Neutrality

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I love Stephen Colbert. He manages to get to the heart of things with ease.

Hope

I know a lot of people are still troubled by Prop 8 but sometimes you have to look past the big things to see the real progress.

When you have a bunch of straight FRAT BOYS who are standing up to the bigots, you can see that the change we've all been hoping for is in the works. It's not going to be by a court ruling, it's going to be because the younger generations are leading the way, they know that everyone deserves to be treated with respect. That's what real change looks like, it doesn't come through lobbying groups and celebrity fundraisers, it's real people who recognize our common humanity.

Oh, and frat boys are hot.

Denial...

As you can see in my last blog entry, I'm predicting a big Obama victory. Even those who are hallucinating a McCain victory have to anticipate tremendous gains by Democrats in the House and Senate. They might not get to 60 votes in the Senate, but they'll be close.

I've already started hearing the psychological defense mechanisms from conservative Republicans. The talking point of choice: "America is a center-right country." Usage: The Democrats won't be able to really pursue their agenda because America is a center-right country. I was reading an article on the candidates' environmental policies and Newt Gingrich used that line with regard to Obama's policies. "Obama's plan won't work because America is a center-right country." I heard a clip of another Republican talking head say that this morning.

This, my friends, is what's called "denial." While I don't see the US suddenly becoming Sweden politically, it's hard to envision that some intrinsic "center-rightness" will magically counteract what is clearly a movement leftward. Should the Democrats learn their lessons from the last 8 years and avoid governing from the fringe of the party as opposed to the center? Of course. Despite all the Fox News talking points that Obama is a radical, it's hard to imagine that he's going to up and nationalize the healthcare system or pursue anything far out. From all accounts, Obama's politics are on the left, but he's demonstrated (if you bother to listen) that he isn't particularly ideological. But to imagine that the voters are going to elect him as well as a large majority in the Congress but not really expect that they're not going to govern in a different way is just pure fantasy.

Keep in mind, I'm not a registered Democrat -- I'm an independent and I understand and expect that the Democratic Party can exhibit the same sort of excesses that we've seen from the Bush Administration. That said, these past 8 years and the Rove "Permanent Republican Majority" strategy has fucked the Republican Party for many years to come. There won't be a way to put the pieces back together they way they were, especially because what's left of the base is hell bent on branding as traitors anyone who doesn't subscribe to orthodoxy. That's not a recipe for building a new coalition.

So, sit back and enjoy the show!

Fear and Hope

For me, one of the best things about this election is that it's given me tremendous insight into my own internal processes regarding my life. In many ways, this election has really mirrored much of what has been going on in my head regarding my life. From my vantage point, this is the fundamental issue of this election: Change vs. Fear.

Whether it's the country as a whole or certain aspects of my life, there's the general feeling that we're on the wrong track and something needs to change. Things could be, perhaps SHOULD be better. But as we all know, that doesn't happen unless we do something differently. And so, the opportunity for change presents itself.

Yet, we're confronted with opposition to the change we seek -- the mainstay of McCain's campaign has been the call of fear. At it's core the message is: Change is scary. It will be worse than it is now. The McCain campaign has used a variety of narratives to accomplish this -- because Obama looks different, he's secretly a radical/Muslim (ie terrorist)/America-hater. He's a Socialist! He's going to raise your taxes and the economy will collapse! Terrorists will attack the moment he's elected! He wants government to control every aspect of your life!

The easy answer is to point at these people as nutcases and just push forward. For the record, on a political level, DO I think these people are nutcases (this means YOU, Kevin & Patrick... just kidding!)? I certainly think most/all of the the conservative memes about Obama are neither credible nor compelling. At the same time, to dismiss these things out of hand misses the point.

If you believe that these things are true, that somehow Obama is some sort of Islamic Manchurian Candidate, then suddenly the case against change is quite a rational thing. If you believe that no despite how bad things are, the only possible alternative is catastrophic, then keeping things as they are is the logical choice. At that point -- you pull the lever to "reform" the current path and just do a better job, despite the evidence that what you've been doing before just isn't working.

I'll say this again -- I don't believe any of that on a political level, but on a personal level it really becomes enlightening because it highlights what I haven't been wanting to see about myself. In one of my previous entries that detailed one of my requests of the Universe, Alex responded, "Be careful what you ask for..." While I know his comments were in jest, the truth of it is, for every desire and hope for the future of my life, I fear each of them as much if not more than I desire them.

And like those conservatives out there who fear that somehow terrorists will strike the US again if Obama is elected, I have the events in my past that make the fear seem quite reasonable. Maybe these things will take me in a direction I don't want to go, maybe I won't be able to handle them, maybe I'll get my heart broken again. Maybe I'll repeat the mistakes of my past. Legitimate concerns, all of them.

I can't predict the future, I don't know exactly what is to come. I don't know the answers to questions that haven't been asked. In fact, sometimes I have trouble with answering the questions that HAVE been asked. So, it's no longer a mystery why I've been resisting the changes I've wanted for so long.

The one thing I DO know is that while I can't change the past, I am not the same person I was back then. I may not know what is to come, but I do know that I am much more now than I have ever been. I can feel the differences between who and where I was and who and where I am now. Even if things look the same on the outside, I know they're not.

Perhaps that seems like a flimsy reason to hope that things can be better. At the same time, I know what's changed, I know the work I've done. I also know that I'll never reach a point where everything is perfect, or where I won't make mistakes. I'm learning to be okay with that. I don't expect everything to change overnight, but I know the issues I need to confront. I'm not afraid to look at the fears that I've left hidden. Maybe that's not everything I need to get me where I want to go, but at least it's enough to let me take a step forward.

Happy Halloween?

I hope everybody had a good Halloween. Mine was uneventful, for the most part. The highlight of the evening was finding out some kids decided that tearing up our Obama sign would be a good Halloween trick. Fear not, I managed to tape the sign up and put it back out later that night.

That said, it sounds like the grumpy McCain supports are taking this election to the extreme... via Halloween tactics. Maybe this was the "October Surprise" they were talking about: According to an AP Press report, a woman in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan decided that she was only giving out candy to kids whose parents supported John McCain. I shit you not.

According to TV station WJPK, Shirley Nagel posted a sign outside her house that read: "No handouts for Obama supporters, liars, tricksters or kids of supporters." Apparently, it wasn't just an empty threat. Asked about turning away two kids, driven to tears, she explained, "Oh well. Everybody has a choice."

Wow. Sometimes the stereotypes prove themselves.

H-E-Double Hockey Sticks

It's official. I'm going to Hell. So sayeth The Worldnet Daily - one of those whacked out "news" sites for conservative Christians. You simply cannot support Barack Obama and be a "Good Christian:" "Obama will use your tax dollars to kill innocent children, and then he'll take your paycheck and use it to 'spread the wealth around.'"

Sound familiar? It's almost like reading the McCain campaign's talking points. It's not just coming from The Worldnet Daily -- the Catholic Church has also thrown it's hat into the ring with the logic that abortion is the sine non qua for being a "Good Christian." Never mind that there are other issues out there -- like torture and the occupation of Iraq. Never mind that the economy is in the shitter and that people are tired of sending tax money to bail out giant corporations.

None of that matters. "To those who think that God's grace gives them license to willfully disobey Him without consequences – think again... Then obey Him in the voting booth and out of it." It's so painfully clear: OBEY. You MUST obey! Do what we say or you will be punished... if you think it's bad now, wait until your father gets home. Yesiree, I'll give you something to cry about!

It's been around 2000 year since Christ, or so we're told, and despite all of his divine goodness, the church of the day is still telling the people to obey and fear, rather than to love and trust. Give me that old time religion, indeed.

The Gloves Are Off

I know I've already voted, but the campaign isn't over. In the wake of McCain's flagging poll numbers, the McCain campaign has decided that his last tactic is to smear Obama. Teddy RuxpinSarah Palin has already started the smears. The Obama campaign has finally decided to take the gloves off and hit back with the one issue that we haven't heard about at all this campaign -- John McCain's involvement with Charlie Keating & the S&L disaster. The Obama campaign just released this new, 13 minute video about the Keating scandal and has even launched a new website - KeatingEconomics.com. Look for much more about the Keating 5 scandal in the next month.

Yeah, a maverick and reformer. You asked for this, John.

VP Debate Reaction

I was chatting with my friend Mikey today about the VP debate. He thought Biden was a little off his game. I explained that Biden had to really tone his usual shtick down because Palin has a vagina. That's a little too harsh because it wasn't just that Palin has a vajayjay, it's that she has a vajayjay and is completely unqualified. So that means we have to be super nice.

Because of that, Biden had to take a different tone -- show that he was intelligent, knowledgable and in touch with voters' concerns. He also did a great job hitting at John McCain and tying him to the Bush Administration. From what I've read and seen about reactions from undecided voters, they responded to him well.

Palin did a much better job than expected. She didn't make a complete ass of herself and as a human being, I have to admit that I was relieved. Beyond the underlying train wreck factor, Palin demonstrated that she's every bit as good as a Teddy Ruxpin. She can say anything you tell her to say and by golly, the eyes and mouth move along with the recording! It became painfully apparent that she was either not willing or not capable to do anything beyond that -- the most illustrative point on that was when Biden got choked up talking about knowing what it's like being a single parent worrying that one his sons wouldn't make it... Given Biden's family history, the human response would be to acknowledge that and show some compassion. Instead TeddyPalin immediately launched into how John McCain is a maverick.

By golly, the eyes and mouth move along with the recording!

I Can't Believe It's Not Palin!

For those of you who watched Sarah Palin's disastrous interview with Katie Couric and just can't get enough of Palin's garbled nonsense, there's hope! A new website will generate Palin-speak for you on the fly. A sample:

Q: What is the role of the US in Iraq and Afghanistan?

A: Afghanistan will lead to war and it doesn't have to lead, as I said, to a position like we are today with so much collapse on Wall Street. That's to blame. And that is what America and American troops are providing in his country. But no, the Pakistani people also, they want freedom. They want democratic values and tolerance and freedom. I see the collapse that we're on, reform of this state that I do bring to this table, and that's with the energy source that is the foundation of our best interests to fight against a regime, especially Iran, who would seek to protect the good guys in this, the leaders of Israel and her friends, her allies, including us, all of these countries, especially Russia.

Yes, computer generated Pailin. Brilliant! Check it out: InterviewPalin.

I Kissed A Girl?

Fortunately, when I kissed a girl, I didn't like it. Problem solved.

(Thanks, Towleroad!)

Doublespeak

ED Got You Down?

Ok, I've really tried to step away from politics both on this blog and in life in general. That said, sometimes something comes up that is just too good to pass up.

Oooh, sharp as a tack, that wily Maverick of ours.
(Thanks, Towleroad!)

Reefer Madness

While Phoenix isn't known for it's art scene, this year I've made it a point to seek out more cultural experiences in town. The latest is Nearly Naked Theatre's production of Reefer Madness: The Musical. This was the second of NNT's I've seen -- the last being their production of As Bees In Honey Drown.

NNT stages their production in the Phoenix Little Theatre -- located in the Phoenix Art Museum complex, the Phoenix Little Theatre is a small, intimate space that puts the audience almost on top of the actors. Seating a little under 150, I was pleased to find out that the weekend's shows were sold out.

Reefer Madness is a perfect show for NNT - it's campy and goofy, which lends itself to a relatively inexperienced cast. NNT is clearly a labor of love an Phoenix can use more of those.

Apocalypse

So it's almost 10pm on June 16, 2008. Gays began marrying at 5:01pm in California, not long after the California Supreme Court's ruling that struck down the state's ban on gay marriage. God's retribution was swift and sure, as several large meteors devastated the Golden State, wiping out most of the state's large population centers. To make sure He wasn't missing anyone, the Divine mutated most of the state's agriculture to turn the rest of the population into monstrous, flesh eating zombies. The Rev. Fred Phelps, of Westboro Baptist Church, finally having been vindicated after many long years of being called a hate-crazed lunatic, issued a statement: "I told you so. We were right about the gays, now maybe you'll believe me when I tell you that God hates shrimp."

Wait a second... I guess that didn't happen -- it was an odd amalgamation of the plots of Deep Impact and The Happening ("oh. my. god. we're. all. going. to. die. *yawn*") that came in a dream I had during a nap I took earlier. Heh. The funny thing is that the picture of Meteor Crater comes from a funky creation science website that strives to help push creationism into public schools. This is, of course, preposterous, as we all know that the Earth and all of creation was touched by the FSM's noodly appendage. When will these heathens see the Divine noodly goodness of the FSM? Fortunately, the FSM is much more merciful than some of the other false gods out there.

Perspective

I know I've gotten a little caught up in the Obama versus Hillary story, but today just reinforced what's really important about this next election.
John McCain has officially completed his transformation from a Maverick and "The Straight Talk Express" into Weathervane McCain. When a guy who spent years being tortured in a POW camp decides its ok for the US to torture, you know that he's sold his soul for the sake of the nomination.

I know there have been moments where I've felt like I couldn't bring myself to vote for Hillary if she won the nomination (and I still think she won't be able to pull it off) but with The Decider making it undeniably clear that McCain represents yet another term for Bush, I just don't think I could live with myself if I let that happen.

Echeblog Election 2008

Its election time, as if you didn't already know that. As much as I'm hoping Obama will become this country's next President, there are more pressing issues at hand. Specifically -- who is in line to be my husband. And so, I'm presenting Echeblog Election 2008! You guys will get to pick who you think would be the best fantasy husband for me. So, I now present the candidates!

Brady Quinn
For those of you who haven't been paying attention, Brady (the one on the right) and I both attended the University of Notre Dame, though not at the same time. We're both Scorpios as well and that could either mean we're able to understand each other on a very deep level or it might be a recipe for disaster.

Michael Churchill
Ok, he's from New Jersey but he looks like he could have been one of the several hot Mormon kids I grew up with turned beef. The crystal blue eyes and blond fuzz stretched over the flawless chest pretty much embody every Junior High and High School fantasy I ever had. I don't know a damn thing about this guy, but with a face like that, does it really matter?

Gage Wilson
Ok, he's from Sean Cody and supposedly straight, but a) he's still having sex with guys and b) we're allowed to delete those
inconvenient details in an exercise like this.

Ben Browder
I didn't want you guys thinking that I was only going for the 20-something ones in this. Ah, Bens!

Jake Gyllenhaal
I love the beard, Jakey! I definitely think you traded up when you left Kirsten for Reese, but now its time to leave behind these foolish games and settle down with the right guy.

Let the campaigning begin!

A Moment of Silence

I've tried to stay out of the 2008 Presidential race at this point -- there's way too much time and a lot can happen before the election. I couldn't skip this tidbit of news though -- a spokesperson for former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has announced that Newt will not run for the Presidency, despite a nation yearning for his leadership. (Bwahahahahahaha!) “It is legally impermissible for him to continue on as chairman of American Solutions (for Winning the Future) and to explore a campaign for president,” explained his spokesman. In other words, Gingrich is unwilling to give up his lucrative speaking gigs in order to run for President. Please, a moment of silence for the campaign that wasn't for Newt Gingrich - the man who led the Impeachment of Bill Clinton while he was having an extramarital affair at the time. While I personally hope Obama pulls the upset for the Democratic nomination, it almost would have been worth it to see Hillary win in order to face Gingrich. I'm thinking jello wrestling to the death. Yeah, I'd have paid to see that.

More On Folsom

The Catholic League has jumped in on the whole Folsom Street Fair debate, posting a variety of "extremely graphic" photos from the 2006 Fair:







Boy, San Francisco sure looks different than the last time I was there... A nyway, they're right, I find these to be shocking and offensive. The madness has to stop.

Concerned Women are Concerned!

The Concerned Women of America are downright concerned. Yet again. In particular, they take umbrage with this recent ad for this weekend's Folsom Street Fair, which is a parody of The Last Supper.

"In their version of The Last Supper, Christ, Who gave His life for our sins, is despicably replaced by sin itself as the object of worship," a CWA spokesman bemoans. What's worse, there's a black man sitting in as Jesus! Such an affront to good Christians everywhere cannot be allowed to continue. A black Jesus!

Ok, for the record, yes, I think the ad is of questionable taste. I have plenty of disagreements with organized religion, but I have to admit that this is a couple of steps beyond Kathy Griffin's "Suck it, Jesus!" speech. Personally, while I think the ad is clever, I do question the wisdom of giving the religious community more ammunition against us. We're asking for the public at large to respect us and our relationships -- we have to be willing to show some respect in return. That said, some of the guys in that ad are WAY HOT.

(via Towleroad.)

For Donnie...

...and his "not gay" Senator.


Just an aside -- John Tartaglia, who played Rod (the dark haired actor) in the Original Broadway Cast of Avenue Q is WAY hot... and openly gay, to boot (unlike his character). Great to see an out actor doing so well, though I don't know if Broadway is as closeted as Hollywood... I'd expect not.