POLITICAL CARTOONS

OBAMA AND THE GLBT COMMUNITY

Last night, President Obama addressed a dinner held in Washington, DC by the Human Rights Commission (HRC), in which he addressed the matter of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered (GLBT) rights. (Video available below.)

I watched the speech live last night on C-SPAN, and thought that President Obama gave a good speech, and reminded me of how much his administration has achieved for the GLBT community in his 8 months in office. It was a speech that re-enforced my belief that the president is on our side, and will do what he can to further our cause.

However, members of the GLBT community showed their ugly side in comments posted on my favorite blog Towleroad. (Click here to see all comments posted by Towleroad readers.)

I was personally insulted by comments made by obvious 'haters' who expect everything to be quick and easy, and probably live in the drive-though lanes of fast-food outlets.

Here was my response to all the negative comments:

I see the roster of bitchy venom-spewing queens were out in force with the snide comments.

Look, here's the brutal truth you constant center-of-attention grabbing whores: we're NOT the most important item on this administration's agenda right now; there are far, FAR more important issues like getting the economy back on the right track, passing health-care reform, overseeing the two wars we are fighting, trying to stop Iran from nuking the Middle East, etc.

If the White House were to focus NOW on repealing DADT or DOMA, the right wing-nuts would chip away at his popularity making the above listed and more-important issues moot, and raise questions amongst independent voters who may decide NOT to support Obama in the next general election.

Right now I am FAR more concerned about passing health-care reform than pushing for marriage rights for my non-existent partner. And that issue is also more important to GLBT families with children than getting hitched.

The nation - not just the GLBT community - needs a shrewd politician in the White House right now to get all of the above listed things done....but in order of priority that benefits the nation as a whole - not only a small minority that comprises just 10% (or less) of the population.

Also, he is NOT the person who repeals laws you morons; I didn't grow up in the USA and even I know that it's up to Congress to do that, and state laws and issues have to be approached at a local level, NOT through the White House. So the burden of responsibility of getting DADT and DOMA repealed, and ENDA and the Matthew Sheppard Act passed is for the GLBT community to be pro-active and aggressively canvass our elected representatives to repeal discriminating laws and enact tougher measures against GLBT discrimination.

Again, Prop 8 was enacted NOT because of the 'blacks' or the 'religious right'; it passed because the GLBT community was disorganized, lazy and complacent, expecting everything handed to them on a silver plate with their mai-tais, condoms and Ecstasy.

This administration has done a lot for us in a mere 8 months with repealing the AIDS ban on visas, recognizing more GLBT benefits on for federal workers, recognizing GLBT families at official events, etc.

What have YOU done recently to further GLBT rights? Or were y'all to busy trolling Towleroad and the internet for pictures of naked pretty boys that you would never, EVER have a chance at bagging?

Let's get behind our president and SUPPORT all he has to do for our country - he is a gust of fresh air after eight years of ignorance and arrogance.

MAYBE THIS TIME by Kristen Chenoweth and GLEE cast member Lea Michele

Saw this two weeks ago and am now addicted to the song (orginally sung by Liza Minelli in the movie 'Cabaret'). Enjoy!

Republicans whining why Reagan didn't win Nobel Peace Prize - there are valid reasons why he didn't.

Over and over again, the news channels are reporting that Republicans are whining that the Nobel Prize was given to Obama, Gore and Carter, but never awarded to Ronald Reagan for his role in the end of the Cold War in the 1980s. Instead, the Nobel Prize was given to then Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Look – here’s the deal with Reagan: although he had some part with the end of the Cold War, he was NOT the defacto person who effected the end of the Cold War – Gorbachev was. Until Gorbachev became premier in 1985 the USA was losing the nuclear arms race against the USSR. Gorbachev was the one who implemented glasnost ("openness"), perestroika ("restructuring"), demokratizatsiya ("democratization"), and uskoreniye ("acceleration" of economic development), and made changes in the USSR that brought the end to the Cold War– not Reagan.

I was in West Germany in December 1989 and watched on TV when the Brandenburg Gate was opened to allow East Germans access to West Germany, officially symbolizing a break in the Iron Curtain, and I can NOT recall seeing Reagan anywhere in the crowd. Nor was Reagan there marching in the Solidarity protest marches in Poland – which many credit as the beginning of the change behind the Iron Curtain. Incidentally, Lech Walesa, leader of the Solidarity movement in Poland was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983.

Other reasons why Reagan did NOT get the Nobel Prize could be due to his role in the bombing of Libya, and the Iran-Contra scandal.

Also, at the start of his presidency Reagan actually implemented polices that intensified and escalated the Cold War, with his threat of the ‘Star Wars’ program, and his budgetary focus on a military agenda and less on domestic and international social programs. You can NOT award a peace prize to someone who first promoted ending a war by hinting that ‘mine gun is bigger than yours’ with regards to his defense policies. This led to a lot of doomsday scenarios floated around in the early 1980s hinting that we were at the brink of nuclear holocaust; remember the movie ‘The Day After’?

My personal opinion of Ronald Reagan has changed in recent years. (Although a lot of that shift is really based on revelations that he is credited with the start of our current conservative political climate, and is the idol god worshiped by today’s Christian right wingers…but I digress.) Growing up outside the U.S. in the 1980s I thought he was a charismatic leader, but also noted the change in American culture that began to focus more on individual monetary achievements and, to coin that infamous phrase from the iconic movie ‘Wall Street’, the concept that “greed is good”. His drastic deregulation of the financial system has been blamed as the key factor for the current economic woes, and his tax-cuts for the wealthy introduced the term ‘trickle-down’ economics to the current public lexicon.

However, I will credit Ronald Reagan as someone who had major significant influence on culture and world policies in the 1980s and beyond.

Whether you think he was a good or bad president my consensus remains: he was indeed, a memorable president.

What a difference a week can make! After losing the Olympic bid, Obama winds prestigious Nobel prize

Last night I decided to sleep on the couch to take advantage of the cool air coming from the south and woke up later than usual (as I seem to lately since I re-arranged the furniture in the living room). After the pre-requisite yawning, scratching of my nether-regions, farting, etc, I decided to make today a late and lazy day due to the constant drizzle that has been falling in the Chicagoland region for the past two days. I turned on the TV and channel surfed, settling on the remaining minutes of ‘The View’ to see out of curiosity what that uber-hypocrite Elizabeth Hasslebeck was spouting today.

Fortunately she was absent from today’s airing, and after Whoopie and Joy oohed and aahed the latest kiddies’ Halloween costumes, the program cut for commercial break. The station promo’d their top stories for the mid-day news and to my surprise announced they would have reaction to the awarding of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama.

“Huh? What?!” was my immediate reaction, and I grabbed my phone to check the latest headline from CNN. Sure enough – CNN confirmed that Obama WAS awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

I was stunned.

I instantly began surfing the news channels, flicking between CNN and MSNBC…and yes, even entering the code to temporarily unblock Fox News to see what their reaction was.

While CNN and MSNBC were covering reactions from around the world and from the White House, and whether the award was justified or premature, Fox News – keeping to their seemingly latest mission statement of being the unofficial cable news network of ‘NO’ – made the announcement partisan and focused on the angle that it was a further rejection of the Bush policies, and that it was premature and questionable. However, they did NOT spend much airtime on the story as I seriously think that they – like the rest of the world – are at a loss at this latest development.

My thoughts?

Mixed – I’m caught off-guard as everyone on this news.

According to an article in The Washington Post chairman of the Norwegian Committee Thorbjorn Jagland said this morning that the prize "is a clear signal to the world that we want to advocate the same as he has done to promote international diplomacy. We are hoping this may contribute a little bit for what he is trying to do."

This statement comes as a blow to those that accused the president of apologizing for America in his visits to other countries in the early days of his presidency, but serves as justification to those who say that Obama’s foreign policies steeped in diplomacy and international cooperation is the right direction for America. They see this as further validation that the Bush administration’s policies was sorely resented by the rest of the world and how tarnished America’s image has been with the international community.

On the other hand we can look at it as a liability for Obama. This prize was clearly awarded based on future expectations that might be hard to fulfill given the complex war in Afghanistan and the current occupation of Iraq, as well as future actions regarding aid to Third World countries and policies with developing nations such as Pakistan, India, and the Asian economic powerhouses.

Obama responded to the news this morning with a six-minute speech given in the Rose Garden. "Let me be clear — I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations," he said. "...This award must be shared with everyone who strives for justice and dignity." (Courtesy of Time.com)

Some Republicans are taking the political high road – possibly as a step in their bid for the 2012 presidential elections. Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty said the "appropriate response is to say congratulations no matter what the circumstance for the selection is.” (Courtesy of the Chicago Tribune.)

The last statement has fallen on deaf ears in the Republican Party. Republican National Chairman Michael Steele, who criticized President Barack Obama's overseas sales trip on behalf of the U.S. Olympic Committee, issued a grudging statement this morning in response to the president's winning Nobel peace prize. “The real question Americans are asking is, ‘What has President Obama actually accomplished? It is unfortunate that the president’s star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights.” (Courtesy of The Baltimore Sun.)

Coming on the heels of America’s loss for the bid for the 2016 bid to host the Summer Olympics in Chicago, this latest news show how much can happen in the space of one week.

Regardless of your opinion of this latest news one thing is certain – President Obama is turning out to be one of the one of the most controversial and intriguing of American presidents.

POLITICAL CARTOONS

LAST NAME - Carrie Underwood

Normally I don't do country BUT.......

CHICAGO AWAITS 2016 OLYMPIC HOST CITY DECISION

On October 2, 2009 an announcement will be made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from Copenhagen, Denmark, revealing the city chosen for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Chicago submitted their bid for consideration - first to the US Olympic Committee in April of 2007, who then chose Chicago from other US cities as their pick for a US host city.

Chicago is competing against other bidding cities such as Tokyo (Japan), Rio de Jenero (Brazil), and Madrid (Spain).

Initially, President Obama - a Chicago native - had planned on making a trip to Copenhagen to make a personal bid for the Chicago team, but due to constraints with his health care initiative has appointed First Lady Michelle Obama to go in his stead.

However, it seems as if President Obama is keeping his options open. Reports swirling that the President may take a quick trip if he sees the opportunity to make a personal appearance, thereby doubling the star power by two.

Final presentations by all four competing cities will begin this Wednesday, with the announcement made next Friday October 2nd.

For more information on Chicago's bid click here.

TODAY'S CARTOON

(Courtesy of The Jamaica Observer.)

THE DUMBEST BITCHES IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY...

Former Miss California 2009
Carrie Prejean

Whose only claim to fame is giving a retarded answer at the 2009 Miss Universe USA beauty pageant. She was the keynote speaker at the recent Family Research Council's conservative Voter Values Summit held in Washington this week. Her accomplishments? Not fulfilling the obligations of her Miss California contract, an incomplete scholar but a master of the dye job! There is more air between her ears than any found in a large wind tunnel.

Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann (R-Mn)

Known for her religious-based rhetoric when speaking in congress and making nonsensical claims regarding "global climate change not being a real issue", she gained national notoriety when she claimed in October of 2008 that members of congress should be investigated for being "anti-American".

Sarah Palin
(Professional Quitter and Retard)

The former Miss Alaska contestant (what IS IT with the GOP and recruiting beauty pageants participants to be their elected officials?), and former Governor of Alaska (she quit mid-term because the job was just "so HARD...!!"), she was also the Achilles heel of the McCain presidential bid. Current renowned for issuing fact less "twits" on Twitter and Facebook.
Figures - a "twit" from a twit.

(and my personal favorite)
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-Sc)

*sigh* How dumb is she? In April 2009, Foxx expressed opposition to the Matthew Shepard Act, incorrectly claiming that the murder of Matthew Shepard was not a hate crime. While debating the act at the House of Representatives, which was attended by Matthew Shepard's mother, she called the incident a "very unfortunate incident" but also "we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay". She continued that "It's really a hoax that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing [hate crimes] bills".

Oh, and she also voted AGAINST federal aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

SATURDAY NIGHT SIGHTS

POLITICAL CARTOONS

BLACK OR WHITE - Michael Jackson

JASON AND DEMARCO

Jason Warner (born 1975) and deMarco DeCiccio (born 1976) are a secular and Christian musical duo (and life partners) with outreach to the LGBT community.

Rob Jason Nicewarner, who changed his name to "Jason Warner" before becoming a duo with deMarco, is a 1997 graduate of Lee University in Tennessee, and comes from a Pentecostal faith background. Marco DeCiccio, who is now known as deMarco, grew up a Roman Catholic, is a native of Canada and a 1999 graduate of York University.

Jason and deMarco met in 2001 in Hollywood, California. Before launching their duo act, deMarco was a lead in the international touring company of the musical "California Dream Men" and Jason was a Christian artist in mainline traditional Gospel groups, and then as a solo artist touring mostly through Metropolitan Community Church, gay-accepting churches. The duo released their first album together, The Spirit of Christmas, in 2002 followed by 2003's Songs for the Spirit. In 2004, they appeared on the cover of The Advocate magazine with their new album Spirit Pop. In early 2005, they started working with Letthead Productions, a recording studio and production company based in Houston. They released their fourth album, Till the End of Time, produced by Alan Lett, with additional production from Joe Hogue, Eddie X and Luigie Gonzalez. Seven of the album's twelve songs are written by Jason and deMarco.

Jason and deMarco's first single "Trying to Get to You" climbed the Billboard Charts and their second single, "This is Love" won "Music Video of the Year 2006" on MTV's LOGO. A full-length feature documentary film entitled "We're All Angels" premiered at NewFest 2007 (the 19th Annual New York LGBT Film Festival), and at Outfest 2007 (the 25th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival). They have a fan club "The Angel Club," based on the We're All Angels documentary.

In 2007, Jason joined the staff at Unity Church of Christianity in Houston, Texas under the leadership of Rev. Howard Caesar. He is a Young Adult and Youth Leader as well as a Contemporary Worship Leader, performing with deMarco.

(Courtesy of Wikipedia.)