Quotation of The Day

Upon seeing this picture posted all over the internets the last few days (both by people looking to get their rocks off and people using slut-shaming as an argument against her, as if her political views aren’t enough), I knew it had to be a fake. The odd, super-long neck is enough to give it away. So, I went to the always trusty Snopes (Snopes is your friend, people!) to find out the real deal. Of course, it’s fake. I got a quotation of the day out of it to boot:

It’s an unfortunate aspect of modern life that just about any woman who enters the public sphere at a national level is presumed to have posed for risqué photographs (anything from cheesecake shots to nude pictures) at some point in her past, and that (whether she has or not) examples of such photos will inevitably be fabricated and put on public display.

And by “unfortunate,” I assume they mean “completely fucked up.”

Not Cool

Well, it took all of what? ten minutes, maybe half an hour after I’m done complaining about Sarah Palin that I have to point out that, despite the transparency of this pick, it’s really not ok to refer to Gov. Palin as a VPILF. And there’s a friggin’ website?!?! Already!?!? My god you assholes are quick. If anything, I’m now reminded why I don’t read Wonkette.

Michelle Obama at the Democratic Convention

I don’t know what it is about Michelle Obama, but I love her. I might just write her in for President. I mean, she gave props to Biden, who all y’all know I’m no fan of, and I’m still loving her speech tonight. Where do these fools get this “angry” business from? I watch Michelle Obama, and I see nothing but a strong, loving woman with conviction. What’s wrong with that?

Who Is This?

Some people are telling me that it’s Beyonce, but last I checked, this was Beyonce:

Hmmm…something’s not right here. Follow those links above if you can’t figure it out. Actually, follow those links above regardless of if you can figure it out.

Updates on LaVena Johnson

The drive to get justice for Pfc. LaVena Johnson and her family is in full force. I learned today that Danielle Vyas’ petition is a mere 110 signatures away from reaching its 3000 signature goal. Please go and add your name if you haven’t already. Once the goal is reached, Danielle will be hand-delivering the petition to her Representative, Shelley Berkeley.

Via Shakesville, I learned of retired Army Colonel Ann Wright’s account of the Department of Justice’s refusal to allow a witness to be heard.

Color of Change now has a petition up as well, which you should also sign.

There is also now a pdf available, which you can use to help spread the word.

Eddie Griffin has written Congress. My letter is on the way. You should consider writing your own as well.

A quick check of Technorati and the Google Blog Search shows that more and more people are becoming aware of and speaking out about this.

Poet Luke Easter has written a poem in memorial

Prometheus 6 also has an open letter, which, as he says, “is worth email AND a stamp” .

Please take the time to take action on this. It’s only right that the family of Pfc. LaVena Johnson know the truth about their daughter’s death. This cover up is despicable. That it is indicative of a larger problem of violence against women in the military makes it all the more important that we force the military to be held accountable and that justice is served.

LaVena Johnson Petitions and Actions

If you aren’t familiar with the LaVena Johnson case, you should spend some time at The Pfc. Lavena Johnson Petition Blog, Shakesville, What About Our Daughters, and Electronic Village for information on this travesty of justice.

From Wikidedia

Johnson’s death was officially ruled a suicide by the army. However, her father became suspicious when he saw her body in the funeral home and decided to investigate. The army initially refused to release information, but did so under the Freedom of Information Act after Representative William Lacy Clay, Jr. raised questions about it at the congressional hearings over Pat Tillman‘s death.^[2]

The autopsy report and photographs revealed Johnson had a broken nose, black eye, loose teeth, burns from a corrosive chemical on her genitals, and a gunshot that seemed inconsistant with suicide. Several reporters have suspected that the chemical burns were to destroy DNA evidence of a rape.

This is so unacceptable; however, as Villager points out, the momentum is growing.

There are two petitions going right now aimed at re-opening LaVena Johnson’s case and getting to the truth of how she died.

Color of Change petition for Lavena Johnson

Justice for LaVena Johnson

Gina, from What About Our Daughters, also has a lot of good info on contacting your Congressional Representatives about this case.

I encourage everyone who reads this to post about this case on their blogs and to sign the petitions. We can do this.

Stupidest Ever Quotation of the Day

Southern Christian Leadership Conference President, Charles Steele Jr.:

“Why are they attacking Michelle Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and not really attacking, to that degree, her husband?” Steele asked. “Because he has no slave blood in him. He does not have any slave blood in him, but Michelle does.”

I can barely even comment on this one it’s so mind-bogglingly stupid, but let me see if I get this right:

Barack Obama isn’t Black enough; Michelle Obama is too Black; and none of the attacks on Michelle Obama apparently have anything to do with her being a Black woman.

I didn’t think it was possible to cram so much stupid into two sentences.