Image via Wikipedia
Let’s hear it for our gay and black Republican friends
And Republican women – who all must do logical bends
To rationalize why they’re part of – alas –
A party who treats them like they’re second-class
Give it up for these Republican step-children
Blacks, women, and gays – it’s bewilderin’
That they’re part of this party of white men
This party run by some real not too bright men
I’m not sure even Sigmund could tell ‘em
What goes on in their own cerebellum
Do you all feel a deep need for self-flagellation?
That you’re part of this bunch defies imagination
Is it maybe you all have the Syndrome Stockholm-y
“Please kick me again all around the block homie?”
Have you divined Republicans are all for minorities
And your needs are all future Republican priorities?
They’ve given no evidence this is the case
To the contrary mostly they’ve spat in your face
Maybe Freud could figure out why you would stay
In a party that treats you in this shoddy way
Are you each every one of you so many masochists
To keep absorbing the blows from all their impassive fists?
What allows you to be treated as if you’re the dregs
To be wiped off like something that runs down their legs?
Are you so out to lunch while in such denial
To be loyal while so dissed by the right rank and file
Do you really believe that one day you’ll be
A fully fledged member of this closed fraternity
( Bachmann and Palin and Coulter and such
Aren’t real women – they’re real out-of-touch
With women today and what real women need
It’s never been truer –that only women bleed)
If you’re a woman, and/or black or you’re gay
How can you let yourself be treated this way
Denied basic rights – denied any say
Denied your humanity –and yet you stay?
What goes on in your heads that allows disconnection
From all that you see upon any inspection
From any sane answer to any sane question
Or is asking a question too daft a suggestion?
And better to just keep your head in the sand
Pretending Republicans do understand
How you must feel inside when dismissed so outright
By this party which might’ve once sent you out an invite
But has since become hijacked by our own Taliban
Pious and rigid and mean-spirited to a man
Unyielding to any not made in their image
And locked up in their sanctimonious scrimmage
With science, or fact, or nature, and worse
None of it matters – just chapter and verse
So help me make sense of why you still insist
On staying at this party – I can promise you this
The clock’s tolling midnight – there’s no prince’s kiss
Leave now, don’t worry – just your vote will be missed.
© tony powers and Barking in the Dark, 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to tony powers and Barking in the Dark with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Barking In The Dark 
The last line really sums it up. I’m glad I’m not alone in the confusion. Well done.
LikeLike
Posted by lorrelee1970 | February 29, 2012, 4:31 pmthanks Lorrellee, i’m glad you liked it. continue…
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | March 1, 2012, 6:19 amTony, you’ve made some wonderful points, but I’d like to also add this in response to some of Tom’s 2/22 comments: Tom, tellingly, you haven’t addressed the organized oppression that already exists in our society, which would run rampant in the system of government you say you want.
Your personal willingness to assist others doesn’t help oppressed family farmers who want to grow non-GMO crops while Monsanto threatens to prosecute them because of patented pollen that blows onto their land from the farm next door. Your personal willingness to help others doesn’t help oppressed families whose tap water is poisonous and flammable because of natural gas companies that aren’t held accountable for their unconscionable actions. In the system you want, the rich and powerful would always be free to “infringe on another indivudual’s entitlement to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” unchecked.
A government rooted in social justice from top to bottom, would address infringement onto any citizen’s rights in an equal manner and with much less of the “big government” we have now. The present multitude of rules and regulations would diminish because the focus could be clear and consistent. Corporations or rich individuals wouldn’t be able to get away with lying so loudly that truth can barely be heard. Truths about personal choices we all need to make in regard to our health, life, liberty and pursuit of happiness would be readily available. It’s a very strange thing to be against that.
LikeLike
Posted by Sparks In Shadow | February 23, 2012, 5:03 amMichelle, this comment just blows me away with it’s straight line of logical cause and effect. well thought out and well expressed. Brava. thank you. continue…
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 23, 2012, 5:22 amI agree, Tony. Sparks in Shadow I applaud your answer because you highlight the daily oppression we’re told is simply the cost of doing business.
LikeLike
Posted by lisahgolden | February 23, 2012, 1:02 pmMagnificent, as always, Tony! You have such a gift for poetically pointing out the complete and utter horrid truth. And just like Carlin, those people to whom this is directed really should feel like a bunch of fools. But I’m sure they won’t and don’t. Additionally, and “blah” person, woman, and/or GLBT should be ashamed of themselves for supporting such a party that reeks of bigotry, hatred, and racism.
LikeLike
Posted by She speaks.... | February 22, 2012, 2:25 pmMichelle, I just relized I called you Re, and jumped up out of my chair at dinner to correct my mistake. my sincere apology…please forgive – you are Michelle, woman, and fellow liberal…i got confused. continue…
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 23, 2012, 3:53 amNo biggie. And I didn’t even notice. Now enjoy your dinner, dammit!
LikeLike
Posted by She speaks.... | February 23, 2012, 4:09 amyou made me laugh.
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 23, 2012, 4:46 amthanks for having my back here Re, it just seems so obvious doesn’t it? continue…
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 22, 2012, 4:52 amI would really really like a coherent, intelligent Republican to answer the questions you raise here.
Unfortunately, right now I think there aren’t any, or any that are who would publicly admin it.
Excellent, as always Tony. Every question here really needs an answer.
LikeLike
Posted by El Guapo | February 21, 2012, 6:18 pmya know EG, the sick thing is they WOULD have an answer (read rationale) as to why. thanks for your usual interesting comment. continue…
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 22, 2012, 4:20 amSome people join “the other side” because they don’t believe the rhetoric and they don’t trust government. The problem is there is no alternative for those that don’t believe in government for anything other than the nuts and bolts. They choose between bad government option #1 and bad government option #2 because there is no good government option.
Regarding intelligence, I know really intelligent people in both parties. Both parties employ the most intelligent people they can find to sit in “think tanks”. Intelligence combined with flawed character is dangerous and the essence of politcal “leadership”. However, in my experience, intelligence is not nearly as important as individual character. Good character will help an individual overcome inevitable adversity more than intelligence or government. Good character can be trusted.
Gay marriage, pot, etc is not the business of limited government. I could care less about those issues. If we had Libertarian rule, pot would be legal and gays could be married. The military would be kept in check. The only thing you’d have left to debate is abortion. Wouldn’t it be nice if that was the only issue to sort out and find compromise? Over a few beers, I’d bet you and I could find a compromise on abortion that 75% of Americans would accept.
Our issues are not complicated. The intentions of those in power are complicated.
LikeLike
Posted by Tom | February 21, 2012, 4:25 pmmeant to say couldn’t care less about those issues.
LikeLike
Posted by Tom | February 21, 2012, 4:35 pmTom, i would like you to explain how offering an education, or healthcare, to everyone “infringes” on your “entitlement”? and as soon as you say there should be “some element of freedom to choose. I don’t believe it is my business what others do – as long as they are respecting the rights of others.” so – are you the judge of whether or not they are “respecting” your rights? because they must terminate a pregnancy what business is it of yours at all? how is that disrespecting your “rights”? boundaries? whose – yours? my boundary i assure you is quite different than yours… why is yours right and mine wrong? i say if you and your wife had decided on an abortion it would be none of my business – or the state’s, period. no qualifier. i thought you believed in freedom? or is that just freedom with a qualifier? and when you then base your argument for or against abortion on “Christian” values, i’m sorry – but i must completely discount whatever you think about the subject. but that’s me. thanks for the comment. continue…
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 23, 2012, 1:22 amAnd p.s. further, you write…”Certainly you can appreciate that abortion is more complicated than that. For example, if a women is 37 weeks into a healthy pregnancy or has essentially reached full term, an abortion is cruel.” Tom, are there many women in your area, or that you know of, who want abortions at 37 weeks??? why do pick the most “extreme” position to base your argument on? couldn’t you find an even more “extreme” example? maybe abortion when the child is 2 months old? no one is talking about abortions at 37 weeks. no one. and i guess you’re on board with the forced vaginal probe…since the rationale for this bill is that it will bully women not to exercise their Constitutional right of choice which, i might add, is settled law…not religious law. didn’t the founding fathers -who you’ve often quoted -have a thing for separation of church and state? oh yeah – the vaginal probe – that’s a republican idea…also “extreme.”
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 23, 2012, 2:15 amTom, i will agree on much of what you say here. what i find dangerous though is all the legislation coming forth based on these “wedge” issues. you have cited the founding fathers on more than one occasion and i believe they would be appalled at the way this legislation is based on religious reasons, and in most cases flies in the face of separation of church and state. i’m glad you included the caveat of intelligence being polluted by flawed character…but think tanks such as Cato, Mercatus, Heritage, are filled with that sort whose main goal is to uphold the status quo and amass even more wealth through hegemony and denial of others basic rights. and therein lies the reason why i am so moved to write about these “issues” – however a diversionary smoke screen they may be to hide real objectives. it’s not only the ends that are important but the means…not only where we want to get to, but how we get there, and how things are at present while we strive for how we wish it to be. as to Libertarianism, again, i find it would be a wonderful thing IF the playing field were level, IF everyone were indeed allowed to be entitled to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”…those are nice words, but barriers to that pursuit have been put up – and Libertarians don’t appear to see anything wrong in that, or see anything that should be done to remedy that. Libertarians favor freedom and oppose government action to promote either equality or order, and that would almost be fine IF all things were equal AND it was day one…which they aren’t, and it isn’t. i too favor freedom, but i believe the administration of government should represent the people by protecting them from those who would benefit themselves at the expense of all of us, like those who would adulterate our food, or construct shoddy, unsafe, buildings, or make unsafe cars. and government should provide disaster relief when there’s a major catastrophe such as Katrina. freedom is wonderful…but my idea of freedom is not that we are “free” to drown. anyway, thanks for the comment…thoughtful as usual. continue…
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 22, 2012, 2:26 amWe are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Everyone can puruse their dreams but the operative word is pursuit. I can pursue the presidency of a fortune 500 company or the USA but I am not entitled to the spot. Once you employ another body to “level the playing field”, you begin to infringe on another indivudual’s entitlement to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I can and will assist others along the way. Like I’ve said before, I tutor math in our elementary school, I read to kids in the city, I have been the community service chair of the local rotary club ( an active Rotarian for over a decade), I run a youth basketball league of 300 kids, I coach football, basketball, basebal, soccer (most times multiple teams per season), etc. but that is all my choice and I am glad to do it. I have a problem with the gov’t’s involvement in this and from what I see they are largely ineffective and incredibly inefficient. Add in very corrupted and you begin to see why people seek alternatives to big government even if they are very socially liberal.
LikeLike
Posted by Tom | February 22, 2012, 3:11 pmP.S. the “answer” to the abortion “debate” is simply to let every woman have the “freedom” to decide, either alone, or with her family, what to do under the circumstances.
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 22, 2012, 2:30 amYes, Tony. This is the only answer. And to Tom: why would there still be this to debate under “Libertarian rule”? What makes this the business of government any more than gay marriage or pot?
Lack of concern for social justice is the component of governments that causes the most trouble. Telling the majority of citizens that their lives are meaningless, because they haven’t attained enough money or power to matter or stand up to organized oppression, shouldn’t be seen as better government. Not understanding that this would be the result of libertarianism is no excuse for not knowing it.
Even Sesame Street tries to teach children to think a few moves ahead. That’s not just a good skill for business or life at large. It’s a good skill to use when voting.
LikeLike
Posted by Sparks In Shadow | February 22, 2012, 4:48 amCertainly you can appreciate that abortion is more complicated than that. For example, if a women is 37 weeks into a healthy pregnancy or has essentially reached full term, an abortion is cruel. If that same women were on the way to the clinic, her water broke, she gave birth and then killed the baby; she would go to jail for murder (that does not add up).
As you know, I am the father of 3. I was there for all the various appointments during my wife’s pregnancies. I saw and heard heartbeats at 12 weeks. I also picked my wife off the bathroom floor, wraped her in a blanket and carried her to the car and drove her to the hospital when she miscarried (twice). I saw the devastation of her psyche in the aftermath of those miscarriages and I felt some of it myself. I understand that not all cases are the same but my conscience would not be clear if we chose to interrupt any of our 5 pregnancies.
Abortion is very difficult and I also appreciate the other side. There should be some element of freedom to choose. I don’t believe it is my business what others do – as long as they are respecting the rights of others and that is where this issues gets gray. There needs to be some boundries. There is a point when a “life” has its own rights. There needs to be some consideration for a willing father. There needs to be some consideration for parents of a minor child.
For what its worth, I have the same struggle with the death penalty. I hear both sides but in the end, I could not be the guy to administer the procedure. Taking life, regardless of how (war, abortion, death penalty, etc), is all really difficult. I will never understand why the other side is so dismissive of those that are pro life. I am no ogre but I am a white, Christian male that happens to make a good living. Does that make me an asshole?
LikeLike
Posted by Tom | February 22, 2012, 2:58 pmwell done Noeleen. thanks for the rhyme comment. continue…
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 21, 2012, 3:58 amBrilliant! I will never understand how anyone who isn’t white, male, Christian and wealthy can vote for Republicans.
LikeLike
Posted by lisahgolden | February 21, 2012, 3:52 amneither can i Lisa h, which is why i wrote this. thanks for the comment. continue…
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 21, 2012, 4:00 amAny black, gay, lesbian and women, who believe anything the Republicans have to say, needs to have a real good look at themselves. I’m talking about the rabid, frothy in the mouth Republicans, who cared less what goes on in this country. There are some good, decent Republicans, but they are truly hard to find…
LikeLike
Posted by Don in Massachusetts | February 20, 2012, 7:40 pmtrue. and getting harder. thanks Don, continue…
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 21, 2012, 3:53 amI once heard the line “we were so busy thinking about if we COULD do it, we forgot to ask if we SHOULD do it”; women can be the worst, so many feel they have something to prove …
LikeLike
Posted by MJ, Nonstepmom | February 20, 2012, 6:19 pmnot sure i understand the context or the reference Janet. do you mean women shouldn’t want dominion over their own bodies? confused. but thanks for the comment. continue…
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 21, 2012, 3:57 amsorry, this wasnt written out completely ( I forget your not a mind reader….)
it was in reference to women etc wanting to be part of things like the republican party – they do it to prove they can, without thinking through wether its actually a smart decission.
For example (on a smaller scale) I had a co-worker who fought to join a mens hunting/fishing group to prove that women should be allowed….and then never went to any events. She just wanted to upset the apple cart and seemed to give her a sense of “look at me” to be part of the group; but turned out to not be something she really wanted to do.
Its the only reason I can figure women/minorities would want to be republican….
LikeLike
Posted by MJ, Nonstepmom | February 21, 2012, 1:42 pmahhhh, yes, i see…well, maybe that explains some of them but…carzy huh? thanks for the clarification Janet. continue…
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 22, 2012, 4:08 ami meant crazy…altho’ they are prolly “carzy” too.
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 22, 2012, 4:09 amExcellent you are so right I keep asking myself what is wrong with these Black people and women who are in a party that don’t respect them and who merely tolerate them because they are politically expedient.
LikeLike
Posted by V. Lyn | February 20, 2012, 3:10 pmstumps me too. thanksfor the comment V. continue…
LikeLike
Posted by barkinginthedark | February 21, 2012, 3:54 amTONY POWERS FOR PRESIDENT ! ! !
🙂
Oh Tony, your style of tell sings! I love reading your stuff – I get the USA news to rhyme & beat, & entertained by your wit.
Love this bit:
“Are you so out to lunch while in such denial
To be LoyalWhileSoDissed by the right rank and file”
That was perfect to me (above) – it just really flowed. Re the women – you remind me of when I first ever heard Alice Cooper sing ‘only women bleed’ & while I knew it immediately in a literal sense, the words had to hang in my memory a while to be realised in its truer sense.
“None of it matters – just chapter and verse
So help me make sense of why you still insist
On staying at this party – I can promise you this
The clock’s tolling midnight – there’s no prince’s kiss
Leave now, don’t worry – just your vote will be missed.”
I love your finale – Republicans take to a hearse! –
about some kind of party where your vote is dissed
if you cast it blind-folded though you’re a person, kissed
by reality where
REAL MEN EMBRACE not just colour, women & gays
but human rights, intelligent thoughts,
which any good Republican abhors
’cause they’re so fucked in the arse by their Republican friends
they come up for air confused, with the bends,
trying to make amends by passing laws upon this basis:
‘God says it’s wrong! (by my interpretation)
WHAT INTERPOLATION?!’
But you’re right, Tony, it IS near midnight, time’s near passed the time to fight
or die in the lie,
Messrs & Mesdames American Pie.
Aw fook, I can’t rhyme like you.
x N’n.
LikeLike
Posted by WordsFallFromMyEyes | February 20, 2012, 12:43 pm