Category Archives: Dazzler of the Day

Janet Mills, Governor of Maine, spoke truth to felonious power when she handed Trump his asshole the other day, and for that she earns this Dazzler of the Day. I wish more people in elected office had half as much courage, bravery and basic human decency in standing up for all of us. Here’s part of her statement followed by her gloriously-savage put-down of “See you in court” that effectively ended him on that day:

“No President – Republican or Democrat – can withhold Federal funding authorized and appropriated by Congress and paid for by Maine taxpayers in an attempt to coerce someone into compliance with his will. It is a violation of our Constitution and of our laws, which I took an oath to uphold.

“Maine may be one of the first states to undergo an investigation by his Administration, but we won’t be the last. Today, the President of the United States has targeted one particular group on one particular issue which Maine law has addressed. But you must ask yourself: who and what will he target next, and what will he do? Will it be you? Will it be because of your race or your religion? Will it be because you look different or think differently? Where does it end? In America, the President is neither a King nor a dictator, as much as this one tries to act like it – and it is the rule of law that prevents him from being so.

“I imagine that the outcome of this politically directed investigation is all but predetermined. My Administration will begin work with the Attorney General to defend the interests of Maine people in the court of law. But do not be misled: this is not just about who can compete on the athletic field, this is about whether a President can force compliance with his will, without regard for the rule of law that governs our nation. I believe he cannot.”

When you reach the zenith of musical entertainment in your 20’s, there’s an expected downward trajectory of all that follows, but rather than following the self-destructive trajectory of so many who came before, Darren Hayes has actually only grown more interesting and relevant to those of us who still care about such things are artistry and integrity and honesty. For that alone, he earns this Dazzler of the Day crowning. As the lead frontman for Savage Garden, Hayes crafted such unforgettable classics as ‘Truly, Madly, Deeply’ and ‘I Want You’, marking the soundtrack for many of us in our twenties at the time. Taking us along for the behind-the-scenes turmoil and tumult of his life in the memoir boldly titled ‘Unlovable’, Hayes illustrates with words how he has carved out an existence that reveals how an artist endures, both in legacy and in how they live each day. Check out his website here, where you can order a copy of ‘Unlovable’. {Also check out the powerful voice he has become on Threads in a world where speaking out is increasingly in jeopardy.}

My favorite Dazzlers are those people whom I have actually met and known for years – see Suzie Ko, Karel Barnoski, Susan Brumley, Joseph Abramo, Woody Woodbeck, and of course Andy VanWagenen. That’s why crowning Theresa Nellis as Dazzler of the Day gives me such great joy. As the author of the ‘School for the Magically Insane’ and ‘Keeper of the Mirror’ series, Nellis has carved out a literary name for herself, but I remember her as a sweet and quiet classmate as we navigated the grade school journey of R.J. McNulty elementary school. Reconnecting with classmates from our youth is a reassuring way of grounding ourselves with a shared past – a reminder that we did come from somewhere, that it was real, and that good people can remain as good as we remember them. Her latest installment of the ‘School for the Magically Insane’ series – ‘The Witch’s Gowan’ – is out today – and be sure to visit her website here for more written enchantment. 

“I am not going to apologize for asking for mercy for others.” – Bishop Marianne Edgar Budde

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde is the very first Bishop to be named as Dazzler of the Day, thanks to her courage and grace to eloquently and calmly speak truth to ill-gotten power. In a service at which FOTUS (Felon Of The United States) was in attendance, she used her pulpit to defend the very essence of what it means to be a true Christian, and a true American:

“Millions have put their trust in you. As you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in both Democratic, Republican and independent families who fear for their lives.

The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals. They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes, and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches, mosques and synagogues, gurdwara and temples.” – Bishop Marianne Edgar Budde

And for those who disagree with using the pulpit to espouse mercy for people, I don’t think you understand Christ very well. 

If solely for the fact that she had the moral fortitude to reject attending the coronation of the FOTUS (Felon of the United States) Michelle Obama earns this Dazzler of the Day. Now that we have effectively ushered in fascism – check your social media settings and who you’re suddenly following for proof – we need more people to stand against everything that is currently happening. Not attending any of the felon’s official events is one of the most effective ways of sending a message that this will not and should not be accepted. And check out this speech if you want to be inspired to keep up the fight for what’s right. 

(Oh, and anyone who had a problem with her skipping this inauguration, please let me know where FOTUS was for the last inauguration and sit all the way down – your racism is showing.)