Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Vote No On Proposition 8

Interesting reaction to my post of yesterday evening.... NO comments, neither positive nor negative. But nonetheless, a HUGE amount of interest created by the posting.

In less than 20 hours, I've had 60+ hits on just that one blog entry. The majority (nearly 50 hits!) are from just two ISPs: the Californian State Senate and the California State Legislature.

Mighty curious.... Are staffers for those politicians listed as endorsing Proposition 8 searching the web to see who has noticed their bosses' bigotry?

Are there actually interns sitting in offices in Sacramento taking a tally? "Senator Tom McClintock: 10 blogs against his support, 2 blogs for. Assemblywoman Mimi Walters: 22 blogs against, 5 blogs for." I sure hope they're unpaid interns.... I can't imagine that the State of California (that is to say: "we taxpayers"), with our dismal budget issues, can afford to PAY people to do this on government time using government internet access.

And now, for your viewing pleasure:





- T

p.s. Had to remove my Google Ads banner on the right side of my site. The first ad I noticed Google had posted there this evening was a "Yes on 8" ad. I'll forgo ad revenue to keep hate speech off my blog, thank you very much! (On the other hand, Google has spoken out against Proposition 8. Much obliged, Sergey Brin.)

Monday, October 27, 2008

Bigots

There is a chance that Proposition 8 may actually pass -- in 2008 . . . in California!

This would mean that a majority of voters in my own state would want to limit my civil rights and the civil rights of every other gay and lesbian citizen of this state.

And why would they want to do that?

Because they feel threatened. Threatened that somehow, by allowing gays and lesbians to marry, their own marriages would be in danger. Through some magical form of marital transference, two people in one part of the state getting married and living happily ever after with each other would suddenly cause the otherwise stable and happy couple Joe and Jane Breeder in Podunk, California to suddenly turn on each other, causing their marriage to spiral into a deep, unhappy abyss ending eventually in a messy divorce. Jane will become a hooker workin' a truck stop in Blythe and John starts having anonymous sex with young hustlers he picks up along Santa Monica Boulevard....

Sorry, my imagination got the best of me....

But seriously -- there is no affect on your straight marriages, people! We already HAVE gay marriages in California. Can you name one straight marriage that's failing because of it?

I am quite certain that the ONLY reason these groups and individuals are spending so much money and spreading so many lies is . . . BIGOTRY.

Bigotry: Intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself

The largest contributor by far to the Yes on 8 campaign has been the Mormons. (I realize I have recently spent a lot of space here slammin' the Mormon Church -- but, really.... Keep your nose out of my business and I'll lay off your religion, capisce?) But just wait. They're not the ONLY players in the bigot game. There's plenty of bigotry goin' on in this fine state -- and I want you all to have a good, long look at the following list.

See if your neighbor, your dry cleaner, your mom's church or the sweet, old woman on the corner is on this list. Maybe the nice day care provider who watches your children is listed. The restaurant owner you give so much of your hard-earned cash to.... He may be on here, too.

And worse -- look at all the elected official on here! Do they not KNOW that they represent the very people they are trying to oppress? Of course they do - - they just don't care. They think that you support them in their bigotry. Do you?

The worst offenders, as usual in my opinion, are the churches. They MUST keep their damn noses out of politics! Or, they can pay taxes like any other business and carry on with their bigotry. BUT, you don't get it both ways, churches. Stick to what you say is most important to you: love, caring for the poor and sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the indigent.... I believe that's what Jesus was tellin' you folks to do. NOT promote political agendas which take away civil rights! Even I know that much about your religion.

And LDS -- stay in UTAH where you belong. Do not cross over the state line and try to tell us what to do here. I don't come there and tell ya to display your liquor bottles in your bars or to take off your funny undies, do I?

If you do find those you know on here, please confront them. Tell them that they have nothing to be afraid of. No one will annul their marriages, sneak into their bedrooms or void their wedding licenses. (Wait, those are the very things THEY want to do to our marriages!)

And, if you are listed here.... Be aware that "bigot" is really not a pleasant tag to have put on you. In fact, it hasn't gotten much use since bigots were on the wrong side of the Civil Rights Movement in the '60s. You may find you lose friends, that your business contacts stop networking with you or that your parishioners find a more Christian church to attend....

So, in the spirit of California's beautiful, bright sunshine, I herewith list (directly from the Yes on 8 website -- luckily my computer didn't explode when I went there!) all of the bigots who have publicly supported Proposition 8.

PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO ARE AGAINST CIVIL LIBERTIES:
Senator Dick Ackerman
Senator Sam Aanestad
Senator Roy Ashburn
Senator James Battin, Jr.
Senator Dave Cogdill
Senator Dave Cox
Senator Jeff Denham
Senator Bob Dutton
Senator Tom Harman
Senator Dennis Hollingsworth
Senator Abel Maldonado
Senator Bob Margett
Senator Tom McClintock
Senator George Runner
Senator Mark Wyland
Assemblyman Greg Aghzarian
Assemblyman Joel Anderson
Assemblyman John Benoit
Assemblyman Chuck Devore
Assemblyman Bill Emmerson
Assemblyman Guy Houston
Assemblyman Bob Huff
Assemblyman Rick Keene
Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa
Assemblyman Bill Maze
Assemblyman Mike Duvall
Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi
Assemblyman Roger Niello
Assemblyman George Plescia
Assemblywoman Sharon Runner
Assemblywoman Audra Strickland
Assemblyman Van Tran
Assemblyman Michael Villines
Assemblywoman Mimi Walters
Mayor Candace Andersen, Town of Danville
Mayor Neil C. Blais, City of Rancho Santa Margarita
Michael Calta, Chino Valley Unified School District
Dick Daniels, Escondido Councilmember
Mayor Curt Hagman, City of Chino Hills
San Diego County Supervisor, Bill Horn (District 5)
Mayor Eric King, City of Folsom
Mayor Pro-Tem Dan Kirby, City of Monrovia
Placer County Supervisor Bruze Kranz (District 5)
Imperial County Supervisor Wally Leimgruber (District 5)
San Bernadino County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfel (District 1)
Linda Lindholm- Laguna Niguel Councilmember
Mayor Jeff Miller, City of Corona
Mayor Pro Tem Leroy Mills, City of Cypress
Mayor Pro Tem Robert Ming, City of Laguna Niguel
Mayor Randall Norton, Town of Duncan
Mayor Curt Pringle, City of Anaheim
Frank Ury- Mission Viejo Councilmember
Mayor Todd Seymore, City of Cypress
Mike Spence, West Covina Unified School Board Member
Mayor Pro Tem Justin White, City of Chowchilla
Marie Waldron, Escondido Councilmember
Mayor Dennis Yates, City of Chino
Ken Campbell, Placer County Republican Chairman
Former Assemblyman Ray Haynes
Former Assemblyman Tim Leslie

CHURCHES THAT ARE AGAINST CIVIL LIBERTIES:
A. V. Alpha & Omega Ministries, Palmdale
Abundant Life Assembly of God, Copeland
Abundant Life Christian Fellowship
All Seasons Ministries, El Cajon
Alpha and Omega Arlington Apostolic Church, Riverside
Alpine Anglican Church, Alpine
Amador Family Fellowship
Baldwin Park Church of Christ
Bethel Christian Fellowship
Bible Fellowship Church, Ventura
Biggs Community Assembly of God
Bright Mission Chapel
Bundy Canyon Christian Church and School, Wildomar
Calvary Assembly of God
Calvary Assembly, Milpitas
Calvary Baptist Church
Calvary Baptist Church, Modesto
Calvary Chapel of the Harbour
Calvary Chapel Chino Hills
Calvary Chapel Rancho Santa Margarita
Calvary Christian Center
Calvary Church
Calvary Temple
Camarillo Community Church
Canopy of Prayer Ministries
Canyon View Church of Christ, San Diego
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
Centerpoint Church
Central Baptist Church of Indio
Centro Cristiano Pan De Vida
Chapel in the Pines, Arnold
Chinese Evangelical Free Church, Monterey Park
Chinese Grace Bible Church, Sacramento
Christ Driven Church of Fowler Ca.
Christian Life Assembly
Christian Life Center
Christian Life Tools
Christian Outreach for Armenians, Glendale
Church of Christ, Upland
Church of the Living Christ
Church of the Living God of Perris
Church of the Nazarene
Church of the Rock
Church of Scientology of San Diego
Community Counseling Services, Inc.
Community Christian Alliance Church
Core Christian Fellowship, Murrieta
Cornerstone Baptist Church
Cornerstone Baptist Church, Nicholasville KY
Cornerstone Christian Church, El Dorado Hills
Cornerstone Community Church of San Clemente
Cornerstone Fellowship, Livermore
CrossPoint Community Church of the Nazarene
Dan Kricorian Ministries Int'l
Dayspring Christian Fellowship
Desert Stream Ministries
Destiny Faith Center
Divine Mercy Knights of Columbus (14158), Natomas
Door of Faith Ministries International
East Clairemont Baptist Church, San Diego
Eastside Christian Church
El Cajon Wesleyan Church, El Cajon
Elsinore Christian Center, Lake Elsinore
Evangelical Free Church of Walnut
Faith Chapel Church of God in Christ, San Diego
Faith Community Church by the Sea, Encinitas
Faith Tabernacle
Faith to Faith Fellowship, Temecula
F.C.F. Int'l Ministries
Filipino American Community Church
First Baptist Church Anaheim
First Baptist Church of Fillmore
First Baptist Church of Hesperia
First Baptist Church of Menlo Park
First Baptist Church of Taft
First Baptist Church, Lomita
First Evangelical Church of Cerritos
First Fil-Am Christian Church
First Foursquare Gospel Church of San Jose, San Jose
First Fundamental Bible Church of Monterey Park
First Presbyterian Church, Amarillo TX
First Southern Baptist, Yucca Valley
Fontana Foursquare Church
Foxworthy Baptist Church
Free Indeed Christian Fellowship, Perris
Freedom Community Christian Church, Perris
Freewill Missionary Baptist Church, San Diego
Freewill Missionary Baptist Church, San Diego
Friends Church, Yorba Linda
Friendship Christian Fellowship Church, Moreno Valley
Gem of the Valley Church, Murrieta
God’s Word Church, Apple Valley
Golden Altar Ministries, San Jose
Golden Gate Christian Church
Hamilton Square Baptist Church
Harvest Christian Fellowship
Heart of the Canyons Church
High Desert Church, Victorville
Highland Springs Fellowship, Banning
Hillsdale Baptist Church, North Highlands
Hope Vineyard Church, Santa Clarita
House of Luke, Hemet
Independent Church of Lake Elsinore
Irvine First Chinese Baptist Church
Joy Ministry for Christ, Los Angeles
Jubilee Family Church, Oskaloosa IA
Kingdom Conditioning Ministries, INC.
Koinonia Evangelistic Center, Moreno Valley
Lake Murray Church, Assemblies of God
Life Center Church, Lakewood
Light by the Bay Church, San Lorenzo
Lighthouse Assembly of God, Murrieta
Lighthouse Community Church, Lathrop
Live Ride Christian Church
Living Faith Christian Fellowship, Garden Grove
Living Stones Ministries
Living Word Christian Church, San Diego
Love and Unity Church of God in Christ, Compton
Luke Four Eighteen Ministries International, Temecula
Maranatha Chapel
Maranatha Chapel, Rancho Bernardo
Menlo Park Community Church of God in Christ, Menlo Park
Meridian Southern Baptist, El Cajon
Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, San Diego
Mountain View Community Church, Temecula
Mount Zion Assemblies
Napoleon Washington, Jr. Evangelistic Assn.
Nations Harvest Church, Sunnyvale
New Birth Kingdom Covenant
New Covenant Ministries Christian Fellowship
New Day Church
New Destiny Christian Church, Inc.
New Life Presbyterian Church
New Light Church of God, Riverside
New Seasons Church
Newhall Church of the Nazarene
New Venture Christian Fellowship
Northside Christian Church
Oasis of Faith Christian Center
Oroville Nazarene Church
Our Lady of the Redwoods Catholic Church
Our Redeemer Lives Church, Lake Elsinore
Paradise Hills Southern Baptist Church
Progressive M.B.C. of Berkeley
Rancho Baptist Church, Temecula
Ray of Hope Church, Pomona
Redemption Christian Fellowship
Refuge Ministries
Resurrection Power Ministries
Revival Christian Fellowship, Menifee
Ripon Grace Brethren Church
Rose Drive Friends Church, Yorba Linda
Rubidoux First Assembly of God
San Antonio Heights Community Church, San Bernardino
San Diego Christian Worship Center, San Diego
San Jose Church of Christ, San Jose
San Jose Foursquare Church, San Jose
San Jose Open Bible Church, San Jose
San Jose Word of Faith Christian Center, San Jose
San Mateo Pro Life
Santa Rosa Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
Set Free Ministries of San Diego, San Diego
Seventh Day Sabbath Second Advent Church
Sierra Madre Congregational Church
Shepherd of the Hills
Skyline Wesleyan Church, El Cajon
Solid Ground Brethren in Christ Church, Alta Loma
Sonoma Valley Community Church
South Coast Christian Assembly
South Valley Christian Church, San Jose
Southwest Christian Church, Temecula
Southwest Community Church, Indian Wells
Spirit Life Worship Center
St. Andrew Orthodox Church
St. Joseph Church
St Timothy Orthodox Church
St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Patrick's Church
State College Blvd. Church of Christ, Anaheim
Survivors of Assault Recovery/Living Word Christian Church, San Diego
TEN27 Church
The Bridge Church
The Calvary Chapel Churches
The Church of God of Prophecy, National City
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
The Home Church, Campbell
The Oasis Foursquare Church
The Rock Church, San Diego
Trinity Baptist Church
Tyler Baptist Church, Riverside
Valley Christian Church, Chino
Victory International Church, San Mateo
Victory Outreach of Eagle Rock
Vineyard Family Christian Fellowship, Downey
Vista Hope Church of the Nazarene
Voices of Hope Ministries
Whittier Church of Christ, Whittier
Wildwood Calvary Chapel
Windsor Hills Baptist Church, La Mesa
Word of Life Ministries Int’l, Riverside
Word of Truth Ministries
World Overcomers Church International
Zion Christian Fellowship, Spring Valley
Zion Lutheran Church, North Highlands, CA

INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AGAINST CIVIL LIBERTIES:
A-K
L-Z

Now, get out there and vote next Tuesday! Our country's future and the future of many of the marriages of my friends depends on it.

- T

Palin Pants

More than a month now since I've touched my blog.... I'm setting a weekly alarm to remind me to post something, ANYTHING!, once a week! I've got so much to write about, including our recent trip to New York.

Got a few things to get off my chest immediately, though, and this is one of them.

Sarah Palin (the right-wing, anti-choice, anti-gay-marriage, ultra-religious cuckoo that McCain chose as his running-mate) has been given a wardrobe worth $150,000 by the Republicans. Actually, she didn't get the entire budget -- they spent some of the cash on her husband and children.

Now, don't get me wrong -- I'm more than happy to see some of the Republican's budget going for something as useless and clothes and makeup, instead of funneling the funds into another ad campaign. But it turns out that not only is this squandering of money in EXTREMELY bad taste when our economy is in the crapper and the two of them are claiming to be on the side of the average Joe, but it is ALSO illegal!

See, we've got got something called the FEC (Federal Election Commission). The FEC is in charge of enforcing campaign laws -- which state that you may not use election funds for personal use SUCH AS BUYIN' YOURSELF NEIMAN-MARCUS DESIGNER OUTFITS AND MAKEUP!!!

So, I say: lock up the lot of them. I'm not sure how many laws you can break (KEATING FIVE, TROOPERGATE) before you don't get elected and DO go to jail.

- T

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

The View From The Top Of Manhattan