They say that the only certainties in life are death and taxes—but what the hell do they know?!
According to all of the available data, when it comes to the charmed life of Donald J. Trump, the normal rules don't apply.
During the two glorious months since he launched his campaign to "Make America Great Again," the reports of Trump's death have been superlatively exaggerated.
On numerous occasions, he's said some things that would've killed lesser candidates (losers); and each and every time, the pundits (haters) have begun writing his obituary—only to see him rise from the ashes.
First came his incendiary remarks about Mexican rapists and drug dealers.
While these comments might have hurt Trump's business interests/brand, he continues to feel the love of Latinos.
Next, while talking about former POW John McCain, he expressed a preference for people who've never been captured—a sentiment that's apparently shared by a lot of Republican primary voters.
And, most recently, he insinuated that moderator Megyn Kelly's "tough questions" for him at the first GOP debate were the result of her menstrual cycle.
Well, as it turns out, teh womenz just can't get enough of stuff like that.
Bottom line: With Trump driving the GOP clown car, the only certainty is that things are gonna get messy.
Morning lineup:
Meet the Press: **Exclusive** w/GOP Frontrunner Donald Trump (R); Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT); Roundtable: Molly Ball (The Atlantic), Eugene Robinson (Washington Post), Kimberly Strassel (Wall Street Journal) and Journalist Jeff Greenfield.
Face the Nation: Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R); Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC); Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D); Roundtable: Peggy Noonan (Wall Street Journal), Mark Halperin (Bloomberg Politics), Ron Fournier (National Journal), Jamelle Bouie (Slate) and Robert Costa (Washington Post).
This Week: "Brain Surgeon" Dr. Ben Carson (R); Failed CEO Carly Fiorina (R); Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC); Roundtable: "Independent" Strategist Matthew Dowd, Democratic Strategist Donna Brazile and Radio Host Hugh Hewitt.
Fox News Sunday: "Brain Surgeon" Dr. Ben Carson (R); Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC); Roundtable: George Will (Washington Post), Anne Gearan (Washington Post), Arthur Brooks (American Enterprise Institute) and Bob Woodward (Washington Post).
State of the Union: Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R); Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R-OH); Josh Alcorn (Draft Biden Super PAC).
Evening lineup:
60 Minutes will feature: a report Lumber Liquidators' Chinese-made laminate flooring, which contains amounts of toxic formaldehyde that may not meet health and safety standards (preview); a report on development of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, DC (preview); and, a report on the huge discoveries that await in the more than 50% of American that lies underwater (preview).
On Comedy Central...
Jon Stewart's time as host of The Daily Show came to an end last Thursday, but since I wasn't around to write Sunday Talk last weekend (I was in Seattle attending a wedding—which had been scheduled prior to the GOP debate), let me now present Stephen Colbert's heartfelt send-off to Jon for your viewing pleasure.
Elsewhere...
The PC Police intervened to prevent a "family values" lawmaker from being honored for his service.
An Arkansas lawmaker who made headlines earlier this year when it came to light that he sent his adopted daughters to live with a man who allegedly raped one of them was supposed to receive a "courage" award Wednesday at a dinner headlined by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).
But at the last minute, the local Republican Party chapter hosting the dinner asked that an outside group not present the award to state Rep. Justin Harris (R) at their event.
The president of the Family Council, Jerry Cox, told The Arkansas Times on Wednesday afternoon that the Crawford County Republican Party had asked the group not to present its awards at the Lincoln Day Dinner, at which Cruz, a Republican presidential contender, was the featured speaker.
Asked by the newspaper whether he hesitated to honor Harris in light of the "rehoming" controversy, Cox said he had no reservations.
"None whatosever (sic), because the award is specifically for his sponsorship of one of the pro-life bills passed during the session ... These awards are given to lawmakers for their sponsorship of specific legislation. That's it," he told The Arkansas Times.
Meanwhile...
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal rode to the rescue of at-risk Confederate monuments.
Jindal's office told the Advocate newspaper on Thursday that the presidential candidate was exploring his options to halt the removal of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans.
"Gov. Jindal opposes the tearing down of these historical statues and has instructed his staff to look into the Heritage Act to determine the legal authority he has as governor to stop it," Jindal spokesman Doug Cain said in an email to the newspaper.
But according to the Advocate, no such "Heritage Act" exists in Louisiana. The law in question may refer to a statue passed in South Carolina in 2000 that protected the Confederate flag at the Charleston statehouse, according to the paper.
And, speaking of at-risk...
Disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker worried about being made a prisoner of civil war.
Jim Bakker, the televangelist who served time in jail for fraud in the 1990s, declared on his program earlier this week that he may very soon wind up in jail again … this time as a victim of the made-up Jade Helm 15 federal takeover of Texas.
"The government is saying, 'All we're doing is, we've got our troops practicing for foreign wars,' but I’m not so sure about that," [Pastor Rick] Wiles said. "I think they are getting ready for social unrest." Referring to the gold depository, Wiles told Bakker that "this is why Jade Helm 15 is listing Texas as hostile territory."
"We're getting close to a civil war," Wiles said, before Bakker wondered when freedom in America will come to an end: "I've done my time, I really don't want to do any more, but America is not the America that we once knew as children."
Them's fightin' words!
- Trix