Quote Of The Day

Andrew assesses the new Vanity Fair Article on The Wasilla Wonder. The ex-McCain fan observes

One should remember, I suppose, that in Washington even those who seem able to put principle before partisanship are all liars and hypocrites in the end. Chief among these goons is John McCain, a man whose reputation should never, ever recover from this act of wanton irresponsibility and cynicism.

(BTW: This is the screenshot of the actual Fox News Website's coverage of Franken's win)

Why Roland Hasn't Won Statewide In 20+ Years

Jesus Christ on a Feather boa, even Republicans in this state know not to say this ANYWHERE.

So, of course, Mr Trailblazer says it to the Gays.

Burris: Marriage for "perpetuation of the species"

Steve Miller Reporting
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Senator Roland Burris was at Chicago's
Gay Pride Parade yesterday, declaring his support for civil unions but saying marriage is for "perpetuation of the species."WBBM's Steve Miller reports Gay activists say it may have been the first time a sitting U-S senator has attended a Gay Pride Parade in Chicago.Men and women in T-shirts reading "Fight for Marriage Equality" stood near Senator Burris, but the senator says he's not ready to embrace gay marriage."My concept of marriage is a male and a female for the perpetuation of the species, for children to be born and identify the bloodline and the heritage.

Paging Ms Madigan, Paging Ms Madigan.

Finally Defending The Bible From the Christians

Who else?

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Mark Sanford Consults the Old Testament
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran

Homophobia Of The Most Desperate Type

Using our Sherrif's support in and of the Gay Community as an attack upon Gays

Americans For Truth enters the YouTube era

Tom Dart, Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois, shows his support for the homosexual agenda by fielding a float and marching in the 2009 Chicago Gay Pride Parade (June 28, 2009). Ten minutes later in the parade, a radical leftist homosexual organization holds up a banner that reads, “Gay Pride Means Fight Cops.” Note that the faces of the young men holding up the cop-hating banner are covered with Intifada-like headdresses. (We will update this video with some slight adjustments.)

… This footage was shot by Americans For Truth About Homosexuality, as we make our belated entrance into the world of YouTube. As is typical, the 2009 Chicago “Pride” parade featured participants violating the Chicago Public Morals Law, e.g., a presumed transsexual “female” baring his/her breasts riding atop a float block after block on Halsted St (much like I witnessed at the 2007 Chicago “Pride” march). Keep in mind that there were many children at the parade — and this year children from Chicago’s Nettelhorst Elementary School actually participated in the homosexual parade at the request of their parents.

Also, this footage of Sheriff Dart’s float was shot directly in front of a 24/7 homosexual bathhouse called “Steamworks,” (at 3246 Halsted in Boystown, Chicago), where men go for anonymous, deviant sex with other men. Perhaps Dart should focus less on “gay pride” and more on enforcing decency laws — and closing down Chicago perversion centers like Steamworks that facilitate the spread STDs by enabling reckless homosexual promiscuity. Call Sheriff Dart at 312-603-6444, or e-mail: sheriff@cookcountysheriff.org. Thanks for taking action. — Peter LaBarbera, http://www.americansfortruth.com/

Just so's you know, Peter Labarbera is one twisted monkey. This is one lady who doth protest way tooooooooo much.

What Other Reason Could There Be?

Political Wire:

The Republican Barney Frank?

In an editorial, the Wall Street Journal calls Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) a "Republican Barney Frank" -- presumably for his more moderate economic policies.

Someone Needs To Read The Bible

Let's start with John 3:16

Rule #4 ( >>> )Rules All Rules.

Speechless:


Westboro God Hates The World Music Video - Watch more Funny Videos

29

GT12 attended our 29th Gay Pride Parade yesterday. Looking at the twitter, we can see that our feverish sending of twitpics seems to have been for naught so we'll post them now.

Nothing much to say. It was Chicago so every politician and every merchant/bank/utility company/ in the tri-state area had a float in the parade. Yes, that means even Roland Burris was there. (a past-parade where I first saw a southside state senator with a seemingly Black-Nationalist name... and you know who we're talking about). Rahm was always there in the past.

The day was notable for the first face to face meeting of GT12 and Unwired. At our advanced age we are not so sure of the etiquette at at such a meet-up but we think that old fashioned gentlemanly bearing carried us through.

The parade kicked off with a Delegation from a neighborhood Middle school.

Gay Cops

The governor

The Traditional Dykes On Bikes are looking more trendy these days.

Cowboys!

A Little South Side Straight Support

What a Parade Sound system should Look Like

Gay Day!

Today we'll be twittering from the Pride parade. Hopefully some fun twit-pics will be showing up to your immediate right on this page.

Analysis: Climate bill may spur energy revolution

Sent from Express News
WASHINGTON - Congress has taken its first step toward an energy revolution, with the prospect of profound change for every household, business, industry and farm in the decades ahead.

It was late Friday when the House passed legislation that would, for the first time, require limits on pollution blamed for global warming - mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels. Now the Senate has the chance to change the way Americans produce and use energy.
By H. JOSEF HEBERT Associated Press Writer

Elvis Redux

A 20 year Demerol Habit

Do Not Fuck With The Internet

It will fuck you back 100 times over.

Kicking Where Kicking Is Due

Dan Froomkin has been booted by The Washington Post. His good-bye addresses those journos who tried to help our country, and two (in this clip) who didn't. And I thank him for that (emphasis mine):

How did the media cover [The Bush Years]? Not well. Reading pretty much everything that was written about Bush on a daily basis, as I did, one could certainly see the major themes emerging. But by and large, mainstream-media journalism missed the real Bush story for way too long. The handful of people who did exceptional investigative reporting during this era really deserve our gratitude: People such as Ron Suskind, Seymour Hersh, Jane Mayer, Murray Waas, Michael Massing, Mark Danner, Barton Gellman and Jo Becker, James Risen and Eric Lichtblau (better late than never), Dana Priest, Walter Pincus, Charlie Savage and Philippe Sands; there was also some fine investigative blogging over at Talking Points Memo and by Marcy Wheeler. Notably not on this list: The likes of Bob Woodward and Tim Russert. Hopefully, the next time the nation faces a grave national security crisis, we will listen to the people who were right, not the people who were wrong, and heed those who reported the truth, not those who served as stenographers to liars.

Hero

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Word - Stonewalling
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Mark Sanford

Stll Alive

Better Drugs and a Purer Soul.

This is a game changing moment from the Stones MSG 40 Licks show in 2002.

Watch This or don't ever speak to me again.

Great Read

Bill Wyman, (no not the bass player) is one of the great unsung Rock Writers.

His Take on MJ is in Salon ... (and his last line sure mirrors my last line below).

In the obituaries, writers will savor Jackson's talents, which were unquestioned; his ambition, which was otherworldly and a thing of awe; and his heyday, which lasted really just a few years, and encompassed perhaps two and a half albums. Others will reflect on the tragedies visited upon him and those he visited on others.

I think it's fair to classify Kurt Cobain's death as one brought on by medical problems, specifically the roiling interaction of depression and addiction. Jackson's death is in this sense more purely a suicide, just as Elvis Presley's was some three decades ago. Like Presley, Jackson at some point stepped through a door, closed it, and turned the key. What went on behind the door we'll never know.

Great minds.

Michael J.

I am struggling to reignite the feelings that Michael Jackson lit in me '82-83. My brain reminds me that I was a dance club rat at that time, that the height of ecstasy on a Saturday night at The Paradise always came at the end of the intrumental break on the extended remix of 'Wanna Be Startin Something' when confetti and white foam stars and pink foam hearts flew into the air, shot from air cannons located above the floor. I remember it, but it seems almost impossible that such a strange, creep-infested man could once have had such an effect on me.

What I remember more strongly is standing in line at Walgreens around the time of the Victory tour. As I waited I realized that there were 10 different Jackson-related products within my reach at the checkout line. 8 of them were targetted to a demographic 20 years my junior. And that was the day the music died.

Might I suggest that you track down Warren Zevon's 'Porcelain Monkey' for an alternative take on the expiration of long-dead genius. Elvis (sadly) lived on...

Thank God

Some Brilliance mixed with style, humor and looks:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Reza Aslan
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran

Say this Over & Over Again

Words for your Republican and weak-kneed Democrat friends and correspondents from St. Barney of Frank

We have a very odd economic philosophy in Washington: It's called weaponized Keynesianism. It is the view that the government does not create jobs when it funds the building of bridges or important research or retrains workers, but when it builds airplanes that are never going to be used in combat, that is of course economic salvation."

Why Twitter Is Gr8

LA Times rounds up some of the hits this afternoon:

Funny Mark Sanford tweets fill Twittersphere

Thousands of tweets were sent via Twitter in the wake of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's admission that he spent this weekend in Argentina where he cheated on his wife. Here are a small sample of funny lines delivered by the Twittersphere where this morning's press conference is by far the most popular thing to tweet about:

pourmecoffee: "I don't think it's good that a main takeaway of Sanford's press conference is how really awesome his mistress is."

Bagyants: "Sanford turned down one stimulus, accepted another. Flip flopper!

TeresaKopec: So instead of walking the trail, he was chasing some tail."

akubhai: "Ensign and Sanford both admit affairs. Any other GOP want to confess?"

pandagon: "The next Republican to have an affair will have to outdo Sanford. I predict a tryst ON THE MOON."

GregMitch: "One day after Obama's "gotcha" press conf we got Sanford's "gaucho" press conf."

JayRodriguez: "Oh my God - The Gov. Sanford story was SOOOOOOOO much better than I thought it'd be. I was expecting a pain killer addiction, tops."

michaeljhix: "Revelations of Sanford's South American love fling brings new meaning to S.C. first lady's comment this week: "He does this sometimes."

javaonline: "Do you understand the fuss now? Lol This is a very disappointing week first jon and kate now gov sanford :(

"Spinelli666: "At least Sanford proves that not all #gop members hate all foreigners"More tweets after the jump...

waitwait: "Anyone else feel let down when Sanford finally used the pronoun "she" to describe affair partner? me: *raises hand*"

maxsparber: "None of us are in a position to judge Sanford until we too have had sex with a woman in Argentina. Now who is up for a road trip?"

alanpdx: "The reason the #gop is so upset with #sanford is that he outsourced his hookers to a South American country."

David_in_Austin: "Sanford outsourcing affair. What a slap to the face of American homewreckers"

flywithelphaba: "Ah-ha! Not surprised at missing SC gov's escapades. Note to Sanford: South America is NOT a good place to hide! Remember Mengele?"

johnmoe: "I was most surprised when Sanford apologized for calling his son Lamont a "dummy" all those years."

bridoc: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAAAA HA!!! But its teh gayz that will ruin marriage! #sanford"

Chris On Warpath

Less than an hour after someone had to explain to Mika what a Pearl Necklace is, this occurred (which has nothing to do with any type of adornment)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Why Mark Would Go To Argentina

A question answered in this clip

Jackass

can you believe this guy?

John McCain, asked yesterday whether "there's any doubt what side President Obama is on" in Iran, replied, "I know what side I'm on. I'm on the side of the people. I'm not on Ahmadinejad's side or Mousavi. I'm on the side of the Iranian people and I'm on the right side of history."

My goal: I just want people to realize that John McCain was never a legitimate public servant. He was a fraud in the service, a fraud in retirement, a fraud in AZ, a fraud in the Senate, a fraud as a Patriot.

He didn't change.

Nothing New Here

To put it as simply as possible, McCain--and his cohorts--are trying to score political points against the President in the midst of an international crisis. It is the sort of behavior that Republicans routinely call "unpatriotic" when Democrats are doing it. I would never question John McCain's patriotism, no matter how misguided his sense of the country's best interests sometimes seems. His behavior has nothing to do with love of country; it has everything to do with love of self," - Joe Klein.

The Only Report that Matters

Just Talkin'

via andrew:

Quote For The Day

"OK, let me see if I've got this right. Since Barack Obama has taken the presidential oath of office we have witnessed:

a) Hezbollah lose a shoo-in election in Lebanon,

b) Pakistan begin serious efforts to control the Taliban and al Qaeda elements inside its borders,

c) Netanyahu of Israel mumble support about a two state solution and rethink settlements and,

d) A major awakening of the Iranian citizenry against the heavy-handedness of the mullahs.

What hasn't changed?

The simple-minded thuggery of the Right when it comes to foreign policy (and Grover Norquist, someone should gently remind him that it's 2009, not 1989). They have long preferred a modified Teddy Roosevelt approach. Speak loudly and wail away with the biggest stick you can find. I don't know if all this is the results of one speech in Cairo by the President but if it is I hope he gives a second, and soon," - Carl Owen, Politico

Now, Where Were We?

Oh yes. People For The American Way have a project we need you all to take a look at.

Stolen from Queers United , via follower Mark

DOMA stands for the Defense of Marriage Act which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex unions. President-elect Barack Obama has vowed to overturn DOMA. In light of the increasing pressure the administration has felt over the recent Department of Justices defense of this antiquated legislation, the time is now to let Obama know we demand he keep his campaign promises to the LGBT community to repeal DOMA.

The Dump Doma campaign is urging us to pressure the house speaker Nancy Pelosi, majority leader Harry Reid and the rest of congress to act quickly to send the bill to the president for him to sign.Please fill out the action alert at dumpdoma.org and tell your friends!

Play Date!

The neighbor-boy came by for a visit yesterday

Why We Fight - Today's Pt 2

From the great great Greg Sargent

Obama Administration Set To Hold Powwow With Big Gay Groups

The Obama Justice Department has reached out to major gay rights organizations and scheduled a private meeting for next week with the groups, in an apparent effort to smooth over tensions in the wake of the controversy over the administration’s defense in court of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Tracy Russo, a spokesperson for Justice, confirmed the meeting to me, after I posted below that top gay rights lawyers were miffed that administration lawyers had rebuffed their requests to meet and discuss ongoing litigation involving DOMA.

At the meeting — which hasn’t been announced and is expected to include leading gay rights groups like GLAD and Lambda Legal — both sides are expected to hash out how to proceed with pending DOMA cases.

It remains to be seen, however, whether the meeting will achieve in a long term sense what gay rights lawyers told me they were and are looking for — an ongoing, less-confrontational interaction with the administration in the context of specific cases. It’s also an open question whether the meeting will resolve broader tensions in what has been an unexpectedly rocky relationship.

Nonetheless, this is likely to be greeted as a step forward by gay activists who have been raising questions about the administration’s commitment to their cause.

So ...
Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund is leading the fight against DADT.

Go There. Send E-mails. Give Money. Find People to harrass.

Find Your Congressman Here.
Find Your Senator Here.
Write the White House Here.
Twitterers can also use @whitehouse.

And Write write write write.

Nothing Says 'Illinois Politics' More Than This

Burris Escapes Perjury Charge

Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) "will not be charged with perjury for statements he made before an Illinois House impeachment committee because there isn't enough evidence to support the charge," the AP reports.

The prosecutor said that while some of Burris' statements were vague, they wouldn't support a perjury charge.

Said Burris: "This matter has now been fully investigated; I cooperated at every phase of the process, and as I have said from the beginning, I have never engaged in any pay-to-play, never perjured myself, and came to this seat in an honest and legal way. Today's announcement confirms all that."

Liberal Meets Conservative

as it were:

Why We Fight

Because to get a little advance everyday requires a little push everyday.

Today's good sign, courtesy The Wall Street Journal:

White House Looks to Include Same-Sex Unions in Census Count

WASHINGTON -- The White House said Thursday it was seeking ways to include same-sex marriages, unions and partnerships in 2010 Census data, the second time in a week the administration has signaled a policy change of interest to the gay community.

The administration has directed the Census Bureau to determine changes needed in tabulation software to allow for same-sex marriage data to be released early in 2011 with other detailed demographic information from the decennial count. The bureau historically hasn't released same-sex marriage data.

The gay community strongly supported President Barack Obama during the 2008 election. But some gay activists say they have been frustrated by what they see as his slow approach to rolling back discriminatory policies.
White House spokesman Ben LaBolt said "the administration continues to make progress on the president's longstanding commitment to promoting equality for [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] Americans."

Write Your Congressman

Folks. We Need Constant Pressure On The President and Congress to repeal DADT and DOMA.

And we need that pressure now, so that Gay People's rights, rights our President promised to be 'a fierce advocate' for are not pushed back in the closet even after our financial meltdown and health insurance crisis are 'solved'

AND WE NEED YOU STRAIGHTS NOW MORE THAN EVER. Your voice shows Washington that our concerns are everybody's.

So ...

Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund is leading the fight against DADT.

Go There. Send E-mails. Give Money. Find People to harrass.

Find Your Congressman Here.

Find Your Senator Here.

Write the White House Here.

Twitterers can also use @whitehouse.

And Write write write write.

For Mr Ginger Baker

Bo's Official Portrait

Cheers!

Last Night at GT12 Central we fete'd the incomparable Mr JK and his impending nuptials to cutting edge artist Ms TA.

We just want the world to know that the GT12 Loves JK & TA and wish them all the luck in the world.

Now, Drink Up! (Even if you don't have as fabulous a bottle of bourbon as the one pictured above ... GT12 stunningly impressed by the spirit knowledge of Mr P from the software world)

More on Aravosis

Via Twitter:

Twitter (10:48 pm): anamariecox: .@kerryeleveld @jaketapper @markknoller @joanwalsh Pls read before pushing Aravosis's DOMA brf memes: http://tr.im/oSc2 (via @chrisgeidner)

But ...

Anybody who thought that Obama was going to undo 8 (or 2000) years of anti-gay laws in 149 days is too irrational to listen to.

And they didn't listen to him very closely during the campaign.

Recent mis-steps are very disquieting but not necessarily anything more than the end product of not paying enough fucking attention. Or they are a sign of bad faith. I don't know.

I do know that I stopped reading Jon Aravosis three years ago and I'm not going to start anew anow.

That said:

Find Your Congressman Here.
Find Your Senator Here.
Write the White House Here.
Twitterers can also use @whitehouse.

Look Here

Unwired contacts me today, worried that I've gone (he would say remained) all soft on the Pres's recent awful actions re: Gay Rights, especially DOMA.

It's complicated, I'm very busy.

Check this link and then let the Pres and your reps know AGAIN what you think.

Because I did. Again.

Our reps need to know that action on this bill is important to their constituents.
Find Your Congressman Here.
Find Your Senator Here.
Write the White House Here.
Twitterers can also use @whitehouse.

JUST DO IT!!!!
NOW!!!!
THX.

The Most Important Posting Ever About Sara Palin

Because it so clearly puts forth the argument that she should never be covered again.

This is why god created Wonkette:

Perhaps only once in a generation can a trashy politician stretch ambition and shamelessness into this large a surface, a playing field, on which to act like an idiot.

... obviously Letterman was making a joke about Bristol Palin, the girl who famously got “knocked up” last year, and not about 14-year-old Willow, who did not. Sarah Palin understood this, guaranteed, and then chose to launch a desperate publicity stunt about how an OLD MAN wanted to RAPE the 14-YEAR-OLD daughter WILLOW. Surely Willow loved seeing her name plastered all over teevee and the Internet like this. Thanks Mom! Go Mom, 2012!

First, Do No Harm

If you're going to torture, and then defend the torture, you need to at very least, NOT torture someone who knows nothing.

CIA told Zubaydah they mistook him for a high-level al Qaeda operative.
According to new transcripts from of a 2007 Combatant Status Review Tribunal held at Guantanamo Bay, detainee Abu Zubaydah said that his CIA captors told him after he was subjected to torture that “they had mistakenly thought he was the No. 3 man in the organization’s hierarchy and a partner of Osama bin Laden.” “They told me, ‘Sorry, we discover that you are not Number 3, not a partner, not even a fighter,’” Zubaydah said. Zubaydah, who was subjected to waterboarding 83 times in one month, also said that he nearly died in prison:

Abu Zubaida, a nom de guerre for Zayn al-Abidin Muhammed Hussein, told the 2007 panel of military officers at the detention facility in Cuba that “doctors told me that I nearly died four times” and that he endured “months of suffering and torture” on the false premise that he was an al-Qaeda leader.

Despite President Bush’s rhetoric, Zubaydah’s torture “foiled no plots,” a point that one of his interrogators confirmed during a congressional hearing last May. The portion of the 2007 Combatant Review Status hearing transcript in which Majid Khan — an alleged associate of Khalid Sheik Mohammad — discussed his treatment at CIA black sites was “blacked out for eight consecutive pages.”

OK, What's Wrong Here

Pat Buchanan thinking, not reacting from 'I-Hate-Brown-People-But-Love-Brownshirts'core of his being

"When your adversary is making a fool of himself, get out of the way. That is a rule of politics Lyndon Johnson once put into the most pungent of terms. U.S. fulminations will change nothing in Tehran. But they would enable the regime to divert attention to U.S. meddling in Iran’s affairs and portray the candidate robbed in this election, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, as a poodle of the Americans...

The dilemma for America is that the theocracy defines itself and grounds its claim to leadership through its unyielding resistance to the Great Satan—the United States—and to Israel. Nevertheless, Obama, with his outstretched hand, his message to Iran on its national day, his admission that the United States had a hand in the 1953 coup in Tehran, his assurances that we recognize Iran’s right to nuclear power, succeeded. He stripped the Ayatollah and Ahmadinejad of their clinching argument—that America is out to destroy Iran and they are indispensable to Iran’s defense," - Patrick Buchanan.

Still Hating the Troops

ThinkProgress:

House Republicans prepared to do the ‘immoral thing’ and vote against war supplemental.

The Hill reports that the House Republicans “are preparing to vote en bloc” against President Obama’s war funding bill, representing a striking 180-degree turn:

For years, Republicans portrayed the bills funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as matters of national security and accused Democrats who voted against them of voting against the troops. In 2005, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) went so far as to say sending troops into battle and not paying for it would be an “immoral thing to do.” And just last year, more House Republicans voted for the war supplemental bill than did Democrats, who opposed the legislation because it did little to wind down the military effort in Iraq. But Republicans say this year is different.

It's Only Racism When Non-Racists See It

Why, Oh Why did we fight that war in the 1860's?

Wonkette:

now we’re learning about some super-funny racist emails sent out by a Tennessee GOP legislative staffer for Republican state senator Diane Black. Let’s meet the charming Sherri Goforth, who sent the image above to god knows how many people because, ha, a Negro in the White House?

Nashville Is Talking reports:
When I asked her if she understood the controversial nature of the photo, Goforth would only say she felt very bad about accidentally sending it to the wrong list. When I gave her a second chance to address the controversial nature of the email, she again repeated that she only felt bad about sending it to the wrong list of people.

“I went on the wrong email and I inadvertently hit the wrong button,” Goforth told NIT. “I’m very sick about it, and it’s one of those things I can’t change or take back.”

Iran - Twitpics

Steady Stream of pics from the streets here.

Iran

A busy weekend what with gardening, cleaning playlist developing and such, but .... Jesus H Christ have you been following what's going on in Iran? Probably not if you were watching any of the news outlets. But, the twitter feed was amazing. Astonishing and frightening

Andrew summed his coverage last night

The Dish covered a coup and a revolt this weekend. Footage of demonstrations and street violence can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. More great footage came from MSNBC, the BBC, and Channel 4. The most disturbing images were of battered students here, here, and here. But we also showed inspiring footage of protesters protecting a policeman, people shouting and chanting from rooftops, and Zahra emerging in public (her translation here). The most iconic photos were displayed here, here, here, and here.

We posted personal accounts of the chaos here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, and posted ones from Dish readers here, here, here, and here. Among the many Iranian Twitterers, we highlighted the best Tweets here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

As the regime shut down and shut out the media, much of the mainstream press was AWOL, which we chronicled here, here, here, here, and here. A few readers stood up for the MSM and Kurtz defended CNN. Also, regarding the results, the Corner was conspicuously quiet and Newsweek's Dickey was incurious.

We scrutinized the election results here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. We also collected notable quotes from Khamenei, Ahmadinejad, an anonymous ministry official, a conservative Iranian student, and Hewitt/Krauthammer.

The Dish relayed some excellent reporting from Laura Rozen, Robert Dreyfaus, Roger Cohen, Laura Secor, Reza Shoja, Steve Clemons, and Muhammad Sahimi (and some excellent blogging from NIAC). We aired some great analysis from Kamal Nazer Yasin, Juan Cole, Spencer Ackerman, Kevin Drum, Gary Sick, Brian Ulrich, Kevin Sullivan, Nick Kristof, Mehdi Khalaji, and Ali Alfoneh (and some less-than-great analysis from Stephen Hayes, Max Boot, and John Podhoretz). Our readers gave us some great commentary here, here, here, here, and here, and invaluable translations here, here, and here.

Andrew offered his initial reaction here, his take on Twitter's impact here, and his comparison of Rove to Ahmadinejad here.

Stay tuned. The photo above at the University of Iran was sent via this Twitter feed.

I Definitely Expected This

A Team to Rival

Charlie Cook:

"A third of the way into his first year as president, Obama has established a White House operation as impressive as any before; in fact, you can't throw a rock in a West Wing hallway without hitting someone who would otherwise be among the most experienced people in any previous White House. In some ways, Obama has discovered that effective governing requires a blend of the strongest elements of his campaign with the seasoning, experience, and awareness of the pitfalls that hurt previous presidencies."

Hey, I would've done Just About Anything To Get Rid Of That Name Too

Chastity becoming Chaz:

Lesbian writer, activist and daughter of Cher and Sonny Bono, Chastity Bono is to undergo gender reassignment surgery to become a man. TMZ broke the news today, with a statement from uber-gay/uber-publicist Howard Bragman.

Quoth TMZ: "Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity," confirmed Bono's publicist, Howard Bragman.
Bragman continues: "He is proud of his decision and grateful for the support and respect that has already been shown by his loved ones. It is Chaz's hope that his choice to transition will open the hearts and minds of the public regarding this issue, just as his 'coming out' did nearly 20 years ago."

MUST Texas be Part Of Our Country?

As if TWO Bush Presidencies and execution rates equalled only by third work dictatorships, Texas is allowed to have courts and trials, even though they do this with them.

Another one where words fail:

Mentally Disabled Teen Gets 100 Years in Sex Case

Associated Press: Attorneys and advocates are questioning why an 18-year-old East Texan with profound mental disabilities was sentenced to 100 years in prison in a child sex abuse case.

They say the case of Aaron Hart was mishandled from start to finish and raises questions over how to deal with the mentally disabled when they encounter the criminal justice system.

After a neighbor found Hart fondling her 6-year-old stepson in September, the East Texas teenager pleaded guilty to five counts, The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday.

Hart has an IQ of 47 and was diagnosed as mentally disabled as a child. He never learned to read or write and speaks unsteadily. Despite being a target of bullies, he was courteous, well-behaved and earned money by doing chores for neighbors, supporters said. His parents say he'd never acted out sexually

Apparently Carrie Was The Smart One ....

Miss CA, you've heard, lost her job of being Miss CA because fag-o-phobe enchantress Maggie Gallagher wanted her all for herself.

Well, here's what Maggie has to say about all that:

“Hollywood hates Carrie. First they abuse her, then they try to get her to recant, then they threw mud, and now they are doing what they wanted to do from day one: Get rid of Carrie.

This cover story about a contract dispute doesn’t pass the smell test. Americans aren’t fooled that easily. God knows, and we know, the truth about Carrie: She’s a young woman of great beauty who chose truth over the glittering tiara that Hollywood offers,” said Brian Brown, Executive Director for NOM. “Of course they will try to punish her, but we know she will be fine in the end, because her values are in the right place.”

“Hollywood will dance its tribal war dance over her body–the hatred generated against her has been extraordinary–but Carrie will be free to define her own mission and message from now on. Congratulations,” stated Maggie Gallagher, President for NOM.

Noise In April, crickets Chirping In June

Joe Scarborough comments not at all on crazy right-wing killer this AM.

Of course that may be because crazy right wingers don't exist:

Picture We Must Post

US cautiously awaits Iranian election

Sent from Express News
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is cautiously watching Iran's presidential election this week for signs that the Islamic Republic may be willing to engage with United States, but U.S. officials have meager expectations for change.

Despite the challenge from reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi to incumbent hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, many officials and experts believe a Mousavi victory will result in only incremental shifts toward the U.S.

By MATTHEW LEE Associated Press Writer

Obama takes health care agenda on road

Sent from Express News
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama, facing challenges to his ambitious health care overhaul from Congress, is visiting supporters outside the capital and turning to them to muster up momentum for one of his top legislative priorities.

Obama on Thursday readied to fly to Green Bay, Wis., to talk directly with voters about his proposals to spend $1.5 trillion over the next decade to cover uninsured Americans. Administration aides said the visit was designed for Obama to build support for a health care overhaul that has eluded Democrats for decades, as well to inject a personal angle into a debate that affects some 50 million Americans without insurance.

By PHILIP ELLIOTT Associated Press Writer

You're Fired!

Still, I think her greatest crime was just sheer stupidity.

Gay Atheist:

According to Fox News Carrie Prejean is being stripped of her Miss California crown. K2 productions sites continuous contract violations as the reason Prejean is being fired. Executive direction of K2 productions Keith Lewis said:

"This was a business decision, based solely on contract violations."

"After our press conference in New York we had hoped we would be able to forge a better working relationship. However, since that time it has become abundantly clear that Carrie has no desire to fulfill her obligations under our contract and work together.”

According to Fox News it was Donald Trump himself who gave the ok to fire her. Trump said:

"I told Carrie she needed to get back to work and honor her contract with the Miss California Organization and I gave her the opportunity to do so. Unfortunately it just doesn’t look like it is going to happen and I offered Keith my full support in making this decision."

Who Does This Kind Of Thing?

From the Website of the Holocaust Museum Shooter:

James W. von Brunn holds a BachSci Journalism degree from a mid-Western university where he was president of SAE and played varsity football.

During WWII he served as PT-Boat captain, Lt. USNR, receiving a Commendation and four battle stars. For twenty years he was an advertising executive and film-producer in New York City. He is a member of Mensa, the high-IQ society.

In 1981 Von Brunn attempted to place the treasonous Federal Reserve Board of Governors under legal, non-violent, citizens arrest. He was tried in a Washington, D.C. Superior Court; convicted by a Negro jury, Jew/Negro attorneys, and sentenced to prison for eleven years by a Jew judge. A Jew/Negro/White Court of Appeals denied his appeal. He served 6.5 years in federal prison.

(Read about von Brunn's "Federal Reserve Caper" HERE.)

He is now an artist and author and lives on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

More Here

Loaves And Fishes Baby

Here's an idea.

The FoxBots are planning for another orgy of the GlennBeckian self-serving outrage known as 'Tea Parties'. The American Citizen/Foxnews Volunteers will be doing their Teabagging on July 4th, because that's the day that we celebrate our refusing to pay taxes to governments where we had no representation, unlike now, when all these citizens actually have representation and ... oh you know they have no more idea of what they're talking about than do I.

Anyway.

Some on the left have decided that rather than celebrating our independence by reveling in our self-centeredness PERHAPS we could acknowledge Liberty's need for inter-dependence and community.

To that end, GT12 wants to get on board with The Million Can March

THE CHALLENGE: To collect one million cans of food for our nation's food banks, food pantries and shelters by July 4, 2009.

WHO: Progressive bloggers with a special invite to conservative bloggers.

Here's what we'd like you to do:

• Take a bag of food to a local pantry


• Organize a food drive where you work or play, your church or motorcycle club, etc.


• There's no one right way to get involved. Look around you, see the need and do something about it.


• LET GT12 know about what you you've done

Let Us know how your effort goes. We'll pass it on to the organizers so that YOUR CANS CAN BE COUNTED.

Seriously, let's do something to ease the recession.

Info will also be available over there on the right hand side of the blog. Just click on the dancing cans!

YES WE CAN.

Keepin' The Water Gay-Free

Gay Families, Not Families

A lesbian couple and their 3 children showed up to the Lava Hot Springs Swim Park located in Idaho looking to have a fun family day together, but they soon found out they were not welcome there. The couple and their children were denied the parks special family admission rate.

The executive director for the hot springs said:

“the state doesn't recognize gay or lesbian marriage and defines a family as one male, one female and children.”

In fact however the Idaho state code says nothing about what defines a family. You can contact the park here.

Update: A quick visit to the park’s website shows a link in the top left corner stating the “Family Pass Policy.”

Hosed Down As The Day Goes On

Politico wakes up nutty, has coffee, reconsiders own foolishness.

Dave Weigel:

twice in two weeks Politico has given rather sensational headlines to stories, then changed them later in the day. The original headline for Mike Allen’s preview of the president’s Cairo speech, which has been preserved in a syndicated version:

Obama walks Muslim minefield

The headline that replaced this later in the day:

Obama faces Mideast test

The original headline for today’s story by Carrie Budoff Brown, which has been preserved in a Google News search:

Obama’s gov’t-mandated diet plan

The new headline:

Coach Obama: Shape up now

Without “government mandated” this is a lot less dramatic, although still not as dramatic as “Muslim minefield,” which enters the all-time bad metaphor hall of fame. (”Today, the president strapped on a vest of truth and walked into a Sbarro pizza parlor of controversy…”) It’s just odd coming from a publication that liberals like to attack for “baiting” the Drudge Report.

NOMinally Rational

Democrats Still Frugal

By comparison anyway. (click to enlarge)

About 33 percent of the swing stems from new legislation signed by Mr. Bush. That legislation, like his tax cuts and the Medicare prescription drug benefit, not only continue to cost the government but have also increased interest payments on the national debt.

Mr. Obama’s main contribution to the deficit is his extension of several Bush policies, like the Iraq war and tax cuts for households making less than $250,000. Such policies — together with the Wall Street bailout, which was signed by Mr. Bush and supported by Mr. Obama — account for 20 percent of the swing.
About 7 percent comes from the stimulus bill that Mr. Obama signed in February. And only 3 percent comes from Mr. Obama’s agenda on health care, education, energy and other areas.

If the analysis is extended further into the future, well beyond 2012, the Obama agenda accounts for only a slightly higher share of the projected deficits.

Andrew notes:

It is not Obama's debt - or, rather, he owns about 10 percent of it. It's Bush's. And like everything Bush did, he left the wreckage for others to handle after he left the stage. And the bribing, war-making, spending and borrowing didn't even win him any durable popularity. They sold this country, its reputation and its treasure for a one-off re-election.

Honest Dems though will admit that some of Bush's spending was just fine in principle if not in execution.

News To Me

Political Wire:

The Power and Influence of David Brooks

Marc Ambinder: "It's an open secret in Washington that White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel telephones the conservative New York Times columnist more than just about anyone else except for his wife. Brooks's columns have been quite critical of Obama as of late, which testifies to Brooks's independence and to Emanuel's sticktoitiveness. Their friendship predates the administration by many years, but the White House understands that Brooks's voice, even when not embraced by conservatives, influences how centrists and many intellectually honest liberal Democrats look at the world."

Take A Break

All the good videos have had embedding banned so you have to click here to see today's GT12 much beloved musical selection