A Christmas Asshat: Anti-Veteran Republican Tom Coburn

Okay, can we all stop pretending that the GOP cares about Veterans? I mean, sure, they’re all pro-veteran when it’s time to send them off to war, but once those men and women return home, the GOP is all, I’m sorry, and you are?

Don’t believe me? Let’s take a peek at one such Republican Senator, Tom Coburn, of Oklahoma — oh, Oklahoma, that may explain his dumbassery. Anyway, last week, the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for Veterans bill passed the House along … wait a minute … it does happen …. It’s a Christmas miracle … an actual bi-partisan vote. And then it went to the Senate, where it was believed the same thing would happen, leaving only the need for President Obama’s signature, but then …

Enter Coburn. He blocked the bill, calling it too expensive, though he has never had a problem sending troops off to war no matter how many billions and billions of dollars that costs., But when these soldiers come home, and need our help and need our support, suddenly Tom Coburn is all about the Benjamins.

But how expensive is the bill? Well, it’s the whopping sum of $22 million; far under any other war expenditures that Tom Coburn is all too happy to slap his signature on.

Coburn, who is apparently called “Dr. No” in the Senate, and just loves the nickname, has missed 238 of 3,133 votes, or 7.6% during his tenure; the median is 2.1% for lifetime records of sitting senators. And in just the last few weeks, he’s missed 60 of 88 votes, putting him in the 99th percentile. He's just about the laziest Senator we have, and for that, once again, we can thank the not-so-good-or-bright people of Oklahoma. Still, if there was to be one vote Coburn missed, why couldn't it have been this one?

See, the suicide rate among veterans is currently about 22 a day. Yes, that’s right; twenty-two men and women who served our country commit suicide every single day; one veteran an hour. And Tom Coburn doesn’t care about them, not one bit because, he says, it’s just too darned expensive to care about human life. The number of veterans who have killed themselves is now more than all military personnel who died in Afghanistan since 2001 or Iraq since 2003 but it’s just too expensive to worry about.

It’s just human life; it’s just men and women who fought for this country and returned home, hoping to be welcomed as the heroes they are, and instead find Tom Coburn saying, “Fuck you.”

I say, “Fuck you, Tom Coburn.” Christmas Asshat.

AddictingInfo

I Didn't Say It ...

George Takei, Star Trek legend and LGBT rights activist, upon receiving the Vito Russo Award at GLAAD's New York media awards:

"[As] a closeted kid growing up in Los Angeles…all I saw of gays and lesbians in movies and television or heard on radio were caricatures of people who were mocked and laughed at, or pitied, or hated. The media stripped us of all humanity and made us into pathetic stereotypes. The media then was a soul-crushing monster. GLAAD took on this formidable beast with its media savvy, political acumen and the power of its advocacy and transformed the media into a powerful force for change. GLAAD inspired and galvanized others into action to join with in the great 21st century civil rights movement. … But as long as LGBT people can be fired from their job for simply being who they are, our work isn’t done yet. As long as young people are kicked out of their families just for being who they are, our work is not done yet. As long as people are be bullied into feeling that their lives are so hopeless that they are driven to self-destructive acts, our work is not done."

I remember those stereotypes, too, and we’ve come a long way since then, though there is still much to do, on TV and in ‘real’ life.

Bishop Gene Robinson, on his divorce from his husband, and partner, of twenty five years:

“My belief in marriage is undiminished by the reality of divorcing someone I have loved for a very long time, and will continue to love even as we separate. Love can endure, even if a marriage cannot.”

Sad news, indeed, but once again Bishop Robinson is an example, for every couple, gay and straight, that goes through a breakup.

Dwight Bullard, Democratic Florida state Senator, on an NRA-backed bill that would grant the right to carry concealed firearms during declared states of emergency:

"For me, as laughable as the amendment might seem, it's equally laughable that people who haven't gone through the proper training, the background check, the license to carry — we're saying because of a hurricane or flooding or sinkhole, these individuals have gone from gun owners to concealed carry permit holders. I'd argue a crisis is probably the last instance in which you want someone who is not a concealed permit holder to carry a weapon."

Amazing that Flori-duh has such a senator who isn't afraid to stand up to the NRA and the gun nuts.

Tom Coburn, Republican Senator from Oklahoma, on his state’s botched execution of Clayton Lockett who was slowly tortured to death for nearly an hour before dying:

"It's an unfortunate thing, but any time you're doing something with a body, things can go wrong."

It's "unfortunate" that a man is legally tortured to death by any state in this country.

Oh yeah, Coburn is also a doctor, talking about how anything can go wrong, and it’s kinda okay because it happens and what are you gonna do about it.

Howsabout ending the death penalty so we don’t become a country that tortures convicts before we kill them?

Shepard Smith, on that Gawker story that said he was demoted by the bosses at FoxNews because he’s gay and wanted to come out:

“News team- Good morning from Los Angeles. I came to Fox News 18 years ago because they agreed to hire me. I’ve stayed with Fox News because of my relationship with Roger Ailes. He’s my boss, my friend and my steadfast supporter both professionally and personally. Things you might read today are horseshit. As phony as 24-hour breaking news on The Plane Channel. Stand down. Big love. See y'all Monday. Unless breaking news changes everything."

Gawker stands by its story and Shepard is still demoted.

And still ALLEGEDLY gay.

Jason Priestley, of 90210, on former co-star Tori Spelling:

“I happened to be at home watching the local news one night, something I rarely got to do. Tori Spelling’s yard sale made the broadcast that night. I saw my very own wedding invitation on the screen. Apparently, it had gone for five bucks, including a personal autograph by Tori. She sold my wedding invitation to a stranger.”

That’s Tori, anything and everything in her life is up for sale, even her husband’s wandering penis and their televised attempts at therapy.

Matt Bomer, my Husband-In-My-Head, on his marriage to Simon Halls and their three children:

“It wasn’t anything I really endeavored to hide. But a lot of stuff I would do would be these fashion spreads where there’s one paragraph about you at the end. I don’t care about that at all. I’m completely happy and fulfilled in my personal life. [The ceremony] was very chill. Very small — only our nearest and dearest. There’s a security, a validity of knowing that it’s legal. It’s hard to put into words. It’s just a feeling, I guess — something about saying vows in front the people around you who love and support you. I think it was good for our family.”

I love him. That’s all.

Tucker Carlson, Fox News wingnut, suggesting that sexual harassment by teachers is fine as long as it's a female teacher and a male student:

"Here’s the bottom line: A 15-year-old boy is not a 15-year-old girl, and so – I got a lot of mail about this – every man understands this. A 15-year-old boy looks at this as, like, the greatest thing that ever happened, and I think for a 15-year-old girl it would be traumatic. That’s just real. I don’t know what to say – I don’t want that to be true but it is true. I’m not saying that all teachers should do lap dances at school. I’m just saying when a teacher gets so enthusiastic she breaks out into a lap dance, don’t send her to prison. That’s all I’m saying."

Further proof, as if we needed it, that the idiots at Fox News, from the top all the way down to the dregs of that network, are completely and utterly idiotic.

Van Hansis, EastSiders and As The World Turns star, on why he only recently came out publicly:

“I guess it was a combination of a lot of things—[As The World Turns] was my first job, it was a different time back then in regards to LGBT stories being told—I mean, the Luke story was groundbreaking at the time. Now, I think every remaining soap has a gay storyline. I was completely green, fresh out of college, and honestly, I was scared. … I’ve been out since I was sixteen, but when I first came to LA my agents were a bunch of Hollywood bro guys and I was afraid they wouldn’t be able to see me in straight roles. It’s a fear I still harbor, and it’s not necessarily paranoia. I met with a manager a couple of years back who told me I was “fey” and that I would need to “work on that” to be her client. On the flip side of things, I was once fired from a movie because I wasn’t “gay enough.”

Funny that, he’s too gay and maybe too straight.

Howsabout just going on his talent?

Asshats of the Week: Oklahoma Senators Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe

While the town of Moore, Oklahoma is still digging itself out of the devastation wrought by the massive tornado that touched down there this past Monday, let’s take a quick minute to look in on their state Senators, Tom Coburn and  Jim Inhofe.

Coburn, apparently, was unaffected by the tornado, so his decision to require offsets to government spending in the area, before he votes in favor of disaster relief is just good sense, no? I mean, people have lost everything, homes, cars, jobs, family members, and Coburn needs time to think before he acts to send money to help his home state rebuild.

Fifty-one people dead—20 of them children-and Coburn and Inhofe need a minute. When did this country become one that only helps its citizens when the “proper budget cuts” have been made?

In fact, Coburn and Inhofe—both Republicans, of course—pride themselves on being ‘fiscal conservatives’ and have repeatedly voted against funding disaster aid for other parts of the country, most recently the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. Coburn and Inhofe also oppose increased funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA], the agency that administers federal disaster relief. Coburn complained that the Sandy Relief bill contained "wasteful spending," and identified a series of items he objected to, including "$12.9 billion for future disaster mitigation activities and studies."

You know, to plan in case this happens again and maybe to prevent the disaster from being so devastating and widespread; you know, to help.

This past Monday evening, with bodies still being pulled from destroyed homes and schools in Moore, Coburn spokesman John Hart confirmed that the senator will seek to ensure that any additional funding for tornado disaster relief in Oklahoma be offset by cuts to federal spending elsewhere in the budget: "That's always been his position [to offset disaster aid]."

Coburn Tweeted, on Monday: "My thoughts and prayers are with those in Oklahoma affected by the tragic tornado outbreak."

Thoughts and prayers, but no disaster relief.

Quite a different tune, though, from past years. In January of 2007, Senator Coburn urged federal officials to speed relief to parts of Oklahoma after a severe ice storm, and in 2008, Senator Inhofe applauded the emergency relief efforts from the Department of Housing and Urban Development that was given to 24 Oklahoma counties in light of the severe weather. He said, at that time, "I am pleased that the people whose lives have been affected by disastrous weather are getting much-needed federal assistance."

Now he sings another tune while his constituents suffer.

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I Didn't Say It....

"Evangelist" Michael Brown, on this weekend's Charlotte Pride, where hundreds of red-shirted Christians gathered to scream insults and hatred at attendees:

"How many other community groups feature prominent performances by drag queens at their events? Can you imagine crowds at an Hispanic Pride event, or Black Pride event, or Asian Pride event -- just to name a few -- being entertained by men wearing dresses (or less), hot pink wigs, and matching knee-high boots? And this is part of the LGBT's strategy 'to promote acceptance'? How telling. And how telling that, unmentioned by the Observer, there was a large truck stationed next to the festival offering 'Free HIV Testing.' Yes, just another typical community event. It is also a bit disconcerting to watch young men greet each other with exclamations of 'Hey girl!' before exchanging pecks on the cheek. Does your average child find it confusing to hear men call each other 'girls'?"

I think if more festivals had drag queens, they'd be a helluva lot more fun.
And, Hey girl, there's nothing wrong with that, either.

Glenn Beck, on how Hurricane Irene was a warning to Americans that they start hoarding food in advance of the coming global economic collapse:
"This hurricane is a blessing. It is a blessing. It is God reminding you, as was the earthquake last week, it's God reminding you you're not in control."

Hey!
Chicken Little?
STFU.
Your fifteen minutes were up when Fox finally fired you.

From Florida public school teacher Jerry Buell's syllabus to his students:
"I am a man of God and I try to be like Jesus every day. I teach God's truth, I make very few compromises. If you believe you may have a problem with that, get your schedule changed, 'cause I ain't changing! I try to teach and lead my students as if Lake Co. Schools had hired Jesus Christ himself."

Hey Jerry, you delusional fuck.
Jesus wasn't judgmental.
He loved and accepted everyone.
You aren't Jesus, Jesus-like, or even Jesus-light.
You are something far more sinister.

Linda Harvey, of the hate group Mission America, on how gay people don't really exist:
"There’s one big fact that’s not backed up. There is no proof that there’s ever anything like a gay, lesbian or bisexual or transgendered child, or teen or human. One of the other things you’re gonna see as I mentioned is a big campaign GLSEN’s gonna roll out this year calling for 'respect,' respect! Not just for people, but for homosexual lifestyle. The PR campaign to hold up gay as a good thing: the lifestyle, not the person, because there are no such humans."

Linda. Dear, sweet, shy, stupid, ignorant Linda.
I was a gay child.
I was a gay teen.
I am a gay adult.
I was born that way and I'll die that way.
On the other hand, you were not born hateful. There are no hateful children.
Hate is taught. Hate is learned.
I was born gay, but you learned to hate.

Fred Karger, announcing his lawsuit against FoxNews for being excluded from its televised Iowa debates:
"I am the first openly gay major party candidate to ever run for President of the United States. I have experienced many doors slammed in my face by individuals and outside political organizations during the past eighteen months, but this blatant affront by Fox News executives smacks of discrimination and I hope the Commission will investigate post-haste...When I am denied a place on the debate stage after qualifying, I will take action against the party responsible. Rupert Murdoch and his Fox News should have allowed me on that stage in Ames Iowa last week. Now I am asking the Federal Election Commission to investigate Fox changed it's rules to keep me out."

If the debates are for candidates to share their ideas and ideals, then why deny the one gay candidate a spot on the dais?
Oh.
Gay.
Fair and balanced my ass.

Michele Bachmann, recreating history again:
"What people recognize is that there's a fear that the United States is in an unstoppable decline. They see the rise of China, the rise of India, the rise of the Soviet Union and our loss militarily going forward. And especially with this very bad debt ceiling bill, what we have done is given a favor to President Obama and the first thing he'll whack is five hundred billion out of the military defense at a time when we're fighting three wars. People recognize that."

No, honey, what people recognize is that you are a dangerously, delusional, ill-informed, uneducated, religious, wingnut.
That's all.

Michele Bachmann, speaking to "evangelical and Tea Party voters" on God sending hurricanes and earthquakes to Washington:
"I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?' Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we've got to rein in the spending."

Just when I think we have reached the depths of her ignorance, Bachmann opens the door to another subterranean level of idiocy.
God sent hurricanes to DC because he's pissed at every politician except  Bachmann.
Honey, I think God was hoping you'd be in DC when the hurricane hit.
Sidenote, asshat: Since Dc was relatively spared, and the Northeast received the brunt of the storm, and storm damages, how do you explain that?
::::crickets:::::
Thought so.

Wingnut Senator Tom Coburn on Barack Obama:
"He's a very bright man. But think about his life. And think about what he was exposed to and what he saw in America. He's only relating what his experience in life was ... His intent isn't to destroy. It's to create dependency because it worked so well for him. I don't say that critically. Look at people for what they are. Don't assume ulterior motives. I don't think he doesn't love our country. I think he does... As an African American male, coming through the progress of everything he experienced, he got tremendous benefit through a lot of these programs. So he believes in them. I just don't believe they work overall and in the long run they don't help our country. But he doesn't know that because his life experience is something different. So it's very important not to get mad at the man. And I understand, his philosophy -- there's nothing wrong with his philosophy other than it's goofy and wrong [laughter] -- but that doesn't make him a bad"

So, Obama is the result of Social programs?
If so, then social programs work, eh?
Or, maybe Barack Obama is the result of his own intelligence, perseverance and drive, while Tom Coburn is a bigot without a sheet.

Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum, playing that same old record on the sanctity of marriage:
"Letting the family break down and in fact encouraging it and inciting more breakdown through this whole redefinition of marriage debate, and not supporting strong nuclear families and not supporting and standing up for the dignity of human life. Those lead to a society that’s broken. [snip] And you can’t say that we’re gonna take morality out of the public square, morality out of our schools, God out of our schools, and then expect people to behave decently in a country that requires, capitalism requires some strong modicum of moral consciousness if it’s gonna be successful."

Hey Ricky?
Instead of just spouting the usual hateful rhetoric, spell it out for me, cuz I'm just a big dumb queer.
How, Ricky, how? How would my being able to marry Carlos redefine marriage?
And how would it hurt any other marriage int he world?
one day, Ricky, you'll have to explain, and you won't have an answer. All you'll have is hate and bigotry and ignorance.

Brian Brown, completely abandoning the pretense that NOM is a secular organization:
"You and I have always fought together under the banner of truth. Together, truth and love will prevail, as Maggie says. Not Truth without the love of God and our neighbor in our hearts. Nor a Love which is afraid to speak truth for fear of being labeled a bigot or a hater by those who wield scorn and hatred as a weapon to suppress the truth and those who speak it. They win by making us afraid to speak and to act for marriage in the public square. They can only win if they can get us to accept and internalize the second-class status they propose for us. To accept our own marginalization, to be quiet, to stand down and keep our heads down. To live in fear, instead of acting, with courage, out of hope. They do not know us. They do not know the One whom we know."
 
I just adore how he spins the notion that gays are evil, that gays are sinful, that gays are the doom and gloom of the world, and yet pretends top be speaking of love.
God wouldn't like that Brian, and when she grows tired of you, which I think is coming soon, you'll see what god really is all bout.
Love. For everyone.
Because if the "One" you know is filled with hate, then you can have her.

Oklahoma Reveals Another Political Asshat

Wingnut Republican Senator from Sally Kern's home state of Oklahoma--where they grow 'em stupid--Tom Coburn asked the American people to pray, yes, pray, that something happens to someone who is voting Yes on health care so they cannot make the vote.
You read it right.
Typical Republican asshat who doesn't think before he yaps.

PS The vote was 60-40 to advance the health care bill. Take that, you illiterate fucktard!