Romney-Ryan 2012

This cracks me up! Obviously Team Rom-RyRy, Team GOP, Team RNC, and the rest of the Right Wing have forgotten the last time a Republican stood on or near a Navy ship. "Mission Accomplished" anyone? Dorks.

Photo credit: Screenshot taken from the front page of the WashingtonPost.com.

How Many Trees Had to Die...

...so Sarah Palin could regale us with her prose and folksy you-betcha wit and wisdom?

Honestly, will this woman not go away already? Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!

I'm half tempted to buy her book and read it just so I can counterpoint it with intelligence. On the other hand, as my ex often says, "There are so many other good books to read and so little time. Why waste it on trash?"

*****

Okay, left-leaning rant over, let's get down to business...

Attention friends who are conservative and/or who vote Republican: I'm being serious here when I ask this, so please don't think I'm trying to be a smartass or anything. Can you tell me, please, what is it about Sarah Palin that makes her so attractive? How will she save the GOP? What will she do for America that will be immediately and historically positive?

I'm not being funny here. I'm being serious. I truly want to know, because I'm at a loss to understand how this woman is worth the-more-than-15 minutes of fame she's been graciously afforded.

The comment box is open and I would ask for diplomacy and restraint, please. I don't want a fight in the comments section. I'm just seeking further light and knowledge.

"I'm With the Taliban Against America." Yeah, That's a Winner, Ya Wankers!

Ah, the Republicans and their pundits. I know not all Republicans think like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, or Bill O'Reilly, but seriously? Those dudes are making any of you who belong to the Republican Party and have even a smidgen of brain matter and firing synapses look stupid. Really.

*****

It was refreshing this morning to pop open the Washington Post and read these two columns by Eugene Robinson and Richard Cohen. Both validated my sentiments and writing. Maybe I should enter the Post's contest to be a weekly columnist. Or not. Here is:

Obama's High Bar

and

A Nobel for Us

It's the economy, stupid...

Seems that's why John McCain lost the election to Barack Obama. And I quote from the Washington Post: "There are fundamental facts...that cannot be denied," McCain said. "When we selected or asked Sarah Palin to be my running mate, it energized our party. We were ahead in the polls, until the stock market crashed. And she still is a formidable force in the Republican Party." (Emphasis added.)

Bwahahahahahahaha...

Ooooh. *wipes tear from corner of eye* That's precious. You keep telling yourself that, John.

If you want to read the entire article and enjoy equal parts hilarity and foreboding, go here. And, as I said before, if Sarah Palin is the hope of the GOP, even God-in-their-likeness can't help them!

Perspective on Obama's Nobel Peace Prize

Yesterday, I was standing in the corridor at work discussing with a technical officer a document I was editing when one of his colleagues came out and said, "Barack Obama just won the Nobel Peace Prize."

What followed was stunned silence on my part and exuberance on the part of the non-Americans. Stunned because although I voted for President Obama and I fully support his efforts at home and abroad, I am still waiting to see results on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the closure of Guantanamo Bay, improvements in the U.S. economy and employment situations, universal healthcare, efforts to combat climate change, and the extension of basic human rights to all peoples. I don't expect miracles overnight, like some Americans and President Obama's worst critics do. I believe change can be both immediate and measured; the president will get results by being bold and swift and methodical and deliberate.

But the Nobel Peace Prize? Already? I think it's a bit premature.

Our European friends generally see America as moving back toward policies that embody peace and universal human rights and President Obama is a hopeful, credible messenger of that cause. After eight years of cowboy diplomacy, the Obama Administration is correcting that course and sending signals that shock and awe is bad policy. On a continent and in countries where wars have had devastating consequences in the last century and where nationalism is still a value, but cooperation is seen as a necessity, peace is a relevant and worthy value.

As I stood in the corridor accepting the congratulations of many of my colleagues, my stupor was broken by a gentleman from Great Britain who offered this agreeable perspective and opinion:

"The Nobel Prize," he posited, "shouldn't be awarded to President Obama. It should be given to the American people for having the courage to elect a man to office who will, hopefully, bring peace to the world."

To that I can say "Amen" and congratulations to the American people.



Photo and graphics source: Google Images

Which is the Greater Threat? Gays or White Males?

Very few of you probably follow politics in Utah, but I do for a few reasons. First, because I grew up in Utah. Second, because I'm a sociologist of religion whose area of specialization is Mormonism and studying how it manifests itself on the social and political landscape. Third, because the Mormon Church is a political powerhouse, as continually evidenced by recent events in California, among other pivotal moments in American history. And fourth, because my fundamental rights as a member of the GLBT community are a constant source of consternation for many Mormons, especially in Utah, where most of their elected officials are Mormon.

In the last year or so, one of the state legislature's more controversial figures has been a state senator from West Jordan, Salt Lake County, Utah named Chris Buttars. If you want to read more about this flaming homophobe, go to the Salt Lake Tribune and search for him. Or Google him. Whatever. While he's the impetus for this post, he isn't what I'm going to write about. Instead, I'm highlighting the Trib's best columnist and voice of reason in Mormondom--a guy named Robert Kirby.

Recently, he wrote about Chris Buttars and the "threat" gays and lesbians pose to America. Pay special attention to his closing sentence. It's priceless. Here is Sen. Buttars, Gay Rights Won't Destroy Us.

And Thus, It Begins...

Today's Washington Post reports that President Obama's executive order to close down Guantanamo Bay within a year may be hampered by "files in disarray" and "scattered throughout the executive branch." Reading this article set my teeth on edge and is, I believe, only the beginning of what will be revealed about the Bush War on Terrorism.

Here is Guantanamo Case Files in Disarray.

But wait, there's more! Karen J. Greenberg reports that there was a time in the history of Gitmo, when the military tried to do the right thing by detainees despite objections from the civilian side--i.e. Donald Rumsfeld and cohorts--of the equation. Have a look at When Gitmo Was (Relatively) Good. I wonder how former administration officials will respond to this?

Yeah, Baby!

Granted, this editorial animated cartoon is from Nov. 5, 2008, but I think today it's equally as apropos!

And if you want some good reading, go here and read what my buddy, Gunfighter, has to say to those in his past and any in the future who tell him he's a sell out to his people because he chose to use good grammar and standard English.

Yesterday, Mr. Obama was at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and then at Calvin Coolidge H.S. as part of his day of service. Both of these are mere blocks from my home. We went out to see the president's (how cool is it that we can say that now?!) motorcade and the atmosphere was electric! For the first time in a long time, this city is pumped!

Finally, if you want to see some nice photos of events going on over the last few days and today, visit fellow photoblogger Juxtaexposed. And, in a bit of shameless self-promotion, check out my blog, too. (Although, I haven't posted nearly as many pictures as Juxta. As prolific as I can be with my camera, I've been overwhelmed by the emotion and excitement of the last few days and can't adequately capture the feeling. This is one of those moments in history where you have to see it and feel it to believe it.)

Editorial copyright: Ann Telnaes and the Washington Post Co.

D'Ya Think?!

Compared to his son, George H.W. Bush was a decent enough fellow. Disturbingly, however, now he'd like to see his son, Jeb, be the president one day.

Or does he?

What I love is the last line he speaks, which I think says more about what he thinks of his son's handling of the presidency than anything else he could possibly say.

I mean right now is probably a bad time... We've had enough Bushes in there.

Can we say, "ZINGER!"

And while I have your attention, last night a friend sent me this quote from George Orwell. Obviously I need to add "Notes on Nationalism" to my reading pile.

All nationalists have the power of not seeing resemblances between similar sets of facts. A British Tory will defend self-determination in Europe and oppose it in India with no feeling of inconsistency. Actions are held to be good or bad, not on their own merits, but according to who does them, and there is almost no kind of outrage — torture, the use of hostages, forced labour, mass deportations, imprisonment without trial, forgery, assassination, the bombing of civilians — which does not change its moral colour when it is committed by ‘our’ side ... The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.

Is that not just a little frightening or what?

Reading

Most of you know that I'm avid reader and a huge advocate of reading, especially for children and young adults. In the Wall Street Journal the other day, Karl "Goebbels" Rove, makes the case that George "The Decider" Bush should be well-regarded because he reads. Seems the good ol' boy from Tex-ass (which reminds me of a joke. I'll tell it here*) is just being all "aw shucks" as a ploy. According to Rove, Bush is actually an intellectual.

Pardon me while I walk into the other room and die of unabashed laughter...

*Que Jeopardy Music*

Okay, I'm back. Fortunately, we have Richard Cohen of the Washington Post to balance out Rove's last ditch effort to paint his former boss and friend, "The Leader of the Free World", as a smart guy. Cohen, to put it mildly, isn't impressed with Bush's choice of reading material over the last three years. In fact, he sums it up like this:

[T]he books themselves reveal -- actually, confirm -- something about Bush that maybe Rove did not intend. They are not the reading of a widely read man, but instead the books of a man who seeks -- and sees -- vindication in every page. Bush has always been the captive of fixed ideas. His books just support that.

Hm. Seems to be little surprise in that. Not exactly what I would consider the hallmark of an intellectual. Then again, we're talking about Republicans here who view the word intellectual with as much disdain as the rest of us view doggie doo-doo on the bottom of our shoe: unpleasant, messy, and stinky. Ergo, is Rove's Bush really an intellectual or is he merely a guy who reads? Call me a cynic, but I think he's just a guy who reads. And only that which, as Cohen more adroitly points out than I can, underscores his sense of divine mandate and democratized self-righteousness.

*****

In other snort-worthy news, Bristol Palin had her baby. Congratulations. And named it Tripp. Poor baby. What is wrong with those people?! And, as the daughter of the supposed "Savior of the GOP"--that bastion of morality and family values--why hasn't this girl married her baby-daddy yet? Oh never mind. Who are we kidding?

*****

On a brighter note, here's a tribute to a resident of Bethesda, Maryland, who passed away this week. I don't know why this struck me especially. Maybe because Mr. Aanenson's sense of morality is in stark contrast to Bush & Co.'s appalling lack of the same. Here is WWII Fighter Pilot Shared Haunting Story with the World.



* Okay, so the joke I alluded to earlier... First, some background. My mother married a man whose parents migrated from Texas to California during the Depression in search of jobs. Despite living in California three times longer than they ever lived in Texas, my grandparents still strongly identify as Texans.

Not long after they were married, my parents were having dinner with my dad's mom and dad. A discussion arose about Lyndon Baines Johnson and my mother, in all of her 18 years of youth and naivete, told this joke:

"Did you know they've shortened the name of Texas to Tex?"

Incredulous looks ensued, but Mom plugged right along. "Yep," she said, "Seems they dropped the ass off the end and sent him to the White House."

My grandfather's reply, directed to my father, "She's not one of us."

True story. In hindsight, Mom says she probably should have sought an annulment then and there. Forty years later, we sometimes wish she had, too.

Anchors Aweigh, My Boy!

So, remember a few months ago when I said Sarah Palin actually makes George W. Bush look smart? Yeah. Well, I take that back. Bush is officially back in the "Stupidest Human Alive" category. And why, you ask? Because of this:

President George W. Bush, asked earlier about an auto bailout, said he hadn't decided what he would do but didn't want to leave a mess for Barack Obama who takes office a month from Saturday. A White House decision on helping the troubled automakers could come as early as Friday.

Um, sir? Mr. President? Sir, that ship has sailed looooooooooooong, long, long, long, long, looooooooooong, long, long ago.

Asshat. Read the entire story here, if you want.

January 20 won't be here soon enough.

Wanda Sykes for Congress!

This is priceless! And, as I say, "Spot on!"

Sarah Palin and Other Redundancies

This woman just will not go away. And if she's the hope the of the Republican Party, they're doomed. From yesterday's Sketch Book by Dana Milbank in the Washington Post, here is Palin: 'Just Getting Started'.

Continuing on a Rhapsody on a Theme of Palin in G-minor (as in "Go away already"), Jonathan Capeheart in the Post's PostPartisan round-up also mentions Sarah Palin's Next Act and, in a follow-up, begs someone, anyone, Beuller, to please Make Her Stop.

Moving away from that now, as if there isn't enough divisiveness in the world, a Catholic priest in South Carolina has told his parishioners, if you voted for Obama, forget taking communion. Hm. I don't seem to remember Jesus saying political choice was a prerequisite for partaking of the Last Supper or any subsequent iterations of his final act before his crucifixion. For your amusement (or head shaking. Whichever) here is SC Priest: No Communion for Obama Supporters.

Finally, I'm hesitant to highlight this one, but as I find this kind of sentiment has no place in our great country, I'm going to include this piece. It's a collection of recent news stories about racists who are gunning for our new president-elect. The most disturbing stories are the ones involving kids. A note to those who would espouse these kinds of sentiments: you're fomenting treason and terrorism, which makes you no different than bin Laden and his band of criminals. Think about it. Here is Racists React to Obama Victory.

Not wanting to end on that sour, sad note, today is also Friday, which means a photo is in order. How about this one?



Happy Friday, everyone.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Let Love Grow

In case you missed his special comment the other night, Olbermann says it best.

A Note to Members of My Tribe

Tuesday's presidential election was momentous and cause for celebration, but some ballot initiatives on the state level were not as momentous and brought with them cause for sadness and concern.

In particular, California's Proposition 8--a proposition that "eliminates right of same-sex couples to marry"--passed 52/48 in the Golden State on Tuesday. For those who haven't been paying attention, this means California voters have outlawed the right of gays and lesbians to marry. It is a revision (note: not an amendment) to the state's constitution that, for the first time in American history, reverses the rights of a subset of the population.

The passage of Prop 8 was heavily, loudly, and visibly supported by the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other evangelical, Catholic, and right-oriented family groups participated and supported this proposition as well with dollars and canvassing, but none were as heavily engaged and invested as the Mormons who supplied more than 40% of the $75 million that was spent on this campaign.

The result has been divisive within and without the Church. Families with gay sons and lesbian daughters feel betrayed by their church and its leaders. Members who support marriage for Mormons regardless of orientation have been disparaged by members who support marriage as between one man and one woman only. (And I'm sure some of the same has gone on in the other direction, but for the purposes of this entry, I don't care.) Some members who support(ed) Prop 8 have been strident and adamant that those who support gay marriage or who are gay and want to marry are going straight to hell.

Now, the Church and many of its Prop 8 supporting members are decrying the media backlash and civil protests taking place in Los Angeles, Oakland, and Salt Lake City against their involvement in and bankrolling of this initiative. The Church goes out of its way to state it is neutral when it comes to politics, but then involves itself in politics only to then cry foul when others call them out for engaging in politics. Which is it, brothers and sisters? 'Cause you can't have it both ways.

My point in this is, if you're a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and you support Prop 8 and you feel it's necessary to cry on my shoulder about how unfair the media is being to the Church, don't. I don't want your emails sent in utter disbelief. I don't want your phone calls expressing indignation. I don't want your newspaper clippings or your YouTube videos. I don't want any of it because it all boils down to three things for me: fear, inequality, and unchristlike behavior have no place in my life.

Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Jesus said, "As I have loved you, love one another." Jesus said, "Render unto Ceasar, that which is Ceasar's and unto God, that which is God's." You have rendered unto Ceasar. You have made your bed and now you must lie in it. If the consequence is a lack of appreciation and understanding from your brothers and sisters who love, just as you love, then so be it.

I'm done with compassion and forgiveness when it comes to building bridges of understanding between gay and lesbian Mormons and their straight families. I'm done with graciously accomodating your lives and your opinions in my home in an effort to make a place at the table. I'm done with living in silence in an effort not to upset your world. I've accepted your ways and your opinions and your feelings and now, I'm done.

Just wanted to put you on notice, you will find no sympathy here.

Impact, Part 2

Another story about the impact of this election in the lives of ordinary public servants. Here is A Butler Well Served by This Election.

And in the lives of ordinary black Americans, the election of Barack Obama opens the door to a new feeling of belonging. Here is Obama Victory Opens Door to a New Black Identity.

A brief comment on this article: It bothers me when I walk down the street, pass a black person and, rather than meeting my gaze and saying hello, they look down and only respond with a greeting if I greet them first. It bothers me not because I feel I need to be acknowledged. It bothers me because I sense an underlying feeling of inequality and that bugs me, because for me everyone is equal and I try to treat them thusly.

Since Tuesday, I've noticed a difference in the demeanor of many of my black neighbors. I'm noticing more of them are actually locking eyes with me and others and looking up. No longer are so many of them casting their eyes downward when they pass a white person. It is as if they are saying, "I can no longer be ignored and I will no longer be invisible." And to that I say, "Hoorah!"

The Boston Globe runs a beautiful series of 35 photos of our new president-elect. Here is the Big Picture.

And, this morning, my friend Alice over at Alice's Adventure's Underground sent me this article from Salon. The basic premise: Gen X'ers finally understand the passion of Baby Boomers. Here is A Gen X Response to Barack Obama: An Open Apology to Boomers Everywhere.

Finally, my friend Adriana, writer of What I Made for Dinner, writes about the effect of this election in her life. Here is The Audacity of Hope.

For someone who was going to stop doing round-ups once the election was over, I'm sure falling down on that, aren't I? Oh well.

Impact

While the election of Barack Obama is historic on so many levels, the majority of voters didn't elect him simply because he is mixed race. Nevertheless, the fact that a black man is our next president is meaningful and impactful in the lives of so many people of color who have fought long and hard for equal rights in our country. CNN does a meaningful fluff piece featuring the women of The View. Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd talk about what this means for them. Check it out.

Meanwhile, Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post explains why this election is so meaningful to him and millions of other black Americans. Here is Morning in America.

This morning, I spent about 45 minutes IM'ing with a correspondent who works for CNN London about the results of Tuesday's historic election. He's from New Zealand, but expressed his happiness and said he shed a few tears earlier this week when he watched the response of those who gathered in Chicago and when he listened to President-elect Obama's acceptance speech. Yesterday, a number of visitors from around the world left comments that basically reflect a collective sigh of relief. If you'd like, read their comments here.

Finally, if you missed Oprah's show yesterday, you can see it on her website. She was in the crowd in Grant Park on Tuesday and, based on the shots of her and the Rev. Jessie Jackson, it was a momentous day for both of them.

Remember This?

Palin Barack as President.

Yes we can. Yes we did!

Unbelievable!

I've been pretty much speechless since 11:00 last night when the networks and the Washington Post declared Barack Obama the 44th President of the United States of America. I'm cross posting this from my photography blog.

*****

Jubilation

Chants and outbursts of jubilation define the crowds that surged into
the streets of Washington and flowed to Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the
White House after it was announced that Barack Obama, the long-shot candidate
and senator from Illinois, had been elected America's 44th president.

Last night, history was made in the United States of America. For the first time, a black man has been elected to the highest office in the land. More than 100 million Americans voted. Of those who voted, 51%, or 52.7 million, cast their ballots for Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. Senator Obama garnered 338 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 needed, and was declared the 44th President of the United States.

Celebrating with the crowd in front of the White House

A large portion of the country burst into spontaneous celebration. Down on Pennsylvania Avenue, in front of the White House, a crowd of thousands gathered to chant "Yes We Can!" and "Yes We Did!" and "Obama! Obama!" Most of them appeared to be students from nearby George Washington and Georgetown Universities, but there were also many who seemed to be coming from the city's neighborhoods and the suburbs of Virginia and Maryland to be a part of history. Up on U and 14th Streets NW--Washington's historic Black Broadway--crowds of people poured out of their homes, restaurants, and bars and began celebrating.

While I was down at the White House tonight, three complete strangers--all African American--hugged me and others. This is a monumental day for them and an opportunity for change for all of us. The pictures I took aren't the greatest. I was being jostled by the crowd at times and didn't want to block the way at other times. But I hope they give you a sense for the moment. Similar celebrations were taking place from coast-to-coast.

About a mile from the White House,
a few people quietly gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

America has spoken and the way is clear. It won't be easy, but if we work together so much is possible. Last night was a night for all Americans to be proud!


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 11/05/08

11:09 PM - The Washington Post Calls It for OBAMA