Thursday, August 4, 2011

Red Town Blues Goes The Way Of The Buffalo/Check Out No Gods, No Masters!


I am sad to announce the end of Red Town Blues. With Virgil's departure I have been thinking quite a bit about the future of this blog. While I have enjoyed writing for this project and working with Virgil, I have decided the blog would be lonely and stiff as a solo project. I thought about reworking and reformatting, but I have decided that it would be more work than just starting a new project.

I want to apologize to all of our readers (we don't have many, but I have appreciated all of you) and I would like to invite you to my new solo project, No Gods, No Masters. This new project will continue to have my political commentary, but with the added bonus of bringing a lot more of my personality into it. I will be talking about personal stories, my hobbies, politics, social issues, being an atheist in Utah, and just all around anything I deem entertaining. I will also continue to podcast.

Again, I apologize for the inconvenience and the suddenness of this announcement. I am just as much, if not more so, bummed about shutting down Red Town Blues. Thank you all for reading!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Reverend's Rants: The Oslo Terror Attack

This is the face of a terrorist.
Today I talk about the horrible attacks in Oslo and Utoya. This is the perfect example of the dangers of extremism in any form.



My sympathy goes to all the victims of this attack, it truly is heart breaking. Please feel free to email me with questions, comments, or concerns at askthereverend@yahoo.com.
/rant

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Amy Winehouse is dead and it's all Obama's fault!

An impression of the IQ of the general public

  • Amy Winehouse died because Obama wanted to tax her so badly that she killed herself to avoid socialisms.
  • I had bad diarria last night you know why?????? Obama!
  • Don't raise the debt ceiling! I'm fed up with the federal guverment spending all of my money! They should just abolish Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Student Loans, Foreign assistance, and any other guverment spending and let the corporate powers have complete and utter rule over us all! Then and only then, will we truly be free?
  • This Norway guy was such a jerk! I'm sure it's some how because of Obama that he done did do it!
  • It took forever to get to work today! It's because the Guverment can't keep it's guverment hands of my freeway system!!!!
  • KILL WHITEY!!!!
  • What's on E network tonight?
  • The Obama recession started the second Obama walked into the oval office and declared himself sharia law or somethin
  • Glenn Beck for pres!!!!! He's a real 'merican!
  • No football, no basketball? Those damn unions ruin everything! it's all Obama's fault!
  • BACON!
  • Vote 'em all out of office! Except for the Republicans!
  • Cut spending! Except on the rich! They really need a few thousand more dollars!
  • Obamacare is a job killer! Letting the U.S. default on it's debts is a job creater!
  • Did you see Gossip Girl last night? OMG, she is such a little whore!


Friday, July 22, 2011

BATMAN!

FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER BATMAN HAS BEEN A STAPLE OF MY LIFE. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD WATCHING THE OLD ADAM WEST SHOW ON CABLE WITH MY BROTHER AND SISTER, WE ALL LOVED IT. THE PENGUIN, CATWOMAN, RIDDLER, BOOKWORM, EGGPLANT, AND OF COURSE, THE JOKER WERE ALL SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH FOR US KIDS. THE WAY THAT OLD 1960'S SERIES PLAYED WAS VERY KID FRIENDLY, WATCHING IT NOW MAKES ME REALIZE HOW RIDICULOUS IT WAS BUT AT THE TIME, THERE WAS NOTHING BETTER!

I REMEMBER FOR CHRISTMAS WE ALL GOT BATMAN BATHING TOWELS AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF BATMAN TOYS! TO THIS DAY I REMEMBER THE EXCITEMENT! THEN THE 1989 TIM BURTON MOVIE CAME OUT. IT WAS HARD FOR ME INITIALLY TO GET USED TO THE MORE DARK, REALISTIC VERSION SINCE I WAS SO USED TO THE SWASHBUCKLER TV VERSION. BUT THE MOVIE WAS AWESOME AND IT ONLY SOLIDIFIED MY LOVE FOR THE CAPED CRUSADER EVEN MORE. MICHAEL KEATON AND JACK NICKLESON WERE SO FUN IN THEIR PERFORMANCES AND I TOTALLY HAD THE HOTS FOR VICKIE VALE PLAYED BY KIM BASINGER! LETS JUST SAY THAT'S THE MOMENT IN MY LIFE THAT I NEW I WAS A HETEROSEXUAL! 

AFTER THAT IT WAS BATMAN RETURNS, WITCH I LOVED, BATMAN FOREVER WHICH AT THE TIME I LOVED(NOW NOT SO MUCH). BUT DURING THESE YEARS I WAS ACTUALLY MORE ENAMORED WITH THE BATMAN CARTOON SERIES! IT WAS ON RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL AND I USUALLY DIDN'T MISS IT! I LOVED IT!

 THEN CAME THE ABOMINATION! THE GOD AWFUL MOVIE, QUITE POSSIBLY THE WORST MOVIE EVER MADE IN HISTORY, "BATMAN AND ROBIN". THIS MOVIE WAS SO BAD IT NEARLY KILLED THE BATMAN FRANCHISE FOREVER. IN FACT, FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOLLOWING THIS MOVIE BATMAN WAS A JOKE. I CALL THIS PERIOD OF TIME, THE DARK DAYS FOR THE DARK KNIGHT. JUST WATCH THESE CLIPS AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I MEAN....


FROM 1997 TO 2002 BATMAN WAS DEAD AFTER THIS MOVIE! THE WORLD TURNED ON BATMAN, EVEN ME! THEN IN 2003 RISING STAR CHRISTOPHER NOLAN SIGNED ON TO REVAMP THE ALMOST DEAD FRANCHISE ON LIFE SUPPORT. AT THAT TIME I HAD NO FAITH IN THIS DIRECTORS ABILITIES AND NEVER THOUGHT THE NEW"BATMAN BEGINS" MOVIE WOULD COME EVEN CLOSE THE THE 1989 TIM BURTON MOVIE. I WENT WITH MY WIFE TO GO SEE IT, AND WE WERE BOTH BLOWN AWAY! THE MOVIE HAD DEPTH, HEART, SOUL, ACTION, DRAMA, COMEDY, ROMANCE, TRAGEDY, AND TRIUMPH! 


2005 MARKED THE GLORIOUS RETURN OF BATMAN BEING A RESPECTABLE HOUSEHOLD NAME ONCE AGAIN. I LOVE BATMAN BEGINS, IT IS MY SECOND FAVORITE BATMAN MOVIE EVER(RIGHT NOW). IT HAS MY FAVORITE QUOTE FROM ANY MOVIE I'VE EVER SEEN TO DATE....


THIS MOVIE TRULY IS AMAZING AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A BIG SUPER HERO MOVIE BUFF! THIS MOVIE IS MORE ABOUT BRUCE WAYNE'S STRUGGLE TO OVERCOME HIS FEAR, ANGER, AND LOSS FROM THE DEATH OF HIS PARENTS THEN IT IS ABOUT BATMAN KICKING SOME BADDIES ASSES!(ALTHOUGH THERE IS PLENTY OF THAT TOO). YOU'LL LOVE IT, I PROMISE!


THEN CAME THE MOST LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE EVER! 2008 "THE DARK KNIGHT" TOPPED BATMAN BEGINS AND THAT IS SAYING A LOT! IT HAD EVERYTHING IT'S PREDECESSOR HAD PLUS THE GREATEST MOVIE VILLAIN OF ALL TIME. MARK MY WORDS, NOBODY WILL EVER TOP HEATH LEDGERS AWE INSPIRING PERFORMANCE AS JOKER, PERIOD!


EVERY VILLAIN IN EVERY MOVIE YOU'VE EVER SEEN HAS SOME SORT OF WEAKNESS OR ALTERNATIVE MOTIVE. WHETHER IT BE JEALOUSY, FEAR, BETRAYAL, MONEY, SPOUSE, OFFSPRING, ETC. NOT JOKER! "HE CAN'T BE BULLIED, RATIONED, OR REASONED WITH, SOME MEN JUST WANT TO WATCH THE WORLD BURN." -ALFRED  THAT IS JOKER TO THE T. NOTHING BATMAN SAYS OR DOES WHETHER IT BE PHYSICALLY OR PSYCHOLOGICALLY CAN DETER JOKER. JOKER EVEN WANTS BATMAN TO KILL HIM JUST TO PROVE THAT HE GOT BATMAN TO BREAK HIS NO KILLING RULE.


NOW EXACTLY ONE YEAR FROM TODAY, NOLAN WILL RELEASE HIS FINAL BATMAN MOVIE"THE DARK KNIGHT RISES" IT WILL BE HIS LAST MOVIE AND I'M SO EXCITED YET BUMMED THAT IT'LL BE HIS LAST! NOLAN SAVED BATMAN! HE MADE THE FRANCHISE INTO A HOUSEHOLD NAME AND BATMAN TRULY IS IN HIS RIGHTFUL SPOT. THE GREATEST OF ALL SUPERHEROS! NOT BECAUSE OF HIS POWERS OR ABILITIES. BUT BECAUSE HE HAS NO SUPER POWERS, HE IS A MORTAL MAN WHO GIVES HIS ALL TO PROTECT THE CITY HE LOVES AND STRIKE FEAR ON THOSE WHO PREY UPON THE FEARFUL. I NOW LEAVE YOU WITH THE TRAILER TO THE NEXT MOVIE......


LONG LIVE THE BAT!!!!!!!


Thursday, July 21, 2011

The Reverend's Rants: Heavy Rain


Today's episode is about the video game and interactive drama, Heavy Rain. I thought we could use a more lighthearted (I'm not sure that's an appropriate descriptor, Heavy Rain is quite the sad game.) rant today.



I wanted to also share some pics of the characters in the game.

Ethan Mars. He lost one son to a car accident, and his other son has been taken by the Origami Killer.

Scott Shelby. Private detective hired by the Origami Killer's previous victim's families to track the killer down.

Norman Jayden. FBI agent with addiction problems brought in to help solve the case of the Origami Killer.

Madison Paige. Journalist and insomniac, she is trying to put her fears to rest and track down the killer.

Thanks for listening. Please feel free to email me with questions, comments, or concerns at askthereverendrtb@yahoo.com.
/rant

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

The Reverend's Rants: A Religious Education


In today's rant I talk about giving our students an education in religion.



Please feel free to email me with questions, comments, or concerns at askthereverendrtb@yahoo.com. Thanks for listening!
/rant

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Between Barack and a tard place!



You gotta feel for John Boehner at least a little bit. Here is a staunch conservative, a true blue(or red I should say) Republican. Who has worked his whole life to get to where he is now. Do I agree with his policies or politics? No! Do I respect him, honestly, I do! I believe he is a good man who is doing what he believes is right. And he is being held hostage by his fanatical base in the republican party.

In soooooo many ways he deserves this. If you campaign during an election season on outright lies, fear, hate, and deception. If you let your party succumb to the whims of talk radio and cable news, this is what you get! Here you have your political opponent reaching out to you in good faith, more than wanting to work together with you to govern this country in a bipartisan way. But the very people who swept you into office are demanding you to stop it or else!

The GOP is once again proving that they are amazing at political campaigns but are horrible at actual governance! The republican party is constantly shouting at the country how shitty and terrible the government is and then prove it once they get involved with it!

The debt ceiling "negotiations" Have taken a turn for the worse for Boehner! He had Obama pissing off his liberal base by saying he was willing to take on the Democratic sacred cows


And all Obama asked in return was for the Republicans to take on their sacred cow(s)


But instead of asking the super rich to chip in on the sacrifice so the Middle class and working poor don't have to shoulder all the burden of deficit reduction, the Republicant's instead have said they'd rather just give Obama absolute power in raising the debt ceiling. All they want in return is the ability to vote no and score political points from Obama's willingness to make tough decisions.

Either way Obama has reminded the country why he was elected in the first place. The guy picks his battles cautiously. But when he fights them, he is like a masterful chess artist! I know a lot of liberals wished he fought every battle guns a blazen' but that's just not his governing style. He isn't Michael Jackson. He doesn't swoop around making impressive crowd pleasing moves. He doesn't grab his crotch and shout"ouw!" He's more like
Hans Zimmer, making brilliant, well thought out music but you have to be patient in order to enjoy it and the more patient you are, the more you love it......


In contrast this is a very good example of the GOP governing style, a few nut jobs like it. But to most of us it's just a funny side show.......

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

We Bleeding Hearts


Liberals. We all know the stereotypes. To the Right Wingers, and even Moderates, we are seen as pansies, wusses, politically correct hippies, and other such things. They seem to have a point. There are plenty of us who worry about offending people. Who worry about being overly 'politically correct'. So why would anyone be a Liberal? Who wants to be 'weak'?

That's easy. I'm a Liberal, and I'm a Liberal because I have empathy. Empathy is not a weakness. Being able to see how people in other situations feel is a strength. Being able to relate to your fellow human beings who aren't like you is a strength. Wanting the same rights for all human beings, regardless of race, creed, orientation, gender, ability, class, etc., is not weak. There is nothing wrong with asking people to stop saying hate words. Racial slurs don't help keep us united. Racial slurs keep us divided into cliques. They make it 'us' and 'them'. Asking others to be tolerant does not make us pansies. It makes us the bigger people. How is asking people to not say those things, or to treat everyone as humans and equals, weakness?

The Right Wing calls us weak and wusses so they can try to justify their bigotry. They say we are all too worried about being politically correct so they can keep saying what they want. By declaring Liberals weak, they make it so they can denigrate anyone who isn't like them. It's the tactic of bullies. Make your opposition look weak, and anything they say seem like it's sissy, and the public will think you are strong. You can then get away with saying any horrible thing you want. Hell, we have the Tea Party going on about how they are racists, and proud! How can they get away with it? Because they make us out to be weak. We say all people deserve respect, they say that only wimps think that, and this is 'Merica! (They use a double whammy of bullying and patriotism.) It's sickening.

Liberals need to show we are not the weaklings they think we are. We aren't weak, and we never were. We have to show them that caring for everyone, even those not just like us, is the right thing to do. We need to spread the message that equal rights is just that, equal rights, and all people deserve them. We bleeding hearts need to show that empathy is not our weakness, it's what makes us strong.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Michele Bachmann Is A Nutjob


This is Michele Bachmann, and she is a nutjob. She recently signed a pledge from THE FAMiLY LEADER, and let me tell you, it's pretty messed up.

The pledge states that,

  • 1 million children in the U.S. suffer from their parents getting divorced. (Because the parents need to live in misery, apparently, to protect the delicate child. More on that in a moment.)
  • The taxpayer is out over 112 billion dollars because of divorce.
  • Social protections for women and children are evaporating.
  • And for this one, I'm going to quote the document directly. 
"Slavery had a disastrous impact on African-American families, yet sadly a child born into slavery in 1860 was more likely to be raised by his mother and father in a two-parent household than was an African-American baby born after the election of the USA's first African-American President."
After it states these thing, it gets to the vows. The signer vows...

  • Fidelity to their spouse.
  • Respect for others marriages (As long as they are straight marriages).
  • Fidelity to the Constitution.
  • "Vigorous  Opposition" to changing the definition of marriage from "one man and one woman".
  • Support marriage law reform to remove "quickie divorces".
  • Support legal defenses for the Defense Of Marriage Act.
  • "Steadfast Embrace" to add an amendment to the Constitution to define marriage as "one man and one woman".
  • Protecting women and children by removing prostitution, human trafficking, abortion, pornography, and promiscuity.
  • Making it so women the military are not allowed into any kind of combat role, to protect them, of course.
  • "Rejection of Sharia Islam and all other anti-woman, anti-human rights forms of totalitarian control".
  • Recognizing that women need to make lots of babies for the good of the U.S.A.
  • Fierce defense of the First Amendment, as long as no one is using it to offend the faithful.
I read all of this document, and holy shit, it's crazy. I'm going to break down the biggest problems I see with the entire thing.

First is the fact that they make a big deal that people get divorced. They pull out the old favorite, "Think of the children!" Because when parents get divorced, children might be subject to the real world. I'm sure that there is damage done when there is a divorce, but there is always more damage when people stay together "for the children". If parents aren't happy together, there is no reason to stay together. Period. A pursuit of happiness is part of our Declaration of Independence.

Second, yes national protections for women and children are evaporating. They are evaporating because of groups like this one!

Next is the the whole slavery thing. What the fuck? Are they seriously suggesting that an African-American child was better off in slavery? Are they really forgetting how slavery broke apart families? Are they trying to say that Obama is somehow responsible for any of it? For fuck's sake!

The vows are equally stupid.

Vowing to respect other people's marriage, so long as they are straight marriages? Did she not before? Why can't we respect gay marriages? This is ridiculous.

Opposition to changing the definition of marriage? Why would that be a good thing? Homosexuals are people too, and they are citizens (A fact that I rank lower than being a person). They deserve equal rights and protections under the law. Their marriage will not disrupt yours. If you don't like gay marriage, don't have one!

Removing the ability for people to have "quickie divorces" would make so many problems. Some people get married on a whim, or without much thought, or too young. These people may find that they aren't compatible, or that they weren't ready. Why should we force them to be anchored to each other? This would only help to promote unhappiness and misery.

She also vows to remove anything that may taint the innocence of children. Up to, and including; abortion, pornography, and promiscuity. First, pornography is not a social evil. I've said as much before. Second, promiscuity is not a social evil. If people like to have sex, let them! As long as it's consenting adults, then the number of partners they have is no ones business, and it won't effect anyone else. Third, abortion. They claim that women's rights are evaporating, and to help renew them we need to remove more. Reproductive rights are essential to equal rights for women. If we start forcing to women to have children we become monsters.

Making it so women in the military can't be in any kind of combat position, for "protection", does not help to grant them equal rights. These women joined the military, went through all the training, and have earned their positions. How dare you vow to take that away from them?

This next part is, personally, the most hilarious/disgusting. They say they want to make sure Sharia law is never in place, so women's rights and other human rights won't be violated. So, Christian Dominionism is all about equal rights for all? They have already shown to be completely unwilling to grant equal rights, how utterly ironic to say that they don't want someone else to come take your rights away. What they are really saying is that they don't want Islam to do it when Christianity is completely capable.

The more I read this thing and the more I think about it, the angrier I get. Michele Bachmann has, by signing this Presidential Pledge, proven that she is a complete nutjob. She has shown that she hates; homosexuals, non-Christians, African-Americans, women, equality, and pretty much anyone who isn't just like her. She isn't fit to lead this country, and I find it sickening that she even has a chance to get into the Presidential race. She hates other people's freedoms. She will never look out for anyone who isn't a white fundamentalist Christian. Michele Bachmann will never be able to be the leader of this whole country, because she doesn't care about the whole country. She cares about Michele Bachmann, and those like her. We need a President that is able to empathize with other human beings. We don't need Michele eroding our freedoms, and preventing other citizens from getting theirs.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Would you like jam with that toast??

YES WE CAN!


This is somewhat of a sequel to my Obama's toast, enjoy him while you can! post.
BE BADLY DEFEATED IN 2012!







Today was the final nail in the coffin! To all Obama supporters, he's done, finished, gone! Accept it. The American people are too obsessed with tabloids and fluff to have the knowledge required to realize that this bad economy is not his fault.

No doubt the top CEO's of corporations and their hedge fund managers were all giving each other high fives when the unemployment numbers came out today. Only 18,000 jobs created(100,000 was expected) and the unemployment rate jumped up to 9.2 percent.

Obama will not be re-elected! His own liberal base hates him(many have said they will not support him), the republican voters will turn out in droves to defeat him regardless of who the republican nominee is, corporations will be able to influence the general public into voting for their republican puppets, unions have been weakened state to state, and the independent voter is too busy watching "American Idol" and "Gossip Girl" to know what the hell is going on!

So we need to realize that the REAL presidential election is going on right now. The republican primary, whoever wins will be the next president! One of these next three people will be the next President...
1. Mitt Romney
Hi, I'm Troy I mean
Mitt Romney!
The similarities between Mitt and Troy are truly strange........





2. Michelle Bachmann
Michelle "Wont someone please think





The uppity snooty wife of the preacher, sounds like Bachmann to me!





of the children!" Bachmann!










3. Rick Perry
Governor Rick"Yeehaaw!"
Perry!










So their you have it. Mark my words, one of those three will be the next president! In my opinion this country doesn't deserve Obama. The old saying is"You reap what you sow." We Americans are a spoiled, fickle, unruly bunch, all of us! We are reaping what we sow.

People on the right hate him because he's a communist, socialist, terrorist, Muslim, black man!
People on the left hate him because he's a traitor, pussy, weak, DINO, wimpy guy!
People in the middle hate him because he "hasn't made the economy good again yet!?"
We deserve any one of those three republicans, they represent us all far better than Obama does! Now where did I put my Canada map?

Thursday, July 7, 2011

The Reverend's Rants: Speak English!

Please don't ever have this attitude.
Today I talk about English as the official language and Spanish speakers.



Thanks for listening! Please feel free to email me with questions, comments, or concerns at askthereverendrtb@yahoo.com.
/rant

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Virgil's July 4th celebration!

It was recently reported that democrats don't enjoy July 4th celebrations as much a republicans do. That's nonsense! Watch how much fun I was having surrounded by my Tea Bagging Mormon neighbors in Utah at the Independence Day celebrations!!!!


See!?! We democrats love to be among Red Neck conservatives! If that didn't convince you enough check out how much crazy fun I was having later that day!!!!!!!


I think I can speak for all liberals in attendance that day(all seven of us) when I say that's how much fun we all had! God bless America!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

The Reverend's Rants: American Jingoism

The only way this could be more patriotic is if it had an eagle screech every 5 seconds.
Today I talk about American's view of patriotism.



Thanks for listening! Feel free to email me with questions, comments, or concerns at askthereverendrtb@yahoo.com.
/rant

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Changing Our Look!

We here at Red Town Blues are dedicated to bringing you exciting posts. We are also dedicated to making it look good while we do it, and so we have begun a redesigning of the blog. We are hoping to make it more unique, more 'Red Town Blues' if you will. The changes are, for the most part, aesthetic. We have added a few new pages (About, Guest Authors) and we will be changing more things as we go, so look forward to a few more design changes in the near future. Hopefully this fixes the cluster we had going, makes things easier to navigate, and doesn't assault the optic nerves. Let us know if we have failed to make it look sleeker, and instead have made a mockery of design principles!

The Reverend's Rants: Mormon Cursing

Here is the long awaited late episode! It's a short one, but it's something that truly irks the shit out of me.



Bonus episode coming sometime before Tuesday! Thanks for listening!
/rant

Friday, July 1, 2011

The end of three eras.

Virgil's epic return! This song is already a classic, but I also loved the video. Plus this song sums up my feelings on people who look down on me.

Yesterday marked the end of three eras!
  1. Bob Gates retires and received the medal of honor from President Obama. Back when Gates arrived in 2006 after the mid term thumpin as Bush put it. Rummsfeild was fired retired and Bush nominated Bob Gates as his successor. Like everyone else at that time I was fed up and outraged at the War in Iraq and the reckless disregard Donald Rummsfeild showed for human life both American and Iraqi. I assumed Gates would be no different and automatically hated him when he arrived.
          I now know how wrong I was. I believe he was a good man, a good Defense Secretary, and fine public servant. Now before you all cry foul and decry my non liberal conformity let me say I didn't always agree with him and so forth. But I believe he did so many great things that you simply can't ignore it. He inherited a disaster from Rummy. He made the Secretary of Defense a respectable position again. Hopefully Panetta can pick up the baton and run with it from there.




              2.  Bye bye Beck! Good riddance to one of the most hate filled fucktards in the country. I know he's just leaving Fox but still, one less awful, angry, fear mongering, evil shows on TV! Just a reminder of what we'll all be missing.........



              3. Mark Halperin's smug, egocentric, asshole ways are being exposed finally! I've hated this fucker for a long time now and he finally is himself in the hot seat after calling President Obama a "dick" live on the air. I've never liked this asshole! In fact my shut the fffff....heck up post was in reference to a god awfully stupid piece of shit article that Halperin wrote on the death of Bin Laden. I'm glad this prick is finally being recognized as the shithead that he is!

  This pretty much sums up the REAL media! If media hacks like this guy and these people say things like this about the president on the air it makes you wonder what they say off the air! What a bunch of losers we have in the American press! All of them! They're all a bunch of cynical, self important, smug assholes!

If Obama said anything like this about Mark Halperin the media would be all over it! In fact I bet there would be calls for his immediate resignation! But the media has double standards. Whenever politicians, celebrities, or other well known figures slip up and say something dumb the press immediately points their cameras in the faces of "whoever done it". It would be shoved down our throats for weeks until the ADHD media found another story to expose and sensationalize! But the second a media hack does it........

Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Reverend's Rants, Postponed!

Sorry everyone, I haven't had a chance to record my latest rant. I will have it up sometime before Sunday. I apologize for being late again. Perhaps I will record an extra one to make up for it.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Reverend's Rants: The Evils Of The Catholic Church


Today I talk about why I think the Catholic Church is a force for evil.



Thanks for listening! Please feel free to email me at askthereverendrtb@yahoo.com.
/rant

Sunday, June 26, 2011

New York Is A Better Place!


I'm a little late in posting this, but New York finally passed gay marriage into law! It's the sixth state to do so, and the most populated state to pass it by far. It makes me happy to see another state finally recognize that marriage is a basic right for all people.


Ignore the image (ATHF was an awesome movie, though) and listen to the lyrics. When these things happen, even though it's on the other side of the country, I always feel like partying. I even did a little victory dance when I heard the news. Congratulations New York! You have made your state a better place to live, and you have made the government of this country seem slightly less bigoted!

My uncanny ability to piss people off.

Just call me ass head!
We've been at this for nearly three months now. It's been very fun, I've really enjoyed it. If there are three things I've learned about myself since I've been a heathen blogger it's these.....
  1. I am a terrible speller!
  2. I am horrible with grammar!
  3. I have an uncanny ability and down right talent at pissing people off!
Not including me and the Rev we have 26 followers now. Plus I believe we have a couple of frequent readers who don't follow so I'd say we have about 30 readers of this blog. 

To anyone who I've ever offended or pissed off, please forgive me! It truly never has, never is, and never will be my intent to upset anyone personally! I know I have a hair trigger and a tendency of knee jerk reactions. I know I'm proud, and arrogant, and unkind at times. Ask my wife what a pain in the butt I can be sometimes, she'd talk to you for hours!

I appreciate you all and hope you've enjoyed this blog as much as we've enjoyed doing it. I want to particularly thank the Rev man! Who puts up with my dramatic ways with an unwavering ease! Believe me when I say that behind the scenes I am a jittery stress case and the Reverend is calm, cool, and collected. It's been fun to be a part of this with him and I value his friendship.

I also thank my wife. Who is my best friend in the world and my rock! She also is my best spell checker and proof reader. She is extremely patient with me! I am a very sensitive, judgemental, selfish, self doubting person and she puts up with me anyway. I love her so much and want to start being a better husband. I have been so involved with this blog as of late that it's starting to take hold of my life right now. So I'll be away for awhile. Just until I feel whole and complete with my wife and daughter.

I'll be back when my heart is in it again. Right now I want to take a small break, and give you all a break from me. I think I'm the kind of person one can only enjoy in small doses. I've always been that way. Probably always will be.I work two jobs, have a wife and 5 year old little girl, and a whole plethora of pressing issues. It's time to prioritize!

So I bid you all adieu for now. I hope the Rev man keeps posting from time to time, I've enjoyed his posts and pod casts and will continue to read and listen to his awesome stuff! I will still enthusiastically follow and leave comments from time to time, I will be back, I just need some time to reflect. I'm tired of myself so I can imagine how tired everyone else is of me.

I shall return!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

The Reverend's Rants: The Book Of Mormon Musical


Welcome to another episode of The Reverend's Rants! Today I talk a little about The Book Of Mormon Musical!





Thanks for listening! Please feel free to email me with questions, comments, or concerns at askthereverendrtb@yahoo.com.
/rant

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The pros and cons of my favorite president's war withdraw.

I will always make no bones about it that Obama is my favorite President now and most likely ever! I support him, I'll enthusiastically vote for him in 2012, I hope that someday he'll visit Utah so I can have a chance of a quick handshake and if I'm lucky maybe a photo and an autograph! 

I also make no bones that my biggest disagreement with Obama is his foreign policy. Picture this, in the last 21/2 years our presence in Afghanistan has tripled, our strikes using unmanned drones have doubled in Pakistan(that has caused so many problems it truly is scary if you stop and think about it) and we're now in a conflict in Libya that Obama has not gotten any sort of war power resolution of any kind. Even Bush had a vote of support from congress before he invaded Iraq! 

Had Bush been president during the last two years and done the things Obama has done there would be riots on the streets. The anti-war movement would make the Tea party rallies look like a stroll down Mr. Rogers neighborhood. In a strange way this shows how beloved our president really is. The economy sucks, unemployment is high, our national debt is about to default, we're in these wars that cost so much time and resources let alone lives, and yet his approval rating hovers around 50 percent. If it were any other president they would be at around 20 percent or lower!

But my point of this post was to express my view points on his announcement for troop withdraws. A pro and con list if you will. Keep in mind that this is just my opinion, some will find it hawkish, others will find it wishy washy....
  •  Pro, he very plainly stated that we need not send troops abroad from now on to resolve conflict. I whole heartily agree with that!
  • con, no specifics about what happens to the remaining 66 thousand troops after 2012. 
  • pro, A quicker draw down than the military wanted, and what the media in general expected. At least troop tours will go down from 12 months to 9 months.
  • con, he pretty much promised 31/2 more years of a war that has already been waged the past 10!
  • pro, stressed that we can no longer go it alone, that we must have international support like we did with Libya. 
  • con, I got the sense that his heart wasn't in this speech. That's extremely rare.I always watch major Obama speeches and I could just tell that he wasn't feelin it so to speak. It makes me wonder what we don't know. 
Pakistan is quickly becoming our greatest threat. They are nuclear armed, their military overwhelmingly despises us, they clearly support terrorist organizations, it's just scary if you think about it. I have a feeling that we aren't even in Afghanistan to defeat Al-Quida any more. I have a feeling we're their to keep an eye on Pakistan as long as we possibly can.

The reason I think we need to get out and now is because we're just delaying the inevitable. The second we leave Afghanistan will be screwed! If you don't think that you're crazy! The only reason Afghanistan is semi, semi stable right now is because of our presence there. This isn't Iraq, we're not leaving behind a stable culture with a stable government. The Afghani Government is corrupt and inept at best!

Obama inherited a horrific situation! I truly believe that he's doing the best he can and I'm sure there is alot that we don't know. I just think we should just pull the plug already. Tear off Afghanistan like a band aid and hope that we can protect our borders better than we could on the morning of Sept. 11 2001! The only thing I view that's worse now from then is Pakistan is unbelievably pissed at us. They have nuclear weapons, power, international clout, and money. Everything Al-Quida wished they had back then.

The dawn of the return of the moderate middle.

This post will include no pictures, this post will not be entertaining. This post is for those who enjoy the written word and serious dialogue...

Tomorrow, August 1st, 2011. Both chambers of congress WILL pass legislation that will do three important things. 1) Raise the debt ceiling by 2.4 trillion effectively thwarting a global depression. 2) Cut deficit spending by 1 trillion over the next ten years. And most importantly of even the first two but what nobody realizes. Obama will deliver on one of his most important campaign pledges. 3) Change the tone in Washington!


There is a mechanism that is hard to explain in detail in this bill so I will sum it up as best as I can in a nutshell.....

DEMOCRATS: YOU HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT BY 2 TRILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK WITH THE OTHER PARTY, YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT CHOICES, YOU CANNOT DEMAGOGUE THE OTHER SIDE IN THIS PROCESS.

-WHY???-

BECAUSE IF YOU FAIL TO DO THIS THERE WILL BE ACROSS THE BOARD SPENDING CUTS THAT WILL THEN REDUCE THE DEFICIT BY 2 TRILLION AND IT WILL INVOLVE DEEP SPENDING CUTS TO MEDICARE! ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!

REPUBLICANS: YOU HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT BY 2 TRILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK WITH THE OTHER PARTY, YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT CHOICES, YOU CANNOT DEMAGOGUE THE OTHER SIDE IN THIS PROCESS.

-WHY???-

BECAUSE IF YOU FAIL TO DO THIS THERE WILL BE ACROSS THE BOARD SPENDING CUTS THAT WILL REDUCE THE DEFICIT BY 2 TRILLION AND THE MOST CUTS WILL BE MILITARY DEFENSE SPENDING! IF THESE CUTS GO INTO EFFECT IT SUBSEQUENTLY BRINGS AN END TO THESE WARS THAT YOU HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD TO KEEP GOING. ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!

Liberals and Conservatives hate this bill and that's why it MUST pass! They know that they will now lose their voices! If the American public has learned anything in the past 6-8 years is that the fringe elements on the left and right have no business governing! They have their place in keeping their party leaders on their toes, but when it comes to governing a complex nation such as ours, the moderate middle of both sides MUST have the majority of say and sway!

The liberal notion of "We must continue spending billions of dollars because if we don't America will no longer prosper!" is an utter joke! The vast majority of businesses are sitting on billions of dollars because of out of control spending in Washington! Our national debt is currently 14 trillion dollars and rising! Is that really a good thing liberals??? Spending cuts must be in the discussion and yes, that includes making tweaks and adjustments to medicare, medicaid, and social security! We must, and you can whine, and piss, and moan all you want but we must do this if we are to remain a strong and prosperous country!

The conservative notion of "We must cut and gut spending! No taxes, no revenues, no cuts to military spending!" is also an utter joke! We cannot, shall not, and will not ask the bottom 98% of American citizens to foot the bill on deficit reduction while the top 2% most wealthy Americans enjoy their tax breaks, subsidies, and loopholes! 1% of this country controls 90% of this countries wealth! We're not going to continue the gap of wealth in this country! We must reform the tax code, we must end the Bush tax cuts, we must end subsidies to big corporations who frankly don't need it!

Finally both sides will have no choice but to work together for at least the rest of the year! I believe it will give all of us a break from the extremes of both sides constantly yelling and screaming at each other. Liberals will be pissed and go and watch MSNBC to feel better because MSNBC will simply reaffirm their preconceived notions that more spending is the only answer and and those damn republicans are evil, evil people! Conservatives will be pissed and go watch Fox News to feel better because Fox News will simply reaffirm their preconceived notions that cutting, and gutting spending is the only answer and those damn Democrats are evil!

Meanwhile the vast majority of Americans will enjoy watching a functional government working together to solve a very serious problems! That we can tackle the hard things and get our fiscal house in order! The world is watching us! This past week in my opinion was probably the most embarrassing week this country has ever endured! Here we had two sides that were more interested in making the other side look bad than actually solving problems! I believe Obama just handed this country a great gift, a break from endless partisanship!


My only hope is that the next five months will make the American people realize how great our government works when the moderate middle is at the helm and the extremes of both sides are left to where they should be.... The talk radio, cable news, blogosphere sidelines!
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