But other than that, he's for gay rights

Yes, yes, all those nasty, evil, tricksy republicans have been denying alternate lifestylers and the LGBT community equal rights. Dems have been fighting the good fight to right these wrongs.

After all, President Clinton gave us Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Wait....what? But oh yeah, Clinton also gave us the Defense of Marriage Act. Crap...moving on.

Candidate Obama, Senator Obama, and President Obama oppose gay marriage. Suck it repugs... Damn..really? Opposes? Always has? Well at least he's repealed Don't Ask Don't Tell in a timely fashion, what with the rock solid majority in the House and Senate. Not yet? Ouch.

OK, but, but...here we go. It was all over the news and net last week. The president just made a new policy guaranteeing visitation rights for life partners in hospitals. Ha, see! Hope! Change! Yes We Can! Lets scroll through this and quote it properly.

That's odd...it's not an executive order...it's a memorandum. Well, lets get to the juicy bit.

This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit,
substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party
against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

You are hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

C'mon, if you thought there would be something substantive, you haven't been paying attention.

Smile, you're not poor, you're at hope.

A state senator in Washington state actually wants to change the verbiage for the poor. Poor is no good. Disadvantaged? No, that has a negative connotation. At risk? Tsk, tsk, risk is bad. This representative actually wants to change the phrase for poor children to "at hope".

The person who wants to change "at risk" and "disadvantaged" to "at hope" holds elected office. Seriously. I suppose I should be happy that its only state government, on the other side of the country. I'm not, but maybe I should be.

Ah, I'm being unconstructively cynical again. I should think happy thoughts, and ignore the fact that the way things are going, many more people will find themselves "at hope"over the next couple years.

Do As I Say

Obscene executive pay is bad. Unless of course, you have the right connections, or work for Freddie or Fannie. Way to disclose the payouts on Christmas Eve so no one would notice.

Remember all those "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention" bumper stickers? All the neocivil-libertarians? Where did they all go? Never mind, it's rhetorical.

We're at war with EastAsia. We've always been at war with EastAsia.

Jobs Created or Saved

Not my line, but a great one from John Stewart earlier in the week. When we look at the claims of jobs being created or saved by the stimulus, then look at the actual job numbers, there is only one thing that makes sense.

The jobs created or saved metric apparently includes handjobs and blowjobs.

Climaquiddick

My morning coffee almost shot out of my nose the first time I saw this term for the brewing climate change story.

The biggest part of the story is that this calls into question the model that the IPCC has been using. The hockey stick has already come and gone, and now we have scientists actively modifying data to fit their desired outcomes. After years of being told that there is scientific consensus on anthropogenic warming, and having skeptics all but branded as heretics, everything should be back on the table.

It will not be, of course. The truth is that all factions have some viable points, but science has been politicized. We should be pursuing our own oil supplies, increasing nuclear capacity, actively pursuing and encouraging investment in alternatives, all while trying to be more responsible stewards of the planet.

He Really is the One!

That might be unfair. My beef today is less with the President, and more with Senator Reid. Here's the quote.

Today we vote whether to even discuss one of the greatest issues of our generation- indeed, one of the greatest issues this body has ever faced: whether this nation will finally guarantee its people the right to live free from the fear of illness of death, which can be prevented by decent health care for all.

So, are we to believe that this legislation is so awesome, so full of wholesome non-partisan goodness, that illness and death itself shall be vanquished? The senator from Nevada has just hinted at immortality and everlasting health by legislative fiat. Bravo!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am duly impressed by this promised achievement. I am certainly looking forward to centuries of Social Security checks.

Free Flow of Info

Kudos to the administration for advocating the free flow of information and a free press in China. If only the administration didn't take the stance that only party-approved networks were legitimate outlets at home.

Sigh.