Saturday, October 10, 2009

Adopt-a-Liberal

Steve Benen calls attention to an initiative by a Jerry Falwell group to urge its members to "Adopt-a-Liberal" and pray for them.
I'm assuming their prayers are meant to turn the individuals more conservative. But what if these liberals are like me and are liberal BECAUSE of their Christian beliefs? Are these Falwellians praying that they will become less Christian?

"Dear Lord, Please cause this person to turn inward and become more self-focused. Let them see the light that turning their backs on the poor and downtrodden is the true path to righteousness. Have them recognize that starting wars, promoting torture and supporting capital punishment is the true path to the Prince of Peace. Amen."

Obama and gay rights

This is good news:

Obama called for the repeal of the ban on gays in the military -- the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
"We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve this country," he said. "I'm working with the Pentagon, its leadership and the members of the House and Senate on ending this policy, legislation that has been introduced in the House to make this happen, I will end 'don't ask, don't tell.' That's my commitment to you."
The president said he backed the rights of gay couples, saying they should have the "same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country." He said he has urged Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefit and Obligations Act.


I'm wondering if having the Nobel Peace Prize under his belt won't spur Obama to push this along and may even help him to get it through.
The Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy has long outlived its usefulness as a transition period and needs to be eliminated.
And the Orwellian "Defense of Marriage Act" is simply reprehensible and will one day be looked back on by history in the same light as the Jim Crow laws.

Friday, October 09, 2009

Great Expectations



President Obama's Nobel Peace prize in unquestionably coming sooner than anyone would have expected. I don't think anyone can really avoid calling the honor premature.
I liken it to having the Academy Award for Best Picture awarded to a movie while it is still being filmed. Or inducting a baseball player into the Hall of Fame after his rookie season.

Still, I would rather have the world tossing premature Nobel Peace prizes at our president rather than throwing shoes at him.

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

New GOP theme song

Steve Benen is nominating nominating this tune as the official theme song for the GOP.
I'll second that nomination.