tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50779862024-03-12T19:39:10.383-04:00AddieStanA breakaway republic of the mindAdelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.comBlogger1100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-80147412925702563762023-01-06T16:11:00.005-05:002023-01-06T23:12:53.306-05:00Speaker drama: Breaking stuff is the point, and Bannon's in the middle of it<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib40vzym4LNfeqX8WzicPD1RM7CTokR9gtPBkaUOr9mSoVsdNEWgWu5xcq7Ne81UJ3Qe-chIGGcrJRhmHEPI7WlUrPq7AeSHt1xA0hxqYnGiHAve4IGTwCUaMNgTsNu1iVcvBo6QReAIQiaJ9eM7SxG7n6elnLTM9EVvLJ39bNwkjxZXVmPQ/s932/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-06%20at%2010.43.05%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="932" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib40vzym4LNfeqX8WzicPD1RM7CTokR9gtPBkaUOr9mSoVsdNEWgWu5xcq7Ne81UJ3Qe-chIGGcrJRhmHEPI7WlUrPq7AeSHt1xA0hxqYnGiHAve4IGTwCUaMNgTsNu1iVcvBo6QReAIQiaJ9eM7SxG7n6elnLTM9EVvLJ39bNwkjxZXVmPQ/w484-h309/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-06%20at%2010.43.05%20PM.png" width="484" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />The most surprising thing about the current state of affairs in the House of Representatives — the inability of the majority party to settle on a winning House Speaker candidate — is that anyone is surprised at all. <div><br /></div><div>What we’re witnessing from the far-right <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NeverKevin&src=typed_query&f=top" target="_blank">#NeverKevin</a> caucus has been the plan for some time; it’s just that too many political journalists and commentators too easily dismiss or ignore the utterances of political figures deemed “fringe” by the mainstream – regardless of the power held by those supposedly fringe players. <div><br /></div><div>You might think that given the prominent role played by former White House strategist Stephen K. Bannon in fomenting and organizing the insurrection whose two-year anniversary we mark today, political journos might pay more attention to what he’s saying to the MAGA crowd every day, but you’d be wrong. And you might surmise that major right-wing events such as the Conservative Political Action Conference might draw the interest of people tasked with covering U.S. politics writ large, but those folks are few in number when names with which they are unfamiliar or dismissive take the stage. Yet that’s where the business really happens. </div><div><br /></div><div>In Dallas last August, Steve Bannon and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., met on CPAC’s radio row for an <a href="https://warroom.org/2022/12/19/matt-gaetz-where-were-at-with-the-speakers-race/">episode</a> of Bannon’s “War Room” podcast. There they promised to halt any attempt by Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to assume the speakership, unless the GOP leader pledged “to investigate the origins of COVID-19 and allegations of voter fraud,” according to reporter Cheryl Teh, writing for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gaetz-bannon-slam-mccarthy-shouldnt-be-gop-leader-2022-8">Insider</a>. </div><p style="text-align: left;">“If anyone posits to be the leader of our party and our movement, they cannot stand for the swamp, and the establishment, and the bureaucratic permanent state," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gaetz-bannon-slam-mccarthy-shouldnt-be-gop-leader-2022-8" target="_blank">Gaetz said</a> "They have to stand with us in exposing these issues. And if Kevin McCarthy will not allow us to be able to find out the answers, he should not be the leader of the Republican conference." </p><p style="text-align: left;">When Bannon suggested the name of Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, for speaker, the crowd gathered at the War Room booth’s rope line roared its approval for the hyperbolic, disruptive cofounder of the GOP Freedom Caucus. To this day, Gaetz has led the opposition of his 19 compatriots to McCarthy’s bid for speaker. During the second and twelfth rounds of voting for the House speaker position on January 3 and 6, respectively, Gaetz obliged by <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/03/politics/jim-jordan-nominated-house-speaker/index.html" target="_blank">nominating Jordan</a> (who himself nominated McCarthy, perhaps going for an uncharacteristically humble look, or maybe in exchange for a promised goody). </p><p style="text-align: left;">Another steadfast McCarthy opponent is Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., who won her last race with a narrow margin. (In the 12th round of voting today, Boebert nominated Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla.) On the CPAC stage in August, <a href="https://www.conservative.org/video/cpac-texas-2022-rep-lauren-boebert/" target="_blank">Boebert added to Gaetz’s demands</a>, saying that any candidate for speaker must agree to secure the Southern border and prosecute Anthony Fauci, then the president’s advisor on the COVID-19 pandemic. (She did not specify for what Fauci should be prosecuted.) </p><p style="text-align: left;">“And any member of Congress, from the upcoming freshman class to the leadership, who won’t fight with me to end medical tyranny, secure the Southern border, expel Anthony Fauci, they will not have my support — not in the election, and certainly not for speaker,” <a href="https://www.conservative.org/video/cpac-texas-2022-rep-lauren-boebert/" target="_blank">Boebert shouted</a>. It was not clear from what jurisdiction or position or institution she planned to expel Fauci. </p><p style="text-align: left;">But clarity is not the point, nor are the specific demands made by members of the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NeverKevin&src=typed_query&f=top" target="_blank">#NeverKevin</a> caucus. Destruction is the point. What Politico, in an overblown headline, called “<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/04/kevin-mccarthy-gop-vote-00076263" target="_blank">Republican ingenuity</a>” is simply norm-breaking for the sake of breaking more stuff. </p><p style="text-align: left;">That Bannon is something of a ringleader here should be a big-ass, ginormous clue. Busting stuff up is his go-to strategy — his only strategy, really. Be it the European Union or the Republican Party, Bannon’s approach is the same. Cue the sledge hammer. </p><p style="text-align: left;">If your aim is to claim and gain power in the quickest possible way, smashing big things to smithereens is the way to go. You just need to be willing to hurt a whole lot of people; it’s not hard to imagine that <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NeverKevins&src=typed_query" target="_blank">#NeverKevins</a> like Bannon and the almost-NeverKevin Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., who spoke at an event convened by the <a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/rep-paul-gosar-and-former-rep-steve-king-address-white-nationalist-christian-nationalist-afpac/" target="_blank">white supremacist Nick Fuentes</a>, might find that a deeply satisfying exercise. (Gosar came around to voting for McCarthy in the 12th round, as one of 14 new votes the speaker candidate picked up in that spin.) </p><p style="text-align: left;">But it wasn’t just the journos and other members of the chattering classes who have been caught off-guard by the prolonged path to the speakership. As <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NeverKevin&src=typed_query&f=top" target="_blank">#NeverKevin</a> Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ky., <a href="https://warroom.org/2023/01/04/rep-andy-biggs-the-time-for-post-mccarthy-discussions-has-arrived/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">told Bannon</a> on the Jan. 4 episode of War Room, “The problem is, when we sit down with (the pro-McCarthy side) and explain, ‘Well, O.K., we want someone other than Kevin, they didn’t believe that.’”</p><p style="text-align: left;">While Biggs and a handful of others may choose to never vote for McCarthy, it’s probable that more of the formerly robust <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NeverKevin&src=typed_query&f=top" target="_blank">#NeverKevin</a> caucus will fold (see Gosar, above) in a subsequent round(s), any speakership won by McCarthy won’t have nearly enough power to exact party discipline and govern. </p><p style="text-align: left;"> Having held up all legislative work as the U.S. faces another debt-ceiling deadline, and deeply weakened any power that McCarthy might have had as speaker before he traded it away for the gavel, the so-called <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NeverKevins&src=typed_query" target="_blank">#NeverKevins</a> may become #AllRightKevins. After all, it’s reported that they’ve been promised the biggest prize of all for their votes — an overhaul of the House rules that’s more to their liking, accruing more power to individual members. And you know what these folks like to do with rules. </p><p style="text-align: left;"> Cue the bulldozer; there’s a House to be broken.
</p></div>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-50288350028567581062012-10-31T12:11:00.001-04:002012-10-31T12:11:47.090-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrI7H66vSL5udbFH28uwGRIksZAetcoc9vKnawUrcAEzT5Sq1dwuxoK0yaFGC_CStQRHbIihm4TY1mdepZ13hn3vtkhRLUDdcseW8rbrRc3RfggKpqhmb_GvU0ak3U1LG5aAM/s1600/MenardsFoursquareCrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="154" width="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrI7H66vSL5udbFH28uwGRIksZAetcoc9vKnawUrcAEzT5Sq1dwuxoK0yaFGC_CStQRHbIihm4TY1mdepZ13hn3vtkhRLUDdcseW8rbrRc3RfggKpqhmb_GvU0ak3U1LG5aAM/s400/MenardsFoursquareCrop.jpg" /></a></div>
Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-80071298807153085852012-07-09T22:05:00.000-04:002012-07-09T22:05:35.960-04:00Faith & Freedom Coalition 'Voter Guide' in Wisconsin Recall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjvTRbIwLOmAcw0V6wCb1ccxa_tslx6r-B3cTL5iMOqvoq1_QPR00eqimgSmy9Eg2WYoUsNYUBu2pSu0hccno7vh_dLmFK0kqWwMoLpow7lAyMaI00ufau4gskDFuTdLi0OWd/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-07-09+at+9.57.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjvTRbIwLOmAcw0V6wCb1ccxa_tslx6r-B3cTL5iMOqvoq1_QPR00eqimgSmy9Eg2WYoUsNYUBu2pSu0hccno7vh_dLmFK0kqWwMoLpow7lAyMaI00ufau4gskDFuTdLi0OWd/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-07-09+at+9.57.33+PM.png" /></a></div>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-56897663603154087702011-11-05T02:34:00.005-04:002011-11-27T11:58:41.044-05:00Americans For Prosperity Dinner Disrupted by Occupy ProtestersMy pix of Ricky Lehner, who was halled out of the "Tribute to Ronald Reagan" dinner at Americans For Prosperity Foundation's "Defending the American Dream Summit," after he began mic-checking Fox News talker Andrew Napolitano, who was at the podium. Metropolitan police removed Lehner from the ballroom at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, forced him on to the floor, and went through his pockets. He was then escorted from the premises.<br /><br />Read the whole story <a href="http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/690620/occupy_dc_disrupts_koch_group_gathering%3B_activists_struck_by_car">here</a>, at AlterNet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L0JOgJMw6IVvd8_qqQl8qLeJp3e5P00MFq-M857lcc6zfoAA-tpjamudyJPUgLQWgYkVefVefxu20ah4JJpKICiThP6v40bK2YcoAv-jeR1GY75vxXq9r_T59OioUw_1GgSc/s1600/BannerGuy2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L0JOgJMw6IVvd8_qqQl8qLeJp3e5P00MFq-M857lcc6zfoAA-tpjamudyJPUgLQWgYkVefVefxu20ah4JJpKICiThP6v40bK2YcoAv-jeR1GY75vxXq9r_T59OioUw_1GgSc/s320/BannerGuy2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671398622573371906" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzX_5Pot6SJgZyfonqh39E7BSpnwctj5CQ8qZs3fisW3KruQmOESl48CYCn5dpmfsMDzCltRNu4cdsvSSwVCrVyPgx0P_K3w6RiCNRgMP8CbMKIPCf4_ejDumyII5CGqaVlcs/s1600/BannerGuy1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzX_5Pot6SJgZyfonqh39E7BSpnwctj5CQ8qZs3fisW3KruQmOESl48CYCn5dpmfsMDzCltRNu4cdsvSSwVCrVyPgx0P_K3w6RiCNRgMP8CbMKIPCf4_ejDumyII5CGqaVlcs/s320/BannerGuy1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671397311118849954" /></a>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-75605972009334086662011-08-25T20:40:00.002-04:002011-08-25T21:11:46.900-04:00Uke Fest at Strathmore<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQFT2O7IDBCtUg-gLhnIZgZSQ0wSHaJe0CD8VIcKbGvMEYXccqoPQ6rWrd70tVNQhkw0NV6xASMiBv_0A379tFb1kEWpc21GbMiGwednypfJRzsPVeEbo9MuqjwmMc_db5Txx/s1600/AddieJScalesUke.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQFT2O7IDBCtUg-gLhnIZgZSQ0wSHaJe0CD8VIcKbGvMEYXccqoPQ6rWrd70tVNQhkw0NV6xASMiBv_0A379tFb1kEWpc21GbMiGwednypfJRzsPVeEbo9MuqjwmMc_db5Txx/s320/AddieJScalesUke.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644958544696922482" /></a>
<br />Ukin'it up with my pal, J. Scales.Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-6864199918778107762011-08-03T07:08:00.002-04:002011-08-03T07:16:24.878-04:00How's Your 401K Today?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRk7JD1n3Iht_gPrxAiJf9QW95l2fIaWoCQt-PqzwSBIZ0sZ-pjCQheLbrHZxozdE4YE__B5kcu4RLW3bUHeUKxQj__uNsQr5eclCWUNCaGbvBal47T9uWCQkBq0e5jNPniGev/s1600/AFPBigGovt.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRk7JD1n3Iht_gPrxAiJf9QW95l2fIaWoCQt-PqzwSBIZ0sZ-pjCQheLbrHZxozdE4YE__B5kcu4RLW3bUHeUKxQj__uNsQr5eclCWUNCaGbvBal47T9uWCQkBq0e5jNPniGev/s320/AFPBigGovt.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636586310347121186" /></a>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-88275263539890605882010-01-13T23:40:00.006-05:002010-01-14T00:01:25.664-05:00Pat Robertson: Earthquake payback for Haiti's 'pact with the Devil'<span style="font-style:italic;">Cross-posted from AlterNet</span><p><big>Every disaster that befalls a nation -- hurricanes, floods, terrorism, earthquakes -- constitutes God's punishment of a people gone astray, according to Pat Robertson, who famously blamed feminists for 9/11 and gays for Hurricanes Katrina and Andrew. In the case of Haiti's devastating earthquake, he blames an ostensible deal that black Haitians made with the Devil in order to win their emancipation and independence from the French colonials who enslaved them. So, in Haiti's case it might not be God who did the nation in, but rather the Devil calling in his chit. "True story," according to Robertson:</big><blockquote>[S]omething happened a long time ago in Haiti and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French, uh you know Napoleon the third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the Devil. They said we will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True Story. And so the Devil said "Okay, it's a deal." And they kicked the French out. You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other, desperately poor. That island is Hispaniola is one island. It's cut down the middle. On one side is Haiti, on the other side is the Dominican republic. Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etc.. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. Uh, they need to have, and we need to pray for them, a great turning to God and out of this tragedy. I'm optimistic something good may come.</blockquote><big>Because, of course, black people couldn't possibly have the wherewithal to defeat their white oppressors without a little supernatural help -- and it sure wouldn't be coming from God, right?</big><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.alternet.org/blogs/world/145146/televangelist_pat_robertson_says_earthquake_payback_for_haiti%27s_%22pact_with_the_devil%22">CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST</a></span></span><p></p>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-60488414340891552962010-01-11T23:52:00.001-05:002010-01-14T00:00:16.413-05:00Suddenly "Negro" Is the Word on Everyone's Lips<span style="font-style:italic;">Cross-posted from AlterNet</span><p><big>The week that began with a minor controversy about a dated racial term used to describe African-Americans, and ended with a major one that involved the use of the word by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The word is "Negro".<br /><br />First, the census. After finding that more than 50,000 census respondents wrote in "Negro" as their racial identification on the 2000 census, the U.S. Census Bureau decided to include it as a check-off option in the section of the survey where respondents are asked to identify their race. Many cried foul, seeing it as a derogatory adjective that hearkened back to the segregationist era. Others argue that elderly blacks may not view it the same way, and that the terms "African-American" and "black" may not be embraced by those descended from cultures other than the African-descended one whose people were brought to the land of the free in chains.<br /><br />When I was a little girl, "Negro" was the politically correct term for those otherwise known as "colored" people or described by white people by a range of epithets, the most egregious being what we now call "the 'N' word." As a white woman who grew up in a very segregated New Jersey, I'm hardly qualified to wax forth on the appropriateness of the Census Bureau's use of the word Negro. (For an excellent discussion on the subject, see Melissa Harris-Lacewell's discussion with Rachel Maddow [video].) But I can see why the census-takers chose to use it. Harry Reid, now -- that's another story entirely.</big><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://www.alternet.org/blogs/politics/145058/suddenly_%22negro%22_is_the_word_on_everyone%27s_lips">CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST</a></span></span>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-80051106403468661122009-10-11T10:55:00.004-04:002009-10-11T11:26:10.782-04:00Meet the Press: Levin & McCaffrey call for end to DADT<p>Responding to President Obama's speech last night to the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT rights organization, Meet the Press host David Gregory asked his guests if the president will or should keep his promise to end the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy that prevents LGBT folks from serving openly in the military. (The policy has led to witch hunts of gay men and lesbians within the ranks.)<br /><br />Here's your blogstress's insta-transcript:<br /><br />DAVID GREGORY: Senator Levin, with the president live up to this pledge? Can he?<br /><br />SEN. CARL LEVIN (D-Mich): I think he will and he can, but it has to be done in the right way, which is to get a buy-in from the military, which I think is now possible. Other militaries in the West -- the British and other Western armies have ended this discriminatory policy. We can do it successfully, but it ought to be done with thoughtfulness, with care, and with a buy-in from the military.<br /><br />GREGORY: Gen. Myers, is it time?<br /><br />GEN. RICHARD MYERS (RET.), FORMER HEAD OF JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: I can't talk about whether it's time or not, but I think the process that Sen. Levin outlined is exactly right. The senior military leadership needs to be part of this, the Pentagon needs to be part of this --<br /><br />GREGORY: --Do you have an opinion about whether it's time?<br /><br />MYERS: Well, I think somebody said, I think Sen. Levin said -- gays can serve in the military; they just can't do so openly. And they do, and there are lots of 'em, and we're the beneficiary of all that.<br /><br />[LEVIN ROLLS HIS EYES.]<br /><br />I'll leave it to the current folks to decide whether it's time or not.<br /><br />GEN. BARRY McCAFFREY (RET.): There's not question that it's time to change the policy. The key to it isn't buy-in from the military; it's for Congress to change the law. They ought to do so, and I'm confident that the military will move ahead on it.<br /><br />LEVIN: I think we'll do that, but we'll need the support at least of some of the military. <br /><br />McCAFFREY: I think that's right. <br /><br />GREGORY: But does it have the political resolve to make [UNINTELLIGIBLE]<br /><br />LEVIN: I think he does, and I think many of us do; I thought it was a mistake to begin with.<br /><br />GREGORY: Congress, as well, as the resolve to change it?<br /><br />LEVIN: I think we will gain that resolve. But we've made other changes in this country. The military are the ones that ended a discriminatory policy against African-Americans, and if they can end it here, it'd be great progress.<br /><br />GREGORY: And, finally, Sen. Graham: on that question, do you think the military should end the policy?<br /><br />SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-S.C.: Well, it's my belief that if you don't have buy-in from the military, that's a disservice to the people in the military. They should be included in this. I'm open-minded to what the military may suggest, but I can tell you I'm not going to make policy based on a campaign rally...Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-24800332971318582042009-10-11T01:12:00.016-04:002009-10-11T10:13:24.999-04:00Outside the HRC DinnerOutside the Walter Washington Convention Center in our nation's capital, revelers arriving for the annual awards dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, which bills itself as "the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization," were greeted by members of Westboro Baptist Church -- also known as the home to the "<a href="http://www.godhatesfags.com/">God Hates Fags</a>" crowd. Also on hand were members of Code Pink, the radical women's anti-war organization; Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry with a small band of followers and a giant photo of a dismembered fetus; and 100 or so LGBT activists who protested against HRC and Obama for being too passive in the march toward full equality.<br /><br />Greetings, Earthlings (from the "God Hates Fags" crew of the Westboro Baptist Church).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Pvl0wMyyXtG_pf9KIUanCBbwYe77ApvIzNJLDlD9KhuRmFxrY6jIdYG5BL5-9_vxWouquofrdtTDldCiHePcCe1JMOl6I0mFidTsbfD4hcVuHKO3fmwX2BsYfyO3qaAPBtHS/s1600-h/IMGP0644.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Pvl0wMyyXtG_pf9KIUanCBbwYe77ApvIzNJLDlD9KhuRmFxrY6jIdYG5BL5-9_vxWouquofrdtTDldCiHePcCe1JMOl6I0mFidTsbfD4hcVuHKO3fmwX2BsYfyO3qaAPBtHS/s400/IMGP0644.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391218753428183410" /></a><br /><br />I must not have the latest edition of the Bible. (Somehow missed this instruction.) More prophesy from Westboro Baptist.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp29jEVMQ1znQDluH-j0N37wSWH6oe2-6_fUyPDsyCuXqi9RjmGtuWC_lJmfuegr7YrNsAgV_a6Pfkz4k3m6kf448A1FOJt1FvgVZ3CuHsiOmLORzA6wHqJ6jSmMMCUennT5CG/s1600-h/IMGP0646.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp29jEVMQ1znQDluH-j0N37wSWH6oe2-6_fUyPDsyCuXqi9RjmGtuWC_lJmfuegr7YrNsAgV_a6Pfkz4k3m6kf448A1FOJt1FvgVZ3CuHsiOmLORzA6wHqJ6jSmMMCUennT5CG/s400/IMGP0646.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391219048431738994" /></a><br /><br />Arguing the Bible with the Westboro Baptist android. Don't think anybody's mind got changed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWci7IJeZLXaY41DvXuWP8KX-3NWKOpPTVrYzrordcRoIpvX6Yj-_tiB5o2m-VtHbi-NoQQLPz_Pz6Qu9rKhmK_TYZGU_IhzaqSN6csj0v-XXvXuxZ_KlMeC6EP5p2KlpC9Ip8/s1600-h/IMGP0651.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWci7IJeZLXaY41DvXuWP8KX-3NWKOpPTVrYzrordcRoIpvX6Yj-_tiB5o2m-VtHbi-NoQQLPz_Pz6Qu9rKhmK_TYZGU_IhzaqSN6csj0v-XXvXuxZ_KlMeC6EP5p2KlpC9Ip8/s400/IMGP0651.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391220345919304114" /></a><br /><br />Can't we all get along?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMWaGMNKhInfwcM002Vo3wSnsDVgM1FSPbLPHdwlvCDSHVR_xodwKkymvFiltxnwn5qBHBiMTMnIq4Yn59A6m5GfzS3DGu1kvu2d9j5V0IaoXjArpMy0hCfuJiBpjzmwhe-XE/s1600-h/IMGP0661.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMWaGMNKhInfwcM002Vo3wSnsDVgM1FSPbLPHdwlvCDSHVR_xodwKkymvFiltxnwn5qBHBiMTMnIq4Yn59A6m5GfzS3DGu1kvu2d9j5V0IaoXjArpMy0hCfuJiBpjzmwhe-XE/s400/IMGP0661.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391220720976477346" /></a><br /><br />Code Pink is peacefully annoyed with the president.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxYnk5ilUK2RTVAIWXjNNQTawqDiRUNgu5Wa3NSfTLeRjDlQUkiUYBEdAOwWWA39VZBybSXidyPy8vM-EhXOAQWYEzpJnIZ9ACMu7nQy8NOF0n0W-rQap8QDAks4qgS-wjKx5/s1600-h/IMGP0660.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxYnk5ilUK2RTVAIWXjNNQTawqDiRUNgu5Wa3NSfTLeRjDlQUkiUYBEdAOwWWA39VZBybSXidyPy8vM-EhXOAQWYEzpJnIZ9ACMu7nQy8NOF0n0W-rQap8QDAks4qgS-wjKx5/s400/IMGP0660.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391221298810831266" /></a><br /><br /><br />Randall Terry calls for homosexuals to stop killing babies -- wait, no, didn't anybody focus-group this? -- <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvnz8btxWtF1QmrtAIcChPU4ymcoCpP6haiCLPHsl5_bC_i73KjLEayb-qZDrzGmDdaodq6HFwYLUYqGolVlbMOZk41h0B8VSA-OepTS7ei8DAdTPIJpQSz9X7P9b3wleCmqM/s1600-h/IMGP0727.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvnz8btxWtF1QmrtAIcChPU4ymcoCpP6haiCLPHsl5_bC_i73KjLEayb-qZDrzGmDdaodq6HFwYLUYqGolVlbMOZk41h0B8VSA-OepTS7ei8DAdTPIJpQSz9X7P9b3wleCmqM/s400/IMGP0727.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391215212554374114" /></a><br /><br />-- urges homosexuals to repent before a giant photograph of a dismembered fetus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmZp3WZcLshAxqu33q88ZuDGm-xeSe84wdt_dv2YBcy32lAvtFdFLPCoUJbgiQJnHs7F3OVSb4ju-rXLlgQFgTvIeGE9MsLyaYF2reCqnX5XxHXxxyp_Dk6vhIqJNlQ-eZrRI/s1600-h/IMGP0652.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmZp3WZcLshAxqu33q88ZuDGm-xeSe84wdt_dv2YBcy32lAvtFdFLPCoUJbgiQJnHs7F3OVSb4ju-rXLlgQFgTvIeGE9MsLyaYF2reCqnX5XxHXxxyp_Dk6vhIqJNlQ-eZrRI/s400/IMGP0652.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391215554504128802" /></a><br /><br />I prefer to smolder, actually...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri464gO5LtA3dJ4lqDqr4Onkp4sbjrDQJvzaDtRtDlAIWUbywdLvTxtShtdtgHF4nNxgWq6bbshasmssNKz9T7xDeO7GV_nYhbnkrCwH5zr2lR37hzWzMmbiJo9l4ogdqpG6q/s1600-h/IMGP0654.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri464gO5LtA3dJ4lqDqr4Onkp4sbjrDQJvzaDtRtDlAIWUbywdLvTxtShtdtgHF4nNxgWq6bbshasmssNKz9T7xDeO7GV_nYhbnkrCwH5zr2lR37hzWzMmbiJo9l4ogdqpG6q/s400/IMGP0654.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391217839693406866" /></a><br /><br />Just because you're queer, it doesn't mean you love Obama -- or the Human Rights Campaign. LGBT advocates march in front of Convention Center.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYVzWPAOC60wylWzoB8I45C7_bptlE3Q-day7WsB5GpOFlnNTiU7KtaHW_nvwVr7mmAviQ-rplL01BCrBE8Jo5eahbEXSDXZveUr9ZrAGzVEqegPvtvMnFB4qNVjVm-spbD9t/s1600-h/IMGP0714.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYVzWPAOC60wylWzoB8I45C7_bptlE3Q-day7WsB5GpOFlnNTiU7KtaHW_nvwVr7mmAviQ-rplL01BCrBE8Jo5eahbEXSDXZveUr9ZrAGzVEqegPvtvMnFB4qNVjVm-spbD9t/s400/IMGP0714.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391212082128667010" /></a><br /><br />Rick Warren has not been forgotten.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVvojx6OxVlx7TPaA11-nBMZyskbE1jlHmLA7vN5xSzzHlCs-39rBybms0skNX6rlUXY15gB7DoCbrXZo4ySVlusQ-KdfrdemgSvtgdC_Rr5lBpA9ReuxIQXWlrm-pvg2dUQ2/s1600-h/IMGP0685.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVvojx6OxVlx7TPaA11-nBMZyskbE1jlHmLA7vN5xSzzHlCs-39rBybms0skNX6rlUXY15gB7DoCbrXZo4ySVlusQ-KdfrdemgSvtgdC_Rr5lBpA9ReuxIQXWlrm-pvg2dUQ2/s400/IMGP0685.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391212650990179858" /></a><br /><br />Close-up of Rick Warren sign.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gUD9jaEbImKrJhBj7PSj4U6z4J6zvkAFBtaP-rCz8oWA1pCZIKwlpPVfvo_EujW8Q5SYpZdnBKTcrhXOJYXmWxDSj57YigZz8Sgn_x4bITYgsul4OwldttHNIV6ATWhkeKgM/s1600-h/IMGP0729.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gUD9jaEbImKrJhBj7PSj4U6z4J6zvkAFBtaP-rCz8oWA1pCZIKwlpPVfvo_EujW8Q5SYpZdnBKTcrhXOJYXmWxDSj57YigZz8Sgn_x4bITYgsul4OwldttHNIV6ATWhkeKgM/s400/IMGP0729.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391212979832578082" /></a><br /><br />No more Mr. Nice Guy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYNpwBf8fxYOMt0cpPgsCCTA3HijFDO3urE98AJsHtBiGBMQa8xT0bKQsSPeE5cfxWJWEIT2SuuwN3KjF0zAftUqsnNwvZF7uGAzwexSHFr4y5TrJ7oGVOfOyQbicl63HkPCL/s1600-h/IMGP0731.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYNpwBf8fxYOMt0cpPgsCCTA3HijFDO3urE98AJsHtBiGBMQa8xT0bKQsSPeE5cfxWJWEIT2SuuwN3KjF0zAftUqsnNwvZF7uGAzwexSHFr4y5TrJ7oGVOfOyQbicl63HkPCL/s400/IMGP0731.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391214282880099330" /></a><br /><br />Obama had promised to be a "fierce advocate" for LGBT rights. Evidently, some people think, "not so much."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7G8GJSVudM4_neyi9X7zogld2DfY3F57bQtolo4D8cZrERM66lYv6DqhvI9McyS2PMCVYGY8oTZO1EkE0ZFNGZ2raQPwKR66H7e1F0vK0S25L1Wq1HDpCmPMAVlz6fkk1dNis/s1600-h/IMGP0700.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7G8GJSVudM4_neyi9X7zogld2DfY3F57bQtolo4D8cZrERM66lYv6DqhvI9McyS2PMCVYGY8oTZO1EkE0ZFNGZ2raQPwKR66H7e1F0vK0S25L1Wq1HDpCmPMAVlz6fkk1dNis/s400/IMGP0700.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391213580765017506" /></a><br /><br />From Davis, Calif., where they lead the Yolo County chapter of Marriage Equality USA, one married couple -- the second same-sex couple married in California in the months before Proposition 8 overturned marriage equality -- joyfully put their relationship in the face of their opponents. Together 35 years, Ellen Pontac...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nil_GVGeDnhHJFgMen_4B0VwUeOqhemVWAUCrN7uIVsd0T3F6xDYBL5KYpuEwQ-pjoY_YfJ4PQDRsL0RXKQLTjSolVJDqnF-14sf6Yn5bHX0elz4XOhfBvN69Il8jPD7lHug/s1600-h/IMGP0664.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nil_GVGeDnhHJFgMen_4B0VwUeOqhemVWAUCrN7uIVsd0T3F6xDYBL5KYpuEwQ-pjoY_YfJ4PQDRsL0RXKQLTjSolVJDqnF-14sf6Yn5bHX0elz4XOhfBvN69Il8jPD7lHug/s400/IMGP0664.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391209450261302882" /></a><br /><br />...and Shelly Bailes...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWeGQLGZMhNhtT1DmVJTmZcxseIaqb4R6ebdW1rHSxhNyOXgJKa2SYklINHXZ9wax0cvTnNOU_B1k_Gti66-gKdp9LRwRiAeZ-LxKA2wR4L9cUjpvEB2SOw1YzbmaiF7FfnI-/s1600-h/IMGP0666.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWeGQLGZMhNhtT1DmVJTmZcxseIaqb4R6ebdW1rHSxhNyOXgJKa2SYklINHXZ9wax0cvTnNOU_B1k_Gti66-gKdp9LRwRiAeZ-LxKA2wR4L9cUjpvEB2SOw1YzbmaiF7FfnI-/s400/IMGP0666.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391209086940570306" /></a><br /><br />...have at this guy, who stood above the crowd shouting through a bullhorn a call for repentance. "I used to be a homosexual," he crowed. But now he's cured.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVFKdAslAtpMGIWMUEQgnfgor4VsK-Dx0A6wwkkRgdRf5WdsyTrQ1aNEeOexj6uS6TUrUVnQiAIZcv0K6DtTFtQBkyRMCK-s0W6Y2wMFFsSssZkhsk0dLPS6tTSNzQj7FXdDd/s1600-h/IMGP0672.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVFKdAslAtpMGIWMUEQgnfgor4VsK-Dx0A6wwkkRgdRf5WdsyTrQ1aNEeOexj6uS6TUrUVnQiAIZcv0K6DtTFtQBkyRMCK-s0W6Y2wMFFsSssZkhsk0dLPS6tTSNzQj7FXdDd/s400/IMGP0672.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391208338097271842" /></a><br /><br />Bullhorn guy's sign (partially blocked by Shelly and Ellen's).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqjaNXNPmsAEl_1uy8MhwsRqzHjU2SBgW_BR1whyiqrEem15CB19EqNlRIluAnKp8tIwRKtebkjLOa4RDFDNDfLYJyyhS6g5vYC0pNsSlI0KrSYKu8eCFzB9Da7MkL4z69dbi/s1600-h/IMGP0708.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqjaNXNPmsAEl_1uy8MhwsRqzHjU2SBgW_BR1whyiqrEem15CB19EqNlRIluAnKp8tIwRKtebkjLOa4RDFDNDfLYJyyhS6g5vYC0pNsSlI0KrSYKu8eCFzB9Da7MkL4z69dbi/s400/IMGP0708.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391211241619638242" /></a><br /><br />Rainbow crowd moves in to block bullhorn guy with their signs and flags.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu5smtbpLTbUN4fBM3yGgwjHwg4YAn85YIWcPoYsNE_kRKoyDVkW70NyfwbInQytOYQSYuGBwkBu36dL0c56LdJCYSI200ExQXCHtM2GH_r8tRr9hLsLNvnW16cN8_GRarW2R/s1600-h/IMGP0667.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu5smtbpLTbUN4fBM3yGgwjHwg4YAn85YIWcPoYsNE_kRKoyDVkW70NyfwbInQytOYQSYuGBwkBu36dL0c56LdJCYSI200ExQXCHtM2GH_r8tRr9hLsLNvnW16cN8_GRarW2R/s400/IMGP0667.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391217281210662226" /></a><br /><br />Shelly and Ellen show us what it's really all about.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm1HyBws8xbGHUW5JNcAzNqQsKHNCK9y-wrw7MWAJLB6xp8zagd2RxVuSvmKdso3NwoWZSqoYdoVVKouMNeqIbG6lsNlmNxVrKbi7_ARFUKMXoSZ9gJWjkVSQq2byTQjh0QmN/s1600-h/IMGP0733.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm1HyBws8xbGHUW5JNcAzNqQsKHNCK9y-wrw7MWAJLB6xp8zagd2RxVuSvmKdso3NwoWZSqoYdoVVKouMNeqIbG6lsNlmNxVrKbi7_ARFUKMXoSZ9gJWjkVSQq2byTQjh0QmN/s400/IMGP0733.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391207500343710018" /></a>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-32909061656597352322009-09-12T22:02:00.012-04:002009-09-28T23:17:17.741-04:00912 signageYour blogstress spent the solemn occasion of the anniversary of the September 11th attacks observing right-wingers put their artistic skills into the service of hating the president of the United States. This sign-painting party took place at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBALEdJhdjKTNS8FkPXZ085Gi2DXERBOdnjWyHni-1Be62nR1kiQzq3T-KOZXZP7UomdSFlMfspzPvPKAp_ZPJSlnU2QxlvUGMEojJtUjZHd81odOub_RbsX_0Jn33otgafDSp/s1600-h/IMGP0407.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBALEdJhdjKTNS8FkPXZ085Gi2DXERBOdnjWyHni-1Be62nR1kiQzq3T-KOZXZP7UomdSFlMfspzPvPKAp_ZPJSlnU2QxlvUGMEojJtUjZHd81odOub_RbsX_0Jn33otgafDSp/s400/IMGP0407.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380770686405617234" /></a><br /><br /><br />Just like arts & crafts class -- with a bit more rage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JTxHK77XeaZMHKLcv0lbukX6r18QusJHYTQNq2KtokPW-6r1pTFjyR9zAfMj4ZqJaO7aLBwbB1BVWLdQnqHJu6XrBMXQfIxLdXF45lzh4H7RKbnh4Z42nC3LqplzBc7uTOpM/s1600-h/IMGP0397.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6JTxHK77XeaZMHKLcv0lbukX6r18QusJHYTQNq2KtokPW-6r1pTFjyR9zAfMj4ZqJaO7aLBwbB1BVWLdQnqHJu6XrBMXQfIxLdXF45lzh4H7RKbnh4Z42nC3LqplzBc7uTOpM/s400/IMGP0397.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380770013308578178" /></a><br /><br /><br />So last month ago.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUNrotJoRqnuzNPq22MBwEz9Nk1HxzBy8ExLPGitx7ZTNzeP1Ag69CUwe85zl6qUYkRNiA9912jIRr6WVPN0GgXCrXXvBsuCywv7Cn1a0-EjMoShSBiB_0wPUMv1KCLYgARcp/s1600-h/Obama+Joker.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUNrotJoRqnuzNPq22MBwEz9Nk1HxzBy8ExLPGitx7ZTNzeP1Ag69CUwe85zl6qUYkRNiA9912jIRr6WVPN0GgXCrXXvBsuCywv7Cn1a0-EjMoShSBiB_0wPUMv1KCLYgARcp/s400/Obama+Joker.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380768635444821106" /></a><br /><br />So that's the agenda!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-b2x9XKCDZKI92Zc5XMLLPNwpjcf3YxT0TUqlnBAe4aVVVTgvhEv7QGMgAmq3n93z5HXoNzvBu5eGSXylyWaH_1cs9n9MKfuPlXEtlext9-PViSSQLzZdd_flpDYJExLrdTk/s1600-h/Obama+Agenda.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-b2x9XKCDZKI92Zc5XMLLPNwpjcf3YxT0TUqlnBAe4aVVVTgvhEv7QGMgAmq3n93z5HXoNzvBu5eGSXylyWaH_1cs9n9MKfuPlXEtlext9-PViSSQLzZdd_flpDYJExLrdTk/s400/Obama+Agenda.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380768346528577202" /></a><br /><br /><br />But one envelope equals three liters of soda.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPM17mKr7ESkSu6rOM4SO8ewj4xdLjvOyOpOuRnGfEaC798a6M1puV0dAMQO9Pi908sG1-bu2GeLAEkE2ygov7RX6H3Tk160ddATc8Ryx1RpcSAiAiheAm4Oc94rzNFXWAlN8/s1600-h/IMGP0414.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPM17mKr7ESkSu6rOM4SO8ewj4xdLjvOyOpOuRnGfEaC798a6M1puV0dAMQO9Pi908sG1-bu2GeLAEkE2ygov7RX6H3Tk160ddATc8Ryx1RpcSAiAiheAm4Oc94rzNFXWAlN8/s400/IMGP0414.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380768043332476754" /></a><br /><br /><br />As opposed to those Christians who are all about atheism.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDWgroDaBbRCWtOKKByh5r_rOuj66E0DooJ912F-mNhJ4D0BJT61Nry27jSCEVEnj0vzaH6OIsc5vPH8o5BS7HJr0ca7nrwvpfsOuvWxSkrNtXO5QBxp9LB9NDSLumTx8TaAm/s1600-h/Christians+Against+Communism.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDWgroDaBbRCWtOKKByh5r_rOuj66E0DooJ912F-mNhJ4D0BJT61Nry27jSCEVEnj0vzaH6OIsc5vPH8o5BS7HJr0ca7nrwvpfsOuvWxSkrNtXO5QBxp9LB9NDSLumTx8TaAm/s400/Christians+Against+Communism.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380767529401769858" /></a><br /><br /><br />This image appeared on a series of signs by the same artist.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73yA_cYAkX3mU7sJXqONU4jTwfbpbE_gRjg35JEa2-6KYkLrW8foW9H1ezkAsbZnfqc0J-wOyoHI09hMC0djbjMMj8mvC3eTTOWrPmdMhrg5BsPNbRqAFrvPFJj9IRoOERnyX/s1600-h/Obama+Monkey.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73yA_cYAkX3mU7sJXqONU4jTwfbpbE_gRjg35JEa2-6KYkLrW8foW9H1ezkAsbZnfqc0J-wOyoHI09hMC0djbjMMj8mvC3eTTOWrPmdMhrg5BsPNbRqAFrvPFJj9IRoOERnyX/s400/Obama+Monkey.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380767167791583202" /></a><br /><br />Somebody thinks his banana was taken.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8odfbbZ4CJwhmggbczrQPrjd16UIsno3mWcD3zsehjBM1DZX_RzSA1ClkmF02cROfWMIxJJSpAQWB5_hNaGTvA3gJ6iJN9asIYURpP_MX-SzqOaE08Oy2KoCH77yD_nDZ11N9/s1600-h/Bankrupting+America.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8odfbbZ4CJwhmggbczrQPrjd16UIsno3mWcD3zsehjBM1DZX_RzSA1ClkmF02cROfWMIxJJSpAQWB5_hNaGTvA3gJ6iJN9asIYURpP_MX-SzqOaE08Oy2KoCH77yD_nDZ11N9/s400/Bankrupting+America.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380766850984220370" /></a><br /><br />And here I thought it was Bush who had that simian look.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRJ6vOOyNyygJrEyt0pwIcAdjCy3DOb-uuJyuVcTeR2txHIy7CtQp-2NES1n31tutNBjDz55LqZ9KR3-U4AB_AsusZAcHV3cl7JB74BM1jewL67GTKlp8GkBSw2-3k_f78KB_/s1600-h/Bad+Change.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRJ6vOOyNyygJrEyt0pwIcAdjCy3DOb-uuJyuVcTeR2txHIy7CtQp-2NES1n31tutNBjDz55LqZ9KR3-U4AB_AsusZAcHV3cl7JB74BM1jewL67GTKlp8GkBSw2-3k_f78KB_/s400/Bad+Change.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380766632506643634" /></a>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-25623449856260555642009-09-12T15:47:00.030-04:002009-09-28T23:39:21.443-04:00912 March<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnNxn5wIqA_wZ7pzNw0Q1G4CLInMahG_BzOv1vyxKxiE8oKuGKEchQS0uU7SctsX4VJrKTk-0MtAaFvHwmR0mnmQZoYArwbeVAB0K0ccCLNXz_D7RY0vcejN0MJUFgmAMyrdX/s1600-h/No+More.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnNxn5wIqA_wZ7pzNw0Q1G4CLInMahG_BzOv1vyxKxiE8oKuGKEchQS0uU7SctsX4VJrKTk-0MtAaFvHwmR0mnmQZoYArwbeVAB0K0ccCLNXz_D7RY0vcejN0MJUFgmAMyrdX/s400/No+More.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380712359036891458" /></a><br /><br /><br />Kinda says it all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2Fah12lxfYRY9siVD_NxpgqzlVzlj904kSqKCd9xwJoQDsAQTeSbv1Q4eoTtSJ5A7Ws7-zyQSLy8xP00UjznG58WmYrd2vdGk03rQSQA4dVGtIFQG2c2ezsv_jbHOnlkUAXj/s1600-h/We+Heart+Beck.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2Fah12lxfYRY9siVD_NxpgqzlVzlj904kSqKCd9xwJoQDsAQTeSbv1Q4eoTtSJ5A7Ws7-zyQSLy8xP00UjznG58WmYrd2vdGk03rQSQA4dVGtIFQG2c2ezsv_jbHOnlkUAXj/s400/We+Heart+Beck.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380694595856516002" /></a><br /><br /><br />Fashion statement.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ieY8X0GAIR0LsUNJX53f9pdQ6fGEVYJPqDy7tCUp0opGkMLHbmNjAbE_7HrJjKb-5NdPGs0NQr-PzIbA_HINPLcSnHaWnHgSHRhBi7abg3BxdzV7CV9H1r0nVDgbBYl6cdp-/s1600-h/Right-Wing+Extremist.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ieY8X0GAIR0LsUNJX53f9pdQ6fGEVYJPqDy7tCUp0opGkMLHbmNjAbE_7HrJjKb-5NdPGs0NQr-PzIbA_HINPLcSnHaWnHgSHRhBi7abg3BxdzV7CV9H1r0nVDgbBYl6cdp-/s400/Right-Wing+Extremist.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380686190225287282" /></a><br /><br />Looks like they finally figured out what "teabagging" means.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0psbLtM_dFqspPsArwrOmOrUjUouclw_URbfQX_WwrL1M_kw2W-pq6hy_zAe_H3P9LtQJuZFyzXLzS1xW0kjt9shxKBnFzstsqjd1VaYONjoflBWETBwrMmHyFvpBD4vXq336/s1600-h/Grow+Some+Teabags.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0psbLtM_dFqspPsArwrOmOrUjUouclw_URbfQX_WwrL1M_kw2W-pq6hy_zAe_H3P9LtQJuZFyzXLzS1xW0kjt9shxKBnFzstsqjd1VaYONjoflBWETBwrMmHyFvpBD4vXq336/s400/Grow+Some+Teabags.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380688700058714258" /></a><br /><br /><br />Summertime has come and gone, my oh my.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBJuc-Vc839_yYUvb3tp-38UJRiEDSTcdwYYAsY5MEGr5r1TV8salrRo6N5mwk-uXZ9DqhQ9svbPkATD1vrdCfCFf67-qy-qW0Tojzi4UlYm13WPEQmWtRUPhgqV6icbgdr-8/s1600-h/IMGP0468.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBJuc-Vc839_yYUvb3tp-38UJRiEDSTcdwYYAsY5MEGr5r1TV8salrRo6N5mwk-uXZ9DqhQ9svbPkATD1vrdCfCFf67-qy-qW0Tojzi4UlYm13WPEQmWtRUPhgqV6icbgdr-8/s400/IMGP0468.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380688415508444690" /></a><br /><br /><br />Because God loves bullets. And guts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmQJZGy4yuXnoXaekDGMR4rBtX2yGhxezar0bJqj_chzHc1suH6oe9-HC-17zvFTKFHr86bsqAGH62cKWtWLTJRE6EbkVyztpxkTCmqswa6Wrf1oNnAzee3MRk4cLrkCmAU_j/s1600-h/God+Guts+Guns.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmQJZGy4yuXnoXaekDGMR4rBtX2yGhxezar0bJqj_chzHc1suH6oe9-HC-17zvFTKFHr86bsqAGH62cKWtWLTJRE6EbkVyztpxkTCmqswa6Wrf1oNnAzee3MRk4cLrkCmAU_j/s400/God+Guts+Guns.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380688174169949906" /></a><br /><br /><br />Weary wing-nuts practice their Russian.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ2eyO62d37pKH6zau5ttqmzX4tNQLLKEPQy3W66cyIa7cJLW2bTr9Wa9saNm_A4fxNZjm-botlesPVHBNhL-Hitgh17qDaFNzlTR76NeCQ5-QZyyMGyd1Qwab57YQr_yRZRT/s1600-h/Nyet.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ2eyO62d37pKH6zau5ttqmzX4tNQLLKEPQy3W66cyIa7cJLW2bTr9Wa9saNm_A4fxNZjm-botlesPVHBNhL-Hitgh17qDaFNzlTR76NeCQ5-QZyyMGyd1Qwab57YQr_yRZRT/s400/Nyet.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380687983970996306" /></a><br /><br />Were it not for the sign and the shirts, I could swear I saw these guys at the high-heeled race.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbV_nALw37D2vqpbMJtU3ti1FkUB61fvVj28hLWmZs969XZQSHCQPHD4eb-Gf-11Ewrehg1R6ZRAtkwR70kVVPcef3ZnkYP3IEWNpQOP3n33ZLrhY_HRJ4ECRm1t4GBd8uhKPJ/s1600-h/Obama+Stalin+guys.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbV_nALw37D2vqpbMJtU3ti1FkUB61fvVj28hLWmZs969XZQSHCQPHD4eb-Gf-11Ewrehg1R6ZRAtkwR70kVVPcef3ZnkYP3IEWNpQOP3n33ZLrhY_HRJ4ECRm1t4GBd8uhKPJ/s400/Obama+Stalin+guys.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380687658944022706" /></a><br /><br /><br />Stalin must be spinning in his grave.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRF6ckQq08z6HExVrTWgId1C3vfH0qaN1NDyxqX_Azf974MDgP29ZLnbF7MJJPpjwqD-ruC5rtyy4wDiELhW-NeYGZSBfotJmThNPKVgonagrfyBRXGrvnVTCpq4oUlvxx38Uh/s1600-h/Obama+Stalin.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRF6ckQq08z6HExVrTWgId1C3vfH0qaN1NDyxqX_Azf974MDgP29ZLnbF7MJJPpjwqD-ruC5rtyy4wDiELhW-NeYGZSBfotJmThNPKVgonagrfyBRXGrvnVTCpq4oUlvxx38Uh/s400/Obama+Stalin.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380687435700895538" /></a><br /><br /><br />Difference of opinion: He's Hitler, not Stalin, dammit!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HPOWHneV7jgZ-oRtaFeZW1-keHh06FB66k_vko7JTG0v0IXk04cmf-4HQ9L06aF5jSMpX7MkAsdrAATNHuzO9vAmzz02wzh4j7UBYtkaOS0Fnpi1HPZHDkPETebpXEe58rGq/s1600-h/Czars+SS.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HPOWHneV7jgZ-oRtaFeZW1-keHh06FB66k_vko7JTG0v0IXk04cmf-4HQ9L06aF5jSMpX7MkAsdrAATNHuzO9vAmzz02wzh4j7UBYtkaOS0Fnpi1HPZHDkPETebpXEe58rGq/s400/Czars+SS.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380686876497812418" /></a><br /><br /><br />Because, you know, they're all shady.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lmihI8StMjwPbA8edpECXWTvNseHi-fOEoBY4c9jXJUOSGtRvg9HptGG7XCwxXT-Swx0vKj6doXLnjuYpZTno5KsTW-qVFF1PHs-x11a0sBJ0KUA3STE8BRgaGK1UDCid3no/s1600-h/Slim+Shady.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lmihI8StMjwPbA8edpECXWTvNseHi-fOEoBY4c9jXJUOSGtRvg9HptGG7XCwxXT-Swx0vKj6doXLnjuYpZTno5KsTW-qVFF1PHs-x11a0sBJ0KUA3STE8BRgaGK1UDCid3no/s400/Slim+Shady.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380686531004029154" /></a><br /><br />So nice I had to blog it twice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UKxzhvogK_kZU_Lx6S8LqH9PcuLitu84SQMgUouh_oFPpkl_FdFOkGDt1Tnh-Tye786u64shkmEaeivZJ_ApZP5xKnvZjYmokZIU1Raf-ihW1z_istVrzuBDnlt2c8JD7_5-/s1600-h/IMGP0449.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UKxzhvogK_kZU_Lx6S8LqH9PcuLitu84SQMgUouh_oFPpkl_FdFOkGDt1Tnh-Tye786u64shkmEaeivZJ_ApZP5xKnvZjYmokZIU1Raf-ihW1z_istVrzuBDnlt2c8JD7_5-/s400/IMGP0449.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380688994497555522" /></a><br /><br /><br />So wholesome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlhd0z5OzMx1qDHg0grswYwRsuEHtE36VcJmCj0MWFKZgXwyUKV2Q2DSVRBin1w4z8imY836iNc1l10VaeN5r2gBUSTADEyDfBAprdMSph_XMe_h09slMgHW38dc9wtexxaEk/s1600-h/Far+Right+folk.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlhd0z5OzMx1qDHg0grswYwRsuEHtE36VcJmCj0MWFKZgXwyUKV2Q2DSVRBin1w4z8imY836iNc1l10VaeN5r2gBUSTADEyDfBAprdMSph_XMe_h09slMgHW38dc9wtexxaEk/s400/Far+Right+folk.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380685530298353618" /></a><br /><br />View from across the pool on the Capitol grounds. All those little dots across the water? Them's people. Lots and lots of angry white people.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjAkxVwYWv6GRBXoiUum8VTp7_1zTeWHFIqix0EAIpG1-JBhLqUq5dn3aYSffPQntED54HbbUxGJQSrr-yrd4TMAjwxyCR37PJUpXD3oZCMqDd9PH5fkHd9NzQBf-H5b_oRk5/s1600-h/Pool+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjAkxVwYWv6GRBXoiUum8VTp7_1zTeWHFIqix0EAIpG1-JBhLqUq5dn3aYSffPQntED54HbbUxGJQSrr-yrd4TMAjwxyCR37PJUpXD3oZCMqDd9PH5fkHd9NzQBf-H5b_oRk5/s400/Pool+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380689733962711362" /></a><br /><br /><br />Another view along the pool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Tb1CYf_cjn8_Oql9o04y78-QbV3TSdKyFc0Rn2l9ibYoE_7r5SOKw0YZNakRw6P8w84KmwiNXLXvWVrSG1244tim4ihOX0cEW33czM-s_fxrt09ynz34ZR3AqQfewGo-wcUF/s1600-h/Pool+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Tb1CYf_cjn8_Oql9o04y78-QbV3TSdKyFc0Rn2l9ibYoE_7r5SOKw0YZNakRw6P8w84KmwiNXLXvWVrSG1244tim4ihOX0cEW33czM-s_fxrt09ynz34ZR3AqQfewGo-wcUF/s400/Pool+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380689478155771506" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Obediently listening to the voices of the Astroturfers coming from the podium.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hO78VWJzl_A1kuyFmA0rDnsC9wpU4dahB0u0oC1WUckcmGwLC91r4omLbB7Um3IhiCB-ZiklbS_6frBj1KoYNLlOxnj6i4Rf1PYJVGLUHF16sHkly52j1HafJNcCBs9h7B3l/s1600-h/On+the+lawn.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hO78VWJzl_A1kuyFmA0rDnsC9wpU4dahB0u0oC1WUckcmGwLC91r4omLbB7Um3IhiCB-ZiklbS_6frBj1KoYNLlOxnj6i4Rf1PYJVGLUHF16sHkly52j1HafJNcCBs9h7B3l/s400/On+the+lawn.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380685216911243970" /></a><br /><br /><br />More around the Capitol grounds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pf0g0kzoErsNta5aAsk7n6Fyim5Vv3YsPg-NPwk3njp9Qkd_lvb-PV6C3S6Wghc-cjpzwq-md0q27Lf2WSLQIB6aIug5KPcW-1CA033N6MaqVccsC4uKYcrz30dZYV8vHbBS/s1600-h/IMGP0475.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pf0g0kzoErsNta5aAsk7n6Fyim5Vv3YsPg-NPwk3njp9Qkd_lvb-PV6C3S6Wghc-cjpzwq-md0q27Lf2WSLQIB6aIug5KPcW-1CA033N6MaqVccsC4uKYcrz30dZYV8vHbBS/s400/IMGP0475.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380684548361692434" /></a><br /><br />Pressed into service by his dad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLxK7S_Boa59VRNDoLrQ9nd9j6dQpAZ2SrBmtVxKR646XxNq_cq43HRqtp3gZQW8e41plCJfFv08jGhgyfED4d-K8V98hfyi2h4_Iv_Jf1Q0qU90NmvOldbBSBwhOketVT5oC/s1600-h/Obama+Care+My+Future.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLxK7S_Boa59VRNDoLrQ9nd9j6dQpAZ2SrBmtVxKR646XxNq_cq43HRqtp3gZQW8e41plCJfFv08jGhgyfED4d-K8V98hfyi2h4_Iv_Jf1Q0qU90NmvOldbBSBwhOketVT5oC/s400/Obama+Care+My+Future.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380687184223538178" /></a><br /><br />I didn't realize things had gotten this bad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeRj60NnPFXjXkD-ZuFC3eZezOBhgwiw6D_JFxeOK8lyqkjR13-V0HR9bQHpADRkgaUjyWDf2Q9VewvImdKogwRdYv1fUQxzTJqmI-PtfeiZvTzBT2_oVQlxn895V0gJJMhDD/s1600-h/Red+Dawn.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeRj60NnPFXjXkD-ZuFC3eZezOBhgwiw6D_JFxeOK8lyqkjR13-V0HR9bQHpADRkgaUjyWDf2Q9VewvImdKogwRdYv1fUQxzTJqmI-PtfeiZvTzBT2_oVQlxn895V0gJJMhDD/s400/Red+Dawn.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380689232503311458" /></a><br /><br />Because universal health care is a lot like the murder of innocents.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HKnoHn6XQnQQM4D-ThRvRShKOIziW0AUM34dYzVl4kpx_TVM-0liwJ4WNxgS4Gu9a01-tkNaIF3B5qB-u8l7mmhNMezBS4TxXZHKPCmk5U4P0y7_q6oOJPLtOqDAcI5ATpgN/s1600-h/Al+Qaeda+Obama.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HKnoHn6XQnQQM4D-ThRvRShKOIziW0AUM34dYzVl4kpx_TVM-0liwJ4WNxgS4Gu9a01-tkNaIF3B5qB-u8l7mmhNMezBS4TxXZHKPCmk5U4P0y7_q6oOJPLtOqDAcI5ATpgN/s400/Al+Qaeda+Obama.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380683204821757458" /></a><br /><br />Nostalgic for the days when women could not vote.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIRwSDuL6Ty-7g-UrzpHXdrgCr1VDt9CNk9zjkYZtkVJ0f2tHtr4uhDWPUWVJ6A-LeiWPAkfZ1kqvZyvlToGuXDb6lITIyuzrsB2Rdb5S6H4PfpTsXeHkYP8gIuICZ9TA5VDA/s1600-h/Orlando+woman.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIRwSDuL6Ty-7g-UrzpHXdrgCr1VDt9CNk9zjkYZtkVJ0f2tHtr4uhDWPUWVJ6A-LeiWPAkfZ1kqvZyvlToGuXDb6lITIyuzrsB2Rdb5S6H4PfpTsXeHkYP8gIuICZ9TA5VDA/s400/Orlando+woman.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380684836953778322" /></a><br /><br />Left their pashminas at home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3Sq4Swruss_dgkd4yUEsM6ksriGR_KarmzHcMjV8yayOrQQcmk2tciob9kZX6tCTPbmeT1c4QdfRYS8x3A0m_K5VoLhuUlMcr6IDQ3puF9iaA0CIc_Vyj0b1XGYP89q85rmv/s1600-h/Flag-wrapped+women.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3Sq4Swruss_dgkd4yUEsM6ksriGR_KarmzHcMjV8yayOrQQcmk2tciob9kZX6tCTPbmeT1c4QdfRYS8x3A0m_K5VoLhuUlMcr6IDQ3puF9iaA0CIc_Vyj0b1XGYP89q85rmv/s400/Flag-wrapped+women.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380682254285130482" /></a><br /><br /><br />Amazing Grace.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bSKwSpacaYs-4NPB0cBhgCsb_y8h2Paj72QzpB59UYiAO3rHsvO7VW5GubTUr0NWU9ngGqwoV5-umdYrE0dgs5hCktdpbJjlYDpcssSURyqSu9U3OOIddlzXPtwP2TqkahCE/s1600-h/Bagpiper.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bSKwSpacaYs-4NPB0cBhgCsb_y8h2Paj72QzpB59UYiAO3rHsvO7VW5GubTUr0NWU9ngGqwoV5-umdYrE0dgs5hCktdpbJjlYDpcssSURyqSu9U3OOIddlzXPtwP2TqkahCE/s400/Bagpiper.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380681641264708962" /></a><br /><br />The president as micro-organism.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvhwZ2HLFGyy0BSQNFxKc-x4uw111sRBHh-XuQb4Ip5URDkQh5G1bQKIxlsS68w5OPcF4TxKKYjyzfFTLv78zzKukUPBobpq26FIQNQZlG2VyHPvswfLqQV93eKNbLSieige6/s1600-h/Parasite+in+Chief.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvhwZ2HLFGyy0BSQNFxKc-x4uw111sRBHh-XuQb4Ip5URDkQh5G1bQKIxlsS68w5OPcF4TxKKYjyzfFTLv78zzKukUPBobpq26FIQNQZlG2VyHPvswfLqQV93eKNbLSieige6/s400/Parasite+in+Chief.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380682905930420562" /></a><br /><br /><br />The Tea Party aesthetic.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDgrpM7yRPR53Bz6s8kRgm0xqJSh76l01Xbow_ElmgKVXmVsfef43rS0JdbM6zllP7kl5fW2LAXvEuXet-fkig9D-lN4mhU7tc57C6PzVS7XU5KCpsQ6bZwBkZBAXsd7ArZtm/s1600-h/Far+Right+folk+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDgrpM7yRPR53Bz6s8kRgm0xqJSh76l01Xbow_ElmgKVXmVsfef43rS0JdbM6zllP7kl5fW2LAXvEuXet-fkig9D-lN4mhU7tc57C6PzVS7XU5KCpsQ6bZwBkZBAXsd7ArZtm/s400/Far+Right+folk+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380681325214865954" /></a><br /><br /><br />Marching up Pennsylvania Avenue.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDaM1yXPHUWabQ1YxOrq8Mo8rmybx87usNldwWBhbYFqq2QGMD90jgj1hv6DdMe1Oe-EXfWhjfQ-UxOP96LDuf8cDrf4dDYlY_t7qswIhol5CLz0FjaJPreaNWHb5TV61yFez/s1600-h/IMGP0435.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDaM1yXPHUWabQ1YxOrq8Mo8rmybx87usNldwWBhbYFqq2QGMD90jgj1hv6DdMe1Oe-EXfWhjfQ-UxOP96LDuf8cDrf4dDYlY_t7qswIhol5CLz0FjaJPreaNWHb5TV61yFez/s400/IMGP0435.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380680492307700018" /></a><br /><br />The Culpeper militia flag in action.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPexk0QOFNiOCMFFf1RgGgNV5yAJIJrD0eNtalfnyzFzp6nfK2K85i1dDOE96WRhGKMtZy9664hvfZtXGgeHICUr5lSiG7T0sxaCEZmvMY4oAAde2k9hF5R20ckF7NtcPoALl/s1600-h/Culpepper+in+action.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPexk0QOFNiOCMFFf1RgGgNV5yAJIJrD0eNtalfnyzFzp6nfK2K85i1dDOE96WRhGKMtZy9664hvfZtXGgeHICUr5lSiG7T0sxaCEZmvMY4oAAde2k9hF5R20ckF7NtcPoALl/s400/Culpepper+in+action.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380679330810234130" /></a><br /><br />Fixing up the militia flag for the big march.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlMQclTod4AC0VURWe2FzeztS4dLwjVkNGUqnmTcPlNQneEmNjrzuwIjiCCI6LvFTBR26KVhQYk7UTUCuMlUBbb0ip758WKrDn8oUxXitRJX3Dv6mFMw-gqtrCjTvYSp1ytrW/s1600-h/Culpepper+couple.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlMQclTod4AC0VURWe2FzeztS4dLwjVkNGUqnmTcPlNQneEmNjrzuwIjiCCI6LvFTBR26KVhQYk7UTUCuMlUBbb0ip758WKrDn8oUxXitRJX3Dv6mFMw-gqtrCjTvYSp1ytrW/s400/Culpepper+couple.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380679050239619202" /></a>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-35948020665794851732009-08-26T10:35:00.005-04:002009-08-26T10:42:31.635-04:00Remembering Teddy<span style="font-style:italic;">Cross-posted from <a href="http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/remembering_teddy/#142218">AlterNet</a></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfWW5TGs9qxd3jFgMC38ni7e0a-8HeEBd4wr9BH60pmKkBXJN_Ks9CMRV4n2mW0Pxbtw1IFveD56pcU_08VEyc0dQwyIAnX5UwVmPGyyz7VwVBHDIHZtuNDcgUfPNzCLFcevo/s1600-h/Teddy+Kennedy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfWW5TGs9qxd3jFgMC38ni7e0a-8HeEBd4wr9BH60pmKkBXJN_Ks9CMRV4n2mW0Pxbtw1IFveD56pcU_08VEyc0dQwyIAnX5UwVmPGyyz7VwVBHDIHZtuNDcgUfPNzCLFcevo/s400/Teddy+Kennedy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374282001407325922" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Photo Credit: Jocelyn Augustino</span> <br /><br /><big>I remember thinking, he seems so much smaller in person. The year was 2003, and I stood directly behind Sen. Edward M. Kennedy on a makeshift stage constructed in front of the Department of Labor, at a rally for International Human Rights Day convened by the AFL-CIO.<br /><br />I was on staff at the American Federation of Government Employees at the time, and was a member of the team that had put together the rally.<br /><br />Those were dark days indeed for union workers. The Bush administration was in full throttle in its bid to take down the unions, and it had a special vendetta in its dark heart for unions representing government workers.<br /><br />"We want this administration to stop being the most anti-worker, anti-labor administration that we have seen," Kennedy said.<br /><br />Kennedy had just introduced the <a href="www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/efca/whatis.cfm">Employee Free Choice Act</a>, a piece of legislation, yet to see the light of day, that continues to rankle the right. He dressed humbly, in a windbreaker that did little to stave off the bitter cold of a rainy December day in Washington, D.C.<br /><br />"We have an agenda: the respect and dignity of workers in the United States," Kennedy told the crowd of 2,000 who gathered against the gloom. "As long as I have a voice and as long as I have a vote, I will be with you."<br /><br />And he was. Today, the Employee Free Choice Act still contends for passage because of Kennedy. But that's just the politics. That day, his bond with regular people was apparent. On that stage, we had a full roster of workers from a range of unions -- parking attendants, hospital workers, airport screeners, Defense Department employees -- and Kennedy shook hands with all of them, and stuck around to hear their stories.<br /><br />And that's just a glimpse of his commitment to working women and men. I hardly need to mention his commitment to health-care reform.<br /><br />It's said that in exchange for his endorsement of Barack Obama for president, Kennedy exacted a promise from the young Illinois senator to make health care the centerpiece of his legislative agenda. And Kennedy didn't let Obama forget it. In his endorsement speech, Kennedy said, "With Barack Obama, we will break the old gridlock and finally make health care what it should be in America—a fundamental right for all, not just an expensive privilege for the few."<br /><br />As I stood on that stage with Kennedy, the cold rain falling on me as we followed up the speeches with our motley rendition of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land," I thought, this is bliss.</big>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-80811704485801869542009-08-02T15:39:00.005-04:002009-08-02T15:44:54.902-04:00Washington Post columnists say Hillary Clinton deserves a bottle of Mad Bitch beer<em>Cross-posted from <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adele-stan/washington-post-now-among_b_249535.html">The Huffington Post</a>.</em><br /><br /><big>By now, you're likely familiar with the <a href="http://www.alternet.org/politics/141712/washington_post_joins_the_mainstream_media_in_embracing_the_hate%2C_ripping_on_obama_and_clinton_/">parade of racists, sexists, conspiracy theorists and hatemongers</a> on the payrolls of mainstream media: CNN's <a href="http://www.alternet.org/media/141685/how_lou_dobbs_scared_rush_limbaugh_off_the_birther_story/">Lou Dobbs advances the claims</a> of unhinged birthers; FOX's Glenn <a href="http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/141626/another_racist,_crazy_conservative_attack_on_obama:_health_reform_as_reparations/">Beck calls the president a racist</a>; MSNBC pays as an analyst Pat Buchanan, who says <a href="http://buchanan.org/blog/pjb-a-brief-for-whitey-969">slavery was good for black folks</a>. Not to be left behind, ABC welcomed to its <em>This Week</em> roundtable right-winger Michelle Malkin, who has referred to the first lady as President Obama's "<a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/200908010005">cron[y] of color</a>," and is <a href="http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200907300012">advancing the conspiracy theory</a> that Democratic health-care reform is <a href="http://www.alternet.org/blogs/politics/#141635">designed to euthanize old people</a>.<br /><br />Bottom line: hate sells.<br /><br />Eager to bring eyeballs to its Web site, <a href="http://www.alternet.org/politics/141712/washington_post_joins_the_mainstream_media_in_embracing_the_hate%2C_ripping_on_obama_and_clinton_/">the <em>Washington Post</em> this week got in on the act</a>, producing a video featuring two star columnists, Chris Cillizza (reportedly a nice guy) and Dana Milbank (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nico-pitney/debating-the-iran-questio_b_222001.html">reportedly not</a>), that suggests at a future White House beer summit, Hillary Clinton be served a brew called Mad Bitch.<br /><br />Once the video began circulating through the <a href="http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/141702/washington_post_video_suggests_hillary_drink_%22mad_bitch%22_beer/">blogs</a>, the<em> Washington Post</em> chickened out and pulled the video from its site -- without apology to viewers, and apparently without disciplinary action for the columnists and producer Gaby Bruna. <br /><br />This should be a huge story -- two respected, important columnists for a major media outlet <strong>all but call the secretary of state a bitch</strong> -- but corporate media would have to be willing to critique two of their own were the story to get legs. Not likely to happen.<br /><br />In fact, a day after the video was pulled, Chris Cillizza was featured on the roundtable of this Sunday's CNN show, <em>State of the Union</em>, and was not asked a single question about his role in Mad-Bitchgate.<br /><br />If the presidential campaign of 2008 was the mainstream media's teachable moment, it seems the wrong lesson was learned. Instead of the corrective soul-searching one would hope for among executives and editors at major media outlets as their on-air figures grappled with their inner sexists and inner racists during prime time, media bigs seem to have reached the conclusion that hatred sells. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/politics/141712/washington_post_joins_the_mainstream_media_in_embracing_the_hate%2C_ripping_on_obama_and_clinton_/">READ WHOLE POST AND VIEW VIDEO</a></big>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-36629460428607865032009-07-10T13:46:00.002-04:002009-07-10T13:48:50.234-04:00Do you read a newspaper?<p><big>Tell the truth now, <em>mes amis</em>. (Your blogstress doesn't like it when you fib.)<br /><br />Now, change your ways! Here's why:</big><br /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/271557392" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=28885123001&playerId=271557392&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-48837467093558767502009-07-07T09:46:00.004-04:002009-07-07T11:00:40.648-04:00Michael Jackson: the legacy of child-abuse<p><big>So much has been written about <span style="font-weight:bold;">Michael Jackson</span>'s life and death that there seems little else to say. But as the crowds gather today at L.A.'s Staples Center for his public memorial, I think it bears noting that the bizarreness of his life had a cause, and that primary cause is likely the abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his father. A secondary cause is likely the internalized racism that his abusive father apparently absorbed from the culture around him.<br /><br />It is not my intention to make excuses for Michael Jackson's creepy relationships with other people's children (whether or not they were pedophilic remains an unanswered question) or <span style="font-weight:bold;">Joseph Jackson</span>'s horrific treatment of his own children. I do however, ask readers to consider how people become the way that they do, and to examine our culture as one of enablement.<br /><br />In a sane world, Joe Jackson would have been jailed for what he did to his kids. Anyone who has watched Martin Bashir's documentary, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7RDCDLLIm8">Living with Michael Jackson</a>, knows that MJ said his father "practiced us with a belt in his hand" and "he would really cut you up". When Bashir asks MJ if his father ever used anything more than a belt, you see Michael nearly dissolve, unable to speak for a moment. Then he says that his father would throw at the children whatever was handy, or just throw the children themselves against a wall. Michael says he was often used as the example of how to do a dance step correctly, and had to watch while his siblings were abused for not being able to dance as well as he did. Imagine what that does to one's psyche.<br /><br />But it's the emotional abuse MJ received in adolescence from his father that seems to have pushed him over the edge. Just as he was at that awful stage in his development when he was no longer the adorable "Little Michael" who had won the hearts of America, Joe Jackson, by MJ's account, ridiculed that shape his son's adult face was taking, especially his African nose. "You didn't get that from my side," MJ says his dad told him. Because of that, he hated being seen in public, Michael tells Bashir. "I would have rather worn a mask," he said. <br /><br />And so Michael Jackson created his own mask. In his work, he never stepped back from his black identity, even as he engaged plastic surgeons and dermatologists to eliminate the traces of his heritage from his face -- to destroy what had been a truly beautiful face. <br /><br />But the theme of the mask in Michael Jackson's life and work extends beyond the wounds of racism. His own children look white, and he put feathered masks on them when he took them out in public. According to biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli, Joe Jackson once donned a fright mask and climbed through Michael's bedroom window while the boy lay sleeping, shouting and terrorizing him. In the film short, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtyJbIOZjS8">Thriller</a>, Jackson himself dons the fright mask, morphing first into a werewolf, and then into a zombie-like creature, terrorizing a young woman he asks to "be my girl." In between the morphs, he's a sweet, adorable Michael Jackson. The obvious suggestion is that within Jackson himself, a demon lurks. The lyrics, to my ear, recall the terror of an abused child:<blockquote>You hear the door slam and realize there's nowhere left to run<br />You feel the cold hand and wonder if you'll ever see the sun<br />You close your eyes and hope that this is just imagination, girl!<br />But all the while you hear the creature creeping up behind<br />You're out of time</blockquote>In <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqxo1SKB0z8">Beat It</a> (a song I always took to be about MJ's father), Jackson suggests that the way to deal with abuse is simply to get out of the way:<blockquote>You have to show them that you're really not scared<br />You're playin' with your life, this ain't no truth or dare<br />They'll kick you, then they beat you,<br />Then they'll tell you it's fair<br />So Beat It...</blockquote>And so Michael Jackson has at last beaten it. He's released from his torment. He suffered a great deal to give us the genius of his work. He probably made others suffer, too. But his story is one about our society, not about his weirdness. May we all look within.</big>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-55357009964594475812009-07-06T17:41:00.005-04:002009-07-08T17:55:07.105-04:00Stop the sexist rants against Palin!<p><em>cross-posted from <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adele-stan/stop-the-sexist-rants-on_b_226436.html">The Huffington Post</a></em><br /><br /><big>The ascent of <span style="font-weight:bold;">Sarah Palin</span> to the national political stage has yielded no shortage of material for legitimate criticism -- even legitimate derision. There's her famous lack of intellectual curiosity, her tortured syntax, and her <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvPNXYrIyI">alliance</a> with a group of <a href="http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/10/10/palin_chryson/">Alaskan secessionists</a>, to name just a few. <br /><br />But whenever Sarah Palin makes news, as she did big-time with her decision last weekend to resign her office as governor of Alaska, more than legitimate criticism hits the airwaves and the Web. Seeping through the Web's meshes and wafting through the airwaves is the acrid stench of sexism. <br /><br />I'm hardly the first to notice this trend. At Jezebel, <a href="http://jezebel.com/5291510/another-day-feminists-helped-sarah-palin-make-us-look-like-hypocrites"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Megan Carpentier</span> has been on the case</a> since the presidential campaign, when Palin burst on the scene as John McCain's wild-card pick for his vice-presidential running-mate. So, too, has <a href="http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/08/sarah-palin-sexism-watch-4.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Melissa McEwan</span> at Shakesville</a>. But this latest burst of fresh hell leads me to take another approach: I'm asking readers to Tweet any sexist coverage they see on Palin with the hashtag: <a href="http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23palinsexism">#palinsexism</a>.<br /><br />Why? As blogger <strong><a href="http://echidneofthesnakes.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html#1372354266011218562">Echidne of the Snakes</a></strong> observes, the takedown of Palin following her resignation of her office "may be mostly justified, but it allows the misogynists to join in, and they are not just attacking Palin, my friends: They are attacking women in general."<br /><br />Just look what happened on CNN just moments after Palin's resignation broke into the airwaves: anchor <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/03/sarah-palin-resignation-r_n_225534.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Rick Sanchez</span> speculated</a> that Palin might be pregnant again. As if women don't work when they're pregnant, or make sane decisions while in the family way; as if Palin hadn't already worked through one pregnancy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-07-02/is-she-a-narcissist/"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Michelle Goldberg</span> observed</a> that in <span style="font-weight:bold;">Todd Purdum</span>'s <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/08/sarah-palin200908?printable=true¤tPage=all"><em>Vanity Fair</em> profile</a> of Palin, several sources pegged Palin as having a textbook case of narcissistic personality disorder for exhibiting exactly the same kind of self-centered traits demonstrated by male politicians who are presumed to be sane.<br /><br />Even on The Huffington Post, blogger <a href=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-ostroy/sarah-we-hardly-knew-ye-s_b_225677.html><span style="font-weight:bold;">Andy Ostoy</span> referred to Palin</a> as "the most famous <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=M.I.L.F.">MILF</a> in America".<br /><br />But Ostoy's narcissistic crudeness (like I really care who you'd like to do, Andy) is nothing compared to some of the comments made by readers of otherwise fine, upstanding liberal blogs. The intrepid Echidne went wading into those slimy waters (so you and don't have to), protesting as she did:<blockquote>I hate McCain for what he did to me as a feminist, by putting me in the position of having to wade into the sewers of lefty blogs to find out what sexist crap might be floating around on the topic of Sarah Palin. I do that not to defend Palin but to defend the women of the future who might one day run for the office, and I do it with great bitterness, because I'm going to be told off for spending time on someone like Palin by all those who don't see that certain comments are not just about Palin but about women in politics in general.</blockquote>And here's a taste (blech!) of what <a href="http://echidneofthesnakes.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html#1372354266011218562">she found</a> in the comments sections of <a href="http://www.eschatonblog.com/">Eschaton</a> and <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/">Democratic Underground</a>:</big><blockquote>Let's put it this way.<br /><br />Sarah Palin is probably a sexual object in the sense of most porn starlets.<br /><br />Good sex (there is no other kind) but you want her out of your bed before the cock crows, because the thought of having to make small talk with her over breakfast repulses you no end.<br /><br />==============<br /><br />Palin's not hot. She's actually pretty dick deflating, in an ignorant-stupid-moralistic way. Sorry, but she's a typical 40 - something GOP woman that thinks with that push-up bra, tummy tuck panty hose, and makeup from hell that she still has it.<br /><br />she doesn't.<br /><br />================<br /><br />she gets on national tv and rambles for 20 minutes...<br />And do we get a great shot of her tits? NO!!!!!<br /><br />============<br /><br />I could've straightened her out with a good, hard spanking, but Cindy wouldn't let me.<br /><br />Now look what's happened . . .<br /><br />--John McCain <em>Editorial note from your blogstress: of course, that's not really John McCain writing</em><br /><br />============<br /><br />palin's pregnant with levi's love child.<br /><br />===========<br /><br />I hope she can become a spokesperson for drilling in ANWR now, and helping this country become independent of foreign oil.<br /><br />She should pose naked on a drilling rig.<br /><br />===============<br /><br />she thought she was pulling of a cunning stunt with her announcement.<br /><br />===============<br /><br />This asshole is going to be a constant reminder of what you can do with NO qualifications<br /><br />Goodbye you whore.</blockquote><big>Enough already! Whether it's a news anchor, an unnamed source, a blogger or commenter, it's time to put a stop to this barrage of gender-based hatred. It's not only right; it's smart. There's plenty to criticize about Sarah Palin, her latest gambit, and others who share her politics without stooping to the lowest forms of name-calling. Keep the critique on the up-and-up, and you'll have more credibility.<br /><br />So please join me in helping to put a stop to what really amounts to a war on all women: When you see or hear a sexist quote about Palin, Tweet it, and add the hashtag: #palinsexism.</big>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-46323959885272315612009-07-03T18:22:00.004-04:002009-07-03T18:28:12.700-04:00Sarah Palin Will Be Back<p><em>Cross-posted from <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adele-stan/sarah-palin-will-be-back_b_225562.html">The Huffington Post</a></em><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/G1tnUvtjaaY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/G1tnUvtjaaY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><big>There's nothing surprising in Sarah Palin's decision not to run for re-election as governor of Alaska. After all, if you've got a shot to become leader of the free world, it helps to have nothing but time to give the people of Iowa and New Hampshire in the year leading up to their caucus and primary, and that's hard to do if you have to run a state from which you can see Russia.<br /><br />But Palin's decision to step down this month from the governor's mansion? Now that's a whole 'nother kettle of wild salmon.<br /><br />Today we heard and saw Palin as we never have before. No, I'm not talking about the incoherence of her <a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/palins-resignation-speech.php?ref=fpa">resignation statement</a>; her incoherence in the infamous Couric interviews became the <a href="http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/couric-palin-open/704042/">stuff of legend</a>. Yet with all hectoring she took for her not-ready-for-prime-time performances during the campaign, her confidence never seemed to flag. But today brought us a different picture: Her voice quavering, Palin seemed unsure of herself as she sought to explain without explaining her reasons for stepping down before the end of her first term as governor. <br /><br />Granted, Sarah Palin has had a very tough week, what with Todd Purdum's <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/08/sarah-palin200908">takedown in <em>Vanity Fair</em></a>, and the release of a testy <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/07/the-odd-lies-of-sarah-palin-xxxi-todd-and-the-aip.html">e-mail exchange</a> between the former vice presidential candidate and McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt.<br /><br />By her own account, however, the week from hell is not what drove today's announcement. The decision had been in the making for a while, she said. But why? As her reasons, Palin noted the meanness of the media, and the hail of ethics complaints filed against her (in a state in which the bar is quite low for the filing of such complaints). Yet none of the complaints filed so far have stuck, so what gives?<br /><br />The governor mentioned a resulting half million worth of legal bills for her and husband, Todd, but that should be chump change with someone with Sarah Palin's standing among the G.O.P. base. Surely, she could raise that with a legal defense fund. <br /><br />Palin basically said she was getting out of the way in order to <a href="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/2009/07/full-text-of-palins-resignation-speech.php">take one for the team</a>:</big><blockquote>Let me go back to a comfortable analogy for me -- sports... basketball. I use it because you're naïve if you don't see the national full-court press picking away right now: A good point guard drives through a full court press, protecting the ball, keeping her eye on the basket... and she knows exactly when to pass the ball so that the team can win. And I'm doing that, keeping our eye on the ball that represents sound priorities: smaller government, energy independence, national security, freedom. And I know when it's time to pass the ball -- for victory.</blockquote><big>For some reason, the very ambitious Sarah Palin finds the need to take herself out of public view. It's hard not to speculate that there's another shoe yet to drop. But don't count her out; she's as tenacious a political fighter as I've ever seen. She'll no doubt put the time gained of her early exit from the governor's mansion to good use -- perhaps studying up on issues for her visits to the people of Iowa and New Hampshire.<br /><br />When I <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adele-stan/not-a-good-sunday-for-wom_b_116610.html">first speculated</a> that she would be John McCain's vice presidential pick, people said, Sarah who? Despite colossal missteps, she emerged from the 2008 presidential election as the darling of the Republican Party, her running mate returning to the Senate as a has-been. Mark my words: She'll be back. </big>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-57107265240574259762009-06-25T19:14:00.000-04:002009-06-26T13:18:53.481-04:00Chérie: A dazzling meditation on time and change<p><span style="font-style:italic;">Cross-posted from <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adele-stan/michelle-pfieffer-dazzles_b_221187.html">The Huffington Post</a></span><br /><br /><big>From the opening frames of <em>Chérie</em>, the viewer is drawn into an opulent, decadent world, at once foreign and familiar to those who have mixed with the denizens of high society in our own time. But the depiction of that world in director Stephen Frears' <em>tour de force</em> is no simple condemnation nor exaltation: the charms and moral ambiguities of France's <em>Belle Epoch</em> co-exist in this rendering of a gilded age at its apogee, most completely in the glowing figure of Michelle Pfeiffer as Léa de Lonval, an exquisite courtesan about to age out of her profession.<br /><br />At its core, <em>Chérie</em> is a movie about time and the constancy of change -- a theme that could be esoteric and depressing, were it not for the stunning visual and aural landscape the filmmakers grant us, the stylized repartee that screenwriter Christopher Hampton draws from Colette's celebrated novel, and Pfeiffer's grounded, sexy and elegant rendering of the woman at the center of the film. Léa is both wise and playful, jaded and vulnerable, a ravishing beauty who looks every minute of her 49 years. In Léa, Pfeiffer offers a rendering of an aging woman such as I have never before seen on the big screen. Like Diane Keaton's character in <em>Something's Gotta Give</em>, she plays a woman with wrinkles who is undeniably sexy. But unlike Keaton's sweet and sexually uptight character, Léa is in full possession of her sexuality; she knows what she's got, knows she's still beautiful, yet has no illusions about society's contempt for the older woman as a sexual creature. Alone with her maid, preening before her mirror, Léa raises her arms above her head, and remarks, "Nice handles for such an old vase." So she opts to retire while she's still in demand.<br /><br />Enter Chérie, played by Rupert Friend, who is the 19-year-old son of her rival, the retired courtesan Charlotte Peloux (Kathy Bates), still known to her by the pet name she bestowed upon him when he was a baby. Charlotte, a relic of her time, was a disinterested mother at best, and is now eager to deliver her spoiled, neglected and costly offspring into Léa's hands. She takes him in because she likes him, because she has something to teach him and because she wants a lover of her own choosing. He goes with her to her home in the south of France because he has grown bored with his life of debauchery in Paris, and winds up staying with Léa for six years, until Mama Charlotte contrives another plan for him -- one that will ensure her a handsome pension. Along the way, the worldly courtesan and the petulant young man fall in love, a love on which Father Time, if not Mama Charlotte, has imposed his limitations.<br /><br /><em>Chérie</em> concerns itself at once with the peculiarities of time as it shapes human relationships; one cannot escape the age into which one has been born, after all. But within one's own time, a woman can opt to cling to old glories, or move with the current of the age. The turn of the last century heralded the coming modern age: the telephone and the automobile were among its innovations. Women's clothing changed in significant ways, as well: bustles disappeared from dresses, and dresses inflected with exotic forms eliminated the need for corseting. The glorious costuming of this film cleverly points this up: Charlotte is still dressed in the fussy, old style, while Léa glides about in Art Nouveau gowns that feature kimono-inspired bodices, loose sleeves, and skirts that are sumptuously draped, not frivolously gathered into confining waistlines. (I predict that Consalata Boyle's designs for Pfeiffer will be reflected in the 2010 fall fashions.)<br /><br />The film speaks to changes still percolating in today's society. Because we meet Léa at the close of her courtesan career, we find her a liberated woman, one free to do as she pleases. She has money and beauty, a good mind and business acumen, and a young lover. She has the freedom to get her heart broken, and she does. Still, we're left with the sense that hers is a life fully lived. <br /><br />Yet her young charge is still trapped in his mother's time, when an arranged marriage ensured one's future fortunes, and we find him enslaved to a most female fate while Léa possesses the independence to live in beauty. Chérie himself is a jarring character, a simpering young man with a love for pearls and fine fabrics, and ultimately far more vulnerable to the pain of love than his feminine paramour. Gender norms are reversed in Colette's story, which was written in 1920, in the aftermath of the Great War, but set in its ante bellum. Throughout Frears' film, change and indeed its backlash is suggested, and a sense of foreboding provides a faint undercurrent.<br /><br />Though not every element of <em>Chérie</em> succeeds, it is a film that haunts the viewer days after the final credits have rolled. Special kudos belong to composer Alexandre Desplat for a stunning score, cinematographer Darius Khondji and production designer Alan MacDonald who, along with costumer Boyle, create a world into which the viewer longs to step, if only for one moment in time.</big><br /><br /><em>Chérie opens nationwide tomorrow, Friday, June 26th.</em>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-60172573643734543172009-06-23T13:56:00.003-04:002009-06-23T14:15:40.012-04:00Media analysis: no women need apply?<p><big>When <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com">MediaBistro</a> announced its upcoming panel discussion titled "Finding a Business Model for News and Online Media", it listed only white men as panelists, thus joining a list of other apparently well-meaning organizations whose leaders tend to see only men as media innovators. In MediaBistro's case, this is particularly ironic, since the pioneering Web-based all-things-media outlet and consulting company was founded by Laurel Touby, a woman.<br /><br />The Women, Action & the Media (WAM!) community took issue with MediaBistro's treatment, issuing <a href="http://www.centerfornewwords.org/wam/mbletter.php">this letter</a>, to which your humble blogstress signed her proper name:</big><br /><br /><blockquote>Dear MediaBistro and Demand Studios,<br /><br />We applaud your efforts to create an “an open discussion about the business models, innovation, and power of community that are changing journalism.” But your selection of presenters on this subject has forced us to wonder to whom, exactly, this discussion is open.<br /><br />We won’t stand for another panel exclusively composed of white males when the future of our media is at stake. As members of Women, Action & the Media, we know all too well that white-male-dominated conversations produce white-male-dominated media models. We ask you to stand with us instead, to create a sustainable new journalism that includes and supports all of us, including women and people of color.<br /><br />It’s not hard to find qualified women to serve on your “Finding a Business Model for News and Online Media” panel. Here are just a few we’ve come up with today:<br /><br />Tina Brown, The Daily Beast<br />Ada Calhoun, Babble<br />Gabrielle Darbyshire, Gawker Media<br />Nicki Gilmour, The Glass Hammer, founder and CEO of Evolved People Media LLC<br />Erica Gruen, Quantum Media<br />Kathleen Hall Jameson, director, Annenberg Public Policy Center<br />Carol Jenkins, president, Women’s Media Center<br />Rita Henley Jensen, Women’s eNews<br />Esther Kaplan, The Nation Institute<br />Dori Maynard, president, The Maynard Institute<br />Gina McCauley, Blogging While Brown<br />Laurel Touby, your founder at mediabistro.com<br />Sheryl Hilliard Tucker, executive editor, Time, Inc.<br />Joan Walsh, Salon<br />Tracy Van Slyke, The Media Consortium<br />Deanna Zandt, media technologist<br /><br />Please let us know if you need help getting in touch with any of these exceptional women - we’d be very happy to help make those connections.<br /><br />Signed,<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Veronica I. Arreola</span>, Writer, Founding Board Member of WIMN<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Julia Barry</span>, media/Web producer and consultant<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sarah Blustain</span>, senior editor, <span style="font-style:italic;">The New Republic</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tara Bracco</span>, writer and founder of Poetic People Power<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Anna Clark</span>, freelance journalist<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Denise Di Stephan</span>, freelance writer<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ariel Dougherty</span>, Media Equity Collaborative<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Emily Douglas</span>, editor, RH Reality Check<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Gloria Feldt</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Jill Filipovic</span>, Feministe<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Jaclyn Friedman</span>, director, Women, Action & the Media<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">J. Goodrich</span>, blogger and freelance writer<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Nancy Gruver</span>, founder & CEO, New Moon Girl Media<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mikki Halpin</span>, author and contributing editor, <span style="font-style:italic;">Glamour</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Carol Jenkins</span>, president, Women's Media Center<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Rita Henley Jensen</span>, Women's eNews<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sue Katz</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Elaine Lafferty</span>, former editor-in-chief, <span style="font-style:italic;">Ms.</span> magazine<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lucinda Marshall</span>, director, Feminist Peace Network<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Emily May</span>, HollabackNYC.com<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Liz O’Donnell</span>, freelance writer and AvantGuild member<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Katha Pollitt</span>, columnist, <span style="font-style:italic;">The Nation</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Jennifer Pozner</span>, founder and director, Women In Media & News (WIMN)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Miranda Spencer</span>, freelance writer, editor, and media critic<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Rebekah Spicuglia</span>, media manager, Women’s Media Center<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Adele M. Stan</span>, independent journalist and Huffington Post blogger<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Shira Tarrant</span>, PhD, author, <span style="font-style:italic;">Men and Feminism</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tracy Van Slyke</span>, The Media Consortium<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Jayati Vora</span>, Web editor, The Nation Institute<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Andi Zeisler</span>, editorial/creative director of <span style="font-style:italic;">Bitch</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Jill Miller Zimon</span>, freelance writer, Writes Like She Talks</blockquote><big>Since the letter was sent, MediaBistro Tweeted that another panelist would soon be announced. To add your two cents, contact MediaBistro by <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/aboutus/contactus.asp">clicking here</a>.</big>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-9312289024604519822009-06-21T23:59:00.004-04:002009-06-22T00:40:00.142-04:00Happy Solstice!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrekxdHDow7dAMnpejPUuqsHkdaY5NMTpqkiX3Oa3wHrRodJ8cNZBNgJUG1otwTTXMrlHoKbs3OuEL92lPZK8azsAvoHd_HFN_GTdUVqY5TSLboqoLmmbrJj3UWB4ri1FTeKS/s1600-h/3648722712_d00f1c6c01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrekxdHDow7dAMnpejPUuqsHkdaY5NMTpqkiX3Oa3wHrRodJ8cNZBNgJUG1otwTTXMrlHoKbs3OuEL92lPZK8azsAvoHd_HFN_GTdUVqY5TSLboqoLmmbrJj3UWB4ri1FTeKS/s400/3648722712_d00f1c6c01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350006551726741810" /></a><br /><br /><em>Photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fergusmcneill/">Fergus McNeill</a>; used through creative commons license</em><br /><br /><p><big>Hope the longest day of the year was a beautiful one for you, <em>mes amis</em>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6547935.ece">From the <em>Times</em></a> of London:</big><blockquote>Druids began their incantations, Wiccan priestesses drew their cowls tight against the damp morning air and four half-naked Papuan dancers waved their hands in the air and went: “Woo, woo, woo”.<br /><br />Only the guest of honour failed to put in an appearance at Stonehenge.<br /><br />A record 36,500 people had gathered at the prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain to watch the sun rise. So many turned out to celebrate the solstice that roads had to be shut and the vast field converted into a car park for 6,500 vehicles was full by 3am. </blockquote>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-18436007279223948982009-06-12T18:15:00.003-04:002009-06-12T18:25:21.012-04:00Marriage in DC: pride and prejudice<p><big>Here in our nation's steamy, sticky capital, as the annual Gay Pride celebration takes shape, temperatures are rising over the issue of marriage equality for queer folk. (Check out the <span style="font-style:italic;">Washington Blade</span> <a href="http://www.washblade.com/2009/6-12/news/localnews/14673.cfm">for the skinny</a> on the antics of the religious right's Rev. Harry Jackson, who was sent in by central casting to convince African-Americans that gays are their enemies.)<br /><br /><a href="http://wamu.org/programs/mc/09/06/12.php#27014">This essay</a> by noted DC poet and cultural critic Reuben Jackson (who is not LGBT) aired today on WAMU radio. In his commentary, Jackson writes of his recent experience of anti-LGBT sentiment in a District restaurant, and the link between racial prejudice and anti-gay discrimination.<br /><br /></big><strong><em><a href="http://wamu.org/programs/mc/09/06/12.php#27014">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO "WORDS LIKE PUNCHES" BY REUBEN JACKSON</a></em></strong>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-19879580789123527512009-06-10T10:37:00.006-04:002009-06-12T11:39:46.786-04:00Right wing objects to Tiller murder investigation<p><big>The U.S. Justice Department has commenced a probe of the murder of Dr. George Tiller, the physician who has been targeted for years by members of the far right for his willingness, at great personal risk, to perform late-term abortions to women in need. And Wendy Wright, president of the Concerned Women for America, has a problem with that.<br /><br />According to the right-wing Web site, <a href="http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=560170">OneNewsNow</a>, Wright said:</big><blockquote>"This may be more of a nefarious effort than it appears on its face," she exclaims, "that in fact, the Department of Justice may be trying to smear pro-lifers, as if we all belong in the same camp, as if we all advocate violence, when it's [actually] just the opposite."</blockquote><big>The proof of the Obama adminstration's nefarious machinations, according to the right, is the fact that it has not dispatched U.S. Marshals to military recruiting stations in light of the recent <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=7730637&page=1">murder of a recruiter</a> by a man who says he is a convert to Islam. But U.S. Marshals have been dispatched to protect women's health care clinics in the wake of the Tiller murder.<br /><br />Let's see: the murder of a doctor by the member of a movement that has a long history of violence against the employees of facilities that provide abortion services to women is somehow unworthy of measures taken to protect other employees of such facilities against any future life-threatening assaults -- all because the U.S. Marshals have not been called to protect the U.S. military. <br /><br />Furthermore, the murderer of the soldier is under investigation by the Justice Department -- by the FBI Joint Terrorist Task Force, to exact. The investigation began before the murder; unfortunately, there apparently wasn't evidence enough to lock him up at the time of the attack. <br /><br />The comparison between the Justice Department's actions on behalf of abortion providers and its efforts to stem jihadist terrorism is a classic right-wing tactic: when one's wrongs are exposed, change the subject, even if false analogies are required to do so.</big>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-73270550482876717112009-06-01T01:59:00.003-04:002009-06-01T02:04:37.093-04:00Well, that didn't take long...<p><big>No sooner did your blogstress's Huffington Post piece about Ann Coulter's encouragement of violence against doctors who perform abortions then <a href="http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/05/31/ann-coulter-and-bill-oreilly-among-early-scapegoats-for-tiller-mu/2#c19129046">some wag</a> who refused to even name your <span style="font-style:italic;">ecrivaine</span>, called yours truly both dishonest and not reasonable for charging la Coulter with incitement.</big>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5077986.post-51138157493691845572009-05-31T17:11:00.005-04:002009-06-01T15:32:03.949-04:00Tiller Murder: Ann Coulter's happy day?<em>cross-posted from <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adele-stan/tiller-murder-ann-coulter_b_209525.html">The Huffington Post</a></em><br /><p><big>The killing of <span style="font-weight:bold;">George Tiller</span>, a doctor who performed late-term abortions, will likely be attributed to some lone and deranged individual, acting on his or her own. (As I write, the suspect remains at large.) Indeed, Operation Rescue, the hold-no-prisoners anti-abortion group, issued an <a href="http://www.startribune.com/nation/46577347.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUvDE7aL_V_BD77:DiiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs">immediate statement</a> from <a href="http://www.operationrescue.org/">Operation Rescue</a> President <span style="font-weight:bold;">Troy Newman</span>, decrying Tiller's shooting as "a cowardly act."<br /><br />In fact, the hands are many in the death of George Tiller, some more directly than others. Take <span style="font-weight:bold;">Ann Coulter</span>, for example. I watched her <a href="http://www.au.org/media/church-and-state/archives/2007/04/religious-right.html">describe</a>, to a church full of right-wing activists, abortion-clinic doctors and health care personnel who were murdered as either having been shot, "...or, depending on your point of view, had a procedure performed on them with a rifle." And she's still out there today, spewing the same bile with violent force.<br /><br />Several weeks ago, President <span style="font-weight:bold;">Barack Obama</span>'s commencement address at Notre Dame University spurred controversy when anti-abortion activists pressed the Catholic university to withdraw its invitation to the pro-choice president. Coulter responded with the suggestion that for next year's ceremony, "Notre Dame have an abortionist perform an abortion live on stage? They could have a partial-birth abortion for the advanced degrees." <br /><br />As if that wasn't enough, Coulter added this:</big><br /><blockquote>Being such a prestigious institution, Notre Dame could probably get famed partial-birth abortion practitioner George Tiller to do the demonstration at next year's graduation. Obama could help -- inasmuch as Tiller the abortionist is a close friend of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.</blockquote><big>George Tiller, M.D., was unlikely national figure, but to the religious right, he was Enemy Number One. <br /><br />Close watchers of national news may have known the name of George Tiller from the extraordinary actions of former Kansas Attorney General <span style="font-weight:bold;">Phill Kline</span>, who, three years ago <a href="http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v24n1/new-tactics-coalitions-take-aim.html">subpoenaed from Tiller's clinic</a> the records of hundreds of women who had undergone abortion procedures there. Kline, a frequent speaker at religious-right gatherings, claimed he needed the records for an investigation as to whether Tiller was following the law, but many in the reproductive health community saw Kline's actions as an attempt to intimidate women who were considering undergoing late-term abortions. Kline's case against Tiller was dismissed in 2006, after Kansas voters booted the AG from office.<br /><br />Tiller's name became part of inside-the-Beltway parlance with the nomination of Kansas Gov. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Kathleen Sebelius</span> to head the Department of Health and Human Services, when <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aiBDawmVSDBQ&refer=us">campaign contributions from Tiller</a> and his associates became a bone of contention in her confirmation process. (She has since been confirmed, and is now HHS secretary.) Sometimes, it seems, having friends in high places only increases one's danger.<br /><br />So my question to Ann Coulter is: Did George Tiller have "a procedure performed on him by a rifle"? Did he simply get his just desserts?<br /><br />If the murderer was not a follower of Coulter's, he certainly acted from the sort of hateful sentiment she disseminates in popular and right-wing media. <br /><br />Consider this comment left by a reader of the Minneapolis <em>Star-Tribune</em>'s <a href="http://www.startribune.com/nation/46577347.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUvDE7aL_V_BD77:DiiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs">posting of Associated Press coverage </a>of the Tiller murder:<br /><blockquote></big>Although I would never do something like this, he got what was coming to him. Now he needs to answer to God for the thousands of innocent babies he has murdered.</blockquote><big>Sounds like one of Annie's kids to me.</big>Adelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15188220087573908556noreply@blogger.com2