Obama sworn in as 44th president



It's about time.


Sadly, this helicopter didn't fall from the sky whilst removing Bush the Stupider from town. I suppose that as long as I don't have see his ugly mug anymore, I'm willing to not wish him dead every day. Occasionally, sure, but not every single day.

Labels: news, politics

I've waited my whole life for a sign that I've finally arrived. I think an embossed invitation from the President-Elect rates favorably.


An embossed invite to a TOTALLY PUBLIC EVENT.

Sigh...

Labels: misc, politics

Remember this Shel Silverstein poem?

I'd rather play tennis than go to the dentist.
I'd rather play soccer than go to the doctor.
I'd rather play Hurk than go to work.
Hurk? Hurk? What's Hurk?
I don't know, but it MUST be better than work.

Well, tomorrow go to hurk instead of work. December 10 is No Gays For a Day. Call in queer to work - even if you aren't gay - supporters are always welcome!



Today is my first day back at work. Actually, I'm working part time from home to start. My boss has been great about wanting to modify my schedule so I can get as much Bean time as possible. For the rest of the year, I'm working 2 days per week. The nice thing is that the 2 days are really just 16 hours to be completed whenever I have time. If that means working at 3:00 in the morning on a Sunday because that's when I can get to it, then so be it, just as long as everything's done by the following week. It's perfect.

This is all to say that I won't really be calling in gay tomorrow. I will, however, not do any work, not spend any money and get the word out to as many people as possible. If you could do the same, that would be fab. If you can't miss work, I understand. Here are other ways you can help.

Labels: misc, politics

FunnyOrDie.com is at it again. We're still quoting from Will Ferrell's "Landlord" sketch. "Can I have 4 beers?" and "I'm just buzzed" are still favorites. Now they have a new one about Prop 8 that's pretty priceless. Jack Black plays Jesus - it just doesn't get much better.

Labels: misc, politics

By now you've heard about Prop 8 and its outcome. While the passage of it saddens me almost beyond compare, the aftermath's galvanizing effects hearten me. I know I live in a very liberal city and in a very gay neighborhood within. The day-to-day of this existence means I am often taken aback at the outright hatred perfect strangers spew at me via ridiculous ballot measures, legislation and politics in general. Proposition 8, however, seems to be a little different. From the anti-prop 8 rallies all over the state (and beyond), to national TV personalities taking a stand, it's nice to see people getting good and pissed about this. Keith Olbermann made a 6-minute speech tonight about Prop 8 that simultaneously made me want to cry and to hunt him down and plant a big, slobbery kiss on his mug. I know this is sort of long, but seriously, take a look (or you can read it here).


To my mind, this is a case of rights gone wrong and the continuation of painting us as lesser citizens, and it makes me want to scream. My thoughts can be summed up best by a sign seen at one of the rallies:

Do I get to vote on your marriage?

I mean, if you're going to legislate me to death, can I please return the favor?

Labels: news, politics

I was reading an article on the Prop 8 protests aloud to my mom. In it, the article mentions the Catholics and Mormons as backers of the ballot measure. My mom piped up and said, "Wait a minute. The Catholics are against gay marriage, but molesting altar boys is okay?! The Church is allowed to write off the priests as 'disturbed' while they sweep it under the carpet and ignore the issue?? They have some nerve!" This is why I love Mom.

An Episcopal church in Pasadena has the right view on it: "How dare a religious body say these people are not holy and these relationships are not holy?" [Emphasis mine]

Amen.

Labels: misc, politics

It's a new day, with a new president. I was watching the coverage last night, holding my breath. Would McCain't try and pull a fast one like Bush the Stupider did in 2000? Would we go to bed not knowing the outcome? The margins were looking promising, but the past 8 years have done nothing to assuage my fears. My mom couldn't even watch for fear that she would somehow jinx it. I held my breath as the West Coast polls closed and then saw the projected results. And I'm not ashamed to say this - I cried.

I cried tears of joy because finally it seems our country hasn't lost its fucking mind. I cried because our son (and all sons and daughters) will grow up knowing that he can be whatever he wants to be. I cried for all the people who felt disenfranchised, downtrodden and just plain broken by our government.

For once, my mental jukebox has served up the perfect song for the occasion:



It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for all of us. Happy day, all.

Labels: misc, politics

I voted today

... and it wore me out.

Actually, our voting today was a breeze. Since the last election, our polling place has changed. (For the last election, it was in the dining room of a retirement community. It cracked me up to hear some old, white guy say, "Who'd you vote for? I voted for the black fella. You know, black power!" Good times.) Though we could walk to the old place, this new polling location had a parking spot right in front and we only had to wait 10-15 minutes in line. With the news coverage talking about 4 and 5 hour waits, I was a little nervous, but nothing was keeping me from doing what I had to do.

In all seriousness, if you haven't already, please vote today. Nothing is a foregone conclusion and your vote matters. Even if you don't feel your individual ballot will make a difference, then vote because people have fought and died for your right to do so. Vote because it makes a point. Vote because it will make you feel better. Vote because you're sick and tired of the state of our country. Vote because it's patriotic. Hell, vote because there's a chance you'll meet a hottie in the lines. Whatever your motivation, get out and vote.

[p.s. to Auntie Moi: Bean is wearing the outfit you gave him - the little footies are so damn cute!!]

Labels: misc, politics

If you think about it, Prop 8 is like a microcosm of the whole election. To my mind, David Sedaris' recent piece in The New Yorker about undecided voters perfectly explains the two sides:

To put them in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. "Can I interest you in the chicken?" she asks. "Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it?"

To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked.

I mean, really, what’s to be confused about?

Do you remember that part in Ferris Bueller where Cameron decides he needs to take a stand? It's right after the car goes crashing into the ravine. Anyway, this is kind of like that. At some point, you have to be very still, stop listening to the bullshit and realize that it's time you made yourself heard. This kind of change begins with you.

In that spirit, a friend of mine is staging her own protest against this ballot measure. She says, "I've decided to make myself feel better by standing up to the homophobic fuckheads by holding up my sign." Since all politics is local, I don't know of any better way to amp up the visibility of this issue.

"Let us not concern ourselves with what we have tried and failed, but with what it is still possible to do. Let us spare no energy that the nation and the world may be better for our efforts." - Tip O'Neill

So tomorrow, if you have the time, please join up with my friend at West Hollywood Park at 3:00. Bring a sign if you have it and your desire to take a stand. Tell her I sent you.

Labels: misc, politics

We were at the farmers market yesterday and the No on 8 folks were there to register voters and get the word out. We were both surprised to hear that No on 8 is losing to the proponents. A little digging today and I've found that No on 8 is $10 million behind the Yes people.

Let me repeat that.

TEN MILLION DOLLARS BEHIND

The Yes people have so much money because the Mormon Church is bankrolling a large percentage, as are out of state interests. Why these people give a rat's ass about something that doesn't change their lives one iota is completely beyond me.

Time is running out and the election is only a few short weeks away. If you feel that equality is worth fighting for (notice I didn't say "marriage" - this has nothing to do with marriage and everything to do with equal rights under law), then please donate to Equality California. Every little bit counts. Your $5 or $50 could be just the bit that helps us.

If you're still on the fence, or feel that a California measure doesn't affect you (maybe you're out of state), then think again. What if anti-miscegenation laws were still on the books? How about Jim Crow? Think those were any different? Think those only applied to people outside of your sphere? See if you can spot the similarities:

In Germany, they came first for the Communists,
And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist;

And then they came for the trade unionists,
And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist;

And then they came for the Jews,
And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew;

And then... they came for me...
And by that time there was no one left to speak up.

They're coming. Donate now.

Labels: politics

A few days ago, my almost 86-year-old grandfather was musing about the state of the economy and politics. "You know," he said "I've voted Republican in every election since Wendell Wilkie. Since then, every time our economy has been in trouble, it's been under a Republican president." And with that he's changing his party and is voting for Obama.

If, after 48 years of being a staunch Republican - and 86 years of being quite stubborn to boot - he can change, then so can anyone. Just read the story of Sister Cecilia Gaudette for further proof. The good sister hasn't voted since 1952, is 106-years-old, and she's voting Obama, too.

It gives me hope.

Labels: misc, politics

You all know about Sarah Palin being investigated for abusing her power as governor, right? If not here's the gist in a nutshell: Palin's sister was fighting for custody with her ex (Mike Wooten), who happened to be a state trooper. I guess since blood's thicker than water, Sarah used her office to put pressure on her former brother-in-law's boss (Walter Monegan) to fire Wooten. But Monegan wasn't playing ball and said the trooper had done nothing wrong. So Palin fired the boss instead.

Take THAT!

Understandably, Monegan is crying foul. Palin is responding, saying his dismissal wasn't for that reason, it was because of a "budgetary dispute." My Aunt Fannie it is.

Anyway, since this is all over the interweb, it's making the McCain camp hurry up and conduct its own investigation - you know, since they're so unbiased an' all. Here's the part you've been waiting for and I know will just be shocked to read:

"The McCain campaign on Thursday issued its own report, written by its staff, stating that the Alaska governor was not guilty of any wrongdoing."

[Sniff, sniff] Smell that? That's the unmistakable aroma of bullshit, right there.

.....

In considerably more uplifting news, Connecticut has just joined Massachusetts and California in legalizing gay marriage. In its ruling, the State Supreme Court said:

"To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others. The guarantee of equal protection under the law, and our obligation to uphold that command, forbids us from doing so. In accordance with these state constitutional requirements, same sex couples cannot be denied the freedom to marry."

Welcome to the party, Connecticut. As for the rest of the country, what's taking you so long?

And, if you haven't already decided to do so (and you live in California), then Vote NO on Prop 8. You may or may not agree with gay marriage, but it's not fair to anyone to just take away rights.

.....

Oh, and in case you're wondering, yes I'm still pregnant.

Labels: anticipating, news, politics

There's a debt clock/ticker in New York that was erected in 1989 to display our national debt. At the time, it had more than enough room to display the then-current amount of $2.7 trillion. Problem is, we've maxed out the space. We're now more than 10 trillion dollars in debt. To accommodate the need for more debt, the sign makers are adding two extra digits. Provided that first digit can go from 1-9, then it means the new ticker will be able to display almost a quadrillion dollars of debt - that's fifteen zeros. At some point the numbers become meaningless. I mean, seriously, what's another hundred trillion or so amongst friends? (Or as McCain calls us, "his fellow prisoners." Reminds me of debtors' prisons.)

Now, just to put this in a little perspective - and because you know I have to point this stuff out - Reagan, Bush the Elder and Bush the Stupider have *increased* the debt to GDP ratio by 44.4% since 1981. Clinton managed to chip away 8.8% of that before Dubya undid all his work and then some. (Granted, this is only an estimate, since Bush the Stupider still has a little bit more time to wreak havoc.) With the bailout package and the horrific state of the economy, I wonder just how high all of these numbers will climb?

Labels: misc, news, politics

I'm watching the debate right now. Though I haven't kept an official tally, the number of times McCain has said "my friends" already is making me sick. I can't wait to see the transcripts tomorrow to get a count. As my ex would say, "I never wanted to be your fucking friend in the first place!"

(The fact that I'm still pregnant and more than a little moody right now isn't helping matters, either.)

Labels: politics

If you're reading this post, then you probably fall into one of four categories:

• You've likely decided upon your electoral choice and it's probably Obama.


• You've stumbled across this blog, or are one of the few people I know who is undecided, and are looking for help in determining your candidate.


• You're totally lost, and think that I'm somehow a right-wing supporter, so chances are you won't even click the link below to read the author's valid arguments regarding white privilege.
  
  (If this defines you, how the hell did you end up here? That was one messed up Google search, dude!)


• You're sick of all the election shit and are just wondering if I'm still pregnant. I am. But you should read the article anyway.

"This is Your Nation on White Privilege" by Tim Wise


(Thanks, Shannon!)

Labels: misc, politics

I came across this flow chart of Sarah Plain's performance during Thursday's VP debate. What's hilarious about it (or very, very scary depending on how you look at it), is this is her modus operandi for ALL interviews:



I also have to agree with Chris Matthews' opinion that she presented like she was in a spelling bee.

"M-A-V-E-R-I-C-K. Maverick."

Labels: misc, politics

My mom just sent this link, which was pretty interesting. You simply click the politician's statement with which you agree most. I entered into it figuring I'd easily be able to spot who's stance was who's. Though the outcome wasn't a surprise (all but one matched Obama), I was a little shocked to see how tricksy those statements can be when pulled as single sound bites. (Feel free to insert your "DUH!" here.)

Try the quiz yourself and see what comes of it: Match-O-Matic II.

(Thanks, Mom!)

Labels: misc, politics

Did you see the latest Tina Fey as Sarah Palin sketch? No? Take a gander:



I am simultaneously scared, angry and amused. Scared and angry at how very, very close an SNL skit comes to reality and amused at how dead-on Tina is as van Palin.

Didja hear the other news? Apparently Sarah's daughter Bristol and her fine (cough) upstanding (cough) baby daddy Levi are planning to get married (choke, gag) in early November... right before the election. As Church Lady would say, "Isn't that timing conveeeeenient?" You can check out their (fake) registry here: JCPenney.

I just hope more people realize that McCain's entire campaign is smoke and mirrors. Wake up and smell the b.s. y'all!

Oh, as if that isn't enough, pop over to BBC where they've compared McCain's probability of winning to that of Sarkozy - you know, the president of France. I take some measure of comfort in the fact that this article was written by a Republican adviser and speechwriter.

Labels: misc, politics

We just got done watching the presidential debate and its subsequent commentary on MSNBC. Not that this is a huge surprise, but I thought McCain just sounded like an asshat every time he opened his gob. Plus, I thought his body language was very telling - especially the fact that he didn't look at Obama once in the whole 1.5 hours. When McCain called himself a maverick, I could only wonder if "maverick" was somehow from the Latin for "exact same shit as Bush."

What did you think?

Labels: misc, politics