It Ain’t No Secret…the Democratic Party & Same Sex Marriage

In a recent Daily Beast post, Cindy McCain called Barack Obama’s opposition to same-sex marriage a “dirty little secret.”  Hell, it ain’t no secret.  At least not to this same-sex voter, or anyone else who looked the issue on his web page.  In fact, his position was pretty much the same as Hiliary Clinton’s position.  And yesterday, being tax day, us same-sex couples here in Massachusetts were reminded that while our marriage is legal in the Commonwealth, it is not recognized by the Federal government, because the Ole Triangulator, William Jefferson Clinton, signing into law the Defense of Marriage Act. But, as a thinking voter, which political party should I align myself with – the group that favors civil unions, but still has some learning to do regarding same-sex marriage, or the group who’s ranks include those who are very vocal in their belief that I must be a child molester?

Don’t You Hate It When…

…you read something like this in the newspaper:

“After  a year of cosmetic repairs, the Major Highway overpass seems to be falling apart from the inside out – if you take a good look at the side of the aging bridge by standing next to the intersection of Some Big Avenue, and Main-ish Streets, you can see the main support steel beams rotted all the way through. Maybe this is a good spot to start dumping some of the stimulus cash before it gets eaten as well.”

If you live in Somerville, Massachusetts, this news item was  reported in the March 18, 2009 edition of the Somerville News.  The McGrath Highway overpass at Somerville Ave and Medford Street is wearing out.  This is bad news.  Last year cosmetic repairs were made to this overpass.  This is embarrassing news. 

Isn’t making cosmetic repairs to  a highway overpass a little like like putting wallpaper on a wall that’s losing it’s plaster?  Doesn’t  a crumbling highway overpass present a potential public safety issue?  Hummm…if the result is fewer highway overpasses fall on our heads, these dire financial times might not be so bad after all.

More on the AIG Bonus Babies

Here are some  legal arguments concerning the AIG bonuses, from some very knowledgeable legal scholars.

To the AIG Bonus Babies

I don’t know what it’s like where you live, but here in Boston, the mayor is asking the unions to agree to a wage freeze. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is looking a billions of dollars in a budget shortfall. Nationally, unemployment is around 8% . A lot of our industries floundering. People are downright afraid of losing their jobs, their homes, their health care. The role of the financial services industry is not to produce vast amounts of personal wealth for you Masters of the Universe types.  The  role of the financial services sector is to finance the economic growth of this country. I can’t help but notice that you guys haven’t been doing all that well lately.

They say that there is a contractual obligation to pay you your million dollar bonuses.  But you are under no obligation to accept this bonus.  In fact, maybe in refusing it, you’ll be helping to clean up a small part of the mess that you’ve help create.

Acronym Alert – TDFT

Which stands for These Dire Financial Times.

If Caroline Kennedy wants to be a politician…

…she’d better find her voice. Her replies to questions from the NY Times were all in the third person. “Caroline belives…”  “Caroline is a strong supporter of…”  Why aren’t these statements in the first person?  “I believe…” “I support…”.  Connecting, inspiring and leading people can’t be staffed out.

On Rick Warren delivering the Inaugural Innovation

What would Odetta say?

Now that Bush has become Herbert Hoover…

…we can only hope that Barack Obama is the new Franklin Roosevelt. And that this great depression recession doesn’t end like the last one.

Blagojevich’s Indictment – the silver lining

1) It takes  Dianne Wilkerson & Chuck Turner off the front page.

2) Finally, a political sandal that you can discuss with your kids without having to talk about oral sex, escort services or how to behave in a public rest room.

The difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom

If the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom is lipstick, then we may find comfort in knowing how much the transformation costs.