Poverty in the LGBT Community

Study Looks at Poor Among Gay & Lesbian Families

Lesbian couples are more likely to be poor than married heterosexuals, and children of same-sex parents are twice as likely to live in poverty as those of traditional married couples, a new report shows.
UCLA's Williams Institute, which studies gay issues, says its report out today is the first to analyze poverty among gay and lesbian couples.

The report is an analysis of the most recent data on same-sex unmarried partners from the 2000 Census and two smaller surveys that include questions on sexual orientation. Together, it argues, they debunk "a popular stereotype (that) paints lesbians and gay men as an affluent elite."

More:
Washington Blade: Gays/Lesbians More Likely to be Poor than Straights
Bilerico: The End of "Gay Affluence"

Vermont Step Closer to Gay Marriage

Today Vermont is a step closer to legalizing gay marriage.
Vermont Gay Marriage Bill Advances to Senate Vote

The Vermont Senate will vote next week on legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, following acceptance of the bill in committee on Friday. Hundreds of people filled the Statehouse as the Judiciary Committee voted 5-0 to advance the measure.
The measure would replace Vermont’s first-in-the-nation civil unions law with one that allows marriage of same-sex partners, beginning Sept. 1. Civil unions, which confer some rights similar to marriage, would still be recognized but no longer granted after Sept. 1.

UPDATE: VT Senate Approves Gay Marriage Bill

The End of Capitalism

Laura Flanders interviews Marxist scholar David Harvey and Alexander Coburn on Tim Geithner and the future of capitalism:

David Harvey is the author of Limits to Capital, and has been teaching Karl Marx's Capital for 40 years.
Get more of David Harvey's analysis of capitalism at Reading Marx's Capital with David Harvey

See Also:
In Defense of Marxism
Marxists Internet Archive
Marx/Engels Collected Works

AIG, Corporate Greed, and Right-Wing Hypocrisy

The scandal over AIG bonuses continues to unravel and explode, and it looks like the Obama administration may be one of the culprits. And what hypocrisy from the Republicans! Back when Obama and Democrats tried to limit CEO bonuses for firms that received TARP funds, they opposed "government intervention" in private businesses. They OPPOSED limiting bonuses for the CEOs we bailed out. Now, conservatives are blaming the Obama administration, specifically Sen. Chriss Dodd, for the AIG fiasco. GOP Blasts Obama Adminisration for AIG

Now it turns out that Sen. Chris Dodd was pressured by the Obama Administration (probably Treasury Sec. Timothy Geithner and economic advisor Lawrence Summers) to take out the provision in the TARP plan that would have limited CEO bonuses!

What a mess! It is proof that Democrats, including high level Obama advisors like Geithner and Summers, have been trying to protect and cover their Wall Street pals all along. There will not be CHANGE in Washington until Obama dumps them and gets some real progressives on his economic team to fix this mess and protect American workers from bankers, speculators, and Wall Street greed!

The Republican Reich can't seem to get their story straight! The GOP's leader, Rush Limbaugh, and Sean Hannity are defending AIG and capitalism, and most Republicans in Congress OPPOSED attempts by Democrats to restrict CEO bonuses in the stimulus and TARP bills!

See Media Matters for the Right-Wing Lies and Hypocrisy on AIG

U.S. Signs On to UN Declaration on Gay Rights

Finally, the U.S. Will (Finally) Sign UN Declaration on Gay Rights
According to the Associated Press, the Obama administration will endorse a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality that then-President George W. Bush had refused to sign.

The Roman Catholic Pope will join other anti-gay religious fundamentalists and Islamic countries which behead or hang gays to oppose the inclusion of gay people in the UN Declaration on Human Rights

But, Why is the Obama Administration pandering to the Christian Right?

Right Wing Watch: White House Rolls Out the Welcome Mat for the Religious Right

Tennessee "Don't Say Gay" Bill is Back

Tennessee Legislature Considers "Don't Say Gay Bill"

Rep. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville) has introduced HB-821 which would ban any discussion of any "sexual orientation other than heterosexuality" in grades K-8.

Tennessee Equality Project Is On It

NAACP Chair Julian Bond: "Gay Rights Are Civil Rights"

NAACP Chairman Julian Bond gave a great speech to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Gala Saturday, and makes the case that "Gay Rights are Civil Rights!" Some homophobic black preachers need to watch this:


My only problem with Bond's speech is his emphasis on sexuality being an "immutable" trait like race, and that the constitution protects us from discrimination based on immutable traits. First, sexual orientation is NOT totally biologically or immutable (See Queer By Choice), and Second, our rights are not only based on biological characteristics. The Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantee all citizens equal protection under the law and freedom of conscience--i.e., the freedom to CHOOSE our religious, political and yes choose our sexual identity/preference.
The liberal "biological" argument for gay rights leaves out bisexuals and those who do CHOOSE to be gay, bi, or straight.
Anyway, still a good speech that should persuade most rational people to support LGBT rights.

See Also:
Greg In Hollywood

Citizen Crain

(I wish people at the Human Rights Campaign would read David Richards' IDENTITY AND THE CASE FOR GAY RIGHTS to learn how to make the case for LGBT rights without resorting to questionable scientific claims about sexual orientation being a biologically immutable trait.)

Class War Report

Today's Class War update comes from several articles on Alternet:

U! S! A! We're Number.. 15!
A new report shows that in terms of aggregate health, education, purchasing power, security and general well-being (HDI: Human Development Index), The U.S. is in decline. The main problem--growing inequality!

More than Race, the South is About Exploiting Workers
The Heart of Southern conservatism is a preservation of a status quo that benefits economic elites.

Jim Hightower: Americans are Raring for a Fight Against Corporate Power

Obama's Economic Advisors Vs. Economic Reality

I think the Obama Administration has written it's own political obituary!
Obama Advisors-"The Fundamentals of the Economy are Sound" ?
WASHINGTON (AP) — One of President Barack Obama's economic advisers said Sunday that the economy is fundamentally sound, a striking reversal from the Democrat's campaign rhetoric as his administration now guides the nation's financial health amid dire conditions.
Obama's Democratic allies pleaded for patience for an administration hitting the two-month mark this week, while Republicans said the White House's plans ignore small business and the immediate need to fix what ails the economy.

During the fall campaign, Obama mercilessly mocked his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain, for declaring, "The fundamentals of our economy are strong." Obama's team painted the veteran senator as out of touch and failing to grasp the challenges facing the country.

On Sunday, economic adviser Christina Romer was asked during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press if the fundamentals of the economy were sound. "Of course they are sound," she replied.

"The fundamentals are sound in the sense that the American workers are sound, we have a good capital stock, we have good technology," she said. "We know that — that temporarily we're in a mess, right? We've seen huge job loss, we've seen very large falls in GDP. So certainly in the short run we're in a — in a bad situation."

Just a week ago, White House Office of Management and Budget director Peter Orszag declared that "fundamentally, the economy is weak."

"If we are keeping focused on all the fundamentally sound aspects of our economy, all the outstanding companies, workers, all the innovation and dynamism in this economy, then we're going to get through this," Obama said, striking a tone that his top aides mimicked.

Despite the new enthusiasm at the White House and on Wall Street, there was little solid evidence to suggest an end was in sight to the severe recession that has already cost 4 million American jobs, driven down home values and sent foreclosures soaring. Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said he was concerned about the safety of the estimated $1 trillion his country has invested in U.S. government debt.

Obama sought to downplay the worries.
----

How can anyone in the Obama administration claim that the "fundamentals of the economy are strong" ??? Didn't that comment, which flew in the face of economic reality, do John McCain in? Has anything changed since then? No, the economy has gotten WORSE. American capitalism, WORLD capitalism, is in its greatest crisis since the Great Depression. The credit and housing crisis have pulled the rug out from under what was left of consumer demand. Workers are losing jobs (4 million) and wages.
Obama has appointed more Wall Street lobbyists and crooks (Timothy Geithner and Larry Summers) to solve the crises they and Clinton economic bigwig Robert Rubin helped create. (I believe the choice of Geithner and Summers to lead Obama's economic policies has doomed his administration.)

See also: Summers: "Excess Fear" About Economy Must Be Broken

Capitalism is in a CRISIS, with no end in sight. Obama and the Democrats are now the defenders of a failing economic system! Obama is continuing the Bush bailout of Wall Street, banks and financial institutions that created the crisis while proposing a stimulus package that falls too short and will not solve the crisis. The unemployment rate is skyrocketing to double digits. Yes, Obama inherited a crisis he didn't create, but both Republicans and Democrats (including the Clinton administration) did create it. Both capitalist political parties are part of the problem. The problem is CAPITALISM!

And it looks like the American people's frustration and anger are turning from Bush to Obama:
Obama's Poll Numbers Falling


See Also:
White House Braces for Bailout Backlash

Robert Kuttner: Will Obama's Economic Team Lead Him Off the Cliff?

Is the Religious Right Dead?

Boy Frank Rich nails the coffin shut on the Religious Right:
The Culture Warriors Get Laid Off

Not sure we can count the religious nuts out completely, like Vampires they seem to creep out when you don't expect them...
They survived PTL and Jimmy Swaggert...

But it is amusing listening to adulturers and drug addicts like Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh try to lecture Barack & Michelle Obama on "famlily values" !

Will Obama Keep Promises to Gay Voters?

Obama in Hot Seat Over Partner Benefits
In one of the first tests of Obama's commitment to LGBT equal rights, he is being forced to decide whether same-sex federal employees are entitled to domestic partnership benefts. In two cases federal appeals court judges in California have ruled that the partners of gay employees should receive insurance benefits, while the Office of Personnel Management has told insurers not to provide the benefits, citing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which Obama has opposed. Now his administration will be forced to take a position on DOMA.

The anti-gay right wing will jump on this issue and use the current economic crises to rally opposition to spending tax payers' money to provide insurance for the partners of federal gay employees. It will be a tough issue--one of many--to test Obama's commitment to LGBT equal rights.

The military's anti-gay "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is also under attack in several court cases, and Obama may have to make a decision on what to do about DADT very soon as well.

Hopefully Obama will not repeat the mistakes of Bill Clinton. Obama SHOULD stick to his "progressive values" and keep his promises to the gay community.

Media Black-Out of Single-Payer Health Insurance

Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting: Media Black-Out of Single-Payer Health Insurance
Despite the popular support of a "single-payer" healthcare program, the U.S. media, as well as the Obama Administration and Congress, are ignoring the best plan to "reform" healthcare and insure every American.
---
Not only do private insurance companies oppose a single-payer national public health insurance program, they do not want to compete against any government/public health insurance plan! While Obama is not going to propose a single-payer plan, his plan would offer the option of "Medicare" for anyone who wants it. The Companies are trying to kill that part of his plan. Dean Baker explains why on Common Dreams: If Private Insurers Compete With Govenment, They'll Lose

Here's what Democrats SHOULD argue--we want people to have the option to CHOOSE if they want to pay out the ass for a private insurance plan, which will give them less for their money, or a PUBLIC healthcare plan (Medicare) which will cost less and give them more for their money. If Republicans are really for letting people CHOOSE their healthcare plan, they cannot refuse!

Even better, PUT SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH INSURANCE ON THE TABLE!

"Ex-Gay" Blogger Says COGIC Bishop Backs Gay Marriage; COGIC "Denounces the Practice of Homosexuality"

"Ex-Gay" Blogger Says COGIC Bishop Backs Gay Marriage; COGIC Denounces "the Practice of Homosexuality"

The world's largest African-American Pentecostal denomination is entangled in a cyberspace fist fight with a conservative blogger.

DL Foster, a self-described former homosexual, says Church of God in Christ Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake supports gay marriage.

Foster runs the blog, Gay Christian Movement Watch at gcmwatch.com, which monitors the "unbiblical acceptance of homosexuality" among pastors and churches.

The longtime critic has accused the Los Angeles pastor repeatedly of sympathizing with homosexuals and has called for his resignation.

Foster's latest objection focuses on the bishop's endorsement of the 2008 Faith in Human Rights Statement in the Netherlands.

"He endorsed a document that is an affirmation of gay marriage," said Foster, an Atlanta-based pastor.

This time, Blake, along with other COGIC officials and parishioners, are fighting back on COGIC.com, where pages of testimonials have been posted stating both Blake's and Memphis-based COGIC's position on homosexuality, as well as questioning Foster's character. COGIC "utterly rejects and uncompromisingly denounces the practice of homosexuality," writes Blake.

The bishop was invited in December to attend the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. The United Nations' General Assembly first adopted the document in 1948. In essence, it pronounces that true religion irrespective of denomination, gender or race defends the human rights and freedoms of every person.

However, Foster, who is third-generation COGIC but not a dues-paying member, says Blake has opened the door for gay-rights organizations to use the document to support gay marriage. "He's saying one thing to COGIC but to the ecumenical world it's another story," Foster said.

-----------
It's a shame COGIC, probably the Christian fundamentalist church with the largest percentage of closeted gay people, has to be prove how anti-gay it is by not only opposing the rights of gays and lesbians, including civil marriage equality, but to even get worked up about a Bishop supporting "human rights" along with other civilized groups in the world.

On the one hand, COGIC Supports the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights, but they don't seem to consider gay rights to be "human rights"!
"The interjection and inference of homosexuality and the rights for gay marriage was a gross exaggeration and literary leap for truth that is incomprehensible, immoral, and reflects all that is wrong with the witness of the Church to the world we
seek to win for Christ! This is truly lamentable. The Church of God in Christ consistently, utterly rejects and uncompromisingly denounces the practice of homosexuality. Our biblical interpretation of the sanctity of marriage as a sacred relationship
between a man and a woman uncompromisingly views homosexual relationships as a contradiction and
violation of the biblical teaching on marriage and are strongly condemned in the scriptures. ” (Romans 1:
26‐27; Leviticus 18:22; 1 Co 6:9‐10, 1 Kings 14:22‐24 Ephesians 5: 25, 32‐33). Furthermore, this
statement is in accordance with the policy on Same Sex Marriage adopted by the General Assembly of
the Church of God in Christ (read www. cogic.org)"

Maybe COGIC should learn something about Human Rights from real spiritual human rights leaders like Archbishop Desmund Tutu
who include gays and lesbians in the "human" family who are entitled to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Maybe if every gay COGIC member would just come out of the closet, or leave the cult, the church would be forced to shut down or join the 21st Century.

For a different African-American perspecive, see the National Black Justice Coalition

The Decline of Religion in the U.S.

A new study finds that Most Religious Groups have Lost Ground in the Past Decade

The percentage of people who identify as "Christian" has dropped 11 % in the past decade, while the percentage who claim "NO RELIGION' has increased to 15% of the pop, that's larger than any religious group except Catholics and Baptists!
These dramatic shifts in just 18 years are detailed in the new American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS), to be released today. It finds that, despite growth and immigration that has added nearly 50 million adults to the U.S. population, almost all religious denominations have lost ground since the first ARIS survey in 1990.

So why aren't politicians more concerned about the non-religious than pandering after the religious fanatics??

The Demise of World Capitalism and the Future of Socialism

Capitalism is facing its greatest crisis since the Great Depression: a housing crisis, a credit crisis, skyrocketing unemployment etc. As in every such crisis, liberals have to step in and try to salvage the mess created by the speculators and the greedy corporate rich who blindly followed their religious faith in the "free market." Just like FDR in the New Deal, Barack Obama is being labelled a "socialist" by conservative opponents of economic democracy. Will this time be any different?

Because so much government intervention is necessary to "stimulate" the capitalist system, there is a lot of talk of "socialism" in the mainstream media, usually from anti-socialists who want to scare the public away from the programs of Barack Obama and the Democratic Party. Glenn Beck and Fox News has even had the current directors of the Democratic Socialists of America and the Communist Party on to be a punching bag. Newsweek proclaimed on a recent cover story, We Are All Socialists Now!

The problem is that the mainstream media has accepted the right-wing anti-socialist definition of "socialism" to mean "bigger government," so anything connected with government, especially "wasteful" spending, is labelled "socialist." But would Karl Marx have advocated that "we the people" (the government) bail out the corporate rich? No, socialists were opposed to the bailout of banks, though many support most of the trillion dollar "stimulus" that will go mostly to the working class. The real difference between "capitalism" and "socialism" is that capitalism favors distribution of wealth from the bottom to the top, and socialists fight to redistribute wealth from the rich to the working class and poor. That is a big difference.

While right-wing critics like to link socialists to Joseph Stalin (the discredited Communit dictator who actually killed his communist and socialist critics!), the better examples of democratic socialism would be Martin Luther King, who brilliantly articulated the democratic socialist view that the U.S. was spending too much on the military (especially Vietnam) and not enough to help the poor. Before his murder, MLK was prepared to launch a "class war" against the corporate rich and American capitalism.

The basic premise and fundamental value of socialism is actually found in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the early Christians. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need," was not only a Marxist idea, it was a gospel preached by Jesus Christ and his early followers.

Some socialists are speaking out, including in the new issue of The Nation:

Reimagining Socialism, Barbara Ehrenreich & Bill Fletcher Jr.

Immanual Wallerstein, Follow Brazil's Example

Tariq Ali, Capitalism's Deadly Logic

And from the Washington Post, Harold Meyerson Who You Calling a Socialist?

Whatever is happening right now, there is no doubt that captitalism is going to end up on the ash heap of history along with Stalin's bastardization of Communism. What will take its place is the subject of a class struggle going on as we speak between those who defend the accumulation of wealth and power in the hands of a corporate elite, and those on the left who are fighting to extend democracy from mainstreet to Wall Street. Socialism is still a struggle to pry the hands of a powerful economic elite from the control of society and put the majority of working class people in control.

The question is, can the Democratic Party be the instrument for this democratic revolution, or is it time for the workers of America to unite and form their own political party?

The two answers to that question can be found in the fractions of what remains of the Socialist Party in the U.S.:
Democratic Socialists of America
and
Socialist Party USA

TN Repub: Healthcare is a Privilege, NOT a Right

UNBELIEVABLE!

I think TN Republicans are the dumbest of all, but Zack Wamp (R-TN) beats them all!

Healthcare is "a privilege...not a right" !

And this wing nut wants to be Governor of TN! (Well he wouldn't be much worse than the "Democratic" Gov. of TN)

(Today President Obama held a healthcare summit, supposedly to hear "all sides" in the healthcare debate, but only invited 2 single payer proponents, at the last minute, after Physicians for a National Healthcare Plan and Progressive Democrats of America launched a campaign protesting not inviting single payer advocates to the summit.)

CA Court Reconsiders Prop. 8

CA Court Considering Same-Sex Marriage
Vigils held Ahead of Prop. 8 Hearing

The Oral Arguments
Justices Seem to be Leaning In Favor of Prop. 8

Obama Rejects Single-Payer Healthcare

This is BAD news folks! The Obama administration has taken the best, most popular universal health insurance plan (single-payer) OFF the table!
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Obama’s nomineee for HHS Sec., has strong ties to the “healthcare” industry, including the insurance companies. They do not want the single-payer ("Medicare for All") alternative to even be considered!
It looks like Obama (along with Sen. Edward Kennedy) is going to push the FAILED Massachusetts plan.

Here’s a a statement from the Physicians for A National Health Program:
Obama to single payer advocates: drop dead.

See More PNHP Action Alerts Here

See Also: Healthcare Now!

Progressive Democrats of America
Democratic Socialists of America

UPDATE: There WILL Be Single Payer Advocates at the Healthcare Summit

Legislation Introduced to Overturn DADT

Obama Faces Test on Gay Military Ban

On Monday, buoyed by a stronger Democratic majority in Congress, Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher (D-Calif.) will introduce legislation to overturn the ban against homosexuals serving openly in the military, a Tauscher aide said.

Also, First LGBT Case to Test Obama Justice Dept.

Let's Hope Obama handles it better than Bill Clinton did!

UPDATE: The Bill to overturn DADT was moved to Tuesday

Author: Military Suppressed Evidence Critical of Gay Ban

Obama, FDR & the New Deal

What Obama (and Everyone Else) Can Lean from FDR & the New Deal

The Right-Wing is rewriting history again! FDR & the New Deal CUT unemployment (by 9 % 1933-1940)) and increased GDP. The recovery slowed only after FDR gave in to his critics and tried to cut government spending. The increased government spending for WW II got things going again. It took MORE government investment ("stimulus") to get of the Depression NOT LESS!

Conservatives Love Porn Too!

ABC NEWS: Porn in the USA--Conservatives are the Biggest Consumers!

8 of top 10 porn-consuming states voted Republican in 2008 election (number 1 is UTAH!)

(If you are looking for some good gay porn sites, see my favorites listed over in the right column, scroll down...)

You can start with Gay Adult Net

Revolting Republicans and Crazy Conservatives

The right-wing hate fest known as the Conservative Political Action Conference (GPAC) is always entertaining--and scary. From "Evolution is Science Fiction" bumper stickers to the deranged rantings from nuts like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh, it's always an insightful look into the crazy world of American conservatism. Conservatives are not happy with George Bush or the Republican Party, but they REALLY hate "socialists" and Barack Obama. Socialist is the new "liberal" at this year's CPAC shin-dig. Everyone is a socialist now--even George W. Bush!

The theme at CPAC is that we must (a) cut taxes on the rich more (b) cut or eliminate corporate taxes (c) cut or eliminate capital gains taxes (d) increase defense spending (e) balance the budget and (f) protect "traditional family values" and marriage from the homos who want to get married and have their own families.

This is a group that thinks Sarah Palin is even QUALIFIED to be President of the United States!

Some highlights:

Talking Point Memo Talks to CPAC Attendees

GOP Chair Michael Steele's Message to CPAC: "My Bad"

"Accuracy in Media" Cliff Kincaid: Obama Not a U.S. Citizen!

Liberty Counsel Mat Staver: Gay Marriage Will Lead to Nation of Violent Criminals

Rush Limbaugh at CPAC: It Ain't Over Until the Fat Man Rants

Today Rush Limbaugh gets an award for "Defending the Constitution" and Rallies the Wing-Nuts to Stop Obama from Succeeding in Saving the Country from Failed Conservative Republican Policies of the past 25 years.

Right Wing Watch: CPAC Videos

Socialism! Boo! Hiss! Repeat

See Jeffrey Feldman's Tea Party Republicans

Ailing GOP Risks Losing a Generation

Good News for Democrats: Mitt Romney Wins CPAC Straw Poll

Some Thoughts on Republicans, Obama, Socialism and Class Warfare

I hope Bobby Jindal and Sarah Palin are the future of the Republican Party. We can look forward to 8 years of President Barack Obama. Eight years will not be enough, however, to undo the mess George W. Bush and the GOP have left our country in. Why can’t Republicans learn anything from history? The party of Herbert Hoover still blames FDR for the Republican Great Depression, and wants to repeat the same policies that have now created another Republican depression.

My problem with Obama is that he doesn’t go far enough. Like most Democrats, he recognizes the problems created by the corporate rich, but he doesn’t want to seriously challenge their power or wealth. We need a real redistribution of wealth, from the corporate rich to the working class. That is democratic socialism. Instead of “reforming” healthcare, we need a single-payer public universal health insurance program like most industrial countries.

Letting the Bush tax cuts expire on those making over $250,000 is not enough, we need to take back the Reagan tax cuts on the rich and return to the tax rate of Dwight Eisenhower, the great “socialist” who warned us about the greed of the “military-industrial complex.” I wish Obama would follow the example of FDR and publicly denounce the “economic royalists” who have slashed wages for workers while rewarding themselves with lavish million dollar “bonuses.” Of course, Republicans will accuse progressives who criticize CEO’s making 500 times the average wage of their workers of waging “class warfare.” Isn’t that kind of like accusing slaves of slavery?

TN Bill Would Bar Unmarried Couples From Adopting

Tennessee Bill Would Bar Unmarried Couples from Adopting

A new bill has been introduced in the Tennessee general assembly that would prevent any unmarried couple -- gay or straight -- from adopting children in the state.
A new bill has been introduced in the Tennessee general assembly that would prevent any unmarried couple -- gay or straight -- from adopting children in the state.

"I think if you poll a majority of Tennesseans and ask them, they can see that two people who've not objectively, publicly stated a commitment to their relationship put a child at risk of being in an unstable home," said David Fowler, executive director of the conservative Family Action Council of Tennessee.

"This isn't about quality of care. This isn't about the commitment of the parents. This is about a very narrow agenda," Dr. Marisa Richmond, president of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, told the Chattonooga Times Free Press.

Richmond cited the $6 million fiscal note attached to last year's version of the proposed law, which she said was based on an estimated $20,000 cost for each of the roughly 300 children who would be kept in state custody and denied a home because of the restriction.

"We were hoping that, with the budget crisis, they wouldn't reintroduce this bill," she said.

The senate bill, which is sponsored by Republican senator Paul Stanley of Memphis, has been referred to the Senate judiciary committee. (Rhiza Dizon, Advocate.com)

See Tennessee Equality Project

RNC Chair on Civil Unions: "Are You Crazy?"

RNC Chair Michael Steele Asked About "Civil Unions" for Gay Couples: "Are You Crazy?"

Last night, actor Sean Penn and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black both won Oscars for their work on “Milk,” which told the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official. Today, the right wing expressed its disgust that the movie received such acclamation. On his radio show, Mike Gallagher slammed Penn for ignoring “the majority of Americans” by supporting gay marriage rights, saying it went against America’s “fundamental values.”

Gallagher asked guest Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican Party, if he thought the party “ought to consider” something like civil unions. Steele replied immediately, “No, no, no,” adding, “What are you, crazy?” He made it clear that the party would not budge on gay rights:

GALLAGHER: Is this a time when Republicans ought to consider some sort of alternative to redefining marriage and maybe in the road, down the road to civil unions. Do you favor civil unions?

STEELE: No, no no. What would we do that for? What are you, crazy? No. Why would we backslide on a core, founding value of this country? I mean this isn’t something that you just kind of like, “Oh well, today I feel, you know, loosey-goosey on marriage.” […]

GALLAGHER: So no room even for a conversation about civil unions in your mind?

STEELE: What’s the difference?

So much for the "Big Tent" Republican Party. Wonder how the Log Cabin Republicans will spin this one?

MILK Wins Oscars

Sean Penn Wins Oscar for MILK

Dustin Lance Black also won for Best Original Screenplay. Both gave great speeches in support of LGBT equality.
Congrats (and thanks) to Sean Penn and everyone who made MILK such a great movie.

Here's Dustin Lance Black's Oscar acceptance speech

Cut the Military Budget!

Barney Franks makes the case brilliantly: Cut the Military Budget!

The Pentagon is requesting a 12 percent INCREASE in the military budget ($584 billion). Reports indicate the Obama Administration is planning to give a 8 percent INCREASE ($527 billion). The military-industrial lobby is shifting to full speed in its PR campaign to argue that military spending is a necessary stimulant to the economy, and to drive home the attack that Obama's 8 percent increase is a CUT in military spending.

Everyone knows that the military inflates its budgets so that anything less than their increase request is portrayed as a cut. They still get $billions more every year. As Christopher Hayes points out in The Nation (Cut the Military Budget-I) even not counting the Iraq and Afghanistan military operations, the regular Pentagon budget has increased by 77 percent, while cost overruns in weapons systems have ballooned to $300 billion.

As Barney Franks points out, the math is compelling for cutting the military budget: "If we do not make the reductions approximating 25 percent of the military budget starting fairly soon, it will be impossible to continue to fund an adequate level of domestic activity even with a repeal of Bush's tax cuts."

"If we do not reduce the military budget, either we accustom ourselves to unending and increasing budget deficits, or we do severe harm to our ability to improve the quality of our lives through sensible public policy."

Even former Reagan Administration official Lawrence Korb (now Center for American Progress senior fellow) has been pushing cuts in military spending. He has presented an alternative Unified Security Budget which identifies $61 billion in cuts military programs that could be made "with no sacrifice to our security."

The United States is facing an economic crisis unlike any it has seen in 80 years. The Federal Reserve and FDIC have already spent trillions on the bailout. Now Congress has approved an economic stimulus that will cost near $800 billion. The national debt is over $10 trillion and the annual deficit is over $1 trillion. How is the United States going to pay for it? How is it going to fund the new energy economy, schools, education, health care and other urgent needs? One solution: cut the wasteful and bloated military budget.

Take Action! Tell the president, your senators, and your representative to cut the military budget and invest in rebuilding America

SEE ALSO:

Why Not Cut Military Spending?

The Risk of Military Keynesianism

Center for Defense Information

Iran's Hidden History

Check out this interesting article by Dough Ireland on GCN on Iran's Hidden History

He reviews a forthcoming book by Janet Afary on "Sexual Politics in Modern Iran" and includes some extensive information on same-sex relationships in Iran, the country who's president recently said had no homosexuals in it!

Gay Republican Votes AGAINST Gay Marriage!

Minnesota Gay Republican Will NOT Vote For Marriage Equality Bill

State Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, says that he will not vote for the Marriage and Family Protection Act, a bill that would make Minnesota’s marriage laws gender-neutral, allowing same-sex couples many of the rights currently denied by Minnesota statute. Koering, who is gay and a Republican, said he would vote against it because the state faces bigger problems.

Republicans luv their Uncle Toms...

Marriage or Civil Unions?

Should the gay community be focusing on legalizing same-sex marriage or civil unions? I've been debating this question with myself for a while, and still am not sure. On one hand, it is hard to justify creating a "separate but equal" institution that is supposed to give all or most of the rights and benefits of marriage for one category of people--gays and lesbians. If it is a separate institution, it cannot be equal to marriage (at least under current federal and state laws).

Terry Allen makes a good case for civil unions in the Feb. issue of In These Times: Forget Marriage--Civil Unions for All Her approach, which I like, is to get the government out of marriage and leave that "institution" up to churches and other religious groups to define as they see fit, but make "civil unions" equal benefits, rights, etc. for any (consenting adult) couple, gay or straight. This argument would appeal to the non-religious, libertarians and some conservatives who want "less government." We could even make civil unions an option for couples who may not even be in a sexual relationship at all (like the growing number of senior citizens who are in non-sexual relationships but would benefit from civil union benefits and rights.)

By the way, in France More Straight Couples are Opting for Civil Unions Over Marriage!

I agree with Chris Crain that the gay rights movement must NOT pursue a "marriage only" strategy, but move forward with marriage and civil unions simultaneously. One advantage of this approach is that it would result in rights for gay couples in all 50 states, not just the few who will legalize gay marriage any time soon.

Maybe after getting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) passed, the gay community could work with the Obama administration to (a) scrap the "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA) and (b) create a federal recognition of civil unions.

See Beyond Marriage

Obama Driving Republicans Crazy (Crazier)!

President Obama is driving Republicans Crazy! (Or should that be "crazier"?)

It's Fun to Watch Obama Driving These Republicans So Crazy

Frank Rich: Obama Wins Again!

GOP Senators Say Obama Off to Bad Start (John McCain has really been making an ass out of himself since he LOST the presidential election, what a relief he did not win..)

Maybe Obama has won his first political lesson as President: You can't trust Republicans! They don't want any part of a "bipartisan" plan to save this country--they want to see Obama FAIL. So enough with this bi-partisan compromising crap, do what we elected you to do--we want CHANGE, no more of the Republican/conservative non-sense that got us into the messes we are in.

Obama: "I'm an Optimist, Not a Sap"

Obama needs to listen to, and follow the example of, Franklin Roosevelt (FDR)

Obama's Choice: FDR's First 100 Days or Lincoln's Team of Rivals

UPDATE: More Proof that Republicans are Losing their Minds Over Obama!

The craziest ones seem to be in Tennessee, where four Republican state reps. are plantiffs in a lawsuit to force Obama to prove he is a United States citizen by coughing up his birth certificate! Yes they are that crazy!

TN Church Shooter: "This Was a Hate Crime"

TN Church Shooter: "This Was a Hate Crime"

If you want to look into the mind of a crazy person who actually follows the "reasoning" of right-wing nuts like Benard Goldberg, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly, just read the Manifesto of Jim Adkisson, the nut who attack and killed "liberals" at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church!

"Know this if nothing else: This was a hate crime. I hate the damn left-wing liberals. There is a vast left-wing conspiracy in this country & these liberals are working together to attack every decent & honorable institution in the nation, trying to turn this country into a communist state. Shame on them....
"This was a symbolic killing. Who I wanted to kill was every Democrat in the Senate & House, the 100 people in Bernard Goldberg's book. I'd like to kill everyone in the mainstream media. But I know those people were inaccessible to me. I couldn't get to the generals & high ranking officers of the Marxist movement so I went after the foot soldiers, the chickenshit liberals that vote in these traitorous people. Someone had to get the ball rolling. I volunteered. I hope others do the same. It's the only way we can rid America of this cancerous pestilence."

"I thought I'd do something good for this Country Kill Democrats til the cops kill me....Liberals are a pest like termites. Millions of them Each little bite contributes to the downfall of this great nation. The only way we can rid ourselves of this evil is to kill them in the streets. Kill them where they gather. I'd like to encourage other like minded people to do what I've done. If life aint worth living anymore don't just kill yourself. do something for your Country before you go. Go Kill Liberals."

The scary thing is, he did almost exactly what the right-wing nuts have been screaming at their followers to do--attack and kill liberals, since liberals are "traitors," "liars" "Un-American", etc...

Happy Birthday: Lincoln and Darwin

Today is the 200th birthday celebration of Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin. What do they have in common?

First, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, saved the country from the "War of Southern Traitors" known as the Civil War, and is credited with freeing the slaves. He was probably the last great Republican President and would not recognize the Republican Party today, or would they recognize him as a Republican? He couldn't win a GOP primary today with these comments:

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety off my country...corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated n a few hands and the Republic is destroyed." (You should see it now Abe, thanks to your party!)

"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if Labor had not firs existed. Labor is superior to capital, and deserves much the higher consideration."

"The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds."

(Did he say "Workers of the world unite!" ??? Lincoln was a MARXIST COMMUNIST!)

And to make matters even worse, Lincoln may have been the first "gay" President!


Charles Darwin was the father of modern biology and gave the scientific explanation for how life EVOLVED on planet earth--natural selection. No god or gods required. Most Americans still don't believe it! Polls show most people still cling to the myth of biblical creation by a sky god! And they control the Republican Party!

So what do Darwin and Lincoln have in common? They were both skeptics when it came to religion, and both challenged the majority opinion of their time with reason and truth. Both are anathema to the Christian Right and the Republican Party today!

Freedom to Marry Week

It's almost Valentine's Day, but some of us cannot marry our Valentine!

It's Freedom to Marry Week!

Check it out...

The Bush Recession

While the "do-nothing" Hooverite Republicans twiddle their thumbs and threaten to filibuster the economic recovery plan, the U.S. economy is sinking fast. Here's a graph that should put things in perspective. Compare the job losses in the current "Bush" Recession to prior recessions.

Obama Shines in First Press Conference

President Obama Showed Why He Won the Election in his First Live Press Conference

Many people may still be in shock at watching an intelligent Presidential Press Conference. Barack Obama did a great job of explaining why Congress must pass the "Economic Stimulus and Recovery" Bill. He made the case for Keynesian "demand-side" economics--using government to stimulate demand. Although I still wish he would quit playing nice with the Republican Taliban, he did take a few kid-glove swipes at the GOP by reminding the American people that THEY were in charge for the past eight years and created the mess we are in, and that we tried "supply-side" (trickle-down) economics and it FAILED. The Bush Tax Cuts did not solve the economic crisis--they made it worse.

What I can't understand is why "centrist" Democrats gave away so much of the stimulus plan just to get a couple of Republican votes. Why is Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson even in the Democratic Party? Listening to him try to rationalize his cuts in education and aid to the states in the stimulus bill on the Rachel Maddow Show, I thought he was a Republican. With "Democrats" like him... gods help us.

Rush Limbaugh Less Popular than Jeremiah Wright!

GOP Standard Bearer Rush Limbaugh is Less Popular Than Jeremiah Wright
Congressional Republicans have turned to Rush Limbaugh to lead the battle against Obama. One problem: A poll says he's less popular than Jeremiah Wright.

Republicans who have turned to Rush Limbaugh to lead the fight against President Obama may have backed the wrong horse. According to one recent poll, Limbaugh turns out to be one of the most unpopular political figures in the country.

An October 24, 2008, poll conducted by the Democratic research firm Greenberg-Quinlan-Rosner has Rush Limbaugh enjoying a public-approval rating of just 21 percent among likely voters, while 58 percent have "cold" feelings toward the right-wing radio-talk-show host. Limbaugh's cold rating was higher than that of all the political figures the firm polled. It was seven points higher than Rev. Jeremiah "God Damn America" Wright and eight points higher than former Weather Underground domestic terrorist William Ayers. (As the firm points out in an email, it's true that Wright and Ayers both had lower "warm" ratings than Limbaugh--as you'd expect for men who have virtually no constituencies.)

Limbaugh is so unpopular that only 44 percent of Republican voters reported "warm" feelings toward him, ten points less than those who felt the same way about Limbaugh's top competitor, Fox News' Sean Hannity, and a full 20 points lower than Fox News itself. Yet in spite of rock-bottom favorable numbers, Limbaugh confidently declared one week after Obama's inauguration that his power far exceeded that of the Republican Party's top two leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives. Obama, Limbaugh roared, is "obviously more frightened of me than he is Mitch McConnell. He's more frightened of me, than he is of, say, John Boehner, which doesn't say much about our party."

Obama seems unfazed by El Rushbo. The president recently implored Republican leaders, "You can't listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done."

Despite Limbaugh's low popularity ratings, congressional Republicans are so intimidated by his perceived influence that even the most resentful members shamelessly grovel at his feet. He might have alienated vast sectors of the Republican base, but Limbaugh still commands an army of self-proclaimed "Dittoheads" who represent the party's most politically fervent, ideologically extreme, and easily shepherded element...

Senate Compromise Guts "Stimulus"

John Nichols, The Nation: Senate Dems Compromise Away Best Parts of Stimulus Plan
Senate Dems/Republicans slash $billions in needed stimulus: cuts in eduction and school funding, cuts in unemloyment aid, cuts in aid to financially struggle states, etc..

In order to get the votes of two Republican (Maine's Susan Collins and Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter) and perhaps another (Mainer Olympia Snowe) that were needed to undermine the threat of a GOP filibuster, Reid surrendered $86 billion is proposed stimulus spending. In doing so, the Democrats agreed to cut not just fat but bone, and to warp the focus and intent of the legislation.

The Senate plan is dramatically more weighted than the House bill toward tax cuts (which account for more than 40 percent of the overall cost of the package). This is despite the fact that there is a growing consensus -- among even conservative economists and policy makers -- that tax cuts will do little or nothing to stimulate job creation in a country that lost almost 600,000 positions in January alone.

The bottom line is that, under the Senate plan:
* States will get less aid.
* Schools will get less help.
* Job creation programs will be less well funded.
* Preparations to combat potential public health disasters -- which could put the final nail in the economy's coffin -- will not be made.

In every sense, the Senate plan moves in the wrong direction.

Paul Krugman: What Centrists Have Wrought
The short answer: to appease the centrists, a plan that was already too small and too focused on ineffective tax cuts has been made significantly smaller, and even more focused on tax cuts.

According to the CBO’s estimates , we’re facing an output shortfall of almost 14% of GDP over the next two years, or around $2 trillion. Others, such as Goldman Sachs, are even more pessimistic. So the original $800 billion plan was too small, especially because a substantial share consisted of tax cuts that probably would have added little to demand. The plan should have been at least 50% larger.

Now the centrists have shaved off $86 billion in spending — much of it among the most effective and most needed parts of the plan. In particular, aid to state governments, which are in desperate straits, is both fast — because it prevents spending cuts rather than having to start up new projects — and effective, because it would in fact be spent; plus state and local governments are cutting back on essentials, so the social value of this spending would be high. But in the name of mighty centrism, $40 billion of that aid has been cut out.

My first cut says that the changes to the Senate bill will ensure that we have at least 600,000 fewer Americans employed over the next two years.

The real question now is whether Obama will be able to come back for more once it’s clear that the plan is way inadequate. My guess is no. This is really, really bad.

Frank Rich: Slumbdogs Unite!

Lesbian Fights for Visitation of her Dying Partner

This is why we need "marriage" equality NOW!
Gay Woman Fights for Visitation Rights in Miami Court

A gay woman not allowed to visit her dying partner at Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2007 hopes a federal judge will allow her claims of emotional distress and negligence to go to trial.

As her partner of 17 years slipped into a coma, Janice Langbehn pleaded with doctors and anyone who would listen to let her into the woman's hospital room.
Eight anguishing hours passed before Langbehn would be allowed into Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center. By then, she could only say her final farewell as a priest performed the last rites on 39-year-old Lisa Marie Pond.

Jackson staffers advised Langbehn that she could not see Pond earlier because the hospital's visitation policy in cases of emergency was limited to immediate family and spouses -- not partners. In Florida, same-sex marriages or partnerships are not recognized. On Friday, two years after her partner's death, Langbehn and her attorneys were in federal court, claiming emotional distress and negligence in a suit they filed last June.

Jackson attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case on grounds that the hospital has no obligation to allow patients' visitors.

Following a hearing lasting more than an hour Friday, U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jordan said he would try to decide soon whether the case could proceed to trial. He gave no specific date.

The suit is winding its way through federal court only months after voters approved the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The statewide amendment garnered more than 62 percent of voters -- surpassing the 60 percent threshold required for ratification.

Supporters of Florida's Amendment 2 -- mostly conservatives and Christian groups -- argued it was needed to protect families and the traditional institution of marriage by promoting homes with a mom and a dad.

Opponents argued that gay and straight, unmarried Floridians risked losing domestic partner benefits, such as health insurance, hospital visitation rights and the ability to make end-of-life decisions.

Students: "Gay is OK"

Hundreds Counter Phelps' anti-Gay Protest at Kansas High School

This should lift your spirits... hundreds of students from Shawnee Mission High School in Prairie Village, Kansas poured into the streets around their high school to counter-protest anti-gay wacko Fred Phelps and his clan. The school has a Gay Straight Alliance and elected a gay homecoming king. Check out the pictures! Gives us some hope..

(Maybe Fred Phelps is helping us by rallying support for LGBT people!)

Thank Ronald Reagan

Happy Birthday Ronald Reagan--Thanks for Ruining America!

Ronald Reagan rolled back a century of progressive advances, and now we are suffering from the consequences of his right-wing policies: the meltdown of the financial sector, widening income inequality, the emergence of lockdown America, the obscene inflation of CEO compensation, the end of locally owned media, market crashes, blackouts, drug-company scandals, rampant greed and materialism, the subprime mortgage crisis, the root of the chaos in the financial sector, thank Ronald Reagan!

Will Bunch: Tear Down This Myth: How Reagan's Legacy Haunts Our Future

The Real Reagan Record: Debunking Myths About Reagan

DSA Economic Recovery Plan

DSA's Economic Recovery Plan  
 
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has been gravely concerned that politically motivated tax cuts, largely sweetheart deals for business that benefit the very financial institutions whose high-flying speculation created the economic crisis, have been inserted into the Economic Recovery Act. The House passed legislation is now being voted on in the Senate. So far amendments to increase spending on infrastructure have been defeated while additional tax credits have been added to the bill. It is expected, although not certain, that the Senate will finish voting on the bill today.
 
DSA has issued a recovery plan that calls on the government to spend $1 trillion to stimulate the economy and includes no  business tax credits.  We believe the federal government should minimally allocate:

$200 billion in block grants to state and local governments to make up for the annual loss in state and local revenue
$100 billion to pay for half of the increased Medicaid costs states will face
$100 billion to pay for COBRA coverage for laid-off workers and to allow people over 55 to buy into Medicare
$50 billion to increase unemployment insurance and expand eligibility. (Currently only one-third of unemployed workers receive unemployment insurance!)
$100 billion to increase Pell grants and expand the number of its recipients.
$450 billion to the Social Security Trust Fund so that workers would receive a one-year holiday from paying the regressive FICA tax. Such a measure would radically stimulate consumer demand.
DSA's recovery plan and the accompanying analysis are presented in a short, 4-page document that has been posted on our Website. To read or download a copy click HERE. Additionally, we have updated the two-page hand-out, originally released last week, that details our perspective on the economic crisis. The redesigned flyer is much more attractive than the previous version.  To read or download the updated flyer click here.
 
It is critical that Congress hear from those opposed to tax cuts for business if there is any hope of redirecting those resources to job-generating infrastructure spending. You can reach your senator or representative through the Congressional switchboard by calling 202-224-3121 or 800-828-0698. If you don’t know who is your Representative, you can find out by clicking here. Let your Representative know your views, as the bill will come back to the House for a final vote. House members can still pressure their leaders who will negotiate with the Senate on the final version. When you call, be sure to say you are calling about the Economic Recovery Act and that while you support the act, you are both against its tax-cuts-for-business provisions and believe that there should be more direct spending on infrastructure. You should also say that you are opposed to the E-Verify provisions.
 
In solidarity,
Frank Llewellyn
National Director

The Economic Crisis: A Socialist Perspective

Maybe the Socialist Party is right.. why should the working class keep bailing out capitalism? Isn't it time for REAL CHANGE--Socialism!

Socialists Confront the Economic Crisis

Obama's $825 Billion Stimulus Plan: Too Little, Too Late

Don't Blow it Obama!

Oh I hope this is not true.. TN Gov. Phil Bredesen and Blue Dog (RIGHT-WING) Democrat Jim Cooper for HHS??
Neither of these men are “progressives’ and neither support universal (single-payer) health insurance! On the contrary, they are very close to the health insurance companies that are blocking universal health insurance!

Obama PLEASE quit listening to Rahm Emmanuel and the DLC!!

If Obama pics either Phil Bredesen or Jim Cooper for HHS, that is it.
I will throw up my hands and write my check to the Socialist Party USA

Andy why is Obama nominating a right-wing anti-gay Republican for Sec. of Commerce?
David Mixner: No to Sen. Gregg for Commerce Secretary

It’s almost as if the 2008 Presidential election never happened..

Republicans Outnumber Democrats in Stimulus Debate on Cable News

No wonder the American people are confused about the Economic Stimulus/Recovery bill..

Poll: Public Turning Against Stimulus Bill

According to an analysis by Think Progress, GOP LAWMAKERS OUTNUMBER DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS 2 TO 1 IN STIMULUS DEBATE ON CABLE NEWS

That's "liberal media bias" for you..

Also, Media Matters: Conservatives Dominate Sunday Talk Shows

Obama Puts off Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

This is not good..
Obama Seeks Assessment on Gays in the Military (No Rush to Repeal DADT)

Why do we need ANOTHER study on how ineffective the DADT policy is, and why gays prevent no threat to national security or military "cohesion"?? This issue has been studied to death.
I know Obama is trying to defer to the military establishment, but we know where that got Bill Clinton.. it got us DADT!

Service Members Legal Defense Network (SLDN) weighs in: Please Mr. President, NO More Studies!

Iraq's Human Toll

Iraq's Shocking Human Toll:

Here's what George W. Bush left behind:
1 million killed
4.5 million displaced
1-2 million widows
5 million orphans

Iceland Appoints First Lesbian Prime Minister

After conservatives destroyed their country, a Lesbian Prime Minister Takes Power in Iceland.

Social Democrat Johanna Sigurdardottir leads a new left-wing coalition govenment. She is the first female Prime Minister in Iceland, and the first (openly) gay head of state in the world.

The big story is that Iceland is an extreme example of the failures of conservative economic policies. If Prime Minister Sigurdardottir and her government can turn things around, we can put Iceland on our list of good places to live (but it's COLD!)

Another good thing about Iceland is the alternative music group Sigur Ros. Check them out!

Tom Daschle/Health Care Reform In Trouble

UPDATE: Tom Daschle has withdrew his nomination to be HHS Secretary.

The Nation: Don't Morn for Daschle

Now, why doesn't Obama nominate Howard Dean?
----------------------------------------

Boy this is getting embarrassing! Another one of Obama's cabinet nominees is in trouble for not paying his taxes. Tom Daschle, Obama's nominee for health secretary, failed to pay $128,000 in taxes for the use of car provided by a private equity firm.

But not paying taxes may be the least of the problems with Daschel. He also earned more than $200,000 from the health care industry in the past two years, and is part of a K-Street Law firm that lobbies for the health care industry! Why would Obama pick someone who is tied to the health/insurance industry to regulate and reform that industry?

Some progressives saw the writing on the wall back when Obama nominated Daschel:
Matt Tabbai: The Whore Factor:
"When Obama picked Tom Daschle to be the HHS Secretary, I nearly shit my pants. In Washington there are whores and there are whores, and then there is Tom Daschle. Tom Daschle would suck off a corpse for a cheeseburger. True, he is probably only the second-biggest whore for the health care industry in American politics — the biggest being doctor/cat-torturer Bill Frist, whose visit to South Dakota on behalf of John Thune in 2004 was one of the factors in ending Daschle's tenure in the Senate.

But in picking Daschle — who as an adviser to the K Street law firm Alston and Bird has spent the last four years burning up the sheets with the nation's fattest insurance and pharmaceutical interests — Obama is essentially announcing that he has no intention of seriously reforming the health care industry. . ."

And Glenn Greenwald adds (The Daschles: Feeding at the Beltway Trough):

"Obama supporters argue that Obama needs someone like Daschle, with credibility within the health care industry, in order to achieve real reform. That's the standard explanation for most of what Obama does (he's only courting the establishment in order to change it), and though highly skeptical, I'm personally willing to withhold judgment until the actual evidence is available regarding what Obama actually does.

But there's no need to withhold judgment on Daschle himself. He embodies everything that is sleazy, sickly, and soul-less about Washington. It's probably impossible for Obama to fill his cabinet with individuals entirely free of Beltway filth -- it's extremely rare to get anywhere near that system without being infected by it -- but Daschle oozes Beltway slime from every pore."

The Obama administration is not getting off to a great start when it comes to "CHANGING" Washington...
(See Laura Flanders, Its Not the Lobbying--It's the Agreeing)

If we want REAL health care reform, and Universal Health Insurance, we are going to have to mobilize from the grassroots and demand it!

Get Active:
Universal Healthcare Action Network
Physicians for a National Health Care Program
Progressive Democrats of America

James Carville Shows Democrats How to Deal with Rush Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh, has emerged as the leader of the Republican Party once again to lead them out of their wilderness of scandal, confusion, and the Great Bush Recession. First, his Great White Behindness tried to argue that it is OBAMA'S recession (don't even try to follow his "logic"..) Now, The Great White One is leading the Republican charge against the Obama/Democratic recovery/stimulus plan, and has proposed his own "bipartisan" plan to divide the stimulus according to the popular vote: 54% infrastructure spending (for the Democrats) and 46% tax cuts for the Republicans and their friends.

James Carville has a response to the leader of the Republican Party: A History Lesson for Rush Limbaugh (Hint: Remember the 2000 Presidential election? What percentage of the vote did Gore and Bush get?)


Can we appoint James Carville as the Democratic Senate Majority Leader? (God Help us if our fate is in the hands of Harry Reid!)

The GOP seems to forget its history..
Frank Rich: Herbert Hoover Lives