Nebraska Governor Update!

 Just a couple of days to go before these ads will go away. At least for now until tghey crank back up and one of those 5 Republicans begin calling Carol Blood (Brave D-Ne) a commie, a drag queen or a baby killer (all have been done already). 

The ads are getting worse and worse. Lets go talk about ads for each

Carol Blood has no ads because she's basically unopposed for the Nebraska Democratic primary (yeah theres a lot more of us than you think). She will win easily. Then the fireworks start in calling her out for the abortion filibuster that killed Nebraska Taliban forces from imposing a Louisiana type trigger law in the state legislature.

Charles W Herbster (Rich Guy-Mo). He brought the Orange jackass to an auto racetrack last week to pimp for him. I am not really sure Trump even knows who he is but he is told Chuck financed some of the coup attempt in January 2021. Herbsters ads are all Trump all the time. Trump calling him a good man. What else would a fellow sexual harasser say? Herbster also runs ads in which he gazes into the camera and denies sticking his hand up Julie Slama's (Ricketts Puppet-Ne) without actually denying it. Herbster also runs attack ads against Slama accusing her of lying to protect her Puppet masters preferred candidate, Jim Pillen. Its ugly.

Speaking of ugly there's Jim Pillen (Bigot-Ne). Pillen runs ads portraying himself as a man of God, yet still a christian bigot who doesnt much care for the brown folks or the "radical transgender agenda" whatever the fuck that is. Pillen also is in cahoots with Governor Pete Ricketts (Rich Guy-Ne) who started a PAC called Conservative Nebraska because he just buys whatever  or whomever he wants . This PAC has run attack ads against Herbster this last week calling out Chuck for being a "teenage girls beauty pageant judge" all over the world . Then the ad states something about what happened at these pageants? YOU decide. For crissakes that is low even for a racist pig farmer and a racist egg head. Even more reason Trump likes Chuck. Pillen also runs ads featuring his wife (who marries these fuckin guys?) and saying Jim Pillen is THE most pro-lifey pro-lifey guy ever! God help Nebraska if oine of his followers like this win.

Brett Lindstrom stayed positive. He's a tax cutter. He's actually cut taxes because hes in the Lege. He brought Omaha mayor Jean Stothert out of her cave to say he's finally a candidate Omaha can trust. Yee ouch Pete Ricketts. Omaha is a million person metro area that largely gets ignored because theres too many of us libs here. Lindstrom is openly courting people and not cows.

Because of Lindstroms surge in the poll the dark money ads (Ricketts again) have come in calling him the dreaded L word and claiming he raised taxes, despite the tax cut Nebraska R's have been bragging about for months. But say "Liberal Lindstrom" enough times in 30 seconds it may get though to lame brains and the cows out west.

Theresa Thibodeaux (who?-Ne)has begun to run ads now touting how pro lifey she is too. Is that all Nebraska Republicans think about? Non voting fetuses? Look for a bill in the Lege calling for voting rights by proxy for all fetuses. She has no chance of getting even 10% in that Taliban Primary.

Then theres Breland Ridenour. In a tubful of Republican nuts, he's the peanuts nobody wants. If you see a sign in a yard you can rest assure the residents of that house love Sharia law, christian style. He's a waste of time.

The ads are constant. I mean you will see a full 5 minutes of these ads every 30 minutes during old people TV (yes thats me) like the local news, CBS prime time and Wheel of Fortune. I'm surprised Tom Selleck isnt pimping for Pillen during Sunday dinner on Blue Bloods.

Two more days until a nutjob takes the Republican primary. Kooks like Pillen and Herbster could split the vote and let the "nice guy" who really is just as kooky Lindstrom in through the back door (sorry Pillen).

Democrats have switched parties (who wants THAT on their record ffs) to vote for Lindstrom in a misguided attempt to keep bigots like Pillen or insurrectionists like Herbster from winning. Its the Democrats typical stupid move. They want a voice. In the Republican primary? Why not just vote for Carol Blood? Ya know, YOUR party candidate?

Nebraska, The Good Life. Good as in white , male, christian, straight and Republican. The rest of you get lost.

Roe V Wade!

 It was 1972. Stuck in the prison of a Catholic school and being taught propaganda I no longer believed in, the abortion issue was in full force. I was a member of the Young Democrats and trust me there were very few of us. We met to discuss the 1972 election as the mock election was coming and we were assigned to run the Democrats campaign. However, the majority of us voted to endorse Richard Nixon because, all together now, McGovern was in favor of abortion. So I ran the campaign for McGovern and like George the mock election was a landslide in Nixons favor and I never lived it down.  From then on I had no loyalty to anyone at that school and couldn't wait to leave.

Then came January of 1973 and Roe V Wade was decided and abortion was no longer something done in back alleys, butcher shops, strip malls or for rich women, a flight to Puerto Rico. The school went nuts. Math Teachers railed against the ruling. Anti abortion literature sat on teachers desks. Religion class was almost exclusively about it. Other teachers started debates. I was virtually alone is supporting abortion rights. A couple of younger teachers came to my defense as I was scourged by future Federalist freaks.

I may have been in the minority there but I knew I was in the real majority outside of Catholic propaganda factories. College came and I found my peeps. 

A lot of years have passed since then. I've worked with a lot of women over the years. I prefer their company to be honest. And now at damn near retirement age, I am not sure I know any women who haven't been either sexually assaulted or had abortions. Their stories are told to me because they know my nature. I'm not telling anybody and I don't judge. I can keep a secret and know how to listen. And never did I really think toothpaste could be put back in the tube until last night.

 A bogus Supreme Court full of illegitimate people appointed by men who got fewer votes than their opponents. What other country on earth would allow this? Well authoritarians and thumb breakers would make it happen but not here. Oh wait.

I used to think that women would never let this happen. They would vote in droves to keep out the old white men and their gender traitor collaborators out of office. Didnt happen. Well at least white women didnt let it happen. They still voted for that Orange Fuckweasel by 56-44. I guess racism is one helluva drug.

While most of us normal folk are outraged or concerned about the fact Roe V Wade will soon be overturned, Fox News and its white male panels were diverting attention from its mostly elderly weak minded audience by raging about the leak and the left. The left did this, throw em in jail blah blah blah while not discussing the issue itself. The rest of the country ignored the legal geeks and their fainting couch concern about precedent. Fuck that. The court isnt sacred, it hasn't been ever. Its a band of political hacks concerned with preserving white supremacy while throwing a bone now and then to the minorities. Now with the recent granting of rights to the LGBTQ community and crawling out from under the rock resurgence of bigots and con men, the Supreme Court is after all of you. A religious fanatic like Samuel Alito comes right out and says it.

Women first, then the gays, then the interracial marriages, then the criminal rights, then birth control and who knows how far back this band of beer enthusiasts, handmaidens, corporate fascists and professional Catholics will take us. Hell they might think that whole Brown V Board was a little bit too much progress for the nation. Chrissakes they may think Plessy V Ferguson was too shocking for train riders.

This can be stopped. By fucking voting in November.

If this political party of patriarchal cowards gets power, its over. There will be nationwide bans proposed on abortion, gay marriage, gay sex, integration, interracial marriage, and sanity. 

If you think that evil fuck McConnell would hesitate for one second to nuke the filibuster you're out of your mind. Yeah Biden would veto, but if the Republicans win also in 2024, its really over. 

Hail Not Freedonia. Hail Gilead! Hail Republistan! Hail JesusLand!

Its dire. It scares the shit out of me. 

Nebraska Governor's Race Update!

 Well the orange fuckstick is coming after all. After cancelling a rally Friday night because his hair could get wet , the Former Guy will be here today to prop up his fellow sexual harasser in the Nebraska GOP primary. Oh wait, we need updates on whats happening here in regards to the GOP primary, in effect the Nebraska Gubernatorial Election.

Since we last talked this race has gone even more bonkers. Sexual harassment, a girl named Collete, a pig farmer making pig jokes, another choosing Yosemite Sam as a running mate. Its insane here. Well not Southern insane, but for here in the "nice" part of the country very off the wall.

Pete Ricketts, the current Governor and rich ne'er do well kid of the Ricketts crime family, has thrown his weight and money behind the pig farmer who fell on a fumble in a Husker game 40 some years ago. Ricketts will spend as much of Daddy Ricketts as he has to to get his way. He's done it in the past and we have all suffered for it over the last 8 years. Yes the fine citizens of this state elected this dick head twice. From buying candidates to do his evil in the state legislature to buying illegal drugs so he can preside over killing a guy to spending millions to overturning a law eliminating the death penalty to spending even more to block medical marijuana petitions from getting on the ballot to slow rolling ballot initiatives passed by the voters to expand Medicaid and allow gambling the guy has just proven to be a fucking prick on top of a lousy Governor. He recently refused to apply for federal aid to help renters behind on their rent due to a Covid pandemic he insists he ended in July of 2021. Congrats Nebraska on being the ONLY state to say no to federal money to help actual people. Ricketts is not a responsible watchdog for your money, he's just a prime certified asshole.

The pig farmer, Jim Pillen , went all full blown bigot in his ads. Proclaiming himself a man of God and a hellacious pro life whack job, he would then swear he would not only jail illegals (they LOVE that word) but send em all back to wherever they came from. With Ricketts' help, he also began attacking his perceived opponent, a handsy insurrectionist named Charles W Herbster, as a resident of Missouri (true), a man who wants to tax everything you buy (half true), and a childless gillionaire  with no principles (true). He also has one very special endorsement that'll turn your stomach.

Then theres the aforementioned Herbster. This guy was born here and that's about it. He has more money than brains like most of them, he's a widower, and wears a cowboy hat to make him seem taller (doesn't work). Bored with money, he is just another Ricketts longing for power, which pisses Ricketts off cuz HE is the oligarch carpetbagger of Nebraska, not Herbster! Herbster has one endorsement from a fellow insurrectionist named Trump and now we know why. Herbster likes to grab pussy. A state senator, a Ricketts puppet named Julie Slama (Puppet-Ne) claimed that Herbster reached under her dress at a Republican grab ass fundraiser. Then came 7 other women saying the same damn thing. Sound suspicious? Well of course it does cuz Slama is as empty a soul as they come, but there is strength in numbers. And even a dancing marionette like Slama doesnt deserve to be grabbed by an old degenerate. Thus, the Trump endorsement and rally today. Two grabby motherfuckers on stage in front of a crowd of kooks. What could go wrong?'

Brett Lindstrom. The third guy in the race. Ignored for months as a 15% at best dude, Lindstrom switched from ads propping up the Big Lie to trying some Republican style humor in his ads. In other words not funny bu nonetheless effective. Using his cute daughter, Collette., Lindstrom became positive. Hey there, Im a good guy with cute kids. still a right wing nut, but look I like my family. Collette would express her concern about the negative ads and look into the camera and say vote for my Dad. Even I couldn't help but like that little girl despite the fact she has a 50/50 chance of becoming another Ginni Thomas. And what happened? Lindstrom surged in the polls into the lead. Nebraska Nice works.

Thus here came the attack ads against Lindstrom. He's a "liberal" (not true) he's endorsed only by Democrats (one) and Trump haters ( ok sure) and he's a guy who raised taxes (not true) and will raise even more taxes if he gets into office and paints the Governors mansion red and hoists up the hammer and sickle over the Capitol in Lincoln. These ads are from dark money (Ricketts) groups and utterly dishonest but what the hell, Ricketts and Trump are falling behind.

Thus the latest, a week and a half from the primary, Trumps here, Ricketts is spending Daddys money to trash a guy who dared take his guy on, and Lindstrom continues to surge cuz he's a "nice guy".

Oh yeah theres a fourth Republican candidate who may draw in a few votes. Her name is Theresa Thibodeaux, a former Ricketts puppet state senator who lost her election making Pete all sad. She originally ran as a running mate with Herbie the Grope Bug but dropped out for some reason (hmm) to run on her own. Seemed to be reasonable sort and going nowhere, she suddenly picked a running mate, a Yosemite Sam lookalike,Trent Loos , a radio talk show host from out in Kearney who is a typical right wing conspiracy freak. The Big Lie, the China virus, all the greatest hits from this cowboy hat wearing mustachioed cartoon character. She has as much chance of winning that primary as Wile E Coyote has a catching the Road Runner.

There we have it, Nebraska, lurching backwards as always to the good old days of Charlie Starkweather. When men were men and women just rode along.

Go Big Red!

Insulin,It Does A Body Good! No Really!

 There it is. Proof that 193 members of the Republican House dont give a rats ass about anybody but their pharmaceutical donors. 193 House Republicans hemmed and hawed and dragged out the socialism screed and made sure that everyone knew they were true blue American capitalists who believe in the free market system, and oh yeah, Citizens United and big fat campaign contributions. 

Insulin costs have risen since 1999 when a vial of insulin cost about $20 to now when its $300-$400 if you're insured and up to $900 if you are not. If you are not insured, thats a whole different argument that these 193 Republicans can show their utter lack of humanity. But this bill, right here, caps the insulin at $35 a month. And considering the explosion in the number of diabetics in this country this would be a damned godsend to a considerable number these GOP critters constituents, who might get so angry they would vote to re elect these monsters with a frown on their face.

But now the bill goes to the Senate where 10 Republicans will need to grow a conscience AND a set of nads because of that whole filibuster shit propped up by a West Virginia yacht owner and an Arizona goofball. And the Republicans have their own law they like better. Which of course is a bill written by the insurance industry and does nothing to help the cost of a life saving drug. Another bill, written by the pharmaceutical industry directly opposes the insurance industry bill. Oh boy its Goliath Vs Goliath.

So will insulin be lowered to $35 a month? We all know the answer to that. The GOP stops anything to benefit people, yet they are favored to win the House? Its stunning that people vote against themselves so often.

All 193 of those fuckin Repubs should be on a billboard yesterday. But what about Hunter Bidens laptop? Gawd this country's attention span is deader than Will Smith's dignity.

Hadestown!

 Hadestown is the musical I had looked forward to all season, the reputation of the Tony Award winning show preceded it. Nothing ever hit me like Hamilton had the first time I saw it. I had entered the theater naturally resistant to the hype, but it overwhelmed my cynical self and it was every bit as good as its rep. Would Hadestown live up to it's hype?

The cast walked out and had some fun with the crowd and it was strangely silent. Then the trumpet started to wail and Hermes, the narrator for the evening, launched into a jazzy gospel tune called The Road To Hell. Introducing the cast of characters as he sang, this tune screamed New Orleans and yep I was hooked.

The story moves along as Orpheus and Eurydice are a couple of poor crazy kids falling in love. Orpheus is songwriter who can tame anything with his voice but the song is not finished. Meanwhile down in Hadestown live Hades and Persephone the arbiters of Hades. The Road to Hell, actually the Train to Hell comes for Eurydice and off she goes. Orpheus sets out to retrieve his love from the clutches of Hades.

Hades and Persephone have their own relationship problems as Persephone spends half her time in the upper world and the other half in the underworld of Hadestown. Despite the want of a happy ending this is Hell for chrissakes and its aint happening. This musical is the exact opposite of Come From Away, a testament to people's inherent goodness . This one accepts that the world sucks and there ain nuthin you can do about it.

The cast is excellent. They are all pros. Big voices and great choreography. The set is like New Orleans at night during a Satan worshiping festival. Everything about this show is perfection.

Now the politics of it. Hadestown is a drab place, like a factory floor with workers there against their will or an Amazon warehouse. Orpheus starts a workers revolt put down by Hades immediately. Hades is THE MAN.

A song called Why We Build The Wall, though written in 2006 before that idiot started fucking up the country, is even more relevant now. Why Do We Build The Wall? To keep us free. To keep the enemy out. The enemy is poverty. They just want what we got. Build the Wall to keep us free. What foresight.

Hadestown is a gem of a show. As tragic as it is, you must see it at some point. Its dark, its jazzy, its actually a joy.

Will Smith!

 Dude, this is ok. Its all about you yes, but its called heckling.

This is NOT ok. Its called assault. And it's violence.

And this is either I'm now scared OR that guy is a bloody nutter.

The Thomases!!

 I grew up 4 blocks from this woman, the former Virginia Lamp, now Ginni Thomas. I went to college with her in Lincoln in the late 1970s. I was in classes with her. I knew of her parents, right wing 1970s whack jobs constantly writing letters to the local paper espousing their even for the 70s crazy views. My Dad would say hey check out the latest Lamp letter because he knew that I would scoff if not holler. Yep, Dad knew my buttons. In college classes, Ginni Lamp was the 1950s minded conservative in a class of 1970s idealistic libs. I remember the one particular instance where a heated exchange, started by me, resulted in her defending Tailgunner Joe McCarthy. Her and I went at for a bit, then the rest of the class jumped in. She was alone. Like now. The highly educated Professor, a very smart female PHD, called me to her desk after class and told me to start shit like that more often and that Ginni was just kooky enough to be dangerous some day. Thats my Ginni Lamp story.

When she married Clarence Thomas in the 80's, my parents, kind of Lamp--o-philes, were highly amused that this woman was marrying a black man. The scenarios they imagined turned out to be true as one of Ginni's aunts said OUT LOUD, all the conservative views he had "made up for the fact he was black". Yep, one of her best friends is now black.

Ginni Lamp's mind has aged like moldy cheese you forget about it in the back of the fridge. Its there, it doesnt bother you, and then one day you pull it out and about puke. Ginni has always been a nut, a whack job behind the scenes running various groups of fellow crazies trying to install her vision of America, a 1950s Joe McCarthy blacklist USA. 

Thomas' texts with vote fraud enthusiast Mark Meadows on January 6th are troubling at best. She openly advocated overthrowing a fair election. Her devotion to a cult leader, a criminal, a dumbfuck, is also troubling. And now, sinceadvicariing her texts are public, there seems to be a gigantic shrug on the part of the powers that be who actually have power. Clarence Thomas was the lone SCOTUS vote to keep that information private, but of course per Ginni, they dont talk politics. Shit, they dont have to, they are the same person like most couples married 40 years.

Look, Clarence Thomas violates the ethics rules every time he votes on an election issue. Yet he continues to do so. Theyre not going to do anything in the Congress about it, after all hundreds of Congress people voted the same way Ginni Thomas texted about. No consequences for them because JFC gas prices are really high. 

I'm beginning to think that back in the 70s when an entire poly sci class attacked the neanderthal views of a 20 something future right wing lawyer that was a aberration. I'm pretty sure most of those people either moved out of the backwards ass state or modified their views and now holler MAGA at anybody who looks like they don't have a gun stuck in their pants. Its extremely disheartening to see we have gone backwards in this state and country from 50 years ago. Or have we?

The Ginni Thomas's have always been there,  advocating right wing dictatorship where they ship us libs to Gitmo (yeah she actually said that). Its just one person lifted the rock they lived under and out they slithered.

Its time to call the snake wranglers.