Author: Randy Slovacek

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Trump Twitter Rants About Baseball Hours After Mass Shooting Leaves 11 Dead

Donald Trump

On a day that saw a mass shooting where 11 people were killed at a Pittsburgh synagogue, Donald Trump surprised some on Twitter when he took time to tweet a comment on World Series Game 4.

The tweet criticized the LA Dodgers manager for pulling pitcher Rich Hill from the game which saw the Boston Red Sox go on to win 9-6, taking a 3-1 lead in the series.

Earlier in the day, Trump condemned the shooting as an “assault on humanity” and an “evil anti-Semitic attack.” He also suggested that if the worshippers in the synagogue had had guns, things might have turned out differently.

He also attended a campaign rally just hours after the shooting. He defended his campaign appearance by erroneously telling the crowd that the New York Stock Exchange was open the day after 9/11.

(pssst – it wasn’t)

In the past, presidents have usually adopted a more somber public face for at least a few days after a national tragedy. Like this from former President Barack Obama.

Twitter noticed the difference in approach.

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Colton Haynes Congratulates His (Estranged?) Husband On 1-Year Anniversary

Colton Haynes and Jeff Leatham 

Arrow star Colton Haynes and his husband (?) Jeff Leatham confused Instagrammers today congratulating each other on their one-year wedding anniversary.

We say “confused” because after only six months of married life, Haynes filed for divorce this past May 8.

At the time of the separation, Haynes posted a video of a song he recorded about relationship infidelity called, “Man It Sucks.”

But in August, the two were spotted together at LAX leading some to think a reconciliation was in the works.

Today, Haynes posted pics from their 2017 wedding with the caption, “Can’t believe it’s already been 1 yr. since we got married @jeffleatham 🙂 Happy Anniversary my beautiful husband ❤️❤️❤️”

At about the same time, Leatham posted his own anniversary message which read, “I can’t remember what it was like before you, and I don’t even know how we got here but maybe that’s exactly what I needed. Someone who could make me forget where I came from and someone who could make me love without knowing how to fall.
R.M. Drake – Happy Anniversary My Beautiful Husband – ❤️🖤❤️🖤- Life is a beautiful place with you beside me. – I LOVE YOU”

It’s not for us to question, we’re just celebrating the happiness.

Wishing the duo all the joy they can handle, and let’s hear it for love!

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LGBTQ Representation Hits All-Time High On Television

Billy Porter as “Pray Tell” on POSE

GLAAD recently released its 14th annual Where We Are on TV report; a comprehensive forecast of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) characters expected in primetime scripted programming in the 2018-19 television season.

This is the 23rd year GLAAD has tracked the presence of LGBTQ characters on television.

First time since GLAAD began tracking these statistics, there are more LGBTQ people of color (50%) than white LGBTQ people (49%) on broadcast television.

Of the 857 regular characters on broadcast scripted primetime programming, 75 identified as LGBTQ. Additionally, there were 38 recurring LGBTQ characters.

Netflix had the highest number of LGBTQ characters on streaming platforms, and FX was the top cable network thanks to this year’s LGBTQ-themed series Pose and The Assassination of Gianni Versace.

It’s great to hit record highs, but GLAAD is pushing for even more visibility on television with a 2-year goal of 10% of series regular characters on primetime broadcast television being LGBTQ.

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Four Dead As Maniac Opens Fire At A Pittsburgh Synagogue

Terrible news as there has been yet another mass shooting in America today.

A gunman entered a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this morning and opened fire as parents and family were celebrating the birth of a child.

The synagogue was hosting a bris. Parents, perhaps for the first time, were marking the birth of their son just eight days prior — a profound and emotional moment in their collective lives — and a maniac burst in and opened fire.

During a bris.

From The New York Times:

An official in Pittsburgh reported that at least four people were dead and at least 12 people had been shot after a gunman opened fire at a synagogue on Saturday morning.

Erika Strassburger, the city councilwoman for the district that includes the synagogue, the Tree of Life Congregation, said the gunman had surrendered to the police after being barricaded in the building and had been taken to the hospital.

Three police officers were shot but their injuries were not life- threatening, she said.

Asked by reporters about the horrific incident, Donald Trump blamed the victims, not the hate, saying if they had had guns things “maybe nobody would have been killed except him.”

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Trump Nation: Obama & Hillary Probably Sent Mailed Pipe Bombs To Themselves

MSNBC’s The 11th Hour sent a reporter down to chat with Trump supporters at a rally down in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the results are about what you’d expect.

Only worse.

Meet Trump supporter Arvil Runyon, who believes Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton sent themselves pipe bombs to influence voters.

Ahem.

That’s in stark contrast to the facts that show the MAGAbomber’s fingerprint and DNA was ON THE F*CKING BOMBS.

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Out On The Campaign Trail, President Obama Puts It All In Perspective

President Obama ,out on the campaign trail this week for midterm elections, reminded me (again) why I loved this guy as president.

Here’s just a few examples of how clear he makes it all to understand.

Remember how ‘Hillary’s email’ was the worstest thing in the world in 2016?

OMG, the sky is falling! She’s leaking classified info! She’s irresponsible.

And then this week comes the report that Donald Trump doesn’t like using his secure government phone.

So, he tweets and calls informal advisers like Sean Hannity on his iPhone – a phone that apparently the Chinese and Russian governments can listen in on.

Barack puts it all in perspective:

Dang, I miss this guy.

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Cesar Sayoc Jr. Charged For Bombing Campaign Against Trump Critics

Cesar Sayoc Jr. charged on 5 counts of attempted bombing targeting critics of Donald Trump
Cesar Sayoc, Jr. (via Facebook)

Cesar Sayoc Jr., of Aventura, Florida, has been arrested and charged in the bombing campaign that has targeted prominent Democratic figures. From The New York Times:

At a news conference in Washington on Friday afternoon, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that Mr. Sayoc had been charged with five federal crimes, including the interstate transportation of an explosive, the illegal mailing of explosives and making a threat against a former president and others. Mr. Sayoc is a registered Republican whose arrest record in Florida dates back to 1991 and includes felony theft, drug and fraud charges, as well as allegations that he threatened to use a bomb, public records show. According to a 2012 bankruptcy petition filed in Miami, Mr. Sayoc resided at the time at his mother’s home. “Lives w/mom,” a handwritten note on the petition said. “Has no furniture.”

The Times reports that DNA samples on two of the bombs matched a DNA sample from Sayoc from a previous arrest. Additionally, a finger print was found on one of the bombs that matched Sayoc. At a press conference today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions was asked why all of the targets were political opponents of Donald Trump. Sessions said he was not sure, but added that the suspect “appears to be a partisan.” Oh, really? Check out the picture at the top of this post. Yeah, I’d call that ‘partisan.’ The charges include interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents and other persons, threatening interstate commerce and assaulting federal officers.’ If convicted, the 56-year-old faces up to 58 years in prison. Sayoc has reportedly denied any role in the bombing campaign. So far, bombs have been found to have been sent to these perceived political opponents of Donald Trump: President Obama; former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.; former Secretary of State Clinton; Rep. Maxine Waters fo California; former Attorney General Eric Holder; John O. Brennan, a former C.I.A. director, the actor Robert De Niro; Sen. Kamala Harris of California; Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey; James Clapper, former director of national intelligence; Tom Steyer, a prominent Democratic donor and George Soros, the billionaire Democratic donor. It appears driving around in his van plastered with Trump propaganda had become unfulfilling.

Because how nutty does this look???

Sayoc appears to have heard the clarion call of his leader who, with a wink and a nod, has been inciting violence for some time. Trump created the ‘alternate reality’ this guy lives in. Don’t for one second not believe that.

 

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Matthew Shepard Finally Laid To Rest

Matthew Shepard

Matthew Shepard, who became a symbol of the LGBTQ rights movement in the 1990s, was finally laid to rest today at Washington National Cathedral 20 years after his death.

Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, presided over the service which was attended by over 2,000 people.

From The Washington Post:

In his homily, Robinson shared an anecdote from the first police officer who arrived at the site of Shepard’s attack, a remote fence to which his battered body was lashed and had spent the cold night. When the officer arrived, he said, a deer was laying beside Shepard’s body. Upon her arrival, the animal looked straight into the officer’s eyes and ran away.

“What she said was: ‘That was the good Lord, no doubt in my mind.’ And there’s no doubt in my mind either. God has always loved Matt,” Robinson said.

Robinson urged the crowd to not just remember Shepard, but to continue to be vigilant regarding the ongoing discrimination against the LGBTQ community.

“I don’t want anyone to leave here without being reminded that you are loved by the god of all that is,” Robinson told the crowd. “You are loved beyond your wildest imagining.”

Robinson said more than once during his comments to “go vote.”

He closed with these words: “There are three things I’d say to Matt: ‘Gently rest in this place. You are safe now. And Matt, welcome home.’ Amen.”

You can watch the ceremony below.

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Caitlyn Jenner Pens Op-Ed: I Was Wrong About Trump

Caitlyn Jenner

Caitlyn Jenner, arguably one of the most famous transgender people in the world, has penned an op-ed for The Washington Post saying her “outlook has changed significantly” regarding her support for Donald Trump and his administration.

“These past two years under President Trump have given me the opportunity to reflect on a lot of topics that have come up in the LGBTQ community and in our nation,” writes Jenner. “As I’ve watched and pondered, my outlook has changed significantly from what it was during my highly publicized and glamorized early Caitlyn days, when my life as an out trans woman was just beginning.”

Admitting she’s been on a learning curve since coming out as transgender, the 68-year-old shares she has “reflected on what my unique position of privilege means and how I can best use it to make a positive difference.”

Pointing to Trump’s declaration at the Republican National Convention in 2016 where he promised he would do everything in his power to “protect LGBTQ citizens from violence and oppression,” Jenner says she “saw fertile ground for change within the Republican Party on LGBTQ issues.”

With American views on LGBTQ citizens were improving, even in the GOP voter base, Jenner felt “optimistic that this was how I could leverage my privilege for change.”

After “many trips to Washington” which produced what she described as “positive” and “encouraging” conversations, Jenner felt hopeful for “positive change.”

“Sadly, I was wrong,” admits the former Olympian. “The reality is that the trans community is being relentlessly attacked by this president. The leader of our nation has shown no regard for an already marginalized and struggling community.”

“He has ignored our humanity,” continued Jenner. “He has insulted our dignity. He has made trans people into political pawns as he whips up animus against us in an attempt to energize the most right-wing segment of his party, claiming his anti-transgender policies are meant to “protect the country.”

“This is politics at its worst. It is unacceptable, it is upsetting, and it has deeply, personally hurt me.”

Jenner now feels her belief that she could work with the Trump administration to improve transgender lives was “a mistake.”

She calls the recently leaked Department of Health and Human Services memo, that reveals a plan to redefine gender in a very narrow manner that could virtually erase 1.4 million trans people in the United States, “just one more example in a pattern of political attacks” on trans people.

“I do not support Trump,” she shares. “I must learn from my mistakes and move forward.”

“I need to listen more to the members of the LGBTQ community and to learn more. I need to better use my voice, my privilege and my foundation to advocate and support our community.”

Jenner concludes with the statement: “The world needs to hear us. The world needs to know us. We will not be erased.”

Of course, the Twitterverse chimed in:

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Trump Twitter Rant: “Bomb Stuff” Slowing GOP Vote Momentum

Earlier this morning, as the nation is gripped with fear over more package bombs being discovered and a nationwide manhunt for a serial bomber intensified, the President of the United States tweeted that “bomb stuff” is affecting vote momentum for Republicans.

The Trumpster also groused about how bots were being removed from his Twitter account (because ‘fake’) and it must be a ‘bias’ conspiracy.