Time was when I would have to go in search of enough political cartoons I felt were worthy for my weekly ‘toon post, but these days they just drop into my lap! The cartoonists never sleep, it seems, and I know from following Clay Jones’ blog that he rarely does sleep … he’s always under one deadline or another, yet he never seems to run out of material! Anyway, sit back and enjoy the latest, the ‘best of the best’, the ‘cream of the crop’!
Remember that $1,200 check you received from the IRS in April? Didn’t last too long, did it? Still, it helped … every little bit helped. At the rate Congress is acting, you’ll be long dead before you receive another. But look … many did benefit greatly and received hefty checks. They are … well, let’s have a look …
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that was part of the larger $2.3 trillion relief package was intended for small businesses, to allow them to keep paying their employees even when shut down due to the coronavirus. The keywords here are ‘small’ and ‘business’. The churches mentioned here are wealthy in their own right. And churches are not businesses. If they are, in fact, businesses, then they no longer qualify for tax-exempt status, and should be paying taxes on their income.
Given the separation of church and state that is part of the foundation of our government, the government should absolutely not be giving money to churches … any churches. Additionally, it is highly suspicious that all of the aforementioned churches’ leaders have close affiliations to Donald Trump. This is our tax money, people. We are throwing it all away … or rather, we are allowing Donald Trump to throw it away, to give it to those he thinks can help him in some way … like telling their congregations to vote for him in November. In essence, part of the money that was to help small businesses, went into Trump’s campaign coffers.
Jay Sekulow, Paula White, Robert Jeffress, and Pat Robertson are all wealthy individuals who could have easily afforded to continue paying their staff. None of them needed the money. They are of a religion that many of us do not support or believe in. And yet, we paid them … for what? This opens a whole new can of worms in regard to cronyism and also defies the separation of church and state clause. Worse yet, these religious organizations pay no taxes, so they have contributed virtually nothing, yet they are taking. And, unless I miss my guess, their loans will ultimately be forgiven, which makes it not a loan but a gift. I didn’t authorize giving my money to any religious organization, nor would I. Once again, we have been robbed.
Religious organizations weren’t the only ones to receive money undeservedly. Remember Kanye West, the rapper, who cozied up to Trump in the early days of his tenure? Turns out he owns a clothing line called Yeezy, and thus he was given a loan of between $2 million and $5 million. Mr. West has a net worth of $1.3 billion … I really do believe that he could have afforded to pay his employees out of his own pocket.
More than 30 Girl Scout chapters across the country received PPP loans. The Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming were approved for between $350,000 and $1 million each. Now, I fully support Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, I think they do good work. But, with schools closed since March, no gatherings such as scout meetings allowed … why the Sam Heck do they need that much money? Their troop leaders are all volunteers, not paid employees!
Gov. Jim Justice
West Virginia’s Governor Jim Justice is a very wealthy man … he is actually considered the wealthiest person in the State of West Virginia, with a net worth of $1.2 billion. Justice owns a number of businesses, including coal, agricultural, and a lavish resort. Justice and his family members received $6.3 million from the PPP program.
How’s that little $1,200 check looking to you now?
The list goes on and on. As much as $273 million in federal coronavirus aid was awarded to more than 100 companies that are owned or operated by major donors to Trump’s election efforts. Fast-food chains, oil and gas companies, and white-collar firms were all granted a slice of more than $659 billion in low-interest business loans that will be forgiven if the money is used on payroll, rent and similar expenses. Money that was meant to keep those small businesses, the mom-and-pop bookstores and diners afloat during the crisis.
This is what happens when there is no oversight. You’ll remember that Trump fired Glenn Fine, the man tasked with leading the group overseeing the entire $2.3 trillion package. The United States now has $24.95 trillion in national debt, a sagging economy that will not recover this year, the people who could most afford to pay taxes, pay little or none. There will come a day of reckoning, my friends. Do you suppose Robert Jeffress, Jim Bakker, Governor Justice, Kanye West and the others will step up to the plate and offer to pay higher taxes to help bring the debt down? Think on that one for a while.
Ever notice how sometimes a headline catches your eye and your jaw immediately drops to the ground? The lunacy, the utter ignorance and stupidity of the human race never ceases to astound me. A couple of things brought about this head-shaking, eye-rolling, jaw-dropping reaction from me today. The first …
New York City is currently considering a proposal to ban the sale of animal fur. For the record, and in case there was any doubt, I fully support this proposal! If nobody can sell the fur, fewer animals will have to die. Most of you already know that I like animals better than I like people, for the most part. So, where’s the controversy?
Black ministers have protested the proposed ban on the steps of City Hall, saying that furs are a treasured part of African-American tradition and culture. Hasidic rabbis point to their own tradition of many Hasidic men wearing fur hats on the Sabbath. And fur shop owners and garment manufacturers have raised alarms over the potential loss of jobs and an attack on an industry that has a centuries-rich tradition in New York.
So, let me get this straight … we should encourage the wanton killing of beautiful animals so that fur shop owners can continue to make a profit, so that Hasidic rabbis can buy new fur hats when they wish (take care of the one you have, or wear faux fur!) and so that African-Americans don’t have to be deprived of cultural frou-frous? Um … probably half of my friends are African-American and I don’t know a single one who actually owns a fur garment.
I can only imagine what the hunters and the NRA will have to say once they hear about this proposal and respond! Have I mentioned that people are selfish, arrogant and ignorant?
Well, Pat, you know what? That’s fine by me, for I don’t think a nation that discriminates against people on any superficial basis should exist, and I damn sure don’t want to live in such a narrow-minded, bigoted nation.
“They always give good names to these things. This is a devastating blow to religious freedom and to the sanctity of America. If you want to bring the judgment of God on this nation, you just keep this stuff up. I was reading in Leviticus where it says because of these things the land ‘will vomit you out.’ Vomit you out. I think God will say, ‘I’ve had it with America if you do this kind of stuff, I’m going to get rid of you as a nation.'”
What an arrogant, narrow-minded, nasty prick! Sorry … I try not to be vulgar here, but this ‘person’ has ruffled my feathers and I’m not biting my tongue on this one.
The Equality Act is a bill that would modify existing civil rights legislation to ban discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, education, federal programs and credit. Now would somebody please explain to me just what has Mr. Robertson’s knickers in a wad? Remember when we had to pass legislation to ensure these very same rights to African-Americans? It was called the Civil Rights Act. Why do we keep having to legislate common sense? Why??? Because of people like Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham who think that their religious beliefs give them the right to take away fair treatment for those of us who do not share their beliefs.
The bill’s sponsor is David Cicilline, a democrat from Rhode Island, who says …
“In most states in this country, a gay couple can be married on Saturday, post their wedding photos to Instagram on Sunday, and lose their jobs or get kicked out of their apartments on Monday just because of who they are.”
Even though the bill is all but guaranteed to pass in the House, it’s fate in the Senate is less certain, and Trump is almost certain to veto it, as he has expressed his opposition already.
Sigh.
Yep, you read it right, folks. And this one isn’t even down in Trump country! A far-right conservative radio station in Connecticut plans to temporarily rebrand itself as “Trump 103.3” when it converts from an AM station to an FM one. Like Trump needs his ego stroked even more???
The station hosts a number of far-right-wing syndicated programs, including Bill O’Reilly, the NRA’s Dana Loesch, Michael Savage, and the Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro. Full Power Radio, which owns the station, said the goal is to “unite conservatives in Connecticut” and make the state a conservative, Republican-led one. NOOOOOOOO … we don’t need any more of those!!! What have these people been smoking???
“There is a real hunger for the truth and ‘Trump 103.3’ will report and uncover statewide waste and corruption that conventional media are afraid to touch.”
Truth??? Oh the irony!
Well, folks, that’s it for now … I’ve got work to do … be back later!
In the immediate aftermath of Sunday night’s mass shooting in Las Vegas, many, including White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, told the nation that it would be disrespectful to open the conversation on gun regulation. Most of us with any sense disagreed, and knew the motive for these statements, saw it for what it was, and we are actively calling for this to finally be the wake-up call this nation needs to realize that it is past time to make some changes. But apparently there is no call for the conspiracy theorists to show respect, to wait a decent amount of time to spew their lies. Take, for example, televangelist Pat Robertson (Idiot of the Week 07/29/2016)
Mr. Robertson has decided, presumably via some telekinetic message, that it is We The People, not gunman Stephen Paddock, who is to blame for the deaths of 59 people and the injuries of some 500+ others. How can that be, you ask? I was finishing up an email, some 1,959.8 miles from Las Vegas. Most of you were probably asleep in your beds. No matter … it was, according to the sighted Mr. Robertson, our fault. Because … wait for it … we do not like Donald Trump!
Pat Robertson
“Why is it happening? . . . The fact that we have disrespect for authority. There is profound disrespect of our president. All across this nation, they say terrible things about him. It’s in the news. It’s in other places. There is disrespect now for our national anthem, disrespect for our veterans, disrespect for the institutions of our government, disrespect for the court system. All the way up and down the line: disrespect. … Until there is Biblical authority, there has to be some controlling authority in our society and there is none. … When there is no vision of God, the people run amok. We have taken from the American people the vision of God.”
And there you have it, folks … it is our fault for saying ‘terrible things’ about Trump! This means yours truly must also share in the blame, for I have said my share of ‘terrible (though true) things’ about that person, haven’t I? I suppose I better get out of my jammies now, for they will be coming to arrest me at any time, and I would hate to be taken to jail in my Eeyore jammies!
Wayne Allen Root
Robertson, of course, is not alone in his stupidity. One who is joining him is columnist Wayne Allen Root (Idiot of the Week 05/31/2017) who quickly jumped to the conclusion … “This is real thing. Clearly coordinated Muslim terror attack. PRAY for our Vegas police. PRAY for victims. VERY bad. Awful.” Even later, after it was widely reported that there is absolutely zero evidence of any connection to Islamic terrorism, Root did not back down, arguing that … “liberals assuming not Islamic terror attack in Vegas. No one knows motivation of killer or ‘Asian companion.’ On day of lone wolf terror.” And as recently as this morning, he tweeted, “Just like before 9/11. planned it…made a fortune on it. Killer no lone wolf. This was planned terror attack.”
And then there is YouTube whose ‘algorithm’ is more inclined to lead searchers to conspiracy theory videos of the shooting than to legitimate videos. When questioned why such videos were promoted, YouTube simply stated that it did not violate their standards. The videos number in the hundreds and include some that claim the shooting was a hoax perpetrated by a) the government, b) democrats, c) gun regulation supporters. The videos are offensive to us all, but especially to the families of victims of the tragedy. Yet they do not ‘violate the standards’? In that case, there apparently are no standards.
Alex Jones
And of course America’s favourite conspiracy theorist, the inventor of Pizzagate, Alex Jones had to weigh in, as we knew he would. “The whole thing has the hallmarks of being scripted by Deep-State Democrats and their Islamic allies using mental-patient cutouts.” He attempted to tie the tragedy to the 100-year anniversary of the Bolshevik revolution and also to the release from prison of O.J. Simpson the previous day.
Make no mistake … one person, Stephen Paddock, was responsible for the shootings in Las Vegas last Sunday night. ONE PERSON.
The disturbing thing, as I have said many times before, is not that these fools spout their garbage, but that people actually buy into it, turning a tragedy into a feeding frenzy of idiocy. For instance, one of the more ludicrous YouTube videos purporting that the shooting was a hoax staged by the government, received more than 250,000 views within the first 24 hours. A quarter of a million people had nothing better to do than watch a doctored video clip of lies. Who are these people? Do they not have jobs to go to, families to spend time with, friends and lives to live? It makes a sad statement about humanity that so many are so bored with their lives.
And, of course, there is always the danger that somebody who is living in this fantasy world will feel obligated to take matters into their own hands, just as Edgar Maddison Welch did last December when he went on a shooting spree in Washington’s Comet Ping Pong pizzeria.
We cannot shut down the voices of conspiracy, for to do so would put us on the slippery slope toward losing our right to freedom of speech. However, we must find ways to educate, to enlighten, so that people will seek real answers rather than accepting the most wildly concocted story. And we must hold accountable those who perpetuate the theories for the end result of their words. Aforementioned Edgar Welch received his sentence in June: 48 months in prison, an additional 36 months’ probation, and restitution of $5,744.33. This is right and just, though mandatory psychiatric counseling should have, in my opinion, been added. But what of Alex Jones, whose rhetoric inspired the delusional Mr. Welch? Should not he, also, be held accountable? Until there are consequences for the acts they inspire, people like Alex Jones, Pat Robertson and Wayne Root will continue raking in mass amounts of money and planting seeds of evil in the minds of the public.
My first “Idiot of the Week” piece this week awarded the title to a 91-year-old woman, Phyllis Schlafly. This one bestows the honour upon an 86-year-old man. It must be geriatric week on Filosofa’s Word!
Pat Robertson, not to be confused with the Robertson family of one of the most horrible television shows, Duck Dynasty, is Marion Gordon “Pat” Robertson, an American media mogul, executive chairman, and a former Southern Baptist minister, who generally supports conservative Christian ideals. He presently serves as chancellor and CEO of Regent University and chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network. He unsuccessfully campaigned to become the Republican Party’s nominee in the 1988 presidential election, and as a result he no longer serves in an official role for any church.
Typically, I shy away from religion in my writing, as it is too easy to inadvertently offend someone. It is never my intent to offend, and I do not mock any specific religion or faith. That said, I believe Mr. Robertson is fair game despite his religious connection because regardless of his religious “calling”, he appears to be filled with hate and disdain for everybody, even those who are WASPS like himself.
So, what has he done to earn the “Idiot of the Week” distinction? Let me start with the most recent, which is what brought him onto my radar screen a few weeks ago. In the wake of the June 12 mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in which 49 people were killed and 53 others wounded, Mr. Robertson made the following statement on national television:
“The left is having a dilemma of major proportions and I think for those of us who disagree with some of their policies, the best thing to do is to sit on the sidelines and let them [gays and Muslims] kill themselves.”
There were other responses to the Orlando shooting along these lines, but Mr. Robertson’s stands out because he is well-known and has a public voice with his television program that has been on the air since 1966, and is considered a religious man. As such, he must be held to a higher standard than some. But wait … that is not even the worst of it. Throughout the years, Mr. Robertson has chosen to insert his not-so-humble opinions into government and society. Let us hear what he has had to say:
There are so many examples of his truly idiotic utterances throughout the years, that I could fill a book with them. In addition to being narrow-minded and a bigot, he fancies himself a doomsday predictor, although not a particularly accurate one:
Enough already! You have heard enough to understand why this man is being honoured today with the much-coveted (apparently, since there are so many vying for it) title, Idiot of the Week! In the words of Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, “At a time when inter-religious tensions around the world are at an all-time high, Robertson seems determined to throw gasoline on the fire.” Congratulations, Mr. Robertson!
Special thanks and credit for the new award design go to my resident artiste, Natasha. Muchas gracias , nieta!
Filosofa's Word 