Pierre-François Bouchard and The Donald

Pierre-François Bouchard found the Rosetta Stone near Fort Julien and the port city of Rosetta (now Rashid) on this date in 1799.  The value was immediately recognized as it was the first piece of glyph that had a version in another language (in this case 2) and became the cornerstone of deciphering what was, before, an unknown writing form.

I think of that today not only because of the anniversary of the find,  but in witnessing the latest GOP gobbledygook, figuring that there had to be a translation that made some sense if only we knew the key.

Aside from a bit of bad plagiarism and some out and out lying to try and cover it up, plus the bonus of the Donald bellowing incoherently, what was supposed to be an evening of laying out the Trump care success was, well...how can I say it...?

When folks are purposefully vague and talk in grandiose generalities, I figure somethings up.  So I looked back at the GOP platform highlights to figure out what they were trying to do; my GOP Rosetta Stone. Some highlights of the platform:

  1. no exceptions for rape or women’s health in cases of abortion,
  2. requiring the Bible to be taught in public high schools, 
  3. selling coal as a “clean” energy source,
  4. demanding a return of federal lands to the states, 
  5. insisting that legislators use religion as a guide in lawmaking, 
  6. appointing “family values” judges,
  7. barring female soldiers from combat, 
  8. and rejecting the need for stronger gun controls — despite the mass shootings afflicting the nation every week.

The platform also made homophobia and the denial of basic civil rights to gays, lesbians and transgender people a centerpiece. It repudiates same-sex marriage, despite strong support for this constitutional right in the nation at large. The party invokes “natural marriage” and states’ rights for determining which bathrooms transgender people may use, and it defends merchants who would deny service to gay customers.

Now I understand why the GOP language needs a translator.


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