Around the Internets

1. (TheRoot): People like Sean Hannity are the real welfare queens.
2. (Gizmodo): Do trust everything you see and hear in a video. 
3. (SocialSecurityWorks): The GOP-led Congress almost wiped our surplus clean.
4. (JimmyDore): CNN is about to get sued. 

When Capitalism Meets Law Enforcement...

...you get people like Sheriff Donny Youngblood of Kern County, California, who advocates shooting to kill instead of shooting to wound because it's more cost effective in the long run. As opposed to say, making sure that you're shooting the right person in the first place.

Navy Chaplin Wades in the Wrong Waters

And by "wade in the wrong waters," I mean, "gets caught having sex on tape at a bar."

Georgia On My Mind

Shorter: because about 13 NRA members will no longer get a discount for flying Delta, the GOP has practically paved the way for the 1st black female Governor. Stay Tuned.

A Few Myths Related to Guns Violence in America

1. Gun violence is mostly committed by those with mental illness. (Actually, about 5% of those who commit gun violence have a "diagnosable mental illness.")
2. If more African-Americans bought guns, it would scare lawmakers into passing sensible gun regulation. In truth, thanks to the NRA cash trumps inherent racism. 
3. Video games are making our children violent. On the contrary, groups like the NRA are using first-person shooter video games to indoctrinate a new generation of potential gun enthusiasts. 

When you look at the gun industry as a microcosm of America's military-industrial complex (aka, "war is good for business") the reason why things are the way they are makes more sense. 

No Main Topic

1. For some reason, our military is slow to react and losses track of the money they spend. So why are we giving them so much cash? 
2. The "Shock Doctrine" has come to Puerto Rico. 
3. The impact of the upcoming Black Panther movie. 
   
4. President Trump's lawyer says that he paid off Stormy Daniels. 

All Part of the Show

Some Democrats seem to be cheerleading Nancy Pelosi for her kinda filibuster (The House of Representatives cannot technically do this, but it still happened) in the wee hours.

Some would call her underrated. 

I would say that she is someone who never got around to having that debate for a "better deal" that she claimed to care about. Someone who, when she became Speaker, said that impeachment of then-President George W. Bush was "off the table." Someone who lamented that Mitt Romney was not POTUS. Someone who gave the current POTUS more spying powers. Someone who declares the bill she kinda filibustered something "good for Democrats." 

BTW, the people who she was supposedly fighting for weren't impressed. 

The FBI is Not Your Friend

When Democrats Start Acting Like Democrats Then Democrat Supporters Can Support Democrats

Look what I found:

So:

• I'm supposed to accept that the Democratic Party is circumventing true left-leaning candidates because they only seem to care about who raises the most money. 
• I'm supposed to accept that Democrats will cave when we need them to stand up, unlike the GOP, who is at least honest about where they stand. 
• I'm supposed to accept that giving Trump warrant-less spying capabilities and punching down Millennials are "mistakes." 
• I'm supposed to accept that if a politician (who despite the myths) has diverse appeal and a popular platform is shoved aside for an establishment-loving, status-quo-appeasing, corporate-schmoozing millionaire who's out of touch with the issues that the poor and working class are concerned about, that it's my fault for not being excited.

In short, anyone whose politics are two the left of the current Democratic leadership (or who just doesn't like President Trump) should just ignore that the so-called "opposition party" is only around to fund-raise and pay lip service to their base and give them 100% support, no questions asked.

How is that democratic?

And before people say, "Well, Trump's a monster!" I say, "Okay; then why did they give that monster more than what he was asking for in the military budget?"

Sorry; I will not just clap louder and pretend this is the political Superbowl. I will not support a flawed candidate because their main opponent happens to be selfish and bigoted. I will not limit myself to choosing between a Republican who's running as a Democrat and a Republican who's running as a Republican. 

It's not that hard. Medicare for All/Single Payer/Universal Health Care. $15 Minimum Wage. A Jobs Program. Rebuild our Infrastructure. Reduce Military Spending. Campaign Finance Reform. And a whole slew of equally-important issues (Equal Pay for Women, Police Reform, Net Neutrality, etc.)

If you want our vote, you have to earn it like everyone else. 

The Democrats Still Don't Know How To "Resist"

It's about the policies, not the person.

Over the past several months, Congress has approved a military spending bill, an extension of the surveillance law and sanctions on Russia.

The Trump Administration decides to ignore the last one, and apparently some Democrats are upset.

I don't understand why; you can't claim that Donald Trump is a danger to the country and probably has too many compromising connections to Russia WHILE GIVING HIM A BIGGER MILITARY BUDGET THAN HE ASKED FOR AND THE ABILITY TO SPY ON EVERYONE.

At best, it makes your "resistance" appear to be flimsy.

People May Give You Money If They Like You; They Most Certainly Won't If They Don't

So Mo'Nique wants people to boycott Netflix because they wouldn't pay her what she thinks she is worth. She further theorizes that Netflix isn't paying her what she's worth because she is a woman of color.

So on the basis of her argument, we need to exclude two groups from Netflix's growing list of comedians/comediennes: white women and men of color (excluding white men should be a given here).

So here's an short list of Women of Color With a Netflix Stand-Up Comedy Special:

1.  Anjelah Johnson
2. Ali Wong
3. Aditi Mittal
4. Cristela Alonzo

There's a few more (even of Mo'Nique herself) but they are all specials that were not contracted by Netflix. 

And here's imbd.com's list of roles Mo'Nique has had.

If I was Netflix, I would see Mo'Nique as a fairly popular comedienne who despite winning an Academy Award, has also publicly blasted some notable Hollywood power-players (like Oprah and Tyler Perry) and has not recently worked on anything even remotely eye-catching. She was offered a deal with that in mind ON TOP OF being a black woman. If she had Oprah's rep and image, she would have been offered big bucks and being rubbing people's faces in the success of her special. For better or for worse, she was offered "Prove That You're Worth the Big Bucks" money. 

So does being likable play a role in getting a payout, especially when you haven't been that active in the entertainment circuit? Um, yeah.