Good Things on July 4

I recommend E.J. Dionne's column about the meaning of this day and the emphasis the signers placed on the common good. As E.J. writes, the signers didn't hate government or laws,just the manner in which they were being enforced. While our independence day is July 2 or a month later when all the signers finished their work,it should be remembered that a good third of the signers lost all their property and wealth in standing up for independence. Another 9 were killed in the Revolution. Signing the document entailed real risks and many paid an enormous cost. I could do without the accusation against the King leaving the colonists to the threats of the wild Indian breeds.

Since the American Right would like to co-opt the whole American revolution, we should remember that the original tea party was a protest against the King granting the East India Company corporate tax breaks so they could wipe out the local American tea merchants. And,unlike revisionists who want to make them Christians, we should remember the gathering place for the make believe Indians were the Masonic Lodges in Boston.

For the future generations, I hope Greek Prime Minister Papandreau is wrong when he says,"The economic system is stronger than the will of the people."

The next few weeks--Obama's traditional bad season--should see some frightening occurences. Rand Paul, who would not know the common good if it hit him in the face, will filibuster the debt ceiling vote. This should make us remember that few gave America a chance to survive on the day of its birth. I find it ironic to have received an e-mail today from the Campaign for Liberty,Ron Paul's campaign, claiming that the situation today is similar to when Americans found against the King. This time we are supposed to fight our own government which I recall was democratically elected the last time I look--and perhaps the last democratically elected one will may have for a while.

While politics has become dreary recently, there are a few bright spots in our culture.

I recommend Steve Benen in his crusade against Mitt Romney's claims to being a job creator, If Steve keeps at it, his findings might find their way into the mainstream media, which has studiously ignored Willard's rather lame record on precisely what he thinks is his strength. Steve says that Romney is "leading with his chin" on this front.

Andrew Sullivan's website "Daily Dish" reminds us everyday that art,culture,science, religion and music may inform our lives more than the hackneyed debates in Washington. I especially love the website's use of poetry. The time-lapsed videos posted every few days reminds us of the beauty of planet earth. Beauty does matter. Andrew, a naturalized American, retains a fondness for the British Conservative Party and its strange austerity program. But to his credit, Andrew was aeons ahead in arguing the basic conservative nature of same-sex marriage and has lived to see the day when his lonely work has paid off.

Who would have ever thought that one of our leading ethical and moral leaders would turn out to be Dan Savage? I don't know whether that is a good or bad sign for our culture. Dan Savage has become immortal in our political life. Try to Google Santorum. When all the establishment gay organizations sat on their hands, Dan and his partner took the initiative to video, "It'll Get Better" to address the concerns of young gays, who were being bullied or afraid to come out of the closet. This simple campaign that has gone viral with celebrities, sports teams, even the White House taping messages is credited with saving hundreds of teenagers from committing suicide. While I miss reading about the furries in Savage Love, Dan shows that one person can make a real difference and is a reason for optimism in our troubled land. My political mentor, Bayard Rustin, would have loved Dan. Bravo for everything you do.

And thye digital generation keeps surprising us. Playing For Change reminds us that the relationship we have with music is global. If you've never heard them, check out the YouTubes or better yet buy the album with the DVD. Musicians from around the world collaborate long-distance on some of the world's best known songs.

For the geezer crowd, I recommend Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, a cinematic tribute to Paris and a fairy tale about the days in the 1920s of the "Lost Generation". Having walked the same streets less than a month ago,Woody Allen evokes the Paris I've known and loved--even if he's on the touristy side. And after all these years, he still maintains his grudge against California. And Carla Bruni was a nice touch as a tour guide at the Rodin Museum.

In Aspen. Bill Clinton resumed his role as elder statesmen and political analyst, which he is good at. Clinton likes Jon Huntsman as an authentic human being and a pretty good Governor, thinks Romney has picked up his game since last campaign and expressed surprise at Michelle Bachmann's prowess on the campaign trail even though he disagrees with her about everything. He concludes that President Obama will win re-election because he has a good story to tell and significant achievements to show. He says that the President's national security creds will be strong . He says this was true even before he got Bin Laden. He also warned Obama not to cave to the Republicans over the debt ceiling vote.

The Newt spent July 4th with his lovely bride Callista trying out his new niche issue campaign. Newt's new book on American Exceptionalism is out. Newt's problem in my view has been his courting the Religious Right with phony historian David Barton by his side and his funding of the anti-gay marriage efforts in many states. He decided to go hard right before he knew tha landscape and how his campaign would be depopulated. So correcting course to his more geeky side is going to be tough.

Joe Biden reminded me of Hubert Humphrey in his speech before the NEA, when he attracked the Republican assault on teachers and public employees as one of the "biggest scams" in American history. For his effort, NEA overwhelmingly endorsed Obama for a second term.

Maybe we should look more kindly on the Three Amigos--John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham--as sort of a nostalgia group, a reminder of the neocons. They can keep touring for the rest of their terms and remind us that we should never withdraw from a country we invaded and since we have such a large defense budget we should invade more countries. It's really best if McCain stays away from any discussion of tax issues because it reminds us all of the 2008 debacle when he suspended his campaign to set the country right.

These three on a tour to Afghanistan were horrified that President Obama would dare pull 12,000 troops out by the end of the year. The Left has widely criticized the President for not pulling out more since it's unclear what is to be gained by shoring up the Karzai regime, which seems to be endorsing the worse policy ideas of the Taliban daily. And, of course, why should we withdraw from Iraq at all. I mean Tim Pawlenty says it's a model for the region. Lieberman says that Iran is petrified by being surrounded by democracies. Does anyone listen to these guys anymore? That's why I think we should keep the Three Amigos around so that we never fall back into this kind of thinking again. At last count, the total costs for our liberation of Iraq and Afghanistan will total $4 trillion.

Karl Rove is still up to his mischief. Now he's picking up the theme of how the Obama Administration favors the Muslim Brotherhood. Some one should show him the photo of Ike meeting the head of the Muslim Brotherhood at the White House. I'm sorry, Karl, keep to producing the ads that the stumulus was a failure and that the Democrats want to cut Medicare benefits, while the GOP wants to eliminate it. Does anyone find it strange that the Swiftboat billionaires are bankrolling Rove's operation? Remember when the Bush White House swore this was an independent operation not connected to their campaign against Kerry?

Does anyone thiunk it's strange that Mitt Romney, a Mormon, says that marriage is between a man and a woman? How about a few women? Isn't that the tradition?

My challenge this July 4th is to avoid delving into all the nonsense being said by the GOP on the debt ceiling issue. I take the CBO view--Do nothing. Restore the Bush tax cuts and implement the cost-savings measures in the Affordable Care Act and the debt will be manageable. Better yet withdraw troops in a timely manner from Iraq and Afghanistan and cut defense spending where appropriate.

Another good thing about this country is Paul Krugman. While I don't agree with him calling Obama "Herbert Hoover", I do agree with him that we have instantly lost sense of any lessons that the 2008 financial crisis taught us. Here's hoping his predictions about the future are wrong. He got to be right once and let's leave it at that.

And who can neglect Rachel Maddow--the only fresh face on television who has both intellect and humor. Her reporting on DADT probably influenced the Obama Administration's decision more than we know. She has been ahead of the curve on reporting on the war against Americans in the states such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio. And we owe her a debt of gratitude for her constant reporting on the war against the uteri, the unnerving campaign to restrict reproductive rights in about two dozen states.

Enjoy the Fireworks!

Riprap*

Apologies to Gary Snyder

Bryan Fisher of the American Family Association said that the firefighters who let the house burn down in Tennessee because the owner hadn't paid the $75 fee did the "Christian" thing. I would love to see this debated in an ethics class in a theological school.

The Family Research Council has bought time to air ads against Democrats arguing citizens want government off their backs and are against abortion and somehow those two things are connected.

Another episode of the Alaskan Grifters aired. In this--one of our favorite websites mudflats--revealed that Todd Palin was angry at Joe Miller for not telling Fox News Sister Sarah would be an excellent President. Todd, who is a thug and prone to bullying,made sure Sarah's endorsement of Joe was taken down from facebook. "Is this endorsement thing a one way street?" Todd blasted Miller. This was in response to one of Miller's rare diplomatic answers that "They are many qualified candidates out there." Todd admits he sent the e-mails. What the e-mails admit is that Palin is running for President. Perhaps, the real giveaway was Bristol Palin's facebook note that she wishes he mother would run for President. Sarah's also angry with Meghan McCain for dissing Sarah Palin and her family in her new campaign book. McCain was pissed she couldn't get laid during the campaign and that everyone talked about Bristol in reverential tones--she's a pregnant unwed teenager and I take care of myself. Touche.

Just think about this a minute. A woman, who was mayor of the Meth capital of Alaska, then becomes governor and quits mid-way through the term is going to run for President. She left Alaska with a debt of 70% of their GDP and decimated the state's social programs. One of the class things she did was after giving birth to a Down's Syndrome child she cut programs to assist families with special needs children. Almost as soon as she stepped down, the Feds had to seize nursing homes because of abuse of the elderly. And she wants to be President and is the Queen of the Teabaggers. The RNC is still paying for her legal bills she wracked up in Troopergate.

I think someone should try and punk Palin by getting Zhirinovsky, the Russian nationalist to endorse her.

Mel Martinez, the former RNC chairmen and former Senator from Florida, hopes the GOP doesn't win the Senate because of all the wingnuts running. At least he says if the Democrats remain in power it will be their agenda. He said Republicans are nowhere near ready to govern again. He opined that Christine O'Donnell was a joke compared to Mike Castle.

The Bozo The Clown mystery is nearing resolution. Christine O'Donnell's father admitted that he was not a certified Bozo the Clown because he did not go to school in Texas. he was only a substitute Bozo in Philadelphia, filling in when the certified Bozos had other appearances. Someone did a great Photoshop of a billboard saying "Show Us Your Bozo Certificate".

Another great line. Mark Halperin in Game Change on McCain" He looked like your eccentric uncle desparately seeking a men's room."

Glenn Beck has urged all his audience to vote so the United States doesn't become a Third World country. If they all do, we will become a Third World country.

Joe Miller may have crossed the line--what line hasn't he crossed?--by saying today that he wanted the direct election of Senators to be repealed and that state legislatures should nominate them. Vote for me so I can take away your vote? Is there some other aspect of Rove's vision of a return to McKinley we are missing.

SEXY TIME? Indiana's University Center for Sexual Health Promotion issued the most comprehensive national survey of Americans' sexual behavior since 1994. Based on interviews with 5,865 people, aged 14 to 94, it appears as the special issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The report details 41 different combinations of sexual acts subjects engaged in and how often the subjects reached orgasm or thought their partner did. Since it was funded by the manufacturer of Trojan condoms, one could expect tons of questions on condom use. The good news of the survey is that young people, African-Americans and Hispanics have increased their practice of safe sex, while Baby-Boomers lag behind everyone. Researchers were concerned that males over 50 have the lowest condom usage rate and while they are more likely to be married, they are far more open to multiple sex partners in and out of marriage. 7% of adult women and 8 percent of men identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual. Among men between the ages of 50-59, 15% have received oral sex from another man at some point.

But for all the information and all the data on sexual acts, something stands out dramatically--Americans are not having alot of sex. If you bury down into the data, roughly 40% of all Americans of all ages are having no sex at all. From all the noise of the religious Right, you would think everyone is out humping trees. But the sad truth is that for all the films, television and music that surrounds us with sex, we aren't getting enough. That to me is the primary failing of the survey--why not? Remember Love the One You're With.

But someone is Bishop Long, the African-American megachurch preacher. One male came forward, then four more and now 40 from Philadelphia with law suits charging he sexually abused them. Long, a fierce homophobe and friend of George W. Bush, says he's being persecuted. Sort of like Ted Haggard, the former President of the National Evangelical Association and daily speaking buddy with George W. Haggard ministered to the gay community by hiring gay hustlers and buying drugs from them. What is it with gay ministers and George W?

Making a difference. Dan Savage's column has deteriorated in my opinion because of his activism on gay issues. Where can we read about furries anymore? But Dan started an absolutely wonderful program aimed at gay, lesbian, transgender and questioning youths--"It Will Get Better". This program shows hundreds of video testimonies from gays and lesbians about being young and coming out and living in creepy homophobic communities with creepy homophobic parents. The idea is to help young gays and lesbians cope with bullying and thoughts of suicide.

Dan started the project after two suicides in the Midwest and before the Rutgers student went off the George Washington Bridge. He thought about who to call when he heard about the first two and then decided why call anyone I'll start this project. CNN asked him how he got all the celebrities to tape messages and said that he didn 't. They just volunteered. But most of the videotape messages come from gay and lesbian adults in various walks of life, including farmers. The program has even drawn entries from Norway and New Zealand.

Nice job. Some of these videos are very moving such as the descriptions by successful adults about their own teenage suicide attempts. Their message is there is hope and there is support. Dan said when hearing about the recent rash of suicides, he thought if he had a half hour with the victims he could have saved them. Maybe his project will save more. Beautiful job.

But Dan is not going soft on us. In response to a gay-baiting show produced by the Media Research Council complaining that there are over 44 gay characters on television this year, Dan suggested if the networks really wanted to help they should have a gay couple get baptized and then later married in a church.

Remember our Christian Revisionist Historian Dave Barton? Well, he's weighed in that homosexuality should be regulated. But Barton believes business shouldn't and that abortion and contraceptives should be outlawed.

Larry Flynt believes it should be outed. Flynt was on a news program talking about Diaper Dave Vitter, the Family Values Senator from Louisiana. Hustler was the magazine which broke the story with interviews with the madams. Flynt went on to say that Vitter was a real satyr and was having so many affairs and sexual episodes he lost count. He did say that within two months he would out an American senator unless he came clean. The suggestion was that one of the GOP Senators was gay and Larry had the evidence. Any bets?