All-purpose news and politics thread: Two Steps Beyond!

[Tendrin]

America, home of the frightened.

Land of hysteria.

[worstblogever]

In Maine you're more likely to be killed by a copy of The Stand falling off a high shelf than by Ebola.

Captain Trips strikes again.

[Nick Soapdish]

Considering Rick Scott has been stupid from the beginning, I think that's really par for the course.

He's not stupid. He's just amoral, probably a criminal and believes that voters are stupid or ignorant or apathetic enough to vote him in again as a moderate after making a token effort to reverse a small part of his previous years ...

"I care about the environment. I'm going to pledge 1 billion dollars to the environment over the next ten years. Even though I'm only going to be in office for four of them and have any sort of control over that pledge for those four. And it's only half of what the Florida Forever law (passed under Jeb Bush) authorizes, but not quite mandates. And I cut a billion dollars from environmental spending in just my first year - of which very little has been restored, meaning that it's been nearly 3 billion dollars in environmental spending cuts under my term so far. That counts, right? Good." Repeat for education.

... and being on track (ahead even) to fulfill his campaign promise on job creation to create 70% as many jobs in 7 years as economists projected would be created in Florida over the same time period if Florida did absolutely nothing to try to create jobs.

... and for cutting taxes although my own taxes haven't gone down at all and in fact have been raised by 3% according to a Republican argument (the amount that the government takes out of my paycheck is higher). However, my license plate re-registration will be cheaper next year.

Since the race is a dead heat, it's tough to argue against that - although he's aided in great part by the amazing weakness of the Democrats in Florida.

I think that Fangate is more reflective of that he's so egotistical, he doesn't think he can do any wrong.

[worstblogever]

It's our latest reminder of what a crock the statement "Nuh uh. Both parties are just as bad," actually is...

It’s Your Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day!

(And please, for those who those who really felt the "Both Parties are Just as Bad" statement is defensible, remember, I'm still challenging you to write your own essays each day, to keep pace with me, if it's actually "just as bad". Keep in mind, you have to pick someone from politics who has either ran for, held office within the past 5 years, and have multiple verifiable news sources to any quotes/beliefs they might have to build a solid, established track record of stupid that clearly isn't a fluke. Hell, we'll even accept people who help write party platforms within that time frame. Current crazy/stupid scoreboard, is now 94-2, since this was established on 7-18-14)



Gordon Klingenschmitt

Gordon Klingenschmitt, a.k.a. “Dr. Chaps”, pictured above, apparently post-self-baptism, is a former Navy chaplain and cable television talk show host whose zealotry knows no conceivable bounds within common logic. Given his radical Fundamentalist views, you would have thought someone in the Colorado GOP Primary for his district’s seat in the state legislature would have thought twice about the embarrassment Gordo might cause… but nope. He’s provided plenty in a year where Republicans want to snag both a national Senate seat, and the Colorado governor’s mansion where every vote could count. While some people are said to have their demons… Klingenschmitt thinks people still are having demons, literally. Yes, I mean LITERALLY. Like he’s a witchfinder general or something from medieval times.

Just… just look.

• The military chaplain who originally endorsed Klingenschmitt was Jim Ammerman, who had statements back during his own service released videos of himself that included everything from saying that Bill Clinton (president at the time) should have been executed to inciting the militia types by making claims that his chaplains were reporting back to him that they had inside information that the U.S. military was preparing to attack U.S. cities and claiming inside information from other sources indicating an imminent threat of the United States being placed under martial law. Ammerman was discharged when this all came to light, of course.
• Klingenschmitt was formally reprimanded and discharged by the Navy for disobeying an order and taking part in a political protest outside the White House while in uniform in 2006 (honestly, the fact that this guy has been an ally and appeared publicly with Walter Jones of North Carolina is making me seriously reconsider Jones’ own CSGOPOTD standing).
• Klingenschmitt claims he once counseled a rape victim on his vessel, but then he learned that she was a lesbian, and proceeded to tie her up to perform an exorcism to extricate the demons inside of her that made her want girl-on-girl action. Not only that, he claims it worked. As if she hadn’t been traumatized enough.
• On his television program, Klingenschmitt claimed that President Obama had been possessed by a “demon of tyranny” that was compelling him to try and oppress all of America. I know the Secret Service have been slipping of late, but I’m confident that they at least wouldn’t let Klingenschmitt attempt to exorcise spirits from the leader of the free world.
• Texas State Senator Wendy Davis has also been divined by Klingenschmitt to be possessed by a demon, this one “of murder”, calling on her to be immediately prosecuted for battling for a woman’s right to choose (the horror…).
• At least Klingenschmitt doesn’t limit his ability to sense demons to politicians these days. He also decided pop star Madonna has fallen victim to a “demon of adultery”. I doubt that means he’s seen the video for “Justify My Love”, or her book, “Sex”.
• In August 2013, Klingenschmitt claimed that the FCC’s guidelines being loosed was part of a plot to “allow demons to molest and visually rape your children”.
  Did he… did he just claim the censors being lax would lead to kids getting skullf***ed by the forces of Satan? That’s…. that’s beyond Church Lady levels of parody, at this point.
• Klingenschmitt has decided that if you are gay, you should be discriminated against. The Bible teaches us that. Also, he believes the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us descriminatino against gays is fine.
  (I forget the part of the speech where he talked about his dream and the mountaintop having exceptions to equality for sexual orientation. Probably because it wasn’t in there.)
• Klingenschmitt gives his opinion that photographers who pick up commissions at gay weddings should be allowed to print, “Worthy of Death” on their wedding photos. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that anyone attempting that wouldn’t get good reviews online from those customers.
• Klingenschmitt has claimed, several times, that Obamacare causes cancer. That’s not a typo. He claims that getting federal socialized healthcare will cause you to be overcome by cancerous growth, it seems.
• In February 2014, Klingenschmitt claimed one of the drawbacks to the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and gays being allowed in the military as they’re not as combat ready because they have to change diapers due to all the gay sex they’ve been having making them unable to control their bowels. (How is he running for any office? HOW DID REPUBLICANS LET HIM WIN ANY PRIMARY?)
• In May 2014, Klingenschmitt may have given us a final hint that his Bible might be a bit apocryphal, or he’s got some kind of dyslexia that replaces whole words, because he claimed the Good Book teaches us to wield guns to defend ourselves against “left-wing crazies”. Also, he added the historical revision that the Japanese never invaded California because the citizenry were all armed.
• In June 2014, you may have heard a news story about a Colorado bakery that was trying to refuse service to a gay couple trying to buy a cake for their wedding. Somehow, in Klingenschmitt’s eyes, this descrimination was “showing compassion”.
• Also in June, he assessed that the “ultimate hate speech is endorsing homosexuality”.
• In July 2014, Klingenschmitt had the perplexing idea that atheists should undergo exorcisms to cast the Devil out of them so they would then “feel comfortable in church”. Methinks he doesn’t understand what atheism is. Or how to make people feel comfortable, for that matter.
• September 2014 had Klingenschmitt on the campaign trail, saying that the United States should base it’s foreign policy on the Bible or “face God’s judgment”.
• Also in early September, only two months until Election Day, Klingenschmitt went on record to say that the openly gay Democratic Congressman, Jared Polis of Colorado, was going to join ISIS and start beheading Christians. Because we all know if there’s one thing radical, fanatical Muslim extremists want to team up with, it’s a gay, white American politician.

I will end by saying, with no hyperbole, sarcasm, or attempt at a joke on my part that my heartfelt conclusion is that Gordon Klingenschmitt needs to be locked up in a mental asylum. Really, I’m afraid he’s going to hurt someone, or himself (instead of just the chances of Colorado Republicans at the polls by association).

[the4thpip]

The twitter hashtag to check out right now is #pumpkinfest, as violent, bored college students riot for no reason at all and cause more property damage in minutes than weeks of protests did in Ferguson.,

[Kid A]

He probably listens to Limp Bizkit.

[the4thpip]

So will FoxNews talk about "white on white crime" now?

[WestPhillyPunisher]

I know the GOP is all about wanting more of their bretheren in Washington, but, good Lord (pardon the pun), how could they even consider supporting an outright madman like Gordon Klingenschmitt who should be in a padded cell instead of running for political office? This guy is everything that's bad about out of control holy rollers who see sin and evil in EVERYTHING that doesn't jibe with their interpretation of the bible, and Klingenschmitt clearly kicks his religious/homophobic mania up notches uncounted and unknown. Short and sweet, this guy is dangerous and I hope he loses in his election.

[heretic]

So will FoxNews talk about "white on white crime" now?

No, no, you are missing the point.

When Black people burn crap down, they are vicious monsters with insanely dysfunctional cultures who need to be gunned down for the safety of the Republic.

When White people burn crap down, they are kids having fun.

Big difference, or so most Law&Order sorts seem to think

[heretic]

You know, part of me wants to see Klingenschmitt in congress with a nationwide audience... for the express purpose of showing the public what the Religious Right wants for this country.

[Michael P]

Just a reminder:

[worstblogever]

I know the GOP is all about wanting more of their bretheren in Washington, but, good Lord (pardon the pun), how could they even consider supporting an outright madman like Gordon Klingenschmitt who should be in a padded cell instead of running for political office? This guy is everything that's bad about out of control holy rollers who see sin and evil in EVERYTHING that doesn't jibe with their interpretation of the bible, and Klingenschmitt clearly kicks his religious/homophobic mania up notches uncounted and unknown. Short and sweet, this guy is dangerous and I hope he loses in his election.

Pretty sure he's gonna lose, even at the state leve.

You know, part of me wants to see Klingenschmitt in congress with a nationwide audience... for the express purpose of showing the public what the Religious Right wants for this country.

I'd rather not give a platform for a man calling for religious extremists to revolt against the government.

[Arvandor]

Just a reminder:

That still leaves room for an epidemic.

[Paradox]

Careful, she'll write a song about you.

[worstblogever]

It's our latest reminder of what a crock the statement "Nuh uh. Both parties are just as bad," actually is...

It’s Your Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day!

(And please, for those who those who really felt the "Both Parties are Just as Bad" statement is defensible, remember, I'm still challenging you to write your own essays each day, to keep pace with me, if it's actually "just as bad". Keep in mind, you have to pick someone from politics who has either ran for, held office within the past 5 years, and have multiple verifiable news sources to any quotes/beliefs they might have to build a solid, established track record of stupid that clearly isn't a fluke. Hell, we'll even accept people who help write party platforms within that time frame. Current crazy/stupid scoreboard, is now 95-2, since this was established on 7-18-14)



Trey Gowdy

Trey Gowdy… how can I explain him in a nutshell… You ever know that guy who jumps on every bit of relevant pop culture to try to look cool? Even if it’s just sadly too late? Like how he started wearing a Motley Crue T-shirt in 1992, and then jumped to the Soundgarden shirt around 1999? He probably just started singing “Chocolate Rain”? That’s Trey Gowdy.

Except, of course, that Trey Gowdy gets on board with most memes conservatives rally around. And he does get on a lot of them. He gained office in 2010 (That Tea Party Wave year again) by running to the right of Bob Inglis, who himself had a 93% conservative rating from the American Conservative Union, only missing a perfect 100% because he wasn’t quite enough opposed to cap and trade and believed that climate change is man-made and happening (because it is).

Let’s take a look at some of Gowdy’s favorite memes/stances.

• Gowdy voted against the renewal of the Violence Against Women Act.
• Rep. Gowdy voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act (then again, every Republican in the Senate and House did, along party lines).
• Trey Gowdy considers himself not to be “pro-life”, but “Pro-Life Plus”. What exactly does the “plus” in that mean? That he shouldn’t be sitting around waiting for Roe Vs. Wade to be overturned, and govern without considering what those pesky Supreme Court Justices think.
• Gowdy signed the “Contract From America”, that promised to “defund, repeal, and replace Obamacare”.
• Voted “yes” on the Ryan Budget plan that cuts money from Medicare.
• Gowdy has advocated placing reporters on trial for reporting on classified information if it is leaked to them.
  

  "Put them in front of the grand jury. You either answer the question or you're going to be held in contempt and go to jail, which is what I thought all reporters aspire to do anyway. I mean all of us aspire to be committee chairmen. I thought that was the crown jewel of the reporter's resume to actually go to jail protecting a source. Give them what they want!"

• Nancy Pelosi suggested in 2012 that Republicans were attacking Attorney General Eric Holder’s credibility because of actions he took to curtail their attempts at voter suppression that year. Gowdy dismissed that by calling the former Speaker of the House “mind-numbingly stupid”.
• Amidst claims that the GOP’s push for stricter voter ID laws was an attempt to restrict voting for minorities, who tend to vote Democratic, Gowdy laughed that off by pointing out South Carolina had elected a few minorities. That doesn’t exactly prove it doesn’t exist, or the intent. Especially when, y’know, they’re still pretty racist.

Now, as far as “jumping on the bandwagon late” with causes the GOP has, here’s where Gowdy really stands out:

• Towards the end of the 2013 Government Shutdown, Gowdy berated the U.S. Parks Services Director, Jonathon Jarvis, for shutting down the World War II Memorial, while “favoring pot-smoking Occupiers”.
  The problem with that? First, the public already didn’t buy what the GOP were selling on “World War II Memorial Shut Down” outrage during the government shutdown (that Gowdy voted to start, and voted against ending). Polling data the Republicans had already was clear this would gain him zero traction. Second? The Occupy Movement was at its peak two years earlier, and Zuccotti Park, the “ground zero” of the movement was not a national park. It is privately owned, and its use was allowed by Brookfield Properties. In other words, the double-standard Gowdy was trying to accuse Jarvis of didn’t exist.
• Gowdy also took part in the IRS Scandal hearings, voting to hold Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress for invoking her constitutional right to plead the 5th amendment during the hearing. It was the first time someone had been held in contempt for using their constitutional right since… Joe McCarthy, during the Red Scare. It also proved to not lead to charges by federal prosecutors because Lerner was within her rights.
• As the GOP continued to be unable to find evidence in the IRS Scandal, Gowdy tried to bring it back to the forefront, anyway, saying he’d like to “torture IRS employees like Jack Bauer from ‘24’” so he could get answers.
• Gowdy was tapped to lead a hearing on Benghazi by John Boehner, and was chomping at the bit to do it, feeling like he could prove malfeasance leading all the way up to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton or President Obama where House Oversight Chair Darrell Issa had failed to provide a solid link.
  
  Heck, all along the way, he’d criticized the media for having the nerve to report that they could find no evidence of any wrongdoing by anyone within the Obama administration, and claimed it was only because they were trying to bury the story to help a potential Hilary Clinton presidential run in 2016. He claimed he would get to the bottom of the non-existent cover up, and get answers to the 3 questions people were demanding answers to (that had already been answered).
  
  Three months later, however, in August 2014. the Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee issued a statement that after 18 months of trying to whip up the nation into a frenzy over imagined wrongdoings in the handling of the attack on Benghazi, they had to admit they had found no wrongdoing.
  
  When the hearings finally happened in September 2014, the “trial” that Gowdy had promised never came to pass, and he was all but cowed by Democrats on the panel, who simply wanted to work to prevent future attacks on embassies (a noble, and productive goal that has eluded Republicans since the attacks).

That’s about all I’ve got on Trey Gowdy. What this little Darrell Issa knock-off should be investigating, though, is what the hell is up with his hair.