This Week's Quote

Image by Tracy Lundgren from Pixabay

If Republican leaders don't enjoy being called weird, creepy, and controlling, they could try not being weird, creepy, and controlling.

Hillary Clinton

Source: X

Let's Start the Week With a Vance Rant

 

Purrfect

 

Who's Zoomin' Who

Image:  Facebook

On Sunday Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race. That evening over 44,000 Black women gathered on Zoom to galvanize support and money for Kamala Harris. The next night Black men did the same. Then came Latinas and South Asian women.

Yesterday a Zoom for white women set the record as the largest Zoom meeting ever, and crashed the platform. I chose to attend the "Out for Kamala Harris" Zoom rally instead, and somehow lasted all two-and-a-half hours, listening to LGBTQ celebrities and politicians extol the candidate.

How 2024 is this, using technology to bring together an assortment of demographic groups to raise enthusiasm and funds lickety-split?

It's been great, but the American people can subdivide only so far. The Harris campaign will need a new strategy by the time Zoom hosts a gathering of left-handed non-binary Laotian vegans.

This Week's Quote

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

If Kamala raises any more money Melania will marry her.

Paul Rudnick

Source: X

The Witch-King of Burger King

 

He Did It

Image:  Facebook

Joe Biden has dropped out of the presidential race.

Uncharted waters ahead. Grab a life preserver and some Xanax. But above all, your resolve.

This Moment

Image by Tom from Pixabay

Like President Biden, I have Covid.

Unlike him, I don't need to make a decision that will effect the destiny of our nation, the survival of democracy and the future of the planet.

Good thing, as I'm currently unable to decide whether to tie my shoes.

Not too Soon

 

PTSD?

Image by Perlinator from Pixabay

Yesterday evening I was watching a WNBA game when I decided I really should look in on the Republican National Convention. I like to know what's going on, and how bad could it be to watch for a few minutes?

So I changed the channel and discovered the speaker was Kellyanne Conway. I switched back to the game so fast my remote sparked.

This Week's Quote

Image by kalhh from Pixabay

Mike Johnson said last night the GOP is the "law and order team."

"We always have been and we always will be the advocates for the rule of law." That same party just made a convicted felon its nominee.

Kyle Griffin

Source: X

Ammo

 

Coast-to-Coast Lifeline

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

In order to preserve our sanity during this unnerving election season, three college friends and I have established a group text so we can kvetch from Maine, where they are, to Washington state, where I am. Diane, Carol and Meghan are straight, but definitely not, as the saying goes, narrow.

Today's news that Donald Trump has chosen JD Vance as his running mate, and that Vance's friendship with Donald Trump Jr. influenced the decision, prompted Diane to send out photos of the bearded conservative buddies, noting how they look alike.

One glance at the photos and I texted back, "If I weren't already a lesbian, this might do the trick."

Doubts

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

I admit it. I have serious doubts that President Joe Biden is physically and cognitively up to the task of running for re-election.

On the flip side, I have no doubts at all that former President Donald Trump isn't and never was fit for the task of being president, owing to glaring weaknesses in cognition, mental health, morality, emotional stability, humanity, loyalty, patriotism, spirituality, integrity, honesty, substance, dependability, credibility and lawfulness.

Other than that, he's a peach.

Today's Sign of the Apocalypse

Image:  Alexas Fotos at Pixabay

In grocery stores in Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas, you can now pick up staples like milk, bread and bullets.

Computerized vending machines dispense ammunition, which is so convenient in case you can't decide whether to feed your husband or shoot him.

This Week's Quote

Image:  Wikipedia

I worry no matter how cynical you become, it's never enough to keep up.

Jane Wagner

Source:  The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe

The Veep Sweepstakes

Image:  Facebook

The Washington Post suspects that the Trump campaign has winnowed the choice for running mate down to Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. J.D. Vance and Gov. Doug Burgum.

I assume Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was considered to be too busy strangling kittens.

Death and Life

Image:  Facebook

Over 100 people gathered yesterday in Bangor, Maine, to mark the 40th anniversary of the murder of Charlie Howard. He was 23 in the summer of 1984 when three teenagers, yelling homophobic slurs, approached him and his boyfriend. The teens threw Howard off a bridge, and he drowned.

A couple of months later and about 50 miles away, I returned to Maine for my senior year at Colby College. As I remember, a campus cop was overheard remarking that Howard got what he deserved. The cop was fired.

In hindsight, that in itself was a sign that things were changing in Maine. Howard's murder led to the creation of the Maine Lesbian/Gay Political Alliance, now EqualityMaine. The state outlawed discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in 2005.  In 2012, Maine became the first state to approve same-sex marriage at the ballot box.

Over these 40 years, queer life in the Pine Tree State has improved dramatically, and that had a lot to do with Charlie Howard and every other Charlie Howard we don't know about. Why is it that people have to die for civil rights to advance? I wish the universe would come up with a less lethal arrangement.

July 4, 2024

 

Mike Luckovich nails it.

This Week's Quote

Image:  Wikipedia

Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag them down to your level. It’s cheaper.

Quentin Crisp

Source:  Today

On the Train

Image:  Facebook

On Sunday, wearing a rainbow shirt, I boarded Seattle's light rail. The train was packed with other Pride-goers, along with assorted Seattle Mariners fans.

At a downtown stop, a 60-something straight Australian couple got on, each wheeling a suitcase suitable for a month's visit to North America. My fellow sardines and I began to chat, and it turned out they'd watched some of the Pride parade.

"This is nothing compared to Sydney's Pride," he said, which he explained is full of floats. I told him I'd heard that was true, and I'd love to see it in person someday, but as Seattle was enthusiastically celebrating its 50th Pride, he might not want to say that too loudly.

I asked them about their travels, and he raved about Alaska's mountains. "Okay," I said. "You've got the Pride, we've got the mountains." They agreed.

Afterwards, as I walked toward the parade, I marveled that the concept of LGBTQ Pride has grown so big and so international that I would find myself good-naturedly comparing celebrations with heterosexual tourists from abroad.

Harvey, Bayard, Barbara—you wouldn't believe it.

Transformation