Quick! Pick out the drag queen in this picture and win a Cracker Jack Tierra!

I have always loved Ricky Martin--regardless of what he will or won't own up to about... well, you know.

Anyway, The Washington Post totally and completely dissed his new album. But, who cares about his music. That new look, I just don't know. We call it Thug Bottom.

Photo: Sony

Having grown up around substantial numbers of "Good Chris-chuns" and small-town hypocrites, I learned decades ago that it is a good idea to keep a close eye on the self-appointed enforcers of morality, paricularly in small towns. When you aren't looking, these a-holes are probably robbing your garage or fornicating with high-school girls down by the creek.

So, it is in this spirit of communitarianism (see, I use big words, too), I bring you this blog: Bobo's World: Dispatches from the Heartland. Bobo covers weekly church-related crime.

Enjoy! And may Jesus bless you--have a nice day.

Do you ever wonder, Has the Republican Party become one big affirmative action program for stupid white people? (Hey, I'm white, very white, so don't dis me.)

The gushing letters and cards that Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers wrote to El Presidete El Jefe Jorge Bush over the years are... embarrassing. It's sort of the same as those situations where someone at work, in school or at a party just makes such an ass of themselves in a group. The person lacks social skills, or says something completely inappropriate.

You can feel it. You want to run away... to hide... you just want the person embarrassing themselves to stop--now.

That's pretty much the way Poor Harriet's letters to Dubya (and sometimes Laura) read. Oooohhh... stop! You fool! You are making everyone uncomfortable.

Here is some coverage of Letters from Poor Harriet:

• The Rude Pundit (raunchy and wonderful, very funny)
• Sun-Herald (South Mississippi)
• Times of London
• The Smoking Gun
• Buffalo News

Oh, dear Lord... get me out of here. This is so... humiliating. But, I think I will read what The Rude Pundit has to say before I go.

Ever read any of the scary B.S. over at Agape Press ? It's "Reliable News from a Christian Source."

Well, if you are familiar with the content on the Web sites of the some of the other wacko right-wing "Christian" organizations, then don't bother. Nothing much new.

However, it is refreshing to see the clarity and honesty in this news relesase on Agape Press today. These folks don't even pretend to hide their Jew-baiting. Shucks, they do it in the first sentence. In fact, the the second word of the first sentence is "Jewish." While not Jewish, I tend to shift uncomfortably in my chair when someone begins a sentence with "A Jew or "A Jewish man..." I just figure the rest of it won't be... pleasant.

Oh, well, why should gay people get all the attention? Yes, Jew-baiting is alive and well in America's fundamentalist right-wing. I know that these people profess to love Israel, but I suspect it stops there--they probably hate the Jews who populate Israel.

Oh, yeah, the news release takes to task "the Jewis man" (they might as well have added "dirty" between "a" and "Jewish man") because he is filing suit against the Air Force for not keeping the relibious wackos out of people's personal religious life.


Lawsuit Seeks Stop to Chaplains' Faith-Sharing in Air Force
Report Says the Military Branch May Accommodate Plaintiff's Wishes

By Jody Brown
October 12, 2005

(AgapePress) - If a Jewish man in New Mexico has his way, Christian chaplains in the U.S. Air Force could be prohibited from evangelizing among the ranks. And apparently the Air Force is willing to consider the man's suggestion.

According to an Associated Press report, Mikey Weinstein of Albuquerque -- a 1977 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and father of two Air Force cadets -- has filed a federal lawsuit claiming that senior officers and cadets at the Academy illegally impose Christianity on others at the elite school. Now comes word that the Air Force has withdrawn from use by its chaplains a code of ethics that endorsed the evangelizing of troops who are unaffiliated with any religion.

The code, which was issued by the Air Force Chaplain Service in January, states: "I will not actively proselytize from other religious bodies. However, I retain the right to instruct and/or evangelize those who are not affiliated." An Air Force spokeswoman says the code of ethics has since been withdrawn "for further review." Read entire wacko screed by clicking here.

Is El Presidente El Jefe Jorge Bush close to having a complete-total-screaming nervous breakdown? I am seeing more stories and columns in the blogosphere like this one today from Doug Thompson at Capitol Hill Blue. (Note: Thompson has been around -- press secretary to two congressman as well as a chief of staff, and a long-time journalist.)

Scary stuff, but not surprising. Let me again remind those people who voted for Bush what they voted for: a guy who has messed everything in his life, with the exception of his marriage. Dubya has ruined every business his dad's business partners ever bought for him, he destroyed America's reputation around the world... and on and on. Where would I stop? The list is endless.

Somehow you thought this violent, two-bit redneck drunk-of-a-clown had more "character" than Al Gore or John Kerry. Well, you know the old saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

We tried to tell you. Shame on you--you fools who voted for Bush.

God help the republic.

Here is Thompson's column...

Government by Temper Tantrum By DOUG THOMPSON Oct 11, 2005, 06:53

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President George W. Bush’s temper tantrums are on the rise with White House insiders reporting increasing tongue-lashing of staffers, obscenity-filled outbursts and a leader driven to the edge by what he sees as party disloyalty and a country that no longer trusts him.

Conservative backlash over his latest Supreme Court nominee may, in fact, have pushed the President over the edge.

“He’s out of control,” one White House aide says privately. “There’s no other way to put it. His anger spills over in meetings. He berates anyone who brings him bad news but there's not a lot of good news we can bring the President right now. He calls other Republicans 'motherfucking traitors' and it is becoming more and more of a challenge to keep that anger from showing in public.” Read entire column

But which one was it? From Capitol Hill Blue's "Today in History."

1962 - 1st appearance of a Gabor sister on Merv Griffin Show

Supposedly the Bush Administration will cut back on our system of massive farm subsidies in order to get a new World Trade Organization agreement.

When pigs fly.

This is total bullshit. Large farming operations are a part of the Big-Government-Right-Wing Republication-Coalition. They get tons of handouts, just like other sectors of corporate America. Don't weep for the small, family-owned farms: they don't exist anymore. This is big business, and the "farmers" who get subsidies are ones who spend the winters in Miami in their condos.

Farming in America in 2005 doesn't look anyting like "Green Acres." It more closely resembles the Chicago Board of Trade.

This article from Bloomberg News:

This is from John Aravosis' AmericaBlog... I won't even comment. Why bother. Anyway, here is Lou Beres' statement at the Web site of the Christian Coalition of Oregon.

Christian Coalition leader molested his 3 daughters
by John in DC - 10/10/2005 12:48:00 PM

There ought to be a constitutional amendment to stop Christian conservative activists from getting married, adopting kids, or at the very least can we please ban heterosexual men from the priesthood?

From Editor & Publisher:

After news broke that local law enforcement officials were investigating complaints that Louis Beres, longtime chairman of the Christian Coalition of Oregon, had molested three female family members when they were pre-teens, The Oregonian in Portland went out and interviewed Beres' family members.

Two told reporters that Beres, indeed, had molested them. All three said they have been interviewed for several hours by detectives.

"I was molested," said one of the women, now in her early 50s. "I was victimized, and I've suffered all my life for it. I'm still afraid to be in the same room with [Beres]."

The coalition led by Beres, 70, champions socially conservative candidates and causes. Its Web site describes the group as "Oregon's leading grassroots organization defending our Godly heritage." The group opposes abortion, gay rights, and stem cell research. It is affiliated with the national Christian Coalition, which was founded in 1989 by television evangelist Pat Robertson.

Fine by me. I always thought Al Gore would have made a great president. And I love the Obama as VP rumor to go with it. This is from U.S. News & World Report.com:

They See Al Gore by a Nose in 2008
Is Al Gore coming back? If allies we talked to have their way, the former veep will be the next president. "It's Gore Time," says a political strategist and fundraiser who is opening a bid to get Gore into the race. Gore friends see his recent political and business moves as proof he's preparing to run. Allies say that in speeches, Gore has found his voice to address domestic and world issues. And in raising money for his Current TV network, which targets the critical youth market, Big Al has built an issue base and donor network that's competitive with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton 's. Our source--a top aide in the previous Bush administration--is planning meetings with Gore's team to push an early entry while Clinton runs for re-election in New York. It doesn't end there: The Gorebots want him to pick Sen. Barack Obama, the youthful Illinois African-American, as his No. 2.

Mark Fiore is very talented -- his comics and animation clips are always amusing and creative.

Check out "G.O.P.S.," which is set to the tune of "Bad Boys" from the trashy TV show, "COPS." Fiore explains the scandals of DeLay, Abramoff, Frist, Rove and Libby.

In Pic, that's Jack Abramoff, a real piece of work.

The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream

"We're literally stuck up a cul-de-sac in a cement SUV without a fill-up" - James Howard Kunstler

Check it out. Click here. Who needs enemies such as Osama bin Laden when we have ourselves to destroy our country?

Gosh! No wonder some American denizens of the cul de sac don't like immigrants in their tidy little neighborhoods: many immigrants don't like or use dishwashers. Well, we know what that means! Those hords of foreigners are obviously out to destroy the American Way of Life. (Actually, I think we native-born Americans are doing that all on our own.)

Nice article in today's Washington Post on how immigrants often do not use dishwashers for years after immigrating to the United States--long after they use microwaves, all sorts of computer systems, handhelds, DVD players, etc. It doesn't seem to matter whether the immigrants are from Bolivia or China, poor or middle class--they avoid one of America's greatest gifts to the world: the electric, automatic dishwasher.

I am not surprised at all. My partner is a Venezuelan immigrant, of middle-class upbringing. At first, he rarely used the dishwasher, especially if another Venezuelan friend was here to help clean up after a meal. Now, he does use it, but still handwashes some things that I automatically stick in the machine.

One point made in the article, I agree with: the social interaction involved with washing dishes by hand. I have seen among immigrant friends.

Still, the dishwasher is, I am afraid, a necessity to me. Read story here.

Check out this humorous little video that spoofs presidential speech writing--and the speeches of our Glorious Leader, El Presidente El Jefe Jorge Bush; with a "cameo" appearance by Arianna Huffington. Click here to watch.

Source: BadMash

If you want to know what I think of the theory of American Exceptionalism, see the post following this one. Here is a definition from Wikipedia.org.

American exceptionalism is the idea that the United States and the American people hold a special place in the world, by offering opportunity and hope for humanity, derived from a unique balance of public and private interests governed by constitutional ideals that are focused on personal and economic freedom. Political science defines it as presence of unique traits in the United States, such as high levels of religiosity and the failure of socialist parties, that do not correlate with national characteristics in communist countries .

Some interpret the term to indicate a moral superiority of Americans, while others use it to refer to the American concept as itself an exceptional ideal, which may or may not always be upheld by the actual people and government of the nation. Dissenters claim "American exceptionalism" is little more than crude propaganda, that in essence is a justification for a America-centered view of the world that is inherently chauvinistic and jingoistic in nature. Historians and political scientists may use the term to simply refer to some case of American uniqueness without implying that an innate superiority of Americans resulted in the development of that uniqueness.

This is a great entry at Wikipedia.org. Be sure to read the sections following the above definition. The sections are:

• In Historical Context
• Land
• The American Revolution
• Arguments for American Exceptionalism
• Arguments Against American Exceptionalsim

I love America with all my heart. But American Exceptionalism--especially in the hands of neo-cons and fundamentalist Protestants--is dangerous and explosive. It may very well lead to the downfall of this great country.

I love America. This is a truly wonderful country. My country has also been very lucky: natural resources stretching across a continent, isolation from Europe during its hideous 19th and 20th Century wars, and millions of immigrants who were the cream of their countryies--because they were risk-takers and entrepreneurs.

I do not, however, subscribe to the belief that we, America, are God's chosen people. God does not love one country or group of people any more than another group.

Period.

Hence, I cannot--I will not--subscribe to the belief that is deeply embedded in American culture and politics that America is God's chosen land and people. Bullshit.

Furthermore, this is an extremely dangerous concept. It leads to agression, conceit and hubris: all the things that lead to a country's downfall.

At the beginning of the 21st Century, the Republican Party--particularly the right-wing--has grabbed on to the idea of American Exceptionalism and is it to using to justify just about anything at home and abroad: religious intolerance, crony-oligarchical capitalism, environmental degradation, rampant consumersism, a sense of entitlement to the world's resources, gas-guzzling SUVs, McMansions, and first-strike wars. It is the neo-cons and the fundamentalist Protestants who use this belief to propogate their own versions of stupidity and bigotry.

We live in dangerous times. It does not shock or amaze me in the least that many nations are terrified of the Bush Administration. I specifically say the Bush Administration because I hope they are not terrified of me and the 50% of Americans who don't buy this line of crap.

Please read what leaders in the Church of England said recently (from The Times of London):

Last month, senior figures in the Church of England questioned America’s sense of "moral righteousness" in its foreign policy.

The bishops of Bath and Wells, Oxford, Coventry, and Worcester, said in their report on countering terrorism: "There is no uniquely righteous nation. No country should see itself as the redeemer nation, singled out by God as part of his providential plan."

There you have it. Amen. As a bumpersticker reads: "God Bless the Whole World. No Exceptions."

I have to believe the "messages from God" will go away once El Presidente El Jefe Jorge Bush is swilling bourbon again and has head stuck in a toilet bowl.

Yes, friends, this is our country at the dawn of the 21st Century: totally screwed. And we--well, not ME--did it to ourselves.

From The Times of London:

The truth about God and George
By Simon Freeman

A senior Palestinian who said that George W Bush claimed to be on first-name terms with God stood by his comments today but conceded that President was using a figure of speech.

Nabil Shaath told the BBC that in June 2003 he heard Mr Bush tell Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Prime Minister: "God would tell me, ‘George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan’, and I did, and then God would tell me, ‘George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq’, and I did."

The White House quickly issued a terse denial last night dismissing the Palestinians Information Minister's comments as: "absurd." Scott McClellan, a spokesman, said that Mr Bush, although a devout Christian, "never said that".

Mr Shaath, whose interview was recorded for Israel and the Arabs: Elusive Peace to be broadcast this month, today stood by his recollection of the meeting but accepted that the statement had not been meant literally.

"It was really a figure of speech (by Bush). We felt he was saying that he had a mission, a commitment, his faith in God would inspire him ... rather than a metaphysical whisper in his ear," he said.

Mr Bush, once quoted as saying: "I believe that God wants me to be president", is a devout Christian and makes no secret of appealing to God for strength, but denies using God to justify his decisions.

Mr Abbas also recalled today how the President told him: "’I have a moral and religious obligation... so I will get you a Palestinian state.’"

Mr Bush launched an impassioned attack on Islamic militants during a speech in Washington yesterday, accusing them of seeking to "enslave whole nations" in an empire stretching from Spain to Indonesia.

Mr Bush's alleged comments have provoked anger among religious groups.

Andrew Blackstock, director of the Christian Socialist Movement, said: "If Bush really wants to obey God during his time as President he should start with what is blindingly obvious from the Bible rather than perceived supernatural messages.

"That would lead him to the rather less glamorous business of prioritising the needs of the poor, the downtrodden and the marginalised."

A BBC spokesman said the content of the programme had been put to the White House but it had refused to comment on a private conversation.

Last month, senior figures in the Church of England questioned America’s sense of "moral righteousness" in its foreign policy.

The bishops of Bath and Wells, Oxford, Coventry, and Worcester, said in their report on countering terrorism: "There is no uniquely righteous nation. No country should see itself as the redeemer nation, singled out by God as part of his providential plan."

Maybe some day you will listen to me. From Capitol Hill Blue:

Bush's Obscene Tirades Rattle White House Aides By DOUG THOMPSON Aug 25, 2005, 06:19

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While President George W. Bush travels around the country in a last-ditch effort to sell his Iraq war, White House aides scramble frantically behind the scenes to hide the dark mood of an increasingly angry leader who unleashes obscenity-filled outbursts at anyone who dares disagree with him.

“I’m not meeting again with that goddamned bitch,” Bush screamed at aides who suggested he meet again with Cindy Sheehan, the war-protesting mother whose son died in Iraq. “She can go to hell as far as I’m concerned!” Read entire story

Those fun folks over at the Traditional Values Coalition just keep the laughs coming. Apparently, gay liberation has its roots in MARXISM!

Aaaaaahhhhh! Ssscccrrreeeaaammm!

Good Lord. Have these people never watched "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy?" As a gay man, I can assure you, there are few groups of Americans who are bigger capitalist-hoes than gay men. Never, ever stand between Girlfriend and that sale at Nordstrom's.

Look at the photo above: Can you spot the Trotskyite? Me neither.

As for lesbians, well... okay, some of them are Socialists. You know, the potluck dinners and the food co-ops and all.

Traditional Values Coalition has published a number of other fact-based reports on the dangers of homosexuals and homosexual behavior to children and to our society. The following Special Reports are available for downloading from our web site:

• NEW "Homosexuality 101: A Primer" provides a brief history of the homosexual movement in the U.S. and its roots in Marxist ideology. This paper describes how homosexuals terrorized the psychiatric community and have created a marketing strategy to vilify their opponents.
• Homosexuals Recruit Public School Children;
• Homosexual Behavior Fuels AIDS and STD Epidemic;
• A Gender Identity Goes Mainstream;
• Homosexual Propaganda Campaign Based on Hitler’s “Big Lie” Technique;
• Homosexual Sex = Death from HIV Infection;
• Traditional Values Coalition Exposes Homosexual Agenda,

and much more. Access our web site at: http://www.traditionalvalues.org

In addition to their frightening tendency toward religious fascism and frightening ultra-nationalism, one thing about the weirdos on the far "Christian" right is that they just CANNOT bring themselves to use the word "gay" to describe homosexuals.

Get a load of this story at the Traditional Values Coalition Web site:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Vetoes Homosexual Marriage Bill.

TVC Chairman & Lobbyist Applaud Governor’s Brave Veto.

For Immediate Release
September 29, 2005
Contact: Benjamin Lopez
(714) 520-0300—Office

Anaheim, California —“Today Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger bravely stood with 4.6 million Californians that supported marriage for one man and one woman with his veto of AB 849,” said TVC Chairman & Founder Rev. Louis Sheldon. “Mark Leno’s attempt to implement homosexual marriages has failed yet again. Reason finally prevailed thanks to Governor Schwarzenegger.” Read More...

This reminds me of those descriptions of openly-gay people as "avowed homosexuals." LOL, LOL, LOL.

Is Harriet Miers a fag hag? Well, let's hope so. John Aravosis at AmericaBlog has reported that he received information from Human Rights Campaign about Miers when she ran for Dallas City Council in 1989. Here is the story. And, this one, too--Miss Harriet may not have a problem with gays adopting children.

That hissing sound you hear? The right-wing Christian-fascists losing their shit.

P.S. to Miss Harriet: Girl, get a new do.

Maybe I can blog about this tomorrow, after I have stopped laughing so hard...

From The Washington Post:

DeLay Faces New Charges in Texas

Second Grand Jury Indictment for Money Laundering Follows Conspiracy Charges

The Associated Press
Monday, October 3, 2005; 7:57 PM

AUSTIN, Texas -- A Texas grand jury on Monday re-indicted Rep. Tom DeLay on charges of conspiring to launder money and money laundering after the former majority leader attacked last week's indictment on technical grounds.

The new indictment, handed up by a grand jury seated Monday, contains two counts: conspiring to launder money and money laundering. The latter charge carries a penalty of up to life in prison. Last week, DeLay was charged with conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws. Read entire story

This is my favorite part from the Post story:

The new indictment from District Attorney Ronnie Earle, coming just hours after the new grand jurors were sworn in, outraged DeLay.

"Ronnie Earle has stooped to a new low with his brand of prosecutorial abuse," DeLay said in a statement. "He is trying to pull the legal equivalent of a 'do-over' since he knows very well that the charges he brought against me last week are totally manufactured and illegitimate. This is an abomination of justice."

Girfriend is MAJORLY pissed.

You don't have to read much about El Presidente El Jefe Jorge Bush to be extremely afraid of the man. Living anywhere on the Planet Earth for the past 5 years, 8 months and 10 days tells you about all you need to know.

But, if you decide to read anything about the Dubya and the Family Bush, definitely pick "American Dynasty" by Kevin Phillips, a conservative Republican. The Bush clan is a money-grubbing, immoral lot, who despise the "little people" and feel that they DESERVE to run the country and maybe the world. Politics and high office are merely a means of making easy money.

Yes, the U.S. of A. is definitely on track to join other corruption-filled governments around the world. I hesitate to use the term "Banana Republic" because I love Latin American cultures and peoples. But, that accurately describes this bunch. Public Service for the commong good? Nope. Get elected to high office so that you can make big bucks outside of office.

The presidency is a cash register for the Bush clan which, again, feels that it DESERVES to run things.

Thus, we get to Dubya and his ascension to the presidency. The Bush clan, combined with a strain of modern ultra-conservatism that does not take government seriosly--hates all government, in fact--put this psychopath, Dubya, in office.

The Bush II presidency is not going well at the moment: Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, gas prices, a jitterish economy, a religous right-wing that is giving moderate Americans a reason to re-think things, and the scandals. Not just the Congressional scandals of Frist and DeLay, but the potentially big one: Plamegate.

It looks worse every day for Karl Rove and Scooter Libby (Cheney's chief of staff). Could this affair, the outing of CIA Officer Valerie Plame to get revenge on her husband go all the way to the top? Even if Bush and Cheney are not implicated, what if Rove and other high-level White House staff are charge by Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald?

What if then Bush's poll numbers tumble further? What if Republican members of Congress abandon him?

What next indeed. Dubya is an unrecovered alcoholic and grabbed fundamentalist Protestant religion as a crutch. But what now? Does this man have the mental strength to get throught it? Does his moral compass point any direction besides his own safety and welfare?

How far would Dubya go to save his own skin?

Read this post over at DailyKos by a psychoanalyst. The blogger analyzes Bush from afar, obviously. But, the bogger, artebella, raises some interesting and terrifying questions about Bush's psyche. Bottom line is that Bush is a sadist who will do just about anything to save his skin--but only if he thinks he can get away with it. In other words, he's a chickenshit. A sadist, too, but a chickenshit. What a dangerous combination.

Rosebud says: Be afraid. Be very afraid.