News & Politics

Train Transporting Crude Oil Doesn’t Blow Up

by Mick Zano • February 18, 2014

Ft. Worth, TX—To the shock of many, a one-mile long train carrying crude oil from Canada to an oil refinery in Texas arrived safely yesterday. The train made the trip from Alberta Canada to Ft. Worth Texas yesterday “without incident”.

The conductor, Jones Casey, said, “I was as surprised as anyone when we pulled into the station. There are several turns that I always just kind of hold my breath. But, wouldn’t you know it, the shit stayed right on the tracks this time, the whole way.”

Head of the Association of American Railroads, Gomez Adams, said, “We are entering a transformative time for the railroad industry. Hell, when I use to crash trains, unless it was over a bridge or something, it was pretty dull but now I can see the resulting fireball plume from my house.”

BNSF…it’s the new BWTF?

by Mick Zano • February 14, 2014

You think that’s bad? Initially I was going with drone strikes. The list of our-dangerously-incomptent-politicians-who-we-must-run-out-of-office has changed. Instead of identifying them via their support for Sarah Palin, we need to switch to all those elected officials derailing our current peace talks with Iran, D or R. Please turn in your flag lapel pins and all those donations acquired illegally before your car is towed.

I am not sure these talks with Iran will net anything either, but to jump directly to an estimated 9-trillion dollar unwinnable war without even trying diplomacy first is insane—even by republican standards.

“We tried nothing and we’re out of options…Bomb!”

—John Q. Republican

In light of recent Middle Eastern military campaigns, to skip diplomacy is another stunning republican position (SRP). That’s all they seem to bleeping have these days. Why is reality such a tough concept for this bunch? Hey, let’s repeal Obamacare again.

“To say The GOP is a one trick pony, implies the one trick actually works.”

—Mick Zano

Here’s a Venn diagram that should explain everything:

Democrat, Reality Republican Venn diagram

Even if republicans think they have a valid point regarding our economy, which is a stretch, I don’t get how they can chime in on foreign affairs with a straight face. To make matters worse, 26 Dems in congress initially broke from the president and called for increased sanctions on Iran. This week, not to be outdone, forty republican senators are pushing for increased sanctions as well—and they want them to start during the State Department’s preliminary deal. What?! You can’t be even less insightful than the last time I posted, you can’t!

The GOP has based their entire foreign policy strategy off a variation of the hairdresser’s code of Rinse, Lather, Repeat:

Juan Cole has a must read post over at his Informed Comment: The 10 Reasons Americans will Regret if Republicans Derails Iran Negotiations.

“It is absolutely outrageous and very rare that Congress would interfere in diplomatic negotiations of the president. They let Bush go around invading countries but won’t let Obama try to forestall a war.”

—Juan Cole

I also agree with Juan in that a war may well trigger another economic collapse, a game ending one. The word “treason” comes to mind. It comes to mind a lot lately. Patriots for Treason? Don’t Drudge on Me? Fine, I’ll work on that one.

How can the people who brought us Bush be allowed to do this? Wasn’t there an election or something? If you don’t understand what Obama’s doing, that’s okay, you don’t understand anything anyway! So relax.

And I didn’t order the fractured Democratic Party or the side order of crazy bread. I know some of you red state Dems are trying to fit a square state into a round Fox hole, but you were elected to do the right [as in “correct”] thing, which in this case means let the maestro work. So if you have a D in front of your name, please purge the propaganda (PPP). I expect the wrong answer from the right, but not from you (hint: it helps me get stuff right).

Just a few weeks ago, optimism was on the rise—at least as far as Obama’s foreign policy legacy was concerned—but now all bets are off as Syria is emboldened, in part because we can’t get our collective shit together. Now talks with both Iran and Syria are straining like Palin on a colonial history pop quiz.

Meanwhile:

“I think that we should proceed with sanctions so that the Iranians know that this is not an American deal with them … this is a Kerry/Obama deal with them and that the rest of Congress is not behind them.”

–GOP congressman (R-CA), Duncan Hunter.

Hunter Deported to Sweden, Claims He’s Not From There. What movie?

This man is not a fringe character, he was in the republican primaries a few years back. I remember listening to his version of foreign policy issues back then, thinking, wow, how does someone manage to seem even less insightful than other republicans? Oh, wait, that was his dad. I guess the ACORN doesn’t fall from the Tea.

Many on the right now believe the wars and the state of the Middle East is predominately Obama’s fault. I can’t make this up; they really think that. I like Kaplan’s response in Obama Isn’t Disengaged from the World:

“If only he’d kept a few thousand troops in Iraq and made an open-ended commitment to Afghanistan, they claim, the insurgents would be cowed, the central governments would be stable, and the people would be prosperous and secure. To believe these claims requires a twisted view of the two wars and a deep misunderstanding of power in the modern world.”

—Fred Kaplan

What it really is, is the republican’s ongoing disengagement from reality. This is what I blog about, because unlike what they blog about, it tends to be relevant. You folks need to remember the context; I watched a president do everything wrong for eight years, and I knew it at the time. Now I’m watching a president, who I voted for, struggle to do what’s right and the same people want us to jump the shark again. Give it rest, people. Tell you what, if you win the presidency in 2016, you can end the world then. Deal?

More people are identifying the deep delusional state of our GOP, but will having a handful more journalists figure this shit out really matter in the long run? I encourage any voter considering a Republican for office to first consider just how radical they have become. Believe me, they’re not your grandfather’s Republican Party…well, they are a lot like his last few years when he kept putting his keys in the toaster.

by Mick Zano • February 12, 2014

Ticket Emerges that Finally Captures the GOP’s Values

Washington, DC—Earlier today C. Montgomery Burns announced his intention to buy the republican nomination for president in 2016. Not only is the 4^th richest man in the world in, but he has already picked a vice presidential running mate, Ebenezer Scrooge. When asked if he was getting a little ahead of himself, Burns said, “Nonsense, the only head of myself is a Buick-sized 14k gold replica hanging in the foyer.”

Mr. Burns told reporters, “With the passing of Citizens United primaries are a formality. We currently have a Super PAC that could fund the Death Star, with enough left over for a sporty little Death Moon. Write that down, Smithers! Death Moon. Besides, who else do they have? I haven’t seen a field this empty since last week, when I released the hounds.”

If you were to place the skeletons in Mr. Burns’ closet, end to end, some estimate they would encircle the Earth as many as three times, much lower than many of the other republican hopefuls.

Hillary Clinton added, “It’ll be nice to finally run against someone with more baggage than I have.”

by Mick Zano • February 4, 2014

After consuming an extreme amount of vodka, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his decision today to release Justin Bieber from an unspecified Gulag. Putin admits the young entertainer acted irresponsibly but would rather avoid the wide array of expected protests during his coveted Olympic games.

When asked about his decision to release members of the punk rock band, Pussy Riot, Putin said, “Kittens like them may have nine lives, but I can assure you I have more than nine guns. Besides, this is very different. I have always admired Bieber’s work.”

President Obama has yet to receive any official communication from the Kremlin on this matter so The White House remains perplexed by the Russian President’s proclamation. “Look,” said Obama, “I already did my fair share of pardoning turkeys over the Thanksgiving holiday.”

by Mick Zano • January 29, 2014

Rosetta Scandal: Obama’s Blunders Deciphered!

Are you having a hard time deciphering Obama scandals? Are you confused whether or not Obama should be impeached? Can you even keep all of these scandals straight? I have turned all of our 44^th President’s scandals into fun, easily digestible cartoons. So in five minutes you’ll finally understand everything, or your money back!

Fast & Furious

Benghazi

IRS

NSA

Obamacare

A Special Comment:

I realize these are over simplifications, yet they still have more validity than any current GOP witch hunt. If Bush started Fast & Furious in 2006, which evidence suggests, who cares? We had real scandals to cover. If Obama had less embassy bombings than Bush, who cares? Violence in the Middle East? There’s a shock. Besides, Bush had too many such incidents to actually investigate—more of his strategery? And, if the IRS targeted liberal groups under Bush—which happened by the way, full story here—who cares! I don’t think any politically affiliated group should be tax exempt, D or R.

Soooo essentially for Obama’s impeachable offenses, Bush either did it, caused it, or had a higher body count. The ONLY time Obama really messed up was his “you can keep your policy” quote, which happens to be accurate for 96% of Americans. When did Bush ever get a 96? …on ANYTHING?! Certainly not on an IQ test.

Since it’s been so long since a proper presidential scandal occurred, let’s jog some memories, eh.

THESE are REAL scandals. Some are impeachable offenses, others carry the death penalty. And I didn’t have to write cute little cartoons to explain them, nor did I require hundreds of sensational headlines to tease out their meaning. They speak for themselves, loudly…oh, and then they culminated in a global economic collapse.

Why will Obama rank much higher than Bush, historically?

“Recoveries, however anemic, are better than global economic collapses and avoiding a war through diplomacy is always preferable to lying us into one.”

—Mick Zano

Obama is an immeasurably better Commander-in-Chief, as history will eventually attest. What I am angry with Obama about is how he allowed this false reality to fester. That is his only real scandal. And it’s too late now, the damage is done. Our president underestimated the extremism, the obstructionism and the propaganda of the right. I never did, in fact, it’s why I blog.

Most of today’s republicans have no place in Congress or the White House. I’m not sure they should even be able to drive a car, let alone carry a gun. And, regardless of who runs for the Dems in 2016, be it Hillary, be it Warren, be it Janeane friggin’ Garofalo that person has my full support, because the alternative would be…er, take it away Spengler:

Spengler: It would be bad.

Venkman: I’m fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, “bad”?

Spengler: Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light

…or, if that doesn’t work, just think about Michele Bachmann and a certain red button.

by Mick Zano • January 27, 2014

Heaven—God is back peddling today as a leaked memo to several archangels and the Pope suggest the Christian deity is “cooking the books” on climate change. The memo suggests God is manipulating data by either heating or cooling NOAA weather buoys depending on “my mood”.

In a rare act of nonpartisanship, republicans and democrats alike condemned the supreme beings actions as “messed up”.

“Thou shalt not accuse me of being an environmentalist!” boomed God during a press conference. “You never heard of an ‘act of God?’ It’s not a hoax if I actually make it happen! You want to see a real hoax, you should see what I have planned for Bigfoot next year. That’s been the best game of hide and seek ever…granted, moving Hoffa’s body around all these years is a close second.”

by Alex Bone • January 26, 2014

Collapsing Shack, AZ—In an unexpected move, President Obama sold the entire state of Arizona back to Mexico. Many around the beltway feel the move was politically motivated, but Obama claims it’s, “All due to logistics. Immigrants will have a much tougher time sneaking into our country now that the Grand Canyon divides Mexico and the United States.”

When others questioned the move, the president replied, “The only good part of Arizona was Sedona, which ended up completely overrun by New Age extremists. And the rest of the place is just dust and cactus plants. Let those gun totting, ATV driving, crawdad loving red necks be someone else’s problem. One less red state isn’t going to hurt anybody.”

Vice President Joe Biden added, “Arizona has always been more trouble than its worth and it’s so damn hot. You can fry an egg on your forehead and that’s more dangerous than texting while driving. Let those retirees soak up someone else’s dime.

The White House in not talking about how much they sold the state for. But after I cornered an Obama intern, bought her a dozen drinks, and cleaned her apartment, she said the entire state went for three dozen beef and green chili tamales.

College students in the surrounding states are also excited about this change. One young man said “Woo, yeah yeah woo. Drinking age is now only eighteen and I’m still only a few hours from a Rocky Mountain high.”

Proponents of this idea include AZ resident and Tea Bagger, Max Blohotaire, “I admit it won’t change my neighborhood much, but what about my guns? And I sure as hell hope those Mexicans won’t be expecting me to pay any taxes to help with their education. Hating kids is one of the reasons I moved to Arizona in the first place.”

The southwestern branch of The Daily Discord might also be in jeopardy. “When Winslow needed to save money for his second jet, he forced us to move out here,” explained head writer, Mick Zano. “He also didn’t want us attending the staff Christmas party anymore, after ‘the incident’. He also wanted to keep Alex Bone from always breaking into his house, stealing all his food, and passing out in his bathtub wearing his wife’s clothing.”

“I believe Winslow moved us out here for the cheap rent. He got a sweet deal on a one room shack without air conditioning that overlooks a mining till. Oh, and he also wanted to keep Tony Ballz from chasing after his daughters.”

When I asked my colleague, Mick, how this Mexico thing might impact the Discord, he replied, “Well, we’ll probably have more stories about beans, I suppose.”

Some of the major cities in Arizona are already receiving more Mexican sounding names. Tombstone will now be called “Place where gun happy gringos shoot each other,” and Yuma is now, “It’s way too hot to live in this shithole.” Phoenix is “El Loco Diablo” and Flagstaff will be hence forth known as “What’s this white stuff? I thought Arizona was a desert?” Granted, Flagstaff has a long name but we’ll keep working on a shorter designation.

President Obama added, “This is a pilot project. We hope to sell the rest of the southwest to Mexico, shortly. There’s no more water there anymore anyway. Due to global warming the area can no longer sustain life, so I want to make these sales before these states completely depreciate.”

by Mick Zano • January 26, 2014

ObamaCare Unveils New "Fun Size" Healthcare Enrollments

Washington, DC—With Obamacare out of extensions, yet far below enrollment goals, the President announced his strategy to close the gap. Eligibility for full enrollments for the Affordable Care Act ends on March 31^st, but until then all those seeking insurance can also sign up for Obama’s new “fun size” coverage.

Those who sign up in January, will receive an autographed Obama picture and 10% off the penalties associated with the individual mandate. “And if you act now,” said Obama, “The NSA will stop listening in on your conversations for the rest of 2014!”

When cornered, Obama admitted the enrollment is symbolical and is not truly redeemable for any medical or behavioral health coverage, per se, but he urged Americans to have a heart, because the program offers some good piece of mind. “But, remember, the heart and mind aren’t really covered,” said Obama.

by Mick Zano • January 24, 2014

As Arizona’s CPS Closes Brewer Opens the "Jan-Line"

Phoenix, AZ—After gutting Child Protective Services in the state of Arizona, Governor Jan Brewer announced her decision to “do it her (mother blanking) self.” After citing a number of CPS failings, Brewer announced her decision to quarterback the statewide program.

The Governor told reporters, “The Jan-line will be available 24/7, or at least my motivational pre-recorded messages should be. Hey, I have to sleep some time.”

When filing a report, if you do happen to reach Jan live, she will immediately dispatch Sheriff Joe Arpaio to drive a tank through the home of the alleged perpetrator. “As for neglect and abuse,” said Brewer, “tanks have been known to greatly reduce recidivism. Now if you receive my pre-recorded messages you may hear such insightful gems as: Vote republican and end abuse, Think of the money this state is saving, right now! and, my favorite, Why not just call 911, morons?!“

This new system will save the state of Arizona an estimated seventy million dollars next year and Brewer believes it may actually help children learn to be more resourceful, self-sufficient and survival oriented.

by Mick Zano • January 20, 2014

Rio de Janeiro, BZ—As Thor raised his giant war hammer, Zeus said, “Hold on, my Norse brother, I have a better idea.” A few seconds later the air over Rio de Janeiro was ionized with dancing streams of electricity. The discharge blew Christ’s fingertips off and reduced them to a spray of soapstone shards that rained down onto the city below like brimstone.

Jesus minced no parables, “I’m shocked. For the first time ever I used my own name in vain. I had lighting rods installed to prevent this sort of thing. And, let me tell you, that procedure made me long for a good crucifixion.”

When asked if Jesus holds any grudges, Jesus said, “Christ the Redeemer or not, Mount Olympus is going down. My father usually works with volcanos or floods, which won’t work on a sky city, but…hey…you know what would be great? I’m just thinking out loud here, have Olympus fall right onto Putin’s Olympics. Kill em’ all and let dad sort em’ out. Let the games begin!”