Message to women with self-respect, if you're not looking askance at Vance you're in a trance. If you glorify the grabber I feel sorry for you. By Hal Brown, MSW

These are made by Photo AI. They are not real. As far as I can tell he hasn't revealed how he feels about actual cats or if he has had them in his family.

Message to women with self-respect, if you're not looking askance at Vance you're in a trance. If you glorify the grabber I feel sorry for you.

Who woulda thunk? Trump put kitty cats, aka pussys, in the headlines. Now Vance brings back cats.

 

JD Vance In 2021: 'We Have To Go To War' Against The Idea That Women Don't Have To Have Kids

Here Are All Of JD Vance's Put-Downs Of Childless Americans

Above were the top two articles on HUFFPOST this morning.

Leave it to Vance to associate his retrograde chauvinistic opinions about women who decide not to have children with cats. It is ironic to note that it was Trump who almost lost the presidency because of using a crude kitty-cat slang term to describe a part of the female anatomy.

I can't determine whether Vance ever had cats in his family. Perhaps he did. It's possible he bought into the mythology of cats as being evil.

 This is from  the NY Times (subscription)

JD Vance and the Age-Old Trope of ‘Childless Cat Ladies’ 

In a relentlessly newsy phase of the presidential contest, the long history of bias against cosmopolitan cat-owning women finds its place.

In this country, we can go back to the Salem Witch Trials to find cats inextricably linked to ungovernable women. Late in the winter of 1692, as girls were writhing and convulsing their way to persecution, an enslaved girl named Tituba, married to one man and in love with another, was called to answer to charges of witchcraft before the relevant Massachusetts tribunal. One of the first to be accused, she confessed to the allegations, apparently claiming to have flown on a pole, signed a book by the devil and watched as possessed spectral cats pinched or choked other girls, driving them to madness.

Here's an example of cats depicted as anything but cute and cuddly. It is from the article Woman-as-Cat in Anti-Suffrage Propaganda.

It is difficult for me to fathom how any woman with self respect could support Trump, and not disapprove of his choosing Vance as his running mate. I think they lack self-respect. I feel sorry for them. How, I wonder, could this woman wear the homemade t-shirt (they are available commercially) to a Trump rally:

I'd like to learn more about her and even have a chance to talk to her. She seems to be posing for the photo. I have seen it reposted in other stories. My guess is that she'd be happy to discover that in her own small way she is famous. I'd ask her if she has a husband or boyfriend (I doubt she has a partner who is a woman) and if she does ask her how he feels about her wearing this. I'd inform her that she is being mocked or pitied for wearing this ask her how she feels about this. 

The following is the concluding paragraph in the Politico Magazine opinion essay 

JD Vance Has a Bunch of Weird Views on Gender

Overt chauvinism is the unifying thread of the New Right. 

Trump lost women by 15 points in 2020; if he has any hope of moving back into the White House he’ll need to make up at least a bit of that ground. But if he hoped the vice presidential pick would help with that he may be sadly mistaken. While Trump’s sexism has manifested as a crude machismo, Vance, along with his New Right fellow-travelers, is about to introduce voters to a more conceptual take on sexism — one which many women, and indeed many men, might find even more alarming.

I can see Vance, who probably unlike Trump, knows what it is, lamenting the fact that the Nineteenth Amendment was ever passed.

I wonder if some disparaging Vance comments about men who love cats being - you know the word used to disparage some men as being less than masculine, weak, and lacking in courage - will come out. 

This would include both Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln and we know what wussies they were /s ... the following is from this website:

Winston Churchill’s Feline Companions

Winston Churchill, the iconic British Prime Minister who led his nation through World War II, had a soft spot for cats. He famously said, “I like pigs and dogs. Cats look down on you; dogs look up to you; but pigs look you in the eye and treat you as an equal.” Churchill’s beloved pet cat, Jock, accompanied him during his time at Chartwell, his country residence. They shared a special bond, and Jock was even known to attend meetings with the Prime Minister.

Abraham Lincoln’s White House Cats

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, found companionship in the form of four-legged friends during his tenure. He and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, were known for their love of animals, including their cats. President Lincoln’s son, Tad, rescued several stray cats and brought them into the White House, where they became cherished members of the family. These furry companions provided comfort during a tumultuous period in American history.

Of course President Clinton had Socks:

Full disclosure:

I am a cat lover. I've had cats in my life since I was a child. I don't have any now because I am too old at 80 to take one into my life and I don't want to burden anyone with adopting them if and when I die before they do. 

Maybe Vance would consider me a wussie (or the word that rhymes with it). I was a volunteer cat loving cop for 20 years working at least one shift a week usually at night. I wonder if he would have called me that name if I stopped him for suspected drunk driving (according to the article "Drinking with J.D. Vance" he does drink). My partner and I took lots of drivers who failed a field sobriety test to jail. I can visualize doing this to a smug J.D. Vance. 

Just for fun, here's an old photo of me taken at home before I went out to do a shift as a reserve police officer. I am with Julian, one of our cats.

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George Conway with his Anti-Psychopath PAC has gotten through Trump's fragile, rigid defenses, By Hal Brown, MSW

 

Trump has managed to soldier on through many personal attacks. It is very possible that George Conway who, while a lawyer, deserves an honorary doctoral degree in Trump psychology, may have finally found his Achille's heel. 

He may not be screaming in agony on the outside but he sure seems to be screaming on the inside.

George Conway's new poltical action committee has been running this ad on  Fox News, ESPN, and the Golf Channel in Palm Beach and Bedminster. I expect they assume that they had an audience of one, and that this is what counted for them.

The Anti-Psychopath PAC made it's first splash during the Republican National Convention with billboards and trucks. Below, he explained what an anti-social personality (also called psychopathic disorder) was on MSNBC.

Now we have proof positive (not fake news, folks) that this has gotten to Trump. This is what he posted on Truth Social:

I doubt Trump is going to do what I did. I not only looked at the Anti-Psychopath PAC X page and posted there, but also looked at their Facebook page (here)

This is what I posted on their Facebook page along with the illustration I made for this blog:

Donald Trump was the one who has just been bigly badly hurt and humiliated. He has demonstrated the fragility and rigidity of his psychological defenses as this retired psychotherapist, Dr. Mary Trump, Dr. John Gartner, and many others have pointed out by this unhinged Truth Social Post. He has a case of "if you can't stand the message attack the messenger." George Conway might say "I'm rubber, you're glue, everything you say about me bounces off me and sticks to you (like Ketchup)." He's even been maneuvered into attacking Fox News. I wonder if George has found Trump's Achilles' heel and that this will be his undoing.

It shouldn't be necessary to point out that when Trump accuses someone of something he is guilty of it is a manifestation of the primitive defense mechanism projection. He called Conway crazy!

Not only that, but by saying that he was badly hurt and humiliated by his wife because she must have done some really NASTY (his caps) things to him, he may be revealing what Melania did to him. He said it, I didn't:

Consider what he told Laura Ingram when asked how Melania reacted to seeing him shot:

"Which is OK, because that means she likes me or she loves me. Let's say if she could talk about it freely, that would be, I'm not so sure which is better but ah, she either likes or loves me, that's nice." (Read article)

Trump is a TV addict. He not only watches Fox News but also watches "Morning Joe" because he can't resist watching even his harshest critics talk about him.

With his ego I doubt he will press mute when he sees the Anti-Psychopath and other ads, for example those from The Lincoln Project (of which Conway was a co-founder) are aired.

Thanks to Trump's reactive personality and his way of lashing out against anyone who attacks him, often in the wee hours on Truth Social, we will see how effective these hard-hitting ads are.

Kamala Harris doesn't have to go low when they go low. Of course it was Michelle Obama who said "when they go low, we go high." When Trump and his surrogates take the lowest road possible Harris and her campaign can take the dignified high road. They can leave it to Conway's PAC and The Lincoln Project with the acerbic Rick Wilson (his X page) to deftly and unmercifully rip the bandage off of Trump. (I couldn't resist using that thanks to Trump and his now famous bandage.)

Addendum:

This is Wilson's response to the Trump Truth Social post:

This is The Lincoln Project X page. Image is of a laughing Rick Wilson.

Just an afterthought - this is from an article abut the most famous psychopaths in history. Note who is referred to below:

Thanks to Hollywood portrayals of psychopaths, you might be forgiven for thinking that serial killers are around every corner. Fortunately, Norman Bates is not the proprietor of the local motel and Hannibal Lechter does not do his grocery shopping in the local branch of Asda, so what famous psychopaths in history are there and what hideous crimes did they commit?

A psychopath has a personality disorder, but sadly they cannot be cured. They lack empathy, find it impossible to form an emotional attachment to other human beings, and are much given to violent and criminal behavior. However, not all psychopaths are homicidal maniacs with a predilection towards sharp blades, and in fact the vast majority blend in with the rest of humanity very well. So well in fact, that there could easily be a psychopath in your circle of acquaintances.

George Conway says one is running for president. Psychoanalyst Lance Dodes agrees (read article)

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Kamala's coconut story has gotten a lot of coverage and literally just made the cover of New York Magazine, by Hal Brown, MSW

 

The New York Magazine cover shows an exhuberant Kamala Harris looking youthful and exuding confidence while sitting on a giant coconut. In the foreground they have Chuck Schumer, AOC, Barak Obama, George Clooney, a sad looking President Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Beyonce, and a leaping Hakeem Jeffries.

 I wasn't able to identify the woman on the left. She could be one of these Kamala supporting singers (read article).

For those who remember the days of JFK's Camelot the name Kamalot will be evocative.

Even those who aren't old enough to remember how Jackie Kennedy remembered his years as president as Camelot (read article) ley alone know that Camelot is a legendary castle and court associated with King Arthur or that it was a hit 1961 Broadway musical. Just the name sounds really, really good. One could be literal and read it as Kam-a-lot mean a lot of Kamala but that is rather boring.

I'd like to envision Kamala as a modern day noble and virtuous Queen Guenevere with lots of liberties taken with the actual story told in the musical. She did help King Arthur put together the Knights of the Round Table made up of knights who do not pillage and fight but instead uphold honor and justice.

We can leave out the part about her and Lancelot....

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Woke Olympics opening ceremony triggers righteous right, by Hal Brown, MSW

 

I didn't watch any of the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Above is some of what I missed.

This is from the Olympics X account:

The inclusion of costumed drag performers and some others of indeterminate personal gender preference prompted cringing Christian hand wringing implying that Satan himself had ascended from the depths of Hell into River Seine in Paris.

No less a MAGA than Donald Trump, Jr. brought up Satan: 

Donald Trump Jr. Fumes Over 'Satanic' Olympics Opening Ceremony: 'Such A Shame'

I doubt anyone intended this to depict The Last Supper. In fact the Olympic X page said it was meant to refer to the Greek god Dyonysis and to show the absurdity of violence between human beings. From Wiki: The Bacchanalia were unofficial, privately funded popular Roman festivals of Bacchus, based on various ecstatic elements of the Greek Dionysia.

Here's a story from The Hill: 

Speaker Johnson blasts Olympics for mocking Christians, Last Supper

Johnson was nice enough to provide a photo on his X page:

Click above to enlarge.

The Today Show featured a clip of the drag show and an article here.

A far right poster, I suppose she fancies herself to be an influencer (and she probably is) posted these on X:

Fox News had this article" "Viral Catholic leader: Christians must not be ‘weak’ in the face of Olympics opening spectacle"

They posted this video of Catholic leader and evangelist Bishop Robert Barron:

This is a portion of what he said:

France, which used to be called the eldest daughter of the church, Paris, that gave us – Thomas Aquinas taught there, and Vincent De Paul was there, and King Louis IX – St. Louis. France has sent Catholic missionaries all over the world.

France, whose culture – and I mean the honoring of the individual, of human rights, of freedom – is grounded very much in Christianity, felt the right thing to do is mock the Christian faith.

I think, folks, what’s interesting here is this deeply secularist, postmodern society knows who its enemy is. They’re naming it. And we should believe them.

We Christians, we Catholics should not be sheepish, we should resist, we should make our voices heard.

I'm going to put on my theologian's hat here and ask what Jesus would say about all this brouhaha. 

He might say:

Look, people, I know you mean well but you are confused. I was actually at The Last Supper and let me tell you something. Among my 12 apostles we had some real characters. They were all devoted to me and truly good people. I won't mention any of them in particular, but some of them wouldn't be welcomed with open arms in some of the churches you created in my name. I love them all equally. So should you.

Update:

This is from The Hollywood Reporter:

Olympics Drag Performance Seemingly Resembling ‘Last Supper’ Draws Backlash From Conservative Leaders

Some say the performance featuring drag queens and dancers during the Opening Ceremony in Paris resembled the Leonardo da Vinci portrait.

More much ado about not much:

Paris’ Olympics opening was wacky and wonderful — and upset bishops. Here’s why

I don't think they have anything to apologize for the fact that some people misinterpreted the intention of the performances.

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The blogs are listed on one easy to navigate page here.

Trump promises that if elected nobody will have to vote in four more years. By Hal Brown, MSW

 

You can watch him saying this here.

I couldn't t resist posting my snarky reply to Acyn, shown above. He is the Senior Digital Editor for http://MeidasTouch.com who frequently posts on X, with many of the posts republished. Most of the replies were much more serious than mine. Just a few examples (click to enlarge):

This was the top story on HUFFPOST:

Here's an excerpt:

GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump told Christians on Friday to vote “just this time” and said they “won’t have to do it anymore” after the election in November.

“You won’t have to do it anymore — four more years, you know what? It’ll be fixed, it’ll be fine. You won’t have to vote anymore,” the former president told the crowd at the Believers Summit, a faith-focused event in Florida.

“You’ve got to get out and vote. In four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good, you’re not going to have to vote.”

It’s unclear what Trump was referring to in his remarks.

He has previously said that he’d act like a dictator only on “day one” of a second term, called for the “termination” of articles of the Constitution, attempted a coup to remain in the White House, and appeared to float the idea of serving a third presidential term.

The former president’s new comments arrive roughly four months after The American Conservative, a magazine and partner organization of the far-right Project 2025 agenda, published an article calling for the repeal of the 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms, as Media Matters for America reported at the time.

This is being covered in other media:

I didn't see anything on the Fox News website.

I suppose there are two ways to take this. The least bad may be that Trump will have become dictator and eleminated elections. As horrifying as that is, consider that the reasons these Christians and others like them wouldn't have to vote is that anyone who might vote against Trump would be in concentration camps or worse. 

If he had elections, which he might want to do for appearances sake, with mostly his supporters voting he could, like Putin did, claim to have gotten 87.97% of the vote. I feel for the 12.03% who voted for his rival who I think were well compensated for running and making the election appear to be fair.

I wonder if Trump even thought about how these comments would be used against him or if he did, if he cared. Perhaps he gets a thrill out of trolling his enemies. Once again, his behavior fits with his being a sadistic malignant narcissist.

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