http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/05/n...
Is your Rep. on this list? Mine is and he got a piece of my mind this morning. Not just because I support Pelosi but because of the character of Shuler.
http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/4459...

Maybe the reason progressives and in particular the LGBT community haven’t been able to get Obama to hear our message is that we haven’t been speaking in a language he understands. So let’s try a new tack by speaking in a sporting vernacular that we know he understands. Basketball!
Mr. President, it’s time you took a charge for the team. If you need a refresher course on how to take a charge, here is a link that I think may be helpful to you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv4l0KInMNM

Shane Battier of the Houston Rockets makes some very poignant statements about how important taking a charge really is. He does however emphasize that taking a charge takes courage. He also says that taking a charge “can cast doubt into the mind of the offensive player and keep him off balance.” I think that you will agree Mr. President that there are some very “offensive players” in the Congress who it would behoove you and our party to keep off balance.
So it’s time to pick a spot on the floor and plant your feet Mr. President. Take a charge for the team. By doing so you may regain some of our respect and more importantly our votes.

Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania

I want to call all the straight DUers in these states to “come out” to Washington D.C. for the March for Equality---Meeting on the Mall. In the past, many of you here have shown your support for GLBT Duers with your words and virtual hugs. We need you to show up in person on Oct. 11 and stand with us. We need to show the country that the we in the Democratic party stand together for full equality.
So if you are in driving distance of D.C. please come stand with us. We need your help.
We need to remind President Obama and the Democrats in Congress of the promises they made. We deserve the right to be included in the WE in “Yes we can” and “Change we can believe in”. We earned it with our hard work and our vote.

I came up with a T-shirt slogan for you.

Str8 4 Total =

I do not reply or post on an OP I do not check out. I actually watched as much of the speech that was available online.
If the repugs haven't taught us to educate ourselves before we vote yea or nay on something I don't know what will.

I read an OP based on this "McCarthyism" crap, and asked if anyone had actually seen the speech. Crickets.
I don't know if it's that I'm just on all of their ignore lists or if they're just refusing to answer any questions.
I've posted rebuttals of many statements and again, Crickets! None of my rebuttals have received a reply.

This is no longer a discussion board.
I say this because of the "let it sink" and "Ignore" campaigns.
Sen. Obama's supporters post an OP and the thread becomes a "yes we can" fest. Anyone who rebuts the OP gets ignored either by button or by LOL smileys.
There is no longer debate on this board. It has become more like a celebrity rag. Defamation, name calling, Photo Shopped pics and a total lack of respect for the opinion OR feelings of "others".
There are many posts that state that supporters of Sen. Obama can barely wait until they can start hitting the ALERT button instead of the IGNORE button. So the approximately 48% of Democrats on this board who do not or did not support Sen. Obama will not be welcome. And, as so many of us here believe, DU is a microcosm of the Party, that 48% will be ALERTED and IGNORED by the Democratic Nominee and the PARTY too.

I wonder what will happen to those of us who do not support Sen. Obama in the primary. It bothers me that the Democratic Party has followed the repugs lead campaign toward a 51% solution.

So when and IF Sen. Obama becomes the Democratic nominee for POTUS, this board becomes irrelivent to the Democratic Party.
IMHO we do not need cheerleaders. We need thoughtful cogent arguments in support of our candidate and from what I have seen on DU lately, that is no longer important.
We have become what we so abhor about the repugs, flag waving, rabidly blind followers of a candidate who WE do not feel should be held responsible to US for the answers to important questions.
Being a member of more than one minority, it disheartens me to see MY party turn it's back on me so thoroughly. I understand that DU isn't THE PARTY, but it WAS a place were divergent positions within the party WERE respected.
NO MORE!

I find these quotes poignant.
"The majority, oppressing an individual, is guilty of a crime, abuses its strength, and by acting on the law of the strongest breaks up the foundations of society." --Thomas Jefferson
" know too well the texture of the human mind, and the slipperiness of human reason, to consider differences of opinion otherwise than differences of form or feature. Integrity of views more than their soundness, is the basis of esteem." --Thomas Jefferson
And my favorite...
"The voice of the majority is no proof of justice." – Johann von Schiller

13. 3/19/2008 7:53:12 AM, Your Adoring Fan,
Dear Sally Kern:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your speech, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that the bible clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21 . In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1 . The problem is, my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your adoring fan

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/us/polit...
“If Barack gets past the primary, he might have to publicly distance himself from me,” Mr. Wright said with a shrug. “I said it to Barack personally, and he said yeah, that might have to happen.”

If Rev. Wright counseled him about this, it's more likly that this speech was in the works LONG AGO.
If it wasn't Obama ignored on of his most trusted advisors - BAD.
If is wasn't and Obama is just "reacting" to pressure - BAD.
If it wasn't Obama was unprepared for a LOOMING problem - BAD.

If you are still confused I will try to clarify my position.
I disagree with your statement that "the hate people have for us is rooted precisely in how we fuck."
They hate the fact that WE FUCK AT ALL.
I feel there is a difference with "the objections people had to interacial coupling" and their hate for "how we fuck those whom we love". The difference I see has much to do with the fact that they have no real objection with interracial coupling, for THEY are part of that coupling. Their objection was with their marrying. THEY never refuse themselves access to carnal pleasure. But to marry "one of them" now THAT'S wrong. That is were the "down low" in our community is rooted, too.

I accept your interpretations of the parades then and now. I am simply asking if the parade can be a more positive voice in our attempt to share ourselves with the world.

It is unfortunate that the media doesn't pay much attention to everything else we do. I'm sure everyone can name times in their own communities where they have been a part of the solution. I can tell you there are charities in my town who know me and my family by name. Straight friends of my mother's who call on her gay "daughters" for help when they need it. Friends of my aunt's and uncle's who stop by for a beer when they're riding their Harleys through Indiana. Neighbors and co-workers who come to BBQ's and birthday parties and invite us to theirs. They bring their kids and dogs.
One by one everyone time we meet someone, we change their mind. We make it harder for them to hate us. We make it harder for them to deny we are people too. We make it harder for them to deny us our rights.
But I've been being me for along time. I know individually I have changed minds. I know my family has too. We are like the pebble in the pond causing rings flowing from the center into our community.
The world is more like an ocean. How can we positively effect the ocean of people we will never meet when the only time this ocean is effected by us is during that wonderful day in June when we come "out of the closets-into the streets"?

RE:my post: My unanswered letter to Sen. Obama
So let me give this another try in the GD.
I have read many posts about this on DU and want to try to get an answer to my questions.
Maybe the easies way for me to get there is to ask all of you to see things from my position.
I have surfed his wed site, the MSM and DU for anything close to an explanation or apology from the Obama camp. No, it is not good enough for me that AFTER giving Donnie McClurkin a platform to gay bash, Sen. Obama put out a press release saying “that he espouses beliefs about homosexuality that I completely reject.” That many of the 2000 at the concert cheered on his hate-speech sickens me.
How am I to separate those cheers from the cheers for Sen. Obama?
Sen. Obama said that “he {Donnie McClurkin} had some views that are anti-gay” yet he ASKED him to MC the concert!
Even after Donnie McClurkin’s views were brought to Sen. Obama’s attention, he gave him a platform.
Please check out the youtube Donnie McClurkin videos from the event.

Here are a few other things Sen. Obama said about the “controversy”.
“Part of my job as President is to deliver a message that everybody is part of the American family”

Actually your job as President would be to give a mandate to the Justice Department to insure that everybody is guaranteed to be a part in the American family.

“You don’t poll whether people get treated equally or not. That is something you do because it’s right.”

I agree completely. So when you are President Sen. Obama you will overturn every Bush Signing Statement and Executive Order you disagree with immediately!
You will write an Executive Order that immediately mandates that ANY union of same sex couples receives the same privileges and benefits as ANY union of opposite sex couples, and that any state refusing to do so will loss Federal funding.
You will write an Executive Order immediately that eliminates “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” It will mandate that Department of Defense Directive 5120.36 that says "Every military commander, has the responsibility to oppose discriminatory practices affecting his men and their dependents and to foster equal opportunity for them, not only in areas under his immediate control, but also in nearby communities where they may gather in off-duty hours.” includes discriminatory practices affecting homosexual service members and their dependents. And it will Amend Executive Orders 8802 and 9981 to include sexual orientation.
You will do these things because it’s right.
If you release a press statement that you promise to do this it would go a long way to prove to the GLBT community that you will do more than “deliver a message” but deliver “Change we can believe in”.

Sen. Obama,
I have read your answers to the HRC Presidential Questionnaire and was very disappointed.
The problem I have with your answer is that as of this date 26 states have indeed passed a form of the “Family Marriage Amendment”. 19 states have laws restricting marriage to one man and one woman.
Before Loving v. Virginia the “question” of marriage was one that historically had been left to the states. The trial judge in Virginia was quoted in Loving v. Virginia as stating in his opinion "Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix." Today a statement like this would nullify the credibility of a judge. Yet today the same sentiment is being espoused and I have heard members of Congress from both Houses invoke much the same religious reasoning to oppose same-sex marriage.
After Loving, states could no longer have marriage laws which discriminate based on race. Again from Loving v. Virginia “The most avid proponents of the post-War Amendments undoubtedly intended them to remove all legal distinctions among `all persons born or naturalized in the United States.'” This decision heavily relied on the court’s interpretation of the 14 Amendment. I think this proves that the federal government has “historically” ruled against a state’s right to discriminate against `all persons born or naturalized in the United States.'
So you see the Supreme Court of the United States of America has already stifled “a state’s ability to decide this question on its own.”
I am a Citizen of the United States of America. I was born a lesbian. I am entirely too intelligent to have CHOSSEN to be a lesbian. I have too much love for my family to have put them through the hardships of a CHOICE like that. I am too proud an American and hold my Constitutional rights too dearly to have VOLENTREERED to be a second class citizen.
So please explain to me why you refuse to acknowledge my Constitutional rights? I do not begrudge “fundamentalists” the word “marriage”. Let them have it! I do have a problem when I am denied the “civil institution of marriage” and the 1,049 “federal laws in which benefits, rights, and privileges are contingent in marital status” which in my opinion violations of the equal protections clause of the constitution. Please read the GAO’s Jan 23, 2004 report 04-353R which lists 89 additions to those violations, to total 1,138!
The next President of the U.S. MUST lead this country away from divisiveness and MUST include all of our citizens as equal members of our society. I wait for the day in this country when there are NO “issues” about the basic civil rights of any citizen. If you need moral reasoning read Reflections on “Marriage Equality” by John H. Thomas, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ, Sept, 2005.
This is the most well thought out, inclusive and spiritually based argument for marriage equality I have ever read. http://www.ucc.org/assets/pdfs/marreflect.... I hope you will reevaluate you stance on this “issue” and answer my question with an affirmation of your support for equal rights for ALL Americans.

Since I sent this Sen. Obama took the stage with Donnie McClurkin at his inappropriately named "Embrace the Change" concert. Sen. Obama has hedged questions about that decision by saying that he wants to "reach out to those who have different attitudes" and then "to teach" them about diversity.
I want to ask those here a few questions.

What does he teach a gay person when they see Sen. Obama accept the endorsement of someone who preaches against their "lifestyle"?
Since Sen. Obama taught constitutional law how can he think that "separate but equal" for same sex couples is constitutional?

I challenge all of those in this group too answer these questions and to show me a reason why this man should get my vote for president.

BTW - I noticed that the Christian Knights (KKK) were not invited to the concert so they could be taught about diversity. After all they are our "brothers and sisters" too.

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Yes I have a question.

Ya'll say "We welcome Democrats of all stripes, along with other progressives who will work with us to achieve our shared goals."
Does that include the unemployed, poor, on food stamps, who can't afford a pot to piss in much less to donate to a website?
As much as I appreciate this site and the information I get from it, I cannot afford this addition if it costs me to voice my views.

Why are the Dems so afraid of the filibuster? I watch C-Span and it seems that half the time the Senate is in a quorum call. Why not let the Republicans filibuster? There are holds or “secret holds” on S. 886 - Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007, S.849 -Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act (the “OPEN Government Act”), and S.223 - Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act. The hold means that a senator is threatening to filibuster. LET HIM!! (and yes, it is a him in all known cases)
They refuse to vote for cloture on enumerable bills and by doing so are said to be “filibustering” that bill. In reality, all they are doing is TREATENING to do so.

From Wikipedia “In current practice, Senate Rule 22 permits filibusters, in which actual continuous floor speeches are not required, although the Senate Majority Leader may require an actual traditional filibuster if he or she so chooses. This threat of a filibuster can therefore be as powerful as an actual filibuster. Previously the filibustering senator(s) could delay voting only by making an endless speech. Currently they need only indicate that they are filibustering, thereby preventing the senate from moving on to other business until the motion is withdrawn or enough votes are gathered for cloture.”

So why doesn’t the Senate Majority Leader require an actual traditional filibuster? Keep them on the floor and make them give the American people a reason for their opposition!
Why don’t we put our candidates up against their candidates on the floor of the Senate and let them have at it? We could even have non-candidates read statements form candidates who are House members. Hell why not even ask we the people to submit statements to be read into the record?

Pres. Bush wants division. The Democratic leadership is allowing obstructionist Senators to control the agenda. Can they wonder that their poll ratings are so low?
Bush says he is a war president. Let’s give him a war. Let’s draw the battle lines and debate every bill and every amendment.

Are the Democratic leaders afraid to debate?

I think it’s time to put our best against theirs and really have it out about the future direction of this Nation.

Debate the Unitary Executive. Monday
Debate Transparency in Government. Tuesday
Debate the War on Terror. Wednesday
Debate Warrantless Wiretapping. Thursday
Debate Habeus Corpus. Friday
Stir and mix on the weekend and start all over again the next week.

My answer is yes. I don’t give a fuck if the Senate never passes another bill.
DEBATE and never stop till they vote for cloture and we pass the laws we know this country deserves!

On the anniversary of 9/11 I look back at 6 years of heartache and wonder what has happen to my country. Online today I read some to the posts and the news and realize that we may already be lost. It seems to me that we’ve been cowed and told way too often that we have to make nice. Stop “politicizing” everything, g-d forbid don’t be rude!
I took a look at the Move On ad for myself just to see if it was just “name calling” or mean spirited. It made me wonder what our founders had to say about telling truth to power. I came up with an amazing document that was so seditious that I just thought that everyone at DU might want to take a look at it for themselves.
I’ll just give you a little taste of what is says.

Facts {to} be submitted to a candid world.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. VETOED

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. SIGNING STATEMENTS

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. ROBERTS, ALITO

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance. VOTER CAGING

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power. COMMANDER IN CHIEF

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: TOO MANY TO LIST

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized natioHALLIBURTONTEN, BLACKWATER, et al

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. ENOUGH SAID

BTW this seditious document goes by the name of the Declaration of Independence.

Since 9/11 air travel has become harder and harder.

It starts even before we get to the airport. What can we pack? Geez, we gotta call the airlines or get online and find a list of prohibited stuff, what a pain. “They” keep changing the list all the time! We don’t even look like terrorists!
It seems no matter how hard we try TSA confiscates something! We’re gonna have to buy new toiletries, and that’s the second time we lost our Bics. “They” even made me throw away my water! And why can’t they see that we don’t have a bomb in our sandals. I hate it when “they” make me walk through security in my bare feet.
And you should see what my clothes look like after “they” search my checked bag. Why don’t”they” fold my clothes neatly when “they” are done searching.

No really here’s my real rant about TSA.

TSA Screeners DO NOT make the rules. The have to react the ever changing list of prohibited crap. They deal with idiots ever day that pack crap they know is verboten, and whine and complain about their crap being confiscated. TSA still confiscates GUNS EVERY DAY!
The minute we decide that we are only going to screen the swarthy we might as well stop our security efforts, period. Unless we make it against international law to dye your hair and bleach your skin it won’t work. And oh, by the way, how long before we piss off somebody who’s blond?
Wear sensible shoes will you please. Wear some fucking socks. Change them on the plane if you want but stop bitching about taking off your shoes! Every TSA employee has to take their fucking shoes off ever day they work!
And anytime you want TSA to take the time too make sure you checked bag stays tidy you just come to the airport 5 hours early and they may have the time to accommodate you. As it is TSA is not responsible to assure you make your fucking plane. Their job is to make sure that the people and the crap they travel with are as SECURE as possible. But within the rules set by DHS, TSA screeners work as fast as they can, as politely as they can, to get you on the plane on time no matter how late you get to the airport.

And one last little thing. Anyone who has flown since 9/11 has seen TSA screeners wearing Latex gloves. Those Latex gloves are their ONLY protection. Neither DHS nor TSA provide screeners with body armor or any other kind of protection. They search for BOMBS with Latex gloves as their only shield. I’m sure many have seen the type of equipment worn by bomb squads. Not so for TSA screeners. They put their LIVES on the line every day to make sure air flight in this country is as safe as they can make it.
We cheer firefighters and police officers for stepping up to plate in our defense. It’s about time we gave that same kind of respect to the Screeners at our airports instead of bitching at them for doing their jobs.