"Come As You Are"

Gay Themed McDonald's Ad is Viral Success

This French McDonald's ad has gone viral (almost 1.3 million views on the main YouTube, not counting copies.)

Bill O'Reilly of course, went bug-fuck nuts when exposed to the ad, swearing that no such ad would EVER come run in the masculine United States of America.

Idiot.

I think the ad is sweet.

There's more...

Futures, Declarations, Promises, Trust, and Betraying Teh Gay

Barack Obama in New Hampshire (Jan 4, 2008). Click for LARGE size.
photo Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images.

What I Trust Obama For
(and why he gets NOTHING from me)

I don't remember if I contributed to Obama or not during the General election; I don't think I did but I may have, after the primary races were settled. Mostly my contributions went to key House and Senate races where I felt my money would have more of an impact.

I never kidded myself about Obama; it was always clear to me, and I always said to my readers at Group News Blog, even though it pissed off a solid 60-70% of them, that at best, Obama was a middle-of-the-road politician, that his campaign rhetoric was just that, slogans and feel-good imagery designed a) to get him elected (7.2% & 192 electoral points), and b) to let everyone place their own meaning on simple non-commitments without actually committing him or his future administration to any real positions. Further I said, the commitments he does make he will not interpret as actual promises but as declarations, as futures he intends to bring forth, but never as specific promises.

Obama doesn't make promises; that is not the way in which he speaks. The "Presidential Voice" is always that of Declarations, never that of Promises or even that of Assessments and Assertions (which as a former College Professor Obama is familiar with...except that when he went there, as he did a few times on the campaign trail -- *coughLevittown--Bittergatecough*, it got/gets him into trouble.)

Therefore Obama speaks in Futures, in Declarations. Any promises he makes must always be understood, be listened to inside the possible futures Obama is bringing forth in this moment, and like all futures, Obama knows that Futures are Probabilities, not certainties. Some Futures may be more probable than others. Some Futures may be strongly more likely, almost dead-certain. But in a moment, everything can change due to an unexpected event from a change in the market to an assassination to war or peace breaking out to a natural disaster. There are moments when certain Futures are possible and other moments when those Futures are not...and these moments are not under the control of anyone. Life comes at us as it comes. We can prepare; we can be in the moment ready to act. But Life, she just happens.

Obama -- and any student of history -- knows this in their gut. Thus Obama is ready, always, to dance from one set of possible futures to another set of possible futures, and is never truly committed to any one specific set. Instead he is looking in every moment to bring forth, to produce what he considers the best, the most open (in his world, what he considers "best" and open"), the best possible set of futures which fit HIS standards, given the circumstances and politics, the resources and the economics, the weather and the world situation and all that jazz, of THIS moment. Ten days, ten hours, ten months from now, Obama will be working to produce a different -- yet clearly related -- set of futures, which is related not just by the way the world and the political, economic, and all that jazz circumstances have changed, but also which is clearly related by Obama's commitment to his own standards,e.g.: none of his possible futures will allow television advertising of cigarettes, some will have public option health insurance and some will not, and likely only in very few of them will Obama ever do more than give lip service to civil rights for gay marriage or anything Teh Gay.

Why? Because Obama doesn't give a flying fuck for Gay Rights. Regardless of the words which come out of his mouth, the futures he declares, the soaring words he speaks, he and his administration and the DNC have made ZERO ACTIONS consistent with these futures. Thus, bullshit. Bullshit across the board.

Here's the good thing. This bullshit means we can trust Obama in this domain. No longer any need to get crazy about it. Seriously.

I trust Rush about gay rights as well. I trust that Rush will absolutely, given the opportunity, fuck me, fuck my daughters and son, fuck my mother, fuck my friends, and fuck everything I and my family and colleagues stand for in the domain of rights for people who are GLBT. Rush is absolutely trustworthy in that he WILL fuck all of us over given any opportunity in this domain. Even more, Rush will go out of his way to CREATE opportunities to fuck us when it comes to gay civil rights. He's a scorpion; he stings. It is who he is; it is what he does. I am not upset about this; it does not freak me out. I don't waste any time being crazy wondering where Rush stands or damming the Gods that Rush is this way. Water is wet, rocks are hard, Rush fucks teh Gay, and this is how it is. *shrugs* I trust completely that Rush is out to fuck me and act accordingly without it getting in the way.

After Maine, after this week's Fall 2009 election, I now know how to trust Obama with respect to Gay Rights. I have for myself -- and others will have to do this (or at least can do this) for themselves -- clearly separated the Declarations of possible Futures Obama keeps making (his speaking), from the Actions (his doing) that he and the entities he is accountable keep making.

Obama -- just like Rush -- I say, is absolutely trustworthy. Obama is a) trustworthy not to screw us, that is, he won't fuck us over. This first part is fairly weak. He'd give this one up and actually screw us over if need be. So best not to rely on this one too strongly. None the less, at least for now, Obama is trustworthy to not actively screw us. More importantly, Obama is also b) trustworthy to do nothing. This is for what he can be primarily counted on. No matter what Obama says, no matter what promises Obama makes or futures he invents, proclaims, or declares beautifully, Obama's actions over time lead me to be certain what Obama is trustworthy to do and all Obama is trustworthy and count-on-able to do in the domain of GLBT civil rights is nothing. We can count on Obama and groups under his control, when it comes to gay civil rights, to do jack-shit. Obama is trustworthy for that. You and I do not need to suffer or worry about what the President and DNC will do; we now have sufficient history that we can trust them...they will do—nothing. Period. Full stop.

Seriously, it is good to know this. Truly. It means we don't need to suffer trying in vain to get them to do something. It means we don't get upset afterward due to unfilled expectation having thought the folks who claimed we could count on would do something (and then they did it poorly, not at all, or screwed it up so badly one might suspect they sold us out intentionally) or should have done something.

See, it is truly silly to be upset at someone for not doing something or expecting someone to do something, when the grounded interpretation/assessment about them is, they are trustworthy for doing nothing. *laughs* So they did nothing... well Duh... Nothing is PRECISELY what they were trusted to do. I would never be upset at Rush for doing nothing. (Or at a cow for shitting in its stall. Cows shit. Have you ever seen a big pile of cow shit? [Click on photo at link to enlarge. *grins*] People make enormous sums of money dealing with cow shit. But first (to make the big bucks) you have to accept that cow shit is natural for the cow and part of life for the rancher.) Obama (in the domain of civil rights for gay people) is trustworthy to do—nothing. Rush... Hell, I'd be happy if that fuck did nothing. Because what Rush is trustworthy for is to fuck us over.

Upsets come when from unfulfilled expectations, thwarted intentions, and undelivered communications. In this case we primarily have unfulfilled expectations (the expectation that Obama would do what he promised/declared), which when done would handle the intent (which is thwarted and now, continues to be.) But the intent is a secondary thing. Communications are being delivered just fine, but positively and negatively. The upset here comes from the unfulfilled expectation.

That there is an expectation at all is because we -- you, me, everyone who is gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, has a family member, a friend or loved person, colleague, or is in any way committed to the success of the GLBT community -- have been expecting the Obama team to deliver. We have believed they were trustworthy in the declarations and promises they made. Now we know better.

Knowing Obama, the administration and the DNC are trustworthy to do nothing, means that if I expect anything to be done, I know it's going to be other entities -- perhaps even my daughters and I -- who get the job done, as just happened in Washington State where my daughter and her pals worked their asses off campaigning. And won! Go Kyle, go her buddies. Good fracking job!!! Most of all, I know NOT to give a fracking penny, dime or dollar to Obama or the DNC. Because I do not EVER fund people who don't have my back. Not funding people who fail to support my goals is simple common sense.

I stopped funding NOW when they backed that slimeball Joe L. for reelect in CN, those gunkies, as well as writing off the DNC who sucked his ass while he crapped all over them. (And look how well it paid off; he's about to take a big steaming dump on all of us with the Health Care bill. Well done, Democratic Leadership. Good work.)

Now I know also to not fund Obama, even if he is the leader of my Party, as well as still to keep not funding the DNC. Again, why? Because they don't have our backs; they look at me and mine as vending machines. Screw them and their corporate donors whose teats they suck. What is now clear is Obama, the administration and the DNC would rather dance with corporate donors and try to get religious conservatives to vote for them (who won't, ever) than keep their word given in battle to the heart and soul of the Democratic party. Believing we have nowhere else to go, they are trustworthy to write off GLBT people, their familes, and the people who support them. Writing us off is up to them.

This is what is up to us...

I am not going to waste my energy or emotions getting angry or mad. To do so would be to damage who I am. I'm stronger and wiser than to waste myself getting angry with Obama and the fools he has advising him how to sell out his soul. Instead of getting angry, I'm simply walking away from Obama, the administration, the DNC, and everyone associated with them. I am going to donate my money, my time, and organize and blog, campaign and write, and give as much of myself, my family, my resources and energies as possible to people who DO have our backs, to people who are trustworthy down in the trenches. *waves to Al Franken and Alan Grayson*

I'm also going to tell everyone precisely why Obama and the DNC are on my shit list... because they are trustworthy to promise one thing, while doing another. They say they support Teh Gay, but what they really want is Gay Money while doing jack-shit for civil rights for ALL Americans. Fuck that, fuck them, fuck this.

Obama and the DNC get NOTHING from me -- no cash, no support, no good press, no volunteering, nothing -- till they not only speak great declarative Futures (which they're great at doing) but until they cease the hypocrisy -- UNTIL THEIR ACTIONS ARE COMPLETELY CONSISTENT WITH THEIR DECLARATIONS, WHEN IT COMES TO GLBT CIVIL RIGHTS, OBAMA AND THE DNC GET NOTHING FROM ME.

*smiles sweetly*

Trust is an assessment, grounded in Competence and Sincerity. 

Let me give you that again...

Trust is an assessment, grounded in Competence and Sincerity. The Obama administration's declarations (and promises) regarding gay civil rights are competent; they are not sincere nor were they made in sincerity. People and organizations who make declaration/promises from a place of competence while intentionally making insincere promises/declaring futures to which they are not committed, are assessed as CRIMINAL with respect to that domain of declaration and promises.

Why everyone is SO FREAKING PISSED at Obama regarding all this is simple. It is clear he and his team have intentionally used the Gay Community to raise campaign money for himself with no intention of fulfilling his campaign promise. This is a CRIMINAL act. Perhaps not legally (although perhaps), but absolutely socially. Barack Obama personally, and the Obama administration as a whole, have intentionally and deliberately violated, breached, betrayed their word, after already collecting -- repeatedly -- enormous campaign contributions which were given in exchange for the promise that Obama WOULD make gay civil rights a major priority, that he, Obama, would personally get this handled. And now we see it was all a lie. *sighs*

Obama took our community money and got himself elected. California was not possible, not possible without television commercials which would have cost (forced) Obama's campaign to (have to) pull TV spots and other major media buys from all over the country...which would have cost him electoral votes, and who knows what might have happened then without A-Gay Money and old-school Hollywood Support, hmmm? Plus every other GLBT flat-out breaking their piggy-banks open for Obama because he PROMISED a whole new world. He PROMISED.

We now know the Candidate, now President, made us a flat out CRIMINAL lie, a betrayal. (We won't get into parsing the other distinctions of how breaking a promise settles out. Just know that if someone is competent and insincere, linguistically people assess that kind of lie as CRIMINAL. Think Dick Cheney or Richard "Tricky Dick" Nixon. Criminal betrayers, both of them. Competent liars, yet insincere in the promises/declarations they made.)

I trust the Obama Administration to do nothing for teh Gay. *shrugs* The made a cold-blooded determination it was less costly for them politically to take our money and do nothing than to take our money and keep their word. They lied and did so knowingly to over one-tenth of all Americans, said "Fuck You..." You're not even as valuable as 3/5ths of as an American. But please... we want your money and your vote.

It's a political calculus of the coldest kind. They figure we have nowhere else to go. Plus they've already got our money. Obama's already in office. What, they think, are we going to do? Throw a fit? Tell our Senators and Congresspeople to vote against the White House position on all the other bills we want? Piss on our own (well-tailored) shoes?

Obama thinks he's got our money and our votes and in addition, has managed to screw us over in broad daylight, thus gaining votes with middle America. (You know whose strategy this was. But Obama went along and he's the President, not Rahm.)

Until Obama, the administration, and the DNC stop talking about change and actually ACT on the change the promised, not one dime, not one bit of campaign support, nothing. We are DONE.

If they want me to trust them to something, they need to change their actions. But for right now, I trust them to do...

Nothing.

There's more...

Jodie Foster Comes Out

photo hitusa.com

Jodie Foster, Cydney Bernard, and Children

Ending years of silence, Jodie Foster came out last week at the Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment when she thanked her partner, "my beautiful Cydney."

Not that this was a large shock to anyone in show business. Cydney Bernard and Jodie Foster have been together for over fourteen years and have two children. What is news, is this is the first time Jodie Foster has said anything publicly.

Way to go Jodie.

At #9 on the current list of most highly payed actresses, we will see if this impacts her career, but I'm guessing not so much, especially as she's also doing much more directing and producing. But as an actor, Jodie's shown over and over again she can open a movie, not to mention her two Academy Awards. Plus people like her. She's Jodie Foster. We've watched her grow up from Tom Sawyer to Taxi Driver to Freaky Friday, The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs, to Contact and Panic Room.

She's Jody Foster and everyone adores her.

And now she's out. Go Jodie go!

h/t Feministing.

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The Ditty Bops

Angel With An Attitude


The bicycle tour (above) was in 2006.

As to the young ladies in question...

The tall one is Amanda Barrett. The not as tall one is Abby DeWald.

Amanda and Abby are partners in life (since 1999), as well as comprising the Ditty Bops. Amanda also is a really, well, tall, comedian (who's damn oh so funny in addition to the whole being tall deal), and can be seen doing awesome sketch comedy in the group Pretty Things. Here is some more stuff about Abby who while she seems overshadowed by Amanda (cause Amanda's tall; try and keep up please), but if Abby weren't to be there, you'd miss her about as much as oxygen. Yeah, she's that wonderful. Plus talented. I love Abby's voice.

Their 2007 tour went to farms. Cleverly it was named The Ditty Bops Farm Tour.

On August 12 at the Portland show, Abby tried to pull out her niece Lucy's loose tooth during the show. On camera.

Have you ever had a demo that went well? Imagine throwing in your six year-old niece Lucy, a live audience, a background piano accompaniment in mocking counterpoint to Lucy's laughter. And an audience hysterical on the floor.

Lucy's Tooth


Lucy -- A Day Later (Waiting for the Tooth Fairy)


Oh! And they also have their own video channel. Yea them!! They grasp THE AGE OF SHIFTING IDENTITIES (an entire additional post I wrote tonight right here for several hours yes, right here inside this very post. And then I pulled it so Sara and Hubris wouldn't scold me for writing too long [and The Littlest Gator too *waves*], 'cause really this other post, it's unrelated to the goodness of The Ditty Bops. Coming soon, and yes, I know I said I wouldn't promise more posts. Bad Jesse. *sighs* But it's like, 80% done. And you'll like it, it's even got most of the Trust stuff I've been promising you inside it! Just remember: "The Age of Shifting Identities." You heard it here first. Mine, mine, mine! But now I must go to bed. Because of the whole being needing to sleep business.)

Anyway, here is the link to The Ditty Bops TV Show #02: Exercise Routine. Where we see Abby teach us advanced jump-rope, and Amanda do jumping rope (she's a beginner), but then Amanda shows us her famous Parking Lot Workout. Hysterical. And very, very much them.

I like these ladies. Highly recommended.

Oh... and here are their albums:

• The Ditty Bops (2004)
• Moon Over the Freeway (2006)

Enjoy enjoy. Goodness and just pure fun.

h/t TBogg several weeks ago.

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Anti-Gay “Church” Owes $11 Million in Damages

“That was such über-pwnage.”

Happy Halloween.

Wednesday in Kansas City, a Federal Jury delivered a verdict against the Phelps family and their homovirulent "church", the Westboro Baptist Church.

The case was brought by Albert Snyder of Maryland, the father of a slain American Marine who died in Iraq, after members staged a demonstration at the funeral of his son Matthew Snyder in March, 2006.

Jurors awarded Mr. Snyder $2.9 million U.S. in direct damages, $6 million in punitive for invasion of privacy, and another $2 million for causing emotional distress. Assuming the verdict is upheld on appeal, this will almost certainly leave the church and family bankrupt.

Heh.

Good. Great. Wonderful! *applauds*

Bankrupt the evil gay-bashing fucks.

I have enormous capacity for forgiveness. Evil is a word I use rarely. The leaders of this group exceed my capacity for forgiveness. They are morally evil at the level of Dick Cheney, those who authorize torture, or who design and execute genocides. They literally would kill gay people if they could. They are evil people.

Run them into the ground, stomp on them, then salt the fucking earth as an explicit example to all.

Taking their money is a GOOD act. Sitting here writing, I find I am moved as an American... I am proud of our Federal Jury in Kansas.

My condolences to Mr. Snyder and his family on the loss of their son, and to every family who has lost family and in their most sacred hours, has had to endure the filthy taunts of these Hillboro perversions of humanity.

Perhaps now, finally, the Phelps Family will be forced into working at WalMart, without health insurance, clocking in and out in order to take a smoke.

Maybe even perhaps, the youngest among them may break free.

Perhaps.

h/t fdl, where TRex brings the snark.

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Rowling Outs Dumbledore

Let The Fan Fiction Begin! Er, Let More Be Written.

It's true. No less an authority than J.K. Rowling herself, with a poke in the eye to Christian groups who allege her books promote witchcraft, outed Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, gay master wizard, and in love with...

Well, let's let Ms. Rowling tell you.

Associated Press

Harry Potter fans, the rumors are true: Albus Dumbledore, master wizard and Headmaster of Hogwarts, is gay. J.K. Rowling, author of the mega-selling fantasy series that ended last summer, outed the beloved character Friday night while appearing before a full house at Carnegie Hall.

After reading briefly from the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," she took questions from audience members.

She was asked by one young fan whether Dumbledore finds "true love."

"Dumbledore is gay," the author responded to gasps and applause.

She then explained that Dumbledore was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle between good and bad wizards. "Falling in love can blind us to an extent," Rowling said of Dumbledore's feelings, adding that Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down."

Dumbledore's love, she observed, was his "great tragedy."

"Oh, my god," Rowling concluded with a laugh, "the fan fiction."

Rowling told the audience that while working on the planned sixth Potter film, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," she spotted a reference in the script to a girl who once was of interest to Dumbledore. A note was duly passed to director David Yates, revealing the truth about her character.

Rowling, finishing a brief "Open Book Tour" of the United States, her first tour here since 2000, also said that she regarded her Potter books as a "prolonged argument for tolerance" and urged her fans to "question authority."

Not everyone likes her work, Rowling said, likely referring to Christian groups that have alleged the books promote witchcraft. Her news about Dumbledore, she said, will give them one more reason.

Let the news go forth.

Someone call for my Owl.

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Eating The Big Juicy With Larry

Yummy Finger Food, by U.S. Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho)

Mouth watering goodness.

His favorite recipe is the Super Tuber. Really?

LM is right. This is fuuuuun.

1st Traveler's Choice Internet Cookbook

The Honorable Larry E. Craig
United States Senator, Idaho

Super Tuber

Super Tuber is a great snack that uses one of my favorite vegetables: The Idaho Potato. Of course, I suppose any type of potato could be used, but I cannot guarantee that a Super Tuber made with anything but a true Idaho potato would taste as good. Sincerely, Larry E. Craig, United States Senator

Ingredients

1 hot dog, cook's choice

1 Idaho baking potato, 7 to 10 ounces

Mustard for dipping, any style

Other condiments as desired such as cheese sauce, sour cream, chili, chives, bacon pieces or black olives.

Wash and dry potato. Rub with shortening or butter. With an apple corer or small knife, core out the potato center (end to end). Push hot dog through the center. Bake until potato is cooked through.

To Microwave: Place on microwave safe plate; cover loosely (to avoid splatters). Microwave on high about 4 minutes per potato until fork tender.

To Bake in Conventional Oven: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake for approximately one hour or until potato is fork tender.

To Barbecue: Wrap in aluminum foil and place above medium hot coals, turning at least once during cooking. Cook until potato is fork tender.

Serving Suggestions: Allow potato to cool slightly. Eat as a finger food, dipping in your favorite hot dog condiments (mustard is my favorite).

Come and get it, boys...

Take it all, swallow the whole wiener.

Hat tip Crooks and Liars

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“I've decided to lead with my heart.”

I started crying one minute in and didn't stop. Watch now.

Jerry Sanders, Mayor of San Diego, reverses 30 years of his own public position in five minutes, choosing to support gay marriage.

I just could not bring myself to tell an entire group of people in our community they were less important, less worthy, or less deserving than the rights and responsibilities of marriage than anyone else, simply because of their sexual orientation.

A decision to veto this resolution would have been inconsistent with the values I've embraced over the last 30 years.

Stunning. Beautiful. Authentic. Deeply human.

In the next one to ten years, more politicians will have this moment.

Ever wondered what the whole world would be like if politicians just told the naked truth? What a person looks like as their entire life shifts?

Now you do... A human being being fully human looks like Jerry Sanders.

Side note: Want to know the difference between liberals and the right-wing?

Compare Jerry Sanders above, telling us his daughter Lisa is gay, and that all he wants is for his baby girl to have what any parent wants -- a great (and legal) marriage like he and his wife have.

Contrast below where Michelle Malkin's shitbags at the Vietnam War memorial, five on one, are kicking Carlos Arredondo, the brown father of a dead marine.

Don't ever let anyone say in your hearing that there's not a difference between us and them, or that it doesn't matter who you vote for. Now shake it off.

Go back and watch Jerry Sanders again.

You know... I don't even know what political party the man's in, but right now I wish I lived in San Diego just so I could vote for him.

Really -- that is what being human looks and sounds like at its finest. Make sure you let it penetrate deep, deep, down into long-term memory.

If you're elected officials aren't delivering that... why the hell not?

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Poll: Bush Continues To Suck

67% Of
Americans

Feel President George W. Bush is doing a bad job at running the United States, according to a poll published by Harris Interactive Tuesday.

Well hell...that's the problem right there:

AFP

Two-thirds of Americans feel President George W. Bush is doing a bad job at running the United States, a survey published Tuesday showed.

Houston Chronicle

[Bush's] job-approval rating among Latinos has plummeted to 20 percent from 35 percent since January.

The base assumption of these surveys is wrong.

"Running" the country? He's never run a damn thing in his life.

President Bush "goes running." You know...with alert Secret Service guards wrastling to the ground anyone with t-shirts which say "Bush fucks." Who can blame them?

Bush is obviously a faaabulous bottom.

Bush's polls suck in:

• "Doing a bad job" and
  
• "Job-approval."

Oh hell no. Pay attention.

President Bush doesn't have jobs. He has positions. Purchased by Daddy and Mummy. Other people do the busy work.

George:

• Drinks,
• Swaggers around hosing over the second string; ("Hey Goose, you big stud!...Take me to bed or loose me forever!"),
• Does dope (prescription, if his candy-ass Navy docs won't score him real shit now that Jeff can't come over down under and play)...

And Mr. President fucks the help.

As Tuesday's Harris poll makes clear, we the people aren't confused:

George W. Bush fucks the country as well.

Thanks Mr. President. Was it good for you?

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Breaking: Senator Craig to Resign

photo: Charles Dharapak/Associated Press

Alleged Gay Sex Too Much for GOP

GOP Leaders have pressured Senator Larry Craig (Idaho-R) to resign in the blow-up of a sex scandal of alleged gay solicitation in an airport bathroom.

Senator Craig pled guilty to a single minor charge, although he now claims doing so was a mistake and that he is not gay.

GOP leaders have not pressured the resignation of Senators Ted Stevens of Alaska who is the target of a criminal investigation over his dealings with a a government contractor. Nor have GOP leaders pressured the resignation of Senator David Vitter of Louisiana who is alleged to have frequented a Washington, D.C. house of prostitution. A lot.

NY Times

Senator Craig plans to resign on Saturday.

Idaho Gov. C. L. Otter, a Republican, would be responsible for naming a replacement to serve until the end of Mr. Craig’s third term, in 2009.

Republicans. Family Values... unless politically inconvenient.

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First!

okay, getting back to work now, i just had to post that because nobody had lolgeh'd that yet.

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