Why all the criticism? As Bill Maher said, this is not what we voted for. He said at the end of his commentary that instead of the audacity of hope we could use just some audacity. It seems to many on the left, both progressives and liberals, that Obama is failing them. He is keeping his promises to work on many of the issues that we wanted – the economy, healthcare, energy reform, employee free choice, the wars – but, what we are seeing is not reform as much as it is dicking around the edges. At time when there is a strong Democratic majority in Congress and a new president with a clear mandate it seems rather unnecessary that we would be so concerned about bipartisanship and negotiation. The bottom line is that GOP are not needed and the GOP is so decimated at this point that there is little point in negotiating with them or trying to meet their demands. We wanted a president to go for the gold and we have a president who is content with the silver or bronze.

Here are issues Obama needs to address. In Minnesota the Senate race is still officially undecided. The election was seven months ago and the senator from this state has not been seated. If a couple of Democrats in New York could stage a coup in their state senate, then the Dems in the U.S. Senate should develop some balls and seat Franken regardless of the threats of the GOP. Obama should be seen with Franken and instead Obama remains silent on the issue. The economy is still in need of an overhaul yet all we seem to be doing is throwing billions and trillions of dollars to big corporations to keep them afloat. The Obama mantra is that big businesses are too big too fail while small businesses are too small to save. The trillions given to the financial and auto industries make little sense to even the least articulate folks. These businesses are on the brink of failure (or more correctly, HAVE FAILED) because of poor business judgment and should not be rewarded for these poor business practices. Further, as is the case on Wall Street, these officials acted fraudulently and not one has been indicted. Here, Obama needs to adopt the Nancy Reagan slogan of “just say no.” No more bailouts and no more big business. Healthcare is another issue where we are looking for reform but Obama seems to be settling for the most part with some minor adjustments to appease the medical industry with the general public left holding the bag and still uninsured. Obama was booed during a speech at the American Medical Association which means he will undoubtedly work harder to appease the AMA than he will the general public.

We demand justice! Put Bush and his bastard minions behind bars for war crimes. And, while Sotomayor is a popular choice for the Supreme Court due to her Latino heritage, she is lightweieght and surely there were other Latinas who would have more solid credentials. Gay rights now, gay rights forever. Here we are in PRIDE month and even now Obama is strangely silent about issues important to the queer community. Close Gitmo and get out of Iraq. There was a report last week that Obama has given up on transferring prisoners from Gitmo to US social. Give me a break.

Bill Maher stated that Obama needs to be more like GW. GW did not care about his popularity. He took a razor thin majority and operated like he did have a mandate. He was successful in pushing his unpopular ageneda through the Congress and did so without great comprise. Bush learned earlier on that bipartisanship is a nasty word that should only be uttered outside of DC. He got us into a war with a country that had done nothing to attack us. For as ineffective as he was later in his second term, GW was effective in the early stages of his presidency in getting his way.

Obama, contends Bill Maher, should take on this trait of Bush and be more aggressive. Further, Maher said that Obama needs to get off the front pages with the endless of photo ops. Honestly, I felt it a bit gross to see him touring the pyramids in Egypt, jetting to NYC for a night out, or taking his children on vacation in London. There are many, many people struggling here in the US where analysts finally admitted that the real unemployment is close to 20%. Stop the media blitz, says Maher, and get to doing the business of those that elected you.

For all of the criticisms I do not believe that Obama is that worried. I believe that he sees himself as a transformative figure. And so, what we are seeing is him working his magic. First, with the bailouts of the auto and finance industries he has shored up his support with the trillions of dollars. The Latino and women vote is more secure now with the nomination of Sotomayor. And with the defection of Arlen Specter to the Democrats Obama is working on the securing the moderate Republicans and pushing the GOP further and further to the right and making them more fanatical. Obama can ignore the liberals and progressives for now knowing that they will be there for him when the times comes as there is no other place for them to go. It is anew style of politics and it is the game he played to get to the White House and it is a game he will place to keep him in the White House.

But it is a dangerous game that could backfire. We will know a bit more come the fall when New Jersey and Virginia vote for governors. In New Jersey Jon Corzine could well lose to his GOP challenger. If Corzine loses it will not be because of the economy but because he was not bold enough. He came in as the financial genius from Wall Street who would transform the state’s finances. That really has not happened. He did sign the civil unions bill but that was under duress and he failed to. deliver marriage equality. Now, comes word that his leading candidate for Lieutenant Governor is a white widow woman from north Jersey when in fact it was believed that this number two position would be filled by an African American. I do not know much about the Virginia race other than this was a state won by the Dems last year after many, many defeats. For them to return to Republican rule would be evidence that people are, indeed dissatisfied.

and I saw wheat, a-holding up its head, looking very big.

I go up and I take hold of it.

You believe it, there was no wheat there.

I said, “God what is a matter with this wheat?”

And, He says to me, “Sojourner, there is a little weasel in it.” *

The queer community seems all a-twitter over Dick Cheney’s voiced support of marriage equality. Is this hooray, hooray, or boo, boo? I have been surprised that I have yet to read on anyone saying it is the latter. For it is my contention that this is just The Dick being the dick.

In his remarks Cheney says this is an issue to be decided by the states. I could not disagree more and history is on my side. Whenever there has been an issue about equality – women, African Americans, interracial marriages, voting, etc.– the issues were ultimately decided by the federal government. Why? I would guess because that as a union of UNITED states we do not function well with a patchwork of rights available in certain states. Cheney apparently advocates that NIMBY scenario to marriage equality. It is okay if the gays can marry over there just as long as it is Not In My Back Yard. In Cheney’s warped world it is fine that marriage equality exists in New England and equally fine that it does not exist in Texas, Wyoming, Virginia or any of the other states practicing discrimination. This is just ludicrous.

While I agree that states may regulate marriage(waiting periods, charges, venues, etc.) it is the federal government that confers many of the benefits associated with marriage. Further, as in the case in New Jersey, when companies do not want to comply with state laws (civil unions, for example), it is federal law (ERISA) stand behind as they claim their hands arr tied. This is yet another reason why marriage equality is a federal issue.

By saying marriage equality is a states issue, Cheney gets to speak out of both sides of his mouth an d deliver his “Malcolm X” o r “by any means necessary shtick yet again. I am old enough to remember 2004 and the bleak reelection hopes of the Bush/Cheney ticket. What brought about the change in tide? In one word it was fear. It was fear of the boogeyman as we heard the duo speak over and over about national security and even saw them elevate the threat risk. It was just too risky to change leadership at this point was the message the spouted. At the same time Bush operative and no doubt Cheney buddy Karl Rove sought to have as many marriage referenda on the ballots as politicians. The electorate disliked the war in Iraq but they disliked the gays even more. And so, the evangelicals came out in droves to protect the sanctity of marriage and, oh, yea, Bush/Cheney would protect us from the gays. It was masterful and during the whole time never did we hear The Dick speaking up in support of marriage equality. He said nary a word, usually flew into a rage whenever his daughter was mentioned, and his lesbian daughter, Mary, was sent into exile during the fall campaign .

Now Cheney is in effect saying that it was okay that all o f those states added amendments to their constitutions banning marriage equality just as it is okay for those states who have embrace marriage equality. We are to cheer him for his support just as he expects us to cheer him for his tireless efforts that have kept us safe since 9/11. So, yea, The Dick is being the dick. What’s new? Not a darn thing.

Now, I hear talking about the Constitution – the rights of MAN

I come up and take hold of this Constitution.

It looks mighty big and I feel for my rights.

But, there ain’t none there and I said, “God what ails this Constitution?”

DAMN SHAME!

There were two big news stories this past week. The first was in California where the California Supreme Court ruled that Prop Hate must stand, but that the thousands of gays and lesbians who were married last year in California will remain legally married. The decision is not only a blow to marriage equality, but, more importantly, it is a very severe blow to what we supposedly hold dear in this country – non discrimination. Forgetting that the subject matter was marriage equality, what the California Supreme Court said this past week was that a group of citizens could conspire to deny rights to others and that this conspiracy would be legal with enough votes. That means that if I do not like Hispanics I could conspire with a few people to get a ballot measure that would deny access to Hispanics and that would be fine. Or, if I did not like interracial marriage or African Americans or anybody else. What the California Supreme Court ruled is that it is legal to use the Constitution to deny rights instead of convey them. That is a very chilling ruling that could have deleterious ramifications far beyond just marriage equality.

On the subject of marriage equality, the two attorneys who were on opposite sides at the U.S. Supreme Court in the infamous Bush v. Gore are now teaming up to bring federal lawsuits that would in effect eventually reach the SCOTUS (I like the new journalist’s lingo – SCOTUS, POTUS, FLOTUS). Ted Olson, who later served as the Solicitor General for Bush (and argued in favor of the plaintiff in the Michigan higher education case) and David Boies are now joining forces to advance this issue. Their work is causing controversy in the queer community as the more established groups do not feel that it is yet time to make this a federal case. They favor continuing to build momentum through these state by state battles. That is a worthwhile strategy, but it also creates a patchwork of equality and assumes that time is on our side. Well, I would disagree that time is on our side because there are lives being lost and shattered now that will not recover in a few years or benefit in a few years from the rulings should they even go in our favor. So, I said full steam ahead – let us have a two-pronged approach that goes through the states with a track toward a universal ruling.

In Pennsylvania there is an interesting tidbit that shows why this state is often referred to as “Pennsyltucky” signifying the liberal ends of the state (Pittsburgh and Philadelphia) and the very conservative center of the state. A state legislator from Montgomery County outside of Philadelphia is planning on introducing legislation for marriage equality. Meanwhile, another state legislator, this time from Blair County in the center of the state wants to introduce legislation that would add a state constitutional amendment to continue marriage inequality.

The second big story last week was the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to be the next Associate Justice of the SCOTUS. If confirmed Sotomayor would become the first Hispanic to serve on the SCOTUS. I have to admit that Obama apparently hit a home run with this nomination – a woman which he was compelled to do and an Hispanic which is was also compelled to do. Further, Sotomayor has more federal judicial experience as a nominee than any of the current justices when they were nominated. The GOP seems intent now on smearing her good name but trying to deny her place in history, by denigrating her ethnicity, and attacking her intelligence. It is little wonder that anybody wants to be in the spotlight given the intense and overwrought scrutiny that they receive. I mean, step into the celebrity world and see the current stories of Jon and Kate or Susan Boyle. Remember the stories of Britney Spears just a few years ago? It just gets to be ridiculous where we do our best to tear people down instead of building them up. So, to the GOP, you are shameful. And, what is so incredible is that they are attacking Sotomayor for things she said that are identical to what the “conservative” justices on the SCOTUS. When they said it their words were scholarly but her word are contemptible. Oh please, give me a royal break. Let us look into the woman’s record and judge her on that. Let us be proud of her instead of being in contempt of her.

Today is Memorial Day 2009. I dedicate this column to my late father and late uncle – both veterans of “The Big One- WWII” –, to my nephew, an Iraq War veteran and to others in my family who served in the armed forces. Thank you.

I had planned to do posts about President Obama’s speech on national security given at the National Archives and on Cheney’s speech at the American Enterprise Institute. Rather than doing that, let me make these comments instead.

First, here is why Dick Cheney is such a dishonorable and disreputable being. First and foremost, the Dick had the opportunity to be part of our efforts in Vietnam. But, rather than serve he chose instead to receive several deferments that kept him out of the armed forces. The Dick could not even serve one tour of duty but it is perfectly acceptable for our young and not so young men and women in the reserves and National Guard (who did not sign up to go fight on foreign soil) to serve multiple tours of duty in Iraq. It is then ludicrous for us to regard the Dick as any expert on war tactics, interrogation methods or anything of the sort. Because while the Dick may argue that the use of barbaric means were justified to get to the desired ends which is our continued freedom, the Dick refuses to acknowledge the real costs of these efforts. “and when the entire population is targeted by a terror network, nothing is more consistent then to stop them.”

“You can look at the facts and conclude that our comprehensive strategy has worked…or you can look at the same fact and conclude that 9/11 was a one-off event.” Well, here are some facts in terms of costs of the Bush comprehensive strategy. The first is 3,000 – the number of lives lost on September 11, 2001. The Dick always like to speak about what happened AFTER 9/11. What he never wants to acknowledge is that 9/11, the single worst attack on America and the worst breach of security, happened on his watch and that in the eyes of many 9/11 was preventable if we are to believe that it was an attack from outside agitators which is highly debatable. The second number is 5,000 – the number of American lives lost in the Iraq War. We can add to this number the reported HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS Iraqi lives lost and the millions of people affected by families who have died, been maimed, and displaced due to the war. The third number is less exact, but let us just say it is TRILLIONS of dollars – this is the cost of the war. For that amount of money we could have established a national health care program and had plenty of money left over for better education, better infrastructure, and better transportation. So, not only is it about money spent, but also about money lost including the billions for which there still is no accounting. The final number is also less precise but let us use $700 billion and rising (actually the number is more than a trillion dollars) – the cost of the financial bailout which occurred because we were too busy trying to justify the unjust war instead of concentrating on the financial security of our citizens. “Being the first vice president who had also served as Secretary of Defense naturally my duties tilted toward national security. I focused on these challenges day to day…I had the advantage of being a vice president content with the responsibilities I had.” These responsibilities clearly did not include serving the American public.

There is also another cost that is far less measurable and that is the loss of freedoms of our citizens due to the passage of the Patriot Act. And, of course, we can add the costs of all the increased security measures.

And here is why we have these costs. In his speech last Thursday the Dick had the audacity to say these words, “Nine-eleven caused everyone to take a serious SECOND look at the threats that had been gathering for a while.” This seems to imply that prior to 9/11 national security was not a priority. Had national security been a priority instead of where W was vacationing next during the first eight months of his presidency, then 9/11 might not have happened. Of course, I repeat that would only be true if we believe that 9/11 was actually caused by outside agitators.

The key point that the Dick keeps ignoring is that VIOLENCE ONLY BEGETS MORE VIOLENCE. President Obama said in his speech, “We went off course. It was an assessment that was showed by the American people who nominated candidates… who despite our major differences call for a new approach- one that rejected torture. They risk the lives of our troops by making less likely that others will surrender…and more likely that Americans will be mistreated if they are captured.” One can be sure that if we are waterboarding them, they are doing that and much worse to us. And, we now have no avenue to turn to for justice because of own breaches of international law. So, one does not have to tear apart Cheney’s speech bit by bit to understand that he is on the wrong side of the issue and is no real authority on the subject matter.

Incredibly during his speech, the Dick actually suggested that Abu Ghraib was some unfortunate aberration by bunch of rogue soldiers. He said, “At Abu Ghraib, a few sadistic prison guards abused inmates in violation of American law…For the harm they did, to Iraqi prisoners and to America’s cause, they deserved and received Army justice.” Dick, oh please. Those soldiers acted on the orders handed down by the superiors which included those at the highest level of government – President, Vice President, and Secretary of Defense. Even if that were not true, ultimately it was the Bush Administration that was responsible for h actions of these soldiers. “And it takes a deeply unfair cast of mind to equate the disgraces of Abu Ghraib with the lawful, skillful and entirely honorable work of personnel trained to deal with a few malevolent men.” For the Dick to detach himself from Abu Ghraib is just further fantasy on his part.

Now comes word that Cheney is shopping for a book. Really, Dick? You have no shame. All of this new found care for our security is just his attempt at creating a market for a book just as the Iraq War created new marketing opportunities for his pals at Halliburton. Maybe he could title the book, “My Forty Years in Washington Working Toward the Downfall of America by Dick Cheney” If he had any honor he would donate the proceeds of the book which is nothing more than blood money to help those whose blood he needlessly shed.

Ha, honor! That is what I learned from my father, my uncle and, yes, my nephew. My father and uncle were both drafted into service and served in the segregated Army. My father told tales of how they had to steal basic rations from prisoners of war who were treated better than the African American soldiers. He and my uncle then returned home to a country whose freedom they defended only to be denied many of those same freedoms based upon their skin color. They could have and rightfully should have been bitter man. But they had honor and were proud of their service and continued during the remainder of their lives to work to better this country. My nephew who only signed on to get financial help for college found himself in Iraq during the first wave. He returned home and had to fight tooth and nail to receive the financial assistance he was due. He is somewhat bitter yet he continues to honor his commitment to the Reserves.

This is what Cheney could do if, indeed, he was an honorable man of high repute. Instead of talking about enhanced interrogation methods his focus would be on ensuring adequate resources for all the veterans who are each wounded in some fashion. How about the Dick ditching the suit and tie, putting on some overalls, and donating his time, energy, and personal finances towards building new homes for those severely handicapped war veterans? How about visiting the men and women as they recuperate in hospitals around the world? How about the Dick actually serving as an instrument of peace and reconciliation instead of violence and injustice? How about the Dick fighting for the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” so that all who still want to volunteer for the military as well as all those in military can serve openly, proudly, and honestly?

Now, I am not giving an Obama a pass on national security, but I do agree with his approach. First, I agree that the photos of the abuse should not be released. Those photos will cause even more shame, but also cause more violence. I agree with Obama that Gitmo must be closed and I rebuke the Senate vote to cutoff the funds that would allow this to happen. We created the mess and if we have to feel less safe because these people are on US soil, then so be it. Those who do not study history are bound to repeat its mistakes. In the 1930s and 1940s we opened up internment camps and rounded up all the Japanese people living in the US and herded them off to these camps. Not only did we lose their intellectual talents, we also were forced to pay their descendants billions of dollars in reparations. I disagree on abandoning juris prudence in some cases as injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.

Memorial Day 2009 – a day to honor those who served and especially those who gave their lives to keep us free. It is not a time now or ever to pay attention to those who are only out for self-aggrandizement.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

The first person is Ethan of Denver, Colorado. Ethan is a third grader who had a playmate whose same sex parents are not able to be officially married in Colorado. So what did Ethan do? He organized a marriage equality rally.

This action is significant in light of the advertisement released this week in New Hampshire by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). Their ad, “Confused Kids” shows a number of children supposedly confused by the concept of same sex marriage. But, yet, as Ethan epitomizes, children are naturally born tolerant and loving. It is the adults that are around them who fill them with hate and cause them to be confused.

My second hero this week is Jesse Ventura. Ventura has been making the rounds on the news shows over the past couple weeks to market the paper back release of his memoir. He has been on The View, Sean Hannity, and Fox and Friends and maybe others. But, at each stop he does an effective job of slaying the conservatives who want to argue with him about waterboarding and the greatness of the Bush administration. The problem is that as a former Navy Seal Ventura has first hand experience of being waterboarded. So, these poor fools who want to argue with him about these so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques” do not have the knowledge that Ventura does (aside from the fact the people have never been in any combat situations). And, what is so funny is that these conservative fools feel that if they talk louder and consistently interrupt Ventura repeating inane phrases that they will win the argument. Ventura, on the other hand has a very clear, methodical style of delivery and he does not raise his voice or get frustrated. It is just so classic. When he was on The View, Elizabeth Hasselback kept repeating something about Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as if that was to prove some point.

Let me say this about Nancy Pelosi. First, I do believe that she was briefed on waterboarding by the CIA. But, as these briefings were top secret it is not as if she could run out of those briefings and tell the world what was disclosed in the meeting. Second, I believe her when she said she was mislead or not told everything. I mean, come on, this was the Bush Administration afterall. This was the same Administration where the Vice President declared himself an entity all unto himself, where a gay escort was given press credentials and access to the West Wing, and where Alberto “I don’t recall” Gonzalez headed up the Department of Injustice that gave leadership positions to “lawyers” from unaccredited law schools. Third and most importantly, Nancy Pelosi was not the force behind the policy.

I do not know how effective Ventura was when he was governor of Minnesota. My guess, is that like me, many probably always took him as a joke. But, he has impressed me with these recent appearances and shows the need for more viable political parties in this country.

So, kudos to Ethan and to Jesse Ventura for doing their part to enhance our lives.

Okay, so last week Keith Olbermann introduces a new feature on his show – the “WTF” the moment. While it is only a segment on the show, the whole show could be filled with WTF moments as that is just how absurd news is today.

So, in my “monkey see, monkey do” persona I am launching my “What you say, man?!”  blog which I expect may be done periodically.   It may not be as catchy as “WTF” but the acronym does sound cool, “WUSM?!”  Olbermann started his segments with a piece on Miss California Carrie Prejean and I will include her a bit later on.

But, first, let us start out with the story that 89 year old John Demjanjuk was finally deported to Germany last week after a three decades long fight. He was deported for his part in the Nazi killings at a concentration camp.

Now, here is a guy who for the most part was a minion in the Nazi killing machine – not a general or a politician who made the decision – just someone carrying out orders. Yet, here in the US we allow Bush and Cheney to go free when their crimes were probably even more horrid than anything Demjanjuk did.  Or, does it mean we have thirty more years to argue over this stuff and we will see W and Dick wheeled into the slammer when they are in their nineties?

Now, what’s the deal with the Cheney daughters? I mean, first in 2004 it was lesbian Mary being all up in arms that then presidential candidate John Kerry mentioned that she is a lesbian and started to attack Kerry and defend her father’s stance on LGBTI issues. Now, sister Liz is out on the trail defending her father’s record on torture and, get this, she even called Obama “un-American” for indicating that he would be in favor of prosecuting Bush administration officials for breaking the Geneva Convention. I guess that if Obama is unAmerican then Daddy Dick is a saint. You know, it just makes me long for the days of the sideshow that was the Reagan children.

Speaking of political daughters, let us not forget about Bristol Palin. After going on national television and saying that abstinence education is not realistic, she re- emerges a couple weeks ago as the new spokesperson for abstinence education. But, that is not the whole story. Turns out she was hired by the Candies Corporation to represent its foundation. Well, Candies makes all these hoochie mama clothes for teenager girls. So, while they have this problem against teenage girls having sex, they certainly do not mind dressing them in sexually provocative clothes that make them look like hookers.

Okay, let us talk about Carrie Prejean. There are those saying that she said nothing that Obama has not said. Well, I do not believe that is true for while Obama is against marriage equality he has not invoked the name of Jesus or said he was being tempted by Satan for having to answer questions on marriage equality. What gets me is that on the one hand Ms. Prejean wants to be all holier than thou, but on the hand she is posing topless (which, by the way, I do not find objectionable), getting breast implants, and entering beauty pageants left and right. Or, to put it another way, Ms. Christian has no qualms about participating in all of the Pagan activities. And, I had said to a friend that you watch before long Prejean will be on Fox News. as a commentator. No sooner had I said it then it was announced that she will be doing a guest commentator spot on Fox News next week.

GOP National Chairman Michael Steele has decided that the argument to use to oppose marriage equality is that it hurts small businesses. His brilliant reasoning is that small businesses will get caught paying for all of the same sex partner that heretofore would not be including on spousal plans. If that is true then all marriage should be banned. Actually, though,Steele inadvertently makes the case for nationalized healthcare because small businesses should not be responsible for preserving the health of its employees. Let us just remove these crippling health care costs and allow the businesses to better compet with their foreign counterparts.

I did not want to forget about my other great GOP friend, Rudy Giuliani. Now that he wants to be Mr. Super Conservative and appeal to upstate NYers in his expected bid for NY Governor he could not bring himself to attend the marriage or commitment ceremony of the gay couple he stayed with when he separated from Donna Hanover. How sad that these politicians feel so compelled to play a role to advance themselves. Oh, WUSM?!

The Gang's All Here

I really, really hate devoting my time and energy writing about Dick Cheney and hopefully I will be able to resist the temptation to do it ever again. The man is just so vile. No, I do not know him personally (thankfully as I would have been shot by now, too, only not with buck shot) and that is a strong statement that I usually do not make about any human being. But Dick is is a league all by himself.

The other members of the Bush administration including Senor Bush have had the sense to fade off into the background. But, not Dick. Dick has seemingly embarked on the “Somebody Please Listen to Me” tour. What is so laughable is that for the past eight years when he was requested to speak he hid from everyone. Now, it seems he has so much to say. Yet, the truth is he had nothing to say then and still has nothing to say.

His whole defense of the “enhanced interrogations” is very funny. First and foremost, Cheney never had the guts to actually serve in the military but yet he is all-knowing when it comes to the use of the military and interrogation techniques. I dare dear ol’ Dick to stand before the thousands if not millions of military families adversely affected by all of this and say he has no regrets. He says torture was necessary but violence of any kind only produces more violence. So, rather than protecting the American people as he purports his actions placed our men and women in more danger.

Then he wants to act as some sort of elder statesman advising the GOP on how it should be. Dick, seems to not want to recognize that when he and W took office there were strong Republican majorities in Congress. For about four years or so the GOP could have done just about anything it wanted. They could have outlawed abortion or brought back prayer in school. They did not even touch on the subject. Rather, all they were concerned about (including Dick) were lining their own pockets with as much cash as possible. Fiscal conservatives??? Yea, right, more like spend happy drunken sailors. The result of Cheney’s efforts has been a party in shambles with very weak minorities in both houses of Congress and fewer Republican governors, fewer party members, and fewer “red” states. Nice job Dick.

But, what really set me off was Dick’s swipe at Colin Powell (he said he did not know Powell as still a Republican). His comment just showed how truly dishonorable Dick is. He wants to criticize a man who fought in wars, rose up through the ranks, and is a decorated officer of the military? Oh, please, shut up Dick.

If Dicky C truly had anything to say he would tell us how he was actually one of the masterminds between the “attacks” of 9/11. He would tell us just how much money he made from the war. And, he would laugh in all of our faces and admit that he screwed us all and thanks to Obama will get away with it.

Tell the truth, Dick, or shut up.

The gay community is reportedly in a twitter about Obama’s silence on the progression of gay civil rights. Just this week Maine became the fifth state to approve marriage equality and New Hampshire seems to be not far behind. The state legislature there has approved marriage equality and is awaiting the governor’s signature. It is not certain that the Governor Lynch will sign the measure though as a Democrat he would set off a firestorm if he did not. But, back to the gay community, I say welcome to the club. That is, because the one thing that has become clear about President Obama is that he so very unpredictable.

It is this trait of unpredictability that made last week’s stupid of exercise of grading him on his first 100 days in office so terribly difficult. On the one hand you have a guy who started the ball rolling on ending the war in Iraq as he promised. On the other hand, though, he committed us further to Afghanistan and ordered bombing raids in Pakistan. On the one hand Obama passes the stimulus package promising scrutiny of the dollars while on the other hand he hands billions to the banks with still no real oversight or accountability. On the one hand Obama denounces the torturous acts of the previous administration and even releases key memos on the subject while insisting we might look forward not seek to punish those in the Bush administration for their illegal acts. He promised us a strong cabinet and we got a cabinet of no-name mediocre folks. He spoke often about gay rights during the campaign nearly everywhere he went, but has been strangely silent on the subject since becoming President.

I am reminded of a comment made last year by a guy I know before the Pennsylvania primary. He was a supported of Hillary Clinton and he (who is white) said to me (who is black) that he did not feel that Obama could represent his interests. He said that he would only identify with African American struggles. I know find that comment especially funny as Obama certainly did not run on African American issues and certainly has done very little outreach to the African American community since taking office.

Now Obama gets to choose a nominee to the Supreme Court and just about everybody is worried since we have no idea what he will do. He basically has a near-filibuster proof majority in the Senate which means he can pick whoever he wants without fear of the nomination being held up. He needs not play if safe though I suspect that is what he will do leaving many of us scratching our heads in wonderment as to what was he thinking. The perfect nominee in my mind would be an Hispanic lesbian – a person of color, Hispanic, and gay. Such a nominee would assuage the Hispanic and gay caucuses and while the Blacks may fee overlooked he can say at least the nominee is a person of color.

Then there is the party switch of former Republican and now Democratic Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter. Reportedly, Vice President Biden was instrumental in getting Specter to switch and he and Obama welcomed Specter with open arms. But, a number of Democrats in the Senate are miffed because it does not appear that Specter will lose any of his seniority and may even trump that of some of his new Democrat colleagues. While Specter has admitted that the switch was mainly done for political survival (his Republican support in the state was minimal due to his vote on the stimulus package), it also appears now that was the only reason. His vote against the Obama budget this last week as well as his continued lack of support of universal health care and the employee free choice act (and we do not know where he stands on gay issues) means that we now have a Democratic Republican Senator as opposed to a Republican Democratic Senator he was labeled by the GOP. This has shades of Joe “I support McCain over the inexperienced Obama” Lieberman (yet another curious Obama move who stepped in to prevent any punishment by the Democratic leadership) and that show just does not need to repeated.

It now looks like Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak will challenge Specter in the primary next year. He is upset like me and as he says many other Pennsylvanians over this “Washington deal” that Obama campaigned against. Personally, if I recall there was grassroots movement underway to get Specter out of the Senate. Personally, at 78 or 79 with almost 30 years in the Senate, he needs to go home to wife Joan and have a happy retirement as his usefulness is done. I was a big fan of his when he was first elected (in fact during college I scored major points by getting his education aide to come to a conference), but since his infamous and disgusting questioning of Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas hearings I have had more than enough of Mr. Specter. There have been disagreements I have had (such as his support of the bigoted Rick Santorum) that says we need someone new. Further, I do not believe that there is a dearth of viable candidates for that position in the Democratic party in Pennsylvania.

So back to the gays and Obama. The White House has not commented on all the marriage equality bills and rulings this year and has not been actively lobbying for the Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Bill. Now, this week comes word that Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point grad, Iraq vet, and Arabic translator is being dismissed from the Army because he admitted on national television in March that he is gay (he is a founder of Knights Out – a group of out gay West Point alumni). This week he got a letter informing him “that sufficient basis exists to initiate action for withdrawal of federal recognition in the Army National Guard for moral or professional dereliction. Specifically, you admitted publicly you are a homosexual which constitutes homosexual conduct. Your actions negatively affected the good order and discipline of the New York Army National Guard.” This comes on the heels of female Army member being dismissed earlier this year for admitted she is a lesbian. She wrote a letter to Obama and received a handwritten note back in part saying, “Although it will take time to complete [repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell] I intend to fulfill my commitment.” The argument is made that Obama could end DADT with an Executive Order though proper procedure (which I do favor) would be through Congressional action. The bottom line is that inaction on this issue is hurting good people. The Army does not have a ready reserve of Arabic translators and to let one go just because he is gay is absolutely ridiculous. Here is an issue that Rep. Sestak could take the lead on and gain major brownie points. He said that this is a matter of urgency and is something Congress should address this summer or early fall. Believe me, if DADT is repealed with the assistance of Sestak, Specter is dead meat in Pennsylvania.

To sum up, I believe there is a reluctance to criticize Obama not because he is African American, but because we do not want a return of Bush/Cheney. Yet, for all intents and purposes, “the change we can believe in” has not occurred. As I wrote before, we still cannot believe anything the government says or does. The dark days of Bush/Cheney and even Clinton/Gore are still upon us. The only difference is that packaging is prettier. Time will tell if I am right or wrong.

I was not planning on doing another posting so soon, but I just have to do so to let my emotions out.  I first saw a snippet of this video last week and like many people I was outraged by the comments of former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.  Today,  I came across the full video on Huffington Post and as I watched it  I was not outraged, but just deeply, deeply saddened.  In fact, there is not much that can move me to tears, but this did.  It is not the issue of torture that made me sad, but looking at another bright African American brutalized by the white man.  For me, I can only liken it to seeing someone lynched.  All that I see when I look at this video is the KKK tying the rope around the tree, sticking the innocent brother’s head in the noose, hanging him and just leaving the poor man to swing until some passerby comes along to find the body.

What I see in this video is Bush, Rove, Cheney, Rumsfeld (the KKK) and their houseboy Gonzalez all sitting at home relaxing in their easy chairs and counting their millions of dollars and wondering what else they can do to screw people.  These are the people who made the decisions and got rich off of them and no doubt some of the masterminds behind the attacks of 9/11.  Then there is Condi Rice, a bright, intelligent, well educated, cultured, talented, beautiful African American woman.  Here is someone who should be revered, but to these crackers she is nothing more than a nigger (if that word offends anybody I apologize but this is an appropriate use for this word) to be used and abused.  All of Rice’s words can be summed up by saying,  “I just did what massa told me to do.”

So, now, Condi has to get out and earn a living because she does not have the millions that the white boys have.  Here is a sister trying to make a living and this is what she must endure.  Now,   one could say that with all of her education and intelligence she should have known better which is to say that she chose her path.  I am not going to deny that at all.  Yes, she did not have to serve as Secretary of State.  But, if not her, then who?  Maybe her presence kept the boys from doing real damage.  Maybe she really was not in on the decision-making as she seems to imply here.  Further,  she herself chooses whether to come clean or continuing telling the lies.  Either way she is screwed.

So, yes, I am saddened by this video – sad for Condi,  sad for the blight now on the legacy left by her parents,  sad for the blood that is on her hands , and sad for her being is the situation she now faces.  I am also angry at the white boys for abusing yet another of our sisters.  I just do not know what else to write.  May God have mercy on us all.

A couple of weeks ago the Human Rights Campaign announced that all anti-gay legislation throughout the country had been stalled or withdrawn. Earlier this year, Fred Dobson, the head of Focus on the Family resigned declaring that its culture wars (i.e., its campaigns against abortion and homosexuality) were being lost. Last month when the National Organization on Marriage released its new commercial, “The Gathering Storm” the spot was universally panned and several parodies were made of it. And, just last week the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Bill that includes protection for sexual persuasion and gender identity. And, marriage equality has been achieved in two more states this year (Iowa and Vermont) with at least three more states in the process of debating it. Do these events point to a shift in the tide regarding the treatment of the GBLTI community?

In a word the answer is yes. Actually, I would point toward the passage of Prop 8 (“Prop Hate”) as the turning point. It was defeat that the GLBTI community did not take lying down and actually the community came out swinging across the country with several marches that were truly led by grassroots efforts. It literally took a Herculean effort and barrels upon barrels of money to get Prop 8 passed and even then the margin was less than 10 percent.

The other event that helped turned the tide was the election of Obama and the turning back of the GOP. Where had seen an overabundance of red, many of those states turned blue. So, while Obama has ceased talking as much about gay and lesbian issues as he did during the campaign his implicit support of the community has been enough along with the out members appointed to his staff. We were disappointed that there were no out members of the cabinet nominated, but there are out people in visible positions. Further, with the Democrats in control there is a determination in the Congress (especially with Congressman Barney Frank) that there be movement on gay issues.

And, just like the GOP has suffered with any national spokespeople or leaders, the anti-gay movement seems to be suffering as well with the leadership vacuum left by Dobson. The efforts now against marriage equality are rather laughable. There was a dust-up the other week over the a question at the Miss USA pageant posed by celebrity judge Perez Hilton to Miss California. Her answer, while it may not have been the worst ever in pageant history, clearly was a mangled mess of confused thoughts where she declared her opposition for gay marriage and support for “opposite marriage.” Imagine that, a conservative in California! Perez Hilton said her inarticulate answer cost her the crown. To me it just made her look stupid especially considering all of the gays and lesbians that are probably associated with the whole Miss USA project (hairstylists, fashion designers, make-up artists, etc.). That may just just conjecture and a play on stereotypes, but I am would wager I am not misspeaking. That said, even is she is only a proponent of opposite marriage that was not the forum to voice her opinion and certainly she could have said something more politic and articulate.

Now, though, she is becoming the poster girl for marriage inequality. This is laughable as it has since been revealed that she had breast implants which in and of itself may not be all that bad. But, there is nothing biblical about breast implants and at least to me it points to someone with self-esteem issues. Furthermore, we have seen since the pageant this woman’s pathetic attempt for notoriety through her soft porn poses for several magazines. As one commentator put it, for her marriage equality is wrong while sexually exploitative pictures of females are fine.

Last week in DC, the misguided African American clergy held a rally against marriage equality. And, who was at the forefront of this sorry mess? Hard to believe, but it was current Councilmember and former DC Mayor Marion Berry. Remember him? Remember how he was disgraced by his cocaine use and dealings with prostitutes? What better symbol of the marriage stability than him?! What was the message of this group? It is okay to be married and mess with hookers, but not okay to be gay and married? Or, was it that heterosexuals can do whatever they want without impunity because, well, they are heterosexuals?

The latest now is the infamous and still stupid Joe the Plumber. He emphatically states that he would not let any “queers” near his children. According to him, we are “strange and unusual” and that God is explicit in what man and woman are for. Really???   Strange and unusual???  How about a man known as   “Joe the Plumber”  whose name is not Joe, who is not a plumber and who was worried about the tax implications of buying a business he could hardly afford and was not licensed to operate anyway going around the country believing he is some everyman political guru?  Thanks for the education you uneducated pathetic fake plumber. Man, what a lineup – a bimbo, an addict, and a moron. I am shaking in my boots.

So are gays and lesbians now the “in” thing? Not necessarily, as we still have a decidedly anti-gay population. But, with church memberships dwindling churches are not the strong foes they once were. Also, as was seen in California and was recently revealed in a national poll, those who are anti-gay are generally older (50 or 60 and above) and let’s face it these people (and I am close to being in this age bracket) are dying off. The younger generation just seems not to care about the whole gay thing. Heck, they do not like to even be ladled with sexual labels. They are what they are when the choose to be. Plus, given that they have bleak employment prospects and will be burdened with unprecedented amounts of federal debt, not to mention that they may have trouble with even finding financing for their education, they just have more important things to worry about than who is sexing who.

And when it gets right down to it, who does? We all enjoy sex but it makes us almost sick imagining others having sex, too. As far as many of us are concerned we were “immaculately conceived.” Further, despite all the doom and gloom reports are there any documented cases where somebody’s heterosexual marriage just because the gays and lesbians are marrying in Massachusetts? Did somebody in North Dakota get all hot and bothered over the lesbians marrying in Connecticut?

The flood gates have been opened and I do believe all the conservative power in the country is not enough to stop the inevitable. With the lower house in Alabama passing gay friendly legislation and the courts in Louisiana are being petitioned for marriage equality then the battles are being waged on too many fronts at once. In Maine the marriage supporters outnumbered the detractors and should Maine go our way then all of New England (assuming the governor signs the legislation in New Hampshire and Rhode Island is kicked into gear) would be a haven for gays and lesbians. And, given the dearth of Republican representation in this region there is little can be done to stop the movement that will surely spread throughout the country. So, get your wedding whites ready.