Creepy Mike Huckabee's Sexism and. . .Creepiness

"And then Uncle Sugar touches you in your special place. . ."
Image from source, Raw Story

Ugh. You'd have thought prominent conservatives would have learned their lessons by now, when it comes to women. Instead, they keep saying very, very, very stupid things about rape, abortion, sex, sex parts, contraception, and on and on. They seem to think they're absolute experts on that whole lady business while continuing to prove that they a) don't really seem to know much about it, and b) have no clue how to talk about it without being extremely offensive. And yet, they keep doing it!

But let me say, even though what Huckabee says is indeed racist, and I understand that the following phrase is part of his regular schtick, this man saying "Uncle Sugar," is like the creepiest thing ever.

[Excerpt]

Huckabee: Dems say women ‘can’t control their libido’ without birth control from ‘Uncle Sugar’
 
Mike Huckabee says Democrats make women feel helpless to control their libido by offering government-sponsored birth control. The onetime presidential candidate and former Arkansas governor told the Republican National Committee during a speech Thursday that they can’t allow liberals to frame the debate any longer. “I think it’s time Republicans no longer accept listening to the Democrats talk about a ‘war on women,’” Huckabee said. “Because the fact is, the Republicans don’t have a war on women. They have a war for women. . .”

Read more at: Raw Story

Right Wing World: Rush Limbaugh vs. Women, Part 1,347, 864

What is it with Right Wing World and rape? You'd think after several public rebukes, they'd knock it off. Then again, this is Rush Limbaugh we're talking about, and he does get to set the rules the conservatives play by. El Rushbo may be el douchebo to the rest of us, but he's the conservative King, and he's allowed to be crass, crude, very (very) often wrong, and he's still as golden as the false idol calf. And as large. Ha!

Anyway, I've just got to wonder where in the hell Rush's rape analogy even comes from. I mean, even if rape weren't such a radioactive topic, the analogy doesn't go anywhere. It's really, really not analogous. So it would fail on its own, but Rush keeps running with it anyway. If he had an ounce of self-awareness (or a care in the world that a misstep even matters at this point), he would have stopped a third or a half of the way in, and shifted gears. He could have even thrown in a "Nope, nope, shouldn't go there, the Feminazis won't like it, how 'bout this, my friends. . .?"

[Excerpt]

Limbaugh Compares Filibuster Reform to Rape




I don't know how or why this troll is still on the air, but apparently someone out there is listening to him. I think he's been popping too many happy pills again: Limbaugh Compares Filibuster Reform To Vote "Allow[ing] Women To Be Raped". . .

Read more at: Crooks & Liars

Charles Ramsey, Hero in Cleveland, Talks to Anderson Cooper

I love this interview. Charles Ramsey, the hero who rescued Amanda Berry and the others involved in that horrible decade-long kidnapping/captivity crime in Cleveland is a marvel of "no bullshit." It's funny, because I heard an LA-based talk show talking about him on Wednesday, lamenting the stereotypical "black next-door neighbor" they trot out on the news.



Ordinarily, I know what they're talking about, and it isn't just a black thing either. It always seems like morons, white, black or varying shades of beige, giving their goofball analysis of what happened in their neighborhood. Not this guy. He may not have eloquent diction, but he is spot on in his analysis of the situation. There isn't an ounce of pretension, not a bit of what he has to say that sounds remotely put-on for television, or embellished in any way. I think this guy is awesome. And I think Anderson Cooper did a great job interviewing him too. And by the way, I think Charles' assessment of Cleveland's 911 dispatchers is pretty spot on too.

UPDATE: It has come to light that Ramsey has a troubled past that includes several cases of domestic violence. This makes him a flawed hero, to say the least. But, America loves tales of redemption (see: Mark Sanford), and maybe this is Ramsey's. For what it's worth, it seems that Ramsey's brushes with the law are a decade and more old.

Rush Limbaugh Connects Cleveland Kidnapping with Hawaii Five-O

On Monday night, after hearing all day about the three women (and one child) held captive over a decade in a Cleveland, Ohio house, I turned on Hawaii Five-O on CBS, as I'm wont to do. And I was surprised to find that the episode's plot bore some resemblance to the awful real-life story. Most of the details were different, but it dealt with long-term kidnapping and imprisonment of women. I thought nothing more than that it was an odd coincidence, and was surprised there wasn't a disclaimer, or a scuttling of the episode until later in the season.

Leave it to Rush Limbaugh, classy guy that he is, to try and connect the plot of the episode--having to do with welfare fraud--with the real-life tragedy. And then, to Cleveland voting for Obama? Hey, Rush, America voted for Obama! He's really such a pig.

[Excerpt]

Limbaugh links Cleveland kidnappers to Obama and welfare benefits

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh on Tuesday found a convoluted way to use the CBS drama Hawaii Five-0 to link the story of three kidnapped women in Cleveland to President Barack Obama and welfare benefits. Limbaugh admitted that he had “no idea” about why Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight had been kidnapped and then were able to escape after 10 years. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Cher & Kathy Griffin: Don't Let Mitt Turn Back Time on Women!

Good advice from two of my favorite people. But we can turn back time just one hour this weekend. . .

Legitimate Rape®

It's kind of amazing that something so horrible--based on something so stupid--can still be funny. But then, I've always had an inappropriate sense of humor.

GOP Senate Candidates Can't Shut Up About Rape

Image from source, Wonkette

Seriously, WTF you guys? If you know you have ridiculous, douchey, inappropriate and insensitive ideas about something, why do you keep talking about it? We know that you think sex for pleasure is always wrong, sex within marriage is for procreation only, rape is only sometimes "rape," and that a sperm cell that has just penetrated an egg (or maybe is about to) is the same thing as a fully-formed human being. But every time you talk about it, it shines a spotlight on all of those ludicrous ideas.  But look who I'm talking to! These guys also seem to think they're fooling us with their comb-overs.

[Excerpt]

Yet Another GOP Senate Candidate Says Something About Rape

New Rule of Politics: If you’re a Republican running for Senate, just never talk about sex or anything related to it. You will do better pretending storks bring babies to worthy parents and/or welfare applicants. . .

Read more at: Wonkette

Photo of the Day: Congressman "Legitimate Rape" Akin. . .

. . .right next to a sign saying "You Can't Fix Stupid, but You Can Vote Them Out!" It's just amazing.

Source: Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew)

Romney Not on Board with "Legitimate Rape" Remark

Dude, is that a legitimate comb-over?
Image from source, CBS News.

Okay, kids, if there's one thing I've learned from years of following politics, current events, and. . .uh. . .living as a human on this earth, I know there is one thing you don't mess with: rape. You don't try to parse, bargain about, hand wave or poo-pooh rape. You just don't. Women (and people in general) are not just thorny on the subject, they will take your freakin' head off.

So, how does a person rise to the level of Congressman without knowing this basic fact? This douche nozzle actually tried to whittle rape down to "legitimate rape," and. . .I don't know, "kinda-sorta rape?" And then he peddled some phony-baloney psuedo science about a woman's body preventing pregnancy if there is a real, 100%, bona fide, sure as shootin' rape.

WTF on several levels, man? So, it's not exactly an act of political courage for presidential hopeful Mitt Romney to condemn such language. Or is it? Some of his base is batshit crazy on "personhood." Maybe he lost a few of the rabid pro-lifers with this statement? Who knows. We do know that Paul Ryan is against exceptions of rape and incest for abortion. What does he think about "legitimate" rape?

[Excerpt]

Romney rebukes Akin rape remark

Missouri Congressman Todd Akin, a conservative Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, said in an interview broadcast Sunday that women's bodies can prevent pregnancies in the case of "a legitimate rape," adding that conception in such cases is rare. . .

Read more at: CBS News

Al Franken's Anti-Rape Amendment Signed Into Law

Image from source, Think Progress

I don't give a rip what conservatives think of Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.). He's awesome. Hands down, no arguments and no apologies.

[Excerpt]

Obama signs Franken’s anti-rape amendment into law.

. . . H.R. 3326, the “Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010,” which provides FY 2010 appropriations for Department of Defense (DOD) military programs including funding for Overseas Contingency Operations, and extends various expiring authorities and other non-defense FY 2010 appropriations. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Twitter Produces Billboard Hilarity

And by "hilarity," I am of course referring to the dark comedy variety. Because of course, rape is rarely funny. Very rarely. So please understand, the humor portion of this post has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual news item being reported, but rather the juxtaposition of said news item with the news team featured alongside it. Got it? Good.

TVNewser's Billboard of the Week


Mobile, Alabama's WPMI-TV learns the consequences of posting your breaking news tweets on an electronic billboard.



Source: TVNewser

US Military + Japan + Rape = Leave

Photo Credit to Rueters
I was recently reading the U.S. Government Accountability Office website & came across a report regarding a plan to move U.S. troops out of Japan. Some 8,000 troops along with 9,000 or so kin will be relocated to Guam.

From the gao.gov website...
Why GAO Did This Study? To reduce the burden of the U.S. military presence on Japanese communities while maintaining a continuing presence of U.S. forces in the region, in 2005 and 2006 the U.S.-Japan Defense Policy Review Initiative outlined the effort to relocate American military units in Japan to other areas, including Guam. The Department of Defense (DOD) plans to move 8,000 Marines and an estimated 9,000 dependents from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam by the 2014 goal.

Maybe it is obvious, but if not... I believe this trail of stories will give a better idea as to what "To reduce the burden of the U.S. military presence on Japanese communities" means.

U.S. Marine in Japan found guilty of 'indecent acts' ~International Herald Tribune
4 U.S. Marines face courts martial ~CNN
U.S. Marine held over Japan rape ~BBC
U.S. Marine free in Japan rape case ~LiveLeak

Looks like this monkey has gone right back to the 'no oversight' subject... It is starting to feel like the Simpson's episode when the family has to mark yet another place they can't visit off the map. Thanks, dicks.

Rape: It's Just Not Like it Used to Be

Photo from source, Feministing

Political gaffes are a dime a dozen, but they come in many varieties. There are the malapropisms, or garbled syntax. Our President makes those daily. There are unintended double-meanings, and misunderstandings. But the ones that make your jaw drop are the ones that you're just sure the politician actually meant to say.

And this one, from Tennessee State Senator Doug Henry really takes the cake. Now, I'm not from Tennessee, and this is surely not my issue. But it's just so staggeringly bad, it warrants a little attention.

[Excerpt]

Rape: They just don't make it like they used to

“Rape, ladies and gentlemen, is not today what rape was. Rape, when I was learning these things, was the violation of a chaste woman, against her will, by some party not her spouse. Today it’s simply, ‘Let’s don’t go forward with this act.’ ”

Wow. Just wow. I mean, dude. . .

For a look-see at what the folks over at women's rights blog Feminising thought of that, click here: Feministing

Shameless Gossip: Bush, Sex, and Suicide

Shameless Gossip is a Greenlee Gazette feature that departs from the usual straight-ahead news and commentary. Stories under this banner should be read with a great deal of skepticism. But you never know, they could turn out to be true. . .

Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link to this site. I had not intended to run Shameless Gossip again so soon after the previous edition. This story is so lurid and interesting, however, that I just couldn't resist.

[Excerpt]

The Strange Death of the Woman Who Filed a Rape Lawsuit Against Bush

Early one Saturday afternoon in July 2003, I made a simple phone call to Margie Schoedinger, a Texas woman who filed a rape lawsuit against George W. Bush in December 2002. [snip]

"I am still trying to prosecute [the lawsuit]," said Schoedinger, a 38-year-old African-American woman who lived in the Houston suburb of Missouri City. "I want to get this matter settled and go on with my life." [snip]

Well, Schoedinger hasn't gone on with her life. In fact, three months after I spoke to her, she died in an apparent suicide. . .

Read on at: OpEd News