| |
May 2022
|
|
May 28, 2022:
Steven Utroska is a "Christian Conservative Republican fighting to return Mississippi to a Biblical form of government. Allegiance to a King and Kingdom not of this world. No King but Christ." (according to his web site and Facebook page). He is a Christian Nationalist pushing to turn the government into a "Biblical" form of government. I told him that Christian Nationalism is not Christian. His response? "socialism isnt either." Hmm. Ever notice most right wingers love to play a game called "whataboutism?" I presume it makes them think they are smarter than anyone they do it to...but it is just an evasive answer which does not address the issue. He'll likely fit in with several of the pro-theocracy folks here in Mississippi. Jesus didnt play "whataboutism" so maybe Steve should read his Bible more. If youre gonna push "Christian" ideas then learn what it means to be one. |
|
May 27, 2022:
I've been following the Amber Heard/Johnny Depp trial somewhat. Though I think there are some issues from both side.. after hearing Amber Heard being cross examined today I think Heard could be a future leader of the Republican Party. IMHO
And now on a more serious note: The idea that any and all gun control policy must be resisted because it represents a fundamental threat to liberty is
called what has been labeled an “Insurrectionist” belief which believes that government must be kept in constant check by a heavily armed and vigilant citizenry. Such a view rests on a myth that the Second Amendment grants individuals the right to own firearms for the purpose of violently overthrowing government, a position that is unsupported by the historical record
“Neither the Second Amendment nor an inchoate right to armed revolution allows for violent opposition to the policies of a democratically accountable government, even if some citizens view those policies as tyrannical” (Joshua Horwitz and Casey Anderson ; Guns, Democracy, and the Insurrectionist Idea; 2009, p. 110).
The Second Amendment was written not to empower individuals to resist government but to give states the right to form government-organized, democratically controlled militias.
I've been following the Amber Heard/Johnny Depp trial somewhat. Though I think there are some issues from both side.. after hearing Amber Heard being cross examined today I think Heard could be a future leader of the Republican Party. IMHO
And now on a more serious note: The idea that any and all gun control policy must be resisted because it represents a fundamental threat to liberty is
called what has been labeled an “Insurrectionist” belief which believes that government must be kept in constant check by a heavily armed and vigilant citizenry. Such a view rests on a myth that the Second Amendment grants individuals the right to own firearms for the purpose of violently overthrowing government, a position that is unsupported by the historical record
“Neither the Second Amendment nor an inchoate right to armed revolution allows for violent opposition to the policies of a democratically accountable government, even if some citizens view those policies as tyrannical” (Joshua Horwitz and Casey Anderson ; Guns, Democracy, and the Insurrectionist Idea; 2009, p. 110).
The Second Amendment was written not to empower individuals to resist government but to give states the right to form government-organized, democratically controlled militias.
1/ HERE'S HOW WE FIX THIS, SHEEPLE. FIRST, YOU ARM ALL THE TEACHERS, IDEALLY WITH SHOULDER-LAUNCHED SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES. NEXT, PUT MOATS AROUND EACH CLASSROOM - GATORS WOULD HELP. YOU BURY LANDMINES UNDER RANDOM TILES IN THE HALLWAYS, MAKING SURE EACH KID MEMORIZES A MAP.
— Rex Huppke (@RexHuppke) May 26, 2022
May 25, 2022:
19 Students, 2 Teachers Dead (so far) in Texas School Shooting.“
It is being reported that the subject shot his grandmother right before he went into the school.
This was the last week of school for the kids.
Firearms became the leading cause of death for U.S. children and adolescents in 2020, surpassing motor vehicle accidents, according to a University of Michigan research letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine last month.
Somethings Gotta Give. Gun reform is different than gun abolishment. Far right wing likes to straw man the argument whenever they can. They can send out their Christmas cards without certain types of rifles and closing the loopholes in background checks
19 Students, 2 Teachers Dead (so far) in Texas School Shooting.“
It is being reported that the subject shot his grandmother right before he went into the school.
This was the last week of school for the kids.
Firearms became the leading cause of death for U.S. children and adolescents in 2020, surpassing motor vehicle accidents, according to a University of Michigan research letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine last month.
Somethings Gotta Give. Gun reform is different than gun abolishment. Far right wing likes to straw man the argument whenever they can. They can send out their Christmas cards without certain types of rifles and closing the loopholes in background checks
May 15, 2022:
So Payton Gendron posted online a manifesto of pure racism and his proud white supremacy..... stating he was going to do what he did...then he was arraigned before a judge where he plead NOT guilty?? They are only brave when they have the gun in their hand.
Through the 180 pages of hate-filled writings that Payton S. Gendron posted online, a common theme emerged: The notion that white Americans are at risk of being replaced by people of color.
Gunmen have referenced the racist idea, known as “replacement theory,” during a string of mass shootings and other violence in recent years. It was once associated with the far-right fringe, but has become increasingly mainstream, pushed by politicians and popular television programs. (The New York Times links "popular televisions" shows to an article about Tucker Carlson.
The mass shooter in Buffalo, NY who killed at least 10 people had posted a manifesto online espousing the White Replacement Theory.
White Replacement Theory has been long promoted and championed by Tucker Carlson on Fox News.
“I love you, but I would love you more,” Ted Nugent tells the audience at Trump’s rally last night, “if you went out and just went berserk on the skulls of the Democrats and the marxists and the communists.” “Evil” must be “stamped out.”
Nazism is alive and well and being resurrected by Donald Trump's Republican Party
So Payton Gendron posted online a manifesto of pure racism and his proud white supremacy..... stating he was going to do what he did...then he was arraigned before a judge where he plead NOT guilty?? They are only brave when they have the gun in their hand.
Through the 180 pages of hate-filled writings that Payton S. Gendron posted online, a common theme emerged: The notion that white Americans are at risk of being replaced by people of color.
Gunmen have referenced the racist idea, known as “replacement theory,” during a string of mass shootings and other violence in recent years. It was once associated with the far-right fringe, but has become increasingly mainstream, pushed by politicians and popular television programs. (The New York Times links "popular televisions" shows to an article about Tucker Carlson.
The mass shooter in Buffalo, NY who killed at least 10 people had posted a manifesto online espousing the White Replacement Theory.
White Replacement Theory has been long promoted and championed by Tucker Carlson on Fox News.
“I love you, but I would love you more,” Ted Nugent tells the audience at Trump’s rally last night, “if you went out and just went berserk on the skulls of the Democrats and the marxists and the communists.” “Evil” must be “stamped out.”
Nazism is alive and well and being resurrected by Donald Trump's Republican Party
| |
“Pure democracy cannot subsist long nor be carried far into the departments of state—it is very subject to caprice and the madness of popular rage.” -Declaration signer John Witherspoon
May 14, 2022:
I couldnt even begin to accurately count the number of news/information web sites I look at in an average day. But I have come to a conclusion that the best places for news are local new agencies and news papers. Not so much the big news medias and various wannabe left and right web sites. Local news networks arent really on a need to post click bait and local news papers are really not able to embellish because their community would catch the lies much easier and quicker so they have local community of "fact checkers" that keeps them more honest.
Screaming “this is all out war!” Alex Jones and Roger Stone tell their followers that the only way to win the war against evil Democrats is to send them money and buy their products.
I think theyre channeling the spirits of the Osteens, Paula White, and others from that "pay-your-way-to-heaven" ilk.
Jen Psaki leaves the White House after holding 224 briefings — more than all of Trump's press secretaries combined.
Cultural warriors on the right talk about freedom of speech and being silenced. Those on the left talk about hate speech and "safe spaces". In a world of "cancel culture", each wants to cancel the other.
What we don't do is disagree well. The media, with some exceptions, doesn't help.
Debate is framed around points of difference and conflict: polarize and divide.
This is not what democracy was designed for.
Democracy is not dead but it is weakened. Freedom House, which measures the health of democracies globally, now counts 15 straight years of democratic decline.
At the same time the political strongman, the autocrat and populist have exploited genuine fear and anxiety to govern not over division but because of it.
Yes, democracies world wide are committing suicide.
I couldnt even begin to accurately count the number of news/information web sites I look at in an average day. But I have come to a conclusion that the best places for news are local new agencies and news papers. Not so much the big news medias and various wannabe left and right web sites. Local news networks arent really on a need to post click bait and local news papers are really not able to embellish because their community would catch the lies much easier and quicker so they have local community of "fact checkers" that keeps them more honest.
Screaming “this is all out war!” Alex Jones and Roger Stone tell their followers that the only way to win the war against evil Democrats is to send them money and buy their products.
I think theyre channeling the spirits of the Osteens, Paula White, and others from that "pay-your-way-to-heaven" ilk.
Jen Psaki leaves the White House after holding 224 briefings — more than all of Trump's press secretaries combined.
Cultural warriors on the right talk about freedom of speech and being silenced. Those on the left talk about hate speech and "safe spaces". In a world of "cancel culture", each wants to cancel the other.
What we don't do is disagree well. The media, with some exceptions, doesn't help.
Debate is framed around points of difference and conflict: polarize and divide.
This is not what democracy was designed for.
Democracy is not dead but it is weakened. Freedom House, which measures the health of democracies globally, now counts 15 straight years of democratic decline.
At the same time the political strongman, the autocrat and populist have exploited genuine fear and anxiety to govern not over division but because of it.
Yes, democracies world wide are committing suicide.
May 9, 2022: AlterNet: This far-right Georgia gubernatorial candidate is even more extreme than David Perdue
In Georgia’s 2022 GOP gubernatorial primary, former Sen. David Perdue isn’t the only far-right MAGA extremist who is hoping to unseat Gov. Brian Kemp. Conspiracy theorist Kandiss Taylor is going after Kemp as well, and she is even more extreme and radical than Perdue.
In Georgia’s 2022 GOP gubernatorial primary, former Sen. David Perdue isn’t the only far-right MAGA extremist who is hoping to unseat Gov. Brian Kemp. Conspiracy theorist Kandiss Taylor is going after Kemp as well, and she is even more extreme and radical than Perdue.
May 4, 2022; Christian Post: Sen. Raphael Warnock draws ire of conservative Twitter for defending abortion as ‘pro-choice pastor’
Longtime civil rights activist and abortion advocate, the Rev. Raphael Warnock, who was elected as Georgia’s first black senator in January 2021, drew the ire of conservatives on Twitter Monday night for declaring himself a “pro-choice pastor” and reiterating his support for a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion.
Longtime civil rights activist and abortion advocate, the Rev. Raphael Warnock, who was elected as Georgia’s first black senator in January 2021, drew the ire of conservatives on Twitter Monday night for declaring himself a “pro-choice pastor” and reiterating his support for a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion.
The right-wing cable network One America News Network on Monday ran a pre-recorded 30-second segment acknowledging that there was “no widespread voter fraud” by Georgia election workers in the 2020 presidential election. The segment appears to be part of a recent settlement relating to a defamation lawsuit brought against the network by two such workers.
The segment notes that an investigation by state officials into unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud made by ex-President Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani turned up nothing. “The results of this investigation indicate that Ruby Freeman and Wandrea ‘Shaye’ Moss did not engage in ballot fraud or criminal misconduct,” a narrator states. -Daily Beast
The segment notes that an investigation by state officials into unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud made by ex-President Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani turned up nothing. “The results of this investigation indicate that Ruby Freeman and Wandrea ‘Shaye’ Moss did not engage in ballot fraud or criminal misconduct,” a narrator states. -Daily Beast
May 7, 2022:
A major pet peeve for me:
I hate it when an elected official says the "American People " elected them. "SOME" American people might have elected them..but no candidate ever got ALL Americans to vote for them. And the fools who usually say "All Americans" wouldn't give a sideways glance to someone who is not in their party or support whatever cause they are touting at the time. Candidates are elected to serve their districts...NOT just the ones that voted for them. The right wing Republicans like DeSantis and Trump and Perjury Taylor Greene dont understand that nor care to.
Another reason I have come to loathe American politics. ..end of rant
A major pet peeve for me:
I hate it when an elected official says the "American People " elected them. "SOME" American people might have elected them..but no candidate ever got ALL Americans to vote for them. And the fools who usually say "All Americans" wouldn't give a sideways glance to someone who is not in their party or support whatever cause they are touting at the time. Candidates are elected to serve their districts...NOT just the ones that voted for them. The right wing Republicans like DeSantis and Trump and Perjury Taylor Greene dont understand that nor care to.
Another reason I have come to loathe American politics. ..end of rant
We’re seeing the rise of state-sponsored vigilantism again, with some in law enforcement not taking seriously the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol or efforts directed against women and their supporters in Texas.
A hundred years ago, 250,000 vigilantes terrorized German Americans, minorities and union organizers to further the goals of the elite in the name of national security. Seventy-five years ago, we terrorized Japanese Americans. Today, vigilantes are terrorizing political opponents and women in the name of political and religious ideology. When will America learn that vigilantism is un-American in any form? -Joan Korb
A hundred years ago, 250,000 vigilantes terrorized German Americans, minorities and union organizers to further the goals of the elite in the name of national security. Seventy-five years ago, we terrorized Japanese Americans. Today, vigilantes are terrorizing political opponents and women in the name of political and religious ideology. When will America learn that vigilantism is un-American in any form? -Joan Korb
An opposition group that is actively campaigning against Rep. Madison Cawthorn has released a video clip appearing to show the North Carolina Republican naked in bed and, as Cawthorn described it, "being crass with a friend" and "acting foolish."
After the video appeared on social media, Cawthorn tweeted, "A new hit against me just dropped. Years ago, in this video, I was being crass with a friend, trying to be funny. We were acting foolish, and joking. That's it. I'm NOT backing down. I told you there would be a drip drip campaign. Blackmail won't win. We will." -CNN; 2.4.22
After the video appeared on social media, Cawthorn tweeted, "A new hit against me just dropped. Years ago, in this video, I was being crass with a friend, trying to be funny. We were acting foolish, and joking. That's it. I'm NOT backing down. I told you there would be a drip drip campaign. Blackmail won't win. We will." -CNN; 2.4.22
Leading antiabortion groups and their allies in Congress have been meeting behind the scenes to plan a national strategy that would kick in if the Supreme Court rolls back abortion rights this summer, including a push for a strict nationwide ban on the procedure if Republicans retake power in Washington.
The effort, activists say, is designed to bring a fight that has been playing out largely in the courts and state legislatures to the national political stage — rallying conservatives around the issue in the midterms and pressuring potential 2024 GOP presidential candidates to take a stand. -Washington Post 5.2.22
The effort, activists say, is designed to bring a fight that has been playing out largely in the courts and state legislatures to the national political stage — rallying conservatives around the issue in the midterms and pressuring potential 2024 GOP presidential candidates to take a stand. -Washington Post 5.2.22
May 2, 2022:
In an exchange with a right wing Catholic interviewer (from Detroit based "Church Militant") on the subject of immigration and the support by The Pope, Perjury Taylor Greene said ”Yes, we are supposed to love one another.....But their definition of what love one another means means destroying our laws. It means completely perverting what our Constitution says.”
Huh?
These rightwingers, like Greene, who use "The Constitution" as political football still have no idea what the Constitution is all about. Greene should read it sometime. It's like they think that if they say "its in the Constitution," then we should just assume they have a clue what they are talking about. Nine times out of ten they do not. Greene’s rhetoric contrasts starkly, by the way, with remarks by Pope Francis, who has made support for immigrants a fixture of his papacy.
Religious news Service reports that Greene spoke in February at an event organized by Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist and Catholic whose supporters often chant “Christ is King!” while holding crucifixes aloft.
“My name is Marjorie Taylor Greene, I am the daughter of the king, the one true living God, the Alpha and Omega, our Father in heaven, and I am a forgiven sinner, washed in the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ,” she said in her remarks before the group.
When attendees began chanting “Christ is king,” she responded, “Amen — Christ is king.”
Now tell me how the far right wing is not a cult....... as Perjury Taylor Greene tries to drag Jesus along for her ride. The interview segment, BTW, was titled "“Marjorie for Pope.” ??!!??
In an exchange with a right wing Catholic interviewer (from Detroit based "Church Militant") on the subject of immigration and the support by The Pope, Perjury Taylor Greene said ”Yes, we are supposed to love one another.....But their definition of what love one another means means destroying our laws. It means completely perverting what our Constitution says.”
Huh?
These rightwingers, like Greene, who use "The Constitution" as political football still have no idea what the Constitution is all about. Greene should read it sometime. It's like they think that if they say "its in the Constitution," then we should just assume they have a clue what they are talking about. Nine times out of ten they do not. Greene’s rhetoric contrasts starkly, by the way, with remarks by Pope Francis, who has made support for immigrants a fixture of his papacy.
Religious news Service reports that Greene spoke in February at an event organized by Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist and Catholic whose supporters often chant “Christ is King!” while holding crucifixes aloft.
“My name is Marjorie Taylor Greene, I am the daughter of the king, the one true living God, the Alpha and Omega, our Father in heaven, and I am a forgiven sinner, washed in the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ,” she said in her remarks before the group.
When attendees began chanting “Christ is king,” she responded, “Amen — Christ is king.”
Now tell me how the far right wing is not a cult....... as Perjury Taylor Greene tries to drag Jesus along for her ride. The interview segment, BTW, was titled "“Marjorie for Pope.” ??!!??
May 1, 2022:
GOP has a rightwing extreme and Democrats have a leftwing extreme. The problem with the GOP is the that rightwing is leading them and they have no clue where they are going.
And Liberal left wing didn't plan an insurrection then ignore it when it became violent..then embrace it again when they thought the coast was clear. Utah Democrats are endorsing a Republican that isnt an extremist like Mike Lee in order to get Lee out of office. They understand that Democracy is at risk. We are in high percentiles for a second Civil War maybe as early as November 2022 with Part 2 of Jan 6 2021.
GOP has a rightwing extreme and Democrats have a leftwing extreme. The problem with the GOP is the that rightwing is leading them and they have no clue where they are going.
And Liberal left wing didn't plan an insurrection then ignore it when it became violent..then embrace it again when they thought the coast was clear. Utah Democrats are endorsing a Republican that isnt an extremist like Mike Lee in order to get Lee out of office. They understand that Democracy is at risk. We are in high percentiles for a second Civil War maybe as early as November 2022 with Part 2 of Jan 6 2021.
The Constitution guarantees the right of expression. The freedom of expression is a core principle of our constitutional republic. We do not censor. We do not stifle. It is an American ideal.
What I am referring to, though, is something different. I am referring to the dangers of unfiltered, unrestrained and unmeasured personal expression: saying things without thought, without considering the truthfulness, the accuracy and the implications of our words.
This is not a wise way to live. Of course, we can say and do whatever we want, but there is a very poignant verse in the Bible where the apostle Paul says, “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful” (1 Cor. 10:13). Another way of expressing this is to use a more contemporary axiom, “Just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we should.”
Knowing what to say, when to say it, and how to say it; knowing when we should do something because it is the best course of action and not just simply because we can — these require judgment. This is the way of wisdom.
It is not a way of repression but a way of restraint, of self control, and of choosing what is best.
The Old Testament book of Proverbs has numerous references to the importance and impact of our words. In Proverbs 17:27, we see that restraint regarding our words says something about our character: “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”
The real question is whether we as a society value the personal character qualities of being knowledgeable and having understanding. Another implication of this passage is that when people do not restrain themselves, they show themselves to be the opposite of having knowledge and understanding.
It is possible to assess the character of people by their lack of verbal restraint. We have all experienced this on a relational level. But it has larger societal and cultural implications that begin with us as individuals on a relational level.
We must also consider the damage done by words expressed without filter or consideration. In Proverbs 12:18 we read, “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Words have the power to inflict pain and wound. They also have the power to bring healing. -Todd J Williams
What I am referring to, though, is something different. I am referring to the dangers of unfiltered, unrestrained and unmeasured personal expression: saying things without thought, without considering the truthfulness, the accuracy and the implications of our words.
This is not a wise way to live. Of course, we can say and do whatever we want, but there is a very poignant verse in the Bible where the apostle Paul says, “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful” (1 Cor. 10:13). Another way of expressing this is to use a more contemporary axiom, “Just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we should.”
Knowing what to say, when to say it, and how to say it; knowing when we should do something because it is the best course of action and not just simply because we can — these require judgment. This is the way of wisdom.
It is not a way of repression but a way of restraint, of self control, and of choosing what is best.
The Old Testament book of Proverbs has numerous references to the importance and impact of our words. In Proverbs 17:27, we see that restraint regarding our words says something about our character: “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”
The real question is whether we as a society value the personal character qualities of being knowledgeable and having understanding. Another implication of this passage is that when people do not restrain themselves, they show themselves to be the opposite of having knowledge and understanding.
It is possible to assess the character of people by their lack of verbal restraint. We have all experienced this on a relational level. But it has larger societal and cultural implications that begin with us as individuals on a relational level.
We must also consider the damage done by words expressed without filter or consideration. In Proverbs 12:18 we read, “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Words have the power to inflict pain and wound. They also have the power to bring healing. -Todd J Williams
| |
During a recent flight in the United States, a group of fundamentalist evangelical Christians decided to proselytize by getting in the aisles and singing Christian songs. Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota noted the double standard, implying that the evangelicals would have been treated much differently had they been Muslims..............Omar has had a lot to say about religion. When far-right Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado described Omar as a member of the “jihad squad” in 2021, Omar was quick to call out her Islamophobia. Omar, in fact, identifies as a feminist and embraces a very non-fundamentalist, non-jihadist form of Islam. And contrary to what Boebert would have us believe, Omar isn’t trying to impose Shariah law in the United States.
"People might be confused about how a Republican Party that once worried about government overreach now seeks to control medical care for transgender children and retaliate against a corporation for objecting to a bill targeting LGBTQ students,” Rubin explains. “And why is it that the most ambitious Republicans are spending more time battling nonexistent critical race theory in schools than on health care or inflation? To explain this, one must acknowledge that the GOP is not a political party anymore. It is a movement dedicated to imposing White Christian nationalism.” -Jennifer Rubin; Washington Post
- January 2022 - February 2022 - March 2022 - April 2022 -
