Libby, Libby, Libby

I'm not losing any sleep over the Libby commutation. Another gift to the Democrats in '08 is how I see it.

Multiple wrongs do not make a right. At the same time, things like Bill Clinton's Mark Rich pardon set the stage for this to be seen as politics as usual. And it is things like the Mark Rich pardon which make the prospect of the Clintons in the White House less appealing to me than the Obamas.

And my monthly donation goes to

It really seems to be Hilary or Obama. And the way the Republicans keep tying the weight of the Libby commutation to their ankles, given the lack of a really strong candidate on the Republican side, and the disgust on both sides with the Bush administration, I find it hard to believe there will be much of a contest--except between she who would be the first woman president and he who would be the first African-American president.

The Clintons are the smartest politicians ever, and the amazing relationships Hilary has formed in the Senate would help her be an effective president. You have to be a master of politics to be an effective president.

Or extremely popular. Obama has appeal to those in both parties, and he does not reek of sleazly politics and opportunism the way the Clintons do. Clinton is disliked by so many; she would unify the "vast right-wing conspiracy" folks and the prospects of four or more years of polarization would be great.

Obama seems truly dedicated to cleaning up the system, which I don't see happening with another Clinton in the White House. And I don't know if I'm more scared or excited by the thought of Bill Clinton as first spouse.

Both Clinton and Obama support civil unions, taking fairly weak stances against "marriage." I'm for incrementalism as the more pragmatic course, so while on a personal level I find the idea of settling for civil unions dissapointing, politically I am optimistic that they will lead sooner than later to full, unequivocal marriage rights.

I've given it a good deal of thought. If Hilary gets the nomination, I'll support her. But I just signed up to give money montly to the Obama campaign.

Queer Sighted

I just discovered Queer Sighted, a multi-authored, diverse blog. Lots of cool links (and plenty of advertising). Richard Rothstein fumes today over the sense of entitlement shown by heterosexual culture as it decides what citizenship rights it will grant us queer folk. He gets the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence confused (see the comment I added to his post), but that can happen to the best of us when blinded by conservative-triggered fury.

Catchy name?

The title of this blog is accurate, if boring and perhaps a touch narcissistic. I doubt anyone actually reads it, but if you do, and you have an idea for a more imaginative, catchy title, let me know. "Queer Slant." "Assimilationist Perspectives." "In a Handbasket."

Something. Anyything!

Tax Me More. Cover Everyone.

Andrew Sullivan writes

I grew up with socialized medicine, and I know what a disaster it is. It's coming, of course. You can feel it. Bush paved the way. The golden era of American medicine and research will soon cede to more and more state control. It will exchange a great deal of its excellence for more access for more people. That's the bargain most democracies make.

There are people I love and care about with no health insurance. Mostly low-income, mostly self-employed, and many of the ones I know personally work in the arts, as part-time college faculty, etc.

And I know a lot of people, including myself, who remain in a full-time job they may not care for (I love much about my job, especially the teaching, and yet the negativity and pettiness that seems an inevitable part of academic life seems intolerable at times) or want to leave, stay in it to maintian health insurance for themselves and especially their dependents.

I know socialized medicine would bring with it many problems. But I'd rather pay some higher taxes and know that the people who can't get health insurance, and who can't pay the often higher-than-what-insurance-companies-pay-providers fees, are covered.

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart is eliminating its funding of national LGBTQ groups, while continuing support for its LGBTQ employees. National groups are being pretty understanding, according to the article, but many individuals feel hurt and, it seems, betrayed.

Wanda Sykes on Gay Marriage