Monday, July 25, 2016

Bye, Felicia--I mean Debbie Wasserman Schultz

I was getting dressed this morning with the radio tuned to my usual NPR station, and I heard that Debbie Wasserman Schultz is stepping down as Chair of the DNC.

Good.

Not a moment too soon, in fact.

I only hope that Hillary won't reward DWS's bad behavior, like "Democracy Now!" said she plans to. Talk about kicking us rank-and-file progressives--not to mention the rest of the integrity-loving Dems out there, of whom there are plenty-plenty--right in the teeth. Please, Hillary--we're already holding our noses to vote for you. Don't make us throw up our hands in complete disgust and vote for Jill Stein instead! That reminds me--my dad and I saw a rather apropos campaign bumper sticker as we were driving along running errands this weekend: "EVERYONE SUCKS 2016."

Ya gotta love WikiLeaks for creating some accountability in the establishment Democratic camp. I hope they plan to give Republicans the same treatment before November--you know the documentation is out there, and getting it in front of the public minus all the media spin makes a big difference in credibility.

Ya also gotta love Bernie for hanging in there. And you know what? I totally trust his judgment in backing Hillary to the hilt. He knows that his improvements to the Democratic platform go straight down the terlit if Trump gets in. Bernie knows that we common folk get skrooed when Republicans get in. He also knows that at least three Supreme Court seats and other federal appointments are at stake in this election. Such as she is, Hillary is our only shot at defeating the Christo-fascist bigots in the Republican party as led by Trump. And Bernie knows that.

I also like the idea of keeping Bernie in our hip pocket in case Hillary gets frog-marched away between now and November.

Alas, as I was breathing a sigh of relief that the tumultuous, toxic RNC was over, and as I was expecting the DNC to herald in typical Democratic civility, I heard that there has been "turmoil" at the convention so far...in the form of an estimated 50,000-100,000 protesters inside and outside the venue in Philly.

I understand why the protesters are booing everyone at the convention, and I'm glad they're doing it. We common folk have to get our voices heard, and this has been the first real chance we've had since forever. More power to them! I only hope that, once they speak their piece, they do what it takes to keep Trump out and vote blue--at least in the swing states. Fingers crossed.

Well, dear ones, that's all I've got for now--I'm still limping along with a busticated 'puter and am borrowing one to do todaze post. Forgive me if I blog 'n' run.

Don't forget to read Dot Calm's shadow's favorite independent sources of news and information:


Peas, friends. Hug yourselves and each other for me--please and thank you! You guys 'n' gals are truly awesome! I appreciate you!
  
- Dot Calm's shadow

Blogger has its panties in a wad again this evening, folks--consider the standard Blogger phuqued-up phormatting disclaimer...which includes random insertion and deletion of line breaks...to be in effect.
-- Dot Calm's shadow

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Thank FSM it's finally over: the biggest
MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN
masturbation-fest America has ever seen.

At least three SCOTUS seats
are likely up for grabs
 in the next presidential term.
Please don't let these angry, bigoted

spray-tan buffoons
decide our destiny for the next generation.
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Mailbag

CREDO action
Stand with Sen. Warner: Protect Americans from risky derivatives
Petition to Congress:
"Support the Derivatives Oversight and Taxpayer Protection Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Mark Warner, and Rep. Elijah Cummings, which would improve oversight of risky derivatives trading and protect taxpayers."
Add your name:
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From ColorOfChange

The WNBA just handed out major fines to players who spoke out against police brutality.
Hv
Demand the WNBA immediately rescind all fines and penalties!
Take Action
 
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5 things about Tim Kaine
 
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CREDO action
Tell Congress: Stop the proposed “Republic of Cliven Bundy”
The petition to Congress reads:
"Stop trying to make it harder to create national monuments on federally owned land. Remove the ‘Republic of Cliven Bundy’ amendment authored by Reps. Stewart and Goser from final passage of the Department of Interior Appropriations bill."
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Just Foreign Policy


Dear Friend,


Urge Tim Kaine to keep his pledge to come out publicly against the TPP.

Take Action

Hillary Clinton has chosen Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate. As a Senator, Kaine voted for fast-track authority to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement [TPP]. But the Washington Post reports that Kaine has promised to come out publicly against the TPP. [1]

If Kaine comes out publicly against the TPP now, this will greatly strengthen the idea that "oppose the TPP" is the "Democratic Party line," and help us block a lame duck vote on the TPP after the election.

Urge Kaine to keep his pledge to come out publicly against the TPP by signing our petition at MoveOn.

Thanks for all you do to help make U.S. foreign policy more just,

Robert Naiman, Avram Reisman, Sarah Burns
Just Foreign Policy

Help support our work!
If you think our work is important, support us with a $15 donation.
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/donate
References:
1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/07/23/tim-kaine-is-not-a-perfect-choice-but-hes-a-pretty-good-one/


Please support our work. Donate for a Just Foreign Policy
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CREDO action
Sign the petition: Investigate FBI and DHS surveillance of activists.
Sign the petition to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees:
"Fulfill Congress’s oversight role by investigating the FBI and DHS surveillance of activists and political organizations. The U.S. government should never subject Americans to surveillance for exercising basic Constitutional rights."
Add your name:
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---------------------------------------------------
Just Foreign Policy


Dear Friend,


Urge Tim Kaine to pledge that as Vice-President, he'll continue to insist that the Administration comply with the War Powers Resolution.

Take Action

Hillary Clinton has chosen Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate. As a Senator, Kaine has been adamant that the Obama Administration comply with the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution in undertaking military action in Syria, by getting an authorization for the use of military force from Congress. [1]

Michele Flournoy, whom some believe to be Hillary Clinton's most likely nominee for Secretary of Defense, has advocated the direct use of U.S. troops to bring about regime change in Syria. [2] But so far Flournoy hasn't clarified whether she believes that President Clinton would need an authorization for the use of military force from Congress to carry out Flournoy's plan.

Urge Kaine to pledge to keep insisting as Vice-President that the President comply with the War Powers Resolution by signing our petition at MoveOn.
 
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From DemandProgress--End Superdelegates NOW


We're about to deliver the signatures on our petition to end the Democratic Party's undemocratic, unfair, and unrepresentative superdelegate system.
Delegates will vote this week at the Democratic National Convention on whether to abolish superdelegates in all future Democratic primaries.


We've seen an amazing response – already collecting more than 140,000 petition signatures. But it will be even more powerful if we can get to 150,000.
Could you click here to sign the petition?


Thanks,
Kurt
---------------------------------------------------



CREDO action
Tell Congressional Republican leadership: Follow your party platform and reinstate Glass-Steagall.
Petition to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, and the Republican leadership in Congress:
"Put your money where your mouth is. Follow the 2016 Republican Party platform and schedule an immediate vote on the 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act, co-sponsored by Sens. John McCain and Elizabeth Warren."
Add your name:
Sign the petition ►


---------------------------------------------------


Just Foreign Policy


Dear Friend,


Urge DWS to make restitution for #DNCLeak by opposing the TPP.

Take Action

Democrats are furious with Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz following WikiLeaks' release of documents showing Democratic National Committee officials under her leadership "conspiring to sabotage the campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders," as the New York Times put it. Sanders' supporters are furious that what they long suspected has been proven true. Democrats who didn't support Sanders are furious that the scandal has overshadowed the beginning of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Representative Wasserman Schultz has a ready means at her disposal to begin to make restitution: come out publicly against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement [TPP]. Hillary Clinton is against the TPP. Tim Kaine is against the TPP. Bernie Sanders is against the TPP. The labor movement is against the TPP; the climate justice movement is against the TPP; the access to essential medicines movement is against the TPP. Wasserman Schultz was one of only 28 House Democrats who voted for "fast track" authority to negotiate the TPP. By coming out against it now, she can help ensure that there is no anti-democratic "lame duck" vote on the TPP after the election.

Urge Debbie Wasserman Schultz to come out against the TPP now by signing our petition at MoveOn.

Thanks for all you do to help make U.S. foreign policy more just,

Robert Naiman, Avram Reisman, Sarah Burns
Just Foreign Policy

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Democracy Now!


Stories


WikiLeaks founder and editor-in-chief Julian Assange joins us from London about their release of nearly 20,000 emails revealing how the Democratic Party favored Hillary Clinton ... Read More →

Following the end of the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump has received a surge in his popularity. He's now leading Hillary Clinton 44 to 39 percent in a four-way ... Read More →

In March, WikiLeaks launched a searchable archive for over 30,000 emails & email attachments sent to and from Hillary Clinton's private email server while she was secretary of ... Read More →

Democracy Now! hit the streets Sunday to speak to some of the thousands of protesters who marched through the streets of Philadelphia to demand a ban on fracking and a ... Read More →

With the Democratic National Convention about to begin in Philadelphia, we look at the state of the Democratic Party. Many party leaders were hoping to use the convention to ... Read More →

With the Democratic National Convention about to begin in Philadelphia, we look at the state of the Democratic Party. Many party leaders were hoping to use the convention to ... Read More →

Some 150 Puerto Rican elected officials, community leaders and activists from across the United States gathered Sunday near Philadelphia ahead of the ... Read More →

As Senator Bernie Sanders prepares to address the Democratic National Convention tonight we end today's show with the voices of some of the hundreds Sanders ... Read More →

As the the Democratic National Convention gets underway today in Philadelphia, residents and elected officials hope to bring attention to the city's Chinatown, one of the last low- ... Read More →

Headlines →


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Mike Pence: cigarette truther
He insisted long after proven otherwise
that smoking doesn't cause cancer
Mike Pence: hates LGBTQ+
Ya think he's gay?
Male "escorts" made a killing at the RNC
Maybe Pence rented one!
Hey, Republicans...
DON'T PRAY--FIX IT!
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Daily Kos

(Pardon the freaky formatting, friends--Blogger is up to its usual tricks, and I don't have the mickey to fight with it tonight.
-- Dot Calm's shadow)

  • Donald Trump said he would 'close the Internet'
  • 25 Fox News employees come forward: Forced dates, demands for oral sex
  • Washington Post full page editorial: 'Donald Trump is a unique threat to American democracy'
  • Like the Daily Kos Recommended email? Chip in $1 to support the team that brings progressive news to your inbox every day.
  • If Trump's lips are moving, his nose is growing; Dear Jon Stewart ...
  • Mother of Ambassador Chris Stevens to Trump: STFU
  • New Republican poll confirms that Sheriff Joe Arpaio is in grave danger this fall
  • Take a peek at Donald Trump's America—Black single woman finds THIS (in her backyard)
  • The black and brown firewall blocking Trump
  • RNC broadcasts white supremacist's tweet to the entire convention, nation
  • Trump campaign manager: Women will vote for Trump because their husbands can't afford their bills
  • Meeting the two faces of 'All Lives Matter'
  • Sign the petition: I agree with Hillary: America is already great. sponsored
  • Trump's businesses may be his biggest liability
  • America is angry. If we don’t speak to this anger, we’re in trouble

  • Debbie Wasserman Schultz to resign as chair of the Democratic National Committee
  • Donna Brazile apologizes to Bernie Sanders camp for DNC emails
  • Don't take the bait, because Bernie isn't. "I'm going to do everything I can to defeat" Trump

  •  
  • An extraordinary GOP resignation letter
  • Kaine Is Not "Safe" Pick - Hillary Is Going For A Rout
  • Judge orders Trump to pay nearly $300,000 in attorney's fees for stiffing painting contractor
  • George Harrison estate to Trump: Don't use 'Here Comes The Sun'—but we might okay this other song...
  • Sign if you agree with NARAL: There's too much at stake for women's health to play politics with a Supreme Court vacancy. sponsored
  • Bernie Blasts Trump
  • Rolling Stones to Donald Trump: You Can't Always Get What You Want—stay away from our music
  • Washington Post Full Page Editorial: "Donald Trump is a unique threat to American democracy."
  • I Asked My Classmates Who They Plan to Vote For. Their Responses Were Terrifying.
  • Add your name to those calling to restore the Voting Rights Act. The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) are fighting for every American’s right to be heard. sponsored
  • Unhinged Trump Attacks Cruz in Press Conference
  • Cartoon: Make America Crazy Again
  • Republicans and Virginia Supreme Court disenfranchise 200,000, McAuliffe gets last laugh
  • Some statements on Tim Kaine from those who know him
  • Cartoon: The cycle of Trump
  • Praising Kaine: How Clinton's choice of a widely respected senator drives a deep wedge into the GOP
  • THIS is the world Donald Trump incites: Black woman wakes up to an American terrorist hate crime
  • Jon Stewart Returns For An Amazing Take Down Of The RNC and Trump
  • I Can't Believe This NYT Article About Trump Is Not A Bigger Story/Scandal
  • "The Progressive Case For Tim Kaine As VP"
  •   

  • Trump throws writer under the plagiarism bus ... and runs into a violation of campaign laws
  • Secret Service now investigating Trump's adviser call to execute Clinton. This is Trump's GOP.
  • Laura Ingraham plagiarizes Peter Sellers
  • Help Get Out The Vote to beat Trump. Chip in $3 to Daily Kos now.
  • Trump campaign tries to put Melania mess behind them, Trump won't let them
  • The Secretary General of NATO just had to reassure the world that Trump is spewing Crazy Talk.
  • The 'real Americans' who made Trump GOP nominee
  • Sign if you agree with NARAL: Time to end the special committee attacking women’s health. sponsored
  • Ted Cruz knocks the wheels off the RNC's unity parade float, Donald Trump gloats
  • It's Time We Stop Being Polite About It.
  • Daily Poll of Latinos During GOP Convention: Mucho Que Ver!! Días Uno y Dos
  • The pitfalls of working for Donald Trump, or why his campaign is a piece of crap
  • Add your name to stand with Hillary: Stop Donald Trump in his tracks. sponsored
  • Ten days of stepping all over the GOP convention debacle
  • NYT: Trump May Not Honor NATO-Gives Putin Green Light to Invade Baltic States
  • The Antidote for Laura Ingraham - "Carpool Karaoke" - Michelle Obama Gets Her Freak On."
  • The GOP’s convention of chaos
  • Hillary brutally trolled "prosecutor" hypocrite Chris Christie with "The Hug II" snapchat.
  • Donald Trump Jr. Attacks Teachers in Convention Speech

  •  

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    AlterNet

    By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet
    The TPP is a key focus, but there is a lot of frustration with Tim Kaine, and other issues. READ MORE»

    By SemDem, Daily Kos
    A culture this depraved won't change overnight. READ MORE»

    By Janet Allon, AlterNet
    Sorry scare-mongers. Crime is down. Social progress has made us safer. READ MORE»

    By Sarah Lazare, AlterNet
    Human rights advocates say that heavily militarized training can be part of the problem. READ MORE»

    By Amanda Marcotte, Salon
    The RNC was an authoritarian disaster, but the press has already moved on to the Democrats. READ MORE»

    By Tom Tomorrow, AlterNet
    Like an amusement park ride, only you'll never get off.  READ MORE»

    By Eric W. Dolan, Raw Story
    Owen Shroyer approached Jones for an interview in Cleveland — and Jones eagerly accepted the challenge. READ MORE»

    By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet
    At first Sanders is vindicated by e-mail hack, and DNC apology; but Hillary turns the tables. READ MORE»

    By Sarah Lazare, AlterNet
    Pulse was a sanctuary for LGBTQ people of color, and now that community is organizing to keep itself safe. READ MORE»

    By Martha Rosenberg, The Influence
    Think lap dances, trips to the Caribbean, and countless free lunches. READ MORE»

    By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet
    He needs them to win. They need him to survive.  READ MORE»

    By Larry Schwartz, AlterNet
    The tickets themselves may be reasonable, but they'll get you with the fees. READ MORE»

    By Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch
    Looking at my mortality, in a world of constant American war. READ MORE»

    By Robert Reich, RobertReich.org
    Tim Kaine is as vanilla middle as you can get. READ MORE»

    By Alexandra Rosenmann, AlterNet
    Noam Chomsky wants to make America great again, but you’ll never believe who he thinks will save it.  READ MORE»

    By Heather Booth, AlterNet
    Hillary Clinton chose Tim Kaine to help win this election and have someone she can work with. READ MORE»

    By Jeanne Shinskey, The Conversation
    The phenomenon, known as “childhood amnesia”, has been puzzling psychologists for more than a century – and we still don’t fully understand it. READ MORE»

    By Andrew Nikiforuk, The Tyee
    Many scientists describe such efforts as 'prime-time theatre.' Yet the farce continues. READ MORE»

    By Stan Cox, Paul Cox, The New Press
    A 2015 study including Superstorm Sandy and Super Typhoon Yolanda showed that both were influenced by high sea surface temperatures that had a discernible human component. READ MORE»

    By David Ferguson, Raw Story
    A dozen women told the New York Times that they were sexually harassed. READ MORE»

    By Janet Allon, AlterNet
    Dr. Ben Carson is really serious about this Lucifer thing. READ MORE»

    By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet
    After a divisive afternoon, hours of negotiations bring results.  READ MORE»

    By Adele M. Stan, The American Prospect
    When women represent themselves and not a white man, Trump and his followers become unnerved. READ MORE»

    By Larry Schwartz, AlterNet
    You might want to read this before signing up for your sheep placenta facial. READ MORE»

    By Justine Morris, Salon
    Lacking in name recognition, the center-left senator from Virginia is the safe pick for Clinton's VP running mate. READ MORE»

    By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet
    The system protects cops at the expense of civilians. READ MORE»

    By Carey Purcell, AlterNet
    It's not you, it's the difficulty of marriage. That and Facebook. READ MORE»

    By JG Daniel, BookBaby
    My dad hates me. He hates me because I’m not like him. He hates me because I don’t hate others. READ MORE»

    By Lawrence S. Wittner, History News Network
    Just ask Latin Americans, East Europeans, or Asians what they think of their powerful neighbors. READ MORE»

    By Thom Hartmann, AlterNet
    Reports note Pence will be in charge of domestic and foreign policy. READ MORE»

    By Marshall Ganz, BillMoyers.com
    Creating change requires understanding the power you have, and building a movement goes beyond protests. READ MORE»

    By April M. Short, AlterNet
    The word marijuana has a rotten history. READ MORE»

    By Yuka Kato, AlterNet
    Your air conditioner could be bringing dust and pollen into your home. READ MORE»

    By Vijay Prashad, The Hindu
    Erdogan is using the botched bid to unseat him to further his authoritarian agenda. READ MORE»

    By Sarah K. Burris, Raw Story
    The emails are being released from Wikileaks after the party’s servers were hacked. READ MORE»
     
    By George Lakoff, AlterNet
    Look at who he appeals to, why and how to respond. READ MORE»

    By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet
    Clinton calls him progressive, but critics say he's too pro-corporate. READ MORE»

    By Andrew O'Hehir, Salon
    Seen live, Trump's speech hits 7.5 on the Nuremberg scale, and the nightmare scenario inches closer to reality. READ MORE»

    By Elizabeth Preza, AlterNet
    The filmmaker is not trying to catch 'em all. READ MORE»

    By Kali Holloway, AlterNet
    Read her claims before you dismiss her.  READ MORE»

    By Reynard Loki, AlterNet
    The march comes on the heels of yet another study revealing the negative public health impacts of fracking. READ MORE»

    By Bill Moyers and Michael Winship, BillMoyers.com
    The GOP presidential nominee's acceptance speech was a litany of fear and resentment, a dog whistle to disaffected white Americans. READ MORE»

    By Elizabeth Preza, AlterNet
    Just in case you don't think racism plays a role in police brutality.  READ MORE»

    By Diane Ravitch, Basic Books
    The billionaire-backed privatization movement is stealthily advancing an undemocratic agenda, cloaked in deceptive rhetoric, that the public is not aware of and does not understand. READ MORE»

    By Sarah Beller, The Influence
    A conversation with one of the leading voices of the psychedelic revival points to some answers.  READ MORE»

    By Katia Kleyman, AlterNet
    Sex can help you work up a sweat and get you on the path to losing weight. READ MORE»

    By Brad Reed, Raw Story
    Similar violations in the past have resulted in criminal indictments. READ MORE»

    ********************************************

      Who wore it better?
    Jerry Seinfeld, you say?
    Yeah, I think so, too!
    ********************************************

    Movies

    By the power of a gentle touch from the Noodly Appendage of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, I've been able to access my queue of videos from my laptop, which I'm still in the process of getting back up and running. You're welcome!


    If you go to The Thinking Atheist's YouTube channel, Seth's promo video is one of Dr. Donald Prothero's full presentations. It's well worth watching. Meanwhile, if you're more in the mood for a podcast, here's Seth and the call-in audience's conversation with the real Dr. Fossil:

    This is beautiful: a short video about 100 atheists speaking about a better life...where they find peace, joy, and wonder in this amazing world of ours

    Hilarious--Pastor Jim Jeffress would elect Trump over Jesus! Jefress said out loud that Christianity is not the driver of government and that government should be a (not his words) bad ass--not a "turn the other cheek" (not his words) pussy like JEEzus. Of course, government isn't told to exterminate anyone who doesn't believe in Yahweh, either, like the Bible clearly does. TYT tells it like it is when it comes to this hater's hypocrisy.
      
      


    Pence used campaign funds for personal expenses. Is this really the kind of corruption you want running the country?


     ICYMI...

    The man who built the poison empire...selling sex and anger...that gave us Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump...has been forced out of FUX Noise for sexually harassing and assaulting women. And the male FUX anchors wept. They shouldn't: Ailes got to pocket a cool $40M in "severance."

    Blacks have violent tendencies? Trump said he could believe that. Just check out the Vox article above on Trump's racism. This is not recent just-to-get-votes Trumpism, friends--this is Trump being his usual sick, bigoted self. PLEASE do not let the tiny-appendaged orange POS get into the White House!!!!

    This is nuts. My bestie is Black, and this shit could just as easily happen to her as to these innocent people. Unholy phuque.

    Trump's over-the-top bigotry--the house that FUX Noise built--has emboldened former KKK leader David Duke to try running for office again. As TYT says, the blood isn't even dry in Louisiana, where Duke wants to run. IT'S 2016, REPUKES. I can't believe we have to have this conversation AGAIN!

    Trump associates with dirtbag liars like Roger Stone and Alex Jones, who crashed the TYT live set at the RNC uninvited and caused mayhem in order to hijack viewers because their own audiences are so puny. What does that say about them?

    That was fun. Now I'm pissed because I've been watching videos on my iPhone while my 'puter has been on the fritz, so now I don't have that queue of vids to give you. Harrumph! Oh wait...here are a few. Yay!

    Trump and Pence shit the bed on 60 Minutes. Too damn funny.



    Here are some more I found in my travels.



    'Til next time, check out these great channels:
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    In Brit-speak,
    "trump" = "fart"
    and "pence" = "penny"
    so here's "cheap fart" of a joke for you...
    a bit of Trumpy-pumpy...
    to coin a Brit-inspired term
     
    ...I need more TP for my bunghole, heh!