Those representatives of the people don't represent the people!

Want to hear some crazy?

Listen in:



So, now that they lack the "activist judges" argument for Vermont, what tack to they take? "THOSE REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE AREN'T REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE."

They just sound crazier and crazier.

And just as a side note, the people in Vermont, according to polls, DO support same-sex marriage. So, sorry. You're just flat wrong about what the people of Vermont "really want". Not every state is a small-minded, but much larger, version of the offices of the "Liberty" [HA] Council.

And then there's the typical lines of crap about "activist judges" "changing the definition of marriage" in Iowa. These people are just impossible to take.

What the hell matters so much about denying me my rights that they spend this much time on it? Why are they so obsessed with it? Why can't they spend their lives actually doing good and helping people in a real and tangible way, instead of in their theoretical/political way?

Audio source: Audio: As our rights become 'marrier', our opposition becomes scarier - Good As You

More Good News from Iowa

The Iowa State Senate president stands up for same-sex marriage. A beautiful statement.

“‘You guys don’t understand. You’ve already lost.’ … No, Senator McKinley, I will not co-sponsor a leadership bill with you.”

(The first part is quoting his daughter, but...well, he still said that on the floor.)

Iowa Senate President Blocks Same-Sex Marriage Ban | Box Turtle Bulletin

Dear Vermont Legislature,

Just wanted to say


THANK YOU

Love,

Me

Same-Sex Marriage Legalized in Vermont | News | Advocate.com

Dear Governor Douglas,

Why don't you go give up your marriage and enter into one of those "perfectly sufficent" civil unions with your wife?


JACKASS

Sincerely,

Me

V-T- gets its irrational E O - Good As You:: Gay and Lesbian Activism With a Sense of Humor

The religious right and torture memos--What's in it for them?

I was reading an interesting article today on The Daily Beast about some recent political wrangling over Bush era torture memos. Republicans are threatening to filibuster two of Obama's legal apointments (Remember when Republicans were arguing that it was impermissible to filibuster apointments, back when their guy was in office and it was those meanies, the Democrats, who were doing the filibustering? Oh how the times do change!) if Obama releases some of the potentially incriminating memos.

Full article is here: Are Republicans Blackmailing Obama? - The Daily Beast

But besides all that other stuff (which is, sadly, just typical Washington) I saw this little nugget:

[One of the nominees up for confirmation,] Johnsen has met recently with moderate Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, both of whom are being lobbied heavily by colleagues and religious right groups to oppose her nomination. [Emphasis mine]

What stake, exactly, do religious groups have in opposing releasing torture memos? This sounds like a purely political move on the part of any religious group participating in this.

Has it finally happened? The Religious Right has not subsumed, but been subsumed by the political machine it sought to control?

Or is this a mutual back-scratching arrangement: "You pester Arlen to protect our political ass, and we will go out and get the 'homos' and 'baby-killers' for you. (Or at least pretend to.)"

UPDATE: Or, perhaps, the third option: the politico right wants these nominations to go down and they've fed the religious right some lines about her being an "abortionist" or a "homosexual activist" or somesuch in order to prompt them to oppose her.

In which case the relationship would be more Pavlov and Dog than subsumption or mutuality.

IOWA: What the Tweeple on the street say

First off: HORAY FOR IOWA!

And second, here are my collected reactions from the folks I follow on Twitter:



But the award for best reaction goes to one of my favorite guests on Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me, a comedienne appearing tonight in Des Moines, Paula Poundstone:

Dalek found in pond

They are coming: Dr Who Dalek found in pond - Telegraph.

"Sales executive Marc Oakland was pushing a rake around the bed of the shallow pool when he found the object with its distinctive eye stalk.

The 42-year-old said: 'I'd just shifted a tree branch with my foot when I noticed something dark and round slowly coming up to the surface.

'I got the shock of my life when a Dalek head bobbed up right in front of me."

If that had happened to me, I think I would have lost control of my bowels. I would have, pardon my french, SHIT myself. Messed my britches. Went whoop in my shorts. [Feel free to mentally add any folksy euphemisms of your own here.]

I can think of few things that would frighten me more than what appeared to be a Dalek rising out of the water in front of me in real life. I am not joking. They are terrifying enough on the TV.

(Shudder.)

UPDATE:
Additional Coverage:

• The Dalek of the deep: Doctor Who's nemesis is found in pond [Daily Mail]

• Extract me, mate! [The Sun]

• Dalek pulled from murky pond [Metro]

• Dalek Found Submerged in Pond [The Doctor Who News Page]

And, from The Sun another photograph:


EHH! Even as pond junk, it gives me the flying heebie-jeebies.

The Obligatory Rush Limbaugh Post

The Daily Beast has a series of videos up covering the more outrageous moments of the career of a certain professional loudmouth who's been much in the news as of late: The Nine Lives of Rush Limbaugh

One video in particular stuck out at me:



His callous disregard for people living with and dying from AIDS is startling. Now, I can understand being ruffled by hecklers (that was kind of the point of ACT UP), but to frame your defense of your position's correctness in terms of, "Most people agree with me, [neener neener neener] so I'm right"? Beyond requiring a startling lack of thought, that takes chutzpah. And clearly this putz has plenty of that.

What a schmuck.

The Religious Right: Wrong on how to help gay kids

4/20: The 'Truth' is that their booking will rightfully raise some eyebrows [Good As You]

Orlando, FL- Two Christian organizations are teaming up to empower youth to express their views on sexuality by co-sponsoring this year's annual Day of Truth event held April 20 on high school campuses nationwide. Exodus International, a ministry that helps those affected by same-sex attraction to live a life that reflects their biblical beliefs and Alliance Defense Fund, a legal support organization, are co-sponsoring the event this year and are hoping for a record turnout that will continue ongoing dialogue on issues surrounding faith and sexuality.

Originally designed to give students an opportunity to openly voice their views regarding theGLSEN-driven Day of Silence event, the Alliance Defense Fund first launched the Day of Truth four years ago. The event has grown from a handful of students to over 13,000 participants in all 50 states. As the movement has grown, the vision has expanded beyond providing legal assistance to ensure student rights to providing practical resources to students wanting to help peers dealing with same-sex attraction. The relational aspect of this event has become the dominant focus and as such, Exodus International will assume leadership in the future...

[ Full Story: Exodus International & Alliance Defense Fund Team Up For Day of Truth Event ]

This stuff really bothers me. Now, obviously you can't take away kids' right to free speech. But it's really troubling to me that the materials they had out support such disproved (and proven to be harmful) programs as those associated with Exodus International. This is not what kids in high school struggling with their identity need. One line really irritates me above all the others:

As the movement has grown, the vision has expanded beyond providing legal assistance to ensure student rights to providing practical resources to students wanting to help peers dealing with same-sex attraction.

Geez! I can tell you how to do that. Are you ready? It's very simple:

ACCEPT THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE.

Like I said, simple, no? And yet these people who claim to be fighting for what's best for kids continually ignore study after study that shows acceptance, by themselves and others, of an LGB or T identity is healthy for kids who are LGB or T. It has been show to reduce suicides, and, according to my experience, allows a person to live a much fuller and more normal live in relation to other people.

But why listen to that? Let's, instead, plow ahead with our agenda-driven pursuits, to hell with the kids who get hurt.

HEADLINE: Mat Staver Supports Westboro Baptist Church, Apparently

Audio: You connected these dots, Mat, not us! [Good As You]:

Wherein Mat Staver of the "Liberty Counsel" supports the wonderfully "pro-family" actions of Westboro Baptist Church. I wonder if his listeners know just who he was verbally supporting. I wonder if he does. Or is he just spouting off without thinking, as per the usual.

Really, I see little difference besides the amount that each is willing to say...and the viciousness with which they say it.