Starred (or starring) in my feed this week

There are always so many things I want to comment on, but I never seem to find the time. I star them in my blog feed or email them to myself to use later. I never seem to get to them, so I thought I'd start a weekly feature to point out all those things I think are important to talk about, but just didn't find the time.

So, welcome to the first edition of "Starred (or starring) in my feed this week". All the links are to blogpost or news articles I saved for later.

In the "Jobs, jobs, jobs" column
Polling the sabotage question
Do you believe that the GOP is deliberately sabotaging the economy in order to derail a 2nd term for the President? I certainly do, and apparently many others do as well. From things like "Our number one priority is to ensure this is a one-term president" to completely dismissing ideas that they themselves previously endorsed, the GOP has done nothing at all to help the American people during the 112th Congress.

Also, with comments like "The President has not introduced anything to promote job growth", they show they are just flat out liars. But then again, many of them didn't attend that little State of the Union speech where the President introduced the American Jobs Act, which is endorsed by the majority of Americans, as well. As The Maddow Blog so nicely pointed out.


In the hypocrisy and anti-Christian column...
Louisiana Was Totally Cool With Paying For Kids To Go To Religious Schools Until Other Religions Show Up
In the drive to get the government to pay for religion in schools and privatize education on the government's dime, Louisiana passed legislation allowing religious entities to apply for school vouchers. Which is fan-damn-tastic, except that an Islamic school applied and was approved (originally) for the program. Well, in these here Southern states, religious freedom means freedom to be a Christian. And a big ruckus ensued, culminating with this from Rep Kenneth Harvard (R-Jackson):

"I won't go back home and explain to my people that I supported this."

Well ok then. 1st Amendment for all! Except when it doesn't suit us.

The saddest part is that rather than file suit against the state, the school withdrew its request, meaning kids that might have otherwise gotten vouchers from them will now have to attend the dreaded Louisiana public school system or pony up full tuition, unlike those good god-fearing folks who the vouchers were really meant for.


In the immigration column...
Apparently, the President gave a speech about immigration or something that Neil Munro of the Daily Caller didn't really care about.
VIDEO of the Day: CNN’s Don Lemon Witheringly Skewers Tucker Carlson and Daily Caller Reporter Who Heckled Obama.

And also, the President's real problem is that he has no immigration policy. Just ask John Boehner. 'Where's the president's plan?' Good question. Oh, wait.


In the "How come you guys always call us racist" column...
Arizona Talk Radio Gal Who Called Obama ‘Monkey’ Has Excellent Reason Why She Is Not Racist
and Arizona GOP Chair On Radio Show When Host Called Obama A ‘Monkey,’ Said Nothing


In Scott Brown is a big fat baby news...
No muzzle, no debate in Massachusetts
Scott Brown is an idiot. It's a condition of debating Elizabeth Warren that Ted Kennedy's widow can't endorse anyone but you during the election season? Wow. Just. Wow.

Also, trending on twitter? #scottbrowndebatedemands - hilarious! I admit to adding a few to the feed myself.


In the war on the 2nd Amendment... oh and also in Nazi-invoking...
Joe the Plumber: Gun Control Caused the Holocaust
and Joe The Plumber Has Brilliant Analysis Of What Caused The Holocaust
Ummm... newsflash, Joe. You are a complete and utter douchebag.


In the War on non-Christians, oh, and also women...
Anti-Choice Wailing Wall Comes To Wichita, Kansas via Addicting Info
Holy Moses in a basket. What the everloving fuck?


In the War on Women...
Penile implants COVERED by Medicare
Do I even need to go there? The nonexistent War on WOmen is freaking ridiculous. Penile implants exist only to improve the sex lives of men. Period. They aren't baby-making tools (pun intended); they are strictly to shore up, if you will, a man's confidence in his masculinity. Yet where are the calls of "WHORE" and "SLUT" for these men? Oh right. Most of them are in Congress.


And the one we've all been talking about... Michigan.
As Punishment For Opposing Anti-Abortion Bill, Male Michigan House Leader Bans Two Female Reps From Speaking

Yes. One said "vagina" and the other said "vasectomy". GASP! They must be put in time out for their "temper tantrums." Yes, House Speaker Jase Bolger accused them of having temper tantrums on the floor of the house. Well then. Why can't us women just learn our place?

And apparently, the va-jay-jay word is SOOOO offensive that Mike Coleman (R-Nashville) felt compelled to say this:

“It was so offensive, I don’t even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company.” 

Phew! Good thing he's out there working to protect women from our own body parts. I, personally, don't even know what that ladypart is called. Because nobody would ever use such an offensive term to me. Especially in mixed company! And if I had a daughter, I know that I'd never ever use that offensive word when she asked me, "Mommy, what's that?" My response would and should be, of course, "Well, honey, that's your 'down there ladypart'. We don't talk about it and aren't allowed to use it, so be a good girl and run along now."


Acceptable words for the va-jay-jay according to the Michigan House of Reps? Hero Michigan Rep. Frank Foster Identifies Appropriate Words For Lady Parts. It's an older story, but Wonkette pulled it out to help educate us, bless them. Also, Slate proposed A Bill Seeking To Regulate Use of the Word Vagina. Hopefully, we'll be able to get these pesky women out of the way and get down to the real business - new and unnecessary abortion laws! Yay!

Well... apparently women finally had enough, because this: The Vagina Monologues at the Michigan state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. This is worth a read if only for Eve Ensler's speech transcript and video. Awesome.


And just this morning, Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City) came out and said he didn't mind the whole va-jay-jay thing. No, what he found offensive was "No means no." (Watch the video. No, really.)

And speaking of rape culture...

Lara Croft Will Be Threatened With Rape In the Next Tomb Raider—But Don’t Worry, Guys, You Can Rescue Her 
The new Tomb Raider will apparently have a scenario where Lara Croft gets raped. Nice. And apparently, we've all been clamoring for that to happen. Tomb Raider executive producer Ron Rosenberg said that there will be a scenario where “island scavengers” attempt to rape her, and WOOHOO! because “She is literally turned into a cornered animal."

Why is it again that the government has a failure to recognize women as people again? Oh, yeah.



And a nice way to end it all...
VIDEO: A Truly Poignant Interview: George H.W. Bush Talks with Jenna Bush About Death and Growing Old
A very sweet and poignant interview with George Bush the first. He may not have been a great president, but he certainly is one of the last gentleman politicians we have.