XKCD: Trimester

 

XKCD

Sarah Palin Outraged By The Who

It's funny, because it could be true. Via Balloon Juice:

Republicans Strafed on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Frank Rich pens an insightful column on the recent testimony from Mike Mullen and Robert Gates in which both state unequivocally that the time has come to summarily execute the DADT policy.

Mullen’s heartfelt, plain-spoken testimony gave perfect expression to the nation’s own slow but inexorable progress on the issue. He said he had “served with homosexuals since 1968” and that his views had evolved “cumulatively” and “personally” ever since. So it has gone for many other Americans in all walks of life. As more gay people have come out — a process that accelerated once the modern gay rights movement emerged from the Stonewall riots of 1969 — so more heterosexuals have learned that they have gay relatives, friends, neighbors, teachers and co-workers. It is hard to deny our own fundamental rights to those we know, admire and love.

Rich also points out the almost palpable silence from Republicans on the issue, lest they be seen as the intolerant homophobes they actually are.

Now that explicit anti-gay animus is an albatross, those who oppose gay civil rights are driven to invent ever loopier rationales for denying those rights, whether in the military or in marriage. Hatch, for instance, limply suggested to Mitchell that a repeal of “don’t ask” would lead to gay demands for “special rights.” Such arguments, both preposterous and disingenuous, are mere fig leaves to disguise the phobia that can no longer dare speak its name. If gay Americans are to be granted full equality, the flimsy rhetorical camouflage must be stripped away to expose the prejudice that lies beneath. 

And cranky oldster John McCain is suddenly exposed on his flank as world opinion on equality progresses, and history will record McCain as Jim Bowie destined for slaughter in his very own gay Alamo.

The arguments for preserving “don’t ask” have long been blatantly groundless. McCain — who said in 2006 that he would favor repealing the law if military leaders ever did — didn’t even bother to offer a logical explanation for his mortifying flip-flop last week. He instead huffed that the 1993 “don’t ask” law should remain unchanged as long as any war is going on (which would be in perpetuity, given Afghanistan). Colin Powell strafed him just hours later, when he announced that changed “attitudes and circumstances” over the past 17 years have led him to agree with Mullen. McCain is even out of step with his own family’s values. Both his wife, Cindy, and his daughter Meghan have posed for the current California ad campaign explicitly labeling opposition to same-sex marriage as hate. 

Now Congress just needs to get on with it.

Wait, what? Congress. Ahh, shit.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Did Palin Write Notes on her Hand?

Right about 47 seconds it appears that Sarah Palin looks down at her hand. Did she write notes on her palm?

And what a loopy, convoluted answer. Are we sure that wasn't some elaborate Tea Party joke, with Tina Fey punking us?

Snowpocalypse Now

Weatherman Freaking Out Over DC Snowpocalypse
by TheDlisted

NY Times Teaches You How to Speak to Your Nanny

In yet another example of the New York Times pitching a story of interest to their most desired demographic - rich folks - Hilary Stout details the challenges involved when moms try to talk to the nanny.

For as long as she has employed a nanny (almost 10 years now), Eileen Hershenov, a lawyer from Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., has had day jobs running the legal departments of large nonprofit groups. “I’m really used to having employees,” she said. “I’ve hired people, I’ve fired people. I’ve gone through on-the-job training and formal training on how to communicate with your reports.”

But, she said, the corporate training “didn’t translate over” to talking with her nanny. 

There's no mention of how dads should talk to the nanny, because the old man doesn't have time for that shit.

Remember - the nanny is an employee, not a family member, even though she's providing the nurturing environment and daily care that mom & dad don't have the time or inclination to dispense, so tell her exactly what you want, and how you want it, and fire her insubordinate ass when she fails to meet the standards that you won't even attempt to undertake.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Easy Answers to Stupid Questions

From The Poor Man Institute:

Q: Why are liberals so condescending?

A: Because conservatives are fucking retards.

This has been Easy Answers to Stupid Questions.

Michael Steele Counts to One Million

Michael Steele, RNC Chairman

Via Gawker

Obama Debating Republicans - Who Could Have Predicted The Result?

"On Friday Obama appeared before House Republicans in a historic televised Q and A, and performed so well that afterwards GOP aides said that allowing the cameras to roll like that was a mistake.  Come on, Republicans...are you on such a Scott Brown high that you thought you could take down Barack Obama by debating him? You realize debates are why he's president, right? Seriously, all you guys do is complain about how Obama is all talk, and then you invite him to a forum that's literally all talk. That's like saying, 'Let's see how tough Aquaman is when we get him in the water.'"

---Seth Meyers

Via Daily Kos

When it snows, I feel stupid for buying a house with a steep driveway

The smart people bought the houses with level driveways on the other side of the street.