A Message to Right-Wingers

Sometimes, a name is just a name. It's not like our names are our destiny. Alright, I do think about it sometimes. Like, Simon Cowell is kind of a mean guy, and if you take his first initial and his last name, it spells "Scowell" which sounds like "scowl". But I just see it as a fun thing. I don't really believe that Simon Cowell was destined to be a guy who scowls a lot on American Idol because of the name thing. But wingnuts don't see it this way. Remember this?




And remember all the "omigod! his middle name is Hussein! He must have something to do with Saddam Hussein!" BS that I don't have to link to here because everyone remembers it?

Well, it seems like this is an actual right-wing tactic.

Kel Munger of the Sacramento News & Review posted about how there were very few people of color at the TEA Party in Sacramento. A very angry lady named Liz had this to say:

I don’t know whether you’re some kind of hate monger … maybe goes with your last name, Munger.

And maybe Liz likes lizards because her name is Liz and the first three letters of "lizard" are L-I-Z. Or maybe she eats them! Or maybe she gave birth to one! Or maybe she is one! Oh no! Watch out for the Lizard Woman of Sacramento! George W. Bush was right about stem cell research after all!

Take Action Monday

Urge your Senators to support the Serve America Act and provide national service opportunities for all generations.

Speak out to overturn the HHS refusal rule.

Support the bill to end Canada's commercial seal hunt.

Speak out against mountaintop coal mining.

Tell President Obama and Congress to halt the surge of American troops to Afghanistan.

Ask Congress to reform the Bush Administration's costly and ineffective immigration policies.

Tell Congress to work on healthcare reform.

Urge Congress to keep Citigroup from using bailout money to pay anti-middle class lobbyists.

Demand that governors accept stimulus funding and help the people who need it.

Tell the federal Minerals Management Service to halt all new drilling in the Arctic seas.

Tell Governor Schwarzenegger to make sure protections for farm workers are enforced.

Take Action Monday

Yeah for a day off!

Tell the EPA to stop the cement industry from contributing to mercury pollution.

Urge President Obama to choose a progressive Department of Health secretary.

Demand accountability for the Bush administration's war crimes.

Tell your Senators to confirm Hilda Solis for Labor secretary.

Include a family planning provision in the next health care legislation.

Tell the EPA to crack down on pesticide abusers.

Urge the special envoy to rebuild Gaza.

Take Action Monday

Tell your Senators that helping national parks helps the economy.

Demand an investigation of possible human rights violations in Gaza and Israel.

Tell Obama to expand family planning services to low income women.

Hold Bush accountable for war crimes.

Pledge to support safe homes for the world's orphans.

Ask Prime Minister Gordon Brown to include a representative from the African Union at the G20 summit.

Support the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Tell your Senators to vote Yes on the stimulus package and No on any amendments that could hurt women.

Demand the prosecutions of all police officers involved in Oscar Grant's death.

So Not Funny, George H.W. Bush!

Former President George H.W. Bush recently told this so not funny anecdote to some people somewhere:

One time we thought we'd outsmarted the crowd. We sent a decoy limosine off in one direction while I snuck out the back entrance. And we rounded the corner -- I'll never forget it -- and I saw one of the ugliest and angriest women I have ever seen in my entire life. Boy, she was really bad. And she charged my car with a sign... and came up right next to the window: "Stay out of my womb!" No problem, buddy.

Come on, Prez. Don't talk about Barbara that way.

Take Action Monday

Ask Barack Obama to address the world's poorest people during the inauguration.

Show your support for Dr. Shirin Ebadi.

Tell your Senators to support fair pay.

Protect endangered species from Bush.

Support Barack Obama in his plans to invest in healthcare and green jobs.

Take Action Monday

Tell the Mormon church to prove they're not anti-gay.

Demand that Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal launch an investigation of white vigilante violence after Katrina.

Stop Bush's last minute attacks on the environment.

Tell clothing store Zara to support unions.

Urge the Obama administration to overturn harmful anti-choice HHS rule.

Help raise awareness of childhood cancers.

Share your priorities with new Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.

Ask Obama to create an Office on Women.

Iraqi Journalist Does What We'd All Like to Do

An Iraqi journalist, Muntadar al-Zaidi, threw two shoes at President Bush during a press conference yesterday. How long before the right-wingers whine, "Where's Media Matters on this one? Whaaaa!!!!" Bush was about as bothered by it as I was, saying

That's what people do in a free society, draw attention to themselves.

And,

Bush: There have been no attacks since I have been president, since 9/11. One of the major theaters against al Qaeda turns out to have been Iraq. This is where al Qaeda said they were going to take their stand. This is where al Qaeda was hoping to take ...

Raddatz: But not until after the U.S. invaded.

Bush: Yeah, that’s right. So what? The point is that al Qaeda said they’re going to take a stand.

Take Action Monday

I drew a new header. I think it's better than the current one, if you can imagine that. I just have to color it and scan it in. Hurrah! Anywho . . . .

Tell G8 leaders to forgive the debts of impoverished countries.

Speak out against the redefinition of abortion to include . . . just about everything that keeps a sexually active woman from giving birth.

Tell the Department of Labor to protect farm workers from President Bush.

Pledge to fight for gay rights (here too).

Ask Secretary Rice to support peacekeeping efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tell Barack Obama to make ending world hunger a priority.

Join the Radio Action Team

Learn the signs of child abuse.

Tell Governor Schwarzenegger to protect farm workers in government housing.

Urge President-elect Obama to make a commitment to human rights.

Help stop malaria.

The Funny & the Fucked Up

The Funny



Keith Olbermann went on The View on Monday. And, no, he's not standing.



Rachel Maddow compiles some of the funniest Bushisms.

And this has nothing to do with anything, but Joe Scarborough said "fuck you" on his show and didn't realize it for like 2 minutes. Hi-larious!

The Fucked Up



Former Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin thinks "living with their parents" is an insult. Excuse me, but some of us have to work to pay for our student loans and graduate school tuition, unlike some people *wink*.

A man in Tanzania attempted to sell his albino wife, because body parts from albinos are apparently great for potion-making. The article doesn't say if he tried to sell her to protect her from being killed or to profit from her albinism. Either way, that's fucked up.

A Little Bit of Both



Lindsay Lohan called Barack Obama our first "colored" president. And she said "colored" softly and quickly, like she knew it was wrong. Although, she said "fruition" that way too.

And Joe the Plumber, who has no right to practice plumbing, has a website! It's called Secure the American Dream, which apparently involves stiffing America out of taxes. And none of the links work. Joe the Web Designer he is not.

Take Action Monday

I was sick all weekend, but taking action always makes me feel better.

Tell President Bush to include the female condom in PEPFAR funding.

Support paid sick days.

Remind president-elect Obama to reform healthcare in his first 100 days (children's healthcare, too!).

Ensure that suspected war criminals in Darfur are brought to justice.

Get a FREE "Yes We Did" sticker from Move On.

Tell Obama and Biden what your expectations are for their new administration.

Take Action Monday

The last couple of weeks of the election season is all about solicitation. So, naturally, most of the take action-y type stuff I got this week, like last week, were organizations hittin' me up for money. And since I only post links to ways to make a difference for free, this will be another short TAM.

Tell Mukasey to squash Bush's efforts to suppress votes in Ohio.

Pledge to learn the signs of child abuse.

Contribute to the Democracy Diaries. 

Urge John McCain to put middle-class workers first.

Take Action Monday on Tuesday

FOX 5 New York finally aired The Simpsons episode The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson which features the Twin Towers. I think it's the first time they've showed it since 2001. After nearly 7 years, FOX finally realized that there's no sense censoring a Simpsons episode out of courtesy to their viewers if Sean Hannity is still going to be on their payroll. Anyway, time to take action!

Ask your Senators to sponsor the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act.

Tell Bush to veto anything that lets Sudanese dictator al-Bashir off the hook. Bush should be used to vetoing stuff by now, right?

Bring back McCain's "straight talk" on reproductive rights.

Tell Sarah Palin to quit bashing community organizers. And if you are or ever have been a community organizer, sign this petition.

Get your FREE "I'm a Constitutional Voter" sticker from the ACLU.

Share your story about how broadband Internet has changed your life and the lives of others, and you can win 1,000 bucks!

Stop the execution of Troy Davis, who was sentenced to death without a fair trial.

Tell John McCain to support marriage equality.

Demand justice for the people of Darfur.

Take Action Monday

Hey! I'm actually posting this on a Monday!

Speak out against Bush's new definition of abortion that could limit most birth control options and federal funding of crisis pregnancy centers that lie to women.

Get your FREE Obama/Biden '08 sticker.

Tell Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden to lead the fight against poverty.

Sign the pledge in support for full access to reproductive healthcare.

Contact FEMA and tell them to deliver supplies to Katrina survivors.

Post your rememberance of Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

Let the GOP know that you want the full support of LGBT rights to be a part of their platform.

Recapture the America we had before Bush.

Send your healthcare platform to the Democratic National Convention.

Give health insurance companies a piece of your mind.

Take Action Monday

August 9th was my one-month bloggiversary, and I missed it! So I'll sing myself the Happy Bloggiversary song now. Happy Bloggiversary to me/Happy Bloggiversary to me/Tra-la-la humity-hum-hum/Happy Bloggiversary to me. I should think of actual words for that song. In the meantime, here's some take action stuff. I'll think of something funny to post soon, I promise.

Take the National Women's Law Center's "What Do Women Want?" poll.

Show the athletes of Team Darfur some support.

Tell President Bush to speak out against China's role in the atrocities in Darfur and Tibet.

Let Congress know that you hate those invasive scanners at the airport that virutally strip-search you.

Support ONE.org's Platforms Against Poverty.

Tell the presidential candidates that they need to include everyone in their plans for affordable healthcare (John McCain has an affordable healthcare plan?)

Help bring justice to all survivors of rape.

Take Action Monday on Wednesday

I've been neglecting my poor blog, haven't I? Better late than never!


Help stop the human rights abuses against women and children in the Congo.

Watch Mia Farrow's webcast during the first week of the Olympics, starting August 8.

Urge the Democratic party to remain pro-choice.

Tell the Federal Election Committee to investigate Wal-Mart's potentially illegal scare tactics.

Stop Repression of Workers Rights at Jakarta Hotel Gran Melia.

Protect women's access to birth control.

Tell President Bush to promote human rights in China while he's at the Olympic games.

Take Action Monday on Tuesday

I was so crampalicious yesterday that I couldn't get online to post any petitions. "Take Action Tuesday" sounds a bit more spiffy, but I'll continue to post these on Monday anyway. Enjoy!

Tell your Representitive to support the Paycheck Fairness Act -- there's talk that they'll vote on it on Wednesday!

Urge your Representative to vote Nay on H.R. 362, which calls for a military blockade of Iran.

Let CBS know that you don't approve of their franken-interviews.*

Tell your Senators to honor suffragist Alice Paul with a Congressional Gold Medal. Perfect timing, Senators Lautenburg and Menendez of New Jersey -- just in time for the Olympics!

Remind Senator McCain and Master of Asshatery Bill O'Reilly that our right to birth control is just as important as their right to 4-hour boners. Ew, I just thought of John McCain and Bill O'Reilly having boners!

Help get more Senators to cosponser the Fair Pay Restoration Act.

Thank your Representative if they cosponsored the bill to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." And if they didn't, tell them to do it already!

Tell Bush and Mukasey that you like the Constitution.

Show your support for the Womens Veterans Healthcare Improvement Act.




*Not interviews with Al Franken. They need more of those. I'm talking about the edited interview Katie Couric had with John McCain, where CBS created one answer out of three other answers from later on in the interview in order to cover up yet another inaccurate claim made by McCain.

Take Action Monday

Tell your Senators to override Bush's veto of the Medicare bill that would have stopped the 10% payment cuts.

Tell President Bush that you don't want federal funds to go to crisis pregnancy centers that lie to women and limit their rights.

Urge the UN Security Council to deploy peacekeepers to Darfur. And send this to Condoleezza Rice, just for good measure. Why not, send this to Bush too.

Add your name to this petition and tell Defense Secretary Robert Gates to plan a troop withdrawl.

Say no to a Senate fillibuster of women's right to fair pay.

Sign this petition to let Congress know that you oppose Bush's latest attack on access to birth control.

Pledge to vote for candidates who support LGBT people and their rights.

Tell John McCain to support women's reproductive rights. I know it's a longshot.

Send a message to the editor of The New Yorker to denounce their recent racist magazine cover.

If you haven't already, register to vote.

Karl Rove, go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not pass GO. Do not collect $200.

Bush Needs a Dictionary

The Bush administration wants to make a new rule that allows federal grant money to be given to hospitals and other healthcare organizations that oppose abortion. This rule will also not allow hosptials and healthcare providers to deny to hire someone based on their moral oppositions to abortion. So, I guess if you're a nurse who opposes birth control but decides to work at an OB/GYN's office anyway, you can get paid to do nothing. Suddenly, I'm reconsidering my career path.

But what does the Bush administration mean by "abortion?" Whas is an abortion really? I'll give you some time to take a stab at it . . .


. . .



. . .

Okay, did you guess? My guess is "the termination of a pregnancy." Now let's see what the Bush administration's definition of an abortion is:

any of the various procedures — including the prescription, dispensing and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action — that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation.

Uhhhhh . . . okay. So an abortion is basically anything that happens to a fertilized egg that keeps it from coming out of a vagina as a screaming baby covered in slime. Emergency contraception -- that could be an abortion. Birth control pills -- could be an abortion. Intrauterine contraceptives -- abortion, maybe. Passing a fertilized egg during your period because maybe it didn't fertilize in an optimal place in the Fallopian tube, or because you were deficient in some vitamin, or because you were really stressed out about the possibility of unintentionally having an abortion according to the Bush administration -- well, hot damn, that's definitely an abortion!

So, ladies, if you've ever been sexually active, even if you used protection, since there's always the possibility of protection failing and conception occurring, you just might have already had an abortion, according to Bush. Can't wait to tell a pro-lifer!