Obama's Second Inaugural Address - in praise of riot

Okay, we can put aside for a moment that his actions don't always mirror his rhetoric and call this one a damn good speech. I enjoyed watching Eric Cantor look like his head was going to explode (Boehner was already blubbering by Battle Hymn of the Republic, so he wasn't as fun to watch).

I'm delighted to watch the TV punditocracy tie itself in knots, baffled by Obama's full-throated progressive manifesto. (He wasn't supposed to say that, was he?)

Yes, he defended Social Security, after offering to cut it a few short weeks ago. I say, bravo and well done. No backpedaling now, the world heard you say it.

But I was struck by this bit, which made me sit up, take notice, and get all chokey-uppy:

And we must be a source of hope to the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the victims of prejudice - not out of mere charity, but because peace in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that our common creed describes:  tolerance and opportunity; human dignity and justice.

We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths - that all of us are created equal - is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.

Yes, he went on to defend the equal rights of gay people, all people really, but the mention of Stonewall stands out. That was a riot, a real riot, a violent retribution for police brutality, a we-can't-take-it-anymore moment in history. Polite society is not supposed to endorse such uncouth behavior... well, maybe not until 40-odd years later, when the rioters are proven right after all.

I also loved that he mentioned Seneca Falls, the convention that gave birth to all women's rights movements throughout the world, not just America's own. The connection of the two to Selma is also key, and slams progressives who for decades have been happy to consider glbt people as other and undeserving. The left has some 'splainin' to do on that score! No matter, we can all proceed now if we drop the squabbles.

It's clear in this speech that he believes we must commit ourselves to extending progressive ideals all over the world. That is visionary, especially as we see ourselves mired in state-by-state or law-by-law fights for equal marriage, voting rights, equal pay, etc., etc. He declared that we can't stop with securing basic human rights for ourselves. And it's true, peace and security can't happen while barbarism flourishes. It's the proverbial tall order, but there you have it.

Chris Christie's War on Love

This great moment of Chris Christie's speech choked me up. (Not really.) But it signified an important Rubicon moment in Republican party strategy. Many missed his declaration of the War on Love. Follow closely:

The greatest lesson Mom ever taught me, though, was this one: she told me there would be times in your life when you have to choose between being loved and being respected. She said to always pick being respected, that love without respect was always fleeting — but that respect could grow into real, lasting love.

Now, of course, she was talking about women.

But I have learned over time that it applies just as much to leadership. In fact, I think that advice applies to America today more than ever.

I believe we have become paralyzed by our desire to be loved.

Our Founding Fathers had the wisdom to know that social acceptance and popularity is fleeting and that this country's principles needed to be rooted in strengths greater than the passions and emotions of the times.

Our leaders today have decided it is more important to be popular, to do what is easy and say "yes," rather than to say no when "no" is what's required.

In recent years, we as a country have too often chosen the same path.

It's been easy for our leaders to say not us, and not now, in taking on the tough issues. And we've stood silently by and let them get away with it.

But tonight, I say enough.

....

Tonight, we choose respect over love.

We are not afraid. We are taking our country back.

video at Politico

So, continuing last week's Republican theme of screwed up, twisted views of women, we have Christie saying "All right, Mom, I'll take your advice. Who cares if a woman loves me? What basis is love for a relationship anyway?" And he repeats this as some sort of wisdom of the ages. Jerk.

Then he transfers that sick idea to the politician's relationship with the entire country. Thus, "The people are my bitch, and I must pimp-slap them if they don't give me my money."

And so, the circle is complete! The Conservative mindset is revealed as the smokescreen blows away in the wind. This is a War on Love itself. Hell, according to Christie, even the vaunted founding fathers had no place in their hearts for such a trifling emotion, such piffle. They were as hard and cold as their chiseled stone statues. Forget that part in the Declaration of Independence about friendship with your enemy in peace, and while you're at it, burn their love letters home. No, the people must be hated, loathed, and abused. Severely.

This country needs a strong hand, according to this ideal of governing mouthed by the governor, and if leaders like he are hated and feared, that's the goal. Being loved, or doing something for people that causes you to be loved by them, why that's weakness and failure. Love itself is a sign of something gone terribly wrong, a country utterly lost. It must be stamped out. Specifically, he is saying, "We thrive on your hatred of us!"

And so, from the people who declared the Culture War, we now have the War on Love. Welcome to it.

SCARY STUFF: ATLANTA ANTI-CHOICE FIRES, POSSIBLE DOMESTIC TERROR (UPDATE: ANOTHER IN N.O.?)

Atlanta area fires and burglaries are hitting pro-choice advocates, and seem to target speech as well as clinics:

Federal agents are investigating two fires in the past week at women's clinics in metro Atlanta, authorities said. ...

The two fires, along with several burglaries that struck women's clinics in recent months, have raised concerns that the clinics are being targeted by vigilantes.

The physicians who were victims of the burglaries and Sunday's fire did not perform abortions but they had all visited the statehouse this session to discuss the impact of abortion-related legislation, said Dr. David Byck, president of the Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society.

"We are concerned that each of these physicians spoke with lawmakers during the session and that each then became targets of felony crimes," Byck said in a statement.

This looks like either one person or a group at work to silence these doctors. That does constitute terrorism, by definition, no?

UPDATE: Here's another case of arson at a Women's education, advocacy, and community center in New Orleans. Again, this one is deliberate, going after the information materials (speech). I am not saying they are directly connected, but it's worth exploring the angle, while the feds are at it. This group seems to have overturned a law that made prostitutes subject to sex-offender registry, somehow based on a 205-year-old statute. FBI, please get on this.

Related: TN'S ANTI-CHOICE SCARLET LETTER BILL
CHICAGO CLUB 'VELVET ROPE' FIRE IS ARSON

The Holy Beatings Will Continue Until the Marriage Improves

In terms of the War on Women, it looks like we're falling behind. Via the Toronto Sun.

A local bookstore has “sold out” of a controversial marriage guide that advises Muslim men on how to beat their wives.
The 160-page book, published by Idara Impex in New Delhi, India, is written by Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi, who’s described in the book’s foreword as a “prolific writer on almost every topic of Islamic learning.”
...
In terms of physical punishment, the book advises that a husband may scold her, “beat by hand or stick,” withhold money from her or “pull (her) by the ears,” but should “refrain from beating her excessively.”

The story goes on to cite a horrendous honor killing, without providing more than a fuzzy linkage. I don't think that's fair journalism. The question is also put whether such a book should be sold in Canadian bookstores. They don't seem to have that freedom-of-the-press burden the U.S. has.

At least the beatings should not be "excessive."

Tennessee's Anti-abortion Scarlet Letter Bill ... Is It Real?

Maybe, maybe not.

The Life Defense Act of 2012 ... would direct the state Health Department to post on its website a report on every abortion, to be filled out by the facility where the procedure takes place.

The reports must include the "identification of the physician who performed the abortion and the physician's office, clinic, hospital or other facility where the abortion was performed," according to the official summary of the bill.

Then the L.A. Times explains that the reporting will include a woman's age, county, marital status, and so on, making it much easier to identify the person, especially in less populated areas.

So, I'd say, yeah, you can call it the Scarlet Letter Bill of 2012.

Please note, every title of everything this year must be appended with the numeral year date, 2012, in case anyone might forget what year it is. Thank you.

Related: ATLANTA, ANTI-CHOICE POSSIBLE DOMESTIC TERRORISM FIRES

Georgia Nut State Rep. Terry England: Women Are Cattle!

He's pushing for yet another anti-abortion law, but wants it to include nonviable fetuses.

These people have declared the War on Woman. Every day brings a new descent into barbarism.


Rep. Terry England compares women to cows, pigs and chickens. from Bryan Long on Vimeo.