I Didn't Say It

Focus on Family head, Jim Daly, who replaced James Dobson, on gay marriage and how he doesn't think it's the end of the world as we know it:"I’m not fearful that change will happen in America. It will happen. I don’t know what will happen with same-sex marriage, but I’m not going to be discouraged if we lose some of those battles. It’s going to be difficult in this culture and the way the demographics are going right now. You look at the under-35 age group. I think it’s splitting 60-40 support for same-sex marriage....I will continue to defend traditional marriage, but I’m not going to demean human beings for the process."
Cyndi Lauper, on Lady Gaga:
"People forget how young she is. She is barely 24--much younger than I was when I became famous. It's very tough being where she is right now. People are pulling her in all different directions. It's hard to navigate that...I can't wait to see how she grows and what she decides her next act will be...When I see somebody like Gaga, I sit back in admiration. I'm inspired to pick up the torch again myself. I did an interview with her once, and she showed up with a sculpture on her head. I thought, How awesome...She isn't a pop act, she is a performance artist. She herself is the art. She is the sculpture."
Bad Hair Life, Donald Trump, on why he thinks fascism in Arizona is a good thing [sidenote: I wonder how many employees at his hotels and resorts and spas don't have "papers"]:
"Well it all starts with the federal government not coming out with a law. They've been talking about it for years and they still haven't done anything about it. And Arizona is really getting crime-ridden. There's people coming over, there's killings all over the place, there's shootings all over the place. What are you going to do? I mean, are you going to stop people to see if they're supposed to be there? And personally as a citizen I wouldn't mind, I really wouldn't mind."
Laura Bush, on how she asked her idiot husband not to make gay marriage an issue in the 2004 election--of course he didn't listen, he's a dumbass like that:
"In 2004 the social question that animated the campaign was gay marriage. Before the election season had unfolded, I had talked to George about not making gay marriage a significant issue. We have, I reminded him, a number of close friends who are gay or whose children are gay. But at that moment I could never have imagined what path this issue would take and where it would lead.”
Olympic Gold Medalist, and ALLEGED heterosexual, Evan Lysacek on Johnny Weir's complaint about not being asked to join the "Stars On Ice" tour:
"'Stars on Ice' is really selective of who they hire and they only hire the best of the best to skate. It would’ve been hard of them to justify hiring him, and I think he was really upset because he wanted the financial benefit of the tour. A lot of us in the skating world were really disappointed in the way he reacted, basically whining that he wasn’t chosen."
Outsports, on Evan Lysacek's statement about Johnny Weir:
"No Evan, Johnny wasn’t whining. He was reacting to perceived homophobia. But I guess you wouldn’t know anything about that, since you’re straight as an arrow. At least Evan left this little gem for us in the interview…
"'Last question: Are you seeing anyone?
I’m single. The reason, well…(laughs)…I’m limited to who I can see. I’m dating in L.A., but I just haven’t found the right girl.'"
Johnny Weir, on Evan Lysacek:
"He's a slore."
Molly Ringwald on why there were no gay characters in the John Hughes movies:
"Maybe it was just too soon and too controversial at the time, but from what I understand, John was a big Republican. I really didn’t know this back then, and maybe he wasn’t when I was working with him, but I guess he became one. Not to say that all Republicans are antigay, but historically, you know, that has to rub off a little bit, right?"

Ricky Martin, Tweeting about the new fascist state of Arizona:

"Equality is understanding that we all come from the same place. Racial profiling should never be tolerated, in the U.S. or anywhere in the world. We're moving backwards. Scary."

Colin Farrell, on his sex tape [note to Colin: Honey, I was doing a lot of thing. Laughing? Not one of them]:

"I didn't really give too much a fuck about that-I just didnt want it on demand in a hotel room. It was a bit of an expensive 14 minutes. But at the end of the day, it was something to be laughed at."

Arizona Fascist Governor Jan Brewer on best gal-pal MooseMess Palin:

"Had such a great time with Sarah Palin last night that we went to the Diamondbacks game today before she left town. It was great talking to her about my efforts here in Arizona of securing our borders, fighting Obama Care and preserving our 2nd Amendment rights."

Sterling, Virginia District Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio, spreading homophobic hate in a fundraising letter:

"Frankly if you really do support the radical Homosexual Agenda--or if you just no longer care enough to stand up for the family--insiders in Congress say the entire Homosexual Agenda could pass in a matter of months. Special job rights for homosexuals and lesbians. Businesses may have to adopt hiring quotas to protect themselves from lawsuits. Every homosexual fired or not hired becomes a potential federal civil rights lawsuit.

Radical homosexuals will terrorize day care centers, hospitals, churches and private schools. Traditional moral values will be shattered by federal law. Same-sex marriages and adoptions. Wedding-gown clad men smooching before some left-wing clergy or state official is just the beginning. You'll see men hand-in-hand skipping down to adoption centers to 'pick out' a little boy for themselves.

Homosexual advocacy in schools. Your children or grandchildren will be taught homosexuality is moral, natural and good. High school children will learn perverted sex acts as part of "safe sex" education. With condoms already handed out in many schools, Radical Homosexuals will have little trouble adopting today's "if it feels good do it" sex-ed curriculum to their agenda. And to add insult to injury, lobbyists for the Homosexual Agenda are paid off with your tax dollars! That's right, radical homosexual groups like the Gay-Lesbian Task Force and ACT-UP receive millions from the government."

Complete moron Sarah Palin, on organic food:

“I eat granola. I eat a lot of organic food. I have to shoot and catch a lot of my organic food before I eat it.”

Bryan Fischer, wingnutting for the American Family Association:

"Bottom line: you want to know who's now running the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy and the Marines and calling the shots where it counts? Fundamentalist Muslims and homosexual activists."

Not Home Schooled, But Home Teaching

We always hear about how rosy things are up in Canada, with their health care and their gay marriage, and.....and.....well, that's a good start. But it really isn't all Shangri la and Xanadu for the LGBT community. There are still pockets of bigotry and hatred.

Case in point: Lisa Reimer, a music teacher at a Catholic high school for girls in Vancouver, was told that she must now work from home after parents complained about having a lesbian teach their kids. The school, Vancouver's Little Flower Academy, wants Reimer, to finish out her contract, which expires in June, by staying away from the students.

Lisa Reimer is not buying it. She doesn't think it's the parents who want her gone, she believes it's the school. In December 2009, she came out to school administrators when she asked to take parental leave because her partner was expecting a baby; in January, she was denied the request, and now she is not allowed to teach her class, and must work from home.

Little Flower Academy principal told Reimer the administration had no concerns about her abilities as a teacher, but that many parents were worried about Reimer's potential influence on students.

See, as a music teacher, she'll use music as a means to indoctrinate small Catholic children into the homosexual lifestyle. Damn! How can we ever increase our numbers if the straights won't allow us near their kids?

Not so rosy, Canada, not so rosy.

Nancy Wants It Done This Year

Even though all sorts of folks, including the White House, are saying "No," Nancy Pelosi is saying "Yes"

Pelosi, the House Speaker, plans on having a DADT vote this year, according to her spokesperson, Drew Hammill, who said, “it is the Speaker’s intention that a vote will be taken this year.”

Work it, Nancy. This is good news.

Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network [SLDN] is thrilled with the news: “I’m delighted that [Pelosi] reaffirmed to hold the vote this year.” Sarvis also thinks it's high time for the president to step up as well. “The hour for the president as well as for the leadership to become engaged is now,” he said. “The reality is — particularly in the Senate Armed Services Committee — we are still short of some critical votes. We don’t have the votes today. We’re on the brink of getting them, and we need help from leadership on the Hill and from the president himself.”

Yes, we do.

Mississippi Is Anti-Tuxedo......If You're A Lesbian

Mississippi will never learn.

They tried to keep Constance McMillen from the prom for many things, including wearing a tuxedo, and now another school in Mississippi has removed a photo of a lesbian student for the same reason.

Tuxedo.

Mississippi high school senior Ceara Sturgis opened her yearbook last Friday to find that her photo, in which she wears a tuxedo, was not included; worse yet, was that her name was not included in the names of the senior class. All because of a tuxedo.

Sturgis, a student at Wesson Attendance Center, and her mother, Veronica Rodriguez, fought school officials last fall when they first rejected the photo of a tuxedo-clad Sturgis. The ACLU wrote a letter demanding officials use Sturgis' submitted photo in the yearbook, but Copiah County School District officials refused.

Veronica Rodriguez said she expected the yearbook to at least contain a reference to her daughter on the senior page, but discovered that the school had refused to acknowledge her entirely.

The Copiah County School District maintains that its decision not to run the photo is based on federal legal precedent.

Oh, you mean the federal legal precedent that says girls can't wear tuxedos in their yearbook pictures in bassackwards states like Mississippi where redneckedness, bigotry, homophobia, racism, and just plain stupidity are the law of the land.

That law?

Pat Bertroche Is A Stupid Mother&$%#er

It seems everyone has an idea of how to stop illegal immigration. But Pat Bertroche, running for political office in Iowa, wants to implant illegal immigrants with microchips, like you would, say, a dog.

Did no one tell him he was a racist mother&%$#er before he opened his mouth, because, comparing human beings, and it doesn't matter if they're illegal immigrants, to animals, is disgusting.

Pat Bertroche, in his own racist, asshat words, spoke at Republican forum, and made it clear that he wasn’t joking when he suggested treating undocumented immigrants like pets:

“I think we should catch ’em, we should document ’em, make sure we know where they are and where they are going. I actually support microchipping them. I can microchip my dog so I can find it. Why can’t I microchip an illegal? That’s not a popular thing to say, but it’s a lot cheaper than building a fence they can tunnel under.”

I'm surprised he didn't volunteer the same solution his obvious heroes used: tattoo some numbers on "them". Make "them" wear a colored triangle. Put "them" in a safe secure location, you know, a camp, or something.

Better yet, implant a microchip in fucktard asshat wingnut fascists like Bertroche so we'll always know where "they" are.

Speak.Up.

Sorry Kids, You Don't Get Two Parents in Lose-iana

They don't get it in Louisiana. I'd hoped they would, but they just don't. They hear the word gay in any sentence and automatically shut down.

It's been scarcely a week since I wrote a post [HERE] about a Louisiana congressman, Juan LaFonta, and his proposed bill that would have allowed unmarried couples--straight OR gay--to jointly adopt a child, and allow an existing parent--straight OR gay--to petition a court to add a second adult--straight OR gay--as a legal parent. See, Louisiana? It wasn't about being gay, it was about adoption, and allowing those children to be adopted by both parents in an unmarried relationship.

But it's not gonna happen. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted a 3-1 rejection of the measure.

The debate pitted the Forum for Equality, a gay rights advocacy group, the ACLU, and other adoptive parents, including straight New Orleans City Council President Arnie Fielkow, against a long list of mostly religious interests: the Louisiana Family Forum, the Conference of Catholic Bishops and representatives of Louisiana Southern Baptists. Even wingnut, moron, asshat, Republican Governor Bobby Jindal opposed the bill to allow adoptive children the right to two parents.

Kelly Bryson of New Orleans had asked lawmakers to approve the bill so she and her partner, Erika Knott, can "complete our family." The couple gained custody of a Louisiana foster child, William, just before Hurricane Katrina, but only Knott was allowed to adopt the boy. When they moved to Maryland after the storm, Bryson successfully petitioned for a second parent adoption. Now, they are back in Louisiana, and Knott has again adopted; the boy is William's biological brother Jeremy. But with no change to the law, William has two legally recognized parents, while Jeremy has just one.

John Yeats, representing the not-quite-forward thinking Louisiana Baptist Convention, declared the bill a back-door attempt to legalize gay marriage, though the law pertains strictly to unmarried straight OR gay partnerships. He even went so far as to warn the law makers that "if we allow marriage to become a homosexual institution" society would lose words like "husband" and "wife" to designations like "partner" and "unmarried couple."

Oh, dear, we might lose words! The horror! As if that would happen. But, if it did, we'd always have asshat, just for you, John Yeats.

It was Republican--naturally--Senators Don Claitor, Jack Donahue, and Bob Kostelka who voted against the measure. Democratic Senator Ed Murray was the lone "yes" vote. Republican Chairwoman Julie Quinn did not vote, and two Democrats, Rob Marionneaux and Nick Gautreaux skipped the meeting altogether.

Bad enough for those who voted "no" on giving children the right to two parents, straight OR gay, but equally disgusting are those who either did not vote, or simply didn't show up.

Think Before You Boycott

Lotsa folks--other than me--up in arms about The Fascist State of Arizona.

Losta folks--other than me--callin' for a boycott.

But, um, if you're gonna boycott Arizona, make sure it's actually Arizona.

Case in point: Opponents of Arizona's new anti-immigrant law are calling for a boycott of all state products, including the popular Arizona Iced Tea. Good idea, except that, um, well, Arizona Iced Tea is actually brewed in New York. By a company headquartered founded in Brooklyn in 1992, though now it's housed in its new $35 million building in Nassau County. But that didn't stop some people from gettin' all twitchy about fightin' the good fight online:

Jody Beth, in Los Angeles, Twittered:
"Dear Arizona: If you don't change your immigration policy, I will have to stop drinking your enjoyable brand of iced tea."

Travis Nichols, of Chicago, chimed in:
"It is the drink of fascists."

You wanna fight the good fight, then at least take a nanosecond to research the company you want to punish. Just because it's called Arizona, doesn't mean it's from Arizona. I look at it this way: just because they're called crackers doesn't mean they're from the South.

Drink the damned tea already!

Another Asshat Crawls From The Slime

What's the deal with Alabama? Are you jealous that Arizona is getting all the press about being a racist state? Feeling left out that its backwoods mentality isn't front page news? Well, Tim James wants to change all that. He's a Republican [naturally] running for governor of Alabama, hoping that people there would prefer his brand of "common sense" over "political correctness". But his kind of common sense is the kind that don't take kindly to people that don't speak 'Murican English. See, Tim James wants the Alabama's driver's license exam to be be given only in English. "This is Alabama; we speak English. If you want to live here, learn it." That's the message of this asshat, wingut's ads that he has up and running on YouTube. The son of a former Alabama governor, Tim James promises to do away with the 12 foreign languages the test currently offers, saying he's only doing it to save the taxpayers money, saying, "[m]aybe it's the businessman in me." Oh, honey, it's not the businessman in you, it's the white sheet on you. Of course, what Tim "The Only Good 'Murican Is The English Talkin' 'Murican" doesn't seem to realize is that he won't be saving the taxpayers money with his racist viewpoint. In fact, Alabama could lose billions of dollars in federal transportation funding. Ah, but who needs roads when you can run the funny talkers outta town? For those of you who don't get it, this is what a racist looks like and talks like:

Tuxedo Says Boycott Arizona

As a "cat of color" Tuxedo sympathizes with those men and women who are subjected to the Show-me-your-papers laws of Arizona, and has decided to go into hiding himself because he does not have the proper documentation.

A Tale Of Two McCains

Y'all know about Arizona, the new fascist show-me-your-papers state? Well, it seems as if Arizona's favorite family has opinions on the issue.

Grampa McCain, struggling to hold onto his ass, er, Senate seat, has come out in defense of Governor Eva Braun, er, Jan Brewer's, signing of the law, though, as is usual of a politician, he stopped short of saying he supported the law. He didn't say I support it and he didn't say I don't support it; he said basically nothing. "That's a state decision. I have not had a chance to take a look, but the fact is, the state is acting because the federal government hasn't."

Let me get this queer, John. Your home state, the state you represent in Washington, has created a new law reminiscent of things that have happened in Nazi Germany, Communist China, South Africa, and you haven't had a chance to look at it?

Why, John, why?

Is it because, instead of doing what's right, you want to do what will get you reelected? That doesn't make sense from the man who once worked on a comprehensive immigration reform plan, telling critics that "these are all God's children". Now, John McCain wants thousands of troops to guard the border.

Meghan McCain, however, in her Daily Beast column, calls the new law "a bad law" and "essentially a license to pull someone over for being Hispanic," though she does understand "why this law came into existence," citing "the continued failure of the federal government to secure Arizona's borders." But, unlike her father, who says nothing, and does nothing, unless he thinks it'll get him a vote, Meghan McCain sees this as a situation where no one wins.

Two McCains.

Two differing views.

One, from an American who sees, and dislikes, the direction Arizona is taking, and the other from a career politician in fear of losing his job.

Don't Piss Off Oscar

Michael Avmen is a Hollywood newcomer who thought attending the Academy Awards would be the highlight of his burgeoning career. 

Instead, the actor claims that he and his wife were "tentatively confirmed" as guests, but were "held against their will" for six hours in the Academy's "detention center," interrogated about how they were able to get onto the red carpet without tickets and accused of lying and trespassing.

Who knew Oscar had a detention center? I mean, I was once pistol-whipped by Emmy, and by Grammy, but Oscar goes a step further.

Of course, as all folks do, Avmen has filed a $50 million lawsuit against the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for illegal false imprisonment and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. In other words, they were mean to him.

According to the suit, Avmen was told he'd been offered a tentative invitation to the event, but despite several attempts by Avmen and his publicist, they were unable to locate the tickets. Avmen claims the tickets were waiting for him at the venue, and even states that it's not unusual for the Academy to hold tickets inside; Robert Downey Jr. also received his tickets on the day of the event.

Um, Michael Avmen? I know Robert Downey, Jr. I've worked alongside Robert Downey Jr. And, you, sir, are no Robert Downey Jr.

Still, Avmen and the missus donned their Oscar finery, and on March 7th, the couple met with an usher for the event who took them from their hotel to a "resolution desk," where Avmen met an Academy employee with whom he'd been in contact.

After six hours of interrogation by a large gold statue, uniformed Los Angeles police officers arrived and took the Avmen's to the station, where no charges were filed. Avmen claims officers apologized profusely for how they were treated by Academy officials.

Of course, it doesn't end there. Avmen's lawsuit claims he and his wife were "injured in health, strength and activity" and "sustained injury to his and her body and shock and injury to their nervous system" and have since suffered "humiliation, mental anguish and emotional and physical distress."

Michael Avmen? That fledgling career you have in Hollywood just might be over. Yes, you have small parts in upcoming 2010 releases Broken Blade, Battle: Los Angeles, and Straw Dogs, but you pissed off the wrong award.

Oscar is the biggie. Maybe Tony would stand for your bull shiz, but not Oscar.

Never EVER Oscar.

The Gay Marriage Tour

Dan and Josh Smithman--who merged their separate surnames Smith and Sackman--are a couple.

Two men!

And, yes indeedy, they are a married couple.

Two.Men.

And, as such, they are embarking on a Marriage Tour, with plans to marry in every state that has legalized gay marriage.

The Smithman's were first married in Canada in 2007, but also married in California in June of 2008, before hate took over; their marriage is one of thousands still legal there. But just last week they were in Iowa to have a recommitment ceremony is Des Moines. The couple plans to get married in every state that has legalized same-sex marriage. They will be travelling to, and marrying in, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., all of which stand up for non-discrimination.

The Smithmans want to highlight the inequities of the federal Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA] which gives states the right not to recognize other states’ same-sex marriages and defines marriage as being only between a man and a woman.

Wish them well, and if you're in any of those states, and DC, where marriage is allowed for all Americans, and you see Dan and Josh, congratulate them.

Unfortunately Funny

Got this from a heads up from ISBL reader David B.

Thanks David!

click it.......and read the warning.

Illinois Steps Up

By a margin of 108 to no one, the Illinois house of Representatives passed a bill that requires schools to adopt policies prohibiting bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and several other characteristics. The state senate passed the measure earlier this month, with only two votes against it, and Governor Pat Quinn is expected to sign it into law.

Now, if only the rest of the country.....

The legislation also seeks to require schools to offer students training in how to resist bullying and take other reasonable steps to stop harassment.

Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov: “Students who are perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender are particularly vulnerable to bullying. And the attempted suicide rate among LGBT students, which is as much as three times higher than the general average, presents alarming evidence for just how urgently we need this law. This was a no-nonsense bill, and I am so glad that it sailed quickly through both chambers of the legislature.”

Since bullying can often lead to suicide, that's the exact stance we should take on bullying, from fellow students, to teachers, administrators and parents: No nonsense.

So This Is What Straight Guys Do

Blue-Eyed With A Soul

Artwork courtesy of Cubby

I'm a white guy; a very white guy. I am part Irish, part German, and, apparently, part cake flour, because I am really really white. And I have blue eyes. So, why do I care about what's going on in Arizona? I mean, I could travel freely throughout the state and never even think about being stopped. I'm American. I look American. a blue-eyed white boy.

But see, I happen to be in love with a brown-eyed Hispanic, who could get stopped and asked for his papers, because of those brown eyes, or because of his first name. Yes, and maybe because his features don't look blue-eyed and white.

That infuriates me. To stop someone and ask them to prove that they are allowed to walk the streets, drive the streets, or even live on the street, is not very American. That's not what I was taught in school. Of course, I also wasn't taught that America rounded up another group of people who didn't look American and tossed them in interment camps in World War II. Asian people got that history lesson first hand. For me, that hideous tale was swept under the rug

So, you think we would have learned....I mean, we've spent decades apologizing to Asian-Americans for what was done to them in the name of our [read: regular American] safety, and yet we're doing it again. We are persecuting a group of people because of their skin, or eyes, or accent, or hair, or name, or, yes, even their shoes.

Not right.

I understand the problem of illegal immigration. After living and working in Miami for a number of years I came to know many people who were here illegally, taking jobs away from regular, decent Americans; jobs like dishwasher, day laborer, gardener...the kinds of jobs all Americans deem less than their status. I met a girl from South America who worked as a busser in a restaurant; she was a pharmacist in her country and all she wanted was to make a better life for her family. Quite the step up; pharmacist to clearing tables.

I understand the problem of immigration, But you don't persecute and harass--and believe me, that will happen--a group of people because some of them might be here illegally. Solve the problem. Strengthen the borders. Take care of the illegals that are here now on a case by case basis. Will that take a while? Damn right it will, because we stood idly by and allowed 10-20 million people into the country illegally, and now we want to backtrack and send them all "home". But, guess what? This is home for many, who've come here, worked hard, paid taxes, and been upstanding citizens.

But that doesn't count in Arizona. in Arizona all that matters is that you look American. For me, I'm, safe, but I won't be travelling to Arizona any time soon. It's not Arizona that bothers me, it's the fascism that hurts.

And, thanks again to Cubby for his artwork. Folks in Arizona might not like it, but 70% of them foolishly voted for it.

Do These Nikes Make Me Look Mexican?

Wingnut, asshat, bigot, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, has ignored criticism from President Obama, as well as simple common sense, and signed into law a bill that would allow police to arrest whomever they choose because they look "illegal".

Brewer says, however, that she won't tolerate "racial profiling" though the bill seems to say just the opposite. The legislation makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally, and requires local police officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal immigrants; it allows lawsuits against government agencies that hinder enforcement of immigration laws; and makes it illegal to hire illegal immigrants for day labor or knowingly transport them.

Sounds like a lovely bit of racial profiling to me.

I mean, how do you suspect someone is here illegally? Their accent? Lots of accents of folks who are here legally. Their eye color? Brown eyes bad. Skin color? Name?

California Congressman, and fledgling asshat, Brian Bilbray, says:

"They will look at the kind of dress you wear, there's different type of attire, there's different type of ...right down to the shoes, right down to the clothes. But mostly by behavior it's mostly behavior, just as the law enforcement people here in Washington, DC does it based on certain criminal activity there is behavior things that professionals are trained in across the board and this group shouldn't be exempt from those observations as much as anybody else."

Hmmm. Clothes. Shoes. Behavior.

I think I'll sneak some of Carlos' shoes and clothes out of the closet and then head to Arizona. Which would be funny, were it not true.

Brewer, apparently aware of the dangers of this kind of legislation, signed the bill in a state auditorium about a mile from the Capitol complex where some 2,000 demonstrators protested its passage.

And protest they should, because when will Jan Brewer stop? First, it'll be Hispanics; but then what about Muslims? What about people of color? When you are allowing police officers to arbitrarily decide that they can question and detain people simply because of their alleged ethnicity, you are creating a model for all kinds of harassment of people who don't fit Jan Brewer's norm.

In Germany they first came for the Communists,

and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,

and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,

and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,

and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me ,

and by that time no one was left to speak up

Martin Niemöller

Sue Lowden: Asshat Of The Week

There's all kinds of funny in politics today. Sarah Palin "I can see Russia from my house" funny. Michele Bachmann saying, well, just about anything kind of funny. Then there's idiot funny. So funny because it's outrageous and stupid and, well, here goes: Sue Lowden is a Republican...naturally...Senate hopeful in Nevada who does not like the health care reform. Join the club, Sue; a lot of your fellow G-No-P'ers don't like it either, though they haven't come up with an alternative. At least you're thought of an alternative. The chicken. Or the goat. Lowden is being mocked, and rightly so, for sticking to her assertion that we go back to the good old days, "before we all started having health care, in the olden days our grandparents, they would bring a chicken to the doctor, they would say I'll paint your house....I mean, that's the old days of what people would do to get health care with your doctors. Doctors are very sympathetic people. I'm not backing down from that system." Now, a barter system is a good idea, for the most part. Two parties mutually agree to trade services rather than cash. But, um, Sue? How many houses would I have to paint for a round of chemo? How many chickens does an appendectomy cost? And, what about the doctor who doesn't take livestock? Can I sue him or her for malpractice? Are you suing the shrink that called you competent? Just a thought, because, maybe your chicken bounced. In response to Crazy Sue Lowden, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has set up a subsequently set up a Chickens for Checkups website offering a fake form letter in which people could offer items in exchange for health care. And, what's funnier than Crazy Sue Lowden's "Chicken Health Care" is that she's not backing down. She's sticking to her guns. Lowden spokesperson Chrystal Feldman says, "Americans are struggling to pay for their health care, and in order to afford coverage we must explore all options available to drive costs down. Bartering with your doctor is not a new concept. There have been numerous reports as to how negotiating with your doctor is an option and doctors have gone on the record verifying this." Sure, it might work. But, um, Sue? Where do I get the chicken?

Elton John: A Letter To Ryan White On The 20th Anniversary Of His Death

Twenty years ago this month, you died of AIDS. I would gladly give my fame and fortune if only I could have one more conversation with you, the friend who changed my life as well as the lives of millions living with HIV. Instead, I have written you this letter.

I remember so well when we first met. A young boy with a terrible disease, you were the epitome of grace. You never blamed anyone for the illness that ravaged your body or the torment and stigma you endured.

When students, parents and teachers in your community shunned you, threatened you and expelled you from school, you responded not with words of hate but with understanding beyond your years. You said they were simply afraid of what they did not know.

When the media heralded you as an "innocent victim" because you had contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion, you rejected that label and stood in solidarity with thousands of HIV-positive women and men. You reminded America that all victims of AIDS are innocent.

When you became a celebrity, you embraced the opportunity to educate the nation about the AIDS epidemic, even though your only wish was to live an ordinary life.

Ryan, I wish you could know how much the world has changed since 1990, and how much you changed it.

Young boys and girls with HIV attend school and take medicine that allows them to lead normal lives. Children in America are seldom born with the virus, and they no longer contract it through transfusions. The insults and injustices you suffered are not tolerated by society.
Most important, Ryan, you inspired awareness, which helped lead to lifesaving treatments. In 1990, four months after you died, Congress passed the Ryan White Care Act, which now provides more than $2 billion each year for AIDS medicine and treatment for half a million Americans. Today, countless people with HIV live long, productive lives.

It breaks my heart that you are not one of them. You were 18 when you died, and you would be 38 this year, if only the current treatments existed when you were sick. I think about this every day, because America needs your message of compassion as never before.

Ryan, when you were alive, your story sparked a national conversation about AIDS. But despite all the progress in the past 20 years, the dialogue has waned. I know you would be trying to revive it if you were here today, when the epidemic continues to strike nearly every demographic group, with more than 50,000 new infections in the United States each year. I know you would be loudly calling for the National HIV/AIDS Strategy that was promised by President Obama but has not yet been delivered. I know you would reach out to young people. I know you would work tirelessly to help everyone suffering from HIV, including those who live on the margins of society.

It would sadden you that today, in certain parts of the United States, some poor people with AIDS are still placed on waiting lists to receive treatment. It would anger you that your government is still not doing enough to help vulnerable people with HIV and populations that are at high risk of contracting the virus, including sexually active teenagers. It would upset you that AIDS is a leading cause of death among African Americans.

It would frustrate you that even though hundreds of thousands of HIV-positive Americans are receiving treatment in your name, more than 200,000 don't know their HIV-positive status, largely because a lingering stigma surrounding the disease prevents them from being tested. It would disappoint you that many teenagers do not have access to science-based HIV-prevention programs in school, at a time when half of new infections are believed to be among people under 25.

I miss you so very much, Ryan. I was by your side when you died at Riley Hospital. You've been with me every day since. You inspired me to change my life and carry on your work. Because of you, I'm still in the struggle against AIDS, 20 years later. I pledge to not rest until we achieve the compassion for which you so bravely and beautifully fought.

Your friend,
Elton

source

Two Bitches: Corinne M. Schwab and Ashley N. Sams

In Kentucky last week, police arrested three teenage girls, one a juvenile, on charges of kidnapping and attempted murder after Cheyenne Williams told authorities that the girls--Corinne M. Schwab, Ashley N. Sams, and an unnamed minor--kidnapped and tried to kill her.
Williams told police she was attacked as a result of her sexual orientation.

What the hell is wrong with these kids?

These girls, Corinne M. Schwab and Ashley N. Sams--that's the two bullies up top--took Cheyenne Williams against her will to an area called Flat Lick Falls, and assaulted her, even trying to push her over a cliff, because she's a lesbian. Williams was able to escape and get to safety.

Though stories are coming out that the girls have been friends for several years, and that Cheyenne Williams went willingly with Corinne M. Schwab and Ashley N. Sams, she became concerned about the "joke" and tried to leave. it was then that the other girls attacked her.

Cheyenne Williams videotaped the incident on her cell phone.

Corinne M. Schwab and Ashley N. Sams? That smell is your goose being cooked.

You don't like lesbians? Good for you. You must be filled with hate. You think being gay is a sin? You go! Believe what you want, say what you want, but keep your hands to yourselves. You, Corinne M. Schwab and Ashley N. Sams, are nothing but ignorant bullies, and I hope you are prosecuted, as adults, to the fullest extent of the law.

You don't have to like the LGBT community, but keep your fucking hands off of us.

The Fall Of The GOP

A lot of folks wonder what happened to the GOP. I mean,before it splintered off in Limbaugh lunatics, and Beck Believers and Palin Putz's and Tea Parties. I, myself, wonder what happened to the GOP.

Well, author Jacob Weisberg has an idea of when and where and how, and perhaps even why, the, as he calls them, "Responsible Republicans" became extinct. In an article for Newsweek [HERE] Weisberg, remembers the GOP that rode roughshod over Ronald Reagan's 1982 veto of a tax increase that was designed to fix the mess created by his 1981 tax cut. He remembers the Double-R's working with President George H.W. Bush in 1990 to reduce the deficit.

But since then, according to Wiesberg, the responsible Republican has not often been seen. In fact, as Wesiberg points out, President Obama went looking for one, just one, during the health care debate and came up empty.

So, what happened to the Responsible Republican? Weisberg says their path to extinction began with a 1993 memo written by conservative commentator William Kristol, who offered the GOP advice on how to repsond to then-President Clinton's health care battle. Kristol believed the right thing to do was to simply not cooperate, and Weisberg believes that marked the day when the GOP "shifted from fundamentally responsible partners in governing the country to uncompromising, hyperpartisan antagonists on all issues."

Uh-huh.

In his memo, Kristol took special note of Bob Dole and his desire to work with Clinton on a compromise plan for health care. Kristol then advised that the GOP "adopt an aggressive and uncompromising counterstrategy designed to delegitimize the proposal." In other words, say and do nothing; offer no alternative.

And thus was born the Party Of No.

A trickle at a time, Republicans opted to heed Kristol's advice. Newt Gingrich began drinking the Kool-Aid and goosestepping with Kristol, and even Bob Dole, in responding to Clinton's 1994 State of the Union address, stated that there was "no health-care crisis."

Flip.Flop.

And Kristol's plan took root. Gingrich created his "Contract With America" and the GOP took Congressional power in 1994, though Gingrich's plan never gained any real momentum. The GOP failed to enact one single idea, their leaders fell in scandal, and Clinton won re-election in '96.

Yet, as Weisberg points out, the GOP still seemed destined to follow the Kristol Plan. And with the arrival of yet another Democratic president in 2009, Republicans have reverted to the do nothing, complain loudly, spew mindless barbs, kind of politics for which they've become quite familiar, though this time they have not been able to block Obama's major initiative.

So, does this continued age of strict partisanship help or hurt? Does standing against anything and everything the President tries to do, and say, get any real work done? No; all it does is succeed in making Americans angry; all it does is grind government to a halt; all it does is cause the entire nation to suffer.

No. That's their solution, which Weisberg calls "hyperpartisanship".

And it isn't working for us.

Sunday Funnies

I Ain't One To Gossip, But......

Poor Lindsay Lohan. We've had our issues in the past, but now I almost feel sorry for her.
Almost.
The career is in the toilet. I mean, she hasn't made a movie since the 1960s when she did those "spy" movies with James Coburn. And the love life has tanked since she spurned her lesbian lover. So, what does Lindsay do now?
Oh yeah. She skips out on a deposition.
See, Lindsay is currently involved in a lawsuit filed against her by the three guys who claim she held them hostage in her SUV during that drug-fueled-wacked-out car chase back in Ought-Seven. But Lindsay has too much :::sniff sniff::: partying to do and has been skipping out on her appointments to be deposed.
I had hoped that was a misprint, and thought for one brief shining moment that she was to be deported. Alas, no.
Last week, Lindsay was supposed to answer questions, but cancelled it at the last minute. Something about a cocaine sale on on Kitson, I think.
She rescheduled, but then didn't show up again. Lindsay told her lawyer that she couldn't get a ride until after 11; she is on probation for a DUI conviction, as well as being a horrible actress, so she's not allowed to drive.
Well, the boy's lawyers are done playing the Where In The World Is Crackpot Lindsay Lohan and are planning to ask a judge to force her to answer their questions or automatically forfeit the case. Which means some of Lindsay's sizable drug money would have to go to these wholesome lads who were kidnapped by a crazed ex-movie star.
Sounds fair.

Filed Under: Do we Really Need Another View?
Those crazy kids over at CBS cannot come up with a fresh idea to save their lives. I mean, aren't there like 31 CSI shows on CBS now; add to that 14 NCIS shows, and The Eye is all about the lack of fresh thought.
Case in point:
CBS is attempting to do a version of The View, only they'll use a bunch of has-beens and never-weres who have all seen better days.
Julie Chen will be playing the role of Barbara Walters.
Sara Gilbert will be the token Lesbian.
Lisa Rinna will be this year's Star Jones.
Bethenny Frankel is their answer to Joy Behar.
Seriously.
Crash. And burn.

From the Mama Will Protect You department comes the tale of crackpot mama, Dina Lohan, who spends most of her time defending her crazy, drug-addled party-daughter, and the rest of the time being a crazy drug-addled stage mother.
Mama Rose, er, Dina Lohan is all up in the media grill talking about Lindsay's rumored financial difficulties; lawsuits and drug buys cost money, y'all.
Dina says: “[Lindsay's] not going into credit card debt. Absolutely not. And her business managers… I actually am in contact with them every day....she has people that run what she does…So Lindsay doesn’t really pay her bills."
Yes, Mama, and therein lies the rub.
Lindsay.Doesn't.Pay.Her.Bills.
But then Dina goes on, and the more she talks, the bigger a dumbass picture she paints of the wacktress: Someone else [pays her bills], so they wouldn’t let her do that. And in the interim, you know, a bill may be a little late or not, you know, but that’s pretty normal....Lindsay isn’t in charge of her finances, other people are and we are keeping a close eye on the people who are managing her.”
Lindsay is just a little late with her payments. Yeah, I think One-Eyed Frankie, the crack dealer on La Cienega, won't take kindly to a late payment.
Then Dina confronts those on-going rumors about Lindsay and her partying: “People don’t understand how the press manipulates and how they make something look as it seems when it’s completely opposite. What you read in the press is completely fabricated. If a girl… any child… a girl in the business goes out one night, you’ll see magazines for the next two weeks and they’re wearing the same outfit. So it’s the same night!"
What frightens me is how much Dina calls Lindsay a child, a girl. This is a grown-ass woman who's been raking in the big bucks being some crazy-eyed movie star. She is no innocent lamb. All it takes is looking at one picture of Lindsay stumbling out of a club to know that Mama Dina is full of ...

I know I was pissed.
I mean, I loves me some American Idol, but when the show ran long the other night, it pushed back the start of the Glee: The Power Of Madonna episode, which in turn made my DVR cut off the last couple of minutes of the show.
I ranted. I stomped. Carlos talked me off a ledge.
Others Tweeted.
Twitter apparently went nuclear with furious messages, especially once everyone rushed to the show's official website and found the only clip from the night posted was the Sue Sylvester Vogue music video.
I loved that one, but I wanted my Like A Prayer.
Dammit.
Word to the DVR set: Manual recording.
Problem solved, if FOX decides to eff things up again. Which would not be smart.
Don't deny a gay his Glee!
Ever!

So, Kitty Kelley's book on Oprah tells us that Oprah doesn't know her real father; she was raised by, and took the name of, her mother's boyfriend, Vernon Winfrey.
But now a man has come forward to say that he is the Big O's daddy, and he's willing to take a DNA test to prove it.
But Big O, who would counsel her minions to follow through, ain't having it.
When was asked if she would participate in a paternity test to determine if Norm Robinson is her biological father, she said: "I will not be taking a paternity test, ever! I've never heard of him. I know who is claiming to be my real father."
Nice, O. Nice.
I mean, would it kill you? But then I think she's worried that Daddy might get too close to the vaults--the one with the money and the one with the cookies.

Lots of talk still about who will be taking Simon Cowell's spot on America Idol next season.
I say Me!!
They say Who??
But now Adam Lambert's name has been tossed into the mix alongside the likes of Neil Patrick Harris, Howard Stern, Perez :::gag::: Hilton, and, yes, Paula Abdul.
But apparently the producers liked how Lambert mentored the songtestants a couple of weeks back and he proved he has that bitchy, queeny, gay sensibility that Simon brings to the table.
An insider--a janitor, I think, says: “Producers were totally bowled over by Adam’s on-target critiques and pithy comments. They believe he’ll bring a fearless, youthful freshness to the show. And let’s not forget, Glambert’s got real stage presence.”
I think he'd be good, but he shouldn't do it.
There are better things for a gay to do.

Heather Locklear should not be allowed to drive.
It seems the former TJ Hooker-Dynasty-Melrose Place-Spin City hasbeen was ALLEGEDLY arrested for hit-and-run charges last weekend.
It seems that last Saturday night around 4AM someone heard a crash near the North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village; they didn't think much of it, because they apparently waited until later in the day to call the police.
Deputies searched the area and found a knocked over 'No Parking' sign and obvious signs of a car that went up onto the curb and struck the sign. Deputies then confirmed that a black car had struck the sign.
The ALLEGED incident took place very near Heather's home, and deputies noticed a dented and bruised black BMW in Locklear's driveway. She was cited, questioned, and eventually released, but in Ventura country a hit-and-run citation is considered an "arrest."
Of course, this isn't the first time Heather has found herself in trouble with the law. Back in 2008 she was arrested for drunk driving in Santa Barbara after an Us Weekly editor called the police on her swerving and weaving.
Maybe she ought to take a page out of Lohan's book--who ever thought I'd say that--and stop driving all together.

Charlie Sheen's rehabbing wife, Brooke Mueller is apparently refusing to move out of their palatial Hollywood drug den even though she doesn't want to stay married to the ALLEGED wife-beater-drug-addict-alcoholic-adulterer.
Brooke is supposed to be furious over claims that Charlie ALLEGEDLY cheated on her with a lingerie model, but life is too good at Party Central for her to just up and go.
A source--the gardener, I think--says: “She has not moved out and she doesn’t want to move out. She’s furious and not talking to Charlie. They’ve had some crazy times together but this really hurt her.”
Brooke's brother, who knows a two-million-dollar-a-week-meal-ticket when his sister marries one, says Brooke is just "trying to be a good mother. [She] is doing well just now and just trying to cope.”
Coping in a mansion with servants and pools and tennis courts and limos is hard.
Poor Brooke.

Tori Spelling wants a talk show.
Girl, she has a hard time speaking.
But,and this is where it gets good, she wants A Gay to cohost with her.
I'm dusting off my audition reel as we speak.
It seems that ABC is creating a daytime talk show for Spelling and a to-be-determined co-host, who would be sold into servitude as Tori's BFF!
Hmmm, rethink that dusting off of the reel thing.
But the network is looking for a “Will & Grace” vibe between Spelling and her slave, er, BFF, and might even turn the hunt for Tori's homo into yet another reality show for the "actress".
Yeah, put the reel back in the closet.