Filosofa Rants Yet Again!

Posted on by under education, Election 2022, History, Law and justice, Political commentary, Racism & Bigotry, Rants, Social commentary, voting rights

I was seriously trying to work on a post about banned books for Banned Books Week when I took a brief break and while perusing a bit of news and some other blogs briefly, I came across something that made my blood boil.  All hope of me finishing my banned books post tonight is gone … perhaps tomorrow, but for tonight I have a brief rant, and then I’m going to bed to read for a while and try to calm my shattered psyche.

Who or what has sent me into a tailspin?  A man by the name of John Gibbs from Michigan who is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in November’s election.  According to Wikipedia …

John Gibbs is an American far-right political commentator and politician. A member of the Republican Party, Gibbs was a software engineer and missionary before entering politics. During the Donald Trump administration, he held roles in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and was acting Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Community Planning and Development.

In July 2020, Trump nominated Gibbs to be director of the United States Office of Personnel Management, but he was never confirmed by the Senate. Gibbs promoted Trump’s false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. He is a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2022 elections, having defeated incumbent Peter Meijer in the Republican Party primary election for Michigan’s 3rd congressional district.

Okay, pretty much your typical maga-Republican, nothing new or out of the ordinary there, right?  Well, just wait.  As a student at Stanford University in the early 2000s, Gibbs founded a self-described “think tank” called the Society for the Critique of Feminism.  Here is some of what he had to say there …

“The Bible clearly articulates the idea that women should not teach or maintain positions of power. Although the reason is not expressly mentioned, it must be due to the nature of women (i.e. their differing mental characteristics), since every other command for living in the Bible is based on the condition of man. In other words, because women do not possess the characteristics necessary to govern, and since women have a more important task to do, which is to prepare the next generation, they are commanded not to rule.

And since Christianity is the historical foundation of American society, with all of the rights and freedoms expressed in our Declaration of Independence and Constitution, which we enjoy to this very day, being expressly and unmistakenly God-given, it is incumbent upon us to consider the relationship that our Christian/cultural heritage, which is so important to so many Americans, shares with feminism, which threatens to unravel the social fabric which has produced one of the marvels of mankind.

Some argue that in a democratic society, it is hypocritical or unjust for women, who are 50% of the population, not to have the vote. This is obviously not true, since the founding fathers, who understood liberty and democracy better than anyone, did not believe so. In addition, all people under age 18 cannot vote, although they too comprise a significant portion of the population. So we cannot say that women should be able to vote simply because they are a large part of the population.

We conclude that increasing the size and scope of government is unequivocally bad. And since women’s suffrage has caused this to occur on a larger scale than any other cause in history, we conclude that the United States has suffered as a result of women’s suffrage.”

And now you understand why I have steam coming out of my ears.

Somebody might want to remind him that those same ‘founding fathers’ also didn’t believe that people with his skin colour ought to be allowed to vote!!!  Oh what a hypocrite this man is!

Anne Marie Schieber, a spokesperson for Gibbs’ campaign, attempted to mitigate and control the damage when his views on women were made public, saying that he was only trying “to provoke the left on campus and to draw attention to the hypocrisy of some modern-day feminists. It was nothing more than a college kid being over the top.”  Oh no, sweet cheeks … this was downright blatant misogyny, putting down women in the worst possible way!  This was no little college prank.  And given Gibbs’ current conspiracy theorist tendencies, there is not a shred of doubt in my mind that he still feels that women are so far inferior to men that we should not be allowed to put on shoes and leave the kitchen, let alone vote or god forbid run for office!  Bastard!

Back in 2020, Trump nominated Gibbs to head the Office of Personnel Management.  During the Senate confirmation hearings, it came out that Gibbs had he had spread the false conspiracy theory that claimed Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign chairman took part in a satanic ritual … that conspiracy theory, known as Pizzagate, led to Edgar Maddison Welch entering a pizza restaurant on 4 December 2016 armed with an AR-15, and randomly fired shots.

The only reason Mr. Gibbs’ name will be on the ballot this November is because the incumbent for that seat, Representative Peter Meijer, was ostracized by the GOP for voting to impeach Trump in 2020.  Therefore, Gibbs received that all-important ‘seal of approval’ from the former guy and won his primary.  He faces … oh the irony … Hillary Scholten, the Democrat running for the seat, and as of today, Gibbs is polling 9 points behind Ms. Scholten!  I would love to be a fly on the wall when he loses to … of all people … one of those women for whom he has zero respect!

41 thoughts on “Filosofa Rants Yet Again!”

  1. Pingback: Giorgia Meloni and Defending Faith and Values – Seek the Truth

  2. Chilling for sure, but I think the low was the guy I wrote about a few months back who won a primary from his jail cell after being convicted of killing his wife.

    It’s hard to fathom the mindset of anyone voting for such creeps—but even worse—as you say—that the Republican Party doesn’t denounce them. They have shown us who they are; we must turn out in droves to denounce them.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Wow. I missed that one … I’ll go back and look for it. As a convicted felon, he would not be allowed to hold public office, so why is he even running? And sadly, some people will still probably support him.

      I hope that we will turn out in droves in November. I hear rumblings, though, from some who are discouraged by all the talk of ‘voter fraud’ and election deniers who say, “Why bother?” I hope they wake up soon!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Coincidentally, I had stumbled onto information about this horrible man just hours before reading your justifiable rant. I thought about adding Hillary Scholten to my candidates guide bc I’ve called out as many Big Liars like Gibbs as I could. Fortunately, this is a pro-Biden district that’s been redrawn to lean more Democratic, and I saw a few polls that had Scholten even farther ahead. So I think this is one despicable character that we needn’t worry may be going anywhere (although even if resoundingly defeated, he’ll probably be a draw among the lowest of the low).

    Liked by 2 people

    • I don’t think he has a path to actually win the election, but just the fact that he has gotten this far is chilling to me. The Republican Party actually condones this crap??? They’ve sunk even further than I first thought! I hope he goes down in flames and finds himself selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door next year! I wondered if he was married, but could find no mention of a wife anywhere … what a surprise, eh?

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Pingback: FILOSOFA RANTS YET AGAIN! |jilldennison.com | Ramblings of an Occupy Liberal

  6. Jill, just a reminder from historians and biblical scholars. The persecution of Christians by Romans after Jesus was crucified was quite a scary ordeal that lasted for decades. The Christian religion survived and was celebrated because of religious services being held in people’s homes around the Mediterranean to keep them on the down low. The organizers of these services tended to be women, who braved discovery. If that is not leadership, I do not know what is.

    Let me close with a reference from the book “Half the Sky” by Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl Wu Dunn. When countries based on religion treat women as property and second class citizens, that is not only wrong, it is financially limiting, as you are competing in a world with only half your assets.

    A person running for office to represent all people who believes what this candidate espouses will learn a hard lesson when women vote. And, he will deserve it.

    Keith

    Liked by 2 people

    • Well said, my friend. Thank you. I don’t think he stands a chance at winning, but just the fact that he has gotten this far is … concerning, disturbing, and paints an ugly picture. Sigh.

      Like

    • I am not defending these comments by this guy, but I would say that your comment is problematic as well.

      This man seems to have much misunderstanding of Christian teaching. He also has a rather anachronistic view of the world. The Bible talked about the world as it was in its day. It should not be applied so literally to today as if the circumstances are exactly the same today. The article also said it was written when he was a student. I didn’t hear what he thinks today.

      I don’t agree with what he said nor with what you said. You are painting anyone who is religious with the same brush. This is what you get from religion; you can’t fix these people; etc. What is the purpose of making such comments other than to get pats on the back from those agree with you? It seems the type of comment that only makes the conversation worse. Much of the commentary in the past on this blog is about the need for unity and reform. How does this facilitate that?

      A man in North Dakota ran down and killed a Republican “extremist”, a teenager, with his car last week. He got in a political debate with this man and then killed him shortly after. At his court hearing, he seemed to have trouble understanding why his life should be changed because of this action. This is the kind of thing that happens to ordinary people when they fail to see the humanity in others. Such dangerous rhetoric leads to people holding de-humanizing views about others; certain individuals, like this ND man, don’t know how to rationally respond to such rhetoric. He is the extreme example for sure and I am sure not representative of folks like you, but still you should not dismiss religion so blithely and so completely.

      Two things can be true: 1) Gibbs words are not representative of the overwhelming majority of Christian’s views and should not be assumed to be so. I wouldn’t vote for him. 2) your comment about religion having no value is also a very radical and prejudicial statement which accomplishes no good.

      I don’t condone either statement.

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  10. Pingback: Filosofa Rants Yet Again! | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  11. “The Bible clearly articulates the idea that women should not teach or maintain positions of power. Although the reason is not expressly mentioned, it must be due to the nature of women (i.e. their differing mental characteristics), since every other command for living in the Bible is based on the condition of man. In other words, because women do not possess the characteristics necessary to govern, and since women have a more important task to do, which is to prepare the next generation, they are commanded not to rule.”……
    What a load!
    You could fertilise a hundred acres with that!
    Book of Judges…Old Testament DORBAH a WOMAN judge. A position of great authority…Go and read it Gibbs!!
    Book of Wisdom…..Old Testament…..Clearly shows Wisdom as a feminine spirit…Lady Wisdom..read it Gibbs!!
    Jael..The WOMAN who killed King Jabin of Canaan and saved Israel (That Book of Judges again)…read it Gibbs!!
    Onto the New Testament……
    Resurrection – While all the disciples are hunkered up in a room and bewailing the death of their leader. Women go to the tomb of Christ and find it empty. Women go and tell the disciples to get up off of their asses and see for themselves!!
    AND while we are about it Gibbs go and tell all this crap to the people of Britain most of whom are still grieving over a giant in leadership and example….That’s Queen Elizabeth II to you buddy…And there’s that hero of a lot of conservative Americans….Margaret Thatcher.
    Gibbs, hire yourself out to farmers because you are producing a lot!

    Liked by 6 people

    • Well said, Roger. Yep, you could fertilize most of the state of Alabama with that crap. I was so incensed … still am, as a matter of fact. And some woman actually works for him and defends him!!! I’d love to meet this man face-to-face … I’d end up in jail, but it would be well worth it! Sigh.

      Liked by 3 people

        • Heh heh … yeah, how did you know? Wow!!! I hadn’t heard of Leigh Ann Hester, but what an amazing woman! Oh how I’d love Mr. Gibbs to meet her! As re Lauren Boebert … all that woman knows how to do is get drunk, have sex, and play with her guns. And yet, there is some talk of putting her in a leadership position in Congress if the Republicans gain a majority in November. Her and Margie Greene! Shoot me now!

          Liked by 2 people

            • Wow, Roger. “Aim first at the least intelligent” and “undermine the faith of the masses and their leaders” … a chilling view of what we see today. And this was from 80 years ago … we have failed to learn the lessons of history and we will pay the price. Thanks for sharing this one, Roger. Sigh.

              Liked by 1 person

                  • And ‘they’ won’t get out unscarred either. That sort of mindset is ever suspicious of its own kind. They will be consumed by their own hate and arrogance. By the mob that put them there.
                    A quote all politicians and celebrities should bear in mind, from Oliver Cromwell:
                    Said to another when they voiced the feeling they were glad the crowd were on their side:
                    “Do not trust to the cheering, for those very persons would shout as much if you and I were going to be hanged.”

                    Liked by 1 person

                    • No, ‘they’ won’t, but they seem to believe they will … seem to believe they are invincible, or protected by their god. The Cromwell quote is spot on … I have come to believe it is the excitement of the kill that drives them, regardless of who is being killed. It reminds me of bullfights where people get so out-of-control excited by the thought of an innocent bull being killed, but they’ll also enjoy it if the bull gores the bullfighter. Sigh. People.

                      Liked by 1 person

                    • Hooked on the brew of Hysteria, that fermented by a selective underlying of biblical passage and seasoned by the toxin of White Privilege.
                      Taking ever deeper swigs they would lurch into the car of state, jam their foot on the accelerator and hurtle off into the fog and rain of a night of ignorance and intolerance.

                      Liked by 1 person

                    • When despondent about these antics, let’s take heart from the message of this old song as performed by the majestic Pete Seager:

                      Lyrics-
                      “O Mary Don’t You Weep”

                      Well if I could, I surely would
                      Stand on the rock where Moses stood
                      Pharaoh’s army got drowned
                      Oh Mary, don’t you weep

                      Oh Mary, don’t you weep, don’t mourn
                      Oh Mary, don’t you weep, don’t mourn
                      Pharaoh’s army got drowned
                      Oh Mary, don’t you weep

                      Well, Mary wore three links of chain
                      On every link was Jesus’ name
                      Pharaoh’s army got drowned
                      Oh Mary, don’t you weep

                      Oh Mary, don’t you weep, don’t mourn
                      Oh Mary, don’t you weep, don’t mourn
                      Pharaoh’s army got drowned
                      Oh Mary, don’t you weep

                      Well one of these nights about twelve o’clock
                      This old world is going to rock
                      Pharaoh’s army got drowned
                      Oh Mary, don’t you weep

                      Well, Moses stood on the Red Sea shore
                      Smote the water with a two-by-four
                      Pharaoh’s army got drowned
                      Oh Mary, don’t you weep

                      Oh Mary, don’t you weep, don’t mourn
                      Oh Mary, don’t you weep, don’t mourn
                      Pharaoh’s army got drowned
                      Oh Mary, don’t you weep

                      Liked by 1 person

                    • Please. Your inability to see the humanity in your political opposition is troubling. I left a comment above regarding religion, but I got no response, so I will try once more. Religion is dangerous. Republicans are dangerous. They love the kill. On and on. Please dig a little deeper and stop falling into the so ever-so-easy and so comfortable argument of labeling those you don’t agree with.

                      There are many problems with progressive views, but you seem to want to blame only the opposition. I wrote about the knee-jerk reactions of so many I engage or listen to on sites like this one (link below). They condemn all who disagree with them. They waste no time in attempting to understand the differences in their views. Diversity of identity is celebrated but diversity of thought is rejected. There are many principled and logical reasons for opposing the progressive points of views. Gibbs views’ quoted above are not the norm by any means, but you have taken the outlier and turned him into a straw man to attack all religious and all conservatives; that’s not legitimate.

                      https://seek-the-truth.com/2022/10/01/giorgia-meloni-and-defending-faith-and-values/

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                    • Forgive me for the delay in replying, but I wished to sit back for a while and ponder on your comments. Then there are the various time differences between continental USA and my own country, the UK.
                      On reading them once more forgive me again for another wry smile, not at your expense I hasten to add, as you were not to know your were responding to a person who not only espouses one of the many varieties of European socialism but who is also a Christian albeit not of fundamentalist views. A stance which is guaranteed to attract criticism from atheists, other Christians, folks on the Right and also others on the Left (in Europe a fractious grouping equally inclined to vehemently oppose those within the Left not of the same outlook as anyone on the Right). I lay this stall out as means not to keep back tracking in my response.
                      Naturally I do not hold to the idea that Religion is inherently ‘dangerous’ and the source of all ills, one might as well suggest ‘Politics’ or ‘Economics’ are. The danger lies with those who proceed with doctrines uncaring or hostile of other groups or communities who live within the law but are different, those who would be willing to change the law to suit their views and cast aside the freedom of others to suit a narrower purpose. You will find such thoughts in all three of the above categories and those who espouse them dwell on the Left and The Right on the political divide, or be they theist or atheist . I have argued with and been accused by several.
                      Nor do I particularly associate myself with ‘progressive’ either, it is a label which like ‘freedom’ or ‘rights’ that folk throw around to suit their purposes. My own yardsticks being Tolerance, Compassion and Respect, if folk or a group does not espouse those to any community living within the law, or to repeat changes the law to suit their narrow views I will not hold with them, one reason why I have over the years dropped out of several UK left-wing groups.
                      My own association with the USA goes back some 60+ years to my childhood when drawn to it through initially entertainment my fondness grew for the nation. I never did subscribe to the view that the USA was the source of all ills, that was perverse and not a little racist. All nations and peoples are guilty of flaws, short-comings and atrocious acts, a lot get touchy if you hold up their pasts to them. There was even the curious interlude of speaking in defence of the USA people to vote by a majority George Bush jnr into his second term; that got me some flak.
                      Y’see my argument in with the current tranche of folk who are willing to take the USA down a confrontational path which could lead to a similar experience as in Ulster in the latter third of the 20th Century; community against community. I was horrified to hear a president not have the dignity or maturity to accept the vote but call out for the election to be stopped because it was not going his way. I was disgusted to see a mob assail the seat of federal government, emboldened by his comments. At this stage, usually the party in question distances itself from such behaviour, instead I see one loud wing of the said party do nothing to criticise these undemocratic actions, in fact run campaigns against those who supported the constitutional process. I was reminded of the vitriol and narrow thinking of a section of our own UK Labour Party who howled indignation against anyone who suggested the then leader Jeremy Corbyn should go for his incompetent handling of the 2019 election campaign. Only in the USA there were guns being waved and rather lurid, frankly rebellious comments.
                      And hypocrisy when it came to religion. Gibbs’s quotes no doubt were not mainstream, but at a time when hostility against women has come back into fashion, in many forms, I will not let that go by, yes I have taken him to task. In addition I was deeply offended by Representative Boebert’s blasphemous comments that if Our Lord Christ had been armed…..Do I need to explain how offensive that was? I do hope she has recanted and I have been clumsy in searching on the net for evidence of that. More to the point how many major figures who cite Christianity as a major influence in their politics has been critical of her. I could continue along this line with other inconsistencies, but my response has gone on long enough for this time.
                      I leave this with yourself, to ponder on.

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    • I read the story before I saw his picture, and then when I saw his picture my jaw literally dropped. Like you, I have no respect whatsoever for him … not only because of the hypocrisy since he is Black, but because of his antiquated, misogynistic views toward women. It amazes me that any woman in her right mind would defend or vote for this jackal. Sigh.
      Cwtch

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