Donald Trump mouthing the words to the National Anthem right before Memorial Day speech.

Oh.....my......God!

The man does not have a respectful bone in his body.

He acts like he is standing on the sidelines at a school dance, rather than attending a solemn occasion to memorialize the soldiers who died defending his country.

Every day we see more of this kind of shit, and every day I have to ask out loud "How much longer can this go on?"

Bernie Sanders honoring the fallen on Memorial Day in his own unique fashion.

Now when this picture started making the rounds yesterday it received quite a bit of mocking on the internet, but the Bernie supporters were quick with an explanation.

He was praying.

However as we know Sanders is not a very religious fellow, and he appears to be the only one whose head is bowed in prayer in this photo, so that sort of failed the smell test.

Well he is 74 years old after all.

In other news Howard Dean wants Sanders to stop giving his supporters false hope: 

HOWARD DEAN: I think this a problem, I wish he would stop doing this. We have a streak of him -- he never quits, he is a tough guy, obivously we admire that in a politician. But this attempt to undo the rules, this business in CA of trying to get a federal judge to extend the registration. 

First of all, they are changing the rules after the fact, second of all, they are not going to happen. So he is giving his supporters false hope that somehow this is going to change, this is all going to work out [for Bernie]. This is not what he needs to be doing at this particular time.

I can only imagine the profound disappointment that the Sanders supporters are going to experience when it finally dawns on them that Bernie is not Santa Claus and cannot magically give them everything that he promised during his campaign.

That is of course if he can stay awake long enough to disappoint them.

I'm pretty sure this is Bristol's house and I'm pretty sure that is not just a soft drink.

Raise a glass with me............. to the fallen....... until we meet again in Valhalla! #dakotameyer0317 #remeberthefallen

A photo posted by Dakota Meyer (@dakotameyer0317) on May 30, 2016 at 11:36am PDT

For those who are not sure here is a photo from Bristol's Instagram account showing that ugly ass mirror.

Hanging out with the ex, while drinking rum and coke in the middle of the day.

If this does not have "accidental pregnancy part deux" written all over it I will eat my hat.

Hey look who finally broke her vow of silence.

Courtesy of the Wasilla Wendigo's Facebook page.

Wait is today Memorial Day?

No, that's not until Monday.

So without a Facebook ghostwriter this idiot cannot even read a calendar?

Well maybe she is just distraught because tomorrow is the long awaited beginning of Track's trial for assault.

Yep even knocking her up does not erase the fact that you beat her ass in a drunken rage.

You know it must really rub salt in the wound to read about Chris Christie and Newt Gingrich making time with your boyfriend while you are stuck up here waiting for yet more embarrassing details about your fucked up family to be reported by the media.

I'd feel sorry for her but, you know, I don't.

And finally let's end our day with President Obama's Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery.

The folks over at Politicususa have the entire transcript.

However this was my favorite part: 

Today is the first Memorial Day in 14 years that the United States is not engaged in a major ground war.

That right there is a reason for celebration. And a reason to honor that man who made that a reality.

Because let's face it, if the Republicans had their way we would still be fighting ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and probably Syria, Libya, and Iran as well.

Well here's another truly insensitive Memorial Day message from Sarah Palin.

Everybody loves a #Hifivedoughnut! #Palin #ladiesofthemorning #keeplouisvillerad #HowWeLou #explorekentucky #Donuts pic.twitter.com/Z7FGlqpOaC

— Hi-Five Doughnuts (@HiFiveDoughnuts) May 25, 2015

You know if this were somebody else we might simply laugh it off as a lame joke and leave it at that.

However this is coming from a woman who has made a career out of accusing her political foes, and ideological opponents of not being true Americans. A woman who has suggested that liberals hate their country, and that our President is actively trying to sabotage it and destroy its credibility around the world.

So no, I don't consider this a harmless joke.

Not from this woman, and not on this day.  

Sarah Palin commemorates Memorial Day by suggesting that if you don't like guns to get the hell out of the country.

So the above is an image from Palin's Facebook page.

As you can see she did not think that the Bald Eagle, the national bird of the United States, was patriotic enough so she found a picture of one with red, white, and blue foliage.

You know just like they are often found in nature.

Palin then subtly alludes to her daughter's recent broken engagement:

Kicking off Memorial Day weekend, here's to any and all looking for a bridge over troubled waters. Every person on earth encounters those waters. 

Yes who hasn't, at one time or another, manipulated their daughter and a controversial war hero into an unsteady relationship, quickly publicized their rushed engagement so that they could bask in the reflected glory, and then had the whole thing blow up in their face after learning that there was a secret marriage?

Troubled waters indeed.

Then Palin decides to go all evangelical:  

Billy Graham once said, “The Bible is not an option; it’s a necessity.” This is especially true in times of despair that can lead to anxiety and fear

Yes what an appropriate thing to say about the Bible not being an option on a weekend where we remember the troops who died to make sure that we had the option of which religion and religious text to embrace.

After this Palin quotes a number of lines from scripture which I am sure most of you are familiar with after seeing them on motivational posters, bumper stickers, and on those signs in front of your local church.

Palin then adds a truly tasteless cartoon about the President and tops the post off with this image:

So to be clear, on the weekend where we memorialize the soldiers who gave their lives to "protect our freedoms," Palin tells those who call for stricter gun control to protect our citizens from unnecessary violence or death to move their "happy ass" to another country.

You know somehow I don't think she truly understands the whole idea of "freedom."

Oh and by the way, nothing I saw posted today convinced me that the Palins and the Meyer families got together for some barbecue this weekend, and since it looks pretty clear that Bristol is out camping with her exotic model friend in Alaska...

....let's mark this down as yet another epic fail for the Palin family shall we?

Sarah Palin doubles down on that whole Palin-Meyer family co-picnic. Update!

Courtesy of People Magazine:  

As promised, the Palin and Meyer families are gathering for a barbecue at the ex-Marine's Kentucky farm, where the wedding was supposed to be held on Saturday. 

Bristol's mother, Sarah Palin, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement, "This Kentucky farm is a beautiful setting for our friends and families to gather in celebration of life itself this Memorial Day weekend. Nothing is more precious to us than family, faith and America's freedom." 

"On the year anniversary of our families meeting each other (I'm sorry, so now they are supposed to have know each other for a year?), this weekend is to appreciate both our families' unconventional, unexpected chapters in exciting lives, with pages turning to more opportunities to live life vibrantly," the former Alaska governor continues. "This centers on showing love and respect for our military's sacrifices, and that's what Memorial Day is all about." 

Well okay then, taking Palin at her word, I guess we should all be prepared for one of the most awkward picnics in recorded history. 

However today is the 23rd, so if the Palin clan are planning to arrive in Kentucky this weekend they better already be on the plane. After all it IS Memorial Day weekend. 

And by the way I hope she realizes that there is a significant burden of proof placed on her to convince all of us that this is indeed happening.

Using internet parlance, "pictures or it never happened." And I mean pictures of Bristol and Sarah WITH Dakota and his family, not just photos of a Kentucky airport or some generic picnic pictures with the Palins photoshopped into them.

Hey, maybe People magazine would like to cover the event?

Hell if somebody buys me a ticket, rents me room not too close to a pig slaughtering plant, and pays for my inoculation against deep fat fried southern stupidity, I would be happy to cover it myself.

Update: Okay last night Willow posted a video of Trig twerking (Gee I wonder who taught him that?) next to a guy who looks and sounds a lot like Dakota.

However today Bristol posted a picture of Tripp riding his bike down a bike path surrounded by pine trees.

Any pine trees in Kentucky?

Okay well now Sarah Palin is just out and out trolling Dakota Meyer.

Courtesy of Palin's Facebook page.

There was no text posted with the above image, but then again there doesn't need to be.

I think the message to Meyer is pretty hard to miss.

Anybody still think Bristol and Dakota are "on a break?"

Update: By the way I should also add that one of the main reasons there are young children grieving the loss of their military parents is directly due to the unnecessary wars that George W. Bush started, that many Republicans still support, and which certain presidential candidates cannot bring themselves to condemn.

Update 2: Well it looks as if Dakota is doing a little trolling back.

This from his Facebook page: 

#‎MorningMotivation‬ I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. It's because of them I'm doing it myself. - Albert Einstein

Here's hoping this evolves into a back and forth Facebook bitchslapping contest between Meyer and Palin.

Now that he's no longer getting hitched Dakota Meyer is available to give a speech at the opening of a Piggly Wiggly near you.

After giving the lowdown on Meyer getting dumped like a bad batch of moose chili the Washington Post reports that he is now available for speeches:  

So it appears Meyer’s got time on his hands now (that is, if he’s not too busy googling himself to read some of the wilder theories circulating about his wedding cancellation). Which might explain the Memorial Day-themed pitch that made its way to our inbox this week from a speaker’s bureau hawking the Afghanistan vet as a “military hero” whose speech would be just the thing for one’s next gathering. “He talks to audiences about being accountable and making the most out of trying circumstances,“ reads the pitch from Leading Authorities, a D.C.-based outfit that reps journalists, scholars, former pols and military brass. “His story is an inspiring example of taking advantage of the opportunities life gives you.” 

At least the 26 year-old was lower on the list of suggested speakers than Gen. Stanley McChrystal and Robert O’Neill, the member of Seal Team Six who claims to have fired the shot that killed Osama bin Laden. Though if the “trying circumstances” included what it’s like to be part of the roving sideshow that is life with the Palin family (stretch Hummers and brawls! Wacky televised rants!), audiences might be riveted. 

Leading Authorities’ Web site lists his fees as $10,000-$35,000, depending on the location. That’s a bit less than his was-supposed-to-be MIL, whose rates at one point reportedly reached $100,000. (That last part stand for Mother-in-Law by the way. I read it wrong at first as well.)

I have to say that the Washington Post is not exactly holding back in their disdain for the Palin family.

When I first saw this I was halfway convinced that this was probably something that Palin set up for Meyer before she found out he had a secret first wife.

However I surfed that Leading Authorities website and while they do not represent Palin they DO represent Nicolle Wallace, which suggests to me that Meyer might have set this up on his own.

By the way for all of you who seem confused as to who dumped who, I would like to remind you that on May 15, Meyer posted this on his Instagram account.

My world @bsmp2

A photo posted by Dakota (@dakotameyer0317) on May 15, 2015 at 7:28pm PDT

While on the very next day Bristol posted this picture of herself back in Alaska flashing a ringless finger.

And this one as well.

 So no, Meyer is NOT the one who cancelled the wedding. And make no mistake, it is indeed cancelled.

So the question that I have is does that $10,000 speaking fee only get you a few war stories, and tales of PTSD, alcoholism and suicide attempts?

Or does it perhaps also buy you stories of an even more dangerous episode in Dakota Meyer's life?

Sounds like the kind of question that the National Enquirer might want to pursue. 

Gun activists harass Marine veteran on Memorial Day. Yeah, that sends a good message.

Courtesy of Mother Jones:  

On Memorial Day this week, a former Marine in Texas named James got a couple calls from friends who'd spotted an unusual gathering in downtown Fort Worth: Roughly a dozen people, mostly men, were hanging out in the middle of the city's cultural district, armed with semi-automatic rifles. James quickly knew what his friends were describing, having recently encountered an open-carry demonstration himself in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. An independent TV commercial producer who sometimes films live events, James headed downtown with his camera to get some footage. 

What he saw there struck him as especially provocative. Not only had the open-carry activists come to a typically relaxed, family friendly part of town, they were displaying intimidating firearms just three days after a major gun massacre in Southern California. What he didn't anticipate was that they would soon be pursuing him for several city blocks with cameras of their own, harassing him and later posting the footage online, where they would also level homophobic slurs and violent threats against him.

I do not know how that guy did not lose his cool. Listen to what they did in an attempt to provoke him:  

In a video obtained by Mother Jones that was posted online later that day by one of the activists, the group can be seen pursuing and harassing James through downtown Fort Worth. "I'm following this guy around," declares one of them, setting off after him with his weapon slung across his back. He and others stay right behind James for several city blocks, following him through traffic and taunting him along the way. James grows more agitated and tells them off, calling them assholes and bullies. 

"We're being polite, you're calling people names," one of the gun activists pursuing him says. 

"You're not being polite out here with assault rifles the weekend after people lost their children," James retorts, before again trying to walk away. 

The harassment continues down the street. "Are you gonna cry?" one says. "Sounds like you're about to cry." Another says: "What's wrong with that guy—is he a liberal?

Men openly carrying assault rifles following a veteran around and harassing him. And THIS is supposed to convince people to become more accepting of seeing armed men walking the streets of America?

I would like to think I would be pretty cool headed, and I KNOW they wanted this guy to get physical, but I would have had a hard time nor knocking one of these idiots on their ass.

This is kind of behavior is WAY out of line.

Drunk man opens fire at rodeo, gets his ass lassoed.

Courtesy of Odd News: 

A Georgia man who allegedly had too much to drink and then started shooting at a Memorial Day Weekend rodeo was taken out of action by a cowboy's lasso. 

Celestino Moras wounded three people after he allegedly shot into a crowd with a pistol at an annual church picnic and rodeo in Bartow County. 

The incident began after Moras, who was not invited to the event and showed up intoxicated, was asked to leave. Moras became agitated and started firing, causing as many as 300 people to run off, WSB TV reported. 

After Moras ran out of bullets, a cowboy lassoed him and others guests beat on him until law enforcement officials arrived.

Since this happened in Georgia, who also have the stand your ground laws, I am very surprised this guy got away with a simple beat down.

I guess Wayne LaPierre was wrong.

It's not a good man with a gun that stops a bad man with a gun. It's a good man with a lasso.

Meanwhile the President demonstrates the proper way to honor our American heroes.

President Obama placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington Cemetery.

Courtesy of the Obama Diary:

President Obama on Monday honored all the Americans who have given their lives for their country, from the Civil War of a century-and-a-half ago to the Afghanistan war that is wrapping up this year. In Memorial Day remarks delivered a day after a surprise visit to Afghanistan, Obama said the U.S. troops there “are coming home” from the conflict that began a month after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. “By the end of this year, our war in Afghanistan will finally come to an end,” Obama said during the annual Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. During his speech, Obama praised veterans from all the nation’s wars. “Everything that we hold precious in this country was made possible by Americans who gave their all,” Obama said. 

Here you can find the video of the President's remarks.

Though there is much to criticize, the President took no cheap political shots.

Because it would be disrespectful to their memories to do so, and a REAL leader recognizes that.

And of course last night President Obama went to honor the troops still with us and tell them that he is going to get them out of harm's way as soon as possible.

 Because a REAL leader also tries to limit the number of new headstones that are placed in Arlington Cemetery during his term in office.

It's Memorial Day so that means war pimping, warrior bod birthing, Sarah Palin MUST make a statement. And if she can get a dig in at the President, all's the better.

Courtesy of Lady Liberal Libation's Facebook page:

Enjoy this long, glorious spring weekend, and please never forget the true meaning of Memorial Day. We set this time aside to honor the men and women who for generations have ensured our safety and our ability to spend a day like this in freedom and peace. They are more than just names on gravestones in national cemeteries and battlefields. They were someone’s child, sibling, spouse, parent, and friend. As President Reagan said, on Memorial Day we remember “those who were loved and who, in return, loved their countrymen enough to die for them.” 

Thank you, God, for instilling the passion for freedom in these patriots. Thank you for equipping America with the resources to defend the liberty You have given us. (Did she just thank God for the Military Industrial Complex? You know, the people who donate millions of dollars to politicians so that they will keep starting wars that allow them to sell their murderous products to the government.)

Please remember our active veterans today as well as those who have fallen. Every American should feel outrage at any injustice done to our veterans seeking what was promised them when they volunteered to defend the homeland. They are owed the health care they have already paid for. Friends, be determined to right the wrongs our vets face today. (Ah, gotta twist that knife buried in President Obama's back, don't you nasty?)

President Lincoln knew our military heroes as "those who gave the last full measure of devotion” for our freedom; let’s continue Lincoln’s legacy of respect and always keep faith with our veterans. They, more than any, deserve our country’s unending respect and gratitude.

 - Sarah Palin

Reagan, Lincoln, did you ever notice that Palin likes to mention the same American presidents that Barack Obama said that he admired in past speeches and comments? Calling Dr. Freud.

Yes today is a day to honor our fallen soldiers who gave their lives in service of our country.

However it should not be a day for half term governors, failed reality stars, and current D-list celebrities to attack the President of this country, while pretending to care about the deaths of the actual soldiers whose lives were put in the kind of jeopardy that her own political connections protected her own son from facing.

In other words this should be a day free from hypocrisy.

This is what we are dealing with right now. Fire!

Courtesy of KTUU:  

The effort to extinguish two large wildfires is nearly a week old. While hundreds of firefighters from across Alaska, around the Lower 48 and Canada try to get the fires under control.

The fire that has covered Anchorage in a blanket of smoke is the Funny River fire:

The Funny River fire has grown to 106,000 acres as of 9 p.m. Saturday. Fire officials say 20% of the blaze has been contained, and the evacuation advisory is still in effect. No major activity is expected overnight.

The smell outside is pretty strong, and the skies are overcast with this nasty grey haze.

I had planned on going hiking tomorrow, but I think I will wait until this all clears up.

I am too far away from the fire to have to worry about the flames, but the smoke is pretty nasty here in town, and I have noticed that I have been sneezing a lot and have had occasional coughing spells.

Which is no surprise considering the fact that just two days ago the air quality was considered unhealthy for everyone.  That does not make hiking or camping terribly attractive right now.

So much for Memorial Day weekend.

It has been a particularly dry spring, and I have little doubt that the fire season is just now getting started.

Well apparently SOMEBODY is off their meds.

Sequester = a four-day weekend at the IRS.
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) May 24, 2013

The IRS is closed for the day, feel free to use your phones.
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) May 24, 2013

#ObamaScandalMovies All Quiet on the West Wing Front
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) May 24, 2013

You know sometimes it is hard to differentiate between when Sarah Palin is posting tweets or her ghostwriter is doing it for her.

Not hard at all this time.

Rolling Thunder spokesman still pissed off about Sarah Palin crashing their event in 2011.

Courtesy of ABC News:

ABC News: Do you get any celebrities to ride with you for Rolling Thunder? 

President of Rolling Thunder Washington, Ted Shpak: “We had enough problems last year with Sarah Palin. She came out last year and said she’s speaking, and she’s bringing her bus and starting her tour, and that wasn’t happening. I went ballistic when I heard that. One of our members invited them who had no business to invite her. She showed up. Don’t come in the way she came in. It was a sad site to see. If she had just came like everybody else, I’d say it was OK. That’s not the way it happened.”

That's the Sarah Palin that we know and loathe, leaving a trail of disappointed and angry people wherever she goes!

Thankfully THIS year, now that she FINALLY had to drop the political prick teasing,  she has been relegated to  nothing more than the least informed "pundit" on cable news.

Of course things have been  little quiet over by the compound overlooking the dead lake.  Perhaps a little TOO quiet!

While others made fools of themselves this Memorial Day weekend, our President was quietly comforting those in despair.

Courtesy of Obama Diary

:

Sarah Palin's appearance at the Rolling Thunder event was just as disruptive and disrespectful as was predicted. Updated!

Courtesy of Talking Points Memo:

"I'm very not appreciative of the way she came in here," Ted Shpak, Rolling Thunder's national legislative director, told Rachel Weiner of the Washington Post. "If she wanted to come on the ride, she should have come in the back." (Palin, instead, came in the front of the Pentagon's north parking lot, where event staff and press had gathered.)

Palin, along with her husband Todd and daughters Bristol and Piper, proceeded into D.C. on bikes from the Pentagon parking lot to the Vietnam Memorial and later to the National Mall. Palin reportedly planned to visit the National Archive to view the Constitution later in the day.

This was supposed to be a solemn event to honor our missing service and fallen warrirs, and instead Palin turned into a three ring circus.

Shameful.

Update: Oh my God!  Why in the hell did she need to write on her hand to ride a freaking motorcycle?

(H/T to Oliver Willis.)

Palin straps on her S&M gear and disrespectfully attempts to hijack event out from under veteran's group.

From Political Ticker:

She delivered her message on the National Mall as part of the "Rolling Thunder" rally in honor of Memorial Day. "Rolling Thunder" is a non-profit organization dedicated to the search for American military personnel who are prisoners of war or missing in action.

The former Alaska governor and potential 2012 presidential candidate thanked "Rolling Thunder" for making sure Americans "don't forget it's our vets whom we owe a debt of gratitude."

"I'm an American. I have no title. I have no office," Palin told CNN's Sandra Endo. "To be an American citizen with the freedom to come out here and assemble to thank you veterans, I can't tell you how honored I am to be invited to participate."

After driving on a motorcycle and walking on the Mall with her husband Todd and daughters Bristol and Piper, Palin met with veterans and families associated with the "Rolling Thunder" organization.

Shameless, self promoting bimbo! Every time I think she cannot go any lower she proves me wrong!

As if to prove what an absolute phony she is, Palin apparently wore HIGH HEELS while riding on the back of that motorcycle:

Palin also has taken no evident steps toward the on-the-ground organizing that's central to a real campaign. Yet as she walked through the steamy Pentagon parking lot in her heels and short-sleeved black T-shirt, it was obvious she still has her fans eager to snap pictures and get her signature.

Oh for God's sake! I am still amazed that people in this country are stupid enough to take this pathetic fraud seriously.

Oh by the way for those people who have been asking me where Willow has been all of this time, and WHY she is not accompanying Palin on these publicity jaunts, I have some new information for you.

I had a long conversation with a good friend in Wasilla, who informed me that Willow was essentially kicked out of Palmer's Colony High for disciplinary reasons.  My friend said that the Colony High principle is a dyed in the wool Palin-bot but that he simply could not keep her enrolled because she flatly refused to follow the disciplinary procedures required to be reinstated back into the school after she was suspended. (Sorry I don't know what the initial reason was for the suspension.)

However the drama does not end there, as the decision was then made to home school Willow.  Sally Heath was recruited to find retired teachers among her friends, willing to help Willow complete her assignments.

Apparently Willow has developed quite the attitude, and the potty mouth to go long with it, and has, as of this posting, gone through FOUR of Sally's friends and acquaintances.  My understanding is that Willow is so COMPLETELY disrespectful that these veteran teachers simply refuse to put up with her, regardless of the compensation provided.

I have also heard that Sarah is virtually NEVER in Wasilla, and Todd is only there sporadically, so there is really no structure provided and Willow has suffered, probably more than any of the others, from the neglect.

As for Piper she was attending Cottonwood Elementary where some had referred to as a "diva," and where she apparently missed almost as many classes as she was present for. I have no idea how much longer they will be able to keep her enrolled as I do believe there is minimal attendance requirement.

Concerning Trig I have heard nary a peep recently.  The last thing I heard of any interest was that he was turning into quite a handful and that Sarah had a family helping with his care when she was unable to be home.  Which lately has been almost constant.

And of course we all know what's up with Bristol.

So much for family values. I guess nobody ever explained to Sarah that these are thinking, feeling human beings, and NOT just handy political props.

Update:  Here is a picture of Palin doing that weird tongue she does, which makes everybody wonder if she is on medication.

BTW my source in Wasilla is a real Christian conservative who finds Palin's constant lies about her faith, family, and intelligence to be especially frustrating because it reflects so poorly on her own gender, her true Christian faith, and her long held political point of view.