Florida Dem Confronts Hypocritical Jeb

Crackerjack press release today from the Florida House Democratic Caucus, sharing a memo from one House member to Gov. Jeb “I’m Such a Hypocrite I Can’t Believe It Myself” Bush.

Florida Media Outlets and Other Interested Parties:

Below you will find an e-mail that State Representative Tim Ryan (D-Dania Beach) sent to Governor Bush this morning regarding the Governor’s new found support for redistricting reform—for California residents.

Dear Governor Bush:

I was thrilled to hear that you had embraced the idea, and even held a fundraiser here in Florida, to support the concept of having an independent redistricting commission, not politicians, draw the boundaries for state legislative and congressional districts — until I realized you were only supporting the idea for California, and not for Florida.

Both our states have seen one party use gerrymandering to unfairly dominate their respective state legislatures. In Florida, the Republicans have used squiggly lines on district maps to give themselves a 2-to-1 advantage in both the state legislature and Congressional delegation, despite the fact that there are more registered Democrats than Republicans in the state. In California, Democrats have pretty much done the same. But just because both parties do it, that doesn’t make it right.

So how about it, governor? I’ll endorse an independent redistricting commission in California — even though it’ll mean fewer legislative seats for my fellow Democrats — if you’ll join AARP, Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and a host of other good-government groups and endorse the idea of taking redistricting out of the hands of politicians with a vested interest in the process here in Florida.

I look forward to joining you and Governor Schwarzenegger at a future fundraiser in support of reforming Florida’s redistricting effort, along with Attorney General Charlie Crist, Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings and Members of Congress Ander Crenshaw, Mark Foley, Mario Diaz-Balart, Ginny Brown-Waite, who all voted for independent redistricting as members of the State Senate in 1993.

F***in� A.

Nation’s First Gay Hate Crime Fails to Earn Note in Oldest City

What has become an annual controversy over gay pride took a new twist this year in my adopted hometown of St. Augustine, Florida. First, a little background.

The Bridge of Lions, so named for the giant marble statues at its base, flies flags from lightposts across the two-lane structure, which carries people to and from Anastasia Island. The flags – sometimes American, sometimes with the city crest, sometimes a custom design – commemorate such events as federal holidays and our city’s founding in 1565.

In recent years, flags have been flown for less historic and patriotic reasons, such as to make things look nice for Bike Week visitors from nearby Daytona, or the annual big-bucks kingfishing tournament.

For the past couple of years, gay pride organizers have petitioned the city to post rainbow flags on the bridge during June. This request triggered a long-overdue discussion of a policy for the theme of flags, determining what would or wouldn’t “fly.”

St. Augustine Record:

After two years of rejections, the gay rights activists of St. Augustine Pride thought this was their year.

Their request to fly rainbow gay pride flags on the Bridge of Lions during their pride event in June had been turned down the last two years because the city requires that “the message on the banners or flags shall relate directly to a not-for-profit event that is in direct correlation to a historical landmark or event in the City and has historical significance associated with the City.”

You want history, the group asked? We’ll give you history.

This year, their argument was based on what they call the first American hate crime, committed more than 400 years ago in this area. They contend that in 1566 a Spanish governor secretly ordered the murder of a gay French interpreter of the Guale Native language.

They attached this and several other stories of historical gay citizens and presented them with this year’s application.

Commissioners and the city’s special events coordinator, who is in charge of flags on the bridge, listened to the group’s arguments and gave the old thumbs-down yet again.

“I sincerely hope we don’t have to keep meeting like this,” said Rev. Ruth Jensen, pastor at First Coast Metropolitan Community Church, addressing the commissioners and the mayor. She was one of 11 citizens who addressed the commission on behalf of the organization.

“This is historically significant,” said Jensen. “It can not be more so.”

I know many of the participants and don’t believe homophobia is the prime motivator. Even the Super Bowl, held in nearby Jacksonville this year, was not allowed to put up its Roman numeral flags. And yes, a gay pride festival is licensed in the city’s municipal exhibit areas.

Paul Williamson, director of public affairs, said the issue is more about the rules than rights. He turned downed an application from the Super Bowl Host Committee, citing the policy that was enacted in October of 2002.

“It has to be associated with an event that has historical significance,” said Williamson. “We’re denying their flags, not the festival. I hope they’ll continue to do it because it’s a good event.”

Still, it’s hard to parse out the fine distinction here, flag-wise.

The city has approved the flying of flags on the bridge celebrating Flagler College, the Lighthouse Festival and the civil rights movement.

“They were talking about civil rights, and we, in essence, are talking about the same thing,” said Jensen.

The lawyer who handled my divorce, who is one of the city commissioners, made me proud.

Vice Mayor Susan Burk said she would like to see the decision come from citizen support, a system similar to how license plates are chosen.

“I want to change the code to allow a group like this to fly their flag,” she said…

It isn’t over yet, though.

After the decision, Jensen spoke to those who had come to support St. Augustine Pride. She promised they would still be walking flags over the bridge during the event. Their next move will be legal action, said Rev. Jensen.

“We really didn’t expect anything to be different than it had been in the last two years,” said Jensen… “We were very pleased with the diversity of our supporters and with support we’re getting from all over the country. We’re going to keep trying.”

Maher Accused of Treason for Criticizing Military’s Abysmal Recruitment Record

The truth hurts. Rightwingers are such whiners. They always blame the messenger rather than dealing with the real problem:

Comedian Bill Maher’s mouth has landed him in hot water–again.

Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) says Maher’s comment on HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher” May 13, that the U.S. military has already recruited all the “low-lying fruit,” is possibly treasonous and at least grounds to cancel the show.

“More people joined the Michael Jackson fan club,” Maher said of the Army’s low recruitment numbers for April. “We’ve done picked all the low-lying Lynndie England fruit, and now we need warm bodies.”

England was accused of abusing prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

“I think it borders on treason,” Bachus said. “In treason, one definition is to undermine the effort or national security of our country.”

In a statement released Monday, Maher defended his support for the U.S. armed forces.

I agree with the proposal that has been floating around that we should call on leaders like Rep. Bacchus – as well as the Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Perle et al families – to “volunteer” their own children and grandchildren to fight in Iraq. They won’t, of course, because their patriotism and its attendant love for the Iraqi war stops at the point where they would have to make anything remotely resembling a sacrifice.

Buffalo Gay Chorus Buffaloed by Jewish Homophobes

Homophobia is alive and well in the Buffalo, New York, Jewish community, as evidenced by a local Jewish newspaper’s refusal to run an ad for a Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus performance at Temple Beth Zion in January. As a result, the synagogue has withdrawn its weekly advertising from the “Buffalo Jewish Review.”

Months of discussions between the temple and the newspaper resulted in Temple Beth Zion Rabbi Harry Rosenfeld and board president Stuart G. Lerman sending a letter of explanation to members May 10:

“The reason given was that the paper did not want to condone homosexual behavior,” they wrote. “The editor made it clear that, in her opinion, publishing the ad would offend subscribers.”

Rosenfeld and Lerman also said that “to exclude or oppress members of our community because of their sexual orientation would be denying their humanity.”

But the really interesting stuff comes from the owners of the newspaper, Rita and Arnold Weiss.

The Weisses said they chose not to publish the ad because it might encourage young people to experiment with a sexual lifestyle that could be harmful to their health.

“On a very practical basis,” [Rita Weiss] said, “there is the possibility of influencing some young people whose sexual development is not yet complete. They could get AIDS. They could try out a lifestyle that is life-threatening.”

In addition to AIDS, Weiss said, she is also concerned about “the perpetuation of the Jewish people” in the face of demographic trends, including young Jews who stay in the gay lifestyle.

“They can’t produce children,” she said. “And you can’t build a people with adoption.”

Weiss said Jews everywhere are concerned about assimilation and the demographic numbers that show a decline in the growth of the Jewish community outside Israel.

“All of the Jewish organizations are concerned,” she said, “because we’re going to need support in the future for all of the needs of our aging population. There are so many ramifications — there won’t be support for old people or for our institutions or for the State of Israel.”

Message: Intolerance is okay if it’s for a higher purpose, like supporting old Jewish people or the Israeli police state.

The Filibuster Deal – Why There’s Still Hope That Bush’s Court-Packing Scheme Can Be Stopped

Yesterday I made the point that the GOP Senate leadership was pursuing the nuclear option because President Bush (a.ka. Karl Rove) wanted it done.

By ending the filibuster, President Bush meant to clear the way to pack the Supreme Court with wingnuts who will rule against privacy rights and in favor of corporate interests – and thus overturn democracy in the United States. Viewed from this perspective, the compromise last night by 14 so-called moderates in the Senate was not a win for the President. As a loss, however, it would appear to represent merely a bump in the road.

Or does it?

When Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist retires this summer, Bush/Rove will nominate Justice Antonin Scalia, right, to take his place. The Democrats in the Senate will probably pass on filibustering Scalia – the argument being that he has already been through the nomination process so is off limits for rigorous debate – so we should all start learning to live with the fact that one of the most celebrated Neanderthal political thinkers in the country as the head of highest court in the land.

With Scalia installed, the President will then put up a nominee as odious as Scalia to take his place. At this point, we may see the return of Janice (“New Deal = Socialism”) Rogers Brown or Priscilla (“Enron”) Owens. This nomination will almost undoubtedly be filibustered by Reid & co. Or at least I hope so.

What’s key here is that even when a Scalia clone is installed on the court, the zero-sum game among the Supremes remains status quo. Two seats held by ultra-rightwing justices will still be held by ultra-rightwing justices.

The time required to install these two new judges could put us into early 2006 – especially if the second nominee is filibustered by the Dems. It is unlikely that Bush will want to undertake a third nomination in the run-up to the Congressional elections in the fall. Since the third justice seat to be fill will likely be that of swing-voter Sandra Day O’Connor, there is at least the possibility that Bush can be stopped from replacing her with an ultra-right jurist.

How? If the poll numbers for Bush and the GOP Congress remain as low as they are now, there is a strong chance that control of the Senate could change from GOP to the Dems. With Majority Leader Harry Reid to contend with, the then-chastened, lame duck Bush will not want to pick a fight over his next Supreme Court nominee.

Why? Because he will have his own ass to worry about. With the Dems in charge of the Senate, Bush will, for the first time, face serious investigations into the lies he told in the run-up to the war, the way the energy bill was crafted, his lies about the Medicaid bill, and on and on and on.

With the truth finally exposed, believe it or not, George W. Bush could be faced with the Nixon gambit – a car load of GOP leaders making their way up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House to tell him that the truth is out, and he should resign or surely he’ll face impeachment.

Hey, I can dream, can’t I?

Republican Poll Numbers Are in the Toilet

CNN:

President Bush’s job approval rating dropped near its all-time low and Congress received poor marks as well in a national poll released Monday.

Forty-six percent of 1,006 adults polled over the weekend said they approved of the overall job Bush is doing, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll.

Over the past year, Bush’s rating has hovered near 50 percent, with a low of 45 percent in March and a high of 57 percent just after his second inauguration and the State of the Union in February. The 46 percent figure is down about 4 percentage points since a poll taken at the beginning of May…

Republican leaders in the Congress got bad marks too.

When asked to choose, 58 percent of respondents in the split part of the poll said Republican leaders were behaving like “spoiled children” on the matter while 31 percent picked “responsible adults”…

On a separate question asked of half the respondents, 48 percent said they favored the Democrats in the dispute and 40 percent favored the GOP.

Take Action before Bush Goes ‘Nuclear’ in the Senate

We should never forget that it is not Senate Majority Bill Frist who is leading the charge to destroy the institution of the US Senate. Neither is it the heads of the Family Research Council or other Talibani-American groups. While all these folks are complicit in the disaster that is about to befall all of us, it is George W. Bush – and therefore Karl Rove – who is ultimately responsible for what is about to happen.

DailyKos:

Key undecideds:

Arlen Specter: (Pennsylvania)
DC Office:
202-224-4254
Philadelphia Office:
215-597-7200
Pittsburgh Office:
412-644-3400

John Warner: (Virginia)
DC Office:
(202) 224-2023
Richmond Office:
(804) 739-0247
Norfolk Office:
(757) 441-3079

Mike Dewine: (Ohio)
DC Office:
(202) 224-2315
Cleveland office:
(216) 522-7272
Columbus office:
(614) 469-5186

Chuck Hagel: (Nebraska)
DC Office:
(202) 224-4224
Omaha Office:
(402) 758-8981

Remember, be courteous. And ideally, calls should come from constituents.

Bush Justice Dept. Investigates GOP’s Best Known Nerd

Our nation’s capitol is over-run with superannuated geeks, most of whom are Republican, but among these guys there is no greater nerd than Grover Norquist, right, head of Americans for Tax Refom, a group that promotes abolishing taxation and the government it funds.

Middle-aged, bearded and paunchy, Norquist is obsessed with an intense loathing of taxation in any form or amount. Not surprisingly, he has ascended during the Bush-Rove era to become one of the leading lights on the conservative Right – in part because of his efforts to strong-arm the city’s lobbying industry into hiring Republicans.

Word comes in today’s New York Times that Norquist and his anti-tax organization have been snared in the investigation of Jack Abramoff, the $750 per hour lobbyist who is accused of defrauding his clients – a roster that includes Indian tribes – and of illegally making gifts to members of Congress, including House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

A Congressional committee investigating whether Mr. Abramoff defrauded Indian tribes has subpoenaed records from Mr. Norquist’s group, Americans for Tax Reform, after he refused for six months to turn them over voluntarily.

As the investigation widened to include Norquist, it has also snared the Bush cabinet secretary mandated with giving corporate interests unfettered access to the natural resources of the United States:

The Justice Department is reviewing records of an advocacy group Mr. Norquist started with Gale A. Norton, now secretary of the interior, after reports that Mr. Abramoff instructed Indian tribes to give it $250,000.

Forcing native people to give money to a group whose mandate is the destruction of the land they revere is another prime example of the death of irony in these times.

If he did commit a crime, Norquist, like Abramoff and certainly Norton, will never face charges from the Bush Justice Department. These are the same folks, after all, whose non-investigation into the source of White House leaks that led to the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame has produced no results after umpteen years.

Norquist has an interesting take on why he’s being investigated:

In interviews, Mr. Norquist dismissed any suggestion of wrongdoing on his part and said that the only reason he is “getting dragged into this” is because Senator John McCain, the head of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, which is investigating Mr. Abramoff, holds a grudge against Mr. Norquist for campaigning for President Bush in the 2000 Republican primaries.

“McCain hates me,” he said.

God Is Gay and More Fun with Intelligent Design

Writing on AlterNet, David Morris offers some suggestions for high school science teachers to comply with the edict to teach “intelligent design” as an alternative to evolution while teaching meddling school board administrators a lesson in unintended consequences. Morris notes that many school boards across the country require science teachers to offer a critique of evolution and suggest alternative theories about the origin of life. He suggests approaching the task with creativity and impish subversion.

Then there’s the question of male homosexuality. From a Darwinian perspective, it’s a puzzle. The theory of natural selection should guarantee the disappearance of males that don’t reproduce. But they keep hanging around, in considerable numbers, in every culture and every era.

Evolutionists have their theories. Psychologist Louis A. Berman argues that it has to do with embryonic development. Medical doctor Lorne Warneke suggests that homosexuality actually offers a natural advantage. Homosexuals instill a more cooperative impulse that helps perpetuate the kinship group and tribe.

A good science teacher will follow the school board’s guidance and propose intelligent design as an alternative explanation for male homosexuality. Could there be an intelligent power that has created and nurtured male homosexuality? Does that mean God is gay?

Morris tackles the female organism (useless in Darwinism, but makes sense in intellgent design — if the designer is female) and the origin of life on the planet (intelligent design meets evolution when Erich von Daniken’s space aliens mate with our ancestors) using sex and spacemen — topics sure to garner the attention of adolescents.

It’s an interesting suggestion — take one’s frustration at having to teach mumbo-jumbo and critique accepted science and turn it into a creative synthesis that just might make students more aware, and dare we suggest, smarter.

Warren Beatty Slams Das Guber on Politics and Spending

Speaking at the commencement ceremony for students at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, Warren Beatty delivered a stinging indictment of CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Chiefly, Beatty poked at Das Guber for borrowing $15 billion from Wall Street, which ran up the state’s deficit to $30 billion – after which, Beatty noted, Schwazenegger cut funding to education, health care and emergency services and went on the attack against public servants like teachers, nurses and firefighters, labelling them “special interests.”

Naturally, rather than report the substance of Beatty’s criticism of the governor’s record, the MSM has re-cast the story around speculation that the 68-year-old actor and 40-year political activist plans to run against Schwarzenegger next year, forcing Beatty to clarify that he will not be running for governor anytime soon. “[A]lthough I don’t want to run for governor, I would do one hell of a lot better job than he’s done,” Beatty said. “I could name you a lot of Democrats who would be so much better than I would, and maybe even a few Republicans.”