Margaret,
I settled in to watch the debate thinking it might actually be enjoyable without Trump. It wasn’t. Like a hemorrhoid, the itching and burning lingers even when you can’t see it. There’s just not enough Preparation H to make Trump truly go away.
Ron DeSantis clearly practiced smiling in front of a mirror but forgot the mirror. I did, however, enjoy his audition for The Apprentice. Asa Hutchison might have been there. I’m not sure. I keep getting him confused with Doug Burgum. Wait a minute. Who is Doug Burgum again? Mike Pence was definitely there, but he forgot to bring his fly. Rick Scott… I mean Tim Scott…I mean… Niki Haley and Chris Christie tried desperately to return some respect and dignity to the Grand Old Party, but they were quickly shouted down. The Republican base doesn’t want sanity. They want the crazy. I guarantee Haley and Christie will be talking about Trump’s tiny hands before you know it, because that’s what the GOP has become – a bad joke.
In truth, the worst part of the GOP debate wasn’t Trump – who thankfully wasn’t there – or DeSantis -who thankfully wasn’t there – or even that annoying guy Vivek Ramaswamy – who was there way too much. The worst part of the debate was having to tune the TV to Fox News. Dear Lord, that’s a scary place.
Is there any place angrier and whiter than Fox News? If not for the pancake makeup, it could broadcast in black and white. Fox is a god-awful place to visit, filled with Republicans who are mad at everyone and everything. And much of what they are angry about isn’t even based in reality.
Fact check:
- Abortion up until birth isn’t a thing… anywhere.
- The vast majority of immigrants are looking for a better life. They’re not delivering fentanyl to your kids.
- Climate change is a thing.
- Millions of people enjoy living in large cities.
If you watch Fox, I can understand why you are angry and miserable. They paint a pretty bleak picture of the world. Might I suggest you go out for dinner and a movie instead of tuning in? You might discover that America really is a pretty great place.
I’m sorry I watched the debate. At my age, every hour is precious, and I regret wasting two hours to watch that clown show. But I did, so here is my takeaway for those of you smart enough to not have tuned in:
The Republican Party is over. The debate literally started with a fat lady singing. This is Trump’s party, and he will be the nominee. God help us. I mean it. Really.
Margaret and Helen 
Margaret , That picture looks just like you not trump..very pretty
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By: Anonymous on November 13, 2023
at 8:08 PM
American expat living my best life in Portugal. Watching the USA political scene is like watching a Trainwreck I can’t look away from. Thank you for this refreshing viewpoint!
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By: Anonymous on September 29, 2023
at 1:26 AM
Are any Republicans normal people? Far too few are.
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By: Yeah, Another Blogger on September 22, 2023
at 7:47 AM
San Francisco getting to be nice place to live can’t wait till all the stores shutter and la and Portland utopias climate change the Arizona desert was an ocean. I guess they had too many gas cars Fred flint stone and Barney rubble you don’t live in a big city it is obvious ask the people Chicago Detroit Baltimore St. Louis what is really going on and finally when the powers that be dump the black voters for the illegals you might see who the racists really are
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By: Dan ulmer on September 3, 2023
at 11:06 AM
I could only stomach an hour. Your commentary is spot on.
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By: Sandra on September 1, 2023
at 10:34 PM
Very well stated!!!
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By: E. J. on August 31, 2023
at 4:16 PM
So glad to find you’re still here!
Take heart: read section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. No one who took the oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution and then participated in an insurrection of gave aid and comfort to someone who did participate can ever again hold any elected office, federal or state. Hope many former presidents and current members of Congress does this bring to mind?
Hugs!
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By: Barbara Anne on August 31, 2023
at 12:08 PM
Dear Helen,
Thank you for being such an extremely excellent version of YOU!
Fondly,
SofyaEQ
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By: HRHSofyaEQ on August 29, 2023
at 6:06 PM
[…] So I was thrilled to see they re-entered the fray this month. Last week they posted on how they barely survived watching the Fox debate. But for my money their August 4 barn-burner Trump is a Hemorrhoid, on how there are currently […]
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By: Cheers and Jeers: Tuesday – News xyz on August 29, 2023
at 7:10 AM
[…] So I was thrilled to see they re-entered the fray this month. Last week they posted on how they barely survived watching the Fox debate. But for my money their August 4 barn-burner Trump is a Hemorrhoid, on how there are […]
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By: Cheers and Jeers: Tuesday on August 29, 2023
at 7:05 AM
[…] So I was thrilled to see they re-entered the fray this month. Last week they posted on how they barely survived watching the Fox debate. But for my money their August 4 barn-burner Trump is a Hemorrhoid, on how there are currently […]
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By: Cheers and Jeers: Tuesday – newsbook on August 29, 2023
at 6:59 AM
[…] So I was thrilled to see they re-entered the fray this month. Last week they posted on how they barely survived watching the Fox debate. But for my money their August 4 barn-burner Trump is a Hemorrhoid, on how there are currently […]
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By: Cheers and Jeers: Tuesday – News Tabe on August 29, 2023
at 6:56 AM
So happy you are back! And thank you for your sharp observations and wise words
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By: KHughes on August 27, 2023
at 2:12 AM
My sister is a die-hard conservative, and she is sick to death of the GOP. I pay much less attention to the news now because it is just too depressing.
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By: Connie Grovwe on August 26, 2023
at 9:20 PM
So happy to get your letters again
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By: Lynn Vanharen on August 26, 2023
at 2:12 PM
Karen, I confess I didn’t read the entire post, but I completely agree with the last two paragraphs.
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By: Anonymous on August 25, 2023
at 6:39 PM
My God, can I be president of your fan club?! So happy you two are back!
LikeLiked by 1 person
By: Doug M on August 25, 2023
at 4:24 PM
Thank God you are back! Did not watch the circus — got the highlights (low lights!!) later. Sickening! I think you are correct – Trump will survive despite not showing up. Arrogant as always. Lying, as always. God help us.
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By: Sara on August 25, 2023
at 11:26 AM
A very sad and scary situation, for sure. Hard to have to turn to FOX, but the other networks were the smart ones!n
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By: Anonymous on August 25, 2023
at 11:19 AM
My younger sister text to see if I was watching. I told her I chose not to be agitated by the useless debate. She noted the crowd was insane. GOP = Group Of Pinheads.
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By: janicead on August 25, 2023
at 10:10 AM
Thank you for being back, you have been missed and I agree with you 100%. I did not watch the shit show, had better things to do!
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By: June on August 25, 2023
at 9:37 AM
I can’t watch the madness. It makes me physically sick
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By: Barbara on August 25, 2023
at 9:20 AM
Does this mean, by their definition, that my three daughters were “late term abortions” because I had labor medically induced? I mean, I wasn’t in labor until they made me… They need to get off that. It’s called CHILDBIRTH. You’re a true soldier for watching that nonsense. I couldn’t bear it. I can barely stand seeing the clips. Thanks for taking a hit for the team!🙋🏼♀️
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
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By: becca2u@aol.com on August 25, 2023
at 7:21 AM
Sent from my iPad
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By: Cailey Lane on August 25, 2023
at 6:22 AM
I didn’t watch. I simply can’t, but I heard enough about it on the news the following day to understand what a mess it was. Thank you for posting!
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By: Emilie on August 25, 2023
at 4:36 AM
I always enjoy your commentary!!! I, too, wasted two hours of my life watching it, but I found it humorous more than anything. Clowns, all of them! Vivek Ramaswamy is an offensive, brash man who is attempting to emulate Trump in hopes of being his running mate. The key for November 24 is to get EVERYONE out to vote! The more people who cast a vote, the less opportunity the Republicans will have to win in any race!
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By: jilldennison on August 24, 2023
at 9:44 PM
Good lord, I HATED turning to FOX to watch in order to do what I felt was my civic duty as a staunch Democrat! The only ones who showed any courage were Haley and Christie. Had a moment or 2 as did Hutchison but over all, just bleccchhhh!
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By: JoAnne Simonson on August 24, 2023
at 6:27 PM
Sorry you had to go through that, no way was I gonna subject myself to that much toxic idiocy, but thanks for the report.
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By: Doug in Sugar Pine on August 24, 2023
at 5:42 PM
I think they should just keep the clown car going…driven by the largest clown with the big orange nose.
Democrats will succeed
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By: Esther Blodgett on August 24, 2023
at 5:34 PM
The Republicans seem to forget (they probably deny) that the first time out trump LOST the popular vote.He was just lucky he won certain states. He then LOST the second election. Regardless of what they “think.” They would be stupid to try him again. But… that is their base.
Really he, and a bunch of others, should not be allowed to run again.
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By: Susan on August 24, 2023
at 4:54 PM
I did not watch the debate for two reasons.
1. I cannot afford to buy a new TV.
2. I would have been unable to resist the impulse to throw my TV out the wondow.
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By: E.A. Blair on August 24, 2023
at 4:30 PM
I am laughing so hard! Thanks for being back in my life. You all keep me sane. Mark in Decatur
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By: Mark Steingruber on August 24, 2023
at 3:45 PM
I have been away in my own world, enjoying life. I am laughing so hard right now. I have missed your musings! Thanks for making my day and please keep up the good work.
Mark in Decatur
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By: Mark on August 24, 2023
at 3:37 PM
Here’s my take on the Republican debate, for what it’s worth:
Being a theater-goer, I excel at suspension of disbelief, so I watched the entire debate. I love it when they eat their own.
Best line: “Let’s talk about the elephant who isn’t in the room” before asking questions about trump.
Nikki Haley stood head and shoulders above everyone else. She had the guts to call out the Republican party on their role in increasing the debt.
Chris Christie had the guts to put the constitution ahead of party in a soliloquy that sucked up to Mike Pence to the point of discomfort.
Mike Pence continued to give me the impression that he hates trump with every fiber in his wooden body while pandering to trump’s base. The way he fudged on the amnesty question makes me believe that, while wanting the base to believe he’d pardon trump, he’d turn on him in a minute and let him rot in jail.
Vivek Ramaswamy wants the short term gain at the long term expense of our health and welfare. He would destroy the land, water, and air extracting every resource possible with no view toward conservation or sustainability. He would militarize the police to control the people.
Asa Hutchinson is the reincarnation of Robert Young’s character in Father Knows Best.
Ron DeSantis would use our military to invade Mexico.
Doug Burgum understands that things which work in Arkansas may not work in New York and is OK with that.
Tom Scott can’t think and talk at the same time.
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By: Thomas A Vasale on August 24, 2023
at 3:21 PM
Great job! I would like to receive your emails!
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By: Jane Goering on August 24, 2023
at 2:59 PM
Perfect analysis. Depressing, but perfect.
>
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By: Debra McCall on August 24, 2023
at 2:50 PM
So glad to see you back in my emails. I couldn’t agree with you more. 😁
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By: Celeste on August 24, 2023
at 2:50 PM
First – so glad to see you back – missed you. I am a USA citizen living in the UK – a friend posted on FB – ‘I am so embarrassed for my country’ (i.e. the debate) I wanted to reply that the rest of the world is terrified by the apparent potential collapse of sanity and democracy in the USA. I love your calm take on events! Reminds me there are completely sane and lovely people in the USA!
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By: chris veltman on August 24, 2023
at 2:44 PM
Right on Helen . I would or could watch that clown show. Laurie
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By: Laurie Christophersen on August 24, 2023
at 2:37 PM
Thank you for showing up in my
Inbox. I’m hoping you can help keep me sane during the upcoming deranged circus!
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By: Nanci Erskine on August 24, 2023
at 2:36 PM
Someone once asked me if I watched Fox News and my reply was “do you want me to have a stroke?!”
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By: Annie in Maine on August 24, 2023
at 2:34 PM
I’m counting on you ladies to help us get through this deranged circus!
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By: Nanci Erskine on August 24, 2023
at 2:28 PM
Honey, you nailed it, as always! You help me cope with my Republican’t disgust.
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By: Anonymous on August 24, 2023
at 2:07 PM
So happy to have you back, Helen.👍🏽✌🏽
~ DON’T POSTPONE JOY ~
>
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By: jan knox on August 24, 2023
at 2:01 PM
Glad to see you back! I’ve missed you!
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By: justwandering310 on August 24, 2023
at 1:58 PM
I don’t understand how so many “smart” people are still in the dark. I used to respect a lot more people than I do now. M
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By: mar on August 24, 2023
at 1:58 PM
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Get Outlook for Androidhttps://aka.ms/AAb9ysg ________________________________
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By: Rebecca Moak on August 24, 2023
at 1:56 PM
Fox News is proof that worrying works, because 95% of everything the people on Fux News worry aboud never happens.
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By: E.A. Blair on August 24, 2023
at 1:48 PM
Thanks Margaret and Helen- I couldn’t watch it for the very reasons you cite – I’d have to destroy the TV if I did! This is truly the end of the R Party! Hey wait – that’s a good thing!
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By: V Remy V on August 24, 2023
at 1:48 PM
So pathetically true.
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By: Anonymous on August 24, 2023
at 1:44 PM
Thanks for watching. I just couldn’t. Love your emails. Good health to both of you.
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By: Jamie Evans on August 24, 2023
at 1:36 PM
So good to hear from you two!
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By: Laurie H. on August 24, 2023
at 1:22 PM
Thanks Helen! I couldn’t do it so thanks for doing so for the rest of us. I had a swell time watching Carol Burnett’s 90th birthday party. Carol is a human that earned her wings in heaven. Listening to the circus led by the party of deniers of everything that would make our lives better on this planet did not interest me in the least. They depress me and so I avoided them.
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By: Easier on August 24, 2023
at 1:15 PM
Dear Margaret,
Thank Goddess for you and Helen!!
Alice
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By: alicemti@earthlink.net on August 24, 2023
at 1:12 PM
Spot on! But soooo sad 😞
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By: Mary Wiker on August 24, 2023
at 12:58 PM
“The debate literally started with a fat lady singing.” That’s a great line, I wish I had thiught of it!
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By: Ralph Wiggam on August 24, 2023
at 12:54 PM
Bearhugs, Valerie
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By: VALERIE ROGERS on August 24, 2023
at 12:54 PM
Watching any Republican these days convinces me Invasion of the Body Snatchers was not fiction but a documentary. The pod people are here.
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By: Anonymous on August 24, 2023
at 12:15 PM
Many hugs for doing what I could not…..watch America come crumbling down……who educated these baboons who follow this disaster of a man?
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By: Jo-Ann Martin Nicholas on August 24, 2023
at 12:14 PM
Thanks so much, great to have a couple of sane voices again. Mario
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By: Mario Fabbian on August 24, 2023
at 11:57 AM
Right on! Thanks for watching so I didn’t have to. I don’t even have the stomach for the recaps. I did hear the audience screaming and yelling for something. This is what we’ve come to. “Debates” with no policies or issues and a circus crowd ready to throw peanuts.
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By: Judy on August 24, 2023
at 11:56 AM
What a wonderful description of Fox News. No-one has said it better.
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By: Silveroak on August 24, 2023
at 11:53 AM
Mahalo Helen for watching the Rethug sh*t show so the rest of us didn’t have to 😝😱💩 I can’t bring myself to tune in to “Faux Noise” 🙈 🙉
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By: Kona Girl on August 24, 2023
at 11:42 AM
I laughed so hard I almost fell off my chair. The best way to get rid of the anger and despair over the GOP and their shenanigans is to read what Helen has to say about it.
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By: G. Husth on August 24, 2023
at 11:40 AM
Thanks for doing the work for the rest of us. It is a sad situation.
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By: Jan Priddy on August 24, 2023
at 11:36 AM
Thanks again! I am glad I didn’t watch.
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By: Jan Priddy on August 24, 2023
at 11:34 AM
Couldn’t do it. We watched something much lighter. “Painkiller,” about the Sackler family, OxyContin, and the most despicable side of the human race. Although, now that I think about it…..
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By: Doug on August 24, 2023
at 11:32 AM
It’s almost embarrassing how excited I get when I see a new message from you. I’m so grateful for you and your pithy posts. Reading them and thinking about you writing them helps me remember who we are and what we represent. Thank you, Helen, for keeping it real, and so eloquently. You’re the best.
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By: jaybirdinohio on August 24, 2023
at 11:31 AM
You nailed it : (
So beyond nauseating, infuriating, and disheartening.
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By: Frank J Peter on August 24, 2023
at 11:24 AM
Thanks for taking one for the team by watching that crap. I just couldn’t do it. It’s so sad…
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By: Dee Meyers on August 24, 2023
at 11:11 AM
Ladies, you are always “spot on”. Too bad it’s all true.
Keep your comments coming!
D. Mifflin N.C.
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By: Dona Mifflin on August 24, 2023
at 11:10 AM
The Jerry Springer show
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By: Jalapeno Rojo on August 24, 2023
at 11:08 AM
I’ve had the worst stomach cramps that I’ve ever had (and I’m 85 years old) since watching the shit show (aka Republican debate . . . More like a master-bate than a genuine debate). What is most disturbing is how many people in the GOP buy into this offering up of lies and deception. After I piss in the GOP soup they keep eating it and say, I’m eating it anyway. Just tastes a little different.
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By: Gil on August 24, 2023
at 11:08 AM
Thanks for reassuring me I spent my time well & away from the TV last night.
Nothin’ like a good nights sleep.
MAGA gives me nightmares 😳
FDT, really: FDT
❤
George
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By: George on August 24, 2023
at 11:02 AM
Thanks for watching for us, I just can’t
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By: pmlgff on August 24, 2023
at 10:58 AM