Politics: The Dark Ages edition

[dreadgeek]

An allegedly responsible member of Congress has said that, get this, *demons* are infesting the capitol. Yes, demons. Yes, as in big, horrible monsters from the depths of Hell. Infesting the capitol.

Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX) had this to say against the health care reform bill:

And then, out of nowhere, Gohmert began spreading the word that underworld spirits were lurking around the Capitol building behind him.

"There's a whole lot of demon going on," he said. "There are a lot of demons around here apparently."

When oh when are we going to get to a place where nominally responsible people don't feel comfortable making such ridiculous statements in public? In any kind of *sane* country, Gohmert would be laughed out of public life. But here, his comments pass without so much as an askance look and a "whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis".

It reminds me of nothing so much as the witch trial scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Knight: "How do you know she is a witch."
Peasant: "She turned me into a newt."
Knight: A newt?
Peasant: Got better.

One wonders what century this guy believes he is living in.

The full story in all of its amusing horror. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/16/texas-republican-goehmert_n_500805.html)

Cheers
Aj

[Linus]

Whee...


YouTube- monty python-witch scene

What's scary is that others accept this as well... it's not just one "nut" but a whole bowl full.

[Bit]

It makes me really angry. This guy no more believes in demons than you do, Aj; he clearly wants to move up in national power, and he's shamelessly manipulating a gullible lot of people to do so. He knows just what allegations to throw out there to inflame the public, and he's cold-blooded about it; it shows in his picture.

Thanks for posting this thread, as I wouldn't have known about this jerk otherwise. So, the Teaparty is already racist and now they're "alll het up" about demons... doesn't take a genius to know who they'll be after next.

Sometimes I just wanna bury my face in my hands and scream for a while over the greed of some people and the concomitant feverish rush to ignorant prejudice of others. *shakes head in frustration*

[dreadgeek]

It makes me really angry. This guy no more believes in demons than you do, Aj; he clearly wants to move up in national power, and he's shamelessly manipulating a gullible lot of people to do so. He knows just what allegations to throw out there to inflame the public, and he's cold-blooded about it; it shows in his picture.

Thanks for posting this thread, as I wouldn't have known about this jerk otherwise. So, the Teaparty is already racist and now they're "alll het up" about demons... doesn't take a genius to know who they'll be after next.

Sometimes I just wanna bury my face in my hands and scream for a while over the greed of some people and the concomitant feverish rush to ignorant prejudice of others. *shakes head in frustration*

Bit:

I hope you're right about this guy not believing a word he says about demons (although the fact that there are people who *will* believe him is just as terrifying). If he's just a cynical politician, playing cynical politics, then typically that lot can be trusted not to drive the bus off a cliff. There's always *some* reason not to take that last step. If, however, he believes what he's saying (and, quite honestly, I presume that he *does* believe it) then that's far more disturbing because True Believers will drive a bus off a cliff (or fly planes into buildings) if for no other reason than to prove their point.

I find it disturbing that in this day and age, people of power and responsibility and talk about demons in public without ANY fear that they will be laughed out of town as a loon. As a nation it seems we've jumped the cognitive shark.

Cheers
Aj

[Medusa]

I've been out of the loop the last few days and can't believe I missed the demon commentary!

See, scarily enough, I'm kinda thinking that the guy might actually believe that there really are demons running around on Capitol Hill. I will fully own that seeing the (R) after the guys name and that he was from Texas has completely shrouded my thinking with the veil of "must be one of those zealot Republicans".

*pause for dramatic effect while I read the Wiki on this guy*

Oh HELL, he's a "Birther" too.

He also apparently thinks that repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will lead to "Nazism and legalisation of Necrophilia, Beastiality, and Pedophilia."

It's official. I believe the guy ACTUALLY believes that "demons" are loose on the hill.

It's hard not to wonder how other countries view the asshats in our political system as anything but unevolved, hysterical morons. Now, someone please stop me before I draw a parallel between religious hystericals and Republicans.

[MsDemeanor]

Let's see, Gohmert is a birther (co-sponsor HR 1503), a texas baptist, the guy who figured out that we could solve the economic crisis by giving everyone a 2 month vacation from paying federal taxes, carried signs to Obama's congressional address that said “What Bill?” and “What Plan?”, thinks that the Hate Crimes act is dangerous, and represents a state that is in the process of rewriting history so that wing nut conservatives are given more space in history books than, oh, say, the guy that wrote the Declaration of Independence.

I think that he's dead serious.

More terrifying is that people voted for him, so there are a lot more out there just like him.

Edited to add that Medusa and I posted at the same time and that I have no intention of stopping her from drawing a parallel between religious hystericals and Republicans, as I can't recall seeing a whole lot of religious hysterical Democrats floating around the Capitol or Faux Newz.

[Bit]

He's as serious as any surfer riding the waves; choose the wrong one and you're swamped, have to swim for it... but do I think he, himself, actually personally believes the crap he's selling? No, I believe he is a user who is using other people's fears and hysteria to get him what he wants.

I have yet to come across any politician who actually believes the right-wing nonsense they spout; like cynical church leaders, they just follow the money to power. It gives politicians and church leaders who are not cynical a bad name--but then, users never care about things like that as long as there is money (and power!) in it for them.

[Medusa]

More irony:

A government official calling for the end of government. (another Republican)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/16/rep-king-calls-for-velvet_n_500995.html

[Medusa]

:|

I'm actually a little more than disturbed by all of the fuckery in the news today.

Here is an article about Jim Bunning (the dude who wanted to put a hold on unemployment bennies for millions of folks) trying to block President Obama's nominations to a couple of different positions using some idiocy about a CANADIAN smoking law.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/16/jim-bunnings-back-blockin_n_500973.html


SERIOUSLY?

[Apocalipstic]

Demons?

If there are demons actually around, they are the ones who decided torturing people was oK.

I am with Bit, I think he is a politician playing to his base.

[Linus]

:|

I'm actually a little more than disturbed by all of the fuckery in the news today.

Here is an article about Jim Bunning (the dude who wanted to put a hold on unemployment bennies for millions of folks) trying to block President Obama's nominations to a couple of different positions using some idiocy about a CANADIAN smoking law.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/16/jim-bunnings-back-blockin_n_500973.html


SERIOUSLY?

So if Canada does it, it's ebil but if the FDA (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/health/policy/23fda.html) (yes, the US Gov't) does it it's ok? :|

No wonder the longest undefended border doesn't exist any more.

[Apocalipstic]

So if Canada does it, it's ebil but if the FDA (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/health/policy/23fda.html) (yes, the US Gov't) does it it's ok? :|

No wonder the longest undefended border doesn't exist any more.


It's just insane. Insane.

[Apocalipstic]

Bit:

I hope you're right about this guy not believing a word he says about demons (although the fact that there are people who *will* believe him is just as terrifying). If he's just a cynical politician, playing cynical politics, then typically that lot can be trusted not to drive the bus off a cliff. There's always *some* reason not to take that last step. If, however, he believes what he's saying (and, quite honestly, I presume that he *does* believe it) then that's far more disturbing because True Believers will drive a bus off a cliff (or fly planes into buildings) if for no other reason than to prove their point.

I find it disturbing that in this day and age, people of power and responsibility and talk about demons in public without ANY fear that they will be laughed out of town as a loon. As a nation it seems we've jumped the cognitive shark.

Cheers
Aj

Well, this is not a really far leap from "God" telling W to go to war and how to govern. If God can run the country, then so can demons?

Really the idiocy of it all is almost too much to bear.

All this magical thinking makes me sick at my stomach. And yes, this is not far at all from the Dark Ages.

[dreadgeek]

Well, this is not a really far leap from "God" telling W to go to war and how to govern. If God can run the country, then so can demons?

Really the idiocy of it all is almost too much to bear.

All this magical thinking makes me sick at my stomach. And yes, this is not far at all from the Dark Ages.

Isn't it just too much? You know the strange thing is that this change happened suddenly! As late as the late 70's/early 80's if ANY politician had made such a statement on the record their career would be over and done with. Now, it's just a normal part of political discourse.

I'm waiting for someone to start claiming that witches are the cause of climate change.

[Diva]

I realize it's not my responsibility to tell all Y'all this...but may I just say that I read things like Aj's opening post and am ashamed of some of the pure~dee CRAP that comes out of the mouths of some Texas politicians?

I realize there are idiot politicians in every state.....but it does seem as though Texas has more than her fair share.....

And to think they actually believe what they are spewing just baffles my mind!

Thankfully, Austin IS an oasis in the middle of all the insanity.....but NOT so thankfully, our [republican] governor lives here......and he's a 'good ol' boy' from the word GO.

Heaven help us.

[Medusa]

I'm waiting for someone to start claiming that witches are the cause of climate change.

Remember Paul Cellucci (R) from MA?! :P

http://www.couponclicker.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/keyraces98/stories/ma102598.htm

I'm trying to find an article talking about how he had no problem with "accosting" those who practiced Wicca or paganism. I remember reading about it wwwaaaaayyyyy back when

[Apocalipstic]

Isn't it just too much? You know the strange thing is that this change happened suddenly! As late as the late 70's/early 80's if ANY politician had made such a statement on the record their career would be over and done with. Now, it's just a normal part of political discourse.

I'm waiting for someone to start claiming that witches are the cause of climate change.

Totally!

Seriously, an Inquisition is right around the corner.

I so thought that when President Obama was voted in that people were ready for a huge change, that there was hope for sanity in government. But no....we have idiots coming up with insane stuff to try and stop us from making any progress. He must be so incredibly frustrated, I don't think he had any idea how bad things really are.

[Jett]

It's a damn good example of the state of much of our society.

Unfortunately the people like him getting elected and moving into these high positions are there because large portions of society agree with them. It's not just him, and it's scary really.

Though I've never been surprised at the things people do and think, and for a while I felt like the greater part of society had evolved slightly beyond certain blatant stupidities (for the most part at least I thought). But lately there's a lot big reminders in the news of how very very far we have to go, the "tea party"s recent emergence and their racist messages, and other similar things of late.

I'd like to think that the insanities belonged to just the individuals speaking them (Gohmert, Pat Robertson, Fred Phelps the list goes on and on)... but unfortunately those people have insane (literally) numbers of followers that raise them up to and keep them in their positions.

If they don't actually believe what they're saying, it's still disturbing because they're addressing what they know people believe and want to hear from them.

[MsDemeanor]

When Texas decides to leave the Union, hopefully before the next round of textbooks are published, we need to find a way to relocate Austin.

Ye, I know that there are some good people in Texas, but I come from a long line of the not so good ones, so my perspective is a little skewed.

[Dylan]

AND FURTHERMORE 2!

They are already rationing the goddamn healthcare to women over child-bearing age by telling us WE DON'T NEED FUCKING MAMMOGRAMS AND PAP SMEARS EVERY YEAR. How is that not withholding and rationing? Oh, that's right. We're worthless women who just take up space in the job market that should be held by younger, virile (CHRISTIAN) white men.

So these buffoons that walk around talking about how Grandma is gonna be denied healthcare? SHE ALREADY IS AND SHE'S NOT EVEN A GRANDMA YET! As are millions of americans WHO DO NOT HAVE ANY AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE OPTIONS! And also? When my Granddad died at 95, the last time he was in the hospital, he was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. We weren't going to treat it anyway, but it was OUR CHOICE.

Am I off topic again? It must be the cock-a-doody demons dancing around my office. Fuckers.

Since you're off topic again, and since I feel a desire to wave Mahhh Texas Flag nice and high

You oughtta come to Texas. We're still givin' out paps and mammos for free

Just had one about two weeks ago as a matter o' fact (p.s. the tranny T ensures I won't be havin' no babies no time soon...thank god)

Haven't had the mammo, and I'm not really in the mood. They've been bugging me for a month to go get it...even offered to pay for a cab to come and get me, take me there, and bring me home afterwards. Yep, been calling me at least twice a week for a month to come and have this mammo. I've had to come up with new excuses as to why I'm not going.

So, I don't know what y'all are doin' up there in OR, but feel free to stop by Texas and get all your lady flowers checked out...for free. We're still givin' it away here.


Dylan

[dreadgeek]

Since you're off topic again, and since I feel a desire to wave Mahhh Texas Flag nice and high

You oughtta come to Texas. We're still givin' out paps and mammos for free

Just had one about two weeks ago as a matter o' fact (p.s. the tranny T ensures I won't be havin' no babies no time soon...thank god)

Haven't had the mammo, and I'm not really in the mood. They've been bugging me for a month to go get it...even offered to pay for a cab to come and get me, take me there, and bring me home afterwards. Yep, been calling me at least twice a week for a month to come and have this mammo. I've had to come up with new excuses as to why I'm not going.

So, I don't know what y'all are doin' up there in OR, but feel free to stop by Texas and get all your lady flowers checked out...for free. We're still givin' it away here.


Dylan

[channeling=Glen Beck]
Free?! Why, that's, that's SOCIALISM! And Texas is a RED state! And who else was associated with the color red? That's right, Communists! So let's see what we have here:

Gives necessary medical care for free? Check.
Is a 'Red' state? Check
Has red in its flag? Check
Has oil? Check

I KNEW it! The Soviet Union didn't just dry up and blow away, the USSR became TEXAS! It all fits! They're 'Red', they have socialism and their own (secret) police the Texas Rangers!

So Comrade Dylan...free mammograms, eh? Giving needed medical care free makes the Magic Baby Buddy Christ with the Kung Fu Grip (TM)* cry.

Cheers
Aj

*(Magic Baby Buddy Christ with the Kung-Fu Grip does not come with the Buddy Christ Church which is sold separately)

[Linus]

[channeling=Glen Beck]
Free?! Why, that's, that's SOCIALISM! And Texas is a RED state! And who else was associated with the color red? That's right, Communists! So let's see what we have here:

Gives necessary medical care for free? Check.
Is a 'Red' state? Check
Has red in its flag? Check
Has oil? Check

I KNEW it! The Soviet Union didn't just dry up and blow away, the USSR became TEXAS! It all fits! They're 'Red', they have socialism and their own (secret) police the Texas Rangers!

So Comrade Dylan...free mammograms, eh? Giving needed medical care free makes the Magic Baby Buddy Christ with the Kung Fu Grip (TM)* cry.

Cheers
Aj

*(Magic Baby Buddy Christ with the Kung-Fu Grip does not come with the Buddy Christ Church which is sold separately)

:| .. that was just skeery. :|

[dreadgeek]

:| .. that was just skeery. :|

The scary thing is that I've never seen a full Glen Beck show. I tried, the FSM *knows* I tried to get through a whole show last week when he had Eric "Massage Therapy" Massa on. I think I made it to the first commercial break before I was lying on the floor, whimpering "the dumb! It burns!"

Cheers
Aj

[Cyclopea]

http://ghosthauntings.org/The_Texas_Demon.aspx
http://ghosthauntings.org/images/texas%20demon.jpg

[Jess]

Maybe it's just Texas... ( just kidding, idiots are everywhere)..

Other messed up news out of TX

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/12/texas-education-board-app_n_497440.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124515520

[Dylan]

I am confused, both by this "Kinder, Gentler, Martha-esque" Dylan and also, are you trying to tell me that Texas has A Communist Healthcare System?

Or was that Socialist? Those goddamn republicans use the words inter-changebly )sp), and it's screwing me up.

Here's how Texas works, Juney

We have lots o' commie stuff and programs

We don't want the whole damned country movin' to Texas, so we don't tell anyone about our commie programs (not to be confused with pogroms) (that oil pays for, including education)

In order to keep out all the folks we don't want, we send morons to the white house to say really stupid things, so the rest of y'all will think we're complete hicks

'Cuz if the rest of y'all think we're all a bunch of dumb hillbilly rednecks, y'all will stay where ya' are

That way, we have more money for our commie programs, and we can make sure Texans are taken care of first...it keeps all of those coastal liberals away...while y'all feel sorry for us <snifflezzz>

We also make sure that we really media-blitz all of our really inane news stories (it adds to our image as dumb hillbilly rednecks)


This Is Our Way Of Makin' Sure We Don't End Up Bankrupt Like California,
Dylan

AJ...Satan is also associated with the color red...hence the 'demons'

[Dylan]

You'll notice our Little Commie Friend from the TUSSR hasn't come back to refute. This means it's all true. Every bit of it.

EEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz there, Tiger


Dylan

[Queerasfck]

EEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz there, Tiger


Dylan

Hey, what?

[Toughy]

Some idiot member of the House (I think it's the same guy in Aj's OP) said the MA Supreme Court decided that the only requirement for marriage is the establishment of intimacy......(a lie)

and he followed with this line of reasoning: some good ole boy could marry his horse because he had intimacy with his horse.....

why are they so focused on bestiality??????


thank the goddess textbooks are going digital so TX will not have the HUGE ASS influence on what is in American History textbooks.....

[Jess]

Some idiot member of the House (I think it's the same guy in Aj's OP) said the MA Supreme Court decided that the only requirement for marriage is the establishment of intimacy......(a lie)

and he followed with this line of reasoning: some good ole boy could marry his horse because he had intimacy with his horse.....

why are they so focused on bestiality??????


thank the goddess textbooks are going digital so TX will not have the HUGE ASS influence on what is in American History textbooks.....

You may want to check out the links I added earlier. TX IS creating a huge influence on texts there. Unfortunately, that story may get buried under the "demon" junk.

[Linus]

Some idiot member of the House (I think it's the same guy in Aj's OP) said the MA Supreme Court decided that the only requirement for marriage is the establishment of intimacy......(a lie)

and he followed with this line of reasoning: some good ole boy could marry his horse because he had intimacy with his horse.....

why are they so focused on bestiality??????


thank the goddess textbooks are going digital so TX will not have the HUGE ASS influence on what is in American History textbooks.....

Close but not quite: http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/15544/rachel-jd-hayworth-and-manonhorse-marriage

[dreadgeek]

This Is Our Way Of Makin' Sure We Don't End Up Bankrupt Like California,
Dylan

AJ...Satan is also associated with the color red...hence the 'demons'


Now that you mention it. Satan has a beard. Lenin had a beard. They even have similar beards!

http://images6.cafepress.com/product/101592646v11_480x480_Front.jpg

http://thewiredworldofjd.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/rtemagicc_lenin_ve_bayrak.jpg


That just *can't* be coincidental!

Cheers
Aj

[MsDemeanor]

I am confused, both by this "Kinder, Gentler, Martha-esque" Dylan and also, are you trying to tell me that Texas has A Communist Healthcare System?

Or was that Socialist? Those goddamn republicans use the words inter-changebly )sp), and it's screwing me up.
You forgot Fascist. They're all socialist fascists.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/16/the-most-outrageous-march_n_500842.html#s74266
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/16/the-most-outrageous-march_n_500842.html#s74266http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/16/the-most-outrageous-march_n_500842.html#s74266

[MsDemeanor]

Another touch of the disgusting. Go to the 50 second mark in this video and see what the anti-healthcare folks do to a man with Parkinsons.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/multimedia/video/video.html?video=949486

If I believed in hell, I would surely believe that these folks would burn there.

[Apocalipstic]

Another touch of the disgusting. Go to the 50 second mark in this video and see what the anti-healthcare folks do to a man with Parkinsons.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/multimedia/video/video.html?video=949486

If I believed in hell, I would surely believe that these folks would burn there.

Thanks for posting! I had not seen this one.

The guy who said "I decide" and threw money at the man with Parkinson's. Wow!

I just do not get how, if one believes in the Bible, this absolute lack of empathy, sympathy or any other positive feeling for one's fellow human, makes any sense. Maybe when one is illogical in the first place and believes in the Celestial Dictaphone version of the Bible, misinterpreting it to one's own gain is pretty easy?

Demons? Really? I bet dude is a deacon at his church. Who is the deamon really?

UGH.

[dreadgeek]

Another touch of the disgusting. Go to the 50 second mark in this video and see what the anti-healthcare folks do to a man with Parkinsons.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/multimedia/video/video.html?video=949486

If I believed in hell, I would surely believe that these folks would burn there.

You know, it's interesting. One of the arguments that conservatives/libertarians/Tea Partiers make is that "government shouldn't be in the business of charity, only private individuals and churches should provide charity". The question I have asked and which I've never gotten a truly satisfactory answer to is this: "if you begrudge paying, say, 1% more a year in taxes then why should anyone believe that you'll *give* more money to charity?"

When the young man in the tie threw money at the man with Parkinson's as if he were not a human being and when we heard the people saying "no handouts here" we saw what a world where they held sway would look like. What charity there *was* would be given by the church which would only provide you food, what-have-you if you were willing to listen to a sermon (and accept their religion). Other than that people would be on their own.

Cheers
Aj

[AtLast]

You know, it's interesting. One of the arguments that conservatives/libertarians/Tea Partiers make is that "government shouldn't be in the business of charity, only private individuals and churches should provide charity". The question I have asked and which I've never gotten a truly satisfactory answer to is this: "if you begrudge paying, say, 1% more a year in taxes then why should anyone believe that you'll *give* more money to charity?"
When the young man in the tie threw money at the man with Parkinson's as if he were not a human being and when we heard the people saying "no handouts here" we saw what a world where they held sway would look like. What charity there *was* would be given by the church which would only provide you food, what-have-you if you were willing to listen to a sermon (and accept their religion). Other than that people would be on their own.

Cheers
Aj

No, they won't because they don't have a clue as to the meaning of charity really.

Yes, the bastards throwing money at this man ought to burn in hell! Or, develop Parkinson's. Sure, they probably have good health-care, but, there is no cure and the meds for it arn't exactly a picnic as well as dying from it.

What I have learned through the years is that there is a very big difference between how the wealthy view charity in that is really is just a tax write-off for many. And a means to be adored. Hasn't a damn thing to due with charity as part of one's being or spirit of goodness. It is just another IRS line to place an amount in for a deduction.

I do know that this may not be true for contributions made by small business within their communities. But, usually in these situations, the owners are present at functions and events and remain involved. thinking about local businesses that contribute to youth sports firlds, etc. and go to the games, continue to help with uniforms and equipment and scholarships to families that can't pay for their kids to join or equipment costs. Can also be things like Shriner's hospitals.

To me, charity is mich more than throwing (no pun intended) money at something. It is an active process of giving your time as well.

[Jess]

So here's the deal. I will bet you an unspecified amount of money that most of those Yahoos out there protesting the Healthcare bill, don't even fucking have it! Because unless you work for a major company, city, state, county, feds, the chances of you having access to REASONABLY priced healthcare is pretty slim.

What they appear to be doing in these "Rallies" is to express their outrage that "their" President is black under the guise of some of the most ridiculous and outlandish signage I have ever seen. They are grasping at metaphorical straws and outright lies told to them by their equally racist Senators in order to have something to bitch about that is not going to get their forehead painted with 3K's.

The problem here is not that they don't want Healthcare reform. It's that they don't want this President and so they are willing to screw everyone with their constant jabs and innuendo.

I know that most people are not stupid and mean, it just seems that way sometimes. AND BOTH the Republicans and Democrats are responsible for making that document so bloated with pork and special "deals", that it is not even readable.

SHAME ON ALL OF THEM!

This Quasi Rant has been brought to you by 4 cups of coffee and a Diet Coke (r)

;)


thank you for this.

[Bit]

This Quasi Rant has been brought to you by 4 cups of coffee and a Diet Coke (r)
...and by some serious analysis. It shows.

I agree, btw, about these people's likely motivation. But I don't think we can afford to underestimate the contribution of health insurance industry lobbying to this "movement." After all, who stands to be reined in if it passes? There's a lot of profit to be lost... and so what better than a little classic misdirection, a little fanning of certain dying sparks into open flames?

After all, who would be able to point a finger at the health insurance lobby if this is a "grassroots movement," and yet how do we know who all the people were at the beginning of it? How do we know who the people are who champion it now, or more importantly, who they work for? There's no way to keep track of things like that.

[apretty]

Some idiot member of the House (I think it's the same guy in Aj's OP) said the MA Supreme Court decided that the only requirement for marriage is the establishment of intimacy......(a lie)

and he followed with this line of reasoning: some good ole boy could marry his horse because he had intimacy with his horse.....

why are they so focused on bestiality??????


here's the guy, running against mccain: http://www.facebook.com/pages/JD-Hayworth-2010-for-US-Senate/312423051210?ref=nf

[AtLast]

So here's the deal. I will bet you an unspecified amount of money that most of those Yahoos out there protesting the Healthcare bill, don't even fucking have it! Because unless you work for a major company, city, state, county, feds, the chances of you having access to REASONABLY priced healthcare is pretty slim.

What they appear to be doing in these "Rallies" is to express their outrage that "their" President is black under the guise of some of the most ridiculous and outlandish signage I have ever seen. They are grasping at metaphorical straws and outright lies told to them by their equally racist Senators in order to have something to bitch about that is not going to get their forehead painted with 3K's.

The problem here is not that they don't want Healthcare reform. It's that they don't want this President and so they are willing to screw everyone with their constant jabs and innuendo.

I know that most people are not stupid and mean, it just seems that way sometimes. AND BOTH the Republicans and Democrats are responsible for making that document so bloated with pork and special "deals", that it is not even readable. SHAME ON ALL OF THEM!

This Quasi Rant has been brought to you by 4 cups of coffee and a Diet Coke (r)

;)

ROLF, your rant speaks volumes!

The racism displayed at these rallies is pretty obvious. And, although, I see the mega-bucks it is my money syndrome, I do see your point about some attending these discusting events as not having access to quality healthcare.

As the bill appears to stand, I have a lot of problems with it. There is a lot of pork and bullshit in it. And the idea of just passing it for a Dem win makes me crazy. I keep trying to assess what is actually in it that will help me and many others out. It is a mess!!

In light of what you are saying I have been agonizing over a school bond that is going to be on my ballot here. Frankly, as a someone that has lost 2/3rds of my income in the last 2 years, having my property tax increase is not something I want. Sure, it will be only about $30, but this is on top of about 6years of yearly increases of $30-$50 which is reflected on my montly house payment. Additionally, I bought my home post-Prop 13 in CA and pay about 5 times tyhe property taxes that people that bought pre-Prop 13 do. And hell, my home value has decreased over 25%!

I have always supported school bonds and am a former public school teacher. Also someone that was educated within the public school system, including a community college along the way. Same for my kid. I want more money for schools! Yet, I have to say, this will make a difference to me as a retired person that also has high health-care costs as well as health-care insurance that sux! I can't drop it for another due to pre-existing conditions and I am too young for MediCare or to draw Social Security. My medical conditions are disabling.

No, I don't believe that every person at these rallies are rich or represent corporate interests. Oh yeah, many are racists!

[Jess]

I think it is important to remember that not everyone opposed to the way the healthcare bill is being worked is of the all evil ilk. Not all are ultra- conservative right wingers and certainly not all are plants from the insurance lobbys.

I am not entirely happy with this bill from what I have been able to read of it. It is a start that might eventually become what it should and could be, but as it stands there will still be huge numbers of folks without healthcare and a large number of folks who when "forced" to purchase healthcare will have to make the decision of food or my imposed healthcare plan. There are quite a few really not so great things about the bill as it is.

Seriously though, not all of the "tea baggers" are the bad guys.

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-03-17/michael-moore

[Apocalipstic]

My vote is for full socialized medicine and I have really good insurance at the small company I work for.

I agree that many of the people at these rallys probably do not have insurance and are being led to vote against their own self interests by racism or by being convinced that if there is socialized healthcare, then sex changes will be free and gays will be able to marry.

I think it is likely that this person is using the word "demon" as a racist code word.

[Apocalipstic]

I don't think ALL Tea Baggers are evil, racist pricks. Just most of them.

And, I was really clear that both sides of the aisle are culpable for this Healthcare cluster fuck.

And, I work for a 12 year old, 15 employee company that cannot afford to offer healthcare to any of us. I have decent, affordable healthcare because my partner works for the County and we are "lucky" enough to have partner benefits here.

I think I'm gonna go start a poll. Stay tuned.

I have a difficult time thinking all the Baggers are not evil.

I saw what they discussed when they were here in Nashville for their convention. I do not see anything that proved to me they cared about their fellow humans....starting with their keynote speaker.

Maybe just the mean ones get on the news?

[apretty]

medicare, the kind that old teabaggers utilize, is government subsidized health care, i don't get why i have to pay for these old, hateful racists to have access to affordable health care. they're milking the system, i'm sick of these anchor-seniors!

[Queerasfck]

Teabaggers, they think elitist means "someone who reads. It's a cult not a movement", via Bill Maher. There's a youtube video out there somewhere...funny stuff.

[Apocalipstic]

medicare, the kind that old teabaggers utilize, is government subsidized health care, i don't get why i have to pay for these old, hateful racists to have access to affordable health care. they're milking the system, i'm sick of these anchor-seniors!

It rips me out of the frame! Agreed!

They have socialized insurance. Growwwl.

[Apocalipstic]

Teabaggers, they think elitist means "someone who reads. It's a cult not a movement", via Bill Maher. There's a youtube video out there somewhere...funny stuff.



And how many of the Republican leadership went to Ivy League schools????....except of course Sara Palin who just really may not know how to read teleprompters...hense the 4 line crib notes.

rant rant rant rant.

[UofMfan]

I have a difficult time thinking all the Baggers are not evil.

So do I.

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/03/17/disgusting-tea-party-protesters-heckle-man-with-parkinsons/

[MsDemeanor]

After all, who would be able to point a finger at the health insurance lobby if this is a "grassroots movement," and yet how do we know who all the people were at the beginning of it? How do we know who the people are who champion it now, or more importantly, who they work for? There's no way to keep track of things like that.

Rachel Maddow has been doing a great job of following the money trail this past year and can track just about all of these shenanigans back to their sources.

I think it is likely that this person is using the word "demon" as a racist code word.

I believe that he got it from yesterday's news buzz phrase "deem and pass". The funny part is, after all the filibustering, when word got out that Senate Dems were threatening to use deem and pass, the Repugs raced to the TV cameras and started demanding an up or down vote!! Geez, peeps, the rest of the country has been wanting up or down votes in the Senate since 1/21/2009!!!!!!

I have a difficult time thinking all the Baggers are not evil.

Right there with you.

[MsDemeanor]

Once again, Alan Grayson has come up with the simple and practical solution. HR 4789, the Medicare You Can Buy In To Act. Basically, anyone can sign up for Medicare and the rate would be the average cost for people in that age group. The entire bill is just a few pages long, and it has accumulated 50 co-sponsors in just 48 hours. My Congresswoman has already signed on. Has yours? (I heart Lynn Woolsey).


Alan Grayson 2012!!!!

[Jess]

I have a difficult time thinking all the Baggers are not evil.

I saw what they discussed when they were here in Nashville for their convention. I do not see anything that proved to me they cared about their fellow humans....starting with their keynote speaker.

Maybe just the mean ones get on the news?


I watched the same video posted earlier and yes, the yuppie throwing money was an ass. The last woman who spoke however, seemed quite rational, reasonable and not really evil. Evil is a pretty harsh view. Kinda like "demonic".

[Jess]

Once again, Alan Grayson has come up with the simple and practical solution. HR 4789, the Medicare You Can Buy In To Act. Basically, anyone can sign up for Medicare and the rate would be the average cost for people in that age group. The entire bill is just a few pages long, and it has accumulated 50 co-sponsors in just 48 hours. My Congresswoman has already signed on. Has yours? (I heart Lynn Woolsey).


Alan Grayson 2012!!!!

Now, THIS makes sense. Amazing it is only a few pages.

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/87053-hr-4789-and-the-public-option-the-way-forward-rep-alan-grayson

Thanks.

[Apocalipstic]

I watched the same video posted earlier and yes, the yuppie throwing money was an ass. The last woman who spoke however, seemed quite rational, reasonable and not really evil. Evil is a pretty harsh view. Kinda like "demonic".

Good point, evil is too strong and does imply that I believe in evil and hell and all that.

How about.... I do not agree with them at all, and it is difficult for me to see how possibly they think what they do, especially since they claim for the most part to be Christian.

Not that I think Christians act better, but if one does supposedly think that the Bible (New Testament in Particular) is THE holy book and that the words of Jesus mean something, then I don't get their logic and have zero respect for their line of thinking.

I do agree that "Evil" does imply magical thinking just like "Demons". Great point! I need to work on being consistent! :blink:

Sleepy rambling...can't wake up this morning.....

[UofMfan]

.it is why Mr. Roberts is now Chief Justice, hard to forget how much they really matter.


From Alternet:

http://www.truthout.org/justice-roberts-stokes-state-union-controversy-a-hard-lesson-why-elections-matter57780

[Queerasfck]

From the Advocate: Teabaggers call Barney Frank a Faggot. You can read it on this link.

http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/03/20/Tea_Partiers_Call_Frank_a_Faggot/

[MsMerrick]

From the Advocate: Teabaggers call Barney Frank a Faggot. You can read it on this link.

http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/03/20/Tea_Partiers_Call_Frank_a_Faggot/

The N word, was tossed around quite a lot also
Though to other people ..
A good time being had by all...

[apretty]

yahoo! health care!

[MsDemeanor]

The sky is falling!!! This evil plot has caused it to snow in Texas!!! Grab the guns, the bibles, and the babies!!! God help us all!! Aaaaaagggggghhhhh!!!!!

[MsMerrick]

yahoo! health care!

Well no, but Insurance mild reform...
Health Care and Insurance, are not synonymous

[apretty]

Well no, but Insurance mild reform...
Health Care and Insurance, are not synonymous

yes i realize that, i thought that was understood? either way, thanks.

[apretty]

babies can't be denied insurance due to pre-existing conditions (soon)! yay!

[MsMerrick]

yes i realize that, i thought that was understood? either way, thanks.

Actually no, people seem to be confusing the two things, over and over again

[Medusa]

(tongue in cheek) Another Texas Republican moment:

"Babykiller" commenter revealed:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/22/randy-neugebauer-revealed_n_508525.html

[apretty]

Actually no, people seem to be confusing the two things, over and over again

what's your point?

[WILDCAT]

(tongue in cheek) Another Texas Republican moment:

"Babykiller" commenter revealed:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/22/randy-neugebauer-revealed_n_508525.html


Why, decorum at it's best!

This is where I have to wonder what the ol' lion Ed Kennedy would be growling out right about now - about all of these nasty shitty antics and extreme displays of disrespect being shown.

Folks should be called out to STEP THE FUCK DOWN! Spitting?! Racist name calling?

I can just imagine how folks from afar are "calling this"?!
__

Out of control nuts? Deliverance folk? Dumb like a fox?! (Or, "d": all of the above?) Where's Dick when you need a good hunter?!

Just thinking out loud here! Disgusted with what I have been seeing taking place since our first POC president has been sworn in... this "movement" of hate and discrimination. It both sickens and saddens me.

__

Yes, this a step in a direction regarding the massive insurance problems and corruption! Among some other necessary changes needed...

And "holy fucking help us all" if this president - representing this party, is instrumental AT ALL in creating any positive change that has been so badly needed, (problems that have contributed to the position we now find ourselves in financially and economically with our government/country)!!
__

Also I'm thinking: for example... is helping children/families a bad socialist, communist concept now?! Since when? (Or, so very [NOT] "christian" like...? And "evil" works for me just fine here with these fanatics!)

Such headfucking. I've grown weary... I do feel a smidgeon hopeful tonight though. Gridlock is depressing. Gridlock with non-solicited "rioting", much more disturbing. Let the fools bury theirselves now!

And, there will be such ongoing criticisms and mistruths. I'm gettin' braced for it! Round 2 (or 3, or 9?), bring it on! (Please, find your spine Dems!)


:hamactor:

:bicycle:


wc

[MsMerrick]

what's your point?

That having Insurance, doesn't mean you get Health Care. Its the insane For Profit Insurance Industry that needed an overhaul, and didn't get one.

[Diva]

(tongue in cheek) Another Texas Republican moment:

"Babykiller" commenter revealed:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/22/randy-neugebauer-revealed_n_508525.html



Yes. How embarrassing. I wrote him a letter which I quoted on the Health Care Bill thread over there ~ ~ ~ >

I told him he should check his Baptist tongue. Once again.....another conservative Texas republican who should have kept his head planted firmly where the sun doesn't shine.....

[Soon]

New GOP Poll Shows Scary Results (http://indyposted.com/14338/new-gop-poll-shows-scary-results/)

The Harris poll says that two thirds of Republicans (40% of Americans) believe that President Obama is a socialist. 57% (32% overall) believe that he is a Muslim, and 45% (25% overall) believe that he was not born in this country.

The scariest statistic though, is that 24% of Republicans believe that Obama is the antichrist.

[MsDemeanor]

New GOP Poll Shows Scary Results (http://indyposted.com/14338/new-gop-poll-shows-scary-results/)

The Harris poll says that two thirds of Republicans (40% of Americans) believe that President Obama is a socialist. 57% (32% overall) believe that he is a Muslim, and 45% (25% overall) believe that he was not born in this country.

The scariest statistic though, is that 24% of Republicans believe that Obama is the antichrist.
The antichrist number doesn't bother me so much; you're talking about 5% of the population. I'd assume that at least 5% of the population is in the religious wing-nut camp and that they assume anything that they don't like is the antichrist.

I find the other numbers much more disturbing. 40% of Americans have no idea of what Socialism is, and 25% prefer to believe lies spewed by Faux Newz and other wing-nuts to clear and documented facts about the President's birthplace. Don't even get me started on the glaring inability to apply the most basic of logic to the 32% who think he's Muslim while at the same time blasting him for attending Rev. Wright's Christian church.

This country needs a serious overhaul of it's educational system. Oh, wait, education is elitist. Sorry, my bad.

[Martina]

Don't even get me started on the glaring inability to apply the most basic of logic to the 32% who think he's Muslim while at the same time blasting him for attending Rev. Wright's Christian church.

This country needs a serious overhaul of it's educational system. Oh, wait, education is elitist. Sorry, my bad.


i have been teaching Islam for a week. The kids are interested even though my bigoted co-teacher makes snarky comments from the back of the room. Anyway, my kids are going to know what Islam is, but they are also going to know that Mr. O hates Muslims. :(

[AtLast]

i have been teaching Islam for a week. The kids are interested even though my bigoted co-teacher makes snarky comments from the back of the room. Anyway, my kids are going to know what Islam is, but they are also going to know that Mr. O hates Muslims. :(



Good for you! And throw in a lesson on religious bigotry and its relationship to racism! And our example of this is our own.....

:shark:

[UofMfan]

New GOP Poll Shows Scary Results (http://indyposted.com/14338/new-gop-poll-shows-scary-results/)

The Harris poll says that two thirds of Republicans (40% of Americans) believe that President Obama is a socialist. 57% (32% overall) believe that he is a Muslim, and 45% (25% overall) believe that he was not born in this country.

The scariest statistic though, is that 24% of Republicans believe that Obama is the antichrist.

What the poll shows me is the average educational background and IQ of Republicans.

[MsDemeanor]

We now know where all this window-breaking came from. Seems that some former militiaman posted a call for followers to break the windows of Democratic leaders.

linkyloo (http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2010/03/23/former-militiaman-in-alabama-called-for-breaking-dems-windows/)

[AtLast]

Yes, DARK AGES!!! This is plain infantile!! These public servants do receive paychecks from us!! I have really had it with these idiots!! They are obstructing a hell of a lot more than the health-care reform reconciliation bill! This is interfering with what is happening with our troops- you know, the ones that have their lives on the line! ENOUGH!!!


Please join me in writing letters, emails making phone calls... whatever to both the GOP & Dems and let them know they are being remiss in their duties (job)! If you have family/friends serving in the military in Afghanistan or Iraq, it seems that this kind of behavior could put your loved ones in jeopardy if it continues. The health-care reforms are not the only business of the Senate!! How many of us can just quit the day early and not get penalized for doing so?

GOP Senators Refusing To Work Past 2PM, Invoking Obscure Rule

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/24/gop-senators-refusing-to_n_511639.html


Senate Republicans fuming over the passage of health care reform are now refusing to work past 2 p.m. -- a tactic they can employ by invoking a little-known Senate rule.

On Wednesday, the Judiciary Committee was forced to cancel a hearing as was the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) tweeted today : "Disappointed. Rs refusing to allow hearings today. Had to cancel my oversight hearing on police training contracts in Afghanistan."
Sen. Mark Udall also complained that he had to delay a hearing on the cause of Western forest fires.
Making good on Sen. John McCain's threat to withhold all Republican cooperation from Democrats in the Senate in retribution for the majority party using reconciliation to pass health care reform, the GOP used the rule that states committees can only meet when the chamber is in session with the unanimous consent of all members. That consent has almost never been withheld -- until now.
Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) asked for consent for his panel to operate Wednesday afternoon. He noted, ironically, that his request had the support of McCain.
"There is objection on our side of the aisle and therefore I object," said Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.).
The GOP objection blocked testimony from Admiral Robert Willard, United States Navy Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command; from General Kevin Chilton, United States Air Force, Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, and from General Walter Sharp, United States Army Commander, U.S. Forces Korea.



For his part, Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) was livid when his committee was forced to delay consideration of several judicial nominees.
"I have accommodated requests from Judiciary Committee Republicans to delay the Committee's hearing to consider Professor Liu's nomination," Leahy said.
He continued: "For months, Senate Republicans have resisted efforts to enact important reforms to our health insurance system. But when the dust settles and the emotions are calmed, history will show that President Obama and this Congress responded to a pressing national issue, and proved once again that we can act with the purpose of advancing an important national interest. Sadly, actions like today's objections from Senate Republicans to the consideration of a highly qualified, historic nominee will be viewed as little more than petty, partisan politics."
Jim Manley, a spokesperson for Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), objected to the objection. "For a second straight day, Republicans are using tricks to shut down several key Senate committees. So let me get this straight: in retaliation for our efforts to have an up-or-down vote to improve health care reform, Republicans are blocking an Armed Services committee hearing to discuss critical national security issues among other committee meetings? These political games and obstruction have to stop -- the American people expect and deserve better."

Without unanimous consent, committees are allowed to meet for two hours following the opening of the Senate session -- which on Wednesday was 9:00 a.m. The committees need consent to continue and consent again to continue after 2:00 p.m. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, had his hearing shut down abruptly at 11:00 Wednesday morning, in the middle of a discussion on the effort to end veteran homelessness in the next five years. It is estimated that more than 100,000 veterans are homeless in the United States on any given night.
"The Senate should be a place for debate, but I cannot imagine how shutting down a hearing on helping homeless veterans has any part of the debate on the health insurance reform," said Akaka. "I am deeply disappointed that my colleagues chose to hinder our common work to help end veteran homelessness."
Committee meetings were also canceled on Tuesday, but as the result of a behind-the-scenes threat, rather than an on-the-floor objection. One meeting that was shut down even dealt with transparency in government. The Executive Director of the Sunlight Foundation, Ellen Miller was cut off during the hearing.
Nick Wing contributed reporting to this post.

[Linus]

You know what, I'd make sure that every MSM knows about them not working beyond 2pm. And then I'd run a series of ad campaigns about how they are lazy and not really interested in helping voters, just themselves. I have a feeling with so many people out of work, they won't appreciate the lack of work ethic in those that should be doing something especially when having a job.

[Greyson]

Shaking my head. In all my years of following the US Congress and state level legislators...... Some of this stuff is just down right amusing but also sad and pathetic.

What a bunch of big babies. "I didn't get my way. So now I am going to be even more obstinate and with no real regard, nor concern for the American people."

[Apocalipstic]

I am just so incredibly depressed about the whole thing. I wonder how bad things will get before people wake up.


New GOP Poll Shows Scary Results (http://indyposted.com/14338/new-gop-poll-shows-scary-results/)

The Harris poll says that two thirds of Republicans (40% of Americans) believe that President Obama is a socialist. 57% (32% overall) believe that he is a Muslim, and 45% (25% overall) believe that he was not born in this country.

The scariest statistic though, is that 24% of Republicans believe that Obama is the antichrist.

*Hangs Head* I have to admit, when I found out W was OK with torture, I kept wondering when he was going to sprout a tail and start wearing a little cape.


The antichrist number doesn't bother me so much; you're talking about 5% of the population. I'd assume that at least 5% of the population is in the religious wing-nut camp and that they assume anything that they don't like is the antichrist.

I find the other numbers much more disturbing. 40% of Americans have no idea of what Socialism is, and 25% prefer to believe lies spewed by Faux Newz and other wing-nuts to clear and documented facts about the President's birthplace. Don't even get me started on the glaring inability to apply the most basic of logic to the 32% who think he's Muslim while at the same time blasting him for attending Rev. Wright's Christian church.

This country needs a serious overhaul of it's educational system. Oh, wait, education is elitist. Sorry, my bad.


How did anyone get out of Jr. High not knowing what socialism is. SCREAM.

It is incredibly concerning how little people learned in school. Basic stuff.

[WILDCAT]

... where to plunk these little news nuggets. (And sorry if on another thread already, I've been looking...?)

I was just watching CNN and the uproar about Michael Steele being "in the hot seat", regarding a political gathering PAID for by the RNC that was at a sex club, specializing or well known as a "bondage nightclub", and had strippers during this event, etc...

I have to laugh a bit, at the hypocricy. I wonder what fucking Beck will say about this. Geez, I wonder who in the party they will "blame". (Steele seems like the perfect scapegoat... and he has asked for so much.)
___

Then there is a huge piece to run for several weeks now on CNN regarding Scientology. A former big shot, kicked out of the church is spilling his guts, about the "head" guy (the new RON H. #1 dude) kicking peoples asses and beating the shit out of them, and other staff below him ordered to do so - including the guy "talking" now, etc... (who admits he did this at the orders of the head guy and of course, they are saying only "he was abusive, was let go, and is trying to get back at the church"). This should be very interesting, to see how this develops.

And I wonder what Tom Cruise comes out with in defense on this one!

Happy, happy everyone... (Just me - who STILL DISTAINS ORGANIZED RELIGION and certain political parties!)

SMILE and peace ya'll!

WILDCAT

[UofMfan]

Heads, except his own, begin to fall.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/30/michael-steele-fires-staf_n_518110.html

[Soon]

YouTube- How Did So Many Republicans End Up Believing Falsehoods About Obama?

[AtLast]

... where to plunk these little news nuggets. (And sorry if on another thread already, I've been looking...?)

I was just watching CNN and the uproar about Michael Steele being "in the hot seat", regarding a political gathering PAID for by the RNC that was at a sex club, specializing or well known as a "bondage nightclub", and had strippers during this event, etc...

I have to laugh a bit, at the hypocricy. I wonder what fucking Beck will say about this. Geez, I wonder who in the party they will "blame". (Steele seems like the perfect scapegoat... and he has asked for so much.)
___

Then there is a huge piece to run for several weeks now on CNN regarding Scientology. A former big shot, kicked out of the church is spilling his guts, about the "head" guy (the new RON H. #1 dude) kicking peoples asses and beating the shit out of them, and other staff below him ordered to do so - including the guy "talking" now, etc... (who admits he did this at the orders of the head guy and of course, they are saying only "he was abusive, was let go, and is trying to get back at the church"). This should be very interesting, to see how this develops.

And I wonder what Tom Cruise comes out with in defense on this one!

Happy, happy everyone... (Just me - who STILL DISTAINS ORGANIZED RELIGION and certain political parties!)

SMILE and peace ya'll!

WILDCAT

Watching the CNN presentations this week about the Scientology head and this scandal. I honestly am not that well-versed in Scientology, but, have always wondered why it seems to be the religion of the stars? It appears that the majority of its members are white and rich. Hummm... sound familiar?

It will be interesting to see how Steele handles the bondage club GOP Social event! What amazes me is that these idiots continue to do this kind of stuff with all of the media people out there watching them! Guess, they just can't help themselves....

Overall, I am very tired ofthe garbage that goes on in both major political parties. Here we are in one of the worst financial situations ever and these people are doing nothing but pointing fingers and thinking about re-election and the 2012 presidential election!

HELLO.... this will never change without a complete overhaul of campaign funding, including it being via public funds that are all equal! Look at how much $ is thrown down the political toilets! And how much is exempt for churches based upon very flimsy legislation that runs counter to the Constitution...

[Jess]

Maybe we need more LGBT churches.. doing more lobbying, oops , I mean outreach. I hear you can become licensed with an on line certificate.

[Cyclopea]

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/upload/2009/09/devils_machine.jpeg
http://lookatthisfuckingteabagger.com/

[apretty]

that's a sorry-ass closeted dyke, probably drives a minivan.

[apretty]

why does a gathering of teabaggers look like they were pulled directly from a wal-mart, ditching their piled-high carts of ground beef, hot pockets and high fructose corn syrups?

[Jess]

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/upload/2009/09/devils_machine.jpeg
http://lookatthisfuckingteabagger.com/


so, shouldn't we upgrade from toaster ovens to laptops when giving out out pink cards???

[Mitmo01]

anyone whos interested in this whole scientology expose should check out the Tampa newspaper, they have been doing a special investigation on the church of scientology for about a year. That paper has exposed David Miscaivage who is the leader of that church and the scientologists turned around and have hired independent investigators to invesitgate that paper and the reporters who are exposing thier bullshit...lmfao....

[apretty]

anyone whos interested in this whole scientology expose should check out the Tampa newspaper, they have been doing a special investigation on the church of scientology for about a year. That paper has exposed David Miscaivage who is the leader of that church and the scientologists turned around and have hired independent investigators to invesitgate that paper and the reporters who are exposing thier bullshit...lmfao....

how's scientology any different from any other religion?

[Random]

how's scientology any different from any other religion?

It isn't... It's just newer and still has stories to be told..

[Martina]

why does a gathering of teabaggers look like they were pulled directly from a wal-mart, ditching their piled-high carts of ground beef, hot pockets and high fructose corn syrups?

OK, do not malign the HOT POCKETS. Or at least not the Lean Pockets!

[UofMfan]

why does a gathering of teabaggers look like they were pulled directly from a wal-mart, ditching their piled-high carts of ground beef, hot pockets and high fructose corn syrups?

Add this to the list, illiteracy!

This is too funny! Please make sure to click on this part "Proceed onward, brave grammarian."

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/04/01/do-you-speak-teabonics-slideshow-highlights-tea-party-grammar-fails/

[MsDemeanor]

Add this to the list, illiteracy!

This is too funny! Please make sure to click on this part "Proceed onward, brave grammarian."

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/04/01/do-you-speak-teabonics-slideshow-highlights-tea-party-grammar-fails/

That's scary. Illiterates demanding that English be the only language in this country.

As for the dyke and her big sign, I'd think that someone familiar with Alan Turing would be just a tad bit brighter. I'm guessing that someone made the sign with a computer and gave it to her as a joke, and she's just too stupid to get it.

[Linus]

Add this to the list, illiteracy!

This is too funny! Please make sure to click on this part "Proceed onward, brave grammarian."

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/04/01/do-you-speak-teabonics-slideshow-highlights-tea-party-grammar-fails/

That's scary. Illiterates demanding that English be the only language in this country.

As for the dyke and her big sign, I'd think that someone familiar with Alan Turing would be just a tad bit brighter. I'm guessing that someone made the sign with a computer and gave it to her as a joke, and she's just too stupid to get it.


I went through the blog and what comes to mind is a question of what happened to the education system here? Why are basic grammar skills (and this seems across all generations based on the pictures) lacking? I think it's sad when a nation cannot debate within itself when the basic mechanism for discussion is lacking as well. :(

[AtLast]

why does a gathering of teabaggers look like they were pulled directly from a wal-mart, ditching their piled-high carts of ground beef, hot pockets and high fructose corn syrups?

'Bout sums it up!

Something that is driving me nuts about the tea bag stuff is when I see people from western states in the mix. Fergoddessakes, idiots, other than the original 13 colonies, the rest of the US was NOT coloni!zed by England and was not subject to what the original teabaggers were bringing to bear with taxation without representation! Get a clue!

Sometimes, I want to gather these idiots up, and give them a US history class! Hummm.. but, I guess the literacy deficit would get in the way of any learning occuring there....

[AtLast]

why does a gathering of teabaggers look like they were pulled directly from a wal-mart, ditching their piled-high carts of ground beef, hot pockets and high fructose corn syrups?

'Bout sums it up!

Something that is driving me nuts about the tea bag stuff is when I see people from western states in the mix. Fergoddessakes, idiots, other than the original 13 colonies, the rest of the US was NOT colonized by England and was not subject to what the original tea baggers were bringing to bear with taxation without representation! Get a clue!

Sometimes, I want to gather these idiots up, and give them a US history class! Hamm.. but, I guess the literacy deficit would get in the way of any learning occurring there....

The state of the US educational system makes me want to puke!

[UofMfan]

I went through the blog and what comes to mind is a question of what happened to the education system here? Why are basic grammar skills (and this seems across all generations based on the pictures) lacking? I think it's sad when a nation cannot debate within itself when the basic mechanism for discussion is lacking as well. :(

'Bout sums it up!

Something that is driving me nuts about the tea bag stuff is when I see people from western states in the mix. Fergoddessakes, idiots, other than the original 13 colonies, the rest of the US was NOT coloni!zed by England and was not subject to what the original teabaggers were bringing to bear with taxation without representation! Get a clue!

Sometimes, I want to gather these idiots up, and give them a US history class! Hummm.. but, I guess the literacy deficit would get in the way of any learning occuring there....

From Wikipedia:

The country has a reading literacy rate at 98% of the population over age 15,[5] while ranking below average in science and mathematics understanding compared to other developed countries.[6] In 2008, there was a 77% graduation rate from high school, below that of most developed countries.[7]

The poor performance has pushed public and private efforts such as the No Child Left Behind Act. In addition, the ratio of college-educated adults entering the workforce to general population (33%) is slightly below the mean of other developed countries (35%)[8] and rate of participation of the labor force in continuing education is high.[9] A 2000s study by Jon Miller of Michigan State University concluded that "A slightly higher proportion of American adults qualify as scientifically literate than European or Japanese adults".[10]

Competitiveness

The national results in international comparisons have often been far below the average of developed countries. In OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment 2003, 15 year olds ranked 24th of 38 in mathematics, 19th of 38 in science, 12th of 38 in reading, and 26th of 38 in problem solving.[97] In the 2006 assessment, the U.S. ranked 35th out of 57 in mathematics and 29th out of 57 in science. Reading scores could not be reported due to printing errors in the instructions of the U.S. test booklets. U.S. scores were far behind those of most other developed nations.

This is why sometimes I find it bothersome to conduct any sort of challenging discussion on here when all I get thrown at me is erroneous information supplied by the US school system. Of course there have been exceptions to this, and for that I am grateful.

[AtLast]

From Wikipedia:

The country has a reading literacy rate at 98% of the population over age 15,[5] while ranking below average in science and mathematics understanding compared to other developed countries.[6] In 2008, there was a 77% graduation rate from high school, below that of most developed countries.[7]

The poor performance has pushed public and private efforts such as the No Child Left Behind Act. In addition, the ratio of college-educated adults entering the workforce to general population (33%) is slightly below the mean of other developed countries (35%)[8] and rate of participation of the labor force in continuing education is high.[9] A 2000s study by Jon Miller of Michigan State University concluded that "A slightly higher proportion of American adults qualify as scientifically literate than European or Japanese adults".[10]

Competitiveness

The national results in international comparisons have often been far below the average of developed countries. In OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment 2003, 15 year olds ranked 24th of 38 in mathematics, 19th of 38 in science, 12th of 38 in reading, and 26th of 38 in problem solving.[97] In the 2006 assessment, the U.S. ranked 35th out of 57 in mathematics and 29th out of 57 in science. Reading scores could not be reported due to printing errors in the instructions of the U.S. test booklets. U.S. scores were far behind those of most other developed nations.

This is why sometimes I find it bothersome to conduct any sort of challenging discussion on here when all I get thrown at me is erroneous information supplied by the US school system. Of course there have been exceptions to this, and for that I am grateful.
Public school systems are politically driven.... it is how they get monies! Or, not... Today, our public schools are test-mills.

I was talking to a friend the other night that has taught elementary school for many years. She taught during a time when although, teaching required much work and dedication for really not a lot of pay, but a teacher remained dedicated because they did see the fruits of their efforts and were respected. This was prior to school administration credentials were developed in which a person never setting foot in a classroom can become a public school's top ruling administrator. People in these positions used to have years of classroom experience prior to becoming an administrator. It was a requirement! I honestly believe that this is part of the decline in US education. It created a mid-management and higher management model in education with those in charge of budgets and policies to be someone that has only a business background and that cannot relate well with classroom teachers. And the studies done about our educational systems are formed within this schema…. Based upon political considerations

[Greyson]

In another thread I said I am beginning to believe that the concept of "States Rights" is now being used as a code word which is rooted in racism. IMO, this is one of the most contentious yet thought provoking times in the history of the USA.

This nation on a daily basis is questioning the status quo. History is being rewritten with a slant that leans toward the agenda, beliefs of the writer. (Those rewriting American History are not "historians" in the strictest sense. Aj wrote something somewhere about the different types of historians. Need your help here Aj.)

This article is an example of the ever changing slant on American History. I tried to read this Virginia Proclamation with an open mind. However, after not seeing one word about slavery mentioned, I could not.

Here is the thing, when I look back and read many of the writings in support of succession, States Rights, it is always tethered to slavery via inherent God given superiority or for economic survival, growth and future prosperity.

I tend to post often. Most of you know my thoughts on various topics. I would like to encourage more of the quiet ones to take a chance and participate here in discussion. Most of the time many of us do not agree and that could be a very stimulating, growth inducing experience for many.

_____________________________________________




McDonnell's Confederate History Month proclamation irks civil rights leaders
By Anita Kumar and Rosalind S. Helderman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, April 7, 2010; A01



RICHMOND -- Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, reviving a controversy that had been dormant for eight years, has declared that April will be Confederate History Month in Virginia, a move that angered civil rights leaders Tuesday but that political observers said would strengthen his position with his conservative base.

The two previous Democratic governors had refused to issue the mostly symbolic proclamation honoring the soldiers who fought for the South in the Civil War. McDonnell (R) revived a practice started by Republican governor George Allen in 1997. McDonnell left out anti-slavery language that Allen's successor, James S. Gilmore III (R), had included in his proclamation.

McDonnell said Tuesday that the move was designed to promote tourism in the state, which next year will mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the war. McDonnell said he did not include a reference to slavery because "there were any number of aspects to that conflict between the states. Obviously, it involved slavery. It involved other issues. But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia."

The proclamation was condemned by the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and the NAACP. Former governor L. Douglas Wilder called it "mind-boggling to say the least" that McDonnell did not reference slavery or Virginia's struggle with civil rights in his proclamation. Though a Democrat, Wilder has been supportive of McDonnell and boosted his election efforts when he declined to endorse the Republican's opponent, R. Creigh Deeds.

"Confederate history is full of many things that unfortunately are not put forth in a proclamation of this kind nor are they things that anyone wants to celebrate," he said. "It's one thing to sound a cause of rallying a base. But it's quite another to distort history."

The seven-paragraph declaration calls for Virginians to "understand the sacrifices of the Confederate leaders, soldiers and citizens during the period of the Civil War."

McDonnell had quietly made the proclamation Friday by placing it on his Web site, but it did not attract attention in the state capital until Tuesday. April also honors child abuse prevention, organ donations, financial literacy and crime victims.

After a fall campaign spent focusing almost exclusively on jobs and the economy, McDonnell had been seen in recent weeks as largely ceding conservative ground to the state's activist attorney general, Ken Cuccinelli II. The proclamation could change that view among Republicans who believe appropriate respect for the state's Confederate past has been erased by an over-allegiance to political correctness, observers said.

"It helps him with his base," said Mark Rozell, a political scientist at George Mason University. "These are people who support state's rights and oppose federal intrusion."

Said Patrick M. McSweeney, a former state GOP chairman: "I applaud McDonnell for doing it. I think it takes a certain amount of courage."

The Virginia NAACP and the state's Legislative Black Caucus called the proclamation an insult to a large segment of the state's population, particularly because it never acknowledges slavery.

"Governor McDonnell's proclamation was offensive and offered a disturbing revision of the Civil War and the brutal era that followed," said Del. Kenneth Cooper Alexander (D-Norfolk), chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. "Virginia has worked hard to move beyond the very things for which Governor McDonnell seems nostalgic."

King Salim Khalfani, executive director of the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP, said his group will hold an emergency meeting Saturday to discuss a series of problems it has had with McDonnell since he was sworn into office in January.

Virginia has had a long, complicated history on racial relations -- long before Richmond served as the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Many of its most prominent early residents, including future presidents, owned slaves, and the state openly fought desegregation, even closing schools instead of integrating them. But in 1989, the state made Wilder the first African American governor in the nation since Reconstruction.

McDonnell said Tuesday that people's thinking about civil rights and the role of the Confederacy in Virginia history have advanced to the point where "people can talk about and discuss and . . . begin to understand the history a little better."

"I felt just as I've issued dozens and dozens of other commemorations, that it was something that was worthy of doing so people can at least study and understand that period of Virginia history and how it impacts us today," he said.

The state's new governor campaigned relentlessly on improving the economy and creating jobs and received the strong backing of the business community. But the attention that Virginia will receive from the proclamation might take away from that focus.

Rozell said the proclamation is a "distraction" from McDonnell's desire to attract companies to Virginia. Businesses might begin to perceive McDonnell's latest decision -- combined with Cuccinelli's decision to sue the federal government over health-care reform legislation and his advice to state colleges and universities that they remove sexual-orientation language from their anti-discrimination policies -- as a pattern of behavior not conducive to relocating in the state.

Allen caused a national uproar when he signed a proclamation drafted by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. It called the Civil War "a four-year struggle for [Southern] independence and sovereign rights" and made no mention of slavery.

Gilmore modified the decree in 1998 by adding a condemnation of slavery, but it failed to satisfy either defenders of Confederate heritage or civil rights leaders. He later changed the proclamation by dropping references to Confederate History Month and instead designated April as "Virginia's Month for Remembrance of the Sacrifices and Honor of All Virginians Who Served in the Civil War."

But in 2002, Mark Warner, Gilmore's successor, broke with their actions, calling such proclamations a "lightning rod" that did not help bridge divisions between whites and blacks in Virginia. Four years later, Timothy M. Kaine was asked but did not issue a proclamation.

This year's proclamation was requested by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. A representative of the group said it has known since it interviewed McDonnell when he was running for attorney general in 2005 that he was likely to respond differently than Warner or Kaine.

"We've known for quite some time we had a good opportunity should he ascend the governorship," said Brandon Dorsey of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr. (R-Augusta), who has spoken from the floor of the General Assembly about honoring Virginia's Confederate past with appropriate acknowledgments to its difficult racial past, said he believed Warner and Kaine "avoided" the issue by failing to issue similar documents.

"It would be totally inappropriate to do one that would just poke a stick to stir up old wounds. But it is appropriate to recognize the historical significance of Virginia in that era," he said. "I think it's appropriate as long as it's not fiery."

McDonnell's proclamation comes just before the April 17, 1861, anniversary of the day Virginia seceded from the union.

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/OurCommonwealth/Proclamations/2010/ConfederateHistoryMonth.cfm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/04/06/ST2010040604979.html?sid=ST2010040604979

[AtLast]

In another thread I said I am beginning to believe that the concept of "States Rights" is now being used as a code word which is rooted in racism. IMO, this is one of the most contentious yet thought provoking times in the history of the USA.

This nation on a daily basis is questioning the status quo. History is being rewritten with a slant that leans toward the agenda, beliefs of the writer. (Those rewriting American History are not "historians" in the strictest sense. Aj wrote something somewhere about the different types of historians. Need your help here Aj.)

This article is an example of the ever changing slant on American History. I tried to read this Virginia Proclamation with an open mind. However, after not seeing one word about slavery mentioned, I could not.

Here is the thing, when I look back and read many of the writings in support of succession, States Rights, it is always tethered to slavery via inherent God given superiority or for economic survival, growth and future prosperity.

I tend to post often. Most of you know my thoughts on various topics. I would like to encourage more of the quiet ones to take a chance and participate here in discussion. Most of the time many of us do not agree and that could be a very stimulating, growth inducing experience for many.

_____________________________________________




McDonnell's Confederate History Month proclamation irks civil rights leaders
By Anita Kumar and Rosalind S. Helderman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, April 7, 2010; A01



RICHMOND -- Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, reviving a controversy that had been dormant for eight years, has declared that April will be Confederate History Month in Virginia, a move that angered civil rights leaders Tuesday but that political observers said would strengthen his position with his conservative base.

The two previous Democratic governors had refused to issue the mostly symbolic proclamation honoring the soldiers who fought for the South in the Civil War. McDonnell (R) revived a practice started by Republican governor George Allen in 1997. McDonnell left out anti-slavery language that Allen's successor, James S. Gilmore III (R), had included in his proclamation.

McDonnell said Tuesday that the move was designed to promote tourism in the state, which next year will mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the war. McDonnell said he did not include a reference to slavery because "there were any number of aspects to that conflict between the states. Obviously, it involved slavery. It involved other issues. But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia."

The proclamation was condemned by the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and the NAACP. Former governor L. Douglas Wilder called it "mind-boggling to say the least" that McDonnell did not reference slavery or Virginia's struggle with civil rights in his proclamation. Though a Democrat, Wilder has been supportive of McDonnell and boosted his election efforts when he declined to endorse the Republican's opponent, R. Creigh Deeds.

"Confederate history is full of many things that unfortunately are not put forth in a proclamation of this kind nor are they things that anyone wants to celebrate," he said. "It's one thing to sound a cause of rallying a base. But it's quite another to distort history."

The seven-paragraph declaration calls for Virginians to "understand the sacrifices of the Confederate leaders, soldiers and citizens during the period of the Civil War."

McDonnell had quietly made the proclamation Friday by placing it on his Web site, but it did not attract attention in the state capital until Tuesday. April also honors child abuse prevention, organ donations, financial literacy and crime victims.

After a fall campaign spent focusing almost exclusively on jobs and the economy, McDonnell had been seen in recent weeks as largely ceding conservative ground to the state's activist attorney general, Ken Cuccinelli II. The proclamation could change that view among Republicans who believe appropriate respect for the state's Confederate past has been erased by an over-allegiance to political correctness, observers said.

"It helps him with his base," said Mark Rozell, a political scientist at George Mason University. "These are people who support state's rights and oppose federal intrusion."

Said Patrick M. McSweeney, a former state GOP chairman: "I applaud McDonnell for doing it. I think it takes a certain amount of courage."

The Virginia NAACP and the state's Legislative Black Caucus called the proclamation an insult to a large segment of the state's population, particularly because it never acknowledges slavery.

"Governor McDonnell's proclamation was offensive and offered a disturbing revision of the Civil War and the brutal era that followed," said Del. Kenneth Cooper Alexander (D-Norfolk), chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. "Virginia has worked hard to move beyond the very things for which Governor McDonnell seems nostalgic."

King Salim Khalfani, executive director of the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP, said his group will hold an emergency meeting Saturday to discuss a series of problems it has had with McDonnell since he was sworn into office in January.

Virginia has had a long, complicated history on racial relations -- long before Richmond served as the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Many of its most prominent early residents, including future presidents, owned slaves, and the state openly fought desegregation, even closing schools instead of integrating them. But in 1989, the state made Wilder the first African American governor in the nation since Reconstruction.

McDonnell said Tuesday that people's thinking about civil rights and the role of the Confederacy in Virginia history have advanced to the point where "people can talk about and discuss and . . . begin to understand the history a little better."

"I felt just as I've issued dozens and dozens of other commemorations, that it was something that was worthy of doing so people can at least study and understand that period of Virginia history and how it impacts us today," he said.

The state's new governor campaigned relentlessly on improving the economy and creating jobs and received the strong backing of the business community. But the attention that Virginia will receive from the proclamation might take away from that focus.

Rozell said the proclamation is a "distraction" from McDonnell's desire to attract companies to Virginia. Businesses might begin to perceive McDonnell's latest decision -- combined with Cuccinelli's decision to sue the federal government over health-care reform legislation and his advice to state colleges and universities that they remove sexual-orientation language from their anti-discrimination policies -- as a pattern of behavior not conducive to relocating in the state.

Allen caused a national uproar when he signed a proclamation drafted by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. It called the Civil War "a four-year struggle for [Southern] independence and sovereign rights" and made no mention of slavery.

Gilmore modified the decree in 1998 by adding a condemnation of slavery, but it failed to satisfy either defenders of Confederate heritage or civil rights leaders. He later changed the proclamation by dropping references to Confederate History Month and instead designated April as "Virginia's Month for Remembrance of the Sacrifices and Honor of All Virginians Who Served in the Civil War."

But in 2002, Mark Warner, Gilmore's successor, broke with their actions, calling such proclamations a "lightning rod" that did not help bridge divisions between whites and blacks in Virginia. Four years later, Timothy M. Kaine was asked but did not issue a proclamation.

This year's proclamation was requested by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. A representative of the group said it has known since it interviewed McDonnell when he was running for attorney general in 2005 that he was likely to respond differently than Warner or Kaine.

"We've known for quite some time we had a good opportunity should he ascend the governorship," said Brandon Dorsey of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr. (R-Augusta), who has spoken from the floor of the General Assembly about honoring Virginia's Confederate past with appropriate acknowledgments to its difficult racial past, said he believed Warner and Kaine "avoided" the issue by failing to issue similar documents.

"It would be totally inappropriate to do one that would just poke a stick to stir up old wounds. But it is appropriate to recognize the historical significance of Virginia in that era," he said. "I think it's appropriate as long as it's not fiery."

McDonnell's proclamation comes just before the April 17, 1861, anniversary of the day Virginia seceded from the union.

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/OurCommonwealth/Proclamations/2010/ConfederateHistoryMonth.cfm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/04/06/ST2010040604979.html?sid=ST2010040604979



What comes up for me here, is that one could take this mind-set to many other areas of the US. California's history concerning Native-American, Mexican-American and Chinese labor/slavery for example is not accurately represented in our educational system. The CA Missions history for example, leaves out the fact that there are thousands of these slaves buried in mass graves at several CA Missions that were, in effect slaughtered! One can find traces of this very thing around the John Bidwell background in northern CA, if one wants to find it. That's the problem.... shedding the denial and demanding history be taught with the inclusion of what brings us shame as well as pride. To me, this is at the core of why we are unable to actually de-construct structural racism in the US.

This article makes me angry at many levels. However, I find the belief that slavery is only part of the south (and that black slavery is the only form of slavery we participated in) and that its economic underpinnings only favored the south to be one of the most damaging lies in our history.

Guess I feel that the south is not the only region in the US that needs to clean up its historical forgetfulness.

Black slavery would have permeated this country with its ugliness and economic justifications if the ships landed off the coasts of the Pacific Ocean with some other types of cash crops or New World riches as Old World colonization and the ensuing perpetuation of manifest destiny, I believe.

I am in no way trying to detract from the spirit and intent of this article, I just think we have to take a much broader look at ourselves.

[dark_crystal]

i am not 100% sure this is the right thread for this- but it was the closest i could find and i didn't weant to start a whole new one

plus how can you derail a thread that has been inactive for months and months?

i just have a question, but it does have political implications-

my boss suggested this morning that i offer a computer class specifically geared and marketed toward homeschoolers

i KNOW a lot of homeschoolers are nice non-scary people, but in our service area it is 99% new-earth creationists who can only be assumed to be virulaently anti-agy (i know that is a gross generalization but pretty safe around here, srsly)

i said that i would rather not and suggested that the Children's librarian might be better suited. The reason i gave was "homophobic religious fundamentalists give me the heebie-jeebies" (i am out at work)

now i am worried that my refusal might reflect badly on me professionally.

what do ya'll think?

[katsarecool]

I applaud your bravery!!! Your boss should be proud of standing up for your beliefs. I hope it goes well!

[Linus]

i am not 100% sure this is the right thread for this- but it was the closest i could find and i didn't weant to start a whole new one

plus how can you derail a thread that has been inactive for months and months?

i just have a question, but it does have political implications-

my boss suggested this morning that i offer a computer class specifically geared and marketed toward homeschoolers

i KNOW a lot of homeschoolers are nice non-scary people, but in our service area it is 99% new-earth creationists who can only be assumed to be virulaently anti-agy (i know that is a gross generalization but pretty safe around here, srsly)

i said that i would rather not and suggested that the Children's librarian might be better suited. The reason i gave was "homophobic religious fundamentalists give me the heebie-jeebies" (i am out at work)

now i am worried that my refusal might reflect badly on me professionally.

what do ya'll think?

I think it's important to stand up to your beliefs. Unless your boss can ensure a safe and welcoming work environment for you and the clients, then it's important that they understand that this might not be a safe work environment for you.

And if I may redirect a little bit.. The homeschooling thought, however, does dove-tail nicely into this thread because I've begun to wonder, based on comments by various politicians **coughOdonellcough** if the "intelligence" level we are seeing is the result of home schooling. I mean, it boggles the mind that the basic concept -- derived from the 1st Amendment -- isn't known as part of American history. In fact, many seem to want to rewrite history and ignore huge swaths of it. Given the number of these kinds of candidates that are running what does it mean for the American gov't?

[Jess]

i am not 100% sure this is the right thread for this- but it was the closest i could find and i didn't weant to start a whole new one

plus how can you derail a thread that has been inactive for months and months?

i just have a question, but it does have political implications-

my boss suggested this morning that i offer a computer class specifically geared and marketed toward homeschoolers

i KNOW a lot of homeschoolers are nice non-scary people, but in our service area it is 99% new-earth creationists who can only be assumed to be virulaently anti-agy (i know that is a gross generalization but pretty safe around here, srsly)

i said that i would rather not and suggested that the Children's librarian might be better suited. The reason i gave was "homophobic religious fundamentalists give me the heebie-jeebies" (i am out at work)

now i am worried that my refusal might reflect badly on me professionally.

what do ya'll think?


I too applaud you for standing up for your personal/political beliefs.

Unfortunately, we are a society in which our "personal" IS our "political". We see it everywhere we turn, especially with mid-term elections less than a week away.

I hope your employer recalls why they hired you. Your resume and the skill set you bring to the table. Too often office politics are the same as our government. The resume doesn't count and folks vote from their personal likes/dislikes, agreements/ disagreeing point of views and half of it is based on nothing more than their own personal needs/wants/biases and not for the greater good. The scathing tv ads coming from both parties is more than proof enough.

. I truly hope you don't suffer any backlash from this, and maybe, just maybe your position as a direct straightforward employee with personal integrity will be the focus.

[Jess]

I think it's important to stand up to your beliefs. Unless your boss can ensure a safe and welcoming work environment for you and the clients, then it's important that they understand that this might not be a safe work environment for you.

And if I may redirect a little bit.. The homeschooling thought, however, does dove-tail nicely into this thread because I've begun to wonder, based on comments by various politicians **coughOdonellcough** if the "intelligence" level we are seeing is the result of home schooling. I mean, it boggles the mind that the basic concept -- derived from the 1st Amendment -- isn't known as part of American history. In fact, many seem to want to rewrite history and ignore huge swaths of it. Given the number of these kinds of candidates that are running what does it mean for the American gov't?


OK, that freaked me out enough I had to wiki her ( O'Donell's) bio. LOL! She attended a mainstream high school, so we can't blame it on that.

However, interesting bit.. her dad was a part time substitute for Bozo The Clown! Now, don't get me wrong, as a kid, I loved some Bozo, however, I'm not sure I would want him helping me learn to vote. LOL!

[Linus]

OK, that freaked me out enough I had to wiki her ( O'Donell's) bio. LOL! She attended a mainstream high school, so we can't blame it on that.

However, interesting bit.. her dad was a part time substitute for Bozo The Clown! Now, don't get me wrong, as a kid, I loved some Bozo, however, I'm not sure I would want him helping me learn to vote. LOL!

Then either her teachers missed some stuff or she was distracted (it was the 80s so all that hair spray and shoulder pads might have done it -- and I say this as someone who was in HS at that time). Either way, I was rather shocked that even I knew that.. and I'm NOT American.

[dark_crystal]

I applaud your bravery!!! Your boss should be proud of standing up for your beliefs. I hope it goes well!

I think it's important to stand up to your beliefs. Unless your boss can ensure a safe and welcoming work environment for you and the clients, then it's important that they understand that this might not be a safe work environment for you.

I too applaud you for standing up for your personal/political beliefs....I truly hope you don't suffer any backlash from this, and maybe, just maybe your position as a direct straightforward employee with personal integrity will be the focus.

thanks ya'll....i am pretty sure it will be fine. The American Library Association was the first professional association to support GLBT rights, and the leadership at this library is very liberal, and my boss said she totally "got" why i was uncomfortable...my only concern is that if the children's librarian is asked to do it, and it comes out that i refused and why- THAT might offend the Children's director, cuz she's a Bible-thumper

But Linus mentioning the term "safe work environment" reminds me that i can use it lol- and if i don't feel safe and i say so, that will be enough

thanks again ya'll