Republican Fuckery XXI: MTG’s Former Drag Queen Boyfriend, the Debt Ceiling, and Target Forced to Remove Pride Month Clothing

If you were to look up the definition of hypocrisy in the dictionary these days, you would likely see the Republicans and the chaos they have created.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Marjorie Taylor Greene‘s new boyfriend is a former drag queen. It has also been said that her marriage is on the rocks. I don’t give a shit who she goes home to. What I do care about is that as usual, it is do as I say, but not as I do.

Meanwhile, as we get closer to June 1st, the debt ceiling has yet to be resolved. The problem is that while Nero (the right) is fiddling, the country and the world are on the brink of burning. Given the current worldwide political turmoil, the last thing we need is a repeat of The Great Depression. We all know where that led to.

Whatever the final deal is, it should not be upon the backs of the less financially fortunate. The 1% does not need another megayacht or a penthouse in a foreign city that they only visit twice a year. What they need to do is pay their fair share in taxes.

What many on the other side of the aisle like to forget is that under the former guy, our national deficit rose dramatically. Moreover, in recent history, Democratic Presidents have paid the bills while Republican Presidents added to the bills.

Speaking of June 1st, Pride Month starts next week. Seeing an opportunity to expand their customer base, many large retailers are selling clothing and other items. But due to the hateful reactions of some consumers, Target has removed some of its merchandise from the sales floor. If these people don’t like what Target (or any other store) is selling, they have the right to shop elsewhere. What they don’t have the right to do is destroy private property and threaten staff.

Just another day in America.

P.S. Today is the anniversary of the mass shooting at Uvalde. I wish that we didn’t have to commemorate this day, but we have to.

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The NAACP’s Warning About Florida Should Not Be Ignored

When someone shows us their true colors (especially in politics), we had best believe them.

On Saturday, the NAACP issued a travel warning for Black Americans going to Florida due to the “freedom” legislation put into place by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Republicans.

The warning is as follows:

“Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.” 

“Let me be clear – failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all,” said NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson. “Under the leadership of Governor Desantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon. He should know that democracy will prevail because its defenders are prepared to stand up and fight. We’re not backing down, and we encourage our allies to join us in the battle for the soul of our nation.”

This man wants to be President in 2024. We have two choices at this point. We can either be silent and watch everything we have fought for nearly 300 years slip away. Or we can tell this man and those who think like him where they can go.

The Feds Need to Step In and Help With the Migrant Crisis

America is a nation of immigrants. Even the earliest European settlers to this land can be seen in hindsight as immigrants.

Last week, after thousands of migrants overpowered the already overcrowded migrant welcome centers in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams started sending busses of single men to hotels in northern counties.

Predictably, the leadership in these counties were not pleased with the new arrivals that have forced upon them by city leaders.

Obviously, the big-picture solution would come via Congress and an overhaul of our immigration system. But until that happens, President Biden and the federal government have to step in. I don’t know if it is via funding, or finding where these people can work, or something else. Either way, leaving it for the states or local municipalities to handle is making the problem worse.

Things That Make Me Angry: The Anniversary of the Buffalo Shooting and Nakba Day

Hate should have no place in this world. It turns us against one another and forces unnecessary destruction of property and life.

This past Sunday was the first anniversary of the shooting in Buffalo. It is a remembrance that no one wanted or needed. But because we allow racism to persist and refuse to enact reasonable gun control laws, 10 people lost their lives.

Earlier this week, the 75th anniversary Nakba Day was “commemorated” by the United Nations and pushed in the halls of Congress by Rashida Tlaib.

Instead of getting on my soapbox, I’m going to let the experts do the talking.

A question for NAKBA (catastrophe) promoters: Why don’t you ever talk about the 165,000 Palestinian Arabs who chose not to flee in 1948, but rather, to remain in #Israel-becoming full citizens? Learn more: https://t.co/S3OBJ7HsEq

— Roz Rothstein (@RozRothstein) May 18, 2023

At the end of the day, the only way to end racism and prejudice is to face the truth and see one another as human beings. Until then, we will continue to destroy one another over superficialities.

I Stand With the WGA Writer’s Strike

Nathaniel Hawthorne said the following about writing:

Easy reading is damn hard writing.

Find me a well-polished fictional narrative (in any format) and I will introduce you to the writer(s) who have spent months, if not years on their work.

Since May 2nd, the WGA (representing content creators on both the East and West coasts ) has been on strike. The reason for striking is basically due to the shrinking salaries and lack of residuals while the execs bring home the bacon. There is also a question of whether or not AI/ChatGPT will be brought into the writer’s room instead of a human being.

I stand with @WGAWest and @WGAEast and fully support them in their strike.

"If it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stage."#WGAStrong

— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) May 2, 2023

The larger problem is that until there is an agreement between the union and the higher-ups, nothing gets done and no one gets paid. Everyone who is involved in the process of creating what we hear and see on the screen and on our favorite podcasts is affected.

The fact is that those at the top of the food chain need to respect their writers. If they don’t, then there is no Hollywood.

P.S. This weekend’s episode of the New Yorker Radio Hour has a great explainer on the strike.

Justice Served: E. Jean Carroll’s Victory & George Santos Hauled Into Court

There is justice in this world. It does not always come when we want it to, but it will happen.

Earlier this week, the jury in the E. Jean Carroll case found the former guy guilty of sexual assault and defamation. He will have to pay her $5 million dollars in damages. Of course, he turned around and appealed. But what do you expect from a coward who hides behind a big ego and less-than-capable lawyers?

Yesterday, George Santos plead not guilty to accusations of money laundering, fraud, and lying on his paperwork to the House of Representatives. As usual, he proclaimed his innocence. Included in the long list of allegations is that he received unemployment benefits during the pandemic while earning a health six-figure salary.

This is the one that really pisses me off. While many were struggling to get by, he took money that should have gone to someone who truly needed it.

Given the severity of the counts, I would hope that Kevin McCarthy will kick his ass to the curb. But I know better.

Justice is always a dish served cold.

P.S. I hope no one watched the CNN Town Hall with he who shall not be named. The genius who came up with this idea is as foolish as the exec who greenlighted the 60 Minutes interview with Marjorie Taylor Greene.

I Wish There Was an Easy Answer For the Jordan Neely Case

When you travel using the NYC MTA system, you never know what you will experience. It could be uneventful ride or it could be a major news headline.

Last week, Jordan Neely was killed in an incident on the subway. The actions that led to his death are unclear. One set of facts claims that he was killed via choking (a la Eric Garner) simply due to his skin color and that he was homeless. The other set of facts states that Mr. Neely was acting erratically and scaring (for lack of a better term), the passengers. The man accused of his murder, Daniel Penny, was trying to hold him down until the police came.

The problem is that there were no cameras on the platform that could have verified the facts.

The only thing that the public, law enforcement, and the city can go by is the testimony of eyewitnesses and the footage on their phones. Which we can easily point to general issues that created this shitstorm, there is no easy answer to why Jordan Neely is dead.

RIP.

The Right Has Blood on Their Hands: 8 People Killed in Texas Mall Massacre Yesterday

Going to the mall on a lazy Saturday afternoon is a perfectly acceptable way to get out of the house for a few hours. Whether it is to meet with friends and get a bite to eat or to do some shopping, there is nothing out of the ordinary about it. There is also nothing out of the ordinary for innocent lives to be taken in a mass shooting.

Yesterday, at least 8 people were killed by a gunman at a mall in Texas.

Some mother today got the news we got a DECADE ago. Your daughter was shot in the face with an AR 15. THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF HER FACE!!!!
This is their nightmare…their trauma…their last memory of their baby.
THIS IS AMERICA.

— Sandy Phillips (@MamaRedfield) May 7, 2023

The Republicans have blood on their hands. While they make excuses and kiss the asses of their NRA backers, Americans continue to die for no reason.

🚨 WARNING: SENSITIVE CONTENT

I thought long and hard about whether to share the horrific video showing the pile of bodies from the mass shooting at the outlet mall in Allen,Texas.

Seeing a video of slaughtered innocents — including a child — is truly horrifying.

But maybe —… pic.twitter.com/I0s2y1vh9W

— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) May 7, 2023

How much is enough? How many more will die before something is done? When will our lives be worth more than the deep-pocketed donors?

You Know Who is Too Cowardly to Attend His Trial Against E. Jean Carroll

One of the rights of American citizens is to defend themselves in a court of law. Whether or not one chooses to do so is up to the individual.

For the last week or so, the former guy’s lawyers have been in court, defending their client’s claim that E. Jean Carroll defamed him via allegations of rape. Instead of attending in person, he chose to travel overseas due to “business”. The only testimony that was available to the jury was a video deposition that had been previously recorded.

On Thursday afternoon, both the defense and prosecution finished with their respective sides of the story. The final piece of the puzzle is the accuser himself. In response to this absence, the Judge gave him a definitive deadline of tomorrow at 5PM EST to confirm if he will take the stand. Closing arguments are scheduled for Monday morning.

This man is a coward and a bully. Like all bullies, he talks a good game. But when it comes time to face the music, he finds a “convenient” reason to not be in the courtroom. This tells me that he knew what he was doing when he forced himself on Caroll and he knew that his insinuation is based solely on his ego.

I am not an expert, nor can I tell the future. But I have a good feeling that the jury will be handing Carroll a victory next week.

Republican Fuckery XX: MTG Says That Stepparents are Not Parents & 2024 Presidential Election Nominee Vivek Ramaswamy Talks a Good Game

No one expects our politicians to be paragons of perfection. We are all human and therefore, imperfect. However, what I would hope is that we expect those in the halls of power to do what is right for the country and its citizens.

About two weeks ago, Marjorie Taylor Greene was asking questions grilling AFT (American Federation of Teachers) Union President Randi Weingarten about her “political activism”. Greene also stated Weingarten is not a mother because she is “a mother by marriage”.

Basically, what she is saying is that the only adult who can parent is one who has similar DNA. A child cannot be raised by the spouse of their parent or by one who had adopted a member of the younger generation. This is interesting, considering that the right often touts the preference for adoption over abortion. It is also curious that Greene makes this declaration after Weingarten stated that her wife was in the audience.

Last weekend, 2024 Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was a guest on Meet the Press. Like Nikki Haley, he talked a good game. But underneath was the same old bullshit.

We have to get them out of office. There is no other option if we are to save this nation.