Progress on Many Fronts
So many things going on! I hate to do this but I'm going to combine several news stories into one post here. They all kind of go together, a tide is rising up in our state of Maryland and in our suburban county.
First, a bill had been introduced in the Maryland legislature to prohibit recognition of same-sex marriages from other states. Yesterday that bill was killed in the House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 12 to 8, after no debate. The state Attorney General, Doug Gansler, has been asked to rule on this issue; the bill had been introduced in by anti-gay legislators to counter the possibility of his ruling in favor of recognizing out-of-state marriages.
Today state Senator Rich Madaleno will officially introduce a statewide gender identity nondiscrimination bill.
As far as Montgomery County, The Post had this yesterday:
It is heartening to see these positive developments at the county and state levels.
By the way, Monday, February 8th, is Equality Maryland lobby day. You can help keep the momentum going by driving up to Annapolis and helping out. CLICK HERE to find out how to participate.
First, a bill had been introduced in the Maryland legislature to prohibit recognition of same-sex marriages from other states. Yesterday that bill was killed in the House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 12 to 8, after no debate. The state Attorney General, Doug Gansler, has been asked to rule on this issue; the bill had been introduced in by anti-gay legislators to counter the possibility of his ruling in favor of recognizing out-of-state marriages.
Today state Senator Rich Madaleno will officially introduce a statewide gender identity nondiscrimination bill.
As far as Montgomery County, The Post had this yesterday:
Montgomery officials Tuesday also, as expected, passed a pair of other social initiatives. In a unanimous vote, the council passed a measure that requires certain contractors and subcontractors to provide domestic benefits to the same-sex partners of their employees if they provide them for married couples.
On a 7 to 2 vote, the council also required pregnancy counseling centers to post a disclaimer if they don't have medical professionals on staff. A notice would also encourage women to consult a licensed health-care provider. Proponents said the measure is meant to address misleading information from opponents of abortion rights. Some clinic operators, who often provide free clothes along with other services, said they plan to comply, although they said they are being targeted unfairly for political reasons. Montgomery County to favor disabled job seekers
It is heartening to see these positive developments at the county and state levels.
By the way, Monday, February 8th, is Equality Maryland lobby day. You can help keep the momentum going by driving up to Annapolis and helping out. CLICK HERE to find out how to participate.
posted by JimK at 9:08 AM
14 Comments:
make sure and post some pictures of Equality for Deviants Day
Maryland has now taken the title of Miss Flaky Fringe Liberal State that Massachusetts held for so long.
It's always interesting to see who Democrats nominate for VP
remember Lieberman?
the guy that was then kicked out for having rational views and is now an independent
how about Biden?
Obama has his hands full keeping him away from quoting reporters
and Al Gore?
the guy that got a Nobel for falling for the East Anglia data manipulations
WE INTERUPT THIS POST FOR A GLOBAL WARMING UPDATE:
two days after six inches of snow, the East Coast is bracing for 20 inches tomorrow night
now back to our regular programming:
then there's this trailer trash:
"John Edwards allegedly struck his wife, Elizabeth, around the Christmas holidays, in "a horrific marriage-ending fight." This is the first time physical violence has been alleged in the very public and tawdry unraveling of their 32-year marriage.
An unnamed Elizabeth Edwards friend says, "John lost his temper, big-time," adding that Elizabeth "has the divorce papers drawn up, but she can amend them to charge John with domestic violence."
On Jan. 21, Edwards publicly admitted what had long been claimed: that he fathered a child with his 2008 presidential campaign videographer and mistress, Rielle Hunter, during a long-term affair. Their daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter, turns 2 on Feb. 27. Elizabeth Edwards, who has incurable cancer, met her husband's lover and love child late last year.
Elizabeth announced their separation after her husband finally admitted paternity. The source of this latest story passed a lie detector test after revealing that "Elizabeth privately disclosed all the shocking details of the alleged attack." The friend also said Elizabeth told her that "when he [John] made the decision to hit me, it was over.""
let's not forget the other progress being made by liberals
ever hear of the seven stages of grief?
those are the emotional states an individual passes through after someone close to them dies
Democrats have now progressed from the shock stage to the denial stage after the death of their dear beloved Obamacare
just yesterday, Obama was urging Democrats to "punch it through" using the reconciliation process
never before has this process been used to push a bill of this magnitude, not to mention, in contradiction to the views of 2/3 of Americans
in denial, Democrats say they only lost the public because they made a deal with Ben Nelson
earth to Barry: that deal was only necessary because public support was lacking
in denial, Democrats say the public just doesn't know enough about the details
earth to Barry: your problem is they already know too much and the more they find out, the less they support it
not long ago, no one knew about Medicare Advantage and public options and effectiveness comparison studies and union Cadillac health plans and yada yada
the denial stage doesn't last long
they'll move on soon
the reconciliation option expires in April
they'll be a ton of filibusterin' by then
Here are pictures of Equality Maryland's Lobby Day 2009.
Be sure to let us know if you find the deviancy you are seeking in these photographs of church groups, families, and citizens.
BTW, you missed a few VPs in your list of interesting nominees:
Dick I AM NOT PART OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH Cheney
Dan YOU ARE NO JACK KENNEDY Quayle
George VOODOO ECONOMICS H.W. Bush
Gerald PARDON ME Ford
Spiro BRIBE ME AND WATCH ME PLEAD 'NO CONTEST' TO EVADING TAXES Agnew
I've got a two birds with one stone suggestion for Anone this weekend: Park an empty truck outside to let it fill with snow. Then see if you can drive it to Cypress Mountain at the Olympic Village outside Vancouver by Feb 12, before the truck full of snow melts!
they'll be a ton of filibusterin' by then
Oh good. Americans just love the GOP a little bit more every time they try to shut down the government by not doing their job of enacting legislation to keep it running!
doesn't seem to be affecting their prospects thus far
if you refer to blocking the government takeover of one-sixth of our economy as "shut down the government", it shows shows how far gone you are
as far as VPs go, if you're going back as far as Agnew, things could really get interesting on the Dem side
could you imagine if this Edwards slimeball had been elected?
the Monica Lewinsky scandal would a Sunday church picmic in comparison
The GOP won't stand up in support of denying tax cuts to companies that take jobs overseas
The GOP won't stand up in support of holding Wall Street accountable.
The GOP won't stand up in support of a jobs bill for the millions of unemployed Americans
The GOP won't stand up in support of keeping foreign corporation money out of our election process
The GOP won't stand up in support of capping student loan repayments to 10% of income
What does GOP stand up for? Obstruction!
Don't you just love the way that lavendar tie shows off Boehner's suntan?
Can you believe the guy's name is Boehner!!!
Whatever Joe Lieberman's faults -- and they are many -- we should note that not only did he speak out vigorously in favor of the repeal of Don't Ask/Don't Tell earlier this week, but he is also sponsoring, along with Republican Susan Collins, a Senate bill that would extend full benefits to gay federal employees and their families. Of course, Collins and Snowe may be the only Senate Republicans left who are not reflexively anti-gay. Could it be that one reason Lieberman has not jumped parties is that the Republicans can't bring themselves to accept someone who is actively in favor of equal rights for gay people?
"What does GOP stand up for?"
I thought I cleared this up a few weeks ago.
When Graham Nash saw the hypocritical oppression of the socialist state manifested at the Chicago Democratic convention in 1968, he wrote what could be the Tea Party theme song:
"Somehow people must be free
I hope the day comes soon
Won't you please come to chicago
show your face
From the bottom of the ocean
to the mountains of the moon
Won't you please come to chicago
no one else can take your place
We can change the world
rearrange the world
It's dying -
if you believe in justice
Dying -
and if you believe in freedom
Dying -
let a man live his own life
Dying -
rules and regulations, who needs them
open up the door"
to reiterate:
you are unique and no one can take your place
justice
freedom
let a man live his own life
rules and regulations aren't needed
open doors of opportunity rather regulations that hinder progress
is that obstruction?
Obamacare is Democrat party in a nutshell
everyone has to buy health whether they want to or not
and we'll tell you what it has to cover
doesn't sound like freedom to me
"Whatever Joe Lieberman's faults"
I don't fault Lieberman for much of anything, David.
I fault the Democratic Party for driving him out.
With home prices continuing to plummet every month, it may be hard to believe. But it's now officially government policy to keep those home values as high as possible. And Neil Barofsky, the Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, doesn't like it one bit.
In his latest quarterly report to Congress, Barofsky accuses the Obama administration of recklessly reinflating the real estate bubble in an attempt to keep the housing market going and prevent the collapse of financial institutions.
SIGTARP -- not a Bond villain but Barofsky's shorthand title -- sums up all the sundry spending in one handy place. The Federal Reserve has been buying mortgage-backed securities and other mortgage-related debt in enormous volume, projected to reach $1.2 trillion by the time the effort expires at the end of March. Treasury is spending hundreds of billions more to capitalize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, so the agencies can continue to finance home mortgages. Congress has extended the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers and added a $6,500 credit for existing owners buying new homes. And while Treasury's $75 billion Home Affordable Modification Program is designed to forestall foreclosure for homeowners, its direct (and intended) effect is to keep home prices high.
Combine all that spending to boost home prices with a still-bloated financial industry – too big to fail, expecting to get bailed out, and rewarding executives with huge bonuses in exchange for taking big risks – and, warns Barofsky, the U.S. financial system is headed for The Great Crisis, Part II. "Even if TARP saved our financial system from driving off a cliff back in 2008, absent meaningful reform, we are still driving on the same winding mountain road, but this time in a faster car," cautions the report.
It's old news that the feds are reinflating the bubble by propping up prices. But it's still a big deal to have a critic as influential as Barofsky. He is a prosecutor - a former assistant attorney general in New York specializing in mortgage fraud. When he says price inflation is not just a waste of resources but a dangerous development, we'd all do well to listen.
"I don't fault Lieberman for much of anything, David."
Do you fault his positions on gay rights?
More good news!
January unemployment rate drops to 9.7 percent!!
How low will they go?
Officials of both parties are sharply criticizing a fundraising mailing from Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele they say could be confused with official correspondence regarding this year’s census.
The fundraising letter comes in the form of a “survey,” a frequently used device for partisan fundraising, but this one has a twist: Calling itself the “Congressional District Census,” the letter comes in an envelope starkly printed with the words, “DO NOT DESTROY OFFICIAL DOCUMENT” and describes itself, on the outside of the envelope, as a “census document.”
“Strengthening our party for the 2010 elections is going to take a massive grass-roots effort all across America,” Steele writes in a letter that blends official-sounding language, partisan calls to arms, and requests for between $25 and $500. “That is why I have authorized a census to be conducted for every congressional district in the country.”
The mailing is a Republican Party standby, a source of contributions — and occasional complaints — for more than a decade. But the latest round comes in a year when the actual United States census is getting under way, and officials say they’re worried that the GOP will sow confusion. News outlets in Wyoming, New York, Tennessee, and Minnesota have printed complaints about the mailers, with the director of the Census Bureau's regional office in Kansas City, Dennis Johnson, criticizing the letter in the Pioneer Press.
"My biggest concern is that it might be confusing to some residents who get this and then get the real one in a couple of months," Johnson said.
Congress is also taking an interest.
“The mailing appears to be designed to resemble official census documents and to deceive recipients as to its true origins,” wrote Democratic Reps. Carolyn Maloney (N.Y.) and Rep. William Lacy Clay (Mo.), who chairs the House Subcommittee that oversees the census, in a letter last month to the U.S. Postmaster General. “We believe that the RNC mailings are an attempt to mislead recipients and appear to us to be violations of federal law,” the letter states.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31956.html#ixzz0ehLsjXK0
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