Is It a "Gaggle" of Bigots? A "Covey?" What's the Term?

Republicans, who clammed up about their obsession with gay marriage long enough to rack up some seats last fall, are feeling their oats again. Yeah, they say they're all about fiscal discipline, getting the government out of your life, personal responsibility, blah blah blah, but after they're all sworn in, it's thumpin' on the homos season.

Rep. Jim Jordan, some douche from Cleveland with a mug only a mother could love, wants to repeal gay marriage in the District of Columbia. Because - you know - I'm sure that's a concern for everyone in Cleveland who's at home watching "The View" for two years because they can't get a damn job.

True to form, these guys force a vote on health care repeal, try to repeal gay marriage in DC when the Supreme Court already refused to touch it...oh yeah, and reading the Constitution out loud, except for the cringe-y parts about blacks being three-fifth of a human being or something. And why do Republicans do these things?

Because conservative Republicans love cheap, ineffective gestures that will fail. That serve no purpose. That are a waste of time. This proves to the people back home that they're - I don't know - not gay? Who knows.

With any luck, in a few years, this ass end of a dog will be back in Cleveland and out of work, and then maybe he'll have a clue.

Betty AKA Dena Blog

My old summer stock pal Dena has her own blog up, after much drunken hectoring from me. (Russian Vodka Room. Nuff said.) Check it out and let her know what you think.

Blessings of Anger and Foolishness

I'd never heard this prayer before, then Vicki Sirota used it at the closing yesterday at St. John's. It's attributed to St. Francis. I think it's appropriate for today, what would have been Martin Luther King's 82nd birthday.

"May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done."

This is a Trick. Anyone Can Do It.

Saw this on Saturday night at the Players Theater and loved it. Todd Robbins, an old Coney Island hand, explains serial killers and fake mediums, in a show co-written and directed by Teller, of Penn & Teller fame. Robbins does pulls off a few stomach-churning stunts - one with "sulfuric acid" - and recreates an old seance, a la Mina Crandon or her predecessor, the wicked Eusapia Palladino.

For people who like carnivals and spook shows and crappy horror movies, it's catnip. I've heard rumors Stephen Sondheim is a fan, too. I'm looking forward to going again.