Just up on CanadaFreePress.com. Have the Banksters indeed gone too far? With Cyprus now being called the "template" for future bank problems in the Eurozone, where's the incentive to put money into their banks?
Personally, that old Mason jar in the backyard is looking better and better all the time....
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
The End of the Same-Sex Marriage Debate
Here's the graphic that says it all:
This pic comes from Chris Cillizza's Washington Post 'The FIx' column from yesterday, dealing with Rob Portman's changed stance on gay marriage. Portman--a fiscal conservative with a long history of being "only loosely concerned with social issues like marriage and abortion"--is about as Establishment Republican as you can get. With a resume that includes service in the House, not one but two Cabinet posts in the Bush administration and now a Senate seat from Ohio, is it any wonder that his name was always near the top of the lists when Romney's VP choices were bandied about? Coming hard on the heels of the Supreme Court brief urging the recognition of the Constitutional right to marry by more than 100 big shot Republicans, it seems as though may--I repeat, MAY--be starting to get a clue that this is an issue that's not a winner for them.
It seems likely that Senator Portman's 'evolution' was prompted by his own son's coming out. Like Dick Cheney before him, Rob found himself forced to personally face up to the consequences of a policy that regulates a member of his family to second-class citizen status. As Newt so elegantly laid out his choices yesterday on CNN, Portman could either (a) stand on his position, and abandon his son, (b) stand on his position, but still love the son or (c) change his position because he loves his son. (Okay, I'm paraphrasing here...go listen to Newt's own words and judge for yourself.)
Since choice (a) makes you a complete scum of an underwear stain and (b) makes you both a hypocrite and an underwear stain, as well as leading to very awkward holiday meals, Portman chose (c). I have no doubt that the Usual Suspects will castigate him strenuously for choosing to love his son enough to publicly pull his head out of his ass, but he only gets points from me for doing this.
BTW, as long as there are 1100+ federal benefits to marriage, denying them to any citizen violates the 14th Amendment. Don't make me go Ted Cruz on Diane Feinstein on you. Until I can get the 'why the DOMA is indefensible' bit written, let's just leave it at that.
Now, Portman's announcement isn't going to make the RNC break out the rainbow banners any time soon. 54% of Republicans still 'strongly oppose' marriage. But, take another look at the graph at the beginning of this post. Note that the 'breakpoint' is in the 50-64 age group, with every younger demographic showing more support than not for same-sex marriage. Also note that the younger the group, the higher the support. Even the morons at the RNC ought to be able to do this math: the opposition to gay marriage will die off LONG before the support will. Eventually, it WILL come about, even 'way down here in Alabamistan...once enough of the TailBaptists die off. (Come that day soon, Oh Lord, come that day soon....)
Cillizza points out (correctly, I think) that what we can expect to see from younger, less stupid Republicans in the foreseeable future is for them to just...not talk about same-sex marriage. He compares this issue to the Democrat's realization in the 90's that gun control was a dead issue for them politically. From Bill Clinton on down, guns and gun control just weren't Democrat talking points, although the base continued (and still continues) to want the shred the 2nd Amendment.
There have been hints of this already: Marco Rubio framed it as a 'let the States decide' issue, which most Republicans can (at least grudgingly) get behind. Rubio's CPAC speech was full of words like "respect", which acknowledges that most Americans see same-sex marriage as a civil rights issue...which it is (see above).
So, what we can expect to see in the months and years to come is same-sex marriage being howled about only by the dying rump of the social conservatives. Republican politicians who want to actually win elections will mouth the same old "I'm against it personally, but..." platitudes, and then move on to other, actually important points like reforming entitlements and cutting overall spending and not printing money by the wheelbarrow full.
If we're lucky, the social conservatives will get their panties all in a wad and migrate over to the Prohibition Party, where they'll finally be right at home. Come soon that happy day, Oh Lord....
Friday, March 15, 2013
What's Wrong with the GOP in a Nutshell
I noticed two articles today on Newsmax.com that pretty much sum up the problem that is the Republican Party, circa today. Neither of these articles were really about the battle lines for the heart, soul and destiny of the Party--those were drawn when Rand Paul filibustered, and Old Man McCain and Prissy Pants Graham whined at him for having, like, principles and stuff--but more about the fact that, barring direct divine intervention, the Republicans are at serious risk for going the way of the Whigs.
The first article I saw was ostensibly about Newt Gingrich's position on gay marriage, and his response to Rob Portman's 'change of heart' in that Senator Portman now supports gay marriage. Newt made the point that the next few years will be difficult as the Party sorts out the "practical realities" from the "moral principles" of same-sex marriage. Newt makes no bones about the fact that he still believes in the one man-one woman model that is "biblical" (presumably, the woman isn't a slave, as is biblically allowed), but that the Party needs to come to grips with the fact that several states have already passed same-sex marriage laws, and more will undoubtedly follow. To his credit, Newt didn't condemn his friend Portman, and I suspect that they will still be friends going forward. Friends sometimes have to agree to disagree. I do give Newt kudos for realizing that Rob Portman loves his gay son (yeah, and son has come out, so kudos to Rob for loving his kid enough to pull his head out of his ass) and at least supporting THAT part of Portman's decision.
What's really important about Newt's comments didn't make it into the video clip on the page. Newt's absolutely right when he says "the old guard of the party sometimes gets a little too crusty and a little too anti-ideas, and I think that's unfortunate". I agree. It's unfortunate in the same way the iceberg was "unfortunate" for the Titanic. In saying this, Newt seconded Rand Paul's statement that the GOP is "stale and moss-covered".
Newt is no dummy. His ideas on gay marriage may be a bit wonky, given his own situation (Third time charm? Or Pitch 'Till You Win for breeders, fags and dykes can't even play the game), but he's seen the writing on the wall. Of the two hot-button social conservative issues (abortion being the other), same-sex marriage is a LOST CAUSE. Finding someone under 30 who doesn't support the right of same-sex couples to enjoy the same 1100+ federal benefits of marriage as hetero couples is getting harder every year. Just ask Gallup. To keep flogging this as a core issue is political suicide; nothing more, nothing less. Too many heterosexuals know too many homos, and the breeders have figured out that the fags and dykes are...pretty much just like everybody else, only better with small dogs and decorating. Knowing that, not letting two people who want to put on those shackles do so--especially given just what horrible shape the poor old institution is in these days--just seems, well, dumb. So, Newt seems to be open to backing off on same-sex marriage (I'm guessing his stance will be 'I don't like it, but it's an issue for the several states), so that there's one less issue for the GOP to keep shooting itself in the foot over.
The second article that really hit home for me today was an interview with actor Robert Davi. Davi--who's been a Bond villain, and you haven't--is spot-on when he says the GOP needs a makeover, especially of ideas. Here's the money quote: “They sit around wanting to communicate to the everyman, but they don’t sit around saying how do we get new ideas out there? It’s very frustrating to me.’’
Even better, Davi points out a specific case where the Republicans (once again) dropped the ball, by not using the sequester as an opening to push the flat tax: “Why did they not say, here’s a formula, it’s a flat tax across the board and here’s discussion. If they all got together it would be bold, it would be a solution, but they keep kicking the same ball down the path to destruction.’’
Yeah. What he said.
Sadly, all the signs and portents point towards the GOP Establishment--those old, country club, silk stockings, RINOs--have decided to double down on the same (epic fail) tactics that are now 0--2 against Barack Obama and the Democrat machine. Don't believe me? Two words: Jeb Bush.
So, that's where we are at the moment. The Old Guard is warming up the oil with which they will anoint (one way or another--Team Romney's primary fixers are still out there to torpedo a Rand Paul run in 2016 just like they did his father's last year) Jeb Bush in 2016. The young, small-L libertarian, fiscally conservative, Constitution-loving, Tea Party friendly wing is already being belittled as being "whacko birds", and this will only get worse. Sadly, there are still enough of these old farts around (they're just not dying off fast enough) to give the GOP once more round of EPIC FAIL in the next election cycle. When that happens....
Assuming the currency hasn't collapsed by then, Jeb Bush's landslide defeat by Hillary and Michelle will finally kill the GOP as we know it. But, I really don't think it'll matter all that much.
Quite frankly, a few more years of Democrat policies with a continuation of the Republican spelunking on every issue won't leave much left for ANYBODY to rule over.
Yeah, we're pretty much screwed.
The first article I saw was ostensibly about Newt Gingrich's position on gay marriage, and his response to Rob Portman's 'change of heart' in that Senator Portman now supports gay marriage. Newt made the point that the next few years will be difficult as the Party sorts out the "practical realities" from the "moral principles" of same-sex marriage. Newt makes no bones about the fact that he still believes in the one man-one woman model that is "biblical" (presumably, the woman isn't a slave, as is biblically allowed), but that the Party needs to come to grips with the fact that several states have already passed same-sex marriage laws, and more will undoubtedly follow. To his credit, Newt didn't condemn his friend Portman, and I suspect that they will still be friends going forward. Friends sometimes have to agree to disagree. I do give Newt kudos for realizing that Rob Portman loves his gay son (yeah, and son has come out, so kudos to Rob for loving his kid enough to pull his head out of his ass) and at least supporting THAT part of Portman's decision.
What's really important about Newt's comments didn't make it into the video clip on the page. Newt's absolutely right when he says "the old guard of the party sometimes gets a little too crusty and a little too anti-ideas, and I think that's unfortunate". I agree. It's unfortunate in the same way the iceberg was "unfortunate" for the Titanic. In saying this, Newt seconded Rand Paul's statement that the GOP is "stale and moss-covered".
Newt is no dummy. His ideas on gay marriage may be a bit wonky, given his own situation (Third time charm? Or Pitch 'Till You Win for breeders, fags and dykes can't even play the game), but he's seen the writing on the wall. Of the two hot-button social conservative issues (abortion being the other), same-sex marriage is a LOST CAUSE. Finding someone under 30 who doesn't support the right of same-sex couples to enjoy the same 1100+ federal benefits of marriage as hetero couples is getting harder every year. Just ask Gallup. To keep flogging this as a core issue is political suicide; nothing more, nothing less. Too many heterosexuals know too many homos, and the breeders have figured out that the fags and dykes are...pretty much just like everybody else, only better with small dogs and decorating. Knowing that, not letting two people who want to put on those shackles do so--especially given just what horrible shape the poor old institution is in these days--just seems, well, dumb. So, Newt seems to be open to backing off on same-sex marriage (I'm guessing his stance will be 'I don't like it, but it's an issue for the several states), so that there's one less issue for the GOP to keep shooting itself in the foot over.
The second article that really hit home for me today was an interview with actor Robert Davi. Davi--who's been a Bond villain, and you haven't--is spot-on when he says the GOP needs a makeover, especially of ideas. Here's the money quote: “They sit around wanting to communicate to the everyman, but they don’t sit around saying how do we get new ideas out there? It’s very frustrating to me.’’
Even better, Davi points out a specific case where the Republicans (once again) dropped the ball, by not using the sequester as an opening to push the flat tax: “Why did they not say, here’s a formula, it’s a flat tax across the board and here’s discussion. If they all got together it would be bold, it would be a solution, but they keep kicking the same ball down the path to destruction.’’
Yeah. What he said.
Sadly, all the signs and portents point towards the GOP Establishment--those old, country club, silk stockings, RINOs--have decided to double down on the same (epic fail) tactics that are now 0--2 against Barack Obama and the Democrat machine. Don't believe me? Two words: Jeb Bush.
So, that's where we are at the moment. The Old Guard is warming up the oil with which they will anoint (one way or another--Team Romney's primary fixers are still out there to torpedo a Rand Paul run in 2016 just like they did his father's last year) Jeb Bush in 2016. The young, small-L libertarian, fiscally conservative, Constitution-loving, Tea Party friendly wing is already being belittled as being "whacko birds", and this will only get worse. Sadly, there are still enough of these old farts around (they're just not dying off fast enough) to give the GOP once more round of EPIC FAIL in the next election cycle. When that happens....
Assuming the currency hasn't collapsed by then, Jeb Bush's landslide defeat by Hillary and Michelle will finally kill the GOP as we know it. But, I really don't think it'll matter all that much.
Quite frankly, a few more years of Democrat policies with a continuation of the Republican spelunking on every issue won't leave much left for ANYBODY to rule over.
Yeah, we're pretty much screwed.
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