Archive for U.S. military

Another Upchuckable Week: The place where religion meets your rights

Posted by GottaLaff 
· Tuesday, May 14th, 2013 at 11:08 am 
· 1 Comment 

separation of church and state 2

Please welcome back guest blogger K.C. Boyd. You might remember her from her earlier posts. We’re only posting part of this one, but you can link over to read the rest here.

Another Upchuckable Week - the place where religion meets your rights – by K. C. Boyd

The Weekly Upchuck

Church:

  • A Day in the Life of the Family Values Gang Upchuck: Ohio youth pastor accused of sex with teen
 in church-owned house. ow.ly/kEGMK
  • Seditious Upchuck: Right wing propaganda machine incites an ignorant public. ow.ly/kIhxK
  • Taliban-like Upchuck: Houston mega-pastor teaches his manly men how to get the most out of their biblically obedient women. ow.ly/kIhD8

Education

  • Taliban-like Upchuckable Redux: Women, we’ll teach you who’s boss. http://bit.ly/147Q34j
  • Dominionism Meets Corporatism Meets ALEC Upchuck: Yikes. This is big . . . this is scary. Read please. http://bit.ly/15wFJaT
  • Education Is Highly Overrated Upchuck: T-Rex Ted (Cruz) Sets His Sites on education. http://bit.ly/16zBcDK

Islamaphobia

  • Klan-like Upchuck: Greeting card turns “Muslim” doll into a “Terrorist.” http://bit.ly/Ytz2mF
  • The Tie That Binds Upchuck: Islamophobia is one of the few things left to unify the GOP. http://bit.ly/11pKRMv

Military

Politics

  • God Luvs Guns Upchuck: Santorum loves him some NRA. http://bit.ly/18iLO9o
  • Jeezus Saves Upchuck: As one of Jesus’ legitimate “Chosen,” Mark Sanford is risen. http://bit.ly/190kmuI
  • Prime(ary)-Time Upchuck: The National Organization for Marriage declares it’s a no-go for Portman in ’16. http://bit.ly/10GB2lR

Same Sex Marriage

  • Sodom Meets Gomorrah Upchuck: Homosexual activists go after the “low hanging fruit,” no pun on their part intended. http://bit.ly/16nPPdE

 States

  • Ten-Gallon Upchuck: BSA Texas Council votes to continue ban on gay members. Rick-the-Perry stands with them. http://bit.ly/10GB2lR

Novelist K.C. Boyd is the author of Being Christian: A Novel, a steamy, pulp-fiction of a read.According to Mikey Weinstein, President of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, “Boyd created a story so riveting that not only could I not put it down, but upon finishing it, I found myself, like an addict, craving more.

More at the link.

1 Comment
Categories : Politics
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Another Upchuckable Week: The place where religion meets your rights

Posted by GottaLaff 
· Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 at 4:49 pm 
· No Comments 

separation of church and state smaller

Please welcome back guest blogger K.C. Boyd. You might remember her from her earlier posts. This one is longer than her others, so we’re only posting part of it. You can link over to read the rest here.

Another Upchuckable Week - the place where religion meets your rights – by K. C. Boyd

With the 2012 election a dim memory and it’s crazy-making religion soaked primaries even dimmer, you’d be well advised to keep an eye on the states because that’s where it’s happening when it comes to Christian Crazies. For a brief sampling, take a read:

Here

  • Proving there’s still a little ‘Year of the Bible’ in all of us, last month the Pennsylvania House of Representatives declared the fast-approaching April 30 as “National Fast Day.” http://bit.ly/108RbBq

There

& Everywhere

  • Conservatives target political funding, investing where it gets the biggest political bang: in statehouses. Take a look here to learn about state funding efforts : http://bit.ly/17BbL2Ls

The “State” of Education

  • A Central Mississippi high school allegedly forced students to watch a Christian video and listen to church officials preach about Jesus Christ. http://bit.ly/11WzIMN
  • In Tennessee: The Blue Ridge Christian Academy Gave Fourth Graders the Creationism Test Heard Around the Internet. http://bit.ly/158eumJ
  • In New York, the Godly wonder: Can the Bible Save Minority Students From NYC’s Failing Public Education System? http://bit.ly/12tlgyG
  • HB 1017, which sailed through the Arkansas House of Representatives, would require the state board of education to approve public school courses that teach the Bible. Similar measures were introduced in North Carolina and Wyoming. http://bit.ly/18sAMfa
  • Virginia politicians tried a different tactic: a state constitutional amendment mandating that citizens as well as elected officials and state employees have the right to pray on government premises and public property. http://bit.ly/18sAMfa
  • Pennsylvania must have some pretty dumb pencils because: 20 percent of its high school science teachers say they believe in creationism. Zowie.Zounds. Egad. http://bit.ly/166pZdL
  • Mississippi, (Yet again. – do I detect a pattern – er, a takeover?) opens the door to student-led prayer. The state makes schools develop policies giving opportunity to pray/preach at official school events. http://bit.ly/18sAMfa
  • In the hang-loose, shake your bootie state of Hawaii; Governor Neil Abercrombie (alas, he’s a Dem) proposed amending the state constitution to allow for public funding of religious pre-schools. http://bit.ly/108Smkv
  • Alaska legislators have proposed amending the state constitution to allow for tax aid to religious schools. http://bit.ly/108Smkv
  • Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott ruled that school districts and cities are in violation of the State Constitution for offering health insurance benefits to the domestic partners of their employees.. http://bit.ly/16qIs51
  • A new Alabama tax-credit law that subsidizes tuition at private schools will likely end up helping academies founded to get around racial desegregation of public schools. http://bit.ly/108Smkv
  • Down in the bayou, a Louisiana voucher plan subsidizes religion: http://bit.ly/108Smkv

Speaking of Louisiana, Here’s an Extra Bit of Educational Lagniappe

  • Despite a half century Of Supreme Court Rulings, states still look for ways to sneak prayer Into Public Schools. http://bit.ly/18sAMfa
  • The eight most conservative senators join fight against common core education standards. http://bit.ly/12Jg9up

It’s on to the 2014 Election Upchuckables aka, How To Insure Religion Remains On the Ballot

  • The American Renewal Project, whatever the frick that means, plans to target twelve key swing states in the mid-terms. Reminiscent of Ohio’s ’06 dance with the “Patriot Pastors,” they plan to organize pastor briefings and voter registration drives in an attempt to restore the U. S. to its Judeo-Christian roots. http://yhoo.it/YwDsGE
  • Mat Staver’s Liberty Counsel, an affiliate of Jerry Falwell  Liberty University, announced that it is gearing up to mobilize pastors who share the belief “that America was established as a Christian nation, and the guardians of those Biblical principles has always been His church.” http://bit.ly/17BcYal

Military Issues Provide for Deadly Serious Upchucks (thanks goes to Mikey Weinstein and his Military Religious Freedom Foundation)

Novelist K.C. Boyd is the author of Being Christian: A Novel. According to Mikey Weinstein, President of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, “Boyd created a story so riveting that not only could I not put it down, but upon finishing it, I found myself, like an addict, craving more.

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Categories : Politics
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Michele Bachmann may be sued over “Protect Religious Freedom in The Military” campaign

Posted by GottaLaff 
· Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 at 11:53 am 
· 2 Comments 

bachmann pledge religion militaryLink

See that image? Here’s what the text says (bolding is mine):

What if our brave soldiers were told they couldn’t practice their religion? That they were able to fight for OUR religious freedoms but they couldn’t practice their own?

This may seem far-fetched, but unfortunately if some get their wish, it could soon become a reality.

You see, just last week Pentagon officials met with left-wing, anti-Christian activists to discuss military issues. And one of their biggest concerns? Not military readiness… Not sexual assault… Not the safety of our brave men and women… But religion and religious proselytizing in the military.

How radical are these anti-Christian activists consulting with the Pentagon? One of the activists in the meeting compared sharing the gospel to “spiritual rape” and “treason” that should be “punished.”

If you agree that we cannot and should not prevent our military from practicing their own faith, then I hope you will sign the pledge and afterwards forward to your friends and family.

That’s Michele Bachmann’s “Protect Religious Freedom in the Military Pledge” that she shared in a fundraising email to her supporters. Watch out for those “radical left-wing, anti-Christian activists”! They’re out to get you and turn you into godless, soulless, Satan-loving libs!

However, per Washington Whispers:

A series of media reports that allege the Pentagon could start court-martialing soldiers for their Christian faith has been debunked by the fact-checking website PolitiFact and even the Pentagon itself.

To quote Rick Perry, “Oops.” But ‘Chele didn’t let a little thing like facts stop her. And Mikey Weinstein– former Reagan administration lawyer and founder of the civil rights advocacy group Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF)– had a thing or two to say about that:

Now, the man at the center of the court-martial allegations, Mikey Weinstein, says he may sue Bachmann for “propagating complete and utter lies.”

As you can see, ‘Chele called Weinstein “radical” and “anti-Christian” in the pledge. Mikey had a thing or two to say about that, too:

“About 96 percent of our members [at MRFF] are Protestant or Roman Catholic… of our unpaid volunteers, at least well over 80 percent are Christian… I say [to Bachmann]: Tell it to the judge.”

Josh Glasstetter, research director at People For the American Way, said that Bachmann is forcing religion on people and that the military draws the line at “unwanted, intrusive attempts to convert others.”

Did Michele forget about that “stay out of our lives” obsession of hers? Apparently she did, at least when it comes to her own beliefs being shoved down the throats of others.

Washington Whispers has more.

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Categories : Politics
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Can Someone Please Remove The Burr From WaPo Conservative Rubin’s Rear?

Posted by Paddy 
· Monday, February 25th, 2013 at 9:15 am 
· 1 Comment 

85th Annual Academy Awards - Show

As I’ve been working this morning, there’s a few things I picked up just by reading headlines. One is that A.M.P.A.S. reached out to FLOTUS to ask her to present last night and that Harvey Weinstein facilitated it. So what’s Jennifer Rubin’s beef?


Why was Michelle Obama at the Oscars?

Um, (elbow) Jen? The main questions is “Why not?” and if that isn’t good enough for you…

Laura Bush- The 74th Annual Academy Awards 2002 (TV special) Herself (taped)

Now granted it was taped as opposed to Mrs. Obama’s live presentation, but I’m sure there are reasons for that. Of course, that wasn’t her only beef-

She declared of the Best Picture nominees, “They reminded us that we can overcome any obstacle if we dig deep enough and fight hard enough and find the courage within ourselves.” Alas, none of the films nor her aides reminded her to mention the military, not those personnel behind her nor those serving overseas, an odd omission for the White House that nevertheless was pleased to have them arrayed behind her like, well, set decoration.

Alas, so sad that the woman does nothing for the military or troops. She is expected to flog the patriotism at every venue.

It is not enough that President Obama pops up at every sporting event in the nation. Now the first lady feels entitled, with military personnel as props, to intrude on other forms of entertaining (this time for the benefit of the Hollywood glitterati who so lavishly paid for her husband’s election). I’m sure the left will holler that once again conservatives are being grouchy and have it in for the Obamas. Seriously, if they really had their president’s interests at heart, they’d steer away from encouraging these celebrity appearances. It makes both the president and the first lady seem small and grasping.

Yep, GWB never attended any sports events when he was President.

bushfootball

Careful with the use of that word “entitled” Jen. And if we’re talking “small and grasping”, I don’t think it’s the President and First Lady that look that way. The Washington Post could find a much better columnist.

In this case, it was just downright weird.

Speaking of weird television appearances.

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“Republicans tellingly showed zero interest in… the 19,000 sexual assaults of military servicewomen that occur each year.”

Posted by GottaLaff 
· Sunday, February 3rd, 2013 at 10:29 am 
· 1 Comment 

chart rape military assault women

Today’s L.A. Times letter to the editor, because our voices matter:

Re “Hagel hearing reopens Senate wounds,” Feb. 1

By grandstanding their grievances with former Sen. Chuck Hagel for leaving the fold to serve in President Obama‘s administration as secretary of Defense, the neoconservative Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee rubbed salt in their own self-inflicted wounds. What a shameful spectacle of badgering, interrupting and berating a decorated war veteran with a stellar record of public service.

While wasting the day on cherry-picked policy positions that don’t even pertain to what a Defense secretary does, Republicans tellingly showed zero interest in the one that does: the 19,000 sexual assaults of military servicewomen that occur each year. Kudos to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) for questioning Hagel about this “invisible war,” to which he promptly and correctly pledged no tolerance.

Wendy Blais

North Hills

rape women military assault

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BREAKING: Panetta reportedly removes military ban on women in combat, opening thousands of front line positions

Posted by GottaLaff 
· Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013 at 12:28 pm 
· No Comments 

female soldiers

The link only has the one sentence, but Twitter had this via the AP via senior defense officials:

Panetta removes military ban on women in combat, opening thousands of front line positions. U.S. military has until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believe certain positions should remain closed to women.

Waiting for more details, so take it for what it’s worth.

UPDATE #2… WaPo clarifies. It’s not quite what we think.

The reaction on Twitter has gone from incredulous to celebratory to this:

“Not enough. Lift the entire ban, and stop discriminating against women and barring entire career fields on gender alone.”

UPDATE: Multiple officials have confirmed this to CNN. CNN (H/t: @rockrichard, more at the link):

… Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will make the announcement tomorrow and notify Congress of the planned change in policy.

“We will eliminate the policy of ‘no women in units that are tasked with direct combat,’” a senior defense official says.

But the officials caution that “not every position will open all at once on Thursday.” Once the policy is changed, the Department of Defense will enter what is being called an “assessment phase,” in which each branch of service will examine all of its jobs and units not currently integrated and then produce a timetable in which it can integrate them.

The Army and Marine Corps, especially, will be examining physical standards and gender-neutral accommodations within combat units. Every 90 days, the service chiefs will have to report back on their progress.

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“Why did it take his death for Marine Cpl. Roberto Cazarez to become a citizen?”

Posted by GottaLaff 
· Tuesday, December 11th, 2012 at 5:11 pm 
· 1 Comment 

Today’s L.A. Times letter to the editor, because our voices matter:

Re “Family of a fallen Marine sees his citizenship dream fulfilled,” Dec. 7

The whole idea of “posthumous citizenship” is almost Dickensian in its “pound-of-flesh” approach. The cynic in me sees this as a warm and fuzzy human interest story to make those who oppose a rational immigration policy feel human. So many questions jump out: Why did it take his death for Marine Cpl. Roberto Cazarez to become a citizen? Why isn’t citizenship automatic upon military enlistment or entry into a combat unit?

As a country, we seem to be so gracious in atoning for our past once the bodies are buried. Compensation for Native Americans, Japanese American internees and Jim Crow victims always seems to wait until their surviving numbers have dwindled to a precious few.

The Dream Act and the president’s executive orders can only help some. It is a travesty that Congress can send people to war and dilly-dally about protecting them as individuals.

John O’Donnell

Los Angeles

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