{"id":78109,"date":"2020-02-23T18:12:28","date_gmt":"2020-02-23T23:12:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/?p=78109"},"modified":"2020-02-23T18:12:36","modified_gmt":"2020-02-23T23:12:36","slug":"the-daily-gouge-archive-friday-february-21st-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/?p=78109","title":{"rendered":"The Daily Gouge Archive, Friday, February 21st, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>It&#8217;s Friday, February 21st, 2020&#8230;but before we begin, a word of warning to those who believe, in the event Bloomberg succeeds in literally buying the Dimocratic nomination, Bernie and his brigands will just go gently into that good night:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/bern-baby-bern.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77973\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/bern-baby-bern.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/bern-baby-bern.png 450w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/bern-baby-bern-300x123.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Thus do the pronouncements of contemporary &#8220;Progressives&#8221; echo those of an earlier Fascist dictator, who famously vowed&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>&#8220;<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">We may be destroyed, but if we are, we shall drag a world with us&#8230;a world <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>in flames<\/em><\/span>.<\/span>&#8220;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Hint: his birth father&#8217;s surname was Schicklgruber.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Whatever happens&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yKHUGvde7KU?start=3\" width=\"420\" height=\"235\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Now, here&#8217;s <em>The Gouge<\/em>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>We lead off the Friday edition with a couple quick observations on Wednesday&#8217;s Dimocratic donnybrook.\u00a0 First, the <em>WSJ<\/em>&#8216;s\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Kim Strassel highlights what differentiated Mayor Mike&#8217;s positions from the other three <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>supposed<\/em><\/span> centrists on the stage:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ztZI2aLQ9Sw?start=19&amp;end=22&amp;\" width=\"420\" height=\"235\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h1 class=\"wsj-article-headline\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/bloomberg-says-me-too-to-leftism-11582220737?mod=opinion_lead_pos9\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #333399; text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\">Bloomberg Says Me Too to Leftism<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h1>\n<h3 class=\"sub-head\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/bloomberg-says-me-too-to-leftism-11582220737?mod=opinion_lead_pos9\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; text-decoration: underline;\">On policy, there\u2019s not much to differentiate him from Klobuchar, Buttigieg or Biden<\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/3pu2uf.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78037\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/3pu2uf.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/3pu2uf.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/3pu2uf-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>What\u2019s the difference between Mike Bloomberg, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar ? <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>That\u2019s<\/em><\/span><em> the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">question<\/span><\/em>.<\/span> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>On it<\/em><\/span> rests <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>all the prospects for the former New York mayor\u2019s bid for the presidency<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"paywall\">\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8230;<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Bad as the night <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>was<\/em><\/span> for Mayor Mike, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>it\u2019s unlikely to prove fatal<\/em><\/span>. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>His billions will allow him to continue projecting a better image to voters<\/em><\/span>, and there\u2019s <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>another<\/em><\/span> debate next week.<\/span> It\u2019s not even clear if the predictable attacks against him <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>will resonate<\/em><\/span>. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">For every primary voter <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>turned off<\/em><\/span> by claims that Mr. Bloomberg is \u201cbuying\u201d an election, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>another might gravitate<\/em><\/span> to a candidate who <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>promises to spend whatever it takes to beat Mr. Trump<\/em><\/span>.<\/span> For every Democrat <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>offended<\/em><\/span> by Mr. Bloomberg\u2019s past comments, another may simply like that he\u00a0<em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">has<\/span><\/em>a record\u2014<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>of running a major corporation and a city<\/em><\/span>\u2014<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>in contrast to a gaggle of professional politicians<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Mr. Bloomberg\u2019s <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>bigger problem<\/em><\/span> was the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>rest of the debate<\/em><\/span>: the times he <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>wasn\u2019t<\/em><\/span> under attack.<\/span> When he was <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>allowed<\/em><\/span> to speak, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>he sounded like every other Democrat on the stage<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>The Bloomberg team earlier this week put out a memo <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>warning that Bernie Sanders was running away with the race and urging Mr. Biden, Mr. Buttigieg and Ms. Klobuchar to drop out and allow voters to consolidate around Mr. Bloomberg<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aNiAOSKFNR4?start=3&amp;end=5&amp;\" width=\"420\" height=\"235\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>The memo <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>irked his rivals<\/em><\/span>, though it <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>contained a basic truth<\/em><\/span>: <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Mr. Sanders is rolling up the progressive vote, while the \u201ccentrist\u201d lane of the party remains hopelessly divided<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Voters <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>remain undecided<\/em><\/span> in part because <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">all<\/span> those centrist candidates<\/em> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>sound alike<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>By the time they decide, it will likely prove too late&#8230;at least too late to replace Bernie without the violence promised at the top of the page by the likes of Benjamin Dixon.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next, writing at his <em>Morning Jolt<\/em>, Jim Geraghty opines on how it was&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h1 class=\"article-header__title\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/the-morning-jolt\/finally-a-debate-worth-the-watch\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; text-decoration: underline;\">Finally: A Debate Worth the Watch<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ERMNTp-UUAYbM-B.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78013\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ERMNTp-UUAYbM-B.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ERMNTp-UUAYbM-B.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ERMNTp-UUAYbM-B-300x157.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>For the first time during all of these Democratic primary debates this cycle, I felt as if my voice and viewpoint were represented on stage Wednesday night. <span style=\"color: #333399;\">That\u2019s <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">not<\/span><\/em> because Mike Bloomberg was present.<\/span> That\u2019s because <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>I can\u2019t stand most of these candidates, and last night, the candidates made clear they can\u2019t stand each other either, either<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #333399;\">If you <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>love<\/em><\/span> to see Democratic candidates tearing into other Democratic candidates, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>the Las Vegas debate was joyous, beautiful, exciting, and wondrous<\/em><\/span>.<\/span> <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">It was WrestleMania, it was Roman gladiators, it was a demolition derby<\/span><\/em>. <span style=\"color: #333399;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Don\u2019t let anyone spin you<\/em><\/span>; most of the candidates\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;\"><em><a style=\"color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/corner\/knives-out-a-glorious-wrestlemania-of-a-democratic-debate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">came out in worse shape than they entered<\/a><\/em><\/span>.<\/span> Tensions, frustrations, and outright disdain that simmered under the surface for almost an entire year <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>exploded out into the open within the opening minutes<\/em><\/span>. <span style=\"color: #333399;\">Many of the attacks carrying the not-so-hidden subtext: \u201c<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>My rivals are a bunch of unqualified idiots, and I cannot believe that the entire Democratic primary electorate hasn\u2019t picked up on this yet<\/em><\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Mike Bloomberg got off to a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>catastrophically bad start<\/em><\/span>.\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;\"><em><a style=\"color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/corner\/bloomberg-should-keep-waiting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael Brendan Dougherty\u2019s warnings were prescient<\/a><\/em><\/span><span style=\"color: #333399;\">, and Kevin Williamson wonders if Bloomberg\u2019s campaign is effectively over, thanks to a \u201c<\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;\"><em><a style=\"color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/corner\/democratic-debate-rip-micheal-bloomberg-2020-campaign\/?utm_source=recirc-desktop&amp;utm_medium=homepage&amp;utm_campaign=right-rail&amp;utm_content=corner&amp;utm_term=third\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">beyond incompetent<\/a><\/em><\/span><span style=\"color: #333399;\">\u201d response to an entirely predictable series of questions about how he treated women who worked for him and his use of non-disclosure agreements.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Bloomberg LP has faced\u00a0<em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">nearly\u00a040 discrimination and harassment suits\u00a0from 64 employees over the past two decades<\/span><\/em>, with <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>most of them accusing Bloomberg<\/em><\/span> of \u201ccreating a culture of sexual harassment and degradation.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #333399;\">Bloomberg\u2019s response last night was, \u201c<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>none of them accuse me of doing anything other than maybe they didn\u2019t like a joke I told<\/em><\/span>.\u201d<\/span> You don\u2019t get nearly 40 lawsuits from 64 employees <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>over a mere bad joke<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #333399;\">The former mayor got a little better as the night went on <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>and mostly bad debate performances can be wiped away with another $400 million or so in television ads<\/em><\/span>.<\/span> But the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>bottom line<\/em><\/span> of last night is that Bloomberg <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>is<\/em><\/span> what his critics charge: <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>a billionaire who\u2019s been so used to running everything around him for so long that he freezes when someone challenges him and gets in his face<\/em><\/span>. <span style=\"color: #333399;\">On top of that, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>he\u2019s a cold fish<\/em><\/span>.<\/span> <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">He radiates the warmth and empathy of the head of a DMV office<\/span><\/em>. <span style=\"color: #333399;\">Bloomberg\u2019s <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>convinced<\/em><\/span> he never did anything wrong regarding any of his female employees, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>and he can\u2019t understand why anyone would think otherwise<\/em><\/span><em>.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>If you believe in such things, it\u2019s as if fate, the universe, or the Gods of Politics <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>decided to punish the Democrats yet again for the way they laughed at the GOP\u2019s inability to stop Trump in the spring of 2016<\/em><\/span>. <span style=\"color: #333399;\">The Democrats find themselves in a similar situation as the Republicans were four years ago: <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>A populist septuagenarian, who only formally joined the party a few years ago, has jumped to an early lead, has a loyal base of diehard supporters, and is set to head into the convention with the most delegates because of the apportionment rules<\/em><\/span>.<\/span> The upstart <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>disdains<\/em><em> the party\u2019s previous stances and leaders<\/em><\/span>, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>promises to turn the country upside down<\/em><\/span>, and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>casually alienates some of the party\u2019s longtime supporters<\/em><\/span>. <span style=\"color: #333399;\">But the establishment <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>can\u2019t unite<\/em><\/span> behind one alternative candidate, risks a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>colossa<\/em><em>l<\/em><\/span> fight at the convention, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>and is probably going to end up nominating someone at odds with its previous policies and values<\/em><\/span>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Instead of uniting <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>quickly<\/em><\/span>, the Democrats appear set to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>spend the next three or four months watching Sanders and Bloomberg pound the snot out of each other in a nasty, bitter, substantive, consequential, resource-devouring, personal fight<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong>This Democratic primary <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>could not have turned out any better for President Trump<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>For those with the time,\u00a0<em>NRO<\/em>&#8216;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/2020\/02\/at-the-debate-only-losers\/?utm_source=recirc-desktop&amp;utm_medium=blog-post&amp;utm_campaign=river&amp;utm_content=more-in&amp;utm_term=second\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Kevin Williamson<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/2020\/02\/bloomberg-craps-out-in-vegas\/?utm_source=recirc-desktop&amp;utm_medium=blog-post&amp;utm_campaign=river&amp;utm_content=more-in&amp;utm_term=second\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Kyle Smit<\/span><\/em><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">h<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/a> offer two excellent pieces of analysis as well.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Here&#8217;s the juice: Bloomberg did\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>so<\/em><\/span> poorly\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/townhall.com\/tipsheet\/cortneyobrien\/2020\/02\/20\/bloomberg-tries-to-spin-last-nights-debate-into-a-win-in-edited-clip-n2561624\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;\"><em>his campaign is already attempting to spin his performance with a doctored video<\/em><\/span><\/a>. Problem is, even all <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Mike&#8217;s billions<\/em><\/span> can&#8217;t edit <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>every<\/em><\/span> video out there:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SNhDeey2kK4\" width=\"420\" height=\"235\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Meanwhile, perhaps in a symbolic bow to the inevitable, Dimocrats are <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>also<\/em><\/span> already attempting to delegitimize The Donald&#8217;s second term:<\/strong><\/p>\n<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/townhall.com\/tipsheet\/mattvespa\/2020\/02\/20\/nyt-people-are-saying-that-russia-is-trying-to-get-trump-reelected-its-impeachment-reloaded-n2561663\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #333399; text-decoration: underline;\">Classified Intelligence Briefing Leaked to NYT to Get The Trump-Russia Hysterics Going Again<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trump1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78041\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trump1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"276\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trump1.png 450w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trump1-300x184.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trump2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78042\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trump2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trump2.png 450w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trump2-300x222.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trump3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78043\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trump3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trump3.png 450w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/trump3-300x224.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Moving on, the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>second-biggest loser<\/em><\/span> in Wednesday&#8217;s debacle was the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>other<\/em><\/span> mayor of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>even more<\/em><\/span> dubious distinction, for, as\u00a0<\/strong><strong><em>FOX News<\/em>\u00a0reports, Pete has never shared either Mike&#8217;s wealth nor even his questionable credibility, as&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/buttigieg-reportedly-touted-partnerships-with-black-owned-south-carolina-businesses-he-didnt-actually-have\" class=\"broken_link\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #333399; text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #ff00ff; text-decoration: underline;\">Buttigieg reportedly touted &#8216;partnerships&#8217; with black-owned South Carolina businesses they denied having<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/download-5.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77974\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/download-5.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/download-5.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/download-5-300x178.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>A new report alleges that former South Bend, Ind.,\u00a0Mayor\u00a0Pete Buttigieg\u00a0touted &#8220;partnerships&#8221; with black-owned businesses in South Carolina\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>that the business owners denied making<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Last week, Buttigieg penned an op-ed in a South Carolina newspaper &#8220;The State&#8221; promoting his &#8220;Frederick Douglass Plan,&#8221;\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>which he describes is &#8220;a comprehensive investment in the empowerment of Black America&#8221; that was developed with the help of black activists and business leaders<\/em><\/span>.<\/span> &#8220;That begins with entrepreneurship, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>and our campaign has proudly partnered with local businesses like Diane\u2019s Kitchen in Chester, Atlantis Restaurant in Moncks Corner and the Fair Deal Grocery on Charleston\u2019s Eastside<\/em><\/span>,&#8221; Buttigieg\u00a0<em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a style=\"color: #ff00ff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thestate.com\/opinion\/article240301436.html\" class=\"broken_link\">wrote<\/a><\/span><\/em>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">However,\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em><a style=\"color: #800000; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/democrat-pete-buttigieg-overstated-pledges-support-black-leaders\/story?id=69053705\">according<\/a><\/em><\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0ABC News, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>two of those businesses<\/em><\/span>, Diane&#8217;s Kitchen and Atlantis Restaurant, said <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>they &#8220;only remembered welcoming Buttigieg&#8217;s campaign as customers, not forging any sort of partnership with the candidate<\/em><\/span>.&#8221;<\/span> &#8220;<em>I stand for what I stand for and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">I didn&#8217;t say I had a partnership<\/span><\/em>,&#8221; Diane&#8217;s Kitchen owner, Diane Cole, told ABC News.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>The report <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>then alleges<\/em><\/span> that the Buttigieg campaign <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>attempted to &#8220;persuade&#8221; Cole into changing her position so that &#8220;it would more closely match the language Buttigieg used in his op-ed<\/em><\/span>&#8221; in multiple messages after ABC News asked the campaign about Cole&#8217;s response.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>&#8220;It <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>sounds<\/em><\/span> like you&#8217;re saying that <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>I am your business partner<\/em><\/span>. <span style=\"color: #800000;\">I&#8217;m <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>only going to accept<\/em><\/span> that <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>you all stopped in while you were campaigning in South Carolina and I welcomed you all<\/em><\/span>,&#8221; Cole told the campaign in one message<\/span><\/strong><\/span>&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>And you can add <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/warren-buttigieg-george-zimmerman-lawsuit-trayvon-martin\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;\"><em>complete misrepresentations of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown to the list of Pete&#8217;s prevarications<\/em><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 Coupled with his\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/townhall.com\/tipsheet\/bethbaumann\/2020\/02\/18\/watch-buttigieg-says-he-cant-find-any-compatibility-between-christianity-and-trumps-policies-n2561516\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;\"><em>deliberate misinterpretation of Scripture<\/em><\/span><\/a>, one can only conclude the former failed mayor is a&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SwPVJXtWj8Q?start=3879&amp;end=3880&amp;\" width=\"420\" height=\"235\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tucker offered this rather scathing summary of Buttgag&#8217;s over-orchestrated resum\u00e9, complete with the less-than-complimentary thoughts of Pete&#8217;s brother-in-law:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/As7qbFEBO8s\" width=\"420\" height=\"235\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>We&#8217;ll leave it to the grinning ghoul from Minnesota to summarize our thoughts on Pete&#8217;s prevaricating pastoral pronouncements:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UfP_yxdA1eU\" width=\"420\" height=\"235\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Buttigieg is <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>certainly<\/em><\/span> the perfect embodiment of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>one<\/em><\/span> section of Scripture, Matthew 23:27 to be precise: &#8220;Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Which brings us, inappropriately enough, to\u00a0<em>The Lighter Side<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/cross-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78023\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/cross-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/cross-1.png 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/cross-1-300x233.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ramirez-2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ramirez-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"317\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ramirez-2.png 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ramirez-2-300x206.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/afb022020dAPR20200220064513.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78025\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/afb022020dAPR20200220064513.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/afb022020dAPR20200220064513.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/afb022020dAPR20200220064513-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/goodwyn.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78026\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/goodwyn.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/goodwyn.png 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/goodwyn-300x216.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/gorrell-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77991\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/gorrell-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/gorrell-1.png 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/gorrell-1-300x219.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ramirez-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77992\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ramirez-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ramirez-1.png 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ramirez-1-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/The-Road-to-Hell-is-Paved-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78028\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/The-Road-to-Hell-is-Paved-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/The-Road-to-Hell-is-Paved-1.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/The-Road-to-Hell-is-Paved-1-300x145.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Image-2-19-20-at-7.48-AM.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77972\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Image-2-19-20-at-7.48-AM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"294\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Image-2-19-20-at-7.48-AM.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Image-2-19-20-at-7.48-AM-300x191.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Image-2-20-20-at-8.08-AM.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78014\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Image-2-20-20-at-8.08-AM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Image-2-20-20-at-8.08-AM.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Image-2-20-20-at-8.08-AM-300x207.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/try-the-bunny-ears-get-donkey-ears.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77982\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/try-the-bunny-ears-get-donkey-ears.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"369\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/try-the-bunny-ears-get-donkey-ears.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/try-the-bunny-ears-get-donkey-ears-300x240.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/can-you-see-me-now.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77983\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/can-you-see-me-now.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/can-you-see-me-now.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/can-you-see-me-now-248x300.jpeg 248w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/the-most-suspect-aisle.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77984\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/the-most-suspect-aisle.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/the-most-suspect-aisle.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/the-most-suspect-aisle-246x300.jpeg 246w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/run-away.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77985\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/run-away.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/run-away.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/run-away-252x300.jpeg 252w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Finally, we&#8217;ll call it a week with these memes from Balls Cotton&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/balls1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77989\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/balls1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/balls1.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/balls1-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/balls2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77988\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/balls2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/balls2.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/balls2-300x158.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8230;our sister-in-law Amy&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy1.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78015\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy1.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy1-300x277.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy2.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78016\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"612\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy2.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy2-226x300.jpeg 226w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy3.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78017\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy3.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy3-300x284.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy4.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-78018\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy4.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy4.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/amy4-204x300.jpeg 204w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8230; and last, but certainly not least, Ed Hickey:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Hickey1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77964\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Hickey1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Hickey1.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Hickey1-300x212.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77965\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey2.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey2-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77966\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey3.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey3-300x205.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77967\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey5.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey5-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-77968\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey4.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/hickey4-300x294.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>And THEN&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ut5Sqyk9lBg?start=74&amp;end=75&amp;\" width=\"420\" height=\"235\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Magoo<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s Friday, February 21st, 2020&#8230;but before we begin, a word of warning to those who believe, in the event Bloomberg succeeds in literally buying the Dimocratic nomination, Bernie and his brigands will just go gently into that good night: Thus do the pronouncements of contemporary &#8220;Progressives&#8221; echo those of an earlier Fascist dictator, who famously [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1988,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1988"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=78109"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78109\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":78110,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78109\/revisions\/78110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=78109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=78109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=78109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}