Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Trumpheads We Have Known

Oh my, a real twofer. The Donald first announces his unequivocal support for the Mittster, a sort of Billionaires for Mitt thing, I guess. Then in practically the same breath he raises again (zzzzzzz) the pseudo-issue of our President’s birth.  No wonder The Donald can’t make money gambling in Atlantic City. His brain is dead.  Honestly, The Donald is once again proof that only in America can the truly brain-dead make a billion dollars.  And I’ll bet the Mittster is thrilled. Just when we thought that maybe billionaires had decided that he wasn’t really one of them, up pops at least one billionaire to announce that Mitt’s the Man. I wonder where Zuckerberg is on all this? I mean, he’s losing money so fast that maybe he’ll only be a millionaire some day.  Poor fellow. And he hasn’t yet told us whether he's a Teabagger, a billionaire anarchist, or, heaven forfend, a democrat.

And don’t you love it when The Boehner-republicans speak of "Taxageddon" when speaking of the prospect of Bush’s tax cuts being repealed?? It’s a middle class disaster, sort of like the Titanic, as best I can understand these things. I still remember that fabulous tax cut Shrub gave us—a couple of hundred dollars I think. Can’t remember what we did with it all—went out to dinner I think. But should that be repealed, I don’t know how we shall cope. Of course, since the Republican economic plan seems to be to eliminate the Middle Class altogether, I can’t fathom what Mr. Orangeman is yelling about.  There will be no one left to see the tax cuts repealed if they get into office.  And it won’t actually matter much, since, once they eliminate Social Security and Medicare, the tax cuts/increases won’t be necessary. The budget will heal itself and the Middle Class, now officially the serf class, will have to just cope.  Oh it’s going to be so much fun with the Mittster in charge and both houses in republican hands. I mean, think of it. They’ll be free to eliminate all regulations on their friends, the Koch-suckers et al, and health care costs will drop since nobody will be getting treatment. And think about the war potential. Since republicans love war and shooting folks of other colors, the potential is huge. Maybe we can even go to war against France. They all hate Frenchmen—remember Freedom Fries??? And the French are so snooty and pretentious.
And then we can go back to ignoring climate change, teaching “intelligent design” in schools, all of which will be private, and requiring everyone to attend church. Gays and Lesbians will be safely confined behind electric fences, along with their Liberal friends. Wow! The anticipation.  Can’t wait.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Maiden, NC Christianity

There is nothing like living amidst good Christians.


From the Charlotte Observer today:
"MAIDEN -- It started in a small-town church pulpit on Mother’s Day: a preacher calling for gays and lesbians to be placed in a type of concentration camp. Worley, 71, suggested building a large fence, 100 or 150 miles long, so lesbians would be put in one area “and the queers and the homosexuals in another, and have that fence electrified so they can’t get out.” After using Biblical passages that he said supported his argument, Worley outlined a plan to put gays and lesbians in confinement behind an electrified fence. “Feed ’em, and you know what?” Worley said. “In a few years, they’ll die. Do you know why? They can’t reproduce.” Some members of the congregation can be heard saying “Amen” in response to the pastor’s remarks.
The 300-member church originally placed the video on its website, but it was removed over the weekend. But the video is still posted on YouTube, where it has drawn more than 165,000 views.
The May 13 sermon was critical of President Barack Obama’s announcement, days earlier, that he supports same-sex marriage. Worley told his congregation that he couldn’t vote for a “baby-killer and a homosexual lover.”
I found myself wondering when the good reverend Worley would realize that if he installed a few good old fashioned gas chambers, he wouldn't have to feed them nearly so long.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Political Inanities

It is beginning to be difficult to engage in the thing now masquerading as a political campaign. The inanity of the commentary coming from the neo-Cons exceeds the imagination. I especially loved their commentary on Obama’s wish that gay and lesbian couples should be afforded the same rights vis-à-vis marriage as hetero’s. Especially amusing was that old bigot Frankie Graham, Billy’s little kid, who expressed his thoughts that Obama was “shaking his fist at god.” Hmm . . . and what would you know about god Frankie?? Maybe god is somewhere laughing at you as we speak. I mean, maybe she likes gay and lesbian couples seeking marriage.

And then there’s the old billionaire who wants to mount a billion dollar campaign against Obama, based on the sayings of Rev. Wright. How they are relevant to today is a bit fanciful, but billionaires will be billionaires I guess. When you got it, flaunt it. I note that the old billionaire had nothing to say about the Mittster’s high school bullying behavior. I guess, bullies will be bullies in the Mittster world.
But how are we to treat this stuff as in any way serious? Is this what our nation has come to?
Oh, and I almost forgot old leatherface, John Boehner. He is willing to ride with the Nation as it goes over the cliff into financial ruin rather than entertain the possibility of imposing some taxes on his owners, the Koch’s et al. I guess that’s when I thought, “this is so idiotic, I don’t think I can continue paying attention. I know, I know, it we don’t all pay attention, the fascists win by default, just because they can afford to buy the whole election. But really, how can one continue to read this claptrap pretense of a political campaign?
One problem in not paying attention is that external events keep crowding in, demanding our attention. For example, Greece is roaring along into the abyss, and some think that, as Greece goes, so goes the Euro, and as the Euro goes, so goes the rest of the global economy. Talk about a domino theory. Wow. That’ll be fun, huh?? But if it’s really that serious, I wonder why the Mittster hasn’t yet offered to buy Greece. I mean think of the vacation potential, just with the islands. He could put up a few more houses, or maybe just redecorate the Parthenon—you know, upgrade the plumbing and add some AC and a nice modern kitchen. I’m sure Annie would love it.
And on yet another of our several exoplanets, Roger Clemens is being tried for lying about his drug use (you know, sort of like the Shrub and Bill Clinton did). Only in Roger’s case, they’re going to “make an example of him.” Exactly what the example would show is quite beyond me. If professional athletes wish to screw up their bodies to further their place in athletic history, why would we care?? Apparently, we still haven’t learned about Prohibition—remember the 18thAmendment and the Volstead Act?? Weren’t they fun times? Largely, the Mafia owes its existence and fortune to those heady days when the stupid people decided that no one should drink any longer. So, for the past fifty years or so we have been revisiting those heady times of the 1920’s. We have managed to reinvigorate mafias everywhere, including those fun guys in Mexico, and of course we shouldn’t forget the Afghan Taliban who make most of their money for armaments from selling opium to us. Yeah, let’s keep banning drugs and jailing people like Roger Clemens, while still allowing annoying gasbag addicts like Rush to babble on endlessly on our public airwaves. Oh, yeah, and let’s keep locking people up. That’ll create more jobs for jailers. Maybe that’s what those republican “job-creators” mean when they drone on about how important they are in keeping our economy growing—yeah, let’s keep banning drugs. That’s the ticket to greatness.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Big Win for Bigots

So North Carolina has now joined forces solidly with the Bigoted States of America. Instead of worrying and taking action on issues that might better the state's people socially or economically, the state's bigots decided to focus on denying equal protection under the state constitution to Gays and Lesbians.  The Amendment will do nothing to protect the institution of marriage, since mainly it is heterosexuals who trash that concept (see Newt Gingrich). But, I guess, since the state's bigots can't any longer openly deny equal protection to Blacks, they decided instead to focus on the LGBT communities.
Well congratulations to the bigots. Let us hope they now reap everything their new Amendment promises.
As ye sow, so shall ye reap.
Or:
be careful what you wish for . . .

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Amendment One Big·ot·ry


big·ot·ry
noun, plural big·ot·ries.

1. stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.

2. the actions, beliefs, prejudices, etc., of a bigot.

Synonyms
1. narrow-mindedness, bias,
discrimination.

Bigotry declares the state of mind of  a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one who exhibits intolerance or animosity toward members of a group. Bigotry may be based on real or perceived characteristics, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, nationality, region, language, religious or spiritual belief, political alignment, age, economic status or disability. Bigotry is sometimes developed into an ideology or world view, such as Republicansim..

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. described bigots with the following quote: "The mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye; the more light you pour upon it, the more it will contract.”

And so the great state of North Carolina, never wishing to take a back seat to any of the known bigot-states has embarked on a campaign to amend the state constitution with the following language:

Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.”

And guess who has weighed in on this fanciful nonsense?? Why none other than Presidential wannabe Newt Gingrich—or President Moonbeam as we have come to call him. In a rambling video promoting North Carolina's proposed constitutional amendment to ban any benefits to unmarried couples, President Moonbeam  urges voters to support the anti-gay measure. In a dance worthy of the best shape-shifters, he swings right through the idea that all people are equal, to charge right into an argument that gay and lesbian couples shouldn't be equal to their straight counterparts. None of this equality for all stuff for President Moonbeam. And recall please, the Newt’s own personal history--married three times. His ex-wife claims he asked her for an open marriage so he could continue having sex with his mistress (now his 3rd wife Callista Plasticwoman). Gingrich left his first wife while she was battling cancer to take up with the second.

And on the bill itself?? Well, Republican leaders in the state legislature elected not to allow any public comment, which enabled them to fast-track the legislation to a vote and passage only 24 hours after it was first introduced. The state House of Representatives passed the same bill shortly thereafter. The bill passed by a 30-16 vote in the state Senate, in which Republicans hold a 31-19 majority.

But the law could have unintended consequences for many unmarried couples, both gay and straight.Maxine Eichner, a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law, and some of her colleagues prepared a report on the proposed amendment in June that outlined potential problems. Even with the revisions made in the last week, Eichner said in an email, the amendment could still interfere with existing child custody and visitation rights and invalidate trusts, wills and end-of-life directives in favor of an unmarried partner, no matter the genders of the unmarried pair.

"The Amendment still has the potential to invalidate domestic violence protections for members of unmarried couples, as an Ohio court did with even narrower language in its state’s marriage amendment," Eichner warned. Further, the North Carolina amendment would invalidate domestic partner benefits now offered by several municipalities.

My wife and I thought about this travesty a lot before we entered the voting booths in Concord, NC.  We are now approaching the 57th anniversary of our one and only wedding to each other.  Clearly, we treat the institution of marriage with some seriousness.  And are we worried that some people we label Gay, or Lesbian will somehow tarnish or diminish this institution called marriage? Hmmm. Well, NO. In fact, welcome to the party LGBT folks.  No, that group of independent souls poses no threat to marriage, or even the concept of marriage. No, instead, it is the people like President Moonbeam who threaten the concept of marriage.

If one does a statistical analysis, I imagine that we would have a near perfect correlation between heterosexual weddings and “marriage-deaths" (aka divorces).  So, I’m thinking that maybe we need a constitutional amendment that bans heterosexual weddings.  That would provide almost perfect and permanent protection for the sanctity of marriage.

I wonder how the republican state house in North Carolina would treat such a suggestion???

Oh, by the way. If you’re thinking about voting this May in North Carolina, please:

VOTE NO on this bigoted and mindless Constitutional Amendment.

Please?