I just cannot believe it.

[Firebrand Gary]

While we spend our energy on DU, 90% focused on Hillary vs Sander's and Sander's vs Hillary we are dropping the ball on one of the biggest stories of the last 100 years!

While the LGBT community faces abhorrent discrimination, bathrooms bills, threats to marriage equality and a recent barrage of "religious liberty" bills designed to attack the little protections we've gained. Religious leaders this very moment are still calling us predators, perverts the deviants.

Meanwhile a Baptist Deacon Governor in Alabama is busted having an affair with a member of his staff, The Catholic Church is reeling from it's ongoing controversy of covering up for priest banging little boys, US Senators either hooking up in airport restrooms or hiring prostitutes, for fucks sake there's apparently a forthcoming bombshell regarding a presidential candidate linked to the former DC madam. Finally, or I should say the most recent is the former US Speaker of the House of Representatives busted for molesting young boys, even paying them hush money.

He was the US Speaker of the House DU!

WAKE THE FUCK UP DEMOCRATS!

Someone please go buy a cake from one of those god damned right wing bakeries and shove it down Reince Priebus's fucking throat!

[Skittles]

1. PREACH IT FIREBRAND GARY

yes INDEED

[Firebrand Gary]

9. I am so sick of this toxic primary Skittles.

We've got real issues to tackle and instead we're sparring and defending for our own candidates, it's stupid.

[Surya Gayatri]

12. You along with millions of other true, blue Democrats, Gary.

Your wake-up call is SO spot on.

Time this quixotic primary quest ends, so we can get our eye back on the real prize.

[Skittles]

15. I agree

the Hillary / Sanders thing, they're making fools of themselves and DU

[Democat]

2. The difference between Sanders and Clinton is tiny

Compared to the difference between either Democrat and any Republican.

[Enthusiast]

6. Not so. In the eyes of many of us.

[Firebrand Gary]

8. Ugh.

[Skittles]

16. yup

it's like a fungus

[cwydro]

37. That didn't take long, did it?

[LiberalElite]

38. if it were so "tiny"

We wouldn't have a problem voting for each other's candidates, would we?

[merrily]

30. The differences between Hillary and Sanders are yuuge and this is still a primary.

[djean111]

40. Um, Hillary stands for war and fracking and the TPP and other bad things, which will affect ALL of

us. Bernie does not. Not so tiny, really. And a candidate who is open to amending the Constitutional amendments to put more restrictions on abortion is, IMO, a candidate who would sympathize with the states who are rolling back LGBT rights and protections.

Discussing the Alabama mess here at DU doesn't accomplish much, either. Looks like, at least, some legal steps are being taken - but it also looks like the GOP at the top all all felons in one way or another. And their constituents voted for them. I will say that the only fairly complete reporting about Alabama that I have seen has been by John Oliver., which does not really surprise me. The MSM does not seem to care much.

If your rant is more about the loyalty oath thing, or uniting behind Hillary now - no, the DNC has bared its ass and its ass looks a lot like a GOP ass, in some respects. This is more than about Hillary vs Bernie, this has been brewing for a long time. I sincerely doubt that many of Bernie's supporters are converted Hillary supporters - they just think she is not what they want as a president, in the first place.

[hamsterjill]

49. This!!!!

Let's all please not forget the war on women, either!

There are bills in many states trying to limit a woman's right to control her own body.

The Republicans love to see us infighting.

[Thinkingabout]

3. Could it be it is possible of all of the poor decisions of these upstanding people

May be their perverted minds? Just too much concern for the wrong things has allowed degraded decision-making.

[Enthusiast]

4. Righties are hypocrites?

I had no idea.

[Skittles]

18. they've always been hypocrites

but it's so more out in the open now - there's less dog-whistling and more outright barking from these sick bigots

[Fumesucker]

5. Oh please, you're as guilty as anyone of stirring the Primary pot in GD-P

And your candidate is the one to whom marriage not all that long ago was "a sacred bond between a man and a woman.

[Firebrand Gary]

7. Debating is fine, allowing it to be the only focus is not!

And thank you for illustrating my point exactly! You just took the opportunity to use my post as a wedge for gain rather than focusing on the real enemy. For the sake of the democratic party, I hope we come to the reality that is forthcoming so that we can do the democratic work that needs to be done!

[Fumesucker]

10. Q: You don't buy the party unity argument?

A: I don't..

At 0:35

[Enthusiast]

43. But but, times change.

[merrily]

29. Yep. How long ago did the Haestert and Alabama guy stories hit the fan?

Wonder which current story the OP is trying to deflect from?

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Which story are you saying is "one of the biggest stories of the last 100 years"?

You list several (all of which I have seen discussed on DU).

[Firebrand Gary]

13. Dennis Hastert.

Edited to add:

Front pages, websites and water coolers, it should be everywhere. There's been some traction on DU, but it pales in comparison to everything else.

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. There have been 8 threads mentioning Hastert in the past week

You could post in one, or start one. Your profile says over three quarters of your own posts in the last 90 days have been in GDP or the Hillary group.

[Firebrand Gary]

17. I did just post one, you're writing on it.

But we can debate my intentions, if that's what you're interested in? I'm almost curious to ask why you felt the need to question my motives, but you've essentially already answered my presumptive question-hence the reason I stay in safe zones aka HRC/GDP.

Thanks anyways, all the best!

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. Yeah, now that we've established it's about Hastert, not the 'religious freedom' laws

or Catholic paedophilia coverups, or ...

I'd suggest putting 'Hastert' or 'Republican speaker' and 'child sexual abuse' in the title, if you want people to think and find out about that. Even include a link to a story about it, or give your own take on it, and what you think is likely to happen - or what DUers could do to help get a conviction.

I'm not debating your intentions, it's your tactics that need sharpening up. You didn't even mention Hastert by name until I inquired. Others seem to have taken this as a rant about people spending too much time talking about the primaries.

[HillareeeHillaraah]

21. Is the opposite of mansplaining womansplaining?

I think this qualifies.

[muriel_volestrangler]

24. I don't know what gender FG is, but I'm a man

Does that help? Not that this thread is about the opinions, qualities or anything else of men or women as groups.

FG spends most of their time in GDP and the Hillary group, comes here to tell us that "we" are dropping the ball, and that Democrats should "WAKE THE FUCK UP", about a story they haven't ever posted on themselves before. The OP doesn't even make it clear which story they want to get the publicity. This sub-thread actually established which story. I think I've earned the chance to 'explain'. You can call it "GDsplaining" if it helps.

[HillareeeHillaraah]

25. My apologies for the misgendering.

But I'm not a big fan of telling people how to write better here on DU.

IMO it comes off as snark, regardless of your political inclinations.

Good day, sir.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

39. Why do you inject discussion of writers' genders into this thread? Classic diversion

It is a classic diversionary tactic to inject an unrelated aspect of the person of a writer to deflect the debate from the topic at hand.

Your gender has nothing to do with the actions of the bad actors and stupid politicians.
The OP's gender nothing to do with the actions of the bad actors and stupid politicians.
The gender of the poster you are responding to has nothing to do with the actions of the bad actors and stupid politicians.

Not you, not the OP, not the poster, have stated being directly affected by any of those. Even if you or the OP or the poster was, your post would still be out of place because the topic of this thread affects all genders including trans.

Please do not disrupt debate in this way.

Welcome to DU, I think.

[HillareeeHillaraah]

42. Gender matters. Gender informs the experiences of many on this planet.

Why are you hijacking this thread and trying to pick a fight?

I will write what I care to, thank you, while remaining within the TOS. That's the point of this place.

And I've been reading DU for years. But thanks for the warm welcome just the same.

I wonder if you would have had the same opinion had my avatar been pro Sanders?

Not an accusation, just a curiosity.

Have a peaceful day.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

44. Now you inject unrelated primary candidates. :rolleyes:

Of course "gender matters". Duh. The gender of the people using the bathroom unless it is inclusive.

Not the gender of the writers. That has nothing, zip, zero, zilch, nil to do with the topic.

Since you insist and you will anyway, keep attacking the gender of writers and see how much respect that gains you.

[HillareeeHillaraah]

47. Oh, FFS...

Did you even read what I began writing?

You're inexplicable...

Blocked, tah!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

20. K&R

[Delver Rootnose]

22. I live in Illinois and I....

...personally think the biggest story being ignored by everyone is the Panama papers. I mean elected leaders of other countries have resigned over this and there is quite a bit of furor over this in Europe and not much of anything in the US about it yet.

[Firebrand Gary]

23. Let me add that I also want to see the 28 pages of 911 papers.

[Ford_Prefect]

27. The declassified NIEs report stating NO wmd's and no Al-Qaeda links existed and that W was told so

before he went to congress and told them the opposite was established fact! That ranks too, I believe.

[Fast Walker 52]

26. conservatism and religion together are a toxic brew, and the sooner we expunge them from society

the better

[Ford_Prefect]

28. Why not go after those who fund stirring the mix by passing laws like HB2 to distract all of us.

Yes they want cultural control, seem to enjoy hating, and have done horrible things which deserve exposure and just punishment. So far as I know it no one in NC asked them to write, or engineer passage of HB2.

The same "they" also have a larger agenda of owning the planet, and owning our Government from top to bottom, so they can recklessly plunder, pillage, and consume it without pesky interference by civil authorities or scientists who disagree with unfettered industrial growth because it happens to be destroying the ecosystems that all humans require to live here!

Part of their agenda is to pit social conservatives against progressives under the rubric that the base values and daily activities of the one are by necessity toxic to the other, and vice versa. They also encourage groups like the Bundy clan to step out and declare war on part of society and government to push their own agenda of removing environmental rules from federal lands for mining, oil and gas extraction.

By this means they have us chasing each other or our neighbors over false or at least magnified differences, instead of minding what those Oligarchs are busy stealing from each and all of us.

Yes, there are important social and civil issues between conservatives of various stripes and progressives, and humanity in all its abundant variety. The powers that lurk behind some of those issues are frequently stirring the issues, and those that care about them on all sides, in order to accomplish a far more significant and I believe dangerous agenda.

Do Not Ignore that man behind the Curtain! The Great and Powerful are indeed Up to Something Bad for All of Us.

[Fast Walker 52]

31. the elites, or the 1% or the powers that be-- they are evil and need to go down

It's time for a political revolution!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

32. Gluttony

[Else You Are Mad]

35. Haha! I like that one. nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

33. Make America Great Again

[Bernardo de La Paz]

34. Obama Opens First Gender Neutral Bathrooms at White House

http://www.charismanews.com/us/49144-obama-opens-first-gender-neutral-bathrooms-at-white-house

"The White House allows staff and guests to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity, which is in keeping with the Administration's existing legal guidance on this issue," Tiller said in a statement.

Obama has taken a firm stand over the past year or so on gay and also transgender rights, an area of debate that is becoming hotly contested.

Last year, in a presidential first, Obama used the word "transgender" in the annual State of the Union address and he has also endorsed same-sex marriage, marking what may be one of the most significant advances of his presidency.

Also on Wednesday, he called for an end to psychiatric therapies that seek to change the sexual orientation of gay, lesbian and transgender youth, also known as conversion therapy.

[Firebrand Gary]

36. Thumbs up!

Thanks for the reminder Bernardo!

[Octafish]

41. The subject makes it difficult to find conversation.

Some DUers have tried.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026762116

It is a most important story, for those interested in cleaning out the corruption, what might be called an "Empire of Evil."

[Bernardo de La Paz]

45. Statistics show how many times trans people have attacked in bathrooms (restrooms, washrooms)

http://mic.com/articles/114066/statistics-show-exactly-how-many-times-trans-people-have-attacked-you-in-bathrooms#.w3lIcdf2t

Your guess is probably a good guess.

How many times have Republican politicians been involved in sexual activities or soliciting in washrooms (restrooms, bathrooms)?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

46. The North Carolina law requires this:

[awoke_in_2003]

48. I'm a Sanders supporter and I'm quite awake

I will not get in the primary pissing matches going on, and I have the BS group, HRC group, and GD P trashed. I will vote for the democratic candidate, because the next president will be filling at least 3 Supreme Court slots. We finally have marriage equality, and reproductive rights are under fire. If the court goes further right it's all over

[hamsterjill]

50. Thank you.

I'm a Hillary supporter, and I feel much the same. I will vote for the Democratic nominee.