October 3, 2014 by Michael A. Ventrella

Obama is worstest President ever

“Absolutely terrible,” say Republicans about Obama. “He’s hardly accomplished anything and what he did accomplish is ruining the country!”

Leaving aside the point that the reason he may have hardly accomplished anything is because the GOP has blocked everything and has passed fewer laws than any Congress in the history of our country, the real problem is that, by any objective standard, Obama has greatly improved many things in this country since he took office.

Unemployment is down to 5.9%, the lowest it has been since 2008. The stock market is at an all-time high. Crime is down, and it’s at the lowest rate since 1963. Illegal immigration has declined. The budget deficit is at the lowest it has been in years.

And then there are social issues. Gays can serve in the military and can get married in many places. Women and minorities have made great gains. And people can get health insurance without being screwed over by insurance companies.

And there’s plenty more.

This doesn’t mean things are perfect. Wall Street Banking criminals are still out free; income equality is still outrageous; we’re spending too much on military hardware we don’t need and the army doesn’t want; there are still terrorists out there wanting to kill us; we’re doing practically nothing about climate change; insurance companies are still ruining health care — but those problems would still exist under a Republican administration (and in many cases, would be even worse).

No, Obama hasn’t ruined our country. You’re thinking of George W. Bush. Obama has brought it back from Bush’s destruction.

So when Republicans say Obama has ruined the country, what they really mean is one of four things:

1. “He’s doing things I don’t like! Gays getting married! Claiming there’s climate change! Giving poor people health care! Damn socialist!”

2. “He’s a Democrat and therefore I have to say he’s ruining everything because that’s what we Republicans do! We don’t need facts!”

3. “What’s the matter with you? Isn’t it clear? He’s a black man! What, are you blind?”

4. “Benghazi!”*

* Yes, that last one doesn’t make sense. It never has. Somehow, some conservatives think that’s all they have to say and it explains everything.

Editorial cartoon: Judge Holder by his enemies

September 30, 2014 by Michael A. Ventrella

There’s that demand for special treatment again

Hey, you know how some people whine that women and gays are asking for “special treatment” when they are really only asking for equal treatment?

Well, here’s the latest group demanding special treatment — special, not equal. A group of Orthodox Jewish men caused trouble on a flight because they refused to sit next to women, which they believe would make God angry or something. And then they complained that because they were not given special treatment, they were being discriminated against. You know, in the same way Christians who don’t get exclusive right to post their religious commandments in public places are discriminated against.

Now, don’t take this the wrong way. Sometimes there really is religious discrimination (especially against Muslims) and it has nothing to do with special treatment, but instead about equal treatment. That’s not the case here.

It is nice when businesses do their best to accommodate people with special needs, which includes religious requirements. I’m sure if these men had contacted the airlines beforehand and made seat reservations (which can be done online), the airlines would have been more than happy to help them. But to show up and then harass women into moving from their seats (including insisting that they move away from their husbands and family) doesn’t make anyone think “Oh, those poor people, being discriminated against because of their religion.”

I wish I could make demands like these guys did when I get on an airplane. “I’m sorry, but my religion forbids me from sitting next to grossly overweight passengers or screaming babies.”

Editorial cartoon: Nobel gesture

September 29, 2014 by Michael A. Ventrella

Beating up Baby

Those brave reporters at Rupert Murdock’s New York Post always go after the big targets — those in power should tremble at the press’ pursuit of justice and truth!

Here’s their latest cover:

Yes, the just-born infant will be held responsible for its actions, as soon as it has any. The fact that it is completely innocent of any wrongdoing is irrelevant to the Post. (Hello? Benghazi, anyone?)

Coming up next: Post Steals Baby’s Candy

Editorial cartoon: Same as it ever was

September 28, 2014 by Michael A. Ventrella

Disrespecting the military

There are some conservatives who claim they love the military and respect our veterans while cutting their benefits, sending them off to die in needless wars without proper equipment, and literally insulting them on their jobs. Primary among these hypocrites are the idiots at Fox News — who scream about how Obama’s coffee salute demeans the military while then, within a few minutes, making sexist and demeaning comments about the military.

Jon Stewart describes it better than I ever could (start around 4:00 in). Sorry, WordPress won’t let me embed the video: http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/b7hxzd/the-way-we-war

Veterans aren’t standing for it either. In an open letter to Fox News, they write:

Thus the skill of women as fighter pilots is well established. And before you jump to the standby excuse that you were “just making a joke” or “having a laugh,” let the men amongst our number preemptively respond: You are not funny. You are not clever. And you are not excused. Perhaps the phrase “boys will be boys”—inevitably uttered wherever misogyny is present—is relevant. Men would never insult and demean a fellow servicemember; boys think saying the word ‘boobs’ is funny.

Editorial cartoon: Speaking of beheadings…

September 26, 2014 by Michael A. Ventrella

Rob Schneider can say whatever idiocy he wants to

How many times do we have to say this? The First Amendment does not mean that you are free from the consequences of your speech.

Friend and scientist Yvette d’Entremont (read her guest blog here!) started a new Facebook page called “Science Babe” a month ago. Recently, she pointed out that “actor” Rob Schneider was doing insurance company commercials while arguing against vaccinations. Others picked up on this and soon Schnedier was fired as a spokesman, because insurance companies like vaccinations — they save lives and save insurance companies lots of money.

Of course, people who do not understand how the Constitution works are screaming that his rights were violated and blah blah blah. It happens every time some celebrity loses their endorsement or, as I blogged about recently, when a bank teller was fired for lecturing customers about her religion during worktime.

You have every right to say whatever the hell you want to about vaccines. You can spout nonsense about the world being flat if you want to. No one has the right to stop you from doing that. In fact, Schneider can continue to spout his idiocy forever if he so chooses.

What you don’t have is the right to a job or a platform for your speech. A newspaper doesn’t have to print your opinion. A TV show can fire you if you are saying things that they disagree with (especially if it hurts their ratings). A school can fire you as a science teacher if you’re trying to teach your students creationism. Your freedom of speech is not violated in any of those incidences. You can continue to say whatever you want, just not with an audience provided by your former employer.

By the way, I’m thrilled for Yvette. We first met at a convention where we were both guests on a panel about science and how it is used and abused in court cases. According to various anti-vaccination blogs, she’s now part of the “pro-vaccine lobby”. Not bad for a Science Babe.