Don't Get Me Started with Linda Sharp

A Crime By Any Other Name

As the Duggar molestation fallout continues - TLC pulling the show, sponsors cutting and running - the most stunning aspect has been the contingent of apologists who have unashamedly stepped forward to defend Josh Duggar and his parents, Jim Bob and Michelle.

One would think - ok, wait, stop.  One must be in possession of that ability to begin with.  And thinking, especially critically, simply does not seem to be in the provenance of so very many these days.

So, allow me to rephrase that.  Those of us who are critical, rational thinkers see nothing defensible in the molestation of a child, let alone repeated molestations of five children.  It matters not that Josh was 14 and 15 during the repeated acts against his family members - these are felonious acts, and should have been dealt with appropriately.

Those of us who are critical, rational thinkers cannot understand the acts that were taken by Jim Bob with the blessing of his completely subservient broodmare wife. 

So it goes without saying that those of us who are critical, rational thinkers are a bit gobsmacked by the vocal contingent of apologists including, but not limited to: Mike Huckabee, thousands of "true" Christians, and family members.  Comment boards overflow with support for Duggar, citing God as having forgiven him because Josh said so.  Christian after Christian defending his acts with phrasing like "a curious teen," "boys will be boys," and "not a big deal, get over it."  ALL quotes taken directly from comment boards.  This is just a sample:

Um, Kristy?  I completely own up to experimenting as a teen.  WITH OTHER CONSENTING TEENAGERS.

My response to the mindset of "not a big deal, get over it" is simple.  Pony up one of your young children - son or daughter, doesn't matter - and now we will put them alone for the night with a "curious teen" who will, come daylight, admit what heinous acts he has subjected your offspring to, but will then assure you that he has asked for and received forgiveness from the Sky Fairy of his choosing, and that it's all cool now - life can go on.  Oh, and thanks for letting me diddle your kid.

Yes, I have posted variants of that on many threads and the response is always the same.  An immediate fallback to "that's not the same thing" and the positioning of me as a "hater."

Let me be clear.  You are goddamned right I am a hater.

I hate anyone who abuses a child.  I have complete disdain for anyone who would defend the indefensible.  I abhor all attempts to whitewash what was done, REPEATEDLY, to those children.  And I hate, hate, hate hypocrisy.

And yes, anyone who defends him and is not willing to allow one of their own children to be molested without repercussion is a hypocrite.  Because if you are willing to cut slack and repackage his crimes into "sins" just because he is on TV or because God, yet somehow are not willing to do the same for a stranger?

HYPOCRISY.

The linguistic gymnastics at play have been almost as impressive (in the way a landslide diaper is impressive) as their mental roundoff back-handsprings.

The verbal sleight of tongue they are attempting is pathetic. 

What Josh Duggar did, REPEATEDLY, were crimes.  Felonies, actually.  He broke the law in the most fundamental of ways, against the most innocent among us.

Yet, repackaged under the brand name "SIN," it suddenly makes it forgivable, an oops moment, something to pray away. 

Mike Huckabee, who will surely be stupid enough to wonder WHY he won't be President AGAIN, has been very vocal in defending all the Duggars.  Reminding us all that we are sinners. All of us, and that Joshie has asked for and received the grace of Jesus. 

"Good people make mistakes and do regrettable and even disgusting things."

That is a quote.  Not out of context, just a straight up quote that ends with praise for the Duggar family's "authenticity and humility."

Sorry, but "good people" don't molest children, Mike.  And calling REPEATED molestation of FIVE children "regrettable" is the only "disgusting thing" here.

Molesting a child even once - not a mistake.  Repeating the act after having been part of the Duggar's obvious fish-farm catch and release program?  Those are active, thought out CHOICES.  Those are deliberate acts that you know are wrong.

Calling them "sins" doesn't take away the damage, doesn't wash away the crime.  And invoking the robes of your chosen deity means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

By your logic, any teen can molest your child, kill your wife by crashing into her while texting and driving, hack into your bank account, and kick your dog - then expect for those crimes to be written off as mistakes and go along his/her merry Christian way, right?

Right?

<insert sound of crickets>

Yeah, that whole 'love the sinner, hate the sin" mantra is pretty much bullshit when it happens to you or someone you love, huh?

See, that's why we have a secular legal system, Mike.  So people can't just stab you in the spleen, plead "God" and go on to stab another person in the spleen.  The legal system is actually built upon accountability.  Consequences for actions.  Punishment for breaking the agreed upon laws of society.

Your chosen brand of faith, dogma, or make believe has zero bearing.  Why?  Because it is YOUR CHOSEN BRAND OF FAITH, DOGMA, OR MAKE BELIEVE.

So it doesn't matter that so many are actively choosing to defend Josh Duggar and hide behind the robes of the Almighty.  What matters is he committed CRIMES.

But hey, wouldn't we all if we thought we could get away with it?

That would be the logic being dribbled out the face anus of Michael Seewald, an in-law of Josh.  He says, "Many times it is simply lack of opportunity or fear of consequences that keep us from falling into grievous sin even though our fallen hearts would love to indulge the flesh."

Yes, according to him, all that stands between every single one of us and molesting a child is the fear of being caught.

Sorry, Michael, but I don't molest children because I have zero inclination to do so.  Not because I might get caught.  Not because I am afraid of not getting a Fastpass at the celestial Disney World.  Because I am not a child molester.

I am also not a bank robber.  A murderer.  A pedophile.  A tax cheat.  An adulterer.

I am a good person.  A good person who limits their mistakes to an occasional speeding ticket, spilt soymilk, being obstinate in a fight.  You know, things that don't leave a trail of tears, blood, or emotional carnage in their wake.

Oh, and I don't go to church or read your Bible.  So that kind of puts paid to the whole only being moral because of God thing you people like to preach.

I am moral because I AM MORAL.

And as someone with morals, a strong sense of right vs wrong, and appreciation for justice - I can tell you that painting molestation as a forgivable sin is as unforgivable as the act that got us to this place.

So to he who would withhold the first stone, I again ask, "Which of your children are you cool with offering up for molestation today?"

Don't worry.  I'm only holding my breath because your hypocrisy smells like the bullshit it is.

People In Glass Chapels...

It happens with more regularity than a Metamuciled colon - the ones who chant the loudest against LGBT protections and equality, are found to be hypocrites.

And hypocrite is nice term for it.  But we'll get to that in a minute.

In recent days we have seen a very vocal, anti-gay, man-of-God be found out to also be a serial cuddler looking for love on Grindr - the website for men looking for men.

Meet the Reverend Matthew Makela - married, father of five.

Matthew, in his position of authority at St John's Lutheran Church and School in Midland, Michigan, railed against, advised others, and condemned those who fall anywhere on the LGBT spectrum.  But then, that's easy to do when you have the convenient cover of a wife and five kids.

One of his brilliant Tweets:

"The utmost seriousness."  Hmmm, I have to imagine your wife is questioning your seriousness now that you have been found to be soliciting men and describing yourself to them as "bicurious" and as a guy who "loves to make out naked."

Personally, I have zero problem, issue, or oogy factor at play when it comes to someone's sexuality, gender identity, or place on the spectrum.  People are people.  We are complex organisms and who am I to tell another person who they are?

What I do have a HUGE problem with is hypocrisy.  Because when you counsel a 17 year old boy, who is coming to terms with his sexual self, that he would be "going to hell" and that the “sin of being gay is no different than the sin of committing suicide”?  Then you go on social media and harass him and tell his mother she should not support her son?

ALL THE WHILE YOU ARE GARGLING RANDOM MEN'S BALLS???

Sorry, asshole, but you are just another in a long line of hypocritical, dangerous, repugnant sacks of shit who should hang their heads in shame.  Only after publicly apologizing to your family, your church, and any person you hurt with your words of condemnation.

And it is a long line. 

Which grew longer today when Josh Duggar - yes, he of 19 Kids & Counting fame; yes, he of the hate group Family Research Council; yes, he who publicly condemns homosexuality, all LGBT people, and believes they fall into the same category as pedophiles - was publicly outed as having molested five little girls in the past.

Let that sink in, marinate a bit.  You may even want to pour yourself some Jesus Juice to get through this.

Five young girls - four of which are his younger sisters.  Another believed to be a cousin.

This happened when he was 14 years old, in 2002 and 2003 - 14 years old.  Far old enough to know better. 

So what happened when mom and dad found out?  When their daughters began detailing how he would fondle their breasts and genitals at night?  Did these upstanding, righteous warriors for the lord take action?  Do the right thing?

Puh-leez.

Why involve the police in such silly things as FELONIES?

Smack on the hand.  Until it happened again and another daughter spoke up.  Police then?

No, silly, they sent little letchy Joshy away to what they first said was a “program [that] consisted of hard physical work and counseling. James said that [redacted, Josh] was in the program from March 17, 2003 until July 17, 2003.”  A Christian program, no less.

Oh, but wait - when push came to shove and the police were finally involved in 2006, Michelle admitted that it wasn't actually a program or counseling at all, but that he was sent to stay with a family friend who was remodeling a building.  Josh worked for him.

When Josh came back home he apologized to the girls because that makes things like being molested all better.  He also got God to forgive him - as do all these miscreants when they find their asses in hot water.

So that makes it all better, right?

Sorry, no. 

I don't care if you worship dandelions, toadstools, unicorns, Allah, or the Christian God - here in the REAL WORLD, where we have laws and punishments, your invisible friends cannot forgive you and it's *poof* all better.

"Yes, judge, I know I was caught holding a bloody knife shoved to the hilt in my ex-husband's spleen, but I apologized to the air, and me and the Big G are cool now.  He said so.  I swear.  So, I'll be on my way.  Ciao."

Sadly, when Josh's proclivities and perversions were brought to light by an anonymous tip to the Oprah Show and then police, the statute of limitations had run out so he could not be prosecuted.

(Cute sidenote:  When JimBob actually took Josh to a police officer (only after finding him sneaking out of yet another sister's bedroom) - close family friend Arkansas State Trooper Joseph Hutchens, he received a "stern talking to."  Oh, and that trooper?  He is now serving a 60 year prison sentence for possession and distribution of child porn.)

So he went on with his life.  His family went on pumping out kids and garnering face time and an audience on television, and he managed to parlay that holier-than-thou image they have into a sweet job as head loudmouth for the FRC.  From what I have seen that job consists mainly of warning the public of the dangers gay people pose to children, and posing as often as possible with every Republican presidential hopeful.

Since the story broke, Josh has resigned.

I guess even a hate group has standards?

Hypocrisy.  These people are just drenched in it.  They point their fingers, chastise, condemn, threaten, and deign to think they should have some say over how other people live and love, all the while they are indulging in what they publicly excoriate; or in Josh's case - actually BEING a pedophile, a pervert, a deviant.

Yes, the Reverend is no longer reverending, and he has an emotional mess of his own making over which to preside.  I do not envy him that.  He has hurt his family, his parishioners, and so many others by simply refusing to be who he was born to be.  He chose religious doctrine and brainwashing over his core being - and this is the result.  A hell of his own making through which he has dragged others.

The Duggars have begun the media parade to "God" their way out of this mess, a mess of their own making.  Yes, the faithful will rally behind them, we'll hear endless variations of "brought us closer to God," "God forgave him," and "we are all sinners," and they will fervently pray their gravy train does not dry up.

Three words for them (if there is a god):  Honey Boo Boo.

TV networks tend to get a little skittish when child molesters are revealed to be roaming around their program line-up.

Hypocrisy.  It is the lifeblood of the loudest, it seems.  But when the walls of their glass houses begin to shatter, I must admit, the schadenfreude is a thing of beauty.

To the priests, ministers, politicians, et al, who openly castigate others while living a life in the shadows?  Come out of the dark.   A life lived openly and honestly is a life.  Look around - acceptance is growing, everywhere.  You won't be alone, and you will be happier.  There is nothing wrong with you.  Being anything other than hetero is not a crime, not a sin, not horrific, deviant, or criminal.  Except in the books your choose to believe.  It's actually pretty amazing - when you let go of rhetoric, manmade tenets, dusty words on a continually rewritten page, and fear - and realize that how others live their lives has no bearing on yours?  WOW.  Open your mind, open your heart, live your life with love, acceptance, honesty.  It's pretty sweet.

But should you choose to continue to hurt those who are just like you, but who are brave enough to live out loud?  Well, you deserve every shard of glass that cuts you to the bone when your secrets are revealed and your sparkly house shatters.

And as for Josh?  You are a criminal.  A criminal who got lucky that your stupid parents shielded your molesting ass instead of protecting their daughters.  You can argue that it was a long time ago, that you've changed, that you're a good person - but no - you jump at every opportunity to hurt others, so wear your scarlet A - ASSHOLE.

You ALL deserve every bit of the shitstorm coming your way.  We have spent years listening to you drone on about how right you are, what sinners we are.

It seems that you Duggars have enough on the homefront that you need to deal with, so STFU and stay out of everyone else's lives because while I would welcome a million LGBT humans into my home - you have raised what you love to call others:  a criminal, deviant, pedophile, sinner.  Josh is not welcome.

P.S.  God called.  He said to stop hiding in His robes.

Blind In One Eye, Can't See Out Of The Other

What's that old saying?  "There is none so blind as he who will not see"?

Ahhhh, an oldie but a goodie used to describe people who willfully choose ignorance over reality.  Sadly, when those "blind" eyes are finally opened, it usually is because karma is using a big, pointy stick with which to pry them apart.

Well, Karma meet your latest visually challenged dolt badly in need of your stick.

This is Luis Lang.

Lang is a staunch Republican, and a self employed handyman who has done quite well for himself over the years.  He and his wife live in a 3,300 square foot home in the Legacy Park subdivision in Fort Mills, South Carolina.  From the looks of the HOA webpage, it is a lovely area with a lake and fountains and homes all in the price range of Lang's $300,000 hacienda.

Like most comfortable GOPers, he has long been proud of his self made man status, his aversion to government, and of course, his complete disdain for the Affordable Care Act.  In fact, old Luis' dislike for any kind of health insurance is a long term affliction. 

He has never had any for he or his wife, priding himself on paying cash when the small stubbed toe or influenza has popped up.

All well and good while you are young and in decent health, I guess, although anyone can get hit by a car and find themselves in financial hot water.

Anyhoo, Luis has traipsed along through life to his 49th year - smoking and collecting diabetes along the way.  (See package of cigarettes in photo.)  He knowingly ignored both sign up periods for the ACA - I assume he paid the penalty on his taxes for eschewing insurance coverage - and now says he just thought that he could sign up if he needed it someday.

Yeah, because that's how insurance works.  NOT.  Last time I checked I cannot choose to thumb my nose at my State Farm bill, total my car, and then send in a payment.

Well, three months ago he found his belligerent ass in the emergency room with terrible head pains.  Turns out he had suffered several mini strokes.  $9,000, please.

What's that, Luis?  That wiped out your savings?

With his vision worsening, he decided that he'd sign up for that Obamacare stuff, but the deadline - WHICH HAD BEEN TRUMPETED EVERYWHERE FOR MONTHS - had passed and he was SOL.

Cue insightful bullshit from his equally blind wife, Mary:  "(My husband) should be at the front of the line, because he doesn’t work and because he has medical issues.  We call it the Not Fair Health Care Act.”

The Not Fair Health Care Act.  OH!  You mean the one that has been available and talked about for a couple years now that you freely admit you turned your back on because you don't like our President and, let me guess here <squints real hard>, heard on FOX was all kinds of socialist commie, Muslim BAD.

That Not Fair Health Care Act?  The one that would have provided coverage for you and your proudly stupid spouse?  The one that would have even found coverage for him had all this vision stuff started before you signed up because, you know, pre-existing conditions like diabetic retinopathy and rampant ignorance cannot be denied coverage.

The eye doctor who has been treating him with injections to help the bleeding, AT A DISCOUNTED RATE, told the press that now Lang's issues are compounded by a detached retina and increased bleeding, "He’s in a very bad situation.  The longer he waits, the poorer his results will be.”

The upshot?  Without expensive surgery, Luis will lose his eyesight. 

I know, the irony is almost exquisite in its awfulness.

Here's the thing, I do NOT wish this man blindness, or any other devastating, life altering malady.  I don't.  But I have limited resources of sympathy for his plight.  His own choices - and don't Republicans love to shout "personal responsibility!" from their rooftops? - led him to this place.

So, what's a bootstrap loving, finger pointing, self starting GOPer to do?  Mortgage his fine house?  Maybe his wife could get a job? Fully investigate organizations that provide assistance in this area?

Nah.  That's so 2014.  The new GOP bootstrap plan is to cry victim and hit the internet.

He started a GoFundMyStupidity page where he whines about his situation, cries about his impending blindness, and is currently begging everyone to bail him out for his own choices of which he was so proud right up to the point they bit him in the eyeballs.  All of this while he and his wife complain to the press about how cheated they are by being denied Obamacare.

Again, Mr. Lang, open those peepers while they can still see and admit that YOU CHOSE to ignore both deadlines.  You weren't DENIED, you willfully let the deadlines pass.

His GFM page, at this writing, now stands at $12,950 - predominantly donated by self described liberals, atheists, and socialists who write in their comments that they hope this opens his eyes to how wrong he and his side are and that healthcare for all is kind of a good idea.

He has added two updates as the money has rolled in (which sickens me because there are people desperate in Nepal who need aid through no fault of their own) which do not help his cause in my eyes.

I stress IN MY EYES.  To each his/her own - do with your money what you will - but I will not be bailing Luis out.  I will be sending my donation to Nepal.

In his updates, Luis acknowledges that liberals have rallied to his cause: "I am a honest person and I have to give a big thumbs up to the liberal side. Even though you have crucified me in your comments but you spoke with your heart with the donations."

But then, further showing that he still doesn't get it - that everything he has spent a life pointing his fingers at - you know, takers, welfare recipients, etc - HE NOW IS - Luis castigates conservatives, "As far as the conservative side I wish they would step up to the plate and do there (sic) part."

Excuse me?  Luis, my dear boy, there is no part here other than YOURS.  YOUR PART led to YOUR SITUATION.  No one - liberal or conservative - is required to "step up" and bail you out of the Titanic of your own making.  You ran yourself straight into this iceberg.

Again, mortgage your nice house.  Sell your nice house.  Tell your wife to get off her ignorant, victimy ass and get a job - you know, all the things you love to sit in your La-Z-Boy and admonish others to do.

He finishes his latest update by praising liberals for getting the word out about him, but adds. "I say shame on the conservative bloggers for resting on there (sic) laurels."

Get a clue, Sherlock.  Your conservative overlords and heroes like O'Reilly, Beck, Hannity, Rush, et al, are liars and grifters who only TAKE money from rubes like you.  They would not cross the street to pee on you if you were on fire, much less help your bleedy eyeballs.

If this asshat really wanted to turn over a new leaf and help others the way he is being helped?  He would open his quickly darkening eyes and publicly admit that he was wrong.  He would use his current access to the press to educate both himself, his wife, and his equally dim peer group about the need for insurance and how the Affordable Care Act is not some Hitleresque act of heinous debauchery and slavery to imprison patriots.

It is simply a currently imperfect way of leveling a seriously slanted playing field so people who desperately need a safety net can afford one.

He also would be doing what so many, many others have had to do when faced with medical debt - sell everything they own, get a second job, beg for a payment plan, have their spouse work, file bankruptcy - not what he is doing - expecting the world to step in and save him from himself.

Sorry, Luis, but as the saying goes, until you accept your personal responsibility in this, you are still blind in one eye and can't see out of the other.

How ironic that progressive libtards may be the reason that saying stays figurative and doesn't become literal for you.