Kermit
September 5, 2008
Why does the McCain campaign insist on repeatedly doing this to their candidate?
Heart to McCain/Palin: Back off on ‘Barracuda’
“Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song ‘Barracuda’ no longer be used to promote her image. The song ‘Barracuda’ was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The ‘barracuda’ represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there’s irony in Republican strategists’ choice to make use of it there.”
Ouch.
One of the most enduring taboos in American politics, the airing of graphic images from the September 11 attacks in a partisan context, died today. It was nearly seven years old.
Live Mic
September 3, 2008
This is just entirely too rich—Republicans Mike Murphy and Peggy Noonan were on MSNBC discussing the Palin VP pick with Chuck Todd, and inadvertantly got caught telling the truth about the nominee. This gem from Noonan:
The most qualified? No! I think they went for this—excuse me—political bullshit about narratives … Every time the Republicans do that, because that’s not where they live and it’s not what they’re good at, they blow it.
Talking Points Memo provides the full transcript. I want to make Peggy Noonan saying “It’s over” my ringtone.
Because Alaska is Close to Russia
September 2, 2008
This is simply beyond hilarious. Watch as Cindy McCain bends herself into a pretzel suggesting to George Stephanopoulos that Sarah Palin has foreign policy experience because “Alaska is the closest part of our continent to Russia.” Ahh, leave it to Mrs. McCain to make Laura Bush look like a Rhodes scholar by comparison. The McCain campaign might consider keeping their prospective First Lady at motorcycle rallies and NASCAR races where she can best connect with their base—commenting on foreign policy doesn’t seem to suit her so well.
A theory on Sarah Palin Creepy only because it makes more sense than John McCain actually wanting her on the ticket.
WordPress is Sexy Couldn’t help but laugh when I saw this bit of praise from one of our users on WordPress.com. It reminded me that I forgot to plug our recent redesign, particularly the newly-refurbished features, VIP, and forums. And it doesn’t stop there; more sexy is on the way (let’s just say I’ve been looking at Flickr and Vimeo for inspiration lately).
Michelle Obama at the LGBT Caucus
August 27, 2008
Tuesday, our future First Lady, Michelle Obama, spoke to the LGBT Caucus at the Democratic convention. I’ve loved this woman since we were first introduced to the Obamas, but it gave me goose bumps to listen to a potential first lady speak so intelligently on gay issues. Can you imagine Laura Bush or Cindy McCain even saying the term “LGBT?” If you’re not yet convinced that Barack Obama is supportive enough of gay issues, I think the fact that he and Michelle actually acknowledge that we exist is a hell of an improvement over the alternative.
Thanks Del Martin
August 27, 2008
Because I’m sure a few people who read my blog probably have no idea who Del Martin is, here’s a list of things we can thank her for, taken from her obituary (PDF):
- Martin co-founded the Daughters of Bilitis, the first public and political lesbian rights organization in the United States
- Martin helped create the Council on Religion and the Homosexual in order to lobby city lawmakers more effectively to reduce police harassment and modify the sex laws that criminalized homosexual behavior.
- As an early member of the National Organization for Women (NOW), Del Martin worked to counter homophobia within the women’s movement—fear of the so-called “lavender menace.” She and Lyon were the first lesbians to insist on joining with a “couples’ membership rate.”
- She was a leader in the campaign to persuade the American Psychiatric Association to declare that homosexuality was not a mental illness.
- Martin’s publication of Battered Wives in 1976 was a major catalyst for the movement against domestic violence.
This is just a small example of the many ways in which we should all be incredibly grateful to Del and Phyllis for dedicating their lives to stopping the hatred and discrimination that mars the lives of gay and lesbian people.
LGBT rights pioneer Del Martin passes away
Today, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community lost an iconic leader and a beloved friend. Del Martin, 87, passed away in San Francisco with Phyllis Lyon, her lifelong partner and spouse, by her side.
I couldn’t help but be moved when I read about Del and Phyllis’ wedding on the day that marriage rights were finally restored to gays and lesbians in California. It’s so sad to see that they were able to enjoy their marriage for such a short period of time, but I bet they’d both tell you they were just glad to have lived to see the day they were able to wed. Not that the radical right doesn’t wish to see their marriage invalidated anyway—take the time now to donate to the National Center for Lesbian Rights’ No on 8 PAC to preserve the rights of gays and lesbians in California to follow in Del’s footsteps.