Chicken Loving Homophobes

California voters approve Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriages
Jessica Garrison, Cara Mia DiMassa and Nancy Vogel, LA Times, 10/5/08

Prop 8 passed with a vote of 52.0% in favor and 48.0% opposed.

The bigots won.

I hope there is a massive effort to repeal Prop 8. My question to those who voted yes was and still is, WHY DO YOU CARE?

"I think the voters were thinking, well, if it makes them happy, why shouldn't we let gay couples get married. And I think we made them realize that there are broader implications to society and particularly the children when you make that fundamental change that's at the core of how society is organized, which is marriage," Proposition 8 strategist Jeff Flint said.

What implications? You and your supporters are absolutely insane Mr. Flint. I don't usually stoop to ad hominem, but since your basic premise is riddled with nonsense and hate I feel I can go there.

Elsewhere in the country, two other gay-marriage bans, in Florida and Arizona, also won. In both states, laws already defined marriage as a heterosexual institution. But backers pushed to amend the state constitutions, saying that doing so would protect the institution from legal challenges.

Proposition 8 was the most expensive proposition on any ballot in the nation this year, with more than $74 million spent by both sides.

The measure's most fervent proponents believed that nothing less than the future of traditional families was at stake, while opponents believed that they were fighting for the fundamental right of gay people to be treated equally under the law.

Separate but Equal

"This has been a moral battle," said Ellen Smedley, 34, a member of the Mormon Church and a mother of five who worked on the campaign. "We aren't trying to change anything that homosexual couples believe or want -- it doesn't change anything that they're allowed to do already. It's defining marriage. . . . Marriage is a man and a woman establishing a family unit."

Really, in these economic times you spent millions to define a word?

I wonder what the failure rate is for heterosexual marriages in the United States?

Why they hell do you love the word so much? What are you fighting to protect and save?

What evil will befall the nation if the word marriage included same sex unions?

Cluck Cluck

Farm animal proposition passes; redistricting measure appears headed for victory
Eric Bailey, LA Times, 10/5/08

Proposition 2, which would determine the fate of penned farm animals, won easily.

The high-stakes measure, debated heavily on TV, pitted animal rights activists against farm groups on the question of whether egg-laying hens, veal calves and pregnant sows should be allowed more room in pens and cages.

Dinner in San Francisco anyone?

Proposition 1A, the long-delayed effort to finance a bullet train linking Southern California with the Bay Area, was also approved by voters.

The cultural exchange between to the two cities will be amazing. Someday in the hopefully not too distant future, I will never again have to make the long ardious drive up Route 5 to San Francisco. I only hope the train stops somewhere reasonably close to Santa Cruz county

Turnout

More than 82% vote in L.A. County
Jennifer Oldham and Larry Gordon, LA Times, 10/5/08

Of the county's 4.3 million registered voters, about 3.5 million had cast ballots Tuesday at 8 p.m. To find a higher turnout, officials had to go back to 1968 when 86% of county voters cast their ballots for president. The next highest turnout was in 1976, with 81.08%.

U.S. Census Bureau's, 2006 American Community Survey, estimated the population of LA County at 9,744,896. Of those 9.7 million, 7,267,873 are 18 years old and over. So there are potentially 2.9 million unregistered voters in Los Angeles county. I sure would like to shrink that number by the next election.

News from the Homeland

Massachusetts voted to decriminalize marijuana. Voters approved the measure 65% to 35%. Offenders will be given a $100 fine for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.

More Free Stuff

From JAE

Tunes: Rock the Vote will give you eight free MP3s to download if you pledge to vote at www.rockthevote.com/pledge

Sex toys: Babeland locations in SoHo, the Lower East Side (the Leg's old neighborhood) and Carroll Gardens will give men a free $20 "Maverick" (get it?) penis sleeve. Women get a free $15 silver bullet mini-vibrator.

(I had to look up what a penis sleeve is. Wow. Mom, you probably don't want to click on the link.)

FREE

Soviet Union Food Line circa 1987-88


U.S. Depression Era Food Line

Barry must be a socialist, we got free coffee, donuts and ice cream. Change is already happening!

Crispy Kreme is giving away a free star shaped donut with patriotic sprinkles to everyone with an I Voted sticker.

Ben & Jerry's is giving away a free scoop of ice cream between 4-8PM.

Starbucks is giving away a free small coffee to customers who mention they voted.

Carbon Free Voting

I was able to walk to my polling place this morning. It was in the library of the local elementary school. The kids were running around laughing & screaming before class. Appropriate, as we're voting for them now. There were 10 people ahead of me in line. The whole process took less than twenty minutes. Much smoother than my primary voting. The elderly woman in front of me said I could go ahead of her if I had to get to work.

There was a woman with an Obama 08 football shirt on, I guess that's considered electioneering. My Country First neighbor, who was working at the poll pointed it out. The woman was allowed to vote but a poll worker made an announcement after she left.

After two years it's finally over. Actually, hopefully it's just beginning.

Now for my free coffee.

Can we please have Halloween back

I love topical Halloween costumes and the the Nixon mask always gets a laugh out of me but how many Palins, Obamas, and McCains am I going to have to weed through on all Hallows Eve?

Redondo resident takes down 'Nobama'
Larry Altman, Daily Breeze, 10/29/08

The lynched effigy of Democratic candidate Barack Obama came down after police officers and a representative from John McCain's local campaign office paid a visit to Lisa Castaneda last night and convinced her to take it down, according to authorities.

Emotions stirred in a Redondo Beach neighborhood Wednesday when a resident hung an effigy of Sen. Barack Obama from her balcony with a meat cleaver slashed through his throat as a Halloween display.

"I disapprove of him, period," she said. "I am appalled by a man who is so close to being our president who won't put his hand on the Bible, who won't wear a flag pin."

Castaneda said there was nothing racist about her display. She said she hopes any neighbors upset about the Halloween exhibit will come to her directly, but she has no plans to take the Obama effigy down.

Well she took it down so there is a goof in the article but the important part is the following quote.

"There was no malice," she said. "I just like Halloween. It's nothing mean-spirited by any means. We all have our opinions."

Nothing mean spirited, really?

Point Break



I'll take advantage of any opportunity to work Swayze in.

Stay of Execution

Sarah Palin effigy has been taken down
Raja Abdulrahim and Andrew Blankstein, LA Times, 10/30/08

No word on whether Maddog is still in the chimney.

Maddog is on Fire

Effigy of Sarah Palin hanging by a noose creates uproar in West Hollywood
Victoria Kim, LA Times, 10/28/09

A West Hollywood Halloween display showing a likeness of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin hanging by a noose has caused a furor among some residents who reported it as a hate crime, authorities said Monday.

The home's decorations also feature a doll of John McCain surrounded by decorative flames in the chimney, and other more typical Halloween items, such as skeletons and spider webs.

Borrowed Clothes

Palin Shopping Spree Legal? Yes, but Barely
Loophole Lets Party Purchase Wardrobe the Campaign Could Not
Emma Schwartz, ABC News, 10/22/08

It would be illegal for the McCain-Palin campaign to buy a new wardrobe for Palin and her husband, say campaign finance lawyers contacted by ABCNews.com. But the law is silent on whether such purchases can be made by the Republican National Committee (RNC).

In the meantime the RNC says that the clothing is its property and after the campaign it will be returned to them and donated to charity, which it expects will eliminate any questions of gift restrictions or taxes.

What's a hundred and fifty thousand when the campaigns are spend hundreds of millions in their quest for the ring but it does seem to be really poor form especially in light of the current economic down turn, to spend that much on skirts & boots. Given the choice I wonder what America's hockey moms would spend 150 thousand on.

As for the auction, I hope ABC stays on top of that. I'm curious as to how much money the clothes will generate.

Pinko Alert!

There might be some Bolsheviks in the RNC, the auction smacks of socialism, taking a wealthy person's clothes and auctioning them for the needy, how dare they.

More on Joe

Joe in the Spotlight
Larry Rohter & Liz Robbins, The Caucus, 10/16/08

Turns out that “Joe the Plumber,” as he became nationally known when Senator John McCain made him a theme at Wednesday night’s third and final presidential debate, may run a plumbing business but he is not a licensed plumber. His full name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher. And he owes a bit in back taxes.

Unlike some other states, Ohio does not have a formal statewide licensing system for plumbers. But the city of Toledo and other municipalities do, Mr. Joseph said, and Mr. Wurzelbacher has not met those requirements.

“All contractors are licensed, and he does not have a license, either as a contractor or a plumber,” the union official said, citing a search of government records. “I can’t find that he’s ever even applied for any kind of apprenticeship, and he has never belonged to local 189 in Columbus, which is what he claims on his Facebook page.”

According to public records, Mr. Wurzelbacher has been subject to two liens, each over $1,000, one of which — a personal tax lien — is still outstanding.

And his question to Mr. Obama about paying taxes? According to some tax analysts, if Mr. Wurzelbacher’s gross receipts from his business is $250,000 — and not his taxable income — then he would not have to pay higher taxes under Mr. Obama’s plan, and probably would be eligible for a tax cut.

Joe seems to have been as well vetted as the Hockey Mom. They've got a real cracker jack team of researchers over at McCain HQ.

For Amusement

Meghan McCain

Raising McCain
By Greg Veis; Photograph by Jeff Riedel, GQ

Meghan McCain is a 23-year-old, socially liberal John Kerry voter who loves Superbad, Dita von Teese, Bud Light (see right hand), and campaign blogging. Trouble is, this self-described “Daddy’s girl” will do—and say—almost anything to help her 71-year-old father win the White House

Meghan McCain's blog:

McCainBlogette
Musings and Pop Culture on the Political Trail

I'm talking to you Joe

Barack Obama & Joe Wurzelbacher

If you watched the debate last night, I'm sure you're dying to see a picture of Joe the Plumber. I hope somebody counted the number of times Joe was directly addressed. Joe should forget all his worries about being in a higher tax bracket, with all the free press he's received Joe should soon be THE plumber in Toledo.

Joe the plumber is real hero of the debate
Anne Barrowclough, Times Online, 10/16/08

Joe Wurzelbacher from Toledo, Ohio, has become an unlikely media star after finding himself the focus of the debate between the two White House rivals.

He is a tradesman who has worked 12-hour shifts for years and now plans to buy his own small plumbing business. The trouble for Joe the plumber is that this would take his earnings to more than $250,000 - making him a target of Obama’s plan to tax the wealthy.

First Mr McCain reminded Barack Obama that Joe the plumber did not want to vote for him because his taxes would rise under the Democrat. Then both candidates repeatedly spoke directly to Mr Wurzelbacher, turning him into a real life version of "Joe Six Pack," the ordinary guy chasing the American dream, as they faced off in their third and final debate.

After the debate, Mr Wurzelbacher told familysecuritymatters.com that he hadn't been too impressed with either candidate. He repeated his complaints against Senator Obama, saying: "So he does want to punish me, he does want to punish me for working harder to - you know, my big thing is the American Dream," he said.

But he also refused to endorse Mr McCain: "There's a lot of things I wish McCain would say," he said. "As far as this, yes, I would like him to speak. Not so much about small businesses, but just people in general that make this money," he said.

"I guess I would like him to speak about that and a bunch of other things."

Asked which candidate would get his vote on November 4, he refused to say.

"That's for me and a button to know," he said.

Update via the NY Times:

The plumber came up directly or indirectly 24 times during the debate, an Everyman symbol of the divide between the candidates on how best to address the economy.

Rolling Stone's Maddog McCain Article

Via Santo & The Freak

If you can possibly take anymore McCain info, especially after last night's debate, this article is pretty good, well pretty crazy even if taken with an entire bag of salt. He's absolutely an evil insane man. Dovetails nicely with the New Yorker's profile of Cindy McCain a few weeks ago.

Make-Believe Maverick
A closer look at the life and career of John McCain reveals a disturbing record of recklessness and dishonesty
Tim Dickinson, Rolling Stone, 10/16/08

The author on W & McCain:

Both were born into positions of privilege against which they rebelled into mediocrity.

John to Cindy McCain:

"At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you cunt."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Cindy McCain article:

The Lonesome Trail
Cindy McCain’s nontraditional campaign.
by Ariel Levy, New Yorker

The Garden State

I went to New Jersey over the weekend to see some family. Thanks again to my sister & brother in law for making that happen. I confirmed that my niece is the smartest and cutest little girl in the state. I also got to watch football and eat barbecue with some old friends on Sunday.

Sunday was my first day of football as I was at the Camel Races last weekend.

Football Thoughts

The Patriots will make the playoffs. Starting running back Lawrence Maroney might loose his job to Sammy Morris. The Patriots are going to have to score some points on defense this year.

The Giants are loaded at running back.

I liked former Giant Michael Strahan on Fox's NFL Sunday.

What happened to the Browns? They may right the ship yet, but they looked anything but a playoff team. How long before the fans start clamoring for Brady Quinn.

Colts running back Joseph Addai really misses his starting center Jeff Saturday.

Why didn't one of Ed Hockale's fellow refs step in during his blown call in the Chargers Broncos game?

Is Chargers running back Ladainian Tomlinson out of gas or is he just off to another slow start?

Did Oakland owner Al Davis really think the Raiders would be good anytime soon?

Did Brad Childress really think quarterback Tavaris Jackson was the answer?

I think enlarging the NFL Schedule to 17 or 18 games is a bad idea. Two more regular season games makes winning the Super Bowl a war of attrition.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger really didn't want to talk about his shoulder after the Steelers win over the hapless Browns.

Will St. Louis Rams head coach Scott Linehan make it through the season? His week two post game press conference was a classic tirade. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a clip on the web.

Travel Notes



A liter of water in Newark Liberty International Airport is $3.49. A gallon of gas was $3.47 in Hoboken, NJ. I pointed that out to the sales clerk and received a dirty look.

More evidence that the next wars will be fought over food and water.

I think the bottled water companies and the TSA are in cahoots. I'd like to see what a bottle of water was going for on the other side prior to the liquids ban. If I'm not allowed to take water through the security check point then there should be filtered water provided on the other side so I can fill my bottle.

My flight was delayed an hour due to the Ike related airport closure in Houston. We had to wait for two flight attendants.

Once on-board the flight crew apologized profusely for the delay. There was no offer of free booze or FF miles.

Overheard:

Man in a charcoal suit: "George W. was one of the worst students I ever had."
Woman in a yellow suit: "Student, where?"
Man in a charcoal suit: "Harvard, and I don't say that politically."

I have no idea if the man was a professor or not. He went on to mumble something about everybody deserving a drink now and then but . . .

Mother to her children (who had just returned from spending $50 in Borders) after discussing their frequent purchases on amazon.com.

"I don't want you using my credit card anymore. If you need something I'll buy it for you."

Umm, why did you give your kids the credit card in the first place? In the children's defense at least they're spending mom's money on books.

Waiting in the jetway:

"We had a workforce reduction last year."

You mean some people were fired?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I read a piece on Lance Armstrong, in the October issue of Men's Journal.

Here's a quote.

"I'm glad I'm not cycling anymore. It was fun while it lasted, and I liked it, but I'm so focused on other things now that I never think about it."

The interview was done on May 13th, LiveStrong Day.

Armstrong announced his return to professional cycling via his website on September 9th.

Obama Got Game

I dig it. Normally, I wouldn't get excited for a middle aged man playing pickup basketball but this could be the President of the United States. Three on three hoops would seem to connect with more people than John Kerry's windsurfing. Apologies to wealthy white males who read Outside magazine.

So, they'll install a backboard & hoop above the White House garage and secret service agents will talk about posting up the President.

"Respect the call Barack!"
"What's the count, Mr. President?"

Laughable

Baghdad Rocked As McCain, Cheney Visit

Before leaving the United States, McCain, who was making his eighth trip to Iraq, said the tour to the Middle East and Europe was for fact-finding purposes, not a campaign photo opportunity.

To which I say, ". . . you're not foolin' me, man. You might fool the fucks in the league office, but you don't fool Jesus. Is bush league psyche-out stuff. Laughable, man - ha ha!"



Is John "Mad Dog" McCain really campaigning in a war zone?

Just getting a feel for the situation on the ground in case your elected?

Besides being distasteful, aren't you jumping the gun there a little Mad Dog?

How much did the security detail for your field trip cost?