Morality Expert Vance Schools The Pope

Trump’s Vice President has taken over the fight with the pontif that Trump started. Pope Leo is speaking about peace and humanitarian values, and the administration feels that Vance, a Catholic, has more “moral authority” than Trump to engage with the Pope on what Jesus really meant.

Here is a very insightrul video of Vance speaking at a Turning Point conference yesterday. In fact he was heckled at the very conservative gathering. Vance said he thinks the Pope should “be more careful” when he talks about theology. Can you believe the arrogance??? Okay, yes you can. In the video, Vance engaged with some people who shouted at him from the audience, Vance justifying the violence of the war in Iran, and arguing that there is more humanitarian aide in Gaza now that in recent years. Vance even invoked WWII, arguing that God was on the side of those fighting the Nazi’s. I don’t know much about the bible or God, but I do believe it’s a very slippery slope to justify a position by putting God behind you. I am sure the Nazi’s thought God was on their side.

While Eric Swalwell has not been convicted, a number of women now have come out and claimed he was either inappropriate towards them, or worse, raped them. One woman claimed he drugged her and then raped her. A woman who came out yesterday to speak about his actions said she feared coming forward because of Swalwell’s power. Some claimed that there were rumors about Swalwell’s interactions with women staffers for years. His best friend in Congress (who has presidential aspirations) has publicly stated that he felt decieved: “Senator Ruben Gallego, acknowledged on Tuesday that he had long heard rumors that Representative Eric Swalwell was “flirty” with women, but had allowed his longtime friendship with the California Democrat to cloud his judgment and never said or did anything about it.”

Gallego may be trying to get ahead of something potentially damaging to him, that he may have known more than he admits about Swalwell. What I sense is that not unlike any other male-dominated, ego-fueled, power bastions like Congress, the culture of misogyny is an undercurrent. That’s not to say there aren’t many great male allies in Congress, there are; it’s just that systemic attitudes towards women are still engrained in our society and in our institutions. Something has to be done to stop that, I’m not clear what. MeToo helped a lot; but particularly with this current administration, sexist attitudes have become more acceptable. I’m hopeful that the tide will turn, and exposing someone like Swalwell is one more major step towards exposing the patriarchal systems.

The women who came out in the last few weeks are very brave and I salute them. Because of their strength, Swalwell has resigned from Congress and ended his campaign for Govenor of California.

And we need more women in Congress, that would help.

Here is a drawing of mine from years ago (The New Yorker did not buy it)

Trump is doing more things to distract us (threatening to fire Jerome Powell, Fed Chair), Iran is threatening the US with retaliation because Trump is blockading the Strait of Hormuz.

Happy Wednesday. When will this end? Thanks for being here, you all are the best. See you later.