Month: April 2024

Republican Fuckery XXXXIIII: The Ridiculous Presidential Immunity Case and Kristi Noem Coldly Killed Her Pets

For nearly more than 200 years, the political and legislative safeguards that our Founding Fathers put into place have kept our democracy on course. Do I trust that these barriers will continue to hold for the next 200 years? No.

Last week, the question of whether or not POTUS has complete immunity was put before SCOTUS. The former guy thinks that the President should be above the law. The questions that I think hit home (asked by the three liberal female justices, FYI) are the following:

“If the president decides that his rival is a corrupt person and he orders the military to assassinate him, is that within his official acts to which he has immunity?”

“How about if the president orders the military to stage a coup?”

“I’m trying to understand what the disincentive is from turning the Oval Office into the seat of criminal activity in this country,” Jackson said. “If the potential for criminal liability is taken off the table, wouldn’t there be a significant risk future presidents would be emboldened to commit crimes in office?”

Obviously, whoever is in this position has certain advantages while in office due to their responsibilities. But at the end of the day, they are still an ordinary citizen and subject to the same laws as the average person on the street.

On a similar note, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem stated in a forthcoming book that she killed her dog and a goat while on family property. She claims that the dog was misbehaving and a danger to be around.

There are so many organizations that could have taken both animals until they could have been rehomed. There was no reason to kill them. But then again, why should I expect anything less from these people?

At this point, I firmly believe that if we are to survive as a nation, we must put country over party.

P.S. Did you see Biden’s speech at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend? A political leader who can laugh at themselves while presenting policy to improve the nation is one that I can get behind.

Jewish Students are Being Barred From Campus Due to Their Faith

A college degree is both a necessity and a privilege. Without that diploma, the doors to certain careers will likely never open. However, not everyone has the income to send themselves or their child to a university.

Eli Tsives is a young man attending UCLA. Instead of attending class as he would on any normal day, he was prevented from walking across from campus. Why? Because of the star of David hanging from his neck. This is, unfortunately, nothing new.

This is more than protest and disagreement with the choices of a particular government. This is antisemitism.

The history of my people is thousands of years old. We don’t forget those who persecute us. We will remember.

Any Holiday That I Can Spend With Family is My Favorite

Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?
View all responses

As I get older (and my parents age before my eyes), I have more than ever begun to appreciate the value of family. Any holiday that I can spend with the people I love and who love me is, therefore, my favorite holiday.

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I Hope That I am Not the Only One Who is Disturbed by the Encampment at Columbia University

For decades, the college environment has been used by ideologically motivated young people to fight for what they believe in. As individuals, we have the right to speak our minds and freely assemble. But there is a stark difference between protest and agitating for the persecution/destruction of a particular people.

Over the past week or so, students and some Professors at Columbia University in New York City have been camped out in favor of the Palestinian side of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The school’s President,  Minouche Shafik, requested that the NYPD remove the protestors and destroy the encampment. It was temporarily removed before returning. There have been calls on both sides of the issue for her to resign.

The problem is that antisemitism unfortunately still rules the day. At Yale University, a student was stabbed in the eye merely for being Jewish.

It could all end tomorrow. Hamas only needs to release all of the hostages and stop firing rockets into Israel. But I am not holding my breath.

The person mentioned in the tweets above has since apologized for calling for the murder of Jews. But it still does not make up for his comments. And yes, I said Jews, because Zionism=Judaism (regardless of one’s beliefs or religious practices) to those who would happily see us dead. I would also point out that he should try being openly gay in Gaza.

I am going to end this post to once again point out the hypocrisy of it all.

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Mike Johnson Grew a Backbone and Approved Aid for Ukraine

Part of being a politician is making hard decisions. Many will disagree with the choice that has been made. But at the end of the day, it has to be done.

About ten days ago, House Speaker Mike Johnson grew a backbone and approved aid for Ukraine. He went against 112 members of his party who voted against the bill.

The fact that Johnson recognized that supporting Ukraine and the importance of supporting democracy shows that he has a backbone. I can’t say the same for his predecessor.

The question is, how long will he last as Speaker? If there is a vote to push him out, will the Democrats stand by him?

Obviously, these questions don’t have an answer at this moment. But seeing that Johnson actually put country before party gives me some hope. Perhaps our nation will survive after all.

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Why the Fuck was Weinstein’s Conviction Overturned?

One of the great strides that has been made in the last few years is the recognition that both rape and sexual assault are a crime. Those who are found guilty must pay the pennant.

Last week, Harvey Weinstein‘s 2020 conviction was overturned. The court ruled in Weinstein’s favor due to the female witnesses that were not included in the case.

What message does it send about sexual crimes? A legal technicality can undo the crime in the eyes of the law? That a rapist who was previously found guilty can get off scot-free?

I don’t have a crystal ball and have never had one. But I can predict that victims will remain silent. Those who commit these crimes will have a way out that could be used in future legal cases.

Happy Monday.

The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church Book Review

Religion is both personal and communal. The rituals that we follow mark the passage of time and speak to the values of that particular faith.

NPR Journalist Sarah McCammon grew up in the Evangelical Church. Her story is told in the new memoir, The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church. The book was published in March.

From an early age, McCammon knew the rules well and followed them to the letter. She learned early on to not ask questions. But there were too many that she could not ignore. Specifically about the gay grandfather that she adored.

By the time McCammon reached her 30s, she was tasked with following the Presidential campaign of the former guy. Seeing how political her fellow practitioners were becoming, she became concerned.

Included in the book are interviews with fellow Evangelicals of a similar generation, who like the author, stepped away from the fold.

I found the tale to be revealing and insightful. It takes guts to step away from the environment you knew as a child and follow your own path. It also reveals the scary political power that this movement could have, if the next election goes a certain way.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church is available wherever books are sold.

Anyone But You Movie Review

Misunderstandings are the core of many romantic comedy narratives. That being said, it takes more than missed communication to make a specific story work.

Anyone But You was released in theaters last year. A reboot of William Shakespeare‘s Much Ado About Nothing, Bea (Sydney Sweeney, who also functioned as a producer) and Ben (Glen Powell) had a one-night stand after meeting in a coffee shop. It started out well but ended up as a dumpster fire.

Months later, they are forced to endure another’s company. The animosity between Ben and Bea is obvious. Her sister Halle (Hadley Robinson) is marrying his friend Claudia (Alexandra Shipp) in Australia. Included in the wedding party are both of their exes and her parents. Ben wants to make his former girlfriend jealous. Bea wants to get her prior fiance and parents off her back. They agree to pretend to be a couple. As expected the pretense does not last long.

If there was a film to reboot the genre, this is it. Powell and Sweeney have amazing chemistry. It’s not a line-by-line remake of the original text, but there is enough of the play to keep any fan of the Bard engaged with the tale.

The screenplay also includes the female gaze, giving the women on screen the opportunity to be more than just the standard love interest or best friend. Without giving it away, the male physique that we see is long overdue.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

Anyone But You is available for streaming on Netflix.