August 23, 2016

Hawaii GOP repudiates Gabbard's challenger and makes a plea for decency

Hawaii's Republican Party chairman is denouncing the GOP candidate challenging Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, calling the comments she made about the congresswoman “racially-bigoted” and “religiously-intolerant,” according to Roll Call.

Chairman Fritz Rohlfing said GOP House candidate Angela Kaaihue’s remarks about Gabbard's and former Rep. Colleen Hanabusa’s religion are not representative of the Republican Party, and urged other Republicans in the state to “disavow her candidacy.” Kaaihue also criticized Gabbard's appearance.

“Her vulgar, racially-bigoted, and religiously-intolerant descriptions of Democratic Party candidates are offensive, shameful, and unacceptable in public discourse,” Rohlfing said in a statement. “I unconditionally denounce her despicable statements. I strongly urge all Hawaii Republicans to join me in disavowing her candidacy."

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/292253-hawaii-gop-chairman-denounces-republican-challenging-rep-gabbard

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I'm always a little tepid with Gabbard because of her anti-gay history and continued odd beliefs about LGBT people, but on the other hand she is a fairly solid vote for equality and freedom of conscience when it comes to LGBT people. When people dislike lesbians and gays, I suppose the best we can hope from them is that they will recognize that their own religious views should not dictate the personal lives of people who do not belong to the same faith.

AND the bigger point for me is that, as a yellow dog Democrat, I would pretty much vote for anyone on the D ticket. Gabbard is one of ours, and the attacks from Kaaihue are literally insane. Good on the Hawaii chairman to recognize that Kaaihue's attacks are beyond the pale of what should be tolerated in politics.

And I hope that Gabbard is re-elected. I haven't seen data on the district, but I think she's going to be ok.

August 16, 2016

The same people who deny the concept of rape culture

are now trying to push the concept of a Muslim-only rape culture?

I'm sorry, only Muslims and Hispanic people, to be precise.

In terms of progress, it is interesting that America's racists have learned not to accuse black people of being all rapists any more. But it's sad they've turned their blanket attacks on Muslims and Hispanic people.

August 15, 2016

Narcissistic rage and narcissistic vulnerability

are two sides of narcissism. Because there is no stable interior structure, the narcissist must look outside of himself or herself for validation, and even the smallest divergence from the narcissistic ideal self-image can result in intense distress and pain for the patient.

I don't want to sound mean, but I hope that Democratic people are capable of using this weakness in Donald Trump. I would not normally recommend going for somebody's psychological disorders, but in this case I think it's justified.

August 11, 2016

I don't think the DEA should make this decision

I support legalization, and I believe that the legitimate route would be for Congress to revise the place of cannabis in federal law. I would not be comfortable with the DEA or any other agency making a decision that should be made by legislators representing the people.

Eventually, marijuana will be legalized. I live in a state with legal marijuana, and accept for a little litter around the weed shops, there appeared to be no negative consequences.

The idea of sneaking marijuana past the legal barrier by pretending it is medicine does not impress me. Marijuana should be legalized by legislators revising the statutes.

In my humble opinion.

August 4, 2016

I'm remembering the Palin Mob videos from 2008

After McCain invited in a "real American" candidate, someone who would activate the rightwing mob, there were a slew of videos showing them in their natural habitat, waiting in line and spewing weird nonsense.

The NYT video was about as bad as anything I've ever seen this week, with the Trump supporters degenerating into bizarre beer-bellied men doing their little constipated buttcheek-clenching foot-to-foot hop/dance thing, mouthing odd slogans and violent messages they've been longing their entire lives to say in public.

I dislike Trump, but I like the fact that he is pushing the Republican party so far into the sewer that they will never crawl out and taint decent society again.