Barack Obama Signs "Detention" Bill

See you all in hell. By which I mean Guatanamo Bay.

In a move that has horrified civil liberties advocates (not to mention thousands upon thousands of Americans) President Barack Obama signed today a controversial defense authorization bill which contains amendments authorizing the White House to detain persons of interest in terrorism investigations indefinitely by using the US military:

The White House had said that the legislation could lead to an improper military role in overseeing detention and court proceedings and could infringe on the president’s authority in dealing with terrorism suspects. But it said that Mr. Obama could interpret the statute in a way that would preserve his authority. 

The president, for example, said that he would never authorize the indefinite military detention of American citizens, because “doing so would break with our most important traditions and values as a nation.” He also said he would reject a “rigid across-the-board requirement” that suspects be tried in military courts rather than civilian courts.

Basically, he has given himself the authority to detain Americans without due process but really really wants us to know that he is going to do the right thing and not use that authority. Right.

Keep in mind he also was going to ease federal restrictions on medical marijuana laws yet has instituted crackdowns on dispensaries in Washington State. He promised to have more lax deportation standards but instead has deported more immigrants than any previous president. So are we supposed to trust him?

Fallout: A Minister's Story Of Police Brutality

In the last video video I posted on OAQ, if you watch carefully you can see a minister being knocked to the ground by police. Now Rev. John Helmiere alleges that the incident was a clear case of police brutality:

Yesterday evening, I was brutally beaten by my brothers on the Seattle Police force as I stood before an entrance to Pier 18 of the Seattle Port in my clergy garb bellowing, “Keep the Peace! Keep the Peace!” An officer pulled me down from behind and threw me to the asphalt. Between my cries of pain and shouts of “I’m a man of peace!” he pressed a knee to my spine and immobilized my arms behind my back, crushing me against the ground. With the right side of my face pressed to the street, he repeatedly punched the left side of my face for long enough that I had time to pray that the crunching sounds I heard were not damaging my brain. I was cuffed and pulled off the ground by a different officer who seemed genuinely appalled when he saw my face and clerical collar. He asked who I was and why I was here, to which I replied, “I’m a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I believe another world is possible.” He led me shaking to a police van where began a 12-hour journey of incarcerated misery.

Click here to get his full account.

OneAngryCultist: Voting for God

Hold on to your horses, kids, the current GOP-led Congress is finally voting on something that is nothing short of Biblical and will bring about the second-coming; cure cancer, AIDS, hemorrhoids, and result in the liberation of all humanity accomplish absolutely nothing except reaffirm, "In God We Trust" as the national motto of the United States. The proposed bill would also encourage public buildings to include the motto in their architecture because, you know, architectural redecoration is some kind of job-creation, right?!

Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04), Co-Chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus and author of H.CON.RES.13 cites the following reasons why this bill is necessary:

"President Obama inaccurately proclaimed "E Pluribus Unum' as our national motto. Last November before a worldwide audience, in a much-anticipated and much-publicized speech focusing on the United States' relationship with the Muslim world, President Obama falsely proclaimed that our national motto was E pluribus unum. The President failed to respond to congressional entreaties to issue a correction; the uncorrected transcript remains on the White House website.

Misunderstanding of the phrase "Separation of Church and State". The Supreme Court has held, “The First Amendment, however, does not say that in every and all respects there shall be a separation of Church and State. . . We find no constitutional requirement which makes it necessary for government to be hostile to religion.” The words ‘separation of church and state’ do not appear in the U.S. Constitution. Rather, the phrase originates from a letter penned by Thomas Jefferson on January 1, 1802, to the Danbury Baptist Association.

Inaccuracies and omissions in the half-billion-dollar Capitol Visitor Center. In 2008, the over half-billion dollar Capitol Visitor Center opened for the purpose of educating over 15,000 Capitol visitors daily on the “legislative process as well as the history and development of the architecture and art of the U.S. Capitol.” Yet, Capitol Visitor Center historians had sanitized the public building of any references to our national motto, including replacing the inscription of ‘In God We Trust,’ inscribed above the Speaker’s Rostrum with stars in a replica of the House Chamber and cropping an actual picture of the chamber so you could not see the words ‘In God We Trust.’ Only until Members of Congress intervened publically [sic.] and legislatively were these omissions and inaccuracies corrected."

So, essentially, what I'm reading is that Congressman Forbes took one of President Obama's gaffes a little too close to heart and is using Congress to make sure this doesn't happen again lest we all fall into godless heathenry.

Now, "Why is your OneAngryCultist chiming in on this particular issue?" you might ask. Well, because religion is important to me - not just mine, but all religions and spiritual perspectives atheism inclusive. As much as I like a little ceremonial deism here and there, H.CON.RES.13 is decidedly sectarian in nature and is part of a growing trend of denying the religious pluralism upon which this country was founded. While the issue of "separation of church and state" does not exist in the Constitution in word, the kind of religion that politicians like Forbes, Perry and others want to enshrine into law is not the kind of religion that would be recognizable by the founding fathers, let alone the 25% of non-Christians in the United States.

Today In Smiting-- Joplin Tornado Was Caused By Barack Obama

This whackjob, coming via Right Wing Watch, blames Israel's eroding position in the Middle East, a hypothetical rise in racism which will rival 1967's struggle, and the tornado that destroyed a good portion of Joplin, Missouri on one thing: Barack Obama's speech in May 2011 calling for a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by bringing Israel's borders back to the defined limits before expansion in the late 60s.

Right.

Regardless of this loon's religious background, he clearly is mixing religion with politics in the worst kind of way: by blaming a deadly, tragic weather event on a political stance-- then saying that God was punishing Joplinites for that political stance.  That's more than crazy, it's outright disgusting and this man should be ashamed of himself.  I can think of a few Joplinites that would take umbrage over this crackpot's assertions.

Travis Tritt Cancels 9/11 Memorial Amid Tornado Relief Scandal

After my brief sojourn to Joplin, Missouri, I found a warm, welcoming community still reeling in the aftermath of the E-5 tornado that devastated much of its town.  Everyone I talked to seemed a bit shell-shocked, recovering not just their homes and belongings, but attempting to recover from the deep emotional scar left in the tornado's wake.

Since May, thousands of people have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help this community revive.  While the people are hopeful and optimistic for the future, a large portion of the Missouran city is in ruins.  Driving from one side of town to the other, I was struck by the still-standing hollow shells that used to be homes and the twisted, shattered remains of the once-tall trees that used to fill out the lush Joplin landscape.  Now, the path of the tornado looks more like a World War I movie.

So you would think that those thousands of dollars would be going towards rebuilding the town, yes?

Unfortunately, the City of Joplin had other ideas.  Joplin's government, having since the tornado attracted national attention with its city's plight, wanted to put the community "back on the front page" by throwing a country music concert in memoriam of the victims of 9/11.  Travis Tritt, a country star, was hired to headline the festival which would include a ceremonial honoring of the 9/11 National Flag.

What the City didn't really bandy about, of course, was that the event was paid for with tornado relief funds, $60,000 of which was borrowed in an emergency loan at the behest of the City Manager.

A public outcry against the move has erupted in Joplin, and Tritt has now withdrawn his participation from the concert, stating in a note on Facebook:

This afternoon, I was informed that any reimbursement of expenses that would be incurred as a result of my participation would come from monies previously donated for the victims of the tornados that ripped through Joplin in May. I was also told this afternoon that the city of Joplin hoped that the funds would be reimbursed by sponsorship money. However, that hope is not good enough for me.

First of all, it is inappropriate and wrong to take contributions that were given to help victims of the tornados and use that money for any other purpose. I was not aware nor would I have even contemplated accepting the city's offer had I known where the money was coming from.
Consequently, and regrettably, I have chosen not to participate or perform this Sunday in Joplin, Missouri. As an American, I remember all too vividly the way I felt ten years ago on September 11. I will not have any part of any memorial service or remembrance that is not based in the truth or could hurt other victims.

As Tritt stated, the city government hoped to reimburse the funds through sponsorship and increased donations as a result of the concert, but many felt it was an irresponsible use of vital funds intended for use in rebuilding. People are still waiting for their homes to be rebuilt, and this is no time to gamble the money on possible sponsorship and donations.

The Joplin Independent, a local publication, appears to disagree with myself and many of the residents of Joplin.  They rather cattily remarked on their update about the concert:

We wonder if the people who spoke up against Tritt's appearance now feel a sense of empowerment.

Of course, the Independent makes no reference in the article as to the reason for the cancelled concert.  Sour grapes?  

One City Council member, Melodee Colbert Kean, was quick to denounce the perceived act of fiscal malfeasance, stating on her Facebook page:

As one council member, I totally agree that this designation of funds from a tornado relief fund should never have been utilized for the cost of securing a talent for Joplin, no matter if it was to be reimbursed or not. There are too many uses that these funds are needed for in helping our affected families. A sincere apology goes out to ALL Joplin residents, and area and state people who have generously donated to different funds to help Joplin.

Joplin has been through enough trial and heartache without additional scandal.  That money was given to help the citizens of Joplin, not to gamble on country concerts capitalizing on 9/11.  I hope with Tritt's cancellation and ensuing furor, the City Manager's office has learned its lesson. 

Adam Carolla: Next Up For An It Gets Better Video

I'll be honest, I'm starting to get really tired of the "Famous guy says messed up shit about gays then apologizes, does sensitivity training, and makes an It Gets Better video" story.

Next up for this particular meme is Adam Carolla, Loveline cohost and radio personality:

"It’s important that I teach my five-year-olds about guys who want to have their cocks cut off and a vagina put in their place. Alright, I’ll get to that as soon as I get home. Hey kids, wake up. You know, there’s a small percentage of Americans who are really angry at their cocks, and they like them surgically removed, and a hole put in their place, and it’s very important you treat them with a certain amount of respect."

His remarks were inspired by the "Bert and Ernie should get married" petition circling the internet and are honestly pretty disgusting.  I would put more on here but I decided to not mar your delicate eyes.  If you care, you can click on over to GLAAD, who are already on the warpath:

GLAAD will be reaching out to its allies in the entertainment industry to let them know about Adam Carolla's history of racist and homophobic remarks. 

"Given his history of anti-gay and racist comments, networks and advertisers should know what their money is supporting if they choose to hire Adam Carolla," said Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs at GLAAD. "The gross intolerance that he tries to pass off as comedy should not have a place on our airwaves." 

GLAAD asked listeners of the show to learn about the hardships that Carolla makes light of and directed them to a column in The Advocatewritten by Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, which reviewed the landmark study "Injustice at Every Turn" which was co-produced with the National Center for Transgender Equality.
Transgender people can be legally fired in 35 states for being transgender. They are twice as likely to be unemployed. 

• Transgender individuals live in poverty at nearly four times the national rate.
• Over 25% reported that they had lost a job due to their transgender identity.
• They are twice as likely to be homeless.
• 41% have attempted suicide, more than 26 times the rate (1.6%) of the general population.

Regarding his comments on the children of gay parents, GLAAD reminded listeners that virtually every credible authority on child health and social services including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Child Welfare League of America has determined that a parent's sexual orientation has nothing to do with the ability to be a good parent. Children of gay parents are just as healthy and well-adjusted as other children.

Famous people, let me give you some advice:  don't talk shit.  You will end up getting sued, slammed, vilified, and generally fucked over if you say nasty shit about the gays.  Really.  GLAAD is powerful and rich, and they will immediately put your career in the toilet-- unless, of course, you immediately film a video apologizing for your insensitive remarks.

Honestly?  It's probably easier for you to tout Hitler's ethnic cleansing as sound economic strategy than to fuck with Chaz Bono.  So just don't.  Don't do it!  I'm tired of writing about you jackasses!

Newest Defense In Anti-Gay Harassment Suit: "She's Too Ugly."

Holy cow.

A Brooklyn real estate agent is suing the office where she previously worked insisting that it's basically a wretched hive of scum and villainy, where "raunchy sexcapades" and anti-gay harassment is the norm.  At People's Choice Realty, Priscilla Agosto alleges she was exposed over 14 months to verbal and physical assaults at the hands of her coworkers.  Even after she complained to her bosses, up to seven male coworkers made sexual advances, with employees offering her $500 to watch her have sex with her girlfriend.

In response to the suit, her former employers took an unfortunate and idiotic approach to defending themselves from her allegations:

"Who would touch her? She's an ugly girl anyway," she said of the former secretary. "She made up a story because she didn't want to work." 

Agosto's lawyer Brendan Chao said another former employee corroborated much of his client's account. 

He only brought the suit recently, he added, because a complaint had to be first filed with the city's Commission of Human Rights. 

Agosto worked in real estate office from January 2008 until March 2009. 

The discrimination suit seeks unspecified back pay and benefits. 

"People attacked her ethnicity, her gender, her sexual orientation," said Chao.

Um.  HAVE FUN LOSING YOUR CASE, ASSHOLES.

Geek Shit Wednesday Vol. XX

Marvel Attempts To Incite Destruction Of Competitors' Books

Today comes a disturbing story in what-the-fuck, as Marvel has offered a special variant cover of one of their comics, but only if participating stores submit proof that they have defaced 50 copies of DC's titles:

"This week it came out that Marvel Comics is offering retailers a variant cover of 'Fear Itself #6' by artist Ed McGuinness. But, there is a catch: to get the coveted cover, retailers have to rip the covers from 50 copies of any #1 issue of DC Comics 'Flashpoint' tie-ins. This is not a figure of speech, they literally have to tear the covers off and send them to Marvel to get the special edition, rendering the issues unsalable."

This is not the first time they've done this, and it's inciting geeks to cry censorship.  

Say what you like about Marvel vs. DC, but I've always found Marvel's characters to be more believable and their movies lately?  Nothing short of fan-fucking-tastic.  I'm dismayed, however, at this distasteful and mean-spirited stunt.  

Slutty Male Superheroes?  Yes Please.

Continuing the "news" in comic books, I've often heard feminist outrage over how women are depicted in comics.  One man agrees, and has illustrated what popular male superheroes would look like if they were drawn the same way superheroines are shown:

The guy zapping his crotch does NOT look comfortable.  

Geek Vs. Nerd: A Clarification

Today I asked Facebook if I was a Geek or a Nerd, and this video surfaced.  Plus I'm too lazy to come up with a real story to write about, so watch this instead:

Thanks to Gracie Poo for the video.

I Vote Ann Coulter The Queen Of Offensively Smug

Ann Coulter recently declared herself the Queen of Fabulous, but I find this dour-faced woman to be anything but.  Instead, below, I've come up with some alternate titles inspired by a recent C-SPAN interview.

Ann is so busy rolling her eyes her neglect of looking at the camera is reaching Bachmannesque proportions.

I comfort myself, while watching this video, with the idea that her bullshit is too outlandish even for her, and that none of the crap she says she's really serious about.  Among her assertions:

1.  She hangs around GOProud because she is looking for a new hairstylist (thanks, Queen of Condescension!).

2.  Log Cabin Republicans are not true conservatives (thanks, Queen of Elitism!).

3.  Liberal gays weren't born gay, but instead have daddy issues (I'm a little speechless over this.  Ann Coulter: Queen of Stunning My Big Fat Mouth Into Silence)?!

4.  If a gay gene is ever discovered, abortion clinics will be in overdrive aborting all those gay babies (ladies and gentlemen, HRM Ann Coulter I, Queen of Fearmongering).

Watch:



Um, is it just me, or was anyone else concerned that her head would fall off her neck with all the sarcastic eyeroll-head-bobbing?

UPDATE:  The Log Cabin Republicans have fired back at the so-called Gay Icon with a press release titled "Comedienne Ann Coulter" regarding her appointment as "Honorary Chair" of the advisory board of GOProud.

"Ann Coulter is not a serious part of the conservative movement -- her positions are a throwback and do more harm than anything else. Her remarks endorsing the widely outdated and profoundly harmful idea of 'reparative therapy,' alleging that one can 'pray the gay away,' are not only demeaning to gays and lesbians, but are offensive to all people of faith. While her position on this matter is off base, it is exacerbated by her claim that the armed forces should bring back 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' a failed policy which impedes military readiness. Servicemembers who put their lives on the line deserve respect, not such clownish behavior."

GOProud Crowns Ann Coulter The Queen Of Fabulous

GOProud, which bills itself as the "only national organization of gay conservatives and their allies," today proudly announced the appointment of my favorite comedian, Ann Coulter (cuz she really can't be serious) to their Advisory Council as its Honorary Chair.

From the GOProud website:

"Coulter’s official title will be 'Gay Icon.' 'Ann Coulter is a brilliant and fearless leader of the conservative movement, we are honored to have her as part of GOProud’s leadership,' said Christopher Barron, Chairman of GOProud’s Board. 'Ann helped put our organization on the map. Politics is full of the meek, the compromising and the apologists – Ann, like GOProud, is the exact opposite of all of those things. We need more Ann Coulters.'"

The Advisory Council appears to be a who's-who of young conservative thinkers, and at first glance it appears that Ann Coulter fits right in, as she'll be joining such "fresh" voices as Margaret Hoover, Grover Norquist, Andrew Breitbart, Liz Mair, Chuck Muth, and Lisa De Pasquale.  Ann gleefully accepted GOProud's honor, declaring "I am honored to serve in this capacity on GOProud’s Advisory Council, and look forward to being the Queen of Fabulous."

Honey, you're going to have find something to wear other than black cocktail dresses before you're going to be the Queen of Fabulous, plus!  The word "fabulous"?  Officially OVER.  As of NOW.

Coulter has been a frequent friend to GOProud, headlining their Homocon event in New York City last year and allowing their organization to sell autographed copies of her most recent book for fundraising purposes.  However, while Ann Coulter is an ally of GOProud, it's important to remember that this political jokester is NOT a friend to the gays.

For instance, she once used the term "faggot" in reference to John Edwards:

"I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, but it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I'm – so, kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards, so I think I'll just conclude here and take your questions."

That particular slur ended up losing her ad revenue from Verizon, Sallie Mae and Netbank on her website, and even drew ire from John McCain, whose spokesperson called the statement "wildly inappropriate."

She has even made disparaging remarks about the LGBT civil rights movement, commenting at GOProud's Homocon "Marriage is not a civil right. You're not black."  Her remarks were not well-received by the crowd at the time, and I have to wonder: what is with GOProud's love affair with Ann Coulter?

DC: Police Inaction Could Lead To Firings In Lesbian-Bashing Case

Last week OAQ reported an incident in Washington DC in which officers in the DCPD ignored a gay-bashing incident and refused to file a report regarding the slurs and attacks on a group of lesbians in the Columbia Heights area.  After the incident was brought to the attention of the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit, a report has since been filed and an investigation begun into the actions of the seven officers that responded at the scene.

DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier

It's clear that some measure of lazy policing had taken place in the incident, and department spokespeople are warning that it could have dire consequences, to include termination, for the officers involved.  This response is largely at the prompting of the organization Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence, headed by AJ Singletary.

"'I was appalled when I heard about the incident and the conduct of the officers,' [DC Police Chief] Lanier said in a statement she released on Aug. 5. 'Obviously, this is not the kind of service that the Metropolitan Police Department provides,' she said. 'I have spoken with victims in this case and I want to assure them and the public that the incident and the conduct of the officers are being investigated thoroughly.'

"Singletary said that while GLOV officials don’t dispute Lanier’s characterization of the officers’ conduct as lazy policing, he and former GLOV Chair Chris Farris asked Lanier to look into whether anti-gay sentiment on the part of the officers played a role in the case.

"Singletary said Lanier also told GLOV officials at the Aug. 4 meeting that police were close to obtaining warrants for the arrest of the two suspects and that arrests would be made possibly within days."

I'll be watching the story with interest.  Washington DC is one of the gayest cities in the world, and the idea that some of their police officers might be engaging in anti-gay sentiment is not only surprising, but exceedingly abhorrent.

Tea Partiers Are Fucking Crazy

Right now, recall elections in Wisconsin, geared toward reclaiming that state's government in order to repair some of the heinous damage done by nepotist and would-be despot Scott Walker and his cronies, are in high gear.  As part of that media/political extravaganza, the Tea Party Express has several bus tour stops in Wisconsin in order to bolster the voter bases that placed those madmen in office.

It's not a surprise some of the crazy things that are being said on the Tea Party Express, but what's even crazier is the response from the audience.  At this stop in Fond du Lac, Florida talk show host Andrea Shea King took the stage and told attendees that the S&P downgrade was being blamed on the Tea Party.  Far from the response sane people might expect, the crowd reacted positively, cheering the announcement:

SHEA KING: This week—I wrote it down—they are blaming the credit downgrade on the tea party movement. 

CROWD: Yeah! [Cheers, clapping] 

SHEA KING: They are calling it "the tea party downgrade." They are objectivizing [sic] us.

I can't decide, at this point, if this is indicative of some dastardly plan perpetrated on the American people by nefarious, shadowy supervillains intent on destroying the US or if this is just some dumbfucks in a small town cheering some shit they don't understand.  Either way, this, ladies and gentlemen, is the Tea Party: clapping for the destruction of our good fiscal name.

Rick Perry Thinks God Hates The EPA. Ian Awesome (And God) Put The Smack Down On Ricky Hypocrite

Rick Perry's insane Christians-only prayer rally is being held tomorrow, with lackluster attendance expected, but that isn't stopping him from bleating out nonsense about his personal line to Jesus.

Always willing to protect big business with the Bible, Rick Perry came out today in an interview with CBN stating that he prays for the President every day, but then goes one step further!  He states that, in his belief, God is going to intervene to stop the EPA from preventing the industrial rape of the environment:

"Frankly I pray for the president every day. I pray for his wisdom, I pray that God will open his eyes. I wish this president would turn back the health care law that's been passed, ask that his EPA back down these regulations that are causing businesses to hesitate to spend money...I read my Bible faithfully and every morning try to get up and take that devotional to heart and I don't know what God's got planned for me. For 61 years he's given me good direction. He's put roadblocks up or he's opened up ways for me and so I'm glad I've got a… God's got a great sense of humor, I know that as well so anyway, whatever He has in store for me I look forward to it. I pray for God's guidance."

Listen, I get that you're trying to set up a one-man theocracy (Seven Mountains Dominionism, anyone?), but if you're going to try and demolish the separation of church and state, you should at least get your fucking Scripture right.  

I'm not strictly Judeo-Christian, but I knew enough about the Bible to think that perhaps Rick Perry is a bit misguided regarding its view of stewardship of our planet.  I asked Michael Sebastian Lux, our resident OneAngryCultist, to provide for me a few Bible passages in which God specifically tasks humanity with safeguarding the environment:  

Genesis 1:26. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 

Lev. 25:23-24. The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land. 

Ezekiel 34:2-4. Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not the shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you did not take care of the flock! You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

If you have further questions about Scripture's position on environmentalism, click on over to the Christians for Environmental Stewardship. Perry's insistence on basing his political career on Biblical expediency (and then fucking it up) is leading some to wonder if he might not be a dumber Texan than George W. Bush. I have to say, resoundingly, YES.

Today In Disrespectful Schlock

Yesterday the President celebrated his 50th birthday, marking the occasion with a private party attended by a host of celebrities such as Stevie Wonder, Chris Rock, Charles Barkeley, Jay-Z, Tom Hanks, and Rita Wilson.  Fox Nation reported on the event, slamming the President for taking a couple hours out of his schedule to celebrate the big 5-0.

Right.  Neither does the cookie I ate this morning.  Neither does this freaking blog.  Neither does Fox Fucking Nation.  There's lots of shit that doesn't create jobs.  

They might as well have made the headline "A Bunch Of Rich Black People Got Together And That Scares Us."

DC Police Refuse To Report Anti-Gay Attack On 5 Lesbians

The Washington Blade reports an anti-gay assault that took place outside the Columbia Heights Metro station at 3 AM on July 30th.  The incident started when two men flirted with one of a group of five women, who turned him down and indicated she was with her girlfriend.  At that point, the man began screaming about "dyke bitches" and physically attacked them while a third videotaped the encounter.

The police were called and they responded, restraining the man but outrageously letting him go.  When the women requested to file a report, the officers on scene refused to hear their story and left the incident un-addressed.

"According to Morse and the other victim, six or seven officers arrived on the scene in four police cars after responding to an apparent 911 call from a bystander. The two women said the officers, who are assigned to the Third District police station, refused to take a report of the incident, ignoring the women’s repeated requests to make a report.

"'The police grabbed one of the attackers and restrained him,' Morse told the Blade. 'Then they let him go. And then they said they didn’t want to hear our stories.'

"An officer assigned to the D.C. police Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit did make a report of the incident three days later, on Aug. 2. Morse said the GLLU became involved after her mother called police to complain about the refusal of the officers on the scene to report the attack.

"The GLLU report lists the incident as an anti-gay hate crime."

The DC GLLU is the first unit of its kind in the United States, and you would think in our nation's capital situations like this would be addressed promptly and appropriately.

Some Guy Is Sneaking Into Funerals And Then Lying About Them

This guy really needs a hobby.

US Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) has taken a personal crusade against the Obama administration to the next level, having alleged that the government is preventing military funerals from mentioning the word "God."

"A Texas lawmaker is calling for a Congressional investigation of the Houston National Cemetery after he went undercover and determined that cemetery officials are still preventing Christian prayers at the funerals of military veterans.

"'The Obama administration continues to try to prevent the word "God" from being used at the funerals of our heroes,” said. Rep. John Culberson (R-TX). 'It’s unacceptable and I’m going to put a stop to it as fast as humanly possible.'

"Culberson told Fox News Radio he attended a burial service at the cemetery under cover on July 8 where he said volunteer members of the honor guard from the Veterans of Foreign Wars were prohibited from using any references to God."

That's super creepy.  Some dude is sneaking into military funerals and then politicizing them?  Uh, doesn't he realize he sounds completely and utterly batshit crazy?

His allegation lacks, unfortunately, any basis in fact whatsoever.  While it is true that some military funerals do not mention God, that is because that's the family's wish.  After all, not every soldier is Christian or even religious.  What, does Culberson want to mandate Christian services for military personnel?  

Motherfucker needs to stop sneaking into people's funerals and leave their final arrangements alone.

Scott Walker Continues War On Liberal Voters

Shah Walker of Wisconsistan is once more attacking Democratic voters' ability to cast their ballots, having already limited voting to residents who have a picture ID and now limiting their ability to get those IDs.

Citing budget shortfalls (what?  Taking away collective bargaining hasn't saved the economy in Wisconsin?!  Weird) Walker's office now has announced the closure of 10 DMV offices in the state, shuttering locations where people can get the crucial IDs necessary to vote.

Michael Schatz, a Wisconsin blogger, points out the crux of Walker's newest nefarious plan to maintain control of what he appears to consider his personal fiefdom: those 10 DMVs?  All in Democratic districts.

"This story shows just how stupid neoconservatives think the public really is. Walker and his ilk pass a bill requiring voters to present valid photo identification at the polls. Then, in the same breath, Walker and his ilk propose a bill to close the identification issuing centers (the DMV’s) in the Democratic districts, making ID’s more difficult for low-income voters to obtain.

"And then, when the Democrats call foul, Walker and his ilk shrug and claim their motivation is purely economic, not political. And we just shake our heads and move on, because, really, what can we do?"

Which, of course, is how the legislature and governor's office is treating it:

"A high-ranking DOT official rejected that claim, saying the changes were based on economics, not politics.

"Rep. Andy Jorgensen, D-Fort Atkinson, called on the state Department of Transportation to reconsider its plants to close the Fort Atkinson DMV center. The department plans to expand by four hours a week the hours of a center about 30 minutes away in Watertown.

"Jorgensen said he was concerned doing that would discourage people from Fort Atkinson from participating in elections.

"'What the heck is going on here?' Jorgensen said. 'Is politics at play here?'

"Transportation Department executive assistant Reggie Newson denied that politics was behind the office closure plan, saying the decisions were being made based on what made the most economic sense."

Dear Scott Walker: quit fucking with our most sacred rights.  

Bachmann Blocking Media Questions On Marcus' "Ex-Gay" Extravaganza

With the Iowa primary vote a crucial first step to taking the long road to the White House, you might think alienating the local press wouldn't be a hallmark of your campaign.  Not for Crazy Eyes!

At this point, the news on Marcus Bachmann's counseling practice's policy of advising gays that they can change to straights is well-known, exploding beyond the gay blogosphere and grabbing attention in the mainstream media.  The Bachmann campaign, knowing that this information has the potential to destroy her credibility due to the fact that reparative therapy is a damaging and evil pipe dream, has been attempting to control the rhetoric on her involvement in anti-gay politics.

One Iowa news outlet, the Davenport-based WQAD, pressed the issue to the candidate during a satellite interview.  Not only did Bachmann's handlers cut the live feed for the interview, but the station is now blacklisted to prevent further embarrassment to the Tea Party-backed candidate.

"During the satellite interview, behind the scenes, it got ugly. In the News 8 control room, campaign staffers threatened WQAD producers that they would cut off the feed if Rae Chelle repeated the question. A follow-up question was asked on the issue. The Congresswoman's answers were aired nationally on ABC World News Tonight and Nightline.

"At Sunday's Davenport fundraiser was our first chance to interview Bachmann since the satellite interview incident. All Quad Cities media were invited to attend and promised a one-on-one interview during the evening. While our competitors were accommodated, WQAD was blocked and denied."

Does Crazy Eyes really think that censorship and blocking news outlets can save her record on anti-gay policies?  Here's the thing about pissing off the press: they're the press.  They will print the fucked up shit you do.  Alienating news outlets is not beneficial, it's dumb, because they will tell people exactly what you do, say, or avoid saying.  

The original interview:

Really, Minnery? Just Shut The Heck Up.

Yesterday Tom Minnery got his ass handed to him by Sen. Al Franken on the accuracy of his testimony, as Focus on the Family's Minnery attempted to assert that one study suggested that children fare best in families with one father and one mother.  Franken, of course, pointed out that the study said children do better in "nuclear family units," regardless of the gender of either parent.

Also, his name and eyes suggest to me that he is part minnow.

T-Minn continued ridin' that crazytrain, commenting on his fuckup by asserting that the study didn't include same-sex couples in that definition.  

"Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., focused on Minnery’s written testimony, targeting one of more than 60 academic citations concerning the positive impact when children have a married mother and father in the home. Franken said he interprets one study’s definition of 'nuclear family' as one that would include same-sex married couples with children.

"Minnery replied after the hearing, 'A careful reading of the study gives no indication that same-sex couples were included; it’s simply silent on the subject. Based on the actual text of the report, a realistic assessment is that silence means absence. This study is one small part the mountain of solid data that demonstrates kids do best with a married mother and father.'"

Disregarding the fact that exclusion of gay couples would entirely invalidate the study from the gay marriage debate (how can you say that straight couples are better when you don't compare them to the alternative, T-Minn?), the lead author of the study actually supported Franken's criticism and stated that families headed by gay couples were included in the study's definition of "nuclear family."

"'Sen. Franken is right,' the lead author of the study told POLITICO. The survey did not exclude same-sex couples, said Debra L. Blackwell, Ph.D., nor did it exclude them from the 'nuclear family' category provided their family met the study’s definition.

"The study’s definition of nuclear family is: 'one or more children living with two parents who are married to one another and are each biological or adoptive parents of all the children in the family.'

"That means the study does not provide evidence that straight couples’ children necessarily fare better than same-sex couples’ kids, as Minnery claimed."

I like that this comes out after Minnery claims he "carefully read" the study, as if Franken did not.  Here's what's funny about the debate on gay civil rights: the opposition would like America to believe that their argument is based in rationality and common sense, while the left is attempting to obfuscate and discriminate against the concept of "family."  The truth?  Critics of marriage equality are study speed-readers hoping no-one will notice that their rhetoric flies in the face of science, compassion, and respect for American families.

Congressman Allen West Gets Cranky, E-mails Ridic Tirade To Coworker

I once got fired in a corporate environment for calling someone a "dumbass" using company e-mail.  Luckily for Representative Allen West (R-FL), he gets to keep his job after firing off a monumental hissy fit to DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz after she repeated Democratic stances regarding his attacks on Medicare.  She made the statements after he had left the House floor, and boy did he get mad!  First, her remarks on the floor via Politico:

"'The gentleman from Florida. who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries, unbelievable from a Member from South Florida,' Wasserman Schultz said, saying the legislation 'slashes Medicaid and critical investments essential to winning the future in favor of protecting tax breaks for Big Oil, millionaires, and companies who ship American jobs overseas.'

"Her criticism of the legislation -- more or less what most Democrats are saying today -- provoked a furious response. West copied members of House Republican and Democratic leadership on the email, as well as his chief-of-staff, Jonathan Blyth."

His e-mail is TRULY hilarious.  He calls her vile, despicable, and then tells her she is NOT a Lady.  

"Look, Debbie, I understand that after I departed the House floor you directed your floor speech comments directly towards me. Let me make myself perfectly clear, you want a personal fight, I am happy to oblige. You are the most vile, unprofessional ,and despicable member of the US House of Representatives. If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up. Focus on your own congressional district!

"I am bringing your actions today to our Majority Leader and Majority Whip and from this time forward, understand that I shall defend myself forthright against your heinous characterless behavior……which dates back to the disgusting protest you ordered at my campaign hqs, October 2010 in Deerfield Beach.

"You have proven repeatedly that you are not a Lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me!"

Golly gee whiz!  Did he really tell Debbie to shut the heck up?  Such shocking language!  

Aside from the fact that he chose to criticize her ladyhood, thus reinforcing stereotypical ideals of how a lady should behave, he is overreacting, using childish language, and being incredibly unprofessional.  Plus, I laughed super hard at his e-mail.  I kinda want to get elected to office just so I can piss him off and watch my e-mail inbox fill up with his hilarious batshittery.