Brett Jones, sheriff-elect of Madison County, Alabama. Click to enlarge.
Seems like butch gay men are coming out all over the place nowadays. Your Head Trucker is fine with that. About damn time!
Brett Jones, former U.S.. Navy SEAL, was elected last week as the first openly gay sheriff in Alabama, defeating a two-term Republican incumbent. This is in Madison County, up on the Tennessee border, the seat of which is the "Rocket City," Huntsville, home of NASA'S Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal, and a branch of the University of Alabama. Local news station WAFF (NBC) reports:
Jones grew up in a deeply religious military family. In 2014, he published Pride: The Story of the First Openly Gay Navy SEAL, a memoir about coming to terms with his sexuality as well as his struggle to serve in the military during the Don't Ask, Don't Tell era. He discusses being interrogated by the Navy in this 2014 interview:
Jones was honorably discharged in 2003, afterwards serving for 13 years on the Global Response Staff of the CIA. According to the back of the dust jacket on his book, Jones lives with his husband, a former police sergeant, and their son. The couple founded and operated a private security company in Madison County.
In 2015, after the Obergefell decision came down, Jones made this video addressing people who had religious objections to same-sex marriage:
I don't know how to make "shorts" embed in the blog here, but he made several for the campaign just ended. Here's one that shows him off to good advantage:
This Irving Berlin tune is an old favorite of your Head Trucker's. Bing Crosby sings it in the movie of the same name (1946) to beautiful Joan Caulfield, who reminds me a little of my darling mama; they were about the same age.
I also happened to come across this 2023 performance, which is not bad, not bad at all. I don't know who these young'uns are, but they ought to keep on practicing: they just might reach the bigtime someday.
Bernie outlines what should happen next after the Blunami, and though your Head Trucker is not a socialist, I agree wholeheartedly with everything he says - though I reserve the right to differ on some details:
I also endorse Pete's clearheaded strategic vision as explained in this brilliant New Yorker interview:
What I Say:
My papaw, who died 60 years ago last summer, used to say, "The Democrats are for the little man." That’s as true today as it ever was. The Democrats are still the Party of the People (i.e., the bottom half), while the Republicans are the Party of Business (the top half). The sane, sensible middle way between the two extremes is the path of wisdom and moderation.
Through the midterm miracle of a Blue Wave, Democrats now control both houses of Congress -- an epochal turn of events, and a once-in-a-generation chance to rewrite the script. I hope the wise old heads and the bright young faces now blessed with this rare opportunity to turn the country around will make the best use of it. How? Give the People what they want, pronto:Prices down, paychecks up. Stop the war and Trump’s thug army too!
Congressional Democrats should hold a confab long before swearing-in day to formulate a clear, definite strategy to accomplish these things ASAP. Even without the support of the executive branch, there must be ways and means to do it. And while you're at it, point out just who is responsible for the People’s financial distress, and do it loudly. Go on the offensive and take the battle to them. Stand up and fight for the People!
Which if you do, will give you greater support for the other things the People have voted for -- and there are so many, which I can't begin to list here. Trump, with the help of his wicked minions and billionaire buddies, has taken a wrecking ball to our government and the whole world order, and it will take years to repair all that's broken. It won't get done in two years, and though he seems at the moment to be resigned to working with a Democratic Congress, you can bet he'll soon be back to his old routine of smash and grab. You can't believe a word he says; and he's never happy unless he's breaking things.
And yes, he and his lickspittle lackeys must answer for their crimes. But there is a difference between Justice and Vengeance. Justice is patient and composed; Vengeance is hurried and sloppy. There is time enough to assemble a case, or should I say, cases with which to prosecute the guilty. Whether to start with the big boys at the top of the pile or the small fry at the bottom is a question for the shrewd and savvy to ponder.
But I am pretty sure that the People did NOT vote for wholesale prosecutions in all directions, endless hearings, blithering soundbites, political carnage. That might feel good at the beginning, but it might also backfire bigtime in the end.
Moreover, a majority is not all-powerful; you Democrats will need Republican votes to achieve a two-thirds majority whenever that is needed; that means you must all work together for the good of the whole nation and build cooperation in Congress. Compromise is not necessarily a bad thing; and no doubt you will find some Republicans are in a conciliatory mood, now that the dread power of the dictator has been shaken. Some others, though, will probably try to sabotage everything the Democrats do. It's going to get very ugly before it's all over: a long, grinding fight.
But first help the People! Congress has the mighty power of the purse; and beyond that, the power of public opinion; and even beyond that, the ennobling power of a Good Cause. So hit the ground running and overcome the evil with the good.
This is the bright, shining moment when Democrats can be the saviors of this country and guardians of all that is good. If you don't do that, and are not SEEN to do that, well guess what? That big blue wave can easily roll right back out to sea and leave all you politicos high and dry. I'm an old man who has seen it happen several times before. So do the right things to earn the trust and support of your fellow citizens who sent you to Congress.
As Pete said in his interview, this may be a chance for a New Deal moment that will bring good and lasting change for the benefit of all Americans, not just the rich and powerful. Indeed, the whole world, friends and frenemies alike, wants America to be a shining light, a force for good again, not a den of thieves and warmongers.
Fate or Destiny or Providence, however you want to put it, blessed us with great wealth, but has also given America a job to do: to be the cavalry coming over the hill, to be the Marines storming ashore, to be the guys in white hats running the bandits out of town, to be helping, healing, feeding, and leading the world. If not us -- who then? As someone long ago once said:
America is great because it is good; when it ceases to be good, it will cease to be great.
The red wall has been broken down, the corrupt and callous are on the run. So let us fight the good fight and keep the faith! Every Democrat elected last week has a rendezvous with destiny and a part to play in the great political drama of our time. What will the history books of the next century say about you folks? What will your children and grandchildren think? And what will be left of you but the record of your deeds at this momentous time?
Nobody saw this coming. But come it did, thanks be to God.
The NY Post is a right-wing newspaper and was Trump's favorite.
Great news for some, awful news for others -- who richly deserve it.
More to come after we eat our thanksgiving dinner here - the Pork Boys are celebrating with a box of Kroger fried chicken! Yummy stuff.
* * * * *
What a day! What a night! I have never been so shocked by an election result in my life -- except once, when Trump won his first term in 2016; but that was a horror. This was like a glorious dream come true. A miracle. Nobody predicted this breathtaking revolution.
I had kept my expectations low -- we've had our hearts broken so many times here in Texas, crossing our fingers for a blue wave that never came. I did dare to hope that Talarico would win his Senate seat, but I didn't give a thought to the entrenched Texas regime. They have been in power since before Dubya got elected president - and believe it or not, they eliminated, with voters' consent, the term limit for state offices. Which is SO fucking wrong: an invitation to perpetual dictatorship. And in what until now has been called a "ruby red" state, I never expected that mountain of corruption to crumble in my lifetime.
But how delighted I was to find out I was wrong. The Democrats swept ALL the statewide offices in Texas for the first time since 1961 -- governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer, etc. There is a God. And even more amazing is that they all made a particular point of saying in their concession speeches that it was a fair election and they accepted the results. EVEN MORE stunning was that shithead in D.C. chimed in with a similar statement. No fuss and furor about a "stolen election" and all that rot. "Pinch me," I said to M.P., "and tell me I'm not dreaming."
So we were not only ecstatic over Talarico's win, but also delighted that we will soon have a new Latina governor, Gina Hinojosa. (The Latin vote in Texas was massively Democratic this time around.) And right next door in New Mexico, Deb Haaland, a native American woman who was Secretary of the Interior under Biden, was elected governor. And of course there were several other women governors elected, and at least two black governors in Georgia and in Florida. And the first openly gay man was elected to the Senate, Chris Pappas of New Hampshire; Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin was the first lesbian, elected in 2012. So the face of American politics will be different from now on - viva la diversidad y la unidad!
Well, I can't possibly cover all the election news in a blog post, but for the record - and perhaps the enlightenment or amusement of my truckbuddies - here are some short videos that tell the story across the nation and specifically here in Texas, where many people were shouting, crying, and dancing in the streets last night, just as when the Berlin Wall fell. It's a bright new day in Texas, boys! I tell you what.
But if you have the time, please scroll on down and watch Talarico's deeply moving victory speech - the same political sermon he's made at countless appearances all across Texas. The metaphor of David and Goliath is very apt - an inspiration to us all. And Hinojosa also gave a beautiful speech, full of sunny smiles and blue skies of hope.
ABC News (4:05) -- Democrats take back Congress and flip the South in big blue wave:
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CBS Texas (2:39) -- Talarico, Hinojosa celebrate historic Texas wins at Whataburger (a beloved Texas institution, open 24/7):
Reuters (3:30) -- Seven numbers that explain Democrats' US midterm triumph:
C-SPAN (3:13) -- Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski (a moderate Republican who voted to convict Trump after his second impeachment) has some damn good advice for Democrats:
Guardian News (UK) (3:07) -- People and politicians across the world react to the US midterm results:
ITV News (UK) (5:06) -- Watch as Donald Trump reacts to defeat in US midterm elections:
* * * * *
James Talarico'ssublime victory speech; this man speaks my language:
Gina Hinojosa also gave a beautiful and memorable speech last night:
N. B. --"No te dejes" = don't back down, stand up for yourself.
Election Day! Nationwide, there's been a massive early-voting turnout, and today's in-person turnout is huge, too. The aggregate polls seem to indicate a big blue wave, if not a blue tsunami, in the Congressional races - but when the races are broken down state by state, the chances look smaller. Yet pollsters are often wrong; as in any election, it's not over until the last vote is counted.
Here's a live report on election results from the Associated Press:
We laughed, we cried, we hollered, we hugged -- we were amazed and delighted. Nobody saw this coming. This was one for the history books. Maybe there's hope for this old world after all. I'll post more tomorrow.
Adam Kinzinger, former Republican Congressman from Illinois, now residing in Texas, discusses the final polls on the eve of Election Day:
As far as I know, Kinzinger still identifies as a Republican, but not a MAGA man, and he despises Trump's political perversion and corruption. He was one of ten Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for instigating the attack on the Capitol, and later was one of the two Republicans, along with Liz Cheney, to serve on the January 6th Committee that recommended criminal charges against Trump.
Kinzinger is a real man: he had the balls to go against his party and speak the truth, even though it cost him his seat in the next election. Whatever label he identifies with now, Kinzinger certainly talks like a sane and sensible Democrat. He endorsed Biden and later Harris in 2024, and this year endorsed Talarico's Senate bid.
What I Say: The Democratic Party needs more butch white men like Kinzinger, a lot more, if it wants to regain power and keep it. There, I said it -- a simple demographic truth, whether anybody wants to hear it or not.
Bonus: Kinzinger tells it like it is at the 2024 Democratic Convention. "Trump is a weak man pretending to be strong, a small man pretending to be big . . . ."
He had nothing to gain from this speech, but he made it anyway, for the love of his country. Goddamn, that's brave. To tell you the truth, I'd vote for Kinzinger for President any day of the week, if there weren't a better Democrat on the ballot.
What I Say: Trump and his deranged doppelganger Musk, and some other henchmen and hussies I could name, ought to be sent in a big, beautiful, gold-plated rocket to Mars, where they would have a whole planet to rule and ruin and fight over with robots. No return fuel, though, and no radio to disturb the rest of us with. Just eternal silence - no adoring audience - it would drive them both mad in no time.
Bonus: Obama provides some comedy relief and straight talk at a rally in Atlanta:
FYI: All 435 House seats are up for election every two years. Senators serve six-year terms, but one-third of the 100 Senate seats are up for election every two years. Here are two graphics showing the current membership of both houses of Congress, from Wikipedia:
The six non-voting delegates in the House (not included in the graphic) are from the District of Columbia and five overseas territories: Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Marianas. They can participate in debate but cannot vote.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, harmony; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that I may seek not so much to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
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We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.
and welcome to the Blue Truck, a blog for mature gay men with news and views on gay rights, history, art, humor, and whatever comes to mind. Plus a few hot men. The truck's all washed and gassed up, so hop in buddy, let's go.
CAUTION: For mature gay men only beyond this point. Some posts and links may not be suitable for children or the unco guid. You have been warned.
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My Story
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Churches say that the expression of love in a heterosexual monogamous relationship includes the physical, the touching, embracing, kissing, the genital act - the totality of our love makes each of us grow to become increasingly godlike and compassionate. If this is so for the heterosexual, what earthly reason have we to say that it is not the case with the homosexual?
It is a perversion if you say to me that a person chooses to be homosexual. You must be crazy to choose a way of life that exposes you to a kind of hatred. It's like saying you choose to be black in a race-infected society.
If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn't worship that God.
