McCain's VP Choice

I was going to blog today about something to think about when you're voting, but then John McCain took the wind out of my sails (and Barack Obama's) by making his VP choice:  Sarah Palin.

Who?

Yeah, I've never heard of her either.  She's Alaska's Governor.  (Alaska, that cold state to the Northwest.)  All I know is that it is her first term and she's the mother of five.

I, also, know that she's a very smart choice.

Paul Begala -- some guy who writes for CNN and is a Democratic strategist -- disagrees and that explains why the Republicans won with Bush two elections in a row.  The Democrats don't really know how to win elections if they're using thinkers like him.

His article states that someone, given McCain's age, as inexperience as Palin is a bad choice.  Hey, Paul, I hate to bring this up, but Obama is in his first term, too.  Now, I know my father was rooting for Condelezza Rice, but she would've been a bad choice, as are the men Begala mentions in his article.

Begala thinks it was a mistake for McCain to have "passed over Tom Ridge."  Are you kidding me?  Choose the head of Homeland Security?  A man who is very much in line with the Bush regime?  That would be like killing his election chances right now. 

Mitt Romney? Too scary to even consider. 

Joe Lieberman?  Someone who didn't win in the primary, so he left his party to be an Independent.  How many Republicans are going to trust he will come over to their way of thinking and how many Democrats are going to trust a turncoat?

McCain has taken some wind out of Obama's sales by choosing a woman as his running mate.  It shows he still has some maverick left in him.  Now, we have a Black Man and a White Man running against a White Man and a White Woman.  McCain has put some of the women's votes that were 99% likely to vote for Obama back into the unknown category.  A woman VP?  History in the making on both sides.

Now, on a personal note to Mr. Begala:  In case he's reading this:  You moron.  My dad's 71 years young and he isn't going to croak in the next four years and I'm betting neither will John McCain (also 71).  Where do you get off making an assumption that being over 70 suddenly makes one old?

In case you're wondering, however; I've changed my mind about McCain and will NOT be voting for him.  But, I promise you, his AGE has nothing to do with my decision.

God Bless

You Don't Have to Say You Love Me

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Ring Of Fire

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GOP On Democrats and other thoughts...

Why is any news outlet interviewing Republicans about the Democratic convention?  This isn't the week of the Republicans -- it is the week of the Democrats.  Who cares what the other side has to say this week.  They'll have their chance during their convention.  Now, so no one can say I'm being unfair, I'll just state it now:  I don't care what the Democrats have to say during the Republican convention.  Can we hear the messages and speeches without hearing the twisting of words from the opposite side?

Why do people still think Al Gore said he invented the Internet?  How come that sticks in people's minds, especially when it isn't true?

And, speaking of Al Gore, why do people still believe that Global Warming is fake, even when there is a mound of evidence to the contrary?  Plus, how could anyone be against making air safer to breath and water safer to drink?  What are these people thinking?

And, why is it that when I'm in the shower, I get great ideas for things to write, but the minute my feet hit the tile floor, the idea is gone?  How could I do my best thinking in the bathroom?

Why do people think that because they attend church they're good Christians?  I can stand in my garage, it doesn't make me a Buick.

One last thing:  why is Halle Berry the first Black woman to receive a Best Actress Oscar and Barack Obama the first Black nominee for President when both of them are each 1/2 white?  Why aren't they the first mixed race Best Actress Oscar winner and the first mixed race nominee for President?

God Bless

Godspeed, Del Martin

I just saw on the CNN Wire that Del Martin passed away at the age of 87.  She and her wife, Phyllis Lyon, co-founded the Daughters of Bilitis, as well as the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club.  Because of Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Lyon, I have rights in Wisconsin I wouldn't have had without those who came before me.  We still have a long way to go, but we're moving in the right direction.

Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Lyon exchanged vows of matromony on June 16th of this year, becoming legally married.  However; apparently the copy writer didn't refer to Mrs. Lyon as Mrs. Martin's wife, the article refers to her as partner -- like it was some sort of business relationship.

I've posted the article below.

So, Godspeed Mrs. Martin and thanks for all you did for me.  Bless you, Mrs. Lyon.  I can't imagine what it must be like to lose your wife of 55 years.

And, to the small minded people who can't seem to type wife and type partner instead, kiss my lesbian ass.

And, if you're waiting for the normal God Bless, I don't feel like sending blesses to straight people today.

So, God Bless the Lesbians and Gays who came before me.

SAN FRANCISCO, California (CNN) - Lesbian activist Del Martin, at the forefront of the battle for same-sex marriage in California, died Wednesday in San Francisco. She was 87.

Martin's partner of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, was by her side at the UCSF hospice, the National Center for Lesbian Rights said. Martin and Lyon, 84, tied the knot on June 16 in a ceremony officiated by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Long before Massachusetts and then California legalized same-sex marriage, Lyon and Martin were integral parts of the early movement for lesbian and gay rights.

In 1955, they founded the nation's first lesbian organization, the Daughters of Bilitis, and launched the first lesbian publication, The Ladder. Martin co-founded the Council on Religion and the Homosexual, and was also a founding member of several other organizations, including the Lesbian Mother's Union, the San Francisco Women's Centers and the Bay Area Women's Coalition. She and Lyon were co-founders of the first gay political group in the United States, the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, named for author Gertrude Stein's long-time partner.

Race

This week -- for the first time in history -- a black man will become a major party's candidate for President of the United States of America. Forty years ago, another black man stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and spoke about his dream. With Obama's nomination, you would think that Martin Luther King's dream has come true.

It hasn't.

Last week, a young white woman (20 years old) was talking to me and said (and I'm quoting): There's two sides to every story, unless they're black. They always lie.

Yesterday, a white 40 year old male said to me (and I'm quoting, again): If Obama wins, blacks will start thinking they have power.

Now, I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't say or do anything that would counter these quotes. Truth be told, I was shocked speechless. Racist remarks, especially by someone younger than I am, still stuns me. I cannot believe that in the year 2008 that people still feel this way about other races.

I'm not going to proclaim that a great many of my friends are black because it isn't true. I have a couple black friends. I attended a mixed race schools and the one thing I've learned about blacks is they're really just like whites. So, how could it be that there are still people - under the age of 60 - that do not believe in the equality of the races?

With Barack Obama making history, you would think that Martin Luther King's dream of a world where the races lived together in harmony would be reality.

Too bad it isn't.

God Bless

Times have changed

I'm going to admit something I'm not too sure many people know.  My parents were NOT happy campers when I came out to them almost 20 years ago.  My mother used to make comments like "straighten up" when we'd get off the phone and my father didn't have too much to say to me for a long time.  Now, I don't want anyone thinking I'm complaining because they never sent me away to be "cured" or stop letting me talk to my brothers.  I know gay people who haven't spoken to their parents since they came out.  But still, it wasn't easy.

My parents love Cheryl -- sometimes I think more than they love me -- and they love her kids and, of course, they're thrilled with da boys.

But, something happened this weekend I just never thought would happen in a million years.  Two friends of ours, Barb and Karen, were married last month.  We missed the wedding because our cousin, Jeff, was married to his bride, Jen, on the sameday.  And, I couldn't miss Jeff's wedding and wouldn't have considered missing it.  Anyway, we met up with Barb and Karen at Ren Faire this weekend and caught up on news.  I introduced them to Dad and told him that they had just gotten married.  Dad offered his congradulations.  I mean, it was so cool.  Twenty years ago, I don't think that would've happened.

He's come along way.  He's still voting Republican this November, but he's still come a long, long way.

God Bless

For Danny and Alex

This is me, the one below is my mom.