Republicans are having a lot of nervous breakdowns.

Oy. By now everybody has seen the news from Dallas ... 11 police officers were shot ambush-style — and five are dead! — after snipers opened fire on them tonight during a Black Lives Matter march downtown protesting the recent police murders of two more black men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH. And now it’s close to home! Although I’m safely ensconced (and housebound) at Howdygram headquarters with an abundance of canned ravioli and “Columbo” reruns, Sam works in the city not too far from where all this sniper shit went down ... and I’m NOT HAPPY that he has to be in the office at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow when it’s still dark outside and the streets may still be blocked off. The following map indicates: A) Howdygram headquarters; B) the location of tonight’s police shootings in downtown Dallas; and C) where Sam works. Last time I checked the local news there were bomb squads “sweeping” all the downtown parking garages for explosives!

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In a radio interview yesterday on SiriusXM’s Breitbart News Daily, Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) was so outraged that the FBI won’t press any charges against Hillary Clinton for using a private email server that he suggested now might be a fine time for Republicans to shut down the federal government to protest “an imperial president” who will not “enforce criminal charges against a criminal.” Then he warned that, if elected, Clinton would simply PARDON HERSELF for the alleged crimes for which she was not charged. What the fuck?!

Incidentally, Issa was reportedly arrested in 1972 for auto theft and weapons violations. No charges were brought against him.

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Many prominent figures in government — including intelligence agencies and Republican Bush/Cheney administration veterans — have expressed serious concern about sharing sensitive information with Donald Trump after he becomes the Republican Party’s official nominee. They have a right to be concerned. Donald Trump is an asshole, a loudmouth and a complete moron.

In what could be mistaken for a satirical piece from The Onion, however, congressional Republicans led by House Speaker Paul Ryan have decided they don’t want Hillary Clinton to have classified briefings, either, because she clearly can’t be trusted with “secrets.” In a rebuttal to Ryan’s statement, Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said yesterday morning: “Providing an intelligence briefing for the party nominees is a sound practice, and is designed both to prepare the candidates for office and to help them avoid representations during the campaign that may adversely affect the national interest before or after election. The call by the House GOP Leadership to cancel briefings for Secretary Clinton and brief only Donald Trump is as predictable as it is absurd.” No shit, Sherlock. Enough already!

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It’s 3 a.m. and I think I should go to bed. There are three reasons for this: 1) I’m tired; 2) my hands feel like they’re on fire due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy and it’s not comfortable to type like this; and 3) I have to pee. Also it might be fun to watch a favorite movie before I fall asleep ... The Parent Trap (1961) starring Hayley Mills.

Thank you for reading this.