The "liaison" will be able to keep a couple of low-level disruptors out, but won't be able to kick out the people who have really caused the problems here.

The "liaison" won't be able to stop certain people from locking or disappearing threads they don't approve of, as has been seen here in the past couple of days. Look at the "deleted messages" in these threads. You can't look at the threads on the issue that have gotten flushed down the memory hole. And they've done it anonymously.

These same people will also continue to operate elsewhere on the board to shut down gay-positive discussions, discussions that suggest that Obama is anything but the Savior come from Jerusalem to make Our Lives Perfect for the Gay Community, or discussions that suggest that anything less than marriage is second-class citizenship. And they'll use their power to block "consensus" for the deletion of gay bashing posts and threads as often as they can, and to keep bashers from getting tombstoned.

All the "liaison" will do is give an opportunity for the Administrators to pretend to have done something and offer them an excuse to ignore the real problem as it continues.

There is a simple solution to this problem. I offered it in the early days of "Mending Fences" and it was dismissed. We're not even allowed to discuss it here because the people affected by it would make that discussion disappear.

Just as "civil unions" have proven to be a big failure by allowing those who think "God is in the mix" to say "see? We gave you some rights. So sit down and shut up," this liaison will fail because it will allow the abuse to continue unchecked but also allow the Administrators to pretend they've done something.

"The Ropes at Disney," the Walt Disney Productions employee handbook, 1943.

Back before unions were seen as anti-American.

Press release from FEMA:



This should be interesting to watch, since this is a first. Every TV and radio station in the country tests their EAS equipment every week and state networks do a mandatory test once a month, this is the first time something this big has been done.

The National Emergency Broadcast System was only activated once, and that was by accident thirty years ago. On February 21, 1971 a radio operator at NORAD accidentally sent the "activation" codes instead of the "closed circuit test" codes to UPI and the AP. Disturbingly, even though every radio station in the EBS network was told that a nuclear war was underway and they had to broadcast emergency messages or shut down almost none of them did. One of the few that actually did was WOWO in Indiana, and their accidental activation has been preserved for the ages: http://www.engineeringradio.us/blog/2010/1... /

The complete breakdown of the network in 1971 led to many changes in the EBS. When EAS was rolled out in 1997 it provided for "hands free" operation where the EAS device could override normal broadcasting to send alert messages to help cut down on human error.

This will be the first time the national EAS has been activated. It will use an actual national Emergency Alert Notification code, as if a national emergency were underway, but the alert message will be "this is only a test." The test will run for three minutes to make sure that it does not time out like local and state activations which time out after two minutes. The test will effect every broadcast station, every cable system, DirecTV and Dish Network, and SiriusXM. Some more recent cell phones with Common Alert Protocol capabilities may relay the alert, but are not specifically included in the test.

Things to watch for: stations that don't activate, stations that activate as if it's an actual alert and don't relay the test message, stations and systems that don't return to normal programming after the test is done, and Beckerheads who will say that this is a sign of Obama preparing to seize the national airwaves for some reason.

More detailed information at FEMA's website: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_in...

"OUTSOURCE REPUBLICANS."

Remember the lesson of Mario Cuomo. If people keep pulling the chair out for you and you don't sit down, eventually they'll stop pulling it out for you.

http://newadventuresofqueenvictoria.com/in...

This is the current hot meme among right-wingers on Facebook:



And my response....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22067139@N05/... /





The further back you go, the less of a case there is for the death penalty.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...

This is very similar to my post at

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...

The difference is that this post actually alleges that people on DU are "marginalizing" Obama's record on LGBT*.* issues. Mine only implies that some people, not necessarily those on DU, are overinflating same record.

If the rules are to be applied impartially then either both get locked or both are allowed to stand. Anything else is hypocrisy and bias.

ETA: Vabarella herself admits that it's a call-out thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu... where she claims that she posts (and made this post) "Because it's many of the actions here that need to be called out."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...

This is very similar to my post at

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...

The difference is that this post actually alleges that people on DU are "marginalizing" Obama's record on LGBT*.* issues. Mine only implies that some people, not necessarily those on DU, are overinflating same record.

How, other than through anti-gay, biased, moderation, can this post be held to a different standard than mine? Either both get locked or both are allowed to stand. Anything else is hypocrisy and bias.

Not a single other user of DU was referenced, not a single post linked to, only a reference and paraphrased quote to a non-DU blog.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...

I think this is another example of heavy-handed, anti-gay, biased moderation at DU pure and simple. Can you honestly claim that it isn't?

He's stopped appealing it. Give him the correct amount of credit.

Any reference, no matter how obliquely, to Tx4Obama's former screen name of "Political Tiger" were summarily deleted by moderators to hide the fact that the account is a sock puppet.

Now any reference to the word "maverick" or my home state are quickly deleted in any thread that YellowCosmicSun posts in, to hide the fact that "YellowCosmicSun" is the newest sock puppet for another banned member, "NJMaverick."

Why is this being allowed? I thought sock puppets for TS'd members were banned. Why are these two allowed, and why are moderators helping to cover up their real identities?

Yesterday and today I've complained about the addition of James Byrd Jr.'s name to Matthew's Law in the discussion of Obama's LGBT*.* record.

My opinions about that action, its appropriateness, and the motivations behind it still stand.

However, at the time I made those statements I was unaware that Lawrence Russell Brewer was scheduled to be executed tonight, and the fact that the feelings of some people with an interest would be on edge because of that.

My timing was unintentional, and could have been much better.

If anyone was offended by my statements being made so close to the execution, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. It was not my intention to grave dance, nor to belittle tonight's action in Texas for those who see it as justice or believe it justified.

I very rarely apologize for offending people, because I believe that most people that I set out to offend more than have it coming, but this was not one of those cases and thus I once again apologize.

A new iteration of "teh LIST" of everything that Obama has done for the LGBT*.* community is making the rounds. This teh LIST, unlike others however, now asserts that Obama has done more for gay rights than any other person living or dead throughout history.

For the moment I will leave aside everything negative that Obama said and did during his first two years in office, mainly because his abandonment of the defense of DOMA and his certification of the repeal of DADT undid the two worst things he did to LGBT*.* Americans, at least for the most part. Instead, we'll focus entirely on the positive.

This article will take a hard look at each "accomplishment," and rate it on two important criteria: IMPACT (how much of the LGBT*.* community it actually effects on a day to day basis) and SUSTAINABILITY (how likely this accomplishment is to last the eventual arrival of a Republican President). In addition I will rank each accomplishment as either EYEWASH, SYMBOLISM, FIRST STEPS, IMPORTANT, or BIG FUCKING DEAL.

Let's start at the very beginning, both of teh LIST and of the Obama Presidency.


IMPACT: MINIMAL

The executive order only affects LGBT*.* working for the Federal Government. It has no affect at all on anyone not employed by the Federal Government.

SUSTAINABILITY: NONE

Unless enshrined in legislation as part of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, this will be one of the first things revoked by Executive Order by a right-wing Republican President.

BOTTOM LINE: I would be tempted to call this merely "symbolic," but because it actually does affect the lives of a few LGBT*.* in a positive way, I will call it FIRST STEPS. Now get ENDA passed so this one will have sustainability.


IMPACT: NONE

This did nothing to advance anyone's rights.

SUSTAINABILITY: NOT APPLICABLE

As a one time event, there is nothing to sustain here.

BOTTOM LINE: SYMBOLISM pure and simple.


IMPACT: NONE

This did nothing to advance anyone's rights, although it was very nice to see the two of them acknowledged for the work they'd done.

SUSTAINABILITY: NOT APPLICABLE

As a one time event, there is nothing to sustain here.

BOTTOM LINE: For the President, this is "symbolism." But for those who want to use this award to give the President credit for what King and Milk did is absolute EYEWASH.


IMPACT: MAJOR

This will affect a huge number of LGBT*.* Americans and, if sustainable, eventually all of them.

SUSTAINABILITY: UNCERTAIN BUT LIKELY

This would be easy for a Republican President to close or defund, but it will probably fly under the radar.

BOTTOM LINE: The only thing keeping this from being a BFD is the fact that it's not something enshrined by law and that it could eventually be done away with. Still, it's IMPORTANT.


IMPACT: MAJOR

Even though I hated that someone felt the need to add James Byrd Jr.'s name to Matthew's Law, there's no denying that this was a major step forward.

SUSTAINABILITY: ALMOST CERTAIN

It would take an act of Congress to overturn this one, and I doubt that's going to happen.

BOTTOM LINE: This certainly qualifies as a BIG FUCKING DEAL.


IMPACT: MINIMAL

Like other Executive Orders of his, it only affects those working for the Federal Government. But the fact that it's the first time any Federal protection of any kind was awarded to the transgendered or transgender-identifying makes it important.

SUSTAINABILITY: NONE

Remember where I said that the Executive Order of June 17, 2009, would be the first overturned by a right-wing Republican President? Scratch that. That one goes second, this one goes first. Unless, again, enshrined in ENDA.

BOTTOM LINE: Yes, it's SYMBOLISM, but because as I said it's the first Federal protection of any kind for the transgendered, it's IMPORTANT symbolism.


IMPACT: CONSIDERABLE

But credit where credit is due. Bush signed the legislation for this one, Obama just implemented it.

SUSTAINABILITY: LIKELY

Lifting the ban was a legislative act, and it would take a hell of a push in Congress to reinstate it.

BOTTOM LINE: This one is certainly IMPORTANT.


IMPACT: NONE

Oh, please, The Health Care "reform" act did nothing to advance gay rights.

SUSTAINABILITY: NOT APPLICABLE

BOTTOM LINE: Pure and simple EYEWASH at its most cynical. Its inclusion on teh LIST is only to make it look longer than it should.


IMPACT: MAJOR

This is a hot-button issue for me, since I suffered under the old policy in 2007. I've gone into that at length before and won't bore you with it now.

SUSTAINABILITY: UNCERTAIN

Like all Executive Orders this one can disappear within minutes of a Republican President taking the oath of office. If he'd included this in the Health Care Bill (as he should have) then both would be BFD's.

BOTTOM LINE: Very IMPORTANT but with an uncertain future until legislated.


IMPACT: MAJOR

A big win for the transgender community.

SUSTAINABILITY: NONE

As with the other Executive Orders, this one disappears in the opening hours of a Republican Presidency.

BOTTOM LINE: Very IMPORTANT but without permanence.



IMPACT: MAJOR

Again, a big win.

SUSTAINABILITY: UNCERTAIN

Gone with the publication of a new interpretation of the law. Legislation amending the existing law is required here. Please twist some arms.

BOTTOM LINE: IMPORTANT


IMPACT: GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK

Ending Homelessness would be a BIG FUCKING DEAL, but putting it on this list and singling out LGBT youth is like saying that Michelle Obama is making LGBT youth healthier by encouraging all kids to eat better.

For the record? Straight youth in abusive homes and other bad situations end up homeless, too.

SUSTAINABILITY: NOT APPLICABLE

BOTTOM LINE: EYEWASH of the worst kind.


IMPACT: WTF?

Uh, Mister President? Are you saying that your Administration only awarded one single, solitary grant to an LGBT*.* organization in your entire Administration? Don't get me wrong, this grant was an important move and will do good work, but singling it out either diminishes the other grants you've made or makes you look like an asshole for only issuing one grant to an LGBT organization. Take it off "teh LIST" because it's a lose-lose proposition.

SUSTAINABILITY: WTF?

Are you saying that this was a sign of things to come, or a one-off event?

BOTTOM LINE: Listing it here is EYEWASH.


IMPACT: UNCERTAIN

Thank you for telling kids "it gets better" at a time you were actively fighting against their rights in court and comparing their relationships to incest and pedophilia. Honestly, considering the way you were viewed by LGBT*.* Americans at that point, it may even have made cynical kids worse off.

However, considering your abrupt reversal on key issues (see below) you did prove that it can indeed "get better."

SUSTAINABILITY: NOT APPLICABLE

One off event.

BOTTOM LINE: I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and call it SYMBOLISM.


IMPACT: NONE

This does nothing to advance LGBT*.* rights in the US. And since the UN has no way to enforce its regulations, it does nothing to advance LGBT*.* rights anywhere else in the world.

SUSTAINABILITY: NOT APPLICABLE

BOTTOM LINE: I guess I'll call this one SYMBOLISM, too.


IMPACT: MAJOR

This was tricky. The bill you signed had lots of little traps in it that could have derailed the entire process. But you saw it through, issued your certification, and fought off Republican efforts to kill it. Until yesterday, this one was uncertain. Today it's a big win.

SUSTAINABILITY: LIKELY

It's uncertain whether the repeal, which essentially removed the law enforcing DADT but didn't legislate a non-discrimination policy, leaves an opening for a Republican President to reinstate the pre-Clinton Executive Order banning all LGBT*.* from military service. Still, it's hard to put toothpaste back into the tube, so we'll say this one is probably for the ages.

BOTTOM LINE: Absolutely a BIG FUCKING DEAL.


IMPACT: MAJOR

Very big step. Very important step.

SUSTAINABILITY: NONE

Without legislation backing it, this is another item gone in the opening salvos of a Republican administration.

BOTTOM LINE: IMPORTANT but without permanence.


IMPACT: UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME

If he can get the funds through this Congress or the next it's a BIG FUCKING DEAL but it's unfinished work at this point and impossible to judge.


IMPACT: UNCERTAIN

The final say is up to the courts, but by taking away the loudest and strongest advocate for the law's constitutionality, this struck a major blow.

But one point, Mr. President: you don't have the power to declare jack shit unconstitutional. Only the courts do. Watch your wording, please.

SUSTAINABILITY: UNCERTAIN

Again, it's up to the courts.

BOTTOM LINE: Even though we won't know the final effect for a while, this is a BIG FUCKING DEAL. For the record, this is where he won me back.



I'm not even going to address this one, because it shouldn't be a LGBT*.* issue. It's a human rights issue, and this is a BIG FUCKING DEAL for all kids, not just LGBT*.*. Tout this a lot more outside LGBT*.* circles.


IMPACT: UNCERTAIN

It's nice that this was done, but the impact won't be known until we see if and how the study's findings are implemented.

SUSTAINABILITY: NOT APPLICABLE

BOTTOM LINE: I'll call this one FIRST STEPS until we start seeing the fruits of the study, if any.


IMPACT: MAJOR

This is a more common problem than people realize.

SUSTAINABILITY: NONE

Again, easily changed by a Republican. Please push this legislatively.

BOTTOM LINE: Even though its effects may be short lived once a Republican gets elected eventually, until that time it is certainly a BIG FUCKING DEAL for all of those affected. Bravo.


IMPACT: UNCERTAIN

As with DOMA repeal itself, it's a work in progress and up to the courts. But not only reversing course on DOMA but actually putting the government on the side of the angels is a BIG FUCKING DEAL no matter what the final outcome.


IMPACT: MINIMAL

Only affects Federal Employees.

SUSTAINABILITY: NONE

Gone the first day of a Republican Administration.

BOTTOM LINE: I will grant benefit of the doubt and call this FIRST STEPS until it's enshrined in legislation.

I'm leaving off the last two (strengthening enforcement of visitation rules and implementation of DADT repeal) because they're double-dipping. He already got credit for those earlier.

At the end, a mixed bag. A lot of first steps, not that much impact on a lot of items, but some major victories (mainly in the last 10 months).

The BIG FUCKING DEALs are worth trumpeting about, but those actions got us back on your side. As for the rest of teh LIST, Mr. President? It was compiled back when you were actively working against our rights and you were desperate to look like you were on our side. Don't brag about them or make them seem bigger than they are. Forget the symbolism and get rid of the eyewash, you're actually getting something done now so crow about that.