From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE...
John Aravosis at AmericaBlog says conservative Christian family values are alive and well...
"The Family Research Council's executive director, Tony Perkins, reportedly paid former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke over $80,000 for his who's-who-of-racist-America mailing list in 1996. This should be the death of the Family Research Council, one of the religious right's lead organizations, and the end of Tony Perkins career.
"This was 1996, people. That is well beyond, years beyond, the date that the entire nation knew Duke to be a rabid KKK-loving racist. But our pinnacle of family values, Tony Perkins, had no problem enriching black-hater David Duke to the tune of $82,000. And what's more, Tony Perkins had no problem trying to woo David Duke's avowed racist following.
"With the religious right trying to reach out to black folk, and more generally trying to lecture the rest of us on morality, I want to know why Tony Perkins hasn't been forced to resign, or, why the Family Research Council hasn't been ostracized from the entire religious right community."
All together now! "Gimme that old time re-li-gion...it's good enough for me." Cheers and Jeers saves the masses in There's Moreville... [Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]
Cheers and Cheers for Thursday, June 9, 2005...
Note: And now, a brief message from your friendly local tobacco company: "Whoopie!! Unbelievable!!! Cigars all around!! Bonuses for all the VPs!! Mother of God this is the bestest summer EVER!! Cannonball!!" [SPLASH!!!]
By the Numbers:
Days `til Father's Day: 10
Days until the longest day of the year: 11
Days `til the Redneck Games in East Dublin, GA: 30
Days `til `Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince': 37
Bill Clinton's approval rating on the day of his impeachment: 73%
George W. Bush's approval 6 months after re-election: 48%
(Source: CNN/USA Today/Gallup polls via News From Me blog)
Average blood pressure reading of GooPers when they see those numbers: 180/95
Your Puppy Pic of the Day This is called a Beagle Speed Bump. BSB for short.
CHEERS to the Al Franken Show. For not letting Bill O'Reilly get away with this sleazy, unforgivable act of editing out a key part of Joe Biden's statement about Guantanamo abuses last Sunday on `This Week.' As Atrios would say: This calls for an immediate investigation into blogger ethics!
JEERS to the new activist judge on the block. Janice "Mr." Rogers Brown was confirmed yesterday by the Senate 56-43. She grew up dirt-poor in Alabama and, despite huge odds, went on to achieve her American dream: dismantling the America dream. `Scuse me...[sniff]...I need a tissue.
CHEERS to shedding our skin. Yesterday was the first day we went to work without wearing a coat. Or a jacket. Or a sweater. Or a pullover. Or a shirt. Or pants. Or underwear. And we could've done without the socks. It's summer in Maine...and there's no better place in the universe to spend it! Yep...even in jail.
CHEERS to hot Joe-on-Joe action. On this date 51 years ago, during the Army-McCarthy hearings, attorney Joseph Welch admonished Senator Joseph McCarthy with, "Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" Short answer: No.
JEERS to sitting around in your underwear smoking joints and watching Oprah. It seems that's what "senior level staffers" at the CIA have been doing since the House's Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction (we use HCOTICOTUSRWOMD because it's easier to remember) came out last March. But oddly enough, I actually feel safer knowing those dimwits are locked in the basement...where they can't do any more damage.
CHEERS to scoring a lefty twofer. Josh Micah Marshall copped mentions in both Time and Newsweek for his new Talking Points Memo Café. Great site...but Kos's hot cross buns are fresher.
JEERS to fightin' words. There's a public service announcement from the Ad Council (motto: "What stations run when they run out of ads") on Air America that encourages parents to take a more active role in fighting childhood obesity. The breathy announcer's advice: "So turn off your kid's TV or computer and take them outside for a bike ride or a walk." Sure, Mom and dad...go ahead. Reach for the `Off' switch. I'm sure the illustrious Ad Council will pay to have your arm surgically re-attached.
JEERS to losing a leader. One of the unfortunate---and more embarrassing---facts about the gay community is that we don't take time to fully appreciate our pioneers, who risked everything so that people like me can be out `n proud. Jean O'Leary was one of those pioneers. She died last weekend at 57. Regardless of what the conservative Christian dickheads say, Heaven has a special place for people like Jean. It's called the penthouse suite.
JEERS to sex miseducation. What does $455,000 dollars buy you? If you live in Ohio and you're a student it buys you a bunch of idiotic lies in Sex Ed class. On the bright side, every student who keeps their virginity intact by the end of the semester gets a FREE rare coin!
CHEERS to West Point. The military Academy was founded 203 years ago today. It produced 13 astronauts, 6 Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2 Presidents (Grant and Eisenhower), and Wesley Clark. No snark...just "Huzzah!" And thanks.
CHEERS to Carl Bechdel. The Pennsylvania resident expresses in Time magazine what I've been saying for years:
"The Scent of a Man" reported on new research showing that homosexual men's brains register the same response to male hormone-like pheromones as women's brains do [May 23]. That finding could be used to support the idea that sexual orientation is present from birth. As a gay man, I am frustrated by the ongoing debate about whether sexual orientation is a choice. Why is it that the people who are in a position to know the answer to that question---gays---seem to be ignored by straight people? If you're straight, ask yourself when you chose to be straight. You are what you are; there's no choice involved."
Just like those of us who eat paste.
C&J Flashback: June 9, 2004...
CHEERS to the U.N. Unanimously passes resolution endorsing transfer of 'soverinity' to Iraq. But as for financial or military assistance? Our translators are still trying to decipher "Nein," "Nyet," and "Non."
JEERS to Saddam's demise. Prosecutors are having trouble building their case against him, in part because no witnesses are willing to come forward...and they're lacking a little thing called evidence. Are golf outings with O.J. in his future?
And just one more...
CHEERS to our new house boy. He just came over from Canada. Sure, he eats his dinner with a bloody chain saw...but he's a great cuddler. Certainly better than the old guy. Good help...it's so hard to find.
Floor's open...What are you cheering and jeering about today?
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Today's Shameless Testimonial:
"No one should ever judge, stigmatize, or fear someone because of the love they feel for Cheers and Jeers."
Tipper Gore
6/4/05
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