All purpose news and politics thread part VII: News & Politics Total Landscaping

[Powerboy]

In news so ridiculous it should be satire, but somehow isn’t…: Margarine Traitor Greede apparently thinks the East Coast earthquake and the upcoming eclipse are signs from her god to the rest of us that we need to repent…

Just like how the same sort of phony ‘christian’ said that 9/11 was caused by the growing acceptance of queer folx and atheists…

Why is it that greedy, treasonous, lying, abusive, rapist-defending, racism-supporting, homophobia-loving authoritarians NEVER take these things a sign that THEY need to change? Why do they NEVER consider that if anyone is being sent a message by the god of the Bible, it’s the people who demanded a god in their own image, and began worshipping LITERAL Golden Idols in the absence of any actual support - biblically, historically, or socially - for their awful interpretation of Jesus?

There is more support for the existence of Odin than there is for Right Wing Jesus.

I hope the first thing we see after the election is charges brought against every last one of these far right, fake christian, treasonous human dumpster fires…

This needs to be read alongside the God Delusion for it's greatness. But, in the God Delusion, Dawkins, explains exactly why people like MTG never see themselves as the ones that need to change.

“The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.”- Richard Dawkins

Why should they see themselves as in the wrong in the eyes of a deity that seems to support their opinions? I mean, their opinions are completely in keeping with ancient social attitudes from several thousand years ago.

[Powerboy]

Another reason it's such a stupid argument to suggest that disasters are based on God's reaction to social trends is that it's very easy to demonstrate a correlation between greater acceptance of religious pluralism and LGBT lifestyles with increased quality of life. If you're looking at things like life expectancy and infant mortality to determine God's views on things, it seems he's showing his support for gay rights and greater acceptance of atheists. Since Covid happened three years into the Trump presidency, if you think God brings disasters when he's mad, this would be an indication the alpha and the omega is not a fan of the orange guy.
There may be a reverse correlation here.
When the Dow Jones goes up, it suggests the economy's doing okay and Biden's chances of winning reelection are better, which makes a Trump meme-stock less appealing.

True. Very good points. But, Fundamentalists are not famous for making claims with any means of disproving them. If A is true, B should also be true and, if B is not true, there is a flaw in the logic of assuming A is true, simply is not part of Fundamentalist thinking. You cannot use reason to alter the opinions of people who did not arrive at those opinions through reason to begin with.

Of course, you already know all that. But, that's the voting block we're up against.

[CaptainEurope]

New study published in the journal Pediatrics (the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics) finds minimal change in lab values for patients taking gender-affirming hormones.GKa0RInbsAAu3oR.jpg

https://t.co/OgD5PHCSeP

I really want to take another look at the bone density claim. It's the same side effect that conservatives bring up to explain why condoms or sexual abstinence are still better for men who have sex with men than PrEP.

[Tendrin]

New study published in the journal Pediatrics (the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics) finds minimal change in lab values for patients taking gender-affirming hormones.GKa0RInbsAAu3oR.jpg

https://t.co/OgD5PHCSeP

I really want to take another look at the bone density claim. It's the same side effect that conservatives bring up to explain why condoms or sexual abstinence are still better for men who have sex with men than PrEP.

It's been a known thing for a long time, but it's such a minimal concern, largely due to how easily addressed it is, that I don't think a lot more research has done.

It's just something blown out of proportion by people who want to stop *all* gender affirming care and reactionaries who are easily mislead by transphobic press because they have 'concerns'.

(In fact, trans-women who are receiving estrogen actually show *improved bone density* from their baseline quite often.)

[Robotman]

This needs to be read alongside the God Delusion for it's greatness. But, in the God Delusion, Dawkins, explains exactly why people like MTG never see themselves as the ones that need to change.

“The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.”- Richard Dawkins

Why should they see themselves as in the wrong in the eyes of a deity that seems to support their opinions? I mean, their opinions are completely in keeping with ancient social attitudes from several thousand years ago.

It’s no surprise that Christian conservatives fawn over narcissistic sociopaths like Trump and MTG. The god of the old testiment was petty, jealous, prone to fits of rage and violence, and thin skinned just like their party leaders. You have to constantly tell him that he’s the best most powerful god or he’ll kill you and everyone you care about. And you sure as hell better not glance at another diety or golden calf. Speaking of gold, that magic invisible old man who lives in the sky sure loves that stuff. Gold in the Bible is mentioned 417 times and silver is mentioned 320 times. It makes sense that they worship a man who owns a gold toilet.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

It’s no surprise that Christian conservatives fawn over narcissistic sociopaths like Trump and MTG. The god of the old testiment was petty, jealous, prone to fits of rage and violence, and thin skinned just like their party leaders. You have to constantly tell him that he’s the best most powerful god or he’ll kill you and everyone you care about. And you sure as hell better not glance at another diety or golden calf. Speaking of gold, that magic invisible old man who lives in the sky sure loves that stuff. Gold in the Bible is mentioned 417 times and silver is mentioned 320 times. It makes sense that they worship a man who owns a gold toilet.

And hawked faux gold sneakers.

[Zelena]

After Biden criticized halfheartedly Netanyahu after the death of the humanitarian people, Trump in his usual way has been less subtle:

Trump sharply criticizes Netanyahu over intelligence failure in latest sign of soured relationship

[The Cool Thatguy]

After Biden criticized halfheartedly Netanyahu after the death of the humanitarian people, Trump in his usual way has been less subtle:

Trump sharply criticizes Netanyahu over intelligence failure in latest sign of soured relationship

He probably thinks that Israel isn't killing enough brown people fast enough.

[Tami]

Lauren Boebert Drunken Selfies With Trump ... Bartender Cuts Her off

Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert reportedly got herself into hot water at a pre-Christmas Republican event in NYC, getting so drunk that she became unruly to the point where she was ordered to stop taking selfies with former President Donald Trump.

Boebert's embarrassing episode took place at the New York Young Republican Club's annual gala on December 9, 2023, according to CNN, citing attendees who witnessed the incident.

Waitstaff first told Boebert they wouldn't serve her any more alcohol after they noticed she was intoxicated inside Cipriani Wall Street, CNN said. A source told the network one waiter was spotted walking up to Boebert and informing her she had been "overserved."

Then Boebert (R-CO) went up to Trump at the table they shared and kept trying to pose for photos with the 45th prez, creating a scene, CNN reported. It got so bad that Trump's security detail allegedly moved in to tell Boebert to get lost and, presumably, she did.

[Tami]

I think I just came up with a Super PAC idea to go after and deal with just about everyone who is trying to control others....

It'd be called the "Mind Your Own Business" Super PAC and it would advocate and push for all the Anti-Vaxxers, Book Burners, Anti-Women's Health, Anti-so on and so forth to Feel free to do whatever you like in regards to yourself and your family, but as far as others, "Mind your Own Business" also called "Mind your Own D**N Business".

It would be so nice to be able to say this to their faces, over and over again.

[Robotman]

California-based 99 Cents Only Stores is closing down, citing COVID, inflation and product theft

This is going to be devastating to a lot of families.

[CaptainEurope]

Bad news from Slovakia,where Peter Pellegrini beat the more pro-west, anti-Putin candidate Ivan Korcok in presidential elections. Pellegrini is one of the "UKraine needs to make concessions and we can't keep giving weapons to them" folks.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

I think I just came up with a Super PAC idea to go after and deal with just about everyone who is trying to control others....

It'd be called the "Mind Your Own Business" Super PAC and it would advocate and push for all the Anti-Vaxxers, Book Burners, Anti-Women's Health, Anti-so on and so forth to Feel free to do whatever you like in regards to yourself and your family, but as far as others, "Mind your Own Business" also called "Mind your Own D**N Business".

It would be so nice to be able to say this to their faces, over and over again.

I'm all for that, and more! All those Talibangelicals need to hear your message, tell them to keep religion in the home or church and out of my face and especially out of government.

[numberthirty]

I'm all for that, and more! All those Talibangelicals need to hear your message, tell them to keep religion in the home or church and out of my face and especially out of government.

Serious question...

Exactly how far are you planning on taking that?

"You Shall Not Murder..."/"You Shall Not Steal..." are both right there in The Ten Commandments.

We just going to legalize both of them in an attempt to keep religion out of our government?

[CaptainEurope]

Serious question...

Exactly how far are you planning on taking that?

"You Shall Not Murder..."/"You Shall Not Steal..." are both right there in The Ten Commandments.

We just going to legalize both of them in an attempt to keep religion out of our government?

That's not how anything works.