So NBA superstar Charles Barkley is sounding off and its interesting actually. I mean he took no crap as a player and now he seems to be taking no crap as he mulls over the idea of seeking the Democrat nomination for Gubnatorial Candidate for Alabama. ( see 365Gay article )
What I find interesting is that he actually makes some sense. I mean let’s face it, the Democrats under Hilary and her group seem intent on attacking Bush but that is about it. I mean they offer no alternative to Bush or the Republicans and haven’t for years offered anything more than a few sound bites.
“They’re criticizing a guy who can’t run again, who can’t get fired,” Barkley said during an appearance on “CMI: The Chris Meyers Interview,” which will air on Sunday night on Fox SportsNet. “So they spent the last two years criticizing him instead of saying, ‘Some things aren’t right. This is our game plan.’ And now we’re two years away from the election, and we have no solutions and no front-runner.” ( full story )
I mean yes he support gay marraige, but he talks some common sense, something that has been missing in American Politics for several years, if not decades. I mean if you want the job to replace someone, no matter who, would seem to me that you would at least have some clue as to how you would do things differently. So far the Democrats haven’t said word one really about how they would handle anything differently.
Whether it is the War in Iraq, Illegal Immigration, or Border Security or even FEMA, they simply point out the failures of Bush. But in all fairness, Barkley is right in that Bush isn’t running anymore, and it isn’t all just his fault. He had help in the Senate and Congress, and no one seems to understand that. If they do, they sure don’t say much about it.
I hear how many call this a Do Nothing Congress, and then I listen as these outraged voters say they are more than likely not going to go Vote. Like that is going to help how? Put more republicans back? Someone worse than Bush?
He does talk common sense, I mean I have said it before here too, that religion is about love not hate. Yet it seems that all these religious types do is bad mouth everyone, and hold them up for ridicule, and how is that being religious?
“Religious people in general are so discriminatory against other people, and that really disturbs me,” he said. “My idea of religion is we all love and respect. We all sin, but we still have common decency and respect for other people. So right now I’m struggling with my idea of what religion is.” ( full article )
Listening to him when he played and his mouth, I never really thought too much about him. Mind you now, given how he has spoken out this way, I would say he might make a good Governor. He sure as hell would liven the debates up I think and in a good way. Instead of bashing, he might actually push forward some new ideas, and isn’t that what a candidate should do?
Look at the ads both parties run today. Anyone got a clue as to who will do what and how? Instead all you see and hear, is how bad the other is. Makes no sense, unless everyone who is a voter is too stupid to know who is screwing up what. Like Congress calls it Guest Worker Program, and suddenly when the nation gets pissed off, some now call it Amnesty which they oppose.
Okay fine, so what will you do in place of the Guest Worker Program? Isn’t that what you should talk about if you are a candidate? Shouldnt you be talking about how you will secure the borders instead of telling everyone how the current guy isn’t?
Given that over 1 million illegal aliens enter the USA yearly, I have a hunch most citizens know that the borders aren’t secure. Question is, when will they be and how?
The Democrats think that the troops should all come home from Iraq, but what will they do in place of having troops there? How will they battle the insurgents and secular violence that is happening over there? Nice to suggest you set a timetable to bring the troops home, but what are the plans for if the violence isn’t curtailed by then?
Isn’t it time for serious people to step forward instead of what now passes as political candidates?
Kind of makes me glad that I live up in Canada and not in the homophobic United States. I mean we have enacted same sex marraige and yet the right wing nuts continue to froth at the mouth and try to stem the tide of equality for all, including Gays.
Different story in the States where gay bashing is rising and states rush to push for amendments to deny equal rights to their Gay citizens. Course its okay for them to die in Iraq, but once their tour is done, its not okay.
Double Standard bullshit again.
The opposition Liberal party in Alberta once more stymied the private Conservative MLA bill that would reduce the penalty for those who profess love, while practising hatred and bigotry. ( full story at 365Gay )
Funny, even in Conservative Country, there are still enough sane people who will stand up and be counted, and stand for what truly makes a country Democratic. The ability to go beyond the narrow confines of a religious doctrine and not force its narrow view on all people.
Canada is one of those nations, unlike the United States, where the power of the Church it seems is not so powerful. The Federal Liberals risked it all to insure that ALL CITIZENS were treated equally under the law, and now even with a Conservative Government, that law seems unikely to change. With all opposition parties stating they will not support a re-opening of the debate, the minority Klan party of Stephen Harper are looking at defeat if they try it. Thank God.
Now even in the heartland of their blessed nonsense, the AlbertaLegislature failed to once more wittle away at all that has been won. Something Americans should learn from. See, if you give an inch, they will take a foot, then a yard, then a mile and before you know it, the rights you fought hard to win are suddenly gone.
Bill 208 would forbid anyone from being punished legally for refusing to solemnize a same-sex marriage or for speaking out on or acting on their beliefs against gay marriage. It would also put limits on the discussion of same-sex marriage in schools. (full story)
On the surface, these new tactics by the right wing or the so called religious right, are not all that insidious. On the surface. It is when you read through them you see the insidious plot that eventually would lead to the collapse of all equality for Gays and Lesbians. This is a tactic well used within the United States as you see individual states now limiting abortion rights for women, and even fudging petitions for same sex marraige opposition bills, and at least in Alberta it failed.
Thank God for Canada. Now if only the same common sense and sense of honor existed in the USA. What a world this would be !
There is a great deal of talk about Human Rights and all these days. This year we have seen some big battles rage in the States and even here in British Columbia we have seen some of it as well. (see 365Gay article)
War in Lebanon, war in Somalia, Dafur, and well dozens of other places it seems, yet the Bush and Harper plan was to continue to press against the so called Gay Agenda. Bush’s idea was to get an amendment to the consitution banning same sex marraige, Harpers plan is to re-open the debate this fall in the House of Commons in an attempt to turn back time and history.
I am Gay, could some other gay pop in and tell me, What is the Gay Agenda? I keep hearing about it, but you know, in all my years I have yet to see any such plan or copy of such an agenda. Anyone got a copy I can borrow?
Good luck to both White Sheet Wannabees.
Grade 12 students will now get a choice or curicullum option to learn about diversity, race and such which does include Homosexuality. After all, despite the morons in Washington and Sussex, being gay is not a choice, it is a fact of nature.
In addition, such a plan might help reduce the bullying and abuse of Gay teens, and that in itself is worthwhile. More than that, the more you learn about others, the less likely you are to HATE THEM.
And yes there are some medical studies floating around out there claiming otherwise, studies funded by the religious right or conducted by religious right groups. Like those are unbiased.
Lots of organizations pop up as well in these times. Groups that claim to represent the Silent Majority, though frankly how can they make that claim? I mean if the majority is silent, how do they know that they hold with their stated mission or perceptions?
And if it is indeed a majority, then one has to wonder why Canada has such tough hate laws and discrimination laws? Seems to me that if over 60% of Canadians support same sex marraige laws, then where is this silent majority? Last time I took math, if 60% supported something that was a majority, so excuse me right wing nut jobs, but claiming something as representing a majority and actually representing them are two different things.
And yet, I thought lying was not accepted practise among you holier than thou self righgeous? You know, the one’s like Stephen Harper who preach high moral values, good christian ethics, but practise racism, bigotry and hatred instead? When did those become accepted weapons of GOD?
I may be out of touch, but last time I read my bible, GOD granted us FREE WILL, and blind obedience to HIM was not something he demanded or even stipulated as being exempt from that agreement. After all that is old testament, and the basis for all those Good Christian Values you are trying to foist on the world, George, Stephen. So tell us heathens, when did GOD revoke his gift of Free Will?
Funny too how all these religious groups claim that all they are seeking is equality under the law. So let me see, what part of Marraige don’t you have under the law? I know Gays now have it, yet you wish to take it away up here, and in the states, you continue to deny it to Gays/Lesbians, so uh, tell me again about how you want equality for all? Or should that read, “Equality to only those who agree with us”
The hypocrisy of it all is amazing. Up here this wing nut group wants the government to stop allowing for an optional Grade Twelve course that teaches equality, includes in it the contributions made to our society by Gay Men & Woman, but that offends them. After all, if kids learn that Gays actually are no different than non gays, they might not buy into your strict no nonsense bilbe thumping bullshit of racism and bigotry.
When GOD led the Jews out of Eygpt and caused the Red Sea to part and then come down on the pursuing troops, he was angry at those who celbrated the death of the pursuers, claiming that they too were HIS children. Kind of shows you Stephen and George, even you are HIS children, though were you two went wrong only HE knows.
Point is simple, we are all GOD’s children, deserving of his love and affection and while he punished the Eygptians, he still loved them and felt their loss. So how again does your relgious persecution of people who are different, make you a Good Christian Stephen? George? Explain that Pope Benedict? Or you too busy with your German Army reunion party?
