Deep Something

Republicans Resort Again to Swiftboating

July 25, 2015July 25, 2015 B. John 496 Views 0 Comments Hero, John McCain, John Kerry, POW, Donald Trump, Swift-boating, Max Cleland, Saxby Chambliss

“Swift-boating” is a neologism used pejoratively to describe an unfair or untrue political attack. We started using it during the 2004 presidential campaign when an astro-turf group, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, set out to wreck John Kerry’s campaign based on their false claim that he hadn’t earned a purple heart he had received. Now, Donald Trump has taken on the mantel of swift-boater in attacking John McCain’s status as a Vietnam War Hero. It’s a sad state that the preferred attack in this country, when you’ve not bothered to serve yourself, is to attack people who have sacrificed and served. But it has a long history. More sad is that fact that it seems to work, and voters buy into it, all while claiming to “support the troops.”

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An Open Letter to Conservative SCOTUS Justices

May 5, 2015September 29, 2018 B. John 1174 Views 0 Comments Antonin Scalia, SCOTUS, marriage equality, john roberts, supreme court

This entry is part 5 of 35 in the series Gay Marriage

Yes, this is a bit behind, but I had to make comments about some of the discussion points put forward

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An Open Letter to Mike Huckabee

April 3, 2015September 29, 2018 B. John 1318 Views 0 Comments Mike Pence, Indiana, Wedding Cakes, Mike Huckabee

This entry is part 18 of 35 in the series Gay Marriage

But at the end of the day, with or without these RFRA laws, you still have the same religious freedoms you have had since the Republic was founded. You can pray to whatever God you choose, or you can choose to not pray. You can go to whatever house of worship you wish on whatever day you’d like, and you can crawl into the pulpit and preach the ugliest and nastiest things your sad little heart can drum up about people you don’t like. So Mike, stop with the lying about the need for these laws. The only thing you’re trying to do is get special rights to take your particular from of hatred and bigotry into the public square, and you’re finding that Americans are finally less and less tolerant of your intolerance. I know it’s hard to take now, but in the end, America, and even you, will be better for it.

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Righteous Bigots Afraid to Own Their Bigotry

March 16, 2015September 29, 2018 B. John 1388 Views 1 Comment bigotry, Oklahoma, Chuck Strohm, Christianists, Emily Virgin, religious liberty

This entry is part 6 of 35 in the series Gay Marriage

We’re starting to see the backlash against LGBTQ people as the likelihood of nationwide marriage equality increases, and LGBTQ people achiever equality under the law. One of the main ways the Christianists are trying to keep us in our place, is to pass these bogus, and clearly unconstitutional, religious liberty bills. We saw how cowardly they are in Oklahoma this week.

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Craziness Roundup for the Week of Feb. 20, 2015

February 20, 2015February 20, 2015 B. John 929 Views 0 Comments Michael Paulsen, republican, Mississippi, Robert George, Nom, James Van Huss, Tennessee, Roy More, Micah, Alabama, Welfare, school funding, Gene Alday, Roy Moore, Glenn Murdock, Witherspoon Institute

This week’s crazy has been especially over the top, especially with Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore trying to stand in the courthouse doorway, and more Christians believing that only they can defend God (shhh, apparently he can’t take care of himself).

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American Sniper – War and Politics

February 16, 2015February 16, 2015 B. John 606 Views 0 Comments Iraq, Michael Moore, Chris Kyle, American Sniper, Heroes, cowards

The recent movie, American Sniper, based on the autobiography of Chris Kyle, has sparked quite a bit of heated discussion. I’ve previously reviewed the movie, but in this post, I’d like to take on some of the politics, praise, and condemnation that’s been the result of the movie.

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American Sniper-A Movie Review

February 16, 2015 B. John 606 Views 2 Comments Cole Konis, Action, Ben Reed, Drama, Biography, Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper, Kyle Gallner

Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle’s pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home to his wife and kids after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind. We watched this one in the theater a couple of weekends ago. I’m sorry to just now be getting around to writing my review. Me and Lay both thought this movie was OK. I suspect he liked it a bit more. I had some trouble separating the politics, the biography, and the movie.

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As Usual Methodist Episcopacy Missing in Action

January 18, 2015September 29, 2018 B. John 525 Views 0 Comments UMC, College of Bishops, methodist, Episcopacy, Georgia, Benjamin Michael Watson, James R. King, Religious Freedoms Bill

It will come no surprise that members of the Georgia legislature have introduced model legislation similar to that introduced in other legislature where marriage equality has either passed or been instituted by judicial action. This one of those “Religious Freedoms” bills designed to allow “christians” to discriminate against anyone they don’t like…because, you know…who would Jesus hate. In this instance, a group of religious leaders in Georgia have banded together and issued a letter denouncing the bill, and explaining that no one, besides certain Republican members of the legislature has actually asked for the bill. I was heartened to see that a number of United Methodist pastors from Georgia had signed the letter. But as usual, the Methodist Episcopacy was missing in action.

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Atlanta Fire Chief and Free Speech

January 17, 2015September 29, 2018 B. John 523 Views 2 Comments free speech, Religious Freedom, Atlanta, Anti-Gay, Tony Perkins, Josh Duggar, Nom, Kelvin Cochran, Brian Brown, Fire Chief, FRC

The story is based on a recent action by the City of Atlanta in which they fired Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran for the publication of a religiously themed book, and how it was distributed within the department. The book included some pretty strong anti-gay comments, so of course the main characters in anti-gay, inc. are all grifting on Cochran’s martyrdom. I’d like to offer some reminders to these staunch defenders of “free speech.”

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Update to Marriage Issue in Pasco County

January 9, 2015September 29, 2018 B. John 1484 Views 5 Comments Paula O'Neil, Pasco, Marriage, Clerk of Court, florida

This entry is part 17 of 35 in the series Gay Marriage

Boy oh boy, did I get a surprise phone call Monday. I live in Tampa, just south of Pasco County, and Monday morning I faxed a letter to Paula O’Neil, Pasco Clerk of Court concerning their discontinuing performing marriage ceremonies in deference to the bigotry of some of her assistant clerks. You can read the letter here.

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Severe Clear – A Movie Review

November 4, 2014November 4, 2014 B. John 437 Views 0 Comments Documentary, Kristian Fraga, Mike Scotti

As part of the first wave in the War on Terror, First Lieutenant Mike Scotti (awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V”) served on the front lines during the 21 day advance to Baghdad. His experiences in Afghanistan as well as Iraq put him face to face with the sobering realities of war on a daily basis. Severe Clear offers an unflinching look at life on the battlefield through the eyes of someone who was there.