Sept. 23, 2020
Episode 5 Bonus Episode
On this bonus episode we discuss the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and what that can mean for the USA.
Transcript
Eric:
Hello and welcome to the Q lounge podcast. We are your hosts. I'm Eric
Gil:I'm Gil.
Eric:Join us as we discuss news stories and life situations. As they relate to the LGBTQIA plus experience, please visit us@theqloungepodcast.com and hit that subscribe button or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, and welcome to a special episode of the Q lounge podcast. So we had another episode, planned to drop this week, coming up. although we are still going to drop that episode we are both saddened by the news of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's passing. And we wanted to come and discuss that and get some things off of our chest ,deal with the sad news. THE NOTORIOUS RBG. Gil, how are you dealing with all this? I will admit right now I'm a mess. I cried all night. Last night, I have been on the verge of tears pretty much all day and even crying a little bit throughout the day. how are you dealing with this? I
Gil:think it's a little surreal. it's definitely something that I feared that would happen. it's always that horse case scenario and it's 2020 at this point. We'll what. Shock.
Eric:It was just a fucking evil year.
Gil:Yeah. it's definitely one of those, at this point, I don't know what else can, what other dirt balls can 2020 throw at us at this point? but it's definitely, hard, this is that hard pill to swallow because we know the conservatives will do everything to get this appointed before the election. But four years ago, obviously that was a different situation. They wouldn't let Obama do it.
Eric:11 months.
Gil:Yup.
Eric:And now they have what? 50 days they have six weeks.
Gil:Correct. Then they'll try to jam somebody through.
Eric:I wanted to do a little Q and A with you. We can do it now, or we can just do it throughout because I do have a couple of questions, cause I know you're a poli-sci guy and this is your specialty. so I've heard that there's possibly a few scenarios happening that either they will try to get everything rushed in before the election. Or they will try to do it during the lame duck session.
Gil:Yes.
Eric:So I know that Susan Collins actually did go on record today. I believe stating that she does not think that someone should be confirmed until after the president is either reelected or that people choose a new president.
Gil:Which is the best scenario to me, it would be a better scenario. really in reality, we need only four Republicans, pretty much to differ.
Eric:Yes. And so Collins has said she will, but honestly, I don't trust the Republicans at all. And correct. Collins has flipped with the Kavanaugh confirmation, which I can go off for days about, but I'm not going to pervert RBGs podcast with that. and then also with the impeachment with, I think he learned his lesson. No bitch. He did not learn his lesson. Murkowski has been on the record as recent as like a month and a half ago stating that if. A spot was to open up. She would not vote to confirm a new justice until after the 20th of January, because we set a precedence back in 2016 or yeah, what's fair is type thing. Lindsey Graham in 2018 went on record saying because of what they had done in 2016, that it wouldn't be fair to have two sets of rules. Correct.
Gil:on the same leadership in the Senate.
Eric:I know. The irony in that. And then Grassley has also stated that he. Is not for voting for someone before the 20th. Yes. I've also heard Gardner from Colorado, but I haven't really heard too much. I've just heard his name thrown out there that he has said something, but I don't know when he has said anything. And then there's just bubbling under rumors about Romney and people close to him have said that's where he's going to lean, but there hasn't been any official word.
Gil:But we know he's spoken against the president he has,
Eric:and I hope he,
Gil:yes, exactly. Since day one.
Eric:I also know, they're saying because, Mark Kelly is running against, Martha McSally? She's just evil. because she didn't actually win an election. She was appointed to the Senate seat that. As early as November 30th, Mark Kelly could take over that
Gil:spot. Correct. And that would only meet three seats or three Republicans. We would need to flip. Okay. Assuming depending on how November. Knock
Eric:on wood. Please vote you guys. You have to fucking vote.
Gil:Yeah. And that's exactly what it is. So pretty much if Democrats actually get enough seats before November 3rd, or I technically after November 3rd, that we really doesn't matter.
Eric:but you still have a lame duck session where correct. From what I also understand. So yeah, they don't push it through before the election, if they do it after the election, they're hoping that if people are voted out, especially in these 11, 11 seats that are up for grabs that are like, That like if Collins who is losing in the polls anyways, and a few others do lose that. They'll be so mad that they'll do the confirmation during the lame duck session, which I know the new Senate comes in January 3rd. Whereas the president comes in on the 20th. Yes. From what I understand. Yes. Yeah. but I've heard that is also a thing. So that McConnell may not push it through by the third, because he's hoping to have a fire lit under everybody in case they do lose. That they'll just push it through during that lame duck, which I don't think should be okay at all. yeah. any clarification on that, but you have for me or
Gil:no, that's pretty much it, and it sucks because there's not much more we could do. With it. but it's definitely, it's one of those making sure we vote correctly. This is the, shame on people and I will be out there, once again on record for about 2016, why everything matters? People's, choices of I don't care, or I don't care for that person. My candidate didn't win. Therefore I'm not going to vote for that one. It's not the difference between two evils.
Eric:we literally have evil in the white house right now.
Gil:Correct. If you're saying Hillary was just as bad that's bull, we all know that.
Eric:trump is evil and he has been since the beginning. I don't know how anyone could have voted for him ever.
Gil:Correct. And that's just one of those things. I just, like I said, it has impact when people voted such that we knew she was not in the best of health. The hope was that she was going to survive the four years of Trump. That was the hope of the Democrats we are like wrangling cats together because everyone wants this pure perfect candidate that has zero issues in his head.
Eric:that's never going to happen.
Gil:Democrats vote. They want someone who represents that I, in them, I want them to be that's the fact Democrats do. We outnumber Republicans two to one, but we don't vote two to one. Yeah. With our hearts, with our thoughts with lets you know that when it doesn't work, cause one, because if we don't vote, the other candidate will get it. It's not a, Oh I'll vote a third person. That's not the way our system set up. Unfortunately
Eric:I think it should be set up that way. But Right now, I'm not going to worry about that. Yeah. We have to get Trump out and right now you have to vote for Biden, correct. I'm fully on the Biden Harris bandwagon. okay. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, She's basically a cultural icon. I was talking to my mom actually earlier today because I've just been completely distraught over this whole thing. Her funeral is going to be crazy, I think you're going to see so many people that, just the vigils that you're seeing right now, like outside the white house last night and tonight, and people are really upset. I. Was at work today, fighting back tears. And I had a client come in who had, an RBG shirt on and I was like, can I see your shirt? Or I said, what's your on your shirt? And she steps back. And I was like, I love your shirt. And she's said, I've been crying all night and all day. I said so have I. And I try not to get political at work, but her and I had our little discussion. Over the counter about how evil the Republicans are, and how much RBG meant to us and to this country.
Gil:Correct. So regardless of your political side,
Eric:she did a lot for equality, correct? And yeah, like you said, despite where you are politically, she did a lot for women. Yes. And so if you are a woman, you owe her a huge, thank you. You owe her so much gratitude. a friend of mine posted something earlier today that said, if you are a woman and you have had a credit card or have a credit card, if you have a credit history that is your own. If you have ever leased an apartment or house or have bought in property, Or you have consulted to your own medical treatments or played any type of sport, then you have to thank RBG,
Gil:correct.
Eric:To hear it in those types of words, her impact on this country. And in our rights, she's been a huge advocate for the LGBTQ. rights and cause she was definitely part of the majority that just happened in June where employers could not fire them for you is based on their orientation.
Gil:Yes. she's been a huge advocate. gender equality women's rights from day one of her long legal career.
Eric:yeah, she argued six cases on gender discrimination before the Supreme court. Yeah. And. She won five of those six, correct? Front of the Supreme court. And then I believe that was like in a three year span too. Wasn't it
Gil:it was a three year span. Yeah.
Eric:1963 to 1966.
Gil:Yeah.
Eric:Which is incredible.
Gil:Yeah. She's just a huge legacy. It's just an icon she's believed to be, I believe the first Supreme court justice to actually marry a gay couple. like I said, yes. Yes, she did. She officiated one. like she's just. An icon. It's her best friend, even on the justice was Scalia, who is a staunch conservative, her polar opposite, but they were best friends. Going to dinners opera,
Eric:together too. Aren't they? I'm sorry. They were in an opera together too. I
Gil:believe. Yeah. they're thinking about it. That's why he didn't matter what political side, what you believe that, she was a liberal wing or whatever. It was just facts that she was still a person who fought for equality for. The minority for, the underdog. It didn't matter if you're a Republican woman, you're a woman under it all from the, coming out. yeah, it was just very amazing with her. And it's
Eric:interesting to me that we're talking, cause we're talking about Scalia and the way from what I understand, and I'm not a poli-sci guy, so I will admit that. But from what I understand, he. Interpreted the constitution basically at face value. It says what it says, and it was written in this time period. And that's what it pertains to. Correct. Whereas she was more progressive with it. this is the outline of it, but if we take it for where it was, then women are not protected. Blacks are not protected. Latinos are not protected. Or Latin X I should say is not protected. it doesn't reflect your country.
Gil:Correct? She looked at it as a living, breathing document, something that's supposed to be adaptable with the times, as it's supposed to just grow with the country. there are people, conservatives who like to view, it as pretty much verbatim, I guess it's the way you want to look at it. But then again, like I said, it's. That even Scalia was not consistent in his rulings when he's looking at the constitution. I think that was very apparent. if you want to look at things in the times in which it was then no one should be having, let's say for guns, for instance, and this is going to probably open up a can of worms, but yeah, we're top about muskets. So anyone who doesn't have a musket. It should be illegal because it wasn't at the times in which the constitution was written, nobody talked about these other, I don't even know gun types, but yeah, I could guarantee you. It wasn't back then when the constitution was taken care of. Yeah. no, it's not.
Eric:They, the Republicans, the conservative party in general, definitely like to make their own rules. I do know that they like to play by their own rules and then they try to retract when it goes against them. One thing I found also interesting about RBG is she graduated top of her class from Columbia law. Originally started at Harvard, but transferred to Columbia and she could not get hired because she was a woman.
Gil:Initially.
Eric:Yes. it shows you, we talked in our other podcast that we're going to co release with this one, we're talking about the sign of the times. And this just goes to show you the sign of the times she fought against that though. She stood up against that all 4'9," 4'10" of her. Yes. Stood up against that. And she actually caused change.
Gil:the amazing thing about her is that she's was a cancer survivor when she was diagnosed, I believe in 1999. yeah, with colo-rectal she had five battles with it for the last, what? 21 years
Eric:never missed a day on the bench. From what I understand. Yeah. And even her last bout over the summer when they were doing teleconferencing for our decisions, she was still in every single one of those decisions. And I believe she wrote a dissent too, did't she?
Gil:Her. Dissents are legendary. Yes.
Eric:And that was never her thing. from what I understand, cause that wasn't what she was wanting to do, but she, at one point had to do it and.
Gil:She did not hold back.
Eric:No, she changed the language and the way we view things. Yeah. The way she wrote and the way she thought and how progressive she was. I've just been coming across these little things about her. I guess someone had asked her, about her nickname at Harvard? Cause she was known as a bitch.
Gil:Yes.
Eric:And she said better a bitch than a mouse. And that is what words to live by.
Gil:That is where it's live by, absolutely.
Eric:And you can't spell truth without Ruth?
Gil:Yeah. There's the new t-shirts.
Eric:Yeah, I'm sure there are already out there. And what I was going to say earlier she put down the groundwork and now it's up to us to keep her legacy alive and to push forward.
Gil:And I don't want our listeners to always feel like it's all doom and gloom. It's doom and gloom. We as a nation have survived hell and some. Plagues we've, civil war we've had, world war II and one and everything else in between this country will be fine. We will get through it. It's just a matter of us as a group, as a generation, willing to step up to the plate, get our asses off, out of our comfort zone. And fight for what is right. And I think that's the part that I want to just make sure that, it's the long as we're willing to do it. If we're just willing just to cry and just go, Oh, that's the way democracy goes, no then obviously they have, we have,
Eric:yeah, we can't sit around and put our little hands on our little laps. We have to act. We have to revolt. There has to be revolution. Yeah. so you're saying that you think things are going to be fine, but what if they do rush someone through?
Gil:Oh, no, they will.
Eric:Cause, that will shape this country for decades.
Gil:Yes. But I always advocate. Change starts at the bottom. So that means your local politics and local government. It starts at the lower courts. It starts everything at the state city level. That's where change begins. That's the stop, but the federal, so yes, the Supreme court is going to be potentially fully conservative for another generation but. That doesn't mean that the lower courts are all conservative, make them all liberal so that it never has to get to the Supreme court.
Eric:Okay. So I have some questions for you. we get to vote on our local judges. Yes. Why don't we get to vote on our Supreme court judges?
Gil:They're technically not to have any political affiliation. you're trying to put the most levelheaded neutral. Minded the country first kind of judges. I know that this is it's a
Eric:Thomas, Kavanaugh, correct.
Gil:But you have to remember that our country, unlike others, where they spent thousands of years fighting to get to where they are now, we're based on a theory on a principle that doesn't happen. that was a change. So in theory, our elected officials that we put into office would put into the courts, someone of sound mind. It's not tied into any political leanings and that will always put her country.
Eric:Okay. that's not happening. I know that was the theory. Yeah. Is there any way to change that?
Gil:I think it's just maybe make law some amendments. To have clarification with it with,
Eric:yeah. So next question. there's no law and there is no constitutional mention that it is a nine person bench. So I've heard people say that well Biden. It needs to come in and say, okay, then we are expanding the Supreme court to 11 or to 13. And then that way we can get the more liberal majority. A how likely do you think that is to happen? B who's to say McConnell and the thing in the white house won't try to pull that and rush like 30 people through, Yeah, I want to get your take on that, and I know that Pete Buttigieg had also made comments about expanding the court as part of his platform and during his campaign.
Gil:and that's actually a really good question because, it has not, at least, it's been a long time or we're talking closer to the civil war when the last time we've seen a massive amount of expansion, with this. Just like they used to talk about under the thirties when FDR trying to pack his house and try to expand the Supreme court up to 15 people, that did not go through, is the plausible. Yes, it definitely. Maybe we expanded to 10. An even 10,
Eric:but even number is going to be hard, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah,
Gil:exactly. Has it been done before? It has, we've had presidents, our founders, John Adams has been petty reduced it when he knew Thomas Jefferson was getting into office, reduced it down from seven to six, so that he knew that he could not appoint a person. And in Jefferson reel, getting into office and then adding that extra seat back in. And we've seen this time and time again, where they've expanded decreased. Went up to nine back down to seven, expanded to 10 back down to nine. it will it happen. And that's like I said, it goes back to, I think. When FDR try to really expand it. Do we got the most political pushback? Because I think that's when people started wanting to protect the court, the integrity, I think it's mostly when it comes down to, so this doesn't become another expansion of your politics, but can it happen? I think it could. It just, we're going to need a shift.
Eric:And if that was to happen, if say Biden decides to do that, Would he be able to basically like executive order it through or does there have to be a passing through the Senate? Like a two thirds, which is a lot of what they do, except for now they can push a judge through with 51%.
Gil:Generally. Generally it will have to go through Congress. That's normally the way it will have to go. Okay. yeah, it would not, I think it would look very bad if he tried This is not a King or you like my way. Cause if that were the case, although it might be changed, yes. You try to executive order everything
Eric:and just changing the constitution as you and I are speaking well, yeah, he's
Gil:trying his best. No, one's going to listen, but he's tried all the
Eric:republics forever. The Republicans haven't held them accountable and have let them get away with a lot of it.
Gil:Yeah. But the he's also running into a lot of democratically governorships and it, no, like I said, who runs the day to day? It's all the States, all the small places, not the federal government. And that's a good thing. Yeah.
Eric:Yeah.
Gil:yeah.
Eric:what's your view on. Just speak to me on the hypocrisy of what Mitch McConnell's doing. Quick side note, I got. Put in Twitter jail last night or yesterday throughout the rest of most of today, because I called McConnell out on his hypocrisy on Twitter. they said that I was inciting violence and it was threatening. I don't think I was, I can actually read you the tweet right now. Cause I screenshotted it when they, Said that. Okay. And this was what my tweet was at Senator majority leader. you are so fucking gross and a demented viral hypocrite. I'd call you a cunt, but you lack depth and warmth. You prionized scat bag. Vote at Amy. McGrathKY.
Gil:A little scathing there. Okay. Okay.
Eric:So anyways, I was, I got put into Twitter jail
Gil:for the day. Okay. I know. And I'm thinking like, wow. How's has Trump's account not been frozen by now. Yeah. Oh goodness. God, where do we begin? This is politics. I think that's the easiest way for me to say,
Eric:what, but let's look at what he did with Merrick Garland. They wouldn't even give him the opportunity because it was 11 months before. So let's speak on that.
Gil:It's politics. We were not in power. is it hypocritical absofrickinglutely, and I could go blue in the face with this. And to me, it's be consistent. This is your rules. You guys set the precedent with this, but this is politics and his goal. Huh?
Eric:I said, I don't like that answer, but
Gil:I know, McConnell and every Republican is buying into that crowd believes that he is, Leading, I guess if you guys want to use that word, he is showing his power and he's showing a flex as much power as he can and his vision of what America should continue to be. And that's why he's doing what he's doing. He's using everything within the rules, everything within the constitution to run it that way. And I think it's a good look for us to really consider just the judicial branch to be completely independent of Congress, or does it have to be completely its own separate entity where nobody like maybe it's by people voting?
Eric:that's what I was talking about earlier. Like why don't we get to vote for our justices and why don't our justices have term limits and I'm not just speaking on SCOTUS. we're talking a lot about SCOTUS, so definitely. I want to talk about that, but even some of your other federal judges, like in your DC circuits and your federal circuit judges have lifetime appointments. Why are they not under term limits? Because times change. I know that's the question. Yeah.
Gil:it's consistencies is what it is it's not the same way where the house will change every two years. that's why they're always in campaign mode. The Senate is normally a four.
Eric:That was a six year, four years. That was that I thought was six.
Gil:Okay. Yeah. Okay. And that's to drag it out a little bit longer. and then you have the office of the presidency that is kept wasn't historically, but it, because of FDR, it got capped. and with the judicial branch, it's the same thing. It's because you just want to. You're looking for the consistency somewhat. It's not going to change every five seconds because of the new light, something new was happening with the country or anything of that. They want to make sure it's nice. And like that slowly but surely progressing or moving into the direction, it'll always be behind.
Eric:Yeah, I do get what you're. I do follow what you're saying. And I do understand what you're saying and I appreciate that point of view for sure. And You mentioned before, I'm not a poli-sci guy, but how was the country actually ever going to progress? If you have the same old white men and Clarence Thomas on the bench? they have their following their religious. Points of view, even though there's not supposed to be, and they're doing it. They're running on toxic masculinity. Like this country is still being run on toxic masculinity and there's no progress forward because they're keeping their time when they were raised in what they think is in for our modern times. So they're not allowing us to progress. Does that make any sense?
Gil:We did it. It does it, Cause I know, like I said, this politics, the government is not made to be super efficient as running every five seconds. Ready to go. That's not why it's made to be consistent. It's a nice, your checks and balance. Just check with them right now. And that's the goal of it. It's not made to run that fast or adapting. We have to think about also for God sake, we've barely had interracial marriage beginning, a generation ago. That was a, not a thing before we have, women rights finally able to vote. Not all women though. No,
Eric:exactly.
Gil:So this,
Eric:but I feel like we're headed back there.
Gil:But this, like I said, this goes back to how are we voting it all levels and making sure that if we're going to vote, it has to start from the bottom up. Not top
Eric:down. Okay. So my next question, and just bear with me on this question. Yeah. What do you think they will repeal first abortion? Women's rights, gay rights. Marriage equality.
Gil:It depends on whatever gets to them first because they do not create law.
Eric:I understand that. And, but what cases do you think they're going to be salivating to have brought to them? Cause I know it's like all the smaller courts once they, like the States are fighting. Yeah.
Gil:Okay.
Eric:Because those are very real concerns.
Gil:Correct.
Eric:Those are all very real fears,
Gil:correct? Because,
Eric:do you want to go back in the closet just so you can live a life?
Gil:I do in most States, right There's no law there.
Eric:Yeah.
Gil:like I said, it's, we knew it's going to take time. It's going to take progress. It's not going to be maybe in our lifetime, but eventually the future generations will not have to worry. I, I don't know. I don't know what will be the first thing they could appeal. then again, they had a Republican house and Senate and they could not repeal Obamacare to save the life. And that was their biggest thing. they've taken sections of it away, but they couldn't repeal the whole damn thing. And that was a campaign promise that he did not deliver on and all of us were fearful on it. I don't know, with, within regards to that, the court justice, I'm not sure exactly which way they're going to go with it. Then again, there's been some cases that recently they have surprised to go on five, four in our favor.
Eric:Yeah, because of Roberts.
Gil:Yeah. Yeah. When he historically has not gone in our favor, that's why it's like, Oh, okay. I'm not too sure. this one's a toss up. I'm not sure which way they want to go, because I feel like they're going to get a battle regardless.
Eric:Now also I have some more questions because I know when Kavanaugh was confirmed, there was talk about being able to impeach justices. Can you speak to me on that? And what would the likelihood of that be?
Gil:I think that's more political to gain support. It won't happen. Okay. That's not we can't even impeach a president. I, we can't impeach the one currently sitting in office. How we don't have anything on him.
Eric:He's been
Gil:impeached. He's not removed. So he was not, I think that's the bigger push. That's why Clinton was technically impeached, but he was not removed. And I think that's the first thing we want to make sure.
Eric:And he was, impeached for getting a fucking blow job. I know.
Gil:I know
Eric:was treasonous.
Gil:Yeah.
Eric:And obstructed justice.. yeah, but so you're talking about, future generations and things that can change for them, but on a selfish point of view, what about now? Like I was saying earlier, do you want to have to go back in the closet to live your life? Are we not worried that abortion will be repealed? And then we're going to have go back to back alley and basement abortions and women dying. Can the laws be changed? Can the people change the laws?
Gil:Yes. I always feel that we can. It's matter of electing the right people to get those laws pushed. it's going to take a lot of hard work and I think that's the thing. People, we want a magic wand and be like, Oh my God, boom law. Ready to go. That's not the way it goes. It's about changing the perception, changing how we're arguing it to make sure that everyone's understanding why this is beneficial. What
Eric:about revolution? Sorry, go ahead. Spend it.
Gil:Oh, revolution is everyone talks about it or our country was founded on it. It's in our blood. That's why we always talk about I, because that is the American way we're founded on it. It's why not us.
Eric:yeah, but like I support revolution from racial injustice and I know a lot of people are upset about the riots and looting and. All of that, but I still stand by my point of view, that buildings can be rebuilt. You can't bring a person back to life. you can only whisper for so long before you have to yell. Yeah. So I am just wondering, like at what point can we start yelling so that we don't go backwards? Does that make
Gil:sense? Yeah. And I think that's an entire generational question. I don't know. There's there is no answer because it's, where's your boiling point and I think we're in it. Aren't we.
Eric:I would think so. I would hope so.
Gil:And that's the thing with RBG, unfortunately passing this should light that fire, continuing lighting that fire of why this is such a big election. Why? Because 2016, everyone missed a damn thing. Everyone was looking for that arrow of obvious, ding. Maybe we should look at ourselves. We didn't get that in 2016. Cause we're focused on. God knows what. but I think the signs are clear. Like I said, revolution could come in many forms. It doesn't always have to be physical or fight sometimes about voting in the right people. We could get into office and changing it from there. You can't possibly expect the same people being an office for 90 years to suddenly change a new leaf. Sometimes it's time to actually step up to the plate and try to get into office. Do what you need to, campaign correctly?
Eric:No, I don't. I got that. looking at AOC, who I love, and I know she's the bane of the conservative party. Like they all despise her, but I think she's phenomenal. And I think she's the voice we need to hear. And she's the voice of that generation. Correct. But my concern is that you're having Moscow, Mitch. Which I know he hates that name. So I will say Moscow Mitch from now until eternity now, who are setting these laws and setting these things into motion so that his way will be there for generations.
Gil:Yeah. I think, like I said, it just, we need people back into office willing to do the fight for it. We are living off of stuff that we didn't have before, for instance, so security and all of that, all part of the new deal. These did not exist before these, or created to create a safety net, if you will, for when times are hard things change, we all. Buy in for it. like I said, it's gonna be rough patches. It's going to be some funkiness. We've been in a conservative motion since the seventies, but times have changed. As long as the generation, those people in office are dying and they say not fast enough, but they are dying. Yes, there's law, but law gets changed also. It's not forever standing. It's not otherwise that we would not be where we are right now. the color of the nation's going to be Brown by 2030 that's fact that's going to happen. like I said, it's just a matter of now sending the correct people in office, changing slowly the voice, and then it will happen because that's the way it goes. It's politics. It's nice and slow. It's not like business where it's all flash flashy and everyone, this big, beautiful startup and then burn and crash. Slow and consistent. it's not pretty because government's not pretty, it's
Eric:boring,
Gil:absolutely boring. But like I said, who controls the police, not the federal government, that's at a local level that discrimination within the suburbs, housing areas, that is all at the people level. That's all at your local level. I would start looking more at who are who's in office there. That will change.
Eric:I do appreciate that. And that actually makes me feel a little better. Yeah. But the only reason why I'm saying, but yeah. Is because you have a scumbag, a scat filled douchebag at 1600,
Gil:you're going to get banned by this podcast.
Eric:you have that douche at 1600, who is now running on campaign promises of he's going to protect the suburbs. And he is going to protect the suburban housewife by not allowing people of color to move into the suburbs. It's just, it's a little, it's highly, off-putting like his rhetoric for sure.
Gil:Yeah.
Eric:But, he's trying to change that so that he can control that. Or he's at least making quote unquote promises. Cause we know how good he is at his promises, about being in control of that and changing that and taking that from the local levels. And then also thinking like he's withholding so much funds. From certain States. I believe California too, with the fire and everything else. And he's Oh, you should have swept the leaves into the ocean. yeah. yeah, so that's where my confusion comes in. I know, technically he's not supposed to have, he's a powerful person. I'm not saying he's not, but he's not supposed to have quite the power that he thinks he has, but Moscow, Mitch is allowing him to have this power.
Gil:Yeah.
Eric:the heroes act is still sitting on McConnell's desk.
Gil:Yes.
Eric:And. or shredded somewhere. The John Lewis, human rights act is also sitting on his desk.
Gil:Yeah. Coffee stains,
Eric:and people are mad that Pelosi ripped the state of the union, which I think was the most beautiful sight of this whole year. That was the greatest thing I've ever seen, especially this year. But all of those are still sitting on his desk and he has priority is to push the justice through.
Gil:Yeah.
Eric:He's not doing anything for the people. I don't know how he still gets voted
Gil:in it's because that his group of people, it likes it, this, it could be said for Democrats just as well, because for God's sake, we elected Feinstein. past her prime People like consistency, people like, you know that, Oh, I know that face. That's a familiar one. We're going to reelect her again and again. Or, Oh, just know who we, anyone could possibly beat that person because of the, how much stranglehold money networking, blah, blah, blah that's politics. So we know that's. That's the thing once you w when she, when,
Eric:that's why we need to take money out of politics.
Gil:Yeah. That's not happening that's definitely not going to happen. what they should do is that definitely the term limit. I think there should be a term limit. that's one of my biggest things is I don't believe this should be a lifetime appointments is it's
Eric:an, they already have a lifetime pension and correct, paycheck,
Gil:and that's something that amazing
Eric:medical care
Gil:senators should be maxed out. I think two terms, possibly three at most, depending on your state, that should be a long enough because for God's sake, wouldn't, Barbara boxer was finally retiring. I'm like the woman's been an office 90% of my life, Feinstein still going, it's don't get me wrong. They were trailblazers. But at the same time, it's time to move on. This is like I said, it's not lifetime jobs. This is like where you're working at, like in my work where I have people surfing 51 years, which is, amazing. But it's this times, with politics to me, it's you definitely should cap it.
Eric:Oh, no, I agree. And I have another,
Gil:that will expedite it. Do I think the judicial branch should be changing every five years? No, I don't believe so. But should they be lifetime? I don't think,
Eric:Yeah. Like maybe they should change every 10 years. That way. I don't know. I think there needs to be some sort of term limit on the judiciary.
Gil:There could be, or a cap off spiff, like one 15 year term.
Eric:Yeah. And that would work. I actually think it should be 10, no more than 10.
Gil:It could be a 10, it'd be like a 10 year term, for instance. And you just rotate it so that every couple of years, every four years you're electing the new one of them or new one has to be appointed. So we changed it just to change the dynamic of it a little bit more. I don't know. That's just something, but I think maybe, like I said, the constitution itself is a living, breathing document. It's something that we it's like to me, the contract between us to allow the government to continue it. It's not this invisible thing of, Oh my God, we can't control it. No, we made the damn thing. That's what I don't understand. You're not victim to an invisible monster. We own it. We're all agreeing to the terms and conditions of it. If you read the damn thing, which people read your fucking thing, read it because if you did that, you'll know the powers. So when you're talking about Oh, Trump's not going to leave office bullshit. Read the constitution. No,
Eric:I
Gil:know, but people don't do that. Cause people live on fear. That's what I'm at. That's what I
Eric:hear. And I go easy though. If he does lose or when he does lose, he's not going to go easy. And he's going to try to hold it up in the courts.
Gil:let him deal with his ass is get a rebuttal.
Eric:I know if he refuses to leave, he'll be removed anyways. and then the speaker of the house takes over. Oh,
Gil:that would be hilarious.
Eric:That would be great, but he's also campaigning on the fact that he's gonna make sure he gets a third term because his first term was stolen from him.
Gil:Yeah, like I said, these are all bullshit. This is stuff that I know. It's there to enrage the liberals in a rage. Let's be
Eric:his base. It gets his base all excited.
Gil:Thanks for nothing that's going to ever happen us. It's just for us to more talk about so we're giving him too much air and oxygen for God's sake. Who's overtaking this podcast on RBG.
Eric:You're right.
Gil:It's true. that's what his goal is. He's done a great job. He, this is the future PhD case study, 2016 Trump, and just the four shitty years of what it was and, like I said, everything just resurfaced it boiled to the top. Cause everything that we're arguing about has not changed well, yes, it has changed, but not changed. There is racism. That's not
Eric:racism. Yeah.
Gil:That's not new. What's new is that everything's recorded. And it's visible to show that it's not just in urban cities, in suburbs, it's everywhere. But like I said, it goes back down to the state and city level. Who are you electing? And I think that's a better question for people who are really looking around themselves and questioning that and stop ignoring where, Oh, I don't, it doesn't matter. No caring every four years is a choice. You should be looking at how things are done, how you're paying for it might as well. It's getting taxed. You might as well know where it's going, who is paying for. But like I said, that just takes time.
Eric:Okay.
Gil:Yeah.
Eric:And then what do you think about the fact that they're ignoring RBGs wish that her replacement would not be until the new president?
Gil:That's so funny that you put that. I love it. I love that she put the cause it's such a slap to Mitch, the bitch. I'm so sorry. Welcome to the show.
Eric:Maybe you won't get banned because you called him a bitch, I called him a cunt, but
Gil:it's for the love of the country. the cuntry. I think they should honor her last wishes. I wish she would actually make a little note. It's funny. She actually made like a abiding thing. Maybe she curses that seat.
Eric:That would be awesome. She needs to, I saw this thing too. I guess she was very outspoken against Trump when he was running for in 2016.
Gil:Oh yeah. And then
Eric:she had to apologize for that, which I don't think she should have had to, but I get it because of her position. Correct. But she put it out there and people heard it. Oh yeah. And she is an icon. People respect her. People love her. She is a superhero. And I think people. Majority of people are going to really miss
Gil:her. I know I will, I wish her passing would have been under different circumstances where we didn't have to worry.
Eric:I agree. this country's so divided as it is. speaking from a fearful perspective. I know it's fear talking. We are at the point where we're going to be like in a visible caste system, we're already in a caste system, but now it's going to be definitely like, these are the people in power and the rest of you guys are just there. Yeah. And you guys do for us, and it's a scary time. 2020 cannot get any, it could get worse.
Gil:I'm like, no, Eric, hold on.
Eric:Look at it. it's September and we're already on beta for Atlantic storms. Yeah. And the Mediterranean had a Medicane, which is like a rare phenomenon where they have hurricanes in the Mediterranean sea and Greece is getting pounded. it's this scary year. And then pandemic, of course, on top of it, the pandemic kind of just rolls through out the whole thing.
Gil:Yeah. this year has definitely been a year. It is a year. It's funny because remember in 26, was it 2016 when we had all the celebrity deaths? When it felt like, what is it, kicked it off with Bowie and January 3rd or something like that, it was just like one after the other, we lost half the musicians and artists and all that. And then just like the apocalypse then in 2020 though, has it just been triple that and some, I thought 2016, she was a rough year. And then obviously with the election that happened. On top of that shit and everyone, it was funny. Cause everyone was talking about 21, 2012 was happening. Oh, the Mayan calendar. They're are about eight years off.
Eric:Yeah, true.
Gil:Yeah. but we will get through this. Like I said, I always have faith that we do even the worst, the darkest of times.
Eric:I honestly think it's going to take though people. Organizing and revolting at least to a degree. And I think people need to carry on RBGs
Gil:work.
Eric:Yep. Cause I think I said this earlier, she set the groundwork and now we have to push forth with her agenda and what she fought for so long.
Gil:Yeah. Yup. And we would do her injustice if we did not continue, there's so much to be proud of with her accomplishments. And, she was so what the second female nominated, and.
Eric:And she is also the first, Jewish person to serve on SCOTUS, I believe. And the first Jewish woman to serve on SCOTUS.
Gil:Yeah. Yup. Those are all huge accomplishments.
Eric:She was training hard core up until the very last moment. Inspiration.
Gil:Yeah. And I saw some of the photos here in the city, in the Castro who was just the visuals that were coming out and people safely six feet away, coming out to the streets to pay their respects. And it was just, it's very, it was very moving to see that the images.
Eric:Yeah. even like all the vigils I've been saying of people paying their respects for everyone's masked. Yeah. Even like the highly crowded and, condensed, not condensed, mass gatherings, like outside of the Supreme court and all those in DC, but everyone's masked. Yeah. Cause they're smart and they're being safe on top of paying their respects.
Gil:Yeah. But I think it definitely, I hope what I would like, for me in hope part. Cause I always try to look at things a little bit more optimistically at times. Yeah.
Eric:But I appreciate that because here I am being like super dramatic as I always am and like spewing out, like all these, I don't want to say fear-mongering but fearful scenarios. Because those are
Gil:those, that is a good likelihood. And it's the reason why, like, when we watch, I don't know if anyone's seen the show, the Handmaid's tale on Hulu and
Eric:scared
Gil:shit out of me. There were scenes were there. It was way too real. it was plausible. Yes. And there's the part of me that hopes people fight to the bitter end, but there's also a part of me. I'm like, I'm one foot out the door. If we need to flee the country, I am not opposed.
Eric:Oh, neither am I. Like, I will totally try to find a citizenship elsewhere.
Gil:I don't care where we're heading. that is a reality. I've also accepted that fact that, if I need to go, we need to go historically. My family has left on my mother's side. We have fled, we've bounced. it can happen. So if we need to go, we need to go. I do have faith that we could fight through that. calmer heads will prevail in time hopefully, but it hope that it wakes up a generation so that we'd never have to worry about another Republican president ever again, if we vote correctly
Eric:yeah. That
Gil:this will not be a thing.
Eric:I do appreciate the optimism. I'm honestly not trying to be pessimistic in all of this. I do appreciate your optimism. I'm just. So emotional over all this that I think my emotions are taking over my thoughts and everything else. I honestly had just woken up from a nap and then I got the news. Oh,
Gil:I was at work.
Eric:I was like, what? but the news, like I literally woke up, I think a minute before the news drops and it was the first thing I saw.
Gil:Oh, yeah, we were at a, I was in the middle of a meeting and all of a sudden somebody just Oh God, got like a ding check their thing and just like this gasp and it's he read it to us. And I've never seen so much horror in all of our faces all look at him like, what the fuck?
Eric:Yeah, yeah. My first thing was like, we're totally fucked. Country is fucked. women, I don't even know women get screwed over so much as it is gay rights.
Gil:Ah, boy, this'll be entertaining, but definitely we got, we will change it. Okay.
Eric:Yeah. I'm going to hold you to that. I'm going to take that kind of word.
Gil:If that's, if nothing else, we're going to be learning a new language very quickly. Another country.
Eric:Yeah, probably
Gil:we're going to be in Sweden
Eric:because I know how to unhinge my jaw
Gil:right. I'm going to be recording out of an Ikea soon.
Eric:you actually have the connection to Sweden through Ikea.
Gil:Yeah. We'll have Chris transfer us. But hell if, like I said, if we need to go, it is time to go, but sometimes there's this, let the ship burn, let it
Eric:sink. Yeah. It's like the disco inferno.
Gil:Exactly. Like I said, I always have hope and faith and, optimism towards it because I believe in fighting war, but at the same time, if it's time to go, it's time to go.
Eric:Yeah. No,
Gil:I also know that reality as well.
Eric:I do agree with that.
Gil:yeah, hope we got this. Okay. Everyone stay safe. Be happy.
Eric:Thank you for joining us for this special edition of the podcast. We just felt like it was important to acknowledge what happened and we will, hopefully be in your ear soon. Thank you. Since the initial recording of this podcast all the four days ago, it appears that Moscow Mitch and the spineless GOP have
Track 1:the
Eric:votes to push through a justice nominee.
Track 1:Despite his earlier comments
Eric:in 2016 and 2018 Lindsey Graham has backtracked as expected. And Romney has also said that he would support pushing through the nominee.
Gil:Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoyed your time in the Q lounge. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions on topics, or you would like to be a guest or contributor, please email us at info.TheQlounge@gmail.Com or through our contact page at theqloungepodcast.com while you're there hit that subscribe button or listen wherever you get your podcast. If you would like to further support us, hit that donation button
Eric:until next time live in your authenticity.
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