I have been thinking that I should make this a weekly feature. There are so many WTF moments, don’t you think? But sometimes when I finally found time, it was NOT Wednesday any more, so I waited, and then I missed another Wednesday…
Anyway, 5 minutes before midnight. STILL Wednesday. And I always have the West Coast to count on when necessary. So quickly some WTF moments from this week and last week:
“Tea Party Groups In Tennessee Demand Textbooks Overlook U.S. Founder’s Slave-Owning History”.
Did your jaw hit the desk? Yup. Mine did too. But of course, the Texas Board of Education had approved of revisions to textbooks last year that include
the exploration of the positive aspects of American slavery, lifting the stature of Jefferson S. Davis to that of Abraham Lincoln, and amendments to teach the value of the separation of church and state were voted down by the conservative cadre. Among other controversial amendments that have been approved is the study of the “unintended consequences” of affirmative action.
Actually, you could have just stopped me at “the exploration of the positive aspects of American slavery”. I want to use this piece of sad news as a test stone to people I know: If you are not immediately outraged, if you even “stop and think about it”, you are out. It’s black and white in this case.
Newt Gingrich’s three marriages mean he might make a strong president — really
This is written by a “DR” Keith Ablow so it must be true. The article is published on Foxnews.com so we know it is… *cough* *cough*. This is so quote-worthy so I have to share:
Warning: Don’t drink or eat when you read the following.
So, here’s what one interested in making America stronger can reasonably conclude—psychologically—from Mr. Gingrich’s behavior during his three marriages:
1) Three women have met Mr. Gingrich and been so moved by his emotional energy and intellect that they decided they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with him.
2) Two of these women felt this way even though Mr. Gingrich was already married.
3 ) One of them felt this way even though Mr. Gingrich was already married for the second time, was not exactly her equal in the looks department and had a wife (Marianne) who wanted to make his life without her as painful as possible.
Conclusion: When three women want to sign on for life with a man who is now running for president, I worry more about whether we’ll be clamoring for a third Gingrich term, not whether we’ll want to let him go after one.
And I checked, The Onion had nothing to do with this. Daily Kos, on the other hand, had a lot of fun analyzing this. Good times.
Komen breast cancer charity severs ties with Planned Parenthood
Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced its decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood centers. “Many suspect the move is a result of political pressure by antiabortion activists,” LA Times added helpfully. You think?!
The Internet was immediately set ablaze and some news reports are saying that donations to Planned Parenthood actually spiked. Yeah, us!
Before I go, let me share something that will make you smile. Thanks to Mary Lee. I have not stopped smiling since I saw it.
Janet Howell, Virginia State Senator, Attaches Rectal Exam Amendment To Anti-Abortion Bill
To protest a bill that would require women to undergo an ultrasound before having an abortion, Virginia State Sen. Janet Howell (D-Fairfax) on Monday attached an amendment that would require men to have a rectal exam and a cardiac stress test before obtaining a prescription for erectile dysfunction medication.
The bad news is, yes, the ultrasound bill passed. The bad-yet-we-can-find-something-good news is, Senator Howell’s amendment failed (naturally) but it was lost by only three votes. 19-21.
Lord. The Komen thing and it’s subsequent reversal astounded me; I usually pride myself in knowing more the about the things I donate to. Keith Ablow lives around here and never met a microphone or a camera that he didn’t LOVE. He’s a self-promoting ass. To round the discussion out, I was reading about the Battle Hymn of the Republic in the Boston Globe, and how it’s still reviled in some parts of the South. And now, I’m off for a noontime bloody mary.
Meg at the Members Lounge recently posted…I Can’t Help Myself Friday. The Super Bowl Edition.
Have one for me! I am having a weekend that’s about to kill me…
The South truly believes it would be better for everyone if history had ended with VJ Day. That’s a particular kind of blind that’s so filled with fear and longing, you can hardly capture it with terms like ignorant and stupid. It’s Howdy Doody Time, is what it is.
Newt poisoned the political water for everyone in the nineties; may he stew in it.
Nance recently posted…We’re Cool Like That
If I try, I can guess. Must be a longing so deep that it probably hurts sometimes. I am thinking Gone With The Wind. Like Watching the Last Emperor. As audience we all feel bad for the guy, but that regime caused millions to suffer and die. At the end of the day, I needed to take stock and decided, Nah, he’s not worthy of my sympathy. It’s like yeah you could probably do a film on Hitler from “HIS” perspective and it could probably end up portraying him as some kind of tragic figure. (We know some revisionists have tried). That’s why I am wary of this whole “multi-perspective: let’s see things from others’ perspective” thing if carried too far. I have written about how my son’s teacher said something like, according to my son who was not very clear on what the teacher said verbatim, “He had families and friends” when discussing Hitler; I about blew a gasket.
I am not saying you are suggesting that we should look at things from The South’s perspective. I go off on a tangent easily. As you must have noticed… Sorry…
Those are the exact three reasons why I can not vote for Newt. What IS America thinking?
Jane recently posted…Parenting Is Blind Trial And Error. I’m Just Crossing My Fingers We Get It Right.
Inconceivable indeed!
Yeah… These all really made my week! NOT.
That rectal exam amendment? Liking that a lot…
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How about the Komen sage? What a week, right?
TN Tea Party……enough said. DO we really expect intelligence from this group? They are just below the Texas Board of (MIS)Education on the food chain.
Susan G Komen Foundation has chosen it’s path. I will find another way to make sure true strides against cancer are made.
Gingrich and his ability to con less-than-savvy women into marrying him for his money/power do not strike me as reasons to hire him for president. Sorry Dr. NEXT!
Wicked Shawn recently posted…A New Understanding of 20 Somethings
You worked thru this like a commander in chief that takes no BS!
Positive aspects of slavery. Holy fuck. That’s chills me to my core.
And although I wasn’t drinking while I read the Gingrich bit, I do feel the need for a dink now.
I sent you an invitation to my blog, which I had to hide. If it didn’t make it to you, email me at underground11@gmail.com and I”ll re-send it.
Drink for me too!
I sent you an email. Thanks! 🙂
When I shared the TN article on FB, a conservative Catholic friend responded with,
“I read the article, and the headline is misleading. It seams the Tea Party activists are saying that there should be a more balanced perspective about the founders, as opposed to, “The founders were slave owners and thus were eeeeeeeeevil men who should be castigated as barbarians who did not contribute to the nation!”
Balanced perspective =/= whitewashing slavery. But then, it’s HuffPo so I can’t say I’m surprised.”
I could not believe she said that. Of course textbooks that adequately talk about slavery don’t say whatever she said about being castigated, but to blatantly talk about the positives of slavery? WHAT THE HELL? That is, to me, an abomination. Literally. How could we forget such a crucial part of our heritage unless we wanted to return to slavery again? (Which doesn’t surprise me considering southern businessmen treat Hispanics like they are slaves so maybe that’s their reason for moving in this horrible direction?)
As for the rest, I don’t have the energy to even go after them. WTF is right.
I do agree with Mary Lee. Heeee
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It’s like the Japanese government changed their textbooks describing the atrocity done to the millions of Chinese in China (including cruel bio experiments that would make the Nazis blush) as “entering and leaving” (or “passing through”)…
That’s the last time I walk 60 miles in a pink t-shirt. I was stunned when I heard about the Komen/ planned parenthood nightmare.
They can suck my non existent balls if they think I’m okay with that decision.
Right on! I never like the whole marketing aspect of the pink campaign. Of course I felt guilty for thinking that way. Turns out, I am not alone! There is a documentary called Pink Ribbons INC opening on 2/3 in Canada. (Today!)
http://www.nfb.ca/playlist/pink_ribbons_inc/
“PINK RIBBONS, INC. is a feature documentary that shows how the devastating reality of breast cancer, which marketing experts have labeled a “dream cause,” has been hijacked by a shiny, pink story of success.”
Exactly what I’ve always thought about the whole Pink-everything campaign.
Read this and you will never support Komen in anything. Komen is a marketing company. Period. And they have always been associated with conservative causes. http://www.ginandtacos.com/2012/02/02/race-for-the-cure-to-being-relevant/
Life in the Boomer Lane recently posted…Downton Abbey: Open for Business
Just amazing. Of course few people me included have never thought about looking into this until now… they are still keeping Karen Handel? Unbelievable
The TN Tea Party bunch and the Komen group that hired Karen Handel, knowing the positions she made plain when ran for governor of Georgia, might profit from rectal exams, too. They might find their heads.
Mary Lee recently posted…What Say You, Punxsutawney Phil?
+100000!
I love that sassy chick and her erectile bill. Too bad it didn’t pass!
TheKitchenWitch recently posted…About a Boy
She did not expect it to pass but it’s awesome she was able to tell those people what she thinks of them. And it got 19 (and vs 21). Pretty cool!