Saturday, March 28, 2009

More Involvement?

President Obama seems fixated on widening the US involvement in Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban. This is causing some, particularly my fellow left-wing democrats, to question why put more troops in Afghanistan. Isn't that, after all, just following Bush's lead? Isn't that what we did NOT want to happen?
Believe me, I am not happy about more US troops being deployed anywhere. I want them all home. But I still trust President Obama (with this and the economy). I think he must have strong evidence that the Taliban or Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan are definitely planning more attacks on US citizens here and abroad. I do not think President Obama is just putting more US troops in harms way because he's a power hungry, war-obsessed person.
Unlike George W. & Company, that were bent on World Domination, I truly feel President Obama is doing what is in the best interest of the US.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

You've Heard About The Big One That Got Away....

We've all hear the story from the fisherman about the big one that got away. But, in Virginia, a hunter was was fined $400 and jailed for hunting violations after he bolted antlers to the head of a dead doe and posed for a photograph. Marcel Fournier, 19, shot the doe at night and then used glue and long bolts to affix antlers to its head before checking in the deer. In Virginia it's illegal to kill an antlerless deer, and it's also illegal to hunt at night. Guess we all like to brag about our conquests.

In another rather comical news story, a driver in Washington State received a summons when a police officer stopped him driving in the carpool lane with a passenger who was not wearing a sealtbelt. Turned out the passenger was a dummy, literally. The driver was using the dummy as a second passenger to access the carpool lane.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Texas Gov Rejects Stimulus Money

Texas Governor Rick Perry said "No Thanks" to $555 Million in Federal Simulus money. Perry, an outspoken critic of President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus bill, did accept most of the roughly $17 billion slated for Texas in the plan.
Other Governors have threatened the same action, but to date I do not think any have actually turned down the money. Now I guess the People of the State of Texas will have to decide if Perry is thinking of them or his own political gains.

Monday, March 09, 2009

Again I ask: Is This 2009?

As reported by EQUALITY CALIFORNIA, this sign, "Dan White Hero. Killing A Queer" was sighted at the Prop 8 hearing last week as the California Supreme Court heard oral arguments against and for the Prop. For those of you that don't know, Dan White was the man who shot San Francisco Mayor George Mascone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978. Both men were killed by White's bullets.(Dan White's attorney at his trial argued what is known today as the Twinkie Defense). This poster should be one of outrage and disbelief!

Is this 2009 or is this 1809? To believe that some people still feel this way about any group is unbelievable! That anyone would feel this much hate as to call a killer a hero is beyond my imagination! But unfortunately, some things never change as sophisticated as we think we are.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

March 5, 2009; A Big Day For California Gay Rights

Tomorrow, March 5, 2009, is a very big day for gay rights in California. Tomorrow, the California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments as to why Proposition 8, a Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages in California, is unconstitutional. If you recall, voters in California approved Prop 8 by a slim margin in November. The approved amendment stated that marriage is between one man and one woman, thus making same-sex marriage invalid. This after the California Supreme Court had previously ruled that the California Constitution did not prohibit same-sex marriage. With an amendment, the Constitution would now specifically declare same-sex marriage null and void.
The day after the November election, three lawsuits challenging Prop. 8 were filed directly in the California Supreme Court. On November 19, 2008, the Supreme Court agreed to hear those cases. The court directed the parties to brief and argue the following issues: (1) Is Proposition 8 invalid because it constitutes a revision of, rather than an amendment to, the California Constitution? (2) Does Proposition 8 violate the separation of powers doctrine under the California Constitution? (3) If Proposition 8 is not unconstitutional, what is its effect, if any, on the marriages of same-sex couples performed before the adoption of Proposition 8? The court will issue a written opinion within 90 days, or the beginning of June.
This amendment added to the California Constitution essentially legalizes discrimination. A specific group, the LGBT community, is singled out as that group. Let's say for example, that a state wanted to prohibit African-Americans from voting or owning property. Could a State simply vote on an amendment to do so? I don't think so! So we shall see what happens in California and what ramifications it has on other states in the Union.