No good Governor Romney, DOMA is going down, My Afro is Awesome and 6 yr old Lori Anne Madison can outspell you and yo momma #WeeklyRecap – 6/1/2012

POLITICS

1.POTUS!

I’m voting for President Obama. I like him, he gets rid of bad guys, ends wars and wants everyone to have access to affordable health care. I want him to have another four years to finish the process he started – hellooo we are in an economic recovery people and these things do take time to right themselves especially after 8 years of wrong.

2.The Other Guy

Don’t vote for the other guy. You know that guy who officially became the Republican presidential nominee on Tuesday – Mittilicious or as John Stewart has wisely trademarked “Rominee” (good one John, good one – I don’t owe you money now do I?).

I had a few jabs ready to go re the Mitty Mittser Robot Romulater like the nightmare scenario of a Romney Presidency that would include Donald “Dingbat” Trump walking into the Oval Office like it belonged to him, putting his feet up on the coffee table and trying to get Romney to affix a gaudy a*s TRUMP logo to the gates surrounding the White House. #shudder.

AND I was going to mention how I wonder whether or not Sock Puppet Mitt would keep the same crackpot team he has now. You know those guys, the ones that can’t spell (It’s AMERICA not AMERCIA) and refer to him as an “etch a sketch”. With a crew like that Obama might have been able to just sit back and let them slowly but surely tank their own campaign. But nah Obama knows you have to go in for the jugular in these situations and right on key the Obama campaign released this excellent video highlighting the broken promises and failed leadership of one former Massachusetts Governor – Mittheus Rockafeather Vanderbus Romley the 4th.

Quote:  “When Gov. Romney became governor of Massachusetts, many of the issues that our country faces were at our doorstep,” says Melrose Mayor Rob Dolan in the video. “High debt, the need for jobs, the need to support a working middle class. There were great opportunities, and there was great hope that Gov. Romney could deliver. He didn’t deliver.” (Huffpo)

Classic. Romney promised the good people of Massachusetts the moon and the stars AND Pluto and flat out did not deliver. Y’all know what happened to Pluto* right? What’s really crazy is he didn’t even campaign on providing state-wide healthcare but it became a signature achievement of his tenure and yet he backs away from that ish like it’s a STD. How crazy and politically opportunistic is that?? Do me a favor in November, say “NO” to Romney and “YES” to Obama. Thank you.

*Pluto is no longer a planet. Pluto got downgraded to what is known as a ‘dwarf’ planet and is no longer a ‘real’ planet. Look it up. I’m not saying that was Romney’s fault but it did happen while he was playing the role of Governor. #truestory

3. John Edwards

Here’s the thing, I don’t really care about him, like at all, but since he was in like MAD headlines this week I’ll just briefly mention what went down.

He “was acquitted on one charge of campaign finance fraud and a mistrial was declared on five other counts Thursday when jurors said they couldn’t decide if he illegally used money to hide his pregnant mistress while he ran for president” and cheated on his cancer stricken wife.

There, now you know as much as I know. Personally I think any more information on this matter is irrelevant. Next!

SAME SEX LOVE…AND HATE

1. The Love

A key aspect of the 1996 federal “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA) was declared unconstitutional by an appeals court yesterday.

As reported by LATimes’s Dan Savage “the court ruled that the government could not deny tax, Social Security and other federal benefits to gay couples who were legally married in their home states.”

However, “[t]he court didn’t rule on the law’s other provision, which said states without same-sex marriage cannot be forced to recognize gay unions performed in other states,” (AP) effectively keeping it a state issue but recognizing that the federal government could not penalize legally wed same-sex couples by denying them the same benefits available to all married couples.  It is extremely likely this matter will be headed to the Supreme Court very soon.

By the way, just as a reminder, last year the Obama administration decisively decided to not defend DOMA because it believes the law is unconstitutional and it was the House Republicans, led by Speaker John A. Boehner (Ohio), who took it upon themselves to keep fighting against gay marriage. “They hired Washington lawyer Paul Clement to argue in favor of limiting federal recognition of marriage to a “legal union between one man and one woman.” #Wackness

2. The Hate

A video surfaced on Wednesday of an extremely young boy standing in the pulpit of his church singing the following lyrics:

“The Bible’s right, somebody’s wrong.
The Bible’s right, somebody’s wrong.
Romans one, twenty six and twenty seven;
Ain’t no homos gonna make it to Heaven.”

I found it more sad than horrifying. Of course parents are entitled to raise their children in their own likeness but he is so little and teaching hate has never done any one any good ever. Thankfully this crew is on the wrong side of history. Poor little guy, for his sake I hope he never ventures outside his town or worse yet turns on the tv and god forbid catches a sitcom. Whew!

In an extreme contrast, here is a youngster I would like to meet…

THINK YOU’RE SMARTER THAN A 6 YR OLD? THINK AGAIN…

Meet Lori Anne Madison, the youngest person ever to qualify for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

I saw this headline and was going to ignore it because I was like “Spelling? Nerd! And helloooo that’s what spell check is for, duh!” but then I got over myself and paused for a second and thought “wait she’s SIX? Dayum son, lemme see what’s poppin’” and to my impressed amusement I discovered a precious youngster who has already won major awards in math and swimming (keeping pace with 10 yr old boys mind you) and whose mother was told by the headmaster of a private school that her daughter was too smart for their program and needed to be home schooled. Bananas!

She began reading fluently at 2 yrs old and was reading chapter books by 2 1/2. Umm yeah I know some adults who don’t read chapter books right now. Not because they can’t read, they just don’t read.

The reporter accompanied Miss Lori Anne on a trip to a nature preserve for the interview and when asked about all the attention she is receiving she had this say:

“I sort of didn’t like it. I asked for no interviews but the media seems to be disobeying me, and that’s why we’re looking for snails and water slugs right now.”

Outstanding. I am now officially a fan.

Also, her mother says she out argues both her parents and get this her father is a trial lawyer. Geez. Asked how she does it, she replied: “I argue and argue and argue until their brain is spinning.” She’s already learning the art of simply wearing down your opponent. Brava!

Update:  Little Miss Lori did not qualify for the semi-finals but I’m sure she will be back next year. This year’s winner was Snigdha Nadipati, an eighth-grader from La Jolla, CA. She correctly spelled ” ‘guetapens,’ a French-derived word that means an ambush, snare or trap.” And there is your word for today. Annoy your friends and co-workers and use it all day long. See how long it takes before someone tells you to knock it off.

BLACK WOMEN, HAIR, OH MY!

Saw this headline “Black Women’s Hair Transitions” and was momentarily concerned because not all articles about black women and natural hair are good articles about black women and natural hair and I had to hold my breath for a second. Fortunately this turned out to be one of the good ones. A woman (filmmaker Zina Saro-Wiwa) did a documentary about hair (naturally) and I must admit I felt a sense of pride watching it.

I am and will always be a proponent of do what makes sense for you regarding your hair. Be it locks, a ‘fro, weave, a wig, relaxer or a baldy – do you Ma do you! But after making my own “transition” a few years ago I admit I did develop a special affinity for the ‘natural hair do’ in part because I know first hand of the ups (many) and downs (a few) of going natural.

Also, I’m still feeling a certain way about this fool who posted a youtube video “comically” attacking the natural hair revolution because he’s an ignorant jackass who apparently doesn’t know any better – see this post (“You can keep your negative opinion about my natural hair to your ignorant self”) Anyway I’m glad interesting and educational pieces like this one are getting some NYTimes love. It’s a good look. Word up.

Unfortunately I couldn’t figure out how to embed the damn thing into this post so here is the link:  http://nyti.ms/LMJlFI. Click on it and watch it because I said so.

FEEL GOOD NEWS

A 2 year old deaf boy hears his mother’s voice for the first time. It happens within the first minute so you don’t have to watch the entire video. #ADDchallenged

Awwwwww. Now go forth and be thankful all your parts are working properly!

MOVIES

Snow White & The Huntsman, starring Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart and some dude opens this weekend. I’ll admit I’m curious.

The quest for youth and beauty gone absolutely loco. Sounds about right.

Last but not least:  today is National Donut Day, do your body a favor and just say no! Alright alright maybe you can have half of a donut and then a long walk around the block. Hey I’m just looking out for your arteries, the Supreme Court might dismantle our new healthcare law so you might want to start implementing some better eating habits just on general principle. Loves ya!