Blogcabin California

October 18, 2006

Death of a Myth

Posted by Christopher Gilbertson at 8:32 pm .
Filed under: California Politics

 Forgotten Phil

The latest polls released in individual races across the country show a lot more red than blue candidates are ahead in the polls. It may be that the Democratic wave peaked too soon and the GOP rollback has commenced. Irrespective of the GOP’s fortunes on November 7th, a complete shakeup of the congressional leadership is called for.

On the front page of this morning’s LA Times  is a lengthy article about a whispered “Pink Purge” of gays and lesbians in the GOP in Washington, DC. Given the Times’ reputation for publishing the most salacious and outrageous stories prior to an election, this article out to be read with several grains of salt (consult your health care professional).

There were many…interesting…quotes, of which a sampling:

Tom McClusky, chief lobbyist for the Family Research Council, a Christian advocacy group. “All a big-tent strategy seems to be doing is attracting a bunch of clowns.” You mean like, oh…say, Randy Cunningham (convicted of tax evasion and general corruption), Tom Delay (indicted for campaign finance violations), Bob Ney (pleaded guilty to federal charges, forget which), Mark Foley (resigned over suggestive IMs to underage male pages), or Curt Weldon (currently under federal investigation for steering federal contracts to his daughter’s business)?? You mean those clowns?

“The Republican Party is taking pro-family conservatives for granted,” said Mike Mears, executive director of the political action committee of Concerned Women for America, which promotes biblical values. “What Secretary Rice did just the other day is going to anger quite a few people.” Good God, was she dancing on the tabletops at JR’s again? Um, no. Here on Planet Earth, she “with First Lady Laura Bush looking on, Rice swore in Mark R. Dybul as U.S. global AIDS coordinator while his partner, Jason Claire, held the Bible. Claire’s mother was in the audience, and Rice referred to her as Dybul’s “mother-in-law.” Lord, a gay man holding a Bible, the moral equivalent of flushing a Koran down the toilet!!

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins “Has the social agenda of the GOP been stalled by homosexual members and/or staffers?” Umm, could be but we’re not talking. Could be those Republicans who don’t believe the Constitution should be used as cum rag, unlike you Big Tony.

“The Republican Party welcomes individuals from all walks of life,” said Republican National Committee Press Secretary Tracey Schmitt. How refreshing.

I, for one, believe the GOP should investigate who is tiptoeing through the tulips in the halls of Congress because I would like to be a fly on the wall (METAPHOR ALERT) when Lou Sheldon, Tony Perkins, James Dobson, and the ladies of the Concerned Women of America Sewing Circle see just which powerful Senators, Represenatives, congressional and Executive branch staffers engage in “the love that dare not speak it’s name”. And then I would yell “Suckers!!!”.

So, is Orange County Supervisor Lou Correa behind the Spanish language letters that were mailed to Latinos in the 34th Senate District, under the guise of a immigration enforcement group’s name, telling them that the federal government are monitoring their voting activities and spelling out to them the penalties of violating federal voting laws if they are not citizens? We may never know but what we can know is that California Attorney General Bill “the Slammer” Lockyer will be slow to investigate this crime. He’s doing busy harassing cancer stricken women for boardroom politics.

Today’s Kiplinger California Letter states that Governor Arnold will be re-elected and that both Bruce McPherson and Steve Poizner are likely to win their bids for Secretary of State and Insurance Commissioner, respectively. On the Democratic side, Jerry Brown returns to State government as Attorney General, Bill Lockyer gets to take Phil Angelides spot as State Treasurer, and John Chiang moves up to State Controller. Still too close to call at this writing is Lieutenant Governor. The Governor’s bond measures are likely to pass and the other state ballot initiatives have varied fortunes.

I received today, also, what amounts to a Hail Mary pass from Equality California: I’ll pass.

NOTE TO CHRIS-I edited this for format. I could not get it to allign. Sorry-Kevin.

October 17, 2006

The GOP Collapse Slows

Posted by Christopher Gilbertson at 8:05 pm .
Filed under: National Politics

Several reports from around this Great Nation of ours that the purported implosion of the GOP may yet be unfounded. Many races that were swung in the Democratic pick-up column have now been marked as toss-ups. It could well be a nail-biting night some 3 weeks from today. Among other developements the RNC had thrown nearly three quarters of a million dollars into the struggling Mike Devine Senate race in Ohio. Also reported that Democratic House hopeful Tammy Duckworth’s campaign is flat broke while her Republican opponent is sitting on a million dollar war chest. And let us not forget: the Republicans are not short on resources this election cycle. They can still come crashing back like a bad Katrina flashback.

 Sad news over the weekend: Page scandal pioneer and former Congressman Gerry Studds, 69, succumbed over the weekend due to a vascular illness, which fell the former congressman as he was walking his dog, Skip. Mr. Studds became the first openly serving gay congress member after his romance with a 17 year old congressional page led to his censure by the House of Representatives. To his credit, he did not resign but boldly faced his electorate and was elected to the house 6 more times.

News today that disgraced former GOP congressman Mark Foley will name his alleged molester, at the behest of the local diocese. Also news today that retiring Arizona congressman Jim Kolbe is being investigated for a 1996 camping trip with two pages and others. Currently the Ethics Committee is just reviewing the allegation.

As usual, contrary to the rest of the country, the California GOP is experiencing a mild renaissance of good fortune. The Governor is well positioned to win re-election and at least two other GOP state candidates are close enough to clinch election. Will it be enough to capture the 34th Senate District for the GOP and stave off strong incursions in the 78th and 80th Assembly Districts.  Stay tuned.

Newspapers Endorse Governor

Posted by Mark Martin at 3:24 pm .
Filed under: California Politics

Newspapers Endorse The Governor For Re-Election:

The Sacramento Bee: “As governor, Schwarzenegger has built a record of achievement. He put the troubled workers’ compensation system on the public radar and got recalcitrant Democrats to overhaul that program. He pushed for a reform of the school finance system, giving local districts more control over the ‘categorical’ money that takes one-third of the education budget for special purposes and programs.”

The Fresno Bee: “Schwarzenegger played a crucial role in overhauling the state’s badly flawed workers’ compensation system. That system was putting California business at a disadvantage and was hurting both employers and employees…. Schwarzenegger is prepared to meet the challenges of the next four years and deserves re-election on Nov. 7.”

The Los Angeles Times: “Schwarzenegger correctly senses that a leader with good instincts and confidence is more effective - and more inspiring - than one with a good plan and a lot of details. Angelides may be more specific about many of California’s problems. But Schwarzenegger is more likely to solve them. The Times endorses Arnold Schwarzenegger for governor.”

The Modesto Bee: “Schwarzenegger understands the need to represent the entire state and has been particularly attentive to the issues of the San Joaquin Valley. One example is the far-reaching California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, which seeks solutions to valley problems in a thoughtful, comprehensive way.”

The Stockton Record: “The governor has demonstrated a willingness to engage in pressing problems. The state does not need the status quo, which is what Angelides offers. It requires original ideas and creative thinkers.”

October 11, 2006

It’s a bird, it’s plane, it’s…”Log Cabin Republican”

Posted by Terry at 8:20 pm .
Filed under: Log Cabin News
I was watching Comedy Central tonight after South Park and saw “Freak Show”.  It features a character called “Log Cabin Republican”.  

The episode tonight had the characters breaking up a Nazi Nambla meeting in Vienna. 

  It’s a bird, it’s plane, it’s…Patrick Guerriero? 

 

The forthcoming Comedy Central animated series “Freak Show” (premiering Oct. 4) will feature amongst its “Freak Squad” of superheroes a character called “Log Cabin Republican“…  …whose special power will allow him to transform into another character known as…  …”

Burly Bear.“  Righhhht. 

While we’ve yet to learn of this character’s strengths and weaknesses, we’re guessing they are:  Also no word on who this LCR’s mortal enemy will be; however, our bet is that he’ll be attacked by a formidable foe known as “Both Sides of the Aisle.” 

Video Previews of the Show [Heavy.com]
Official site [Comedy Central] 

Check it out and report what you think here. 

October 10, 2006

Polls Indicate GOP Disaster

Posted by Christopher Gilbertson at 8:01 pm .
Filed under: National Politics

Over a handful of polls show the Gop losing up to 30 House seats and picking up a handful of Senate seats, which would give them a majority in both houses. Whether this dire scenario actually plays out remains to be seen, as these polls were taken during the height of the Foley Fallout and probably accurately reflect general revulsion at the way the House leadership handle the matter. That doesn’t mean a national Democratic wave is developing - more polling over the next couple of weeks will show that. However, matters are grave enough that today the RNC under Chairman Mehlman has initiated an independent effort to shore up GOP Senate candidates - a direct repudiation of the incompetent Liddy Dole’s lackluster efforts to maintain a GOP majority in the Senate, which has fielded the worst selection of challengers in recent memory.

Another historical point to remember is that the last time a political party tried to profit on a sex scandal in the other party - 1998 - it backfired and the Democrats managed to pick up 5 House seats and hold their own in the Senate. Can History repeat itself - you betcha!

October 9, 2006

Columbus Day Conundrums

Posted by Christopher Gilbertson at 8:17 pm .
Filed under: National Politics, California Politics

Happy Columbus Day to everyone celebrating the 514th anniversary of the beginning of the Native American genocide, the rape of the “New” World of all its resources, and the end of civilized human sacrifice.

Riddle me this: what do Equality California and the California Republican Assembly have in common? No, not that they both wish Log Cabin would go away and stop being the quiet voice of Reason in the petri dish of California’s culture wars. That’s true - but it wasn’t the answer I’m looking for tonight, Scottie. The answer I was looking for is: Neither have endorsed Arnold for Governor - still. One can reasonably understand EQCA still miffed over the Governor’s veto of a couple of their cherished bills but Phil Angelides? Ok, so most of their Board of Directors are Democrats and an endorsement would jeopardize their standings in the Party. But the CRA! The CRA that is the soul of the California Republican Party! What gives? Mike Spence? Jon Fleischman?

Did any of you watch the Punch and Judy show on Saturday otherwise known as the gubernatorial debate? Neither did I - I was at a shi-shi Newport Beach wedding scarfing crab stuffed orchids (tasty!) and washing them down with fruit fusioned martinis and champagne (hey! I have two hands!) Anyway, the Governor walked away with the audience and proved to anyone watching why he’s double digits ahead of the Philmeister. Phil answered all the questions correctly - into the wrong camera - so everyone saw him at an 80 degrees angle. Obviously a conservative Hollywood GOP conspiracy to have the Democratic candidate appear to not be looking into the voters eyes when he answered a question. Actually, rumor has it that the cameraman is a Log Cabin member (Andy!!). This morning’s LA Times’ Calendar Section, front page,  has an interesting article how down ticket Democratic statewide candidates are rapidly distancing themselves from Angelides, to avoid a repeat of the disasterous 1994 election, which saw nearly every Democratic statewide candidate defeated when Kathleen Brown’s campaign collapsed in the final weeks. At this point, except for Jerry Brown, nearly the entire Democratic ticket is just barely ahead of their GOP challengers. Could make for some interesting races on November 7.

A shoutout to the San Francisco closet case that mailed back their PAC solicitation letter with scribblings about how Log Cabin has sold out the “gay community” by supporting a Governor that vetoed Mark Leno’s unconstitutional marriage bill and Sheila Kuehl’s ill -advised education bill. The piece de resistance for many of the LCRCA board members was calling LCR a bunch of “Auntie Thomases”.  It’s a good thing I’ve read American literature and was able to infer what you meant. Rest assured that the Board is taking up a collection to purchase a new box of crayons for you, and hopes that once you get therapy you can be trusted with color pencils.

I just love it when the gay left confronts political diversity in the community: they revert to the Stalinists that they secretly wish to be openly.

After a week of Foley Flameout, and new and more awkward revelations on the motives of the Democratic operators who sat on the notorious IMs for over a year without going to the FBI, the American voters in their collective wisdom are beginning to see this whole donnybrook as little more than a scandal in search of a timely disclosure. This is not to say that Speaker Hastert and the GOP Congressional leadership are out of the woods yet - they’re not - but matters may not be as dire as they were a week ago. It’s still 29 days until election day and that’s an eternity in politics.

 

October 7, 2006

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s LGBT Record

Posted by Christopher Gilbertson at 1:52 pm .
Filed under: Gay Rights, California Politics

As provided by California Director Jeff Bissiri:

 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
LGBT Record
 

Legislative Record 2004
Bills Signed into Law:
AB 1367- Creates a pilot HIV/AIDS pharmacy program.
AB 2208- Prohibits discrimination against Domestic Partners in Insurance.
AB 2580- Adds amendments to existing Domestic Partnership Law.
AB 2900- Establishes sweeping employment non-discrimination requirements.
                Ends the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy in the State Militia.
SB 1159- Legalizes clean needle sales by pharmacies.
SB 1234- Strengthens hate crime law to protect LGBT Californians and others.
 

Legislative Record 2005
Bills Signed into Law:
AB 228- Prohibits discrimination in healthcare service plans against those with 
              HIV.
AB 378- Increases the statute of limitation for civil action for protected classes
              Including sexual orientation.
AB 547- Allows local government to establish needle exchange programs.
AB 1142- Establishes statewide African-American HIV/AIDS initiative.
AB 1400- Civil Rights Act of 2005. Adds sexual orientation to the Unruh Civil
                  Rights Act. Prohibits discrimination in public accommodation.
AB 1586- Prohibits gender discrimination in health care service plans.  
                Transgender inclusive legislation.
SB 565- Protects Domestic Partners from unfair property tax reassessment.
SB 973- Provides equity to Domestic Partners of retired state employees.
 

Legislative Record 2006
Bills Signed into Law:
AB1160- Limits the use of the ‘gay panic’ excuse by defendants.
AB1207- Adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the pledges that
candidates and campaign committees may sign stating that they will not use or permit the use of any appeal to negative prejudice.
AB2800 (Laird) Omnibus Housing Nondiscrimination Act. Prevents discrimination
in housing based on listed categories including sexual orientation.
AB 2051- Establishes an ongoing fund to support education and services
addressing domestic violence among same sex domestic partners.
AB 2920- Requires the California Department of Aging to ensure that all
programs administered by the state account for the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) elders.
SB1441- Prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
in state and locally operated or funded services, activities and programs.
SB1827- Allows registered Domestic Partners to jointly file state income tax.
 

This legislative record of 21 Bills covers issues ranging from protecting against discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodation, strengthening hate crimes laws, expanding Domestic Partner Rights, ending Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in the State Militia, and increasing tools to combat HIV/AIDS.
 

HIV/AIDS Policy
 

  • Fully funded ADAP in a period of budget cuts.
  • Increased education and prevention funding which had been cut in the previous Administration.
  • Protected funding for Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal.
  • Supported needle exchange programs which had been vetoed in the previous Administration.

Employment Non-discrimination
 

The Governor has employed qualified openly gay and lesbian people in his office and in appointments to state commissions.
 

LGBT Pride Outreach
 

The Governor has issued letters welcoming California LGBT Pride celebrations for each of his three years in office.
 

Other Issues
 

  • The Governor has stated opposition to the FMA
  • The Governor has stated opposition to efforts to roll back existing Domestic Partner rights.

October 5, 2006

The Hunt for Lavendar October

Posted by Christopher Gilbertson at 7:46 pm .
Filed under: Miscellany

It comes as no surprise to this blogger that the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct - the House Ethics Committee - has issued some 50 suepoenas to key Congressmen involved in Pagegate and several House staff members. The wisdom of such an action by the GOP leadership escapes me. While these hearings will certainly be riveting for the American voter, I somehow sense that an auto-da-fe in the weeks before mid-term elections is something akin to a self-inflicted mortal wound - a political seppuku without the stoicism and code of honor. More and more I am beginning to believe that it would be a mercy for Minority Leader Pelosi to seize the Speaker’s gavel and bludgeon him with it, screaming “I am woman, hear me roar!”

The word across the cocktail table this afternoon was that a witch hunt for closeted gay Republicans (is that redundant?) is being launched through the hallways of power in our Nation’s Capitol. After a healthy sip of my Knob Creek Manhattan I told my host that the GOP leadership needs to be careful what it wishes for: what happens if they find hundreds of closeted gay Republican Senators, Representatives, and staff members? All whom would presumedly not be too pleased to having their privacy invaded by latter day Inspector Clouseaus, and some of whom will be expected to vote for the new leadership. What would happen to the theologically Fringed if they found out that a healthy segment of their political power were in fact Friends of Dorothy or Daughters of Bilitis? Let them have their witch hunt: they’ve cast off every other Republican principle laid down by St. Ronald, they might as well invade the bedroom, or the backroom if that’s the case, and broadcast that to an eager American public.

Here in the Golden State today the California Court of Appeals passed the hot potato of gay marriage back into the laps of either the State Supreme Court or the State Legislature, in a 2 to 1 decision. The decision can be read here: Read the Decision from the California Court of Appeal . It is an outcome that was widely predicted and the usual suspects had the usual set piece statements to make. I shan’t bore you by repeating them. One wonders why Mark Leno and his ilk, if they truely believe in the democratic process and that a majority of Californians support them, why they just don’t launch their own ballot measure recognizing gay marriage in California. Just thinking out loud…..