Image:  Facebook

"Insurrection"

In response to the official silencing by Republicans of transgender state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, protesters staged a boisterous but violence-free demonstration at the Montana Statehouse on Monday. At one point, Zephyr hoisted a microphone toward her supporters in the gallery. Later that day, right-wing lawmakers said her action amounted to "encouraging an insurrection."

Who would've thought the rugged state of Montana would breed such delicate violets?

This pearl-clutching is orchestrated. According to the Associated Press, this was the third time in the past five weeks that Republicans around the country have sought to compare "disruptive but nonviolent protests at state capitols to insurrections."

An insurrection is defined as a violent uprising against a government, so these Republicans are antagonizing not just Democrats, not just legal scholars, but English teachers everywhere.

Why redefine the word? To downplay the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, after which Donald Trump was impeached for "incitement of insurrection." Conservatives want to claim the events in Montana were comparable to that dark day, and if you believe that, I have a bill of sale for Glacier National Park with your name on it.

Also, by shrieking "insurrection," lawmakers can avoid debating transgender rights in Montana, and gun control in Tennessee.

Furthermore, to repeat a loaded term ad nauseam is to make it lose both its meaning and power. And using this term demonizes Democrats as violent and extreme. 

Republicans plan to get a lot of mileage out of bastardizing the meaning of one word. I'm just glad my AP English teacher isn't alive to see this. They should be, too.

Image:  Facebook

Curious George

You might be of the opinion by now that I'm obsessed with George Santos.

You'd be right.

The gay Congressman from Long Island is so outrageous a liar that he must be the love child of Donald Trump and Lance Armstrong. Santos appalls and fascinates me. But mostly appalls.

When I heard an NPR story about the serial fabulist begin on my way to work yesterday, I turned up the radio.

His fellow Republicans want Santos to keep a low profile while he's the subject of investigations, but Santos isn't having it. "He actually seems to be leveraging his notoriety, appearing on conservative news outlets and trolling other Republicans on social media," said reporter Brian Mann.

Santos is a chip off the old blockhead, according to political expert David Wasserman. "Donald Trump realized shamelessness can pay off politically. We've seen others follow in his footsteps. Now, of course, this is to an unprecedented degree."

Santos clearly believes you can't have too much of a bad thing.

Wasserman said, "His ability to stay in the news and draw attention to himself is really the only thing he has left."

Which means Santos will soon be vying with Marjorie Taylor Greene for biggest congressional chimpanzee.

Like Santos, Becca Balint is new to Congress and gay. But the similarities end there. The Vermont Democrat is livid:  "As a proud member of the LGBTQ community, outraged that he lied about the Pulse nightclub shooting—as the granddaughter of someone killed in the Holocaust, outraged that he used that to get elected."

Do you think there's any chance Santos could turn out to be just gay-ish?

Rep. Nick Lalota, a Republican from Santos's neighboring district, called Santos "a sociopath." Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, joking at the Washington Press Club dinner about the GOP's Santos problem, cracked, "There hasn't been a Republican that's gotten this much buzz since Lauren Boebert went through a metal detector."

To expel Santos from office requires a two-thirds vote from House members, and reporter Mann said that's unlikely. We're facing the possibility that Santos will serve out his two-year term. Two years of grabbing the spotlight. Two years of constant lies.

By then he should be presidential material.

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay 

He Should Know

The former boyfriend of George Santos told CNN it was no surprise to him that Santos got himself elected to Congress. "What he always looked for was fame and power," said Pedro Vilarva. "That's all he cared about and he got it."

Despite the plethora of calls for the Long Island Republican to resign over his exhaustive lying, Santos will stay put, his ex firmly believes. "His ego is too big," said Vilarva.

Fame. Power. Lies. Ego. Republican. Good Lord, George Santos is Donald Trump's Mini-Me.

I Have No Doubt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image:  Facebook

This Week's Quote

Tom Cotton is hawking his book "Only The Strong." Josh Hawley is writing a book on masculinity. Alfred E. Neuman is smarter than both of them put together, and cuter.

Paul Rudnick

Source: Twitter

Image:  Wikipedia

This Week's Quote

How the heck can Joe Biden call America First conservatives a threat to democracy with a straight face and a dry diaper? He's the one who has allowed millions to invade our southern border. He's the one who is robbing hardworking Americans to pay for Karen's daughter's degree in lesbian dance theory.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO)

Source:  "Hannity" on Fox News

Image by MasterTux from Pixabay 

Pottery Barn Doesn't Sell That

Like most of his GOP colleagues last week, Rep. Glenn Thompson voted against protecting same-sex marriage.

Three days later, the Pennsylvania congressman attended his gay son's wedding.

If only his son's wedding registry had included equal rights as well as cheese knives.