News and Current Events - 2012

[graylockV]

Smith becomes first gay general officer to serve openly

 By Leo Shane III
Stars and Stripes
Published: August 10, 2012

WASHINGTON — Army reserve officer Tammy Smith calls her recent promotion to brigadier general exciting and humbling, saying it gives her a chance to be a leader in advancing Army values and excellence.

What she glosses over is that along with the promotion she is also publicly acknowledging her sexuality for the first time, making her the first general officer to come out as gay while still serving. It comes less than a year after the end of the controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” law.

http://www.stripes.com/news/smith-becomes-first-gay-general-officer-to-serve-openly-1.185372

Lest we think that all is sunshine and roses - read the comments posted following the news story

[fritzkep]

Great about the general!

I was about to suggest that you post that on the military thread too, but glad to see you've already done that! Thanks!



And I can't believe the number of people who seem to think that Ayn Rand was a Christian infused philosopher! Quite a PR job, on somebody's part.

[Tony_]

  It's been particularly irksome to me, that Romney unleashed his Ayn Rand running mate just a few miles from me, this morning.  Their being this close makes me feel creeped out.

 Meanwhile, during the CNN coverage, when Romney mentioned Ryan was a Catholic, the crowd erupted in cheers (which will not show up on network news).  Cheers because he's not a Mormon?  Or because they like Catholic leaders in Virginia (Governor, Senate candidates, the local mayor) ?

 It was no accident that Romney picked Norfolk.  Virginia is a critical swing state, and the metro area, here, is what swings it.  Also, the Obama camp needs to be careful how they go after Ryan.  He's more visually likeable than Romney.
  Unless they expose Ryan's Ayn Rand fervor (HuffPo has already started), which would be something the public needs to explore, and unless the Catholic Bishops keep out of Catholics upholding condemnation of Ryan's social injustice format, this will be a huge help for Romney.
  Or, Romney may have just lost Florida  .

[Lyle (Mooska)]

Romney will be here in Norfolk, tomorrow.

Have you recovered, yet, Tony?

So Romney picked one of the Hitler Youth for his running mate!  (The other being
Eric Cantor--was he present? He's from Virginia.)  I hope I'm not out of line because
Romney said Ryan appeals to "the better angels of our natures."  Well, he only got
out "better angels" so maybe he meant the currently slumping MLB team based in
Anaheim, Orange County. CA.

Romney introduced Ryan in front of a battleship for some reason.  Well, it is a museim
where the current right-wing of the R party belongs.

Personally, I think it's a bad choice for "Why do you think corporations are people" Mitt Romney.
I thought he'd pick Portman, who might be bland, but he could help him carry a state he needs,
Ohio.  "Why have you only released 1.5 years of tax returns" Mitt Romney has picked someone
who will garner his tea party votes, which he would've had already and at the same time energized
the Democrats!  "We need to appeal to all segments of this country in this election" Mitt Romney
picks the whitest Wonder Bread candidate out there from the 1950's.  Father knows best, I guess.

Meanwhile, in the public perception department, another "what are you thinking" from the "London's
not prepared for a successful Olympics," Mitt Romney: They're off on a bus tour in which Mitt Romney
isn't really on the bus. Although Romney plans to ride between stops on his bus, he will board a chartered
airplane at the end of each day to fly to the next state, according to aides.  Ah, maybe Robin Leach is
accompanying him. Champagne kisses and caviar dreams indeed!

Bill Maher observed that the difference between Romney riding in a car or a bus is that on the bus
the greyhound is on the side.

[oilgun]

  It's been particularly irksome to me, that Romney unleashed his Ayn Rand running mate just a few miles from me, this morning.  Their being this close makes me feel creeped out.

[...]

Twelve Things You Should Know About Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan

http://truth-out.org/news/item/10837-twelve-things-you-should-know-about-vice-presidential-candidate-paul-ryan

[Marge_Innavera]

I'm sure the NUNS ON THE BUS will continue to follow Paul Ryan.  It must be a real treat for a Catholic boy like Paul to be told by the sisters that his handiwork (the Ryan Budget) is an "immoral disaster":

Catholic Nuns and Franciscans ask Romney and Ryan to spend a day with the poor

http://www.examiner.com/article/catholic-nuns-and-franciscans-ask-romney-and-ryan-to-spend-a-day-with-the-poor


From the nuns to Paul Ryan - Lesson 1:  The teachings of Ayn Rand and Jesus Christ are mutually exclusive!

I was an Ayn Rand fan when I was in my early 20s -- one of the few youthful indiscretions from that era that's truly embarrassing.  Not a Christian anymore either but still have a higher opinion of Jesus than Rand.

Ayn Rand's POV would be perfect for the right wing in the US if it weren't for her views on religion.  If Obama has any sense, he'll find a way to use that.  Interesting that Romney could have picked a running mate who's so un-Galtlike; a certain physical type is joined at the hip with moral/philosophical rectitude in Aynland.

[Marge_Innavera]

  It's been particularly irksome to me, that Romney unleashed his Ayn Rand running mate just a few miles from me, this morning.  Their being this close makes me feel creeped out.

Understandable. It would be something like finding out that your quiet little farm pond has been occupied by the Creature From the Black Lagoon.

[Tony_]

....Have you recovered, yet, Tony?

 No.

 Also, am kicking myself for not connecting the dots and giving you all a heads up.  The rally was listed as at Nauticus.  But what's there is the battleship Wisconsin.  Duh......

It's something non-Catholics will not understand, BTW, but we now have a huge rift that will emerge in the Church, as Joe Biden, who represents the Catholic progressive team, goes into the debates with Ryan, who represents the emerging New Catholic Neanderthal.  Am sure some of you will enjoy the battle for diverse reasons.

[Tony_]

Understandable. It would be something like finding out that your quiet little farm pond has been occupied by the Creature From the Black Lagoon.

  A little worse, maybe.  Yeats' poem "The Second Coming" is more like it:

 "...and what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
  slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"

 Am really getting the creeps from Paul Ryan.  Too plausible to the vast herd.

[AZ.bbm]

Keeping convicted killers alive is not necessarily about "studying" them but more about the fallibility of the state,...the morality of state-sanctioned killing.

,...

A proposition on our upcoming election ballot.

• Repeals capital punishment as maximum punishment for persons found guilty of murder and replaces it
  with life imprisonment without possibility of parole. Applies retroactively to persons already sentenced.
  ***
  If passed by voters, SAFE California (Savings, Accountability, and Full Enforcement for California Act, or SAFE California) will replace capital punishment with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, require people sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole to work in order to pay restitution to victims’ families, ...
  
  Proponents of SAFE California cite the cost of implementing capital punishment as a major motivating factor behind the initiative. A 2011 study by former prosecutor and federal judge Arthur Alarcón indicates that California has spent approximately $4 billion to execute 13 people since capital punishment was reinstated.
  
  The Alarcón report also indicates that implementing capital punishment in California costs $184 million dollars per year more than implementing sentences of life without the possibility of parole.  
  
  Those in favor of capital punishment have their own studies to support their point of view.
  

 

[doodler]

  It's been particularly irksome to me, that Romney unleashed his Ayn Rand running mate just a few miles from me, this morning.  Their being this close makes me feel creeped out.

 Meanwhile, during the CNN coverage, when Romney mentioned Ryan was a Catholic, the crowd erupted in cheers (which will not show up on network news).  Cheers because he's not a Mormon?  Or because they like Catholic leaders in Virginia (Governor, Senate candidates, the local mayor) ?

 It was no accident that Romney picked Norfolk.  Virginia is a critical swing state, and the metro area, here, is what swings it.  Also, the Obama camp needs to be careful how they go after Ryan.  He's more visually likeable than Romney.
  Unless they expose Ryan's Ayn Rand fervor (HuffPo has already started), which would be something the public needs to explore, and unless the Catholic Bishops keep out of Catholics upholding condemnation of Ryan's social injustice format, this will be a huge help for Romney.
  Or, Romney may have just lost Florida  .

I saw a clip of Romney introducing Ryan as the next PRESIDENT  of the US.
Works for me.

[janjo]

I saw a clip of Romney introducing Ryan as the next PRESIDENT  of the US.
Works for me.

So did I, and even from my knee replacement morphine dreams Romney looks like "the lights on but there's nobody home!"

[doodler]

Good to see you back!

Watched a couple political programs this morning. Ryan just might be the break the Prez needed.

[AZ.bbm]

So did I, and even from my knee replacement morphine dreams Romney looks like "the lights on but there's nobody home!"

LOL!


+ Ditto what Sherri said! -- i.e., nice to see you back, darlin'  !!!!!!!!!!   

[AZ.bbm]

As often as not, the personal experience part gets dismissed with the "I know better than you because you're so emotional about it" schtick.  Although 'think of those poor misguided girls  who have died in abortion clinics' gimmick can serve too.  Not to mention the "post abortion trauma syndrome" fantasy, which former Surgeon General Koop discovered occurs mostly occurs in women who have been pressured into abortions against their will and beliefs.

-That's a fair point... -although your use of the terms "shtick/gimmick/fantasy" belies your own subjectivity (IMO).

+ Still it's fascinating how pro-abortion advocates, et.al., can so easily discount the opinions and feelings of the men who've lost their daughters (not to mention 'grandchildren') to the 'butchers'.

But not the mothers.  Apparently they don't have "views."

-No need for more sarcasm... 
 It's a false dichotomy, anyway. -No one I know believes that women's views on abortion are invalid, or less cogents than men's. -People's views on the issue should not to be summarily discounted, simply because one is "the wrong sex"...

And, of course, we're women.  What do we know?

-No need for even more sarcasm. -Besides, repeating that "What do women know" mantra only serves to solidify it in people's minds. (IMO)

IMO, women 'know' how to do what comes naturally, just as do men. -I've always felt that way.


-Az