Take A Break – Weekend Open Thread
This has been a pretty intense week. Lots has happened, and some things that SHOULD have happened, like real testimony from our Secretary of State, did not. Oh, and get this – feminists across the land are OUTRAGED at the treatment Clinton got at the hands of those evil, mean, sexist Senators, Rand Paul and Ron Johnson. Sen. Barbara Boxer sent out a big action letter about this very “treatment” at the hands of these men, asking people to sign it as a show to Secretary Clinton that they “have her back.”
Wow. Really? Because, as you know, I thought she didn’t really answer much of anything. And I thought her outburst was convenient insofar as it allowed her to not answer the question Senator Johnson, that big meanie, asked her. Never mind that his QUESTION was appropriate. Whatever.
I have to say this about these reactions: if this had been a Republican woman testifying, and Republican men treated her like the Democrats did Hillary, these same women would claim they were patronizing and condescending, not asking the hard questions, and not treating her like they would anyone else testifying before Congress. It is ridiculous. She is the SECRETARY OF STATE. If she cannot withstand some hard questions, she has NO business being in that business.
It is SUCH a double standard, it makes me irritated. Women cannot claim we should be treated as equals, should be in positions of power equal to men, and then get upset if anyone dare treat us as anything other than a delicate little flower who withers under scrutiny. It is ABSURD, especially coming from so many women who were insistent that Hillary COULD stand the heat in the kitchen, that she was the one to take the 3:00 am call, and all of that. WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED TO FEMINISTS?!?! I thought it was PRECISELY this kind of thing for which we were fighting – to be treated as EQUALS. Now women have to have Daddy Government take care of us, and we can’t POSSIBLY have anyone, especially some MAN, ask us a hard question without everyone throwing a hissy fit. Why, how DARE they ask a real question!!
Ugh.
Ahem. Sorry for the outburst. This is supposed to be taking a break. Shake it out, shake it out…Oh, wait – I know what would be PERFECT for that. This rendition of a Florence and the Machine song by Katherine McPhee in “Smash”:
Whew, I feel better now.
I have been dying to share this unbelievably incredible video with you. I had seen them mention it on tee-vee, and my friend, Edee, made sure I saw it. It is an amazing story. See for yourselves:
Isn’t that just mind boggling? Moves me to tears, it does. That this dolphin knew these divers could help says a great deal. An update to this video, though, is that the diver WAS ABLE to remove the hook from the dolphin according to THIS INTERVIEW with Keller Laros (the diver). Whew, thank HEAVENS! (I should say that, I had considered Marine Biology as a career, specifically working with Cetaceans, so this speaks to my heart in a big way.)
I might add, weren’t those manta rays SPECTACULAR?? Wow!! They are aamzingly graceful creatures…
Okay, one last one, which I thought was just hilariously funny and cute, all at the same time:
How freakin’ CUTE was that?!?!
Okay – now it’s your turn. What’s on your mind, what news do you wish to share, what music, or cute animal video? Let’s have it!
Hillary as persecuted victim who allegedly won against the big bad Republicans has got to be one of the most irritating media memes in a long time. For an extra dose of nausea, they followed it up with a joint interview love fest between her and President Obama. Basically it was Obama saying, “Hilllary saved my A$$, isn’t she the best SOS ever?”
So, goodbye to transparency, accountability, the truth, feminism, trust, integrity……the number of things that were lost in this latest game of theatrics is pretty long. It’s especially frustrating that people don’t seem to care about the truth as much as they care about scoring partisan points.
YOU SAID IT!!! Wow, yttik – you are SPOT on!!! That is exactly what Obama is saying – that Hillary saved him/
And what is so offensive abt this new turn, especially from someone like Boxer, who chose OBAMA, is that the DEMS were HORRIBLE to Hillary in 2008. Just HORRIBLE. The crap they pulled on her was offensive in the extreme (and then they did it to Sarah). Hillary knew that she had to work twice as hard, and did it. For these “feminists” to now treat her like some “poor, pitiful Pearl” because some senators dared to ask a couple of hard questions is just so freakin’ hypocritical, it makes me nuts!
Sadly, I fear you are right abt all that we have lost now…
Amy, l love this post. It leads me to reminisce about the days leading up to the 2008 election, when so many of us were PUMA’s, ranting on NQ, fervently supporting Hillary against the POS. Although I still totally advocate the slogan Party Unity My Ass, I wonder about my stridency at the time in “believing in” Hillary Clinton. I’ve certainly changed my attitudes. In some ways, I’ve become much more cynical about politicians in general. Not only have I learned to detest the Democrats, but I am also now distrusting many of the Republicans whom I turned to after the Dems betrayed us. I don’t know where it goes from here. PUMA all the way. Party Unity My Ass. I can’t imagine ever again being led down the Primrose Path by another political party. An old cliche is my warning slogan nowadays: “If you want to see what’s behind it all, just follow the money.” Of course, nowadays “the money” is magically created out of thin air, and disappears down a rabbit hole, and it’s very difficult to follow it very far……
Thanks, my dear oowawa! Yes, yes, I remember those days very well. And I remember how tough and strong Hillary was then. SO why the hell is everyone treating her like she is so frail now?! Makes no sense. Just more of the double standard I have come to expect from the Dems.
Right there with ya abt the strident support, too. I know you know that’s exactly where I was. But now, I see her with different eyes. As I said the other day, she will not get any more of my time and money, and she definitely will not get my vote.
And you are right – the Reps are not always deserving of our trust, either. I agree – no more going down the Primrose path!
Did you watch “Boomtown” on Hannity last night? I only saw parts of it online today and it’s an indictment of both parties. And yes, it’s not about Red or Blue, it’s all about green!
You can see part of it here: http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/index.html
Thanks for the link, Kenosha. And yes, following the money as both you and oowawa have mentioned is the way to go. Astonishing. Thank you – I’ll take a look…
Holy SMOKES – this is really incredible. This kind of nepotism has been RAMPANT in SC with Rep. Jim Clyburn. His family has made out like BANDITS since he got into the House, as has his alma mater, SC University, which is currently under investigation for mismanagement of funds in the center that bears his name, the James E. Clyburn Transportation Center, including MILLIONS of taxpaying dollars – and I mean YOURS, not just South Carolinians…
Thanks for that link, Kenoshamarge.
From the report: “the political debates that we see are often times a little bit like professional wrestling–it’s not always what it appears to be.”
I increasingly feel that the wedge issue theater that the politicians and pundits constantly try to get us excited about is primarily a smokescreen to obscure the money dealing.
It was excellent KM, watched it early this morning, I think they are doing a lot of re-broadcasts of it. Good reminder, thank you.
AP, NBC Ask: Time to Publicly Shame the Obese, Let Smokers Die?
Biases upfront: I’m a 46 year-old health nut obsessed with exercise and eating right. I don’t smoke or drink, and there are supermodels who worry less about their weight. However, I do admire those who don’t live like that; who might not live as long as I do, but will probably enjoy their overall quality of life more than my somewhat Spartan one.
Oh, and I also realize that this is America. And if people want to pursue happiness through a double cheeseburger and a pack of Newports, any joyless, left-wing bossy-pants who has a problem with that can go mind their own g***amned business.
But they’re not going to.
Today, Associated Press medical writer Mike Stobbe published a piece that takes seriously the idea of singling out smokers and the overweight with public shaming campaigns:
That said, public health officials shouldn’t shy away from tough anti-obesity efforts, said Callahan, the bioethicist. Callahan caused a public stir this week with a paper that called for a more aggressive public health campaign that tries to shame and stigmatize overeaters the way past public health campaigns have shamed and stigmatized smokers.
National obesity rates are essentially static, and public health campaigns that gently try to educate people about the benefits of exercise and healthy eating just aren’t working, Callahan argued. We need to get obese people to change their behavior. If they are angry or hurt by it, so be it, he said.
The piece also opens with this disturbing question:
Earlier this week, NBC News published an article that also took this idea seriously:
Daniel Callahan, a senior research scholar and president emeritus of The Hastings Center, put out a new paper this week calling for a renewed emphasis on social pressure against heavy people — what some may call fat-shaming — including public posters that would pose questions like this:
Emboldened by electoral victories and a media that has become one with the Democratic Party, the Left is moving aggressively to socially re-engineer America; and the overweight are now in the crosshairs. Though CNN and NBC have been more subtle about The Next Great Fascist Crusade, the idea is getting the nudge over there, as well.
more: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/01/26/AP-NBC-Shame-Smokers-Let-Fat-People-Die
I hope that some lefty pols go with this. Because that would be the end of their political career. It’s also obvious once again that the left’s “compassion” is a myth.
The stupidity of this idea is also a political nightmare for the left. Poor folks, that the left says they love, are more apt to be overweight and to smoke. Media or pols who insult and demean them, aka “shame” them are not going to be very popular. Go for it NBC!
Yep, we all knew this would happen. When you live in a collective hive this is how life is. Of course there are factions within the hive, like “fat minorities in urban food deserts”. It will be OK for them to be fat and unhealthy, much like it will be fine for criminals to be armed. The shaming only works on people who can be shamed, and who try to follow the rules.
I LOVE THE SCOTTY PINWHEEL!
As for the “sexist attacks” on Hillary Clinton, sure, why not. Pass me a big mac and a stogie, this is going to make for some FINE tv.
ROTFLMAO – too funny abt the stogie and big mac – oh, my.
And yeah – SOOOO sexist. Nothing at ALL like the kind of crap the Dems said abt Palin, and STILL say, ad nauseum. Huh uh, nothing like it. These MEN had the audacity to not drool all over her, so they MUST be sexist, right??
Isn’t that Scotty Pinwheel hilarious???
This is a friend of mine’s Yorkies, and she is the “producer” of the movie. As she said, watch through the credits:
http://vimeo.com/45710300
And this very funny “Yorkie Wars”:
http://vimeo.com/45179121
Being held accountable is sexist and/or racistt! If you are a democrat!
Cute Yorkies, love the films, your friend is very creative!
Aren’t they adorable? The little girl is a rescue.
Oh, RIGHT – I forgot. Silly me.
Btw, as I understand it, magically, Hillary’s debt has now been forgiven, and she intimated that those of us who supported her so strongly are cultists. Oh, and apparently, she laughed abt how upset we are.
She can bite me. Sure hope she never expects another dime from me…
Anal-retentive control freaks with way too much time on their hands comes immediately to mind. These fruit-loops need to get psychiatric help for their obvious boundary issues. If I wanted any shit from them, I’d squeeze their heads. A recommendation to those who feel the need to lecture others–bug off.
Here Here
Amy, I was so pleased to see Huckabee not only show the dolphin video, but he had the diver on as well. It was obvious that it was THE most exciting event of his life. Loved every minute of it.
Sybilll, that is so cool!! And I bet it WAS the greatest experience of the diver’s life. It is just a remarkable occurrence on SO many levels. Thanks for letting us know Huckabee had him on!