Sunday, June 30, 2013

People are still letting Louie Gohmert say things in public.

Usually, when Louie Gohmert speaks, all I hear is "tell me again about the rabbits, George." But when you see his comments in print, hoo boy, this guy . . . I mean, how has no one from the Republican leadership taken him aside and said "Louie, baby, sweetheart, we luv ya, you know that. We like the way you vote as if you had just awoken from a 150-year coma, we get it. But seriously, you need to stop saying things where other people can hear them. Just stop saying things, any things. You're making us all look bad."


 
 My cat's name is Mittens!

Exhibit A: A few days ago, Gohmert went on the radio to make the case that kids don't need sex education because they'll figure it out on their own eventually, an idea that was almost immediately undercut by a grown woman from Gohmert's home state claiming that rape kits prevent pregnancies. (remember?)


Here's a bit of what he had to say:
Let the kids be innocent.  Let them dream. Let them play. Let them enjoy their life. You don't have to force this sexuality stuff into their life at such a point. It was never intended to be that way. They'll find out soon enough

Yes, they'll find out about the birds and the bees the way people have been finding out for generations, when the doctor says "congratulations, it's a boy!"


 
Hey, how did that get in there?
 
They'll find out soon enough.  And, in fact, ... mankind has existed for a pretty long time without anyone ever having to give a sex-ed lesson to anybody.
 
And without any outside help at all, the human race has managed to develop syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, and teenage pregnancy! So I've got tot think we've pretty much got this whole sex thing down pat!
 
 
 
 
And there is a natural law that parents should be involved in education, they should know about, they should be part of the training - that's a law of nature; 

 
Yeah, Newton's laws of thermodynamics are laws of nature. Parents being involved in education is just, what, a custom? Tradition? A bad idea that doesn't work? (At least when it comes to sex-ed, parents have proven themselves woefully  unqualified)
 
 
. . . that's a law of nature; Alan Keyes was just talking about it this weekend when we were together
.  
Alan Keyes the lunatic? Or Alan Keyes the self-righteous asshole? Oh, wait, they're the same guy! Would this be the same Alan Keyes who disowned his daughter? Because that's definitely the guy you want parenting advice from!
 
 
 
Yeah, that's a guy who knows what he's talking about!
 
Oh, but wait. It gets nuttier!
 
And it reminds me so much of the summer that I was an exchange student in the Soviet Union back in the Seventies and I was shocked when they were saying 'no, the children don't belong to parents, they belong to the state.' And if any parent said anything in front of their children negative about the wonderful Soviet Union, then we will take their children away and give them to somebody more deserving.  And I just thought how horribly shocking that was, that of course parents were the ones who love the children, not the state. And I thought thank God that we don't have that in our country.

 
Okay, that was actually pretty sane. The Soviet Union was terrible, good thing the US isn't like that, fine, no problem. Except that somehow, the idea that kids should get sex-ed reminds you of Soviet totalitarianism?  How's that?
 
 
And now I’ve seen this coming with a lady from MSNBC saying “hey, children belong to the state” … and it just sent chills because it took me back to the Seventies when that’s what the Soviet Union used to say and we know how well that worked out.


 
Apparently, this is in reference to Melissa-Harris Perry who said this, in an MSNBC promo:
 
"we have to break through our kind of private idea that kids belong to their parents or kids belong to their families and recognize that kids belong to whole communities.
"We have never invested as much in public education as we should have because we've always had a private notion of children; your kid is yours and totally your responsibility. We haven't had a very collective notion of these are our children," Harris-Perry opined.


So, saying that the community has an obligation to educate the children of that community, that's apparently the same thing as saying children are the property of the state? I would think that he's purposely twisting her words there, but I'm pretty sure he's actually nutty enough to believe what he's saying.
 
 
Give me all your babies!
 
 
Exhibit B: Gohmert opines on the Supreme Court's  DOMA decision
 
“For them — I don’t know what kind of cloistered walls this court has been behind,” he opined. “They were not aware that the most wise man in history, Solomon, said there’s nothing new under the sun. And this isn’t new, and it’s been tried over and over. And it’s usually tried at the end of a great civilization.”
 
Okay, couple of notes, here Lou. Um first off, if Solomon was the wisest man in history, and he had like 700 wives and a few hundred "concubines," then I think the point you're making here is that the wisest man in history completely eschewed "traditional marriage." Unless you're saying that "traditional marriage" encompasses the thousand-woman harem, then maybe don't cite Solomon in your "traditional marriage" argument?
 
Second thing, has this really been tried "over and over?" Really? Because we've kind of been pushing the idea that marriage has always been a boy-girl thing and saying that every civilization throughout history has always practiced "opposite marriage," so if you're going to contradict our conservative bullshit narrative with your own bullshit narrative, we're going to need some historical citations.
 
And third thing, you're saying that these civilizations are already at their end when same-sex marriage has been tried. See, we're really pushing the idea that it's the trying of same-sex marriage that would cause great civilizations to collapse, not the other way around.
 
So maybe you could toss some sort of irrelevant historical gibberish onto your argument that would be so nonsensical that people will forget the other nonsense you just spewed? You know, the Bachmann technique?
 
“I would remind you of the document that allowed the United States to claim its independence and be free as recognized by England, the Treaty of Paris (1783),” the Texas Republican continued. “And if you look at that document, you will see big, bold letters at the top. Because put yourself in the place of the Americans. What would you make Britain swear under that they would be so afraid to go back on their word?”
“Well, what our founders came up with were these words: ‘In the Name of the most Holy & undivided Trinity.’ That’s why it started that way, and they did not believe that even the adversaries in war would the nerve to go against that.”
 
 
Perfect! Thanks, Louie baby!
 
Now never speak in public again!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Catching up

Posting has been a bit spotty lately because SOMEONE has been hogging the computer. Apparently SOMEONE thinks her job search is more important than my blog hobby! Whatever!


So now's my chance to catch up with some recent events.


1. Right-Wing justices explain their Voting Rights Act decision:

 
I believe in original intent, and clearly the founding fathers never intended
 to allow minorities to vote!
 
 
 
 
Hey, the US Chamber of Commerce says "overturn," I overturn! It's not up to me!
 
 
 
Hey, I get to vote, so I don't really see what the problem is.
 
 
Oh, and SCOTUS also ruled that the government can't tell you who you can or can't marry, much to the delight of Libertarians everywhere.
 
Haha, just kidding, Libertarians are complete hypocrites:

Rand Paul Channels Santorum On Gay Marriage: 'Does It Have To Be Humans?'

 
And in Non-SCOTUS news:

Man Chalks Pro-Health Care Message On Sidewalk, Gets Arrested For Writing ‘Derogatory Remark’

Rick Santorum now running Christian movie studio



Monday, June 24, 2013

Today's WTF Moments




1.

Zimmerman's Defense Attorney Tells Knock-Knock Joke During Opening Statements, Gets No Laughs From Jury

 
 
Ladies and germs of the jury. . .is this thing on?

 
 
 
 
 
"Sometimes, you have to laugh to keep from crying," West said. "So let me, at considerable risk, let me say: I'd like to tell you a little joke."
West told the courtroom: " I think you're the perfect audience for it, as long as if you don't like it … you don't hold it against Mr. Zimmerman."
" Here's how it goes: knock, knock. Who's there? George Zimmerman. George Zimmerman who? All right, good, you're on the jury."
The joke didn't elicit any laughs. West asked: "Nothing? That's funny."


Seriously? You're presenting a defense in a murder case and you think  "this material's awfully dry, better open with a joke?"
And it's not like the joke made some point about the case. It's not like the joke was "knock knock - who's there? - Well, if you don't know who's there, that's reasonable doubt!" Are you, like the rest of us, so disgusted by Mr. Zimmerman that you're trying to throw the case? WTF?


2.

New Jersey flags flying at half-staff today for James Gandolfini
By | The Sideshow – 7 hrs ago

'Ay, oh, not fa nuhthin' there, Jersey, but whaddafuck is up with the fuckin' flags, uh?
Seriously, you're flying flags at half mast for James Gandolfini? For what? For his part in cementing New Jersey's reputation as a cesspool of corruption and violence?

 

Jeezus, New jersey, the guy was an actor. An Actor! What are you going to do when someone important from New Jersey dies, like Springsteen? Drape the entire state in black velvet? Actually, that would probably be a good idea anyway!

 
 
 
 
Hey, you know why James Gandolfini was in Rome? To find someone who speaks English correctly!
 



Seriously, though, James Gandolfini was a terrific actor and probably a nice guy and he should rest in peace, but flags at half-staff? WTF, New Jersey?


3.

 Sponsor of New Texas Anti-Abortion Bill Thinks Rape Kits Are Contraceptives
By Alexander Abad-Santos | The Atlantic Wire – 6 hrs ago


Laubenberg then explained that there was no need for such an amendment, because Laubenberg erroneously believes that rape kits eliminate the possibility of conception through rape and incest. Laubenberg said:
In the emergency room they have what’s called rape kits where a woman can get cleaned out ...
Okay, first of all, ewwwww. . . . "cleaned out?" What the fuck do you think a rape kit is? For fuck's sake, at least watch an episode of Law & Order before making laws regarding rape and babies.

Secondly, while it may not surprise you to learn that Launberg is a Republican, it surprised me to learn that she is a woman.

Rep. Jodie Laubenberg (© Harry Cabluck/AP)

 (Technically)


 So, how's theat whole "re-branding" thing workin' out for ya, Republicans? Seems like having women take the point on discussions of reproductive health is goin' gangbusters!

Seriously, Texas Republicans, WTF?

LILIGERS!






Oh my God. Liligers!




Liligers with mommies!


 


Liligers with regular kitties!







LILIGERS!!!!


The first "liligers," the offspring of a lion and "liger" have been born.

Liligers!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Rick Perry is Shockingly Stupid

  
 
 Gov Rick Perry, shown here giving the two-fingered ignorant douche salute, has issued a renewed declaration of a state of emergency for Texas.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry extends drought emergency in most of state


By CNN Staff
 
-- Texas Gov. Rick Perry has renewed a drought emergency in more than 200 counties throughout the state, authorizing "all necessary measures" be implemented to aid response efforts.
"Prolonged dry conditions continue to increase the threat of wildfire across many portions of the state," the governor's proclamation said this week.
 "These drought conditions have reached historic levels and continue to pose an imminent threat to public health, property and the economy."
 
 
 
Low rainfall and record high temperatures have reduced water supplies and aquifer levels, threatening many parts of the state, the proclamation said.
 
(emphases added)
 
 
So, one might be tempted to think that this constitutes an admission on the governor's part that yes, indeed, climate science is real, the global climate is indeed continuing to heat up. But no. No, Perry doesn't see the inherent contradiction between his proclamation that his state is experiencing "record high temperatures" and drought conditions of "historic levels" and his bedrock belief that climate science is “all one contrived phony mess that is falling apart under its own weight” and that "we have been experiencing a cooling trend, that the complexities of the global atmosphere have often eluded the most sophisticated scientists. . ." (source)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
He really doesn't see it.

The fact that Texas has been in a drought-and-heat-related state of emergency since July of 2011 has no bearing on his apparently faith-based belief that global warming can't be real because Al Gore believes it and fuck that guy! 
 
 
 
 
Oh, but don't worry, he's got a plan for dealing with the worst drought since the dust bowl:
 
 
 
Which, by the way, is his answer for pretty much every problem that elected officials ought to be dealing with:
 
 
Because when you really think about it, if everybody can just pray to the Almighty to fix everything, why do they even need Perry?
 
 
If I may paraphrase Louie DePalma, I wish Rick Perry was a little bit smarter just so that he could realize how stupid he is.