New Jersey lost its governor, James McGreevey, last week when he announced that he is a "gay American," and that his infidelity violated his obligations of matrimony. (Ah, if only every politician were so forthcoming and honor-driven.) Unfortunately, McGreevey probably felt in his heart of hearts that by resigning after coming out, he was doing gays and lesbians everywhere a huge favor. I have to disagree.
McGreevey did, however, obtain precisely the effect he desired. The press and the public, rather than examining McGreevey's impropriety in giving his former lover a state job with a high degree of responsiblity (for which said lover had no experience) focused upon the issue du jour, whether gays or lesbians can be effective elected officials. No one seems concerned that McGreevey is just one more example of the power elite who successfully manipulated and dodged political ethics (if not policy). And gay rights activists are, of course, all a-dither because McGreevey's announcement catapulted their cause right back onto everyone's radar screen.
And what's with calling himself a "gay American," as though it were the latest chic ethnic identity? Looking at it from my own generally accepted standard (to borrow a term of legal import) of race-based perspective, I sort of resent the implication that I/we should acknowledge a previously unclaimed heritage -- as if to do so would confer certain entitlements.
I found myself agreeing with an advisor of McGreevey who urged him not to resign. By framing his resignation as the result of a conflict of moral/matrimonial obligations, and employing the same as subterfuge for his ethical and administrative violations, McGreevey cheapened the very real internal conflict that every gay and lesbian grapples with in questioning whether to remain in the closet.
August 17, 2004
Reports from observers and monitors in Venezuela indicate that populist president Hugo Chavez overwhelmingly and fairly won re-election last Sunday. It is an interesting result, in light of information that at least one payment was made by the US government to backers of Venezuela's opposition party -- which purchased records of voter information from ChoicePoint, a US identity verification service. ChoicePoint was also involved in the 2000 Florida election snafu, providing information that led to the [illegal] purge of that state's voter rolls. The company apparently did such a splendid job domestically that the Justice Department offered it $67 million for information on voters in Brazil and Mexico, too.
Do you detect a pattern here? It appears that US-backed forces in these countries simply haven't been able to meet government mandates, requiring an escalation in tactics by attempting to engineer election outcomes. Indeed, the election was done by computer. (Bonus question: Guess the manufacturer of the electronic voting machines used in Sunday's election.)
My worry is that the outcome of the election will be used as ammunition to defend the use of electronic, paperless voting in our November presidential election. It isn't a stretch to speculate that proponents of paperless voting will tout the veracity of the system by holding up Venezuela's election results as an example. In the meantime, I'm certain that Bush is clinging to the hope of re-election and more opportunities to oust the popular Venezuelan (and Brazilian, and Mexican, and so forth) president -- if not with guns, then with computers.
UPDATE [8/18/04]: Excellent column by Medea Benjamin, at alternet.org, defining at least part of the reason Chavez soundly defeated the opposition. His administration's willingness to fund expansive social programs for Venezuela's underserved -- with income derived from sales of the country's oil -- has earned the majority's loyalty. No wonder the opposition is pissed; when poor people have access to (free) health care, education and job training, it's a step toward equality.
Do you detect a pattern here? It appears that US-backed forces in these countries simply haven't been able to meet government mandates, requiring an escalation in tactics by attempting to engineer election outcomes. Indeed, the election was done by computer. (Bonus question: Guess the manufacturer of the electronic voting machines used in Sunday's election.)
My worry is that the outcome of the election will be used as ammunition to defend the use of electronic, paperless voting in our November presidential election. It isn't a stretch to speculate that proponents of paperless voting will tout the veracity of the system by holding up Venezuela's election results as an example. In the meantime, I'm certain that Bush is clinging to the hope of re-election and more opportunities to oust the popular Venezuelan (and Brazilian, and Mexican, and so forth) president -- if not with guns, then with computers.
UPDATE [8/18/04]: Excellent column by Medea Benjamin, at alternet.org, defining at least part of the reason Chavez soundly defeated the opposition. His administration's willingness to fund expansive social programs for Venezuela's underserved -- with income derived from sales of the country's oil -- has earned the majority's loyalty. No wonder the opposition is pissed; when poor people have access to (free) health care, education and job training, it's a step toward equality.
August 14, 2004
Hello again to any who may have missed my banal musings. In the two months since my last post, my work status changed quite dramatically from two shifts per week (less than part-time) to five (really full-time). While that's been nice in terms of money (treating myself to a very nice birthday present as well as acquiring a more powerful scooter), it threw my circadian rhythm (assuming I ever had one) into an endless loop. I think I'm finally adjusted ... but the cat is still really pissed. Oliver is a thirteen-pound orange tabby with one helluva case of separation anxiety. He insists on being in the same room with me even if it's the smallest one in the house (i.e., the bathroom), and his preferred method of demonstrating his dislike for my increased absence is to lunge at my feet as I swing them into bed at night. It's gotten so bad that I now take a squirt gun to bed with me. I hope I don't die in my sleep because the newspapers will have a field day --"Woman found dead in home next to Super Soaker."
The new scoot's been nice, too (when it's not being towed away -- long story, another time). It's a 2003 Piaggio (division of Vespa) BV200, in platinum, with side and top cases. Purist riders who favor the vintage look won't like it but it's definitely for the progressive modernists. It is such a blast, I never want to quit riding! I picked it up June 26 with 15 miles on it, and it now has 500; and I can't wait to blow through the break-in period to get it to top speed (book claims 76, I've hit 60 once or twice). And it's already been to its first scooter rally, Mile High Mayhem, in Denver. For all you scooterists who've never made it there, I highly recommend the event; lots of scoots, lots of quirky folks, and something for everyone.
Let's change gears now. If your state held a primary last Tuesday, did you vote? Did the election turn out the way you wanted it to?
I voted, but the results were a GIGANTIC disappointment. My state is one where the Congressional race was a hot contest, since a Republican senator is stepping down. The Democratic candidate I liked was defeated, the Republican candidate I most despised won, an initiative that would have prevented the circus from coming to this city went down to defeat, and the biggest weasel among the District Attorney candidates won in a landslide. But more than anything I was disappointed that, in this city of a million and a-half people, barely fifteen percent could be bothered to actually get out and vote. Basically, 15% of the population decided how the other 85% will live during the next four years ... and even beyond.
Meanwhile, polls have George W. at his highest approval rating ever. (How's that for a poll that has "skewed" written all over it?) This, even as he invokes memories of September 11th in his latest nationwide television commercial, an appeal he pledged to never use. I just wonder how much influence The Heritage Foundation has over this president; is it as much, or more, as was exercised over President Reagan?
And speaking of The Heritage Foundation ... nothing scares me more than a Republican of color. (Actually, gay Republicans are scary, too.) If W is re-elected, keep an eye out for conservative (Filipina) columnist Michelle Malkin to be appointed to a Cabinet position. Malkin is currently promoting her new book that defends America's World War II internment of Japanese Americans, and advocates racial profiling in the name of national security. (For a terrific blog entry discussing Malkin and her book, see Matt Stoller's August 7th entry at The Blogging of the President.) Malkin probably also thinks Amadou Diallo was a gangleader in the making and it was better to remove his potential influence before it was too late. The interesting thing about Malkin's position is that she once decried the internment -- until The Heritage Foundation took her under its wing and turned her into a hugely successful and syndicated columnist.
Finally, one more chance for audience participation. Did you ever have an attraction to someone that you just couldn't shake, no matter what you tried? On the other hand, do you know of some secret technique that will do the trick? If the answer is "yes," do tell because I could certainly use some suggestions. There's nothing more annoying than wanting something which you have no hope in the universe of getting. And it's not as though I don't have any experience with it. The same thing happened about six years ago (turned out to be a miserable failure) and it took two years to get past it -- I can't waste that much time again. Maybe someday I'll recount the details here; for now, I just want to get past it.
Until next time ... peace.
The new scoot's been nice, too (when it's not being towed away -- long story, another time). It's a 2003 Piaggio (division of Vespa) BV200, in platinum, with side and top cases. Purist riders who favor the vintage look won't like it but it's definitely for the progressive modernists. It is such a blast, I never want to quit riding! I picked it up June 26 with 15 miles on it, and it now has 500; and I can't wait to blow through the break-in period to get it to top speed (book claims 76, I've hit 60 once or twice). And it's already been to its first scooter rally, Mile High Mayhem, in Denver. For all you scooterists who've never made it there, I highly recommend the event; lots of scoots, lots of quirky folks, and something for everyone.
* * * * *
Let's change gears now. If your state held a primary last Tuesday, did you vote? Did the election turn out the way you wanted it to?
I voted, but the results were a GIGANTIC disappointment. My state is one where the Congressional race was a hot contest, since a Republican senator is stepping down. The Democratic candidate I liked was defeated, the Republican candidate I most despised won, an initiative that would have prevented the circus from coming to this city went down to defeat, and the biggest weasel among the District Attorney candidates won in a landslide. But more than anything I was disappointed that, in this city of a million and a-half people, barely fifteen percent could be bothered to actually get out and vote. Basically, 15% of the population decided how the other 85% will live during the next four years ... and even beyond.
Meanwhile, polls have George W. at his highest approval rating ever. (How's that for a poll that has "skewed" written all over it?) This, even as he invokes memories of September 11th in his latest nationwide television commercial, an appeal he pledged to never use. I just wonder how much influence The Heritage Foundation has over this president; is it as much, or more, as was exercised over President Reagan?
And speaking of The Heritage Foundation ... nothing scares me more than a Republican of color. (Actually, gay Republicans are scary, too.) If W is re-elected, keep an eye out for conservative (Filipina) columnist Michelle Malkin to be appointed to a Cabinet position. Malkin is currently promoting her new book that defends America's World War II internment of Japanese Americans, and advocates racial profiling in the name of national security. (For a terrific blog entry discussing Malkin and her book, see Matt Stoller's August 7th entry at The Blogging of the President.) Malkin probably also thinks Amadou Diallo was a gangleader in the making and it was better to remove his potential influence before it was too late. The interesting thing about Malkin's position is that she once decried the internment -- until The Heritage Foundation took her under its wing and turned her into a hugely successful and syndicated columnist.
* * * * *
Finally, one more chance for audience participation. Did you ever have an attraction to someone that you just couldn't shake, no matter what you tried? On the other hand, do you know of some secret technique that will do the trick? If the answer is "yes," do tell because I could certainly use some suggestions. There's nothing more annoying than wanting something which you have no hope in the universe of getting. And it's not as though I don't have any experience with it. The same thing happened about six years ago (turned out to be a miserable failure) and it took two years to get past it -- I can't waste that much time again. Maybe someday I'll recount the details here; for now, I just want to get past it.
Until next time ... peace.
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