Clipmarks | zasel's clips

Fierce fight over Arizona anti-gay amendment

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:18:39 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Arizona failed to ban same-sex marriage in 2006, so now they are trying again. The religious right is out full-time trying to rev up the hatred of gays and lesbians in order to make sure we do not acquire the same civil rights every other citizen possesses. There is good reason to believe this vote will fail again, but just for the record, Senator McCain is fully in favour of this ban on gays having equal rights. Any gays out there planning to vote for McCain, puhleeze think again.

Clip Source: www.365gay.com

A proposed amendment to the Arizona state constitution to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples is facing a fierce battle and opponents of the measure say they are confident it will be defeated.

The survey, by PBS affiliate KAET, has found that 49 percent of those polled support the amendment while 42 percent are opposed.

State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Phoenix), who is leading the fight against the amendment, said the numbers show support is waning.

Sinema said that supporters of the measure have mounted a major campaign but that the opposition is just now preparing its first big ad buy. TV spots will begin running next week.

In 2006, a similar amendment to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions failed when put to voters. The current amendment proposal does not mention civil unions.

Religious leaders across the state are telling their respective denominations to support the amendment.

Catholic bishops said the amendment is “in alignment with our deeply held moral beliefs

Tags: gays, homosexual, marriage, amendment, referrendum

Palin Is Ready? Please.

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:57:08 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Fareed Zakaria has written a terrific article in this week's Newsweek Magazine that, in my opinion is a must read. I really have nothing to add to Mr. Zakaria's comments, other than to say, that John McCain has proven himself to be a cynical, misogynistic, and narcissistic personality, that has no business being president. I question at this point, whether he even has the chops to be a senator any longer.

He has twisted his positions into pretzel shape since be began running for president. He has sold his own beliefs down the river, and embraced policies and people that were anathema to him prior to his candidacy. Naming Mrs. Palin as his running mate however, is the ultimate cynical act, and I pray the country will see this man for what he has become, and resoundingly reject him at the polls on November 4th.

Clip Source: www.newsweek.com

Will someone please put Sarah Palin out of her agony? Is it too much to ask that she come to realize that she wants, in that wonderful phrase in American politics, "to spend more time with her family"?

CBS's Katie Couric questioned her in her trademark sympathetic style. It didn't help. When asked how living in the state closest to Russia gave her foreign-policy experience, Palin responded thus:

"It's very important when you consider even national-security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America. Where—where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to—to our state."

There is, of course, the sheer absurdity of the premise. Two weeks ago I flew to Tokyo, crossing over the North Pole. Does that make me an expert on Santa Claus?

Tags: presidential election, campaign, vice president, running mate

Could Palin possibly leave the ticket?

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:03:02 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Joan Walsh, editor of Salon Magazine online, makes some very wisely observant points about the Palin candidacy, and what a sickeningly cynical choice it was for McCain to pick her as his running-mate.

Clip Source: www.salon.com

There can no longer be any doubt: Sarah Palin is absolutely, positively not qualified to be commander in chief, and she doesn't belong on the Republican ticket. I can't imagine her being ready for a 3 a.m. call on a national security emergency; I can't imagine her fielding one on an economic emergency, either – the possibility Paul Krugman convincingly framed Monday morning.

Her stunning ignorance about Israel, Iran and the Bush Doctrine in the Charlie Gibson interview almost three weeks ago was frightening, but the dim way she answered virtually every question Katie Couric asked last week was even more chilling.

Ever since, she has continued to gaffe her way through the campaign: On Saturday she said she'd go after Osama bin Laden in Pakistan – even though that's against the McCain position, and McCain had to contradict her publicly. Newsweek's Fareed Zakaria says it best: All too often, when Palin opens her mouth, what comes out is "gibberish."

Tags: presidential elections, palin, mccain

Ahmadinejad accepts Israel's right to exist

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:56:24 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Iran's president finally opens himself to the possibility of recognizing Israel's right to exist, and no one reports on it. I am no fan of this bastard, but when he makes threatening statements about Israel, his words make headlines. But when he starts to soften his stance, his words are ignored. Is this because the media is afraid to report anything positive about this man? And who are they afraid of upsetting?

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has made a remarkable announcement. He's admitted that Iran might agree to the existence of the state of Israel.

Ahmadinejad was asked: "If the Palestinian leaders agree to a two-state solution, could Iran live with an Israeli state?"

This was his astonishing reply:

If they [the Palestinians] want to keep the Zionists, they can stay ... Whatever the people decide, we will respect it. I mean, it's very much in correspondence with our proposal to allow Palestinian people to decide through free referendums.

Since most Palestinians are willing to accept a two-state solution, the Iranian president is, in effect, agreeing to Israel's right to exist and opening the door to a peace deal that Iran will endorse.

Surprisingly, Ahmadinejad's sensational softening of his long-standing, point-blank anti-Israeli stance was not even headlined by the two reporters. Perhaps this was a decision by their editors?

the story wasn't picked up by the world's media.

Tags: iran, ahmadinejad, media

Church Gives Sanctuary to Gay Man and His Family

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:37:42 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Even down south.......waaaay down south, one can find bastions of welcome and support in Christian congregations.

It both warmed my heart, and angered me, to read of the struggles this family had to endure, and yet showed the motivation, love, fortified and determination, to bring their children up in the religion they both cherished along with teaching them about understanding, compassion and the sanctity of true love.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

On that afternoon five years ago, Randy and Jill Keel arranged to meet on familiar and neutral ground. The setting was the coffee bar in a cavernous bookstore here, a place they had used other times in the two years since they had separated. Oddly anonymous in such a public place, they could speak bluntly, and angrily if necessary, outside the earshot of their four children.

“I’m gay,” he told his wife. Ms. Keel, for her part, felt less shock than relief, for something inexplicable about their breakup had just been explained.

After the tears and the hugs came the task of informing their children, who ranged in age from 9 to 16. And beyond that difficult disclosure, another question loomed: what about church?

While raising their children, they had helped found a congregation in a Raleigh suburb. Mr. Keel taught Sunday school and served as a deacon, and with Ms. Keel took adult Bible-study classes.

They had felt a chill from their pastor and congregation just for being separated

Tags: religion, church, homosexuality, gay, family

In Conservative Nepal, a Tribune for the ‘Third Gender’ Speaks Out

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:22:06 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: This is a terrific story about a youngish man, who has decided to buck the ultra-Conservative views of his country, Nepal, and its politics, and fight, ever so gently, for equal recognition of gays, lesbians, transgendered and other sexual minorities. I love stories like these. It gives me a much more positive outlook and the inherent fairness of the human race.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

SUNIL Babu Pant likes to take advantage of the frequent delays at Nepal’s newly elected Constituent Assembly. As the only openly gay member, he takes every opportunity to work on his homophobic colleagues, trying to convince them that contrary to what they were taught growing up in this very conservative country, homosexuals are just like any other people.

Mr. Pant, 35, a computer engineer by training, opens his laptop — an object of fascination to many in the assembly, who come from the rural hinterlands — and gives a PowerPoint presentation wherever he finds his audience.

“I have prepared this presentation for members of this assembly,” he said, giving them a beaming smile. The female members were too shy to join the crowd.

“There are some people on earth who consider themselves neither male nor female” he continued. “They like to be called third gender, which comprises roughly 10 percent of the total population.”

Tags: gay, homosexual, nepal, politics, international

Democrats Sue Michigan G.O.P. on Voter Issue

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:03:15 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: The Michigan GOP is drawing up plans to challenge residency eligibility at the polls, by combing the home foreclosure records.

It's not bad enough that these unfortunate people were thrown out of their homes due to foreclosure, but now their right to vote is going to be unduly challenged.

This group is willing to do anything to make sure poor and working class people who mostly vote for the Democratic candidates, do not get to actually vote.

Clip Source: thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com

Responding to allegations that Republican Party officials in Macomb County, Michigan plan to use home foreclosure lists to challenge voters at the polls in November, the Obama Campaign and the Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in federal court to prevent what they contended was an illegal practice.

“This is a standard operating procedure within the Republican party that’s been under legal challenge,” Mr. Bauer said on a conference call with reporters on Tuesday.

Last week the chairman of the G.O.P. in Macomb County, James Carabelli, was quoted in the online publican, the Michigan Messenger, as saying that the party planned to use foreclosure lists to stop voters who no longer have valid addresses from casting their ballots.

“We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren’t voting from those addresses,” Mr. Carabelli was quoted as saying, according to a Sept. 10 article in the Michigan Messenger.

Tags: elections voter-intimidation republicans gop

"Though I do not agree with some of the comments he made, as a licensee, we attempt to respect every

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:29:01 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Another story about an out of control far-right Conservative A-hole. Is there no end to this kind of sicko stuff?

Clip Source: www.mcclatchydc.com

Anchorage AM radio host Eddie Burke has been suspended for a week for broadcasting the phone number of women involved in organizing a protest against Sarah Palin.

The women later received threatening phone calls.

In a statement, KBYR-AM 700 station manager Justin McDonald said broadcasting the numbers last week was "breaking station policy." Burke will be suspended for one week without pay, he said.

"Though I do not agree with some of the comments he made, as a licensee, we attempt to respect everyone's First Amendment rights, including Eddie Burke's, our listeners' and our nonlisteners'," McDonald's statement said. "That does not mean I condone inciting violence or harm in any way to people wanting to voice their opinions with peaceful protest."

Tags: elections, campaign, alaska, right-wing, radio, political

U.S. economic crisis could derail McCain campaign

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:05:48 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: I thought y'all might be interested in seeing the Canadian view of what is going on with the U.S. campaign, and how Canada's national newspaper feels about McCain's chances on the economic issue.

Clip Source: www.theglobeandmail.com

The financial crisis on Wall Street could send John McCain's election strategy skidding off the rails.

The Republican candidate faces an uncomfortable truth: Incumbent parties seeking re-election during economic downturns rarely succeed.

That's why, at a campaign rally in Florida, Monday, Mr. McCain sought to take ownership of the issue, by calling for regulatory reform. He may regret, however, his choice of language.

“The fundamentals of our economy are strong, but these are very, very difficult times,” he told supporters, “so I promise you: We will never put America in this position again. We will clean up Wall Street.”

The Democrats pounced on those economy-is-fundamentally strong remarks

“Senator McCain, what economy are you talking about?

“What's more fundamental than the ability to find a job that can pay the bills and can raise a family? What's more fundamental than knowing your savings are secure … and you have a roof over your head?”

Tags: election, economy, campaign

Just Thinking

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:51:17 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Talking Points Memo, as its name implies, brings up a tremendous talking point.

Clip Source: talkingpointsmemo.com

Let me get this straight. John McCain's top economic advisor, former Sen. Phil Gramm, is the guy who authored the deregulation law that most agree is the ultimate cause of today's financial meltdown. Tomorrow's and probably next week's too. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. John Thain, CEO of Merrill Lynch, which swirled into brokerage oblivion today, is one of McCain's top economic advisors too. And now McCain says he's going to clean up the mess by putting in tighter regulations and oversight even though he's always supported lax oversight and his top economics guy is the one who loosened the rules in the first place.

Ayoon wa Azan (A Loudmouth from the Extreme Right)

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:22:55 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: From a wonderful Web site, Watching America, I found this column from Al Hayat, translated from Arabic, I believe, all about Coulter and Lieberman. Isn't it interesting how these two people are reviled even so far from home. I can kinda understand Lieberman being in their consciousness, but Coulter? Amazing!!

Clip Source: english.daralhayat.com

Have you heard of Ann Coulter? She is a loudmouth from the US extreme right, whose profession became to attack every other party. After the September 11 attacks, she focused her venom on Islam and Muslims. She recently added to the list the US presidential candidate whom she insists on calling B. Hussein Obama, to put his middle name in the spotlight.

Coulter caught my eye after the infamous terror attacks, when she said that the US must "[…] invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity." In her fourth book (2004), named "How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must): The World According to Ann Coulter," she says: "I get asked a lot if I still think that we should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. My answer: yes and more than ever."

I pause here to mention Senator Joe Lieberman. My constant opinion is that he represents Israel in the Senate.

Tags: middle east, anne coulter, joe lieberman, politics, hate, influence

MSNBC Is Buzz Flashes "Media Putz of the Week"

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:24:14 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: I have always preferred MSNBC for cable news coverage, as they seemed to be the least influenced by right-wing threats. Unlike Fox, who claims to be "Fair and Balanced" when in fact they are Republican shills, MSNBC was far more able to claim that mantle. However, it appears that MSNBC is getting nervous because the two hosts they have who are more left than right, have been garnering complaints from the Republican Committee and the McCain campaign. Compared with remarks that O'Reilly or Hannity make on a regular basis, Olbermann et al, are quite mild. And then again, Olbermann has been, up til this week, the only truly lefty commentator, while FOX is ALL Conservative ALL the Time. But MSNBC has demoted Olbermann as well as Chris Matthews because the RNC did not like the fact that they questioned Sarah Palins qualifications for office. My God, is there nowhere fair minded people can turn any longer?

Clip Source: mediaputz.com

Complaints against the MSM are numerous, most of them come from the left-wing, and most of those have some legitimacy. Yet, very few changes come as a result, and certainly not any as a direct result of specific complaints, unless they are right-wing complaints.

This is what we saw this week when MSNBC announced that Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews were demoted from the anchor chair for the rest of the election cycle, after a series of right-wing complaints against the cable channel. MSNBC's replacement anchor is David Gregory, not exactly an impartial choice, for the debates and on Election Night.

And the instances accounted to Olbermann and Matthews pale in comparison to what comes out of the mouths of Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, et al. As for the allegations of anchors vs. commentators, put Olbermann's words up against Brit Hume. But the MSM is deaf to the concerns of the left-wing and eager to help any right-wing concerns.

Palin church promotes converting gays

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:04:28 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Remember when the Republicans were virtually crucifying Barack Obama over the views of his church's pastor? Well, now it is time to see if Gov. Palin supports the views of her church regarding homosexuality. What's fair is fair.

Clip Source: ap.google.com

Gov. Sarah Palin's church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.

"You'll be encouraged by the power of God's love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality," according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has prayed since she was a child.

Focus on the Family, a national Christian fundamentalist organization, is conducting the "Love Won Out" Conference in Anchorage, about 30 miles from Wasilla.

early in her administration she supported a bill to overrule a court decision to block state benefits for gay partners of public employees. At the time, less than one-half of 1 percent of state employees had applied for the benefits, which were ordered by a 2005 ruling by the Alaska Supreme Court.

Palin reversed her position and vetoed the bill after the state attorney general said it was unconstitutional

Mistress Palin, the Alaskan Dominatrix

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:24:40 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Excellent piece explaining the knee jerk reaction caused by Palin's convention appearance. But the feeling by many "experts" is that she is gonna scare the shit out of independents and undecided voters who fear for their jobs and pocket books.

Clip Source: www.salon.com

Sarah Palin has thrown a big-time scare into Democrats. The GOP ticket received a huge bounce after the convention, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll, and McCain now leads Obama among registered voters, 50 percent to 46 percent. And it's mostly Palin's doing. The "elite media" that Palin and her fellow Republicans so lovingly excoriated in St. Paul, Minn., is reporting that her entrance into the race may have put crucial states like Ohio in play. The tough-talking, gun-toting "hockey mom" who believes that America's wars are God's will has fired up social conservatives, restarted the culture wars so beloved of Republicans, and shifted the election from being about issues into a personality contest.

Post-convention polls are highly unreliable. But the same Democrats who were crowing with glee a week ago about McCain's off-the-wall choice are suddenly panicking. And you can't blame them.

Call it Moose ex Machina.

Palin Has Chosen to Exploit Her Own Daughter's Pregnancy

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:16:35 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: I am disgusted by the way Governor Palin has thrown her 17-year-old pregnant daughter under the bus for political gain. She is exploiting her daughter's misfortune in order to use her to make her anti-abortion point to the extreme right-wing of the Republican party. This woman should be removed from the ticket for abusing her child in this manner.

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

Is Sarah Palin ready to take the mantle of worst mother of the year from Lynne Spears? Has Todd Palin wrestled the title of worst father from Billy Ray Cyrus?

Sarah Palin may be running for Vice President but is she any different from the woman who sold the story of her daughter Jamie Lynn's pregnancy to a magazine for $1 million, or from the father that allowed 15-year-old Miley Cyrus to be photographed semi-nude for Vanity Fair supposedly to further her career?

Despite her supposed "Family Values" credentials, she and her husband Todd are being just as exploitative of her teenage daughter, Bristol, as any of these celebrity parents have been. Actually, even more so.

They took center stage with the full knowledge that their 17-year-old's five-months-along pregnancy was about to become front page news around the world.

She has unwittingly and literally become the poster child for her mother's anti-choice and abstinence-only education policies.

Tags: elections, vice president, convention, teenage pregnancy, child abuse.