Ugly

Some days just start ugly. Today was one of those days. One of the dogs barfed on my bed this morning at 6 AM. I was out of a job at noon.

On the brighter side, today was our third wedding anniversary. So it wasn't too ugly all day.

I need to figure out what I really want to do. This last job was never right. I didn't get along with the boss, working conditions were totally ghetto and I didn't get along with the boss. Did I mention I didn't get along with the boss? Tomorrow I will be the housewife, clean the floors, pick up the poop in the yard and work on the tomatoes. Oh, sleep in late maybe, write a speech I am giving on Thursday, clean the guinea pig cage and print business cards.

As demoralizing as this feels, it is more demoralizing to the not have a job where one is appreciated. I am liberated. OK, maybe I am working on that one.

Tillman again

Don't give up the fight, no we never give up the fight. Bob Marley

The latest chapter of the Tillman tragedy. Please ready it and be a witness to Pat Tillman's life and the lies told to coverup his honor.

Tillman

Sheesh, gone from the computer for one business day and the fur, I mean subpoenas are flying everywhere in DC! I think today was a sign that gawd listens to prayers since the flying house is coming down on Gonzalez and rove is getting bitch slapped by Congress, FINALLY!

But the worst is the continuing saga of Pat Tillman's death. Now from the AP is

of Army demotions and attempts by Army staff to have his death investigated immediately after his demise. Here are some of the lowlights of this story:

_ In his last words moments before he was killed, Tillman snapped at a panicky comrade under fire to shut up and stop "sniveling."

_ Army attorneys sent each other congratulatory e-mails for keeping criminal investigators at bay as the Army conducted an internal friendly-fire investigation that resulted in administrative, or non-criminal, punishments.

_ The three-star general who kept the truth about Tillman's death from his family and the public told investigators some 70 times that he had a bad memory and couldn't recall details of his actions.

_ No evidence at all of enemy fire was found at the scene — no one was hit by enemy fire, nor was any government equipment struck.

Over at Firedoglake, there is discussion that his death by fragging was a result of his anti-war opinions. Not just fratricide but a deliberate murder to cover up for BushCo. What's makes this really disgusting to me is that I can truly believe this story because of the lies. We lost our humanitythe day Pat Tillman died.

Now

Today I went to the funeral of a man who lived across the street from my family on Toledo Av. He was 83 years old and had been married to his wife for 54 years. While it was sad at the funeral and ungodly hot in the church, the get together afterwards was a great moment in life.

To be around some of the women I grew up with was a laugh riot, something to savor and a time to remember. We caught up on all our illnesses, our parents, kids (not that I have any to report) and childhood nicknames. We took pics together and ribbed each other about things like fainting in church.

It sure would be nice of we could find ways in our busy lives to get together for something besides a funeral. I making a mental note to do that before October. A neighborhood reunion before another funeral. What a concept.

tomato tragedy

I had no idea gardening could be so dangerous.

For people who know me, this is not news. I am very short. I can also be a tad impatient. The combination of the two elements caused me grief yesterday.

As I have said before, the tomatoes are growing briskly. There are many cages up to keep the plants up and off the ground. I spied tomatoes in the middle of the jungle yesterday afternoon. So rather than wait for Jo to come help me, I just started leaning over and leaning over and then I was surrounded by tomato plants having fallen into the garden. Flat on my ass, crushing I don't know what.

I finally asked Jo to come over and help me try to put everything back together with the new cages I had just bought. A timely purchase.

But dammit, all that work and now my vibrant veggie garden looks schmoozed. Not to mention how embarrassed I am.

Oh well, back to work and waiting for someone tall enough to pick the toms.

You say tomato

I am starting to giveaway the tomato fruits of my labor. My tomato plants are over 6 feet tall and starting to pop out cherry toms plus I plucked two today of some sort of heirloom. It is called something weird like Uncle Bert's radiator mortgage lifter. I am waiting to see the Black Pineapple variety not to mention the Early Girl that has disappeared in the wilds of this garden. The cherry toms are now wrapped around the 7 foot sunflower.

The squash is really taking off which is nothing short of frightening. My aunt in New Mexico wants some squash flowers because she cooks them. She said just get the male flowers because they won't produce fruit. Which of course begs the question of how do you tell a male flower. She got me when she said to look for their little balls.

It is now the middle of summer and I am much more interested in the progress of the tomato jungle than the jungle of legislation. Watching the garden grow is much more of a contribution to my sanity thus providing inner peace for moi.

Summer in this part of California is a time of lovely evenings, green grass, picnics and barbecues. And now tomatoes. I am doing my best to enjoy all of it.

So goodbye politics for the day, hello ripe veggies. Funny thing, I don't even like tomatoes. But many people around me do so I am making my contribution to salads and salsas, sauce and shishkabob. Ahhhhhh, summer.

El Jardin

I have gardened for a number of years. I tried veggies in New Mexico and I failed miserably. You see in NM, there is no soil, simply volcanic remains.

In California I have 8 foot tomato plants that are beginning to produce. I have harvested a couple of big ol squash, onions and divine garlic. Whoo, there is no bush in that garden except tomato bushes.

And that, my friends, is the moral of the story, bush is only good for tomatoes.

A thought

I am stealing this from across the room.

Living by a Hopi elder's prophecy

"To my fellow swimmers:

There is a river now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid, wo will try to hold on to the shore: they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know that the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river and keep our heads above water.

And I say 'See who is there with you and celebrate.' At this time in history we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves, for the moment we do, our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.

The time of the lone wold is over. Gather yourselves. Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. For we are the ones we have have been waiting for."

Taken from an address given by an elder of the Hopi Nation, November, 2006

Spare me

Today is Jo's California graduation party. We are anxiously putting bags of ice together with clam dip, sodas and key lime pies. I think I will have to put up some pics here from familia and friends who join us today.

What a great way to forget the sorry state of the world, the country and the total lack of integrity by Republicans. Senator Vitter of Louisiana and his addiction to prostitutes both in LA and DC is a real knee slapper. I enjoy this even more since the self-righteous hypocrite claimed at one point that the need to install homophobia in the Constitution was the single most important issue in this country. He was one of the lead sponsors on the Defense of Marriage Amendment.

Hypocrisy thy name is Vitter.

In the meantime, we at this lesbo house will enjoy the company of family and friends. with children in the front yard running theough sprinklers. So who has the real family values?

7/7/07

Just got back from a 70's flashback concert featuring Sly and the Family Stone. It would have been easy to feel ripped off because Sly only was on for two songs. However, it would appear that the promoter was a boob, hired really bad sound guys who never managed to have a band up on stage without feedback. So it wasn't a case of Sly being flaky or anything, he was jamming and really getting into the music.

Sly is about 60 something now. He came on stage looking weary. He looked like he had really lived through the 60's and grabbed every slice of whatever was offered. But that voice was unmistakable. However thanks to the sound people, his mic didn't work, we couldn't hear his organ, two of the singers had to share a mic and oh yes, there was feedback.

On top of it, the sound system was so f*cked up, it took forever in between the Average White Band and Sly to try to get things going. So while we were politely waiting, the boob promoter got on stage and started doing a God speech. Dressed for a party, mister want-to-be-important started telling us about God in his life. Whatever.

Then he made a comment that he would stop talking soon and people started clapping. He was shocked, I tell you, shocked that we didn't want to hear him. A precious moment in the evening.

At any rate, the band was jamming, we were dancing and then, boom, it was over. Seems there is a city ordinance that no music can be played after 9. So with all the technical f/u's we were all left a little hungry for more of the man.

The tickets were cheap, we had a girls night out so I don't feel bad about the evening. We heard from Tierra, El Chicano and Malo playing their greatest hits. Average White Band was impressive and played a fabulous set. There was no alcohol so the crowd was very mellow. The weather was nice, the tunes were great and we got to see Sly. Ah yes, summer in California.

Too hot!

Today I ran up to San Francisco for a rally in support of students who are fasting for a week in support of the DREAM Act. That particular bill died last week with the rest of the immigration bill. Students from all over the state are fasting and have now converged in San Francisco to try to get Nancy Pelosi's attention. I heard her staff person telling them they should be talking to Zoe Lofgren's office. Students have been out there for three days fasting away.

Of course I am much more interested in the latest Villagairosa gossip. Seems the woman he has been having an affair with for A YEAR has had previous dalliances with Fabian Nuñez and other Latino political types. Summer is much more fun with gossip.

This however, makes the 2010 gubernatorial race much more interesting. Now Gavin is back in the race because his indiscretions are even up with LA's mayor. Handsome boy cheaters for Guv.

Amor, amor

In the latest round of mayoral telenovelas, here's the newest about LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Seems the mayor has taken up with a local Spanish language tv anchor. According to Ms Marinucci, she actually broke the story that the mayor separated from his wife. I guess this brings a whole new meaning to covering politics.

Different scooter

I have a different take on the Scooter Libby get out of jail crappola.

First, I have to say I find it outrageous that Paris Hilton served more time than Libby. Hell, I have served more time than Libby.

Second, is this the dame crowd that howls at the moon every night over "illegals" crossing the border? Is this the same crowd who was apoplectic over "amnesty" for undocumented people? Is this not amnesty for Scooter? Is this not the same frigging thing except one guy belongs to the country club and the other people are just plain brown? I say yes.

So while people are outraged over this piece of caca from Bush, let us not forget the people who go left by the wayside last week with the collapse of the immigration bill. They will still live in the shadows while the real criminals live in DC.

No cells

I feel like such a jet setter. I went to LA today, just for the day. Back at home now with a meeting first thing in the morning with Congressman Honda's office then to meet with the college students on a hunger strike. Fun. But I have no brain. Hopefully those cells will return tomorrow. But it still sucks that Nixon, I mean Bush, commuted Libby's sentence today. The spouse pointed out today that the jurors in the case must feel particularly empowered today.

Hot off the internets

Party politics
After his partner criticized the Democratic National Committee for not doing enough on gay issues, Donald Hitchcock lost his job as the group's director of fund-raising from gay donors. Coincidence? Hitchcock thinks not. He sued the DNC, chairman Howard Dean, and two others this May—and speaks here for the first time anywhere about what happened to him.

By Dan Allen

An Advocate.com exclusive posted June 29, 2007


Party politics

In May 2006, Donald Hitchcock was fired by the Democratic National Committee as director of its Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council—less than a week after his partner, fellow Washington politico Paul Yandura, e-mailed high-level Democratic donors and suggested they withhold financial support from the DNC in protest of the group's apparent neglect of antigay ballot initiatives. Hitchcock, whose role was to raise funds from gay donors, claimed his sudden dismissal was retaliatory, but the DNC denied the charge. Indeed, in an Advocate interview at the time, Dean suggested that Hitchcock's poor job performance was to blame.

This May, after settlement negotiations failed, Hitchcock filed a lawsuit in District of Columbia superior sourt against the DNC, Dean, treasurer Andy Tobias (who is gay), and deputy finance director Julie Tagen, alleging retaliation, defamation, and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Again, the DNC denied the allegations.

Hitchcock hasn't spoken publicly about his firing or the lawsuit, but in this exclusive interview he finally breaks his silence, maintaining the DNC ousted him unfairly and charging that other perceived wave-makers at the group faced similar strong-arm tactics. And in a bittersweet twist, he reveals that his replacement at the leadership council, Brian Bond, sought strategy advice from him after he was dismissed.

The Advocate: Let's start at the beginning: Did you have any knowledge of Paul's letter before he sent it?
Hitchcock: No, I did not.

If you had, would you have tried to stop him from sending it?
Well, first of all, when it happened I was in New Orleans at the Democratic National Committee meeting, so he was doing it on his own. And Paul has his own credentials to criticize the party. Paul worked in the White House [as an aide to the Clinton administration], he was the executive director of the Stonewall Democrats, and he was actually hired by Andy Tobias as the first GLLC director for the DNC. And anyone who knows Paul knows that me wanting to stop him wouldn't stop him. He's his own political entity, and he's been in politics in D.C. for 13 years.

And within days of Paul's letter you were asked to leave the DNC.
That's right. I was asked to leave by Julie Tagen. She pulled me aside as a friend and asked me to resign. What I found out [later] was that there was a strategy to ask me to resign. It wasn't just a friend talking to a friend; it was an effort and a discussion that had occurred with some other DNC employees. She had already asked me to keep Paul silent. And because I couldn't keep Paul silent, I feel I was asked to resign.

The DNC has said that it was your poor job performance, not retaliation, that lead to your dismissal.
The derogatory comments were to cover up what the DNC had done to me and to try to shame me for something that Paul said. They continually attacked me, thinking I wouldn't defend myself. They had to cover their tracks to make it look like they weren't punishing me for somebody criticizing the party.

Was there any indications up to that point that your superiors were unhappy with your job performance?
No, there was no problem with that. I didn't have any negative performance reviews. I've never been written up, and I was never reprimanded. So that all came out of the blue.

What did you think when you read Howard Dean's comments in The Advocate last year alluding to your poor job performance?
It didn't surprise me, because there was already that kind of talking point coming out of the DNC. The fund-raisers had been doing that for some time. Ultimately they're just trying to raise money from our community. It was actually a sad, shameful thing for Governor Dean to say, because there was no poor job performance review or any sort of criticism of my performance while I was at the DNC.

What was the most shocking aspect of how things went down?
That the fund-raisers in the Democratic Party feel that they can't be held accountable for defaming somebody, and they're exempt from consequences when they go out and slander people that used to work for the Democratic Party. This lawsuit's about holding them accountable and holding the Democratic Party to our values.

Have things changed at all for the better at the DNC since you've left?
I don't think so. What a lot of people don't know is that Brian [Bond] asked to meet with me a few months ago to discuss the strategy of what's happening within the DNC. Brian even called Paul and asked if he'd keep up the outside pressure during the delegate selections rule fight, because the senior staff was working against the gay community's desires. Brian specifically asked that Paul keep up the pressure so that we didn't get screwed in the process. He will obviously deny this, because if he doesn't, he'll be fired. But during the court proceedings everyone will be under oath--including myself--and I look forward to shining some sun on this.

Joseph Sandler, who's representing the defendants in your suit, has said that the DNC won't respond publicly to your charges, and has asked people to keep in mind that “everything you see may well be one-sided for a while.” How do you respond to that?
One thing we should point out is that it's been one-sided from them for a long time. Now the community is actually seeing two sides to this issue. I've been silent over the past year around my firing. I've been talking about policy issues of substance. Unfortunately, the DNC believed I wouldn't protect myself and they could act with reckless abandon in order to keep money flowing. I've always held the Democratic party to a higher ideal. I walked into the DNC building expecting more out of the Democratic Party. The easy thing for me now would be to walk away and be quiet, because we've been meeting people who have done just that. As we're telling our story, they're saying, “That happened to me [too]”--not with regard to LGBT discrimination, but personal attacks and defamation against anyone who stands up to the party.

All under the Dean regime?
That is under the Dean regime. Several people have approached us where this has happened to them, and we're referring them to our lawyers.

Do you worry that this could affect fund-raising for the DNC going into 2008, especially given that the presidential campaign has already begun?
Well, I'm a loyal Democrat, and I want to help the Democratic Party. I think this lawsuit can help the Democratic Party get better on our issues. Honest conversation can only move us forward. The DNC could have settled this privately. I approached them at least five times before going public, but the DNC lawyers or senior staff refused to settle out of court.

Can you talk at all about the settlement you tried to reach?
I don't want to go into details, but the settlement was really not about money. The settlement was clearing my name and setting the record straight about my job performance at the DNC and also asking DNC agents to stop defaming me. There were no hard lines in the sand. It was just about coming to the table and having a responsible conversation and being honest about what's happened so we could all move forward. But it's obviously the stubbornness and arrogance of their senior staff that prevents them from coming to the table. For them it's all about money, and that means fighting this with a P.R. spin campaign and trying to keep this from hurting their fund-raising. For me, it's about doing the right thing, having the right values, and expecting our party to have the values that we all espouse.

How has this experience affected your career?
When this happened to me I kind of reevaluated where I was at. It's hard to say, because the DNC fund-raisers have spoken to a lot of influential people about my job performance. I actually am very interested in the Democratic movement and staying in the LGBT movement, and I do not want to be criticized when I speak on policy issues moving forward--and this is what has been happening. I'm back in school getting a master's in public policy, but I'm not going anywhere.

The graduate

This is Jo on the right with our friends, Morty and Carol. They convinced Jo to go to school at the National Labor College where they teach. They all completed the circle on Saturday.

Next thought

Finally coming back to some senses after taking two days to get back from DC this weekend. Of course, I feel dumber than a box of rocks but managed to survive the terror of flying American through Dallas. My sister and I spent the night at the Sleep Inn in Dallas after our flight was canceled. Would it be so hard for an announcement that the flight is canceled?

I certainly slept better last night because Paris was out of jail, how about you?

I predict the head of the California Hypocrites, I mean Republican party will resign on Friday afternoon. I also would like to see Elizabeth Edwards run for President since she supports marriage for my team. Ms Marinucci scored both those scoops. Funny how Media Matters was all up in her koolaid that she was so anti-Dem by cherry picking her articles then she gets to prove otherwise.

This was enough to make me kick up my heels today. The Senate Judiciary slapped Bush and his homeboys with subpoenas. Oh yes, let the howling begin.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate subpoenaed the White House and Vice President Dick Cheney's office Wednesday, demanding documents and elevating the confrontation with President Bush over the administration's warrant-free eavesdropping on Americans.

Separately, the Senate Judiciary Committee also is summoning Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to discuss the program and an array of other matters that have cost a half-dozen top Justice Department officials their jobs, committee chairman Patrick Leahy announced.

Does anyone else think that it is really early for Presidential endorsements? I am waiting all this out to see who makes the first stumble.

Sunday night in DC

HAHAHAHAHAHA

I can't stand it. The pompous Republicans of California are getting their asses handed to them. The now former treasurer of the Rethugs was arrested for immigration violations according to the Chronicle. I just love it when the irony is just too, um, ironic.

article

Here is the link to the Elizabeth Edwards story in the Chronicle. I am blogwhoring myself.