"Even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools? ... Would we go with James Dobson's or Al Sharpton's?"                                                                     -Barack Obama

This is one of the reasons I was behind Obama early.  He's able to speak about religion, clearly, openly and directly, to people like me as well as to Christians and people of all other faiths, without dragging us down the rabbit-hole of choosing sides and deciding what God wants "us" to do or not do.  But James Dobson has a problem with this (and specifically, with this two-year old speech).

Obama's speech on Tuesday was (again) transcendent - nothing no one here knows, nothing we haven't seen before with him, and nothing we won't see again.  

It's been parsed by better than me, but I'll hit it again anyway.  My focus is on Obama's formulation of Americans vs. naming the Parties.  Follow me over the fold...

Cross-posted to Switzerblog, as usual

While sitting home sick this weekend (which sucks, I don't recommend it), I had the opportunity to watch the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee decision and related reaction. I also had ample time to consider things about Hillary Clinton's campaign that have been on my nerves for weeks now. Hopefully I get this all out in a coherent fashion!

Looking for a place to track what we're supposed to be afraid of?  At long last, your void is filled! (what?)

Read more here.

{Washington state anti-gay bigot inanity contained herein...also crossposted at Switzerblog}

This court rules that Ken Hutcherson is a douchebag and exhibit friggin' A that anti-gay crusaders are motivated by sex, not God.

...with tax cuts for the, um, not poor. 

Grandpa visited a shuttered factory in Ohio yesterday on his "I care, really I do" tour (not sure if his $100 million wife was there), and talked about free trade vs. protectionism, encouraging the out-of-work folks there to consider going to community college and learning how to work a computer.  You know, be part of the "knowledge economy".

Not really - just thought I'd use the misleading headline trick and see if it gets me rec'd.  

What I'm really doing is urging folks to PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND HOLY stop with the voting trouble shrieking headline diaries, unless there is overwhelmingly compelling evidence of some nefarious plot.  (i.e., do not use my headline above in a serious manner.  Only for funniez)

{Crossposted at Switzerblog}

I give up.  It's just become too disgusting to bear.  

Now, Hillary's running an ad featuring Osama bin Laden.  So, finally, it's enough for Switzer.  Fuck off, Hillary.

Crossposted at Switzerblog.

So Hillary's embrace of right-wing talking points is leading even the righty National Review is starting to swoon for her.  After the ABC debate debacle, much has been made about the, um, paucity of quality questions.  Much of the media agrees that ABC should be embarrassed by the quality of the questions, and Obama has enjoyed mocking them for wasting the first hour of the debate before asking about a real issue.  

Cross-posted to Switzerblog.  

I've been defending Hillary lately, despite the increasing difficulty of doing so and the increasing, um, unpleasantness of her supporters.  I don't think she's destroying the party, although she's certainly doing us no favors and making herself no friends. I don't think she's ruining Obama's chances in November, although she's certainly made his job harder.  My basic defense has been thusly:

Yeah, I know everyone's had their say about this, but he just published his 'commentary' today and, really, what the heck, right?  I haven't posted in a long time, might as well ease on back into it!  So here we go, cross-posted at Switzerblog.

by our hurting gays even in death.

So yesterday, Bush announced that we "won't raise" the gasoline tax $.05 (I put it in quotes, because the Transportation Appropriations committee will make that decision, not him).  He feels that, instead of raising a tax, the Senate should "prioritize".  In other words, since the transportation budget that he agreed not to veto isn't quite enough money to simply maintain our roads at the status quo, he believes they should magically use that money to improve our roads.

This is my Dad, Jackie Minchew.  He's running for position 7 on the Everett (WA) City Council, and we could use a hand.  I want to tell you about him, but I will tell you upfront that I'll be asking for contributions and (this Saturday!) help doorbelling for him, if you happen to live in the great Northwest.  So yes, there is an ask for contributions, but this is more about introducing my Dad to people who should know about him.  If you don't want to or can't contribute, that's cool, but please read on and learn more about him.  He's pretty remarkable, I'm proud of him, and I think this community should know more about what he stands for.  Also contribute.  ;-)

[CLARIFICATION - This diary references TWO bills, not one.  One deals with domestic partnership and a few rights, one would extend full rights of marriage to same-sex couples.  Both introduced by the same people.]

It's a day too late to share the Martin Luther King connection, but still worthy of discussion.  Today, Jamie Pederson and Ed Murray introduced two landmark pieces of legislation in the Washington state House and Senate that will move the discussion of marriage equality forward for years to come in Washington state.

[Before I go further, please register now to attend Equality Day in Olympia on February 26, to join clergy, people of faith and people like me to lobby legislators on behalf of this legislation and against discrimination!  And please consider sharing your testimony on behalf of these bills...opposition will be hot, so your participation is so important!]

I received a forwarded email from a Republican friend of mine - we tend to get along and see eye to eye on lots of things, but he occassionally runs off the rails.  This forwarded email, which I'll reproduce in its entirety, draws a parallel between the snowstorms in Colorado and Hurricane Katrina.  (I may provide helpful links in-line, but otherwise, no editing)  Check this:

"If there is one lesson that stands out from our party's time in the majority, it is this: A congressional majority is simply a means to an end. The value of a majority lies not in the chance to wield great power, but in the chance to do great things."

That's John Boehner, former Speaker of the House, speaking shortly before handing over the gavel to Nancy Pelosi (which he did in a gracious manner, and to bipartisan applause in recognition of the historic import of the event).