Bobservations

Another not so happy week at Casa Bob y Carlos …

Yesterday we let Ozzo out for his business. About twenty minutes later our vet’s office called to say that one of our neighbors found Ozzo in their yard; they put us in contact with the neighbor and Ozzo was brought back home, but it started that conversation again. You see, Ozzo is also about 18 to 20 years old, and he doesn’t see well, he doesn’t hear well, and he doesn’t move well—though he moved well enough to work his way through the fence and go for a Blind Man Stroll.

I suggested we make an appointment with the vet to make sure he’s okay, other than his eyes and ears and back legs, and Carlos couldn’t handle it. As pets do when they come into your home, they bond with one of you; Ozzo bonded to Carlos, Tuxedo bonded with me, MaxGoldberg actually bonded with us both, though he was slightly more partial to me, and Consuelo bonded with her food dish.

So. We’re taking Ozzo to the vet next week, for a checkup only, and to see how his health is because I don’t want him hurt or in pain,  like Max. I’d like the old man to go in his sleep, peaceful and calm, and if he’s okay, other than the aging, then he will live out his days in peace and comfort.

It’s hard; there’s what’s best for the pet and what you want, and really what you want shouldn’t matter.

I, too, was stunned at so many members of the GOP thanking Columbus for discovering America and calling him a hero. No wonder they don’t want history taught in schools.

Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson told would-be GOP presidential candidates—even Thing 45—that she is not getting involved in the 2024 primary.

No money for you! No money for you!

Blake Masters, the GOP nominee for US Senate in Arizona has long denied the results of 2020 election … until this week. Though he ran in the Primary on the Big Lie now, trailing in the polls, Masters now says Biden is the “legitimate president” and that he’s seen no evidence the vote count was rigged.

Pandering, lying, white supremacist. I did ‘Nazi’ that … oops, maybe I spoke too soon. Yesterday Masters said he still believes the 2020 presidential election was neither free nor fair.

I guess he felt the wrath of MAGAts and Nazis and flip-flopped back.

For the first time ever five of Oklahoma’s largest Native American tribes have united to endorse a candidate for governor: Democrat Joy Hofmeister.

The GOP nominee, current governor Kevin Stitt, has had a frosty relationship with tribes after fighting to overturn the 2020 McGirt v. Oklahoma Supreme Court decision that weakened the state’s ability to prosecute some crimes on Native American land.

The tribes have spoken.

In Arkansas, the Conway School Board issued new regulations on bathroom use and overnight hotel stays, based on a student's sex assigned at birth. The board also agreed to ban books that discuss LGBTQ+ romances, deeming them "inappropriate."

Some members of the LGBTQ+ community spoke out against the new policy and one parent of a transgender child shared that after this vote, they plan to move out of state. But many of the people who showed up, and almost the entire school board, said that they're proud of the decision. In fact, applause and cheers erupted after one man suggested LGBTQ+ people should be put to death,

If you know anyone who is trans in this country and you still think you need to vote Republican, strike the word ‘ally’ from beside your name because you are no different than that man who suggested killing LGBTQ+ Americans.

Inspired by her late mother, Catrine, Cyndi Lauper created the Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights Fund to support organizations fighting for abortion and reproductive healthcare after SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade:

“If you don’t have control over your own body, how can you be anything but a second-class citizen? Now, the government has control over your body—not you. What should be a private medical decision between you and your doctor is now a government decision. So, this is a big issue for me.”

Good on Cyndi, and her  mother’s inspiration, for taking a stand.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson—or as I call him, Mr. Eraserhead—says he’s been “blown away” by calls for him to run for president, but says his focus is on his family.

For the love of the goddess, America? The Rock? Seriously?

In another story of a celebrity taking a stand, LeBron James will not air an episode of his HBO show The Shop that featured Kanye West. Maverick Carter, LeBron’s producing partner, said the decision was made after “talking to Kanye directly”:

“[After] talking to Kanye directly the day before we taped, I believed he was capable of a respectful discussion and he was ready to address all his recent comments. Unfortunately, he used The Shop to reiterate more hate speech and extremely dangerous stereotypes. We have made the decision not to air this episode or any of Kanye’s remarks … The Shop [has] … zero tolerance for hate speech of any kind and will never allow our channels to be used to promote hate … Hate speech should never have an audience.”

Good on James and Carter for standing up against Hate Speech; we need more of that in this country. We need everyone to call out Hate Speech, and refuse to vote for it, when they hear it.

Not so much a Would You Hit It, but another Which Chris Pine Would You Hit: formerly blond and shaggy Chris Pine from Don’t Worry Darling promotional tour, or the newly shorn silver fox Chris Pine?

Bobservations

Let’s talk about just one of the reasons I love me some Carlos: he’s funny. And I love funny.

Every week he buys some stuff from the Deli for sandwiches during the week, and because he’s such a creature of habit it’s always chicken and swiss cheese. A while back, I suggested he get some ham, you know, to live wild and be crazy! And so now he buys chicken and swiss cheese …and ham.

But, because of his eyesight, and the teeny tiny lettering on each package of deli goods, he normally writes on the label himself when he gets them home: pollo, for chicken, queso, for cheese, and jamon, for ham. I thought it cute, until last week, after coming home from the store, when he created new labels:

He’s not the greatest artiste, but I smile every time I make a sammich.

Seriously, even a cat knows the difference between a riot and a terror attack. I think he needs to give a TED talk to the GOP.

Publishing giant Simon & Schuster have given the boot to traitorous Senator Josh Hawley’s upcoming book after the Missouri ReTHUGlican helped lead seditious efforts to try and overturn the U.S. presidential election, saying:

“We did not come to this decision lightly. As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints: At the same time, we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat.”

True to form, Hawley whined about the cancellation on Twitter:

“This could not be more Orwellian. Simon & Schuster is canceling my contract because I was representing my constituents, leading a debate on the Senate floor on voter integrity, which they have now decided to redefine as sedition. Let me be clear, this is not just a contract dispute. It’s a direct assault on the First Amendment. Only approved speech can now be published. This is the Left looking to cancel everyone they don’t approve of. I will fight this cancel culture with everything I have. We’ll see you in court.”

Oh, Josh, you dumbass, Simon and Schuster can cancel any book deal they choose because they pick who they want to sell and who they don’t. And they don’t care to be associated with a seditionist.

It’s not them, it’s you.

Oh Anna, what have you wrought?

Vogue had planned to have Vice President … the first female … the first person of color .. Kamala Harris on the cover and that up there on the right is what they came up with. Kamala in front of some cheesy pink and green sheets like she was strolling through a Bed Bath and Beyond and stopped for a selfie.

Seriously, Anna. And yet that photo on the left is classy, elegant and Vice Presidential.

How did they not notice the difference?

As a result of the GOP aiding and abetting, and inciting a terror attack on this country, some of America's biggest companies are suspending donations to GOP Congress members who objected to the Electoral College's votes.

The list includes American Express, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Commerce Bank, Dow Chemical, Marriott, Airbnb, Amazon, AT&T, Comcast, Commerce Bank, Mastercard, and Verizon.

Some companies have opted to suspend donations to all politicians, regardless of whether or not they voted against upholding the Electoral College results; they include 3M, Bank of America, Charles Schwab, Citigroup, Coca-Cola, Deloitte, Facebook, Ford, Goldman Sachs, Google, Hallmark, Hilton, JPMorgan, Microsoft, Salesforce, Target, UPS, and Visa.

Many other companies have announced they would "review" their contributions in light of recent events but lacked the stronger stances taken by their corporate peers; they include CVS, Delta, ExxonMobil, FedEx and Walmart.

Good. Stop the money, stop the asshats.

I'm always on the lookout for a new mask. I bought this one, but I don’t think this is how you wear it.

What? Is this true? ReTHUGlican lawmakers—who were held captive by homegrown domestic terrorist just last week, are livid about the new metal detectors installed outside the House chamber after the attack. To be clear, these asshats, and ALL are GOP goose-steppers, are upset because they wanna bring their guns into the Capitol, and they include:

Steve Scalise, who was shot at a baseball game a few years back, who says the metal detectors were ”designed to impede lawmakers from voting.” Um, Steve? How does a metal detector stop you from voting unless you’re so f**king stupid you think it’s a voting machine?

Markwayne Mullin, who has also refused to wear a mask inside House Chambers, says he has a Constitutional right to carry a gun into the Capitol. Greg Steube denounced the "atrocities" that have happened in the Capitol lately, namely “the installation of metal detectors.”

Not the attack. Not the dead police officer. Metal detectors.

Seriously. After being attacked last week, when not one of these heroes used their guns to stop the attack—all it takes to stop a bad guy is a good guy with a gun, or so we’ve been told—these fools only care about their so-called right to carry.

Fuck them all.

Benjamin Freemantle is an artist, model, choreographer. Director, writer, and a principal dancer with the San Francisco ballet. He’s cute and nerdy and gives good face.

He looks good in clothes and dresses and in nothing at all.

Dirty or clean or lying nekkid on a blanket.

And anyone who can leap through the streets of San Francisco in their undies is all right with me. Just sayin’.

My Two Cents: Remove The Terrorists: ____, Ryan, Rubio, the NRA, and The Others

I don’t want to write about dead schoolchildren because I becomes just the same old post; sure, maybe I’d change concert goer to teenager, or church goer to movie patron, but all in all it’s the same thing: people die in this country because of the NRA and the GOP.

And before anyone jumps that it’s also the Democrats, let’s take note that in the 2016 election cycle the NRA gave almost $6 million to Republicans candidates while given $106,000 to Democrats.

Notice the difference. That’s why “thoughts and prayers” and that’s why “now is not the time to talk” and that’s why “knee jerk reactions” and that’s why it’s becoming crystal to anyone with a brain, and I know some of you on the right have them, I just wish you’d engage them more often, to vote out the GOP.

But, if you need convincing, let’s see what some in the GOP did after the shooting …

Donald and Melania _____ spent a day taking pictures at a hospital where the Fat Bastard smiled and gave a thumbs up.

A thumbs up? How many dead children and he smiles and gives a thumbs up?

Fuck.Him.

But after the thumbs up the _____’s attended a Studio 54 disco-themed party at Mar-a-Lago. yup; nothing says “thoughts and prayers” like a disco party, though, to be fair, Instagram user Sean Bianca, who shared a photo of the _____’s. did say they did not dance and appeared somber.

Really? He was somber at a disco party but all smiles and thumbs up at a hospital?

Fuck.Him.

In case you’d forgotten, after the Sandy Hook shooting a real president, Barack Obama, after meeting for hours with families of the victims, sat alone in a classroom and then attended a prayer vigil.

No thumbs up; no disco parties.

The next day, the Fat Bastard used dead children to attack the FBI and bring it all back around the their investigation of him. He turned the mass shooting of schoolchildren into a pansy-assed cry about being the target of the FBI.

Fuck.Him.

And while we’re at it, Fuck Paul Ryan, too.

I mean, how did the man who said we shouldn’t discuss gun control after the shooting because it was a “knee jerk” reaction, spend his time after the shootings? He went to Florida, too, though not to Parkland, or a hospital, or to meet with victims and their families.

He went to a fundraiser in Key Biscayne.

Maria Thorne, a Key Biscayne activist and elementary school teacher, saw Ryan’s the motorcade clogging up her commute home, so she and a friend decided to attend the event.

There, she found Ryan, and she shook his hand, introduced herself and told him she was a schoolteacher.

“Nice,” said Ryan.

“Nice? You’re here celebrating the death of 17 children.”

Ryan then told her he did not wish to discuss politics—at a motherfucking political fundraiser—and when Maria Thorne tried to continue the conversation, she was removed from the room by security.

In 2016, Paul Ryan took $171, 977 from the NRA; roughly ten thousand per student in Parkland. Hope it was worth it and …

Fuck.Him.

Now, onto some praise for those Americans speaking up, and some of those loud voices are teenagers.

In Miami, after the shooting, there appeared three billboards very similar in tone to those in the Oscar-nominated Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. But these three red billboards said, in bold black lettering:

SLAUGHTERED IN SCHOOL

AND STILL NO GUN CONTROL?

HOW COME, MARCO RUBIO?

Little Marco “Foam Party” Rubio did not address the protest, but he went all _____ Tweeter scolding the media for ignoring the work he’s done that doesn’t conform to a “narrative” that “evil Republicans in pocket of NRA are blocking gun laws.”

Though Rubio has only received $4,950 from the NRA, the terrorist organization has funneled more than $1 million into getting Rubio elected, and reelected to office. In fact, Marco Rubio ranks among the top 10 beneficiaries of the NRA in the Senate.

Fuck.Him.

And that is precisely what may happen, in a figurative sense, if people like Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student, Cameron Kasky, have their way. Kasky took his views to CNN, where he posted this op-ed:

“I thought it was going to be a wonderful day. My high school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, was full of cheerful students—many of whom were celebrating Valentine's Day with one another. Even those who didn't have a Valentine seemed like they could find reasons to smile.

But then, of course, everything changed. Toward the end of the day, I went to pick up my little brother Holden from the special needs classroom. As we exited the school, the fire alarm went off. And as we retreated to the parking lot, per fire drill procedure, we were told to run back inside.
It was very confusing, especially since I was surrounded by special needs students. But the truth is, nobody really knew what was going on. We huddled in a room, listening to terrifying noises we couldn't quite identify, and spent an hour plagued by uncontrolled anxiety ... waiting for answers. Waiting for somebody to either come in and shoot us or come in and tell us everything was going to be OK.
Eventually, the SWAT team came in and did an excellent job taking care of the students with disabilities. We were then escorted to our evacuation location and, after hours of confusion and terror, my brother and I made it home.

 Though we made it home, 17 people didn't. Those 17 people were murdered on the grounds of a school that has always felt like the safest place to be in a town that's been called the safest town in Florida.

We can't ignore the issues of gun control that this tragedy raises. And so, I'm asking—no, demanding—we take action now.

Why? Because at the end of the day, the students at my school felt one shared experience—our politicians abandoned us by failing to keep guns out of schools.

But this time, my classmates and I are going to hold them to account. This time we are going to pressure them to take action. This time we are going to force them to spend more energy protecting human lives than unborn fetuses.

One of the most frustrating arguments I've heard is that it wasn't the Republican Party that killed those people and it wasn't the National Rifle Association—it was the shooter himself. I understand where they are coming from. I do not believe this was a direct attack from the Republicans or their close allies at the NRA.
However, the shooter is not the only one responsible for this tragedy. While the alleged shooter may have had several issues, he also lived in a society where Sen. Marco Rubio refuses to take responsibility for the role gun culture may have played in this tragedy.

And there is no denying that the NRA continues to donate millions of dollars to politicians at every level of government. Then those politicians—often "family values" conservatives—rile up their base by making them think that "liberals" are going to take their guns away. Not knowing any better, some of these people stockpile guns in advance of a gun ban that never comes, and the gun manufacturers and the NRA make millions.

But the truth is that the politicians on both sides of the aisle are to blame. The Republicans, generally speaking, take large donations from the NRA and are therefore beholden to their cruel agenda. And the Democrats lack the organization and the votes to do anything about it.

I'm just a high school student, and I do not pretend to have all of the answers. However, even in my position, I can see that there is desperate need for change—change that starts by folks showing up to the polls and voting all those individuals who are in the back pockets of gun lobbyists out of office.
Please do it for me. Do it for my fellow classmates. We can't vote, but you can, so make it count. “

But, one day soon, hopefully by 2020, Cameron Kasky will be able to vote, and I’m fairly certain he’ll remember the GOP and the NRA and his dead friends.

And that’s going to be good, though, yes, even us older folks will need to stand with Cameron and cast our votes to removed NRA-0funded Republicans, and those few democrats from office.

If we choose to fight terrorism, let’s first fight the homegrown terrorism of the NRA and the GOP.

UPDATE: Pam Bondi Asked For [t]Rump Money Before Dropping Investigation Into [t]Rump U

It seems like it was just a couple of hours ago — Hint: it was — that I mentioned how Florida’s Attorney General, Republican, Pam Bondi was thinking of joining in with New York’s Attorney general, Democrat Eric Schneiderman, to sue [t]Rump U for being nothing but a big scam. I posted that Pam ultimately decided there wasn’t any merit to the case and so she let the matter drop, which was when Donald J. [t]Rump gave $25,000 to her campaign.

Seems all kinds of fishy, no? Then try this on for size …

It wasn’t Donald [t]Rump coming for Pam Bondi with a check, it was the other way round. Bondi personally asked for a [t]Rump contribution at the same time she was thinking about joining in with New York’s investigation of ALLEGED fraud at [t]Rump University and as soon as the check cleared, Pam’s office decided not to p[pursue the matter.

Well, isn’t that convenient? And, a political group backing Bondi's re-election — idiotically calling themselves And Justice for All — received the check Sept. 17, 2013, days before Bondi PUBLICLY  announced she was considering joining a New York state probe of Trump University's activities. In addition, the money came from a Trump family foundation in an apparent violation of rules surrounding political activities by charities.

Who saw that coming? [t]Rump lying cheating stealing bribing? A Florida politician taking money in exchange for not pursuing a fraud investigation?

Marc Reichelderfer, a political consultant who worked for Bondi's re-election effort, says Bondi spoke with Trump "several weeks" before her office announced it was considering joining a multi-state lawsuit proposed by New York's attorney general and that Pam Bondi was unaware of the dozens and dozens of consumer complaints received by her office about [t]Rump University.

Uh huh. Anyone wanna buy a bridge?

And while this all makes perfect sense — [t]Rump buying his way out of a scandal and a republican taking a bribe — let’s end with Donald J. [t]Rump’s own words about the favors he expects and receives from politicians to whom he gave money.

"When I want something I get it. When I call, they kiss my ass. It's true."

And he gets even more favors when he bribes them upfront.

Did [t]Rump Buy His Way Out Of Another ... And Another ... Trump U Investigation?

Back in 2010, when Texas Governor, and Republican, Greg Abbott was serving as Texas’ Attorney General he opened a civil investigation into the "possibly deceptive trade practices" into [t]Rump University and guess what he found?

Oh, we’ll never know because Abbott dropped the investigation when [t]Rump U agreed to end its operations in Texas.

And that’s when Greg Abbott received a $35,000 donation to his gubernatorial campaign from … wait for it … Donald [t]Rump. And naturally, now, Greg Abbott is not talking.

This all comes to light right after a federal judge in California labeled [t]Rump's portrayal of his real estate seminar course as an uncontroversial operation. Instead, the manuals reflect boiler-room sales tactics with the proceeds going mostly to … wait for it … Donald [t]Rump.

In fact, many of those who bought into [t]Rump Scam, er, University ended up paying as much as $34,995 for what was purported to be private mentoring with supposed real estate experts.

Huh, so let’s assume that at least one person paid roughly $35,000 for the course; isn’t that almost the exact amount [t]Rump gave Abbott as a campaign donation after Abbott stopped investigating [t]Rump U?

Nothing to see there, people, move along.

Except now, in addition to that judge in California, New York’s Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, is also suing [t]Rump over [t]Rump U in separate but similar case.  Schneiderman claims [t]Rump usually keeps his hands clean in some of his more dirty deals by noting that his only financial involvement was adding his name to the organization, but in the case of [t]Rump U, [t]Rump wanted the business — and profits — for himself.

[t]Rump has defended [t]Rump U by citing surveys in which 98% of students say they were pleased with the program, but, BUT, those surveys were taken before the students had experienced the full program. An even higher percentage demanded refunds from the “school,” complaining that [t]Rump U was a rip-off.

In 2010, when the Better Business Bureau gave the school a D-minus — its second-lowest grade — state regulators, like Greg Abbott, began to take notice. Until, you know, Abbott suddenly decided he’d just let [t]Rump U leave Texas, and all those people who lost thousands of dollars, in exchange, perhaps, for a substantial campaign donation.

And this isn’t an isolated incident; Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi had considered joining with New York in a multi-state suit against [t]Rump U but just three days after it was announced that Bondi was reviewing the New York lawsuit, the Donald J. Trump Foundation made a $25,000 contribution to Bondi's re-election campaign.

And then Pam Bondi, another Republican, dropped her investigation, citing insufficient grounds to proceed.

This is your GOP, and your GOP nominee for the presidency; stealing from hardworking people and then paying off folks to stop investigating him.

TWC News

The NRA Gave These 9 Senators Over $22 Million To Vote Down Gun Laws

The Republicans went nuts last week after President Obama issued his executive order on guns and it goes something like this:

1. Keep guns out of the wrong hands through background checks.

To that end, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives [ATF] is making it clear that it doesn’t matter where you conduct your business —a store, a gun show, the Internet: If you’re in the business of selling firearms, you must get a license and conduct background checks.

Simple. The ATF is also finalizing a rule to require background checks for anyone trying to buy some of the most dangerous weapons through a trust, corporation, or other legal entity, while the FBI is overhauling the background check system to make it more effective and efficient. The envisioned improvements include processing background checks 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and improving notification of local authorities when certain prohibited persons unlawfully attempt to buy a gun.

2. Make our communities safer from gun violence.

This part of the order won’t change the laws, but it will urge law enforcement to enforce the existing laws, and give federal agencies more resources to do so.

The President’s 2017 budget will include funding for 200 new ATF agents and investigators to help enforce gun laws. In addition, the ATF has established an Internet Investigation Center to track illegal online firearms trafficking and is dedicating additional personnel to enhance the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network. The ATF is finalizing a rule to ensure that dealers who ship firearms notify law enforcement if their guns are lost or stolen in transit.

3. Increase mental health treatment and reporting to the background check system.

Obama called out those politicians who blame mass shootings on mental illness as a way of diverting attention from gun control:

“Here’s your chance to support these efforts. Put your money where your mouth is.”

The Obama Administration is proposing a new $500 million investment to increase access to mental health care, and the Social Security Administration has said it will begin the rulemaking process to include information in the background check system about beneficiaries who are prohibited from possessing a firearm for mental health reasons.

4. Shape the future of gun safety technology.

“If we can set it up so you can’t unlock your phone unless you’ve got the right fingerprint, why can’t we do the same thing for our guns?”

President Obama has directed the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security to conduct or sponsor research into gun safety technology, and has also directed those departments to review the availability of smart gun technology on a regular basis, and to explore potential ways to further its use and development to more broadly improve gun safety.

So how is this bad? How? And what reason does the GOP have for trying to fight this?

Well, some politicians have about twenty-two-million reasons.

Scott Bixby from Mic.Com took a long, hard look at the 50 U.S. Senators — one Democrat and 49 Republicans — who voted against a bill last week that would have expanded background checks for guns bought at gun shows and through online vendors, and he came up with some rather interesting findings:

One Republican Senator, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and that lone Democratic Senator, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, haven’t received a single dime in campaign funds from the National Rifle Association [NRA] directly or indirectly through PACs and other groups but …

Those other 48 Senators — every single one of them a Republican — have taken over $27 million dollars from the NRA   over the course of their careers. In addition, the NRA spent over $14 million to take down candidates who support background checks, despite the fact that 90% of Americans — and 74% of NRA members — support the idea.

But, yes, another but, let’s look at just nine politicians, again all of them Republicans, who have taken the lion’s share — over $22 million — from the NRA in campaign donations:

1. Mitch McConnell (R-KY): $1,262,189
2. Roy Blunt (R-MO): $1,433,952
3. Pat Roberts (R-KS): $1,584,153
4. Tom Cotton (R-AR): $1,968,714
5. David Perdue (R-GA): $1,997,512
6. Bill Cassidy (R-LA): $2,867,074
7. Joni Ernst (R-IA): $3,124,773
8. Cory Gardner (R-CO): $3,939,199
9. Thom Tillis (R-NC): $4,418,833

Our Congress is owned by the NRA, so is it any wonder we cannot have sensible gun control in this country?

Head to the link at the bottom for the breakdowns and list of NRA spending on all 48 senators who are against gun control in this control and, maybe, just maybe, you’ll think about voting them all out of office the very first chance you get.

And maybe then we can get some of the blood off of our hands.

Reverb Press