Clifton Republican women draw criticism because of Hijab lecture

MoonHowler

Laurie Jaghlit, Share the Quran project

Washingtonpost.com:

The notice in the Fairfax Station Patch on Tuesday was brief, but to Laurie Jaghlit it felt like a punch in the gut.

At the next meeting of Republican Women of Clifton, a guest speaker would discuss “the treatment of women in Islamic society and how she believes the Hijab is a catalyst for Islamic terrorism.” The Feb. 20 meeting would take place at Fairview Elementary School, five miles from Jaghlit’s house.

Jaghlit, a 52-year-old grandmother who raised nine children in Fairfax Station and Herndon, wears the hijab, or Islamic head covering. She had heard about talks like this in other parts of the country but had never confronted the issue so close to home.

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WFB knew: be an uber-con at your own risk!

MoonHowler

buckey

From Politico.com:

(Joe Scarborough op-ed)

Had GOP voters also followed Buckley’s advice to vote for the most electable  conservative instead of the most right-wing choice, Harry Reid would be in  retirement and a Republican would be the Senate majority leader.

For the GOP to win again, it must dare to embrace Buckley’s ruthless,  pragmatic approach to primary elections and learn again to vote for candidates  who can win sweeping majorities and just say no to ideological indulgences that  only advance the Democrats’ cause.

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Evil gay judge is now numero uno with GOP

MoonHowler

judge

Washingtonpost.com:

Eight months ago, the House rejected Thorne-Begland for a General District Court judgeship in Richmond. Conservatives contended that the city prosecutor was unfit for the bench because years earlier, as a Navy pilot, he had challenge the military’s now-defunct “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy toward gays and lesbians in the armed forces.

About a month later, Thorne-Begland won an interim appointment from Richmond Circuit Court judges, who have the authority to fill vacancies on a temporary basis. Without approval from the General Assembly, his appointment will expire next month.

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Rape quagmire…..Republican men keep stepping in it

MoonHowler

Politico.com:

Rep. Phil Gingrey’s attempts to explain Todd Akin’s rape remarks are leaving  many Republicans beyond frustrated that a few in their party can’t help but  insert rape into the already contentious abortion debate.

“This is actually pretty simple. If you’re about to talk about rape as  anything other than a brutal and horrible crime, stop,” said Republican  strategist Kevin Madden, who was a senior adviser in Mitt Romney’s campaign.

On Thursday, the Georgia Republican didn’t heed that advice, telling a local Chamber of Commerce  breakfast that Akin was “partially right” when he said last year that a  woman can stop herself from getting pregnant.

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A case of blackmail and extortion: Where is Robin Hood?

MoonHowler

robin

From the Sheriff of Nottingham PWC blog:

The Sheriff will make this offer:
The PWC Republican Committee passes a resolution strongly endorsing a Flat Tax Bill for FY 2014 for Prince William County that affirms the Republican principles of lower taxes and smaller government.  And then the PWC Republican Committee informs the Republican members of the BOCS that the Republican Party endorsement in the next election is contingent on their support for the Flat Tax Bill resolution and the principles that support it.
In return, The Sheriff agrees to muzzle his sharp tongue in the future and express only the most civil of criticisms when necessary.  Cross my heart, hope to die.
Seems like a fair deal to The Sheriff.
What say you?
***
What say I?  I say that the Republican Party of Prince William County should not be held hostage or  allow itself to be a victim of extortion or blackmail.  There is room for debate regarding a flat tax.  However,  that debate in no way settles the issue.  We must consider education and public safety first.
***
Most of us don’t really look at the R and the D behind a person’s name as much as we look at their vision for  the county.  I don’t really think property taxes have gone up much at all the last few years.  In fact, mine went down significantly there for a while.  I am tired of the whining.   We don’t have high taxes here in Prince William County.  Cheap isn’t necessarily better.
***
If memory serves me correctly, Robin of Locksley came along to protect the people from the Sheriff of Nottingham.  Where is Robin Hood?

 

Jay Carney: Time to get over the obsession

MoonHowler

From the Washingtonpost.com:

“Bottom line, I’m more disturbed now than I was before,” said Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.).

Rice and Acting CIA Director Michael Morell met privately with Graham and Sens. John McCain (Ariz.) and Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), three members of the Senate Armed Services Committee who have been leading the GOP charge against the administration since the attack that led to the deaths of four Americans, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens.

Ayotte said she left the meeting with Rice “more troubled, not less.”

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Something the Republicans didn’t advertise–Homocon

MoonHowler

Gay Republicans party at “Homocon,” a bash thrown by pro-gay rights conservative group GOProud at the Republican National Convention was the best kept secret in Ameria.  Its great to see that the Republicans aren’t really as homophobic as the press would have us believe.  These folks look like they are having a great time.  Former Rep. Mark Foley attended.  Grover Norquist dropped by also to give his pitch.  I think Grover is straight.

I don’t think that the Family Research Council dropped by.

As stated above, Goproud.org was the sponsor of the party. They have been a deal breaker for some of the values groups at some of the conservative conventions.   I personally don’t see why a gay person would want to be a Republican.  But many do.  The Log Cabin Republicans have been around a long time.  I have a gay friend who is about as Republican as you can get.  It just makes no sense to me at all.  I continually ask him why he contributes to his own oppression.  He just laughs and sends more offensive Obama email.

Why would anyone gay, lesbian or transgendered want to be a Republican?  So many in the GOP seem to eschew everything gay.

 

No Macaca moment for Ryan

MoonHowler

 

The sacrificial lamb?

 

If you want the most personal decisions made by government, by all means, vote for the Republican ticket.  That’s really what the week-long hoopla is all about.  Right now Not-Republicans are sitting back and watching the Republicans implode and duke it out internally.  It should have happened a long time ago.  The Democrats don’t need to throw rocks.  The Republicans are taking care of that nasty little task.  Every party needs a fall guy.

The attack on Todd Akin by Republicans is totally bat crap crazy.  If you look at the voting records of say..oh…Paul Ryan, and Todd Akin on reproductive rights, they will match, vote for vote.  Many of the movers and shakers of the “pro-life” movement also match Ryan and Akin.  Yet Akin is being painted as the  party bad boy?  Why?

…Because he talked in public.  Every last one of those uber-extremists wants to get rid of all exceptions to abortion.  They don’t want to just get rid of the exceptions where Medicaid is concerned.  They want abortion illegal for every reason.  Some might make an exception for life of the mother…might.  Most will not.

Don’t be sweet talked into thinking Akin is the only extremist out there.  He is not.  Paul Ryan and many others are right there with him.  They just didn’t have a Macaca moment like Akin did. 

Don’t be mislead….Ryan and Akins want to redefine rape and pass a personhood act

MoonHowler

 

From thinkprogress.org:

Yesterday, ThinkProgress reported that Rep. Todd “Legitimate Rape” Akin (R-MO) and GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan both cosponsored the bill that introduced America to the despicable term “forcible rape.” As it turns out, this may only be the second most sweeping attack on reproductive freedom that both men partnered on. Ryan and Akin also cosponsored a federal personhood bill, the Sanctity of Human Life Act of 2009, which declares that a fertilized egg is entitled to the exact same legal rights as a human being:

 

(1) the Congress declares that–

(A) the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being, and is the paramount and most fundamental right of a person; and

(B) the life of each human being begins with fertilization, cloning, or its functional equivalent, irrespective of sex, health, function or disability, defect, stage of biological development, or condition of dependency, at which time every human being shall have all the legal and constitutional attributes and privileges of personhood; and

(2) the Congress affirms that the Congress, each State, the District of Columbia, and all United States territories have the authority to protect the lives of all human beings residing in its respective jurisdictions.

Lest there be any doubt, this bill is unconstitutional. Congress does not have the power to overrule Roe v. Wade by an ordinary statue, only a constitutional amendment could serve that purpose. Moreover, even if Roe were overruled by the Supreme Court, Ryan and Akin’s bill still attempts to redefine who “the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution” applies to. Again, changing the meaning of the Constitution can only be done through an amendment, not through an ordinary Act of Congress.

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GOP goes wild and some get nekkid in the Sea of Galilee

MoonHowler


From Politico.com:

The FBI probed a late-night swim in the Sea of Galilee that involved drinking, numerous GOP freshmen lawmakers, top leadership staff – and one nude member of Congress, according to more than a dozen sources, including eyewitnesses.

During a fact-finding congressional trip to the Holy Land last summer, Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) took off his clothes and jumped into the sea, joining a number of members, their families and GOP staff during a night out in Israel, the sources told POLITICO. Other participants, including the daughter of another congressman, swam fully clothed while some lawmakers partially disrobed. More than 20 people took part in the late-night dip in the sea, according to sources who were participants in the trip.

You know, why can’t members of Congress behave, especially when out of the country?   Is this the same GOP who gets all prissy over behavior and  wants ultrasounds for women seeking abortion?  Is this the same GOP who wants us all to reliquish our reproductive rights? Is this the GOP who wants to tear down that wall of separation between church and state?

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UVA to bear the cost of the Dragas-bungled ouster

MoonHowler

Governor Bob O’Donnell is giving himself another black eye. This time it is for dodging the issue at UVA.  Not only has McDonnell dodged the issue, it is he who appointed the leader of the ouster,    Rector Helen  Dragas, from a mere post on the Board of Visitors to the University Rector (chairman of the BoV).

Dragas has bungled her attempt to overthrow popular President Teresa Sullivan.  42 Department chairs have taken a stand against her behavior.  The Faculty Senate has condemned her and the Board of Visitors  in support of Sullivan.   Student and faculty protests and demonstrations have been ongoing since the announcement of Sullivan’s ouster.

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The Conscience of a King, Act IV

Angelina_Apr

The Conscience of a King, Act IV:     The Final Act?

As we enter act IV of our play, a few minor happenings in the wings are worth noting. Please consider these, as we make a few scenery changes behind the curtain, in preparation for act IV.

Late yesterday, we received reports from our ever vigilant roving ‘Howlings reporters. First one in was a report of hot pink flyers being delivered to homes and handed out at spots throughout the city. These flyers encouraged voters to “Write-In Sheryl  Bass” on the front, and gave a very detailed listing of her very impressive record of service to the citizens. No attacks on the other candidates. Just a positive plea by the campaign to consider Bass, as they head to the polls. We Howler ladies have to say, the way this campaign has been conducted reflects the grace and poise that Bass herself has exhibited over the years. Classy. Very Classy.  

Contrast this with a very nasty piece put out by some anonymous pitchfork bearer (or would that be pitchforker?)   that was delivered to other residents of the city. This nasty piece, full of errors and negative-spin, did nothing but attack Mark Wolfe. What we find downright hilarious is the flyer asked voters to pull the lever for Lovejoy, “Carnahan”, Way. (Is this like pull the joystick for the non-existent candidate?)

Last up, a flyer we assume was produced by Doug Brown, because it is being distributed by ABTF and linked to at bvbl, while better written, has its own bit o’ spin: Jerry Carman’s business experience has risen from that of middle management to the “corner office with a view”: He claims Carman “Managed a Fortune 500 Company”.  And what company might that be, that he was president or Chief Executive Officer of? But when you are nothing but the “Alleluia Chorus” for the House Aveni, credibility and intellectual honesty are minor considerations.

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The Conscience of the King, Act II: The Convention

MoonHowler

 

“Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting,
Lizard’s leg, and howlet’s wing,–
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Conscience of the King, Act II: The Convention

“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes”.  MacBeth, Act IV, Scene I

Yesterday, we Howlets set the stage for what may well prove to be the greatest community (political) theater we’ve seen in years. Just to recap:

-Jerry Carman, Independent uber-conservative materializes out of the mist, and begins a shadow campaign.

-Doug Brown launches “A Bridge Too Far” (ABTF) and begins catapulting [Rhetorical and Theatrical license here] everything from “severed heads” to “diseased cattle” over the MGOP castle walls, and engages in verbal sword-play with GOP chairman Steve “By the Books”Thomas.

-Baroness Aveni,  inadvertently exposes her husband’s support of the usurper, Jerry Carman. (Out, out damn spot!)

So let us now take you back to the convention held on January 28th, 2012. Before doing so, we need to say that neither of us is a member of either party’s “machinery”.  Some of the “in’s and out’s” of convention politics are very difficult to decipher, and it took quite a bit of research to figure out just exactly what happened. That said, we feel pretty confident that our account is fairly accurate.   The up side is that, we have the scenarios from so many sources.

The way a convention works is people sign up to be “delegates,”  by filling out a form.  My dog Stoney used to get one in the mail each year.  Often those who want to run for office will get his or her supporters to fill out the  convention form so they can go vote for that person.  This form is returned by a specific date, and the MGOP checks the applicants to make sure they are eligible to vote in Manassas elections. That’s it.  Anyone who is an eligible City of Manassas voter can attend, according to the laws of Virginia. Once all the forms are collected and checked, a list is compiled and given to each campaign.

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The Little City Theater in the Round: The Conscience of a King, Act I

Angelina_Apr

There’s a city election on Tuesday, May, 1st, and it may well prove to be one of the most interesting city elections any of us can remember.  This one might even out-do the ill-fated Steve Chapman challenge to Rep. Harry Parrish, about 7 years ago, as far as high political drama goes.

We here at Moonhowlings have been watching the developing political drama from the audience, rather than leaping into what is proving to be “Theater in the Round”.   We did have a guest post, but that was not our observations, but theirs.  We chose to observe, gather facts and opinions and wait until we had a clear picture of not only what is playing out on the public stage, but a good understanding of the “backstage dynamics” that are driving this political theater….and theater it is:

Current Mayor Hal Parrish is running unopposed for reelection. All of the excitement in this race was settled at the GOP convention, when Hal held off a challenge for the nomination from Andy Harrover.  We like both of these public servants, as it is clear to us that they place the best interests of the entire community as priority, rather than bowing to the pressure of a very vocal few.   Neither one of them carry pitchforks or torches.

The real excitement is in the city council race. Much more so than may be apparent to the casual observer…or even to those who consider themselves “informed.”   We would like to present a clear picture of what appears to really be going on, and we promise that our dear (and not so dear) readers will not be disappointed.   This “play” has intrigue and double-dealing, willing and unwilling and even unknowing participants.  Basically, it’s a “play” about power and retribution, pure and simple.  We here at ‘Howlings will narrate this from stage right (or left, depending on where you sit in the audience). So let’s get to it, shall we?

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And yet another anti abortion bill….Congress this time

MoonHowler

The Huffington Post:

The House Judiciary Committee voted 20-13 on Tuesday to advance a bill that would make it a crime for anyone but a parent to accompany a young woman outside of her home state to have an abortion. The committee rejected several proposed amendments that would have provided exceptions for victims of rape or incest, women facing threats to their health, and grandparents and older siblings trying to accompany their family members to abortion clinics.

The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA), sponsored by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), imposes a prison term of up to a year for a doctor who performs an abortion on an out-of-state minor that is not accompanied by a parent. It has 158 cosponsors in the House and a companion bill in the Senate.

“This legislation is based on common-sense,” Ros-Lehtinen said in a statement on Monday. “Parents have the right to be involved in their children’s lives.”

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