I just posted an open thread a few days ago and mentioned Huell Howser, so the news of his death today was kind of a shock. He left a legacy of truly unique work, with a special ability to let all sorts of people tell their own stories in their own ways, without artifice, straight from the heart, loving every minute of it. You couldn’t be cranky while Huell Howser’s show was on.

He’ll be missed.

Apparently, “Instapundit” Glenn Reynolds never got the memo about Republicans and gay rights; he seems totally gobsmacked that he was disinvited to speak at a Utah Republican Party dinner because he doesn’t hate gay people enough.

Just disinvited from speaking by @utahgop because my support for gay rights makes me “too controversial.”Er, okay.#BigTentorTeepee?

— Instapundit.com (@instapundit) January 6, 2013

And on top of that, he was doing it for nothing.

@rogerlsimon @paulzummo @cajunkate @utahgop The sad thing is, I agreed to speak as a favor, unpaid.

— Instapundit.com (@instapundit) January 6, 2013

I love how Reynolds and Roger L. Simon pretend they’re shocked — shocked — to find homophobia in the Republican Party. Who knew?

Meanwhile, over at Michelle Malkin’s fake news site Twitchy, the article seems sympathetic to Reynolds, but most of the commenters are assuredly not, oddly enough. Some examples of the “conservative values” on display:

So let’s abandon our values and make ourselves barely different than the Democrats. Sorry we don’t pull the “Personally opposed to x, but” BS. Yes we should reach out to minorities more, but changing our values? No. That’s what the socialists want us to do, but we have to stay strong.

[…]

A person suffering from homosexuality has the same hurdles as anyone else who wishes to marry. They must find a willing member of the opposite sex. Should lonely computer geeks demand that masturbation be redefined as marriage so they, too can derive the legal benefits of marriage?

What’s your position on narcissists marrying themselves?

If you oppose it, you’re a hypocrite. If you support it, you are supporting the devaluation and dissolution of the concept of marriage until it can mean anything, and therefore means nothing, which is the “gay agenda”.

[…]

You cannot explain the biological purpose of homosexual attraction.
You cannot explain away the simple fact that sexual and romantic attraction exist for the purpose of procreation, just as hunger exists for the purpose of nourishment.

A sane, rational, thinking brain cannot possibly consider homosexuality as anything other than a mental/emotional disorder.

[…]

We have to stand up for traditional marriage guys. I agree with the move.

[…]

Seriously Correct! one of the reasons the GOP is so fscked up is because they let sexual deviants (ie homosexuals) in to start with. You want to clean up the party, make that damn tent smaller and the righteous will come back.

[…]

The DemocRATS won with removing God from their platform…I don’t think that staying true to our conservative position against “gay” marriage and abortion is a bad thing. Its what conservatives hold as a convictions. Something Democrats know nothing of. I would rather be firm in my convictions and lose every election, than to compromise my values to win. I think that is called prostitution, is it not??

[…]

letting filth in to the party just to garner more votes is just as bad as prostitution no matter how you try to excuse it.

[…]

that & they’re abnormal as well.

[…]

The reason the GOP is sinking is because they are wallowing in the filth of the unrighteous. Maybe if they would clean themselves back up the righteous might be willing to return to their party.

[…]

I’m not saying sexual deviants should be legislated to convert to Christianity. I’m saying their deviant lifestyle choices shouldn’t earn them any extra rights. If I decide to drive a nail throuh my hand every saturday, should I get extra priviledged status in legislation? No, because it is a STUPID thing to do. If I decided to dress like a baby as a lifestyle should I get a disablity check? NO, because it is a stupid lifestyle choice!! people who chose sexually deviant lifestyles do not deserve ANY extra legislative consideration EVER!!

[…]

So very typical of you lefturd scumbags, you decide since I think sexual deviancy is wrong so I must be a hater. My disgust at a depraved lifestyle choices must have nothing to do with how filthy and perverted they are, I’m just a bigot, right? you must be a member of the demoncrapic party, abort any babies recently, collect your gub’mint stipend last week?

[…]

Of course it is deviant. Anyone with two eyes and common sense can see that. If not just check the CDC stats of all the illness homo-sex will give a person.

[…]

As soon as you or Glenn can explain to me what gay rights are, you might make me give a damn.

[…]

Exactly, sexual deviants have the same rights as everyone else. What they want now is justification for their perversions.

[…]

People of the same sex can’t be married it is an absurdity. Its like cats campaigning for the right to be dogs

[…]

“Homosexual rights” leads to indoctrination of children. That is a fact. We don’t need to teach small children that disease inducing perversion is normal. It’s a lie. Utah GOP group was right

The Utah Republican Party says they never invited Glenn Reynolds to speak in the first place:

The #UTGOP has never even extended an invitation to @instapundit (Glenn Reynolds) to speak. #utpol

— UtahGOP (@UtahGOP) January 7, 2013

Starting today in Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Arizona county: armed volunteer “posses” lurking around schools.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s armed volunteer posses are set to begin patrolling areas around Phoenix, Ariz. schools on Monday, more than a week after the plan drew national attention in the wake of the deadly mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

Arizona’s 3TV reports that Arpaio’s volunteer force is comprised of around 3,000 members, some of whom have criminal pasts.

According to CBS5, Arpaio’s office has provided a list of more than 50 schools in unincorporated Maricopa County that will be patrolled by the posses, which are in charge of providing all of their own weapons and equipment. The volunteers will not actually be posted on school campuses, but will instead monitor the areas around the facilities.

This didn’t take long; Cantor obviously had his attack ready to go: Eric Cantor: Hagel Is the Wrong Man for the Job.

“I am profoundly concerned and disappointed by President Obama’s nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel to be Secretary of Defense. Recent reporting has made clear that Senator Hagel’s views and inflammatory statements about Israel are well outside the mainstream and raise well-founded doubts that he can be trusted to manage the special relationship the United States shares with our greatest Middle East ally.

“Senator Hagel’s incendiary views of Israel are only the tip of the iceberg. On Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran and defense spending, Hagel’s reported views call into question his judgment about the most important matters facing our national security. Taken together, Hagel’s views represent a call for a broad retreat from the preeminent role America has played, and must continue to play, in the world during a period of profound tumult and instability.

“Hagel opted for political expediency in opposing the surge in Iraq, and supported a retreat that would have ceded victory to al Qaeda and Iran. The nomination of a man known primarily for opposing sanctions and military action against Iran strongly suggests that all options are not on the table. Hagel’s nomination telegraphs weakness in the Middle East and defeatism in Afghanistan, where our Afghan partners will surely be concerned, and our Taliban and Iranian adversaries will surely be emboldened.

“There has been widespread and bipartisan opposition to this potential nomination, and the President’s willingness to move forward despite these concerns only reinforces the signal that he agrees with Hagel’s extreme positions. Senator Chuck Hagel is the wrong man for the job at such a pivotal time.”

The obvious fact is that it simply doesn’t matter who President Obama nominates for any position — the Republican Party will pitch a fit over absolutely anyone. The problem is not the nominee, it’s the black President.

As I was saying: FLASHBACK: GOP Senators Praised Chuck Hagel’s Statesmanship, Foreign Policy Expertise.

And: FLASHBACK: Bill Kristol Wanted Chuck Hagel to Be Vice President.

[Live event concluded…]