Obama Nominates Gay Man to Lead Army, Only Huckabee Notices
September 23, 2015 8:07 AM Subscribe
Part of the White House Friday afternoon announcement dump last week was a routine announcement of a relatively high-level appointment: Acting Undersecretary and Chief Management Officer of the Army Eric Fanning will be appointed as Secretary of the Army when John McHugh steps down. The fact that Fanning is openly gay hardly raised any eyebrows, except Mike Huckabee's.
Fanning has been one of the leaders of the push to allow openly transgender service members. The Washington Post notes that Fanning is another check mark in President Obama's "most demographically diverse administration in history".
The Secretary of the Army is essentially the CEO of the Army, overseeing all aspects of the force. It is a civilian post, and Fanning would be the fourth Secretary in a row without military experience, the longest such drought in the position's history.
Fanning has been one of the leaders of the push to allow openly transgender service members. The Washington Post notes that Fanning is another check mark in President Obama's "most demographically diverse administration in history".
The Secretary of the Army is essentially the CEO of the Army, overseeing all aspects of the force. It is a civilian post, and Fanning would be the fourth Secretary in a row without military experience, the longest such drought in the position's history.
biggreenplant: this happened in the UK armed forces about a decade earlier. Went from military police conducting anti-gay sweeps to full integration in about two years flat. Ditto "no women on warships" to spec'ing facilities for different genders into next-gen warships and submarines in the navy during the 90s.
If anything, the US armed forces are late to the parity party.
posted by cstross at 8:20 AM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
If anything, the US armed forces are late to the parity party.
posted by cstross at 8:20 AM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
Huckabee stated... “Listen, he may be very qualified for the job, and if he is, then nominate him because he’s qualified to lead the Army, not because of sexual orientation”.
Uhh, isn't that what Obama just did? You know, nominate him based on his qualifications?
posted by noneuclidean at 8:21 AM on September 23, 2015 [85 favorites]
Uhh, isn't that what Obama just did? You know, nominate him based on his qualifications?
posted by noneuclidean at 8:21 AM on September 23, 2015 [85 favorites]
this happened in the UK armed forces about a decade earlier.
Yes, and the Netherlands did it in 1974. Doesn't mean we can't be happy about this particular milestone and its circumstances.
posted by Etrigan at 8:24 AM on September 23, 2015 [19 favorites]
Yes, and the Netherlands did it in 1974. Doesn't mean we can't be happy about this particular milestone and its circumstances.
posted by Etrigan at 8:24 AM on September 23, 2015 [19 favorites]
Uhh, isn't that what Obama just did? You know, nominate him based on his qualifications?
Remember, if you're not white, straight, cis, and male, a corporation, or a fetus you're a political statement, not a person.
posted by phunniemee at 8:25 AM on September 23, 2015 [214 favorites]
Remember, if you're not white, straight, cis, and male, a corporation, or a fetus you're a political statement, not a person.
posted by phunniemee at 8:25 AM on September 23, 2015 [214 favorites]
Uhh, isn't that what Obama just did? You know, nominate him based on his qualifications?
Not on the planet where Huckabee's mind lives, which is similar to the Earth in some ways, but quite different in others.
posted by FishBike at 8:27 AM on September 23, 2015 [14 favorites]
Not on the planet where Huckabee's mind lives, which is similar to the Earth in some ways, but quite different in others.
posted by FishBike at 8:27 AM on September 23, 2015 [14 favorites]
Every time I read some new vile hateful thing Huckabee says, I'm reminded of the first time I ever saw the man speak live. On the Daily Show, where he was a guest seven times And he seemed friendly and good natured and sure Stewart asked him some tough but humorous comments and Huckabee gave some right wing but humorous replies. Huckabee seemed like a normal man who I'd just disagree with about politics, like my Tea Party supporting neighbors who are otherwise perfectly decent people.
Then I hear the ridiculous hateful things Huckabee says in public, just completely beyond the pale. And I wonder if Stewart ever regretted giving Huckabee a platform to humanize himself.
posted by Nelson at 8:30 AM on September 23, 2015 [31 favorites]
Then I hear the ridiculous hateful things Huckabee says in public, just completely beyond the pale. And I wonder if Stewart ever regretted giving Huckabee a platform to humanize himself.
posted by Nelson at 8:30 AM on September 23, 2015 [31 favorites]
"drought" implies a bad thing. I don't think that's obviously the case. The importance of civilian leadership cannot be overstated as far as I'm concerned.
posted by idb at 8:38 AM on September 23, 2015 [22 favorites]
posted by idb at 8:38 AM on September 23, 2015 [22 favorites]
I'm not sure that humanizing these clowns isn't best for everyone. One of the biggest challenges we're having in stomping out bigotry of late seems to me to be this perception that there's not ground between loving everyone and klan member. The reality is that discrimination often is accompanied by a smiling face. Maybe we need more exposure to nice seeming people who say and do shitty things rather than enabling this perception that sociable folks can't turn around and harm our family and friends.
posted by phearlez at 8:39 AM on September 23, 2015 [23 favorites]
posted by phearlez at 8:39 AM on September 23, 2015 [23 favorites]
Not on the planet where Huckabee's mind lives, which is similar to the Earth in some ways, but quite different in others.
Give the man a break. He had to see marriage destroyed by same-sex marriage, and now the Army will be destroyed by having a same-sex Army!
Um, wait...
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:45 AM on September 23, 2015 [11 favorites]
Give the man a break. He had to see marriage destroyed by same-sex marriage, and now the Army will be destroyed by having a same-sex Army!
Um, wait...
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:45 AM on September 23, 2015 [11 favorites]
It's baffling to me that people like Huckabee are still out there saying this stuff when it is so clear that they're going to be looked upon as the George Wallaces of our generation. You really want to be that guy?
posted by something something at 8:52 AM on September 23, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by something something at 8:52 AM on September 23, 2015 [5 favorites]
You really want to be that guy?
It's a living.
posted by brennen at 8:54 AM on September 23, 2015 [28 favorites]
It's a living.
posted by brennen at 8:54 AM on September 23, 2015 [28 favorites]
We know that's how they'll be regarded. They are incapable of understanding that. They think if they just hold the course everything will be fine.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:54 AM on September 23, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:54 AM on September 23, 2015 [6 favorites]
but how is that even possible? That level of willful ignorance has got to be a conscious choice. I know, I'm talking about Mike Huckabee. But seriously.
posted by something something at 8:58 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by something something at 8:58 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
Cool, i guess, or whatever, since it's still the Army. Can we defund most of that bullshit? the US spends more on defense than the seven next-most-spending countries combined.
posted by entropone at 8:59 AM on September 23, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by entropone at 8:59 AM on September 23, 2015 [7 favorites]
No, they just firmly believe that this whole 'equality' and 'rights' nonsense is a momentary aberration, a blip. They actually believe this, which is what makes them so dangerous.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:04 AM on September 23, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:04 AM on September 23, 2015 [5 favorites]
Nelson kind of points to the "why" of Huckabee above. He tried the 'reasonable, adult' conservative thing back at the tail end of the Bush administration back when it was what you did to seem 'presidential'. Then he became a Fox News pundit and said whatever insane shit you need to stay on the air. Then he saw that insane shit was now what Republican primary voters wanted to hear. It's all quite sensible.
American politics makes a lot more sense when you stop trying to think about what the political actors actually believe. Everyone acts in their own self interest regardless of dogma.
posted by selfnoise at 9:06 AM on September 23, 2015 [19 favorites]
American politics makes a lot more sense when you stop trying to think about what the political actors actually believe. Everyone acts in their own self interest regardless of dogma.
posted by selfnoise at 9:06 AM on September 23, 2015 [19 favorites]
Actually let me fix that.
American politics life makes a lot more sense when you stop trying to think about what the political actors people actually believe.
posted by selfnoise at 9:07 AM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by selfnoise at 9:07 AM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
It's baffling to me that people like Huckabee are still out there saying this stuff when it is so clear that they're going to be looked upon as the George Wallaces of our generation. You really want to be that guy?
Assuming that they don't believe that there's a Reagan and a Moral Majority waiting for their time to come and roll back every progress of the past 20 years, when the only thing that keeps them apart from dozen other politicians is being twice as homophobic as the next guy (or in general, being more extreme on any token subject - economy, immigrants, environment, etc), it's picking between being irrelevant now or irrelevant later. And since being irrelevant does not put food on the table, better try to stay relevant until the day the curtains come down.
posted by lmfsilva at 9:08 AM on September 23, 2015 [5 favorites]
Assuming that they don't believe that there's a Reagan and a Moral Majority waiting for their time to come and roll back every progress of the past 20 years, when the only thing that keeps them apart from dozen other politicians is being twice as homophobic as the next guy (or in general, being more extreme on any token subject - economy, immigrants, environment, etc), it's picking between being irrelevant now or irrelevant later. And since being irrelevant does not put food on the table, better try to stay relevant until the day the curtains come down.
posted by lmfsilva at 9:08 AM on September 23, 2015 [5 favorites]
Then I hear the ridiculous hateful things Huckabee says in public, just completely beyond the pale. And I wonder if Stewart ever regretted giving Huckabee a platform to humanize himself.
To give credit where it is due, though, you have to remember that Huckabee counts a much larger number of child molesters as friends than the average. It's a real testament to his ability to be open-minded.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 9:09 AM on September 23, 2015 [13 favorites]
To give credit where it is due, though, you have to remember that Huckabee counts a much larger number of child molesters as friends than the average. It's a real testament to his ability to be open-minded.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 9:09 AM on September 23, 2015 [13 favorites]
I see I'm not the only one who remembers Huckabee (at least his public persona) seeming a tad bit more reasonable last time he ran for president. I've been questioning my memory of the 2008 election with how crazy he is this time around.
posted by noneuclidean at 9:13 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by noneuclidean at 9:13 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
I 🍑💨 Huckabee
no great option for a butt emoji so I had to improvise
posted by Existential Dread at 9:21 AM on September 23, 2015 [19 favorites]
no great option for a butt emoji so I had to improvise
posted by Existential Dread at 9:21 AM on September 23, 2015 [19 favorites]
Ugh, he's gay? Why can't he be some nice normal person who tortures dogs or molests his sister.
posted by NorthernLite at 9:23 AM on September 23, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by NorthernLite at 9:23 AM on September 23, 2015 [7 favorites]
lets all try to use his official title, shall we - "close friend to multiple pedophiles, mike huckabee" - also to this arkansas gal, he has never seemed reasonable.
posted by nadawi at 9:23 AM on September 23, 2015 [17 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 9:23 AM on September 23, 2015 [17 favorites]
Existential Dread, I thought that was "windbag".
posted by boo_radley at 9:24 AM on September 23, 2015
posted by boo_radley at 9:24 AM on September 23, 2015
I Fart (at) Huckabee was the angle I was aiming for, but windbag is good too
posted by Existential Dread at 9:27 AM on September 23, 2015
posted by Existential Dread at 9:27 AM on September 23, 2015
I Fart (at) Huckabee was the angle I was aiming for,
In his general direction, surely.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 9:31 AM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
In his general direction, surely.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 9:31 AM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
Uhh, isn't that what Obama just did? You know, nominate him based on his qualifications?
Not until proven otherwise. See also needing to be better at the job than your male counterparts for close to the same recognition, must be there as an affirmative actions hire, that impressive pedigree is the result of past lowered standard, etc on and on forever.
posted by phearlez at 9:32 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
Not until proven otherwise. See also needing to be better at the job than your male counterparts for close to the same recognition, must be there as an affirmative actions hire, that impressive pedigree is the result of past lowered standard, etc on and on forever.
posted by phearlez at 9:32 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
I see I'm not the only one who remembers Huckabee (at least his public persona) seeming a tad bit more reasonable last time he ran for president. I've been questioning my memory of the 2008 election with how crazy he is this time around.
He may have sounded a tad more reasonable in forums where it paid for him to seem more reasonable. But he was saying plenty of crazy things in 2008, too. Now he repeats them and doubles down on them, crazier and louder, because that's the only way he can avoid the fate of Scott Walker in a field with 15 GOP candidates including Trump.
Not defending the guy, just trying to state what I understand his calculations to be.
posted by blucevalo at 9:32 AM on September 23, 2015
He may have sounded a tad more reasonable in forums where it paid for him to seem more reasonable. But he was saying plenty of crazy things in 2008, too. Now he repeats them and doubles down on them, crazier and louder, because that's the only way he can avoid the fate of Scott Walker in a field with 15 GOP candidates including Trump.
Not defending the guy, just trying to state what I understand his calculations to be.
posted by blucevalo at 9:32 AM on September 23, 2015
It's simply baffling at this point to see GOP candidates still trafficking in open homophobia as a way to appeal to voters. There are certainly still people out there who eat that stuff up, but their numbers are dwindling rapidly—and the number of people who will be turned off by its ever-growing.
I might be way off base, but it seems to me that the era in which that stance is politically viable to is, if not already over, quickly coming to an end. It's a bunch of old out-of-touch dudes shouting "EW GAY AMIRITE EW" from the podium, while the rest of America walks away.
I would love to see the GOP become a serious opposition party, a party that can challenge the Democrats with real alternate solutions to real issues that really matter. Because a healthy democracy needs that, and it's just dumb that we're continuing to waste breath responding to stuff like this. There are real problems to deal with. Who the Secretary of the Army likes to screw shouldn't even be on the radar—and anyone who suggests that it should be, should be chased out of town for wasting everyone's time.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:33 AM on September 23, 2015 [21 favorites]
I might be way off base, but it seems to me that the era in which that stance is politically viable to is, if not already over, quickly coming to an end. It's a bunch of old out-of-touch dudes shouting "EW GAY AMIRITE EW" from the podium, while the rest of America walks away.
I would love to see the GOP become a serious opposition party, a party that can challenge the Democrats with real alternate solutions to real issues that really matter. Because a healthy democracy needs that, and it's just dumb that we're continuing to waste breath responding to stuff like this. There are real problems to deal with. Who the Secretary of the Army likes to screw shouldn't even be on the radar—and anyone who suggests that it should be, should be chased out of town for wasting everyone's time.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 9:33 AM on September 23, 2015 [21 favorites]
but how is that even possible? That level of willful ignorance has got to be a conscious choice. I know, I'm talking about Mike Huckabee. But seriously.
What you do is hang around staffers and media who don't really challenge your worldview, like Jon Stewart, etc.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 9:34 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
What you do is hang around staffers and media who don't really challenge your worldview, like Jon Stewart, etc.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 9:34 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
I thought the issue was Fanning. Sorry. Have we bridge all the steps from Huckabee to Hitler yet?
I support the installation of civilians into the higher echelons of the military establishment, the higher the better, and the CIC absolutely has to be a civilian. I have some reservations about a non-military person serving as Secretary. Remember Velcro fasteners? In any case the powers that roam the halls in DC seem to feel that Fanning is very much qualified for the job, having served at that echelon for such a long time.
I believe the general temper of the military (the lower echelons--the ones who go out to stand on the wall for us) won't worry too much about Fanning's sexual orientation. I suppose some will, but they will be the ones in the operational ranks, so they'll either snap to or get riffed along with the assholes who think women soldiers are fuck toys. Upper echelons will keep their mouths shut and wait for the pension to kick in, so they can go get that peach of a job with some company that makes military widgets.
None of this, of course, has anything to do with gunboat diplomacy and death by drone. Maybe we'll get it right after we wind down this war, and turn our mighty doublegood might against Oceania.
So, Yea Fanning. We are rapidly approaching an equal opportunity rush to oblivion.
posted by mule98J at 9:41 AM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
I support the installation of civilians into the higher echelons of the military establishment, the higher the better, and the CIC absolutely has to be a civilian. I have some reservations about a non-military person serving as Secretary. Remember Velcro fasteners? In any case the powers that roam the halls in DC seem to feel that Fanning is very much qualified for the job, having served at that echelon for such a long time.
I believe the general temper of the military (the lower echelons--the ones who go out to stand on the wall for us) won't worry too much about Fanning's sexual orientation. I suppose some will, but they will be the ones in the operational ranks, so they'll either snap to or get riffed along with the assholes who think women soldiers are fuck toys. Upper echelons will keep their mouths shut and wait for the pension to kick in, so they can go get that peach of a job with some company that makes military widgets.
None of this, of course, has anything to do with gunboat diplomacy and death by drone. Maybe we'll get it right after we wind down this war, and turn our mighty doublegood might against Oceania.
So, Yea Fanning. We are rapidly approaching an equal opportunity rush to oblivion.
posted by mule98J at 9:41 AM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
Reasonable was a bad choice of words for me. Less crazy instead? Also, I have no doubt he's harbored these feelings the whole time, I'm just commenting on the act he has put on then/now.
posted by noneuclidean at 9:43 AM on September 23, 2015
posted by noneuclidean at 9:43 AM on September 23, 2015
Reading this, and juxtaposing it with Segregation in Theory and Practice, about Army units after WWII, is interesting.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:46 AM on September 23, 2015
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:46 AM on September 23, 2015
huckabee went purposefully more conservative back in the mid 90s as a way to get votes. i do think he at this point he believes his own bullshit and forgot that it was opportunistic at first.
posted by nadawi at 9:47 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by nadawi at 9:47 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ted Cruz, after addressing a prayer breakfast: The Texas lawmaker [Cruz] added that he will wait until Senate confirmation hearings to assess Fanning’s record on the merits."
Why won't Cruz and Huckabee perhaps not comment until they can assess Fanning's records, or the confirmation hearings take place?
Huckabee: “It’s clear President Obama is more interested in appeasing America’s homosexuals than honoring America’s heroes”, said the former governor of Arkansas.
What about all the folks who both qualify as "America's heroes" (presumably he means servicemen) and as American homosexual?
Simply Put: by honoring the military regardless of orientation, or waiting to learn of someone's qualifications before commenting means they can't get the folks in Bubbaville energized.
posted by MrGuilt at 9:53 AM on September 23, 2015
Why won't Cruz and Huckabee perhaps not comment until they can assess Fanning's records, or the confirmation hearings take place?
Huckabee: “It’s clear President Obama is more interested in appeasing America’s homosexuals than honoring America’s heroes”, said the former governor of Arkansas.
What about all the folks who both qualify as "America's heroes" (presumably he means servicemen) and as American homosexual?
Simply Put: by honoring the military regardless of orientation, or waiting to learn of someone's qualifications before commenting means they can't get the folks in Bubbaville energized.
posted by MrGuilt at 9:53 AM on September 23, 2015
"most demographically diverse administration in history".
They're so diverse I can't even say all their names!
posted by GuyZero at 9:57 AM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
They're so diverse I can't even say all their names!
posted by GuyZero at 9:57 AM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
appeasing America’s homosexuals
WE MUST BE APPEASED
FEAR US OR WE SHALL CONSUME YOUR FLESH
god, this fucking imbecile.
posted by poffin boffin at 10:01 AM on September 23, 2015 [21 favorites]
WE MUST BE APPEASED
FEAR US OR WE SHALL CONSUME YOUR FLESH
god, this fucking imbecile.
posted by poffin boffin at 10:01 AM on September 23, 2015 [21 favorites]
FEAR US OR WE SHALL CONSUME YOUR FLESH
<austin-powers>
Behave!
</austin-powers>
posted by GuyZero at 10:02 AM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
<austin-powers>
Behave!
</austin-powers>
posted by GuyZero at 10:02 AM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
It's simply baffling at this point to see GOP candidates still trafficking in open homophobia as a way to appeal to voters. There are certainly still people out there who eat that stuff up, but their numbers are dwindling rapidly—and the number of people who will be turned off by its ever-growing.
They're in a no-win situation with this, particularly as that base - which they need to win - demands not just loyalty to the cause but vocal statements. Shrugging that marriage equality is the law of the land and you just have to go along doesn't get you airtime, and those folks pushing the extreme positions will just stay home if they don't get their red meat choice on election day. All they can do is try to find the fine line to skate where the haters think they're sufficiently strident but the other folks will hold their nose and vote for them anyways because otherwise it's Hillarymageddon.
posted by phearlez at 10:04 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
They're in a no-win situation with this, particularly as that base - which they need to win - demands not just loyalty to the cause but vocal statements. Shrugging that marriage equality is the law of the land and you just have to go along doesn't get you airtime, and those folks pushing the extreme positions will just stay home if they don't get their red meat choice on election day. All they can do is try to find the fine line to skate where the haters think they're sufficiently strident but the other folks will hold their nose and vote for them anyways because otherwise it's Hillarymageddon.
posted by phearlez at 10:04 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
WE MUST BE APPEASED
FEAR US OR WE SHALL CONSUME YOUR FLESH
I mean, has anybody actually tried eating the bigots?
It almost worked on the American bison.
Let's do it, folks. Who's with me.
posted by phunniemee at 10:09 AM on September 23, 2015 [8 favorites]
FEAR US OR WE SHALL CONSUME YOUR FLESH
I mean, has anybody actually tried eating the bigots?
It almost worked on the American bison.
Let's do it, folks. Who's with me.
posted by phunniemee at 10:09 AM on September 23, 2015 [8 favorites]
> I thought the issue was Fanning. Sorry. Have we bridge all the steps from Huckabee to Hitler yet?
So what's the issue, then? More specifically than a non-military person serving as Secretary, I mean. Is there an issue with this non-military person serving as Secretary, beyond the thing where he's gay?
posted by rtha at 10:18 AM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
So what's the issue, then? More specifically than a non-military person serving as Secretary, I mean. Is there an issue with this non-military person serving as Secretary, beyond the thing where he's gay?
posted by rtha at 10:18 AM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
I really want to think that POTUS is intentionally finding ways to make the nutters have collective apoplexy before he leaves office a year from next January. I want to read his memoirs in twenty years and see an entire chapter entitled, "How a lame duck President trolls the GOP in public and still comes out smelling like roses."
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 10:23 AM on September 23, 2015 [17 favorites]
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 10:23 AM on September 23, 2015 [17 favorites]
Also, all service secretaries are civilians. All of them. It's the JCS that is composed of serving senior officers.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 10:27 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 10:27 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
Okay, what's the deal with that Herald Current site? It has the appearance of something trying hard to look like a major established piece of the mainstream media. But I'm pretty sure it's not.
posted by Naberius at 10:32 AM on September 23, 2015
posted by Naberius at 10:32 AM on September 23, 2015
Barely news at all. How cool is that?!
"He's gay!" "So?"
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 10:32 AM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
"He's gay!" "So?"
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 10:32 AM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
phunniemee: "I mean, has anybody actually tried eating the bigots? "
The problem is finding a recipe that gets that bilious flavour out of it. Perhaps soaking in lye, like lutefisk?
posted by WaylandSmith at 10:41 AM on September 23, 2015 [5 favorites]
The problem is finding a recipe that gets that bilious flavour out of it. Perhaps soaking in lye, like lutefisk?
posted by WaylandSmith at 10:41 AM on September 23, 2015 [5 favorites]
Actually, you have to use a recipe where bile is one of the flavors, like offal and bile soup, or Pork blood, beef blood, and beef bile.
It's an acquired taste. Eating politicians, that is. We've all eaten bile already.
posted by maxsparber at 11:06 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's an acquired taste. Eating politicians, that is. We've all eaten bile already.
posted by maxsparber at 11:06 AM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
THE GAY AGENDA REVEALED:
1. Obscurity
2. Oppression
3. Recognition
4. Marriage
5. Obtain army
6. ????
7. PROFIT
8. Networking opportunities during lunch.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:06 AM on September 23, 2015 [5 favorites]
1. Obscurity
2. Oppression
3. Recognition
4. Marriage
5. Obtain army
6. ????
7. PROFIT
8. Networking opportunities during lunch.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:06 AM on September 23, 2015 [5 favorites]
Brunch, blue_beetle. 1pm with Mimosas.
posted by Nelson at 11:15 AM on September 23, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by Nelson at 11:15 AM on September 23, 2015 [6 favorites]
Can we make it 2 pm? I have some hurricanes to shove towards unsuspecting god-fearing areas and that's taking longer than I planned.
posted by rtha at 11:35 AM on September 23, 2015 [19 favorites]
posted by rtha at 11:35 AM on September 23, 2015 [19 favorites]
Silly Huckabee. The American Homosexual will never be appeased. It's part of our charm.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:39 AM on September 23, 2015 [17 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:39 AM on September 23, 2015 [17 favorites]
It's baffling to me that people like Huckabee are still out there saying this stuff when it is so clear that they're going to be looked upon as the George Wallaces of our generation. You really want to be that guy? ^
I grew up (in Berkeley) constantly thinking this about anyone who could so blindly stand up in public and voice anti-progressive positions. And it still baffles me sometimes, the failure of these figures to place themselves and their opinions in the most obvious historical perspective.
But... the most obvious perspectives are not always the most revealing. Once in a while everything DOES sort of fall apart in one corner or another of human culture, and there is widespread suffering, and decades or centuries of cultural progress are replaced by long spans of reversal, ignorance, conservatism, and ruthless traditionality.
Huckabee, like most vocal reactionaries, hopes somewhere in his subconscious that he'll be proven 'right' by a new Fall of Rome/Dark Ages/Bliblical Flood/Etc.
posted by damehex at 11:40 AM on September 23, 2015
I grew up (in Berkeley) constantly thinking this about anyone who could so blindly stand up in public and voice anti-progressive positions. And it still baffles me sometimes, the failure of these figures to place themselves and their opinions in the most obvious historical perspective.
But... the most obvious perspectives are not always the most revealing. Once in a while everything DOES sort of fall apart in one corner or another of human culture, and there is widespread suffering, and decades or centuries of cultural progress are replaced by long spans of reversal, ignorance, conservatism, and ruthless traditionality.
Huckabee, like most vocal reactionaries, hopes somewhere in his subconscious that he'll be proven 'right' by a new Fall of Rome/Dark Ages/Bliblical Flood/Etc.
posted by damehex at 11:40 AM on September 23, 2015
I would love to see the GOP become a serious opposition party
...as opposed to the party currently controlling both houses of Congress and a majority of state houses?
I want to read his memoirs in twenty years and see an entire chapter entitled, "How a lame duck President trolls the GOP in public and still comes out smelling like roses."
I DON'T want to read in twenty years "How a lame duck President tolled the GOP and prompted a 100% voter turnout of Republicans and bigots, allowing them to take control of all branches of government forever."
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:45 AM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
...as opposed to the party currently controlling both houses of Congress and a majority of state houses?
I want to read his memoirs in twenty years and see an entire chapter entitled, "How a lame duck President trolls the GOP in public and still comes out smelling like roses."
I DON'T want to read in twenty years "How a lame duck President tolled the GOP and prompted a 100% voter turnout of Republicans and bigots, allowing them to take control of all branches of government forever."
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:45 AM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
I 🍑💨 Huckabee
no great option for a butt emoji so I had to improvise
totally parsed that as "dust behind a cartoon object moving at high velocity" and not "fart"
so like "I am a fruit getting the fuck away from Huckabee"
posted by nebulawindphone at 11:48 AM on September 23, 2015 [27 favorites]
no great option for a butt emoji so I had to improvise
totally parsed that as "dust behind a cartoon object moving at high velocity" and not "fart"
so like "I am a fruit getting the fuck away from Huckabee"
posted by nebulawindphone at 11:48 AM on September 23, 2015 [27 favorites]
The biggest irony is that apparently military insiders - you know, the people whose opinion on this stuff actually means something, and who you'd hopefully think Huckabee et al would listen to - love this guy. The Times did a thing on this the other day: he's wildly popular at the Pentagon, and was more or less seen as the obvious, shoo-in contender for the job.
posted by Itaxpica at 12:08 PM on September 23, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by Itaxpica at 12:08 PM on September 23, 2015 [7 favorites]
It's simply baffling at this point to see GOP candidates still trafficking in open homophobia as a way to appeal to voters. There are certainly still people out there who eat that stuff up, but their numbers are dwindling rapidly—and the number of people who will be turned off by its ever-growing.
Alongside all the other terrible things he is and does, it's increasingly clear that Mike Huckabee is a pretty bad source of ideas for how to appeal to voters in 2015. He's maybe the 8th most popular candidate in a field of 15 this time around and fading fast. Of course he's the one going to this tired well of pointless bullshit, he's got no clue how to consistently outpoll Chris Christie and Rand Paul and he'd rather die by the 4% of GOP primary voters who find him remotely tolerable than figure out anything else.
posted by Copronymus at 12:10 PM on September 23, 2015
Alongside all the other terrible things he is and does, it's increasingly clear that Mike Huckabee is a pretty bad source of ideas for how to appeal to voters in 2015. He's maybe the 8th most popular candidate in a field of 15 this time around and fading fast. Of course he's the one going to this tired well of pointless bullshit, he's got no clue how to consistently outpoll Chris Christie and Rand Paul and he'd rather die by the 4% of GOP primary voters who find him remotely tolerable than figure out anything else.
posted by Copronymus at 12:10 PM on September 23, 2015
no great option for a butt emoji so I had to improvise
It's not an emoji, but there is an archaic Cyrillic letter that may serve your needs: Ѡ
posted by Copronymus at 12:10 PM on September 23, 2015 [10 favorites]
It's not an emoji, but there is an archaic Cyrillic letter that may serve your needs: Ѡ
posted by Copronymus at 12:10 PM on September 23, 2015 [10 favorites]
THE GAY AGENDA REVEALED
I thought it was this. Guess I should starting reading meeting minutes more regularly.
posted by echocollate at 12:13 PM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
I thought it was this. Guess I should starting reading meeting minutes more regularly.
posted by echocollate at 12:13 PM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
something something: "but how is that even possible? That level of willful ignorance has got to be a conscious choice."
To be fair America is a land where we have a total asshole on our $20... and a lot of geographic places/schools/cities etc. named after racists and segregationists, not to mention endorsement of a flag used by secessionists and slave-owners as a symbol of pride and history.
Kinda makes you think you too can be a total dick, and still be remembered fondly!
posted by caution live frogs at 12:15 PM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
To be fair America is a land where we have a total asshole on our $20... and a lot of geographic places/schools/cities etc. named after racists and segregationists, not to mention endorsement of a flag used by secessionists and slave-owners as a symbol of pride and history.
Kinda makes you think you too can be a total dick, and still be remembered fondly!
posted by caution live frogs at 12:15 PM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
I wonder if Huckabee has ever spent a minute of his life wondering what life is like for non-Christians. Everything he says, every commentary he delivers on a public policy decision, is entirely preoccupied with the effect this will have on Evangelical Christians and Evangelical Christians alone, as if nothing else mattered and nobody else counted as a person.
It’s only through this lens that anything he says makes sense. Same-sex marriage is rejected as a policy goal because it will make Evangelical Christians tut about what the world is coming to, so on balance it’s a net loss (because he’s ignoring the people that will be made happy by same-sex marriage, because they somehow don’t count).
Likewise, he assumes Fanning’s appointment has to do with his homosexuality, because in his mind the only point in putting gay men and women in high-profile government positions would be to piss off Evangelical Christians as part of a perceived culture war.
To my knowledge, he’s never done the Palin-esque “you guys are the real Americans” thing, at least not out loud. But if you judge him by his public comments it’s hard not to think that he feels this way, whether or not he’d admit it to anyone or is even aware of it himself.
Somehow, this never gets described as “identity politics,” even though that’s what it is. It’s only minority groups and their advocates who wear that term. The difference, however, is that I imagine Al Sharpton spends quite a bit of time imagining things from a white perspective or else he wouldn’t ever get anything done.
posted by savetheclocktower at 12:17 PM on September 23, 2015 [18 favorites]
It’s only through this lens that anything he says makes sense. Same-sex marriage is rejected as a policy goal because it will make Evangelical Christians tut about what the world is coming to, so on balance it’s a net loss (because he’s ignoring the people that will be made happy by same-sex marriage, because they somehow don’t count).
Likewise, he assumes Fanning’s appointment has to do with his homosexuality, because in his mind the only point in putting gay men and women in high-profile government positions would be to piss off Evangelical Christians as part of a perceived culture war.
To my knowledge, he’s never done the Palin-esque “you guys are the real Americans” thing, at least not out loud. But if you judge him by his public comments it’s hard not to think that he feels this way, whether or not he’d admit it to anyone or is even aware of it himself.
Somehow, this never gets described as “identity politics,” even though that’s what it is. It’s only minority groups and their advocates who wear that term. The difference, however, is that I imagine Al Sharpton spends quite a bit of time imagining things from a white perspective or else he wouldn’t ever get anything done.
posted by savetheclocktower at 12:17 PM on September 23, 2015 [18 favorites]
...as opposed to the party currently controlling both houses of Congress and a majority of state houses?
Sorry; I misused the term. I guess I just meant, y'know, a serious party.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 12:41 PM on September 23, 2015
Sorry; I misused the term. I guess I just meant, y'know, a serious party.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 12:41 PM on September 23, 2015
It's baffling to me that people like Huckabee are still out there saying this stuff when it is so clear that they're going to be looked upon as the George Wallaces of our generation. You really want to be that guy?
I think more of these people than we might want to admit still think that George Wallace and Bull Connor were the good guys, but just can't say it out loud.
posted by dhens at 1:00 PM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
I think more of these people than we might want to admit still think that George Wallace and Bull Connor were the good guys, but just can't say it out loud.
posted by dhens at 1:00 PM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
I think it's more that his version of god has handed down a vision of an objectively "right" world and he views his job as pushing towards that ideal. The impact on the people doesn't enter into it. Everything will be fine once everyone is an evangelical Christian. So I think they just push towards this BS "objective right" on everything and never spare a thought for the people their actions impact. I mean, if they agree with him there's no problem and everyone IS going to hell so...uh....to hell with them, I guess?
posted by VTX at 1:05 PM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by VTX at 1:05 PM on September 23, 2015 [1 favorite]
There are real problems to deal with. Who the Secretary of the Army likes to screw shouldn't even be on the radar—and anyone who suggests that it should be, should be chased out of town for wasting everyone's time.
The only caveat being it mustn't be a dead pig.
posted by infini at 1:05 PM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
The only caveat being it mustn't be a dead pig.
posted by infini at 1:05 PM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
The fact that Fanning is openly gay hardly raised any eyebrows, except Mike Huckabee's.
Well we sure wouldn't want to ignore Huckabee's efforts to pick a fight about something most people thought was no big deal.
posted by straight at 1:18 PM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
Well we sure wouldn't want to ignore Huckabee's efforts to pick a fight about something most people thought was no big deal.
posted by straight at 1:18 PM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
I've been following Wonkette's coverage of Huckabee. It's really quite horrible, astounding, unfathomable, and beyond absurd.
posted by juiceCake at 2:04 PM on September 23, 2015
posted by juiceCake at 2:04 PM on September 23, 2015
Then he became a Fox News pundit and said whatever insane shit you need to stay on the air.
Well, that stint produced this little gem, that the band Torche reminded us about a bit back:
Never forget Mike Huckabee endorsed a Godless marriage of 4 men who share the same beds, love sodomy and have a joint account. It's right here, folks 😜 http://youtu.be/MHaDZxTWTtE
posted by effbot at 2:06 PM on September 23, 2015
Well, that stint produced this little gem, that the band Torche reminded us about a bit back:
Never forget Mike Huckabee endorsed a Godless marriage of 4 men who share the same beds, love sodomy and have a joint account. It's right here, folks 😜 http://youtu.be/MHaDZxTWTtE
posted by effbot at 2:06 PM on September 23, 2015
WE MUST BE APPEASED
FEAR US OR WE SHALL CONSUME YOUR FLESH
I mean, has anybody actually tried eating the bigots?
It almost worked on the American bison.
Let's do it, folks. Who's with me.
GAY/CANNIBAL 2016
posted by The Whelk at 2:26 PM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
FEAR US OR WE SHALL CONSUME YOUR FLESH
I mean, has anybody actually tried eating the bigots?
It almost worked on the American bison.
Let's do it, folks. Who's with me.
GAY/CANNIBAL 2016
posted by The Whelk at 2:26 PM on September 23, 2015 [3 favorites]
GAY/CANNIBAL 2016
Between this and poffinboffin's earlier proposal of Party Dog/Pizza Rat 2016 I feel like America may stand a chance.
posted by phunniemee at 2:37 PM on September 23, 2015 [9 favorites]
Between this and poffinboffin's earlier proposal of Party Dog/Pizza Rat 2016 I feel like America may stand a chance.
posted by phunniemee at 2:37 PM on September 23, 2015 [9 favorites]
I guess I just meant, y'know, a serious party.
i'm picturing you drunk and shouting this in a toga while smashing a beer can against your head, sorry.
posted by poffin boffin at 4:26 PM on September 23, 2015
i'm picturing you drunk and shouting this in a toga while smashing a beer can against your head, sorry.
posted by poffin boffin at 4:26 PM on September 23, 2015
To my knowledge, he’s never done the Palin-esque “you guys are the real Americans” thing, at least not out loud. But if you judge him by his public comments it’s hard not to think that he feels this way, whether or not he’d admit it to anyone or is even aware of it himself.
You make an interesting point, savetheclocktower. He does focus entirely on the Evangelical Christian side of politics and that is his identity. Yet like most Evangelicals there seems to be no emphasis of biblical attitudes towards helping the poor, the sick, the homeless, the imprisoned. It is all anti-Abortion/Gay Rights all the time with a bit of side serving of anti-Muslim and pro-creationism. I can't really picture the America that he dreams of but I have a feeling that most Americans would be unhappy with his vision. So we ban all abortions, put the gays back in the closet, put prayer back in school, stop teaching evolution, stop talking about global warming, do away with divorce, make church attendance mandatory, and achieve what? I'd say hell on earth for about 95% of the population.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:56 PM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
You make an interesting point, savetheclocktower. He does focus entirely on the Evangelical Christian side of politics and that is his identity. Yet like most Evangelicals there seems to be no emphasis of biblical attitudes towards helping the poor, the sick, the homeless, the imprisoned. It is all anti-Abortion/Gay Rights all the time with a bit of side serving of anti-Muslim and pro-creationism. I can't really picture the America that he dreams of but I have a feeling that most Americans would be unhappy with his vision. So we ban all abortions, put the gays back in the closet, put prayer back in school, stop teaching evolution, stop talking about global warming, do away with divorce, make church attendance mandatory, and achieve what? I'd say hell on earth for about 95% of the population.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:56 PM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
Related: Justice Scalia Is Still Hopping Mad Over The Gay Marriage Ruling. Reactionary trolls like Huckabee and Scalia doing their reactionary trolling isn't news. Except I guess that the lack of news is itself, news. Next time there's the first gay whatever, let's hope it's even less of a story, and reactions from hateful fucks like Huckabee or Scalia don't even merit a response quote.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:57 PM on September 23, 2015
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:57 PM on September 23, 2015
I wonder if Huckabee has ever spent a minute of his life wondering what life is like for non-Christians.
Sure, in the '50s.
posted by Smedleyman at 5:16 PM on September 23, 2015
Sure, in the '50s.
posted by Smedleyman at 5:16 PM on September 23, 2015
Never mind Huckabee. I just like to think of Brad Torgeson, author and Rabid Puppy, filling out forms and filing paperwork in his rear echelon posting, and slowly turning purple with silent rage.
posted by happyroach at 5:50 PM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by happyroach at 5:50 PM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
Huckabee (n.): A pointless, self-serving fight about something most people think is no big deal.
syn: Hullaballoo
"We would have been here sooner, but Ted started a huckabee when the barista called him Tad."
I vote the verb phrase should be "chucked a Huckabee." It's like throwing a tantrum only more so.
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:07 PM on September 23, 2015 [5 favorites]
syn: Hullaballoo
"We would have been here sooner, but Ted started a huckabee when the barista called him Tad."
I vote the verb phrase should be "chucked a Huckabee." It's like throwing a tantrum only more so.
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:07 PM on September 23, 2015 [5 favorites]
I mean, has anybody actually tried eating the bigots?
It almost worked on the American bison.
Let's do it, folks. Who's with me.
I feel like they'd be both stringy and fatty.
What I'm saying is you want a long cook time, low and slow.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 10:07 PM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
It almost worked on the American bison.
Let's do it, folks. Who's with me.
I feel like they'd be both stringy and fatty.
What I'm saying is you want a long cook time, low and slow.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 10:07 PM on September 23, 2015 [2 favorites]
1. Obscurity
2. Oppression
3. Recognition
4. Marriage
5. Obtain army
6. ????
7. PROFIT
8. Networking opportunities during lunch.
6. Can we PLEASE just agree that brunch after 12 is a completely adult thing to do and get on with our lives
6a. Likewise, some grown-ass adults eat dinner at 9pm and that's okay
Never forget Mike Huckabee endorsed a Godless marriage of 4 men who share the same beds, love sodomy and have a joint account. It's right here, folks 😜 http://youtu.be/MHaDZxTWTtE
what
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 10:18 PM on September 23, 2015
2. Oppression
3. Recognition
4. Marriage
5. Obtain army
6. ????
7. PROFIT
8. Networking opportunities during lunch.
6. Can we PLEASE just agree that brunch after 12 is a completely adult thing to do and get on with our lives
6a. Likewise, some grown-ass adults eat dinner at 9pm and that's okay
Never forget Mike Huckabee endorsed a Godless marriage of 4 men who share the same beds, love sodomy and have a joint account. It's right here, folks 😜 http://youtu.be/MHaDZxTWTtE
what
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 10:18 PM on September 23, 2015
what
For those who missed the brief mention in the Wiki article and doesn't already know that, excellent sludge/stoner metalers Torche's Steve Brooks is gay and makes no secret of that. The 4 men with a joint account is him and his band, of course. In that strange little clip, Huckabee says they're great, and if you don't think so you might be a homophobe.
posted by effbot at 8:18 AM on September 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
For those who missed the brief mention in the Wiki article and doesn't already know that, excellent sludge/stoner metalers Torche's Steve Brooks is gay and makes no secret of that. The 4 men with a joint account is him and his band, of course. In that strange little clip, Huckabee says they're great, and if you don't think so you might be a homophobe.
posted by effbot at 8:18 AM on September 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
I watched the video. I just.. what was that
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:35 AM on September 24, 2015
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:35 AM on September 24, 2015
Justice Scalia Is Still Hopping Mad Over The Gay Marriage Ruling.
oh my god this fills me with the purest and finest and most satisfying delight. i want to buy an orchard and water the trees every day with his miserable bitter hateful tears and then come harvest i will pelt him with the fruits of my labor whilst shrieking HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES MOTHERFUCKER
also there will be pie
posted by poffin boffin at 8:39 AM on September 24, 2015 [9 favorites]
oh my god this fills me with the purest and finest and most satisfying delight. i want to buy an orchard and water the trees every day with his miserable bitter hateful tears and then come harvest i will pelt him with the fruits of my labor whilst shrieking HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES MOTHERFUCKER
also there will be pie
posted by poffin boffin at 8:39 AM on September 24, 2015 [9 favorites]
do visitors get to throw the pies at Scalia also y/n
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:41 AM on September 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:41 AM on September 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
no the pies are for eating, by good people
no pie for scalia
posted by poffin boffin at 9:02 AM on September 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
no pie for scalia
posted by poffin boffin at 9:02 AM on September 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
no pie for scalia
Cormac McCarthy's least well-regarded work.
posted by Etrigan at 9:12 AM on September 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
Cormac McCarthy's least well-regarded work.
posted by Etrigan at 9:12 AM on September 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
For scale, keep in mind that the more firmly ensconced Evangelicals are strident Revelationists, whose premise includes looking down from the Pearly Gates and laughing, while all the unsaved among us are torn asunder and scorched by the Tribulations. Their Neeners are part of their charm. They understand fully the nature of having a privileged position. In fact privilege is a major prop for their tenets--we instead of thee. They speak in heavily coded phrases--notice how they pause at strategic points for a mutual eye-roll. The eye-roll is their secret handshake, so to speak.
We lesser souls shall have to put up with it until the fireballs and locusts come to visit us at the End Times. Frankly, if their vision is indeed divinely inspired, I'll happily wish them a bon voyage if only it gets them out of my hair for a while.
Huckabee, a politician, is a sock puppet for his chosen base. Their opinion is his mandate, and whatever he may think or feel at the bottom of his heart is moot. One thing comforting me is the unlikelihood of any of them being elected to POTUS. B-43 was as close as they got, and the oligarchs had him under control--this was a blessing disguised as a shit sandwich. If the Revelationists had been steering the ship of state, we probably would have found the iceberg already.
posted by mule98J at 11:04 AM on September 24, 2015
We lesser souls shall have to put up with it until the fireballs and locusts come to visit us at the End Times. Frankly, if their vision is indeed divinely inspired, I'll happily wish them a bon voyage if only it gets them out of my hair for a while.
Huckabee, a politician, is a sock puppet for his chosen base. Their opinion is his mandate, and whatever he may think or feel at the bottom of his heart is moot. One thing comforting me is the unlikelihood of any of them being elected to POTUS. B-43 was as close as they got, and the oligarchs had him under control--this was a blessing disguised as a shit sandwich. If the Revelationists had been steering the ship of state, we probably would have found the iceberg already.
posted by mule98J at 11:04 AM on September 24, 2015
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posted by biggreenplant at 8:13 AM on September 23, 2015 [72 favorites]