GOP 2016 Clown Car Update: Santorum Surges Into the Race!

Rick (don't Google me) Santorum has apparently lubed up, and squeezed into the already crowded GOP 2016 Clown Car. And given that he surged from the rear last time to overtake (briefly) his rivals for the top spot, enough to look viable for a while, who can blame him? Also, there are now enough Santorum stories to dilute the dingy brown internet reputation of the word "Santorum" back to something more explainably whitish. I guess. But it's still Santorum. And he's not fooling us with which word he picked to be short for "Richard," either. He still looks like a dick to me.

Meanwhile, the rest of the field is playing some level of coy. Other than Mitt Romney, who let us know early that "this is hard," and he wasn't running, the rest of the folks in this collage are still officially undeclared, though all are expected to probably "get in the ring." My thoughts are, The Donald and Christie are the most likely to opt not to, and Lindsey Graham may retire to his fainting couch before he gets to the starting line. But those are just my gut feelings.

[Excerpt]  

Rick Santorum to join crowded Republican presidential field.  

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum will announce later Wednesday he will join the race for president. He will make the seventh Republican seeking the party's nomination.  

Read more at: WALB

And in honor of Santorum's slide into whatever orifice he used to get in, here's a nice selection from Olivia Newton-John.
 

The Gay Thing: Three Perspectives on Russian Olympics

The issue of Vladimir Putin's draconian anti-gay laws and the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia are bubbling out beyond the blogosphere into the mainstream. Below are three clips from MSNBC on Wednesday night, with Harvey Fierstein, Dan Savage and Greg Louganis.  Harvey and Dan took Chris Hayes to task for omissions from a previous story, so it was pretty cool that he had them on for their rebuttals. And Louganis talked to Lawrence O'Donnell, with a bit less edge. All are interesting, so if you don't know much about this particular kerfuffle, here's a way to get a few different perspectives on it.
 

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Over Time with Bill Maher, July 19, 2013

I don't understand why any TV host would want Grover Norquist to come on and talk about anything. But if you must, having Dan Savage on as counter-balance is a brilliant move.

Ep. 290 July 19, 2013 - Overtime

Dan Savage vs. Brian Brown on The Bible and Gay Marriage

I got little blogging done on Wednesday night for Thursday morning for two reasons: 1) life sometimes gets in the way and, 2) I watched the hour long video below.

A little background: Dan Savage is an outspoken gay rights activist and sex advice columnist. He was asked to give a speech at a school (the school knowing who he was, and the subject matter involved), and he irritated a small segment of them by calling some of the things in the bible "bullshit." Brian Brown is the head of the "National Organization for Marriage" (NOM), the badly named group that wants to prevent or reverse same-sex marriage everywhere across America.  Brian challenged Savage to a bible debate after the school event, and the result is here:

My review of the piece will be brief, because the piece above is so long. First, Savage acquits himself well, sounding calm, prepared, logical and well-reasoned. I wish he would have steered the talk early to say: religion has nothing to do with CIVIL marriage unless the participants WANT it to. So, the Bible argument is largely irrelevant to the subject of marriage equality. But Dan makes his points well, speaks for his 15 minutes, and then somehow sits for 15 minutes through Brown's bit.

To his credit, Brown sat through Dan's time without interrupting too. Through Brown's portion though, I just kept returning to the thought, "irrelevant" to all the bible talk about marriage. Nobody is talking about changing holy matrimony in churches. I'm a gay-married atheist. This is all just piffle to me. But alas, a "Bible debate" was what was entered into. Moving on. . .

NOM created a whole page, and several blog posts about this event, before its release. The framing is decidedly
negative, at least toward Savage, and somewhat triumphant toward Brown.

Dan got some rebuttal time, and again acquitted himself well, but again didn't hammer home that civil marriage isn't about religion. He did point out that Brown's religion shouldn't dictate Savage's marriage, which was good, and that civil marriages don't have to be sanctified by any church. I just wish that point was the centerpiece. I really think it's the key to the whole argument.

Dan gets into a little trouble, being unable to restrain himself in Brown's rebuttal. But it doesn't come off rude, and as I said, I don't know how he managed to be so quiet for so long. Brown gets in too deep with the "marriage = children" business, which has far too many exceptions to be taken seriously. Brown fails on his explanation for why Leviticus is important with the gay stuff, but nothing else. Even the moderator couldn't pull it out of him. But, Brian Brown loses his entire argument when he says,

“Because you believe something is wrong, doesn’t mean you make it illegal.” — Brian Brown @ 47:55

And then, when he starts saying that gay marriage "can not exist," and gets into cats and dogs, he's just ridiculous. I was tempted to just stop there, but thought. . .I can push through this. As I continued to watch, I was struck by how well Savage--essentially on the defensive--comes off very strong, but not belligerent.Well, until a little later, where he gets more interrupty (I would have too!). Brian Brown by then end is on defense, and seems inflexible and frankly starts talking in circles.

Ultimately, Savage is dealing more in the fact-based world, and Brown is dealing in faith and conjecture (what might happen), which was bound to happen in this sort of debate. There were probably few fence-sitters swayed, unless they were already predisposed one way or the other. But they proved it can be done. If I had to score it, I'd give the edge to Savage, and it wouldn't even be close, except for demerits for his interrupting late in the debate. But I soooo understand. . .

Mitt Gets Worse, with Rent's Anthony Rapp

Sorry, Anthony, this is
how I remember you!

This is a novel take on the It Gets Better campaign, Dan Savage's video series of support for gay young people. Here, we have messages from gay people and their supporters about how Mitt Romney would make things worse. Anthony Rapp was the star of Rent on stage and screen. I remember him more as Darryl Coopersmith, the red-headed pain in the ass to Elisabeth Shue in Adventures in Babysitting. I remember following Rapp's posts on Usenet (way before Twitter). He always came off smart then, and he still does. Well done.

Dan Savage Calls Out "GOProud" and Other Gay Republicans

I have friends who call themselves gay Republicans. While I like them as people, I can't pretend to understand their political affiliation. It's basically a purse over handbag sort of thing: money trumps the gay. Now, I can sympathize with people who say things like, "does he have to be so gay all the time? Everything's about the gay. Gay, gay, gay!" Yes, we all know somebody who is "on" all the time. Most gay people don't think about gay issues nearly as much as your typical anti-gay voter, to be honest. We're just living our lives.

But, if your candidate is against gay marriage, supports DOMA, wants to re-introduce "don't ask, don't tell," is against ENDA, and supports the rights of the religious to discriminate in the open market, and you are gay yourself? You're a quisling. You're a turncoat. You're a traitor. Aren't you? Somebody explain to me how you aren't? It's one thing to say, "I'm not a single-issue voter," but another to vote against your own self interest. I will never understand gay Republicans.

[Excerpt]

Image from TalkingPointsMemo

On Booze, Meth, Suicide... and GOProud

. . .Which kindasorta brings me to my recent dustup with GOProud. The hard-right gay Republican organization—a rightwing front group that exists to pinkwash the GOP—endorsed Mitt Romney last week. Romney, of course, opposes marriage equality. Romney supports DOMA. Romney has pledged to write anti-gay bigotry into the U.S. Constitution. Romney opposed the repeal of DADT. Romney opposes the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Romney opposes adoptions by same-sex couples. GOProud's endorsement of Romney, while not a surprise, was annoying, and it prompted me to send out this tweet: "The GOP's house faggots grab their ankles, right on cue. Pathetic. . ."

Read more at: The Stranger

We Won't Have Rick Santorum to Kick Around Anymore!

Hasn't that little girl grown up yet?

That frothy mix was hard to get rid of. It seemed no matter how many times Mitt Romney scraped his shoe, Rick (don't Google me) Santorum just wouldn't stop clinging to him. But alas, Rick has quit, finally. He was entertaining, thought the brief period where it looked like he could actually win the GOP primary was terrifying. I mean, I was confident that President could mop that frothy mix right up, but the prospect of a loon like Santorum getting that close was almost too much to take.

And now, it is up to the Romneybot 2.0.

[Excerpt]


Rick Santorum lasted longer in the GOP race than anyone predicted

Rick Santorum ended his campaign at least three months later than any pundit could have predicted at any point last year. He also ended it with having accomplished more than anyone would have imagined and he did so at a time putting family first. In other words, Rick Santorum went out on top. . .

Read more at: CBS News

Mike in Raleigh: Rick Santorum's Frothy Swan Song!

Thanks to Mike in Raleigh (of The Stephanie Miller Show) for this beautiful remembrance of Rick (don't Google me) Santorum. Thanks for the frothy memories!

"Santorum" Creator Freaked Out by "Santorum Surge"

The right frames Rick Santorum's Google problem as an unprovoked, mean spirited attack on a socially conservative politician. This isn't true, which is plain if you click through to the explanation. Santorum said some nasty things about gay people (such as comparing us to "man-on-dog" sex), and was unrepentant about it. So, Dan Savage, sex columnist and political activist, held a contest to redefine what "Santorum" means. The winner was at the link above, but if you haven't clicked it yet, it's www.spreadingsantorum.com.

Anyway, this all sort of fell by the wayside when Santorum was soundly defeated in his Senate re-election attempt. Other than some forgettable appearances on FOX "News"--where he and competitor Newt Gingrich were both on the payroll--Santorum was only remembered by those of us who made sure that Santorum's  alternate meaning stayed at the top of the Google results.

"Yeah, I don't know how I got here either."

But against all odds, Santorum has become the GOP front-runner. Nobody, not even people who agree with everything he says (shudder) thought Santorum had a chance. Even fringe loonies were for Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann or Donald Trump. And hilariously, Santorum only landed this plumb spot by process of elimination. He's held the position of front-runner for what, two or three weeks? Meanwhile, Mitt Romney continues to damage himself, Ron Paul gets no traction, and Newt is crossing his fingers that Wednesday's debate does something to prop up his candidacy. And the establishment GOP is crapping itself. But my side is a little weirded out too!

[Excerpt]

Dan Savage ‘freaked out’ by Santorum surge


Gay activist and sex columnist Dan Savage told Mother Jones in a recent interview that he was “freaked out” by the rise of former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

National polls have found the staunch social conservative surging ahead of longtime frontrunner Mitt Romney. In early February, he came in first in the Missouri Republican primary and the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

The Nine People Who Lost Iowa for Rick Santorum

Yeah, I'm a little late getting this one up, but it's funny, so here you go.

Rick Santorum: Blah People (Black People)

Did you see the news item about Rick (Don't Google Me!) Santorum? He was overgeneralizing about poor people the other day, and he said "black people." Actually, he said something like "blaque. . ." people, with a very slightly garbled last consonant. Clearly, in context, he was saying black,  but thought better of it just a little too late. Santorum then scummily tried to walk it back by saying he started to say a different word (what, blank? bland? blanket?) and mangled whatever it was supposed to be. But it certainly wasn't "black!" Yeah, and he never said gay relationships were like "man on dog sex" either, right?

Is Rick Santorum Elligible to be President?

Image from ThinkProgress

So, after hearing about Rick (don't Google me) Santorum's Santorum Surge (blecch), there have been several new Santorum stories in the news. In one of them, I heard Santorum described as the son of an immigrant, born in Italy. I gave the news my best Scooby Doo "HUNHHG?!?"

After all, according to many conservatives--and the theory is suspect, I must point out--a "natural born citizen" must be born of two citizen adults parents. Some even take it so far as to say that both parents must be native born citizens, which sounds like it creates a chicken-and-egg paradox. But what they mean is, both parents must have been born in America in order for the candidate to meet the natural born citizen requirement.

So, while I don't care where Santorum's parents were born, any "birther" should. And Santorum's base is very, very likely to be chock-full-o'-birthers. The birthers, remember, were the people who first believed that President Obama was born in Kenya (or Canada, or in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, or elsewhere). Some still do, and/or believe that Obama has dual citizenship, and believe that disqualifies him. Or they believe he isn't who he says he is at all, has several Social Security numbers, is some sort of Manchurian Candidate, and any of several other twisted conspiracy theories. All of those theories are debunked at Obama Conspiracy Theories, if you are interested.

But what I'm looking for is consistency. Shouldn't any good birther question Santorum's eligibility?

Surging Santorum?

Santorum's previous campaign made his daughter cry.

Oh, you've GOT to be kidding! I take a bit of a break from this here blog thingy, and Rick (don't Google me!) Santorum surges? Aside from the unpleasant visual, it just isn't freaking possible. Of all the clowns in the GOP car, Santorum is the least likely lead Bozo. You just know that Jon Huntsman is righteously pissed that he hasn't gotten his turn yet. Well, politely pissed, seeing as he's a Mormon and all.

[Excerpt]

Surging Santorum Blasts Frontrunner Romney For Relying On Waivers To Repeal Obamacare

Surging presidential hopeful Rick Santorum took a shot at frontrunner Mitt Romney during a stop in Coralville, Iowa this morning, arguing that a president should not repeal the Affordable Care Act by issuing waivers to the states, as the former Massachusetts governor has suggested. Instead, Santorum promised to use the reconciliation process to eliminate the law if Republicans fail to gain a 60-seat majority in the Senate. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Picture of the Day: Rick Embraces His Inner Santorum

If you don't know why this is funny, go here.

Found at: Joe.My.God.

Rick Santorum Finally Cracks Due to "Google Problem"

Santorum, thrusting an appendage into the air.
Image from source, Mediaite

There is much said in right-wing world, about Dan Savage's little prank on Rick Santorum.They're also twitterpated because Savage told a few raunchy (and one decidedly-in-poor-taste, immediately-apologized-for) jokes. Boo-hoo, it was a comedy show on HBO. Treating even badly-told, improvised jokes on premium cable as though they are serious, murderously serious is just stupid. And acting like Santorum is some poor, innocent waif who never done nobody wrong is equally stupid. In case anybody wonders why Savage created a new, scandalous definition for the world "Santorum," needs to remember that Santorum himself has said lots of nasty things about gay people, including comparing homosexuality to "man on dog sex."

As you might imagine, many gay people find having their relationships compared to bestiality to be rather insulting. Santorum has never apologized. So live with it Ricky. You know what you have to do to have the Google bomb extinguished.

[Excerpt]


Angry Radio Rant And Campaign Email Show Dan Savage Has Finally Gotten To Santorum

It was bound to happen sometime– Rick Santorum has been sex columnist Dan Savage’s favorite punching bag for some time now, launching a Google campaign to turn his name into a gay sex euphemism and fantasizing aloud about having sex with him. Santorum took most of it in stride, or at least silence, but it appears Savage’s appearance on Real Time last Friday was the last straw. . .

Read more at: Mediaite

Over Time with Bill Maher, July 15, 2011

Ep. 220: July 15, 2011 - Overtime

What is So Google-able About Rick Santorum?

One of my very favorite political photos. That little girl is probably
driving by now. Photo from Wonkette.

You have no doubt heard that former Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) has a bit of a "Google problem." You've probably even heard that the problem is unwise to research at work. This no doubt has spread (ahem) Santorum's problem even further. But I'm betting it has also scared a few people away from even looking. I mean, you only have to fall for a couple of "whatever you do, don't Google x" before you find out that you really shouldn't sometimes.

Santorum's Google problem really isn't that bad.  Oh, it's bad for him, but it's not so bad to look up. Unless you are a very squeamish or prudish sort, you are more likely to find it funny. If you'd like to see what all the fuss is about, by all means, click this link to find out. Do it from home, just to be safe about it, but honestly, you could air the page on broadcast television, and not be fined by the FCC.  Mmmkay?

Now, a little background. Rick Santorum is a notoriously homophobic politician, who has said some downright awful things about gay people. He's a bible thumper, and has other issues, but it was the gay thing that got this particular ball rolling. One particularly bad thing he said was comparing gay relationships to "man on dog sex." And I tell you, having your relationship compared to bestiality is pretty stinking harsh. Sex advice columnist Dan Savage (later of the "It Gets Better" project) thought it was pretty harsh too, and decided to use his forum to do something about it.

Unrelated image from Tide Detergent.

Savage hit upon the idea to attach an unpleasant "Urban Dictionary"-type definition to the word Santorum. Specifically a sex act, of which there are many with funny names. He had readers send submissions in to him, and people voiced their opinions on the matter. Finally, a definition was chosen, and Savage set up the http://www.spreadingsantorum.com/ web site. And in a rare case of a prank working spectacularly well, the number one result for "Santorum" on Google and other web browsers is almost always Savage's definition.

It's decidedly rare that something like this sticks. It's akin to "tea bagger" being stolen from the Tea Party as an insult of Democrats, and turned around as an insult of the Tea Party itself. It's not just satisfying that it's funny and that it stuck, it's also a good heaping helping of justice. Schadenfreude too.

If you'd like a little more background, here's an excerpt and link to the Wikipedia article.

[Excerpt]

Santorum (neologism)

The word santorum /sænˈtorəm/ is a neologism promoted by American advice columnist Dan Savage in response to statements regarding the US Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas made by then Republican U.S. Senator Rick Santorum from Pennsylvania. . .

Read more at: Wikipedia

Quote of the Day: Dan Savage on Anthony Weiner "Scandal"

I rarely copy another person's post in full. I mean really rarely. But this one is so good, and loses some of its punch if you try to whittle it down.  So, read on. . .

Dan Savage, image from Joe.My.God.

[Original Post]

Quote Of the Day - Dan Savage

"A reporter asks if Weiner was drinking or using drugs—if he has a problem—because only a man who has a drinking problem or a drug problem could get caught up in something like this. Do reporters know what men are like? (And lots of women too?) This desire to pathologize behavior that isn't sick—that is, indeed, very common and human and completely and instantly understandable—is itself pathological. Weiner does not have a problem. He has a computer. The whole world has Weiner's problem: same old horniness, brand new box." - Dan Savage, live-blogging Weiner's press conference.

Source: Joe.My.God.

Google Runs "It Gets Better" Ad for its Chrome Browser

Very nice, and kudos to Dan Savage for breaking into the mainstream with his important effort.

Rick's Santorum Problem

Man-on-Dog Santorum, from HuffPo

Sometimes karma works. Rick Santorum, one of the smarmiest and ickiest of a list of once-powerful former Republican elected officials wants to run for President. This despite an embarrassing loss in his most recent election. But the political flavor of the month is extreme conservative, or it seems to be. But I'm thinking that Ricky isn't quite crazy/stupid enough to outshine Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, or several others in the cartoonish 2012 lineup. Oh, he's batshit. He's just not that batshit. And he's got this little problem. This little, hilarious, richly deserved problem. . .

[Excerpt]

Santorum Google Searches Spike After He Speaks Out About His 'Google Problem'



Earlier today, we brought you word that would-be presidential candidate Rick Santorum had been sharing his feelings about his "Google problem" -- that is to say, his name has become strongly associated on Google with "the frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex. . ."
 
Read more at: Huffington Post