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Jeff Flake Asks For FBI Investigation Before Full Senate Vote On Kavanaugh

Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona asked colleagues to delay full vote on Brett Kavanaugh
Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona asked colleagues to delay full vote on Brett Kavanaugh

Supreme Court hopeful Judge Brett “Skippy” Kavanaugh saw his nomination approved out of committee to a full floor vote in the Senate along a party line vote of 11-10.

However, GOP Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona told his colleagues, “I’ll move it out of committee, but I will only be comfortable moving forward on the floor until the FBI has done more investigation than it has done already.”

Shortly before the committee vote, a woman stopped Flake in an elevator and shared her own story of sexual assault.

The dramatic, emotional moment went viral.

From The Daily Beast:

“It was all kind of a blur,” Gallagher recalled in an interview with The Daily Beast. “We all ran after him. We held open the elevator and I just started telling him why it was important and what had happened to me and why he should not let Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court.”

What followed was an excruciating exchange that lasted only five minutes in time but could, just maybe, change the course of history. After another woman, Ana Maria Archila, admonished Flake for supporting Kavanaugh, Gallagher jumped in.

“I was sexually assaulted and nobody believed me,” she said. “I didn’t tell anyone, and you’re telling all women that they don’t matter.”

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Red State Dem Sen. Joe Manchin Will Be A “No” On Kavanaugh

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of deep red state West Virginia has been seen as a possible swing vote regarding the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanuagh. Until now. Manchin, who is in a tough race for re-election this November in a state that Donald Trump won by 42 points, has announced he will be a "no" vote on Kavanaugh.
Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia (image via Twitter)

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of deep red state West Virginia has been seen as a possible swing vote regarding the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanuagh.

Until now.

Manchin, who is in a tough race for re-election this November in a state that Donald Trump won by 42 points, has announced he will be a “no” vote on Kavanaugh.

According to reports, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated he believes he has 48 firm “yes” votes. The Republicans need at least 50 (plus a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence) to confirm Kavanaugh.

The three remaining Republicans are Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Jeff Flake (Arizona).

Ian Millhiser of ThinkProgress reports that it appeared Manchin, Collins, Murkowski and Joe Donnelly (a previously announced “no”) could be voting in a bloc. That could mean this would be very bad news for Kavanaugh.

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Senate Dems Walk Out After Judiciary Republicans Schedule Kavanaugh Vote

(screen capture)

Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) just walked out of a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee after Republicans decided to schedule a vote today on approving the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

This follows a call from the American Bar Association last night to delay the vote on Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation until the allegations of sexual assault by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and others have been investigated by the F.B.I.

The American Bar Association had previously given Kavanaugh its full-throated approval.

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Sworn Affidavits, Polygraphs & Beer

So, for the Trump-faithful who believe all sexual accusers are lying, if it was your daughter talking sexual misconduct by Brett Kavanaugh, would you be sooooo stalwart in your support of him?

I’m a gay man with no children, but I have a god son I love very much. If someone touched him I’d risk going to prison defending him.

Will there be NO stepping back and considering that a woman – who has held security clearances in the Justice and State departments – has stepped forward, signed a sworn affidavit (which could be prosecuted for lying under oath) and risked her entire professional life to tell her experience with Kavanaugh?

This isn’t just a quote to USAToday. This is a fucking sworn affidavit.

A LOT of consideration went into this.

And speaking of consideration, we are facing with weighing this: is it POSSIBLE that a white, Republican guy from a wealthy family in the DC area partied hearty, got a bit too ‘alpha’ and lost sight of boundaries while drinking too much in the go-go 80s?

Oh gee, who’s ever heard of that?

I grew up with these guys. In that era.

Oh, no – I don’t think that’s unbelievable at all (insert sarcasm here).

I was a fraternity brother in college who heard the phrase “running a train upstairs” more than once. 

So, pardon me if I find four women coming forward, risking their lives and professional careers, out of respect for a spot on the highest court in the land, believable.

Dr. Ford has already taken a polygraph test that showed the possibility of her lying is less than 1%.

Less than 1%.

Will Brett Kavanaugh submit himself to a similar polygraph test? So far, the answer is no.

An appointment to the Supreme Court is for LIFE. And affects us all for decades.

DECADES.

If Kavanaugh won’t subject himself to a polygraph test, as his accusers have, you have to ask yourself – Why?

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Neil Patrick Harris & James Corden Try Their Hand At Singing Telegrams

James Corden and Neil Patrick Harris

 The Late Late Show host, James Corden, and Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) share their adventures as singing telegram artists in a new skit for Corden’s late night talk show.

In the first of three performances, the dashing duo (adorned in red velvet tuxedoes) drop by a boxing gym to serenade a couple for their 19th wedding anniversary to the tune of Olivia Newton-John’s classic, “Physical.”

However, the tune got a change up for the moment resulting in lyrics like, “Anniversary, versary, it’s your anniversary, 19th anniversary!” while hunky boxers looked on.

Next up the musical men hit up a nail salon to sing in honor of a hot wax technician’s birthday via Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” albeit with new words:

Blue jean baby, LA lady, she works at the salon,
She’s given millions of good Brazilians, all those tiny hairs are gone

Unfortunately, there is a slight snag as the boys seem to have gotten their intel wrong and it’s not the woman’s birthday. #SadTromboneSound

And finally, there’s a performance to celebrate the adoption of a cat. There’s a small squabble about wearing cat ears, but you know how that turns out.

Launching into an altered version of “Memory” from the Broadway hit CATS, the twosome do their best with pawing movements, tail flicks and more, although the day’s tension seem to be wearing on the duo.

As he exits, Corden is asked to adopt a cat of his own but drops a truth bomb, “I hate cats.”

And the boys call it a day.

Watch below.

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Barbra Streisand Announces New Album “Walls”

Legendary actress and recording artist Barbra Streisand has released her first single from her upcoming album, Walls, set for release November 2.

Legendary actress and recording artist Barbra Streisand has released her first single from her upcoming album, Walls, set for release November 2.

According to the famously socially conscious Streisand, she intended the new single, “Don’t Lie to Me,” to have “very subtle” references to Donald Trump.

But she just couldn’t do it.

Instead, the track includes questions and comments clearly meant for Trump.

How do you sleep when the world keeps turning?
All that we built has come undone
How do you sleep when the world is burning?
Everyone answers to someone

And then there’s the title of the album, Walls. There’s a none-too-subtle reference to Trump’s favorite subject.

In an interview with the Associated Press, the Oscar/Emmy/Grammy winner shared that the current “assault on democracy” inspired much of the new collection’s intent.

“I wanted to talk about the things that were making me feel so sad, heartbroken,” she said. “I’m a kind of fierce American.”

“I don’t know who we are anymore as a country. Are we embracing people who flee oppression? Or are we separating children from parents, putting them in cages?”

“I don’t know if people care about the planet, the survival of the planet. Do they care about clean air? Clean water? Clean food? If they do, how could they vote for somebody like Trump, who believes it’s a hoax?”

“I’m frightened for this country. And yet, I have hope.”

Streisand turned to music industry luminaries Walter Afanasieff, John Shanks and David Foster – all Grammy recipients for Producer of the Year – to help craft the arrangements and production of Walls.
And speaking of achievements, a brief review of Streisand’s career highlights is the stuff artists dream of.

With 52 gold, 31 platinum and 13 multi-platinum albums in her career, she is the only recording artist in history to achieve a #1 Album in six consecutive decades.

Streisand is the only woman to make the All-Time Top 10 Best Selling Artists list, and is also the female artist with the most number one albums in Billboard’s history.

And yes, the mantles in her home must be packed with honors considering her two Oscars, ten Grammys (including two special Grammys), five Emmys, three Peabodys, and eleven Golden Globes including the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

Walls Tracklisting

1.    What’s On My Mind
2.    Don’t Lie To Me
3.    Imagine / What A Wonderful World
4.    Walls
5.    Lady Liberty
6.    What The World Needs Now
7.    Better Angels
8.    Love’s Never Wrong
9.    The Rain Will Fall
10. Take Care Of This House
11. Happy Days Are Here Again

You can check out “Don’t Lie to Me” below. The single as well as a pre-order is available at this link.

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UPDATE: Suspect Arrested In Connection With Alleged Brooklyn Hate Crime

Alleged suspect in Brooklyn hate crime

UPDATE: A 25-year-old man, Brandon McNamara, has been arrested in connection with the gay bashing.

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Two men were viciously attacked early Sunday morning as they left a gay bar in Brooklyn, New York.

According to ABC7, the two men – one 29-years-old, the other 34-years-old – had just left the Metropolitan Bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, when a man approaching them called out with a homophobic slur.

The incident quickly escalated with the attacker punching the 34-year-old in the face, and throwing the 29-year-old against a tree. Both were knocked unconscious.

The good news is a bystander managed to snap a fairly clear photo of the attacker as he ran away.

One of the victims suffered a broken finger, while the other had to be treated for a broken shoulder.

Speaking to ABC7, Aidan Pongrice, a neighbor in the area, urged people to take action.

“Not just to find and arrest this one person, we need people to take action to go out and vote and make sure that we don’t have people and leaders in this country that actively dog whistle against my very existence,” said Pongrice.

The New York Police Department are now asking anyone with any information about the incident or identifying the attacker in question to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-8477.

Watch the report below from ABC7.

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Florida Church Fights Homophobic Vandalism With LGBT Messages Of Inclusion

(image via Facebook)

A church in Florida responded to homophobic vandalism with its own message of love.

Over the weekend, the Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, found the words “gay pastor” spray-painted across the church’s sign.

But, instead of immediately removing the graffiti, Rev. Andy Oliver decided to leave the spray paint surrounded by a rainbow of hearts (in a nod to the LGBTQ community) and the phrase, “LOVE ALWAYS WINS!”

“This is just one example of the type of hate crime and hate message the LGBT community goes through regularly,” Oliver told The Tampa Bay Times. “It certainly isn’t great our sign got vandalized, but we want to surround that message of hate with a message of love, and that’s what we’ve received since.”

Additionally, Oliver posted on the opposite side of the church sign the statement, “Vandalism is a felony that shouldn’t take away your vote for life! Vote yes on Amendment 4.”

Folks in the Sunshine state will soon vote on Amendment 4 which would restore voting rights to most felons after serving their time in prison.

The church has a history of using its sign to share progressive messages.

In July, a brick was thrown through the sign after a quote by civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis had been posted. That damage was significant enough that funds had to be raised to purchase a new sign set to be installed next month.

According to a St. Petersburg Police Department spokesperson, the authorities are investigating the vandalism.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman chimed in via his Facebook account writing, “Amen, Allendale UMC – St. Petersburg. And this shows that we still have work to do, and why we fight every single day to create a climate of inclusion.”

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Brett Kavanaugh: “I Did Things In High School That Make Me Cringe Now”

Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh

After presenting himself to the nation as a “virgin” who never ever drank in excess during high school or college in an interview with Fox News earlier this week, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh now admits he was “not perfect” and did drink in high school.

From The Washington Post:

In his prepared testimony for Thursday’s Senate hearing, Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh says he was ‘not perfect’ in high school and drank beer with friends but strongly denies having committed sexual assault.

“In retrospect, I said and did things in high school that make me cringe now,” he says, adding that “sometimes I had too many” when he drank beer.

But Kavanaugh says what he has been accused of by Christine Blasey Ford is altogether different.

“What I’ve been accused of is far more serious than juvenile misbehavior,” Kavanaugh says in testimony released by the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I never did anything remotely resembling what Dr. Ford describes.”

Kavanaugh says he is the victim of “grotesque and obvious character assassination.”

“There has been a frenzy to come up with something — anything, no matter how far-fetched or odious — that will block a vote on my nomination,” Kavanaugh says, in the testimony released by the Senate Judiciary Committee. “These are last minute smears, pure and simple.”

In his Fox News interview with Martha McCallum, Kavanaugh asserted he’d never done “anything” like what has been described by his accusers nor had he ever consumed alcohol in excess.

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’50/20′ – “An Interracial, Age Challenged, Sexually Fluid Web Series”

Christopher Long and Christopher Nester in “50/20”

The new digital offering “50/20” bills itself as “an interracial, age challenged, sexually fluid web series.”

In the new series, written by Christopher Long and Evan Wynkoop, John (Christopher Nester) and Chris (Christopher Long) meet by chance on a baseball field and an accidental conversation becomes a romantic moment.

Or does it?

Chris is an African-American man in his 50s with a great job, great apartment, great friends, but not-so-great love life. Two years after the death of his longtime lover, he’s been on a lot of bad dates.

John is a good-looking guy in his 20s trying to find a career. A college graduate, he’s in that New York City “table-waiting, bartending, personal training” mode.

Neither of the two were looking for anything when they met, but the conversation leads to John asking for Chris’s phone number.

Plus, according to the digital series’ official website, Chris has never dated a white person and John has never dated anyone who wasn’t white.

Did I mention that Chris is gay and John is straight?

It’ll be interesting to see where this goes.

Check out episode one, “Chance Meeting,” below.