You’re on your own, Trump.  Now get lost and stop embarrassing the right.

According to a recent survey by the Associated Press, none of the major potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates or Congressional leaders put any stock in the antiquated, Democrat-devised conspiracy theory known as birtherism, besides Donald Trump.

As quoted in the article, “John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor… say they are satisfied that Obama was born in Hawaii…  Mitt Romney and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania have been the most direct in rejecting the birthers’ claims…  Haley Barbour accepts the president’s word…  Tim Pawlenty told an Iowa audience, ‘I’m not one to question the authenticity of Barack Obama’s birth certificate…’  Michele Bachmann… said: ‘I take the president at his word…’  Sarah Palin… [said], ‘I think that he was born in Hawaii…’  Mike Huckabee has dismissed claims that Obama is foreign-born…”

Other than that, GOP luminaries are unanimous: Obama was born in Kenya!

In addition, we’ve had the following adamant denunciations of the Obama-is-foreign-born theory from prominent right-wingers:

Senator Lindsey Graham: Birthers are “crazy.”

Glenn Beck: The birther theory is “the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Senator Ron Paul: “From my viewpoint, obviously [there's nothing to it], because I never bring it up.”  read more »

A regular reader of Skip’s articles, Bill Hallbert, commented that the use of the term ‘Lame Stream Media’ is too polite… that ‘Pravda West’ would be more appropriate. A good point, Bill… one that, along with some events the last couple of days, has inspired me to write this article while sitting in for Skip.

It was my misfortune to catch Bill Maher in conversation with Letterman last night. Naturally, it descended to the depths of old, worn-out attacks on anything right-of-center in a feeble attempt at humor. Donald Trump’s hair, Sarah Palin’s mind, George W. Bush’s presidency and the Tea Party were all precursors to the stage-prompted bouts of applause and laughter.

Letterman was in his element… he could let his guest gush with spiel that reflected his own views and not even have to think about asking any questions… probably a good thing, given the question put to Cote de Pablo (Ziva David) later in the show… “Is there a real NCIS?” Yes, Dave, there’s a real FBI too. And a real US government… or what’s left of it!

After mocking The Donald and Sarah Palin’s brief tenure in a state where “no one lives” (I’m sure that endeared them to the folks in Alaska!), blaming Bush (what’s new?) for the debt crisis (while conveniently omitting the fact that Obama is racking up more debt than all of his 43 predecessors combined), they turned their attention to the Tea Party.  read more »