Bobby's Blue State

Palin Thoughts

2008-09-13T09:45:00.001-05:00

I know, it's been a while since I blogged so just some random thoughts surrounding the Palin pick. Bottom line: McCain did a disservice to America by picking this political neophyte as his VP. Yeah, I know, they say she is a quick study and all, but she needs years of training. If they win, this will be a bigger on-the-job training crash course than the one they did with Bush. The Rethugs should have waited four or eight years on this woman. I pray they lose.

I love McCain's campaign posters that they bring to appearances: Country First. I'm going to have some posters made that say, "Country First, No More Republicans." (And I think Sarah Palin should have put her children First, anyway. And, yes, I would never say this about a man...For the most part, kids need moms more than dads.)

What was with that friggin Peggy Noonan at the Dem Convention purposely mispronouncing Barak Obama's first name. It's just another bitter Rethug stunt just like the way they always say, 'Democrat' instead of 'Democratic.' When I was a college student, I almost bought that stupid Reagan book she wrote...thank god I didn't. Just another Rethug, who helps divide Americans every time she opens her big mouth.

One Year!

2008-01-20T11:19:00.000-05:00

Hooray, today is January 20, 2008! That means that exactly one year from today, the Bush presidency will come to an end! Break out the champagne and toast the one year mark! One year and one day from now, Crawford, TX gets him back, and he gets what he's been dreaming about these past seven years -- Retirement. And I trust this will be the last Bush family presidency, EVER!

If we could turn back time

2007-12-03T23:20:00.000-05:00

Pondering the state of the union in late-2007, I think about what a different world this would be now if Gore had become president in 2000. Anyway, here are two questions I wonder about from the last two presidential elections (I know, I know, you can't live in the past, water under the bridge, etc., but a guy can ponder, can't he). Did anyone ever write stories on these hypotheticals?

If Gore was elected in 2000, is there a chance 9/11 wouldn't have happened?
If Gephart was the nominee in 2004, is it possible Bush would have lost?

OK, now I can move on. Thanks for indulging me.

Congrats Al Gore!

2007-10-13T22:45:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Al Gore on your Nobel Peace Prize! Wow, the two contestants of Election 2000 couldn't have turned out more different. One will go down as the worst US President in history and the other is a Nobel Peace Prize winner! Not to mention, someone who transcends the small, limiting world of a politician. You done good!

Ding Dong, the Falwell....

2007-05-16T22:32:00.000-05:00

You know that unwritten rule to never speak ill of the dead? Well, fuck it! It's morning in America...Falwell is DEAD! Good Riddance! You were evil personified...someone with nothing but hate in your heart. But yesterday, America has instantaneously become a more tolerant place. And kudos to Howard Stern and Rosie O'Donnell for saying it, as well. For expressing that Falwell doesn't deserve all this praise in death because he said and did very hateful things to certain people in life...you know, the pagans, abortionists, gays, etc., etc. That's all I'm gonna say on the topic. Now I'm gonna sing, "Ding, dong....

Repub Embarassments

2007-05-05T10:05:00.000-05:00

I have not been motivated to blog in a while, but I could not pass up commenting on the recent Republican debate where three, moronic participants actually raised their hands when the moderator asked who does not believe in Evolution. These three right-wing, Christian nuts - Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee, and Tom Tancredo - are truly an embarassment not only to the Republican Party, but to the whole United States. The most advanced nation ever in the history of the earth has three dolts running for president who admitted to the world that they do not believe in Evolution. I guess if any ot these three idiots became president, they would nominate Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson for the Nobel Prize in Physics or Chemistry. But seriously, even with all the death and destruction of late, this is the most chilling news I have heard in a long time. This Christian American attack on science is very sad.

Gore vs Bush 2006

2006-06-05T23:00:00.000-05:00

I saw the Al Gore documentary on Global Warming on Saturday. Wow! Impactful, chilling, thought-provoking, what else could I say. It would take George W. Bush a million years to comprehend what was related in this film. But no matter, Bush has got bigger fish to fry this week. While the country is reeling about Iraq, high gas prices, and on and on, fearless leader is pandering to the extremist christianistas with the Federal Marriage Amendment. So fucking clueless. This time it will backfire. Nobody will give a rat's ass who voted against the Marriage Amendment in November. Most Americans are simply fed up with divisive, non-issues, that are floated to appease a tiny minority of nuts, while Rome burns. Good, let Congress debate this issue and go on record with a vote. I say this vote on record will end Skeletor Frist's presidential aspirations. Frist fiddles... Arrivederci.

Much Too Early, But...

2006-04-18T21:38:00.000-05:00

Wonderful commentary piece in today's Washington Post on Al Gore. Yes, Al Gore's knowledge and concern about the environment and science compared to Bush's, highlights what a caveman Bush is, but I digress.

Maybe Gore in 2008 does make the most sense...more sense than Hillary or Kerry. Oh well, too early for me to be concerning myself with 2008. Have to at least wait until we take back Congress in November.

Here's a link to the article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/17/AR2006041701259.html

More Random Thoughts

2006-03-29T21:47:00.000-05:00

More random thoughts (way overdue):

Cheney is truly the Bush impeachment antidote. (Make a great bumper sicker, wouldn't it?)
If you have to refer to yourself as a "Christian," you're not.
Similarly, the people always running around screaming about family values are the most corrupt people in this nation.
The Howard Stern satellite radio show is utter perfection. And our puritanical nation and administration, can't touch it!
What will our nutty abortion wars look like decades in the future? Hopefully, women will attend to it earlier and earlier into the pregnancy and with a little pill from the privacy of their homes.

Is it 1984 or 2006?

2006-01-25T21:47:00.000-05:00

Haven't blogged in a while, so it's time to throw a couple things out there.

Does anyone else feel like it's 1984? We've never had as many media/news sources out there than we do today, recording everything from every perspective, but I feel like they are all just sitting back and chronicling our slip into scary Big Brother territory. This really is 1984: Wiretapping, Patriot Act, Haliburton, and yet the American people just sit back and drink the Kool Aid because they believe the Bush propagandists when they say that it's all "necessary to keep us safer from the world's boogey men." I mean, I know that the lumbering US government couldn't possibly make 1984 happen on its own, but with all these government "partnerships" with Big Business, anything is possible. I can predict the near future: Everyone will need the microchip identity card in order to function in US society. It won't be an optional thing offered only to people who want to zip through airports quicker; it will be a necessity - like our Social Security Numbers - in order to do anything from filling out job applications, to banking, to buying a car. The Cheney-Haliburton puppet masters mean business. So I beg you America, in 2006, begin the Republican dismantling. Let's break some records in November by voting out the most congressional republicans ever, before its too late. I know, we still have three more years of Bush/Cheney, but let's stop some of the hemorrhaging.

One other note: If you have Sirius radio, there's a great progressive talk show on called the Young Turks, weekdays from 6 - 9 PM. These guys are very passionate about progressive causes. They get me fired up. Here's the link:

http://www.theyoungturks.com/xoops/

The 2005 Tide and other Tales

2005-11-11T16:53:00.000-05:00

The Repugs are doing their damnedest to spin the 2005 Election results in NJ and VA. According to them, the Democtratic wins were just two victories in a bubble and have nothing to do with a backlash against the conservative Republican administration and their problems. Of fucking course it does! And it's also a backlash against the administration's policy makers - the Religious Right. Virginia is the home of Robertson and Falwell and the state strongly supported Bush in 2000 and 2004. It's not New York or New Jersey and should have been a Republican cake walk. But the election was a backlash of everything Republican: The sleaze of Cheney/Delay/Rove/Libby; and the hypocrisy of the administration governing only for the rich, the oil companies, and the religious conservatives. Next year's election is going to be a Republican blood bath. So when the Repug spin doctors start spinning their yarns on the Sunday news shows (and I can just hear RNC Chair, Mehlman chattering with his effeminate-sounding voice), I'll just smile and think yeah, yeah, seek comfort in your own little bubble, fuckers, cause it's only going to get worse.

Speaking of Robertson: I love that he predicted ruin on the town of Dover, Pennsylvania, because they ousted the whole "Intelligent Design" school board on Tuesday's election. I say bring on the hurricanes, tornadoes and floods, because they are much less devastating than those fucking, nutty Christian fundamentalists trying to dismantle our country piece by piece in the name of God.

Republicans and the Decline

2005-10-08T16:12:00.000-05:00

I believe 50 or 100 years in the future, historians will be able to pinpoint the eight Bush years as the start of the decline of America as the dominant empire. Aided by a crooked cast of characters, featuring Rove, DeLay, "Christian" conservatives and other southern, white, conservative Republicans and their rabidly extreme agendas, their massive spending sprees on Iraq, insane Pork projects and crazy religious agenda items, will not only signal a weakening America financially, but intellectually. They are gutting us to reward their big business cronies and "religious" bread butterers. Their "official" wobbly science policies will start a reverse brain drain. What real scientists want to be told to tow the wacky company line on Creationism, Abstinence only programs, "evil" stem cell research, and on and on. Makes us look like some Taliban nation of the first world.

The money is streaming out of here, yet, we're still ever so dependent on oil as the prices skyrocket. What if we didn't go to war with Iraq and spent that money on new energy technologies that would help wean us off the oil? What if we passed stricter fuel efficiency standards on SUVs four years ago? The car companies would have the new standards in place by now. But no, a very limited agenda serving a select, few Americans was put in place to the rest of our detriment. These men have been deliberately dismantling America for the good of the few. I pray Americans wake in 2006 and 2008 and try to cut our losses. But, sadly, it may already be too late.

Random Thoughts (overdue)

2005-09-21T22:23:00.000-05:00

This blog is about three weeks overdue, but here goes. Random Thoughts:

Hopefully Bush will have learned a valuable lesson during Summer 2005 and refrain from the 5-week vacation during Summers '06, '07. and '08. Bad things seem to happen when he is on that 5-week "Working Vacation."
As announced last month, now Bush wants to increase the fuel efficiency standards on SUVs. Four plus years ago this was out of the question for Repugs. I can still picture Trent Lott in front of Congress with a picture of a mini-Cooper or some small Euro car preaching, "how can we raise fuel efficiency standards on SUVs and make soccer moms resort to driving around in these small cars." Fuck Repug Soccer Moms. It's almost five fucking years too late. We could have made progress by now if it was done back then. I'm sure if there was a President Gore, it would have been done in 2001.
What is with FDA commissioner Crawford and his delaying tactics on approving the Plan B Morning After Pill for over the counter consumption. There's been enough studies already and it's "safe and effective." And it's not a God Damn abortion, wingnuts. Sheesh, 2008 can't get here soon enough.

It's good to vent!

Summer Surpises

2005-08-17T22:09:00.000-05:00

So Bush is in the middle of a five week "working" vacation. Is there anything really surprising about that, knowing what we know about our "Relaxation" President. In 2001, he took a similar vacation. What has surprised me this summer is that the American public is not really that up in arms about the high gasoline prices. They're downright docile about it. Now, if we had a President Kerry in the Summer of 2005 and were experiencing the same high gas prices, you know the American public would call for his lynching - a la Jimmy Carter.

Most people do realize that any president doesn't have a lot of control over gas prices, but we like to have someone to blame. That's why I don't understand our blase attitude on this issue. Well, I for one am just glad I don't have a gas guzzler and in a perverse way, I'm kind of enjoying the escalating prices. Because maybe, when gas hits a certain price, the American public will demand American ingenuity come up with alternatives to gasoline. But I'm betting the public's first step will be to shed or simply not purchase these big gas guzzling SUVs.

Gas Guzzlers and W

2005-08-03T22:12:00.000-05:00

Whenever I'm driving around DC metro and a big gas guzzling SUV - like a Suburban or a Bronco - passes me off, I can just about guarantee there's gonna be a "W" sticker on that thing. Probably with Texas plates, to boot. Boy, that is one thing I'm not going to miss in three years when all those big SUVs head back to Red country in W's retirement. It's no wonder why the Repugs just won't address our insatiable thirst for gas-guzzling SUVs and their low MPG standards. They're all here driving them. But, no, that would infringe on our inalienable rights as Americans, though they never mind infringing on issues surrounding our bedroom activities, but I digress. But with a new Democratic administration in three years, those big SUV eyesores will be replaced with an armada of clean, green machines on the DC roads. And a Dem will begin the process of weaning us off those gas-loving, Middle East-fellating SUVs. Sadly, eight years later than it could have been. America hang on.

If Your Not Outraged...Summer Edition

2005-06-24T20:37:00.000-05:00

You know that bumper sticker that reads, "If You're Not Outraged, You're Not Paying Attention" or something to that effect, well, I should be feeling it after five years of Bush and Repug Rule, but, you know, something about summertime just neuters outrage. The weather is great, the days are long and, yes, the Bushies are still pillaging and looting the country and selling it off to the richest rich. They're still dismantling important regulations, allowing the polluters to pollute more, cutting good programs to ever pump up Iraq, nominating nutty conservatives, using public funds to preach their Social Security sermon to hand selected Kool Aid Bushies, screaming that marriage is only for God's straight people, and on and on and fucking on. But it's summer and I'm just not in the mood to be outraged. Oh, I know that this country will be unrecognizable after eight years of Bush, I've known it from the start, but can I wait until autumn for my redeployment?

The Turning Tide

2005-05-10T23:23:00.000-05:00

Yes, we've had a bad run over the past year. First, the election of Bush, then the election of that Pope. But that is all behind us now. The tide will start turning this year. The pendulum is on the upswing - it's been stuck in the extreme right position for too long.

I have a good feeling about the election of Virginia's Tim Kaine as Governor this year. And, in a scant eighteen months from right now, the mid-term elections will take place. And I am certain that a certain backwards Senator from Pennsylvania will be dethroned. That's right, I predict that Casey will defeat Santorum and in the process end any misguided plans Santorum may have for higher office.

As a Pennsylvania native, I will work all of my connections, use all of my capital, do everything in my power to help defeat Santorum. I'm positive that a state that went for Kerry will not move backwards and re-elect that Senator "way out of the mainstream" Santorum. One year and a half and then it's back to Western PA for Ricky. Woohoo!

I've posted a pic that I find very ironic; it's a pic of one of Santorum's in-state constituent offices. It happens to be a few doors down from an "alternative" bar. Let's hope the staff heads over there after work and toasts their boss. ;)

2005-05-10T23:22:00.000-05:00

Ricky's Place

Influential Annoyances

2005-04-15T18:10:00.000-05:00

OK, it's been a while since I blogged, and I gotta update this since my last one was about the Pope and that is oh so yesterday. Anyway, I received my latest Time magazine the other day and it was the "special" issue about the world's 100 most influential people. One of it's honorees spurred me to put together this list of the week's most influential annoyances.

Coulter as one of the 100 Most influential. Give me a fucking break. I'm sure Time editors were thinking, we've got Michael Moore and Jon Stewart here, so we've got to balance it with the nutwings. But C'mon! This creepy Stepford has never uttered one rational thought in her life. Why not honor a winger who maybe once or twice said something sensible. I'm grasping here, but why not Tucker Carlson. I mean he's ten times prettier.
Bush 43 and Clinton as buds. Please, I can deal with Clinton hanging with Bush 41, they are both ex-presidents. But when I saw that pic of Clinton and W palling around at the Pope funeral, I was ready to vomit. Actually, this whole 'buddying up' has made me lose all respect for Clinton. I liked him better, when during the first days of Bush 43, Clinton would belittle W by saying something like,"His daddy wouldn't have done that."
W stickers on women's autos. Yes, of course you have to keep the fucking conquering W stickers on your autos, but when I see that it is a woman behind the wheel, I can only shake my head. You ladies set your gender back years. At least as far back as that Pope set back the Catholic church, but I digress. I can only assume you are proud employees at the White House, because I just can't imagine a regular Jane as W supporter.
Right-wing hateful mouthpieces socializing at gay gatherings in gay DC like they are part of the family. For those details I refer you to the article (Right-wing at home in the Gayborhood) in this Victory Fund blog.
And similarly gay right-wing hateful mouthpieces marrying their longtime same sex companions in Massachusetts. I read where Republican consultant Arthur Finklestein announced his marriage recently. This troglodyte has been linked to Jesse Helms and now is setting up a PAC to destroy Hillary. For any gays who are friends with this cretin, I say FUCK YOU.

The Thoughts We Do Not Speak

2005-03-30T22:29:00.000-05:00

With the Pope and Jerry Falwell's failing health in the news these days, I think to my self, so what? The media report with concern the dire news about ventilators and feeding tubes while a nation and world prepare for the worst. But from my perspective, these two preachers are no saints. At best they are puritanical scolds and at worst they are homophobic agitators tacitly giving their approval for the world to gay bash.

Falwell, I have nothing in common with, other than being white and male. Not being Protestant, I find conservative Protestantism truly alien. I shudder when I hear him pronouncing Jesus as if it were a three syllable word. But those are just superficial rants on Falwell. When I think of the true Christians I know - devout, charitable and compassionate people - I realize that Falwell has absolutely nothing in common with them. With him, it was always about money and politics and scapegoating. I always wonder what the most vocal homophobes are hiding.

With the Pope, though never a fan, I have a tiny bit of conflict, being raised Catholic and all. About a dozen years ago, one Sunday I was in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, his summer home, as he appeared in the window at the anointed time and gave out his blessing to the crowd. So I've actually been in his presence. But his conservative, firebrand preaching has always turned me off. He spent his best papal years doing everything he possibly could to erase any modernization the Catholic Church has achieved and turn it back a century. With his homophobic preaching, I viewed him as the Catholic Church's version of Jesse Helms.

So to be as kind as possible, if I hear about either of their passing, I will shed no tears. I can only hope their obituaries will be fair and balanced, because unlike the true Christians I know, the words and deeds of these two men were not all good.

Sentenced to Eight in RepubliWorld

2005-03-25T18:06:00.000-05:00

Is it me or does RepubliWorld get scarier and more surreal by the day? I really don't want to scan the news anymore because I can't imagine what the RepubliWorld Halls of Power are going to pull next. This is a world where nothing but double-speak and approved company language emanates from the White House. Never a straight answer out of the Stepford White House Press Secretary. They take their Social Security policy "debate" road show out to an audience of pre-screened Stepford supporters, and it's all on the taxpayers dime. They produce their own fake "news" programs spewing their propaganda as if they were objective news stories. I am an avid reader of the Washington Post's online chats; this is where the public asks legitimate questions about the hypocrisy of RepubliWorld. Here is an excerpt from Paul Farhi's "Station Break" online chat transcript ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27868-2005Mar11.html). The chatter's statement, though, tongue and cheek, is eerily chilling:

"Mokba, USSR: Comrades! I see you finally have come around to our OLD way of government-generated TV News. Your president's "video news releases" (with that foxy American woman "reporter" Karen Ryan!) are a brilliant way of keeping the proletariat in line. I especially admire your leader's firm "resolution" to have his agencies keep putting out the propaganda despite the GAO finding that they are illegal. The fact that you have all accepted it so quietly and passively bodes well for harmony in your new totalitarian society.
Thank you for validating our old model, which worked so well for so long! Das Vedanya from Moscow, circa 1960.

Paul Farhi: Hahahaha! Frankly, I've been surprised by the lack of traction this story has gotten. Yes, it's been in all the papers, but the people who seem most exercised by it (perhaps rightly so, but still...) are journalists. Where is the outrage from John and Jane Q. Public? A little mass moral indignation, please... "

Not that outrageous, ha?

And down the street, we have the RepubliWorld Congress legislating for one. The gall of RepubliWorld Congress interfering in the Florida Schiavo case. Have you ever seen anything more absurd? I mean, forget the medical stuff for a moment, can RepubliWorld's usually gung-ho, marriage-defending House Majority Leader tell me if marriage is fucking sacred or not?

And while I'm making requests, can the Senate Majority Leader take a look at a video of my hemorrhoid and make a diagnosis? It certainly won't be an unfamiliar site for him to see with all of the pandering to the Religious Right going on.

If only the RepubliWorld years can turn out like the old TV show Dallas in the episode when Pam woke up and the previous year's episodes turned out to be a bad dream. I'd like waking up on January 21, 2009, to be like that. And this time, because of all the lies, scandal, and deception thrust upon the American people during the intervening years, there is no way in hell I'd be waking up to a President Frist or Bush III. They'd all be relegated to persona non grata status because of their roles in the "dream" years.

Please, 15 Minutes End Already!

2005-03-10T22:59:00.000-05:00

Sometimes when people hit the big time and become part of our consciousness, you hope that their 15 minutes are over with in a flash. I know the moment Britney Spears first appeared in my consciousness six or so years ago, I was praying for a quick 15. I mean, there was already a precedent for it. I'm talking about the 1989 template, when Debbie Gibson and Tiffany first hit it big. Their 15 was over with in a flash. And they had some talent and could carry a tune live.

And ten years later, when Britney and Christina hit it, I assumed it would be 1989 deja vu. But, Nooo! Six years later, Southern, trailer-queen Britney is still around. We are still treated to news of her quickie marriages, pampered pets, and exhaustion episodes. I try to avoid any news of Britney - I never watch MTV, listen to candy-ass radio stations, or subscribe to teeny-bopper mags, so I'm pretty much immune to her. But when the latest Details magazine appeared in my mailbox, there is Mr. Britney Spears on the cover. He's a train-wreck, how could I avoid reading the article. During the interview, wifey-poo commandeers the interview, as if not wanting hubby to be the only trash-talking, potty-mouth in the family. Well, they sounded like soulmates...fresh out of the Louisiana trailer. My favorite line was the one where she revealed her contempt for her fans: "When I have kids - I think Celine Dion, the way she does it, with her show in Vegas, is the way to go. Everybody comes to her. When I have kids I am so there. That's what I'm doing: Come to me, motherfuckers."

Well let's hope 15 minutes and 0 seconds beats her to Vegas!

The Early-21st Century Children's Cartoon Character Controversy

2005-02-28T21:15:00.000-05:00

When we look back at the early-21st Century thirty years from now, what will we make of the "Great Homosexual Children's Cartoon Character" conspiracy promulgated by social conservatives. You know, their theories that some of the children's cartoon characters of the day were either gay or promoted the gay lifestyle. Headlines from 2005:

Robin William's Sponge Bob Square Pants number cut from the 2005 Oscar telecast because ABC TV fears offending Christian conservative lobbying groups and in turn the FCC,
United States Secretary of Education complains that Buster cartoon on tolerance promotes homosexual lifestyle.

I think we are going to ask ourselves, how did a few unchristian, Christian lobbying groups hold so much sway and keep so many American people hostage with their anti-tolerance views? And, why were these people so afraid of showing a modicum of tolerance to a harmless cartoon that promoted tolerance using real life, non-traditional families? A cartoon that have might actually detered some kid from growing up to be a gay-basher because in his developmental years, he'd been exposed to two loving mommies raising a family and he can see that it is as normal and beautiful as his own family.

It is heartbreaking how 290 million people are all held hostage to intolerant, anal-retentive, Chicken Little, conservative Christian lobbying groups. These groups are trying their damnedest to move the country backwards because they long for the "Father Knows Best" America of their youth. Well, intolerant groups: GET OVER IT! It ain't gonna happen. When your generation finally dies off, so will an enormous chunk of intolerance in America. And maybe if today you'd focus more on tolerance, you'd have to worry less about the family.

Exploratory This

2005-02-24T22:12:00.000-05:00

Over the last few weeks I've read about all these Republican politicians traveling to New Hampshire or South Carolina making speeches or going to potlucks all in the name of 2008. Exploratory committees are being set up and our boys are out there speaking to the conservative masses. And what a pre-field it is: You've got the extremely homophobic Mormon Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, spewing his intolerance down South. Then you've got the extremely homophobic Doctor Senator from Tennessee, Bill Frist, spewing his intolerance in New England. But this is always the way with the Republican Presidential hopefuls. If it's not Steve Forbes, it's Dan Quail. Everybody has to get out there and cut their conservative teeth by preaching the gospel of intolerance. When will these guys ever learn. Yeah, Bush got in, but the country is evolving, slowly, but still evolving.

Look at how open-minded Barry Goldwater became in his later years, helped along by an openly gay family member. God bless how open-minded he became. Odds are that most of the homophobic Republican politicians have a gay in their immediate family. Happened with Newt, and most recently, with Alan Keyes (though, I don't imagine a Goldwater conversion with either). So my advice to the 2008 crop of Republican hopefuls, take a close accounting of your immediate family, because I sure will especially if you have cute sons and I'll make sure I have the video to prove it. ;-)

My Audience with the Dr.

2005-02-13T12:12:00.000-05:00

I attended a reception for Dr. Dean this weekend during the DNC's Winter Meetings in DC. It was the third time that I had the privilege to listen to Howard Dean speak. The first time was at a fundraiser in DC in 2003 and the second time was at a Kerry fundraiser last year at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC. The Dr. likes to speak from the heart; it is something I very much admire. I hope this style doesn't get muted because of his new position as Chairman of the DNC. And regarding his new position, enough already with all the naysayers in the Democratic Party and elsewhere stating that it's not a good thing that the DNC Chair is from Northeastern US and that the position should go to someone from the Red States. I'm so tired of folks disregarding Democrats from the Northeast, like it's such a bad thing. The Northeastern US is the lifeblood of these United States and our politicians personify this. And when I hear people from other areas of the US talk about the Northeast with such disregard, I note the irony of this smug and condescending talk, because it's not emanating from the mouth of a Northeasterner. But I digress.

Anyway, the reception was hosted by the Stonewall Democrats and many luminaries were in attendance, including Congressman Barney Frank, Virginia State Delegate Adam Ebbin, Chrissy Gephardt, to name a few. Congressman Frank gave a reliable, thought-provoking speech; he is always a joy to listen to.

I also spotted the Reverend Al Sharpton, and Donna Brazil in the halls of the DNC Winter Meetings. It was a veritable cornucopia of Democratic movers and shakers.

So Dr. Dean, I wish you the best in your new position and I hope you are never made to feel bad or defensive about being a Northeasterner. I never do, there is no better place to hail from (said smugly, I mean proudly).

A Word Devoid of Any Meaning

2005-02-04T21:58:00.000-05:00

One word that has lost all of its meaning over the past 10 to 15 years is the word conservative. I take that back, I mean, it is the word 'conservative' when paired with the word 'Republican' where the word has been watered down to a meaningless phrase. The favorite adjective of every politician proud to be Republican means absolutely nothing anymore. I guess originally, conservative Republican connoted fiscal responsibility, respect for privacy, et cetera, et cetera, but has been so watered down of late by the Santorum/Bush/Frist/nutty right-wing preacher gang, that we are left with something of the equivalent of the currently meaningless label, alternative music.

For years now it has been rote that every Republican must declare that they are a 'conservative' Republican. I can still hear lifelong, middle-of-the-roader Bob Dole saying, "I'm a conservative Republican" in response to many an interviewer's questions during his final campaign.

And since the religious right take-over of the Republican party, 'conservative' especially rings hollow: Yes, of course, Mr. Robertson, you want to forbid my relationships and obsessively monitor and regulate my bedroom activities, but you are a conservative. Oh yes, Mr Bush, you spend like FDR during the New Deal and want to amend the Constitution to take away freedoms, but you are a conservative. Of course, Log Cabin Republicans and Administration gay insiders, you joined the party of Lincoln because you believe in fiscal responsibility and you help fortify the coffers of Republicans, most of whom are hellbent on passing the freedom-limiting Federal Marriage Amendment, but you are all conservatives. We're all friggin' conservatives. One whole zany country full of conservatives. I voted for Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton, Gore and Kerry, and yes, even I'm a pepper...I mean, I'm a conservative and wouldn't you like to be a conservative, too? Be a conservative, drink Dr...oh, sorry, that jingle was around when conservative Republican had meaning.

Andromeda Division

2005-01-27T22:56:00.000-05:00

Some things I don't get, for instance, why women support the Republican party. I know that the majority of single and ethnic women and supported John Kerry, but the married, white women? Why? Why were you so Bush-gaga? Why support a party that wants to control you and your reproductive choices? Frankly, I don't see what the party offers you. Furthering the Republican cause at your own expense. Breaks my heart.

But what is really insane are the white, female media cheerleaders for the Republican party. You know, the female Rush Limbaugh's: The Coulters and Noonans, et al. The Andromeda Division of the Republican Noise Machine. Spewing absurd, white male-centric rhetoric over and over like some 'broken-record' robots. Never uttering one thoughtful, thought out idea. And Noonan, always so happy and chirpy sounding as she recites her insanity, smiling like a proud mother as she defends her Boo-sh. Scary. Do they ever listen to how they sound as they are orally parroting their white male counterparts in the Republican Noise Machine? I doubt it. Truely alien!

Hold my Nose for Another Four Years

2005-01-18T23:00:00.000-05:00

Is this reality or is it a dream? Is Boo-sh really being inaugurated for another four years? I was able to get through the first four by running and shutting off the TV or radio whenever his face or voice invaded my space. And I summed it up to just one messed up election that would be righted (or lefted) on November 2, 2004. Wow, did America disappoint me!

Should Boo-sh have ever been anything more than a used-car salesman? Think about it, if Ronald Reagan didn't select GHWB as his VP, wouldn't the Boo-sh family have just slipped away into obscurity? Maybe Jr would have just jumped from venture to venture within the confines of Texas. But Noooo, accordin to dem newspapurz and de innernet, weeze now gotst ourselves a dynersty. Blech!

Well, I am starting my next four years with an audio/video black-out on all things Boo-sh, by fleeing town before the Inauguration. And so that I do not have to hear one second of the news in the car, I have 16 hours of the Davinci Code on tape. Also, I will not turn on the TV in the hotel and I will go to the gay bars where the only audio will be the disco music blaring from the speakers.

Mind you, after Thursday's Love-fest, I will read the paper and the internet to keep abreast of what he is up to, but I will be diving for the TV or radio "off" button the minute his face or voice invades my space!

Man of God, Huh?

2005-01-10T21:39:00.000-05:00

Last month after the passing of Football's Reggie White, at the age of 43, the media, with their selective memories, offered up only the good deeds of the player, while excluding any mention of his homophobic rants. Instead of a balanced obituary, we got a canonization. This man was a virulent, verbal gay-basher, which started back in 1998. This "man of god" spewed some truly evil rhetoric about gays. And I took note. Back in 1998, White had an endorsement deal with Nike. It was then that I stopped buying anything Nike. I still haven't gone back to them. Companies should think twice before rewarding our sports heroes/men of god with endorsement deals. But that's another topic.

Anyway, I can't say I was sad to hear about his untimely death, though it was surprising and ironic, given how he once claimed that gays were destined to live shortened lives.

Infiltrate, I mean Infilgayt

2004-11-28T21:26:00.000-05:00

In the fight for civil rights, the Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans (GLBT) movement often compares our struggle with that of African-Americans a few decades ago and it is a worthy comparison. As one example, the hatred that the KKK and others had toward African-Americans is reminisent of the hatred spewed out of the 'Religious Right' groups. Some in the GLBT movement say that if our oppressors could just see us as ordinary Americans, trying to make a living and a good life for ourselves, they would accept us and lose some of their venom. I think this is wishful thinking. There is a lot of religious venom out there, from the pope on down.

One thing that separates us from African-Americans is that most cannot tell we are gay by simply looking at us. That's why there are and have always been closeted gays working for every hateful group out there. Hell, there were closeted gays working on the Bush campaign and I'm sure there are a few closeted gays working in the Vatican. And don't forget, before Mel White came to his senses, he was a speechwriter for Falwell. But I was thinking, instead of aiding and abetting these groups, why don't we use the fact that we cannot be identified as gay to our advantage - to sabotage all these hate-filled groups? What if we started infiltrating these groups to undermine their organizations? I mean African-Americans probably couldn't have infiltrated the KKK, but what is our excuse? There's got to be stealthy things we could do from the inside to help destroy these groups faster than they can destroy themselves? These groups want us to be invisible, let's help them out with that. We are an invivible army, let's invade...Focus on the Family, here I come!

Stumbled on to...

2004-11-21T14:40:00.000-05:00

I am not going to write anything new here today, instead, I am going to post this essay I found on the internet. Unfortunately, I do not know who wrote it, but it is very inspiring. Hope you enjoy. Best, BBS.

Yesterday, I hated America. For the first time, I woke feeling ashamed to be an American. However, today, after much more thought, I realized I do not hate America. I realized that the best parts of America made the right decision. In fact, the part of America that represents so much of what this county is about selected Kerry. Kerry got 92 percent of the vote in Washington DC. Kerry got 82 percent in Manhattan. Kerry got 72 percent Chicago and its suburbs. He got 67 percent in Cleveland. Kerry got 88 percent in San Fransico. More than 66 percent in Los Angeles and its suburbs. 65 percent in Seattle. In the South, too, the city voters were smart. Kerry got 73 percent in Atlanta. 81 percent in St.Louis. 77 percent in New Orleans. He even got 57 percent of the vote in Dallas. In fact, the biggest city I can find that Bush won is Topeka, Kansas.

So I live in the part of America where all kinds of people live together. The part of America where your friends are all immigrants, some not even citizens, but you abide by one common theme: You have to work together and get along to survive. I live in the part of America where all the money is made. I live in the part of America where all the important decisions are made. I live in the part of America were all the good jobs are located. I live in the part of America where more people are educated and can have insightful conversations. I live in the part of America where your neighbors don't care who you lie down with at night. I live in the part of America where it's not cool to make jokes about black people or Jewish people or gays or asians or latinos or muslims. I live in the part of America where the bible is considered a guiding principle, not a dominate force. I live in the part of America with nightlife, mass transit, good restaurants are a routine part of life. And, the best part, I LIVE IN THE PART OF AMERICA THAT LARGELY CONTROLS THE LIVES OF THE REST OF AMERICA. WE PAY THEM. WE FEED THEM. WE CONTROL THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS. WE KEEP TRACK OF THEIR TAX BILLS. WE INVEST THEIR MONEY. WE GIVE THEIR CHILDREN A CHANCE TO ESCAPE THEIR MISERABLE, UNPROFITABLE, LIVES BACK IN SMALL TOWN USA. BUT, REGARDLESS OF WHO IS PRESIDENT, WE WILL NEVER LET THE VALUES OF SMALL TOWN USA CONTROL US. WE HAVE THE POWER.

Dem Balls

2004-11-15T21:28:00.000-05:00

Please, please, please, Democrats in Congress, return to the Hill with a renewed vigor and a giant set of balls. You have nothing to lose and we need some nasty pricks, like Delay, on our side. If there was ever a time to stand up for the other 48% of us, it is now. I only wish you would have started on November 3, by pushing for a ballsy, deep blue-stater, like Chris Dodd, as your Senate Minority Leader. I'm tired of having solid red-staters in that position, people who have to pussy-foot around because they have to answer to the folks back home if they get too aggressive with their hero, Prez Boo-sh.

But, OK, I promise to forgive you on this one if you get out there and fight back. There are 45 of you in the Senate - not 39, not 40 - that's not a shabby number. And I cross my fingers every day for Chaffe's conversion. And why shouldn't he? So many of those once Democratic, Southern Senators flipped to Republicanism like it was a badge of honor when it suited their needs.

And maybe set Senator Kerry loose. He should be good and peeved from the abuse he endured during the long campaign. He should be rarin for another round. Just let them mention drilling in Alaska in front of him...

So I beg you Congressional Dems, just do this Blue-Stater proud and grow dem big. I'll be watching.

Bumper Sticker

2004-11-12T11:13:00.000-05:00

I guess it's time to replace my John Kerry bumper sticker. I will really miss it. I love parking in the Whole Foods or Giant parking lots in close-in Northern Virginia and seeing all the Kerry stickers outnumber those "other" bumper stickers by about 3 to 1. All my fellow simpatico neighbors proudly displaying their open-mindedness. But another reason that I must replace my bumper sticker is for the sake of my father's sanity. He's an incessant worrier and worries that the Boo-sh administration and their minions will strike at me for still displaying the Kerry sticker. I explain to him that we do not live in Hitler's Germany, and I can display my sticker w/o repurcussions, as I momentarily think, with this bunch in office, you never know. These are some of the people who constantly spread lies about Bill Clinton from the moment he assumed office.

Oh well, since I usually design my own bumper stickers, it will be fun to come up with the anti-administration message. Here are some of the early contenders, which do you think is the best?

Demand Accountability

Wait, that's too rational, I need something with more OOMPH. Something like:

Vote Your Moral Values - Then Go Help the Poor.
Don't Blame Me - I Voted For Higher Moral Values.
Don't Blame Me - I Had a Clue
Vote Moral Values - The Environment will take care of Itself.
Vote Moral Values - It's Better than Food on the Table.
Moral Values - The Other White Meat.

As you can see, I have my work cut out for me, but there's plenty more where those came from.

Democratic Campaign '04: My Inspirational Moments

2004-11-07T20:16:00.000-05:00

During the Summer of 2003, I made the decision that I would support Senator Kerry out of the field of Democratic contenders. In the Fall of '03, I started volunteering and had the opportunity to hear the Senator speak in DC. And I even got to shake his hand. Once the Senator captured the nomination, I attended fundraisers and helped out when I could. Here are my inspirational moments from campaign '04:

March, 2004; DC - Attended a fundraiser. Barney Frank was the principle speaker. A very witty man, who tells it like it is. I'm glad he's on our side.

May, DC - Fundraiser featuring Teddy Kennedy. Wow, to be in the same room as a legend!

June, DC - Fundraiser featuring Teresa Heinz Kerry. She is an honest and warm woman. Very gay supportive. Something most in the other party could never be.

June, New York City - Fundraiser at the Waldorf-Astoria. I met Howard Dean and Harvey Fierstein. Senator Kerry spoke. Of course, in the photo I had taken with Howard Dean, my eyes were closed. :(

July, Boston - The Democratic Convention. I had the opportunity to attend the final night. WooHoo! I hid out for a while in the DNC Volunteer skybox, until they kindly hinted that other guests must be rotated in. I got the message and proceeded to my seat in the nosebleeds. Loved the Willie Nelson performance. The Senator's acceptance speech was awesome, but damn those balloons.

August, Chicago - I spent a long weekend in Chicago. Kudos to the Windy City: Kerry signs everywhere I went. This is true Blue country!

September, Northeast Pennsylvania - Home for my dad's Birthday. My octagenerian dad displayed his Kerry signs in the front yard (the first set mysteriously disappeared). Some of the "Holy Catholic" neighbors whispered about how a good Catholic could display those signs. My dad proudly said to me that he just ignored the whispers, as he fretted about how all those young military men and women were dying in Iraq.

October, Cleveland - Vote for Change concert. Wow, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and REM on the same bill. I was in heaven! And duets to top that off. Bruce sang "Man inthe Moon" with REM and Michael Stipe sang "Because the Night" with the E Street Band. Kudos to Cleveland: Kerry signs everywhere I went in the city!

October, DC - Vote for Change concert finale. All my favorite bands from the last 30 years played: Bruce and the band, REM, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, John Mellencamp. Not to mention Jackson Browne, James Taylor and the Dixie Chicks. What a show...words cannot describe. But how bout that Eddie Vedder/REM duet on "Begin the Begin."

October, Vancouver BC - While vacationing, I met a bunch of Canadians. When I told them I volunteered with the Kerry campaign, they each thanked me and said we are counting on you. Wow, gave me goosebumps.

October, Port Angeles, WA - While vacationing through Washington State, I traveled through a small town called Port Angeles. Figuring it was like most small towns - very conservative - I was surprised when I saw as many Kerry signs in people's yards as that other candidates.

October, Seattle - Kerry volunteers everywhere and Kerry signs throughout the yards and windows of the city. Kudos to Seattle! Another true Blue city.

October, Philadelphia - The town was charged up for Kerry. I met volunteers of every persuasion: Black, White, Asian, Latin, young, old, gay, straight. Kerry signs everywhere. People walking to work with Kerry buttons: Women for Kerry, Seniors for Kerry. Taxicabs with Kerry stickers. Restaurants and stores with Kerry signs in the window. Kudos to Philly! A true Blue city. Also attended rallies and heard inspirational speeches from Governor Rendell, Barney Frank, and David Catania.

I drove back from Philly on election night, so happy and hopeful...

My Post-Election Rant

2004-11-06T18:04:00.000-05:00

Fuck the Red States of America and while I'm at it, Fuck the Marriage Amendment states! I refuse to spend my pink dollars in your narrow borders. Screw off Atlanta, Miami, and New Orleans; hello Boston, Chicago, and San Fran.

I know, I know, you think I can't totally curb my dollars from the red/amendment states; I assume that's where my orange juice comes from. But I can make a concerted effort to spend all of my travel dollars in the blue, non-Marriage Amendment states and outside of the U.S. And I travel a lot. I travel at least 1/3rd of the weekends of the year, plus a couple of week-long vacations. And I will steer clear of Vegas and Lauderdale and Phoenix and plan my excursions to New York and Seattle and "old" Europe. Yes, I know there are blue cities in red states and red counties in blue states. But you've got to pay the price for how the majority of your residents voted. You stuck it to me, so I will stick it to you. I will even move out of the liberal island in red Virginia which I call home.

Now that I got that off my chest, here are my post-election FUs and Kudos based on how places voted for the President of the Southern Married White Men of America (POTSMWMA):

FUs: Utah and Idaho - The reddest of the reds, need I say more.
Kudos: The Philadelphia suburbs - I'm proud that you didn't swing red! I knew that you wouldn't. I'll be visiting!