Wednesday, February 17, 2010

DADT Blog Swarm: Contact HRC to Publicly Demand the President Take the Lead On Repeal in 2010

Many blogs yesterday joined in a blog swarm asking readers to contact the Human Rights Campaign on behalf of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." I'm joining in, and those that have blogs and still haven't done so, please do. And please take the time to contact the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and your representatives!

From AmericaBlog:

OUR MESSAGE TO HRC IS SIMPLE:

Publicly demand that President Obama take the lead in getting DADT repealed this year.
1) That means the President needs to state publicly that he wants Congress to repeal DADT this year; and

2) The President needs to take the lead in working with Congress to make sure the repeal happens.

I always confuse Ben Franklin and Ace Frehley, too

Found over at Wonkette, a horrifying attempt at patriotism. Remember peeps, when you portray the Founding Fathers as creepy and/or sloppy drunk, the terrorists win!



(Wonkette post)

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

How small government and local control is sometimes very inconvenient

There's a very good reason why I think no one should be setting education policy until they've spent a few years actually teaching in a public school classroom.

You may have heard about Race to the Top recently in the president's State of the Union speech and the many faux-power-to-the-people speeches Obama subsequently gave. For those that don't know, Race to the Top is a large chunk of funds given to districts through the Department of Education to encourage and fund educational reform. It's a laudable program, and public school educators were over the moon about it. The initial batch of money was given out with no strings attached, but it was requested that the districts use it for educational reform programs.

Here's the problem.

Tea Partiers, I Proposition Thee (In a Totally Heterosexual Way)

I have been so, so very wrong.

I admit, I laughed at your expense when I heard your unfortunate rough draft of a nickname. I mocked your demands to return to a kinder, more wholesome America, which you gently delivered via angry screaming, insulting mockery, and marginalization of the masses. I rebelled against your message of racism, classism, sexism, and homophobia...ism. I laughed at your protest signs, lovingly misspelled and held upside down with startling regularity.

But then, you all blew my mind! Sarah Palin backed you all! I mean, SARAH PALIN. She represents all of real America and their values, and she can't be lying, because she's hot and sounds all folksy. Suddenly I had to reevaluate my ideas. Literacy tests? Sure, I can see that. No health care reform? Those environmentalists are always complaining about overpopulation anyway. Reduce taxes and the deficit at the same time? Hey, I never saw the point of math anyway. I would specify the rest of your platform if it was in any way clear, but I'm sure that whatever you all decide will be just fine.

I just have one request. You wisely chose a major symbol of rebellion and Americanism as the title of your movement. Let's all meet at the site of the event. Come to Boston and hold a Tea Party Rally. I have no doubt that the fervor of your speeches and the inflexibility of your beliefs will win over the locals. If that doesn't work, trot out Palin in her Naughty Monkey shoes. Just make sure you line the toilets with paper. I hear that's how you catch the gay.