Tag Archives: gay

TGIF -Republicans vs Democrats …The choice should be obvious


Today, President Obama speaks to Workers at Chrysler Group Toledo Supplier Park in Toledo, Ohio at 12:20pm ET. It definitely is worth going to whitehouse.gov/live and watching because it is proof that not only was helping the auto industry the right thing to do it saved millions of jobs as well contrary to whatever Presidential candidate Romney stated.

About a year ago, this time the House and Senate were quite busy debating, voting up or down on if they should help their fellow Americans while confirming or blocking President Obama’s appointees. The Republican Tea Party members of Congress have become less of that description we use for a Public Servant and more like Corporate Tools. Republicans who seemingly  are being backed financially by folks like the Koch brothers on the State level while their Federal brotherhood continues to put obstacles in the way of any great or big moves to keep the Govt out of the ditch almost three years later.

Now, with Republicans finally coming forward to announce their bids to run for President in 2012, with the obvious quest to complete the divide and conquer Americans.  It is not lost on most of us that we all should make an effort to remind our fellow Americans just who is responsible for this slow sometime stalled path toward the 21st Century. It is obvious that not only is the Republican tea party refusing to move into the 21st Century they have not only voiced attitudes that offend women, children and minorities but have passed legislation that could put them at more risk or in the streets while defunding government jobs will shove middle class workers into minimum wage earner status.  I will admit I only skimmed that Pledge to America but it is clear it was the 19page lie about putting Americans back to work by those job creators who need to keep those bonus dollars in order to do so. I ask Speaker Boehner, Where are the Jobs.  I have actual bumper stickers that say that because well after the midterm elections the Republican led House has been a big failure to create anything to help their fellow Americans.  If you would like a “Where are the Jobs Mr. Boehner Bumper Sticker let me know

 I also admit being slightly surprised by the outcome of the midterm elections. I was surprised at how many drank the Kool-Aid and who actually listened to “the media” instead of asking questions to find out for themselves that in fact far more people in “the media” are a part of the farce that is the Republican Tea Party. Those Republican Tea Party lies won the House of Representatives for only a few months because as we all know; the truth will set you free. The move to attack Roe V Wade,redefine rape, HR3 a Woman’s right to choose while Republicans defunding it offended many but it was not until the effort to end Medicare, as we know it that people began to see the light.  The midterm elections definitely stalled American progress but it also uncovered and highlighted the Republican agenda. The abuses of States Rights by Republican Governors in at least ten states willing to cut slash and burn worker rights, women, children, the poor and services that would help them.  However, that slogan about taking back their country no matter how offensive is worth noting and remembering because it is not a partisan slogan it is a discriminatory rally cry that we all need to push back on … I believe in equality for all on all levels which is not at all how Republicans feel as a whole in my opinion. 

 I don’t know about you but any person running for President must represent ALL Americans not a select few. Therefore, from now on my effort will be to make all those comments from Republicans stepping up to any mic wanting to become President of the United States  caught on tape or otherwise available so their truths will be set free.

 The info below is from June and July of 2010 … attitudes and words do matter

Republicans again blocked Democrats’ attempt to extend jobless benefits to millions of unemployed Americans last night. Senator Harry Reid sent a strong message back to the Minority after they prevented passage of the bill.

July 1, 2010

TYT comments on Micheal Steele -his behavior and comments regarding Thurgood Marshall

June 30, 2010

At today’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing, Senator Al Franken paid tribute to and defended the distinguished record of Justice Thurgood Marshall.

June 30, 2010

During day three of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan‘s confirmation hearing, Senator Al Franken focused a portion of his Q&A with the Solicitor General on the Citizens United case.

July 01, 2010

In the video below Sen Tom Corburn asks Elena Kagan about Freedom/ Inferring that better days were before women & minorities had rights– TYT

June 30, 2010

At today’s confirmation hearing, Senator Amy Klobuchar asked Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan to talk about the challenges women face in the legal profession and with respect to career choices in general.

Uganda Gay Death Penalty – We Won!! …Avaaz.org


Uganda‘s anti-gay law has failed! It looked sure to pass last week, but after 1.6 million petition signatures delivered to Parliament, tens of thousands of phone calls to our own governments, hundreds of media stories about our campaign and a massive global outcry, Ugandan politicians dropped the bill!

It was down to the wire – religious extremists tried to push the bill through on Wednesday, and then convened an unprecedented emergency session of Parliament on Friday. But each time, within hours, we reacted. A huge congratulations to everyone who signed, called, forwarded and donated to this campaign – with our help, thousands of innocent people in Uganda’s gay community do not wake up this morning facing execution for whom they chose to love.

Frank Mugisha, a courageous leader of the gay community in Uganda sent us this message:

“Brave Ugandan LGBT activists and millions of people around the world have stood together and faced down this horrendous anti-homosexuality bill.The support from the Avaaz global community has tipped the scales to prevent this Bill going forward. Global solidarity has made a huge difference.”

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs’ Office also wrote to Avaaz:

“Many thanks. As you know, thanks to a very large extent to the intensive lobbying and combined effort of you, other civil society representatives, EU and other governments, plus our delegation and embassies on the ground the Bill was not presented to the Parliament this morning.”

This fight is not over. The extremists behind this bill could try again within just 18 months. But this is the second time we’ve helped defeat this bill, and we’ll keep going until the hate-mongers give up.

Transforming the deeper causes of ignorance and hatred behind homophobia is an historic, long term struggle, one of the great causes of our generation. But Uganda has become a front line in that struggle, and a powerful symbol. The victory there echoes across many other places where hope is desperately needed, showing that kindness, love, tolerance and respect can defeat hatred and ignorance. Again, a huge thanks to all who made it happen.

With enormous gratitude and admiration for this amazing community,

Ricken, Emma, Iain, Alice, Giulia, Saloni and the whole Avaaz team.

Media highlights:

Anti-gay bill shelved:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13392723

Avaaz’s response to the outcome in the Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/13/uganda-anti-gay-bill-shelved

Ugandan President did not back bill because of “criticism of human rights groups”:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/05/13/international/i042638D37.DTL

Anti-gay bill delayed amid outcry:

http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Uganda-shelves-anti-gay-bill-20110513

Uganda’s “kill the gays” bill defeated:

http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE74C0HP20110513

NOM Exposed: A Facebook Swarm -from Kevin Nix


A door just opened, one that allows all of us to further expose and challenge the homophobia of the National Organization for Marriage.

You may have heard about Louis Marinelli, NOM’s online strategist who recently resigned because he supports marriage equality. He took all of the organization’s 290,000 Facebook fans with him. They’ve just begun to rebuild a Facebook fan base from scratch.

Here’s where you come in. If everyone on this list – after holding your nose – friended NOM, pro-equality supporters would outnumber NOM’s current anti-equality supporters 6 to 1.

But you know what would really make an impact? Leave a comment on NOM’s Facebook posts. Let’s saturate their page with positive, fact-based pro-equality messages. Some suggestions:

-Marriage for gays and lesbians will do nothing to religious freedom. Houses of worship will continue to decide whether they want to recognize gay marriages, or not. We’re talking about committed gay and lesbian couples going down to city hall to get married.

-Gay couples want to make the public commitment of marriage – and be held accountable for that commitment .

-Credible polls show a majority of American Catholics actually support marriage for gay and lesbian couples. People in the pews do not necessarily agree with the Catholic hierarchy.

You can get more ideas for comments in our “Fact” section of NOMExposed.org. But – please – don’t leave personal, ad hominem attacks. Don’t let them drag you into the gutter. No tit for tat. That gets us nowhere. We need elevated, positive conversation.

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/site/R?i=5k_xjG_BkXX9ISoCeENCgQ..

One last thing. The fight for marriage in New York is heating up. While HRC and other LGBT groups just launched a new campaign in New York. NOM has too and is trying to mobilize its people. If you live in New York State, become a NY NOMWatcher. We need more eyes and ears on the ground and online.

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/site/R?i=4anDOjLLVetvFWAvD1fd8g..

As always, thanks for your interest and engagement.

Kevin Nix

Director, NOM Project

TGIF & some News


featured pic is a campaign poster –

President Obama will be in the NYC today speaking from a General Electric Plant about JOBs and our economy he will then go to Maryland for a retreat with others from the Democratic Party.

Changes are happening …they are in the air and i like it.

If you listen to the tone of the Republican Tea Party since the midterm elections… the talk seems filled with a little more fear. The promises made to create JOBs have yet to happen or be attempted and while the public is beginning to finally hear, see and reject the carpetbaggers for who they really are I wonder if it will take all of the next two years for the Republican Tea Party to stop saying the midterm elections signaled a change and they heard the American people and are doing what they want. It is a fact that contrary to what Republicans keep saying …”talking points” or lies the polls by CBS say 48% want to keep President Obama’s new health care law and just 40% want to repeal it. In addition, pundits, reporters and talking heads suggest that politicians on both sides of the aisle are beginning to not only understand the new law better but are starting to like the new HCR law because it will help older folks, women, folks with pre-existing condition and children under 26 years old. It would be tragic if legislation done in a good faith effort for the people were struck down by Republican Tea Party. Still, I cannot begin to express how offensive the right was by campaigning with the promise to work on Jobs, Jobs, Jobs only to have decided to denounce and malign President Obama like Michele Bachmann who stated she and her comrades want to repeal not just legislation but this President instead of working for We the People to create Jobs.

The negative, nasty, ugly diatribe coming from the very people we placed in positions of power who get paid by American tax payers seem to be abusing it because the latest comments definitely give this voter the idea that they do not represent all the people of their States but those from Corporate America.

In an article this morning, the USA today reported that conservatives would end the federal government support of Amtrak, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Agency for International Development. I believe that this is just a start because rumors before the midterm elections were that the Departments of Educational and Agriculture would be cut if they had their way. The group promises to eliminate about $200 million a year for the District of Columbia. The article quotes Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen, calling the GOP proposal “radical” and Van Hollen’s spokesman, Doug Thornell told ABC news “Putting forward a plan that puts more people out of work and endangers our economic recovery calls into question how serious the GOP is about tackling our nation’s most difficult challenges.” This plan along with some other conflicts in what needs to be cut from the federal budget is developing a GOP rift. In contrast,  an interview today among other things, President Obama stated,”Republicans will need to explain to taxpayers how tax cuts for the wealthy squares with their desire to start reducing deficits and debt.”

While Folks like palin, cheney, boehner, limbaugh and other Republicans Conservatives continue to attack Obama for any move toward collaboration with other countries calling him a Socialist, twisting his words and the meaning, practicing fear mongering and otherwise being obstacles of change… which, is what we need … a way forward, an implementation of the changes “We the People” (53%) put President Obama into office that will move Americans toward the 21st Century contrary to what the right seems to want to do.

What was the past has to be accepted, exorcised and released for room to provide change we can believe in.

my take

Other News …

 **Vets and Doctors reports say that unless you don’t care it is better to stop letting you pets share your bed, lick you or kiss  …. for fear of detrimental diseases -cats are far more likely to infect you …open cuts sores etc.

**Gov.Brewer continues to make it harder for people to get the help they need for transplants -at least 2 patients have died -now she wants to drop folks from Medicaid …specifically those with mental issues

**Congresswoman Giffords will be moved to Houston for great care and so her husband will be able to work and be close to him as well

**WSJ reports 50% approve of what our President is doing …across the board  

**Iran and 6 World Powers begin nuke talks

**Obama picks GE Chief for Board —focus on jobs

**House GOP wants to cut $2.5trillion in the fed budget  by – go to USAtoday.com for article

  **Obama states “Republicans will need to explain to taxpayers how tax cuts for the wealthy squares with their desire to start reducing deficits and debt.”

**Manson denied parole

**FBI nabs numorous mafia

**rep. Cantwell is reported as looking for ways to put Boeing back on top

 

**Gov.Brown says Education is a civil rights issue