More right wing … diarrhea on the country.

Trump NIH pick "considering a plan to link likelihood of receiving research grants to some measure of academic freedom…Bhattacharya wants to counter what he sees as a culture of conformity that ostracized him over his views on masking and school closures" http://www.wsj.com/health/healt…

Richard Sever (@richardsever.bsky.social) 2024-12-06T16:20:39.999Z

The list compiled by the American Accountability Foundation includes 20 general officers or senior admirals and a disproportionate number of female officers.  Those on the list in many cases seem to be targeted for public comments they made either in interviews or at events on diversity, and in some cases for retweeting posts that promote diversity.

The above-named group is a dark money organization that does not reveal its donors. Their leader is a former staffer for nutbag Sen. Ron Johnson.

These people what a Russian style military of only white cis straight males which Ted Cruz gave such praise to over our US military.  The thing is the Russian military was stopped and driven out of a country by the rag tag Ukrainian military with gifted supplies dripping in.  A diverse military of the entire population is the strongest one, which has been demonstrated over and over again.  Talk about a group wanting purity in a place, this is what these bigot racist haters want.  Hugs

Among Hegseth’s alleged “mistakes” are sexual assault, countless incidents of adultery (including with a coworker), at last one bastard child, drunkenly attempting to climb onto a strip club stage, on the job drinking, being fall down drunk at corporate events, shouting “kill all Muslims,” having white supremacist tattoos, belonging to a far-right misogynist Christian nationalist church, and running two nonprofits for veterans into the ground with what former colleagues call questionable spending on partying and travel. It’s what Jesus would want.

So much for draining the swamp!

1. Bondi asked for a $25,000 campaign donation from Trump, and got it.
2. Then she dropped her state’s investigation into Trump University.
3. Now she’s Trump’s nominee for Attorney General.

Watch the clip and you’ll see an excited Lummis wave a copy of her bill, calling it a “present for President Trump.” Hayes calls the bill an “enormous heist” and an “explicit bailout” of bitcoin holders should the price plummet

Trump Judge Overrules Alabama Town, Allows Local LGBTQ Pride Group To Participate In Christmas Parade

I posted about this before.  Now I need to post an update.  Rule by gang violence must always be rejected and pushed back against as hard as possible.   Hugs

==============================================================

 

The Birmingham News reports:

A few hours before the city of Prattville’s annual Christmas parade was to start, a federal judge ordered the city to allow an LGBTQ pride group’s float to be included. Prattville Pride called the order “a powerful affirmation of the importance of visibility, representation, and inclusion for all members of our community,” in a Facebook post.

In his order, U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker of the Middle District of Alabama wrote: “While there are areas of unprotected speech, such as incitement of violence, the City makes no argument and provides no evidence that Prattville Pride has engaged in any speech or behavior that would remotely fall into an unprotected speech category. It is undisputed that Prattville Pride has complied with the City’s regulations.“

“The City removed Prattville Pride from the parade based on its belief that certain members of the public who oppose Prattville Pride, and what is stands for, would react in a disruptive way. But discrimination based on a message’s content “cannot be tolerated under the First Amendment,” the order continued.

From yesterday’s Alabama Political Reporter report:

An LGBTQ+ float has been denied participation in the Prattville Christmas parade, with Mayor Bill Gillespie citing safety concerns. “This morning, it was brought to the City’s attention from Prattville Pride that there are serious safety concerns regarding Prattville Pride’s participation in the Christmas parade,” Gillespie said in a statement Thursday morning.

Asked to clarify these safety concerns, Gillespie said the safety concerns were brought to the attention of the city by Prattville Pride itself in a Thursday morning email:

“Subsequent to the city council meeting held on Dec. 3, there have been some additional threats made against our organization referencing harmful actions to be taken against us and our float during the Prattville Christmas Parade. At this time, Prattville Pride is requesting Prattville police officers to specifically monitor us and our surroundings during staging, as well as assign two officers to walk near the crowd alongside our float.”

From yesterday’s Courthouse News report:

After a hearing for an emergency injunction Friday morning, an Alabama LGBTQ organization is waiting for a ruling from federal judge about whether it can participate in the city of Prattville’s annual Christmas parade, scheduled for Friday evening. Prattville Pride filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the city after it withdrew permission for the organization to march.

Caryl Lawson, vice president and co-founder of Pratville Pride, told the council the group had been subjected to “hateful pushback and rhetoric.” On social media forums, there have been suggestions the group will be clad in lingerie or will toss sex toys and LGBTQ literature to children along the parade route. There were also threats to vandalize the group’s float or toss objects including “rotten tomatoes” at members of the organization.

From my first report last month:

Prattville Pride was the very first organization to enter the City of Prattville’s annual Christmas parade this year. The group paid the fee like other organizations and says they plan to abide by the city’s rules. However, Clean Up Alabama, the group that originally formed to challenge LGBTQ+ titles in the Prattville library, is calling on the city to reverse course and deny Prattville Pride the opportunity to participate.

“The Christmas parade is a celebration of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ the Messiah. It is NOT a time to celebrate someone’s sexual preferences. And it is certainly not a place for a drag show,” Clean Up Alabama said in an email pushing for the removal of Prattville Pride. The fervor started after a far-right website highlighted Prattville Pride’s participation in the event.

Trump nominated Judge Huffaker to the federal bench in 2019 and he was confirmed by the Senate in a lopsided 89-4 vote with the support of Democratic then-US Sen. Doug Jones. There’s more in the video report below. Prattville Pride is celebrating with a suggestion for donations to the Trevor Project.

Prattville Pride

soSrdtonpe5eci3 5b Prl1h76c3a : c1Defeug1g5a6h0utt6c049913Mm  · 

**Official Statement from Prattville Pride**

We are thrilled to share the news that a federal court has granted us an injunction upholding Prattville Prides right to participate in the city’s Christmas parade. This ruling is a powerful affirmation of the importance of visibility, representation, and inclusion for all members of our community. The Christmas parade is a cherished holiday tradition, and we are excited to celebrate alongside our neighbors and friends in the spirit of love, joy, and unity.

We want to express our deepest gratitude to our attorney, Julia Collins, and the Harris Law Firm for their incredible support and timely response. Their willingness to prioritize this case as soon as they heard about the city’s decision was crucial in getting the motion filed in time. We also want to extend a special thank you to Keirsten Wallace for her invaluable assistance in preparing parts of the brief. Her hard work and dedication played an important role in this success.

While we celebrate this important step forward, we must also acknowledge the challenges and hateful rhetoric that have been directed towards our organization and the LGBTQ+ community during this process. Such negativity can have a profound and damaging effect on LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly youth, who often face heightened risks of isolation, mental health struggles, and rejection.

This is why Prattville Pride exists—to ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals feel safe, seen, and supported. Our participation in the Christmas parade is more than just a celebration; it is a statement of belonging and a reminder that love and acceptance are integral to the fabric of our community.

In addition to our ongoing Point of Pride fundraiser, we are calling on our supporters to consider donating to The Trevor Project, a vital organization dedicated to serving at-risk LGBTQ+ youth. By contributing, we can help ensure that young people in our community and beyond receive the support and resources they need to thrive.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has stood by us and advocated for equality. Together, we are building a more inclusive Prattville where everyone has a place to belong. We look forward to spreading holiday cheer and representing the spirit of pride and love during this year’s Christmas parade.

Thank you for your continued support. Let’s keep working together to create a community where every individual feels valued and celebrated.

With pride and gratitude,

**Prattville Pride Leadership**

https://give.thetrevorproject.org/give/63307…

Donate to The Trevor Project

give.thetrevorproject.org

Donate to The Trevor Project

Your life-saving gift today will help us provide them with the affirmation

Alabama Town Boots LGBTQ Group From Xmas Parade After Group Received Threats And Asked For Protection

Some more to the story.  Please notice the religious hate and bigotry along with the crazy idea the Christmas a country wide holiday belongs only to Christians due to their beliefs.  Notice the misinformation deliberately thrown out to confuse and mislead the public over what the Pride float was about.  Notice the attempt to make the LGBTQ+ in to degenerate perverts trying to corrupt and harm children.  Save the kids from a threat that doesn’t exist by banning the Pride float along with LGBTQ+ people.  It is the entire Russian playbook being enacted here by religious and maga gang thugs.  Hugs

============================================================

 

The Alabama Political Reporter reports:

An LGBTQ+ float has been denied participation in the Prattville Christmas parade, with Mayor Bill Gillespie citing safety concerns. “This morning, it was brought to the City’s attention from Prattville Pride that there are serious safety concerns regarding Prattville Pride’s participation in the Christmas parade,” Gillespie said in a statement Thursday morning.

Asked to clarify these safety concerns, Gillespie said the safety concerns were brought to the attention of the city by Prattville Pride itself in a Thursday morning email:

“Subsequent to the city council meeting held on Dec. 3, there have been some additional threats made against our organization referencing harmful actions to be taken against us and our float during the Prattville Christmas Parade. At this time, Prattville Pride is requesting Prattville police officers to specifically monitor us and our surroundings during staging, as well as assign two officers to walk near the crowd alongside our float.”

Courthouse News reports:

After a hearing for an emergency injunction Friday morning, an Alabama LGBTQ organization is waiting for a ruling from federal judge about whether it can participate in the city of Prattville’s annual Christmas parade, scheduled for Friday evening. Prattville Pride filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the city after it withdrew permission for the organization to march.

Caryl Lawson, vice president and co-founder of Pratville Pride, told the council the group had been subjected to “hateful pushback and rhetoric.” On social media forums, there have been suggestions the group will be clad in lingerie or will toss sex toys and LGBTQ literature to children along the parade route. There were also threats to vandalize the group’s float or toss objects including “rotten tomatoes” at members of the organization.

From my first report last month:

Prattville Pride was the very first organization to enter the City of Prattville’s annual Christmas parade this year. The group paid the fee like other organizations and says they plan to abide by the city’s rules. However, Clean Up Alabama, the group that originally formed to challenge LGBTQ+ titles in the Prattville library, is calling on the city to reverse course and deny Prattville Pride the opportunity to participate.

“The Christmas parade is a celebration of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ the Messiah. It is NOT a time to celebrate someone’s sexual preferences. And it is certainly not a place for a drag show,” Clean Up Alabama said in an email pushing for the removal of Prattville Pride. The fervor started after a far-right website highlighted Prattville Pride’s participation in the event.

There’s much more at the first link above.

Prattville caves to threats, pulls LGBTQ float out of Christmas parade

https://www.alreporter.com/2024/12/05/prattville-caves-to-threats-pulls-lgbtq-float-out-of-christmas-parade/

Again notice the gang thugs threatening violence to get what they wanted.  All it takes for places to cancel LGBTQ+ events or participation is to make a threat against them.  Seems to me to show these people did not want the LGBTQ+ event or participation in the first place. There goal is to remove us from society and public view.   Why are we letting these thugs, these brownshirts drive us out of public life.  We must fight back with everything we can.   Hugs.  

=============================================================

The float’s removal follows counsel’s warning against “prior restraint,” urging narrowly tailored actions to address compelling safety concerns.

Prattville, Alabama, USA – May 12, 2017: Official seal for the City of Prattiville hanging at Stanley Jensen Stadium, the city-owned football stadium. 

An LGBTQ+ float has been denied participation in the Prattville Christmas parade, with Mayor Bill Gillespie citing safety concerns.

“This morning, it was brought to the City’s attention from Prattville Pride that there are serious safety concerns regarding Prattville Pride’s participation in the Christmas parade,” Gillespie said in a statement Thursday morning. “Until today, there has only been conjecture and speculation regarding potential safety concerns that Prattville Pride’s participation in the parade may cause. The City will not put the rights of parade participants ahead of the safety of its citizens. Because of the safety concerns for Prattville Pride, other parade participants, as well as parade bystanders, the City has made the decision to remove Prattville Pride from the Christmas parade.”

Asked to clarify these safety concerns, Gillespie said the safety concerns were brought to the attention of the city by Prattville Pride itself in a Thursday morning email. APR has obtained that email, sent from Prattville Pride Vice President Caryl Lawson to Prattville Police Chief Mark Thompson and Assistant Chief Jeff Hassell.

“Subsequent to the city council meeting held on Dec. 3, there have been some additional threats made against our organization referencing harmful actions to be taken against us and our float during the Prattville Christmas Parade,” Lawson wrote. “At this time, Prattville Pride is requesting Prattville police officers to specifically monitor us and our surroundings during staging, as well as assign two officers to walk near the crowd alongside our float.

Some Sam Seder clips

This one address the mistaken idea that anti-trans stuff worked to win the presidency for tRump.  In fact it was not a factor according to surveys however the only ones talking about it were the tRump people.  Harris never mentioned trans except for one time saying that they followed the law on treating trans prisoners with the hormone care they were prescribed or needed before incarceration.  Again it is the law and tRump also did it in his first term.  Hugs

More on the trans issues and the bathroom ban for trans people in the capital. Trans issues in the 2022 midterms showed that trans issues was a losing issue for them.  It was the same this election.  The larger problem is the democrats being too cowardly to stand up for the abused minority.   Hugs  

We hear about the genocide by Israel of the Palestinians.  He talks about hate on the internet by right wing forced paid for and encouraged by people who want to normalize this level of violence and convince people it is good to be this bloodthirsty.   Hugs

Saturday AM Poetry

Please click through on the title to read more about the poet, and the poem.

My Apologies

Ammiel Alcalay

after Bulund al-Haidari

To the hostages of our policies, my apologies—
the petty stenographers of the crooked rulers
in the once fancy now crumbling cities
of our fading Empire lied then.
They lied then and they lie now.
Everything they say and write is a lie,
about law and freedom, about equality
and justice, in the rubble of the bombs
we make and sell, in the silent cries
of limbless orphans, in the night
lit by white phosphorous and the
relentless sound of buzzing drones.
They tell us we used to have things of
value, even things we ourselves made,
and that it was a place like no other.
All I know is that Sinbad once sailed
to Gaza and so to Gaza he’ll sail once again.

Copyright © 2024 by Ammiel Alcalay. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on Decmber 6, 2024, by the Academy of American Poets.

Target must face shareholder lawsuit over Pride backlash, US judge rules

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/target-must-face-shareholder-lawsuit-over-pride-backlash-us-judge-rules/ar-AA1vkxN5

This paragraph says it all.   They want the LGBTQ+ removed from society.  They are willing to be violent and obnoxious, hurting people, property, and staff.   They attack other customers demanding to know if they support the LGBTQ+ and they then badger the customer. 

Target pulled some LGBTQ-themed merchandise linked to Pride Month last year, citing increased confrontations between shoppers and employees and incidents of products being thrown on the floor.

The goal is being driven by this guy.  He feels the idea of anyone not a white straight cis male shouldn’t be in any position of authority or corporate rank.  His view is that women and the LGBTQ+ shouldn’t be in the work force or seen and the non-white males should be in menial jobs with little or no authority.  Just be base workers.   He and his ilk see great dangers to the white “race” people if they can not maintain a super majority of a male dominated white straight cis society.  Notice in the quote below, his calling DEI and ESG programs a risk implying some nefarious harm.  Hugs

America First Legal, the conservative group that filed the lawsuit last year, in a statement on Wednesday called the court ruling a “warning to publicly traded corporations’ boards and management.” The group said the risk of DEI programs and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives “cannot be whitewashed with boilerplate language or ignored.”

 ============================================================

 

Story by Mike Scarcella
 • 1d • 2 min read
 
FILE PHOTO: People exit a Target store on Black Friday in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., November 29, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo© Thomson Reuters
 

By Mike Scarcella

(Reuters) -Target has failed to persuade a judge in Florida to dismiss a lawsuit that accused the retailer of deceiving shareholders after its sales of LGBTQ-themed merchandise for Pride Month sparked a backlash and a customer boycott.

U.S. District Judge John Badalamenti in Fort Myers ruled that the plaintiffs had presented enough information for now to pursue claims that Target misled investors about its efforts to guard against social and political risks.

 

The lawsuit from investor Brian Craig claims that Target’s board focused only on activist groups’ calls for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) measures and overlooked potential negative responses to the Pride campaign in May 2023.

Target did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

America First Legal, the conservative group that filed the lawsuit last year, in a statement on Wednesday called the court ruling a “warning to publicly traded corporations’ boards and management.” The group said the risk of DEI programs and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives “cannot be whitewashed with boilerplate language or ignored.”

Target had urged Badalamenti to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that there was no evidence backing the allegations, that it had warned investors about a potential DEI backlash, and that the complaint was based merely on Craig’s disagreement with the company’s business decisions.

 

America First filed the lawsuit in Florida federal court in August 2023. The nonprofit group is headed by Stephen Miller, a close adviser to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

America First and other conservative groups have accused some major U.S. companies of undertaking diversity and inclusion efforts at the expense of shareholders.

Target pulled some LGBTQ-themed merchandise linked to Pride Month last year, citing increased confrontations between shoppers and employees and incidents of products being thrown on the floor.

(Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario, Mark Porter and Diane Craft)

More stories from Joe My God abuse and harm from republicans. In truth I don’t know how to label it.

What he really means in the story below is that many people surging into the work force will depress wages and make workers even more desperate to get and keep a job no matter how bad or low wage it is.  Hugs

Megan Kelly who made her fame by writing a book about the sexual harassment / abuse at Fox Is trying to give a boost to a man who paid a woman he sexually abused and harassed.  Everything Hegseth is accused or from adultery, sexual assault, and his excesses alcohol problem are all court-martial offenses.  He would be in charge of people that if they did what he did they would face demotion, jail time, loss of money, and more.  How he can be in that position if republicans really respect and care about the military they wouldn’t even let this guy near the job.  Hugs 

In the below story notice two things.   He is picking Fox entertainment rage TV people to be in his cabinet because he is a media made billionaire personality and he loves the showmanship.  That is what made him a great con man and politician is his love of the camera and the attention, he glories in it.   

Read the full article. In 2017, Crowley registered as a foreign agent for a pro-Putin Ukrainian billionaire after withdrawing from consideration from a national security post when her book and PhD thesis were hit with accusations of plagiarism. She first appeared here when she spread claims that Barack Obama is secretly Muslim. Crowley is a Project 2025 contributor.

 

In this post notice the attack on immigrants along with the outright lies about no deaths.  Anything for the maga base and the authoritarian fascist government is grand.  Why?  For me the question is why does the internet troll Marge want to see the tRump proclaimed goals?  White supremacy!  She is from a deep Georgia community that has long felt that the white people were superior to others.  So white people attacked the capital and attempted to destroy democracy so what, they were white.  Not those filthy non-white people who keep coming here trying to make our white supremacy culture less supreme.  Hugs

The story below shows how desperate the right is to please donors by cutting the domestic spending part of the government.   That is the part of the government that helps the people but puts nothing in the pockets of the wealthy.  They fail to understand that the main function of the government is to promote the common good and the welfare of the people.  From the preamble itself.  … (P)romote the general Welfare …  That means the government is to help the people.   The reason the treasury is so shy of money is that the republicans when in power keep giving more of the general revenue generated in the US to the most wealthy instead of helping the general welfare with such as infrastructure, what the people need, and common defense.  Basically so people understand every time the republicans reduce the corporate tax rate, the taxes charged against realtors, the taxes charged against wealthy people, the tax rate of wealthy estates, they are robbing from the US people and public all that money to run the country and help the public.  Just like other countries of advanced incomes do.  Which is why the republicans demand they stop doing it as it makes the US look bad for being a profit is king country.   Hugs

The story below shows how fundamentalist Christians and right wing bigots attack the LGBTQ+ for being different and not following their faith … but at the same time they don’t live up to their own faiths doctrines.   Hugs.

Read the full article. Yager first appeared here in 2020 for his successful bill that forces public schools to allow kids to miss class for up to one hour each day in order to attend church. Along with raft of anti-trans legislation, most recently Yager voted for a bill allowing county clerks to refuse to officiate same-sex marriages.

“The plans could mean that thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of migrants would be permanently displaced in countries where they do not know any of the people or the language and have no connection to the culture.”

The Diapered Rapist a fucking idiot, who can’t handle a task a 6 year old can manage.

Thumbnail

Read the full article. Boyd is now claiming that he was referring to a “bundle of sticks,” telling reporters “look it up in the dictionary.” Video of the exchange is below. Boyd, not incidentally, was named to Trump’s “South Carolina Leadership Team.”

Where are the pro left progressive big money trying to promote progressive ideals?  This is why the right so often win, their big money backs them no matter what.   Hugs

This is the woman on a crusade against the first trans person in the House of Representative also used to support the trans people. Her entire thing is being the center of attention.  That is her entire goal.  Hugs.

Remember in her mind any attention is great.  I wonder at her childhood?  Hugs

Again where are the same wealthy people on the left willing to defend democracy and decent people?

Read the full article. Roberts, who had threatened violence if Trump did not win, appeared here earlier this week when he called for seizing the endowments of public and private universities if they don’t hew to Trump’s anti-diversity edicts and end the “woke mind virus.”

Just how insecure are these republican people demanding everyone but themselves be Rambo and Chuck Norris in some super action movie.  It is a stupid throw back to the religious stereotype of men and women they want to force the country into.  The idea that men are always he-man moneymakers and women are all attractive women waiting at home to serve their man after cleaning their home and making their meals all day.  Give it up already.  The goat herders in the deserts of the Middle East may have felt that way over 2500 years ago but we know better now.   Hugs

A man from racist South Africa who feels non-white people don’t have enough authority and black people have too many rights is pushing hard to repopulate the world with his and other wealthy white men’s sperm.  Say what?  Yes Musk is on record saying that he needs to father as many children as possible to ensure the white race continues.  Similar to what Jeffery Epstein felt as he raped multiple young girls.  Look these facts up and stop admiring these trust fund wealthy kids of exploiters.  Hugs

Peace & Justice History for 12/6

December 6, 1849
Harriet Tubman, a slave in Maryland, escaped her owners.
More about Harriet Tubman  
December 6, 1865
The state of Georgia provided the final vote needed for the 13th Amendment to become part of the U.S. Constitution, abolishing slavery.

Slave auction  
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

first vote
Two days before, Mississippi’s legislature had voted to reject ratification; Mississippi didn’t ratify the anti-slavery amendment until 1995.
More on the ratification 
December 6, 1978
The voters of Spain approved a new constitution in a popular referendum by nearly 8-1. It proclaimed Spain to be a parliamentary monarchy and guaranteed its citizens equality before the law and a full range of individual liberties, including religious freedom. While recognizing the autonomy of seventeen regions, it stressed the indivisibility of the Spanish state.
December 6, 1998
In Venezuela, former Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chavez, who had staged a bloody coup attempt against the government six years earlier, was elected president.


Some perspective on some of Chavez’s actions  
Two views on what Venezuelans see in Chavez 
BBC profile of Chavez 

https://www.peacebuttons.info/E-News/peacehistorydecember.htm#december6

A Poem on Friday

How Some of Us Survived Cuando El Mundo Did Not Want Us

(Find out more about this poem and this poet by clicking above.)

Emanuel Xavier

In the shadows of city lights, we dwelled,
untold stories, almas olvidadas,
enduring streets where dreams were bought and sold.

Corazones—like broken glass,
reflecting pain, the sting of scorn,
searching for love en la oscuridad.

Walking the piers—our runway, steps unsure,
inocencia pérdida seeking solace, grace,
amidst the chaos, makeshift homes.

Voices silenced, cries ignored,
por un mundo that turned a blind eye,
yet we found familia in our souls.

Remember these legends,
children marked by endless strife,
love soaring entre el odio.

In this lucha, there was truth,
in this love, there was vida,
in this survival, there was hope.

Copyright © 2024 by Emanuel Xavier. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on December 5, 2024, by the Academy of American Poets.