Of course the billboard was vandalized. By a terrorist who hates our freedom, no doubt.

‘Coming Out’ Billboard Featuring Gay Soldier Destroyed in Memphis [Towleroad, via Sully]

Orly Taitz, last seen being repeatedly whacked by the judge in a birther case where she wouldn’t shut the fuck up, is not done mooning Your Honor. She’s asking to “withdraw as counsel” for her client — who already fired her — in order to rat out said client:

In order to defend herself, the undersigned counsel will have to contest and potentially appeal any sanctions order in her own name alone, separately from the Plaintiff, by offering and divulging what would normally constitute inadmissible and privileged attorney-client communications…

Future Orly clients, consider this your only warning: You’re on notice.

New Filing From Birther Taitz: Case Is Now A ‘Quasi-Criminal Prosecution’ Of Me! [TPM]

Update: Orly severed from Plaintiff; neither severed from responsibility; finking not authorized.

Our nation’s preachers are fed up with our nation’s gag orders:

“Pastors have a right to speak about biblical truths from the pulpit without fear of punishment. No one should be able to use the government to intimidate pastors into giving up their constitutional rights.”

That would be Erik Stanley of something called the Alliance Defense Fund, which sponsored Pulpit Freedom Sunday yesterday. And who could disagree with him? No reason preachers shouldn’t enjoy the same free-speech rights as the rest of us.

For that matter, no reason preachers shouldn’t also enjoy the same taxation rights. You give up your tax exemptions and render unto Caesar, and we’ll fully support your judgment about how best to render unto God.

And there’s the rub. They want it both ways.

Read more »

Saw a preview, and this looks gorgeous:

8 pm EST here in NYC … check your local listings.

William Safire, Nixon Speechwriter and Times Columnist, Is Dead at 79 [NYT]

We neglected to mention last week that in addition to team political contributions, the NFL also maintains a lobbying office in Washington, D.C. As well they should, since they have a Congress-approved monopoly to protect.

Some may call that Socialism — in America, no less! — but we’re more concerned about league regulations that strangle the ability of teams to compete on a free gridiron. If we want a sport that really reflects our values as a nation, we should just throw twenty-two dudes onto a field and let them score touchdowns by any means necessary. Heck, we might even contribute to their charity healthcare to maintain purity of excellence.

Just a thought as we enjoy some refreshing Belgian Pisswater during today’s Stinque Tailgate. Go Local Corporate Scumbags!

Title: “Speech-less: Tales of a White House Survivor”

Author: Matt Latimer

Rank: 81

Blurb: “If only there had been more Matt Latimers in the Bush administration.” (Tucker Carlson)

Review: “I’ll keep this book until late October when I’ll need kindling for my fireplace.”

Customers Also Bought: “Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free,” by Charles P. Pierce

Footnote: Although not our usual Wingnut Special, there’s been enough chatter around this book (by a former Shrub speechwriter) that we can’t ignore it. Bush, upon first hearing of Sarah Palin: “What is she, the governor of Guam?”

Speech-less [Amazon]

Buy or Die [Stinque@Amazon kickback link]