THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

Damn. I am so mad that I missed the big announcements made by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Thankfully, due to the intersection of tubes and whatnot, I am able to stream them at my convenience. The boys, who in my opinion provide the best news coverage anywhere (although I like Rachel Maddow, too), use comedy to tell it like it is and shoot us straight in the irrational ass.

If you have not already, you should watch these videos:

• Rally to Restore Sanity (The Daily Show)
• March to Keep Fear Alive (The Colbert Report)

Here are some suggested rally signs/posters, thanks to Stewart:

• I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure you're not Hitler.
• 9/11 was an outside job.
• I am not afraid of Muslisms, Tea Partiers, socialists, immigrants, gun owners, gays.

If you have ever called, labeled,  implied, suggested or even mentioned Hitler in the same paragraph as a given political party or it's leader(s) then you are in need of rational thought. Not that you are a bad person. It's okay. Everyone freaks. As Stewart said: "take it down a notch."

I've noticed liberals and conservatives linking to these videos (or news stories about these rally videos) all over Facebook and it gives me great comfort to know that there are people aplenty who desire rational thought above emotional and illogical hate-mongering.

A little peace does the soul a lot of good, whether it's given by God or your own intelligent mind.

DECORUM

For the record, I do not care for filibusters on Supreme Court nominees. I find it unfortunate that the Dems opened up this can of proverbial worms. We would be better without it. I wonder if the Repubs can every let it go and put it all behind us?

NAZI ZOMBIES AND THE CIRCUS THAT IS POLITICS

There is plenty of talk in the news, on Facebook and in the streets about Nazis lately. A few people are touting signs with Obama sporting a Hitler mustachio, but I discount those folks as nuttier than a hoot owl. 

This post is about regular folks, normal people if you will, typically rational folks who are gumming up dialogue with references to Nazis, and history repeating itself, and other nonsense. I maintain it is all very uncivilized and does nothing to help us remember history and stay on the righteous path. 

I've stopped commenting about it on Facebook because very good people are irrationally linking Obama to Hitler. They aren't saying Obama is Hitler, and in fact they say the opposite. Then comes the "but ..." and the linkage begins. 

Just this morning I caught a news story on MSNBC about a new Harris poll asking Republicans if  Obama is like Hitler or the Anti-Christ. Couldn't find the MSNBC video, but I did find this Yahoo news story. The results?

57% Republicans (32% overall) = Obama is a Muslim

45% Republicans (25% overall) = Obama not born in the US and ineligible to be president

38% Republicans (20% overall) = Obama "doing many of the things Hitler did"

24% Republicans (14% overall) = Obama "may be the Anti-Christ"

According to Michelle Goldberg as paraphrased by Yahoo News, "Respondents without a college education are vastly more likely to believe such claims, while Americans with college degrees or better are less easily duped."

The poll surveyed 2,230 people.

Judas Priest! I did a quick Google search of Obama like Hitler and found more than I needed. Here are a few:

This Christian Church ask who is worse: Obama or Hitler.

Similarities Between Obama and Hitler

Obama or Hitler More Likely to Bring a Nation to Ruin?

Is Obama Like Hitler?

All of this reminds me a lot of the "love the sinner, hate the sin" mantra used to "love" homosexuals while still voting in favor of laws that make homosexuals unequal to us straight-screwing folk. All of this, every single bit, is because of fear. It's making normally reasonable human beings and turning them into Obama-Hitler crazies. Can't we just talk about the issues? Can't we debate the merits of health care without being batshit lunatics? 

Listen. I don't blindly follow the guy. He happens to hold many of the same views I have so I tend to agree with him. I am quite unhappy with the fact that we still have the Patriot Act. I think he should do a better job at communicating with Congress. 

This is turning into a circus, a really bad circus. Even John "Across the Aisle" McCain told the American people not to expect any GOP cooperation on legislation for the rest of the year. That is about the midterm elections (GOP jobs) and not the business of the American people. Remember, there are more than 200 Republican amendments in the health care reform act. Despite what they say, Republican ideas were included. You can forget that. It's now all about elections, even though we are months away from those.

It's all nuts. People need to calm down and read the articles that state explicitly how health care reform will impact us. There are some really great things in that legislation. We should do the people's business and not be on constant campaigning status. 

(EDITOR'S NOTE: I've always maintained, and continue to maintain, that there is no such thing as a Christian politician. That is to say, I don't think any of them are honest. I do support the ones that hold more of my views.)

WHAT THE BILL (THE BILL) WILL DO

CBS News offers a nice article on the bill. You know the one that everyone's talking about: Health Care Reform. 

Click here to find out what the bill will do.

There are some great things in this bill. Great things. For instance:

I started to list them, then figured that if you want to know, you can just click on the link above and read the story yourself. No need to reprint it here. How are these things bad? They are not, in my opinion. But I tend to see Jesus as an advocate and supporter of the poor and downtrodden, not one who trods upon them.

NEWS I CHOOSE

I'm pretty liberal on most things, something you should have already noticed if you stop by very often. So it may surprise you to learn that two of my favorite news programs are MORNING JOE  and FOX NEWS SUNDAY. Both are Republican-learning programs. 

1. Both shows do a good job offering various viewpoints.
2. Both seem respectful to liberals
3. I get a good feel for how Republicans and conservatives see the world and particular issues.

I want to know what other people think. The most important reason is that I feel these shows give me the tools I need to be self-governing. There are plenty of liberal-based shows that do that as well. But I want to know more about those who oppose me and I want to be able to see it in respectful and intelligent ways. Both shows seem pretty fair most of the time.

I watch MORNING JOE every morning while I work out and get ready for work. I check out FOX NEWS SUNDAY every week I can.

A LOVE STORY

Yesterday, the wife and I decided to watch Michael Moore's documentary, CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY. I find his movies interesting and his approach humorous, knowing full well that I need to take him with salt ... lots of salt.

I have a sense of humor and thought it was funny to watch it on the eve of the only significant health care reform vote Congress has ever had the opportunity to vote upon. I'll have the TV on today and cannot wait to watch FOX NEWS SUNDAY (a show I watch every Sunday morning). I'll try to check out MEET THE PRESS, too (a show we sometimes catch.)

KEEPING GAYS OUT OF RESEARCH STUDIES?

This story from Yahoo is just another example of how homosexual persons are excluded from society. What is the rationale for excluding homosexual persons from health-related research studies? Who knows, but what we do know is that it is going on at a rate that was higher than expected.

GOVERNOR REPEALS LAW; IT'S OKAY TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST GAYS IN VIRGINIA

I hear an anti-gay marriage argument all that time that states that gays already have equal rights and what they are seeking are special rights. There simply is no evidence to support that claim. None. 

Enter Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia. According to Talking Points Memo, he repealed a law that prevented employers from firing a gay employee just because they are gay. He did so by executive order. He was okay with adding veterans to the non-discrimination policy, but took out protections for gays. Adding some and taking away others nulls the "special treatment" argument. 

Homosexual persons are not afforded the same protections and equalities as other persons. They are second class citizens in many ways and the leaders of the movement to keep them down are Christians.

I'M FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM

Many congressional bills are not perfect when they first hit. Civil rights protections have continued to evolve (or devolve in the case of one Governor). The health care bill is not perfect and there are things I do not like (favors insurance companies too much) and things I wish were included (single payer system). 

For years the Democrats have been trying to get some form of health care reform. The Republicans took great pleasure and pride in the fact that they shut down Hillary Clinton's attempt to make a go of it in the 90s. The talking points of that same party have continued to be, not on passing some form of health care reform, but on stopping it. The rhetoric is slowing changing to repealing it if passed. 

I understand people's reservations. I have them, too. Will it cost more money than they expect? That is a possibility and it's scary. We need something. What we have does not work any longer. Pundits keep saying that this plan mirrors what Gov. Romney's health care reform did in his state. That makes me wonder if this really isn't about fear and keeping a liberal president from succeeding. 

We need health care reform and despite what the Republicans on television keep saying (America does not want the bill) many, many Americans do want and need health care reform. I know that Glenn Beck says that social justice is evil, but Jesus was for it and so am I.

SCHOOL CANCELS PROM RATHER THAN ALLOW LESBIANS TO ATTEND

In yet another school-sponsored bully session against homosexuals, a Mississippi high school cancels prom after a student (and the ACLU) filed suit when the district forbade a lesbian student from wearing a tux and attending with her girlfriend. 

You can read the nonsense here.

Once again, Christians are at the forefront of the movement to discriminate. A local Baptist pastor, Bobby Crenshaw, defended the move as biblical. The mayor is supportive of the school district's decision, too. There was a time when we didn't allow Blacks in schools or at white water fountains. These homosexual haters claiming God are going to find themselves very embarassed at the way they have portrayed God one of these days.

I DON'T NEED NO EDUCATION

Why don't you limit enrollment?

That's what Missouri House Appropriations members asked of university presidents this week in response to the crisis facing higher education budgets in 2012. The AP quoted Rep. Rick Stream, R-Kirwood, (through the Springfield News-Leader), "As bad as 2011 looks for us, in 2012 we're going over a cliff." Elementary and secondary schools are also facing serious cuts in the coming years.

It seems to me that limiting enrollment is counter productive to boosting an economy. If people are out of work, then new skills and education are the keys to getting into a more robust field. If we limit access to higher education, then even when jobs open up, there won't be enough qualified people to fill them. I don't understand the logic when it comes to contempt for education.

I'LL VOTE NO BUT TAKE THE CREDIT ANYWAY

The Bus is plunging deep into political discourse today, and for good reason. It is coming to light that hundreds of conservative legislators who voted against the Stimulus package are now cutting ribbons and taking credit for the good the Stimulus has produced. The head of the hypocrisy campaign is Missouri's own Roy Blunt. 

111 Lawmakers Block Recovery While Taking Credit for It's Success

Blunt to Tour Brownfield Program Made Possible by Obama's Stimulus Package

Blunt: "No Comment"

It seems the Stimulus did much more than opponents claimed. It put legislators in a quite a quandary to vote against a thing that ultimately saved jobs and created good things in their communites. So they simply take credit for the good things even though the Stimulus really paid for it. 

Saving jobs during a Depression-close recession is the same thing as creating jobs. The longer it goes, the more evidence that no stimulus likely would have left us with a full fledged, all-out Depression. A depression is not good on any society. Thank goodness we don't have one.

Thanks Bus-Man. Please keep driving; I need the ride.

WHAT IS ALL THIS NONSENSE ABOUT TELEPROMPTERS, ANYWAY?

Skinny Kitty called it before any of the news people even noticed. She saw right away, right after Sarah Palin made the crack about Obama being a "charismatic guy with a teleprompter" that she had notes written on her hand. Right on her hand. 

We laughed like crazy about it all night and into the next morning when the media finally noticed it. I told Skinny Kitty that it would have been nice to have TiVo so we could go back and confirm it was notes on her hand.

I don't get it. Good speakers use notes and high level politicians use teleprompters. They've done it for years. I don't get the big deal. Personally, I don't care if one has notes on the hand or a screen, but I just find it hysterically hypocritical to make fun of one while you do the other. 

Not terribly authentic or honest. 

CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION ADVOCATES FOR PROSECUTION OF GAYS FOR BEING GAY

Peter Sprig a Senior Fellow for Policy at the Family Research Council is opposed to gays in the military and he made known three significant opinions of his and his organization (thanks to his interview on Hardball with Chris Matthews): 

• Gays should not legally be allowed to serve in the military.
• Example: A 22-year-old gay person should only serve in civilian capacities.
• The U.S. should outlaw gay behavior.

"I think there would be a place for criminal sanctions against homosexual behavior."

– Peter Sprig

I hear over and over again that Christians do not hate gays, they simply hate their behaviors. Furthermore, I hear constantly that homosexuals are not being denied any rights. Sprig is advocating for the rights of gays to serve be denied and that we bring back sodomy laws and prosecute homosexuals for their bedroom behaviors. How does that "love the sinner, hate the sin" thing go again?

Two top military leaders  testified on Capital Hill today that gays should be able to serve openly in the military. Apparently, he's not afraid that soldiers will leave the military en mass if they are forced to serve next to gay soldiers, as Sprig seems to think. Haven't gays always served in the military (and other soldiers aware of it)? Didn't people make the same arguments when women entered the military?

Watch the Hardball interview. Sprig was blunt about his beliefs.

QUIT YER BARKING

I sure wish the Congressional Democrats could have done more over the last year to make significant changes. Unfortunately, they used their super majority to do nothing more but bark and flutter about. They should have voted for significant health care change, IMHO. I hope the Dems get it together and make changes (even if it's it to issues other than health care).

POLITICS OR PLATFORM?

I was baffled the other night when Obama stated if bank's can give big bonuses then they can repay taxpayer bailout money. Dems jumped to their feet and applauded while Republicans sat. If conservatives are so opposed to the stimulus, then shouldn't they want that money paid back?

I think they should pay the money back if and when they can. If they are in good enough shape to award bonuses then they can pay their money back so we can bring the deficit down. Doesn't that make good economic sense? 

A GREAT SPEECH

I really don't care who calls me an Obamabot or a follower of Obama. I heard the president's speech tonight and was inspired by his vision. I agree with many (not all) of his policies. He was eloquent, humorous, specific and firm. A good leader must be firm and fair and I liked what he had to say.

That's all I'm going to say about that.

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY ARE GOOD THINGS

Our schools and communities need to do a better job and I think we just might find some consensus with that statement. Of course, where that consensus breaks down is in how we define "need to do a better job." As someone who supports social justice and equality for all persons (including gays and Muslims – the favorite victims for contemporary bullies) I got my hands on an equity and diversity quiz today. (Thanks to a Jack operative.) I thought I would share some of the stats. The quiz and the answers come from EdChange.org.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the percentage of U.S. schools with NO teachers of color on staff is 40%.

According to a study by the American Association of Physicians for Human Rights, 52% of physicians report witnessing a colleague giving reduced care or refusing care to lesbian, gay or bisexual patients.

Power cocain (largely used by wealthy people) and crack cocaine (largely used by economically disadvantaged people) contain roughly the same amount of drug per gram. Under federal law, an individual must possess 500 grams of powder or only 5 grams of crack to be sentenced to a mandatory minimum of five years in prison.

84.5% of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered high school students report that their teachers "never" or "rarel" respond to homophobic remarks made by other students, according to a national study by GLSEN.

Less than 1% of U.S. government budget goes to welfare while 20% goes to Social Security.

I do believe we need more teachers representing minority populations. We should not ever condone the bullying of a student, any student. We should never condone the compromise of health care based on someone's sexual orientation. When physicians report seeing this (not patients but physicians) then we have a real problem on our hands. Don't let anyone ever fool you. The rights of the people in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community are violated, usurped and stomped upon every day.

These individuals have a right to the same opportunities and advantages just like we straight, married, parentified, White, Christian folks do.

(Bold and uppercase emphasis is mine all mine.)

(In the interests of transparent reporting, the quiz states the stats were taken from the following entities: Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality; American Association of Physicians for Human Rights; American Civil Liberties Union; Economic Policy Institute; Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network; The Immigrtion Policy Center; National Center for Education Statistics; UNICEF; and U.S. Census Bureau.)

RONALD REAGAN IN COMICS

My issue of POLITICAL POWER: RONALD REAGAN came in yesterday (preview here). But ainchya a liberal? Yeah, but I love comics and think comic biographies are cool. I also bought the one about that Alaskan governor that up and quit. Bluewater Productions has put out all kinds of political comics including one about BO OBAMA, the president's dog.

I will not, however, come close to the LIMBAUGH one. First of all, if he really cared about his political views, he would quit the entertainment industry and run for office so he could practice what he preaches. That would be work. Enough of that.

I read a biography of Reagan once. It was for a history class and was required (reading and a paper). I actually found it quite interesting.

CHRISTIANS,MUSLIMS HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON: HATRED OF GAYS

Uganda is considering a new law that not only makes the practice of homosexuality illegal (it's already illegal in Uganda anyway) but they are considering a law that will put gays in jail for life or execute them.

Christian and Muslim religious leaders have strongly supported the measure. Check out this bill of sale from CNN:

• Gays and lesbians convicted of having gay sex would be sentenced, at minimum, to life in prison
• People who test positive for HIV may be executed
• Homosexuals who have sex with a minor, or engage in homosexual sex more than once, may also receive the death penalty
• The bill forbids the "promotion of homosexuality," which in effect bans organizations working in HIV and AIDS prevention
• Anyone who knows of homosexual activity taking place but does not report it would risk up to three years in prison

"Love the person; hate the sin" say many Christians. I'm not sure what that means and none but one have ever attempted to site specific examples of this mantra being used appropriately. Maybe someday. Until then, the persecution of gays will continue, and all in the name of Jesus and apparently Mohammad.