Quick Hits: Volume CCCXXXIV

- Bigotry by any other name would be just as degrading.

From former NFL running back Rashard Mendenhall: 

Not sure who Rashard believes is the white players' "G.O.A.T.," but there was one specific white dude who got the best of him when his Pittsburgh Steelers took on the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl 45. 

What's frightening is Rashard has expressed more disdain for football commentating white dudes than he did for Osama bin Laden. 

- Clickbait headline: 

BREAKING: Pope says priests can bless same-sex unions, requests should not be subject to moral analysis https://t.co/5NXUuFAj4d

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 18, 2023

Reality: 

 

Media Mudders: No, Pope Francis Did Not OK Blessings for Same-Sex Relationships

What are the most dire words that any Catholic journalist can hear in the mainstream media? “Today, the Vatican/Pope Francis said …”https://t.co/EP3Bk0ovMf

— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) December 18, 2023

It bears repeating: a corrupt, dishonest media is far more dangerous to democracy than who resides in the White House.  

- For a young man who only turned 30 within the past two months, Charlie Kirk has made quite a name for himself. He's best known for founding the organization Turning Point USA, whose mission it is to share the virtues of conservatism and American greatness with young adults susceptible to leftist indoctrination on college campuses. 

While I have a ton of respect for Charlie taking on such an ambitious endeavor, he's not doing himself, his organization or his followers any favors with his fealty to Donald J. Trump. As such, said idol worship has resulted in absurdly naïve and ill-informed takes as this: 

Free Speech has a cost

Alex Jones: $1 billion

Tucker Carlson and FOX: $787.5 million

Rudy Giuliani: $148 million for wanting to ensure fair elections

Are you next?

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) December 15, 2023

No, I am not next, for the obvious reason that I have no intention of defaming anyone. See, "defamation" is not protected speech. 

Erick Erickson explains. 

 

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A post shared by Erick Erickson (@ewerickson)

When it was ascertained that Trump was indeed a formidable candidate for President 7+ years ago, Kirk was an impressionable young man in his early 20s. He soon learned that hitching his wagon to Trump back then could be very lucrative, and his current lifestyle reflects that belief. To state the obvious, Charlie has no core principles outside of Trump-ism, so he'll be continue to be a proud transcriber for Trumpian gaslighting. 

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