It's Been a While

Blogging clearly isn't my calling, however, something stood out to me today and I would like to share. At times I've thought about the influence Fox News has on the U.S. and I've seen snippets of Gretchen Carlson, Megan Kelly and Elisabeth Hasselbeck using their smirky smiles while Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly continually believe if one is liberal they are 'evil-doers.'

This article in Salon sums up my thoughts. I'm glad I didn't sit through a month of this. Click here.

What Does It Mean to 'Lean Republican?'

Disclaimer: This post was written based on my opinion of a recent evening. I toned down some of the opinions expressed and I've removed many of the extreme terms used in our discussions. When my friend was offended it was because I used the term, "hate," when referring to same sex marriage and women. It was a heated discussion but we're still GREAT friends and respect each other immeasurably. My friend is not going to be identified but for those of you that are close to me and may know of whom I'm sharing, know that this is a lesson for me and learning to look beyond my tunnel vision.

From my friend as I reviewed the blog with him via Facebook so disregard the syntax and format:

i m just glad we can have heated discussions like that and we are both smart enough to leave it as that.... a discussion. wish i could say the same for everyone. my biggest problem with politics is instead of bringing a country together under the freedom to vote and a great leader, it tears us apart like no other

nobody is willing to negotiate any longer. this is an all or nothing country and it saddens me

so people vote politicians to DC with the same attitude, ALL OR NOTHING. things will get worse until the country gets a reality check. i dont seee this in the near future

Rodney and I hosted a small dinner party the other day with two of our very good friends. Rodney doesn't speak about politics in a social situation and I don't normally, either. There was an exception on this particular night because we are such good friends and we both enjoy sparring. Rodney and our friend's partner went off into the other 'wing' of the house to get away from the, well, semi-heated conversation.

Surprise, I'm liberal. My friend, who is 20 years my junior and just beginning his career identifies as 'leaning republican.' He's straight, white, smart, involved with a gorgeous woman (who BTW is liberal) and when he told me he leaned republican I couldn't believe it. Here are the statements that I heard:

1. Although he doesn't believe abortion should be used, like me, he believes it's up to the woman because it's her body.

2. He believes in women's rights.

3. He doesn't believe gay marriage should be illegal.

4. (And this one's murky) He believes in entitlements within reason, with a cap and protections against abuse.

5. Based on our conversation he believes in a progressive tax program for the most part except, "Why should rich people pay more than their fair share?" came out of his mouth at one point.

What irked me after we had determined these 5 points was that he still identified as 'leaning republican.'

I didn't get it. I absolutely offended him by stating if he leans republican he can't possibly believe Rodney and I should be able to marry. I added fuel to the fire by stating that leaning republican doesn't support women and their rights.

I know he doesn't believe these things but I'm at a loss. Clearly I have tunnel vision and I need my mind opened up. Most of my friends are 1%-ers yet, like me they are ultra liberal. My friend will be a 1%-er based on family business prospects so I think we have apples and apples for the most part. This morning when I told him I was writing this blog post he stated, "Compare it to the Catholic Church: I believe in God but I don't necessarily believe in the bible. They would want me out." Well, he used an expletive but I held back. (He is not Catholic)

This has been bothering me since Saturday night. Share your thoughts on the benefits of leaning republican, leaning democrat or simply being independent. Our country is so polarized right now I'm utterly shocked. I would love to see more civilized discourse and would like to start with myself.

The Divine Miss M

When I saw this headline I thought it'd be great for Bette. Unfortunately it wasn't about Ms. Midler, rather Michele Bachmann. My favorite quote from the piece is something I've been asking for a long time..... "Bachmann’s concept of Christian love brims with hate, and she has a deep satchel of stones to throw. From what kind of messiah did she learn that?"


Take a look at Mr. Frank Bruni's editorial here.


Enjoy and keep in touch. Let me know if you have any responses to this piece.

Catching Up

It's not a normal day in the United States today. It's election day. We aren't voting here in Minnesota, however our esteemed neighbor, Wisconsin is in a fight for their life. Governor Walker is an odd man from all accounts I have read. He seems to be a litmus test for the TPer's message with an enormous amount of cash being sent in from around the country from a few people. Quite frankly, with his chance of criminal indictment after being reaffirmed as governor if he's successful, I don't understand that motivation, either. He is the only governor in the U.S. at the moment to be amassing a criminal defense fund. This is information that stumps me.

David Schuster, one of my favorite reporters, broke the information here.

On to happier subjects with the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee for HM Queen Elizabeth II. The President made a great show of support from The United States of America at www.WhiteHouse.gov. In the little I watched of the celebration online the one thing that stood out was the dynamic of the family has changed greatly in the years since the divorces. They actually looked like a happy family yet I did see concern on Her Majesty's face because her life partner, HRH Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh was not at her side. Word is he's doing well in hospital.

Here at LIYC there will be a celebration of her service to her people (my dad is 1/2 Welsh) the weekend of 14 July. Invitations are being sent shortly.

Planned Parenthood Deserves Your Money

This isn't going to be a link to another article this is purely my opinion. I've seen opposition of Planned Parenthood in San Francisco by odd people praying on their knees on the curb in front of the office. (We lived a block away.) I've also seen people picketing the Planned Parenthood office in our new location in West Central Minnesota. There are three points I want to make. Planned Parenthood assists women and men in the choice of familial expansion, helping to prevent pregnancy, they assist women in healthcare issues and they do provide abortion services.

This week we've found the Komen people don't really care about women. They care about politics. They haven't said they'd continue to support the non-abortion portion of Planned Parenthood, they've only said they'd be eligible for applying for more grants. Komen is political. It's embarrassing for the country. It's embarrassing for republicans. It's embarrassing for humanity.

Nancy Brinker was an ambassador for the United States. She was Chief of Protocol for a presidential administration. She now earns more than $450,000 a year as the CEO of a foundation she founded after her sister, Susan, died of breast cancer. In terms of career progression, it's odd. If her passion was for her sister, wasn't she the person to run the foundation she founded from the beginning? When one looks further, there are close ties to the republican party. (Take a look at the latest hire for SVP for communications.)

Baseline for this rant. I'm offended that an organization that I've supported monetarily is so blatantly transparent in their partisan politics (disclaimer I'm very partisan but try to be fair) that I will not support their effort in any way that I can control. I urge you to do the same. I've determined that I will deliver checks personally to organizations I support. I want to know where my money is going and I really want to support the organizations locally.

Please refocus your money into the organizations that need your support locally. Do not support national organizations only. Ensure your money is being used the way you want.

I believe Planned Parenthood doubled their money in the past week that they would have received from Komen. If Komen keeps supporting Planned Parenthood, that's great, but there's no assurance they will do so. They will 'review every application as received.' They NEVER promised to continue their support. They only changed the rhetoric.

Since I hit one, I'll have to hit the other....

Catholic Charities has done great work. They've supported the poor, they've helped the homeless, they've placed foster children and adoptions. That is no small feat in my mind, especially because I am adopted. (Full disclosure should point out that I was adopted through Lutheran Social Services and have not explored their thoughts on progressive issues, although I lived through the spewing of hatred when the ELCA chose to end discrimination against gay clergy.)

The point I would like to make is the thought that came to mind reading this paragraph: Catholic Charities affiliates received a total of nearly $2.9 billion a year from the government in 2010, about 62 percent of its annual revenue of $4.67 billion. Only 3 percent came from churches in the diocese (the rest came from in-kind contributions, investments, program fees and community donations). That means that half of their money comes from us, the taxpayer. Don't you believe your money should be funneled in a non-discriminatory fashion? I do.


Here's the complete article: Catholic Charities

Setting the standard of where I will send my money.

They're ubiquitous every holiday season. Old, young, male or female ringing bells soliciting your change being dropped in a can for the Salvation Army. I've cut the cord. I no longer provide any funds to these people because they discriminate against me. Fortunately, our family is not in any current danger of needing their help so I'm able to say that fairly willy-nilly. (They won't pay for an MRI for our canine beast...)

I've also begun sharing my thoughts on this opposition with polite letters to store owners and managers. Letting them know that they are promoting discrimination when they allow the bell ringers to solicit customers. I've let them know that when an organization sends 25% of the money solicited in front of their store is used to urge legislation against me, I take great offense.

This is a great article about one man's ten year boycott of the Salvation Army.