Will GOP Extremists Sink the GOP in 2012

After a weekend of undisguised batshitery and bigotry at the so-called "Values Voter Summit" - which might be better described as a mix of the Klu Klux Klan meets the Inquisition - the questions remains of whether or not a somewhat sane GOP standard bearer can win the nomination for 2012. The extremists in the Christian Right/Tea Party camp remain decidedly against Romney in significant part because he's "not a Christian" but also because he doesn't obviously drink Kool-Aid by the pitcher full. The GOP leadership that in past years cynically pandered to the unhinged and those who want to return society to the times of the Salem Witch Trials now is faced with the possibility that a viable candidate will be difficult to nominate because the insane asylum inmates have taken over too much of the GOP. Meanwhile, moderates and those who are not comfortable with unbridled religious extremism have fled, A piece in the Washington Post looks at the GOP quandary. Here are some excerpts:

There is a key bloc of Republican voters whose ambivalence has turned the GOP nomination contest into an erratic mix of roller-coaster ride and dating game. . . . . The one point on which they have been most consistent, however, is their resistance to the candidate who has been making his case the longest: former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

The anti-Romney activists, many of whom identify with the tea party movement, say they are hesitant about Romney because they simply do not trust his conservative credentials, recalling his past support of abortion rights and a health-care mandate.

Many Republican donors and establishment figures have flocked to the former Massachusetts governor in the days since Christie said he would not run, arguing that Romney is the strongest and most electable GOP candidate. In interviews over the past several days, key anti-establishment party activists say they are reevaluating the Republican field now that Christie and Palin have said they aren’t running . . . .

Rhodes [of the Iowa Tea Party], who attacked Romney as a “liberal,” says he is sticking for now with Bachmann. But the Minnesota lawmaker’s declining fortunes illustrate how many Republicans have ironclad beliefs about conservative policy but very mutable feelings about their candidates.

Bachmann’s support dropped from 26 percent in July to 7 percent in a survey this month. Perry plunged from 45 percent last month to 18 percent in October after a series of lackluster debate performances and controversial remarks on immigration.

The Republican field is effectively divided into two groups of candidates, with Romney and former Utah governor Jon Huntsman Jr. on the more moderate end, and Bachmann, Cain, Perry and others competing for the most conservative voters.

Some anti-Romney Republicans are beginning to acknowledge that their votes could be divided, leading to a Romney victory. “If Romney wins, it would show the weakness of us as a movement,” said Deace of conservatives.

But other Republicans remain confident that the party’s anti-establishment wing will eventually find a champion who will compete in a long primary battle with the former Massachusetts governor.

I love the way the media describes the Tea Party crowd as "conservative." Insane, ignorant, bigoted and delusional are all far better adjectives.

More Sunday Male Beauty

Nancy Pelosi Rebuts Eric Cantor's Attack on Wall Street Protests

As a Virginian I find it nauseating watching Congressman Eric Cantor continue to prostitute himself to the Christianst/Tea Party faction of the Republican Party. Even though Cantor is Jewish, in his sick quest for power, he willingly plays whore to those who - except for seeing Jews and Israel as a trigger to the End Times - despise him. Hasn't Cantor been paying any attention to the Christianist treatment of Mitt Romney? They say they will not vote Romney because he's not Christian. Memo to Cantor: You're not Christian and your aspirations to higher office will go nowhere because you and Romney are in the same boat. Despite this reality that ought to be apparent to anyone not blinded by a lust for power, Cantor to play water boy for the elements of the far right. His latest batch of bullshit is to condemn the Occupy Wall Street protesters and describe them as a “mob” that is out to “divide Americans” while genuflecting to Christianists at the "Value Voter Summit" Naturally, the hypocritical Cantor had no problem embracing the hate, division, and lunacy of the Tea Party crowd. Here's a clip of Cantor's reeking bullshit:



Thankfully, Nancy Pelosi has called out Cantor for his hypocrisy and double standards. This from Politico:

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is pushing back on Majority Leader Eric Cantor's (R-Va.) criticism of the growing Occupy Wall Street protests.

"I didn't hear him say anything when the tea party was out demonstrating, actually spitting on members of Congress right here in the Capitol," Pelosi said in an interview aired Sunday on ABC's "This Week." "And he and his colleagues were putting signs in the windows encouraging them. But let's not get down to that."

Cantor truly gives the term "political whore" a new meaning. He's so hungry for power that he'll give political fellatio to those who if pressed would admit to hating him, believing he's going to Hell because he's not a Christian, and who would never vote for him should he run for higher office. He's as bad as the black pastors who do the bidding of the racists in the white controlled "family values" organizations who want a white and Christian controlled America.

Why Can't the USA Approve Gay Marriage When Unlikely Nations Have??

A column in the New York Times looks at the issue of gay marriage around the world and the at first blush surprising passage of full same sex marriage laws in South Africa, Spain, Portugal and Argentina, three of which were once viewed as bastions of Catholicism. The author, Frank Bruni comes up the hypothesis that these surprising supporters of same sex marriage have one trait in common: a devotion of equality and civil rights born out of years of regressive and/or dictatorship rule. These nations value modernity and civil equality all the more because they have experienced the opposite alternative and recognize the importance of the rule of law and a secular society. Stated differently, these nations endured the type of government and repressive society that the Christian Taliban would seek to impose in the United States. Bruni also notes something that played a significant role in the passage of same sex marriage laws in Spain and Portugal - and I'd posit in Argentina as well where President Kirchner gave a moving speech before the Argentine Senate passed the legislation: Political leadership and political will on the party leading the effort for change. Under the Obama administration, we have neither. Here are some column highlights:

With minimal international attention, Portugal — tiny, overwhelmingly Roman Catholic Portugal — legalized same-sex marriage last year. Although the country is hardly seen as a Scandinavian-style bastion of social progressivism, it’s one of just 10 countries where such marriages can be performed nationwide, and in this regard it finds itself ahead of a majority of wealthier, more populous European countries, like France, Germany, Italy and Britain. In the United States, only six states and the District of Columbia allow gay marriage. How did that happen? And what wisdom do the answers offer frustrated supporters of same-sex marriage here and elsewhere around the globe?

The eight countries that later joined the club were a mix of largely foreseeable and less predictable additions. In the first category I’d put Canada, Norway, Sweden and Iceland. In the second: South Africa, Spain, Portugal and Argentina.


Why those four countries? People who have studied the issue note that that they have something interesting and relevant in common: each spent a significant period of the late 20th century governed by a dictatorship or brutally discriminatory government, and each emerged from that determined to exhibit a modernity and concern for human rights that put the past to rest.

“They’re countries where the commitment to democracy and equal protection under the law was denied, flouted and oppressed, and the societies have struggled to restore that,” said Evan Wolfson, the president of Freedom to Marry, a New York-based advocacy group, in a recent interview. That dynamic informed Spain’s legalization of same-sex marriage in 2005.

Politicians in Portugal and Argentina — two countries with their own large Catholic majorities, strong geographic or historical ties to Spain, and a palpable desire to keep pace with it — took note of the same-sex marriage legislation there. Spain set off an Iberian wave with trans-Atlantic reach: one of the countries considered most likely to approve same-sex marriage next is Uruguay, which already permits same-sex civil unions and allows gay men and lesbians to adopt.

The idea that Portugal should do no less than Spain came up repeatedly in my conversations with those who pushed for the Portugal measure, and so did the insistence that Portugal was much more cosmopolitan than many outsiders gave it credit for being. I was left with the strong impression that for many highly educated and young people in Portugal . . . . . same-sex marriage became a badge of sophistication, affirming their country as an enlightened place.

And once it became law, everyone for the most part moved on. Sócrates’s government was tripped up by economic matters, not same-sex marriage, support for which rose significantly in polls following its institution, as people saw that their society wasn’t crumbling as a result. “It was a good example of the pedagogical effect of law,” Vale de Almeida said.

San Francisco isn’t all of America, and the religious dynamics and political vitriol in this country are different from Portugal’s. But might it be possible for President Obama, so maddeningly hesitant to endorse same-sex marriage, to take a lead on the issue? And might he find, as Sócrates did, that it wouldn’t make or break him? “At the end of the day,” Sócrates told me, “what we had was the political will.”

The Times also has a map that looks at the range of treatment of gays in nations around the world. Gay acceptance is the lowest and gays are treated most harshly in countries where national levels of education are abysmally low - not surprisingly, Africa and a number of Muslim nations rank the lowest on education levels. Another parallel with gay oppression is the role of religion in the national government. Again, theocratic Muslim nations and African nations under the sway of virulent form of Christianity exported by American Christianists lead the way in oppression. In sum, ignorance (also the reason Christianity is growing in Africa) and religious extremism are the leading causes anti-gay bigotry.

Sunday Morning Male Beauty

Hampton Roads/Virginia's Achilles Heel - Social Backwardness

Both the Virginia Pilot and Daily Press are awash today with articles and columns about economic doom and gloom and the impacts that defense budget cuts could have on the Hampton Roads region and the Commonwealth of Virginia as a whole. Missing from the conversation is the elephant in the room that is a major obstacle to the recruitment of progressive and innovative entrepreneurial businesses: social policy backwardness and religious based bigotry. While Northern Virginia has flourished largely because of nearby Washington, D.C., and its bountiful government jobs and social progressiveness, the remainder of the Commonwealth is largely a different world where government policy under the current GOP/Christian Right administration is dictated as much by The Family Foundation, a falsely named Christian Right quasi-hate group, as by anything else. Add to that reality the sad fact that many people in the rest of the nation - and the world - think of Pat Robertson/Regent University and/or Jerry Falwell/Liberty University (and Matt Barber and Matt Staver) when they hear the name "Virginia." In short, not an image that would entice very many innovative and future facing businesses to want to relocate to the Commonwealth or Hampton Roads in particular.

What does Hampton Roads do to counter this unappealing image? Basically little or nothing. One hears much about the need to "diversify" the economy, but the mind set remains largely unchanged with no one willing to counter the regular pandering to Christianist sensibilities. Bigotry and religious based prejudice goes unchallenged. Local cities and representatives in the General Assembly do nothing to condemn the poison coming out of Richmond and the offices of Governor Bob "Taliban Bob" McDonnell and Attorney General Ken "Kookinelli" Cuccinelli who have brought Virginia vast amounts of negative news coverage around the globe.

Yes, the City of Richmond has begun to chase the LGBT tourism dollar by adding an LGBT page to its visitors and convention bureau webpage, but the sad truth is that nothing is improving for LGBT Virginians. We remain 4th class citizens with no recognition of their relationships, no employment non-discrimination protections, burdened by anti-gay adoption regulations, and faced with the fact that many large Virginia based corporations refuse to offer any type of domestic partner benefits. Candidly, I can't in good conscious recommend that anyone who is LGBT - or progressive for that matter - move to the state.

I've written before about socially conservative states falling behind economically. Bigotry, be it racially based or religiously based, is not good for business. Localities and the state can offer all the incentives to businesses that they want, but when the social atmosphere in the state remains one where progress and forward thinking people will find the state uninviting, such incentives will do little to "seal the deal" for corporate relocation. To prosper, Virginia and Hampton Roads need to place equality for all citizens and the embrace of modernity ahead of appeasing backward thinking religious conservatives.

Mat Staver: Gays Threaten Survival of Western Civilization

The "Value Voters Summit" continues to provide an endless stream of venom and batshitery as a who's who of Christianist hate groups spews attacks on LGBT citizens, Muslims, immigrants and pretty much anyone who isn't a white Christianist that wants to see an overthrow of the U.S. Constitution and its replacement by the Christianist version of Sharia law. One of the speakers at the coven of haters was Matt Staver from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia - a true blight on Virginia and an example of the mindset that is holding Virginia back from more widespread prosperity (more on that in a future post). Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin looks at Staver's ridiculous statements and has a great come back. First, the batshitery from Staver:

We are facing the survival of western values, western civilization. And I think those survival, whether they win or lose, what will the future of America be will be determined in our lifetime…. One of the most significant threats to our freedom is in the area of sexual anarchy with the agenda of the homosexual movement, the so-called LGBT movement. It does several things, first of all it undermines family and the very first building block of our society, but secondly, it’s a zero sum game as well and it’s a direct assault on our religious freedom and freedom of speech.

Jim Burroway correctly summarizes that it is Staver and the Christianist religious extremists who pose the greatest danger to western civilization. Staver and those of his ilk would happily turn western civilization back to a level last seen in the Middle Ages before the rise of the Renaissance. And as for religious freedom, no one would have it except the Christianists who seek to rule like jack booted Nazi storm troopers. Here's highlights from Jim's reply:

Do you really want to know what threatens the survival of Western Civilization? Well, if one of the great pillars of Western Civilization is the rule of law, then Staver’s Liberty Counsel and law school pose a far greater threat to Western Civilization than treating all people equally. Members of Staver’s organizations have been implicated in facilitating the kidnapping of then- seven-year-old Isabella Miller-Jenkins, in defiance of a court order ordering Isabella’s mother, Lisa Miller, to turn custody of the child over to her other mother from a civil union, Janet Jenkins, after Miller refused to follow to previous court orders granting visitation rights. There is considerable evidence that Miller may be following the advice of legal counsel in defying the courts’ rulings. Teachers at Staver’s law school presented a case study that was remarkably similar to the Miller-Jenkins case, and taught students that, as future lawyers, they should encourage their clients to chose “God’s law” over “man’s law” and defy the legal system.

If there is a threat to Western Civilization, it’s posed by those who would impose legal anarchy to further their narrow religious agenda in open defiance of the law.

Oh, and don't forget that many historians blame Christianity as one of the causes of the fall of the western Roman Empire - not the gays the Christiansts like Staver and Bryan Fischer so love to blame.

Norfolk Navy Base Invites Public on Ships for 1st Time Since 9/11

When my children were young one weekend activity they enjoyed - as did I - was going aboard the "open houses" on Navy ships on the weekend. Each weekend several ships would have open houses with limited tours of the vessels. It was a learning experience and was a way for those not in military families to better understand both the various types of vessels and to connect with military personnel in their work settings. 9/11 ended all such visits until now. As the Virginian Pilot reports, open houses have returned even if not on the basis of the past. One complaint over the last decade of wars instigated by Chimperator Bush and Emperor Palpatine Cheney is that most civilians are totally untouched in any direct way by the ongoing cost in treasure and human capital. Hopefully, these visits will help to open some eyes and help people to realize that we need to stop the carnage and waste of the nations in the rat hole that is Afghanistan:

It was the first time since before 9/11 that the public was invited to board a ship at the base. Prior to the terrorist attacks 10 years ago, civilians were routinely invited to tour warships.

"It was a different world back then," said Capt. Mary M. Jackson, commanding officer of the naval station. "We think differently now."

Jackson said Fleet Fest is an effort to "open the fence" and give the community an idea of what happens on the installation. The festival, part of Fleet Week Hampton Roads, included live music, a classic car show and tours of the amphibious transport dock San Antonio. The aircraft carrier [Dwight D. Eisenhower]was the day's top draw.

Visitors crossed a security checkpoint and waited in line for upward of an hour to board the nuclear flattop in groups of 100. Sailors led them on a tour of the ship's hangar bay and flight deck.

And yes, some of those sailors one sees are rather cute! :)

Romney Calls Out Bryan Fischer's Bigotry

While he did not call out Bryan Fischer by name, Mitt Romney did condemn the vilest of the Christianist demagoguery while addressing the coven of haters at the "Value Voters Summit." While it would have been preferable for Romney to have boycotted the event entirely, at least he said something about the toxicity of some of the leading merchants of division. Right Wing Watch has the video clip and here's part of what Romney had to say:

Our values ennoble the citizen, and they strengthen the nation. We should remember that decency and civility are values too. One of the speakers who will follow me today, has crossed that line I think. Poisonous language does not advance our cause. It has never softened a single heart nor changed a single mind. The blessings of faith carry the responsibility of civil and respectful debate. The task before us is to focus on the conservative beliefs and the values that unite us – let no agenda, narrow our vision or drive us apart.

It goes without saying that trying to constantly denigrate others and inflict a hate and fear based theocracy on all citizens doesn't exactly jive with "civil and respectful debate." Not surprisingly, Romney's comments were not followed by thunderous applause. FRC and AFA are all about poisonous language and the endangerment of hatred. The Gospel Pharisees look like pretty nice people in comparison.

Pastor Who Assaulted Gay Son and Boyfriend Arrested on Theft Charges

In yet another example of the seemingly never ending hypocrisy of the self-congratulatory Christianists, Pastor Jerry Pittman - who with the help of his church deacons physically assaulted and beat his gay son and the son's boyfriend recently and received mention on this blog - has been arrested on theft charges. The charges arise out of Patterson's reported theft of goods from his estranged wife's business. WBBJ-TV 7 has coverage on this dirt bags latest misadventure with the law. Here are some highlights:

ABC 7 Eyewitness News has learned about new allegations against the same Gibson County pastor accused of assaulting his gay son and his boyfriend. According to Trenton police, they recently arrested Pastor Jerry Pittman, of Fruitland's Grace Fellowship Church, on charges of stealing from a local business.

Police arrested the 52-year-old on September 21, after his estranged wife told them she had heard from co-workers that he had been stealing from her business. "Our investigation into the incident that was reported showed that he and another gentleman did scrap copper at a scrap yard here in Trenton," Lt. James Wilson said. Investigators said he scrapped the copper at least three different times since August. It was hundreds of pounds, and worth more than $1,000.

This actually is not the first time Pittman has been arrested. Police said he was arrested back in 2006 for a simple assault charge. . . . According to investigators, Pittman is charged with theft of more than $1,000. He bonded out of jail the day he was arrested, and his next court appearance will be October 28 at Trenton Municipal Court.

One has to wonder what type of simpleton would attend a church headed up by an unsavory individual like Pittman.