And when the politics of hope and change fail, a little cheating is in order. At least that is what MSNBC television and syndicated radio host Ed Schultz believes is necessary to, “…keep these bastards out.”

Of course he is referring to the Massachusetts Senate race and the need to prevent Republican Scott Brown from winning. Mr. Schultz stated on his show, “I tell you what, if I lived in Massachusetts I’d try to vote 10 times. I don’t know if they’d let me or not, but I’d try to. Yeah, that’s right. I’d cheat to keep these bastards out. I would. Cause that’s exactly what they are.”

But rest assured, Mr. Schultz is not alone at MSNBC in his belief and despair that the Democrats can’t buy and cheat their way to victory. Chris Matthews chimed in with this:

“You know, in the old days – maybe I shouldn’t be harkening back to the old days – if the Democrats faced this kind of a disaster in the works, you’d go back to your ones, the people you were sure are going to vote Democrat, and you’d make sure they got to the polling place, you’d get them lunch, you’d get them a car,” Matthews said. “You’d make sure they got there, and in some cases you’d be buying people to get them, not officially buying them, but getting them there as block secretaries, as block captains, you’d be getting them there with street money – legitimate, but it’s a little bit old school.”

It is incredible to me that the press has become this open in their attempts to influence an election. I could only imagine the outcry if these comments had come from Rush or Hannity.

The Mandarin

The Mandarin, whose real name is 吏恆, joined the order in 1309, and introduced the Gormogons into England during the 18th Century.

The Mandarin enjoys spending time with his pet manticore, Βάρἰκος, or Barry (who can be found in the Bestiary). When not in the Castle…well, frankly, nobody is quite sure where he goes.

The Mandarin popularized the fine art of “gut booting,” by which he delivers a powerful kick to the stomach of anyone that annoys him. Although nearly universal today, the act of gut booting or threatening someone or something with a gut boot is solely due to him.