RNC Heave Ho

I haven't been moved to make a blog entry in quite some time, obviously. Since my last post in 2014, both my parents passed away and I've also made a major move to a new home.

But after the conclusion of tonight's Republican National Convention, I was forced to express my opinion. How could I not after such a ridiculous debacle?

Every presidential election cycle, I listen to and/or watch both the Democrat and Republican conventions. I want to hear both sides. However, this year's RNC can be summed headlined in one sentence: "2016 Gag-Almighty Puke-Fest."

Trump is the biggest phony I've ever had to endure listening to, and his audience is comprised of what can only be described for the most part as rabid dogs who, while claiming to be Christians, chanted "lock her up" when Hillary Clinton was referenced even though she has never been convicted of any crimes. The alleged "crimes" have been perpetuated by right wing nuts for so long that their body-snatcher followers actually believe their merits despite the failure of multiple congressional inquiries - and millions of taxpayer dollars - to prove otherwise.

The time between now and the November election is going to seem like an eternity.

Right-Wing Diatribe

This is so utterly tiresome…

Does the right-wing think if they repeat the word BENGHAZI often enough it will in itself create a scandal? Come on, already!

• Embassy Staff Undercut Whistleblower Testimony on Benghazi

Where was GOP outrage when Bush lied in order to engage the war in Iraq, where more than 4,000 Americans were killed? Another sticky point they have conveniently forgotten is their partisan blockage of increasing funds for security in American embassies.

While right-wing "action" in Congress is pathetic yet typically hypocritical, their obvious attempts to point scandal in Hillary Clinton's direction merely shows their deep fear she will wipe the floor with them if she decides to run for president in 2016.

In essence, the GOP has no credible alternatives. Chris Christie might have a chance in 2016, but not if he's pitted against Hillary Clinton.

Warped Huckster

The selection of decent talk radio programs in my area is decidedly right-wing, which is an immediate turnoff. The only show near to being rational and objective is – believe it or not – Geraldo Rivera's weekday broadcasts.

However, the other day I happened to be stuck in a drive-through line at a convenience store. I turned on the radio and began listening to former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee's rather repulsive jabber. He was going on about homeless people receiving cell phones subsidized by the government (aka "Obama phones"), commiserating with a caller when she declared homeless shelters in New York City were indeed passing out free cell phones to the indigent.

I don't know whether it was my timing, or if the actual content of his typical weekday show is gleefully mocking of the poor and homeless, but this is what I heard (the wording paraphrased from my memory, but I'm sure you’ll get the drift):

I hope homeless people who receive cell phones spend all their free minutes dodging marketing ads. Wouldn't it be great if they got calls from insurance companies fishing for homeowners? Poetic justice, indeed!

Hmmm. Might not the homeless use cell phones to schedule job interviews, or contact family members worried about their well-being? Did Huckabee consider his joke wouldn't be funny to those who lost perfectly good homes – and livelihoods – because of the Republican-Bush-rotted economy?

What the hell kind of Christian is former Baptist minister Huckabee?

Chosen Among Us

It's as obvious as the elephant in the room. Just because he accepted disaster aid for New Jersey – and showed his appreciation to President Obama - Chris Christie is persona non-grata within his own party.

• GOP tent not big enough for Chris Christie, says CPAC chair

It says a lot about the GOP as a whole. If they won't even accept one of their own just for doing the job he was elected to do, how on earth can they convince people they are ready to open the door for minorities, the poor and the otherwise socially marginalized?

However, they have plenty of room for the likes of Todd Akin, proponent of the magiclady parts theory, or wannabe senator Richard Mourdock, who believes rape babies are a gift from God – not to mention top right-wing nut jobs such as Palin and Trump.

House of Dipsticks

I hope voters remember the behavior of their representatives when the next election rolls around.

• How Looming Budget Cuts Will Hurt GOP Leadership's Home States

However, in the case of certain states (you know who you are), hatred of President Obama exceeds all common decency, concern for fellow human beings and is devoid of any recognizable form of patriotism. Our governing bodies, specifically the GOP-controlled House of Representatives, are a major global embarrassment. They make the USA look like a nation of dipsticks.

I sincerely hope Boehner and McConnell are the first two kicked to the curb.

Absurdity Et Al

What do you want to bet the GOP will find a way to criticize President Obama for the White House price tag estimation?

• Want to buy the White House? It will cost you $294.9 million

I can see the right-wing froth now: "Despot living in the lap of luxury while millions look for work…"

The notion is almost as ridiculous as the GOP actually caring about the anguish and suffering of the unemployed or as irrational as the NRA attacking Secret Service protection for President Obama's daughters. Unless I missed it, no one is sending an increasing amount of sick and threatening letters to Average Joe's daughters are they?

The White House wasn't built with the intent of ostentation but rather for security, much like a fortress protecting its inhabitants from the wide variety of nut jobs running amok in our country.

Southern Hate Rages On

This is one sick group of people:

• Virginia KKK Uses Obama's Presidency As Recruiting Tool

If anyone should be barred from having guns, it should be members and espousers of the KKK. They are nut jobs through and through…

Why do they remind me of the right-wing in general?

Mixed Bag

One of the major drawbacks of the GOP is their tendency to label those who don't think or believe as they do as "un-American." More than once on the campaign trail, Romney spoke of "taking America back." Take America back from whom? Other Americans who just happened to disagree with his vision for our country? We're not true Americans because we didn't buy into his whitewash?

Narrow-minded lack of inclusion from the right is a huge turnoff. Extreme social positions aren't helpful, either. I understand they are pro-choice, but please don't force those views down my throat, thank you. All they have to do is stay away from abortion clinics and allow others to make their own choices.

When I skim online articles, I often read comments left by other readers. The hateful rhetoric is simply astounding. Seething resentment seems to be the norm, which was in evidence long before the presidential election took place. It's difficult to imagine a sane person shooting off such vitriolic drivel.

As for pundits on television, the over-used phrases during the election season I hope to never hear again are "double-down" or when someone peppers their commentary with "at the end of the day…"

And if it comes down to this, I say good riddance:

• 20 states demand to secede after Obama won election

The various states need at least 25,000 signatures before their petitions can be submitted to the Obama administration for consideration. However, their ludicrous intent simply verifies right-wing irrationality and state of denial.

Distasteful Citizenry

Why various parts of the world think we are a nation of zealous, uneducated idiots:

• Racist States of America: Shocking map reveals hateful tweets following Obama's re-election

You can bet the ignorant, southern-tinged crappola comes directly from people who identify with the right-wing.

• Outrage as McDonald's flies U.S. flag upside-down and at half-mast as businesses close for a 'day of mourning' after Obama's re-election

I know blatant disrespect displayed by the latter headline was perpetuated by the specific McDonalds franchise, but it's turned me off completely. I doubt I'll ever give them my business again, no matter which state they reside in - not even for their fries.

*POSTSCRIPT 11/11/12: Add Papa John's to the no-business list. I never liked their pizza anyway.

Rock On, Godless Heathens!

I like the looks of today's forecasts on Five Thirty Eight:

 

Keep your eyes peeled!

Beyond the ongoing estimates, I'm truly dumbfounded that anyone – most especially women – would vote for a candidate who believes pregnancy-by-rape is still a "gift from God." There seems to be a collective boiling rage against women festering within the GOP, almost as strong as their racially motivated hatred of President Obama.

How can we move forward when the right-wing fringes are fueled by rabid hatemongers that vehemently believe those disagreeing with their views are nothing more than Godless heathens?

Blurbs Et Al

Recent articles and headlines that have caught my eye:

• Romney web site silent on closing tax loopholes
• Gingrich Concedes Romney Wasn't Honest About Tax Plan During Debate
• 7.8 Percent Unemployment News Gets To Mitt At His Home On Island
• Americans' Preference Shifts Toward One-Party Government
• Albright: Romney would get a C on foreign policy

Fast Forward: In regards to Romney’s "foreign policy" speech today, all I can say is he looked anything but presidential (no matter how many flags appeared in his backdrop) and worse, he sounded like a complete and utter fool. He wants to build fifteen new battleships each year to strengthen the navy…Where will the money to achieve such a goal come from? His rich friends or the middle class? As I predicted the other day, electing Romney will undoubtedly ensure the United States entering into another unnecessary war. Does the Republican pissing contest never end? Mitt Romney: Failing the Commander-in-Chief test.

From Daily Kos:

Throughout the campaign, Romney has vacillated between making a fool of himself and engaging in dangerous saber-rattling. Perhaps the reason is that he really doesn't have any foreign policy experience, period. Unless, of course, you count investing in companies that were pioneers in outsourcing as foreign policy experience. Or, for that matter, having accounts in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands. And, while we're at it, let's not forget where he got the money to start Bain Capital.

And finally, Five-Thirty-Eight is currently predicting President Obama will win the electoral vote come Election Day (307.6 to Romney's 230.4 as of today).

I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Stray Tidbits

> As stern and serious as he appears to be, Martin Bashir actually has a wonderfully sardonic sense of humor. I listen to his TV show on MSNBC every weekday afternoon as I work at my computer. Bashir often refers to the right-wing candidate for president as "Lord Romney."

> According to Open Secrets.Org, 163 celebrities have donated to the Obama reelection campaign; 89 celebrities have donated to the Democratic National Committee and five celebrities have donated to Priorities USA, the super PAC backing Obama. Perhaps the most impressive donations came from actor Morgan Freeman and comedian Bill Maher, who both donated $1 million each to Priorities USA. On the flipside, Mitt Romney has only collected about $16,000 from celebrity donors. Not that money from the famous is better than anyone else's, but they can certainly afford to give more of it.

> NRCC Attack Ad Misleads Iowa Voters: According to Fact Check.Org "a Republican TV ad falsely claims that businesses are forced to drop health care coverage and families are losing health care benefits under the new federal health care law. The ad doesn't mention that the law is expected to increase the number of insured Americans by 14 million in 2014 and by 29 million or 30 million in the latter part of the coming decade according to a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report issued in July."

> Ask your best Republican friend this question: If Republican ideology is so prosperous and right for America, why are so many "strongly Republican" states poor, rank near the bottom in education and provide such low levels of income? (interactive share from Move On.Org).

> And, finally, is it any wonder why certain members of the right-wing are viewed as unstable fanatics? Texan Lynches Invisible Obama.

Scary Citizens

More about the 47 Percent:

Mitt Romney tells donors his job is not to worry about Obama-voting freeloaders who depend on the state

Big surprise that most of the nasty comments about President Obama come from people living in the South, which follow the Daily Mail article linked above. Some things never change in America, I agree – such as hateful racism dressed as political outrage. Southerners are the first to complain they are labeled "racist" when they disagree with the President's policies, but the intense hatred emanating from the right-wing since President Obama took office lends little credibility to the faux protests. The misnomer of pious southern "Christians" is the biggest outrage of all and is nothing more than hypocrisy at its best (second only to Mormon mantra).

There were literally hundreds of comments following the Daily Mail article. Here's a snippet, both good and bad (my side-remarks are bolded in red):

• Alex from Louisville, Kentucky: I love all the Liberals ranting over this as if it will drive off Conservatives. 68% of America is conservative leaning (according to whom?) and most are not happy with paying to keep able bodied people at home, watching TV and playing video games while the rest of us work 40+ hours a week. It's the staple of the Tea Party Movement and the reason the Liberals LOST most of the elections in 2010 and we gained the HoR back. Please Mitt, more, more, let Paul Ryan go to be your attack dog to chew up the biased news media and spit them out.
• Sakara from Kentucky: THE TRUTH HURTS----Obama's biggest fans are the unemployed, and the people who work for the government.
• Cowboy Mouth from Ft. Worth, Texas: The tattoo-getting, nose-piercing nimrods wonder why they can't get jobs? They are physically able to work but don't want to do a Mexicans job because it is beneath them. Idiots. If you add them all up 50 % seems a little low.
• Taylor from Atlanta, Georgia: So many people think that they are owed everything instead of going out and working for what they get.
• Tiffany from Alabama: I'd like to know how what Romney said about the "poor" is any different from how Obama demonizes the "rich"?
• Plumpy from Lafayette, Louisiana: Romney speaks the truth. All of Obama's supporters are depended on government. They are the leeches sucking the economic blood out of the producers.
• K.M. from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (skinhead country!): He is 100% correct and decent, hardworking Americans are getting more and more angry about being forced to subsidize lazy freeloaders.
• Zhang from Lumberton, North Carolina: Fact check - many of Romney's Mormon voters are dependent on government entitlements to support their unusually large families. Very true!
• T.J. from Atlanta, Georgia: What a bastard. I'm voting for Obama and I paid over $30,000 in Federal Income Tax last year so he can shove it up his golden-spooned ass. My favorite comment to date.
• Ian from London: When he talks about the 47% of Americans who don't pay tax is he including himself? From what I can see he has done everything possible to avoid tax through offshore bank accounts and offshore companies. Does America really want this guy to be President?
• Betty Blue Eyes from San Jose, CA: What about multi-millionaires who pay only 14% tax rates because their loopholes are "legal?" Do they think it's unfair that people making much less are in higher tax brackets? How do they feel about people who pay no federal tax legally? These include people on Social Security, people who are disabled, people who are in the lower ranks of the US military, who have low-wage jobs, etc. Why do these unfortunate people have to be kicked for taking advantage of their own legal rights?
• Penelope from Australia: America- your entire political, social, education and LACK of a health system are a joke most of the rest of the Western world. It's a shame it's not all that funny in that you erroneously pride yourselves on being the greatest democracy the world has ever known when you despise almost half of your own citizens and blame them for being poor, unemployed, sick and poorly educated. Ever thought of trying to solve these shortfalls in infrastructure instead of just blaming so many individuals? Perhaps the most rational comment so far.

Instead of attacking fellow citizens less fortunate than themselves, why don't various right-wingers stop whining and simply pay their fair share of taxes? Or voluntarily relinquish their Medicare and social security benefits if they feel so strongly about the matter? Their savage lack of compassion and burning hatred of anyone slightly different than themselves divides the country, along with their seemingly inherent selfishness and greed.

True Colors Will Out

He just can't help himself:

Romney Tells Wealthy Donors That 47% of Americans Are Lazy Moochers

The blog post relating to my experience with Mormons doesn't sound so far-fetched now, does it?

As I've said before – along with many others - the GOP is a gift that just keeps on giving.

Gifts Aplenty

The GOP is a gift that keeps on giving…

GOP Senate Candidate: Victims of 'Legitimate Rape' Won't Become Pregnant

No matter who you are, it's basically impossible to hide your true personality or beliefs for a long stretch of time in a close personal relationship. It's especially difficult to hide your true self if you live and work in the public eye.

I have a feeling that the middle-aged white men who comprise the GOP would rather revert to laws that governed the Wild West. Specifically, laws forced upon women whereby it was not a crime to beat or rape your wife, and then blaming her to justify the abuse.

They might not come out and say it – and actually pay lip-service to the rights of women – but it doesn't take an idiot to see where the GOP mind-set aligns itself.

And true to form, Fox News glossed over the "legitimate rape" comments. According to Think Progress:

Fox News is following its well established pattern of underreporting stories that don't appeal to its conservative base, instituting a virtual blackout of Rep. Todd Akin's (R-MO) controversial — and widely condemned — comments about "legitimate rape."

What's next? Taking away a woman's right to vote? Considering their track record of voter suppression with low-income communities and minorities, it's not such a far-fetched notion.

Dim Contagion

Does the ignorance of this woman ever improve?

• Outrageas Michele Bachmann says Anthony Weiner's wife Huma Abedin may be aiding the Muslim Brotherhood

More about John McCain: When he and Barack Obama were running their presidential campaigns four years ago, I wrote a blog entry entitled "Spec of Light" on 10/11/08:

I was stunned last night when I witnessed John McCain defend Barack Obama not once but twice, when two nut-jobs attending one of his rally's flew off the handle (re: Obama is involved with terrorists, or is an Arab/Muslim). Both are ridiculous misconceptions, but I suppose uneducated people cannot be expected to know any better.

At any rate, I could not believe my eyes and ears when the videotape showed McCain defending Obama, claiming he was a "decent person and a person who you do not have to be scared as president of the United States" and "not a Muslim."

I used to respect John McCain even though I never agreed with his beliefs or strategy. He was once an honest man with more integrity than the average public servant in the United States Senate. That honest man disappeared when the current presidential campaign became an ugly morass of innuendo and outright lies. I lost complete respect for McCain and viewed him as desperate and pathetic, willing to do anything – even sacrificing his principles – in order to become president.

A bit of that honest and decent man peeked through again last night when he defended Obama in front of his supporters, as if he could no longer stand the lies and subterfuge which are so removed from his normal character. I think it was the first time I witnessed honesty in him in the last several months, and one of the few occasions when I saw him as self-assured and someone I would be willing to listen to.

JohnMcCain is perhaps the only decent member of the GOP left standing. While I may not agree with his political views, I do appreciate his basic humanity and integrity. It is all too rare these days.

*POSCTSCRIPT 07/22/12: Fallout from Bachmann's irresponsible and unfounded claims > Anthony Weiner's wife threatened by New Jersey man after Muslim Brotherhood allegations. Is she happy now?

GOP Nuttery

Why are so many conservatives noisy about not having their rights and beliefs trod upon, but don't see the hypocrisy of forcing their fanatic views on the rest of us?

Go figure.

True Colors

Come next election time, I don't think people will forget how the "Repugs" were willing to sacrifice them just in order to make President Obama "look bad." If the right-wing's lack of concern for their constituents or the American people in general wasn't obvious before, it surely is now. Their rabid hatred of the President seems to override all else, even common sense and basic compassion.

Wing Nut Clog

I think it's the right-wing media's plan to clog the airwaves with garbage. By highlighting ridiculous stories, they probably hope to keep President Obama and his administration so busy debunking rumors that his agenda will not be carried out.

• Attacks on President Obama Going to Asia: A Long Trip from Reality

Why didn't anyone raise a fuss at the cost of George W. Bush's 160-plus excursions to his private ranch in Texas during the eight years he was in office?

Paid for with tax dollars, I might add.

More Right-Wing Kaflooey

What kind of reality are these nut jobs living in?

• Maybe Obama Should Go To Church More Publicly So People Know He's Christian

If possible, the right-wing just keeps getting freakier.