Is Newt's Ex-Wife About to Drop a Bomb?

As is no doubt clear to even casual readers, I find Newt Gingrich abhorrent. He's the an egotistical, unethical blowhard who has played the Washington insider game to the max and yet has the audacity to spin yarns to the idiots of the GOP base that he's an outsider. If Newt's a Washington outsider, then I'm Cleopatra reincarnated. Add to Newt's otherwise sleazy behavior his documented history of serial adultery and three marriages. I've always maintained that if a politician will lie and cheat on his wife (or several wives and girlfriends in Newt's case), what kind of idiot voter doesn't get the message that he's going to lie to you too? Now, ABC is poised to air an interview with Newt's second wife this evening on "Nightline" which some suspect may drop some bombs on the bombastic and truth challenged Gingrich. Frankly, I hope Marianne Gingrich drops a couple of 50 megaton bombs on Gingrich. Besides taking him down, and salacious tidbits will underscore the hypocrisy of those in the Christianist and Tea Party camps for backing such a sleaze bag. Why not simple find a prostitute off the streets and run her/him for president? They'd have about as much moral fiber as Gingrich - or maybe far more. Here are highlights from the Washington Post on what may be about to come down:

As far back as the ’90s, Marianne Gingrich has been saying she could end her ex-husband Newt Gingrich’s political career with a single interview. So has she finally dropped that long-threatened bomb, just when the former speaker and GOP presidential hopeful is rebounding in polls?

ABC reportedly has interviewed his second wife at length, and plans to air the interview on Thursday’s “Nightline,” just ahead of Saturday’s crucial South Carolina primary. The Gingrich campaign must be nervous, because it issued a preemptive statement from the candidate’s two daughters from his first marriage . . . . A Gingrich aide prophylactically pinned the tried-and-true tag for ex-wives on her, saying she was still “probably very bitter.”

What is it Gingrich is afraid his wife of 18 years is going to remember incorrectly? And what could be so bad that it would eclipse all that many Christian conservatives have forgiven and forgotten about his history already?

Just as interesting to me is ABC’s reported internal back-and-forth about whether to air the interview right before the primary. Does that mean they have legitimate questions about her credibility? Or that an ex-wife is by definition an iffy source? Or maybe they just fear the heat they’d take for giving voters even rock-solid negative information so soon before an election. (If the latter is the case, I hope they do air it, because I never understood the worry that we can’t give voters information they might actually take into account.)

In an Esquire interview in 2010, Marianne Gingrich already painted an unflattering and highly detailed portrait of her ex. Here are just a few of the lowlights from that outing, in which Marianne Gingrich was described as chain-smoking Benson & Hedges while spilling that:

1. Newt actually started seeing his geometry teacher, the first Mrs. Newt Gingrich, when he was only 16. . .

2. That early in their marriage, she had to take over the budget “because it was too stressful for Newt.’’ . . .

5. That he has lost his way and wants more than anything a lifestyle that’s “opulent” or “self-indulgent.” Class warfare, anyone?

6. That he begged her to “tolerate” his affair with Callista, his third and current wife. . . .

7. That his conversion to Catholicism “has no meaning.’’ . . .

Whatever this new revelation is, it’s got to be worse than all of these. And for Marianne Gingrich’s sake, I hope she’s got proof.

As I said, a couple of huge bombs would be ever so entertaining and it would be ever so delicious to see Gingrich and his moronic Christian Right supporters utterly humiliated. Not that it's easy to humiliate an ego maniac like Gingrich.

More Wednesday Male Beauty

Newt Gingrich Claims He'd Want Sarah Palin in His Administration

As further proof that Newt Gingrich will say and do anything to pander to the Christianist/Tea Party base of the Republican Party, Politico is reporting that Gingrich has stated that he'd want Sarah Palin to be part of his White House administration should he win in November 2012. Newt apparently missed the fact that the mindless and ignorant Palin likely highhandedly cause John McCain's loss in 2008. If I despised Gingrich before, this disgusting pandering is enough to make me want to wretch. Palin isn't qulaified to be dog catcher in Wasilla much less be a cabinet member. Here are highlights from Politico:

In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Newt Gingrich described Sarah Palin's comments about how she would vote for him if she lived in South Carolina as an "endorsement," and said he'd ask her to join a Gingrich administration:


"Gov. Palin is somebody who I think was a very good reform governor. She was extraordinarily effective negotiating with big oil. She did a good job in the state of Alaska. I think she’s a very articulate leader of the tea party conservative movement. I was honored and delighted last night when she said if she were in South Carolina, she’d vote for Newt Gingrich. I hope everybody who likes her decides she’s right. And I hope they vote for me.

"Certainly, she’s one of the people I’d call on for advice. I would ask her to consider taking a major role in the next administration if I’m president, but nothing has been discussed of any kind. And it wouldn’t be appropriate to discuss it at this time.

"I’m just delighted that she and Todd have been both of them so supportive of my candidacy. And they recognize that, you know, I’m a tea party Reform conservative. I’m not part of the Washington establishment. And I think that’s the signal that her endorsement last night really sends."

Gingrich isn't part of the Washington establishment? Does anyone have a vomit bag handy?

Will Cuba Surge Ahead of the USA on Equality for LGBT Citizens?

I note frequently about the emptiness of the USA claim to be the land of the free and the home of religious freedom. Now, it yet another underscoring of the USA's lie to the world and its citizens, Cuba may be about to surge ahead of America in the manner in which it affords near full equality under the civil laws to its LGBT citizens. Yes, you read the previous sentence correctly, I said Cuba. As the Washington Post is reporting, Mariela Castro, the daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro has stated that Cuban lawmakers will consider legalizing same-sex civil unions this year. It is more than a little ironic - sad might be a better description - that a quasi-Communist nation like Cuba may move ahead of the USA in terms of equality. Here are highlights from the Post story:

Cuba’s first daughter says island lawmakers will consider legalizing same-sex civil unions this year.

Mariela Castro is the daughter of President Raul Castro and a prominent gay rights activist. She says a preliminary proposal to modify the country’s Family Code is undergoing legal study and is on the legislative schedule for 2012.

Once-banned gay pride parades are now annual events, while the government has led anti-homophobia campaigns and even begun paying for sex change operations.

Mariela Castro’s comments came in an interview published Monday by state-run website Cubadebate.

Romney Gave Millions to the Mormon Church - Did it Fund Proposition 8?

I have always maintained that if one has nothing to hide, then you don't act like you do and hold back information as if you are striving hard to hide information. A case in point is Mitt Romney's refusal to date release of his tax returns. Yes, it goes without saying that some will be appalled by Romney's wealth and his apparent inability to remotely understand the world in which most Americans find themselves living. There may, however, be even bigger reasons for Mitt wanting to hide his tax returns. One such reason may be his nearly $2 million dllar gift to the Mormon Church. No doubt some of the Christianists will foam at the mouth and see such a huge gift as proof that Romney is not "really Christian." The other reason is that the gift coincided with the Mormon Church's effort to funnel large amounts of money into California to insure passage of Proposition 8. ABC News looks at Romney's largess to the Mormon Church. Here are some highlights:

Underscoring the prominent, if little discussed role that Mitt Romney played as a Mormon leader, the private equity giant once run by the GOP presidential frontrunner carved his church a slice of several of its most lucrative business deals, securities records show, providing it with millions of dollars worth of stock in some of Bain Capital's most well-known holdings.

Romney has always been a major donor to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which requires that members "tithe," or give 10 percent of their income to the church. His family charity, called the Tyler Foundation, has given more than $4 million to the church in the past five years, including $1.8 million in 2008 and $600,000 in 2009.

Newly uncovered stock contributions made during Romney's Bain days suggest there is another dimension to Romney's support for the church -- one that could involve millions more than has been previously disclosed.

Romney has spoken about the 30 months he spent in France as a missionary, but his role within the church as an adult is largely unexplored. Shipps said Romney has held several significant posts within church leadership, including bishop and "stake" president, a leadership post that covers a sizeable geographic area and requires a significant commitment of time.

I will leave it for readers - and the stry Christianists who read this blog - to reach their own conclusions. However, the timing of major donations do correlate nicely with the Mormon Church's anti-gay activities in California.

Wednesday Morning Male Beauty

Money Flows to New York State GOP Backers of Gay Marriage

Remember last June and July when NOM and other Christianists decried the passage of gay marriage legislation in New York State and vowed to see that campaign funding was cut off to Republicans who voted for gay marriage? Well, so far it looks like the effort to kill campaign contributions to the targeted legislators has failed and any loss in Christianist donations has been more than offset by progressive contributors. I certainly hope that the trend continues and that these brave members of the GOP - a party where bravery and integrity are in low quantity - win re-election thereby sending a strong message to hate merchants like Maggie Gallagher, Tony Perkins and Brian Brown. Here are highlights from the New York Times on the successful campaign fundraising efforts of those who did the right thing in defiance of the hate merchants:

ALBANY — Gay rights advocates from Wall Street to Hollywood poured donations into the coffers of four little-known Republican state senators after the lawmakers provided the decisive votes for same-sex marriage in New York last June, according to new campaign finance filings released on Tuesday.

The support for the four senators, whose votes broke ranks with their party, is seen by gay rights leaders as symbolically important for their movement nationally, because in many states same-sex marriage could become law only with support from Republicans, as well as conservative Democrats. Maryland, New Jersey and Washington State are expected to consider same-sex marriage legislation this year.

The four New York Republicans had been threatened with political retribution by the state’s Conservative Party, and now face possible challenges from both the left and the right, but same-sex marriage supporters had promised to help them politically if they supported the issue.

“It was essential to send a clear signal around the country that we will support those who support equality, irrespective of party,” said Brian Ellner, a senior strategist for the Human Rights Campaign . . .

All four Republicans who voted for same-sex marriage sharply increased their fund-raising in the six months after the marriage bill passed, in many cases raising money from people they had never met.

State Senator Roy J. McDonald, a Republican who is a Vietnam veteran from Saratoga County, became a momentary folk hero for many gay people . . . . raised about $447,000 in the six months following the vote, about 27 times more than he had raised in the same period in 2009. Senator Stephen M. Saland, a Republican lawyer from Poughkeepsie whose decision to support same-sex marriage became clear only when he rose to speak during the vote, raised $425,000.

The senators will need the help. Same-sex marriage opponents have promised to target them when all state lawmakers face re-election in November. “All the money in the world isn’t going to buy them out of the fact that they’re about to lose an election,” said Brian Brown, the president of the National Organization for Marriage, which opposed the New York law and has said it will spend heavily to oust the four senators. “People are outraged by what they’ve done, and they are going to be held accountable,” he said.

The donations to the individual senators came from a variety of prominent figures in the political, philanthropic, financial and entertainment worlds — from the Hollywood director J. J. Abrams to the producer Stephen Bing, from the billionaire Robert Ziff to a former United States solicitor general, Theodore B. Olson, a Republican who is leading a challenge to a same-sex marriage ban in California.

Many of the same large donors also helped Mr. Cuomo, who will not be on the ballot again until 2014, amass a formidable $14 million campaign treasury, in part from celebrities including Calvin Klein, Don Henley and Rob Reiner, as well as studio executives and business leaders.

Other contributions came in small amounts from donors across the nation — not a usual source of money for upstate legislative candidates. One Texas woman sent Mr. Saland $5, while a donor in Mississippi sent in $12.

For many of the donors, the motivation was personal. My son is gay and happily planning to marry soon,” said Daryl Roth, a Broadway producer who recently backed a revival of “The Normal Heart,” a drama about the early years of AIDS. Ms. Roth gave the legal maximum, $16,800, to Senators Grisanti, McDonald and Saland, according to state records, as did her husband, the real estate developer Steven Roth.

Let's hope that the threats by the forces of evil such as NOM are unsuccessful. Hopefully, one day all in the GOP will realize that equality for all citizens offers the brightest future for New York State and the nation.

GOP Candidates: Preaching Hate and Division in South Carolina

Some things don't seem to really change in parts of the South and they certainly haven't changed with some of the would be GOP presidential nominees. Hatred of others and racism (some not even that subtle) are alive and well and most of the GOP presidential nominee contenders are only too willing to jump on the bandwagon slandering other citizens in the hopes of pandering to the lowest elements of the Christianist and Tea Party base of the Republican Party. How any of the candidates would unify the nation to deal with its very real problems is hard to envision. Especially when the politics of division and scorn for others seems to be the main mantra being heard. Today's New York Times editorial looks at the toxicity of the lead up to the South Carolina primary vote. It's not pretty. Here are some highlights:

By mixing falsehoods with racial condescension, Newt Gingrich brought a raucous presidential debate crowd to its feet on Monday night in South Carolina, further cheapening his reputation and that of the state Republican Party.

For months, Mr. Gingrich has made racial resentment an integral part of his platform as a conservative challenger to Mitt Romney. He has traversed the country calling President Obama “the greatest food-stamp president in American history” and presenting African-Americans with the great revelation that they should prefer paychecks to federal handouts. When he was called on it at the debate by Juan Williams of Fox News, he took the measure of the crowd and doubled down.

The fact is that Mr. Obama has “put” no one on food stamps. People apply for food assistance, known officially as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, because they’re poor or out of work and their families are hungry. The number of people using the program, which is now at a peak, began rising with the recession, in 2007, and continued through four of the toughest years ever faced by the poor and near-poor in modern history.

Non-Hispanic whites also far outnumber blacks receiving SNAP benefits. As for the notion that these are people who somehow like their dependency, 30 percent of SNAP households have income from work — a reminder of the brutal impact of the recession on wages. But these are inconvenient details to Mr. Gingrich, who implied that the rise in federal aid was a sad indication of the insufficient work ethic of black Americans.

This trumpet was sounded to feed the prejudice of people who already believe that blacks and other poor people don’t really like to work and to deflect the growing public awareness that the Republican Party’s highest priority is protecting the rich from higher taxes.

For these divisive thoughts, Mr. Gingrich earned his ovation and Mr. Williams won a round of boos. Rick Santorum also got in on the game, responding to a question about high rates of black poverty with a lecture on the importance of work, high school graduation and marriage. Unfortunately, he said, the Obama administration refuses to encourage those kinds of good choices.

In South Carolina, where a Confederate flag still waves on the front lawn of the State Capitol largely because of the efforts of the state Republican Party, it remains good primary politics to stir up racial animosity and then link it to President Obama. Mr. Gingrich, Mr. Santorum and the crowd that cheered them are following in a long and tawdry tradition, singling out a minority group for lectures while refusing to support policies that help all Americans.

Once again, why would I want to be a Republican when this is in fact what the party has fallen to?

NOM - The Face of Ignorance and Bigotry

Even as the USA is sliding downward in the competition for high levels education and a strong economic future as noted in the previous post, the National Organization for Marriage ("NOM") continues to exemplify the open embrace of ignorance, superstition and bigotry that are making the nation less competitive. With the Christianists, it's all about forcing their religious beliefs and small, wrongheaded world view on all Americans. Our economic competitors must jump for joy when they see the batshitery that passes for reasoned discourse within the GOP's Christianist and Tea Party base. With all of the huge problems that America is facing, the far right's biggest concern is keeping LGBT individuals second class citizens under the civil law and projecting an image of the nation as unwelcoming to those who aren't white and far right Christians. Here's a sampling of the bullshit being disseminated by NOM (as, of course, it asks for money):

With a high-stakes presidential election, Congress up for grabs, legal battles headed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and state-level battles raging over same-sex marriage from Maryland to Minnesota, from New Jersey to Washington, from Iowa to New Hampshire, the stakes could hardly be higher. And all of us at the National Organization for Marriage are gearing up to fight the anti-marriage assault like never before.

Look no further than the presidential campaign, where the issues of marriage and religious freedom have come up again and again, with nearly all the Republican presidential candidates issuing forceful statements in defense of marriage and the faith communities which sustain it.

[D]ozens of fights at the state and national levels will pop up over the next two months, and we must be prepared. Already this year, major new pushes to legalize same-sex marriage have erupted in Washington State and New Jersey.

And with just days left before the South Carolina primary, we are at a critical moment in the race for the GOP nomination for president. NOM is committed to making sure voters have a marriage champion who will stand as a clear alternative to President Obama this November.

Remember, we are fighting to stop a small group of zealots from discarding 3,000 years of human history and redefining our country's biblical traditions on sex and marriage as the equivalent of bigotry. If we lose, the result will be the absolute destruction of marriage in America...in your state, in my state, in all 50 states!

So please take action today—forward our TV ad to anyone you know who needs to see it. And please make one urgent financial gift to help NOM continue to lead the fight for marriage.

As I have said before, the nastiest, sleaziest whore has more integrity than the folks at NOM who one must remember are making an nice living for themselves while peddling hate and division and seeking to undermine religious freedom for all but themselves. Just as Christianity was a major cause for the fall of the western Roman Empire, so to it is potentially shaping up to be a cause for the decline of America.

U. S. Losing High Tech Jobs to Asia

Click image to enlarge.

In a trend noted before on this blog, America is losing the race for new high tech - and high paying - jobs which are moving to Asia. Yes, part of the problem is the attractiveness of lower wages in Asia, but the bigger problem is the dumbing down of the American work force. And the trend will likely not improve given the soaring costs of a college education and the continued abysmal showing of the nation's schools in science. The latter situation likely to get worse as lunatic Christianists continue to push to have creationism - i.e., religion - taught instead of hard science. I'm not sure how to turn the situation around, but I do know that the active embrace of ignorance seen with the GOP base and the Christian Right is not the answer for a prosperous America in the future. Here are highlights from a Washington Post story:

The United States lost more than a quarter of its high-tech manufacturing jobs during the past decade as U.S.-based multinational companies placed a growing percentage of their research-and-development operations overseas, the National Science Board reported Tuesday.

The rapid expansion of science and engineering capabilities in China and its neighbors pose a more formidable economic challenge to the United States, according to the group, with Asia rapidly boosting the number of engineering doctorates it produces and research dollars it spends.

The report comes as the Obama administration is seeking to make U.S. manufacturing more competitive through engineering and innovation. In June, it announced its Advanced Manufacturing Partnership and sank $500 million into the effort.

But as the National Science Board publication shows, vast government efforts in Asia are working along similar lines. It offered abundant evidence Asia’s efforts to attract and develop engineering outfits, and not just low-wage factories, have paid off. Since 2000:

•Research-and-development expenditures in China and nine other Asian countries have risen to match that of the United States.

• The number of doctoral degrees in engineering awarded in China has more than doubled, and now far exceeds the number awarded in the United States.

• The number of research workers for U.S.-based multinationals working overseas has more than doubled.

The number of high-tech manufacturing jobs in the United States has declined by 687,000, or 28 percent between 2000 and 2010, according to the report.

The far right likes to pontificate about "American exceptionalism" but a public embracing science and accurate and true education is needed if this troubling trend is to be halted.