New Jersey made the right decision, morally and judicially. From CNN's coverage:
"'The issue is not about the transformation of the traditional definition of marriage, but about the unequal dispensation of benefits and privileges to one of two similarly situated classes of people,' the court said in its 4-3 ruling."
The court was right to leave the ulimate decision up to the legislature whether to approve gay marriage or civil unions. But how heartening it is to hear them declare that homosexuals have the same rights as heterosexuals. This is a step forward, an important step but also not a radical or activist one. I don't know how it will affect the election, but for now, let's hope it's a turning point in how we view gays. No more second class citizenship, at least in New Jersey.
10/25/2006
Don't forget about San Francisco
New Jersey Court to soon decide about gay marriage
Please, please, please not right before the election.
But anyway, here's to hoping they make the right choice.
Please, please, please not right before the election.
But anyway, here's to hoping they make the right choice.
10/22/2006
Speaker Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi was just on 60 Minutes. The subject was a possible Democratic House, and thus, a possible Majority Leader Pelosi.
My ideas on November 7th are documented below. I would love to see a Democratic chamber of Congress and some balance in DC. But Pelosi is a ridiculous partisan hack. I certainly don't blame the Republicans for using her in the same way the Democrats use Bush.
Leslie Stahl did a good job of pointing out that, despite her repeated calls for unity and civility, she's one of the most partisan people in Washington. She has called the Republican leadership a gang of criminals, endlessly corrupt.
You may well be right Mrs. Pelosi, but don't tell us you're bringing a vision of unity.
She then said Iraq was not part of the war on terror. "What is," asked Stahl. "Afghanistan," she responded.
What kind of ridiculous nonsense is this? It can be argued that Iraq was not a part of the war on terror before we went in, but to argue that it still isn't? That it's still a diversion? Do they get newspapers in Washington?
A Democratic House?
Slate's election meter
Most polls and trends showing the House and Senate going blue, blue, blue. Virtually all the toss-ups are leaning Democrat, and a lot of the races that nine months ago would have been thought of as safely red are very close.
I'm not registered to either party, but it has never been clearer to me (and a lot of voters) that it is time for a change in Washington. Are there any issues, any at all, where we're going in the right direction? Anything to be proud of?
The situation in Iraq? Our impotence towards Iran and North Korea? The cost of college? The national debt? How's paying that off going, Congress?
I'm skeptical of a Democratic House, but that's just fine. Because they can not screw up any worse. It isn't possible.
It can't be...
Most polls and trends showing the House and Senate going blue, blue, blue. Virtually all the toss-ups are leaning Democrat, and a lot of the races that nine months ago would have been thought of as safely red are very close.
I'm not registered to either party, but it has never been clearer to me (and a lot of voters) that it is time for a change in Washington. Are there any issues, any at all, where we're going in the right direction? Anything to be proud of?
The situation in Iraq? Our impotence towards Iran and North Korea? The cost of college? The national debt? How's paying that off going, Congress?
I'm skeptical of a Democratic House, but that's just fine. Because they can not screw up any worse. It isn't possible.
It can't be...
10/17/2006
655,000
Dahr Jamail, who has been publishing fantastic independent reporting from Iraq for some time now, refers to the latest casualty count in Iraq.
"It is the single most important statistic regarding the illegal USinvasion and occupation of Iraq. How many Iraqis have been killed?
655,000.
655,000 Iraqis killed as a result of the US invasion and occupation of Iraq.
I have worked for eight months in Iraq as a journalist, witnessing thecarnage on a daily basis, visiting the morgues with bodies and bodyparts piled into them, meeting family after family who had lost a lovedone, or more ... Finally, we get an accurate figure that shows howimmense the scale of the long drawn carnage really is."
"It is the single most important statistic regarding the illegal USinvasion and occupation of Iraq. How many Iraqis have been killed?
655,000.
655,000 Iraqis killed as a result of the US invasion and occupation of Iraq.
I have worked for eight months in Iraq as a journalist, witnessing thecarnage on a daily basis, visiting the morgues with bodies and bodyparts piled into them, meeting family after family who had lost a lovedone, or more ... Finally, we get an accurate figure that shows howimmense the scale of the long drawn carnage really is."
What about Ohio?
A new poll was released today. Of particular interest is the latest information regarding Ohio.
“In November 2004, 76 percent of white evangelical Christians in Ohio voted for Mr. Bush. When asked in this poll whether they approve or disapprove of the job Mr. Bush is doing as president, 49 percent approved while 45 percent disapproved.”
Simply astonishing.
“In November 2004, 76 percent of white evangelical Christians in Ohio voted for Mr. Bush. When asked in this poll whether they approve or disapprove of the job Mr. Bush is doing as president, 49 percent approved while 45 percent disapproved.”
Simply astonishing.
Free expression or symbol of bigotry?
Blair calls Muslim veils a "mark of separation"
Blair is right. In addition to highlighting the growing cultural divide in Europe, the burka and veil are symbols of oppression of women and bigotry. Certainly not all Muslim women view them that way, but then I guess we wouldn't know what they really think, would we?
Blair is right. In addition to highlighting the growing cultural divide in Europe, the burka and veil are symbols of oppression of women and bigotry. Certainly not all Muslim women view them that way, but then I guess we wouldn't know what they really think, would we?
10/15/2006
The savior
Barack Obama in 2008?
I like Barack Obama. I don't know if there is anyone who doesn't like him. But I don't know if he could be president in two years. He has too little experience at a time when it seems like our country needs that more and more.
He is a charismatic person and good speaker, but so is John Edwards. I guess I don't understand the fuss just yet.
10/12/2006
Murdoch moving left?
This piece from The New Yorker is full of wonderful little nuggets of information.
Of particular interest is the way author John Cassidy points out that Murdoch tends to find political friends based on who will be in power, and not, as many argue, on the basis of rigid ideology. This is not to say Murdoch is not an ideologue--he certainly is. But it benefits his bottom line to befriend powerful elites -- of all political persuasions -- and with the pendulum swinging left as of late, it is understandable why Murdoch is cozying up to the Clintons, for example.
“'Rupert, I think, is interested in power and money, and not much else,' a former White House aide who worked with Hillary when she was First Lady said to me. 'I think the ideology business is all a gloss. My vulgar Marxist view is that he is trying to defend his economic interest. The Democrats are about to sweep New York, and Hillary might be President in 2008.'”
Another revealing bit is the speculation that Tony Blair may join the News Corp. Board of Directors when he steps down from power.
Of particular interest is the way author John Cassidy points out that Murdoch tends to find political friends based on who will be in power, and not, as many argue, on the basis of rigid ideology. This is not to say Murdoch is not an ideologue--he certainly is. But it benefits his bottom line to befriend powerful elites -- of all political persuasions -- and with the pendulum swinging left as of late, it is understandable why Murdoch is cozying up to the Clintons, for example.
“'Rupert, I think, is interested in power and money, and not much else,' a former White House aide who worked with Hillary when she was First Lady said to me. 'I think the ideology business is all a gloss. My vulgar Marxist view is that he is trying to defend his economic interest. The Democrats are about to sweep New York, and Hillary might be President in 2008.'”
Another revealing bit is the speculation that Tony Blair may join the News Corp. Board of Directors when he steps down from power.
10/11/2006
Massachusetts Election & Iraq
From today's Boston Globe
"Voters in more than one-third of Massachusetts' cities and towns will get a rare chance to register their opinion on the war in Iraq next month when they consider a ballot question on whether the United States should immediately withdraw all troops."
"Voters in more than one-third of Massachusetts' cities and towns will get a rare chance to register their opinion on the war in Iraq next month when they consider a ballot question on whether the United States should immediately withdraw all troops."
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