Of course…this is what he said during the campaign…AND he could immediately call a moratorium on enforcement of the policy…AND hundreds of highly trained soldiers, technicians, translators, and medical personnel have already been lost this year.  Since the policy’s inception in 1993, over 12, 500 men and women have been discharged…men and women that took millions of dollars to train, and who will take many millions of dollars to replace.  Men and women…who are American heroes AND citizens.

So I guess we can’t blame the people marching the next day for being skeptical about Obama’s promises regarding DADT, repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), securing hate crimes protection for gays, and providing equal work benefits for gay employees and equal rights for their gay partners.

But…he has taken some steps:  Obama has just nominated the first openly gay person to serve as a U.S. Marshall, and there is word that talks have been initiated with Senator Joe Lieberman about repealing DADT, since Lieberman sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

And there is one thing you have to admit…the other side of the aisle, isn’t even trying.

For all the Republicans’ talk of being the “civil rights party” and the “party of Lincoln,” the GOP leadership has offered little in the way of hope to the gay community.  One notable exception: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger just signed two bills, one honoring Harvey Milk, and the other recognizing gay marriages performed in other states.

But the GOP leadership? If Representative John Boehner is any indication…they are still engaged in the “dark ages” belief that homosexuality is a “choice.”  When asked why he opposed the currently proposed legislation to add sexual orientation to the list of things protected by hate crime laws (ie. race, religion, gender), Boehner said that sexual orientation is different from the currently protected classes, which he says are “based on immutable characteristics.“  It’s hard to tell which of Boehner’s positions makes less sense:  that sexual orientation is NOT based on permanent traits from birth…or that religious choice IS.  Seeing as this argument doesn’t make any sense, allow me to translate Boehner’s response on behalf of the GOP to the question of “why shouldn’t gays have equal legal protection:“ They just don’t respect gay Americans.  And it is, in part, because of this viewpoint…homophobia-fueled beatings like the one endured by Jack Price (disturbing video here) continue to occur with some frequency.

And the Prop 8 Supporters? If their lawyer, Charles Cooper, is any indication…the pro-Prop 8 groups can’t even explain why Prop 8 (a California ban on gay marriage) is necessary.  In a recent hearing U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn Walker asked Cooper to explain just how gay marriage poses any threat to heterosexual marriage, as alleged in Cooper’s lawsuit.  Cooper’s response: “My answer is, I don’t know. I don’t know.“  Seeing as this argument doesn’t make any sense, allow me to translate Cooper’s response on behalf of Prop 8 supporters to the question of “why shouldn’t gays be allowed to marry:” They just don’t respect gay Americans.

And the right-wing media? If FOX News is any indication…they’ll cover Tea Party protests, no matter how small, but barely give airtime to a protest of 75,000 protesters in Washington, D.C., marching for gay rights.  In fact, the recent Tea Party protest in D.C. which netted about the same number of participants, seemed to warrant (by FOX’s standards) almost endless coverage and ads that also served to PROMOTE the event.  FOX News even had the nerve to criticize the other networks for covering the event too little, saying that the number of attendees alone merited great attention…but somehow the same number of gay people, and their heterosexual supporters, just don’t seem to count.  Seeing as this argument doesn’t make any sense, allow me to translate FOX News’ response to the question of “why shouldn’t gay civil rights protests get fair and equal treatment on the news:” They just don’t respect gay Americans.

Here’s Jon Stewart of The Daily Show on FOX News’ hypocrisy:

What all these people forget, is that there are consequences to ignoring segments of our own citizenry.  Republicans, and FOX…will increasingly just have to do without the votes and viewership of gay Americans.  Democrats, and Obama…need to show gay Americans the respect the others won’t, or they will similarly be penalized.  And they ALL should realize, that a growing number of heterosexual Americans…ALSO support equal rights for gay Americans, and will vote/spend/watch  accordingly.

But…upon what information are these claims based?  What has changed so PROFOUNDLY as to make these people feel that “their America” is slipping away from them?  Truthfully…is Obama really even THAT liberal?

Some points for your consideration:

-  Obama kept Gates as Defense Secretary and Petraeus as commander of U.S. Central Command…it was said that this was to preserve some sort of “continuity,” but the truth is, with our military so politicized under Bush, and our efforts in Iraq so badly planned and managed, is there really ANY justification for the holdovers?

-  Obama kept Geithner (elevating him to Treasury Secretary) and kept Bernanke as head of the Fed…and recently re-upped Bernanke for a second term.  Again, while many may credit Geithner/Bernanke with helping to “avert an economic collapse“…don’t we at least have to blame them a little for, well, WHAT LED US TO THE COLLAPSE?

-  Obama has stopped our torture programs.  And recently, he put a very special man in charge of making sure our interrogators don’t torture:  John Brennan, the same man who, under Bush, helped DEVELOP the torture program.

- Obama, while closing Gitmo…has kept the military commission available for use.

- The Obama Administration backed the Bush policy that Bagram detainees in Afghanistan…have no constitutional rights.

-  The Obama Administration opted NOT to release the photos of the mistreatment of detainees, despite their claim that such items CLEARLY fall under the Freedom of Information Act.

-  Obama has asserted the same, controversial “state secrets” policy employed by Bush to protect the government against multiple lawsuits…no matter how well-founded the charges.

-  Obama continued the Bush policy of refusing to release the White House visitors list.

-  Obama has repeatedly resisted calls to investigate torture committed by U.S. personnel…despite mounting evidence.  When forced to initiate investigations…he has called for inquiries to go no higher than the interrogators themselves (that is, ignoring the individuals who ORDERED the torture)…and only those interrogators who exceeded the fundamentally flawed DOJ memos which gave only the semblance of legality, not actual legality, to the interrogators’ actions.

-  Obama has continued the use of Bush’s infamous, and unconstitutional, “signing statements.”

-  The White House is required to save all emails…millions from the Bush years are missing.  The lawsuit from two advocacy groups calling for those emails to be recovered?  The Obama White House opposed it and took steps to kill it.

-  The Obama Health Care Plan?  Not even half as “nationalized” or “socialized” as the Clintons’.  It still allows for a system dominated by private insurance, even IF the public option is included.

-  A challenge against the anti-gay marriage “Defense of Marriage Act?“  The Obama White House asked the court to dismiss it.

-  A case that would have put the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy in front of the Supreme Court…the administration let the deadline to file a Supreme Court appeal pass quietly.

-  The rendition/kidnapping program…kept alive.

-”Targeted killings” (we call them assassinations) in Pakistan and Afghanistan…expanded.

-  In fact, almost all but two of the eleven key components of Bush’s anti-terror tools have been kept (torture, and “black sites” are gone), some of them have even been expanded.

-  Warrantless Wiretapping…the Obama Administration actually fought to keep it in place.

-  Here’s another look…and another…and another…

In fact, it looks like the people who most bought the “campaign rhetoric” of “CHANGE“…were Republicans.  Because despite the fact that Obama has led as nothing, if not as a centrist…who has to date NOT called for drastic nationalization of the banks or the health care industry…who has NOT drawn a firm line in the sand towards defending civil liberties and equality…and who has NOT reversed more than a handful of the Bush administration’s most odious and unconstitutional policies…the Republicans are still seeing Obama as some sort of “lefty crusader.” New flash guys…you should be thanking your lucky stars:  the majority of Americans DID want real change, are ready for “lefty policies,” and are ready to see a return to the Constitution and the Rule of Law…we are the ones who should be most disappointed and scared thus far, not you.

POLITICIANS BEHAVING BADLY:

• I love a good sparring match as much as the next guy…and how could you do much better than Michele Bachmann (R) debating with Barney Frank (D), moderated by CNN’s Lou Dobbs. Frank is crazy-smart, Dobbs is crazy-angry, and Bachmann is just crazy-crazy. The subject: Bachmann has proposed that federal funding should be withdrawn from any group that has any of its members indicted. Her primary goal, is to see the funding for ACORN taken away…but it didn’t take long for Frank to point out how ridiculous the idea really is. I once heard “you can indict a ham sandwich,” and it’s true…and because it is true, it means that anyone who wanted to hurt a group for political reasons would only have to get one of its members indicted, which is easy to do. Frank also pointed out that funding ACORN and groups like it…was an idea that came from Republicans during the BUSH ADMINISTRATION, as an effort to contract out community outreach instead of growing government agencies. He also mentioned that her measure could hurt groups she doesn’t intend it to, citing when AIPAC members got indicted, only to have all charges dropped…and also, that when Tom DeLay was indicted, under Bachmann’s plan, all the House Republicans would have lost their funding. Way to really think it through, Michelle.
• Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) has a new argument against Global Warming theories: CO2 emissions CAN’T be harmful…because there is CO2 in carbonated soft drinks. It’s arguments like this that have led The Economist to include Barton in their series, “Profiles in Stupidity.” An excerpt: “We’ve chronicled Mr. Barton’s stupidity (there really is no other word for it) before. Anyone looking for exhibit A in what’s wrong with the Republican Party should start with the good congressman…Please don’t get me wrong, it’s not simply that Mr. Barton is a climate-change skeptic. There are plenty of those and some make decent arguments against moving ahead with measures to control emissions. The problem with Mr. Barton is that he is wholly uninterested in the science and statistics of the global warming debate. He is about as curious as a dead cat, as is his colleague in the Senate, James Inhofe.“
• I continue to be shocked to see the RNC trot out attacks on Obama that were used during the presidential campaign, were debunked/explained at that time, and in the long run, proved ineffective. Their latest: they want to remind you, that during the campaign Obama said there was a “fundamental flaw” in the Constitution…and that means he doesn’t respect the document…or America. Of course, the flaw that Obama was referring to…WAS SLAVERY. Even the founding fathers expressed disappointment in themselves for failing to resolve the issue at that time, and for leaving the door to slavery open. So, unless you just happen to be a “big fan” of slavery…I think we can all agree with Obama on this one.
• AND in ANOTHER classic example of failing to learn from past mistakes…you’ve probably heard people speak of LBJ’s “Daisy” ad…the ad which showed a little girl playing, and then the image of a mushroom cloud. When people talk of this ad, they use it an example of the lowest, most shameful form of blatant fearmongering ever perpetrated on the American public in the form of a public TV spot. It is the one, disgusting act, by which all other attempts to manipulate voters by scaring them to death, are judged by. Want to see it? Look no further than the NEW RNC ad. Here it is:

• Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) recently took some heat for his suggestion that Texas should secede from the United States…some people seemed to think that was kind of “un-American.” And now, engaged in the political fight of his life against fellow Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, his advisor, David Carney has come up with a provocative reason why Hutchison should not be considered. Carney said that drawing in new voters, like the women that support Hutchison, would be good for the GOP, but “that doesn’t mean you take your principles and throw them out the door and become a whorehouse and let anybody in who wants to come in, regardless.” Nice…if there’s one thing women voters like to hear, it’s female politicians inferred to be “whores.”
• A Public Service Announcement from RNC Chairman Michael Steele: Being a liberal…can KILL YOU. Steele says, “The Republican Party’s credibility as the reliably conservative choice has been damaged, and it’s up to us to fix it. Faith, freedom, personal responsibility, respect for life and prosperity…Like a bad diet, liberalism will kill you. It’s a drug we don’t need to be hooked on. We are what stand between an America of prosperity or dependency. Which one do you want?” Now you know…and knowing is half the battle.
• Georgia Republican Representative Paul Broun has a dream…he wants 2010 to be officially declared the Year of the Bible. Broun also wants to make sure that nobody thinks this has ANYTHING to do with Christianity…because, of course, some people might call the government endorsing religion “unconstitutional.” No…Broun says it’s just because the book has been really, really important in the creation of America. And people say the Republicans don’t have any new ideas…

MEDIA HACKS, PUNDITS, AND OTHER INVETERATE LIARS:

• Under allegations that she knew our government was using torture and she did nothing, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has claimed that the CIA never briefed her that that torture was being utilized. So…how does the conservative media question the veracity of Pelosi’s claims? By attacking her looks, of course. Media Matters put together this list, which includes comparisons between Pelosi and a “hag,” assertions that she uses Botox, and a claim that she is unable to perform “human facial expression.” Very highbrow. Here’s a clip:

• I feel like I’m taking crazy pills: recently, right-wing radio host Michael Savage attacked…Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh? Savage said: “...here in America, I’ve had some people come to my aid. They see the bigger picture. They’re not like [Bill] O’Reilly; they’re not like Limbaugh, who’s the biggest disappointment of all. Limbaugh has turned out to be the biggest phony of all of them, all of them. Amongst all of them, he is the biggest fraud. Rush Limbaugh is a fraud. When he was accused of the drug usage, I supported him. But that man is a one-way street. It’s all about him. He’s in it for nobody but himself.” This seems to stem from the fact that neither O’Reilly nor Limbaugh defended Savage when the United Kingdom announced that Savage was not welcome in their country because he is a person who “stirs up hate.” Ooops…I’m sure they’ll all be BFF’s again in no time.
• Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura is on a MEDIA RAMPAGE. First…he proves that he is clearly “crazy, not stupid” on Sean Hannity’s show, where he proceeds to make Hannity very uncomfortable…leading Hannity to make several inane assertions, like saying that Bush “inherited” 9/11 (Sean…it’s hard for a president to inherit something that happens nine months AFTER he takes office), and that “loving Reagan” counts as a notable accomplishment. That clip, is worth viewing. Ventura was upset that Hannity cut the interview short, as he wanted to discuss waterboarding…as a Navy SEAL, Ventura experienced waterboarding during his training, and he claims that he could waterboard Hannity and get him to admit that “Barack Obama is the greatest president.” He says the reason Hannity cut things short: “He’s scared to death of me. It was over in a few minutes and that was it.” Ventura recently took on Elisabeth Hasselbeck of The View, and to a similar result. He told her: “If waterboarding is OK, why don’t we let our police do it to suspects so they can learn what they know? If waterboarding is OK, why didn’t we waterboard [Timothy] McVeigh and Nichols, the Oklahoma City bombers, to find out if there were more people involved?…We only seem to waterboard Muslims…Have we waterboarded anyone else? Name me someone else who has been waterboarded.” Hasselbeck could only respond by trying to make the debate about Pelosi…at which point Ventura points out the obvious fact that ordering and performing torture is certainly a worse crime than “knowing about it,” and therefore is more deserving of our attention. Lastly, Ventura visits FOX and Friends, where he reminds the hosts that we are a nation of LAWS…to which Brian Kilmeade responds than laws aren’t so important when “people are on fire” and “buildings are blowing up.” Kilmeade goes the ridiculous step further of saying that he will stop supporting torture when “they’re dead.” Ventura…again, a Navy SEAL, was not impressed with Kilmeade’s tough talk: “Really? Have you enlisted? Have you enlisted or are you just talking?…Go walk the walk, don’t talk the talk.“
• I’ll just treat this item with a brief summary of events: FOX’s Glenn Beck is invited to appear on The View. Glenn Beck bumps into Whoopi Goldberg and Barbara Walters on the train and they have a pleasant discussion. Glenn Beck goes on the radio, lies about what happened on the train, and portrays Goldberg and Walters as bitchy divas. Glenn Beck goes on The View, the clip from his radio show is played, and it is pointed out that he is a fraud and a liar. Glenn Beck sheepishly smiles, reminds his hosts that he is not a journalist, and is therefore not required to research, use facts, or make true statements on his show. Goldberg responds that he is a “lying sack of dog mess.” Glenn Beck on his next radio show…demands “a damn apology.” Here’s the clip from The View…it’s really amazing:

GAY RIGHTS:

• Yesterday, I was very critical of President Obama, for not taking steps to end the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, under which valuable, veteran soldiers are being discharged from the service because they are gay. In part, I was reacting to statements from Pentagon officials, which indicated that the president was taking no significant steps towards changing or repealing the policy. However, yesterday, White House Press Secretary Gibbs painted a very different picture, saying that “active discussions” were taking place and that “the President is involved in these discussions. It was the President’s commitment to overturn the policy that’s not in our national interest that is the reason for these discussions and for the effort to overturn this. So I think the notion somehow – the reason Congress is involved is the only durable and lasting way with which to overturn the policy is to do it by law.” Let’s hope this is the case.
• The National Organization for Marriage is at it again. You may remember they put out a TV spot recently that was so overly dramatic, and so overtly pandering to fear and ignorance, that it was openly mocked from almost every side. So, of course, in their second ad they’ve learned from their mistakes and present a more reasonable, intelligent argument…oh no, wait…they put out this nonsense about terribly sad and confused children, psychically damaged by the very thought of same-sex marriage. I don’t know about you…but most children I have seen dealing with gay relationships of parents or parents’ friends, do better at grasping the important concepts than most adults do. Children…understand what it means to be with someone because you love them. Here’s the clip:

GHOSTS OF THE PAST:

• Members of the Bush Administration have been attempting for months now to hide behind the Justice Department memos, taking the position that while the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” (read as “torture”) may have been illegal….because they had memos say “it’s ok” they are in the clear. But, what if they ordered/condoned/implemented the techniques BEFORE the memos? Well, that may be the case, since the White House’s own statements place the capture and interrogation of Abu Zubaydah as starting in March 2002…and the memos were not issued until August. Ali Soufan, a former FBI interrogator, has been testifying in Congress about Zubaydah’s interrogation, and has made it clear that the detainee was cooperative and gave good information…until the CIA and its contractors took over and instantly began torturing him. One source indicates that the CIA interrogator would send a “top-secret cable” to the CIA each day, requesting permission to torture Zubaydah…the CIA would forward the memo to the White House, and White House counsel Alberto Gonzales would approve the measures. Oh Alberto…you may have really stepped in it this time: your appearances before Congress told us you were incompetent and had no knowledge of Constitutional Law, but this seems to indicate that you were foolish beyond even our worst imagining.
• Oh…I pointed out Wednesday that some GOP leaders think that Pelosi did the UNTHINKABLE in accusing the CIA of deceiving Congress…despite the fact that they have OFTEN been found to be deceiving Congress, and there are several other legislators (including Republicans) ALSO accusing the agency of similar behavior. In light of these accusations, the CIA has produced documentation regarding who gave briefings, on what dates, and which subjects were covered. Some initial discrepancies were immediately detected (wrong dates, wrong attendees, falsified entries)…and now…more mistakes. CIA…after the whole “weapons of mass destruction” thing and now this “we swear we told Congress we were using torture” thing…it’s looking like they’re either incompetent or deceptive…there’s no third option.
• A lot has been made of the “showdown” between Obama’s speech on the subject of closing Gitmo, and former VP Cheney’s speech in defense of Gitmo and torture tactics. Obama’s speech has been met with mostly favorable review…Cheney’s speech… not so much. It appears some people are a bit put off by the obvious omissions, errors, and hyperbole, in Cheney’s argument. For example, he cited the Director of National Intelligence, Adm. Dennis Blair as supporting the techniques…when what Blair really said was, “there is no way of knowing whether the same information could have been obtained through other means. The bottom line is that these techniques hurt our image around the world, the damage they have done to our interests far outweighed whatever benefit they gave us and they are not essential to our national security.” Cheney said that torture had “prevented the violent death of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of innocent people,” despite the top-secret 2004 CIA inspector general’s investigation which found that these techniques had not provided ANY significantly helpful information, nor had they prevented ANY attacks. He said that Obama’s release of the “torture memos” has “flatly” contrary to U.S. National Security…when, in fact, Admiral Blair had recommended it. Cheney patted himself on the back for pursuing Al Qaeda…even though Osama bin Laden and his chief lieutenant, Ayman al Zawahri still remain at large. For a thorough examination of how Cheney played fast and loose with the facts (which should surprise NO ONE)…here’s a good read.

PALINWATCH:

• Most Misguided Campaign Idea: John Coale, husband to FOX News’ Greta Van Susteren and one-time Palin advisor, approached Palin during her husband’s Iron Dog “snow machine” race with a DOOZY of an idea: pay off Hillary Clinton’s campaign debt. Coale’s idea consisted of using money from Palin’s PAC to help Clinton pay down her debt…in hopes that this “friendship” would help Palin among moderates and liberals. Even Palin realized instantly that this idea was a non-starter. One: conservatives who donated the money to her PAC would be furious. Two: the geniuses who would vote for Palin just because she is a woman already support her. Three: the rest of the moderates and liberals…will never support someone with Palin’s agenda (or her loopy behavior), no matter who she befriends.
• Sarah Palin, after RNC Chairman Steele’s recent speech where he attempted to revitalize the Republican Party, declared Steele to be “bold and courageous.” Really? This guy is trying to rebrand the GOP as the “party with lots of ideas“…but can’t think of one to mention. He is consistently mocked for his use of “hip-hop” language which comes across as forced, juvenile, and unprofessional. His own party wants him replaced as chairman, and until that can happen they are trying to take away all of his control over the party finances. This…this is the guy you’re going to support, Sarah? She said: “Today, we have a friend in RNC Chairman Michael Steele, and his bold and courageous speech defines his leadership goals that will guide us all through this most difficult time for our nation.” His speech can also be seen here, along with Palin’s comments…I think when the majority of the GOP thinks the guy is an embarrassment and a media whore, it would be best not to label him as the “great hope” of the party’s future.

MISCELLANY:

• Ok…I know it’s the worst kind of gossip, but if it is true, it is HYSTERICAL. By now everyone has heard the name “Carrie Prejean.” Quick Summary: Prejean is Miss California…she entered the Miss USA pageant…when asked about gay marriage, she voiced her opposition to it…when she lost the competition she blamed the judges for being prejudiced against prejudiced people…it came out that the Miss California pageant committee paid for her breast implants…several partly-nude pictures of her surfaced…Trump did not take her crown, even though the photos clearly showed she violated her contract…now she serves as a spokesperson against gay marriage. AND NOW…a woman has come forward claiming that she had a lesbian relationship with Prejean’s mother…a recent relationship that ended only weeks before the Miss USA competition. AWK-Waaaard!

Another interesting week…as long as Obama stays busy, Fox News stays on the air, Palin still thinks she can be president, and Republicans keep struggling to make sense to somebody (anybody!)…I’m sure we’ll have plenty to talk about.

Have a great weekend, my friends…