Gov Palin afraid of the Press

Governor Sarah Palin has refused to be interviewed by the media in any form since she was picked by John McCain to be his Veep. It seems as though campaign staffers feel the media would be asking questions that are too tough and would dive into her personal life. Newsflash! She's running for Vice-President of the United States, of course they are going to ask tough questions, as well they should! Maybe if she was a leader that was prepared for the role and actually had the experience to back up her claims of accomplishment she wouldn't have a problem facing the media.

What is really appalling is the fact that she spewed allegations, and flat out lies against Senator Obama and his experience, and now is too afraid to face the media for questions against her record. Don't dish it if you can't take it!

I especially like how Palin and the rest of the RNC Speakers set out to attack community organizers. I guess organizations like the United Way, the American Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity have no real impact on our communities. Ironically, Palin notes that the being on the PTA (which I would consider a community organization) led her to running for larger offices.

Palin has finally agreed to sit down with ABC's Gibson for her first interview later this week. This should be interested.

The following was taken from msnbc.com

Palin, who has shunned answering questions from journalists so far, faces a major test this week when she gives her first nationally televised interview after a week of intense press scrutiny into assertions she brings virtually no international experience to the ticket and has exaggerated her reformer credentials.

McCain's campaign has lashed out at coverage of Palin and her family, while Democrats have questioned why the candidate has not been put directly before reporters to answer questions.

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis earlier complained that the media has focused too much on 44-year-old Palin's personal life. Many of those stories came after McCain's campaign announced that Palin's unwed 17-year-old daughter was pregnant.

"Why would we want to throw Sarah Palin into a cycle of piranhas called the news media that have nothing better to ask questions about than her personal life and her children?" Davis said on Fox television. "So until at which point in time we feel like the news media is going to treat her with some level of respect and deference, I think it would be foolhardy to put her out into that kind of environment."

To view the full article go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26604717

California's top court overturns gay marriage ban

It just got a bit sunnier in CA!

By LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO - In a monumental victory for the gay rights movement, the California Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage Thursday in a ruling that would allow same-sex couples in the nation's biggest state to tie the knot.
Domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage, the justices ruled 4-3 in striking down the ban.

Outside the courthouse, gay marriage supporters cried and cheered as the news spread.
Jeanie Rizzo, one of the plaintiffs, called Pali Cooper, her partner of 19 years, and asked, "Pali, will you marry me?"

"This is a very historic day. This is just such freedom for us," Rizzo said. "This is a message that says all of us are entitled to human dignity."

In the Castro, historically a center of the gay community in San Francisco, Tim Oviatt started crying while watching the news on TV.

"I've been waiting for this all my life," he said. "This is a life-affirming moment."
The city of San Francisco, two dozen gay and lesbian couples and gay rights groups sued in March 2004 after the court halted the monthlong wedding march that took place when Mayor Gavin Newsom opened the doors of City Hall to same-sex marriages.

"Today the California Supreme Court took a giant leap to ensure that everybody — not just in the state of California, but throughout the country — will have equal treatment under the law," said City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who argued the case for San Francisco.

The challenge for gay rights advocates, however, is not over.

A coalition of religious and social conservative groups is attempting to put a measure on the November ballot that would enshrine laws banning gay marriage in the state constitution.
The Secretary of State is expected to rule by the end of June whether the sponsors gathered enough signatures to qualify the marriage amendment, similar to ones enacted in 26 other states.

If voters pass the measure in November, it would trump the court's decision.
California already offers same-sex couples who register as domestic partners the same legal rights and responsibilities as married spouses, including the right to divorce and to sue for child support.

But, "Our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation," Chief Justice Ron George wrote for the court's majority, which also included Justices Joyce Kennard, Kathryn Werdegar and Carlos Moreno.

In a dissenting opinion, Justice Marvin Baxter agreed with many arguments of the majority but said the court overstepped its authority. Changes to marriage laws should be decided by the voters, Baxter wrote. Justices Ming Chin and Carol Corrigan also dissented.
The conservative Alliance Defense Fund says it plans to ask the justices for a stay of their decision until after the fall election, said Glen Lavey, senior counsel for the group.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has twice vetoed legislation that would've granted marriage rights to same-sex couples, said in a news release that he respected the court's decision and "will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling."
___
Associated Press writers Terence Chea, Jason Dearen, Juliana Barbassa and Evelyn Nieves contributed to this report.

American Controversy

Every year somebody has to make trouble for Amercian Idol and this year it is David Hernandez. The power singer was evidently a fully nude stripper at a gay bar in Phoenix called Dick's. How creative... It appears the show isn't too worried about his sordid past. Maybe we can have a strip off on one of the episodes? The funny thing is I have been trying to figure out if he is gay or not, and the fact that he was a stripper at a gay bar actually makes me lean towards him being straight. Ironic I know, but it seems most male strippers, even at gay bars, are straight.

He could sing to me nude...

but would I owe him a $20?



Anyway, It also appears the Democratic Primary will drag on for at least another 7 weeks. Can I say I'm tired of it? I'd love a few weeks of 'downtime' from the campaign talk before we hit the heavy general election season!

Meet the Candidates

Well, news is breaking that both Hillary and Obama are going to be in Minneapolis this Saturday.

Barrack Obama is scheduled to be at the Target Center around 1:30pm. Online tickets are already 'sold' out.

Hillary Clinton is supposed to be at Augsburg College some time in the evening.

If you want to see the candidates live before Tuesday's caucus, now's your chance!

Political Drop Outs

Two more candidates are announcing today that they are leaving the race.

Rudy Guilliani, no surprise here, is dropping out of the race after spending nearly 30 million in Florida and coming in a distant third. Its almost a good thing his campaign staff agreed to work without pay for the last couple months. Anyone who would give him the advice to not campaign at all in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, etc is not worth getting paid. Yes, Florida has more votes, but that was two months were he received almost no national attention. Primaries are becoming increasingly national and he seems to be the only one to not realize that.

Sorry Rudy. I guess its time to go back to taking way too much credit for your 'amazing' response during 9/11. I'll continue to give the credit to the first responders.

It appears I'll be spending my labor day weekend with either John McCain or Mitt Romney.

Sadly John Edwards also announced he will pull out merely hours after visiting Minneapolis St. Paul. Although he appeared to have no chance at winning, I appreciated his efforts. He had some good ideas, pushed the two front runners and kept his campaign above the belt, which I am very thankful for after some of the punches from Hillary and Obama.

I still can't decide who I support. Either way, it is exciting to say that the next Democratic nominee for President (and likely the next President) will be from a 'minority' class. Its about time America!