Afternoon Coffee

Could we have a hand of applause for Samantha Power, Michael Posner and Harold Koh? These three are quietly trying to seek a way to repatriate Canadian-born terror suspect Omar Khadr. Khadr was apprehended when he was 15 and has now been sentenced to be tried before a military commission. The only problem is that American officials really do not want to try a child for war crimes. The government of conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper has steadfastly refused to ask for Khadr's return and it is not about to provide Barack Obama any cover. But there are quiet bilateral talks under way.

Rep. Eric Massa (D.-N.Y.) has gone bonkers. He's peddling the notion that he was set up by the Democrats who want him gone because of his opposition to health care. Somehow he forgets that he was the one who sexually harassed his aide. It wasn't entrapment. To further entertain America, he will appear on the Glenn Beck show and will tell everything about Democrats and their plans for healthcare reform.

Arlen Specter today says that Democrats are so mad at Republican obstructionism that they don't care anymore and will push the bill through simply out of spite.

The California Republican Senator Roy Ashburn, who has been a leader in anti-gay legislation, finally crumbled and admitted he was gay. He had been arrested on a DUI with a male in his car after it was determined he had been in a gay club. Gay politicians commented that he was often seen cruising clubs. Ashburn blamed his anti-gay votes on his constituency but Equality California, a gay rights group, called that excuse lame. Ashburn actually sponsored or voted for bills that called for gays to be fired from their jobs or kicked out of public accomodations. Cenk at the Young Turks earlier this week raised an interesting question, "Are all conservatives gay?"

I haven't gotten the final note on whether this is bogus. But there was reported a group "Patriots for a Moral Utah" ,which is affilated with the tea parties, as proposing a bill to expel gays from Utah. Some reporters are convinced it's a hoax.

Teabaggers have changed their name to avoid being associated with a gay sexual technique. Instead they want to be called tea partiers--which, unfortunately for them, is gay slang for having "sex on crystal meth". I shudder to think the next port of call for these people.

Interesting and unusual polling news out of Kentucky. You would think with Bunning out of the picture and self-destructing before our eyes, Republicans would maintain the seat with the voters relieved Bunning was gone. Well, the Republican candidates support for Bunning's stance against extending the unemployment insurance has backfired. Right now both Democrats would win against either one of the Republicans. A long way out I know but this is one I never believed would change.

From Texas: Mayor White is within striking distance of Rick Perry. White has overwhelming positives in the approval ratings. If Obama does go for immigration reform and even if he fails, this might be the motivating factor for the Hispanic community to push White in.

In Beckistan, the war against Christianity continues. Beck is saying that when churches use the term social justice to address poverty and human rights, it's simply a "code word" for communism and Nazism, both ideologies known as warm and friendly to Christians and other faiths. Wait on second thought, the Nazis were very friendly to Mormans. He urges laypeople to discuss the issue with their priests and pastors and if the church doesn't stop preaching about social justice then people should leave the church. He finally got it right that the Nazis were on the right but he claimed that both communism and Nazism were one philosophy. In the United States, according to Beck, this comes down to rights of the workers and democracy. I am sure you will see punch backs from the "classic Christians" on this one. How about the Sermon on the Mount for instance? The material is too rich not for alot of blowback.

President Obama was in Pennsylvania slamming the health insurance industry and calling for the vote on healthcare. I shudder when the President plans to leave the mainland because all hell breaks out in Washington. With Eric Massa on the loose and liable to commute from one Fox news show to another, there is no telling how much damage control will have to be done and whether health care will be derailed by another shiny object. Mr. President, please don't go to Indonesia.

Since President Obama seems hellbent on weakening us, the DemocracyCorps poll is out that shows 58% support for Afghanistan, 55% on his policy on terrorism, 54% for his foreign policy , but only 46% for his policy on detainees and interrogations. If you are like me and flip to the Dailykos to check on President Obama's approval numbers, be aware that RS2000 has changed it criteria from likely voters to registered voters. That accounts for this week's 2 pt. drop to an abysmal 53% approval rating.