Yearly Archives: 2008

Tim Robbins Couldn’t Vote, Scattered Reporting Of Similar Glitches

Progressive activist and actor Tim Robbins got turned away from his polling place today and he rightfully blew a gasket. There was some kind of ruckus and the cops were called. Apparently Robbins has been voting at that polling place for more than a decade, but today his name wasn’t on the register. They told Robbins he had to fill …

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Google Prop 8 Flap Widens

More website owners are expressing anger at Google for publishing Yes On 8 banners on their sites. Google has become embroiled in a row about gay marriage, after opponents of same-sex unions in California used the search engine’s advertising network to post messages on popular websites against the owner’s wishes. A number of American websites, including the widely read TechCrunch …

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Obama: Brothers, Stop Sagging!

Finally Barack Obama has addressed the critical issue of laws against baggy pants. In an interview with MTV’s Sway Calloway, Obama fielded a question from Eric, a Huntington Beach, Calif., man who referenced a town ordinance that tried to outlaw a street fashion trend in which young men wear their baggy pants down well below their underwear. Obama said such …

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Palin Won’t Say Who She Voted For

Via Swamp Politics: Citing her right to privacy, Gov. Sarah Palin refused to say who she voted for after emerging from her polling place in Wasilla, Alaska. That’s right, she wouldn’t say she voted for her own presidential ticket. We assume she did, but she stood on principle and wouldn’t say. She did say the secret ballot is one of …

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$73M Spent On Prop 8

People starving all over the world, children living in the streets, and the Christianists forced a fight that cost $73M. Spending for and against a ballot initiative that would outlaw same-sex marriage in California has surpassed $73 million, almost twice the total that was spent in the 24 states where similar measures were put to voters since 2004, campaign finance …

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Talking Points Memo: Yes On 8 Ads Are Ok On Our Site

Progressive blog Talking Points Memo had all of its ad space taken over by Yes On 8 ads yesterday via Google Ad Sense. Despite a massive outcry from readers and despite opposing Prop 8 in their editorials, TPM took no action. Josh Marshall’s reasoning: When we started accepting paid advertisements in 2003, I instituted a clear policy that we would …

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Gay-Baiting Rep. David Dreier (R-CA)

Another gay-baiting ad from the Democrats, this one from Blue America PAC, a group headed by Howie Klein. The Courage Campaign and others have called for Dreier to come out or at least oppose Prop 8. Nothing but silence.

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Rachel Maddow: Long Lines Are The New Poll Tax, Poor Can’t Afford To Wait

Rachel Maddow says that long lines at polling places are a de facto poll tax – a very effective way to block out people who cannot afford to miss several hours of work.

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Palin Cleared In Ethics Probe

Completely coincidental that this report was issued late yesterday, yes? A report released on Monday by a state board found that Gov. Sarah Palin did not apply improper pressure to try to dismiss a state trooper who was her former brother-in-law and did not violate state ethics laws in the firing of her public safety commissioner. The report by the …

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The Gay Gettysburg

Some are calling today’s vote on marriage equality in California “the gay Gettysburg”, the defining battle in a social civil war. The repercussions of today’s vote will surely echo for decades. I remain cautiously optimistic.

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It Puts The Lesbian In The Basket

So much for that lesbian love affair on Grey’s Anatomy. Callie and Erica’s burgeoning romance on “Grey’s Anatomy” is coming to an abrupt end, and so is Brooke Smith’s role as Dr. Erica Hahn. Smith’s final appearance as Dr. Callie Torres’ flame comes in this Thursday’s episode of ABC’s medical drama, the network said Monday. The move was a creative …

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2008 Weblog Awards Begin

Pam Spaulding notes that nominations have begun for the 2008 Weblog Awards. Last year JMG somehow managed to squeak past Pam after her well deserved win in 2006. Lots of categories this year including Best Blog, Best LGBT Blog, Best Individual Blogger, Best Online Community, and Best Liberal Blog. I’m nominating all of y’all for Best Community. It’s just been …

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Morning View – District 17/UES

I was in line when the polling place across from my building opened at 6AM and it still took me just under two hours. Right now the line is stretching entirely around the block and is almost meeting itself at the front door of the polling station. But things are moving relatively briskly and everybody’s spirits seem high. One typically …

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Polling Place Open Thread

Tell us about your voting experience. How long was your wait? Did you witness anybody giving up on the line? How was the mood of your fellow voters? Did the voting machine work properly? Are you confident your vote was recorded properly?

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When The Polls Close (EST)

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Don’t Surrender, Dorothys

Towleroad reports that Yes On 8 has skywriters crapping their message across the California sky. Pay no attention to the Wicked Witch, this is still our game to win.

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Show Queen Alert!

The grand dame of Broadway, Patti Lupone, will make a “surprise” appearance at Splash tonight at 9pm. Lupone will be introduced by Michael Urie, who plays her son on Ugly Betty. Lupone is promoting her new CD, Patti LuPone at Les Mouches, which is a live cabaret act she did at gay disco Les Mouches in Chelsea in 1980, every …

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Obama’s Grandmother Has Died

CNN is reporting that Barack Obama’s grandmother has just died in Hawaii. The Obama family has issued a statement saying, “In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to any worthy charity that fights cancer.” What a terrible shame that she couldn’t hang on for one more day. I give the rightwing/Freeper world exactly ten seconds before they begin to …

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Life Imitating Milk

The New York Times notes the uncanny similarities between the Harvey Milk story and what is happening today in California. Call it life imitating “Milk,” or vice versa, but the parallels between the campaign chronicled in the movie and the real-life battle over Proposition 8 are striking. Social conservatives pitted against gay activists? Check. A Republican governor (and former movie …

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Closet Case Radio Blowhard Michael Savage Off The Rails On Prop 8

Via Media Matters: Savage: “If you’re insane, hate the family … hate your mother and father, hate the Bible, hate the church, and hate the synagogue,” – you oppose CA gay marriage ban. Go here for my post about Savage’s purported love affair with beat poet Allen Ginsberg. In 2006, Keith Olbermann said “For God’s sake, Mike. Will you just …

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