This Is A Republican: Rick Perry

Texas Governor, and Not Gay, Rick Perry does not like it when she doesn’t get her way. And, because she gets all pissy and foot-stompy, she is now being investigated for possibly abusing the office of governor when trying to force Rosemary Lehmberg out of office.

See, this past April Lehmberg, a Democrat, was arrested on suspicion of DUI; she plead guilty and served a forty-five day sentence but said she would not resign even after the Texas GOP — which, as we know, loathes women, especially women in power — and Governor ‘Miss Ricky’ Perry demanded she do so.

So what did Perry do?  He threatened to cut funding for the state’s Public Integrity Unit, which Lehmberg resides over, if she didn’t step down from her position; and he made his threat publicly, and often. When Lehmberg did not step down, Perry made good on his threats and, this past June, vetoed some $3.7 million in funding for the Public Integrity Unit.  As a result of the Perry-induced budget cuts, the office was forced to layoff 10 employees and drop 54 of its 400 active cases. All because Miss Ricky did not get what she wanted.

But, the fact is, that Perry can’t do what he did because it’s illegal to use his power as governor to threaten another public servant. Yet that’s what he did, though Miss Ricky will no doubt have a team of GOP spinners putting their own take on his illegal activities. Which will be difficult, considering he very publicly made it known that he wanted Lehmberg out:

“Despite the otherwise good work (of) the Public Integrity Unit’s employees, I cannot in good conscience support continued state funding for an office with statewide jurisdiction at a time when the person charged with ultimate responsibility of that unit has lost the public’s confidence.”

And there it is; he wanted her to go, and when she didn’t he cut funding for her program, and gave not a care about the people who lost their jobs because he didn’t get his way.

But, while we’re on the subject of Miss Ricky’s lack or moral standards while taking the moral high ground, let’s remember that she is the one who created his own slush fund, paid for by taxpayers, so he could travel the country and build support for what is sure to be another failed attempt at becoming President.

But hey, that’s the GOP, and that is also one of their presidential nominees for 2016.

Uh huh.

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Random Musings

I love tattoos; I have six, and they all mean something personal to me. They aren’t cartoons or names of old boyfriends— the things that you might one day look at and regret.

Like Eric Hartsburg, the guy from Indiana who tattooed the logo of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign on his face … onto his face … and now, big surprise, says he is removing it.

Hartsburg says he initially planned to keep the tattoos … cough bull sh*t cough … it, but cites post-election comments by Romney for his change of heart.

Either that or wearing the tattoo logo of a loser was just too embarrassing.

And, yes, stupid.

This just in from the Vatican….

Pope Francis has "overhauled" the criminal code at Vatican City and now, finally, for the first time in history, the possession of child pornography will send you to Vatican prison; which, I’m guessing, since the Vatican isn’t big on punishment, is an island in the Caribbean filled with nubile young houseboys in see-through sarongs.

Or something.

This new, um, legislation covers clergy and lay people who live and work in Vatican City and is different from the canon law, which covers the universal Catholic Church.

In addition, it is also now illegal to leak Vatican secrets, and the penalties for violations of the new law are stiff … hee hee … stiff: Anyone who reveals or receives confidential information or documentation risks six months to two years in prison and a $2,500 fine; the penalty goes up to eight years in prison if the material concerns the “fundamental interests” of the Holy See or its diplomatic relations with other countries.

In other words, stop looking at child porn and stop talking.

If only …….

So, I like me some Bravo. I really like Million Dollar Decorators because, well, I’m a big old queen, and because it features one Mary McDonald, my BFH—Best Fag Hag.

Mary is rumored to have been the inspiration for the Karen Walker character on Will & Grace and I can see why.

She’s bawdy, bold, funny, and has a gay BFF—sadly, not me.

Plus, you can also see her on Bravo’s Property Envy.

She’s, as the old folks say, a hoot.

It’s official, Texas has officially gone Cher on our collective asses and turned back time.

Last Friday the Texas Senate, by a vote of 19 to 11, passed HB 2, that controversial abortion bill that has garnered the nation's attention over the past month. It was instantly sent via horseback to Governor Perry’s desk where, of course, he’ll sign it.

Odd that Governor, and Not Gay, Rick Perry is so interested in women’s vaginas, eh?

That’s the bad news; the good news is that State Senator Wendy Davis, who filibustered long and hard against the bassackwards bill, is being courted to run for governor in 2014.

The more bad news, this is still Texas, and most of the state doesn’t have the collective gray matter to elect any forward thinking governor.

Bush. Perry. ‘Nuff said.

I was angry at the Zimmerman verdict; I understood the verdict and I realized that, the way our justice system works, justice was served. But I didn’t, and don’t agree with the verdict.

But what pisses me off are the protestors who are destroying their cities, breaking windows and setting fires. That serves no purpose; channel the anger into solving the problem. Punching out a window, or another person, doesn’t help.

And Los Angeles? Neither does shutting down the 10 freeway. All that did was piss off a bunch of commuters trying to get somewhere.

That’s not a protest; that’s just dumb.

That said….

My thoughts on, ahem, Juror B37. And lemme start off by saying this is all hypothetical.

Say B37 was called for jury duty, and after arriving at the courthouse realized it was for the Zimmerman case. And then say she saw dollar signs, and a way to capture her fifteen minutes of fame.

But first, she’d have to make sure Zimmerman was found not guilty, because had he been found guilty the story would have ended. Most people would have been celebrating the verdict and the justice for Trayvon, but her time in the spotlight and her chance to cash in on the verdict would be over.

So, she decides Zimmerman is innocent, and maybe she works hard to persuade those other jurors—and she says they were split three-three on the verdict.

But say she persuades those other three to come to her side.

Zimmerman gets off.

She gets a moment in the spotlight.

She writes a book.

She makes money.

I for one, don’t trust the woman, not one iota. I think she had an agenda and she worked it.

The good news, however, is that the country is so enraged by the verdict t that B37’s publisher has cancelled her book deal, and B37 has slunk back into the ooze and mire from whence she came.

Good riddance.

Meanwhile back at the Vatican ….

Those Catholics who sin—and I don’t mean just the child raping priests—can now earn indulgences, reducing the time they'll have to spend in purgatory for their sins if …..

They follow Pope Francis on Twitter.

Yes, folks, you heard it right.

But previously, these ‘indulgences’ were granted to those who carry out certain tasks—like climbing the Sacred Steps, in Rome, which earns believers seven years off purgatory. And recently, Catholics learned that attendance at events such as the Catholic World Youth Day, in Rio de Janeiro, also win an indulgence.

But the Church, knowing that not everyone can attend a weeklong festival to pedophiles and thieves have also extended the privilege to those following the "rites and pious exercises" of the event on television, radio and through social media … like Twitter.

But, according to a source at the penitentiary Vatican: “You must be following the events live. It is not as if you can get an indulgence by chatting on the internet."

Seriously. Follow the Pope on Twitter and you get to shave off some time in purgatory. Now, if they only added SkyMiles …..

I have become hooked on MTV’s Teen Wolf, which is not the Michael J Fox comedy from the 80s, or even the Jason Bateman reboot, also from the 80s. This is darker, and more grisly, and, well, kinda gay.

I mean look at just some of the cast up there: Keahu Kahuani, Tyler Hoechlin, Sinqua Walls—who was killed off this week … or was he?—and Charlie and Max Carver.

It’s like Man Candy Central. And, like I said, kinda gay …..

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Random Musings

Long ago ... okay, thirteen years ago .... in a state far, far away .... California .... I came across a man in an AOL chatroom. We began talking and joking and learning about one another.

Four months later, July 11th, 2000, I flew from California to Ft Lauderdale and met the man who would change my life forever, and for the better. We spent over a week together, and then the next month he flew to California to see me, and four months later I moved to Miami.

But this ride started thirteen years ago, today.

Happy Anniversary Of The Day We Met In Person, Carlos. Whoosh, that's a mouthful.

From the Good News File: Texas Governor Not-Gay Rick Perry has announced that he will not seek reelection: “The time has come to pass on the mantle of leadership. Today, I’m announcing I will not seek reelection as governor of Texas.”

The Bad News File: Perry will probably run for President in 2016.

The Good News File: He’ll quit the race soon after.

The Bad News File: The main contender to succeed Perry is virulently anti-gay Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who declared in April that any Texas municipality that offers domestic partners insurance to its employees is in violation of the state constitution. 

So, I loves me some Daniel Craig. As James Bond; as anyone. Talk about oozing sex appeal. Talk about a delicious hot body. Talk about looking good in a blue square-cut.

But then I read that Craig was starring in a film called Dream House which seemed like your standard ooh-scary-wannabe-horror film and I thought, “Why Danny, why?”

Then I saw it and it was pretty good, with a nice little twist a la The Others.

Another high pint? Though the film was directed by a man, there are many tight close-ups of Craig Rear Rend—though it’s sadly clothed. But there are plenty of shirtless Craig and plenty of tight T-shirt Craig.

All in all, a win-win for this Daniel Craig obsessed stalker fan.

So, this week Pat Robertson—who never uttered a rational thought in his entire life—said he wishes Facebook had a 'Vomit Button' he could use when he sees photos of Gay Couples.

This from a man who looks like a cartoon alien from the Flintstones? Really?

Paula Deen may do Dancing With The Stars. As if I needed another reason never to watch.

Speaking of Deen, I am trying to create a new language based on celebrity misdeeds: 

Last night we went to dinner and our server was black, so I Paula Deen’d the manager.

I got into a Twitter war yesterday and I Alec Baldwin’d the guy.

I don’t know what the big deal is? I was sitting with someone in my car and I got Eddie Murphy’d.

I have one request of the Tea Party: Spell-f&%$ing-check your signs before you head out of your trailers!

You go, ACLU!

The ACLU has filed suit in Pennsylvania, Virginia, llanos and North Carolina, claiming their anti-marriage equality bans are against the law in light of the SCOTUS ruling on DOMA.

The march is on …..

Hot Man Alert!

Steve Grand, former extremely hot underwear model has released a new song called 'All American Boy' which is the tale of one gay man's unrequieted--up to a point--love for his best friend.

He can sing … and he’s openly gay!

Hot. Gay. Sings. Hot.

A few months back it was announced Joy Behar was leaving The View. I was sad because I like Behar’s sense of humor and her politics. Then the rumor mills swirled that Barbara Walters would be retiring, and I thought, Yay! I mean, if I wanted to see a dotty old lady on TV, I’d NetFlix old episodes of Bewitched for the one with Aunt Clara. Amirite?

Walters declared she wasn’t retiring and then a month, later announced her retirement.

Then the story was that Republican Rightwingnut Elizabeth Hasselbeck was being ‘let go’ and again Walters said it wasn’t true, and that Hasselbeck was welcome there as long as she wanted.

Which proved to be true this week when it was announced that Hasselbeck was called home to the Mother Ship, AKA FauxNews, for their sadly named Fox & Friends show.

So, was Hasselbeck fired? Let go? Not renewed? Well, her last day on The View was the very day she made her announcement so it looks like the whole ‘letting go’ idea was right and that she was given time to find a new gig, or make a reasonable excuse as to why she was gone.

That leaves Whoopi—Thank the goddess for Whoopi—and Sherri Shepard, whom I think of as The Urkel of The View.

The Mama Grizzly Bore™, AKA MGB™, is rumored to be considering a run for the Senate from Alaska.

May I remind you, good people of Alaska, that when you elected her governor she quit halfway through?

So, elect her to the Senate and you’ll have her for just three of the six years before she declares it too hard and walks away.

Think twice, Alaska, think twice. 

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Texas GOP Shove Their Heads Deeper Into Women's Vaginas

Oh, Texas. You made Headlines this week on the Good News front when Not Gay Ricky Perry said he wouldn’t seek another term as governor but would, instead, be joining an all male revue headed for Vegas, or something, but now, your legislators are making headlines for sticking their heads in the vaginas of half the people  of the state.

It was big news just last week when the measure—after failing to win enough support during the regular session—died in the first special session due to a 13-hour filibuster by state Senator, and rational thinker, Wendy Davis, a Democrat, of course, but, last night, the Texas House provisionally approved tough new abortion restrictions, making good on their third stab to pass the measure this year. The formal vote is set for today, and then the measure heads to the Senate where the GOP—who never met a vagina they didn’t want to control—is expected to approve the bill.

Jody Laubenberg

Jody Laubenberg, a Republican Representative and a woman, says the bill will require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks; exceptions to the ban would only be allowed when the women’s life was in imminent danger. When Democratic Representative Senfronia Thompson called for an exception to the 20-week ban in cases of rape and incest, Laubenberg rejected the proposal. So, women of Texas, if you are raped, or the victim of incest, prepare to have that baby, because you have no choice after 20 weeks.

Sidenote: In 1973, with the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, it was established that a woman has the right to get an abortion until her fetus could viably survive outside of the womb, which is generally at 22 to 24 weeks of the pregnancy. Not so in Texas, soon enough.

And since GOP leaders, like the aforementioned Not Gay Ricky Perry, are so hell-bent on controlling women’s rights, they will pass it quickly through the Republican-controlled Legislature in a second special session; Democrats can do little but slow it down, and hope to attract as much attention as possible to Texas and the idea that woman have no rights over their own bodies down there; and, you know, down there.

Federal courts have ruled that states can regulate abortions but not to the extent to make them impossible to obtain; which is what Texas is trying to do. Opponents of the Texas bill say this new legislation would effectively ban abortion in much of the state, by causing the closure of 37 of its 42 abortion clinics.

Sarah Davis

Houston Representative Sarah Davis, the only Republican opposed to the law, warned that the bill as written is unconstitutional and offered an amendment to make it less stringent, saying, “I believe the bill as drafted will be a de facto ban on abortion. No one wants to see abortions, it’s a terrible way to end a pregnancy, but it is a constitutionally protected right.”

Constitutionally protected right. Except, sadly, in Texas, where they are avid proponents of the death penalty, but also say they are pro-life.

Oxy.Morons.

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Rick Perry: ISBL Asshat of the Decade

I know, I know, you’re saying, ‘But Bob, it’s only 2013! Surely someone more deserving of this award will come up.’

To which I say, ‘Oh hell no.’

Rick Perry is such an asshat, such a delusional moron, he makes George Bush look like a member of Mensa. But, worse than being out-of-touch, narrow-minded, and stupid, he’s also dangerous because he’s, well, out-of-touch, narrow-minded, and stupid.

This is the man who said, of The Gays:

“Even if an alcoholic is powerless over alcohol once it enters his body, he still makes a choice to drink. And, even if someone is attracted to a person of the same sex, he or she still makes a choice to engage in sexual activity with someone of the same gender.”

Huh? So, being gay is like being an alcoholic?

Then he said this, about the BP oil spill: 

“From time to time there are going to be things that occur that are acts of God that cannot be prevented.”

Yes, folks, Rick Perry said the BP oil spill was God’s fault.

But, in light of the recent abortion debate and filibuster in the Texas statehouse, I have come across another Rick Perry quote that seals his fate as the ISBL Asshat of the Decade.

See, while many around the country, and even in Texas, have called Texas state senator, Wendy Davis a hero for standing on her feet for 11 hours to filibuster an anti-abortion bill, Governor, and Not Gay, Dammit, Rick Perry said this about her:

"Even the woman who filibustered the Senate the other day was born into difficult circumstances. She was the daughter of a single woman, she was a teenage mother herself. She managed to eventually graduate from Harvard Law School and serve in the Texas senate. It is just unfortunate that she hasn’t learned from her own example that every life must be given a chance to realize its full potential and that every life matters."

First off, Miss Ricky, she’s an elected official of the state of Texas, learn her goddamned name! 

Secondly, you dumbass, she is pro-choice, which does not mean that she is pro-abortion. Those two things are quite different. And her mother, that single mother, made the choiceto have her child and not to have an abortion because it’s her right to choose. And Wendy Davis also made the choice to have her child, because it is her right.

You, sir, are so delusional, and so one-note, and so pandering to the ultra-conservative factions of the GOP that you cannot even differentiate a woman who chooses  to have a child, and a woman who chooses, for whatever reason, because it is her right, to terminate her pregnancy.

Woman who are single mothers are automatically inducted into the Pro-Life movement any more than women who are Pro-Choice have an abortion just because they believe it’s their right to do so.

I could rant, and rage and spit and hiss, but, since I also #StandWithWendy, I’m gonna give her the last word before signing off:

"Rick Perry's statement is without dignity and tarnishes the high office he holds. They are small words that reflect a dark and negative point of view. Our governor should reflect our Texas values. Sadly, Gov. Perry fails that test."—Wendy Davis

She was much kinder than I, but this is my blog and I’ll rant if I want to, and I’ll crown Miss Ricky Perry, the Oh So Not Gay Governor of Texas, as the ISBL Asshat of the Decade.

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Texas Governor, Miss Ricky Perry, Signs 'Merry Christmas' Bill Into Law

Down there in Texas, sitting amongst a bevy of sleigh bell-ringing Santa Claus impersonators, Governor, and Not Gay, Rick Perry signed a law that protects Christmas and other holiday celebrations in Texas public schools from legal challenges — but also stressed that freedom of religion is not the same thing as freedom from religion.

But it is, Blanche, but it is, if my religion is no religion.

This was all a show put on by Miss Ricky to shore up her Christian conservative credentials before traveling to Washington for the Faith & Freedom Coalition's "Road to Majority" conference with fellow wingnuts, dingbats, asshats, and hypocrites, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and fellow Texan Ted Cruz.

Perry’s new legislation, which he calls the "Merry Christmas bill," was a bipartisan measure that sailed through the state House and Senate to reach Perry's desk; bipartisan in Texas doesn’t translate into bipartisanship for the rest of the country where we understand the meaning of Separation of Church and State.

His bill will remove legal risks of saying "Merry Christmas" in schools while also protecting traditional holiday symbols, like the menorah or the nativity scene, as long as more than one religion and a secular symbol are also reflected.

"I realize it's only June. But it's a good June and the holidays are coming early this year. It's a shame that a bill like this one I'm signing today is even required, but I'm glad that we're standing up for religious freedom in this state. Religious freedom does not mean freedom from religion."—Miss Ricky Perry

Miss Ricky’s press conference, and his apparent love of jolly bears with white beards in his offices, might have been spurred on by the fact that during the last Sunday of the Texas legislative session, Representative Donna Howard, a Democrat, offered the Texas House this prayer:

"We are fortunate to live in a country where we have the freedom to exercise the religion of our choosing while also being free from having any religion imposed upon us."

As she finished, many of her Conservative religious zealot colleagues held their own prayer session.

Miss Perry did not mention Donna Howard or her prayer, but he did invite cheerleaders from Kountze High School in East Texas to the signing ceremony; they were briefly barred by their school district from displaying banners with bible verses at football games.  Miss Perry, while signing the bill and ogling those jiggly bearded men’s bellies and nether regions, says his new law was for believers such as the Kountze cheerleaders, who wore red "I cheer for Christ" T-shirts.

And the bill's sponsor, Republican, of course, Reprehensible, er Representative Dwayne Bohac says he drafted it after discovering that his son's school erected a "holiday tree" last December because any mention of Christmas could spark litigation.

"We hope that this is a fire that will take off and become laws in the other 49 states."—Dwayne Bohac

I hope people in the other 49 get fired up and remind the state of Texas and wingnut dingbat asshats like Perry and Bohac that not everyone is Christian, and that not every one believes in God, and that everyone is represented by his “Merry Christmas bill.”

But then Rick Perry cares not a whit for people who don’t think like he does; you know, people whose brains fire on all cylinders.

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Random Musings

So, Mariah Carey and her husband Nick Cannon decided to renew their wedding vows; apparently they have done so each of the five years that they've been married, a la Seal and Heidi Klum--and we know how that worked out.

Still, it's kind of sweet, you know, reaffirming your love and commitment, but ...

And you just knew there had to be a but.

Carey and Cannon renewed their vows at Disneyland in California, and had the entire park shut down for their ceremony. Then they invited "journalists", like Entertainment Tonight host Nancy O'Dell, and sold pictures to the magazines of Carey dressed like a princess, Cannon dolled up like Prince Charming, and their two kids in storybook costumes.

So, the question is, is this love or self-promotion? Or, as the cynic in me wonders, is it an attempt to say 'Look at us, we're so in love' when they actually might not be?

Asking for a friend.

Remember when Right Said Fred was 'too sexy for his shirt'? Yeah, well he's got nothing on one Omar Borkan Al Gala. He's too sexy for Saudi Arabia and has been deported for being too hot.

You read that right ... deported for hotness.

It seems that Saudi Arabia was a'scurred of what Omar might do to their women-folk--and perhaps some of their men-folk--and so they ALLEGEDLY had the man kicked out of their country and sent back to Abu Dhabi. 

I have tried to find Omar because I think he's just sexy enough for Smallville.

While we're on the topic of hot men ...

One Life To Life and Desperate Housewives hunk, Tuc Watkins, has officially, and publicly, come out as gay. Though he never hid the fact, he also never spoke of his personal life. Still, the pingpingping of the Gaydar was right this time.

Life imitates art, and vice-versa. When Watkins joined Desperate Housewives as Bob Hunter, one-half of a gay couple--with Kevin Rahm--their storyline included one about adopting a baby.

The plotline hit close to home, because Watkins was going through the same thing--albeit as a single dad--in his real life. He recently welcomed twin sons, Catchen and Curtis, via surrogate.

He said, of being gay and being a father:

"A lot of people at some point in their lives think, 'Am I going to be a parent? Do I want to be a parent?' And when I was young, I knew three things: I knew I was gay, I knew one day I was gonna be a dad, and I knew that Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was going to be the best movie of all time. So far, I've been right about all three."

Hot Funny Gay Daddy.

Congratulations on both events!

On the Broadway front, I smell a bomb of epic proportions. Or, a big smash if craptastic gets butts in seats.

See, ahem, Rocky is going to be a Broadway musical.

This production--which recently premiered in Germany--brings together Tony Award-winning writer Thomas Meehan--The Producers and Hairspray--with composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens--Ragtime--director Alex Timbers--Here Lies Love and the musical-play hybrid Peter and the Starcatcher--with fight choreography by Steven Hoggett--Once--and dance choreography by Kelly Devine--Rock of Ages. That's quite the list of talented folks working on the musical, but I keep thinking one of the big numbers has to be Yo, Adrian and I get a little queasy.

For his part, Sylvester Stallone, who penned the original Rocky and plied him through four sequels, says, “I couldn’t be more proud or more excited about this production and how my original story of Rocky Balboa has been brought to spectacular life onstage.”

Yo, Adrian.

And speaking of Broadway, the four child actresses who rotate in the title role of the Broadway musical Matilda will not be eligible for a joint Tony Award nomination for best actress in a musical this spring.

The decision is noteworthy because it sets aside a precedent that allowed the three teenage boys sharing the lead role in Billy Elliot to be eligible for a joint best actor nomination; and the three did win the Tony.

The producers of Matilda had sought joint eligibility for the four girls--Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro--but, instead of granting the request, the Tony committee announced that the actresses would receive a special award, a Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theater, “to recognize their outstanding performances this season.” 

It's a shame that the girls couldn't get the same treatment as the boys.

I think we're going to see The Great Gatsby this weekend. I think it looks amazing, though, for the life of me, why they have a 3D version is beyond me.

But, it's directed by Baz Luhrman, who directed Moulin Rouge so I imagine it will have that same sense of flash.

Speaking of Baz, I have had a wee crush on him since the first time I laid eyes on him and it keeps going and going and going .... The gray hair, that accent.
I am a sucker for a man with an accent.

Texas Governor, and Not Gay, Rick Perry, got his granny pants ion a twist last week when the Sacramento Bee ran a cartoon that showed Perry boasting about booming business in Texas in one frame, than showing an explosion in the next.

The cartoon ran a week after a fertilizer plant explosion killed 14 people in a Texas town and Miss Ricky says she wants an apology from the newspaper on behalf of the town:

"While I will always welcome healthy policy debate, I won't stand for someone mocking the tragic deaths of my fellow Texans and our fellow Americans. Additionally, publishing this on the very day our state and nation paused to honor and mourn those who died only compounds the pain and suffering of the many Texans who lost family and friends in this disaster."

The Bee's editorial page editor, Stuart Leavenworth, responded that the artist, Jack Ohman, "made a strong statement about Gov. Rick Perry's disregard for worker safety, and his attempts to market Texas a place where industries can thrive with few regulations. … It is unfortunate that Gov. Perry, and some on the blogosphere, have attempted to interpret the cartoon as being disrespectful for the victims of this tragedy. As Ohman has made clear on his blog, he has complete empathy for the victims and people living by the plant. … What [Ohman] finds offensive is a governor who would gamble with the lives of families by not pushing for the strongest safety regulations. Perry's letter is an attempt to distract people from that message."

What Ohman showed was not disrespectful to those who died, what he showed was that, if not for Perry’s political dealing, with low taxes and no regulation—the plant that exploded had not been inspected in seven years—this might not have happened.

And he’s right. Miss Ricky should be ashamed of herself.

Miss Ricky is such an asshat. A Texas-sized asshat.

Sometimes I love South Carolina.

We live in "Smallville" which is about forty miles--as the crow flies--from Columbia, the state capital. And this week, in Columbia, a new billboard went up that is causing a stir and some giggles.

The controversial new billboard, by AshleyMadison.com--a dating site, designed for people already in relationships who want to have affairs--features our very own Appalachian Trail Hiking ex-Governor, and current candidate for the House of Representatives, Mark Sanford.

It says "Next Time Use AshleyMadison.com To Find Your Running Mate."

Again, sometimes I love South Carolina.

I didn't watch the Amanda Knox interview on ABC though I saw bits and pieces as it was promo'd to death. And, I didn't really follow the story too closely as her murder trial went down in Italy, so, well, to be honest, I may be wrong but ....

She doesn't seem to have any emotion about the murders--whether she's guilty of them or not. In fact, she seems aloof and detached and, well, not quite truthful.

Just sayin.

Speaking of TV interviews, the other night Piers Morgan interviewed Jason Collins' ex-girlfriend of eight years Carolyn Moos about her reaction to the news that he is gay.

She said: "He actually called this past weekend and we spoke a couple of times on Monday, so it's really fresh in my mind. It's going to be a process, absolutely, and it just takes a lot of perspective, and a lot of understanding, and a lot of open conversation."

Then Morgan asked, "Did he apologize to you?"

Moos replied, "I think he's in the process of taking ownership of the here and now which is actually coming out. That can be very – I assume – overwhelming."

Urn, again, I may be wrong, but why does he need to apologize to her because he's gay? Is it because he kept that secret from her? Perhaps not, because maybe he wasn't ready to face the fact that he was gay and thought being in an opposite-sex relationship would be the thing to do.

Perhaps he thought he was bisexual, and interested in Moos at the time.

And perhaps he was interested in her, but was still working through his own ‘stuff' and didn't know what to say and do.

But he doesn’t owe her an apology the same way a man who dates a woman for eight years, breaks it off and then marries another woman doesn't owe the first woman an apology.

By asking if he apologized, Morgan is playing up some notion that Collins lied, and tricked, Moos into being in a relationship.,

Last I checked she's a grown-assed woman and she made the choice to be there.

Apologize? Never.

Speaking of Jason Collins....TWEET OF THE WEEK:

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