Chelsea Takes On Jared And _____ ... And Wins!

To be fair, and balanced … see what I did there … I adore Chelsea Clinton. She’s smart, she’s vocal, and she’s not afraid of any MAGAt backlash, which leads me to this …

Last Friday, Chelsea Clinton appeared to mock White House senior adviser, and Presidential-daughter-fucker, Jared Kushner for not having the sufficient medical expertise needed for a role in _____’s COVID-19 task force; she does not mention the son-in-law by name but did say:

“(Keep thinking: I’ve a Masters in Public Health; wrote my doctoral dissertation on global efforts to tackle AIDS pandemic; co-authored a book on global health governance; teach MPH courses on health systems & global health & I’m not qualified to lead a national #covid19 effort.)”

Still, you know who she meant, and one Rachel Gonzalez knew who she meant, and so she responded by saying:

“Imagine Hillary Clinton in the White House putting Chelsea Clinton’s husband, Mark, in charge of handling the COVID-19 situation. And when Mark briefed the country, he always praised her. Republicans would go insane, but not if the conflict of interest benefits them.”

Ouch, but true, which prompted Chelsea to respond—and this is why I adore her:

“My imagination doesn’t stretch that far.”

Clinton has repeatedly criticized the _____ White House’s delayed and haphazard handling of the pandemic, and also last Friday retweeted Senator Brian Schatz’s [D-Hawaii] claim:

“We are seeing preventable mass deaths in the United States.”

And this week she again laid blame for the mess squarely at _____’s feet:

“Multiple failures-to test every suspected case, to isolate confirmed cases, to contact trace, to adequately prepare & protect our health workers. President _____ didn’t cause #covid19 but people are dying because of his failure in public health, leadership & humanity.”

And then, when _____ suggested governors “have to treat us well” if they wanted federal assistance, she lit it up:

“YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Not some states. Not just of the people who voted for you. Not just of the people who are American citizens ( 2020 census). THE UNITED STATES. It’s never too late to start acting like it.”

She’s right; I adore her; but her comments don’t fall on simply deaf ears, they fall on ignorant, ill-equipped, unfit and unhinged ones.

Vote.Blue.Everywhere.

I Didn't Say It ...

Kelli Stargel, Florida state Senator and Republican, because, of course, on how to stop gun death:

“When we say ‘thoughts and prayers,’ it’s frowned upon. And I take real offense at that because thoughts and prayers are really the only thing that’s gonna stop the evil from within the individual who is taking up their arms to do this kind of a massacre. It’s not the weapon, it’s the evil from within.”

Seriously. A ‘thought’ will stop gun violence? A prayer? It hasn’t worked yet you ass, so maybe rethink your ignorance.

I pray you’ll find a rational thought in there, though I think you won’t.

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Daniel Malloy, Democratic Governor of Connecticut , on the NRA:

“They act, quite frankly, in some cases as a terrorist organization. You want to make safer guns? We will boycott your company. That’s who they are. That’s what they do. The NRA today is a far cry from the NRA that in 1999 said that teachers shouldn’t carry weapons in schools. Or in the 90’s said we should have universal background checks. They have in essence become a terrorist organization.”

Word.

And let’s not forget they’re a homegrown terrorist group that supports and is supported by the GOP.

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Tucker Carlson, on _____’s announcement that he’ll take away guns first and then go through due process”

“Now, I mean, how honest do you want to be? Imagine if Barack Obama had said that? Just ignore due process and confiscating guns? Obama would have been denounced as a dictator. We would have denounced him first, trust me. Congress would be talking impeachment. Some would be muttering secession.”

Of course, as happens with _____,. He changed his mind a few hours later after meeting with, and cashing a check from, the NRA.

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Alec Baldwin, on playing _____:

“Every time I [play Trump] now, it’s like agony. Agony. I can’t. If things don’t go in the right direction for the midterms. … I could go out on the street, stand on any corner and tap 10 people on the shoulder. And all 10 of them, in all likelihood, would be more qualified — ethically, morally, intellectually and spiritually — than Trump. I’ll vote for Mitt Romney. I don’t care. Anybody over this guy. It doesn’t matter. We have to get rid of him.”

And when _____ Tweeted that Baldwin is a terrible actor, Baldwin released a tweet of his own that said he’s be happiest to keep playing _____ because he wants to be there for the sketches of _____’s impeachment or removal from office.

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Stephen Colbert, on former _____ lackey  Sam Nunberg’s epic meltdown:

“Nunberg took over cable TV like a car chase. You know Mueller can arrest you, right? That’s like saying ‘Eat me’ to Hannibal Lecter. This guy is like a Snickers bar — the peanuts just keep coming. I think all of our feelings about Nunberg’s call-ins this afternoon were best summed up by [Jake Tapper’s] face.”

‘Nuff said; these are just the kinds of people _____chooses to surround himself with.

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Lee Pace, actor, officially coming out after years of dodging the question:

“In a recent phone interview, I was asked questions that I wasn’t expecting and found myself momentarily at a loss for the right words. My privacy is important to me, so I protect it. When interviewed by the media, I keep the focus on my work. [But] aAs a member of the queer community, I understand the importance of living openly, being counted, and happily owning who I am. That’s how I’ve always lived my life.”

It does make no difference, except to that young kid who looks up to Lee Pace and sasys, ‘If he can be out and proud, I can, too.’

That’s where it matters.

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George W. Bush,  on _____:

“‘Sorta makes me look pretty good, doesn’t it?'” 

I never thought I’d hear myself say this, but George W. Bush is not the worst president ever.

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Adam Rippon , on rumors that Johnny Weir was jealous of all the attention he was getting.

“Maybe … But you know what, I’m not coming for his job. I’m not coming for his gig … We’ve always reached out to each other and I’ve always thanked him because I’ve always felt like he made my way a little easier …”

Of course he did, because without a Johnny Weir, we might not have had an Adam Rippon.

Weir paved skated the way for Adam.

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Chelsea Clinton, on being disappointed that Complicit _____ supports her father’s agenda:

“It’s clear that she has supported policies and decisions that I don’t agree with. I’ve been very vocal about my opposition to President _____. I certainly am just really sad that we’re at a point in time … where we have a president who has such callous disregard for thoughtful, coherent, expert-advised foreign policy. [It] is something I would hope, regardless of where we sit on the political spectrum, we would agree on.”

The difference between a pandering handbag designer , sweatshop boss, and Chelsea Clinton is staggering.

I think Chelsea should run against _____ and wipe the floor with him … then send him and his daughter to prison.

Just a thought.

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Random Musings

... that Tweet is how Chelsea Clinton reacted to a story on Golf.com about _____ telling members at his Bedminster Golf Club that the “White House is a real dump.”

This is how social media responded ...

Carlos and I had a bit of a Date Night last week and went to see The Big Sick and then have some dinner.

The film is the true story of Kumail Nanjiani, a Pakistani comic, who meets an American girl named Emily at one of his shows. Now, Kumail’s family wants to arrange a marriage for him with a Pakistani girl, and when Emily finds out he’s been keeping that secret she breaks up with him. But then Emily comes down with an illness that leaves her in a coma, and so Kumail goes to the hospital to sit with her until her parents arrive.

The film made me laugh out loud—notice I did not LOL—when Emily’s father asked Kumail, a Muslim, how he felt about 9/11. Naturally, Kumail, being a comedian, answered like this:

“It was devastating. We lost nineteen of our best guys.”

Inappropriate humor? Check.

Later in the film, when it appears Emily may never recover, Kumail sits with her and tells her that if she wants to, she can go ... but if she wants to stay that would be okay, too.

That’s when I cried, because it’s almost exactly what I said to my mom when I was sitting by her side the day she died.

Big laughs; big tears. The Big Sick is a movie that will make you laugh out loud and then burst into tears ... or maybe that’s just me?

Moments after the swearing-in of General John Kelly as his new Chief of Staff following another week of White House chaos, _____ told reporters that Kelly will do a "spectacular" job.  Then, as he does, _____ proceeded to detail all his own "accomplishments," including unemployment, the stock markets, and consumer optimism because ... narcissist.

But, oddly, even for _____, after speaking to reporters, he dismissed them by saying, "we'll see you in the board room."

There was a meeting of _____ and his cabinet secretaries that morning, but the name of the room in which the meetings take place is the Cabinet Room, not the Board Room.

Maybe he thinks he’s still doing The Apprentice or maybe he’s just fucking out of his mind.

From the Do-They-Know-They’re-Hypocrites files ... last week, Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said that official White House policy is for the Senate to stay focused on repealing ObamaCare and not go home for vacation.

This was on the same day that _____ left for his 43rd—and, no, that is not an exaggeration—trip to one of his golf properties.

So, I was living in California—Sacramento, to be exact—when the Unabomber trial was going on out there. It was kind of crazy because there were certain buildings and streets that you were not allowed to be near during the day for security reasons. So, naturally, I watched MANHUNT The Unabomber, a eight-part series, on television.

Luckily, while the story is intriguing, it also features Sam Worthington, formerly of Starz’ Spartacus: Blood and Sand .... and Lotsa Nude Men [I added that last bit] and Paul Bettany as Ted Kaczynski.

Now, I know Kaczynski was a homegrown white male terrorist, Bettany is still pretty cute.

Just sayin’.

And I have also been intrigued by Virginia Congressman Scott Taylor after he made the list of Republicans who spoke out against _____’s transgender ban.

Sometimes Republicans do the right thing and look good whilst doing so.

So, Chris Christie went to the ball park ... well, the snack counter at the ball park ... and while walking down the stairs, a man in the crowd heckled him, calling him a ‘hypocrite’ and a ‘sucker.’

Christie came back up, got in the man’s face and screamed at him ... without spilling his plate of nachos.

Just saying, he can berate a man in public and still save his food.

I’ll take ‘Asshats Who Will Never Be President’ for $100, please, Alex.

Danica Roem is a transgender woman, a journalist and a singer in a metal band; she’s also a Democrat.

Bob Marshall is a Republican member of Virginia’s House of Delegates who has sponsored some of the most socially conservative legislation in Virginia, including a measure this year to restrict the bathrooms transgender people can use.

Roem is challenging Marshall for his seat in the state House of Delegates, and if she wins, she would be the first openly transgender candidate to serve in a state legislature.

Marshall is clearly worried because he is sending out an email blast defending his record and saying he respects every person “because we are all made in our Creator’s image.”

Nice, though hard to believe because he then says:

“I’m not trying to tell people like Danica, formally Dan, how to live their life, and likewise they should not be forcing their views and behaviors on the rest of us.”

Not a view, not a behavior, Bob; it’s a life. And for you to say things like “formally Dan” is the height of bigotry and that alone is reason enough to kick your transphobic ass to the curb.

After that story, I feel like people should show up to Bob Marshall events wearing that shirt Frank Ocean wore during a recent concert.

Just sayin’.

From the Are They Really Gonna Do This file ... while _____ was promoting a transgender military ban, his spokes-moron, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, decided to start off a White House press briefing by reading a letter from a constituent ... a 9-year-old boy named Dylan.

Sanders announced that she’d be reading letters at the start of some briefings “to remind us a little more often of some of the forgotten men, women, and children that we’re here to serve and that the president is fighting for.” Or, better said, because the Orange Man needs his tiny ego stroked ... or something.

Dylan, who also goes by the name “Pickle,” wrote:

“My name is Dylan, but everybody calls me Pickle. I’m nine years old and you’re my favorite president.”

And we’ll stop ... “favorite”? Or is that just because Mommy and Daddy said so, because it gets ickier now ...

“I like you so much that I had a birthday party about you.”

Stopping. A _____ Child’s Birthday Party? Did they play Bankruptcy? Did they play Pin The Hand on the Pussy? Liar Liar?

“My cake was the shape of your hat.”

Not his tiny hands. But then Dylan asked how old Trump was—because he acts like a child?—and how big the White house was ... which caused Sanders, during a press briefing, to rattle off a long list of facts about the property. Dylan goes on:

“I don’t know why people don’t like you.”

Um, Dylan, may I? It’s because he’s unhinged—that means insane; it’s because he’s a racist, misogynist, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti-LGBTQ moron with no experience running a country ... unless it’s into the ground.

I know you’re nine, Dylan, but grow up, fast, because by the time you get to vote, if people like your parents have their way, this country will be a shit-show. M’kay?

Oh, and after reading Pickles’ letter, Sanders threatened to end the briefing early if reporters asked about ____ banning transgender people from the military.

Yup, a letter from a kid and no discussion of the president’s bigotry and hatred.

Last week, at a rally night in Ohio, _____ made a joke—not really a joke because the man has no sense of humor—about having his face inscribed alongside Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln on Mount Rushmore.

And Twitter replied:

To be fair, one day another president could be added to the monument, but not the man who, after six months in office, has yet to pass any major legislation, who has the lowest approval ratings since approval ratings began, and hasn’t fulfilled one single promise he made during his campaign.

For example: he promised to end ISIS within thirty days.

Didn’t do it.

I Didn't Say It ....

Riley Roberts, 18-years-old, speaking to the Nevada Assembly, asking for marriage equality for his two moms:

“My name is Riley Roberts and my life is amazing. Thank you for the opportunity to talk to you about the issue of gay marriage and how it affects my life. What issue? I see no issue. I was born in Reno, Nevada 18 years ago and guess who was there? My mom Pamela Roberts and Gretchen Miller, my loving parents. And who was there to watch me take my first steps? Pamela Roberts and Gretchen Miller. And who was there when I said my first words? My two loving parents. And who was there when I kicked my first soccer ball? My two loving parents. And who can I talk to when I need anything? My two loving parents. And who will be there to see me walk across the stage next month and receive my honors diploma? My two gay loving parents who have been together for 22 years."

How can anyone say that two women, or two men, cannot be good parents, when it’s quite obvious, again, that Pamela Roberts and Gretchen Miller raised an amazing son?

Madness, I tell you; that’s got to be the only reason.

Chelsea Clinton, on marriage equality:

"It just seems so fundamental to me. I'm able to marry the person I wanted to marry. That's the fundamental human imperative. Those of us who have been lucky enough should expand these rights to others."

Equality should be fundamental, eh?

I mean, wasn’t there something that went something like ‘all men are created equal’?

E.W. Jackson, GOP nominee for Virginia lieutenant governor, standing by his declaration that gay people are perverted and sick:

"I say the things that I say because I’m a Christian, not because I hate anybody, but because I have religious values that matter to me. Attacking me because I hold to those principles is attacking every church-going person, every family that’s living a traditional family life, everybody who believes that we all deserve the right to live. So I don’t have anything to rephrase or apologize for. I would just say people should not paint me as one-dimensional."

See what he does there?

He attacks gay people by calling them pedophiles and perverts and saying we’re sick, but when he gets attacked for his views, he pulls out a Bible to hide behind.

Judge not, asshat.

Brian Brown, NOM’s lapdog, on the recent half-assed Boy Scouts gay inclusion vote:

"Today is a sad day for the Boy Scouts of America. They have succumbed to political pressure and abandoned their historic roots in what will prove to be a failed attempt to appease gay activists and corporate donors. Unfortunately, what they have done is said to the world that their oath no longer means much. Their decision to admit openly gay scouts will end up sexualizing the organization. I am certain that having changed their policy on homosexuality, it's only a matter of time before courts order them to admit homosexual scout leaders. Meanwhile, countless thousands of churches will very likely pull their sponsorship rather than endorse homosexuality, and the entire organization will begin to collapse. All of this is happening not because of a true grassroots demand of gay youth to be part of the organization but by an orchestrated political effort by gay activists who want to punish any group or organization that does not embrace homosexuality. It's the beginning of the end for what once was one of America's noblest organizations."

I love how Brown says that by the Boy Scouts trying a little non-discrimination—at least until the scout becomes eighteen years of age—that they are advancing the homosexual agenda, or appeasing the homosexual community.

What they are doing, halfp-0assed though it may be, is treating all kids equally.

Then, of course, they’ll treat the gay adults as less than.

Bryan Fischer, AFA wingnut, on why the Mormon Church ended up supporting the, as he now calls them because name-calling works, the Boy Sodomizers of America’s decision to lift the ban on gay scouts:

"The LDS leadership, these people are smart, they're sharp, they're thinking all the time and I believe one of the reasons they may have gone soft on the homosexual agenda is that they believe that the homosexual agenda may be the secret to restoring polygamy to America and this would vindicate Mormon doctrine from the very beginning."

So, the Mormon Church sees the idea of letting young gay boys join an organization as a stepping stone toward legalizing polygamy.

Even for Fischer, who never met a lie he didn’t want to spread around like horseshit, that’s a stretch.

Harvey Fierstein, on the war against The Gays:

"The first prong is political. When a politician like Marco Rubio is willing to sacrifice his career defining immigration reform legislation solely to insure that gays and lesbians are denied equal protection under the law, we have to admit that we're under attack. This is not pragmatic politics at work. These are the policies of bias, exclusion and unfairness. 

The second wave is the steady barrage coming from those who would call themselves moral leaders. Shielded behind lecterns, they assign condemnation with impunity. Claiming to be brimming with the love of their creator, they spew forth the cowardice of the mob. Fundamentalism, whether raining down terror abroad or in homilies from our home parishes, is the enemy. It is the death knell of tolerance, progress and compromise. Fundamentalism is, in all practicality, nothing but an invitation to bigotry. 

And thirdly, when we excuse homophobia as a matter of opinion instead of treating it as a destructive social illness, we invite fear to explode into violence. How often are the perpetrators of hate-crimes discovered to be self-loathing? Valued individuals do not strike out against strangers."

Read those words.

As usual, Fierstein is perfection.

Frank Rich, on LGBT history:

"As we just learned, a man can still be murdered for being gay a few blocks away from the Stonewall Inn. But the rapidity of change has been stunning. The world only spins forward, as Tony Kushner wrote. And yet as we celebrate the forward velocity of gay rights, I think we must glance backward as well. History is being lost in this shuffle—that of those gay men and women who experienced little or none of today’s freedoms. Whatever the other distinctions between the struggles of black Americans and gay Americans for equality under the law—starting with the overarching horror of slavery—one difference is intrinsic. Black people couldn’t (for the most part) hide their identity in an America that treated them cruelly. Gay people could hide and, out of self-protection, often did. That’s why their stories were cloaked in silence and are at risk of being forgotten."

Just a reminder that, in order to move forward, we need to look back, and honor and remember and celebrate those who planted their feet in resistance to discrimination; those who chose not to hide, but to step into the light and demand equality.

James Blake, hot American tennis player, on becoming an Athlete Ally in the fight against homophobia:

“I am proud to be affiliated with Athlete Ally because they do exceptional work that can actually make a difference in the sports world and beyond. Inclusion doesn't have to be a political issue, but more a human issue. As a mixed background person, I have been told I could be hated by both sides. I have always tried to look at it the opposite way as a positive that I could be accepted and included. I am extremely lucky and feel that everyone should have the feeling of acceptance.”

It’s right in there: inclusion is a human issue. It defies religion and faith and politics.

I Didn't Say It....

Grant Morrison, Action Comics writer, on the homoeroticism of Batman:

"Gayness is built into Batman. I’m not using gay in the pejorative sense, but Batman is very, very gay. There’s just no denying it. Obviously as a fictional character he’s intended to be heterosexual, but the basis of the whole concept is utterly gay. All these women fancy him and they all wear fetish clothes and jump around rooftops to get to him. He doesn’t care — he’s more interested in hanging out with the old guy and the kid."

C'mon, the comic book characters wears tights with a bulging crotch and lives with a hot young Robin.

And don't get me started on the Batsuit nipple controversy.

Dominic Dieter, Cleveland radio personality Dominic Dieter, apologizing--in a way--for his earlier comment that a man's gay daughter needed to have the Lesbian "raped" out of her:

"I just wanted to say that, I know on the show this past Friday I made some comments that people found....considered to be offensive. And I just wanted to say, I understand why people are angry.  I want to genuinely apologize to anyone who may have been offended by what I said. I regret what I did say. My comments were inappropriate.  They were inexcusable, and just downright stupid. And I want to make it clear; there was absolutely no intention to promote physical or sexual violence.  And I’m truly; truly sorry by my poor choice of words that led people to believe otherwise.  Again, Rover....I just want to apologize for any pain I might have caused....I ask people to find it in their hearts to forgive me.  I am sorry for the words that I did say. "

Okay, first he pisses me off with his "people found ... to be offensive."

I didn't find them offensive, they were offensive.

But, in the end the apology seems sincere, though, it makes me wonder: if people actually took a moment, before speaking, and thought about what they were planning to say, they might reconsider saying it.

Maureen Dowd, on the Vatican's order to punish nuns that don't publicly oppose gay marriage:

"Even as Republicans try to wrestle women into chastity belts, the Vatican is trying to muzzle American nuns. Who thinks it’s cool to bully nuns? While continuing to heal and educate, the community of sisters is aging and dying out because few younger women are willing to make such sacrifices for a church determined to bring women to heel. Yet the nuns must be yanked into line by the crepuscular, medieval men who run the Catholic Church. How can the church hierarchy be more offended by the nuns’ impassioned advocacy for the poor than by priests’ sordid pedophilia? How do you take spiritual direction from a church that seems to be losing its soul?"

Just like I think a female President would be a great thing for this country [are you listening, Hillary?] I think a female Pope could really clean up the mess that men have made of the Catholic Church over the last hundreds of years.

Michelangelo Signorile, on how the resignation of openly gay Romney spokesman Richard Grenell is a win for the LGBT community:

"Why is it that a win? Because Grenell was being used for cover by a candidate with abhorrently antigay positions, a man who has promised to "propose and promote" a federal marriage amendment if elected president. I don't buy the argument made by some that it was a measure of progress that Romney hired a gay man as his foreign policy spokesperson when he's using that gay man to make himself appear moderate to independents while he's promising the GOP base that he'll make gay people into second class citizens. Actual progress in the GOP will come when their presidential candidates stop bowing to bigots and refuse to sign their extremist pledges. Otherwise, it's all window dressing."

It's Mittsy trying to pander again.

Oooh, I'll hire a gay guy to show the LGBT community I'm on their side, and maybe they'll forget all the rancid things I've said about them being less than.

Ain't hapenin' Mittsy. We know you're a flip-flopping, two-stepping pandering asshat.

M'kay?

Chelsea Clinton, coming out against North Carolina's Amendment One:

"I believe that everyone must stand up for what is right, whenever possible, wherever possible. I also believe that when the civil rights of any one American or group of Americans in one place are questioned, all Americans, everywhere, should care that the answer is the right one. Those are lessons I learned at a young age from my parents and they are guiding principles in my life. That is why I am joining you in opposing Amendment One in North Carolina. Amendment One unfairly targets women, children and families, gay and straight, who fall outside of the narrow definition of family articulated by those who drafted the legislation. It is our duty to join the fight on behalf of both the gay and lesbian North Carolinians who were the original targets of the amendment and the tens of thousands of straight male and female North Carolinians who will be collateral damage if the amendment passes next Tuesday."

Maybe Chelsea Clinton will be the first female president?

Or, maybe she'll be elected when her mother's terms are up.

Smart girl.

Anna Paquin, True Blood actress, on being bisexual:

"I’m sure for some people saying they’re bisexual feels less scary than making a statement that they’re gay. For me, it’s not really an issue because I’m someone who believes being bisexual is actually a thing. It’s not made up. It’s not a lack of decision. It’s not being greedy or numerous other ignorant things I’ve heard at this point. For a bisexual, it’s not about gender. That’s not the deciding factor for who they’re attracted to."

Sexuality, I believe, is on a sliding scale, with homosexuality at one end and heterosexuality at the other. And people fall all along the scale.

I, personally, fall very, very close to the totally gay end, because, well, that's me. Other people may fall close to one side or the other, or, like Paquin and Cynthia Nixon, smack dab in the middle.

But as long as they're open about it, and accepting about it, who are we to judge?