The GOP’s McCarthy Gene - Oogedy Boodgedy

From the LA Times:

Ever since the election, partisans within the Republican Party and observers outside it have been speculating wildly about what direction the GOP will take to revive itself from its disaster. Or, more specifically, which wing of the party will prevail in setting the new Republican course — whether it will be what conservative writer Kathleen Parker has called the “evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy” branch or the more pragmatic, intellectual, centrist branch. To determine the answer, it helps to understand exactly how Republicans arrived at this spot in the first place.

Read the rest by clicking here.

The GOP’s Big Problem is GOD

From the Washington Post:

Three little letters, great big problem: G-O-D.

I’m bathing in holy water as I type.

To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn’t soon cometh.

Simply put: Armband religion is killing the Republican Party. And, the truth — as long as we’re setting ourselves free — is that if one were to eavesdrop on private conversations among the party intelligentsia, one would hear precisely that.

The choir has become absurdly off-key, and many Republicans know it.

Read the Rest at the Washington Post!

How the GOP Lost My Vote

After a resounding electoral defeat, in which voters in this once-red state rejected Republicans McCain, Schaffer, and Musgrave, the Colorado Republican Party will undoubtedly be asking themselves, “Why did we lose?”

I want to let them know that they lost the vote of many former supporters (including myself) because they have chosen to embrace the Religious Right.

I voted Republican in 1996, 2000, and 2004. I believe in limited government, individual rights, free market capitalism, a strong national defense, and the right to keep and bear arms - positions that one normally associates with Republicans.

But I didn’t vote for a single Republican in 2008. I’ve become increasingly alienated by the Republicans” embrace of the religious “social conservative” agenda, including attempts to ban abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and gay marriage.

The Founding Fathers correctly recognized that the proper function of government is to protect individual rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion. But freedom of religion also implies freedom *from* religion. As Thomas Jefferson famously put it, there should be a “wall of separation” between church and state. Public policy should not be based on religious doctrines.

Read the entire post at denverpost.com.

An Open Letter to GLBT’s Supporting McCain

“Marriage is under attack by those who are creating substitutes to marriage,” said Rep. Warde Nichols, R-Gilbert. “I think when this passes it’s going to put to bed this debate once and for all.”

Opponents of Proposition 102, however, say voters have already had their say and it’s an insult to put it on the ballot again.

Two years ago, they narrowly defeated a gay-marriage amendment, becoming the first state to do so. Twenty-seven states have constitutional bans on gay marriage.

“They chose not to change the constitution,” said Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix. “One of the reasons why they said no is because we already have a law.”

When I read this article on eastvalleytribune.com, It unleashed the dragon and I am up on my soap-box.  So, here it goes.

As much as I value diversity and freedom of choice, I also have a full understanding of how this election will change our lives (the GLBT community) for many years to come.  There are “Christian” groups raising millions (over $50 million in California alone) to take rights away from people…forever!  States that want to amend their constitutions to ban same-sex marriage, so judges can’t rule otherwise.  Arizona’s 102 and Florida’s 2 are on that list.

Now, as much I as realize those who are fighting these people have raised money too, it’s been done in defense of a right we don’t have in most states, marriage.  So, I asked these “Christian” groups (who also back Palin & McCain), how many hungry could you feed for $50 million?  How many homeless could you house for $50 million?  How many people could you send to college for $50 million dollars?  Or better yet, If Jesus had $50 million, what would he do with it?  Come on now, Christians know Jesus well to know he hates gay-marriage (and they can’t blame the Bible because Jesus didn’t write it), so they should know the answer to that question.  However, they have made the “choice” to spend tens of millions of dollars on oppression, all in the name of God.

Same sex marriage is legal in four countries: Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Canada. In the U.S., 45 states have barred it.  A little off topic but worth mentioning, it is still legal in 33 states to fire someone for being gay. Then there’s the other states, who again are trying to amend their constitutions to ban it as well, so the courts can not overturn the decision. This is why McCain believes it should be left up to the states.  Now I realize, he alone won’t make that decision, but he will be likely to appoint 2 or 3 U.S. Supreme Court Justices if elected.  What do you think is going to happen? Let’s also not forget to mention that if John McCain dies, then Ms. Palin steps in. Do you think someone who still thinks it’s a “choice” and “tolerates” gay people is going to push for any legislation that provides us with equality?

Let’s put Obama in office, and let him pick those same 2 or 3 spots and see what happens. Now, I’ve heard it before, and have addressed it before, but let me repeat it.  Some criticize Obama’s lack of fully supporting gay marriage, but I’m not going to buy that point.  Any presidential candidate who would openly endorse gay-marriage would be committing political suicide.  We don’t need a martyr, we need a gay friendly president. So, WAKE UP PEOPLE!

And I know, some of you who are GLBT and support McCain may claim there are other issues (and there are, and Obama is a much better choice to handle those as well), but this is the one issue that affects all of our lives, whether you are G, L, B or T.  And if it’s not an issue for you, then be open-minded enough to realize it is for most of us, and do the right thing.

A president who wants to leave those decisions up to the states is not a supporter. It’s not that difficult to see. Obama is our friend. This election is about so much more than so many realize. It’s about our future, and not our distant future, our very real, and very near future.

Please, do the right thing for all of us in the GLBT community. Vote for Obama!

Colorado Loosing Ground as Republican State

From an article posted on coloradoindependent.com:

Colorado was once known as the square state with lots of farmers and cattle, where Republican politics were a way of life. Not anymore. For the first time in decades, the Grand Old Party has lost ground as evidenced by the latest voter registration data provided by the secretary of state. In fact, as of last weekend, active Democratic voters outnumbered active Republican voters statewide — a reality many experts said seemed unlikely five or 10 years ago.

And it goes on to say;

“Both parties have become more polarized in recent years, with the Republicans moving to the right and the Democrats moving to the left, and that has brought more independents and unaffiliated voters around,” Preuhs said. “But on the Republican side, a lot of folks were attracted to the party because of their fiscally conservative nature and have not been as big on the moral and social issues, like gay rights and abortion.”

Read the rest by clicking here.

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