Day: July 25, 2005

Jane Fonda Rides Again

Jon Ponder

Jane Fonda after being arrested on drug charges in Cleveland in 1970. The “drugs” were tested and found to be vitamins.

I recently finished Jane Fonda’s autobiography, My Life, So Far, which I recommend especially if your interests include the intersection of showbiz and politics, as mine do.

Now Fonda has announced she’s coming out to protest the current war by taking a bus tour across country. She made a similar cross-country trek in the 1960’s, traveling to military towns and even onto bases to meet with active duty soldiers and returning veterans who opposed the Vietnam War. She’ll be traveling with Iraqi war veterans on the upcoming trip.

[…]

Clear Channel Co-Opts Queer Channel

Buck Banks

This story has all the earmarks of a heart-warmer: A bunch of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered employees of media Jabba the Hut Clear Channel conceive of a radio show for GLBT folk and propose it to CC. Clear Channel, or “The Channel,” as we might as well call it, smells money and says, “Okay!”

The result is a thing called “Queer Channel,” a two-hour radio program on KQKE in San Francisco that, according to its mission statement seeks to “educate and entertain the world at large about issues concerning the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Community.” It proposes to do this with celebrity and community panelists.

Feeling warm of heart yet?

I don’t — I don’t trust Clear Channel.

Clear Channel, founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, wields considerable influence in radio broadcasting, concert promotion and hosting, and fixed advertising in the United States through its subsidiaries. The company owns over 1,200 high-power AM, FM , and shortwave radio stations and more than 30 television stations in the United States, among other media outlets in other countries. The present head of the company is Lowry Mays and its headquarters is located in San Antonio, Texas.

The term “clear channel” comes from AM broadcasting, referring to a channel (frequency) on which only one station transmits.

In the Clear Channel modus operandi, there are many stations all transmitting the same message. Look for “The Channel” to do for GLBT broadcasting what it’s done for AOR radio and local radio.

“Queer Channel” debuts Sunday, Aug. 7 at 10 p.m. on KQKE “The Quake” in San Francisco.

A Plame Name Game Timeline

Buck Banks

Thanks to FactCheck.org for this cool timeline of events leading up to the current mess.

The Timeline

1988-1991 – Joseph Wilson serves as Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad, Iraq. In July 1990, he takes over as acting ambassador to Iraq. (Joseph Wilson, The Politics of Truth 451, 2004).

1992-1995 – Nominated by President George H.W. Bush, Wilson serves as Ambassador to the African nations of Gabon, as well as the smaller island country of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. (Wilson, Politics 451).

1995-1997 – Joseph Wilson serves as political adviser to the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces in Europe, stationed in Germany. On a trip to Washington DC, Wilson meets Valerie Plame who at the time says she is an “energy executive living in Brussels.” (Wilson, Politics 239-242).

June 1997 – Joseph Wilson returns to Washington DC as Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council. At about the same time, Plame also moves back to the United States (Wilson, Politics 240), in part because the CIA suspects her name was leaked to the Russians in 1994. (Vanity Fair, Jan. ‘04).

April 3, 1998 – Wilson and Plame marry. (Wilson, Politics 276).

[…]

Pam Spaulding Gets a Note from the Republican Base

Jon Ponder

Occasionally rightwing trolls wander into liberal blogs and leave their droppings just to let us know they’re around, I suppose.

When [homophobes] dwell on same-gender sex aren’t they, in fact, fantasizing about it? If you’re a self-identifying straight person but you’re obsessed with homosexuality to the point that it consumes your life, making you increasingly more hostile and agitated day by day – seek counseling. You may just be queer yourself.

Pam Spaulding, the host and editor of one of our favorite sites, Pam’s House Blend, is as strong an advocate for progressive values – and queer rights – as they come. It’s not surprising, therefore, that she was singled out to be the recipient of this missive from a typical Bush voter that I thought I’d pass along:

Subject: Amazing Website
From: “Robert Lundey”
Date: Sat, July 23, 2005 10:23 pm

Why is it that anytime someone disagrees with the homosexual lifestyle, they are a “homophobe?” You stupid ignorant homos who made up that word are so DUMB that the logic of the word as it relates to those who are accused of being one makes no sense. “Phobe” signifies fear, who is afraid of you warped people?

Why dont [sic] you carry your nasty carpet munching and pole smoking selves to a secluded island and do all the nasty fudge-packing and patty caking you want to. Stay to yourselves so your nasty lifestyle will die out.

The reason faggots and lesbos get such a bad name is because of dyke bitches like you who are always pointing fingers and looking for handouts.

You call a guy, who happens to be a pator [sic] a homophobe because he is against homosexuality? I am no Bible scholar, but I do know there are various places in the Bible that teach against that perverted lifestyle. If this guy did not follow his Bible, then he would be going against God. Lets [sic] see support [sic] the rump rangers and butches or support God…no contest! and dont [sic] give me your crap about God being a loving and accepting God. He loves everyone, just not there [sic] lifestyle. I know this stuff and I am not even a Christian!

Get a life you nasty muff diving dyke whore!

Leaving aside the fact that Mr. Lundey had nothing better to do at 10PM on a Saturday night than type up this hilariously self-deluded screed – can’t get a date much? – let’s look at the larger issue.

One thing I have learned in my 49.999999 years on the planet is that when it comes to sexuality there are two kinds of people: those who are comfortable with the way God (and by that I mean Nature) created them – and those whose sexual desires are so repressed that they are expressed in twisted, tortured and hateful ways.

As a gay person, I do not think about – much less dwell on, day after day after day – the particular sex practices that straight people enjoy. I mean, it’s fine – yall do whatever floats your boat. To each his own. Whatever, whatever.

Why do ostensibly straight people like this Mr. Lundey – or opinion-makers whose views he has regurgitated here like Pat Robertson, Donald Wildmon, Jerry Falwell and especially Jesse Helms – spend so much time obsessing about the mechanics of other people’s sex lives?

Another question. When they dwell on same-gender sex aren’t they, in fact, fantas1zing about it?

If you’re a self-identifying straight person but you’re obsessed with homosexuality to the point that it consumes your life, making you increasingly more hostile and agitated day by day – seek counseling. You may just be queer yourself.