube.

June 2016

U.N. has Brexit, which is not the meal between breakfast and lunch, but a withdrawal from the European Union.  It doesn’t go so well.

Paul “The Weasel” Ryan says he’ll vote for Trump.

Five days later Paul “The Weasel” Ryan calls Trump a racist.  Like you just now noticed, Weasel Boy?

Hillary has enough votes to win the primary making her the first woman presidential candidate.  Sanders does not see her winning as a reason to leave.  Not when he can still annoy her.

Want to see pics of my teens when they were cute babies?

July 2016

Japan manufactures the last videocassette recorder.  Now what do we do with these VHS tapes?  Thanks!

The F.B.I. gets really tired of reading through Hillary’s emails, most of which probably involved online receipts for anti-aging cream, photos of her grandchild, and complaints of  “how do you work this thing again?”.  Lucky for us, the Republicans will continue to talk about her treason for years to come.  Please, Hillary, get Chelsea to teach you texting!

Sanders gives in and endorses Hillary.  His lunatic fringe supporters go nuts cause how dare he act respectful?  Isn’t that “out” this election?

Cruz is booed for not endorsing Trump, ironically the only intelligent decision he’s ever made.

Wikileaks (Doncha just love these guys?  Doncha?) leaks what everyone pretty much already knew.  The Democratic Chair was a lying liar who lied and manipulated stuff.  I’m sure this has never before happened with the chairs of either party.

Sloths seal their place as my spirit animal.

August 2016

2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  A U.S. Olympian gets drunk, vandalizes stuff, then claims he was robbed, thus keeping up good international relations.

Trump takes on a new campaign manager, which surprises everyone cause who knew he had one?

Clinton aide separates from her husband, the infamous Anthony Weiner.  At least Hillary’s cheating husband was not named Weiner.

We still have the Wiener dog races.  Check ’em out.

September 2016

The U.S. and China, responsible for 40 percent of the world’s carbon emissions, ratify global climate agreement.  And say “Our bad.”

Hillary called out for calling Trump supporters “deplorables.”  They get on her when she lies AND tells the truth!

Hillary and Trump react to the New York City bombing.  Trump says “Hillary did it.”

First smack down debate between Hillary and Trump.  Trump acts grouchy, sniffs, and says “wrong” a lot.  Hillary is giddy with excitement.  She’s been preparing for this for DECADES.

Did I mention kittens?

October 2016

VP candidates have debate.  Supposedly Pence did well because he did not try to punch Kaine in his smiling face.  Trump’s reaction?  Extreme jealousy of his running mate.  Right.

Tapes are released of Trump bragging about assaulting women.  For some reason, people are actually surprised, and Republicans begin leaving his side in droves to protect themselves.

Wikileaks dumps info on Hillary Clinton’s speeches to Goldman Sachs.  Apparently, she was paid, and she said stuff that she’s said before anyway.

Trump and Hillary have their second debate, town hall style.  Trump takes this to mean he should impersonate various animals including weasel, bear, shark, and toddler.  Neither candidate really answers a question, thus keeping to the status quo.

Third and Final (or people will start rushing the stage) debate.  Donald starts out almost normal, then goes boom.  He decides he doesn’t have to concede the election because who needs democracy?

Trump adds to his statement saying he won’t accept the results “Unless he wins.”  Pence backs this up, saying they don’t have to if they don’t wanna.

I decide to pick my own reality too and build a blanket fort in my living room.  I invite anyone else in who needs to escape the planet a while.  I am playing Disney films and eating Oreos.

Just 17 days to go till D day!  But, really, what could happen in a a 2 and a half weeks?

Don’t answer that.

~Alice

I can’t take it anymore: a timeline of the past year!

“Rock n Roller Cola Wars,

I can’t take it anymore!”

– Billy Joel

My only crime is pure awesomeness.

When did America turn into Game of Thrones?

“We Didn’t Start the Fire”. It’s a song by Billy Joel that goes through a history book picking out all the awesome (Television!) and not so awesome (Vietnam!) things that had gone on in his life up until around the 1980s.  I believe he ended with “Rock n roller cola wars, I can’t take it anymore.”  Well, Billy, you really didn’t guess what was coming up next.

I did a “We Didn’t Start the Fire” type post a few years ago.  But I still stopped up way too early.  So I figured, why not take the last year or so and see what happens?  Hint: Very bad things. And a few, I guess, are good.  Please note: I faithfully did a Google search from July 2015 to October of 2016 and it seems most timelines tend to stop before 2015.  There is a reason for this.  No matter, trust in Alice and Wikipedia and such.  I have split this post because it got so long.  Like the past year.  So, so, so long.

 

July 2015

Oregon makes marijuana legal.  Just in time.

Scott Walker, jerk Wisconsin governor with a personal vendetta against those fat cat teachers, announces his run for President.  wee.

The U.S. and Iran talk nukes.  Or something.  Whatever.

President Obama questions the use of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons.  For prisoners anyway.  Politicians on the other hand . . .

A gunman opens fire.  At two military institutions, a crowded theater, and more.  I’m sure we will nip this thing in the bud soon.

John Kasich becomes the 16th person to seek nomination of the Republican party.  Yup.  SIXTEENTH.

 

August 2015

Street corner sized sinkhole forms in Brooklyn, New York.  I see foreshadowing for this year.

First debate before the 2016 Republican Primaries is held.  Conservative white dudes as far as the eye can see.  Also Ben and Carly.  Also Donald Trump (more like circus peanut than dude), but who would take HIM seriously?

Jon Stewart, in an effort to preserve sanity (he had no idea), retires from the Daily Show

Subway starts to really regret hiring that Jared guy.

More people shot.  To change things up, someone goes after people in a movie theater this month with an ax.  Netflix looking much better.

McDonald’s and Tyson foods horrified that a Tennessee based farm “stomps on chickens”.  No stomping before deep frying – it’s a rule.

 

September 2015

Just keep in mind that people are shot every month.

Clerk Kim Davis refuses to sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples.  It’s sort of her job to sign her name on stuff, so she gets in trouble.  Republicans make her a hero.

Stephen Colbert succeeds David Letterman as Late Night host.  Humor is all that will get us through.

Police in Irving, Texas agree to drop charges on that kid who carried an alarm clock to school.  Guns = good.  Alarm clocks = bad.

Rick Perry, hated even by Republicans in TEXAS, drops out of the race.  So does Scott Walker.  Awwws.

Pope Francis visits the U.S. and does a lot of important things but no one remembers anything except for Kim Davis crashing his party.

 

October 2015

Unemployment rate drops to 5 percent, the same as when the recession hit in 2007.  But Obama is still a Muslim commie.

Jim Webb drops out of the Democratic race.  Who was he again?

Hillary Clinton answers 8 hours worth of questions on that Benzhai thing.  Next up, Republicans plan to force her to watch 8 hours of Fox News – she’ll really give up her secrets then.

That other guy no one knew drops out of the Democratic presidential race.  No one notices.

World Health Organization finds that sausage and ham and everything you love causes Cancer.

 

November 2015

Newspapers report that like, oil companies knew fossil fuels were bad for the environment.

At the Republican debate, 7 candidates try to team up on Trump, hurling mud, insults, and threatening to tell Mom.  Well that last one was just Jeb.

At the Democratic debate, Hillary and Sanders argue about health care and other blah stuff, while O’Malley waves his hand wildly, hoping to speak.

More gunmen, but one baseball team beats another one, so hooray!

 

December 2015

More people drop like flies from the presidential race.  Everyone’s waiting for Trump to shout “Just kidding!” and leave.

Terrorist attack in San Bernardino.  Donald Trump has the answer – ban all Muslims, just to make sure.  Yet he’s still in the race.

Two other guys drop out though.

Bill Cosby gets an arrest warrant.  No more pudding for him.

“This is not the type of campaign we run” – said by Bernie Sanders in a Democratic debate.  Sorry, Bern, seems this IS the kind of campaign we run.  Extra crispy crazy.

 

January 2016

Artists boycott the Oscars because there aren’t enough African Americans nominated.  A lot of America boycotts it because it’s so boring.

Zika virus appears.  Donald Trump calls for banning all mosquitoes from the United States.

Jeb releases entertaining political ads, such as the one where he calls Trump a jerk.  No really.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has dismantled their nukes.  United Nations gives them a pat on the back.  Many Americans say “Wait, there were nukes?”

 

February 2016

North Korea launches a long range rocket into space in a desperate bid for attention.

Poor Democratic nominee Martin O’Malley (can I talk?  can I talk NOW?) drops out.  Sanders and Hillary too busy hissing and scratching to notice.

Former Prez Jimmy Carter picks Trump over Cruz.  Cruz, dude, that’s just not good.

Quitting the Republican race: Jeb! (sadly the only partially sane candidate), Carly Fiorina (standing witchface), and Rand Paul (really a Libertarian unicorn).

Supreme Court Justice Scalia dies, and people mourn for roughly five seconds before pondering who gets his seat.

 

Stay tuned for Part Two – if you darrre.

Someone Left My Cake Out By the Ocean

I’m out for a while, guys, away from Facebook news and stuff gets like, crazy crazy.  Droopy Dog Cruz just drops out, ka-poof, like he was tired of people (like fellow senators) saying he was the devil or something.  And apparently Kasich dropped out too, though no one really noticed, just like they didn’t really notice he was running.  And for like two days I didn’t even know this.  My mother told me, and we don’t even talk all that often (Happy Mother’s Day Mom and Ted!).

Even weirder, there’s not even that much about it on Facebook, the place I get all my liberally biased news.  That’s right, Facebook suppresses conservative news too!  (I tried to find the Gizmodo article, but only got this article by the same guys about painting a room by blowing up paint.) I think it must be true, though, cause Facebook news says Tylenol can make you emphasize less with people, which must be why I don’t care about a lot of really stupid people.  Frequent headaches and all.  Anyway, so we are left with . . .

Trump, te Trump, Trump, Truuuump.

Trump, te Trump, Trump, Truuuump.

No one quite knows what to do with this.  Oh, sure, comedians can laugh about it, but there’s this little edge to their laughter like ha ha Trump might be our president it’s hilarious and hahahahaha . . . ha . . . cough . . . choke.

So we’re left with Hillary and Bernie still duking it out because even though Bernie doesn’t stand much of a chance now, unlike Cruz, he’s just not going to leave Hillary alone until he absolutely has to because where would the fun in that be, huh?  Meanwhile, Facebook does bother to announce that, hello, Trump just won – uh what was that latest state – he won one, guys, and I am totally surprised what with him being the only one running.  Why are they bothering to announce this?  Is it actually possible for someone to be the only candidate and still lose?  I mean saying he’s not a Democrat running in Texas?

These days?  Anything is possible.  ANYTHING.

Time to start snortin' the baby powder, peeps.

Time to start snortin’ the baby powder, peeps.

One might think this is good for Democrats.  The problem is, if Hillary wins, there are many Bernie supporters who claim “Bernie or Bust” which is quite true because if they don’t vote for Hillary, they will, in fact, be voting for Trump, meaning “bust” big time.  Ka-boom.  I will write this out slowwwwly for people who are still uncertain about our two party system.  If you don’t vote for the candidate picked, even if you don’t like this candidate, you are, in effect, voting for the other party.  So then you just have to decide.  Hillary or Trump?

I think I lost some people there.  Come back, Canada is closing the gates!

This whole thing makes as much sense as that old song about cake getting wet.   You know “Someone left my cake out by the ocean” . . . wait, no that’s the new song with one of those Jonas brothers about . . . it’s totally just about eating cake by the ocean young Disney Channel viewers.  It’s edgy though, cause he says like bad words, and talks about cake.  Cake that is bound to get wet.  And you know what happens then.  I don’t think that I can take it. Cause it took so long to bake it. And we are never having that recipe again.

Soylent cake is made out of BABIES!

Facebook News: Soylent cake is made out of BABIES!

Oh nooooooooooo!  Ohhhhhhh nooooooo!

Did you see those metaphors just come flyin’ at you there?  I did.  They didn’t make any sense, just like this election, so it’s like we just took a perfectly good cake, left it out in the rain, on the beach, near a Jonas brother and a bunch of girls in bikinis, and now Trump may be President of the United States.  Actions have consequences, people.  Jonas brothers, ruined cake, Oompa Loompa politicians, people moving in mass to Canada where they probably don’t even have cake or oceans, I don’t know, and someone just “Wake Me Up When It’s All Over”.  When I’m wiser and I’m sober.

Till then, let’s just eat cake and dance to stupid songs.

-Alice

Politics and Circus Peanuts

So yesterday we had the Iowa Caucus, which is a big deal because for the first time in almost four years, people care about Iowa again.  I’m still not sure why.  I’ve looked up the definition of “caucus”, which sounds a lot like a word for poop, and found this:

(noun): a meeting of the members of a legislative body who are members of a particular political party, to select candidates or decide policy.

The only difference between this and a primary, in which we go vote for our favorite (or least hated) candidate in our party of choice (or last resort), is that there’s a lot of people partying at the caucus, at least until they find out the results.  Then stuff like this happens:

Awww. (photo from theguardian.com)

Awww. (photo from theguardian.com)

That’s right!  Trumpy came in second by a wide margain.  Yay!?  Uh, so who came in first?  Teddy Cruz.  I forgot who he was for a moment, until I saw his face.  Oh yeah.

Future Republican presidential candidate?

Future Republican presidential candidate?

Marco (Polo) Rubio of these boots are made for walkin’ fame, came in a close third to Trumpy.  So, according to the Guardian, we could have two “Cuban Americans” fighting over the Republican nomination.  I giggled a little at that.  Because they are totes Cuban.  Must be why they are so insistent on keeping out immigrants.  Goodness knows we never get Cuban ones, just ask Florida.

Jeb finished in a dismal sixth place after a libertarian of all things, and brain donor Ben Carson.  Not a good sign.  Still, I hope he hangs on because I really like his ad campaign.  It’s hilariously awful.  Huckabee officially bowed out of the campaign, which I thought he’d done months ago, leaving only like 30 Republicans in the race.  I think.

As far as the Democrats go, it’s officially still too close to call, which means Hillary is like, oh wow thank goodness I won as evidenced by CNN supporting my campaign!  Her numbers were higher than Sanders – by .03 percentage points.  Meanwhile Sanders had his own victory speech because he nearly beat her, in spite of purposely ticking off Wall Street and corporations (or because of?), and in spite of both the media and the Democratic party thinking his ramshackle campaign could never win.  Sometimes, guys, it helps if you actually cast a vote.  I know, it sounds stupid, but sometimes it does.  At the very least, you can cancel out someone’s vote.  So just do it.

Everybody join me in song! Nanner, nanner, boo boo!

Everybody join me in song! Nanner, nanner, boo boo!

Now these wins don’t necessarily mean that Clinton and Cruz are going to be our candidates.  There are actually states besides Iowa.  But it does give you an idea.  Sanders is still in the race, and Trump Dump’s incredible charm did not let him win this one.  He even managed to spit out that he was “honored to be in second place” and that he “congratulated Cruz”.  If I were Cruz, I’d hire a few bodyguards.

Trump being sincere. Totally.

Trump being sincere. Totally.

So one state down, only 49 to go!  Isn’t this exciting?  I’m just so excited I think I could barf.  Maybe the definition of caucus should be the one first proposed by Lewis Carroll in that book I kind of like:

“What is a Caucus-race?” said Alice; not that she much wanted to know, but the Dodo had paused as if it thought that somebody ought to speak, and no one else seemed inclined to say anything.

“Why,” said the Dodo, “the best way to explain it is to do it.” (And, as you might like to try the thing yourself, some winter day, I will tell you how the Dodo managed it.)

First it marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle (“the exact shape doesn’t matter,” it said), and then all the party were placed along the course, here and there.

There was no “One, two, three, and away!” but they began running when they liked, and left off when they liked, so that it was not easy to know when the race was over. However, when they had been running half an hour or so, and were quite dry again, the Dodo suddenly called out “The race is over!” and they all crowded round it, panting, and asking, “But who has won?”

-“Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll

The Caucus Race

Every political race ever.

Your guess is as good as mine.

Alice