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What Is The West Point?

Eat your heart out, Michaele Talahi!

Well, I was definitely against the Iraq surge (and that entire war) and am pleased President Obama is keeping his promise for us to leave that mess. As for Afghanistan, I was always in support of his idea to ramp things up there in that that was the original and more important (the only important of the two) conflict for all the reasons he outlined last night. However, that idea sounded a lot better a year ago—hearing it now, realizing troops will begin deploying in the summer and be there for three years...I'm not sure I'd have the stomach to continue such a long, drawn-out war.

I guess my support is about 50% on this one.

I do think having a deadline is acceptable; it's not like we wouldn't stay longer if in three years the situation was vastly different than we expect. For Republicans to be against that part of the strategy is pure politics—they want the war, always did, and if President Sarah Palin were laying out this plan (having freshly buried President McCain), they'd be cheering and trying to make me feel bad for being as iffy on the idea as I am.

I will say that it seems clear Obama is making these decisions based on intelligence he's being given and not for any political purpose—it's going to make his soft numbers (51% approval in the latest Gallup I saw) soften more. But I think he feels it's a necessity and did a good job of explaining why, even if there is plenty of room for disagreement.

Now about that unemployment number....

It Ain't Easy Being Green

Charles Johnson of the massively popular right-wing site Little Green Footballs has veered left. No, he's not a raging liberal now, but veering left was apparently the only solution for him to avoid going over the cliff with the right into a pit of Fascism, Fascism-coddling, religio-fanaticism, climate-change denial and racist hate-mongering. It's a powerfully simple post.

World AIDS Day: Why Not Let Uganda Be Uganda?

How much longer will World AIDS Day even exist? I have to wonder if over the next few years it will be forgotten along with all the urgency that fueled the fight against HIV/AIDS in the past. Shouldn't there be a Treasure Island bareback porn about activists at a conference who give up and have an unprotected orgy? Sorry for the pessimism, but when a friend wrote on Facebook about the gay death sentences in Uganda someone replied, "Why not let Uganda be Uganda?" It perfectly sums up the struggle not only in gay issues but in all issues—too many people truly don't care about any issue that does not directly affect them, and I'm not even counting the ones who truly can't afford to waste their efforts on anything but themselves because of the dire positions they're in.

I think this is what defines a progressive person—it doesn't mean we're never selfish, egomaniacal assholes, but we do care about other people enough to try to help or at least to raise our voices in support of those who need it.

Be My Guest

In light of the severity the media has granted to Gategate, it's odd to me that Matt Lauer granted the Salahis such a deferential inteview. So what if they say they can't come out and say who allegedly invited them? Ask them anyway, and don't make it several questions in. I would've brow-beaten them a bit more. It seems to me that they were a power couple (even if it was an illusion) who almost, almost wangled an invite and then got shot down but insisted on going and seeing what could be done at the door—not quite the same as gatecrashers and not terrorists, but still a semi-serious matter. ENOUGH already. Aren't we going to escalate the war in Afghanistan? Isn't the health care debate revving up? Marriage equality?

Silence Equals Death...Literally

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama need to address the situation in Uganda, where gay people will be executed simply for being themselves. So far, deafening silence...except for this official, who seems to feel that it's none of our business. If we can nation-build around the world, there's no reason we can't at least have a strong position on genocide.

Crashing Boors

I'm not sure what the whole story will wind up to be regarding the party-crashing Michaele (she) and Tareq (he) Salahi—I liked TPM's insinuations about their close connections with the Indian Embassy, but the Embassy has denied it. Here's a good wrap-up on who the heck they are, aren't, might be.

Lots of opinions floating around on this story, mainly because people are simple-minded and so only like to focus on political stories they can get their heads around. Health care is fraught with nuance, so it's usually boiled down to "I hate Socialism!" vs. "Everyone should be covered!" (Sidebar: Pass health care or go down in flames, Democrats.) But glitzy reality-show hopefuls crashing the White House? That's easy.

Or is it? Some say they should face charges. I would argue the real fault lies with the Secret Service (they agree with me)...and it makes me wonder if they're taking their cues from Dallas 1963 in their fierce determination to be sure this president is safe (they wouldn't agree with me on that). Still, if they misrepresented themselves to the Secret Service in order to gain entry, lock 'em up.

But I wonder just how scary it is that they were able to meet him. I would imagine many, many people get close to him at various appearances he makes...? Are they all really vetted, like, really-really? Veering back to the scary side is the observation that pretty much everyone in the line of succession to the presidency was in the room when these two crashed. Had they wasted the entire scene, 91-year-old Sen. Robert Byrd would be our new president. He's old enough to be too-old-to-win McCain's father!

Running From Coverage

Karen Golinski (right) with wife Mary Cunninghis. 

I don't even know how to begin processing this one—the Obama Administration (actually, its highest-ranking out member) is actively fighting a court order to allow health coverage for Karen Golinski's legally wedded wife (they were married in California when it was legal). Golinski is a lawyer working for the Ninth District, and as such her spouse should be covered. It's unreal...I know there is an argument about the administration having to follow decided law, but there are examples (none gay-related) where it does not. Dispiriting, disillusioning, disgusting and dishonorable.

I think time's running out on "there's still time." The window is closing and there has not been enough progress to justify defending Obama's good intentions. I think his supporters—myself included—have to admit he's failing by his own stated high standards on this issue. Would Palin be better? (A new Rasmussen—read, highly R-tainted—poll puts her 3% behind him in a '12 race.) Uh, no. But I thought the hawkish, old-school Hillary Clinton was supposed to be the Democrat liberals supported reluctantly, not Barack Obama.

Still hoping for more good news out of this guy.

Going All Out

It's disappointing that President Obama will go along with an escalation of Afghanistan to "finish the job," even though to his credit he did run on this promise so it shouldn't be a surprise. I was never against bombing Afghanistan after 9/11, and I would love for us not to up and leave, creating a vortex of despair that would be an even more perfect compost for terrorism than already exists there, but it seems to be a pointless battle. 

On a gay note, if Afghanistan is THAT important, he should announce—when he gives his speech on the topic on December 1 in front of a military audience—that he's suspending Don't Ask, Don't Tell based on the urgent need for all hands on deck.

Holy Terror

Obama was dumb enough (sorry, bipartisan enough) to nominate her, he better be smart enough to un-nominate her—Dana Perino was tipped for a media oversight job this week and only hours later went on FOX to scold his administration's refusal to immediately brand Fort Hood a "terrorist" act by pointing out that no terrorist attacks occurred on U.S. soil during George W. Bush's term. 

Except for that small 9/11 thing, she's right! (Or is she?)

Also, can you really call this terrorism when it's one lunatic with a handgun? Sure, you can. It is. It's terrorism considering his attempts to involve al-Quaida. However, shooting an abortionist is also terrorism. I'm not so concerned with labeling it terrorism; what riles me and scares me is when a true, broad conspiracy is broken up. That is not terrorism in name only, it's terrorism in the broader sense that we think of when we think of it.

Counterpoint

An emotional response to the ongoing boycott of the DNC fronted by AmericaBlog.