#we honestly might not even know what happens w/ the senate tonight

[anghraine]

It looks like Kentucky's total abortion ban is doing worse than might be expected. It's currently losing, 47-53, even while Kentucky Republicans are predictably winning races, which suggests that some people there are voting for Republican candidates but also opposing Republican abortion policy in particular.

Maggie Hassan (D-NH) is projected to hold her seat, while Kris Kobach (ugh) is creeping up on Chris Mann in Kansas. Oh, and Grassley won his seat again, surprise.

(Context: he's been in the Senate longer than I've been alive, and I'm well into my 30s.)

[lollyholly99]

Ineffable Valentines - Day 9: Kiss

i’m late I’m late i’m LATE but here’s my fill for day 9 of these prompts! today’s prompt: kiss! @ineffable-valentines

AO3 link

There are many ways to kiss, and, therein, many firsts for kisses.

Technically, their first kiss of any kind happens in Rome, in 55 AD. At that point it's a greeting, common amongst the men (and man-shaped beings) of the time. And it needn't mean anything more.

It's been 14 years since Crowley and Aziraphale last saw eachother. Another coincidence brings them together once more: a particular senator needs tempting into evil, while also needing a blessing - so say the pair's respective superiors. They've been sent to damn and save the man, which is a piece of knowledge they find out later on, upon having a conversation and sharing their plans with eachother.

"Crowley!" the man says with a smile as the demon enters, interrupting his conversation with the angel he'd been sitting with. He heads towards Crowley, arms spread wide. "It's been too long!"

"Oh, only a year or so," Crowley responds, himself smiling. "Then again, I guess that is a while, eh?" For a human.

The man, once close enough, kisses Crowley's cheek, which the demon reciprocates slightly disinterestedly. "It's so nice to see you again. Oh!" He gestures towards Aziraphale. "Come, sit with us - meet Aziraphale, he's an acquaintance of mine."

Crowley's yellow eyes widen behind his sunglasses. "Aziraphale?"

Aziraphale looks up at the mentions of his name. "Craw- Crowley?"

"Angel!" Crowley exclaims.

He makes his way towards Aziraphale, and when he's in front of him, he leans down and kisses him. To his mild surprise, the angel does the same. It's quick, it's nothing more than a greeting, everyone in the room would recognise it as such... but the contact still excites the both of them.

"Oh, you know eachother?" asks the man.

The pair answer simultaneously.

"He's an old friend of mine." "He's an old acquaintance of mine."

Aziraphale clears his throat, and answers by himself this time. "We've known eachother for quite a long time."

"Uh, yeah." Crowley agrees. "Cor, when was the last time we met up? 's been at least a decade or two."

"Must've been at Petronius', yes." Aziraphale says, smiling. "It's lovely to see you again."

"Likewise."

---

Their next kiss occurs some time in the 1810s, at a ball where they've once again been assigned to carry out heavenly and hellish work. They don't exactly remember the details of the evening, considering there was a slightly more interesting event that happened that night.

"You look... well, if I'm perfectly honest, positively stunning, my dear."

The pair walk through the entrance and into the ballroom, arm in arm. Aziraphale's comment is directed towards Crowley, who is currently in disguise as his partner, a guest he's brought along as a favour after she hadn't been able to secure an invitation for herself.

Crowley, in her black ballgown with its red trimmings, blushes at the compliment. "Oh, shush, angel."

"It's true!" Aziraphale insists. "You look so very beautiful tonight. Any gentleman in this room would feel blessed to be in my position, at your side."

"Obviously they'd feel blessed to be you, you're an angel."

"That's besides the point. Now, dear..."

Aziraphale gently takes her hand, bows, and brings it to his lips... and then he kisses the back of it.

"...Might I claim the first dance with you for tonight?"

Crowley feels herself blushing further, and tries her best to fight it. She feels the touch of the angel's lips lingering on her hand, feels warmth blossom in her chest, feels electricity bouncing between the two.

"Y-yeah. You may."

---

The next occurs on the night of the averted apocalypse.

They're at Crowley's flat, sitting on his comfy bed, discussing the meaning of Agnes Nutter's last prophecy.

"Faces, faces... Maybe it doesn't mean our own - what's got faces...? Clocks? Coins?" Crowley rubs his temples as he thinks. "Choose your faces - a mask?"

"Crowley..." Aziraphale pipes up, looking down at the mug of hot cocoa in his hands that Crowley had prepared for him. His forehead is creased with worry. "Crowley, do you... do you really think we have a chance of surviving this... aftermath?"

"Eh? Crowley snaps out of his thoughts. "Well, I mean... if we can figure this prophecy out, maybe. Probably. I mean, my best guess? Agnes wanted to help out."

"What... w-what if we don't?"

The demon looks up at the angel, at his face, where his eyes are filling with tears.

And there's an image that hurts.

"Angel-"

"We 'll have tonight, but... tomorrow... there's not a chance we won't face retribution - after everything we've been through, we're going to lose it all...!"

Crowley shifts himself over on the bed, moving closer to his friend. "Aziraphale... It's... it's gonna be-" He sighs. "No, fuck it, I'm not gonna tell you it's okay, because it might not be. You and I both know that. You're not stupid, so I'm not gonna lie to you."

His words do nothing to comfort Aziraphale, who curls in on himself further.

"But," he continues, covering the angel's shaking, clasped hands with one of his own, and letting his other one rest on his shoulder. "We still have a chance. We can figure something out. 's better if we just think about that, yeah?"

Aziraphale takes a deep, uneasy breath. "...Alright."

"It's alright for now. We're okay right now. We'll burn that bridge when we get to it tomorrow."

"...Isn't the phrase 'cross that bridge'?" Aziraphale asks, wiping away a tear.

Crowley chokes up a laugh. "We're disastrous. 'Burn' seems more than fitting, in my opinion."

Aziraphale forces a laugh of his own, then sighs. "Crowley... I'm... I'm so scared..."

"Honestly... you and me both, angel,"

The demon, unthinking, leans forward, and kisses the angel's forehead, desperate to bring him any sort of solace.

"You and me both."

---

Finally, there's the first day of the rest of their lives.

Crowley's caught by surprise after lunch, when they're back at the rebuilt bookshop.

Well, he'd had a warning when the door had closed behind them, if only a short, quick, unfinished "Um... May I...?" from Aziraphale, to which he'd responded with a "Uh, yeah, sure...?"

He finds himself being dragged closer by the lapels of his jacket, the angel's mouth crashing against his own.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Crowley chuckles, pulling back after a moment of surprise. "What's with the abrupt... all of this?"

Aziraphale looks embarrassed all of a sudden. "Oh... oh, I'm sorry, my dear, I should've made my intentions clearer. Do you not want to, um...?"

"Oh, no, I certainly do - I'm just surprised at you, angel."

Aziraphale laughs sheepishly himself. "Well, I thought... now that we're free agents, I wanted to, um, match your speed, so to speak. I got to thinking about that occasion in the sixties - the nineteen sixties - it was quite obvious what our feelings towards one another were back then, and, well... I didn't want to keep you waiting any longer."

The demon knows exactly what he's on about.

You go too fast for me, Crowley.

"I waited six millennia for you, for us, Aziraphale, and I'd wait so many more if I needed to. No need to rush to 'match my speed', or anything." Crowley says with a smile, wrapping his arms around the other's waist. "Unless, of course, that's what you want."

"Oh..." Aziraphale smiles fondly back at the demon. "I do. Very much so, my dear."

Their lips meet again, in an act full of joy, of excitement, of love, of relief.

And they'll meet again, and again, and again, plenty more times after that.

[ourdarkcollectorrunawayme]

Conversations with my conservative friend

specrOkay, so my friend is huge defender of Ben Carson and claims that the criticisms against him with his appointment to the secretary of Urban Development and Housing, with his lack of experience is racist. I sent him a list of points as to why the criticisms against Carson are not racist, but actually reasonable. My friend then responded, trying to redact logic and reality. I going to post the points I made and the responses he made, to make sure that their is a complete context to the conversation. I would appreciate anybody, whichever side of the political spectrum you are on, with your opinions. 

If Ben Carson was white he would still get the same criticism that he is receiving from Elizabeth Warren and other progressives on his qualifications to be the secretary of the Department of Urban Housing and Development.

Ben Carson, M.D. is a Republican, and if he were a Democrat, he would be getting NO Criticism from Warren. This IS a Type of Racism ... against Minorities in a non-progressive Party that Warren deems an “Uncle Tom” Figure. That is still racist, and that is still disgusting.

Research what other black figures are saying about him, and Kanye West doesn't count, because he doesn't know what he is talking about half the time.

Colonel Allen West, Ambassador Alan Keyes, Senator Tim Scott all like him. That is good enough for me. Even Herman Cain knows Carson, M.D. is a Genius.

The term "urban" is a word that conversatives use when they are talking to their white constituants. It is term used to dogwhistles the idea that "people of color live in the cities and they don't have the same values as rural white Americans and I will protect you from them".So saying that Carson is qualified for the position because he grew up in the urban city of baltimore is like saying because I lived near a beach, I am qualified to be head of the navy.

That is not a Comparison I recognise as accurate. In the South, the rural AND urban Areas have mixed black and white Areas in it. It is only up north that “urban” is a derogatory Term for “black.” And it is true that Values ARE different. The Society and Culture is different. Just look at B.E.T. and C.M.T.

2. Urban Development and Housing department specializes in programs that help people who live in those urban areas, and may not have the same advantages as people with money. And how a city can operate to the best advantages for everyone. Meaning he would be in charge of which programs get funding and contacts and loans going to different companies. This also covers people who would be well within or under the poverty and approves or denies them public housing.If anything, this means my stepmom, as an architect, is more qualified than Carson for the position.

Do you honestly think Obama was qualified for the Presidency or even Hillary? I do not see you going after them. These Secretaries have People under them that have worked in that Department for Years waiting on Retirement that will help guide Doctor Ben into making the big Decisions. I am not worried. H.U.D. IS an important Department. I know someone who works at the Francis Marion Hotel who used to live in Federally subsidised Housing. It is very important. But Carson, M.D. is not making the big Decisions all by himself.

3.Warren's main concern is that the incoming president's business and companies deal in construction and real estate, who he has violated many anti-discrimination laws and mistreating and underpaying the people who build his hotels. Warren just wants a yes or no answer out of Carson that the funds the department receives will not benefit from that department with a friend of his incharge. Carson keeps evading answering that question.

Trump’s Businesses are going to be run by his Sons and Daughters, and they are more than qualified to do that. Donald is not going to be involved with them while he is President. As for Mistreatment, this is the first I am hearing of it. As for underpaying, my last Boss did that for Painters and Construction Workers that did a shitty Job when no Contract was signed. That is Business. I am also concerned Trump’s former Businesses do not benefit, but I have no Reason to assume he would be devious about it.

4. Carson constantly tells the story that when he was young he was angry black man, who was only tamed by Christianity to white conservatives because it plays into their racist master narrative that all blacks are savage and violent. Friends, family members, and people he knew when he was young contract those claims, saying that he was actually quiet.

I am not surprised vindictive Shits would lie about his Childhood. The Lifetime Film I watched about his Life starring Cuba Gooding Jr., seemed to portray him as inwardly angry but outwardly silent about his Frustrations. That is the way I am. And why are only conservatives racist? And why are only whites racist? Larry Elder, a black Libertarian Radio Show Host from L.A. says in one of his Books that black Americans are more racist than white Americans. Hell, he and I are alike in the Christianity tamed me Story. I used to be very angry. You are looking at it from a racial P.O.V. when Race should not be a Factor. He is a PERSON! He is a Human Being and a Christian who happens to have had a troubled Childhood. I think you are inventing Racism – and though I am not calling you prejudiced – that CAN be a Form of Prejudice. Not saying you are!

5. Name another black politician other than Herman Cain.

Lt. Col. And former Congressman Allen West, Amb. Alan Keyes (I voted for him for President over George W. Bush), Doctor Ben Carson, Sen. Tim Scott, John Knight, Thad McClammy, Alvin Holmes, Richard Arrington, Jr.

6. I looked up your claim about Elizabeth Warren, I check politifact and this is what I got http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/oct/29/facebook-posts/critics-say-elizabeth-warren-lives-54-million-mans/ . Another good thing to do when making accusations is the credibility of your source of information.

I said she lived in a two million dollar House with two Servants, a Maid, a Cook, and a Butler, but I may be wrong about the Butler. I think she has a total of four People waiting on her in her Cambridge Mansion.

7. Would you be saying the same things about Elizabeth Warren if she was a man. When you describe women of power like her as "sharp-tongued", "domineering", "ambisious", you are saying she is a "bitch and shouldn't be in a man's position of power". Where as you would applaud men with similar or the same traits.

Instead of inventing Racism, now you are inventing Sexism? Rough Stuff ... I am mad at her for using the Myth of Native American Heritage to get into a good University, obtain Work Credit, and get to where she is. When she ran against Scott Brown it all came out, but she upset him anyway. Women of Power? What about how much I like Condoleeza Rice, Janet Brewer, Sarah Palin, Lurleen Burns Wallace, and so forth? Did you vote for Nikki Haley? I never used the word Bitch. I never even called Hillary Clinton a Bitch, even though my Mom has. And what about your Attitude towards Maggie Thatcher and repeating a Quote where she was called a Bitch? I would not throw Stones in Glass Houses.

7. The word "elitism" has now become a dogwhistle for conservatives. It means "people who are smart and know what they are doing". In the most recent episode of the Young Turks, the panel talks about that and what it means. In a tolitarian society, its not the most vernrable in society to go first, its the intellectuals because they are warning everyone of the danger that is coming. Then ruling party begins devaluing education.

An Elitist is not necessarily someone smart. People criticised Mitt Romney and Donald Trump on Intelligence. An Elitist is someone in a high Mark in Society, plenty of Money, lot of Power, and looks down on everyone else. You are taking my Words and making up your own Definitions. Intellectuals are Libertarians, not Conservatives, Liberals, or Statists (Authoritarians/Totalitarians). Intellectuals never get elected. John Kerry is an Elitist. He married into Money twice. Now he flies aboard Air Force Three. Mitt Romney is not an Elitist because he was a Servant to Men, Women, and Children two Years in Paris giving up a lot of free time, College Years, and earned Money. He was also the Son of Mexican Immigrants. I doubt he has armed Bodyguards. Donald Trump is more or less an Elitist, because he has his own Money, earned, Bodyguards, he looks down on others, and has an arrogant Aura about him. He is still the best out of those four Oddballs. Jill Stein, M.D. was my second Choice. The Liberals and Progressives hate and despise her. The real War on Women is coming from the Left.

And Education is being devalued as we speak. Elimination of Vouchers and Charter Schools, cracking down on private and parochial Schools, sprouting up of Common Core, New Math, etc., and getting rid of School Choice. It is the dumbing down of America, and the inner Cities and metropolitan Areas are being hit the hardest. Ben Carson, M.D. would be better served as Secretary of Education or Surgeon General. I am not sure what the Qualifications for Cabinet Posts are, but Hillary was not qualified for Secretary of State, and look how People flocked to her. She served less than a Decade in the Senate, and she was a First Lady. She got nothing accomplished. I agree that spells bad News for these non-Politicians in Trump’s Cabinet, but maybe it is for the best. You might have preferred Ivanka Trump in the Oval Office since she is a Woman, yes? ~_^

I have noticed Liberals and Progressives not only hate Conservatives, they hate Libertarians as well. I never understood their Bigotry and Intolerance of others who were different ... or traditional. Present Company excluded. I will get to your other Messages tonight, Jen. Take Care! And sorry for me getting all heated.

Please keep comments and reblog responses civil. I am not putting up my friend’s name or email, because I don’t want to throw him completely under the bus or cyberbullied by anyone