Jack & Jill Politics

Rikyrah

Check your email. That's it!

Here we go - http://lawdork.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/chairma...

Just got a twitter from Blue Gal (blogs at C&L, and her own blog). She said to read this before pushing John Aravois' meme. Exactly....it explains a lot, and something someone said they heard on Rachel Maddow's show - which i heard as well - the president cannot change the law; congress is the one.

"Finally, Rep. Tammy Baldwin recently told Rachel Maddow that Obama went “as far as he could go” and that the ball was now in Congress’s court. Rachel asked how to get Obama to move more quickly. Baldwin responded: “Giving him a bill to sign would be the first order of business.” So, look for Aravosis’s next contorted post on how Baldwin threw us under the bus."

Yu'll sleep well. The Iranians will be up early tomorrow.

Thank you for the link. I just read the quote from the brief, which clearly shows that the Justice Dept. didn't compare gay marriage to incest and pedophilia. It's a citation of various cases and the underlying facts of those cases.

This is true. I don't know why Rachael gave the impression that the document referenced gays to pedophiles and persons involved in incest. One thing the MSM will do is get you reading law briefs.

One thing the MSM will do is get you reading law briefs.

Tell me about it! Nowadays, reading an article or listening to the news isn't sufficient if you want to understand what's really going on. You have to take notes from the articles and news programs, then do your own research.

Totally off topic. Maybe this will lighten someone's day.

If you are in or Near NYC, consider attending The Wiz at the New York City Center an Encores! Summer Stars production.

You will see some new and many familiar faces! Enjoy!

(I have no stake in this production. I just went to the very first show, Jun 12 (which, though it was the first show, was NOT "opening night." Who knew??) Anyway, it was great, the staging was magnificent and we had a blast!! Wound up hangin' out after with Orlando, Dawnn and some of their fam. I really would LOVE to go back to see how much better it gets in its limited run...)

One of the more interesting comments the president said, I believe, yesterday, was this: (paraphrasing)

We have a history with Iran. We - the United States - helped overthrow a legitimately elected, democratic gov't in Iran in 1953. "That was the year the CIA secretly and surreptitiously ousted the democratically elected prime minister of Iran, a man named Mohammad Mossadegh, from power, followed by the U.S. government’s ardent support of the shah of Iran’s dictatorship for the next 25 years"

So John McCain, Eric Cantor, and all the other ReThugs calling for "ACTION!" by the president need to back the fuck off. Many, many Americans may not remember that coup or the Shah OR the overthrow of the Shah and the instituting the Islamic regime - but the Iranians, they do.

I have a beautiful green silk hankie (hanky). I've thot about tying it to the antenna on my car. It'll fit right with the other stickers. End(less) This War; Obama! 2008; Women Rights are Human Rights; I love Chucky Cheese.... (no that's the neighbor's car).
http://www.nytimes.com/library/world/mideast/04...

or how about George H.W. Bush instigating some Iraqis to revolt against Saddam Hussein after the Gulf War thinking the U.S. would support them militarily??? And guess what, tens of thousands were slaughtered by Saddam after that debacle. And guess what, the U.S. definitely had blood on their hands. The president is correct in not openly enticing or encouraging people we cannot protect from revolting against their government......it would be totally insane and irresponsible.

Justice58,

Are these some of the articles you were looking for?

Andrew Young, I Hereby Revoke Your Black Card

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2007/12/andr...

Chris Matthews Wants To Sponsor Obama For Just 25 Cents A Day

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2007/12/chri...



The Media’s Three-Fifth’s Compromise

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/01/the-...


Making Obama The Angry Black Man

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/01/maki...

Oreos And House Negroes: The Clinton Strategy Explained

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/01/oreo...

Who’s Talking About Obama’s ‘Blackness’?

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/01/whos...

Sometimes Our Readers Say It So Well

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/02/some...

More Clinton Supporters Would Support McCain Than Obama Supporters. REALLY???

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/03/more...

Ferraro Says Obama is LUCKY He’s Black

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/03/ferr...




Flipping the Script: WHY Can’t Hillary ‘ Tonya Harding’ Clinton CLOSE THE DEAL?

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/04/flip...


Barack Obama: Elitist or Uppity Nigger
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/04/bara...

Obama Accused of Being Elitist
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/04/obam...

The Obamas Are NOT Elite - And, That Is Fine With Me
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/06/the-...


Barack & Michelle Obama - AA Run Amok and Ingrate?
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/06/bara...

Is it Ever the “Right Time” to Vote for the Black Guy?

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/07/is-i...


This should Settle the Question of Hillary as VP
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/07/this...

Memo to Press: Barack Obama is NOT running for Entertainer-In-Chief
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/07/memo...

With Friends Like These……

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/07/with...

New Yorker and Obama - Makes Me Wanna Holler
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/07/new-...


Seeing the Forest for the Trees
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/07/seei...


Icing on the Cake
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/08/icin...


Black and BLACKER: The RACIAL Politics of the Obama Marriage? WTF? Here we go again
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/08/blac...

*dead* @ "Hillary 'Tony Harding' Clinton"! LOL!

Rikyrah,

I have to save this thread. I can't loose this one. So many great threads. Whew Lawd, it was fun and exciting! Woo Hoo!

My favorite remains Affirmative Action Run Amok. That post was fiyah. It still gets the Academy Award.

Webb,

I don't know which one of those articles it was but you were quoted as speaking in tongues! LOL

I laughed out loud reading that! I said, look at him...There he goes... lol

LoL, there have been some Holy Ghost goodtimes roun' here. Amen.

Damn, Rikyrah, don't hurt 'em!! DAMN!! LOLOLOL

The "Oreos and House Negroes" is particularly apropos of Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States.

By the way, where IS dnA??

I'm only commenting because I want to be able to come to it later. Man, what a campaign. E'rybody counted the man out. And then BLAM!!! Iowa said Nah Nah Nah Hillpatine and Edwards. Not this time!!

ROTFLMAO @ Nah Nah Nah!

Thank you, Thank You, Thank You, Rikyrah!

Thank you, Miranda!

I know that antiwar advocacy isnt as sexy and important to many of Barack Obama's supportes.....but the House just approved imperial war funding for the wars im Afghanistan and Iraq. Why is this so significant? 'cause these are Barack Obama's wars now; 'ole Cheney aint around anymore to be kicked in the teeth. I can only hope that anti war advocacy will one day generate the same amount of interest among the left/progressive as gay marriage advocacy does. Oh well, who cares? Let's go back to the day's big events.


Roll Call: House vote on war funding bill



Featured Topics: Barack Obama
By The Associated Press – Tue Jun 16, 7:35 pm ET

The 226-202 roll call Tuesday by which the House approved a $106 billion bill to ensure financing for war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan over the coming months.

A "yes" vote is a vote to pass the bill.
Voting yes were 221 Democrats and 5 Republicans.
Voting no were 32 Democrats and 170 Republicans.
X denotes those not voting.
There is 1 vacancy in the 435-member House.
ALABAMA
Democrats — Bright, Y; Davis, Y; Griffith, Y.
Republicans — Aderholt, N; Bachus, N; Bonner, N; Rogers, N.
ALASKA
Republicans — Young, N.
ARIZONA
Democrats — Giffords, Y; Grijalva, N; Kirkpatrick, Y; Mitchell, Y; Pastor, Y.
Republicans — Flake, N; Franks, N; Shadegg, N.
ARKANSAS
Democrats — Berry, Y; Ross, Y; Snyder, Y.
Republicans — Boozman, N.
CALIFORNIA
Democrats — Baca, Y; Becerra, Y; Berman, Y; Capps, Y; Cardoza, Y; Costa, Y; Davis, Y; Eshoo, Y; Farr, N; Filner, N; Harman, Y; Honda, N; Lee, N; Lofgren, Zoe, N; Matsui, Y; McNerney, Y; Miller, George, Y; Napolitano, Y; Pelosi, Y; Richardson, Y; Roybal-Allard, Y; Sanchez, Linda T., Y; Sanchez, Loretta, Y; Schiff, Y; Sherman, N; Speier, N; Stark, N; Tauscher, Y; Thompson, Y; Waters, N; Watson, N; Waxman, Y; Woolsey, N.
Republicans — Bilbray, N; Bono Mack, N; Calvert, N; Campbell, N; Dreier, N; Gallegly, N; Herger, N; Hunter, N; Issa, N; Lewis, N; Lungren, Daniel E., N; McCarthy, N; McClintock, N; McKeon, N; Miller, Gary, N; Nunes, N; Radanovich, N; Rohrabacher, N; Royce, N.
COLORADO
Democrats — DeGette, Y; Markey, Y; Perlmutter, Y; Polis, N; Salazar, Y.
Republicans — Coffman, N; Lamborn, N.
CONNECTICUT
Democrats — Courtney, Y; DeLauro, Y; Himes, Y; Larson, Y; Murphy, Y.
DELAWARE
Republicans — Castle, N.
FLORIDA
Democrats — Boyd, Y; Brown, Corrine, Y; Castor, Y; Grayson, N; Hastings, Y; Klein, Y; Kosmas, Y; Meek, Y; Wasserman Schultz, Y; Wexler, Y.
Republicans — Bilirakis, N; Brown-Waite, Ginny, N; Buchanan, N; Crenshaw, N; Diaz-Balart, L., N; Diaz-Balart, M., N; Mack, N; Mica, N; Miller, N; Posey, N; Putnam, N; Rooney, N; Ros-Lehtinen, N; Stearns, N; Young, X.
GEORGIA
Democrats — Barrow, Y; Bishop, Y; Johnson, Y; Lewis, X; Marshall, Y; Scott, Y.
Republicans — Broun, N; Deal, N; Gingrey, N; Kingston, N; Linder, N; Price, N; Westmoreland, N.
HAWAII
Democrats — Abercrombie, Y; Hirono, Y.
IDAHO
Democrats — Minnick, Y.
Republicans — Simpson, N.
ILLINOIS
Democrats — Bean, Y; Costello, Y; Davis, Y; Foster, Y; Gutierrez, Y; Halvorson, Y; Hare, Y; Jackson, Y; Lipinski, Y; Quigley, Y; Rush, Y; Schakowsky, Y.
Republicans — Biggert, N; Johnson, N; Kirk, Y; Manzullo, N; Roskam, N; Schock, N; Shimkus, N.
INDIANA
Democrats — Carson, Y; Donnelly, Y; Ellsworth, Y; Hill, Y; Visclosky, Y.
Republicans — Burton, N; Buyer, N; Pence, N; Souder, N.
IOWA
Democrats — Boswell, Y; Braley, Y; Loebsack, Y.
Republicans — King, N; Latham, N.
KANSAS
Democrats — Moore, Y.
Republicans — Jenkins, N; Moran, N; Tiahrt, N.
KENTUCKY
Democrats — Chandler, Y; Yarmuth, Y.
Republicans — Davis, N; Guthrie, N; Rogers, N; Whitfield, N.
LOUISIANA
Democrats — Melancon, Y.
Republicans — Alexander, X; Boustany, N; Cao, Y; Cassidy, N; Fleming, N; Scalise, N.
MAINE
Democrats — Michaud, N; Pingree, N.
MARYLAND
Democrats — Cummings, Y; Edwards, N; Hoyer, Y; Kratovil, Y; Ruppersberger, Y; Sarbanes, Y; Van Hollen, Y.
Republicans — Bartlett, N.
MASSACHUSETTS
Democrats — Capuano, N; Delahunt, Y; Frank, Y; Lynch, Y; Markey, Y; McGovern, N; Neal, Y; Olver, Y; Tierney, N; Tsongas, N.
MICHIGAN
Democrats — Conyers, N; Dingell, Y; Kildee, Y; Kilpatrick, Y; Levin, Y; Peters, Y; Schauer, Y; Stupak, Y.
Republicans — Camp, N; Ehlers, N; Hoekstra, N; McCotter, N; Miller, Y; Rogers, N; Upton, N.
MINNESOTA
Democrats — Ellison, N; McCollum, Y; Oberstar, Y; Peterson, Y; Walz, Y.
Republicans — Bachmann, N; Kline, N; Paulsen, N.
MISSISSIPPI
Democrats — Childers, Y; Taylor, Y; Thompson, Y.
Republicans — Harper, N.
MISSOURI
Democrats — Carnahan, Y; Clay, Y; Cleaver, Y; Skelton, Y.
Republicans — Akin, N; Blunt, N; Emerson, N; Graves, N; Luetkemeyer, N.
MONTANA
Republicans — Rehberg, N.
NEBRASKA
Republicans — Fortenberry, N; Smith, N; Terry, N.
NEVADA
Democrats — Berkley, X; Titus, Y.
Republicans — Heller, N.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Democrats — Hodes, Y; Shea-Porter, N.
NEW JERSEY
Democrats — Adler, Y; Andrews, Y; Holt, Y; Pallone, Y; Pascrell, Y; Payne, N; Rothman, Y; Sires, Y.
Republicans — Frelinghuysen, N; Garrett, N; Lance, N; LoBiondo, N; Smith, N.
NEW MEXICO
Democrats — Heinrich, Y; Lujan, Y; Teague, Y.
NEW YORK
Democrats — Ackerman, Y; Arcuri, Y; Bishop, Y; Clarke, Y; Crowley, Y; Engel, Y; Hall, Y; Higgins, Y; Hinchey, Y; Israel, Y; Lowey, Y; Maffei, Y; Maloney, Y; Massa, N; McCarthy, Y; McMahon, Y; Meeks, Y; Murphy, Y; Nadler, Y; Rangel, Y; Serrano, N; Slaughter, Y; Tonko, Y; Towns, Y; Velazquez, Y; Weiner, Y.
Republicans — King, Y; Lee, N; McHugh, Y.
NORTH CAROLINA
Democrats — Butterfield, Y; Etheridge, Y; Kissell, Y; McIntyre, Y; Miller, Y; Price, Y; Shuler, Y; Watt, Y.
Republicans — Coble, N; Foxx, N; Jones, N; McHenry, N; Myrick, N.
NORTH DAKOTA
Democrats — Pomeroy, Y.
OHIO
Democrats — Boccieri, Y; Driehaus, Y; Fudge, Y; Kaptur, N; Kilroy, Y; Kucinich, N; Ryan, Y; Space, Y; Sutton, Y; Wilson, Y.
Republicans — Austria, N; Boehner, N; Jordan, N; LaTourette, N; Latta, N; Schmidt, N; Tiberi, N; Turner, N.
OKLAHOMA
Democrats — Boren, Y.
Republicans — Cole, N; Fallin, N; Lucas, N; Sullivan, X.
OREGON
Democrats — Blumenauer, Y; DeFazio, Y; Schrader, Y; Wu, Y.
Republicans — Walden, N.
PENNSYLVANIA
Democrats — Altmire, Y; Brady, Y; Carney, Y; Dahlkemper, Y; Doyle, Y; Fattah, Y; Holden, Y; Kanjorski, Y; Murphy, Patrick, Y; Murtha, Y; Schwartz, Y; Sestak, Y.
Republicans — Dent, N; Gerlach, N; Murphy, Tim, N; Pitts, N; Platts, N; Shuster, N; Thompson, N.
RHODE ISLAND
Democrats — Kennedy, X; Langevin, Y.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Democrats — Clyburn, Y; Spratt, Y.
Republicans — Barrett, N; Brown, N; Inglis, N; Wilson, N.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Democrats — Herseth Sandlin, Y.
TENNESSEE
Democrats — Cohen, Y; Cooper, Y; Davis, Y; Gordon, Y; Tanner, Y.
Republicans — Blackburn, N; Duncan, N; Roe, N; Wamp, N.
TEXAS
Democrats — Cuellar, Y; Doggett, N; Edwards, Y; Gonzalez, Y; Green, Al, Y; Green, Gene, Y; Hinojosa, Y; Jackson-Lee, Y; Johnson, E. B., Y; Ortiz, Y; Reyes, Y; Rodriguez, Y.
Republicans — Barton, N; Brady, N; Burgess, N; Carter, N; Conaway, N; Culberson, N; Gohmert, N; Granger, N; Hall, N; Hensarling, N; Johnson, Sam, N; Marchant, N; McCaul, N; Neugebauer, N; Olson, N; Paul, N; Poe, N; Sessions, N; Smith, N; Thornberry, N.
UTAH
Democrats — Matheson, Y.
Republicans — Bishop, N; Chaffetz, N.
VERMONT
Democrats — Welch, N.
VIRGINIA
Democrats — Boucher, Y; Connolly, Y; Moran, Y; Nye, Y; Perriello, Y; Scott, Y.
Republicans — Cantor, N; Forbes, N; Goodlatte, N; Wittman, N; Wolf, N.
WASHINGTON
Democrats — Baird, Y; Dicks, Y; Inslee, Y; Larsen, Y; McDermott, Y; Smith, Y.
Republicans — Hastings, N; McMorris Rodgers, N; Reichert, N.
WEST VIRGINIA
Democrats — Mollohan, Y; Rahall, Y.
Republicans — Capito, N.
WISCONSIN
Democrats — Baldwin, N; Kagen, Y; Kind, Y; Moore, Y; Obey, Y.
Republicans — Petri, N; Ryan, N; Sensenbrenner, N.
WYOMING
Republicans — Lummis, N.

So actually vote to fund the wars and have the costs actually figured into the budget NOW, instead of acting like the water heater busted this morning and all of a sudden "We need to to come up with this much money by Friday"?

14 分 ago

STOP.MAKING.SENSE.

I ask myself why I respond to idiots like you... but here I am again...reminding you that President Obama "inherited" a world he really could only have guessed at. and yes, he made campaign speeches....LIKE ALL CAMPAIGNERS DO....now he has to to deal with the reality.....he is in power, no longer campaigning...now has to take care of the dung that was left for him to clean up.

OH gosh...I volunteered to listen to the hater talk radio people a week ago to find out who the advertisers are. Well I stomached through 1hr and forty mins. today of Neal Boortz. The list of advertisers is interesting but what really caught my attention is the number of "gov't ad" or "public service ads" were played. Which brings to mind....how many of our TAX DOLLARS are paying for hate radio shows!!!!

One gov't sponsered ad was for diabetes, another for adopting children, smokey the bear, and reporting con artists/scams.

The gov't sponsered ad may or may not be given donated air time. But, the bottom line is this....those ads have a cost.

How much of our tax dollars contribute to the "hate radio" channels?

I have started some more research and it is not easy. I have read articles that indicate the Federal Gov't does all they can to hide the amount of tax dollars they spend on advertising because taxpayers don't like to hear their tax dollars are spent on advertising. Ok, I understand that game.

In the meantime..

some supporters of hater Neal Boortz are:

housingmarket.com
goodwrench.com
rent a center (And Magic Johnson was a spokesperson for the ad)
u.s. dept of justice
u.s. health and services
mobile one
www.maids.com
home depot
marketwatch.com
Acura
safelight auto glass
housingmarket.com
goodwrench.com
U.S. Forest service
cleareyestears
ACE hardware
Sears Automotie Center
Visioncomputers.com
barracuda.com
www.nopiracy.com
creditfairy.org
Midas

I forgot goldline, Autozone, Farmer's Insurance, Outback Restaurant, Carrier, hotels.com, Centrum vitamins, NASCAR, ITM Trading, General Motors, nopiracy.com, carfacts.com and sam adams beer

Thanks for all your efforts. You've got a stronger stomach than I do, LOL!

Angelar, I'm not sure, but the Gov't service ads might be Public Service Announcements (PSAs) Radio stations are supposed to play a certain % of those. Again, I'm not sure, but that might be the reason.

Anyone know this for sure?

by the way, I view this as an educational experience with jjp viewers...I volunteered my personal, private and unscientific time..and have given my results/options.

I am hearing there is a combination...some ads are shown in "free spots" some are not. I hesitate to think every ad is done without "cost." Also, some of the radio owners contribute "free" spots no matter their political persuasion for political gain.

Remember the cliche...there is no free lunch.....well it still holds true.

Miranda,

Check your email!

One thing about this beautiful Sasha. The picture I saw of Sasha demonstrated this irrepressible joy at seeing such satisfaction & joy on her mother's face.

It reminds me of my granddaughter who is 3-1/2 and with whom I wondered when she would get that I'm her mother's mother. The other day as I got out of the car at their house I heard her telling my daughter very excitedly, "Mama, your mother is here. Mama, your mother is here." And today when they came over for a minute, she was watching us talk - very intensely - and then smiling this sweet, sweet smile.

that is such a beautiful memory..I hope you have it written down in a journal for your family...

No...but I'm on my way to do it. My granddaughter "looks" absolutely nothing like Sasha, but it's that infectious sweetness, so every time I see Sasha I think of my granddaughter.

What I saw was the smile of a very happy child....doesn't get much better than that!

That is so sweet. It's amazing how intelligent children are.

Here's my man, Ali Arouzi, talking about why some of those signs we see are in English. (Arouzi is the NBC bureau chief in Tehran)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/3139062...

okay, I know there are very important things going on in the world. Horrible things happening in Iran.

But, but, but.... may I take a break from the madness and be the first to say, um, Ali Arouzi is FINE!!!

I KNOW!!!

I don't know what this is. I'm not meaning it as a criticism.

I stopped reading John Aravois's blog on a regular basis when there was hullabaloo about including 'transgender' in some legislation. The gist was 'they'll get their turn, just not now.'

I don't know why - meaning I cannot emphasize - some don't feel comfortable with WHO they are. It's not for me to worry about; I'm not the one changing who I am. I do believe that those who are transgendered are as entitled to the rights & privileges others enjoy or take for granted.

Soooo - other than thinking this is just more of the usual whining ..... no slack whatsoever. Wellt - we coulda had McCain and then what?

Exactly, we could've had McCain.

1) I'm pretty confident we'd be in a depression right now, which would've affected both gay and straight people.

2) Dan Choi wouldn't have anyone to argue to about his dismissal.

3) And Caribou Barbie would be pushing for Constitution Ban on same-sex marriage only with more capital to do so.

I could go on.

Exactly.... AND no recourse. No respite either come to think of it.

Forget about ...

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.

Black people.

Young people.

Real use of the interweb.

Jazz at the White House.

Sonia Sotomayor.

the mere mention of gays, lesbians, transgendered people.

Green jobs.

Palestinian settlements.

Civil conversation with Iraq.

Re-entry programs (from prison to work/training).

Hope.

Now stop making sense you obamabot, kool aid drinking, messiah worshipping apologist.

</snark>

President Obama Betrays the Gay Community

John Aravosis
June 17, 2009 | Team Obama keeps telling lesbian and gay Americans like me to be patient. If we just wait a little longer, administration officials whisper to us lovingly (and out of earshot of the media), after the White House finishes with healthcare reform and getting the troops out of Iraq, your time will come. In the meantime, cheer up -- we put a gay band in the inaugural parade!

Everyone loves a parade, but we don't like being betrayed. And while gay and lesbian Americans were initially willing to cut our new president some slack, the president's now-clear reticence to follow through on even one of his many campaign promises to the gay community has put the Democratic Party on the precipice of an ugly and very public divorce with this once-solid constituency.

During the presidential primaries, then-candidate Obama promoted himself as the biggest defender of gay rights since Harvey Milk. He would be a "fierce advocate" for our rights, he promised, and he even out-gayed Hillary Clinton: telling gay and lesbian voters that while she was for a partial repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), he'd get rid of the whole damn thing.

And there was much rejoicing.

Then, not so much.

About a year before the November election, primary challenger Obama invited Donnie McClurkin, a homophobic gospel singer who claims to have been "cured" of his own homosexuality, to lead a series of concerts in the South in order to woo the black vote. The gays were not amused, but candidate Obama held firm. The gays forgave the Big O until a year later, when then-President-elect Obama chose evangelical preacher (and well-known homophobe) Rick Warren to give the inaugural prayer. Again, the gays expressed their ire, Obama wouldn't budge, and his advisors continued to whisper sweet nothings in our ears about how glorious the future would be once Dear Leader was finally in office.

But a funny thing happened on the way to equality. Rather than clouds opening up and angels descending from on high, Barack Obama became president and things never got better for the gays. In fact, they got decidedly worse.

On taking office, Obama immediately announced that he was doing away with the Clinton-era concept of special assistants who served as liaisons to various communities like gays and Latinos. He then went ahead and appointed special liaisons to some of those communities anyway, but never to the gays. Around the same time, the White House Web site, once detailing half a page of presidential promises to the gay community, overnight saw those pledges shortened to three simple sentences. Gone were five of the eight previous commitments, including the promises to repeal both Don't Ask Don't Tell and DOMA. Adding to a growing sense of angst, senior White House officials kept telling the media that they weren't sure when, if ever, the president would follow through on his promises to the gay community. Then there were the Cabinet appointees. Three Latino nominees but nary a gay in sight. And finally, last week our president had his Department of Justice file a brief in defense of DOMA, a law he had once called "abhorrent." In that brief, filed on the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling in Loving v. Virginia (which outlawed bans on interracial marriage), our own interracial Harvey Milk, not lacking a sense of historical irony, compared our love to incest and pedophilia.

Shit, meet fan.

Tonight, President Fierce will try to make amends by signing either a memorandum, a directive or an executive order, directing some federal agencies, but not others, to provide some benefits, but not others, to some gay federal employees, but not others, at some undisclosed time in the future. (And the benefits may reportedly go away when Obama leaves office.)

First problem, federal agencies already have the right to provide these benefits to gay employees -- and several, including at least one DOD agency, do. Second problem, the administration can’t tell us exactly which benefits they’re talking about and for which employees. That’s because this was all hastily thrown together after the incestuous and pedophilic gays nearly brought down a Democratic National Committee gay pride fundraiser scheduled for next week. A gay blogger got hold of the event’s guest list and published it, and once D.C.’s gay paper, the Washington Blade, announced that it would be staking out the entrance to the event with camera and video, the $1,000 a head attendees started dropping like flies.

In other words, the only reason we're getting anything: The gay ATM ran dry.

Don't get me wrong. Some federal employees getting some benefits at some future point is definitely something. But it's not an answer to why this president directed his Department of Justice to defend a law he previously opposed when he didn't have to. It doesn't explain why the DOMA brief linked a key Democratic constituency to pedophilia and incest. Or why this president has already overseen the discharge of 253 gay service members, and has refused to issue a stop-loss order ceasing those discharges. Or why he won't lift a finger to push Congress to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell.

The president would like us to believe that he's awfully busy being president, and if we only wait a little while longer, we'll get our rights. Of course, the president isn't too busy to stab the community in the back by continuing the military discharges, defending DOMA, and comparing us to pedophiles. (On Wednesday, White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs was given a chance to repudiate the DOMA brief's language about incest and pedophilia and would not.)

When, Mr. President, will be a good time to set my people free? When will the leader of the free world get a breather, a presidential timeout as it were? (And I thought this was the administration that could walk and chew gum at the same time.) Are we really to believe that 2010, a congressional election year, will be any more timely than today? Or 2011, the beginning of the presidential primaries? Or 2012, with a congressional and presidential election? There is quite literally no time like the present.

The real problem is that Team Obama is stuck in 1993. Perhaps some advisor has convinced our once-fierce advocate that gay rights is the third rail of presidential politics. Just look at what happened to President Clinton 16 years ago when he tried to help the gays, the insider is likely warning.

But 2009 is not 1993. Sixty-seven percent of Americans now favor granting same-sex couples the right to marry or join in civil unions. Sixty-nine percent support letting openly gay men and lesbian women serve in our military, including a majority of Republicans (58 percent), conservatives (58 percent), and even churchgoers (60 percent). And an overwhelming number of Americans have long since supported passing legislation banning job discrimination against gays.

The controversy is in President Obama's mind -- at least it was until it became real and moved to the Democratic Party's pocketbook.

What can the president do to avoid outright rupture with the gay community? He needs to start fulfilling his campaign promises -- even one would be a nice start. He needs to stop the discharges, and stop the Falwellian legal briefs in support of a policy he opposes. He needs to push -- really push -- for legislation banning job discrimination, repealing DOMA, and lifting Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Many of us were willing to cut our new president some slack. Not anymore.

John Aravosis and his racist ass can kiss my big black one. He and a whole lot of other gay folks alienated me forevah (maybe not forevah, but for now) with the mess they pull when ever PBO doesn't jump to their every demand. And he and his ilk are so doggone disrespectful of PBO. That's what really gets to me. Rachel tried to pull that ish tonight when she asked Tammy (lesbian in the House) what can be done to push PBO. Tammy told her as soon as Congress gets a bill to his desk. Blam!! Folks need to call their congresscritter if they want to get stuff done. Now STHU!! I'm sick of all of 'em.

I agree. I support rights for gays, but some of the activists arguments are really bad. Especially the slavery one. I support them, but that argument turns even me off.

Exactly. You can't rally people to your cause if all you hit them with is shrillness and vitriol. That's all I see right now. If anything, there's a real risk of backlash.

I thought Tyra was President Fierce? Or is that President of President Fierce and Smiling wit Yo Eyes?

"When, Mr. President, will be a good time to set my people free?"

The Ten Commandments...starring Barack Obama as Ramses II and Clay Aiken as Moses.

*dead* *dead*

lol!!!

Emotions a side I believe the Pres did almost everything he could LEGALLY do in favor of the gay community.

Hope doesn't have an time limit. Like a good Pres once said, "want me to do something , make me!" Bring Legislation across the desk see what happens then.

We elected a diplomat then wonder why he is so diplomatic.

"Emotions a side I believe the Pres did almost everything he could LEGALLY do in favor of the gay community."

That's what Tammy Baldwin(?) just said on Rachel.

Uh oh, time for the GLBT hate squad to call her a turn coat like they just did with Barney Frank.

We elected a diplomat then wonder why he is so diplomatic.



Say it again!

Okay, interesting article. Now what?

Now nothing...Welcome to the Facebook version of protest. The Gay community needs to take a page from the black civil rights movement some quote when it suits them (you know, when Dan Savage isn't accusing blacks of being homophobes) and take to the streets.

The people in Iran are risking their lives for what they believe. So did African Americans when fighting for Civil Rights. Native Americans fought. Hell, Hispanic service workers damn near shut down whole industries for a day. So what are gays going to do? Call names and complain on Americablog, Pams House Blend, and Slog. If you want Obama to push harder, you have to push him harder, but not with volatile, incendiary language that will just force the train off the tracks.

I mentioned in a previous post on this thread about some of the gay activist argument. The main one I have a problem with is the slavery comparison. I support gay rights, and that argument turns me off.

http://themidnightsolution.blogspot.com/2008/12...

I made to post on my blog back in December during the whole Rick Warren brouhaha. I posted it on several sites including Pams House Blend. Naturally nobody got it.

But I see it now more than ever. These people are even turning on their own for not wanting to crucify Obama like they do.

http://www.americablog.com/2009/06/barney-frank...

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/11515/barne...

This is what happens when you operate on emotion (anger/hate in particular). It's now "you're with us or against us" that floating around the GLBT community.

I just watched a few of the videos that are posted on Huff Po. The people of Iran AIN'T HAVIN' IT!!! This is solidarity in the NEW millenium.

I gotta go find me a green wristband. Fo' real. It's the least I can do...

Seriously. I will never talk smack about Twitter ever again.

I'm up.

I'm with you, isonprize. Got my green wristband last weekend.