Bachmann's Iowa Campaign Chair Says Same-Sex Marriage Will Lead To Object Marriage
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/bachmanns-iowa-campaign-chair-says-same-sex-marriage-will-lead-object-marriage
Submitted by Brian Tashman on November 21, 2011 - 1:30pm
A candidate with a long and ferocious anti-gay record as Michele Bachmann needs a campaign chairman with a similar history of activism against gay rights. Last week, Bachmann’s campaign announced that Tamara Scott will serve as her Iowa Co-Chair, with campaign manager Eric Woolson announcing, “We are proud to have the support of an honorable conservative leader like Tamara.”
Scott is the director of Iowa’s Concerned Women for America chapter, and last year successfully fought to remove three justices from the Iowa Supreme Court after they legalized marriage equality in the state. She claimed that the future of America and people’s potential to enter Heaven would be in jeopardy if marriage equality remains the law of the land, telling supporters, “This is a battle for your future as Americans, for your future as a society and for your future someday when you stand before the Throne.” http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2010/August/Iowa-Hopes-for-Gay-Marriage-Wake-Up-Call/
One reason Scott said that voters should oppose marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples is that it would open the door for polyamory and legalizing marriages between people and inanimate objects. While speaking with Bob Vander Plaats, the head of The Family Leader, Scott warned that gay rights will lead to people marrying objects like the Eiffel Tower:
In all actuality, I'm so glad to hear this is coming available. I plan to marry the Capital. I figure the way I've been f'd raw by the politicians and government, I should at least get a tax break by being able to file "married". I can take all of congress as a dependent, right?
Be warned, people....these are the people who want to "lead us" in to the future.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Clueless
Hello Friends;
In times past I was once a republican. Sorry. I didn't understand. But, truth be told, I still find many of my views to hold a conservative lean. Not republican, just conservative. Long story....
I found an interesting site: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/ I guess it wasn't lost, but you understand - it's brand new to me. I find it interesting because this site seems to focus on the real beliefs behind the G.O.P. A great example is this one:
Now, I have numerous thoughts for rebuttal. For instance, we could talk about the way that the rich "job creators" have mostly created jobs in Mexico, China, India....etc. and how many jobs are now just plain gone. Or, we could talk about the manner in which these "job creators" are sending off jobs paying $20+ an hour and replacing them...sorry, Creating new ones that pay minimum wage. Or, we could even simply talk about how very huge the gap is between the wealthy "job creators" and the common working man. We could even talk about the manner in which the wealthy have swindled and cheated and driven the companies into ruin only to be offered millions to step aside and let the next have his turn at the wealth.... no accountability, no shame, no broken legs.
Why, you ask, do I not? Well, i think it's mostly because the common man really doesn't care. All he wants is to be able to feed his family and put a nice roof over their heads. We've become mostly inured to the screwing we receive from the rich, we just want to be able to live our lives. What the rich seem to forget, is that when you take away the carrot, the horse no longer has incentive to pull your little golden wagon. The whip, the wise cracks and brow beating quickly lose their power. In fact, they become quite pathetic and so very demeaning as to show the speaker all the more clueless and shallow.
But, I think rather than speak on into infinity arguing that the classes are tired of being demoted from middle and upper middle to poor and poverty stricken, I'll let Bill say it:
In times past I was once a republican. Sorry. I didn't understand. But, truth be told, I still find many of my views to hold a conservative lean. Not republican, just conservative. Long story....
I found an interesting site: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/ I guess it wasn't lost, but you understand - it's brand new to me. I find it interesting because this site seems to focus on the real beliefs behind the G.O.P. A great example is this one:
Now, I have numerous thoughts for rebuttal. For instance, we could talk about the way that the rich "job creators" have mostly created jobs in Mexico, China, India....etc. and how many jobs are now just plain gone. Or, we could talk about the manner in which these "job creators" are sending off jobs paying $20+ an hour and replacing them...sorry, Creating new ones that pay minimum wage. Or, we could even simply talk about how very huge the gap is between the wealthy "job creators" and the common working man. We could even talk about the manner in which the wealthy have swindled and cheated and driven the companies into ruin only to be offered millions to step aside and let the next have his turn at the wealth.... no accountability, no shame, no broken legs.
Why, you ask, do I not? Well, i think it's mostly because the common man really doesn't care. All he wants is to be able to feed his family and put a nice roof over their heads. We've become mostly inured to the screwing we receive from the rich, we just want to be able to live our lives. What the rich seem to forget, is that when you take away the carrot, the horse no longer has incentive to pull your little golden wagon. The whip, the wise cracks and brow beating quickly lose their power. In fact, they become quite pathetic and so very demeaning as to show the speaker all the more clueless and shallow.
But, I think rather than speak on into infinity arguing that the classes are tired of being demoted from middle and upper middle to poor and poverty stricken, I'll let Bill say it:
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Rights, Religion, Politics....
Hi Friends;
Over the past month or so I've become quite enamored with the ACLU blog. I sometimes don't agree with their views, but that's ok. I love the fact that they fight for freedom. And, I guess, anyone who would suggest that isn't a laudable goal really needs to pull back and consider things a bit closer.
The other day in my explorations, I found a picture that I just truly loved. Unfortunately, I didn't save the addy so I can't find it again. But, as most of you know of my religious beliefs, I'll just tell you what it said: it said "Jesus is my saviour, not my religion". Now, this made me stop and wonder a bit. I came to realize in my thoughts that when we Christians refer to Jesus as our "Personal Savior" and then begin to abide by a bunch of rules promulgated by man into a "religion", we lose the substance of our belief into our structure. I know, that's a bit convoluted, but I guess I'm saying we lose focus. And, since our goal is to be, by definition, "Christ like", perhaps our focus is quite important.
Now, I've got issue with what I call "Cherry Picking Christians"; people who pull scripture that is complimentary to their belief system and sort of gloss over that which isn't. These same will deny another person his rights so that this so-called Christian can be "right". Well, I don't believe that is anywhere near "Christ-like". We have man made laws, and we have God's Law. Christians really need to read a bit more, pray a bit more, and definitely THINK a bit more, and listen to preachers a lot less.
So, now we come to the crux of my issue: this piece found at the ACLU Blog. I guess I could have left my thoughts to the end, but knowing me I'd forget to do so. Well, here we go....tell me your thoughts:
please note: I made some highlights of interesting phrases and claims.
ACLU Lens: Using Religion as an Excuse for Discrimination
http://www.aclu.org/blog/religion-belief-reproductive-freedom/aclu-lens-using-religion-excuse-discrimination
This week, the U.S. Conference on Catholic Bishops is holding its annual meeting in Baltimore. The bishops are the lobbying arm of the Catholic church, and they hold substantial sway over lawmakers. But instead of focusing on issues like poverty or the economy, the bishops are instead complaining loudly that recent laws broadening women’s access to contraception and granting same-sex couples the freedom to marry amount to an assault on their religion.
However, as this Media Matters piece attests, this is hardly the case. http://mediamatters.org/research/201111160025
The bishops complained of anti-Catholic bias when the Obama administration declined to award them a contract to administer a program assisting victims of sex trafficking because the bishops refused to allow program funds to be used for abortion and contraception services and referrals. HHS instead gave grants to organizations that enable these women to get the care they need (legal aside: the ACLU has an ongoing case challenging that initial grant, and will continue litigating to ensure that government money is never used to impose any set of beliefs on vulnerable victims). Media Matters dissects the bishops’ arguments as articulated in a recent Washington Post piece by Michael Gerson.
The Gerson piece attempts to gloss over the fact that trafficking victims are often sexually abused, which is why it is critical that they have access to a full range of reproductive health care. Media Matters points to a British study that found that 95 percent of trafficking victims in Europe report being sexually assaulted.
Additionally, Media Matters shows that the bishops do not speak for the overwhelming majority of American Catholics, 78 percent of whom believe that rape victims should have access to abortion care and 63 percent of whom believe that insurance should cover contraception.
With facts like these, it is a matter of good sense, not animus, that the administration gave the contract to groups that will allow victims access to critical reproductive health services.
There’s no question that the Constitution allows everyone to practice their religion as they see fit. However, the Constitution does NOT allow one particular group to impose its beliefs on everyone else with federal money. That is exactly what the bishops are seeking to do. Nobody’s religious liberty is in jeopardy here. It is the right of others to live free from discrimination that is in danger.
And it’s not just the bishops. We’re seeing cases in which students training to be guidance counselors refuse to help teenagers in crisis because they are gay. We are seeing adoption agencies that use government funds refuse to adopt to same-sex couples. We are hearing of hospitals facing censure for providing a critically ill woman with an abortion in order to save her life. The bishops are not the victims here.
Our government’s top priority should be to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and respectfully, in accordance with our constitutional values. Allowing one particular faith to dictate how others should live does nothing to achieve this.
Over the past month or so I've become quite enamored with the ACLU blog. I sometimes don't agree with their views, but that's ok. I love the fact that they fight for freedom. And, I guess, anyone who would suggest that isn't a laudable goal really needs to pull back and consider things a bit closer.
The other day in my explorations, I found a picture that I just truly loved. Unfortunately, I didn't save the addy so I can't find it again. But, as most of you know of my religious beliefs, I'll just tell you what it said: it said "Jesus is my saviour, not my religion". Now, this made me stop and wonder a bit. I came to realize in my thoughts that when we Christians refer to Jesus as our "Personal Savior" and then begin to abide by a bunch of rules promulgated by man into a "religion", we lose the substance of our belief into our structure. I know, that's a bit convoluted, but I guess I'm saying we lose focus. And, since our goal is to be, by definition, "Christ like", perhaps our focus is quite important.
Now, I've got issue with what I call "Cherry Picking Christians"; people who pull scripture that is complimentary to their belief system and sort of gloss over that which isn't. These same will deny another person his rights so that this so-called Christian can be "right". Well, I don't believe that is anywhere near "Christ-like". We have man made laws, and we have God's Law. Christians really need to read a bit more, pray a bit more, and definitely THINK a bit more, and listen to preachers a lot less.
So, now we come to the crux of my issue: this piece found at the ACLU Blog. I guess I could have left my thoughts to the end, but knowing me I'd forget to do so. Well, here we go....tell me your thoughts:
please note: I made some highlights of interesting phrases and claims.
ACLU Lens: Using Religion as an Excuse for Discrimination
http://www.aclu.org/blog/religion-belief-reproductive-freedom/aclu-lens-using-religion-excuse-discrimination
This week, the U.S. Conference on Catholic Bishops is holding its annual meeting in Baltimore. The bishops are the lobbying arm of the Catholic church, and they hold substantial sway over lawmakers. But instead of focusing on issues like poverty or the economy, the bishops are instead complaining loudly that recent laws broadening women’s access to contraception and granting same-sex couples the freedom to marry amount to an assault on their religion.
However, as this Media Matters piece attests, this is hardly the case. http://mediamatters.org/research/201111160025
The bishops complained of anti-Catholic bias when the Obama administration declined to award them a contract to administer a program assisting victims of sex trafficking because the bishops refused to allow program funds to be used for abortion and contraception services and referrals. HHS instead gave grants to organizations that enable these women to get the care they need (legal aside: the ACLU has an ongoing case challenging that initial grant, and will continue litigating to ensure that government money is never used to impose any set of beliefs on vulnerable victims). Media Matters dissects the bishops’ arguments as articulated in a recent Washington Post piece by Michael Gerson.
The Gerson piece attempts to gloss over the fact that trafficking victims are often sexually abused, which is why it is critical that they have access to a full range of reproductive health care. Media Matters points to a British study that found that 95 percent of trafficking victims in Europe report being sexually assaulted.
Additionally, Media Matters shows that the bishops do not speak for the overwhelming majority of American Catholics, 78 percent of whom believe that rape victims should have access to abortion care and 63 percent of whom believe that insurance should cover contraception.
With facts like these, it is a matter of good sense, not animus, that the administration gave the contract to groups that will allow victims access to critical reproductive health services.
There’s no question that the Constitution allows everyone to practice their religion as they see fit. However, the Constitution does NOT allow one particular group to impose its beliefs on everyone else with federal money. That is exactly what the bishops are seeking to do. Nobody’s religious liberty is in jeopardy here. It is the right of others to live free from discrimination that is in danger.
And it’s not just the bishops. We’re seeing cases in which students training to be guidance counselors refuse to help teenagers in crisis because they are gay. We are seeing adoption agencies that use government funds refuse to adopt to same-sex couples. We are hearing of hospitals facing censure for providing a critically ill woman with an abortion in order to save her life. The bishops are not the victims here.
Our government’s top priority should be to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and respectfully, in accordance with our constitutional values. Allowing one particular faith to dictate how others should live does nothing to achieve this.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Moments that change our lives...
Hello Friends;
I was off on my explorations....it's raining, so I'm not getting much work done today. I had some pizza and a beer as I watched "Once Upon a Time". I'm really liking that show. I've also grown to like "Grimm". I don't get to watch them on normal tv, but watch them here on the compy later. But, I digress...
I was off on my explorations....it's raining, so I'm not getting much work done today. I had some pizza and a beer as I watched "Once Upon a Time". I'm really liking that show. I've also grown to like "Grimm". I don't get to watch them on normal tv, but watch them here on the compy later. But, I digress... I was off on my explorations and came across this picture. It brought back memories and made me wonder about this lad. I guess that's the magic of good art, good photography; it makes us wonder about the person, the place, the concept....
I am like most people, I guess, in that I had a number of these moments when I was growing up. I look back on them now, these moments of quiet sadness amidst the chaos of childhood and adolescence, and wonder just what decisions I made in these moments that now shape my life.
Oh, we've all had these. We've all had this time in our lives where we separated from one we loved, thought we'd never be able to show our face again, or just wished life held something more and different. Lamenting our current position is perhaps the main title of adolescent depression. I never thought I'd be this old when I was in such a predicament as this lad. I thought I'd somehow escape my attractions to other lads and be married with kids of my own tearing about and destroying my home in their rambunctiousness. Somehow I just knew life would be like the fairy tales, like the tv shows, and I'd be mowing a white picket fenced yard trying to escape my wife.
Escape being the operative word. Escape reality. You know, I have a lot of respect for kids now who are able to face themselves in the mirror, knowing that they are different and yet still very worthwhile. It's hard for them to do that, I know, and we adults don't make it all that much easier all too often. So, as I look at that picture there, I think back on my own refusals to face reality, even the many ways I tried to escape life, period. The tv shows we watch....Once Upon a Time, indeed. The books we read, the rants and raves, and all in all it's just a form of escape. Can we be so brave to look into the mirror and see the truth....of ourselves, our worlds and the mistakes we've made and contributed to in others?
Well this is what was running through my mind for a bit today.....and then my pups jumped up into my lap - all 65 lbs of her - and reminded me that although my life hasn't turned out like the fairy tales, it's not so bad. I'm loved, and I have someone...something?...to love, even when I'm feeling down.
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