Gloves are off

I have known Donald Hitchcock for years. Our history goes back to when he and Paul first started going out. From the first I thought he was a very nice, gentle man who was a committed activist with a real moral center.

Donald has now sued his former employer, the Democratic National Committee (DNC). In a past life, he was the outreach person to the LGBT community for the DNC. But he was fired, coincidentally, right after his partner, Paul Yandura, published a letter to donors asking them to stop giving money to the DNC because they were not helping the lgbt community. As in not helping with all the anti-gay propositions around the country, as in taking queer money but not giving anything back.

So this is the irony to me of this whole situation. The DNC did not help to stop anti-marriage propositions and we lost in every single election, out spent, out organized, kicked to the curb. But yet they want to treat our relationships as if they are equal. Donald and Paul were then treated as if they had equal privileges and equal rights so therefore Donald becomes responsible for Paul. 2 + 2 does not equal a queer three dollar bill. The DNC cannot have it both ways. You're equal when we want you to be equal but we will not pay you the same and won't treat you the same as say James Carville/Mary Matalin.

In full disclosure, I have known both Paul and Donald for double digit years. There has been some speculation in other places that Paul is a Log. Not that there is a problem with being a Log but you don't know Paul. He was head of the Stonewall Dems for a while, was the LGBT outreach desk for both Clinton campaigns. When I stay in DC, I try to stay at their home because they are fun, treat me well and we can gossip endlessly. They have always been helpful with whatever I have been doing there.

The lines have been drawn now. Stay loyal to a person who runs the party or stay loyal to your tribe. I have picked my tribe.

It's over

The homo world as we know it has ended. Halloween in the Castro is cancelled.

Which is it?

This is either political heaven or hell depending on what time of the day it is.

Today I was part of a group of immigrant activists who met with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren about, yes, immigration reform. Tomorrow John Edwards is here but I am going to a meeting at Dianne Feinstein's office to talk about, yes, immigration reform. And in between I am trying to do reports and write an op-ed. Hillary is hanging around these parts and big Bill is coming to San Jose in a couple of weeks to do a speech.

Then there is Santa Cruz Pride this weekend to be followed by San Jose Pride the following weekend. Oh wait, I am going to LA on Monday and Tuesday for meetings too.

This could be heaven or this could be hell.

Nyet

While I have been posting updates on the disaster in Moscow, I have had underlying guilt about the whole sordid mess. Sara Whitman expressed many of the same thoughts I had about being in the US and having a whole bundle of rights as compared to my Russian brothers and sisters.

Yes, I cannot get married in California but I did get married in Boston. We have a house with animals and family around. Muscovites felt compelled to throw eggs and rocks at queers in the streets.

I remember sitting in line to get across the US/Mexico border after spending the weekend with gay men living with AIDS in Juarez. It had been a long time since I had seen someone dying of AIDS. It was shocking to me, the family there trying to get the dying man to eat, all his roommates seeing their future on the couch. After all the years I had spent working so everyone living with AIDS had access to medicine and then my family in Mexico was without. The clinic I had been at was literally next door to a farmacia and they couldn't go get aspirin next door because there was no money.

Seeing the pictures on various web pages of the religious Russian types pelting people is nauseating. But then what can I do I ask myself. Can I get my Democratic club to send a letter? Can I ask Barney Frank to send a letter? What more can I do besides feel guilty? Being so Catholic guilty doesn't really help so I must ponder how to best support my Russian family.

Yum!

Yum mom! This is the best dirt I've ever eaten!

and more Moscow

Nikolai Elekseev, who was arrested at Moscow Pride and is the head of the Moscow Pride, has issued a statement asking Chancellor Angela Merkel to call Putin out.

More Moscow

More on Moscow Pride. This is very nice for Russia. Would've made Jerry Falwell proud.

Moscow Pride

Moscow Pride has turned out to be the nightmare everyone thought. H/t to Pam for this story from Doug Ireland. He provides live coverage of this atrocity.

I read a lot of Russian history. Way too much for any sane person not in school to be reading. So in reading about the downfall and murder of the Romanovs, the various revolutions throughout its history, it is no wonder gays and lesbians are sitting in jails right now. The local org has more on their website here.

But considering the number of journalists who have been killed under KGB, I mean Russian President Putin, no one can be surprised at the outcome. The people who were attacked are the ones sitting in jail. There is a lot of footage up showing people being interviewed and then mugged on camera. I guess the thugs knew they had permission.

This is what Russian democracy looks like.

More Migden

More on the Migden story from the SJ Mercury. This headline is an understatement:

Senator Carole Migden's history of brash behavior

I'm surprised the guy could get anyone to talk on the record.

Tillman redux

The local rag has an article about Pat Tillman.

Weekend

This long weekend appears to be one of my hiding out times. There are moments when paying attention to the world is just too painful. Between the whales being stuck in the Sacramento river to the liars that run the country, no wonder all I want to do is garden. So garden I did all day. (That was a very Yodaesque sentence, think I.)

I believe I am growing some sort of nuclear garden. Apparently I am a little too good with the soil after all those years of working in New Mexico crap. Now I have poppies that are over 4 feet tall and a tomato plant that is being held up by a regular tomato cage and two other square cages. It has overtaken a large portion of the veggie garden. Until this year the veggie garden was a sandbox. So it is now a salsa garden with chiles, tomatoes, onions and cilantro all growing at a brisk rate. Nuclear, actually.

Last night we went to see Captain Jack Sparrow and Miss Elizabeth Swann in the latest installment of Pirates. Somehow I had the idea that we would take my three little cousins to go see this flick. What the hell was I thinking? It is nearly 3 hours in length with tons of violence and a complicated plot. Great for me but not so good for a four year old. So Shrek it is!

My cousin's son is quite the character. He told his older sister the other day that he was better cus he has a pickle. You know, that pickle.

Thank goodness for those kids, they are constant reminder to me to have hope. Of course, I always get to walk away from them if they get to be too much. That's the advantage of being the favorite aunt/cousin, I can get them all worked up and leave. What an ass, huh?

Well I don't want to turn this into too much of a reality show so I guess I will just end the adventure now. Hopefully there will be Pirates 4.

Grocery list

I drove to Sacramento today, the second time this week and was terrified I would see Carole Migden on the road. The CHP is citing her for not one but two accidents last Friday. Apparently she has given up driving until she finds out what is wrong. Oh don't get me started.

This has been quite the week for me, including the afore mentioned Sac trips. I went to Santa Cruz Tuesday morning for the funeral of my first sponsor. She lived to be a ripe 92 and died with 59 years sober. She was treated like a saint in the Santa Cruz AA community. I have to admit I was somewhat shocked at the turnout. I thought it would be overflow crowds at both the rosary and the funeral. Both were respectable showings but I guess now that people are sober they have jobs and can't just take off for funerals.

Monday was immigrant day at the Capitol and I was overworked and underpaid for that day. Between 400 and 500 people came from all over the state to lobby legislators on a variety of issues, including health care, citizenship services and increases for programs. It was really cool to see the diversity of participants and the various issues. Plus it was a nice day. I went to a meeting with staff from the Governator's office. Priceless moment: I mentioned that immigrants are very diverse in California. The staff member replied that he knew that, after all he is an immigrant from Austria. Um, missed the point, babe.

My gal is about to be and edumacated woman. She will be graduating next month from the National Labor College and finished her statistics class tonight. Whoohoo, break out the ice cream!

No way!

This is just too much. State Senator Carole Migden was involved in a car crash, driving her state leased vehicle last Friday. Migden, who is not known for her sunny disposition, may actually have been involved in as many as three crashes that day. According to the Chronicle, she may have bounced off a center divider and a median divider.

On top of this, she disclosed that the reason she may have been driving impaired is because she has leukemia and has been getting treated for the condition for years. So now she must be headed for chemo rehab to explain all this away.

Migden, a lesbian, is involved in one of the bitchiest re-election battles right now with gay state Assemblyman Mark Leno. For those who have been to Castro street, imagine the two of them rolling in a ball down Castro, pulling each other's hair.

a question

So which Mexican is doing more harm to the US, Gonzalez or the guy who washes your car and mows your lawn?

API HIV testing

This morning I went to Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) to support their HIV testing day. They had a couple of elected officials, including my favorite little brother, Evan Low, getting tested. Here is his cute face.

And here is the story:
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
May 14, 2007


Santa Clara Community Leaders to Publicly Take HIV Tests at the 3rd Annual National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

WHO: Michele Lew, President & CEO, Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI)
Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga of Mountain View
Councilmember Evan Low of Campbell
Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center (A&PI Wellness Center)

WHAT: In commemoration of the Third Annual National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDSAwareness Day, three groundbreaking leaders of Santa Clara County’s Asian & Pacific Islander (A&PI) communities will publicly receive HIV tests. This event also highlights the launch of HIV rapid testing, open to the public, at AACI’s Alternative HIV Testing Site in San Jose. AACI’s HIV testing program is a joint effort with the Community Health Partnership. This program was made possible through funding from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Leaders demonstrating the importance of being tested for HIV will be: Michele Lew, President and CEO of AACI; Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga, of Mountain View; and Councilmember Evan Low, of Campbell. All three will be receiving the Rapid Oral HIV test, a non-invasive test which provides results in 20 minutes, as well as providing individual remarks and answering questions for the media.

WHEN: Friday, May 18, 2007 at 9:00 am

WHERE: Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Banyan Tree Room (Room 216)
2400 Moorpark Avenue
San Jose, CA 95128

WHY: To focus attention on the rising rates of HIV/AIDS in A&PI communities and reduce related discrimination and stigma, especially fear around getting an HIV test. According to the CDC, at least 25% of all Americans infected with HIV are unaware of their status. Knowing personal HIV status increases individuals’ power to take care of their self and their community. By publicly receiving HIV tests, these three A&PI leaders demonstrate the need for increased education and support around those living with or at-risk for HIV in A&PI communities in Santa Clara County.

This event is held in conjunction with the Banyan Tree Project, a national initiative led by A&PI Wellness Center, striving to foster acceptance and compassion toward A&PIs living with, or at risk for HIV/AIDS. For information about National A&PI HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, go to www.banyantreeproject.org or call 1-866-5BANYAN. Press materials are available on the website.

Falcons

Just down the road the peregrine hawk couple, Jose and Clara, are esconced with their new babies on the San Jose city Hall building. Thanks to modern technology, you can read about them here with the web site for the falcon cam in this article. The whole valley is excitedly watching some very rare family moments. It's a nice change from what is going on down below with the humans.

Perfect v 2.0

This is perfect. Go on over to Pam's place to see the press release from Fred Phelps and his haters. They are going to picket Falwell's funeral.

Nice

OK this really irks me. This short Chronicle article about the anti-memorial for late homobigot Falwell makes it sound like the organizer, a certain out spoken gay men in the City, is only about gay men. Is the word lesbian used as if gay men had the bigotry locked up over gayness and AIDS? Uh yeah I am one of those lesbians who was there changing underwear and sheets for people too sick to take care of themselves. Sexism rears its ugly head in the face of the demise of one of our enemies. Funny how that happens.

At least Tinky Winky can exist in peace now.

Too bad

Jerry Falwell dies today. Now I am going to hell for sure because I just clicked my heels.

Why

Back in the bad old days of AIDS, the 80's and 90's, there used to be a safety net for people living with AIDS. There was medicine, there were doctors, there were food banks, there was a way to pay for the meds. Apparently those days are long gone.

I just talked to a friend living with HIV who just had a minor stroke. He is not able to use his left hand except, as he described it, as a claw. But he is back at work now because he can't afford to not work and not have insurance. His spouse is on Medical and they just had to pay $900 for a dose of medicine. One prescription. I mean WTF kind of care is that?

If you don't have the right insurance and don't have the dough you die, right? So here is a guy who can't use both hands needing to work so he can pay for his spouse's meds because the feds won't help. This is the same kind of care this administration has given us. This is way beyond benign neglect, it is a kick in the ass, a kick to the curb and driving over people with a steam roller all combined to create an illusion of care. The same thing can be seen in military hospitals, New Orleans indigent care and county hospitals all over the country.

I don't know that this many morons could be found this easily all over the country let alone running the government. Between the lies, the scandals, the sheer ineptitude, it is a wonder there is any semblance of infrastructure left. It is truly heinous what we are witnessing. And there are still more than 600 days left for this man to destroy our spirit.

So what is the answer? Who knows? Universal health care? I wish. Who can one trust to offer real health care reform and the needed real health care? This is one of those conundrums of life in the US. The most advanced country in the world allegedly and the government seems content to let its citizens suffer.

Hahahaha

To prove that there is justice in the world, Mary Cheney's book is selling for a whopping 7 cents over at Amazon. H/t to Michael Petrelis for unearthing this gem. What a great way to start the weekend! The lawn is mowed and watered, the woman who has sold out lesbians everywhere in the country gets a taste of the free market. Ah Friday nights.

T-night in the City

I can't remember the last time I have enjoyed an article so much. I could smell the bathroom.

Back

I just returned from LA where I attended a meeting for progressive organizations to talk strategy. The retreat was held at the Serra retreat center in Malibu. It was such a lovely place to meet and talk about the upcoming years and what the ramifications are for us in the progressive movement.

Among my peers from the Bay Area, I have such a hard time understanding them sometimes. Not a language thing but they really like to "go deep" in their analysis and I have never dealt with politics at this level before. As I tell them, I have no idea where they are going but I try to follow them down the path.

But today we had a chance to visit, hang out and get to know each other. Apparently none of them knew I was the class clown so I had them laughing at lunch with my standard going out to dinner lines. So it was fun to entertain a whole new audience. Oh boy, my lines won't be all stale old jokes!

At the center I had such a nice time wandering among the gardens, looking out at the ocean, watching the sparrows and hummingbirds and walking among the gazillion lizards. It was a place to reconnect with myself for a bit. Plus I had forgotten my cell phone, my work email is not working so I was cut off from my normal pushes and pulls. It was actually a bit teary over leaving because that meant back to work. Waaaah.

So now I will see if the Congress has enough ovaries to do something about this damn war, whether Wolfie gets the boot from the World Bank and what my purple poppies look like in the morning.

Ugh

The Sharks are toast. I am going to LA tomorrow for work. The two are a bad combination. Think I'll go eat some worms.

Blahhh!

Oh ugh, the Sharks were disgusting today. I will have to eat octopus on this series from my friend Leslie, the wing nut. That was all hockey jargon. Bottom line, my team sucks and may not make it to the next round.

At least the weather is grand, it is the spouse's birthday weekend so we are trying to liven things up by going to Santa Cruz a couple of times for meals with friends. This is a real sign of getting older, I couldn't remember how old she is. Actually it was mental pause. At any rate, off to surf city tomorrow. The joys of California life.

A moment

Whoa, I forgot I had a blog! That's mental pause for you.

I cannot report many interesting things today. I did get the stitches out of my foot yesterday and could then enjoy a big girl shower without a giant condom on my leg. I drove to Sacramento yesterday too and had more Chico State flashbacks all the way up and back.

This evening I had a priceless moment with one of my dogs. I had gone out to the garage for something and came back in to the house. There was Allegra, sitting there, waiting for me, wagging her tail and just showing how much she likes me. She has such warm brown eyes, I just fell in love all over again with a dog who has been abused in the past and just wants some love from me. I gave it to her happily with no strings attached. Pure love from the animals and pure love back.

Sometimes it is the little things that can make me grateful. Today I had that moment.

Women and blogs

I think a light bulb just went on here in San Jose. I was reading this article in the WaPo about women being harassed and intimidated on their blogs. This has the apparent response of pushing women out of the blogosphere. Duh!

In the past I wrote about the threats that Shakespeare's Sister had to deal with as part of the fallout with the Edwards campaign. The threats weren't just in the blogosphere but came right to her front door.

So apparently this is not an isolated incident. According to this article, women are receding from the cyber community due to these threats of rape, violence and death against not just them but also their families.

A few weeks ago I posted a diary for the first time at Kos. It was the story about my friend Julia and her eventual demise from cancer. Oh wait, I posted it here too. Anyway, I got a blistering response from somebody for talking about my friend and making the comparison to Elizabeth Edwards. Although the moral of the story was how much I hate to see women having to deal with this, well I was just wrong.

Never mind that I knew about my own experiences with my friend but it was just enough to make me realize that, yes, the blogosphere is the wild west. But I didn't have to go look there or any other site that made me uncomfortable. I could get my news in places that weren't the wild west, that people weren't insane or intimidating or um, just stupid. So I stopped going to Kos and any other site that I felt was not friendly.

Anonymity and misogyny is a very bad combination. Add the ability for threats of violence to be posted without any repercussions and I really don't want to play in that sandbox.

I will just keep writing because I like to write. A few people drop by regularly and that is great. I just want a little community where we can share a laugh and talk about hockey or something and wave to each other in passing.

The truth will set us free

Billie Jean's talk last night stirred up a lot of brain cells for me. How incredible to get to be in the company of such a leader. And what a doofus I am to have to be talked in to going last night, for a free event.

Anyhow, let me talk about my conversation with her. Because of this damn foot thing, I was in a wheel chair, provided by my friend Sharon. (You can read about her here.) Once again dealing with the very important issues of how does one get down to a floor with the elevator working. As usual, my snotty ass self made sure Sharon and I were front row.

I digress. After the speech, I rolled up to the stage to try to schmooze with the mother of women's sports. I finally rolled my way in front of her and had a lovely conversation. Introduced myself as the only Latina lesbian to ever address a presidential convention. She asked what I talked about. I told her it was about real family values, how my cousin's baby had died and they didn't care who my partner was but that I was part of the family and showed up for them. She agreed, talking about family was really important. I thanked her for opening the door for people like me. Her response, "We help each other."

BJK was so accessible, so friendly, so supportive, it was just unbelievable to hear the stories. The Bobby Riggs story, her galimony case, her start in tennis, what she did for women's sports, all were so important in the country's history, womens' history, LGBT history.

The critical piece I heard time and time again, tell your truth. Tell the truth about who you are, what you want, what your opinions are in every day of your life. And if you don't know the truth for yourself, find out. Find out who you are, no matter how painful because if you tell the truth about who you are, you can tell the truth to the world and make a difference.

No wonder I slept better last night, I am surrounded by women who tell the truth and make a difference, starting with me.

Tell the truth

Look who I spent the evening with? Yes, that would be the fabulous Billie Jean King. Due to my ongoing physical problems, I was in a wheel chair up front and personal as the King who is really the Queen of all women athletes talked about her life, the highlights and lowlights.

But I felt I made the better choice over Hillary and Obama and listening to BJK's version of the battle of the sexes against Bobby Riggs.

There will be more in the AM with more pics and hopefully film.

The boot

Will someone with ovaries please step forward and please give this comb licking lair the boot?

From WaPo:

Wolfowitz has been under increasing pressure to step down since acknowledging his role in securing a job change and salary increase for Riza, his longtime companion. Shortly before Wolfowitz assumed the World Bank presidency in June 2005, Riza, a World Bank employee, was transferred to the State Department at an annual salary of $193,000.

A draft of the report reviewed by the committee late Friday declared Wolfowitz had violated World Bank regulations in three areas: breach of contract, breach of ethics rules and undermining the reputation of the bank.

Duh, what did you expect from him? Morality, ethics? Not gonna happen.

Yippeee

Ms Marinucci, has an article up on the Chronicle for Saturday about bloggers at the California Democratic Convention. I am quoted in the article. I am having performance anxiety.

If it wasn't for the damn foot, I would be blogging from down in San Diego. I have to depend on the local homos to keep me posted. That is not right on so many levels. Oh well, I will just go see Billie Jean King tomorrow night at Stanford. Thhhpppttt.

Equal or not equal?

Thank you to the Congressional types who introduced ENDA this week. One of my favorite Congressmen, Barney Frank is leading the charge to get us equal protection at the federal level. This bill is also trans inclusive which a huge step forward for the whole community.

Back in my other life in New Mexico, we were able to get a state bill passed like this - a non-discrimination bill that was trans inclusive. Leading up to that legislative session there were many painful, rancorous conversations about trans inclusion. I was very sad to witness the chingasos which activists, alleged progressive people were only too willing to throw our trans brothers and sisters under the bus. I still hear and see it.

I would say in public that I wanted us to all get to the finish line together. To me, why would I treat someone the way I have been treated? Why continue that system of oppression, that hierarchy of discrimination when we could do something different? How does one say I want equality but just for me, leave the others behind?

Now I am as pragmatic as the next person. I know how to count votes, lobby, pressure and give money when needed. But, but, but I need to be able to look myself in the mirror and know I did the right thing for everyone, not just some.

This same argument runs through the thread of immigration. Immigrants are somehow less than human, they are "illegal." Those coming here without papers are criminals, trying to destroy the country. Yes because everyone wants to leave their family and live in crowded conditions and not see their children for months and years. All this so they can work in crappy jobs with low respect and be treated badly by segments of the population.

Wanting the best for our families is not solely and American concern. It is universal as should be our humanity. So whether it is a person from another country, a person who has changed their gender over the course of their lifetime, someone in a wheel chair or whatever makes the next person different, there is always a chance to treat them well.

Unless it's me then you can treat me REALLY well.

Remember

I wish I could give Mary Tillman a hug.

Mary Tillman is the mother of Pat Tillman. Pat Tillman was a pro football player who gave up the high life and went to war in Afghanistan. He enlisted in the Army Rangers after the 9/11 attacks. He was killed by Americans, Americans in the Army Rangers in a clear case of fratricide. Unfortunately the Army didn't get around telling Mary Tillman or her family about the fratricide until five weeks after his death.

Pat's brother Kevin was a few hundred yards away when their fellow Rangers opened fire on Pat and blew his head off. Now we know that a ranking officer told the man who witnessed Pat's death to not tell his brother. So began the cover up.

Pat Tillman was given a memorial service at a beautiful park in San Jose, not far from my house. One of the officers in attendance at the service knew he had been killed by his fellow Rangers but never said a frigging word to the family. We still don't know how far this cover up went in the ranks or in the Pentagon or in the White House.

But yesterday Mary and Kevin Tillman testified in Congress. They told the truth and questioned why they have been treated in a such an immoral fashion, with lies and obstacles placed in their way to the truth. How in the hell does the Army do FIVE investigations and still not yield the truth?

Well we know the answer. This is a rhetorical question at best but it is the heart of what this country has become. A country in the midst of a civil war in a country we have destroyed based on the lies of the president and his gang of bullies. Pat Tillman believed in his values, telling the truth, standing up for his country and doing the right thing. What his country did to honor him was to lie to his family.

That's why I want to give Mary Tillman a hug. Just to let her know I honor her son. I honor her family and I, too, just want the truth.

For more details on Pat Tillman read this story in Sports Illustrated. And send Mary Tillman a hug.

Small and smaller

My world is getting smaller again. Now it is just down to the stitches in my Mexican left foot. Pain, pain and frustration. Nothing I need or want is ever near me. I always have to get up and get something, a pen, a phone, something to read. AAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!! I am clumsy and knock over things, spilling things and then there is the pain.

Here I am still working too. Today I had a legislative breakfast for my job, then had a meeting with an organizer/ Back to the office for messages, back home to the computer then off to the LGBT Dem club meeting. It's just Monday, too.

Immigration legislation looks even more fucked up now. Bush is pushing an immigration bill which doesn't allow for family reunification. Congressman Gutierrez was here this weekend pimping his bill and trying to scare people-it's either his bill or more raids. His bill or nothing, the big liar.

To top it off, Alberto Gonzalez still has the same job. That is just not right.

See ya sucker

If this works in hockey, it should work at the World Bank. Sing along with me "Nananana, nananana, hey, hey, hey, goodbye. So long Wolfie, you are the devil and have brought hell to this earth. All the directors of the World Bank have said Wolfowitz must resign. Nananana, heyhey, goodbye.

VT

The world is such a sad place today. The killings in Virginia have once again ignited the flames of desire for many people in the country to address the issue of guns-what has them, who doesn't, who can get them, who can't. Why do you need a gun if you don't hunt?

But for me, the question becomes also about other issues we can't discuss, race and mental illness. Last year when I was just starting this blog, I wrote a lot about Denice Denton, the chancellor at UC Santa Cruz who committed suicide. There was an alarming number of flashing lights going on with the late chancellor but hardly anyone picked up the signs. Now again, the warning signs were flashing in Virginia but the systems there couldn't and wouldn't address this young man's mental illness.

In questioning my APA friends today, I asked if they had any repercussions from this horrible event. The answers were interesting. They all uniformly said, no, not any repercussions. But they had a number of viewpoints from their different angles:

• they were glad he spoke clear and precise English so it didn't look like he was a recent arrival with no skills to be in the country;
• why did the issue of race have to be raised so often in the reporting?
• why is Korean culture (specifically South Korean movies) being blamed for this assault?
• since Korean culture tends to be homogeneous, should all Koreans be ashamed of this act?

I know there will be plenty of attempts to answer the why question. But I wish the country would start treating mental illness in the same way we treat cancer. And I wish people could see the mental illness instead of his race. We are long way from evolution on all of these issues.

Tonight, tonight

So now that I am limping around and not so much hobbling on crutches, I went to the Sharks Stanley Cup game tonight. I was on both crutches and let me tell, what an amazing experience this was to not be fully capable in a large crowd.

I knew this already from other experiences with people in wheel chairs but sheesh, I had such a difficult time with people just walking, crossing, running in front of me. There was a fair amount of what? Selfishness? Self absorbtion? Total lack of attention to a person who was limited in the ability to walk? Stunning, really.

When I went to the bathroom, the women were at least friendly and not in a hurry to get around me. There were a number of men who were very kind and helpful while I was making my way to the jane. But for the most part I felt very invisible.

Quite the lesson learned tonight. Doesn't hurt to be kind to people with different abilities, they are people too.

Lying Heather

This is good. The DCCC has an ad up in the Land of Enchantment ripping lying Heather a new one.

In Washington Alberto Gonzales, the Attorney General of the United States, is testifying under oath about his role in the firing of U.S. Attorneys.

But here in New Mexico, no one is getting the truth about Heather Wilson’s involvement in the scandal.

Wilson said a constituent’s complaint led her to call Republican U.S. Attorney David Iglesias about an ongoing federal corruption investigation.

But Heather Wilson won’t identify the constituent … she still refuses to release her phone records … and many important questions remain unanswered.

In Washington Attorney General Gonzales is being asked to tell the truth …

Isn’t it time we asked Heather Wilson to tell the truth in New Mexico?

Check the facts at www dot Heather Wilson watch dot com.

People have asked questions on other blogs about the whole corruption topic being over with now. Just remember corruption is the life blood of New Mexico. People thrive on it. Corruption is as important as water.

The week

Oh my what a week! The White House lost 4 million emails. Imus is toast. The Sharks won in double overtime last night.

Let's see....how in the hell do you lose that many emails? Oh I remember, when you are under suspicion for breaking many federal laws. Hiding things from Americans because you are unethical, lying, flying monkeys working in the White House?

Imus got kicked to the curb today and I couldn't be happier to finally see some accountability. Now, dude, about those eyebrows. Get some tweezers.

Tomorrow afternoon I am having surgery on my left foot. The movie will be called My Mexican Left Foot. Got the percocet already so as long as I get home in front of the tv for the Sharks game, life is good.

I may have to blog on percocet, wheeee.

Stealing

I had to steal this pic from my buddy Kathy at Birmingham Blues. I know stealing is wrong but...I had to have this.

??????

Easter has not been on my list of top 10 holidays. But today certainly turned into one of the nicer days since moving back to CA. Out in the sun, bbqing, See's candy, family around, See's candy, potato salad, See's candy. We had one conversation about politics but nobody wanted to ruin the day by talking about that crap. We did stray into the territory of immigration while trying to get my mom's birth certificate online.

Like since she doesn't have a passport and no possession of her birth certificate, what would happen if ICE tried to pick her up at say an immigration rally? What would happen to anyone in that position, how do you prove you are here legally? Since we brown types are the subject of suspicion, again, our requirements become um, suspect.

So much for the land of the free.

Guess I'll go back to the See's and forget about this for the rest of the day.

Time

Well apparently this Orange county lawyer has a booming business trying to force police departments to do two jobs at once. He is suing the City of San Jose to try to force the PD to become federal border patrol. On behalf of two locals who, of course. Some people just have too much time on their hands and apparently want to wash their own cars and their own dishes from now on. This promises to be the first of many more suits. I can hardly wait.

A good day in the hood

I was going to get be all smug today on this post about my name appearing in an anti-immigrant blog. When I went to find it again, it was gone. Damn. The smugness will have to wait for another day.

I n the meantime I can celebrate the Sharks win tonight. I got my Stanley Cup tickets today, too. No work this weekend, thankfully, too. My red poppies are blooming out in front. I think I managed to make all my deadlines today. Whoohoo, a good day in the neighborhood for me. This gives me a chance to ignore Bush's stupidity of the day.

Oh but wait, why is he throwing such a fit about Nancy Pelosi going to Syria when there are Republicans there this week too? And why is he making asinine comments about Congress going off on vacation as he has one foot in the plane so he can go to Crawford? Ah the hypocrisy, it is always breathtaking.

Yeah baby

I love living in northern California. Where else does this happen? From the Chron:

The state's ban on same-sex marriage tells lesbians and gay men that they are "second class citizens" inferior to sex offenders and prisoners, and it contributes to discrimination, the city of San Francisco argued today in asking the California Supreme Court to strike down the law.

In a strongly-worded brief, the city traced the discrimination of lesbians and gay men from the first millennium to the Enlightenment to the present day. City attorneys compared the fight for same-sex marriage rights to the battle for desegregation, and they asked the state's highest court to ignore the pull of tradition and "the will of the popular majority."

Sister love

I have got to give a shout out to my sister, Kathleen DeBold, who is leaving the Mautner Project after a million years there. What a kind, generous woman she is. Anytime I needed her ear, she was there. Ok maybe not every time cus she was always really busy but most times she would be there for me. Plus I could always make her laugh and we carried on like a couple of old lesbos when we got together. It was really bad when we sat together at meetings, slipping notes to each other and making REALLY rude comments to provoke the other one.

She was always cognizant about issues of race, class and gender. If she said something that could use some correction, I would not hesitate in pointing it out to her. She was never defensive and always was a great friend and ally. We would have arguments about the L Word but it was way cool when she got Mautner recognized during the very sad story line about one of the characters dying of breast cancer.

I know there will be times in the future when we get to cause trouble again. Until then, my friend, take a much needed rest. You certainly earned it.

A light

My world keeps getting a little smaller. Now I am just focused on my feet.

I finally have insurance at Kaiser and met my swell new doctor today. She has sent me on to the foot people so with any luck I will be getting that damn operation to alleviate the pain in my feet, the nasty case of plantar fasciatis. This is now four series of shots, steroids, pain pills and endless days and nights of this really terrible pain later maybe there is some help on the way.

Then I can go back to soccer and walk the dogs again. Good lord, a normal life????

Citizens

The last two Saturdays I have had to work. My agency sponsors a Citizenship Day and then we provide three Saturdays as a follow up to help people fill out their N-400 form.

So what the heck is an N-400 you may ask. That is the form that the wizards at the Department of Homeland Security use to process eligible residents to become citizens. It is a loooong, multiple page form asking some very interesting questions. We, staff and volunteers, assist these folks with this application. It has been a very eye opening experience for me. I want to share some of my experiences.

First, I find it amazing to see the complexities of people's lives. I was working with a man who had a traumatic brain injury so he cannot remember his work history. The people from southeast Asia have very complex histories that are a product of wars, dictators and genocide. One woman from Cambodia could not remember her birthday or the birthdays of two of her children. I could never imagine what she has seen or experienced in her lifetime.

Some of the questions on the form are kind of cheeky. Like asking a 70 something Vietnamese woman if she was ever a prostitute. Then her daughter has to translate the question for her. Or was she a drug addict, a habitual drunkard? These fall under the category of morality questions. Plus, what person is going to say yes? No drunk or drug user could get through this process! It is long, it requires patience and a real desire to get to the citizenship ceremony. This is not for the faint hearted!

At the end of very long days, though, I felt like I had done my part to make the US a better place, more of the real melting pot and less of a hypocrisy. I look forward to seeing more citizens who will vote and participate in a real democracy.

Nos vemos

Ever have a time in your lofe when your world shrinks waaaay down to just what's in front of you? I have been like that for weeks, depressed over the state of national politics, immigration reform or lack thereof, too much work with not enough time for myself, grumpy and tired.

But then Wednesday night would roll around and I would get enthused again, if just for a few hours with my APALI class. Tonight was the last class and we were silly, hopeful, as always and a lot sad. My muses, my new family were all dispersing to the four directions soon. We won;t be back in that classroom together ever again.

I guess the finality of the program ending is what is hard to take. We created such magic and the network will always be there, we just won't be together again in that same way. It's not like someone died or anything, I just miss everyone already and I have been gone from the classroom for all of an hour.

So while DC continues to battle, Iraq continues as hell on earth, my little patch of safety, hope and creativity has gone the way of the buffalo. I'll just keep calling everyone to make trouble with me.

Until the next time, mi familia, nos vemos.

You did not just say that!

Want to see what the Army can do to you? Head over the Pam's place and read the racist homophobic email from an army recruiter using her army email address. Goodbye career, hello Klan.

Election for me

I am happy to report that I spent the evening at the Silicon Valley LGBT Dem club meeting tonight. Going to another meeting is not what I am happy about but being elected president of the club is something to dance about. So I will be going to the Dem convention in San Diego next month plus getting to work in the party for homos again. Not that I ever stopped.

Thanks to all the wonderful people who voted for me and the new crew I will be working with in the coming year. Adelante.

Some thoughts on Elizabeth and Julia

Well the Edwards' confirmed the cancer diagnosis today. I watched the press conference. She did not look good, pale and certainly thinner than in the past. But I was glad to see she hadn't lost her feistiness, snapping at the media that they had gotten the story wrong and the former Senator was indeed going to keep on the campaign.

Unfortunately for Ms Edwards, the cancer has returned in her bones. According to my sister the oncology nurse, this is not good. While in fact this makes the cancer incurable, it is also sign of movement of the cancer. My sister says they have been able to keep people with this type of cancer alive for more than six years, it is also a concern because of the spread.

This brought back of flood of memories of my friend Julia. Ms Marinucci, Julia and I went to high school together. Julia and I were in the choir and she had the most beautiful voice. I remember some absolutely thrilling moments listening to her sing. Carla and Julia did journalism things together like the school paper. Plus they lived very near to each other.
Julia was quick witted, a killer writer and just fun to be around.

I forget how it happened but somehow I found Julia about 10 years ago. She was married with three girls and living in what she called "god forsaken France." We kept in touch over the years and then she was diagnosed with cancer, breast cancer. By the time I got to see her in person, the cancer had moved quickly into her bones. She had lost a vertabrae in her neck and had trouble turning her head.

She went through all kinds of nasty treatments which she would tell Carla and I about in excruciating detail. I had to blot a lot of it out of my memory it was so painful and grotesque. She became an experiment for nasty ass drugs which made her body do horrible things. She was so miserable at times, not even the pain drugs helped.

But oh did she love her girls. She kept saying she wanted to see them married or even just to see them graduate from high school. Julia was a great mom, forever reasoning with the girls like they were adults, giving them the chance to live every moment they could with her.

Her husband, Colin, was a champ through this whole nightmare. He just kept helping her paying great attention to her needs. In these situations, the cream doesn't always rise to the top but Colin showed how much he loved Julia.

The last time I saw her, she was bedridden. But Julia had a sparkle that I miss to this day and will miss every day. I spent four hours with her that day. We laughed, we talked, I cried. Carla came over and we all carried on like we were still in high school. Only this time we were mocking Bush not the cheerleaders.

So today as Elizabeth Edwards facing the next chapter in her journey with cancer, I remember my friend Julia and wish there was a different way to see women's bravery.

No!

Oh no oh no oh no. John Edwards is holding a press conference tomorrow to discuss his wife's health. According to CNN there are mixed signals coming from the campaign. Actually the campaign won't talk about it.

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards accompanied his wife, Elizabeth, who has been treated for breast cancer, on a doctor's visit Wednesday. His campaign said they would hold a news conference in their hometown Thursday to discuss her health.

I wouldn't wish this on Laura Bush or Lynne Cheney. I have seen this horrible disease happen so many times and lost so many important women in my life, it is the scourge for women in our times.

Update: seems Edwards went with Elizabeth to a follow up appointment. This is bad.

But why would they call a press conference? Could Edwards be dropping out because of a bad diagnosis? Why would they have a presser to announce a clean bill of health? Plus, we don;t know if this was a follow up doctor's visit that he attended with her.

The one time I met Elizabeth Edwards my impression of her was that she was a lovely woman. The kind of gal I could easily hang out with and talk about a number of things. Apparently she was the one who got the hubby to pay attention to the blogosphere.

A lot of good intentions should go out there tonight for her health and the health of all women.

Today

The idiot in chief continues to amaze me. Today was no exception. He threw a temper tantrum of a press conference getting all pissy like some drag queen that his servants, er, staff was going to be questioned. Not while he is in charge, apparently. I guess this week will be his refresher on the Constitution.

According to the WaPo, he is all upset.

President Bush sought yesterday to defuse the controversy over the firings of U.S. attorneys, offering strong support for embattled Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales while proposing to make Karl Rove and other top aides available for private interviews with congressional investigators.

The White House, however, limited the kinds of questions the aides would answer and said the interviews may not be conducted under oath or transcribed. The conditions enraged congressional Democrats, who vowed to go ahead with plans to issue subpoenas as early as today that would compel the aides to testify.

Oh waaah, this is what democracy looks like.

But Representatives John Conyers and Linda Sanchez are going to issue subpoenas tomorrow for the House Judiciary committee.

Let's get ready to RUMBLE! Bring it on, baby! I will hurt you so bad your whole family will hurt. You want a knife fight, I'll give it to you.

I can hardly wait for tomorrow's battle.

APALI

For the past 10 weeks I have been part of a new program at DeAnza college for leadership development. It is part of the Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute (APALI). The focus was on cross cultural education with Latinos and APAs. For me it was so much more.

The two teachers, Michael Chang and Ruben Abrica are both on faculty at DeAnza but also political types. Michael is a former mayor of Cupertino and Ruben is on the East Palo Alto City Council and a former mayor of that city also. It was their vision to create this program.

We had speakers in to talk about leadership, politics, non-profits and various other topics. But the real joy of being int he class was the other students. Sharing our stories, frustrations, experiences not to mention hopes and dreams was nothing short of wonderful and revolutionary.

My work group of Anne Im, Winnie Lee and Linda Leu has just about broken my fun meter. We have laughed and laughed but our project is going to be awesome. If we can stop laughing long enough to present it.

There are a number of us who are working together on other projects outside of class. This is where the revolution begins. If we can create a wave of community activism between the two groups, however small it is, we can change many things in Silicon Valley.

I am very interested in expanding the notion of immigration being simply a Latino issue. By working collaboratively with the APA community we can change conversations here. We saw that already with testimony offered at the San Jose City Council in support of an immigrant friendly resolution passed last month. There were five people from the class there and two of us testified for passage of the resolution.

The time has flown by and I am deeply sad that I won't be getting the chance to see everyone every week. Guess this gives me an excuse to call up folks and try to find ways to work together again.

Let the revolution begin.

Wild Thing

Well I just flipped on KQED and caught the Trogs singing "Wild Thing." Perfect Saturday night fare. I was again a teenager on a Saturday night but I wasn't stoned. A lot more fun and a lot less paranoia.

Thursday this and that

So a while back I blogged about the pros and cons of not working. That list could be totally reversed now, I have no time but I have money. I don't get to sleep in anymore. Ok tomorrow I get to do so. I have to do something every day this weekend and I just want to garden. Waaaahhhh!

The lst two weeks have been a tear in the evenings too. Between my APALI class at DeAnza, evening meetings, hockey games, the women's PAC-10 and various other things, I am barely home. Plus, Stanley Cup is coming up!!!!

Please God, let this be true. Karl Rove is finally getting really caught up in the weekly White House scandal. According to AP:

White House political adviser Karl Rove raised questions in early 2005 about replacing some federal prosecutors but allowing others to stay, an e-mail released Thursday shows. The one-page document, which incorporates an e-mail exchange in January 2005, also indicates Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was considering dismissing up to 20 percent of U.S. attorneys in the weeks before he took over the Justice Department.

I will be dancing in the streets if this one plays out the way it is headed.

Over at my hermano, Andres Duque's place, Blabbeando, he has a fabulous set of photos from today's ACT-UP demo in NYC. How wonderful to see Larry Kramer out on the streets again, pissed off as ever. Cus we sure have plenty to be pissed off about today. Plus there is something so poetic about seeing the giant rainbow flag being carted off to jail.

They were out in the streets taunting the head jack ass of the joint chiefs while he was giving a speech. No doubt he was moralizing about something while being responsible for killing hundreds in Iraq today. The NYT had a great editorial today about his high level of stupidity.

Maybe there is life in the lgbt movement still. I can only hope.

Disco fever

These people are disgusting.

Chair of the Joint Chiefs, Peter Pace, today announced that we homos are immoral. We shouldn't serve in the military. These are the same folks who got us into an immoral war, having handled veterans returning in an immoral fashion and then have the nerve to declare themselves the moral arbiters of the country. The sad part is they don't even understand the damage they have done to themselves and the world. Sad and immoral.

The joys of being in the majority are on display here at the Washington Post.

Congressional committees are now demanding the testimony of President Bush's top political adviser, Karl Rove, in the burgeoning investigation into the reasons behind the unusual firings of eight U.S. attorneys last year.

Heehee, click your heels together with me now and do the happy dance.

Here's another reason to dance, the man responsible for the responsible for the horrible conditions at Walter Reed from 2002-2004 was kciked to curb this weekend. More from WaPo:

Ongoing probes could lead to more firings, two defense officials said yesterday.

Break out those disco shoes baby!!!

I continue to be amazed with the escandalo in New Mexico. Now it seems the chair of the GOP exchanged more than business cards at a White House meetings. Like the aforementioned US Attorney link. Who knew NM would be the downfall of Rove?

What's that? I hear KC singing "Get down tonight."

Now what?

Well, well, well, this is a such a good week to be an American.

• Scooter is toast. Convicted on 4 of 5 counts. Convicted liar!
• The US Attorneys get a chance to testify in front of both the House and Senate committees about their firings. Gonzalez is on the hot seat and Senator Spector predicts the little G doesn't make it to the end of the Bush term. Gonzalez continues to prove that not all brown people are committed to social justice.
• Ms Leather Wilson continues to sweat her moral lapses in Congress. I imagine she will have to lawyer up soon, just like her teacher, Domenici. For inside NM dirt on this story, check out joemonahan.com.
• While I'm at it, Josh Marshall over at TPM has been doing a fabulous job covering the cover ups.
• My buddy, Kathy over at Birmingham Blues asks this very important question:
  

  Given Dick Cheney’s ongoing health issues, do you think he may take the opportunity to resign in the wake of the Libby verdict and let W pick a new VP — one who could be anointed as the 2008 GOP presidential frontrunner?

  I bet there are some folks in the Republican party who would be thrilled with that idea.

• Poor thing, the astronaut who drove straight through to Florida from Houston to hook with a guy she wasn't really involved with got the boot today. I hope someone gives this woman some help. But given what has happened to people in New Orleans and in Walter Reed, I have not one shred of hope.
• Not a homo to blame for this one...Newt Gingrich was having an affair while he was trying to impeach Clinton.

I am looking forward to the return of my brain. Work has been very long hours and lots of stress. Sunday cannot come soon enough. To make things even better, I found out this week I have to have suregery on both my feet. There goes my soccer season.

Back in a minute.

Yaaaa, what happened to my blog??? I disappeared! Between work, school, hockey and women's Pac-10 basketball, I got consumed, having waaaay too much fun. I think I rel-lined the fun meter.

Looks liek there will be some interesting info out in California tomorrow from a Field Poll on gay marriage.

I must say too, that the blonde bigot is, well, a bigot. I thought that kind of name calling was left on the playground. Apparently I was wrong.

In the mean time, a big shout out to the Stanford women's backetball team. They were nothing short of amazing tonight. Another big shout out to my gal pals, Marta and Leslie, celebrating one of the anniversaries today.

Cry me a river

There are two things that really piss me off, when people lie and are just plain stupid. Hence my disgust with the liar-in-chief and all his thugs in this administration. Now Heather Wilson of New Mexico shoots to the top of the list.

Seems the woman who burst into tears during Congressional hearings about Janet Jackson's boob making an appearance on Super Bowl Sunday is now awash in her own lies. She is apparently one of two NM congressional types who are responsible for US Attorney David Iglesias getting the boot. He is one of the nine USA's who have been kicked to the curb during the latest purge by the liar-in-chief.

She is now being scorned in public for her attempts to get Mr Iglesias to hurry up an investigation he was doing about a prominent Dem in NM. Seems she wanted the attorney to spill the beans to her so she could use it in her very tight race for re-election. Leather, I mean Heather, wanted a verdict before election day and Iglesias a)wasn't talking and b)wasn't playing ball by divulging anything on the phone so c)he is out of a job and d)he has been subpoenaed to testify about the phone calls and his termination.

Heehee, run for hills Leather, the Dems are finally going to see some justice on this one.

Nooooooo!

This is the most frightening headline I have seen in a while from the SF Chron:

Senator Schwarzenegger?

Sunday night lights

Could there have been more lesbians on the Oscars tonight? Well, I hope so but it was certainly a lesbo filled night tonight. And weren't our girls all glittery?

I have been formulating some thoughts about the blogosphere lately but the ideas aren't ready for full publication yet.

I had a conversation with Ms Marinucci yesterday about the state of politics in the country and am still trying to wrap my head around the debate last week in Nevada that was only B List. Presidential contenders ran second to the blow p over David Geffen. Did I miss something? Is Geffen's name on the ballot now? Is this the gay mafia speaking? Cus I don;t know any other homo who will be listening for his opinion on the next candidate.

I am looking at another long week in front of me, including hockey and women's Pac-10 basketball. Ah it's a hard job but someone has to do it.

A little history

I am reading a history of the Daughters of Bilitis (bi-LEE-tis) which was the first lesbian organization in the country.

I see how far we have come but have remained in the same place. The arguments in the 50's and 60's were amazingly similar and yet we have made significant progress.

For instance, there was a lot of agreement that lesbians in the group needed to wear dresses in public- at their conventions, at gatherings, etc. Oh not just dresses but the matching shoes, also.

The main form of communication was a newsletter called The Ladder which was typed, stenciled and mailed in sealed manila envelopes to the 150-200 subscriptions around the country. Snail mailed, mind you.

There was considerable controversy whether to picket in front of businesses, the White House or political venues. many people did not think that was a good idea and that we should wait for our political leaders to come around to equality.

My point? I know we can continue to discuss the upcoming election. I know many will not be happy with whoever our candidate is but we all must make decisions at some point on who will vote for. Some will have to hold their nose and vote, some will be happy with the outcome. Either way, some of us are not wearing skirts or pumps unless we want to. And Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin will always be my sheroes for seeing into the future and doing something to change it.

SQUID

Wowee, this is cool. From the SF Chronicle an article about a 990 lb giant squid. Yes, I would say that was giant.

Gavin, Gavin

I had been saying all along that Gavin was not going to get the support he needed to deal with his foibles by going to Delancey Street for rehab. In today's Chron there is an article where Gavin says he doesn't know if he is an alcoholic. Let's see, he's going to groups with junkies and he doesn't think he is like that, he's never stolen a TV for dope. And when he gets done, is he going to go to those same people for support?

Well here's a tip, if you are drinking so much that you have a question about how much you are drinking, that's the answer. Regular people without the alcoholic gene don't have that question.

Sad

A passing of an early leader in the lesbian movement. Barbara Gittings died this weekend after a long battle with breast cancer.

I am just reading "Different Daughters" about the founding of the Daughters of Bilitis (bi-LEE-tis) and barbara Gittings figures prominently in the our early attempts at equality.

Thank you, sister, for all your work. You made a difference in all our lives.

Spartacus

As usual I am running on Mexican time.

I am Spartacus.

Check out Driftglass for the origin.

No one should have to put up with this kind of shit for having an opinion. Read this over at Pam's place by Educated Eclectic. The lowlight:

Both of these women gave their 100%+, but when a far-right extremist twisted comments and made a small stink, all of the sudden Edwards was "offended" by their remarks. His remarks stating that he was "giving a second chance" to Melissa and Amanda were effete, in my opinion, because by not chastising also the radical that is Donohue, he implicitly added his support to the message that everything Donohue says/said is correct, whilst his OWN EMPLOYEES were "offensive" to him.

However, what happened then is unimaginable. Amanda and Melissa became deluged - not with bible verses or other scripture - but with death threats, rape threats, and other forms of torture or bodily harm. Minutes before a telephone conversation I had with Melissa, someone had driven up to her own home and pounded threateningly on her door, leaving after many, many fear-filled minutes. This young lady lives in a home with a loving husband, and beloved pets. Her home has been violated, her well-being has been threatened, and ...where the F were Edwards or his campaign manager(s)? [That sound you hear is the group of crickets, chirping in the otherwise-silence of the room].

These two intelligent women resigned because of threats to their lives, their families, and their homes.

Forget Edwards, he has no sense. You always stand up for your friends.

End the war

I was listening to NPR tonight ont he way home. They were interviewing 2 freshman members of Congress. Obviously one was a Dem and one an R.

This chats never cease to amaze me. Even at this point, six weeks into the 110th Congress, this freshman R could lie with the best of them. To continually assert that the Dems are going to not protect the troops through this non-binding resolution is a lie, plan and simple. Add to that equation that the liar-in-chief is sending his "surge" into battle without enough battle armor and without the full complement of equipment possible makes me wonder what they are all smoking. And what the price will be in human lives for the arrogance of this man.

To top it off, a team of auditors disclosed in a Congressional hearings today that billions of dollars have been wasted in Iraq.

The three top auditors overseeing contract work in Iraq told a House committee that Defense and State department officials condoned or otherwise allowed poor accounting, repeated work delays, bloated expenses and payments for work shoddily or never done by U.S. contractors.

This is a government that holds everyone accountable but themselves. I can't even come up with the right analogy for how disgusting this behavior is. Nauseating? Too tame. Vile, maybe. Vomitrocious. That's it.

When will this nightmare end? 1/20/09.

Nuggets and Tidbits

I am sure I am going to hell for this but....
here is a picture of Anna Nicole Smith's fridge, complete with SlimFast and methadone. The only thing missing is steroids.

I am reading the Newsweek article on her and the article makes me sad all over again. Apparently she didn't have any friends throughout her life. That is just one of the saddest thoughts in the world to me.

IN Sunday's SJ Mercury there was an article about the woman who dallied with Gavin Newsom, Ruby Rippey Tourk. In discussions with other members of 12 step groups I had been of the opinion that the 9th step Ms Ruby had done with her husband was really off base. From the Merc:

But some say she missed the fine print. Make amends, the ninth step says, ``except when to do so would injure them or others.''

So I wonder who gave her this kind of advice to do this when she was about two minutes sober? This whole situation was so damaging for so many people, it will take a long time for folks to build up trust in all corners of the City, starting at City Hall and the Tourk household. Good luck to everyone.

Got to give props where they are due, too. Yesterday was the third anniversary of Gavin giving marriage licenses in San Francisco City Hall. In the Chronicle today, there was coverage of the events at City Hall with hundreds of the couples who were married during the winter of love in San Francisco.

The picture I posted yesterday of me with Phyllis and Del was taken at their house last month. They were the first couple married at City Hall. They were not married by Gavin, contrary to popular rumor. But married they were and I dare George Bush to tell them they aren't married!

A big ol' shout out to Melissa McEwan at Shakes Sis for her courage and dignity while been attacked by an out of control Catholic for her personal opinions on her blog. Stop by and give some luvins to her and Amanda Marcotte at Pandagon for their courage under fire while working for John Edwards. Hard to believe this is the 21st century if you look at the mail Amanda received. I am waiting for the pitchforks and torches next.

Oh wait, I did get a letter from a Dean supporter threatening me with pitchforks and torches if the DNC didn't elect Dean as chair. I was white with fear.

Happy Wedding Anniversary

Happy Wedding Anniversary, Phyllis and Del.

Check out Richardson

I lived in New Mexico for 10 years. During that time there was a Republican governor and then Bill Richardson, a Democrat. The difference was night and day for lgbt people.

When Bill was getting to run for Governor he invited various constituency groups to meet with him and tell him what our priorities were. For lgbt people, we said we had two primary priorities: hate crimes and non-discrimination legislation, transgender inclusive, that he would sign. He said he had no problem with those priorities. During the discussions, we asked for him to appoint lgbt people to state commissions and boards, including the university boards. In a second meeting we asked for domestic partnership benefits for state employees.

Well Bill ran over the opposition in his first election for Governor. During the first legislative session both of our bills were passed with some help from the Governor's office. These were brawls and involved lots of name calling and stall tactics, not to mention attempts by the stupid security people on the planet trying to kick some of us out of the building. That's another story for another day.

Anyway, there were signing ceremonies for both bills on the same day. So it was a day of jubilance in the Land of Enchantment, at least for a large swath of the state. At the evening ceremony, not only did the Governor sign the non-discrimination bill but he announced and signed an Executive Order giving domestic partnerships to state employees.

This was the culmination of many years of hard work by many people in New Mexico. Not all of them lived to see this day but all of it remains as a legacy.

Governor Bill Richardson gave his word and he kept his word. Please remember this when you look at the people running for President.

Here is a link to his speech at the DNC meeting.

Politskovskaya update

Well this is interesting. Moscow News is reporting two men, Chechen, have been arrested for the murder of journalist Anna Politskovskaya. Apparently satellite coverage was used to track down the two. I hope there is real justice for Anna, not a sham.

Sleepless in San Jose

It is well past midnight and I am one cranky bitch. Had a long week, I'm convinced Cheney's goons are outside to get me and I can't sleep. And no I am not doing drugs. I have been wandering around ebay looking for fix. I last left at weed trimmers. WTF? Sleep, that's all I want, is that so much to ask for in a 24 hour cycle? Apparently I am doomed now to read all these blogs and continue to absorb the shitty news of the world.

But I did see a large herd of deer up close today, proving there is a goddess. Now if only the goddess would shine her light on my cousin Steve so he can get a good job, close to home that he likes, I'm just askin.

For those of you cruising around looking for Evan Low sightings, I talked to the man tonight. He is going to go work at Senator Alquist's office. I will continue to be his groupie.

A.N. Smith

Tonight at the grocery store, a couple in line in front of me started making fun of the death of Anna Nicole Smith. I think it is sad. The woman was only 39 and had packed a whole lot of living into those years. I don't want to mock her, I just feel sad that she never really got a chance to straighten her life out. Everyone deserves that chance, at least once, to change life's trajectory. I got that chance and used it. From where I sit, she never got the chance. Just sad.

DNC crap

A letter to be published tomorrow in the Washington Blade.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Some gays still not happy with the DNC
by John in DC - 2/08/2007 09:23:00 PM

I don't pretend to understand what the DNC does or how it does it. But I've known Donald, the author of the letter below, for years, and I known his partner Paul Yandura for just as long. I trust both of them, personally and politically, so if they have a gripe, I think it's worth airing. And if the DNC has a response, I'm happy to publish that as well.

This is a letter to be published in Friday's Washington Blade (one of the two local gay publications in DC):

Washington Blade

DNC Not Ready to Make Nice

Dear Editor,

After attending the recent Democratic National Committee LGBT Caucus meeting, it reaffirmed for me my reasons for standing up to Gov. Dean’s reluctance to treating our community with dignity and respect, an action for which I was fired. I claim that firing as a badge of honor.

Gov. Dean barely addressed the LGBT caucus with only 5 minutes worth of comments, and no questions from the floor. And unfortunately, his talking points had shifted from the comprehensive plan to address the anti-LGBT state ballot measures offered last year to throwing only “a little bit of money” into the states at the end of the fight. So much for the strategy to combat them that he touted in the LGBT press prior to the elections. A recent survey shows that the DNC gave states less than $20,000 in-total, despite having raised almost $2 million from the LGBT community in 2006. But we will never know the exact amount given to state groups since the DNC is embarrassed to officially release the numbers.

The most shocking revelation during the meeting was that Gov. Dean misspoke by claiming that there were no 2006 LGBT exit-polling numbers, stating that “people won’t admit that they are gay” to pollsters while walking out of the voting booth. However, as many of us know, there are indeed exit polls reporting that approximately 80% of LGBT voters voted Democratic. Obviously, either his staff still does not have access to brief him on our issues, or he is not listening. I wonder if he would address any other constituency group, not knowing this basic information.

At the meeting, LGBT finance staff and key fundraisers did sit at the Caucus table, as before, but what is different is that lately we seem to be treated solely as an ATM for the party, with our civil rights seeming an afterthought or burden. After Gov. Dean became Chair of the DNC, two LGBT political positions were abolished, and two finance positions were added, for a total now of four positions in Finance and zero in Political. Given the meeting, it’s obvious that we continue to be invited to the table, pay for the meal, but we are not allowed to eat.

I have great faith in the community to continue to ask questions, and hold our party accountable. That is the only way real progress can be made.

Sincerely,

Donald Hitchcock
Washington, DC

Editors Note: Donald Hitchcock is the former Director of the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council of the Democratic National Committee

Amen, brother. Time for a Democratic feast.

AAARRRGGGHHHH

This country is run by petty little men who want to make little stupid things into bigger stupid things. That is the only explanation I can come up with for the asinine responses to Nancy Pelosi flying on a military plane back to San Francisco. Could these boobs like the Christian Coalition have anything better to do than issue press releases concerning her flying in a military plane?

Christian Coalition of America condemns the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, Democrat from San Francisco, for trying to get luxurious travel paid for by the American taxpayers. Is a first class seat on a commercial jet no longer good enough for Speaker Pelosi? Nancy Pelosi is demanding that the Air Force provide her with a large jet on demand - "Pelosi One" - so she can transport her political cronies, favorite Members of Congress, congressional staffers, friends and relatives back and forth to her district in San Francisco every week.

As usual the biblically correct are vociferous in their criticisms of Dems while giving a free pass to liars and Presidents who are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands. this whole thing is about as interesting as watching paint dry. But to watch CNN, you would think we had gotten out of Iraq with all the breathlessly reporting about the plane. And all the reporting was wrong. Apparently no one at CNN knows how to pick up a phone and verify facts.

The Sergent at Arms who is responsible for the Speaker's safety had to do a press release to clarify what the petty people and reporters couldn't grasp.

For Immediate Release

February 8, 2007

As the Sergeant at Arms, I have the responsibility to ensure the security of the members of the House of Representatives, to include the Speaker of the House. The Speaker requires additional precautions due to her responsibilities as the leader of the House and her Constitutional position as second in the line of succession to the presidency.

In a post 9/11 threat environment, it is reasonable and prudent to provide military aircraft to the Speaker for official travel between Washington and her district. The practice began with Speaker Hastert and I have recommended that it continue with Speaker Pelosi. The fact that Speaker Pelosi lives in California compelled me to request an aircraft that is capable of making non-stop flights for security purposes, unless such an aircraft is unavailable. This will ensure communications capabilities and also enhance security. I made the recommendation to use military aircraft based upon the need to provide necessary levels of security for ranking national leaders, such as the Speaker. I regret that an issue that is exclusively considered and decided in a security context has evolved into a political issue.

Duh, stupid people, duh.

Priceless

This is priceless:

"For some reason, the military seems more afraid of gay people than they are against terrorists, but they're very brave with the terrorists. ... If the terrorists ever got a hold of this information, they'd get a platoon of lesbians to chase us out of Baghdad."
-- Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-NY), joking to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the ridiculous, counter-productive Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Yes and apparently Condi sat stone faced while others snickered. I can hardly wait to see what Jon Stewart does with this.

What next?

Oh no, now Gavin needs alcohol counseling! The excuse du jour, apparently, for politicians' bad behavior is apparently alcoholism. OK if I ran into a certain ex-Congressman at a 12 step meeting I would look from a different perspective. But I think now folks are using this as a convenient excuse and saying they will magically change through rehab. I am of the wait and see mentality.

Hope

A wonderful California afternoon awaits me outside. I have been gardening for a while after soccer and pre Stupor Bowl. I had to go give myself some hope after reading the blogs today about about the vile and evil Bush-Cheney machine. I wish Congress didn't move so slowly. Move those investigations along, call Cheney to the stand under oath, stop the massacre in the Justice Department appointments!!!!

Since I can;t do any of that, I must go dig in the earth with the firm belief that most of what I plant will grow. Can't be sure about the new peony but I have to try new things. That's a bigger lesson to learn too, trying new things and not being scared to try. That's too much to ponder today, the best I can manage is a new peony and blue poppy seeds.

In the meantime, hope awaits in an empty bed for beauty to blossom soon.

Some thoughts

Back from freezing my ass off in DC. So here is what I know today:

No homos are responsible for Gavin Newsom's marriage/relationship woes. He just couldn't keep his peepee in his tipi. Check Ms Marinucci's coverage.

I want to be brave like Molly Ivins was, like Ann Richards was, even in the face of death.

If Mary Cheney doesn't want her lesbianism, her life, or her baby to be an issue, she should give back the million dollars she took for writing her shitty, whiny book. Then she might actually look like she has some principals. Don't take money for writing about your life and then complain when people have opinions about your life.

The DNC meetings start today in DC and I couldn't be happier to across the continent from the big circle jerk. I am picking up dog poop in the back yard instead. It's a better use of my time, cleaning up shit instead of creating more.

Now I have to go back and watch the ongoing Gavin stories. Straight men, sigh...