Another Anti-Gay Person Brought Down By Their Homosexuality

Why is it that people just can't be themselves? Why must they hide away their true proclivities? They do that and then the worst happens. They fight so hard against something they desire (I'm looking at you Elliott Spitzer). Then they get into a position of power and use it to abuse others to fulfill their desire (I'm looking at you Bill Clinton).

Who's the latest asshole in this trend of denying yourself until you have to exploit others secretly to fulfill your wants? Why, Bishop Eddie Long of course. Bishop Eddie Long, of the we-hate-gays-so-let's-organize-a-march-against-them-but-isn't-it-questionable-that-I-set-up-my-church-in-Hotlanta variety was in the news last year for this scandal.

He supposedly had sex with teenage boys and used the church's resources to entice them. Read about it here.

And now the boys can't keep quiet anymore. After taking a lot, a lot, of money to keep quiet, they can't help but talk. They're writing a tell all book and gave an exclusive interview to a CNN affiliate. Read about it here.

So what about losing their settlement money?

In Wednesday’s interview, the men said they don’t care that talking about the case could mean risking their settlement money.
“I feel like burning [the money],” LeGrande said.
“I’m going to tell the world – money does not buy happiness,” he said. “When you sleep at night, the problems are still there. The money stuff, who cares about the number.”

Interesting stuff? I wonder if Eddie Long will take on these renewed allegations with claims of being like David again...

Don't even get me started on how this shouldn't even be an issue except poor Eddie Long grew up in a black community that frowned on homosexuality and he was forced to be someone other than himself. Poor not-self-aware baby.

Widespread Violence

That's a screen shot of CNN's home page at the time I'm writing this. I don't even know what to say about how ridiculous all this violence is.

I don't even have one story to talk about. I could talk about all the violence right now, but where would I start?

All across the country and globe. I know Mercury is in retrograde now, but this is way more than just lost keys.

Calm down everyone, it isn't even that hot anymore these last couple days. There is nothing so bad that you have to kill someone or destroy their livelihood. That goes for you too Congress.

Post-Racial My @#$

Yeah, Barack Obama represents the shift to a more post-racial world and all that. My father refers to me as "post-racial" occasionally. He means it as a half-compliment.

But, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/08/06/mississippi.hate.crime/index.html?hpt=hp_c1">just read this and you'll understand why I titled this post the way I did.

Image: <a href="http://www.mississippilink.com/image_6f47a670-b1b7-11e0-8081-001cc4c03286.html">The Mississippi Link</a>

In these current times where Hollywood etc. are glossing over history and removing evidence that things weren't always so integrated, it's nice to see CNN not shy away from the hard details of what happened. Here's a direct quote from the article:

As the teens were partying and drinking miles away from Jackson that night, in largely white Rankin County, Dedmon told friends they should leave, saying "let's go fuck with some niggers," according to law enforcement officials.

It's hard to read and it makes me very sad. These mis-guided young men did a horrible thing. They suck and they will pay.

The one good thing about the Big Brother-ness of America these days is that this attack was caught on camera. The entire thing was caught on camera.

There's no doubt this was racially motivated. The hate crime designation makes this offense have a stronger punishment, even in Mississippi.

These racists will be punished. James Craig Anderson will be avenged via the justice system thanks to technology. I can't even begin to imagine what his family is going through. Nor can I imagine what the families of the criminals are going through.

I do hope this doesn't spark some sort of race war. This is Mississippi after all. If I could change one thing about the world, it would be to make everyone magically aware of everyone else's humanity.

It's amazing that people forget others are people too! Just because they look different or speak differently doesn't mean they're not still a person with family, hopes, dreams, personality.

If you forget those who are not your in your immediate circle are people too, you're an asshole. It's just that simple.

WTF Non-Compromisers! Are You Happy Now?!

<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/06/business/us-debt-downgraded-by-sp.html?_r=1&hp">S&P Downgrades America's Debt</a>

The financial implications of this aren't clear yet. But one thing is clear: this crap could have been avoided!

Were the political points worth the downgrade of our country's debt rating? Some jerks would probably answer yes. Sigh. I'm moving to France.

I would love to go live in Europe for at least a year after my fiance and I finish grad school. I wonder if I have a baby there with dual citizenship, if I can move there to take my kid "home" when America has slid a little further into decline and is no longer a great place to live...


Image via <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/06/business/us-debt-downgraded-by-sp.html?_r=1&hp">nytimes.com / credit: Scott Ellis/Bloomberg News

These people, this business, they did what they had to do. It's no one's fault, or wait, yes it is! All these folks should have done better. Every single one of you who refused to speak with maturity and clarity and logic. It's all your fault, those who stood by and only complained without ever offering a viable solution.

“The downgrade reflects our opinion that the fiscal consolidation plan that Congress and the administration recently agreed to falls short of what, in our view, would be necessary to stabilize the government’s medium-term debt dynamics,” it said.

That quote points out the big "DUH" that occurred to me when this deal was signed. This deal sucks. I know it, Paul Krugman knows it, and Obama knows it. If this is really the best we can do, I'm going to downgrade my belief in our government.

Don't Even Get Me Started On The Debt Ceiling

Anyone who says it's equally both sides making things difficult is a centrist jerk. People who think that finding a compromise in the middle is the best way, always, are crazy. Especially when that middle keeps shifting as those to one side keep taking gigantic steps away from the other side.

I'm looking at you, Roland Martin. You're a crazy person to think that it's both the Democrats and Republicans equally holding up progress.

The Democrats are still whining about having to potentially cut some of the entitlement programs. But they're sure as hell not going to have to be coerced with promises of constitutional amendments and pizza to get their vote on a bill that doesn't completely suck.

The Republicans in general and the Tea Partiers in particular are appearing more and more to be full-blown lunatics. A lot of these freshman members of Congress don't fully understand how the process works. They think they can get an amendment to the constitution passed during election year. Election year. Passed. In all 50 states etc.

Seriously? I know these people constantly deride and undervalue education. But did none of them take civics at any point from 5th grade to grad school? Sigh.

Back to the point at hand. Now, suddenly, there's a silver lining. I don't know that there's more of one than before. I just know that the media tide has shifted and all the calls of the sky falling are shifting to faux rainbow sightings. I'm looking at you New York Times.

This craziness almost made my parents hesitate to sign a contract for my wedding venue. This is where this gets personal. I have half a mind to move to another state, just so I can vote against any one of these rich guys who have no problem pushing the rest of America, and the planet, to the brink of economic disaster.

Can't Wait Til The Casy Anthony Book Comes Out

So I didn't care about the trial while it was going on. But now that the verdict is out, I'm fascinated. I'm reading transcripts from interviews with Anthony's attorney.

When people talk about their opinions of whether or not she should have been found guilty, I find myself not caring again.

The thing I'm most focused on now is the book that is certainly sure to come out within the next two years. No one gets this much media attention and doesn't write a book.

I'll keep my opinion of what I think happened because no one really knows except Casey and her father. But just like every person who has no life to go back to, she'll eventually tell her story.

It's true that I don't care about the hullabaloo concerning what should have or shouldn't have happened, but I will be one of the first people to buy her book when it comes out.

And if you're still reading this post, you probably will too. Let's be real, we all want to know what really happened. Just like OJ's book, she'll be explaining what really happened, hypothetical or not.

Do you think she really killed her daughter? Did the father have anything to do with it? How will Casey move forward? It will be all in the book I bet you.

Why Don't I Care About The Casey Anthony Trial??

Seriously, I don't care at all. When I've run out of other things to read on CNN.com on my BlackBerry, I'll read through the updates to the case.

I like to be informed so that when it comes up in discussion while I'm out an about, I have something to offer. If you can't tell, I love having an opinion to care.

But I'm having trouble mustering up an opinion. All I'm able to do is fill in the gaps in other peoples' knowledge of the case. Perhaps it's just the company I keep, but concern for this case doesn't seem to match the media coverage.

Why do they want us to care so much? Mothers are on trial all over the country for killing their kids. Why this case?

If you care to read what CNN has to say about it, click here.

There are some interesting aspects. 1. The grandfather's possible involvement as well as his suicide attempt. 2. The grandfather's mistress. 3. Those odd search terms in the family's computer.

Other than that, it's um... boring as hell. Can somebody, anybody, explain to me why this case is garnering so much media attention?

Thank You Michele Bachmann!

Michele Bachmann has announced she is throwing her hat into the ring to run for the 2012 Republican nomination for President. Read the CNN article covering the announcement.

When I gleefully shared this news with my fiance this afternoon, he asked why I was so happy. He wondered if I was a fan of Bachmann and was finally coming out of the closet about it. I laughed because I realized he doesn't read this blog very much, so he doesn't know how I've had my fingers crossed she would decide officially to run.

I see her as a fringe candidate who's somehow gained legitimacy. She even says things every now and then that don't make me want to slit my wrists and hers. But the fact remains that she's just too loony to be elected President.

If she steals the nomination from Mitt "It's My Turn, I Deserve This" Romney, I'll be ever so happy. A few clips from the ridiculous-ness that's come out of her mouth ought to guarantee Obama his job for four more years.

Americans have a short memory, so they don't remember why this woman gained national notice in the first place. It was because she's f-ing crazy!

Don't believe me? Huffington Post has collected her 16 most unforgettable quotes/clips. You've simply got to go through all 16. Then you will understand my glee.

Because she's not just historically crazy. She's also currently very popular. The only thing that could make this better is if Sarah Palin also enters the race and splits the vote of GOP'ers who would vote for a woman. Actually, maybe that's not good. Because then Mitt might definitely win the nomination.

Things that make me go hmmm...

Really Arnold Schwarzenegger? Really?!

I know this news is days old, but really?

Part of me is surprised that this came to light at all since he's done with the governor's mansion. Part of me is sad because this will be just another crazy Kennedy story in the grand scheme of history. Part of me thinks it's interesting how people forget that politicians are people too. And part of me wants to immediately move on from Schwarzenegger and talk about something that's really pissing me off right now.

John Edwards. How did I make that leap you ask?

It's because he also had a love child. He let this love child derail his presidential possibilities. Don't get me wrong, I would have voted for Obama over him hands down, but he let his indiscretion derail his marriage and future.

Schwarzenegger his this child for a damn decade. The child's mother was still on payroll working for their family until recently, like two years. And Edwards couldn't keep a 2 year old from coming to light? Come on!

I think it's their personal business. How French of me, right? But that being said, I'm super upset at Edwards for not pulling Schwarzenegger until his political career was over. I know I know. How cynical.

Seriously California? Serioulsy?!

So those people who want there to be a law in California denying gays the right to marry are saying the ruling by Chief Judge Walker which says Prop 8 violated the civil rights of gay Californians to be vacated. Did you catch that?

Prop 8 was on the ballot in 2008 in California and passed, effectively putting into law be referendum that gays aren't allowed to vote.

Some gay couples challenged that ruling in court and Chief Judge Walker agreed with the gay couples.
But now the proponents of Prop 8 want his ruling vacated because he has recently revealed that he is gay and has been in a relationship with his partner for 10 years. They say he should have recused himself because by being gay and in a long-term relationship, he would stand to benefit from his ruling and therefore could not possibly be unbiased.

What. The. Fuck?! These people must hate that you can't tell someone is gay by looking at them. Cause then they could keep gays from holding positions like Chief Judge and then they'd never have to call such things like bias into question. Life must be so hard for these poor conservatives, ahem, homophobes.

I guess they'd rather things be like the were in the civil rights era. If you had dark skin or squinty eyes or spoke Spanish or had boobs, it was clear you weren't unbiased and might do something like give women and minorities the same rights as regular white men.

If they had their way, gay Californians would have to wait like the rest of the oppressed groups in America for some white heterosexual Christian males to realize that it was a better economic decision to let the minorities have their "rights". Hopefully those men wouldn't know anyone actually gay to guarantee a lack of bias.

I guess if I'm black and I sign a petition saying the people who want to defund Planned Parenthood are all assholes, I'm biased because I could at some point benefit from their services. Since when is benefitting from a decision a reason to have that decision vacated? This is the most ridiculous logic. Perhaps these Prop 8 people should turn their focus on Wall Street and stop all those self-serving policies.

Oh wait, if they did that, all these religious groups would lose their funding. And then how would they keep finding new and interesting groups to oppress?

NFL Woes

I love football. It's my favorite sport, by far. So one would think I was heartbroken over what's happening right now with the owners and the players. But I'm not.


If the players have a beef, it needs to be settled. I hear people often say that professional sports is one of the last forms of organized slavery. That may be a stretch considering that so man professional athletes are making 7 figures, but they do not have control over certain aspects of their lives.


I support taking control of a bad situation. That's why I was glad to see the names of two of my favorite quarterbacks (Drew Brees and Peyton Manning) on the list of those filing formal litigation since negotiations have fallen through.


Sure this season may not happen. While I'd love an 18-game season, giving me more time to kick butt in m fantasy football league, it will not be the end of the world if it comes a year later than originally planned.


I'm going to blame my anti-fat-cat sentiment for being on the side of someone other than the owners.

Gail Collins' Presidential Primary Book Club

Gail Collins is one of my favorite columnists for the New York Times. I am on my Blackberry religiously, reading every word she's ever published. I noticed her at first because she's a woman, but I stayed with her because her articles has a touch of whimsy mixed with cynicism that just made me smile inside.


If I were you, I'd read her most recent post about Mike Huckabee. It's titled Presidential Primary Book Club and that's why I made my title the same. Read it and you will see what I mean about the mix of cynicism and whimsy.


In order to understand the basic point of this blog post, you need to simply read this quote. It is the entire first paragraph of her article.

One of a journalist’s most important duties is to seek out information in places the readers wouldn’t go themselves, like following troops into combat or covering charter revision commission hearings. In that spirit, I have been reading all the books written by likely candidates for the Republican presidential nomination.

Do you get my point? No? Sigh. The point is that I don't actually want to read these damn books these Republicans keep writing. I still haven't read all the books Obama wrote, why the hell would I read anything those guys have to say? But I do want the book condensed into a snarky version of its essence for me. And with these columns, I'm able to pretend I'm sitting down on Wednesday nights with a glass of wine and reaping the rewards of being in a book club without all the work.


Gail Collins discusses Mike Huckabee's book the same was she discussed Tim Pawlenty's book. You should read that column too. It was liberal gold. Mike Huckabee is obsessed with the number 12. Could that be because of his religious leanings? He also flipped from supporting a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but he's changed his mind. And he used to cook squirrels in a popcorn popper in college. I can always count on Gail Collins to throw in some totally unimportant fact that I'm truly glad I now know.


Tim Pawlenty is obsessed with his family. He gets painted as a frat boy who's entire book is self-congratulatory. Based on how he seems on TV, I don't think her interpretation is too far off. Oh and he thinks he's funnier than he is. Not a crime, but it certainly invokes images of W. doing a dance for the reporters while trying to buy time before a press conference. I can't wait to see what the next guy/gal is obsessed with.


What she discusses is particularly interesting to me for a number of reasons. 1. I just love learning about modern politics as it's happening.   2. Whoever the Republican candidate is will affect whether Obama will be a 4 year or 8 year president.   3. Her liberal views on these matters line up with what I already feel and therefore want to hear more of.


I think it's okay to succumb to confirmation bias if you know that it's happening. And I'm amused by the way she amplifies the worst in the books. She's pointing out something I've been reading rather often in political analysts columns in various mediums (mostly CNN, nytimes.com, and AP Mobile). It's that the field of Republican candidates for president in 2012 will be quite pitiful.


There is still plenty of time for someone to emerge that actually has favorability ratings that are trending upward. But for now, they are screwed. And I for one cannot wait for the next installment of the Presidential Primary Book Club.